Jo-Ann W.: Lea, is there going to be a special column for reporting on the 2011 Audiobook challenge? Or are listeners just supposed to comment whenever…?

I guess I should have mentioned that in this column! Sorry.

January’s first column (our main column for the month) will feature the 2012 Listening Challenge as well as a summary of our 2011 Challenge. We’ll be looking for (and hoping for) everyone’s 2011 final update!

And, we welcome anyone’s update anytime but that is when I will make my final update. One reason? I’m still finishing up my Challenge these last few days of the year!

But I have to say that getting to know the narrators is one of my favorite aspects of the column. They deliver – therefore, we buy.

One clarification regarding Sophie Eastlake’s narration. It is only the Wyr heroes that sound basically the same to me. The hero from the next book is a djinn (Khalil) and I thought he sounded different when introduced in Serpent’s Kiss.

Finally, a big thank you to Lea for allowing me to join her and the other lovely ladies reviewing here! happy holidays to all.

My favorites have to be both the Narrator interviews and the Narrators forum – the peeks inside were illuminating and interesting, not to mention down right hilarious at times.

Next in line would be the Favorite Romance Audiobook poll and the continuing Beyond the Winners bits that came in following columns.

It’s been quite awhile since I’ve read a Stephanie Laurens book but with Steven Crossly narrating Beyond Seduction I’m going to have to try it.

Same goes with Lothaire, the narrator being my biggest draw to the book.

I enjoyed listening to Abby Craden for the first time this past year so the Haymore could pull my attention too.

A recent audio success would be my first experience with a Young Adult novel – the YA aspect may have had me rolling my eyes a few times but the dual narration (most especially *Blas Kisic’s* part) in Perfect Chemistry was a pleasure! Thanks again to D.G. from our SOA Goodread group for pointing it out.