swilhelm's Profile

I love books and read mostly romance and mysteries and I am currently on an inhale rate of 3-4 books a week. I live in Texas and I spend my time reading and scrapbooking when I am not working or taking care of elementary school age children and my hubby. 

I decided to start a list of some of my favorite series that I recommend over and over. You won't find these posted, these are keepers. (updated November 08)

Paranormal Romance

Alyssa Day - Atlantis series - I like this one, Alyssa has written a very cool series, and although I have to skip pieces of story when it gets too gory, I have really fallen in love with the characters. I want her to write faster please!

Alexis Morgan - Paladins - Ok, I REALLY like this series. These guys are great, the story line is nicely complex, not too gory and well developed and interrelated. This is a great warrior series that created a substantial world to build the story line into. If you read this series and have not checked out her site and DJ's blog it is a fun addition for in between books.

Deborah Cooke - Dragonfire series - Have only read two of these but enjoyed the story, strong characters, not too much time spent trying to lay down the foundation and really fun dragon battles (I mean how many of those do you get in a day huh?) this series has been a fun new find, I am in the same spot as always though... please write faster!!!

Jean Johnson - Sons of Destiny series. These have been fun, 8 magical brothers all waiting for their mates on an island in a castle. Very different personalities for the brothers and the mates, and the magic has been cool with the right amount of scary guys. My only compliant is Jean has used these books for her own platform on government reform, abusive relationships and mens negative image of women. It gets a bit thick at times and takes away from the story (4 pages of what kind of financial system to set up on the island!!) but if you are good at skimming some of the preachy parts, this series is really fun. First six are out with the last 2 by April 2009.

Lynsay Sands- Argeneau Vampire family. I love this series. Very light but very very funny. In some ways almost slapstick in some of the scenes. One book they tried to break into a blood bank so they wouldn't have to feed "off the hoof", and the conversation in a hotel room as he was trying to order condoms from the front desk after he realized he was out in the middle of foreplay was fall down funny. This is a great series, a lot of fun and still enought heat to entice those of us who like our vamps with some panting!

Kerrilyn Sparks - Love at Stake. Another really good series. This is another rather light series of Vamps, mortals, Malcontents (bad vampires), Chocolood (chocolate blood) and Scottish security guard vampires. (I don't think counts as time travel since the are immortal :)  )  This series is well connected with characters showing up from book to book and the storyline intertwining. A very very good series with many laugh out loud moments.

J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood. I can't say enough about this series. It is gritty, the brothers get into the ugly of stuff and Vishous' story played in some areas that I have to say I wasn't sure I was ready to play in, but these are some of the best written stories I have read in a long time. Very intricate characters that you like and forgive their character flaws. Well worth the journey.

Lara Adrian - this is J.R. Ward without the grit. Lots of similarities between these two authors and their characters in the first and possibly second books but this series stands on it's own by book three. You are hooked on the characters immediately even though they seem to follow the same profiles of many other "warrior clans" ie The Leader, The Loner, The Playboy etc. I have found a good hook in the world she has created and I am compelled from one book to another.

Kresley Cole - Just getting started in this series. I am enjoying the fantasy theme, every kind of creature can apply... and apparently be mated (who knew?). I would say her stories border on erotica in places, but each have males committed to the happiness and belonging of their mates. The gals however just seem to be some of the most independent, don't hold me down group of females ever. Makes for interesting stories. A well put together series.

Sherrilyn Kenyon - Dark Hunter/Dream Hunter.  Again a series I am just in love with, the continuation of characters between books and the interplay of male and female relationships is great in this series. I have some that I have enjoyed more than others, but other than the first one (Fantasy Lover ugh) they have been consistently good. I will admit to Acheron being the most difficult to read, the first half of the book (his past) was very difficult to get through, but I really enjoyed the present and appreciated getting him to his "happily ever after".

Christine Dodd - Darkeness Chosen. Just say YUM!!  Love her books anyway and add a chase you down mate for life wolf and I am in. Amended - This series was good to the last drop. All four were great and tied together nicely and I enjoyed it all the way to the end.

Christine Feehan - GhostWalker series. I started with this series and have to say it is still a keeper for me . The Ghostwalker team feel like old friends and I enjoy the re-reads. This series has a little more edge to it, but the alpha male characters have so much heart under the edge I couldn't put it down and speed through the whole series. I have enjoyed her Dark series as well, but not as much as the GhostWalker.

Christeine Feehan - Drake Sisters. This has taken a bit to get into but I have enjoyed the last few more than the first. The sisters personalities and how they interplay with their mates is very fun to read. And I am a sucker for the continuity of characters in a series. Now that all of the characters and their intendeds have been introduced, I am completely compelled to finish the series. I know Sucker!

Christine Feehan - Dark series. I have gone through the whole series and they aren't bad. They just aren't as compelling as her Ghostwalker series. The books all seem to be very much the same story and I think that as much as anything are their biggest downfall. Not a bad read if you have the free time and stumble upon them, but if you haven't tried some of the other recommedations on this list I would go with these last.

Susan Sizemore - Prime series. I am trying, really. I can't get into the characters of this series. They just don't grab me, and we spend so much time getting there and then have only 2 pages of so we are here let's enjoy being together. I will finish the last 2 in the series (when is Tony getting his story??) but still not getting there. (amended) These stories are getting better as they go, I have enjoyed the last two and while they are not my favorite series, they are a series I will keep up with.

Time traveling Scotsman (who knew there was a whole sub genre???)

Karen Marie Moning - Highlander series. The first 3 of these were just fillers, the real fun starts with Kiss of the Highlander and moves from there. The twins Dageus and Drustan stories have become two of my favorite reads. I have really enjoyed this series and can't wait for her to come back to it after she finishes her Darkfever series. Which I have not started until she gets more of the books written, I am just not that patient!

Janet Chapman - Highlander series. Again those pesty time traveling Scotsman. This series is not as dark as KMMs but is equally as entertaining and the characters are as endearing. You are anxious to get from one book to the other to read "his story"... And what can be bad about a gorgeous 6'5 Scotsman in a kilt??

Monica McCarthy - Highlander. (Are you seeing a trend yet?)  These were average, not nearly as strong as the other series and slightly worn story lines. Wanted them to get on with it through several of them.

Diane Gabaldon - yes I know that she would be the queen of time traveling Scotsman, but I just couldn't get through them. It was too rough (Jamie's torture scenes were too harsh) and to me the end doesn't justify the means. So I will have to pass on that whole series, very hard for me to do but I admit defeat.

Suspense Romance

Roxanne St.Claire - Bullet Catchers series starting with Kill me Twice. This series is awesome, the characters are well connected from book to book and likeable. And really yum! Her stand alones have been great too, Killer Curves is one of my favorites.  I am patiently (ok maybe not) waiting for the next set of books this summer. (amended) I have read "First you Run" and it is great.

Tara Janzen - the Crazy series starting with Crazy Hot - This is a triple snap YUM (yes a child of the 80s) Hot men, hot cars and girls that are just right for the guys. This is a wonderful series, great tie in of the characters throughout each one (how can you not love a guy nicknamed Superman?? And he just melts in your mouth!) and there is 6 books! Can't beat that! She has kept the momentum going with the Loose series. I think this may be on my top list of books ever. I have re-read them all at least 5 times.

Cindy Gerard - BodyGuard series - this is another great strong Alpha male with strong women series. Very hot and wonderfully written. I will say the first one is weaker than the rest, they get stronger as they go. I can't wait until she starts her Black Ops spinoff Fall 2008, I just love her stories. These folks feel like friends when you are done, you think "how is Nolan doing, I'll give him a call next week!"  Again, why can't they write these faster, her new Black Ops series won't be coming out until late fall!!

Suzanne Brockmann - Troubleshooter series.  I am in love with this series, although I have to say she will pull you into knots. She puts her characters into tough situations, sometimes over several books/years (I didn't think I could stand the Sam and Alyssa conflicts) but you are so drawn by your love of her characters that you come back for more. And unlike other authors that pride themselves on conflict in their stories (Suzanne Elizabeth Phillips) these men actually LIKE women. These are real gems, much more character studies than pure romance. (amended) I have also started her Tall, Dark and Dangerous series and I am enjoying it almost as much as Troubleshooters.

Pamela Britton - Nascar series - OK I wasn't expecting to like this one. In fact I put it off for a LONG time. But they are cute, and nicely written, have good characters that you car about and don't annoy you. They do succumb slightly to the only getting the last 4-5 pages of togetherness. But overall  a nice series.

Suzanne Enoch - Sam and Rick's series starting with Flirting with Danger. Sam is a cat burglar and the dialogue and pace of these books are delightful. Really a fun series with a fast pace although the last 2 books have stumbled a little in the relationship area (we can't get along and always fight so let's just have sex since that seems to work) and that is a letdown for a series that had alot of promise to start with.

Janet Chapman - Her suspense romance is as good as her Highlander series. This lady just knows how to write a great story. Her heros like the ladies they fall for, they treat them right and apologize nicely when they are wrong. Really great stories.

Suzann Ledbetter - Directions series starting with East of Peculiar - This is a wonderful mystery with a couple that you just fall in love with and a cast of secondary characters that are a delight. This series is not nearly as heavy on the love scenes, but a great mystery and a good romance.

Donna Kaufmann - Cinderella Rules - could not love these two characters more. They are adorable, want them to be me and my hubby! And just finished Prince Charming and loved it too, this author writes sweet leading men who are smart and caring but just a little naive when it comes whether they could be in love. A real winner. And I have just finished her Legend MacKinnon, very cute story and I am not sure that it doesn't qualify as time traveling Scotsman (one is Immortal, one is a ghost and one is cursed to the future) and so another author succumbs to the temptation!

Dixie Cash - these two sisters write snort out loud funny books. Some of the funniest scenes I have ever read in my life. Hard to get on PBS but OMG they are funny, well worth the effort. Two hairdressers that live in Salt Lick TX that solve mysteries and call themselves the Domestic Equalizers. Again a wonderful series.

Historical Romance

Elizabeth Hoyt - Raven Prince/Leopard Prince and Serpent Prince. I am not a super big fan of historical romance, just can't be patient enough to get through the "don't compromise her/now I HAVE to marry you" gig. But I really enjoyed this series. Edgy, surprising story lines, characters that I wanted to understand and very steamy. This is a series that is worth trying even if you swear you hate historicals. Although I will say that the Raven Prince (1st in the series) is the best of the three. If you read it and aren't interested, don't bother with the other two.

Julia Quinn - Bridgerton family  Again a historical series that I am enjoying despite my continued denial to enjoy historicals. I like the family, I like the women and the men, and they have characters that actually like each other, something that is not always true in historicals. And with 8 children to marry off you have a guaranteed list of books to get you through the winter.

 If you have any suggestions please share, I can't do too gory/graphic (The Black Daggar Brotherhood was  my limit) and I am shallow and want a happy ending with the characters not beating each other up too much in the process. I figure life is hard enough if I want to "veg out" I am going to do it with something nice!

Happy reading, Sandy