Martin, Kat. Against the Fire. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 11¾ hrs. Recorded Bks. 2012. ISBN 9781461817932. $123.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. ROMANCE
Building contractor Gabe Raines is awakened in the night to learn that one of his newest developments is burning. Police determine an
arsonist is at work. When a fire is set in another of his projects, Gabe knows it’s a personal attack. Working with the police, he meets Mattie, an architect and volunteer at a family abuse center. Gabe is instantly attracted to the stunning redhead, but she is determined not to become romantically involved. The two keep running into each other, but she resists their mutual attraction as they work their way through the mystery of the arson attacks. Their relationship eventually becomes as hot as the fires. There’s a secondary romance, too, between Mattie’s friend Tracey and Gabe’s sidekick Sam. This second outing in the Raines of Wind Canyon series by Martin, who has written dozens of popular romances, is sure to be a hit with listeners who love mystery and passion. VERDICT Narrator Jack Garrett reads with depth and expression, enhancing the characters and action. Recommended for public libraries‚ especially for the many fans of spicy but not too graphic romance.‚ Barbara Valle, El Paso P.L., TX
Rice, Anne. The Wolf Gift. 14 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 17¬Ω hrs. Books on Tape. 2012. ISBN 9780307877246. $45; 14 CDs. retail ed. Random Audio; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Reporter Reuben Golding is assigned to interview Marchent Nideck about selling her uncle’s remotely located mansion, which overlooks the ocean and is set against a backdrop of gigantic redwood trees. Reuben promptly falls in love with the house‚ and is equally attracted to his hostess. During the night, Marchent and Reuben are attacked, but a furry beast bursts into the room and quickly dispatches the two assailants. In the scuffle, Reuben receives a wound that leaves him with the wolf gift. The story unfolds with the changes Reuben experiences as he quickly heals. Founded in werewolf lore and history, Rice’s latest work brings new elements to what it means to be one of these creatures. Ron McLarty’s magnificent narration draws the listener into the story, and the details of the tale are mesmerizing from the beginning. VERDICT Werewolf fans and anyone who enjoys Rice’s books, especially her vampire saga, will be drawn thoroughly into this one and find themselves hoping for a sequel. [The Knopf hc, published in February, was a New York Times best seller; see LJ Xpress Reviews, 1/27/12.‚ Ed.]‚ Gloria Maxwell, Metropolitan Community Coll.‚ Penn Valley Lib., Kansas City, MO
Maas, Jane. Mad Women: The Other Side of Life on Madison Avenue in the ’60s and Beyond. 5 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 5¬Ω hrs. Tantor Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781452635507. $71.99; 5 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. MEMOIR/BUS
The packaging blurb proclaims Maas to be a real-life Peggy Olson, right out of Mad Men, but this memoir and exploration of women’s
roles in 1960s advertising proves that Maas was far more than the TV character. A major force in many ad campaigns at numerous agencies, Maas provides here an insider’s view of the social, political, gender, censorship, class, and related issues brought up by the popular series‚ and much the TV audience doesn’t get to see. Her book offers a highly informative and humorous look at not just the advertising industry but the plight and promise of working mothers of the time. VERDICT Coleen Marlo has won multiple audiobook awards for her narrations and along with the author makes the listener want to hear more stories. Essential for collections of history and media and women’s studies for and marketing courses.‚ Joyce Kessel, Villa Maria Coll., Buffalo
News Briefs
NoveList, the popular print readers’ advisory tool from EBSCO, is adding audiobooks to its repertoire. We’re in the initial stages of data identification, compilation, and product design, so we don’t have many details to disclose yet, NoveList’s Renée Young recently told LJ, but the firm will be adding audiobook information to its flagship interfaces (NoveList Plus and NoveList) and to NoveList Select. The information we will be delivering…will reflect the depth of expertise around readers’ advisory that our products are known for. We are crafting an approach to audiobook information that is drawn from a broad-based survey of librarians’ and audiobook users’ needs and preferences. For audiobook titles, we are expanding our definition and application of appeal factors to capture the specific characteristics that reflect narration and performances, Young said.
The Audio Publishers Association (APA) announced April 17 its finalists for the Audiobook of the Year and Distinguished Achievement in Production. The Audiobook of the Year finalists are Neil Gaiman’s American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (HarperAudio), narrated by Gaiman and a full cast; Tina Fey’s Bossypants (Hachette Audio), narrated by the author; Adam Mansbach’s Go the F**k to Sleep (Audible), narrated by Samuel L. Jackson; and Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs (S. & S. Audio), narrated by Dylan Baker.
Contenders for Distinguished Achievement in Production, which represents exceptional quality in production through direction, performance, and appropriateness to the audiobook format, are The Mark of Zorro (Zorro Prods. and Blackstone Audio), directed by the late Yuri Rasovsky, narrated by Val Kilmer and a full cast; She Walks in Beauty: A Woman’s Journey Through Poems (Hyperion 
Audio), selected, introduced, and narrated by Caroline Kennedy and a full cast; Allan Wolf’s The Watch That Ends the Night: Voices from the Titanic (Candlewick on Brilliance Audio), narrated by Michael Page & others; and The Witches of Lublin (SueMedia Prods.), by Ellen Kushner, Elizabeth Schwartz, and Yale Strom, narrated by Tovah Feldshuh and a full cast. The winners will be named at the Audies Gala awards ceremony
on Tuesday, June 5, 2012.
What began with a small idea to publish thoughtful Christian audiobooks has become something bigger than we ever imagined, said eChristian Inc. president Cory Verner, announcing that in early April the company filled its millionth
order for an audiobook download. The firm asserts that it is the largest download site for Christian audiobooks, with more than 4500 titles available.‚ Mike Rogers
For all the latest reviews in this subject area and more, see LJ‘s new Reviews Center (Beta)!The Reviews Center (Beta) is available free through March 1, 2012 to all users with a Library Journal or School Library Journal online account (this includes current recipients of our email newsletters). Don’t know if you have an account with us? It’s easy to check and verify your email, or create a new account.
The following titles are reviewed in the May 15 print issue. Visit our Reviews Center (Beta) for the full reviews.
FICTION
Bondurant, Matt. The Night Swimmer. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 10 hrs. AudioGO. 2012. ISBN 9780792785156. $69.95; 8 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. F
Coulter, Catherine. Aftershocks. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 6¾ hrs. Brilliance Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781455827688. $70; 6 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library/retail eds.; Playaway digital; digital download. ROMANCE
George, Alex. A Good American. 10 CDs. retail ed. unabridged. 11¬Ω hrs. Penguin Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781611760385. $39.95; digital download. F
Landay, William. Defending Jacob. 10 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 12¬Ω hrs. Blackstone Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781455113538. $81.75; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. Thriller
Morrow, Bradford. The Uninnocent: Stories. 8 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 9 hrs. AudioGO. 2012. ISBN 9780792785255. $59.95;
digital download. F
Westlake, Donald E. The Comedy Is Finished. 9 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 10¾ hrs. AudioGO. 2012. ISBN 9780792784005. $64.95; 9 CDs. retail ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. MYS
NONFICTION
Allison, Peter. Whatever You Do, Don’t Run: True Tales of a Botswana Safari Guide. 6 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 7 hrs. Tantor Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781452636160. $71.99; 6 CDs. retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; digital download. TRAV
Darwin, Charles. The Darwin Selection: On the Origin of Species and The Voyage of the Beagle. 11 CDs. retail ed. abridged. 13 hrs. CSA Word. 2012. ISBN 9781906147730. $34.95. SCI
Gravano, Karen. Mob Daughter: The Mafia, Sammy The Bull Gravano, and Me! 5 CDs. retail ed. unabridged. 6 hrs. Macmillan Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781427221964. $24.99; digital download. AUTOBIOG/TRUE CRIME
Lester, Toby. Da Vinci’s Ghost: Genius, Obsession, and How Leonardo Created the World in His Own Image. 5 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 6¬Ω hrs. Tantor Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781452635361. $71.99; 5 CDs.
retail ed.; 1 MP3-CD. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. HIST
Parks, Eric & Casey Bankord. Frequency: Discovering Your Unique Connection to God. 5 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 5¬Ω hrs. Oasis Audio. 2012. ISBN 9781613750414. $19.99; digital download. REL
Smith, Jean Edward. Eisenhower in War and Peace. 24 CDs. library ed. unabridged. 28¬Ω hrs. Recorded Bks. 2012. ISBN 9781464002021. $123.75; 3 MP3-CDs. library ed.; Playaway digital; digital download. BIOG
About Michael Rogers
Dear Michael,
With Season six of “Mad Men” about to start, I popped by to revisit the post regarding my audiobook recording of “Mad Women,” by Jane Maas. Thank you to LJ for the starred review and thank you for taking the time to review so many other of my recordings! It is such an honor to be acknowledged by Library Journal! I have been a fan for many years and I am truly grateful for all that you do for the audiobook industry!
Warm regards,
Coleen Marlo