SYNC Summer 2014: Week 1 #syncya

Man, I can't believe it's already the middle of May  The kids are [almost] out of school, and summer is officially upon us. You know what that means! SYNC recently announced the list of audiobook pairings up for grabs this summer, and today is the kick-off of the program for 2014. Here's what you can grab through Wednesday of next week...for free!



This week's YA title is The Reluctant Assassin (W.A.R.P. #1) by Eoin Colfer, performed by Maxwell Caulfield for Listening Library.

​The reluctant assassin is Riley, a Victorian boy who is suddenly plucked from his own time and whisked into the twenty-first century, accused of murder and on the run.

Riley has been pulled into the FBI's covert W.A.R.P. operation (Witness Anonymous Relocation Program). He and young FBI Agent Chevie Savano are forced to flee terrifying assassin-for-hire Albert Garrick, who pursues Riley through time and will not stop until he has hunted him down. Barely staying one step ahead, Riley and Chevie must stay alive and stop Garrick returning to his own time with knowledge and power that could change the world forever.

This week's classic title is The Time Machine by H.G. Wells, performed by Derek Jacobi for Listening Library.

“I’ve had a most amazing time....”

So begins the Time Traveller’s astonishing firsthand account of his journey 800,000 years beyond his own era -- and the story that launched H.G. Wells’s successful career and earned him his reputation as the father of science fiction. With a speculative leap that still fires the imagination, Wells sends his brave explorer to face a future burdened with our greatest hopes...and our darkest fears. A pull of the Time Machine’s lever propels him to the age of a slowly dying Earth. There he discovers two bizarre races -- the ethereal Eloi and the subterranean Morlocks -- who not only symbolize the duality of human nature, but offer a terrifying portrait of the men of tomorrow as well.

Published in 1895, this masterpiece of invention captivated readers on the threshold of a new century. Thanks to Wells’s expert storytelling and provocative insight, The Time Machine will continue to enthrall readers for generations to come.

I've never read anything by Eoin Colfer, but Maxwell Caulfield is a fantastic narrator, so I'll definitely be picking up that title. H.G. Wells is a master of science fiction, and though it's been ages since I first read The Time Machine, I can still remember how this story of time travel impacted me and made me a forever fan of all things sci-fi. These are both sure to be great audiobooks to kick off the 2014 SYNC summer series!

Will you be picking up either of these titles?  Remember, they're only available through Wednesday, and new titles will be put up on Thursday for download.  Other things to note:

• CHECK OUT the 2014 titles!
• LISTEN to sound clips on SoundCloud to help you decide!
• GET your device ready! You must have the OverDrive Media Console or APP to download the SYNC titles! Visit the OverDrive website to download.
• Questions? Email: synchelp@audiofilemagazine.com
• Text message alerts – Text syncya to 25827 for SYNC title download alerts.
• Email updates – sign up for SYNC title alerts by email.
• Follow the SYNC blog.

To download this week's titles, just click on the image below to be taken directly to the SYNC download page:

I hope you take advantage of this program. I've been doing it for the last few years, and I've had the opportunity to listen to a ton of great audio for free.  If you've never tried audiobooks before, it's a great opportunity to do so without the obligation of buying one that you might not enjoy.  And if you love audiobooks, well, it's a great time to stock up on some titles you may have missed.  Win/win.  =)

Labels: 2014, audiobooks, freebies, promotions, summer, sync