While I can trace my love of romance books back to the bookmobile where I checked out every Sweet Dreams and V.C. Andrews book I could every Wednesday, I blame Anne Rice for my lifelong obsession with vampires, shifters, and alphas that go bump in the night. Paranormal romance has been my go-to for two decades, with contemporary romance coming in a close second in recent years. Although I write the stories I want to read, the books on this list have inspired me. The emotions and devotion they cultivate are what I aspire to create with my own books and I hope you love these as much as I do.
I wrote...
Connection
By
Katja Desjarlais
What is my book about?
Vampire Dominic Kaius is a cleaner, collecting humans others leave behind and bringing them into the Kaius haunt. When a mission triggers a connection between him and the woman he’s sent to acquire, he’s torn between his desire for her and his need to stay away.
Waking in an unknown bed, Molly Wagner faces two choices: death or Tender training. Opting for survival, she’s thrust into vampire hierarchy, where women are schooled as courtesans. She finds solace with Dominic, but when the madness of their connection consumes him, the haunt sells her to an unvetted master. Embroiled in a battle to save his kind from extermination and driven by their connection, Dominic risks everything to save Molly before her new master destroys her body and soul.
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The Books I Picked & Why
Angels' Blood
By
Nalini Singh
Why this book?
Nalini Singh is a master of world creation. Her Guild Hunter series seamlessly incorporates angels and vampires into modern life with such finesse it’s easy to forget her stories are fiction. Every character in the series is artfully developed with a beautiful balance of strengths and flaws. While the overarching storyline of good vs evil ties the series together, it’s Singh’s cast who keeps me ravenous for every installment. This is one of the few series I reread from start to finish with each new release and every pass-through feels like a return to old friends.
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Fantasy Lover
By
Sherrilyn Kenyon
Why this book?
Sometimes I want to be emotionally destroyed and when I do, this is the series I return to. Kenyon has a way of developing her fantasy world and those who inhabit it so fully that reading this series feels less like an escape and more like an immersion. This series is a different take on the vampire genre, bringing in Greek mythology to expand the lore of Kenyon’s world. The heroines are strong, the heroes are perfectly flawed, and this is the series I turn to when I want to feel every emotion on the spectrum.
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Dark Lover
By
J.R.Ward
Why this book?
I make no apologies for being a serial series reader and this one makes every one of my top ten must-read lists. You want action? Read this. Intrigue? Done. Vamps with questionable morals and snarky attitudes? All here. Romance? Definitely. Escapism? J.R. Ward is a queen of storytelling with a flair for walking on the darker side without crossing over. The Black Dagger Brotherhood series is my top recommendation for anyone seeking to dip their toes in the paranormal romance genre.
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Some Girls Bite
By
Chloe Neill
Why this book?
A heroine who takes no prisoners and keeps every alpha she meets on his toes? Yes, please. The Chicagoland series has everything I want in a summer binge-read: drama, romance, relevant bloodshed, and humor. Chicagoland is a sweet blend of swords, bites, and heat and anyone looking for a series to become immersed in on the beach will love it.
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Midnight Touch: Midnight Pack
By
L. Ann
Why this book?
L. Ann is a new-to-me author and one whose Forgotten Legacy series made me an instant fan. Her writing is smooth, angst is high, and characters are heartbreakingly real. Romance guarantees a happily ever after, but L. Ann keeps you guessing how she’s going to accomplish it until the bitter end. For paranormal romance readers sliding from vampires over to shifters, the Midnight Pack series is a delicious excuse to stay up past bedtime to finish off just one more chapter.
