Confession: I’ve been experiencing the longest reading slump in probably 15 years. It’s been excruciating. Over and over I’ve opened books and tried to engage, only to find my attention wandering. That is, until I picked up Skin Game by Ava Gray. Ava Gray is the alter ego of Ann Aguirre, one of the most talented romantic sci-fi authors writing in the genre. I’ve read and enjoyed Ann’s Sirantha Jax series, and quite enjoyed the slow building romance between those two main characters, and knew that if Ann decided to, she could write a heck of a romance. Turns out, I was right. Ava Gray has written a very hot romance between two incredibly fascinating characters.

Kyra Beckwith is on the run. You see, she is a thief, one who is able to borrow a mark’s talents for a short period of time in order to part them from some money. Usually, Kyra runs these cons on people who aren’t very upstanding, and she cons them into playing pool or cards or darts with her. She steals a couple thousand dollars, and leaves. But, recently, Kyra began the biggest con of her life. She decided to seduce the man who had her father, also a small time crook, killed. Kyra’s mission was successful; she seduced Gerard Serrano, a casino owner and big time crook. And now that he’s realized that he’s been duped into falling in love with her, and robbed blind of a lot of money, he’s put a hit out on Kyra. The man who has been hired to kill Kyra in Reyes, one of the most effective hit men in the world — known both for his efficiency and his quickness.

But when Reyes meets Kyra, he knows almost immediately that he’s in trouble. First, there’s something about Kyra. She runs the best cons he’s ever seen. Often looking like an absolute amateur until she beats whomever she’s gambling against. Second, there was that fight that they got dragged into the first night they met. Kyra literally used every fighting move he had. And frankly, he is among the best he knows at hand to hand combat. Third, and probably most important, was the sex they had that first night, as the haze of battle had diminished. It soon becomes apparent to Reyes that this hit is going to be the most difficult of his life.

Simply put, I loved this book. Ava Gray has an incredibly strong voice. It’s not a voice that in any way overwhelms the story, but it’s one that clearly gives a sense of place, and more importantly, establishes a clear voice for each of her characters. Kyra, the heroine is both funny, and devious. She’s a heroine who was bound and determined to avenge her father, and is now in running for her life. She’s smart, distrustful, and can be pretty selfish. But she’s remarkably likeable. For his part Reyes, is one of my favorite hero types. He’s dark and broody. Oh yes. Who wouldn’t be? He’s been ordered to kill a woman who has captivated his interest, and given him some mind blowing sex. He’s ruthless and intelligent and really tortured by the fact that he’s to kill this woman who fascinates him.

The characters have a remarkably strong chemistry between them. Gray never skimps on the connection between the two, even as the story barrels long, full of action and excitement. The sex scenes are well choreographed, and enhance the intimacy and emotional bond between the characters each time they have sex. Skin Game is a fast paced, exciting story featuring fascinating characters, a terrific romance and a thrilling conclusion. I’m already desperately awaiting the next book in the series, Skin Tight.

Blaze of Memory by Nalini Singh
A review by Kati Dancy
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: November 3, 2009
4.25 stars of 5

Regular readers of Nalini Singh’s marvelous Psy-Changeling series might remember Dev Santos. He was an ancillary character in Singh’s fifth book, Hostage to Pleasure. So, when Nalini announced that Blaze of Memory would be about Dev finding his love, I was stymied. Why on earth would she write about Dev when there are so many Psy (Kaleb, anyone?) or Changeling (Hawke, Hawke, Hawke, Hawke) stories that I so desperate for. What I should have done, is had more confidence in Nalini as an author. Once again, she delivers an emotionally charged, gripping and well imagined love story that enhances the mythology of the world she has created and propels ongoing story lines ahead.

Dev Santos comes home one day to find an unconscious, beaten woman on his doorstep. He knows she’s Psy and is immediately suspicious of the why of it, but also can’t seem to help himself from helping her. When she awakens, his worst fears are confirmed. She is dangerous to him, and the all important mission of the organization that he runs. He knows she’s dangerous, because she flat out tells him. Her memories may have been stripped, but she is certain of her mission: to kill Dev Santos. However, as he spends time with her, he finds a woman of strength and character and finds himself very attracted. Katya Haas knows that her Psy blocks are failing, she knows that she’s been programmed to do something terrible, and she is bound and determined not to carry out her orders. But that fight is stripping her of her mental blocks, weakening her, and making her even more of a threat to the man she’s been ordered to eliminate. As Dev races to find answers about how to fix Katya’s issues, he finds himself overwhelmingly attracted to this strong, determined woman who is nothing like he first thought. Will he be able to help her?

As always, I gobbled up Blaze of Memory, even though I began it with a lot of trepidation. I wasn’t sure why Nalini had chosen to write this book. Plus, Dev is human and Katya Psy. Where were my beloved Changelings? And how could I care at all about a character that I barely knew anything about? I should have had more confidence in one of my very favorite authors. Although human, and certainly not a physically strong as the Changeling heroes I adore, Dev is every bit as powerful and ruthless when his woman is endangered. As far as Katya goes, she is an interesting character who is fighting tooth and nail against the mission she’s been assigned. As a general rule, I don’t connect as strongly with Singh’s Psy heroines as I do with the Changelings, and this is true of Katya as well. My only other niggle is a scene right at the end of the book where Singh employed a literary device that I felt was unnecessary. But within the scope of the mythology it works, although I very much hope she doesn’t go to that particular well again. Readers should be advised that Blaze of Memory is not a good starting point for the series. They should begin with the first Psy/Changeling book, Slave to Sensation, mostly because the mythology builds slowly and in a complex manner throughout the seven books. But for those who know and love the series, Blaze of Memory is another incredibly strong entry in the Psy/Changeling series, my very favorite in paranormal romance.

So when it came time to choose a heroine, I chose Payton Kendall from Julie’s Practice Makes Perfect. From the first moment we meet Payton, we understand what makes her tick – competition and professional drive. Payton is an up-and-coming, very successful law Associate at one of Chicago’s largest and most successful firms. She is due to be named partner this year, that is, unless one JD Jameson gets in her way. She and JD are on the same track, they compete for just about everything, coming to dislike each other intensely because of the competition between them. When Payton and JD are told by their boss that they’ll have to join forces to land a huge client for the firm, they’re both outraged and challenged.  As they attempt to collaborate to land the client, they get to know each other better, and find that dislike they have for each other might just be something more.

OK, so why do I like Payton so much? Frankly, she’s smart, she’s competitive, she’s not above playing dirty if she has to, but more than anything, she’s incredibly likeable. She and JD must go toe to toe over and over again as they try to land the client, but she never loses her poise, she keeps her sense of humor, even if she loses perspective some time. My favorite scene in the book comes as Payton is in court, trying a case. She and JD have been trading dirty tricks back and forth. In this case, JD has sliced most of the way through the heel of the shoes Payton is going to be wearing in court. At the time, he has no idea that she’ll be in court, and he does it in payback for Payton spilling coffee on this suit jacket just as he’s getting ready to try a case. Anyway, JD rushes over to court to see if he can’t get Payton’s attention while she’s trying the case to let her know what he’s done, so she won’t fall. Payton ends up breaking the heel and falling face first into the jury box. But that isn’t the worst of it:

Everyone was on their feet, stunned, watching as Payton quickly scrambled to pull herself to a stand, grappling, climbing past the jurors who sat in their box, mouths agape. And she managed to get to her feet, a little flustered but covering as she smoothed her skirt and –

“Sorry about that.” Payton smiled calmly at the jurors, regaining her cool. “Now where was I…”

She looked for the deposition transcript she had dropped, she turned around and –

–the entire audience in the galley cried out in shock.

Unbeknownst to Payton, when she had fallen her skirt – those damn slim-fit skirts she liked so much – had torn at the seam and now gaped open, and sweet Jesus, she was wearing a thong and two tiny white butt cheeks peeked out from between the folds of her skirt –

JD’s jaw nearly hit the floor.

Oh god, it was horrible, horrible – well, actually it wasn’t all that horrible for him, she had a really great ass – but for Payton, this was a train wreck, a disaster – […]

She stood up, her hand flew to her skirt, and she felt the rip in the seam. She instantly reacted; she unbuttoned her jacket and quickly tied it around her waist – no more peeky-cheeks – and JD heard a few groans of disappointment as the judge finally got things under control, banging his gavel and calling for order in the courtroom.

And as quickly as the chaos had erupted, things quieted back down. As people took their seats, the clamor settling, JD sat down too, hiding, thinking now definitely was not the time to be seen by Payton.

As silence took hold of the courtroom, all eyes were on Payton. Everyone waited to see what she would do, how she would react.

She paused for a moment. Then she turned and faced the jury.

“Raise your hand if you had no idea you’d see so much nudity in one week of jury duty.”

Twelve hands flew straight in the air.

And unbelievably, Payton laughed.

See? I say buy that girl a drink. Yes, JD is delicious (if devious), but for me, it is Payton Kendall that makes Practice Makes Perfect a successful romance. She’s exactly the kind of contemporary romance heroine I want to read about. She’s smart, resourceful, cool in a crisis, and clearly has a terrific sense of humor. I think that writing a credible contemporary romance heroine is one of the toughest orders out there. In the historical or paranormal genre, heroines can play slightly against type, but with contemporary romance, the reader is drawing immediate, known parallels between her everyday life and what is going on in the book.  It must be a huge challenge to create a heroine that is likeable, smart and is someone who the reader would want to hang out with. Julie James is successful on all fronts with Payton Kendall. If you haven’t picked up a Julie James book yet, I encourage you to do so. They’re worth the price of admission, that’s for sure!

Who are some of your favorite contemporary heroines? Have you read a Julie James book? If so, who is your favorite heroine?

A strong woman is a heady thing, and romance offers us a variety of them. Sure, there are plenty who get a rise from we readers, “too weak, “ we’ll say. Or the heroines we think are undeserving of the author’s masculine creation. But then, we come across a heroine who catches our notice, who makes us laugh, or is feisty, or a hoyden, or just a kickass woman.

This week we’ll focus our attention on the romance heroines we love best. We hope you’ll join us for our commentary, offering your insights into which heroines work for you, and building our To Be Read stacks with your suggestions and recommendations.

Enjoy the week, we’ll be featuring 2 heroines each day. This one’s for the girls…

A review by Kati Dancy
Publisher: Penguin
4.25 stars out of 5

Holly Hutchins is a reporter, a darn good one. She’s got a very successful blog that is often picked up by major papers and television. Her specialty is uncovering secrets. And she’s won awards for it. When her boss informs her that her new assignment will be doing a three month series of blogs about the Pacific Heat, a baseball team that is rising in the chase for the Pennant and specifically to see what she can uncover about the team’s secrets. When she meets Pace Martin, the star pitcher of the Heath, she knows immediately that he’s hiding something – an injury. Pace, being no dummy, wants nothing to do with a reporter, certainly not one as nosey, interfering and persistent as Holly.

Holly finds herself traveling with the team, and being given unprecedented access to its players. And as she hangs out more and more with the players, the more she finds herself liking them. And the more she hangs out with Pace, she finds that he is a genuinely good guy. One who coaches an inner city little league team, one who takes her to the doctor after a mishap, one who checks on her and worries for her well being. But it’s not until the Heat hits a losing skid, and are counting on Pace to dig them out of their problem, that the heat between he and Holly really comes to light. Before the game, Pace and Holly share a very hot moment in the shower room of the Heat’s locker room. They have an earth shattering kiss, and Pace goes on to lead the team to a victory. Anyone who knows baseball players know they are a superstitious lot. Next thing you know, Holly must kiss Pace before every game, and each encounter is raising the stakes in their relationship. On top of that, Holly’s investigations into the team are leading to some unsettling discoveries of possible drug use and doping. Will the attraction between Pace and Holly be enough to overcome the secrets he is keeping?

Double Play is a refreshing, amusing romance with lots of flirting, witty banter, and genuinely likable characters. The sexual tension between Pace and Holly is very strong, but well into the book, they still haven’t consummated their relationship. When they finally do fall into bed, the scene is well worth the wait. I enjoyed the fact that neither of character had a ton of angst, and the reasons for the difficulty in their relationship are believable. The road to love isn’t always an easy one, but they seem to come to the realization that they can do it together at more or less the same moment, which was refreshing. I adore books about professional athletes. Ms. Shalvis has obviously done her research, especially addressing the issues behind doping in professional baseball, a topic that is very hot in sports news right now. The story itself is a pleasurable, breezy read that will provide the reader with a tremendously enjoyable afternoon (or more). I highly recommend Double Play as an entertaining contemporary romance.

A review by Kati Dancy
Publisher: Doherty, Tom Associates, LLC
4.5 stars out of 5 stars

The Marked series by SJ Day is destined to be one of my favorite Urban Fantasy series on the market today. In Eve of Darkness, we meet Evangeline Hollis, an interior designer who has just been invited to submit a proposal to Gadara Industries, one of the largest conglomerates in the United States. What Eve doesn’t realize is that Gadara Industries is a front for the archangel, Raguel. You see, the world is at war — a war that is unseen by most mortals. There are a group of seven archangels protecting the world from Sammael (or Satan), who is doing his best to bring about the downfall of man. To assist the archangels, there are seraphim, and enforcers and marks, human minions who are the on the ground soldiers for God’s army.

Eve meets a mysterious man on her way to the interview at Gadara, she’s immediately attracted, and ends up having sex with him in a stairwell, something totally uncharacteristic for her. Part of her attraction to this man is his overwhelming resemblance to Alec Cain, a man who she loved passionately when she was a teenager, but who left her after heartlessly breaking her heart. The mysterious man leaves her after sex telling her she now bears the Mark of Cain, and she is left wondering what the heck got into her and what on earth he’s talking about. That is, until Alec Cain moseys back through her door, informing her that now that she bears the Mark of Cain, she’s been drafted into God’s army. Eve changes inextricably, becoming stronger, faster and more sexually aware than any human. And through it all, Alec is there by her side, acting as her Mal’akh, training her, helping to learn about her new powers and her place in the pantheon of war. She’s still furious with him, but enjoys that he is there with her. That is, until she sees Reed Abel again. Reed is the man from the hallway, the man who marked her. And he is her Guardian, the one who dispatches her to assignments. Alec and Reed are indeed the Cain and Abel from the Bible. Brothers torn apart, opposites in most every way. They have a mutual dislike of each other, and now, with Eve in the picture, the situation between them is even more precarious. Reed is one of God’s most trusted servants, effective in every way, overseeing a huge number of Marks and managing his business in all aspects. Alec is God’s most feared weapon. He’s dispatched to take care of untenable situations and can hold his own against any foe.

Eve finds herself torn between the man who she loved in her youth, Alec, and the man who turned her, Reed. On top of that, she’s agnostic, so this whole “working for God” business is difficult for her to accept.

The world SJ Day has created is not a complicated one in structure, but it’s complicated in that the characters are fascinating, the action sequences are hair on fire exciting and the sex scenes are incendiary. I’ve set the story up, but am going to say nothing further about the plot except for this; this story does feature a love triangle, so readers who are triangle-averse should avoid this book.  ”But if you love smart, kickass heroines, fascinating new worlds, high octane action and to die for men, the Marked series is definitely not to be missed. “I can hardly wait to see what the fertile mind of S.J. Day comes up with next.

Lori Love is the local mechanic in tiny Tumble Creek, Colorado. She didn’t always want to be a mechanic. For years, she wanted to travel, to discover new places and new experiences. But when her father got sick, she took over working at the shop he owned, and when he died, after racking up thousands of dollars in medical expenses, Lori ends up tethered to the shop and to a life she never really wanted. She knows that with perseverance and hard work, she might be able to pay off the debt and get started on her “real” life. But this means very little frivolity, silliness, and certainly no time for any kind of a serious relationship. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t want sex. She definitely does, but only in a no strings attached kind of way.

Quinn Jennings is Lori’s best friend, Molly’s brother. He is a rising star in architecture, and is passionate about his job. So passionate that often times other aspects of his life suffer. He is easily absorbed in his work and in his free time is building his dream home. That’s not to say he doesn’t want sex, he’s just awful at relationships because he’s so absorbed in his work and doesn’t have time for all the protocols of dating that women seem to expect. But when Lori comes out to repair a piece of construction equipment at his dream home, they reconnect, and he finds that Lori is a gorgeous, desirable woman. He decides to pursue her, and is thrilled when he finds that she’s just looking for some meaningless sex, certainly nothing serious. But as Quinn gets to know Lori, he realizes that she might just be the woman he has been waiting for all of his life. But will he be able to convince her to take a real chance on love?

This is the second of Victoria Dahl’s foray into contemporary romance. And for the most part, it is a very successful one. Quinn is a great hero, one who is smart and driven, and willing to go the extra mile to make his woman happy. He realizes pretty quickly that he and Lori are having more than just sex, and he’s willing to take the experiment to a new higher level. It is Lori that I had a problem with. She is adamant that she is not going to get into a relationship with Quinn; she’s just having a fling with him. Even when all indications are she’s falling for him. Her absolute certainty that they have nothing in common and that she could never have a serious relationship stymied me. I didn’t find her reasoning about why she couldn’t fall in love with Quinn to be credible, and every part of me was frustrated with her lack of either self-awareness or understanding that today’s women can have both, a career AND a loving relationship. My issues with Lori aside, there is much to recommend the book. Dahl writes beautifully choreographed love scenes, which combine genuine emotion, adventurous loving and very steamy sex. Her heroes continue to delight. Quinn is an ideal contemporary hero, respectful of the heroine, sexually attracted, a gentleman and possessed of a terrific sense of humor. Now if I’d only felt that Lori deserved him. Overall, Start Me Up is a serviceable contemporary romance that I think a lot of romance readers will enjoy, but for me, my lack of connection with the heroine lowered the book’s final grade.

Please note with each genre, I’ve listed only ONE book by each author (even though many of these authors have multiple books on my keeper shelves) and only ONE book in a series. It should also be noted that although these books are numbered, they are not in any particular order and are not ranked in order of my favorites.

Contemporary Romance

1- Smooth Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas – This is Lisa’s latest contemporary novel, and it replaces Sugar Daddy, which had been my favorite Kleypas-contemp. Why do I love this story? Jack. Only Jack. He is one of my all time favorite hero types, the caregiving alpha. He is dominant and aggressive, but also a total caregiver and willing to go the extra mile in all ways to make his woman happy. It’s a heady thing, I think.

2- See Jane Score by Rachel Gibson – I remember the first time I read this book, I was enthralled by the professional athlete angle, and the tension between the hero (the athlete) and the heroine (a reporter). Full of funny scenes, comical interactions and very hot sexual tension, this book is an annual re-read for me.

3- Holding the Dream by Nora Roberts – This is the second in the Dream trilogy and features another of my favorite types of characters, the neurotic heroine. Kate is an accountant and has been given a leave of absense for suspected embezzlement. In the mean time, she’s met the delicious Byron, who works for her family’s hotel. He is another caregiving alpha, and one of my favorite Nora heroes ever. He just works stubborn, difficult Kate around until she realizes that she can’t do without him. I love to watch the way super-smart Kate’s brain works and I appreciate the way Byron just keeps at it, maneuvering her into love. You guys know I love Nora’s books, but this is the one I re-read the most.

4- To Die For by Linda Howard – I know that Blair Mallory doesn’t work for a lot of people. But as someone who lived in the South for a number of years and knew plenty of women like her, I loved her. She’s smart and sneaky and manipulative. Yes, she throws a dandy hissy fit, but you’ve got to love how Wyatt, her hero, just dominates her. I love the ongoing struggle between the two of them for power. Blair makes me laugh every time. But I get that this book isn’t for everyone.

5- Practice Makes Perfect by Julie James – What a gold mine Julie is! Sparkling dialog, hilarious settings, and most of all smart, fiesty heroines who always seem to get the last word. What’s not to love about Peyton and JD? They’re in a battle for partnership and the “hatred” they think they have is more like combustable chemistry and attraction. Julie is absolutely a rising star in romance and I can’t wait to read more from her.

6- Virgin River by Robyn Carr – OK, I’ll admit it. Overall her Virgin River series gives me a toothache, but quite simply, I love this book. I consider it like a warm and fuzzy blanket. It’s a sweet romance full of too good to be true hero-guy and damaged heroine. And the scene where Mel mourns for her husband brings me to tears every time.

7- Fallen from Grace by Laura Leone – The story of Ryan a male prostitute, and Sara, his next door neighbor. The books is emotionally gripping, ridiculously sweet (but not toothache inducing) and a lovely story. It’s not a book for everyone, but it’s such a wonderful, touching story and one that I just love sinking into.

8 – Paradise by Judith McNaught – I love McNaught. I know her writing doesn’t work for a lot of people, but I cut my teeth on her books, and they just work for me. I love an autocratic dominant hero, and Matthew Farrell epitomizes that. He’s got a short temper, makes ridiculous assumptions and in general behaves like an asshat. But man, when he apologizes, he does it well. This book is a bit of a guilty pleasure for me, but I loves it.

A few weeks ago, Renee of Renee’s Book Addiction decided to start blogging about romances that had become her favorites as she’s been reading. It’s a well known fact that there’s very little that I enjoy more than making a list. So, I decided to list my favorites too in the hopes that this might inspire a good conversation about what makes a romance your favorite, which genres are you favorites and of course, which books I’m missing or you’ve read that you think should be on the list.

Please note with each genre, I’ve listed only ONE book by each author (even though many of these authors have multiple books on my keeper shelves) and only ONE book in a series. It should also be noted that although these books are numbered, they are not in any particular order and are not ranked in order of my favorites.


1- The Windflower by Tom and Sharon Curtis. This book comes as no surprise to anyone. It is not just my favorite historical romance, but my favorite romance of all time. I know that many readers didn’t enjoy it. It’s very old school. But for me, the wonderful prose, the funny characters and a heroine who I like (I can hear Ana gasping in England right now) keep me coming back over and over again.

2- Again the Magic by Lisa Kleypas. This is not the most popular of Lisa’s historical romances, but it is my favorite. It features her trademark blue collar hero and a heroine of noble birth. McKenna is both tender and difficult at the same time, and the sweet and enduring love that he has for the heroine makes it a favorite for me. His speech at the end of the book to the heroine is some of Lisa’s best work, IMHO.

3- The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn. Book 2 in the Bridgerton series, this book illustrates perfectly Quinn’s mastery of dialogue that sparkles and the family interactions that has made this series both enduring and so well loved. Anthony and Kate are brilliant together as they go toe to toe. Kate is easily my favorite of Quinn’s heroines: smart, loyal, and protective, she’s someone who I’d love to have as a friend.

4- The Spymaster’s Lady by Joanna Bourne. What makes this book so remarkable is the sense of place that Bourne creates. Her mastery of making dialogue just *sound* right is incredible, especially for a first effort. The book ruined me for historicals for months and months after reading it, and it remains on my Keeper Shelf.

5- Lord of Scoundrels by Loretta Chase. Confession: thus far, this is the only Chase book that has worked for me. I’ve tried multiple others with no luck. But Jessica Trent is my all time favorite romance heroine. She’s determined and fiesty and more than capable of taking on a blackguard like Dane. It is a truly sublime reading experience.

6- Slightly Dangerous by Mary Balogh. This is a book that remains in my Top 10 Romances of all time. Why? Because the thawing of Wulfric Bedwyn is such a gradual and magical experience. Plus, Balogh has drawn a heroine who is his counterpart in every way. The book is quite evocative of Pride & Prejudice in the very best possible way. It is an annual re-read for me, and an experience that I revel in every time.

7- All Through The Night by Connie Brockway. The story of an honorable Captain and a jewel thief, ATTN is a dark, emotional story. Connie Brockway is able to squeeze every drop of sexual tension from each interaction between the hero and heroine. The heroine’s secret and the way she toys with the hero is sublime. And then there’s the scene with the chair…

8- Scandal by Carolyn Jewel. This is easily my favorite historical read of the year. It is the circling between the hero and the heroine, and his determination to be the man he thinks she deserves that makes the book so entertaining. It is Jewel’s mastery of the written word that makes the book superb.

9- The Secret by Julie Garwood. I struggle with which Garwood is my favorite. I love The Secret because of the close relationship between the heroine and her best friend. And for how confounded the hero is by the heroine. And how proud he is. Garwood’s Scottish set books are my favorites. I could just have easily chosen The Prize, a medieval and another complete favorite.

10 – A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught. This romance was the first book I’d read where I realized that one could laugh while reading an emotional book. McNaught created many of the “romance cliches” that exist today. But this book is at its best when it is playing Montagues and Capulets. The final scene of the book is among my favorite ever written. Even if the heroine does have a ridiculously modern name. Jenny and Royce’s journey is another annual re-read for me.

I seriously could name another 10 romances, but not without repeating authors. I hope this list either brings back fond memories, or makes you want to pick one of these romances up. I highly recommend each one.

(This post is re-printed by permission from the blog Katidom)

Please note with each genre, I’ve listed only ONE book by each author (even though many of these authors have multiple books on my keeper shelves) and only ONE book in a series. It should also be noted that although these books are numbered, they are not in any particular order and are not ranked in order of my favorites.

Paranormal/Alternate Reality/Urban Fantasy
1- Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh – This is far and away my favorite ongoing paranormal series out there. The world building is completely evolved and you never get the feeling that Nalini is writing herself into a corner. The heroes tend to be very alpha, but the heroines are strong in their own way too. Each book raises the stakes in the series, and I’ve found that her craft is becoming more refined as she goes. A truly outstanding series. I’ve re-read StS probably 20 times. Lucas is my favorite hero thus far in the series. Dominant and aggressive, he knows just exactly how to wring the emotion out of his “emotionless” Psy, Sascha. Their chemistry is terrific, and the introduction to the world is wonderfully done.

2- Lover Eternal by JR Ward – I’m one of those readers who has grown very disenchanted with the series, but can’t seem to stop reading. But the first three books in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series were everything I want in PNR: tautly written, fully imagined world building, and very strong romances. Sure, the heroes names are silly, and the heroines can be pretty door-matty, but Ward knows how to write an emotional romance. Rhage is my favorite of the brothers (until I finally get Tohr’s book). He’s a caregiver, and a pussycat, all dressed up in that badass warrior disguise. I think this series either works for you, or doesn’t. But for the first three books, I was as rabid as any fangirl.

3- Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan – The Warlords of the Plains series is one of my all time favorites. The series has a medieval, sort of Clan of the Cave Bear feel to it. With the heroine Xylara, a princess and accomplished headler, being sold into servitude to Keir of the Cat, who conquers her land. Nothing is exactly as it seems in this series, and Vaughan uses the luxury of the three books to make the story unfold slowly. Evoking both tears and laughter from me, Warprize is another book that I’ve read over and over again.

4- Witness in Death by JD Robb – The In Death series is one of the longest running, featuring more than 30 books. The story of Eve and Roarke has definitely had its ups and downs, and I was hard pressed to choose which of the books is my favorite. But Witness in Death has one of my favorite scenes between Eve and Roarke, when Eve attempts to put together a surprise dinner for Roarke – and he fumbles it badly. I love the scene because Roarke rarely missteps. The series features wonderful secondary characters and one of the strongest protagonists out there.

5- Iron Kissed by Patricia Briggs – I read this series at the urging of author Vivi Anna. What appeals to me about this series? The heroine. Mercy is a shapeshifting coyote. A walker, and she is also the chosen mate of Adam Hauptman, the local werewolf alpha. Adam is one of my favorite romance heroes. He’s honorable and sweet and utterly dominant. What I love about Mercy is that she is smart enough to be terrified, a lot of the time. But she’s also completely honorable, and smart and resourceful. Iron Kissed is my favorite of the books so far because Mercy makes some big decisions about her life, especially the decision about whether she’ll be a victim or not. If you like strongly written heroines and fantastic world building, this is a great series to start with.

6- As Shadows Fade by Colleen Gleason – A brilliantly written historical paranormal series, the Gardella Chronicles are some of my favorite re-reads. The heroine, Victoria Gardella Grantworth de Lacy straddles the line between ton debutante and vampire slayer so adeptly the mind boggles. Featuring two wonderfully drawn hero choices, the series is five books long. Fair warning, if you’re not a fan of the love triangle, this series isn’t for you. Almost all of Gleason’s fans had chosen a team (Team Max or Team Sebastian) by the second book in the series. What I love about this series is that Gleason pulls no punches in torturing her heroine. Victoria suffers great losses throughout the series, which makes the emotional punch bigger and raises the reader’s investment in the series.

7- Lord of the Fading Lands by CL Wilson – The Tairen Soul series was my first foray into fantasy romance. While I understand from regular readers of fantasy, part of it edges toward fantasy cliche, but for me, the series absolutely captured my imagination. I love a tortured hero, and Rainier certainly applies. The worldbuilding is complicated, but well described, and Wilson has successfully raises the stakes with each book in the series. I’m quite looking forward to the final book. Fair warning for those who don’t care for the trope, this series features soulmates.

8- Queen of the Darkness by Anne Bishop – Brilliant. Truly, when I first heard about this series, I wasn’t sure. This series is complicated, emotionally gripping and oh so very, very dark. In Bishop’s world, Satan is a good guy and a worried and frustrated father. The heroine of the piece, Jaenelle is the strongest person in the world, and when we meet her, she is an abused and damaged child. What makes this series so compelling is the incredible world building, the juxtaposition of dark and light, and mostly, the hero of the piece, Daemon Sadi, who goes through every possible horror for love of Jaenelle. He is a wonderfully dark and nuanced hero, one who doesn’t have a lot to care about beyond his own personal agenda. Watching Bishop redeem him is a revelation.

9-Eve of Darkenss by SJ Day – I just inhaled the first three installments of the Marked series. It’s a fantastically imagined wonderful world, based on the battle between Heavenly good and Hell’s evil. There are angels, demons, mal’akhs, seraphim, cherubim, and one kick ass heroine torn between two delicious men: Alec Cain and Reed Abel. What makes the series so fun is Evangeline Hollis, the heroine who is smart and kick ass, and totally torn between the two brothers, who are fighting their own private battle. I love this series, and was thrilled to hear it wouldn’t end with just three books. In fact, the last one ends in a bit of a cliff hanger, so I’m glad there will be more to come.

10 -Pleasure Unbound by Larissa Ione – Deliciously steamy paranormal romance set in a demon hospital full of varying types of demons, fallen angels, vampires, and humans. This book features Eidolon, a surgeon, and a demon and Tayla, a demon hunter sworn to kill every demon out there, while hiding a critical aspect of her character. The sexual tension between the two is palpable, and the book kicks off a terrific series from the fertile mind of Ione.

11- Midnight Rising by Lara Adrian – I adore the Midnight Breed series, although I think that it is veering towards a jump the shark moment. But Adrian’s vampire mythology is different from others, and I love the idea of Breedmates (which are NOT soul mates). This particular book features a hero who is one step away from the abyss and a heroine who has, by necessity, gone vigilante.

Stay tuned for Kati’s favorite Historical Romances and Contemporary Romances.

(This post is re-printed by permission from the blog Katidom)