I'm thinking about reading Stray by Rachel Vincent. What do you all think? I prefer the Urban Fantasy w/ some romance. I like more dark fantasy (I used to read straight horror but then discovered I liked paranormal better and now add the romance) but to keep me interested, I have to feel like there should be someone the main character is fighting for (besides the end of the world, world domination, etc.). I also prefer one or two main characters throughout the series. I hate when each book is about a different character (even though some of the authors handle this very well and keep a good story going throughout). You all give such good suggestions so if you can think of more books besides Stray by Vincent, fire away. I do not like the Anita Blake series, the Mercy Thompson series or Women of the Underwold series

I love Stray, but there's very little "romance" in it. There's a romantic relationship, but it's rocky and very little attention is put on it. Honestly, "urban fantasy" usually means no or very little romance- that's why there's a difference between it and paranormal romance. I HIGHLY recommend Gena Showalter's "Lords of the Underworld" series, there's a nice dose of romance and great dark urban fantasy plots. There is a different main couple in each book, but it's handled well and they're all connected- the first is "Darkest Night". Nalini Singh also has a lot of romance in her Psy-Changelings series (starting with "Slave to Sensation") so does Kresley Cole's "Immortals After Dark" series (starting with "A Hunger Like No Other") Most of the romantic series I know of have a different main couple in each book, but I'm sure other posters can give you ones with a steady couple. :) Oh, I'm pretty sure Jeaniene Frost's "Night Huntress" series has a steady couple throughout. 

Stephanie, I know urban fantasy doesn't usually have romance. That is why it makes it so hard to find the books I like! I've read all the ones you mentioned. I love them all and your selections were dead on.  Here are some of the series I have read (sorry I didn't put them down before)

• On the Edge
• Riley Jensen
• The Dark Forgotten
• Morgan Kingsley
• Sentinal Wars
• Morganville
• Weather Warden
• House of Night
• Immortals after Dark
• Blue Bloods
• Night Huntress
• Charlie Madigan
• Stargazer (is that the name of the series..not sure)
• Demonica
• Dark-Hunter
• Hell on Earth
• Dark Swan
• Georgina Kincaid
• Vampire Academy
• Dreg City
• Fever
• Immortals
• The Guardians of Destiny
• Night Slayer
• Maker's song
• Lords of the Underworld
• Psy-Changling
• Guild Hunter
• Children of the Moon
• Through the veil
• Black Dagger
• Dark Cresent Sisterhood

Have you tried S.J. Day's marked series? It's definitley UF and a bit on the dark side, but there is a romantic thread through the series -- a love triangle actually. You might like it.

I'll give it a try. I looked it up and it looks interesting. Thanks

I absalutely adore Kresley Cole, Gena Showalter and Nalini Singh but I would definately call them paranormal romance rather than urban fantasy.  Vicki Peterson's Sign of the Zodiac has romance but way more uban fantasy.  I highly reccomend them.

Hi Carolyn,

Yeah, I prefer the urban fantasy mixed with romance but I will read straight paranormal romance/erotica. If the Urban Fantasy is really good, it doesn't need any romance at all. In fact, if I forgot about the fact the book has no romance, I consider it an outstanding book- (such as Three Days to Dead by Kelly Meding-only a hint at romance). I have the Sign of the Zodiac series and for some reason, I've hesitated in reading them. It is one of those books where I'll probably love and hate that I've sat on them for so long. Maybe, I'll read it next!

Been there done that! lol  I'm a wee bit obsessive about acquiring books.  Must have all  that are in the series, you know!   But now I have hundreds of books and some of them, I can't remember why I wanted them in the first place...lol  But I will read them all unless they really suck.  Looking at your list, I think I've read about 80% of those.

Carolyn,

Looking at your wish list, we have the same taste in books and we are practically neighbors!

Oh wow, I don't use this site very often anymore so my wishlist is only books I can't rent from booksfree.com.  I got tired of  waiting forever for wishlist books and didn't want to pay full price 'cause I read a book a day (I kid  you not!) and that's a lot of moola. lol  Booksfree.com let's me rent new books pretty cheap.  I'm definately spending less on books now.  It's like nextflix for books.  I spend about $56/month for 12 paperbacks out at a time and one audio book.  I was buying up all the book credits a month that they'll let you so I've almost cut my costs in half!  Of course I'm weak and still buy from paperback swap. he he  It's a sickness, I tell ya!

Ok, i totally have to check out that site. I am at a book a day and a half. It would be a book a day if it wasn't for this thing called work and kids (oh yeah, and that male significant other).

LOL  yeah, I have kids but stay at home.  I swear I feed them and clean......sometimes. lol

Heather, I took your advice, and I read the first two Marked books...Eve of Darkness and Eve of Destruction by S.J. Day and all I can say is WOW! I loved them. Thank you so much for the recommendation.

Christine Feehan's Carpathian series (vampires)

Mary Janice Davidson's Queen Betsy Series (vampires and other creatures)

Mary Janice Davidson's Fred the Mermaid Series (Mermaids)

Gena Showalter's Atlantis series (Atlantians, dragons)

Karen Chance's Charmed series (witches and other creatures)

Marjorie M. Liu's Dirk and Steele Series (demons and other creatures)

Katie McAlister's Aisling Grey Series (dragons, demons, and other creatures)

Katie McAlister's Silver Dragon Series (dragons, demons, and other creatures)

Charlaine Harris' Sookie Stackhouse Series (vampires, weres, the Fae)

Charlaine Harris' Harper Connelly Series (woman who senses ghosts and spirits)

If these don't work for you, you can always type in "paranormal romance" at amazon.com and see what shows up.

Sorry for the wall of text, pbs keeps screwing up my formatting. What the heck is wrong with this thing!?!

Had to add in html coding. For some reason It was malfunctioning and wouldn't let me format my post. The whole bar at the top that lets you change formatting completely disappeared. Oh well, it's back to normal now.

Cheryl, I could see the post fine. I appreciate the time and effort it took to write it out too! I have Karen Chance's Charmed series and I was going to give her books a try! I love the list, definite possibilities in it!

Carolyn, I love booksfree, too! I'm getting 9 at a time, but next month going back to 6 at a time. I just have SO many books at home that I REALLY want to read, I can't justify reading half of my books per month from sources other than my TBR. I wish I could read a book a day! Usually takes me 2 days, sometimes 3, depending on what else is going on around here. If I didn't have over 1000 books sitting in my TBR I would get the 12 or 15 at a time plan. Well worth it!!!  My plan is, once I get half of my TBR read, to raise my plan again.