What's on the Reading Radar? #read #TBR #WishList

 This week I went to a group and asked for something specific for a recommendation. The request went something like this: 

"Give me your Alpha Vampire recommendations. I’d rather not have relationship drama. But if he’s growly or grumpy but protective or something like that would be awesome. I’d love a good plot. I’m good with gore but not dubcom. Fantasy, sci-fi, urban fantasy, poly or mpreg all welcome."

I received a lot of great recommendations that I thought I'd share here. :)

Title: A Thousand Lifetimes

Series:

Author: Kate Hawthorne

Length: 192

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampire / Gay

Notes: 

Blurb: My name is Ezra Clarke, and I’m twenty-three.
Forever.

If you’re counting in vampire years, I’m actually two-hundred and eight, and if living that long has taught me anything, it’s that nothing lasts forever. And that’s been fine. It’s… whatever. I’ve never wanted anything that long, anyway, which is why I’ve never taken a mate, but that all changed when I met Declan Byrne.

He’s young, handsome, and he doesn’t do what I tell him to. He smells like cinnamon and has eyes that remind me of the daytime sky. Every kiss we share feels like home, and no touch lasts long enough.

I need him to be mine.

And for the briefest moment he is, and life is perfect… and then it isn’t. Rogue vampires threaten to pull us apart, and complicated politics are painful reminders that a world exists beyond our privacy of our bedroom.

But if anyone thinks they can keep me away from Declan, they have another thing coming. My mate and I have a thousand lifetimes to live, and we’re just getting started.

Title: Claiming Marcus

Series: (Lords of Discord Book 1)

Author: Jocelynn Drake

Length: 352

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampire / Gay / 

Notes: 

Blurb: Ethan wants revenge.

Vampires slaughtered his family.

When a job opening comes up for suspected vampire Marcus Varik, Ethan is sure fate is finally smiling on him.

Except his new boss is nothing like he expected.

Shy, awkward, incredibly protective, and so perfectly sexy.

Ethan was definitely wrong about Marcus and the Variks, but is it too late to stop the deadly events he has set into motion? Will he lose the love shining in Marcus’s eyes?

Claiming Marcus is the first book in an MM paranormal romance series that has vampires, betrayal, annoying brothers, a two-hundred-year-old virgin, music, heartbreak, hope, sexy times, and a raven named Ozzie.

Title: Cronin's Key 

Series: Cronin's Key Series, Book 1

Author: NR Walker

Length:  

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampire / Gay /

Notes: I have read all but the last book in this series. It's really good and I really need to get to that last book.

Blurb: NYPD Detective Alec MacAidan has always been good with weird. After all, his life has been a string of the unexplainable. But when an injured man gives him cryptic clues, then turns to dust in front of him, Alec's view on weird is changed forever.

Cronin, a vampire Elder, has spent the last 1,000 years waiting for Alec. He'd been told his fated one would be a man wielding a shield, but he didn't expect him to be human, and he certainly didn't expect that shield to be a police badge.

Both men, strong-willed and stubborn, are still learning how to cope with the push and pull of being fated, when fate throws them another curveball.

Rumors have spread quickly of turmoil in Egypt. Covens are fleeing with news of a vampire who has a talent like no other, hell-bent on unleashing the wrath of Death.

Alec and Cronin are thrown into a world of weird Alec cannot imagine. What he learned in school of ancient pharaohs and Egyptian gods was far from the truth. Instead, he finds out firsthand that history isn't always what it seems.

Title: Handsome Death

Series:

Author: Sara Dobie Bauer

Length: 257

Genre: Dark Romance / Paranormal / Vampires / Gay

Notes: At the bottom of the blurb is a content warning. 

Blurb: I'm not hunting him; I'm protecting him.

At least, that's what I tell myself.
In New York City, a beautiful creature like Tristan Clement should not be walking the streets alone, and I'm the perfect vampire to watch his back.
But what if keeping him safe isn't enough anymore? What if I want to touch? And taste?
I need him. But I've never needed anyone.

In a world where paranormal creatures live amongst us and must follow certain laws, living life as a dangerous loner works for vampire Ethan. Inhabiting his gleaming apartment, wearing his designer suits, jetting around the world as a fanged killer-for-hire, Ethan does it all alone.

That is, until he literally runs into Tristan. Tristan, who is clearly trouble wrapped in skinny jeans and an oversized sweater. Tristan, with his shock of angelic blond curls. Tristan, who plays piano more beautifully than the old masters-- and Ethan would know; he saw Beethoven.

Tristan is gorgeous, a little sassy, and irresistible. Also, Ethan is horrified to note, Tristan has no idea how incredibly tempting he is to things that go bump in the night.

Overcome by the urge to keep Tristan safe, Ethan begins to... well, stalk is such a strong word. What starts as an obsession quickly becomes something more, something that Ethan needs. And to his surprise, Tristan seems to need him, too...

This darkly romantic tale delivers steamy passion and a happily ever after. Be advised that Handsome Death includes explicit m/m content, stalking, mentions of past abuse, and graphic violence. 

Title: His Consort 

Series: (House of Maedoc Book 1)

Author: Mary Calmes

Length: 286

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampire / Gay / 

Notes: I have read this one and really enjoyed it. When I was looking at this, I was reminded that the 2nd book has released.

Blurb: A new life in New Orleans is all Jason Thorpe had hoped: his quaint little store attracts a devoted staff and his warm, loving heart grants him a loyal circle of friends. He's perfectly content, having left behind the chill of a confusing and danger-filled night in Washington, until he discovers something unbelievable lurking in the steamy darkness of the shadowy streets of the Vieux Carré, something that turns out to be terrifying... and utterly mesmerizing.
The prince of the vampyrs, Varic Maedoc, is visiting New Orleans when he finds out the man who once helped his counselor is there in the Quarter. He thinks to simply meet and thank Jason—until he lays eyes on him. Varic’s devoted himself to protect the honor of his race, and he's never wanted a mate before... but he immediately knows he must have this man, and no one else will do.

Varic may want to bring Jason safely into his world, but someone who doesn’t like the human's soothing influence on vampyrs has deadly plans that would disrupt Varic's dreams. Now, unable to tell friend from foe, Jason finds himself wondering how to hold on to the prince’s heart when he’s fighting for his life.

Title: How to Vex a Vampire 

Series: (VRC: Vampire Related Crimes Book 1)

Author: Alice Winters

Length: 342

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampires / Gay / Paranormal Police Force / Humor / 

Notes: I have already read this one and enjoyed it. I need to read the other two in the series. 

Blurb: Finn

Getting into the vampire-only detective unit was the easy part; what’s going to be more difficult is dealing with my new partner, an ancient vampire who keeps threatening to eat me. The unit has never had a human in it, and Marcus—or as I like to call him, Fangy McFangface—would really prefer to keep it that way. He’s grumpy, short-tempered, and broody, but I have a way with words and I know he’s starting to like me, even if he swears he’s not. But what he doesn’t know is that I didn’t join the unit because I was tired of being a homicide detective, I joined because there is someone after me. They’ve already taken enough from me and I’m afraid they’re going to take all of me if I don’t find someone to help. That’s all Marcus was supposed to be, but now, he’s so much more and I can’t imagine my life without him.

Marcus

The moment the pesky human walked through that door, I knew I had to get rid of him. He’s charming and almost everyone else instantly loves him, but he doesn’t understand how risky it is being part of this unit as a human. But as I get to know the stubborn man, I learn that perhaps he’s not as naive as I once thought. And maybe he’s what I needed to realize there is more to life than just work and my dog. A group arises who is threatening to disrupt the alliance between the humans and the vampires, but Finn is the one who shows me how strong that alliance can be and reminds me why it’s worth protecting. When threats hit closer to home, I realize I would do anything for Finn because he’s brought so much joy to my life—and because he’s mine.

This 105k word book contains: A creative use for undergarments, unintentional splits, a wolfhound who just wants to be a part of things, a vertically challenged human who still manages to wrap every vampire he meets around his little finger, the best date ever, possessiveness, really awkward dancing, some workplace revenge, and just a bite or two. Or three.

While the plot of the first book is tied up and completed, there's a minor cliffhanger that will be tied up in the second book.

Title: Love Bites 

Series: (Thicker Than Water Book 1)

Author: Ann-Katrin Byrde

Length: 296

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampires / Gay

Notes: I picked up the audiobook for this. It's read by John Solo.

Blurb: Other parents give their children toys and party games for their birthday. My dad gave me and my siblings wooden stakes and flash grenades. To protect us from vampires.

From the moment he adopted us, he warned us about the dangers that lurk in the dark. Obviously, I thought he was crazy. Vampires aren’t real, and I was already enduring enough panic attacks without buying into Dad’s insane ideas.

But then I met Talon.

Talon has fascinating scars and a mouth I want to kiss and a body I want to feel--and fangs.

Vampire fangs.

Suddenly, the weapons Dad gave me start looking real useful.

Only I don't want to fight Talon. I want to feel his teeth on my neck. I can't explain it. He makes my knees goes weak. I know it's wrong, but it feels right.

It feels like destiny.

When Talon bites me, I forget everything, even that he is a monster. Even that I shouldn't be falling for him.

Even that his coven wants me dead.

Title: Mastering the Flames

Series: (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer Book 4)

Author: SJ Himes

Length: 396

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampires / Urban Fantasy / Magic / Gay

Notes: I'm a little behind on this series though I do own them. 

Blurb: Guilt-ridden after the massacre of his family, Isaac Salvatore turned to binge drinking to escape the pain. Now twenty-four years old, Isaac is a recovering alcoholic woefully out of practice in the magical arts, leaving his fire affinity hanging on the edge of disaster. After a month of rehab, he returns to Beacon Hill and his family, determined to remain sober, learn to control his magic, and figure out a plan for his life that doesn't involve drinking.

Constantine Batiste is the oldest, most powerful vampire in the city. Born in ancient Gaul, the bastard son of a Celtic king, his long life has been shrouded in tragedy and horrors. Recent mistakes have left him wary and determined to guard his clan from all foes. When two of his clan members fall victim to an ancient evil, he summons the Necromancer of Boston for aid. Accompanying his older brother to the Tower is the handsome young fire mage once wounded by Constantine's arrogance, and their encounter reignites an attraction that burns within both Constantine and Isaac.

The answer to who is targeting the vampires of Boston is buried in the dark, early days of Constantine's transition to an immortal life. Isaac finds himself saddled with a painful insight into the evil cutting a swath through the supernatural population of Boston. While his brother, Angel, takes over the hunt to find and stop the threat to the city, Isaac struggles to find a balance between helping his brother and finding his own purpose and place in the world, free from his brother's shadow.

Falling in love wasn’t part of his plan, but mastering the flames that burn between him and Constantine soon becomes the most important thing in his life, even as an ancient evil seeks to destroy them.

Mastering the Flames is the fourth book in The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series and is not a standalone. The series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment and understanding of the plot and characters. The Content Advisory is on the Copyright Page and can be seen by downloading a sample or using the Look Inside feature. 130k words.

Title: Prophesy 

Series: (The King & Alpha Series Book 1)

Author: AE Via

Length: 285

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampire / Shifter / Gay

Notes: I've seen the cover of this around a lot and did not realize it was PNR

Blurb: An Enemies to Lovers

Shifter, Vampire True Mates story.

Justice Volkov is the youngest Alpha Zenith to ever lead the wolf shifters. Following in his father’s large paw prints was a responsibility he met head on. Now at age thirty-three, he is alpha of the alphas. As a direct descendant of the original Siberian pack, his wolf is bigger and stronger than Justice, himself is sometimes able to control.

His wolf howled long and hard but Justice kept it inside. It felt like a bass drum beating against his rib cage. The harsh breaths, angry snarls and the determined pacing inside him was overtaking him.

Justice takes his role of leadership and his legacy very seriously. He has little time for romance, not to mention a true mate. His packs are his priority. With a human government trying to regulate them, an uprising of rogue shifters, and a violent team of scientists trying to experiment on them, Justice has his hands way too full.

Chadwick ‘Wick’ Bentley is not enthusiastic when the captain of his escort tells him he has to leave his comfortable London home and go back to the States. As the Vampire King, he has no choice but to get his species back in line before they cause anymore chaos. At over one-hundred years old, Wick is no one to trifle with, but his smooth, charismatic manner makes him quite unique, despite the negative reputation vampires have. Wick has had nothing but time up to this point. He doesn’t feel the need to make issues pressing. Nothing is urgent in his life. Until he meets Justice. His beloved.

“Natural enemies can’t be mates.” Or so Justice thought. He knows his skepticism and rejection is hurting his mate, so while he fights their connection, Wick gets help from a source very close to Justice to help him win his beloved’s heart. Wick is a force all on his own, but when he’s blessed with a special gift from the Mother herself, not even Justice’s powerful wolf can prevent the prophesy from being fulfilled.

This story DOES NOT contain/mention MPREG.
No multiple pairings. No cliffhangers. It ends with a very HFN.

Warning: This book is MM paranormal: If you DO NOT like hot, alpha men shifting into large wolves, or vampires feeding from their mates, this may not be your read.

Title: Stranger: Vampires of Blood and Bones Vol. 5

Series:

Author: BA Strerke

Length: 76

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampires / Gay

Notes: The person who recommended this author did so as a whole, not pointing out one specific work. This is what came up when I searched.

Blurb: Ira had no idea that this stranger on a plane, would become his destiny.

Ira Shaw was on a plane back to his home Coven in Mt. Pleasant when a human caught his attention. The man had his head down and was seated between two cougar shifters and the entire scene, but Ira’s teeth on edge. Something wasn’t right, and something about this human was calling to him. What Ira didn’t yet know was that this human is his fate chosen forever love, and that match would set the DuCane Coven on a collision course with cougar shifters of the Mt. Pleasant Sheriff’s Department.

Sawyer Dawson has never had it easy. There was always a “but” at the end of every happy sentence. Nothing ever seemed to completely go his way. But now, here he was in cuffs, being brought back to Mt. Pleasant for a murder he didn’t commit. How could everything have gone so wrong? The only solace he felt was in the gaze of the dark stranger on the plane—the power of those eyes. What Sawyer doesn’t know is that those eyes are his forever and belong to the man who will do anything to save him.

Sex, murder, abusive shifter boyfriends, and a bubbling feud between the Vampires of Coven DuCane and the Cougars of the Mt. Pleasant Sheriff’s Department. In the world of Louis DuCane, nothing is ever as it seems.

Title: Vamp

Series:

Author: Rob Rosen

Length: 250

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampire / Werewolves / Gay

Notes: 

Blurb: Let your bat wings soar in this fangtastic misadventure of the superunnatural.

Fine, the coffin in the basement was a little unusual. Certainly no more so than the mansion itself, though, or, for that matter, the humpbacked manservant that came with it, or the mysterious death of its former owner. In fact, so starts a long list of all things unusual for our unlikely hero, Jack, and his newfound and strange family, his werewolf boyfriend, the pack eager to help him, and the ancient clan that wants him dead at all costs. Know this, however, in the end, this misfit group of characters will leave you howling in the crypt aisles!

Title: Veil of Orion 

Series: (Seven Deadly Veils Book 6)

Author: Diana Marik

Length: 331

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampire / Gay

Notes: This was recommended as a standalone within the series which is MF.

Blurb: Orion is one lucky werewolf. He’s handsome, sexy; his career is soaring, and he has more financial security than he’s ever known traveling the world performing his music. He loves the stage, and his fans adore him. Life is good. He should be ecstatic. But he’s not. Loneliness grates. The one thing he doesn’t have is the acceptance of the love of his life, his best friend, Bastien.

Bastien Valadon is an Elite vampire operative who thrives on the adventurous and dangerous life of a Torian. That is until he realizes the charming and seductive werewolf, Orion, makes him feel more alive than any mission he’s ever completed. Long ago, he gave up his title and status as a vampire aristocrat to serve High Lord Valadon in New York. There was only one stipulation: He has to produce an heir. Now he must choose where his loyalty truly lies - with his lineage or with the one he loves.

Title: Stay True to Me

Series:

Author: Lisa Oliver

Length: 320

Genre: Romance / Paranormal / Vampire / Alpha Shifter / True Mates / Gay

Notes: Lisa Oliver as a whole was recommend with a comment of there are vampire romances in her Clover Leaf series. I know from experience that is a series has to be read in order so I didn't pull from that but found one she labels as a standalone. Specifically: An MM Vampire/Wolf Shifter Standalone Story

Blurb: Prince Venedict Semyonov (Ven to his friends) enjoyed running the town of Rockville. An ancient vampire, he had pretty much seen it all and done it all, if the stories told about him were all true. So when he was informed he was due to meet with an alpha wolf shifter, who was asking for sanctuary in his territory, he didn't think a lot about it. Besides, he always thought it was nice to do things for the less fortunate.

Alpha Conroy Donel (Con to all who knew him) was running on fumes and the very last inch of his patience. Since his twin brother's death six weeks before, he was doing his best to keep the remains of the small pack he'd inherited together - a job made a lot more difficult by his grief, and suspicions he had about the people he was supposedly leading. Moving the pack to Rockville was supposed to give them all time to grieve and carve out new lives for themselves, if only he could get his pack to agree.

The meeting between the two leaders caused fireworks, and not the kind wished for by either man. But as Con delved deeper into the mystery surrounding his brother's death he had to wonder who he could trust anymore. When the danger gets closer, Ven and Con have to work together, if they are ever to have the HEA promised to them by the Fates.

This is a standalone MM Vampire and Wolf Shifter true mates story. It contains some scenes of violence and other scenes intended for adults only. Please store your ebooks responsibly.

Thank you for stopping by and reading!!