Karen Marie Moning's Fever series

The Fever series really blurs the lines between ro no and sci fi/fantasy. KMM created a modern, paranormal world so engaging you actually read FIVE books before your HEA. Proceeding from the world of the fae that Moning introduced us to in her earlier Highlander books, Darkfever kicks off when the fae are really taking over and things are heating up in Ireland. MacKayla Lane, our naive, bimbo heroine, sets off to Ireland to avenge her sister, and quickly becomes the only hope for the human race. She also quickly morphs into much more than a bimbo, and she encounters some hunks who are much more than your run of the mill ro no heroes. There are a lot of Irish words I pronounced in my head very differently then they should be pronounced. Unlike other series posts, I will only list the order of the books here, and send you on your way. A mini summary would have to include spoilers, and the way the plot unfolds in this series is so amazing that I don't want to do anything to mar your enjoyment of it! Each book continues the story and progresses the romance between MacKayla and the various potential suitors in her life (one of KMM's strengths is that you never know quite which hottie you're rooting for). I found these books deeply satisfying - enough that I've read the series a few times. That said, if you're not hooked by the first book, this series isn't for you.

Book Order
Darkfever 2007
Bloodfever 2008
Faefever 2009
Dreamfever 2010
Shadowfever 2011

The book Iced, 2012 is part of the Fever world but features Mac's sidekick, Dani. A 13 year old girl. In the Fever world. It is...uncomfortable. At first KMM said Iced was a young adult book, but when it came out she backtracked considerably - this book is still as graphic and sexy as the rest of the Fever series! Dani is more sex-adjacent than I felt entirely comfortable with, but I wholly admit I am a prude about teenagers and their sexuality. You've been warned!

E Rating: 5 stars      H Rating: 5 stars

Stand out book: Shadowfever

J. R. Ward's "Black Dagger Brotherhood" Series

Of course we're going to have a BDB review! This is one of the most popular paranormal rono series out there (para-ro-no?). It takes place in the modern world and is about (gasp!) vampires! The stories center around the warriors of the vampire race - the Black Dagger Brotherhood - who fight against another non-human race who are trying to kill them. Not only are the members (and associates) of the BDB big & strong, they're also (very much) down to get the friction on. Also keep your eyes peeled for a little of the ol' "Brother-on-Brother" action.

The sex scenes are delectable, but I could do without EVERY hero being so damn tortured. Part of the appeal is that JR Ward creates this engaging world (complete with a glossary of terms) with multidimensional characters and a fast moving plot. Each book has one main romance, but there is a lot more going on, and it is nice to revisit the characters you love over and over. I also like that it isn't just a neat and tidy "now they're together, DONE" as you see in future books that a lot of the couples are still navigating their relationships. 

Distractingly hilarious quirks? Shitkickers; "beat feet"; relentless shower taking; convenient vampire servants who neatly circumvent having to explain how this parallel world exists all around us; similarly, the made-up city of Caldwell that for some dumb reason singlehandedly homes most of the vampires AND most of their enemies (like, dude, you can teleport, why the hell don't you spread yourselves around so your enemies can't pick you off so easily?!); and the idea that these male vampires have 30 orgasms in one sexual encounter - half of which likely occurs with no touching them while they are wearing leather pants. EWWWW.

Dark Lover, 2005 - Wrath, the Blind King, and Beth, the half-breed daughter of Darius

Lover Eternal, 2006 - Rhage and Mary, a human (who we pretty much never see again the rest of the series. Bizarro).

Lover Awakened, 2006 - Zsadist, the super tortured twin vamp and Bella, a surprisingly normal female vamp, given the cast of characters in this series.

Lover Revealed, 2007 - Butch, the human cop, and Marisa, a female vamp and Wrath's former mate sort of thing. This book ends (somewhat abruptly) a minor story line on the vampire's enemy.

Lover Unbound, 2007 - Vishous, the bi-curious kinky vamp, and Jane, the human trauma MD. A satisfying start to a their relationship, but mostly the overall BDB story line starts to really take off in this book.

Lover Enshrined, 2008 - Phury, Zsadist's twin, and Cormia, a Chosen. Ugh, this story is so boring. Mostly because Phury sucks, but also the love story is super weak. Thankfully we get a lot of interesting background plot in this one.

Lover Avenged, 2009 - Rhevenge, who is a vampire, but not in the BDB, and Ehlena, a female vamp. This book of lovers with extra 'h's in their name starts another big story arc that ends in Lover Mine.

Lover Mine, 2010 - John Matthew, our beloved special needs vamp, and Xhex, a female vamp, and Rhevenge's right hand. We see more of Wrath and Beth in this one. By this point, you are so sucked in to the series you whip through each massive tome in a day and then yearn for an entire year until the next one comes out.

Lover Unleashed, 2011 - Payne, a female Chosen, and Manny, a human MD and Jane's old coworker (and who's name is basically Manny Manny and no one ever mentions it). We get a lot of Vishous in this book, but then the story arc sort of disappears.

Lover Reborn, 2012 - Thorment, the widower, and No'One, a female vamp with a past. This was supposed to be the conclusion of the series, but definitely does not end anything. A lot of the characters have had progressing story lines from the 3rd book in, and we still haven't seen things conclude for them. Word on the street is another book is on the way...

Lover at Last, 2013. Wow, JR Ward is not just hinting at the the "Brother-on-Brother" action in this one - we finally see what happens with  John Matthew's best friends, Qhuinn and Blay.


The King, 2014. A totally unexpected release - and featuring Wrath and Beth again. The book ends with FOUR separate romances that leave us wondering what the heck is coming next?!

E Rating: 4 stars    H Rating: 4 stars  

Stand out book: They are all pretty awesome with the exception of Lover Enshrined - SNORE

Anne Stuart's 'Ice' Series

We read these (E did first) in 2010 and both enjoyed them. They go fast and feature heavy sex with a consistent theme of a strong, hard to reach male lead and a sexual novice female. There are also fairly suspenseful plots and some violence. The series centers around a spy/mercenary-type organization called the Committee and their various members. There isn't that much carry over between characters, but the series should be read in order to understand the evolution of the Committee.

Series Order

Black Ice, 2005

Cold as Ice, 2006 

Ice Blue 2007 

Ice Storm, 2007

Fire and Ice, 2008

On Thin Ice, 2012 -  H still hasn't read this one (my poor lamb - HA!)

E: Wrapped up On Thin Ice in 2012 and it was an excellent conclusion to a fun, thrilling, sexy series. Not sure what's going on with Amazon as this shows a pub date of 2011, but it was only recently made available. And now many of the previous books are not on the kindle anymore...

H: On Thin Ice is available as a book on Amazon as of Feb. 2014! Time for me to get reading!

E rating: 4 stars      H rating: 3 stars

Stand out book: Ice Storm