I love to read a variety of genres and fantasy is one that I am re-exploring.  I am hoping to find some that are geared for adult, good romance, good sex and great plot (sometimes lacking in books with a lot of sex, sadly).

I am reading and loving C. L. Wilson's Turien Soul series, and have a few others on my reminder list.  But am hoping to get some ideas of similar type books.  I have read some  books that border on paranormal and urban fantasy.  I like dragons, gargoyles, and am not really interested in evil wizards or witches.  Don't mind them in the story, but not interested in two wizards duking it out to win who/whatever.  G. A. Aiken is another writer of fantasy/paranormal that I enjoy reading.

I like humor and mystery although the book doesn't have to have those aspects it would be nice if it did.  I'd  just like to read a good story with some romance and the HEA.

Not asking for much, am I 

Janette

C. E. Murphy might work for you She has an urban fantasy series that involved gargoyles (can't remember name) and one that is called (maybe?) Urban Shaman.  Tanya Huff's latest book suggests some unusual sex but doesn't go into too much detail. -The Enchantment Emporium.  It's has dragons and other creatures -does involve witches & wizards but no duels exactly.   And check the dragon thread for more!   You might want to join the fantasy challenge if you think you might want to explore some other areas of fantasy.  It's a good way to force yourself to try different types of books.  I'm enjoying it at any rate...

I think you would probably enjoy Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey.  It is the first fantasy book that comes to mind for "adult, good romance, good sex and great plot."

Thanks for the suggestion of the challenge, I will check out the names of authors there.  Am doing the Paranormal Challenge, don't know if I can handle two of them; I read a lot but not that much, LOL

I read a couple of her  (Murphy) Urban Shaman series and didn't like it.  I will check out her other series, and see if I like that better.  I'll also check out Jacqueline Carey's book. 

Thanks again for the tips.

Janette

The fantasy challenge has a light option where you only have to read 15 books this year. . .

I always, always have to endorse a recommendation of Kushiel's Dart -- that series is tied for my favorite of all time with Bujold's Vorkosigan saga. There are a few caveats though: the sex is almost exclusively sado-masochistic; bisexuality is accepted (actually the norm); prostitution is a sacred calling; and the plot is all politics and intrigue, there's no magic or magical creatures. (BTW, what does HEA stand for? Maybe you didn't need some of those caveats, but I like to be on the safe side. . .) But if none of those things raise your hackles, then be prepared to be swept away in an epic that is firmly within the best of high fantasy tradition.

If any of those things do raise your hackles, you could try Carey's Santa Olivia instead. . . no sado-masochism, no prostitution (or rather, the attitudes towards prostitution are much closer to modern society's), no politics or intrigue; it is a "post-punk desert bordertown fable, with boxing and cute girls in love" according to Carey. This is actually post-apocalyptic SF, but Carey keeps her focus on the town and its inhabitants, rather than the larger picture, and there is plenty of sex, romance, and plot. (Plus, the prose is in a more naturalistic vein, rather than the slightly self-conscious archaism (is that a word?) of the Kushiel series.)

Ummm. . . if you like things a bit darker, you could try Sarah Monette's series that starts with Melusine, though there's no romance involved -- sex is a tool for power, and I personally didn't love it because of that. . . but Monette's writing is solid and the setting she creates is interesting and Mildmay is a wonderful character, so I will put that out there. . .

An oldie but a goodie (and something that's really more SF than Fantasy, but it's on a low-tech planet and technically there's a scientific explanation for the telepathy) is Marion Zimmer Bradley's Darkover series; specifically, The Spell Sword and The Forbidden Tower. The Spell Sword is kind of classic sword-and-sorcery style (or would that be sword-and-planet?) with a dash of romance; The Forbidden Tower gets much more deeply into the relationships among two couples breaking all sorts of taboos and struggling to forge a new (less destructive) way for their society to develop telepathic talent. . . but the sex itself is kind of blurred out the way it usually is in SF and Fantasy. . . or if you wanted to start somewhere a little shorter in the Darkover series you could try The World-Wreakers.

Back on the sex-is-power side of things (but used a little less brutally than in Melusine), Ellen Kushner's Riverside novels might interest you. . . start with Swordspoint. No magic whatsoever; nothing to indicate it's fantasy at all except that it isn't any city or country in our world; but it's brilliantly written, has great characters, and plot enough to satisfy anyone (though as with Kushiel's Dart, it's all politics and intrigue, not fighting and action).

On the more sensual side of things, you could try John Crowley's Little, Big -- romance is minimal (though there are plenty of characters in love) and the plot is meandering (and that's a kind way of putting it) but the prose is exquisite. It's also the only thing I've recommended so far that's remotely modern-day. . .

If you're willing to do without actual sex, you can try any of Sharon Shinn's adult novels. . . she writes some of the best SF and fantasy romance I've ever read, but it's kept PG. Try Archangel (SF masquerading as Fantasy), Wrapt in Crystal (SF mystery), Summers at Castle Auburn (YA High Fantasy), or Mystic and Rider (High Fantasy Epic, and the start of a series), depending on what kind of setting you want.

That's all I can think of for now. . . hope you find something you enjoy!

G A Aiken also writes a series about weres under the name Shelly Laurenston.  Has that same rowdy adult humor.  Highly recommend them.

Try George R.R. Martin's Fire and Ice series.  It's a great read, but he takes WAY too long to put out books.  The last book came out 5 years after the previous one, and it is going on past 3 years for the next one.  But awesome books.  The other is the Warlord Chronicles by Bernard Cornwell.  This is more of a historical fiction trilogy, but my favorite trilogy of all time.  I'm not into anything with elves and monsters or whatever, so that trilogy fits the bill.  The Martin series has dragons which I'm not too keen on either, but it has been a minor fixture so far.

Thanks everyone.  Have been checking out the suggestions and like the sound of Sharon Shinn Tiger and Del series.   will checkout out the other suggestions and also Naomi Novik Temeraine series,  Jennifer Roberson's Lady of the Forest and Dave Duncan's Reluctant Swordsman.

I have read G. A. Aiken's Dragon Kin and really enjoy it.  Prefer the books to have some romance and some sex but if the story is good enough I can do without, LOL.

Not wild about the idea of sex being used for power, or as a means to control others, sex slave type.  Romance, yes, forced to participate, nope. 

Kushiel's Dart sounded good, so will check it out more.

Again, thanks for the suggestions.

Janette

Both Robert Jordan's series and Terry Goodkind's would surely qualify.

And if you are totally ambivalent and of the extremely imaginative bent, there is the great classic, The Left Hand of Darkness.

And if you are up to an exploration of the nature of human sexuality itself, try Dahlgren.