Kate Daniels Series - Ilona Andrews (UF)
If you haven't heard of this writing duo before let me tell you - Ilona Andrews know what they're doing. In Kate Daniels they've created a powerful but kind of broken heroine who slowly but surely is finding herself making the sort of connections that villains love to exploit. The supporting cast is phenomenal (some of them have even gotten their own books) and with the latest title coming out this year (Magic Breaks) the series is one to get into now because big things are happening and you don't have to wait to find out!
Psy/Changeling Series - Nalini Singh (PR)
There used to be quite a few paranormal romance series on my auto-buy list, but at this point I could only name a couple that are truly ones I have to have. I love Nalini Singh's ability to write alpha men with hearts of gold, women who are their matches and more but might have issues finding their own HEA's, and a world that is filled with societies on the cusp of a new future.
Harry Dresden Files - Jim Butcher (UF)
Such an oldie but a goodie! I feel like this series has been with me forever, and it's never too late for Butcher to throw Harry into a new conundrum of epic proportions that might get him and everyone he loves killed. My only concern now is that I'm starting to dread what's in store for him next. At some point, even in an urban fantasy series, I'd like Harry to get a bit of emotional happiness or stability and I'm not sure when exactly that's going to happen.
Image from Floor to Ceiling Books
The October Daye Series - Seanan McGuire (UF)
I've mention the Dayes series before because Seanan McGuire is still one of the only authors I've read who can scare the crap out of me and still leave me desperate to figure out what's going to happen next. Daye as a character has just enough magic and determination to get herself into all sorts of shenanigans to protect her friends, and as a woman of her word she'll always be the one people go to for assistance. Things between her and the Tybalt are finally starting to heat up in Chimes of Midnight but apparently things in the Sidhe kingdom are also ready to go to hell so I've got to hurry up and finish this book!
The Chronicles of Elantra - Michelle Sagara (UF)
This is one of those series that takes some time to warm up to because there are just so many people and cultures to learn about it. Especially when we're getting all our information through the eyes of Kaylin, a woman who's managed to escape (for the most part) her own rocky start in life but is forever followed by the magic that compels her to help others. In later books things have gotten kind of complicated character wise, and they've been coming out far enough part that I've had to backtrack to remember who everyone is. Still, Sagara has gotten me all attached to this woman and the dragons around her who control pretty much everything, so I will continue buying these until something forces me not to!
Shelly Laurenston (PR)
Laurenston is currently at the top of my 'comfort reads' pile because this woman has the singular ability to both get me excited and have me laughing out loud. Her shifters are violent, fun-loving, family oriented, and willing to shoot bad guys at 500 yards - I mean, who can complain with that? I can always be assured when reading her books that things will work out, the good guys will win, and the people who should get things coming to them, will. Wrap it all up in a 6-7 foot tall package of muscle and great personality and you've got a winner in my book!
