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A Note from Chelsea / VBC: All the suggested poolside reading lists we see online point to cheeky contemporary novels or lighthearted romps. Well, at VBC we know there are plenty of books featuring paranormal elements, badass heroines and sexy heroes that are perfect for reading out under the sun. So, of course, we’ve decided to do our own Beach Reads picks. Each Friday for the next several weeks, we’ll share one VBC reviewers picks for the ultimate beach reads. Today Candace offers up plenty of steamy paranormal romance and a dash of light urban fantasy.
CANDACE’S BEACH READ PICKSMy family has a house on the North Carolina coast and I spent a lot of time there growing up. So this is a subject near and dear to my heart. Once I outgrew the building sandcastles stage, I discovered the beauty of the combination of a beach umbrella, baby formula sunscreen and a great book. My favorite books are the kinds that have a series attached to them, so you can discover more about these characters after you have devoured book one.
Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost (Night Huntress #1)
Get the book at: Book Depository or Amazon
Sexy-as-hell vampire Bones will do any and everything to protect the woman he loves. If you’re one of the two people who haven’t discovered this series, change that. (Read the VBC review)
First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones (Charley Davidson #1)
Get the book at: Book Depository or Amazon
She’s got a devil of a hero, the smoldering Reyes Farrow. He is just the icing on top of this snark-filled, coffee-flavored cupcake. (Read the VBC review)
The Warlord Wants Forever by Kresley Cole (Immortals After Dark #1)
Get the book at: Amazon
Nikolai and Myst’s story begins the 13-book Immortals After Dark series. If you need more convincing, let me toss a couple of names at you. Cade. Bowen, Garreth, Lothaire…get them and discover these guys and the hotness that is Immortals After Dark.
Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter (Atlantis #1)
Get the book at: Book Depository or Amazon
This series came out before the better-known Lords of the Underworld books and I absolutely adored it. This is Darius and Grace’s story and that dragon is smoking hot. Speaking of dragons…
Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison (Elder Races #1)
Get the book at: Book Depository or Amazon
At this point, if you’re still on your couch and haven’t been book shopping, get up, grab the check book and go. Dragos is the type of larger-than-life Alpha that makes Thea Harrison’s series great (and he makes appearances in the rest of the series). Go buy it now. (Psst! Once you’re done with Dragos, you get to meet Tiago and Khalil too!) (Read the VBC review)
Excellent choices! And, if someone has read then all may I throw in “Magic Bites” by Iona Andrews and “Some Girls Bite” by Chloe Neil. Those two are the first books in a pair of excellent series.
Julie, I’ll agree that Some Girls Bite could make a good summer read! Nice suggestion.
That’s an interesting point. Some Girl’s Bite was actually a summer read for me. Ethan Sullivan is quite addictive. Oh yeah, and the rest of the character’s too. *wink*
I am not surprised by any of your choices. 😉
And I do believe you own every single book in four of those series. *bows* You’re welcome. 😀
I JUST finished reading “First Grave on the Right” and I am HOOKED. The snark, oh, the snark is what did me in. 🙂
Darynda is snarkalicious. Love, love, love her!