My favorite books that will sweep you into a fantastical series of alternate worlds

Why am I passionate about this?

My life has taken a very interesting path with twists and turns that can be found in many peoples’ journeys, but diving into the pages of a book and getting lost fantastical worlds has helped me navigate my way through the rougher patches. There is something about the possibility of worlds so close to our own but touched by the extraordinary that is so alluring, it’s hard to leave. Thus, my love of series was ignited. That little bit of different that these series offered sparked a love for creating my own worlds where magic existed, families weren’t always limited to DNA, and perseverance led to a happy ending. Enjoy!


I wrote...

Grave Cargo

By Jami Gray,

Book cover of Grave Cargo

What is my book about?

A dead mage, a missing friend, and an unpredictable alliance merge into a volatile package sending Rory careening through the Arcane elite’s deadly secrets. A deadly discovery lands Rory Costas, Arcane Transporter, in the middle of the toughest case she's faced, where no one can be trusted, and nothing is as it seems. She must solve a murder and find her missing roommate before it's too late, all while fighting a growing attraction to the dark and dangerous Zev.

An intense mystery, filled with unexpected twists and a sizzling romance, Jami Gray's Grave Cargo is a clever & fast-paced intro to an urban fantasy series that will draw you in and won't let go.

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The books I picked & why

Book cover of Clean Sweep

Jami Gray Why did I love this book?

I adore Ilona Andrews’ works, regardless of series, as she never fails to keep me enthralled. But I highly recommend her Clean Sweep, the first in her Innkeeper Chronicles, that mixes elements of urban fantasy, science fiction, and a smidge of romance to keep things interesting.

Dina Demille is a multi-dimension, intergalactic innkeeper in the Texas hill country and she runs her magical inn that’s bigger on the inside than it looks with an intimidating broom. The world-building sucks you under in no time as Dina juggles an annoying alpha-strain werewolf ex-solider neighbor and a princely vampire warrior as she protects the unknowing human inhabitants of Earth from a vicious alien creature locked on one of her guests as its next target even as it uproots her inn’s peace.

You’ll fall in love with Dina’s quiet strength and unfailing commitment to others in this page-turning adventure.   

By Ilona Andrews,

Why should I read it?

3 authors picked Clean Sweep as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

***Notice: This is a special Collectors Edition, trade-paperback volume, which includes Black and White original illustrations. It is a short novel, of approximately 60,000 words in length/227 pages***

On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is...different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the…


Book cover of Naked in Death

Jami Gray Why did I love this book?

If you’re looking to binge a great murder mystery series with futuristic elements, JD Robb’s In Death series should be on your list. This is an auto-buy for me.

I fell in love with Eve Dallas, a New York City Lieutenant from page one. I love the creative mix of future elements (it’s set in 2058) and the in-depth character development of film noire stereotype of a cop on the edge of burnout.

As a homicide cop with a decade of experience, she’s no stranger to unraveling a killer’s motive, means, and opportunity, but when an investigation brings her into the orbit of Roarke, a billionaire with a murky past, her innate moral code and gut instincts are pitted against an irresistible attraction.

This is a fantastic entry into a compelling murder mystery series with a captivating cast of characters that never gets old. 

By J.D. Robb,

Why should I read it?

6 authors picked Naked in Death as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Crime and punishment is Lieutenant Eve Dallas's business. Murder her speciality. Named by the social worker who found her when she was a mere child roaming that city's streets, Eve Dallas is a New York police detective who lives for her job. In over ten years on the force, she's seen it all - and knows her survival depends on her instincts. But she's going against every warning telling her not to get involved with Roarke, a charismatic Irish billionaire - and a suspect in Eve's latest murder investigation. But passion and seduction have rules of their own, and it's…


Book cover of Slave to Sensation

Jami Gray Why did I love this book?

If you like paranormal romance, you’ll want to add Nalini Singh’s Slave to Sensation, the first of her Psy-Changling series to your list. 

Set in a unique future shared by shapeshifters, psychics, and humans, this Romeo and Juliet-type story will keep you hooked from the get-go. Ms. Singh manages to burrow deep into your heart as Sasha, the daughter of a powerful Psy, engages in a quiet rebellion and dares to get involved with the intimidating alpha of the influential shifter pack.

The way the story weaves the political and societal divides lends a realistic vibe to this fantastical tale where there are no easy answers. Yet, despite this, the couple still finds their way through painful choices to find a future where they can honor who they are at their core and find their version of happily ever after.

By Nalini Singh,

Why should I read it?

4 authors picked Slave to Sensation as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

THE FIRST PSY/CHANGELING NOVEL from the New York Times bestselling author of Shards of Hope, Shield of Winter, and Heart of Obsidian...
The book that Christine Feehan called "a must-read for all of my fans."
In a world that denies emotions, where the ruling Psy punish any sign of desire, Sascha Duncan must conceal the feelings that brand her as flawed. To reveal them would be to sentence herself to the horror of "rehabilitation"-the complete psychic erasure of everything she ever was...Both human and animal, Lucas Hunter is a Changeling hungry for the very sensations the Psy disdain. After centuries…


Book cover of Cry Wolf

Jami Gray Why did I love this book?

Patricia Briggs is a true weaver of stories, whose complex characters and intriguing world-building make it easy to get lost in her books.

Cry Wolf, the first in her Alpha and Omega series is no different. As someone who loves female characters with a core of grit, Anna, an Omega wolf who’s survived a brutal attack that threw her into a world of monsters, is one such heroine. When she and her new mate, Charles, stumble upon a wicked witch, it’s Anna’s strength that gives the nascent couple the edge they need to triumph over evil.

Fair warning, Anna’s history is painful and could be triggering for some, but what rises from the ashes is stunning to behold and gives testament to the strength of survivors.

By Patricia Briggs,

Why should I read it?

2 authors picked Cry Wolf as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

No. 1 New York Times bestselling author Patricia Briggs presents the first Alpha and Omega novel - the start of an extraordinary series set in the world of Mercy Thompson, but with rules of its own . . . Perfect for fans of Ilona Andrews, Nalini Singh, Christine Feehan and J. R. Ward.

'Patricia Briggs is an incredible writer' Nalini Singh, New York Times bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling series

'Patricia Briggs is amazing . . . Her Alpha and Omega novels are fantastic' Fresh Fiction

Charles Cornick is his pack's enforcer and lives a harsh life, doing jobs other…


Book cover of Until the Sun Falls from the Sky

Jami Gray Why did I love this book?

Kristin Ashley’s paranormal fantasy, Until the Sun Falls from the Sky, is a spellbinding first into her Three series.

Told in a first-person point of view, this tale follows the headstrong Leah as she finds herself trapped by her family’s legacy to serve the centuries-old vampire, Lucien and fulfill a prophecy. With hints of Kate from Taming of the Shrew, Leah fights fate and her attraction to the seemingly unbending Lucien to maintain her sense of self and independence.

In true romance style, the push and pull of their relationship, mixed with the twists and turns of an unrelenting prophecy make this a must read for romance lovers. 

By Kristen Ashley,

Why should I read it?

1 author picked Until the Sun Falls from the Sky as one of their favorite books, and they share why you should read it.

What is this book about?

Leah Buchanan’s family has been in service to vampires for five centuries. Even so, Leah wants nothing to do with her family’s legacy. But when she’s summoned to her Selection by the Vampire Dominion, under familial pressure, she has no choice but to go.Lucien has been living under the strict edicts of the Vampire Dominion for centuries but he’s tired of these ancient laws stripping away everything that is the essence of the vampire.So he’s taking it back.This is because Lucien has been watching and waiting for decades for Leah to become available for a Selection and he will not…


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Lap Baby

By Amy Q. Barker,

Book cover of Lap Baby

Amy Q. Barker Author Of Lap Baby

New book alert!

Why am I passionate about this?

Author Avid reader Nature lover Park ranger wanna be Best Nana ever

Amy's 3 favorite reads in 2023

What is my book about?

A story you'll never forget about survival, forgiveness, healing, and love.

Twenty years ago. A plane crash. Three women survivors are inexorably connected by fate, destiny, and a cause. 

Julie Geiger, a flight attendant, told five sets of parents to place their babies on the floor of the plane when it was going down. Now, she must live with the consequences. Will changing the emergency rules bring her healing and forgiveness? And where does love fit into her life now?

Marie Stanley lost her baby boy on that flight. And she knows exactly who to blame. Julie. The problem is that vindictiveness festers. And eats into your soul. How will Marie learn to move past her hate and save her marriage in the process?

Paige Montgomery, the lap baby who survived the flight, would love to forget it ever happened. After all, she’s happy. And she’s on the cusp of a new relationship. How will she learn to forge her own path, one that integrates all the elements of her past, including the crash, the loss of her parents, and her subsequent adoption?

Lap Baby

By Amy Q. Barker,

What is this book about?

Twenty years ago. A plane crash. Three women survivors inexorably connected by fate, destiny, and a cause.

Did you know that lap babies (children under the age of two) are instructed to be placed on the floor of a plane during an emergency? Sounds crazy, but it’s true.

Julie Geiger, a flight attendant, told five sets of parents to do just that. Now she must live with the consequences. Will changing the rules bring her healing and forgiveness? And where does love fit into her life now?

Marie Stanley lost her baby boy on that flight. And she knows exactly…


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