Today marks my original target date for completing my ambitious challenge. Now, at almost 70% through, I realise how unrealistic it was to complete this in just over eight months (without giving up work, writing, studying, family time). The new target pushes the timeframe out to 12 months!

So, what audiobooks have I been listening to since my last post… ?

• Underneath the Christmas Tree written by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass ❄️
• One More Christmas at the Castle written by Trisha Ashley narrated by Katy Sobey & Julia Franklin ❄️
• The Christmas Tree Cottage written by Holly Martin narrated by Penny Andrews ❄️
• The Christmas Wish List written by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass ❄️
• Mince Pies and Mistletoe at the Christmas Market written by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass ❄️
• Sleigh Rides and Silver Bells at the Christmas Fair written by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass ❄️
• The Summer Fling written by Milly Johnson narrated by Colleen Prendergast
• My Great Ex-Scape written by Portia MacIntosh narrated by Karen Cass

My favourite audiobook this month was … [drumroll] … My Great Ex-Scape by Portia MacIntosh. In second place was Underneath the Christmas Tree by Heidi Swain, and in third place was The Christmas Tree Cottage by Holly Martin.

Audiobook listening target = 100 between April 2022 and March 2023 (Originally December 2022)

31 December 2022 status… 69 down, 31 to go!

A full list of the audiobooks I’ve listened to is available here

Copyright © 2015 – 2023 Tess @ Stories from the heart
Where applicable, third-party content is acknowledged separately below

I broke through the half-way point in October, which I’m delighted to share. In contrast, my listening/reading slowed a lot since then, coincidentally coinciding with the first time during the challenge that I gave up over half way through a book. Reflecting on why, even though I’ve ventured beyond the edges of my safe bubble of cosy women’s fiction a few times and been pleased by a new discovery, on this occasion, the book just didn’t suit me. For this reason, I won’t highlight which one it was because I’d hate to put anybody off a book just because it didn’t suit my taste. I’m also determined not to let it put me off experimenting.

With that in mind, the changing seasons provided an opportunity…

Although I’d ventured into some Christmas, or ‘winter holiday’, titles during the year (mostly because they were part of a series), I’ve gone on to savour a few more. It’s definitely time for stories filled with romantic walks in the snow, twinkling fairy lights, crackling log fires and tense moments that threaten to ruin the holidays. Watch out for a snowflake ❄️ when these crop up on my list. I’m hoping this doesn’t create a ‘Die Hard’ dispute – and no, I don’t think that’s a Christmas movie, I think it’s a movie that happens to include/coincide with Christmas!

So, what audiobooks have I been listening to since my last post… ?

• The Summer That Changed Us written by Cathy Bramley narrated by Colleen Prendergast*
• Sunshine and Sweet Peas in Nightingale Square written by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass
• The Chocolate Cure written by Roxanne Snopek narrated by Felicity Munroe
• Falling for Christmas written by Kate Hewitt narrated by Summer Roberts ❄️
• Christmas at the Edge of the Word written by Kate Hewitt narrated by Lucy Rayner ❄️
• The Secret Seaside Escape written by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass
• Eight Winter Nights (Audible Original) written by Liz Maverick narrated by Eva Kaminsky and Jason Clarke ❄️
• Never Date Your Best Friend (Audible Original) written by Jules Barnard narrated by Zachary Webber and Emily Bauer
• A Christmas to love you (Novella) written by Megan Smith narrated by Jessica Almasy ❄️
• The Meet Cute Method written by Portia MacIntosh narrated by Karen Cass
• Reasons You Shouldn’t Love me (Audible Original) written by Amy Trigg narrated by Amy Trigg
• Nadine (Audible Original) written by Vimi Bajaj narrated by Tania Rodrigues
• A Christmas Wedding in the Cotswolds written by Lucy Coleman narrated by Lucy Scott ❄️
• A White Christmas on Winter Street written by Sue Moorcroft narrated by Hannah Brown ❄️

My favourite audiobook this month was … [drumroll] … The Meet Cute Method by Portia MacIntosh. In second place was A White Christmas on Winter Street by Sue Moorcoft, and in third place was The Secret Seaside Escape by Heidi Swain.

Audiobook listening target = 100 between April and December 2022 (Which will need to be extended)

18 December 2022 status… 61 down, 39 to go!

A full list of the audiobooks I’ve listened to is available here

Copyright © 2015 – 2023 Tess @ Stories from the heart
Where applicable, third-party content is acknowledged separately below

Half way there! I joined Audible in April as an experiment, not sure if it would suit me. It did! It opened up a whole new world that has enabled me to enjoy more novels (and novellas) and extend my reading/listening beyond my usual list of favourite authors. I now have more favourites and I hope to discover even more!

As part of my experimentation, I set myself a target to listen to 100 audiobooks before the end of the year. I’m still on target to achieve this and I’m glad I set the target because it’s encouraged me to make time to enjoy a rich variety of writers and stories that fall broadly within the genres I enjoy writing. Despite writing for seven years, achieving Merit in my Masters in Creative Writing (two years ago), joining the Romantic Novelists’ Association (as a member of the New Writers’ Scheme), and attending lots of short courses, workshops, and talks, there is so much more that can only be learned from experiencing the work of great writers.

So, what books have helped me on my developmental journey since my last post… ?

• The Dandelion Years written by Erica James narrated by Emma Gregory and Lee Maxwell Simpson
• Swallowtail Summer written by Erica James narrated by Richard Trinder
• The Blossom Tree of Dreams written by Holly Martin narrated by Penny Andrews
• The Perfect Chance [Short Story] written by Kate Forster narrated by Rachael Tidd
• The Perfect Retreat written by Kate Forster narrated by Rachael Tidd
• The Perfect Location written by Kate Forster narrated by Rachael Tidd
• The Wisteria Tree Cottage written by Holly Martin narrated by Penny Andrews
• Cupcakes for Christmas written by Kate Hewitt narrated by Justine Eyre
• Welcome Me to Willoughby Close written by Kate Hewitt narrated by Justine Eyre
• Christmas at Willoughby Close written by Kate Hewitt narrated by Justine Eyre
• Remember Me at Willoughby Close written by Kate Hewitt narrated by Justine Eyre
• Should I Tell You? written by Jill Mansell narrated by Katherine Press

My favourite audiobook this month was … [drumroll] … The Dandelion Years by Erica James. It was very close and difficult to separate the top three, but in second place was The Blossom Tree of Dreams by Holly Martin, and in third place was The Wisteria Tree Cottage also by Holly Martin.

Audiobook listening target = 100 between April and December 2022

29 August 2022 status… 47 down, 53 to go!

A full list of the audiobooks I’ve listened to is available here

Copyright © 2015 – 2023 Tess @ Stories from the heart
Where applicable, third-party content is acknowledged separately below

My listening over the last month has been dominated (in a good way) by Jessica Redland. I just couldn’t stop until I’d completed all seven books in the series. I had to force myself to hold off on continuing straight onto the Hedgehog Hollow series, reminding myself I’m trying to extend my reading/listening to writers outside my usual favourites (though I’ll still leap into their new releases!)

I attended a fabulous course led by Jessica Redland a few months ago (on RNA Learning), focused on writing countryside and seaside settings. The course was hugely inspirational for my own writing, but now that I’ve read one of Jessica’s series in full, I am desperate to write my own series, extending the location I created for my first ‘countryside’ novel (which I’m currently seeking representation for). I can only hope that one day somebody will devour my (currently only partly written and partly plotted) series!

So, what books have I been listening to since my last post… ?

• Making Wishes at Bay View written by Jessica Redland narrated by Lucy Brownhill
• New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms written by Jessica Redland narrated by Lucy Brownhill
• Finding Hope at Lighthouse Cove written by Jessica Redland narrated by Lucy Brownhill
• Coming Home to Seashell Cottage written by Jessica Redland narrated by Lucy Brownhill
• Christmas Wishes at the Chocolate Shop written by Jessica Redland narrated by Emma Swan
• Christmas at Carly’s Cupcakes written by Jessica Redland narrated by Emma Swan
• Starry Skies Over the Chocolate Pot Cafe written by Jessica Redland narrated by Emma Swan
• A Golden Cornish Summer written by Phillipa Ashley narrated by Olivia Darnley
• Second Chances at Cherry Tree Cottage written by Jo Bartlett narrated by Emma Powell
• The Perfect Play (Audible Original) written by G S Carr narrated by Trei Taylor and Ryan Kailbourne
• What the Hex (Audible Original) written by Alexis Daria narrated by Jacqueline Grace Lopez
• Butterface written by Avery Flynn narrated by Savannah Peachwood and Brian Pallino

My favourite audiobook this month was … [drumroll] … A Golden Cornish Summer by Phillipa Ashley, not just because she’s been on my list of favourite writers for a few years, but because this really was a fabulous story. In second place was New Beginnings at Seaside Blooms by Jessica Redland, and in third place was Making Wishes at Bay View by Jessica Redland.

Audiobook listening target = 100 between April and December 2022

21 July 2022 status… 35 down, 65 to go!

A full list of the audiobooks I’ve listened to is available here

Copyright © 2015 – 2023 Tess @ Stories from the heart
Where applicable, third-party content is acknowledged separately below

Since my last audiobook update (almost a month ago), I’ve had less time to listen due to restructuring one of my own novels. I’m still pleased to add 9 titles to my list of Audible listens.

So, what books have I been listening to since my last post… ?

• Summer at the French café written by Sue Moorcoft narrated by Georgia Maguire
• The Summer Fair written by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass
• The Wish List written by Jane Costello narrated by Alex Tregear
• Confessions of a Forty-Something F*** Up written by Alexandra Potter narrated by Sally Phillips
• Summer in Provence written by Lucy Coleman narrated by Lucy Scott
• Five French Hens written by Judy Leigh narrated by Annie Adlington
• Sex, Lies and Online Dating written by Rachel Gibson narrated by Kathleen Early
• Summer at Skylark Farm by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass
• Coming Home to Cuckoo Cottage by Heidi Swain narrated by Karen Cass

My favourite audiobook this month was … [drumroll] … Sex, Lies and Online Dating by Rachel Gibson. This was quite different to anything I’d normally listen to. I almost gave up before the end of the prologue because of how ‘group messages’ were quoted verbatim using strings of names and nicknames in a back and forth conversation. Had this continued into chapter one, I wouldn’t have continued. Instead, by the end of the first chapter, I couldn’t stop listening.

The next two were very close so I’m going for joint second place instead of second and third. They are The Summer Fair by Heidi Swain and Summer at the French Café by Sue Moorcroft.

Audiobook listening target = 100 between April and December 2022

8 June 2022 status… 23 down, 77 to go!

A full list of the audiobooks I’ve listened to is available here

Copyright © 2015 – 2023 Tess @ Stories from the heart
Where applicable, third-party content is acknowledged separately below