Happy New Year!
It is time for the Best of 2013 Audiobook Blog Hop and my friend Rina, who stops by with her audiobook reviews, will be highlighting her favorite 3 audiobooks from 2013.
This hop is hosted by The Book Nympho, Hot Listens, and Geeky Bloggers Book Blog. It runs from Jan 1 2014 to Jan 15 2014.
For our blog hop giveaway, Rina and Read-Love-Blog will be giving away a $15 iTunes Gift Card to one lucky winner! (enter in the rafflecopter below)
Enjoy!
When I first decided to participate in the Best of 2013 Audiobook Blog Hop, I believed pinning down my top three for 2013 would be quite easy. For the most part it was, but I had the pleasure of enjoying quite a few good listens this year. There are a couple of things that I feel are a must when picking out my audiobook favorites. Most importantly, the narrator. With the perfect narrator sometimes even the most ordinary of stories can be brought to life in a way that sticks with the listener long after. Second, if not tied for first, is a great story that leaves the listener sad it had to end.
#1.
Assassin’s Code
by Jonathan Maberry
Narrated by Ray Porter
Length: 15 hrs and 39 mins
I couldn’t have a best of 2013 without a Joe Ledger novel. Assassin’s Code by Jonathan Maberry is book 4 in the series and was actually published in 2012. If someone is thinking of diving into the world of audiobooks, this series would always be at the top of my list of suggestions. The narrator, Ray Porter is the epitome of brilliance. His delivery and range of voice inflections is without an equal.
Only Jonathan Maberry could make the unbelievable believable as Ledger once again finds himself elbow deep in danger; this time involving a brotherhood of gentically-engineered killers whose thirst for blood rivals a monster of lore. Aided by his four-legged teammate, Ghost, a white husky and a female assassin called Violin, Ledger must unravel forbidden secrets in search of the truth before nuclear Armageddon breaks loose.
#2.
Reaver
by Larissa Ione
Narrated by Helen Wick
Length: 12 hrs and 17 mins
The list of my highly anticipated books from series has unfortunately dwindled in the past couple of years for various reasons, but I am pleased to say Larissa Ione’s The Demonica/Lords of Deliverance series has a firm foothold on its spot. The series has been through several narrators, with Helen Wick being the best in my opinion, switching definitively from character to character with ease.
Larissa Ione is a master world builder, submersing the reader into the at times terrifying struggle between angels and demons, good and evil. Reaver is determined to rescue Harvester, a fallen angel, from her unimaginable torture at the hands of Satan and his minions, no matter the cost. Molten sparks fly and I’m not just talking brimstone.
#3.
NOS4A2
by Joe Hill
Narrated by Kate Mulgrew
Length: 19 hrs and 41 mins
My last pick for 2013 is none other than the spine-tingling horrific thriller, NOS4A2 by Joe Hill. The legendary Kate Mulgrew narrates with expert delivery, giving an unforgettably bone-chilling performance as the villain, Charles Manx.
Joe Hill joins the ranks of some horror heavy hitters with NOS4A2, the story of Victoria McQueen whose special gift of finding things lands her right in the crosshairs of the terrifying Charlie Manx, abductor of children. Vic is forced to use her gift and find Charlie’s 1938 Rolls Royce Wraith when his new passenger happens to be her own son.
Just a few quick honorable mentions for 2013: Snow White Must Die by Nele Neuhaus, The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa and Styxx by Sherrylin Kenyon.
Read-Love-Blog’s Hop Giveaway:
Hop-Wide Giveaway:
Thanks to Audible you have an incredible opportunity to win a 6 month (single credit) membership to Audible.com!
The Rules:
Fill out the Rafflecopter Form ~ Must be able to accept a book from Audible ~ Must be over 18 to enter ~ Must enter by Jan 15th at Midnight EST
I know I should say my favorite thing about the holidays is spending additional time with my family but that would be a total lie! 😛 I love the holidays because I have extra free time to catch up on my reading and other fun things I didn’t get time to do on the weekends.
My favorite thing about the holidays this year is I got to see all my family! That was amazing in and of itself and probably the last time for a few years!
I love spending time with my family, but I must say it can be exhausting. So I am always happy when the holidays are over and I can get back to my reading list. Happy New Year from Oklahoma, USA. crystalbluern at onlineok dot com
Happy New Year to YOU! I hopped on over to see your post. Thanks for sharing your three favorite audiobooks for 2013! I’ve become quite addicted to listening to audiobooks myself in 2013.
I can’t help but comment on the selection of NOS4A2 – Kate Mulgrew’s narration was amazing in that. I don’t think I’ve listened to another narrator who brought that much non-stop intensity to a read.
That the holidays are over? 🙂
HAHA! Melissa, I am with you on that!
The food! I love turkey and pie! Thanks for the chance, happy New Year! 🙂
This year it was getting to spend time with my grandchildren.
I love everything about the holidays. The food, the lights and decor, and spending time with my extended family. Hope you had a great one. Thanks for the great giveaway!
Being with family and the food!
Family time. I’m so excited I have the 2nd Joe Ledger series already in audio. I’m going to have to check out Nesbo & audio sounds like a good way to do it.
I absolutely loved The Dragon Factory. That one and Assassin’s Code are my favorites from the series. Funny thing, I own the Extinction Machine paperback, the most current book of the series, but I waited for my Audible credit because I NEEDED to hear Ray Porter read it. He is Joe Ledger! 🙂
Everyone is loving the NOS4A2 audio! I just purchased the kindle book on sale, but I’ll have to track down the audio from the library. I can imagine Kate Mulgrew is amazing. Happy listening!
Spending more time with family and friends.
Thank so much for being part of the hop! Yay! another audiobook lover to follow 🙂
I really enjoyed Reaver 🙂 I love Larissa Ione!
I love that I get to spend time with family on the holidays 🙂 (We all live in different states)
Happy New Year!
I love the holiday hype and how everyone gets excited and shares the joy of the season.
My favorite things about the holidays are spending time with family and friends, and of course the food. 🙂
Happy New Year!
I love spending time with my family, playing games, and eating lots of goodies!
I love spending time with family…..and cookies…
Thanks for the amazing giveaway!
elizabeth @ bookattict . com
the decorations
I just bought Nos4A2 recently. can’t wait to listen to it! So many people are raving about that book!
Please stop by and let me know what you think, regardless of whether you liked it or not. 🙂
I like spending time with the family. We usually do a simple meal, like sandwiches and soup, and those are some of the best meals!
My favorite thing about the Holidays is celebrating them with family and friends especially those I don’t get to see often.
Seeing friends and family that I don’t see during the year, the food that are made and eaten during the holidays. Happy New Year to all.
My favorite thing about the holidays is visiting with family and friends.
I like the delicious food during the holidays.
Getting together with my extended family and all the baking that get to do with them letting me try out new recipes on them. 🙂
My favorite thing about the holidays is the generous spirit within the community
I like spending time with friends and family and having a few days off from work.
My favorite audiobook was Steel’s Edge by Ilona Andrews.
My favorite thing about the Holidays is spending time with my Family!!
I have to say being with all my family!!
I love the time to read and spend time with family!
My favorite thing is spending time with family I haven’t seen for some time.
the great holiday dinner