Last May (2009) Amy, my cohort, referred a series to me in my now favorite genre - Paranormal Erotica. I jumped into the book, and I can honestly say I never wanted to look back. I can't stop reading - I even take time at the gym to read while I bike - LOL - but I tell you it's rewarding. The world of the Paranormal Genre has been around a lot longer than the "Twilight" craze, which sometimes gets overlooked. It's amazing to see just how many authors are out there. I find new authors every day in my search.
Now that you know about my reading side - I'll give you a taste of me personally - I have 3 kids (Damon 10, Dominic & Jazmin 5-twins). I work as an Operations Mgr of Process Improvement. I enjoy what I do and I LOVE my kids. I live in Orlando, FL, been in Florida since I was born. There aren't many Floridians left. I grew up in South Florida where I met my now husband and we grew up together. I am an ARIES. Very straightforward and independent. I can be a great friend, but don't cross me or those I care about. I don't do politics or religion. My hobby is Photography and I love scrapbooking my kids.
I can't thank Amy enough for bring me back my love of reading. I am thoroughly "seduced by books". Almost everything I've read has been something that I have enjoyed and came back for more. Just wanted to review some of my favorite Authors and series to give you just a taste. Weres, Demons and Witches are my fav - love the Fae and my Vamps too :)
FAVORITES
Laurell K Hamilton - Both her Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series are amazing. I've passed them off to quite a few friends. Hamilton really develops her characters. For Anita Blake I couldn't put them down from the first words of Guilty Pleasures, I've had some friends say they had a hard time with the first books. My response is keep going - as she develops with JC and M and N (trying not to spoil) it's AMAZING. Those 3 plus J are my favorite characters for Anita. The world around Vamps, Humans, Shifters is just so consuming, Danse Macabre being one of my favs... For Merry - the Fae realm is extremely well done. These start out a little more quickly, but the main character is from a different base. The 6 dads are of course my favorites.
Sherrilyn Kenyon - I think she has to be on the list as my number 1. With the Dark Hunter series which intertwines with the Dream-Hunter and Were-Hunter series, I was hooked instantly. There are about 30 books in the story (including some shorts) and the smooth flow between the characters/plot and books is perfectly done. There is a basis of Greek Mythology mixed with obviously Weres and a different kind of "Vamp". I constantly push this series. Kenyon continued to hook me with her BAD series, Bureau of American Defense and in her pen name, Kinley MacGregor, left me wanting much more with the Lords of Avalon series. And as if it couldn't get any better - her League series gave me the "semi-sci-fi" twist I wanted. Now she is taking one main character of the Dark Hunter series and breaking it out into a young adult trilogy, which will be great for my son in a year or so. Of course, Ash will always be my favorite. - I've been lucky enough to meet Sherrilyn Kenyon and she is all about her fans. She is friendly, welcoming and genuine.
J R Ward - so as I'm riding on the train in NY on vacation, I glance over and see a lady reading one of a book in a different series I was planning to try. Me, being completely unafraid to talk to strangers, asks her opinion; during conversation she mentions the Black Dagger Brotherhood series by J R Ward. I had not heard of it, being just getting back into reading. I made a note and came home to talk to Amy about it. Once I started Dark Lover I knew I would love these characters and the books. Ward creates a great Vamp world. I love the brothers, Z and V my favorites (Rehv is not a brother, but he gets my love too). Definitely got my friends hooked on these. To keep at it, Ward has a Fallen Angels series - Book 2 is due out this year and I am anxiously awaiting. She also has a pen name of Jennifer Byrd that I am waiting to come from the library.
Lara Adrian - The Midnight Breed Series gives a unique twist to Vampires origin. Well Done! Our main characters have a fight to keep the Breed and find their one Breedmate. Overcoming past just to lead on to the future. The stories have a lot of action, romance, and plot. The Breed fights for the safety of their race and their battle develops in each of the books. The latest - Taken By Midnight is due out in Sept 2010.
Mary Janice Davidson - To lighten up the mood, Amy threw the Queen Betsy series at me. If you love shoes - dive in. Betsy is an amazing character. The Ant takes the cake, and damn it, Sinclair is one amazing piece. Throw in the Wyndham Werewolves series to continue it on, and you've got yourself a winner. Funny, sexy, and did I mention funny and sexy :) LOVE IT!
Katie MacAlister- The Dark One series is about Vamps...Funny and fantastic...love the character development and overlap. My fav so far of hers is the Aisling Grey series. I love her, her dragon, and her demon. The writing is catching and you really fall for your characters. Starting her Silver Dragon series soon.
Kim Harrison - The Hollows series once again brings our favorite Witches, Vamps, Weres, Humans, Fae, Pixie together in one series. Rachel kills me with some of her choices in general. Kist - - oh Kisten - - you are the best!!!!! Favorite line - Tink's a disney whore LOL I love this series because it definitely is not your typical story line. I find it gives a break to the romance and twists it up with the every day paranormal world.
Kresley Cole - Immortals After Dark - I love this series. Bring together all the facets of the paranormal world and crossing them over kept me very interested. Love the character descriptions and the relations to the "real" world make me smile. I definitely have this as one of my referrals.
Shiloh Walker - The Hunters - you want erotica - you got it. I loved the characters and the sex. Need I say more? ok, the Hunters are policing the paranormal world and the human world, when deserved, you are no longer a part of it. The writing is intense and again I'm a personal favorite of books overlapping and keeping the story going. I also had the chance to meet Ms. Walker at a book signing. She's down to earth and tells it like it is. Gotta love that :)
Janet Evanovich - ok this isn't paranormal, but it's AWESOME - Stephanie Plum series - laughs and adventures and Ranger...Enjoy. I can't refer this one enough. Recently published in 2010 book 16.
Larissa Ione - Found her and LOVE HER. The Demonica Series takes us to the other side. Demons live among us, and they are the main characters of the book. There's Vamps, Weres, Fallen, Fae, but the Demons are the ones you want. Just finished her 4th book, and the 5th is due out soon. She also has another series around dragons and it's on my list. (also a pen name, Sydney Croft)
Sharie Kohler - The moon chaser series is just what I need - shifters:) As Sophie Jordan she has a YA book coming out in Sept 2010 Firelight - Can't wait. Had the pleasure of meeting her and can say she is a person I would want as a friend. She was extremely friendly and I am happy to say I love her books and you need to read them :)
Jeaniene Frost - Night Huntress series - Cat is a halfling working for the government when her life changes - Frost breaks the characters out into a Night Huntress World series, where adventures aren't just about her. Enjoyed it :)
Charlaine Harris - Sookie Stackhouse - Southern Vamps - True Blood is based on these books - I really enjoy Eric :) Sookie gets herself in an interesting situation and I will always love Q. I haven't done any of her other series but there are quite a few to pick from. This series though gave me just want I wanted, now if I could only get the HBO writers on the same page :)
Richelle Mead - Vampire Academy - REALLY enjoyed this trip to the YA area - Dimitri Dimitri Dimitri - you only had to say one thing...New book due out next month Spirit Bound. Looking forward to trying Mead's Adult series also. --- Update finished Spirit Bound - OMG I have to say these top Twilight - The Vampire Academy series is extremely well done. I didn't feel like I was in a YA book. (yes I read and enjoyed Twilight)
L A Banks - this is a pen name for Leslie Banks - in her paranormal romance she has the Vampire Huntress series of 12 books. I dove in, but I have to be honest in that I struggled, perhaps it's my beliefs that kept me having a hard time. But despite that I tried the Crimson Moon series and LOVE it. Sasha is a Were with an interesting parentage working for the government. What can I say, I like my Vamps, but I love my Weres.
P C & Kristin Cast - House of Night - took a quick trip to the Young Adult realm - and enjoyed it - keep going back for more - Zoey has the world on her shoulders and a great base of friends to help her. Burned was released this month and is book 7 in the series. Anxiously awaiting Awakened.
Kerrelyn Sparks - Love at Stake - Humorous and Hot...current with the series 9 books - can't wait to read Eat PREY Love, it should be HOT. I'm waiting for Connor's book.
L J Smith - Vampire Diaries - Love the SHOW, not so much the books - I struggled to move through the 5 books - BUT I am giving her another chance to the Night World Series and Dark Visions series.
Shelly Laurenston - came recommended from one of our fans - and I can't thank her enough. Again, my favorite shifters - lions tigers and bears oh my!!! these are fun and sexy rolled into one.
Cheyenne McCray - one of her comments from another author on her book is she is like Kim Harrison, I have to agree. She gives it to you and with that hot and steamy I need. All factions of the paranormal are in her books and I can't wait for Vampires Not Invited... She has a Magic based series and a Night Tracker series. LOVE THEM BOTH!
Lydia Dare - happened along her and she sucked me RIGHT in - again, my favorite of shifters and witches. :) :) :)
Upcoming Reads -
Patricia Briggs - Rachel Caine - Gena Showalter - Lora Leigh - Jaquelyn Frank - Christine Warren - Kathy Love - Sara Reinke - Kathryn Smith - Karen Chance - Shayla Black - Alexandra Ivy - Keri Arthur - Amanda Ashley - Eileen Wilks - Michelle Rowen - Yasmine Galenorn - Christopher Pike - Nina Bangs - Jim Butcher - Diana Rowland - Susan Hubbard
Found this on sillylittegame.blogspot.com - loved it!
