I've found some series I just love and others I've glommed or have access to at the library but not sure if they're gonna be my cuppa or at least would like to know what to expect. mainly in the lightness/easy to follow/humor/violence level/romance..those kinda things. I'll try to remember which ones I've read and liked and which ones I have though someone may post something and I'll remember 'oh yeah'...

in general I like a HEA romance, humor, lightness, and not too complicated to follow where I feel I need to take out a pen and paper to jot down notes.

I've liked Kerrelyn Sparks' vampires...Kathy Love's Young Brothers (the other series was ok though that 2nd book really pushed my buttons with the incest crap)..Lynsay Sands' were awesome through Accidental Vampire then got a little harder to get through though I'm still plugging along..Erin McCarty's vegas vamps started out ok but I think I should've spaced them out because by book 3 or 4 I was fed up with some of them..esp that hitman and the dingbat secretary..and I can't figure it out because what I can take in one book just bugs me in another...I'm almost done with Christine Warren's Others and I have to say I've enjoyed them in spite of her jumping around all out of order and they've varied in the amt /type of sex and intenseness of the storyline..I've actually enjoyed the later ones more because the violence doesn't seem as much/intense though I know they're all weak compared to a lot of paranormal...but the earlier ones seemed to have  more of a storyline/plot than just a sexy romance. oops forgot - also read about 5 of Michele Bardsley's Oklahoma vamps and dont' know if I'll continue..Ifound these confusing and the humor was great but then so much violence and I couldn't follow the 'rules' esp with all the cross stuff with vamps mixed with shifters and all that. Michele Rowens I read the first book and it was funny but more like chick-lit than romance..have some of the others but again not in a huge hurry to continue(though I was this way after Wolf at the door by christine Warren but finally continueda nd am glad I did..)

stuff I have are J R Ward's books, a series by Nalina Singh, some by Viehl..library has L. A. Banks Vampire Huntress...and I have 4 by Jeanniene Frost and the 2 new series by Patricia Briggs(between myself and the library). also some of the weather warden books. can anyone tell me what to expect with these series? I also have more of Jim Butcher's dresden files and have read the first so I'm guessing they're all similar to that- pushed my limits on the violence but I loved the storyline and liked it in spite of it not being a romance,etc. these others I've onlyr ead the intro story alpha and omega to one of brigg's series but not the others.

My opinions

 JR Ward -- on of my favs -- more serious than some of the others you named though.  Each book focuses on a different pair, but the overall story continues and there is interaction with the previous characters.You mentioned you didn't like a lot of violence -- this does have violence. 

Nalini Singh - another of my favs.  --  Again one where each book focuses on a different pair. 

LA Banks - hated it -- couldn't get past the conversation stuff --

Jeanniene Frost -- I really like this series too -- More urban fantasy, less romancy.  Same main femal lead throughout.

Patricia Briggs -- my fav on this list -- a strong heroine, good supporting people, and a good plot in every book. Mercy's series is still my favorite.  I think with the Alpha and Omega series you have to read the short story from, I forget which book, first to understand the main character - otherwise she seems too wimpy.

Jim Butcher -- love all of his books too.  More urban fantasy -- less romance --  Agian the whole series has Dresden as the main character .

You said a couple of times you didn't like some of the violence in other books, I think all of these authors have more violence in them and are a bit darker than Lydsay Sands, Michelle Bardsley, Kathy Love and Michelle Rowen's.  Those are all more romancy and laced with more humor. 

thanks Rachel. I guess I lean towards romance and humor but I've enjoyed some with good storylines like Storm Front by Jim Butcher. thanks though at least I know to expect some violence if/when I start reading!

also forgot I've read the first in Kresley Cole's series and wasn't overwhelmed though I plan to continue and see since I have all through demon king.

Hey Susanna! :-)

I can only comment on the L.A. Banks series, which I really, really liked. Yes, the urban language takes some getting used to, but I love a character-driven story, and Banks definitely knows how to write a good character. The H/H storyline is ongoing through the entire series, and you may remember from my rants in the "What are you reading" thread that I had an intense love/hate relationship with the hero, Carlos. He aggravated me to no end, but the depth of his character was fantastic. I actually still haven't read the last 3 books in the series - I read the first nine back-to-back and needed a break. But, I do have to warn you, ('cause I know you hate reading violence), the action can get pretty intense. So can the mythology. But overall, I'm incredibly  glad I read this series. 

One I didn't see on your list that fits the bill for lighthearted and funny is the Aisling Grey, Guardian series by Katie MacAlister. Another of my favorites, and it has a place on my keeper shelf. :-)

The books you mention that you read and liked are light and fluffy for the most part.  Many of the books you have named you have and have not yet read are much darker.  Personally I like the later ones better...but based on what you say you like...I wouldn't think you would.

I think Rachel covers it well.

thanks! yes I know I go towards light and fluffy  LOL! not too good with violence though I forgot about Aiken and Laureston that I make exceptions for due to they're so darned good! my coworker doesn't mind some violence and she'd rather read a good story than fluffy. she was liking Christine Warren's til it got to Walk on the Wild Side and s he thought the relationship was too 'I'll spank you' and she was thinking 'just talk to ME that way'! I'm thinking I'll let her read these others because they're probaby right up her alley and I'll have to work up to them I guess. I haven't read Katie MacAlister's Aisling series yet.. I think I have them or at least some of them but I've 2 other books by her and one i liked a lot and the other I hated so I was afraid to chance it. I'll give them a shot though and maybe BDB and see how I do.

thanks a lot for the help!

What about Mary Janice Davidson's vampire series?  I am blanking on what the first one is called - Undead and Unemployed, maybe?  They are more lighthearted and funny, and definitely not as dark as some of the others on your list.

I Loved the MaryJanice Davidson Books - they have lots of humor in them.  I like the fluff and stuff - although I have read some of the more "serious" books.  I enjoyed the first Molly Harper book, Nice girls don't have fangs and I am reading the 2nd one now.  Linda Wisdom has a good series - the Jazz Tremaine ones that are good. 

The Pepper Martin series by Casey Daniels

The Nicki Styx series by Terri Garey

The Glory St. Claire series by Gerry Bartlett

I hope that helps.

stuff I have are J R Ward's books, a series by Nalina Singh, some by Viehl..library has L. A. Banks Vampire Huntress...and I have 4 by Jeanniene Frost and the 2 new series by Patricia Briggs(between myself and the library). also some of the weather warden books.

as has been mentioned, all of those are darker and more violent than the light & fluffy stuff you tend to prefer.

i can't even explain to myself why, but the Weather Warden books remind me of the Jim Butcher books only with more relationship stuff.  :)

Vampire Huntress series by L.A. Banks - i read the first one and gave it up.  the storyline wasn't interesting enough to get me to read more of the style of language the characters were using.  plus i'm pretty sure they're pretty violent from the short stories i've read.

Viehl i don't know about - i've never gotten past the first five pages of anything she's written under this pen name, even though i read her sci-fi books.

Nalini Singh, Jeaniene Frost, and J.R. Ward are all great.  i think there's less direct violence in Singh than in the others.  the main character in Frost's book is a vampire hunter, so there's plenty of violence & mayhem going on.

J.R. Ward - well, as crackalicious as these are, i wouldn't even remotely call these light, and if violence makes you quesy you'll probably want to skip it.  every one of the Brothers is a warrior, in an ongoing war with the lessers, so there's a whole lot of up close & personal fighting with stabbings, shootings, and occasional torture.  plus Zsadist's story (the third one) gives us a good look at his tortured past.

so i'd probably say try Singh first, then if that's ok try Frost.

none of them have the humor Laurenston does.  (well, as far as i can tell, no one does.  i *love* her stuff, and she just cracks me up so that i'm usually giggling through the whole book.)