I'm continuing my paranormal book recs this week with some vampire romances. There isn't anything scary here—like I said last week, I love spooky and atmospheric and paranormal, but I don't do horror. I don't seek out vampire books the way I do witch books, but I don't avoid them either and I read a ton of paranormal. And I've read/watched a bunch of vampire stories over the years—Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles books in high school (and the movie—I haven't seen the new television show yet, but I've heard it's fantastic, so it's on my list), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, both movie and show, and later on some of Laurell K Hamilton's Anita Blake books and a few of Lynsay Sands's Argeneau series, and the Twilight series as well. Here are some of my favorite vampire romances that I come back to often:
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (M/F romance): This book was on last week's witch rec list, but it belongs here as well for vampire love interest Matthew Clairmont and his whole vampire family plus the complex world building and politics in the book surrounding the three paranormal creatures, witches, vampires, and daemons, populating the series. Definitely read these (and watch the show!) if you haven't yet.
The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series by Sheena Jolie (formerly SJ Himes) (M/M romance): I could have maybe included this series in last week's post as well, but I'm not sure if main character Angel would consider himself a witch. He is, after all, a powerful necromancer. His love interest, though, is vampire Simeon, and the series deals with the interplay between magic users and vampires in a lot of ways, including a couple of wonderful romances. I generally reread these yearly.
Frostbite by J Emery (M/M romance): This is a sweet, fluffy, sexy holiday novella that I adored (it's labeled as the first in a series, and I live in hope for more, but nothing yet...). Spoiled vampire Ezra sneaks out for a night of fun and dancing and ends up kidnapped by a rival clan. He escapes only to end up lost in the woods in a blizzard and takes shelter in a seemingly empty cabin. Only the cabin is about to be occupied by Morgan, who has just told his family that he's quitting the family monster hunting business and needs to get away. What follows is a very cute, very tropey romance.
First Blood and Twice Bitten by Eliot Grayson (M/M romance): These two novellas are in the same world as Grayson's Mismatched Mates series (a couple of characters from the series appear in Twice Bitten, but otherwise there isn't much of a connection). While the Mismatched Mates series, which is lots of fun, centers around shifters, these two novellas are about vampires—and are just as fun. I'm hoping for more in the Mismatched Mates series and in this little vampire corner of that world as well.
Hours of the Night series by Irene Preston and Liv Rancourt (M/M romance): I'm going to start by saying the Gothic atmosphere in this Louisiana set vampire series is absolutely perfect—loved. In Vespers, we're introduced to vampire Thaddeus, who chants the Liturgy of the Hours nightly and is under the control of the White Monks who say his soul will be saved if he kills demons for them, and Sarasija, a recent college grad who takes a job as Thaddeus's assistant without ever meeting him. The two are incredibly different and their romance is wonderfully developed just as the paranormal plot is.
Vampire with Benefits by EJ Russell (M/M romance): Vampire with Benefits is the second book in the Supernatural Selection series, all of which is lots of fun, thought this one might be my favorite. Silent film star turned vampire Casimir is ordered to marry an incubus by the vampire council (so he will be molded into a proper vampire). Inactive beaver shifter Rusty has been fighting disrespect his entire life and has just been left by his longterm boyfriend. He turns to the Supernatural Selection service, but a magical mix-up there leaves both Casimir and Rusty without their intended husbands...so they agree to a pretend marriage. But we all know what happens with fake relationships, right?
Not Dead Yet series by Jenn Burke (M/M romance): The Not Dead Yet series gives us a second chance romance between Wes, an immortal not-ghost retrieval specialist, and Hudson, a cop who is now a vampire. The two are brought back into contact when Wes witnesses a murder while trying to retrieve something for a client. The paranormal mystery takes off from there and so does the romance. The characters and the chosen family they form in this series are just wonderful, and I love Wes and Hudson. And there's more vampire romance and mystery in the spin-off series Ashes & Dust.
The Circle trilogy by Nora Roberts (M/F romance): Of course Nora Roberts has written something with vampires—she's probably written some of everything by now (I wish I could write as quickly—and have as much success—as she does). This trilogy includes other paranormal creatures and elements, not just vampires, but it does have a vampire main character who gets his own romance in the third book (which happens to be my favorite of the three).
SPECTR series by Jordan L Hawk (M/M/M romance): While trying to avenge his brother's death, telekinetic Caleb is possessed by Gray, a drakul who hunts and kills demons by drinking their blood. (So, not quite a traditional vampire, but maybe close enough?) This brings them to the attention of SPECTR, the agency that investigates paranormal crime, and one of its agents, John. Gray is supposed to be exorcised out of Caleb, but as John researches how to do that, the three become closer and embark on a unique relationship—and also uncover plots and conspiracies within the agency. It's a fun series of fairly short books. Start at the beginning with Hunter of Demons.
What are some of your favorite vampire romances?
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