I am in the midst of four vampire series right now, so I am thinking I need to branch out a bit just to get a mix. I really don't want to start another series at the moment, I would prefer a single book that you really loved, with a great love story. Something I can dig my claws into and get a break from the sequels. I am sort of burned out on highlanders too, yikes, did I just say that?

I love anything related to time travel, magic, mind powers, etc. I haven't read anything with angels or demons yet, so maybe something in that category?


If there is a series that I haven't posted here that is a must, don't be afraid to mention it, I can always keep the recommendation for future reference.


In the paranormal I have read Kenyon, Kurland, Moning, Cole, Raye, Ward and Shayne, Meyers and Smith, but only their series.


Thanks so much readers! :)

Soulless by Gail Carriger.  Okay, it is the start of a series.  But Soulless was great.  The sequel, Changeless, was just good.

For stand alones, my mind always goes to Sunshine by Robin McKinley.  Okay, it is vampires and it is not a romance.  But oh, what a book.

ETA    Tinker by Wen Spencer.  Okay, it has a sequel.  But just the two books.

I'm reading Druids by Morgan Llywelyn right now and really liking it!

Stand alone paranormal romances...yikes... It's a toughie, but I reccomend having a look at this thread: http://www.paperbackswap.com/forum/topic.php?t=145309 where we tried to come up with stand alones.  It's more than a year old but does have some good suggestions.

As far as series go, if you like more paranormal romance, you should defininitely give Nalini Singh's Psy Changeling books a try.  The books are part of a series, but also focus on different couples within the world.  Other "must" series for me include Patty Briggs' Mercy Thompson books and pretty much everything Richelle Mead writes.

Here is my list... I've read all the books below, all are great books that I really really liked. In the future, there may be a 2nd book if the book is successful enough but at the time of the printing of the book, it was a stand-alone self-contained storyline.

Stripped by Marcia Colette

Scythe by M.K. Mancos

Tsunami Blue by Gayle Anne Williams

Confessions of a Demon by S.L. Wright

Master of None by Sonya Bateman

The Missing by Shiloh Walker

They Call Me Death by Missy Jane

Dark Sentinel by Melissa Lopez

Thanks so much for these great suggestions. I look forward to reading more about them tonight.

I've got one!

The Autumn Castle by Kim Wilkins. It is not part of a series in the same way that the Sookie Stackhouse books are a series. This author has 3 books that are grouped together as something called the Europa Suite. The Autumn Castle is a self-contained story, no continuity to the next books in that "series". They are more grouped together because of themes. I have not read the other two books, but I did write the author about them because I was curious, and this was her reply:

I'm glad you liked it!

It's not really one in a series, but I wrote 3 books together and they're all based on european fairy and folk tales. None of the same characters or settings etc. The other two are Giants of the Frost (set in Scandinavia) and The Veil of Gold (set in Russia).

Note: The Autumn Castle is out of print, but there are still a few copies on PBS! If it intrigues you, I'd suggest getting it soon. :-) This one was a keeper for me.

While I really loved The Autumn Castle, I would not call it as a romance.  Kim's books are very dark, dense and lush.  Not HEA.  Not light reading.

A couple of my favorites are by Richelle Mead....Storm Born and Thorn Queen.  There are only those two (for now) so it's not a big series.  I loved both of these books!

I agree with Sherry, of course I always agree w/ Sherry but that is besides the point. Storm Born and Thorn Queen were incredible. However, there needs to be more books in the series! LOL

Excellent suggestions. I put a few on my lists, especially the Mead books.

Thanks again!

 "Angelology" is terrific; it's new, not in paperback yet. Very well written, very adult (not cutesy in the least, about good and bad angels that still live among us.

You might give Holly Lisle a try. All of her books are standalone and have a paranormal element to them. Night Echoes is my absolute fav. it has a ghost and a sexy handiman, but all her books are very good.

I could not get into Angelology, I tried over and over again!

OMG.  I just started Julie Kenners book Tainted and I love it.  I had to take a break from vampires too.  I am halfway thru PC Casts series and just had to get away before starting book 5.  Tainted is good from page 1 and sucks you right in.  Sorry to say it is part of a series, but as far as I know there are only 3 books so far. Give it a try.