Romance novels

Posted by mari in Design Blog on Mar 2nd, 2010 | 14 responses

So, I’ve read Dirk and Steele.  I’ve read some Harlequin stuff.  I’ve read the first in the Mercy Thompson series (thanks to a local paranormal romance reading group.)  And, of course, I’ve read the entire Twilight series (and saw the movies at the midnight release… yeah… I’m one of THOSE.)  So, do you have any other suggestions as to what I/we should read or watch here in the office?  What’s the cream of the crop as far as paranormal/urban fantasty romance is concerned?  Any media is welcome!

14 Responses to “Romance novels”

  1. nightsmusic says:
    March 2, 2010 at 4:16 pm

    For a HEA with every story, Karen Marie Moning’s Highlanders.

    In order.

    Awesome!!

    Reply
  2. Sandra says:
    March 8, 2010 at 8:40 pm

    Some of my favorites, I think all of them are series.
    Karen Chance – Cassie Palmer series
    Patricia Briggs – Mercy Thompson series and the Alpha and Omega series
    Charlaine Harris – Sookie Stackhouse series
    Rachel Caine – Morganville Vampire series and Weather Warden series
    Carrie Vaughn – Kitty and the Midnight Hour series
    Kim Harrison – Hollows (Rachel Morgan) series
    I’m doing these from memory so I hope I have the correct writers with the books!

    Reply
  3. Sandra says:
    March 8, 2010 at 8:45 pm

    Oh, I didn’t put Marjorie M Lui in the list since you already mentioned the D&S books, but she is at the top of my list.
    Marjorie wrote the book “A Taste of Crimson” for the Crimson City series that I also liked. Some of the books in that series are better than others with Marjorie at the top of the list, but it’s a very good series overall.

    Reply
    • Mari says:
      March 8, 2010 at 11:36 pm

      Thank you for all the books to add to my list!

      I haven’t read the Sookie Stackhouse books, but have seen the first season of True Blood (I thought it was intriguing, but haven’t watched the second season, yet – so no spoilers, please!) I’ve heard that Sookie is a much better heroine in the books. What did you think? Did you think the show did a good job translating the books to the small screen or not so much?

      Reply
  4. Kelly Anne says:
    March 10, 2010 at 12:57 pm

    Marjorie M. Liu’s Dirk & Steele series is actually the only paranormal romance I read regularly (I’ve tried others and hers is the best). If you life paranormal/fantasy books which aren’t strictly romances, then anything by Neil Gaiman is worth checking out (Neverwhere, American Gods, and Anansi Boys, as well as the Sandman series of graphic novels). If you liked Twilight (which I admit I have not read), then I CAN recommend some solid Young Adult paranormal/fantasy romances.

    Maggie Stiefvater’s books are wonderful, espcially Shiver (it’s got werewolves, if you’re a Team Jacob-er). Garth Nix’s Abhorsen trilogy is practically a classic these days, but is SO worth reading. It starts with Sabriel, which I reread about once a year.

    If you’re at all interested in new takes on Grimm’s fairy tales (and even if you’re not, I highly recommend these books), then no one is better than Shannon Hale. Her Book of a Thousand Days and Goose Girl (which starts the Bayern series) are fantastic. Her graphic novel Rapunzel’s Ravenge is fabulous, too.

    That’s my YA fantasy/paranormal shortlist, which I can add to if you’re interested. I’ve also got a TON of mystery/thriller, historical, Western, and contemporary romances I can recommend. I’ve worked in a few bookstores, if you couldn’t tell!

    Reply
  5. LG says:
    April 4, 2010 at 10:56 pm

    Hmmm, let’s see. You already mentioned Patricia Briggs (I’m actually starting to like her Alpha and Omega characters better, although not necessarily the books themselves). How about: Kelley Armstrong (start with Bitten), Keri Arthur, MaryJanice Davidson (her Betsy Taylor books), C.E. Murphy (Urban Shaman – more urban fantasy than urban fantasy romance, but still good), and Eileen Wilks. As far as YA stuff, there’s Annette Curtis Klause’s Blood and Chocolate (way better than the movie) and L.J. Smith (my favorites are Daughters of Darkness and Soulmate).

    I could probably go on, but I think I’ll end it here. :D

    Reply
  6. Midori says:
    June 6, 2010 at 12:34 am

    Definitely check out the Marked series by S. J. Day. They are Eve of Darkness, Eve of Destruction and Eve and Chaos. Would love to see this series made into a game.

    Reply
  7. Cordia says:
    July 11, 2010 at 1:18 pm

    I absolutely cannot recommend Patricia Briggs highly enough. Laurell K. Hamilton was a pioneer in the genre and back when she had actual editors, her books were a genuine pleasure to read. If you haven’t read Anita Blake, you owe it to yourself to read the first 10 or so books. Here’s a tip, though: I pretend Anita dies just before Incubus Dreams, so Incubus Dreams and any subsequent books are just speculative fanfiction that have no bearing on canon Anita. There seems to be quite a crossover here between urban fantasy and romance, though. Mercy Thompson has real GRIT. Urban Shaman is another great series- I’m currently reading the third book and loving it. Again, not one I’d classify as romance, but totally worth reading. Let me add another author here who might fall more on the romance side of things: Lilith Saintcrow. I highly enjoyed her characterization and world building (it’s a bit of an alternate future rather than modern urban, if that makes sense) and this is one that I think would translate really well to a story driven game.

    Reply

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