Books that bite back: Paranormal romances

Looking for a romantic, steamy read with a touch of the supernatural? This month, we're featuring authors of the highly-popular paranormal romance genre. Much more than vampires, many long-running series feature all sorts of creatures like shape-shifters (not just werewolves!), immortals, the magical & strange and even zombies! Of course, there are plenty of blood-suckers for those who can't resist their charm.

Here are some highlights from our most popular series in our collection. If you'd like to know more, stop by the Recommendations Desk or e-mail us at yourlibrarian@dubuque.lib.ia.us

Vampires
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Romance Frost) - The series Night Huntress follows half-vampire, half-human Catherine Crawfield searching for vengeance against her vampire father. In the first installment, Cat's plans go awry when she is captured by vampire bounty hunter Bones.

Kiss of Midnight by Lara Adrian (Romance Adrian) - The first book in the Midnight Breed series features the Breed, a race of vampires sworn to protect humans from the threat of the Rogues. After meeting Breed warrior Lucan Thorne, Gabrielle Maxwell is drawn into the dangerous world of hunter vampires, one that is on the edge of an apocalyptic blood war.

Shape-Shifters

Mercury's War by Lora Leigh (Romance Leigh) - Leigh's Breed follows a genetically-altered race of feline & canine shape-shifters. Mercury's War follows Ria Rodriguez as she goes undercover to expose a traitor and instead encounters Mercury Warrant, one of the greatest Breeds created, who wants her for his mate.

Kissing Midnight by Emma Holly (Romance Holly) - The Fitz Clare Chronicles, a historical paranormal romance series, features a race of immortal shape-shifters - the upyr.The first installment follows upyr Edmund Fitz Clare as he battles his attraction to Estelle Berebger as they are both drawn into London's dark underground to prevent an ancient conflict from destroying both their worlds.

Magic & Immortals

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning (Romance Moning) - The first installment of the Fever novels begins with MacKayla "Mac" Lane investigating the strange circumstances of her sister's death in Ireland. Mac is quickly drawn into an extraordinary world of magic, and finds an unlikely mentor in the darkly dangerous Jericho Barrons.

Second Sight by Amanda Quick (Fiction Quick) - The first novel of the Arcane Society series finds secretive psychic Venetia Milton hired to photograph the Arcane Society's collection of alchemical artifacts, currently in the care of Gabriel Jones. Deciding that it's now or never for love, Venetia seduces him, only to lose him in a fire set by a nefarious enemy. She is quite stunned when, after establishing herself as his widow, Gabriel reappears on her doorstep, very much alive and afraid for his life.

Zombies
I Kissed a Zombie and I Liked It by Adam Selzer (eBook Selzer) - Living in the post-human era in which zombies, vampire and werewolves are the norm, dating is the last thing on 18-year-old Algonquin "Alley" Rhodes' mind. But, after covering a local band for her high school newspaper, Alley falls head over heels with guest singer Doug, a zombie. Things get even more dangerous for Alley when her classmate Will demands to turn her into a vampire, and even her undead boyfriend may be unable to stop him.

My Zombie Valentine by Katie MacAlister, Angie Fox, Marianne Mancusi and Lisa Cach (Romance Short My) - A collection of four lighthearted romances, including a tale of a miscast voodoo love spell that brings a woman's one true - and undead - love to her and another of a B horror movie set where a makeup artist quickly learns that art can imitate life.

Happy reading!

~ Allison, Adult Services