Staff Picks
Fantasy in Your Fantasy - Part 1
- Mahogany S.
- Friday, January 17, 2020
Collection
If you'd like to spice up your Romance reading with a few ghosts, vampires, werewolves and others, check out these paranormal romance titles. Part 1 of 2
Edge of Darkness
Published in 2015
Crave the Night a Midnight Breed Novel
Published in 2014
With the acclaimed Midnight Breed series, New York Times bestselling author Lara Adrian has written thrilling novels of electrifying romance and heart-pounding suspense'page-turners in which humans and vampires live tenuously side by side. In Crave the Night, Adrian brings the Breed and its world to the brink of war, where even the deepest passion can shatter into violence. Born and raised to be an emotionless killing machine, Nathan is one of the most lethal Breed vampires in existence. A key member of the Order'an elite group of warriors charged with protecting both mortals and vampires'Nathan executes each mission with flawless precision and a total lack of mercy. Now he must pursue a powerful, hidden enemy. But Nathan's hard discipline and training are no match for the fierce pull he feels toward a young woman he has no right to desire'a woman of wealth and high social standing who has long been promised to another Breed male, and who may also prove to be the key to rooting out Nathan's elusive quarry. Jordana lives a life of glittering privilege as a member of a prominent Breed family in Boston. Surrounded by fine things and fawning admirers, Jordana wants for nothing'until she crosses paths with a dark, intense warrior from the Order and finds herself swept into an impulsive, sizzling kiss that neither of them will forget. As much as she tries to deny her deep feelings for Nathan, Jordana cannot resist the craving to be near him, to break through his forbidding walls and see the man he truly is. But getting close to Nathan will thrust Jordana into a treacherous new world, forcing her to risk all she has and all she knows about herself and her past. And loving this seductive man could be the most dangerous temptation of all. Praise for Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed novels "A thrilling blend of dark passion and heart-pounding action. Lara Adrian always delivers a keeper!"'New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter "Delivers an abundance of nail-biting, suspenseful chills [and] red-hot sexy thrills."'Booklist (starred review), on Edge of Dawn "A riveting novel that will keep readers mesmerized . . . If you like romance combined with heart-stopping paranormal suspense, you're going to love this book."'BookPage, on Darker After Midnight "An entertaining ride and as usual kept me riveted from page one."'The Romance Reader Connection, on Ashes of Midnight "Packed with danger and action . . . Adrian has hit upon an unbeatable story mix."'RT Book Reviews, on Midnight Rising "An adrenaline-fueled, sizzlingly sexy, darkly intense addition to Lara Adrian's addictively readable paranormal Breed series."'Chicago Tribune, on Midnight Awakening.
Kiss of Midnight
Published in 2010
Drawn to the enigmatic stranger she sees across the room in a crowded dance club, Gabrielle Maxwell is drawn into the dark and dangerous world of hunter vampires, one in which a blood war is on the edge of ignition, when she falls for Lucan Thorne, a vampire Breed warrior sworn to protect other vampires and humans from the threat of the Rogues.
Kiss of Midnight
Published in 2010
He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell's deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night or this man is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed, a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite...
Kiss of Midnight A Midnight Breed Novel
Published in 2007
He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite. Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands. Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . . . From the Paperback edition.
Ghost of a Chance
Published in 2014
After learning that she can see ghosts, twelve-year-old Kendall's disbelieving boyfriend breaks up with her.
Bitter Spirits
Published in 2014
It's the roaring twenties, and San Francisco is a hotbet of illegal boozing, raw lust, and black magic. The fog-covered Bay Area can be an intoxicating scene, particularly when you specialize in spirits.
The Hot Zone
Published in 2014
Sparks erupt when Sedona Snow, who manages a small hotel and tavern on Rainshadow Island with her faithful sidekick, Lyle, and who is trying to put her tragic past behind her, catches the attention of a new Guild boss in town.
Dark Skye
Published in 2014
"Eternal Obsession. Though centuries have past since Thronos, Lord of Skye Hall, lost the one woman meant for him, nothing can cool his never-ending need for Melanthe. She was the girl he loved and lost as a boy, the girl who nearly destroyed him. Desperate Yearning Lanthe, a once-powerful sorceress struggling to reclaim her gifts, searches for love and acceptance with all the wrong immortal suitors. But she's never forgotten Thronos, the fallen angel who protected her until she was ripped from the shelter of his arms. Friends to enemies to . . . lovers? With their families at war and the world burning around them, will they succumb to the brutal chaos that threatens everything they cherish? Or can the two rekindle their childhood love in time?"-- Provided by publisher.
A Hold on Me
Published in 2016
Annie Freemont grew up on the road, immersed in the romance of rare things, cultivating an eye for artifacts and a spirit for bargaining. It's a freewheeling life she loves and plans to continue--until her dad is diagnosed with dementia. His illness forces them to return to Moonhill, their ancestral home on the coast of Maine--and to the family they left behind fifteen years ago, after Annie's mother died in a suspicious accident. Once at Moonhill, Annie is shocked when her aunt separates her from her father. The next time Annie sees him, he's a bizarre, violent shadow of his former self. Confused, she turns to an unlikely ally for support--Chase, the dangerously seductive young groundskeeper. With his dark good looks and powerful presence, Chase has an air of mystery that Annie is irresistibly drawn to. But she also senses that behind his penetrating eyes are secrets she can't even begin to imagine. Secrets that hold the key to the past, to Annie's own longings--and to all of their futures. Now, to unlock them, she'll have to face her greatest fears and embrace her legacy...
Dark Illusion
Published in 2019
A mage and a warrior must see beyond their facades and embrace the bond that links their souls in this powerful Carpathian novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan. At any other time, Julija Brennan would find solace in the quiet of the Sierra Mountains, but now the mage is in the race of her life. Having broken free from her controlling family, Julija's attempts to warn the Carpathians of the coming threat has failed and put a target on her back--and those who hunt her are close behind... After centuries locked away in a monastery in the Carpathian Mountains, Isai Florea can't believe he's finally found his lifemate--the missing half of his soul. The second he sees Julija his world blazes with color. But despite their explosive connection Julija rebels against what she sees as Isai's intent to control her and rejects the bond that would prevent him from becoming a monster. As their unfulfilled bond continues to call to them both, Julija and Isai aim to complete the task that brought them together. They are used to facing danger alone, but now the mage and the ancient warrior must learn how to rely on each other in order to stop a plot that threatens all Carpathians...
The Hidden
Published in 2015
"Estes Park, Colorado, is a place of serenity. But it wasn't always so serene. Shortly after the Civil War, Nathan Kendall and his wife were murdered there, leaving behind a young son. The crime was never solved. Now historian Scarlet Barlow is working at a small museum attached to a B and B, the same building where that murder occurred. She recently came to Colorado, reeling after her divorce from FBI agent Diego McCullough. Diego--who's just been asked to join the Krewe of Hunters, a unit dealing with "unusual" situations-- when Scarlet unwittingly takes pictures of people who've been murdered--just like the Kendalls a hundred and fifty years before--the police look at her with suspicion. Then the museum's statues of historic people, including Nathan Kendall, begin to talk to her, and she knows it's time to call her ex-husband. Diego heads to Estes Park, determined to solve the bizarre case that threatens Scarlet's life--and to reunite with the woman he never stopped loving" -- Dust jacket flap.
Frost Line
Published in 2016
Lenna is Strength, a manifestation of the Tarot card, and powerful beyond reckoning. But when she's pulled into the human realm, tasked with protecting a young boy, everything is thrown into chaos. Lenna's not supposed to be here, interacting with mortals. She's definitely not supposed to be drawn to the sexy mercenary sent to retrieve her by any means necessary. As a Hunter for magical beings, Caine's duty is simple: return this compelling, impossibly attractive woman -- or eliminate her. Instead he's drawn into Lenna's dangerous rescue mission and blindsided by his growing feelings. But there is more than one enemy to contend with. And as the clock runs out, failure means not just the loss of an innocent life and the woman Caine has come to love, but the destruction of Lenna's entire world.
Blood Lust
Published in 2016
"Blessed and cursed by their hidden abilities, the Sentinels have no choice but to live, and love, on the edge of humanity ... The Sentinel assassin, Bas, is facing the greatest challenge of his outcast existence. His young daughter, Molly, has been kidnapped. But her disappearance has brought the return of her mother, Myst, whom Bas has never forgotten--or forgiven. Haunted by a vision that she's destined to create a weapon that will destroy thousands, Myst was never impulsive--until she met the irresistibly handsome Bas. But with the Brotherhood, the enemy of the high-bloods hunting for her, Myst had to stay on the run, to keep her child, and the world, safe. Now, with the most important thing in both their lives at stake, she and Bas must embark on a treacherous journey to save Molly, to confront the truth of Myst's fate--and to face their fierce desire for one another"--Page 4 of cover.
The Golem of Paris
Published in 2015
It's been more than a year since Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) detective Jacob Lev learned the remarkable truth about his family, and he's not coping well. He's back to drinking, he's not talking to his father, the LAPD Special Projects Department continues to shadow him, and the memory of a woman named Mai haunts him. And while Jacob has tried to build a bridge to his mother, she remains a stranger to him, imprisoned inside her own tattered mind. Then he comes across the file for a gruesome unsolved murder that brings the two halves of his life into startling collision. Finding the killer will take him to Paris -- the city of romance, but also of gritty streets, behind the lights.
Dragonbane
Published in 2015
"Out of all the mysterious boarders who call Sanctuary home, no one is more antisocial or withdrawn than Maxis Drago. But then, it's hard to blend in with the modern world when you have a fifty foot wingspan. Centuries ago, he was cursed by an enemy who swore to see him fall. An enemy who took everything from him and left him forever secluded. But Fate is a bitch, with a wicked sense of humor. And when she throws old enemies together and threatens the wife he thought had died centuries ago, he comes back with a vengeance. Modern day New Orleans has become a battleground for the oldest of evils. And two dragons will hold the line, or go down in flames"-- Provided by publisher.
The Burning World
A Novel
Published in 2017
"The New York Times bestseller Warm Bodies captured hearts worldwide in twenty-five languages, inspiring a major film and a cult fandom. Now R the reluctant zombie continues his journey in this much-anticipated sequel. Being alive is hard. Being human is harder. But since his recent recovery from death, R is making progress. He's learning how to read, how to speak, maybe even how to love, and the city's undead population is showing signs of life. R can almost imagine a future with Julie, this girl who restarted his heart--building a new world from the ashes of the old one. And then helicopters appear on the horizon. Someone is coming to restore order. To silence all this noise. To return things to the way they were, the good old days of stability and control and the strong eating the weak. The plague is ancient and ambitious, and the Dead were never its only weapon. How do you fight an enemy that's in everyone? Can the world ever really change? With their home overrun by madmen, R, Julie, and their ragged group of refugees plunge into the otherworldly wastelands of America in search of answers. But there are some answers R doesn't want to find. A past life, an old shadow, crawling up from the basement"-- Provided by publisher.
Her Last Whisper
A Novel
Published in 2014
"Readers who relish heated passion and chilling suspense love New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards's acclaimed novels featuring Dr. Charlotte "Charlie" Stone. A heroine with a keen mind for catching killers and a soft heart for bad boys, Charlie is back in this third sizzling paranormal romance thriller. HER LAST WHISPER Madness and murder invaded Dr. Charlotte Stone's life when she was just a girl--and made her a woman determined to save others from the horror she survived. An expert in the psychology of serial killers, she's faced down more than her share of human monsters. But Charlie can also communicate with the spirits of those who die violently, an extrasensory skill that has helped the FBI bring lethal predators to justice. Now, after narrowly escaping death a second time, Charlie's ready to step away from the edge. before her luck runs out. Too bad Charlie is too dedicated for her own good--and too devoted to federal agent Tony Bartoli to say no when he asks her to ride shotgun on yet another risky mission. Of course, she already has her hands full with Michael Garland: the handsome, roguish ghost with whom she's hopelessly in love--a spirit who depends on Charlie to keep him from slipping forever into the dark side of the afterlife. But in the mortal world, beautiful single women are vanishing from Las Vegas hotels at night. All signs indicate that a psychopath is on the prowl in Sin City, and Bartoli's FBI colleague Lena Kaminsky has reason to fear that her missing sister may be just the killer's type. In a town full of fast players and few rules, flushing out a smooth-talking stalker like the Cinderella Killer might be a loser's game. But for Charlie, the only way to cage her quarry is to plunge back into the homicidal hell she vowed to leave behind--and may not leave alive. Praise for Karen Robards "One of the most popular voices in women's fiction."--Newsweek "Draw a line between two extremely popular genres, mysteries and romance novels, and in the middle you will find the bestselling Robards. She merges the two worlds like no one else, deftly interlacing plot and passion."--Albany Times Union Praise for The Last Victim "Excellent. This story is going to haunt you."--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette "Thrilling. a fun and sexy read."--Booklist The Last Kiss Goodbye "Top-notch. suspense mixed with heart-pounding sensual tension."--Kirkus Reviews "Filled with gritty thrills. This suspense tale will truly have you on the edge of your seat."--RT Book Reviews"-- Provided by publisher.
Frost and Flame
Published in 2019
"Bane of Adwaeweth is the most feared immortal warrior in All War history. Possessed by a bloodthirsty beast, he will stop at nothing to win. Then he meets irresistible Nola Lee. He hates the power she wields over him, but she alone can rain vengeance upon his wife’s killer. Unaware of her destiny to rule as queen of beasts, Nola battles illness, addiction and vulnerability. With Bane, however, she experiences pleasure for the first time, and only wants more. But being with him comes with a terrible price. With enemies lurking around every corner, Bane and Nola must fight to survive. But time is running out, and neither can resist the sizzling attraction blazing between them. Will their romance save the beast and his beauty, or destroy everything they’ve come to love?" -- Amazon.