Paranormal romance: an immensely popular subgenre of paranormal fiction where characters may be bitten and die, only to live again and love again. Perhaps these characters may meet and grow to love an enticing, mysterious someone who is the exact opposite of human and who needs to feed on human blood to survive. Or maybe they are human and morph into a powerful creature out of necessity.
Regardless, paranormal creatures need and get love in these fun, mostly spicy vampire and shifter novels listed below, handpicked based on tip-top reader enjoyment. Pick your poison.
1) Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood #1) by J.R. Ward
Dark Lover is a vampire novel that has readers over-their-heads excited by the dripping passion between protagonist, Wrath, and his new, beautiful, half-breed companion, Beth, who is ignorant of her mysterious heritage. The sole pureblood vampire left on Earth after the slaying of his family and trustworthy friends, Wrath is red with rage; but after he comes into the responsibility of protecting Beth, he must fight for the safest route.
For lovers of addictive descriptions of jaw-droppingly gorgeous men, plenty of sex-y scenes, and a rushing plot.
2) Becoming Alpha (Alpha Girl #1) by Aileen Erin
While the only YA book on the list, it has been hailed as one that both young adults and adults will love. Becoming Alpha tells the story of a teenage girl, Tessa McCaide, who, at the touch of a finger, sees visions that she can’t control. Upon moving from California to Texas, eager to start a new life where she isn’t the “weird girl,” Tessa becomes involved with a boy who will change her life – and body – forever. Dastien. A werewolf who has chosen Tessa to be his mate. Everything gets crazier than Tessa could ever imagine when her school is attacked and she’s in the middle of it.
Love innocent teen romances with a touch of wolf shifting and an epic battle with vampires? Then, this one’s for you.
3) Indebted to the Vampires (House of Durand #1) by Erin Bedford
Called a “fun reverse harem” by some readers and simply amazing by others who were drowning in love for the characters, this novel has reached the hearts of many. Piper, a maid for hire, knew that her new employers were a house of snooty rich men, but when she breaks a valuable vase of theirs, she finds out that they’re guarding a terrifying secret that they don’t want out. She’s stumbled into a house of vampires, and now she’s indebted to them.
Is thinking up riveting sexual fantasies kind of your thing? It’s Piper’s, too, and you’ll love what you read in this book.
4) Wild Rain (Leopard People #1) by Christine Feehan
A hot adult novel with sexy characters and sexier scenes, this novel sends ripples through readers from start to finish. The protagonist, Rachel, on the run from an unknown hitman, flees to an unknown and exotic place: the rainforest. There, she meets Rio, a beautiful leopard-shifter who protects his kind, and Rachel has nowhere else to go.
For readers who desire a romance so good they won’t be able to put it down.
5) Pride Mates (Shifters Unbound #1) by Jennifer Ashley
In a romance starring characters Kim Fraser and Liam Morrissey, Pride Mates is a novel in which readers can feel a connection to the characters and the world they live in, propelling them to read further. Kim Fraser is a human attorney defending a shifter accused of murder. However, she is an uninvited guest in a town of shifters. Liam, a wolf-shifter struck by Kim’s beauty and concerned by her vulnerability, takes it upon himself to protect her when a violent shifter threatens both their safety.
Readers who love a good shifter romance that also speaks of real-world societal problems would appreciate this novel.
– BONUS –
Blood Kiss (Black Dagger Legacy #1) by J.R. Ward
Garnering extremely high anticipation and praise following the Blood Dagger Brotherhood series, Blood Kiss begins a series following Paradise, the daughter of an aristocrat. Joining the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training program to learn protective skills, Paradise meets harsh obstacles… and a commoner with whom she has passionately fallen in love. As danger builds inside the training center, Paradise must prove that she has the strength to get by.
For lovers of forbidden romances, strong female leads, and, of course, vampire novels.
Found one that’ll keep you up all night? Found the one that successfully triggered the reader in you?
With a list of paranormal romance novels like this, your newest addiction’s sure to have been picked.
