Paranormal Lovers discussion

Okay, anyone who takes the blindest bit of notice of what I say when I'm on here will know that the GR's guys (that'd be you) have opened my eyes to pleasures of the mind by introducing me to new authors and series' with characters that leave me pleading for more.
To begin, I sanctified the hours I spent reading by passing it off as research.
I'm a newly published author who intends to write an entire platoon of stories based on characters from The Holloway Pack, so to understand 'why' readers like yourselves return to the same author over again is something I crave to understand.
But after spending more and more time on here, chatting to and getting to know you guys, this research has turned into one of the most pleasurable aspects of my job to date.
But because I enjoy this side of it so much, I've decided to write a once-monthly blog post on Book Series, featuring one a month and why 'I' think readers are falling in love with them. Without you guys to nudge me in the right direction like y'all already have done, I would not have had a clue where to begin. I've already got suckered into the world of BDB, and I've only the last book in the Fever series left to read. On my kindle, I have Fantasy Lover, which is the first in a Sherilyn Kenyon series (that right?)--thanks to Cassie. So, if I'm going to try and sustain this as a monthly posting, after BDB and Fever, I shall be looking for other series that are rocking the world of paranormal lovers like yourselves. So ... suggestions would be mucho gratefully received, preferably with links/covers in the correct order and why you love them so much.

(I would prefer not to be pointed toward books that are a) only available in the States--I'm British, or b) are going to cost me 20quid to buy--I'm on a mega-tight budget).

In advance: thank you all for any help. You've already been great helping me find new authors to fall in love with.
Cheers. :o)

Right, what are you looking for? YA or adult?

I have more than a few up my sleeves :)

I'd prefer adult because that's what I write, but I'm not opposed to YA so long as the content/storyline is fairly mature. :o)

Well, there are many series in the series section, but they don't appeal to everyone as I posted series I know/love or that are popular :)

Of course there is. Doh! Are the ones with the most comments the ones that are most popular, though?

I'm not sure but I will still post stuff here as I don't love everything from there lol :)

Awesome. Thanks. I'll check them all out tomorrow when I get back from Tamworth Castle. :o)

Ooo nice lol :) have fun :)

Thanks. I will, I'm sure. :o)

As I am on this series now, I'll start with this :)

The Argeneau series :)



I love this series, because it is funny and sexy. And you don't have to read them in order really neither as each book is based on a different couple.

I'm about to start
Richelle Mead is one of my fave authors after reading her YA series Vampire Academy and Bloodlines so I can't wait to read it

OK - going alphabetically here:

CT Adams and Cathy Clamp have a very good series called the Sazi, beginning with

Lara Adrian has a series Midnight Breed, very similar to BDB, beginning with

Ilona Andrews has the Kate Daniels series (one of the best and a superb H/H relationship), starting with

Don't forget Kelley Armstrong whose series begain with and is still going strong. (I gave up after the first 5)

If you like dragons and tongue in cheek comedy then try G A Aiken's Dragon's Kin series - starts with

Kerry Arthur's Riley Jensen series is super (and actually ends at book 9 with a HEA). Starts with

Great stuff, you guys. :o)

Those are the ones we chatted about the other day, aren't they, Cassie? I'll look into her.

I've heard of Succubus Blues, but wondered how erotic they might be because of the title? Are they romance, or do they push the boundaries a little, Kayleigh?

Carole-Ann, I'm not familiar with most of yours. I have Magic Bites on my reading list because someone rec'd it through Twitter yesterday, and I've read all all of Kelley Armstrong's up until Waking the Witch, so I could easily feature her without having to worry about reading through the series.

Thanks heaps. :o)

Next:
If you like irreverent humour with vampires most of Nina Bangs' books are good. Try for starters

LA Banks has a Vampire Huntress series (which I haven't read yet) First book is

Anya Bast has two series - Elemental Witches and Dark Magic -

Jenna Black has a contemporary PNR with and a super YA series with . She also has a new series Dark Descendant and is the first one which I really enjoyed.

A DON'T MISS series is Doomsday Brethren by Shayla Black. Starts with

Another don't miss, is Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson series. First one is . There is a spin-off series called Alpha and Omega. Begins with

Meljean Brook has a fairly good series - Guardians - starts with

If you don't mind sci-fi variations then Cheryl Brooks has the Cat Star Chronicles beginning with - these are very good :)

If you don't mind detective/mysteries etc then you must try Jim Butcher's Dresden Files. Not much romance, more urban fantasy, but the paranormal characters are brilliant. Starts with

Rhyannon Byrd has a couple of easy-read series: and and the Primal Instict series beginning with

Carole-Ann, you are looking very kissable right now. Keep 'em coming. I just ordered 1st Midnight Breed as it only cost £1.59 for my kindle. :o)
The entire series is less than 2 quid a book, which is awesome :o)

Awesome. Just bought Last Wolf Standing for a couple of quid, too. :o) I've downloaded samples for all the others to see how I get on with those before I fork out the higher bucks for them. Yeah! I'm going to be reading forever as this rate. And by the time I finish all these, more authors will have had releases. :o)

And continuing with the C's:

Anything by Rachel Caine is very worthwhile. The Weather Warden series is very different and clever: , and the YA Morganville Vampires is really good (probably some peeps would say it's dragging now 'cos we're on to book 11 in November!)

There is the (inevitable) YA series House of Night by PC and Kristen Cast - begins with - again, this is dragging a bit :) with book 9 out in November.

I do like the Cassie Palmer series by Karen Chance - it is quite different!

Another YA series I enjoyed (although some didn't) is Cassandra Clare's Mortal Instruments beginning with

And DEFINITELY GET THIS ONE series is Immortals After Dark by Kresley Cole - they are really impressive (and funny). Starts with What the Warlord Wants in and continues with

Something I'd add here which I've found VERY good is the ACRO series by Sydney Croft, beginning with , contemporary with clever paranormal/supernatural talents for each character.

And yes, apart from the LA Banks series, I've read them ALL.

Some are better than others (of course), but I've enjoyed every one !!

OK, carrying on......

Mary Janice Davidson does a Queen Betsy vampire series which are funny (but I gave up after 3)

Alyssa Day has a very good series with Warriors of Poseidon starting with

Something more urban fantasy, but with PN elements, is Mark del Franco's Connor Grey series

I've heard good things about Jennifer Estep's Elemental Assassin books

A couple of more 'mature' books are Anna J Evans' Demon Bound series and

The prolific Christine Feehan has a number of series: the Dark Ones aka Carpathians, beginning with
The Ghostwalkers series and Drake Sisters series are probably not specifically paranormal, but they do contain elements of it.

Most of Jacqueline Frank's books are PN: Nightwalkers ; Shadowdwellers (can't find them here); and Three Worlds

MUST READ Jeaniene Frost Night Huntress series -

Yasmine Galenorn has a series beginning with but I haven't read these.

Try Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake series, but don't go further than about number 8, because they just get a little too OTT with the sex.

Lori Handeland does a nice series beginning with

And of course there is the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris

And Kim Harrison's series.

The new Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne are very good (and funny) - probaby urban fantasy to some people, but I liked them!

Lynda Hilburn did two good books (not sure if she's done more)

Emma Holly has done PNR stuff as has Tanya Huff. Check out their names.
And the Jane Yellowhawk series by Faith Hunter is good too

Another MUST read series is Demonica by Larissa Ione and her new Lord of Deliverance

Alexandra Ivy does an easy read Guardians of Eternity series starting with , but I found them too like many others (which had been better written). I'm told she's got better.

Jean Johnson's Sons of Destiny was good, only PNR elements: but great stories.

And then there's Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark Hunter series. Bear with these because apart from a few hiccups in some, the majority are very good.

Caitlin Kittridge has Nocturne City and Black London series.

Angela Knight's Mageverse is unbeatable

And Deidre Knight has the Parallel series and the Gods of Midnight series

Most of Susan Krinard's books have PNR elements - easy, simplistic reads.

And I'll carry on tomorrow...... if you're not too bored :)

You're like a walking encyclopedia for PNR & UF books, Carole-Ann. This is awesome. :o)

I read the Mercy Thompson series, but I'm kinda stalled around 70% through River Marked. It just doesn't seem to have the same tension or pacing of the others, I think.

Succubus blues, is kind of romantic, but def not as sexy as BDB :)

J.A. wrote: "I read the Mercy Thompson series, but I'm kinda stalled around 70% through River Marked. It just doesn't seem to have the same tension or pacing of the others, I think."

I agree :) but I suppose there should always be at least one iffy book in a series :)

And on we go..........

Shelly Laurenston has werewolves in Magnus Pack Pack Challenge and Pride The Mane Event series. Lots of fun (and sex).

Kim Lenox has Shadow Guard series beginning with Night Falls Darkly

Really clever writing from Marjorie M liu in the Dirk and Steele series Tiger Eye. Most of this series can be stand-alone but there are inter-connecting characters. She also has the Hunter Kiss series beginning with The Iron Hunt which I've found intriguing.

Katie MacAlister has a fun vampire series which starts with A Girl's Guide to Vampires and she also deals with dragons (in a different way!) which starts with the Aisling Grey series You Slay Me and continues with the Silver Dragons Playing With Fire and the Light Dragons Love in the Time of Dragons All easy reads, light and enjoyable.

If you like fairies/fae, then the BEST YA series around is the Wicked Lovely series by Melissa Marr.Wicked Lovely

Cheyenne McCray's Night Tracker series is good Demons Not Included

And I've recently found the October Daye series by Seanan McGuire to be really good - a detective type mystery with lots of fae around Rosemary and Rue

Suzanne McLeod's Spellcrackers.com series is very good and original The Sweet Scent of Blood

Richelle Mead has the (in)famous Vampire Academy YA series Vampire Academy as well as the Succubus series (these I found to be great fun really). She also has a new series Dark Swan, but I got frustrated with the 3rd book Storm Born

And, of course, you know the FEVER series !! :)

The Allie Beckstrom series by Devon Monk is supposed to be good Magic to the Bone

Alexis Morgan's Paladins series is a bit more sci-fi/UF Dark Protector but her Talions series is better Dark Warrior Unleashed. She also has a Harlequin series (very easy reading) which starts with The Vampire's Desire

CE Murphy writes very good UF with PN elements. Start with Urban Shaman

And Chloe Neill's Chicagoland Vampires is good Some Girls Bite

The Demon Trappers series by Jana Oliver is a very good YA series Forsaken

Hah - thought the 'link' would make it easier to read :)

Vickie Pettersson has a Zodiac series, slightly UF, but a good original premise The Scent of Shadows

Funny vampires in a contemporary setting are in Kimberly Raye's Vampire Love series Dead End Dating

Michelle Rowen also writes about vamps, beginning with Bitten & Smitten. She also has a Living in Eden series (heroine possessed by a demon) - The Demon in Me

From about 5-7 years ago, Savannah Russe wrote the Darkwing Chronicles which I found very good Beyond the Pale

And I can't not mention Lilith Saintcrow. Although they are more UF than PN, the writing is superb. The Dante Valentine series starts with Working for the Devil and the Jill Kismet series with Night Shift. They are more dark than the norm (especially Dante Valentine), but probably what I'd call paranormal classics.

She also writes the YA Stange Angels series (again very good) Strange Angels under the abbreviated name of Lili St Crow.

Lynsay Sand's vampire books have been mentioned previously - all of them great fun.

Ellen Schreiber wrote about vampires in the early 00's, probably what we now would call YA - Vampire Kisses

Lisa Shearin writes the Raine Benares series beginning with Magic Lost, Trouble Found

The prolific Gena Showalter writes a VERY good series in the Lords of the Underworld The Darkest Night - very similar to BDB and IAD. She also has the Alien Huntress series Awaken Me Darkly and the Atlantis series Heart of the Dragon There is also a YA series beginning with Intertwined

A MUST READ series is Nalini Singh's Psy/Changeling series - exeptional!! Slave to Sensation and a Guild Hunter series Angels' Blood which may or may not be to your liking - I've read varying reviews but I love them.

Susan Sizemore began her Laws of the Blood vampire series in 1999, but they're just as good in today's climate The Hunt and she also wrote the Primes series which has just got better and better I Burn for You

I am going to be reading for YEARS! LOL. I have almost all of these on my kindle as samples to get a feel for which styles I like the best. Thanks, Carole-Ann. :o)

I don't think that Tessa Dawn's Blood Curse books have been mentioned but they are exceptional and Blood Awakening. The Third installment is due out in a few months.

Cool. Thanks, Carrie. :o)

Tessa Dawn's Blood Curse books i hope that they can get her books in audiobook soon so i can lenten to them

Alisha, I hope so too. I loved those books and the third one is coming out in a few months.

Carole-Ann, I just finished and enjoyed it a lot. Thanks for that recommendation. Have put Kiss of Crimson on my to-read list for when I have more pence.

I'm just about to finish that too :D, loving it :D

Oooh, cool. Ping me when you're done so I can see your thoughts. :o)

Will do I read it off my comp and am 13 pages off of finishing, and only started yesterday :D

Pretty sure it only took me about three days. It's a decent pace, though. And I really liked the MC. :o)

I've been told it's like BDB, and so far the pace is similar

That's exactly what Carole-Ann said when she rec'd it.

Someone said it to me one the BotM thread :)

I don't think I finished the aphabeticalised list but I will......

Heheheh, with covers ..... I like seeing the covers. :o)

Lol :)

Okaaaaay......will do

Awesome. Thankeeeeee. :o)

Oh, my next post is due to go out on Monday. It's Rachel Vincent's Shifters this month. :o)

You know, if I had money, I'd just buy all of these you've recommended--I've yet to read a duff one on your say so. You even turned out to be right about Fever.

How's the plans for your book shop coming along, Carole-Ann?

Had to go out and buy more bookcases!!

So many books I didn't realise....but the time is really spent logging them onto a database (just so I know what I've got)

Hoping to be open before the end of the month....so if you're anywhere near Somerset (yeah - just down the M6/M5) you could always pop in to buy DISCOUNTED books *very large grin*

*Hugs* all round....

Carole-Ann, I would SO call in if ever I'm down that way. It would be awesome to meet you. However, I must ensure first that I a) bring lots of money. b) have a van to carry all my new books home. Ha!
:o) :o) :o) :o)