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We love our romance... but sometimes nothing beats a great Fantasy or a juicy crime (can you say "shirtless Jack Reacher" anyone?).
Our Keeper Shelves
What everyone should have in their bookcase!
Paranormal Romance
Ahhh Paranormal Romance! I love just about everything about GOOD books in this genre – the sexy hero/anti-hero, the hickeys, solid suspense plots…
My pet hates? That there are so many BAD books out there. Too often the alpha male comes across as a controlling pig and the female lead just sighs a “ooh whatever you want big guy”. Give me a break!
Let’s just start with the fact that my all-time favourite author is J.D. Robb and although she defies any specific genre, her Death Series is the absolute top must-have. But here are a few of my other favourites!
Lara Adrian Breeds Series |
Lara Adrian writes fast paced action with great characterisation. Furthermore, she writes WELL. With its conspiracies, threats, special-ops action, desire and love Lara Adrian has built a world that is compelling and engrossing. While this is the only paranormal series she has written, she is an author to follow. |
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Keri Arthur |
Keri has written different series and you have to choose which style you prefer. The Ripple Creek werewolves are a favourite of mine, but the Riley Jensen Guardian series is more confrontingly real (in an unreal vampire/werewolf way!) with quite a lot of graphic sex. Then again, Nikki and Michael are awesome vampire ass-kickers! |
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Amanda Ashley |
On one hand I wish she’d give her women a little more backbone – on the other hand I own 15 of her books and can’t help but keep buying them because they’re good reads. |
Try a couple such as |
Nina Bangs |
The Castle of Dark Dreams might be better known, but I prefer the Gods of the Night Series. Really when guardians of the world have a soul of dinosaurs you’ve just got to laugh! These are good fun. |
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Naomi Bellis |
This is a wonderful mix of historical romance, Napoleonic espionage and magic. |
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Kresley Cole |
Lots of danger, adventure and romance with an amazing cast of fey, weres, vampires, mages, demons, valkyries … you name it, they’re playing in Kresley Cole’s backyard |
The Immortals After Dark series |
Christine Feehan |
I know a lot of people don’t connect with the Carpathians, but as the series has developed the depth of the plots and characterisation has become more complex and compelling. I’m still happy to re-read the earlier books for light relaxation, but the last five books are the ones that pull me in. |
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Jacqueline Frank |
Okay, I love her Nightwalker series), but unbelievably I think her next arc, Ecstasy, Rapture and Pleasure (2010) are even better. Just buy all her books. |
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Jeaniene Frost |
Cat Crawford is tough and knows she wants her man – even when he tries to avoid her for her own good. Lots of tough action and some heartrending scenes. |
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Sherrilyn Kenyon |
Her Dark Hunters are a great mix of Greek mythology and vampires, but I do prefer the earlier books where the politics between the different groups is a little more straightforward. |
4.Night Pleasures, |
Cheyenne McCray |
An interesting approach to solving crimes when the goodies are the fey and D’Anu witches. Well written stories. |
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Jennifer Rardin |
Absolutely brilliant. The plots are complex, the action will give you a thrill and the psychological and emotional twists will grab your heart. Brilliant! |
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Lyndsay Sands |
These are light and fun – a welcome relief after some of the more intense books. |
The Argeneau series |
Kerrelyn Sparks |
The Love at Stake series is a delight from the first to the last word. Whether it’s the goings on at the local vampire TV station, the CIA trying to trap them, the harem getting up to strife o the latest beverage created, you’ll just love these books. |
1. How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire |
Lynn Viehl |
The Darkyn series is a great romantic fantasy and Dr Alexandra Keller is one of my all-time favourite characters. |
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J.R Ward |
Buy everything she writes! She really is an icon and her Black Dagger Brotherhood books are addictive. My favourites are the earlier books though. |
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URBAN FANTASY
I love the way a good Urban Fantasy gives me a fresh approach to the known world. Books in this genre normally have a solid romantic theme, a touch of fantasy and a contemporary feel.
Some terrific books are out there and more being written and released all the time.
Here are some authors and titles I think should be on the must read list (or if you have these, schedule time for a re-read!)
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Mercedes Thompson is a VW mechanic and a coyote shapeshifter who gets caught up in the problems and battles of werewolves vampires and the fey. Mercedes is wonderful and Adam to die for. |
Moon Called, Cry Wolf |
Karen Chance |
The Cassandra Palmer series is fast paced and action packed. |
1. Touch the Dark |
Christina Dodd |
Really I just read anything written by Christina Dodd – in any genre. She can be dark and scary or light and humourous. What I especially like about her paranormal romances is that she allows herself to stretch the boundaries of the possible and delivery excellent stories |
Any of the Darkness Chosen series or The Chosen Ones series |
Christine Feehan |
The choice is yours – if you want contemporary romance with a touch of Wicca then the Drake Sisters work well. However I prefer more action so the Ghostwalkers come first with me. I think her plots are getting a little twisted in the later books, but I’m holding out hope that she’ll start straightening this out. |
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Jeaniene Frost |
Well I love her books, even though I’ve been told that Bones is a little too ex-Buffy. Cat Crawford is wonderfully tough and the vampire hunting excellently nasty! |
1. Halfway to the Grave |
Laurell K Hamilton |
“Sex, sex, sex … that’s all you ever think about” (okay, thanks Month Python for that!) Read the Anita Blake for the early and the later books - the middle ones are sooooo sex driven that they become tedious. And Merry Gentry, great to revisit the fey and the Seelie and Unseelie courts, but, hello, is this just a sex manual? |
Book 1. Guilty Pleasures, |
Lora Leigh |
I know that some people just aren’t into shapeshifters, but I love them. To my mind no one does them better than Lora Leigh, and her Breeds are tormented, tough and very very sexy. |
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Deirdre Knight |
I love the mix of SciFi, Urban Fantasy and Special Ops in these books. Lots of sex so definitely for the over 18s. |
The Parallel books in the Midnight Warrior series |
Alexis Morgan |
With her Paladins we have a series with darkness, danger and lots of sword fights. Yay! We also have well written and steamy romances which make the Paladins one of my favourite series to re-read. I’m not as sure about the Talions yet, but I’m hopeful… |
The Palading: |
Nalini Singh |
Discovering Nalini Singh has been such a joy. Her Psy-Changeling series is a fresh, tough and sexy look at the question of what would happen if those with psychic powers joined together as a political, economic and social block. What would happen to the world? And what if shapeshifters were the only sub-culture strong enough to be left alone? It’s terrific. However it’s her new book Angel’s Blood that takes my breath away. Just love it! |
All the Psy-Changeling books and definitely the Guild Hunter series, with the first book Angel’s Blood |
Eileen Wilks |
Lily Yu is an FBI agent solving crimes that would bring most people nightmares. She’s also the mate of the Lu Nuncio of the local werewolf clan – and her grandmother is a were-tiger! Sound confusing? It’s not. This series is actually a very well written crime thriller with the addition of supernatural characters and beings that raise the level of evil that Lily battles. |
1.Tempting Danger |
TEEN PARANORMAL - YOUNG ADULT Romantic Fantasy
A good teen paranormal transends age boundaries. A bad teen paranormal won't. Make no mistake, the only real difference between a good teen paranormal and a good adult paranormal romance is the level of steam - but don't make the mistake in thinking that this makes these books light reads, some of the issues that face the teenagers in these stories will make your head spin.
They're well written, with great plots and great characters. Some have a few more pensive looks and teen angst than others - but these are some of our favourite books, that everyone should read.
Richelle Mead |
Note. only the Vampire Academy series is YA, the other books by Richelle Mead are very adult |
Vampire Academy Series |
Stephanie Meyer |
The women who started the popular trend for teen paranormal romance - although not the first! These are mostly quite chaste books, but note the mostly. They're a light read, but we're traveling through the life of a 17-19yr old girl, so the books get a little older as she does. |
Twilight Series |
PC & Kristin Cast |
A great series that blends the world of vampires with the world of shamanism. A very relvenant series for a modern world. |
House of Night Series |
Lili St.Crow |
Well written plots and well developed characters. More urban fantasy that paranormal romance. But seriously cool |
Strange Angels Series |
Melissa de la Cruz |
A cross between Twilight and Sex in the City, for teenagers. I think adults reading this might be a bit 'surprised' by the level of maturity of these teenagers, but teenagers won't be. Lots of mystery and plot twists in a well rounded story. |
Blue Bloods Series |
Katie MacAlister:
Playing with Fire
Louisa May Alcott and Lynn Messina:
Little Vampire Women
Ogawa, Yoko:
Housekeeper And The Professor, The
Laurens, Stephanie:
The Brazen Bride
Jeaniene Frost:
One Foot In The Grave
Heather Brewer:
Eighth Grade Bites
Jeaniene Frost:
One Foot In The Grave
Cast, Mead, Gray, Caine, Smith, Holder, Vincent, Lee:
Immortal: Love Stories With Bite
Heather Brewer:
Eighth Grade Bites
Cherry Adair, Gena Showalter & Lorie O'Clare:
Bodyguard, The
Karen Chance:
Embrace the Night
Michelle Zink:
Guardian of the Gate
Annette McCleave:
Bound by Darkness