Category: paranormal romance

Hunting Ground

By Patricia Briggs; narrated by Holter Graham

Place: Publisher & Year: [New York]: Penguin Audio, 2009

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Format: Digital download – audio

Series: Alpha and Omega series; 2

ISBN: 9781440644634

Audience: Adult

Length: 8 hours, 25 minutes, 43 seconds

Setting: Seattle, WA (opening scene takes place in Aspen Creek, MT)

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Bran, the Marrock, plans to attend a werewolf delegation in Seattle, Charles just knows that it would be a disaster for his father to be there.  Bran allows Charles and Anna to go in his place.  The delegation will allow the European werewolves to have a chance to voice their concerns prior to the Marrock’s announcement to the public about the existence of werewolves.  Charles and Anna will have their hands full during the delegation of Alpha wolves, especially after someone threatens Anna. Continue reading “Hunting Ground”

Cry Wolf

By Patricia Briggs; narrated by Holter Graham

Place: Publisher & Year: [New York, N.Y.]: Penguin Group (USA), Inc., 2008

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance

Format: Digital download – audio

Series: Alpha and Omega series; 1

ISBN: 9781429526609

Audience: Adult

Length: 10 hours, 6 minutes

Setting: Cabinet Mountains Wilderness & Aspen Creek, MT (opening scene takes place in the Chicago area)

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: Anna spent her first three years as a werewolf being brutalized and abused by the other wolves in her Chicago pack.  She is finally freed from her tormentors when her pack leader is killed by The Marrock’s enforcer, Charles.  Charles recognizes Anna as a rare Omega wolf – someone who can bring peace and healing to others wolves even while she is wounded.  Charles’s wolf also recognizes Anna’s wolf – as his mate.  Will Anna’s wolf recognize his? Continue reading “Cry Wolf”

Dead and Gone

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2009

Genres: Mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, faerie tale, paranormal, paranormal mystery, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 9

ISBN: 9780441017157

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 312

Setting: Bon Temps, LA

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: Werewolves and shifters have finally come out to the rest of the world about their existence, which sparks fear and violence in various parts of the world – including Bon Temps, where a werepanther is found crucified in the parking lot at Merlotte’s.  Meanwhile, trouble brews amongst the fae, which has significant repercussions for Sookie. Continue reading “Dead and Gone”

From Dead to Worse

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2008

Genres: Mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 8

ISBN: 9780441015894

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 359

Setting: Bon Temps, LA

Time period: Contemporary (post Hurricane Katrina)

Plot summary: Sookie has recently returned to Bon Temps from the vampire summit in Rhodes, where many of the attendant vampires were injured or killed.  While Sookie yearns for life to return to how things were prior to the summit, she knows that this is unrealistic.  The vampire community of Louisiana was heavily impacted by both Hurricane Katrina and the Rhodes summit.  She also has not seen or spoken to her boyfriend, Quinn, since Rhodes.  On the bright side, however, a mysterious stranger appears in town who wants to meet Sookie and may have a positive impact upon her life. Continue reading “From Dead to Worse”

All Together Dead

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, 2007

Genres: Mystery, paranormal mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 7

ISBN: 9780441014941

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 323

Setting: Bon Temps, Louisiana and the city of Rhodes (located on Lake Michigan)

Time period: Contemporary (post Hurricane Katrina)

Plot summary: Sookie is on her way to the vampire summit in Rhodes, even though she doesn’t want to go.  She told the Vampire Queen of Louisiana, Sophie-Anne Leclerq, that she would assist her a long time ago and she can’t go back on her word now.  Among other things, she may be needed to help the Queen with a vampire trial.  The Queen has been accused of assassinating her former husband, the King of Arkansas.  Sookie’s not looking forward to spending time with either Bill Compton or Eric Northman – both of whom are also attending the summit as a part of the Queen’s entourage.  On the bright side, though, she may be able to squeeze in some alone time with her new boyfriend, Quinn, since his company is organizing many of the events at the summit. Continue reading “All Together Dead”

Heart’s Blood

By Juliet Marillier

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Roc, 2009

Genres: Fantasy, historical fiction, historical fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance

ISBN: 9780451462930

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 402

Setting: Whistling Tor & Market Cross, Ireland

Time period: 12th century

Plot summary: When Caitrin, a young female scribe, finally musters the courage to flee her tormentors at home, she travels as far as her limited funds take her.  She ends up in the village of Whistling Tor, a place filled with wary residents.  There she learns that the local chieftain, Anluan, is seeking a scribe for a project.  Caitrin eagerly heads to the fortress to apply for the job and discovers first hand along the way why the villagers are so wary.  Whistling Tor is a place filled with many secrets and unusual residents.  When Caitrin finally makes it to the fortress she finds many more surprises, including a very unusual chieftain with a dark family history. Continue reading “Heart’s Blood”

Definitely Dead

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, c2006, 2007

Genres: Mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 6

ISBN: 9780441014910

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 324 (342 including an excerpt from the next book – All Together Dead)

Setting: Bon Temps and New Orleans, Louisiana

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: When Sookie’s long lost, vampire cousin was murdered in New Orleans, the vampire queen of Louisiana – Sophie-Anne Leclerq – came to Bon Temps to tell Sookie the news.  Hadley and Sophie-Anne had been lovers.  Sookie knows she has to deal with Hadley’s estate in New Orleans, but she puts it off as long as she can; life has been fairly busy in Bon Temps.  When a demon comes knocking at her front door, though, Sookie knows it’s time to go. Continue reading “Definitely Dead”

Undead and Unwed

By MaryJanice Davidson

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Berkley Sensation, 2004

Genres: Fantasy, contemporary fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance, paranormal, romance, vampire, chick lit, humorous stories

Series: The Undead Series – Betsy; 1

ISBN: 071831006998

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 255 (277 including an excerpt from Charlaine Harris’ Dead to the World)

Setting: Twin Cities, MN (Minneapolis & St. Paul)

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: Betsy Taylor’s last day alive wasn’t much fun – she was laid off from her job as a secretary before being hit by a car.  However, waking from death in a cheap pink suit and her stepmother’s cast off shoes was pure hell.  Betsy has no idea how she became undead, but she does know that she wants to live her death the same way she lived her life.   This is a problem because the other vamps in town just won’t leave her alone; they’re either bowing down to her or trying to torture her.  As Betsy is dragged into a world filled with vampire politics, prophecies, and history, there is one thing she’s sure of: she’ll be wearing designer shoes. Continue reading “Undead and Unwed”

Dead as a Doornail

By Charlaine Harris

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Ace Books, c2005, 2006

Genres: Mystery, fantasy, dark fantasy, contemporary fantasy, paranormal, romance, paranormal romance, vampire

Series: Southern Vampire Mysteries (Sookie Stackhouse); 5

ISBN: 9780441013333

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 295 (310 including an excerpt from the next book – Definitely Dead)

Setting: Bon Temps, Louisiana

Time period: Contemporary

Plot summary: Someone has been shooting at shape shifters in the Bon Temps vicinity and Sookie is determined to discover who it is, especially before anyone can gun down the only living family member she has left.  Sookie also needs to prove that her brother is not the shooter, since many in the shifter community think that he is the most likely suspect. Continue reading “Dead as a Doornail”

The Highlander’s Touch

By Karen Marie Moning

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Dell, c2000, 2007

Genres: Romance, paranormal romance, fantasy, time travel fantasy, historical fiction

Series: The Highlander romances; 3

ISBN: 9780440236528

Intended audience: Adult

Number of pages: 356

Setting: Cincinnati, Ohio and Scotland

Time period: Contemporary and 1314

Plot summary: Lisa Stone works two jobs to support herself and her dying mother.  When exhaustion catches up with her at her night job at a museum, she falls asleep to be woken the next morning by her boss and another man conversing about one of the museum’s recently acquired artifacts.  She remains hidden throughout the conversation because she is not supposed to be in the museum at that hour.  After they leave, she emerges from her hiding spot and inspects the artifact that was left out.  Unbeknownst to her, the artifact was cursed hundreds of years earlier by a Scottish warrior.  As soon as Lisa touches it, she finds herself transported back in time to Circenn Brodie, the man who cursed the object and vowed to kill the one carrying it. Continue reading “The Highlander’s Touch”