Book List A-M

Book List A-M

This ended up being a long post, so I split it up into two parts, A-M and N-Z. 

I love a good series. I get hooked on one author and a set of characters and keep reading. Urban fantasies are my favorites, especially if the stories are sexy. I don’t enjoy the gloomy post-apocalyptic stories. I haven’t included any series or books I don’t like because other people might truly enjoy them, and I don’t want to discourage discovery. I’ve delved into some series that are more young adult than adult and I’ve noted those in the descriptions. The list is in order by the last name of the primary author.

If there isn’t an Amazon page for the entire series, I’ve linked to the first book in the series. About 10 years ago, I switched to purchasing electronic books whenever possible to save space and trees, so all of these are available on Kindle. I also use Kindle Unlimited because I read a lot. It has saved me tons of money and many of these titles are available on Kindle Unlimited.

Bree: Hannaford Prep by J. Bree – This is an urban fantasy series that’s probably written for young adults but I don’t recommend giving it to your teens without reading at least one of the books yourself first. The sex scenes are explicit and sophisticated. The plots are far beyond what any actual teens could do; the characters are magical, wealthy, and totally independent of adults. Despite all that, the world building is creative and the action is non-stop. I read the whole series before I got bored. 

Bree: The Bonds that Tie by J. Bree – This is another sexy, urban fantasy series by J. Bree. The main characters are once again teens, but at least they are in college. The world building is creative and the characters are unique. The action is non-stop. The books are all quick reads. 

Briggs: Alpha and Omega by Patricia Briggs – Patricia Briggs is one of my favorite urban fantasy writers. Somehow, her stories and characters just hit home with me. I like stories I think about long after I’ve finished reading the book and Briggs delivers. I’ve read so many of her books, some of the themes have become repetitive, but her characters stay with me, like old friends I seldom see but still think of. The main characters in the Alpha and Omega series and in the Mercy Thompson series are werewolves (except Mercy herself) overlap, but the series are unique and independent. Briggs is especially good at writing strong female characters without making them macho or obnoxious. 

Briggs: Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs – *FAVORITE* Mercy Thompson is a coyote shifter in a world of werewolves, and she always holds her own. She is one of Brigg’s best female protagonists. To date, there are 14 books in this series. I look forward to each new addition. The books in this urban fantasy series include magic, action, adventure, and romance. They are sexy but not explicit. 

Cousins: Southern Sanctuary by Jane Cousins – I have enjoyed this series immensely. Each book is a quick read. The world building is imaginative and the characters, strong female leads, are unique. My favorite thing about this series is the humor. It’s not laugh out loud, slapstick but quite amusing. The scenes are sexy but not explicit.  If you’re feeling down, I highly recommend a Southern Sanctuary book. That’s southern as in Australia. These books will make more sense if you read them in order. I hope you get as much enjoyment from them as I have. 

Hamilton: Anita Blake by Laurell K. Hamilton – Anita Blake is a vampire hunter. To date, there are 30 books in the series. I haven’t read them all. Somewhere along the line, Hamilton figured out that sex sells and the books became more about sex than action and adventure, and I got bored. Despite that, the series remains a favorite of mine and I’ll probably go back to it eventually. Anita is an interesting character who inspired my early thinking about writing urban fantasy. If you like a good fight scene, nobody writes them better than Hamilton. 

Hamilton: Merry Gentry by Laurell K. Hamilton. Merry Gentry is a fae princess and a paranormal private investigator. This is my favorite Hamilton series. Gentry’s world is unique and she is a strong female lead. There are only 9 books in this series; Hamilton chose the right stopping point. As with the Anita Blake series, the books were becoming more about sex than plot. 

Harrison: The Hollows by Kim Harrison – *FAVORITE* When a new book in this series comes out, it always jumps to the top of my reading list. Harrison took a break from writing these for a while, but has returned. There are now 18 books in this series. Rachael Morgan is just the sort of witch you wish was your best friend. With her sidekick Jinx, the pixie, they kick ass and keep Cincinnati and the world safe and make it all sound like so much fun. The world of the Hollows is complex and realistic, and so are the plots and characters. I highly recommend these books. They are definitely best read in order. 

Kane: Downside Ghosts by Stacia Kane – There are 5 books and several novellas and short stories in this series. The protagonist, Chess, is a fascinating, flawed character. As a bonus, Kane writes excellent sex scenes. She inspired me to add lots of sex to my own writing. The world of Downside Ghosts is distinctive, as are the plots and characters. 

Moss: Crescent City by Sarah Maas – This 3-book series checks all my boxes for a great urban fantasy series – one-of-a-kind world and complex magic, strong female lead, intriguing plots, interesting characters. The books are long. I found them truly entertaining. The action, mystery, and plot twists kept me hanging on. I know Maas, Evans, et al. have written another series, the Throne of Glass. I haven’t read those books yet, but based on the quality of Crescent City, it’s on my list.