Looking for suggestions. As much as some of you might hate it, I really did adore the Twilight saga and The Host. I like to escape a bit and enjoy fantasy/action and most of all I need romance! I read Hunger Games-Very good book and a very small romance. I also read Poison Study (good book but again very little romance). I read Graceling and I did enjoy it and it explored a good love story between Po and Katsa. But, lately I just haven't been able to find a good series or book that I just can't put down... any suggestions? And even though I read Twilight, Im not too into vampires :)

Thanks!

I am reading the Dalriada trilogy by Jules Watson (a lovely UK-Aussie), which is an historical fantasy about the Celts in the Scots Highlands fighting off the Roman invaders in the 1st century CE. It is sold as historical fiction, but is rather more historical fantasy, given the 'magic' of the Druids and Earth Mother priestesses (the latter Wiccan and not historical Celtic).

I am about half-way thru the 2nd book. I almost did not continue after the 1st book, which for me was way too Romantic— gooey stuff that if a movie would make me hide my eyes, being a 60+ y/o who reacts to such scenes like a 10 y/o boy ;-). I thought, "the women will love this... I see tears".

But, the 2nd book for me is MUCH better, for us hyper-males as the action really gets going and the lovers are estranged by forces from their pasts— not so lovey-dovey.

But if you would like what is at one level a love story between an early 20's Eremon, a handsome Gaelic warrior prince, and Rhiann, a priestess from an Alban royal family, beautiful of course, you will love this series.

Personally I like Juliet Marillier's Bridei Chronicles, another historical/mythological fantasy. I think it better written and the love story is not as over-powering. It is about the efforts of the Pagan Scots trying to stop the invasions of the Christian English several centuries after the Dalriada trilogy.

Enjoy,

Bill

Thank you, I'll definately look both books up and add to my TBR :)

On the SF sides of things you might consider Catherine Asaro's Skolian Empire series starting with Primary Inversion.

I recommend reading them by publish date and not chronological.

For romance and a pretty good world, I highly recommend Sharon Shinn's Twelve Houses series, which starts with Mystic and Rider. I believe there are 5 books in the series, and if you read all 5 back-to-back, they might get a little repetitive (or else I just didn't enjoy the middle books as well), but Ms. Shinn is certainly a capable writer, and even if there isn't a lot of suspense over the outcome of the romance, they are still very enjoyable reads.

HTH,
--derek

Juliet Marillier's Sevenwaters Trilogy. A lot of it is based on Celtic myths and her female heroines are awesome... quite a bit of romance, Marillier puts alot of trials in the paths of her couples.

If you can do teen lit, Libba Bray's Gemma series (starting with A Great and Terrible Beauty) is well done. It has witchcraft and romance and is set in England in the 1800's. Also if you can get into the idea of a zombie apocolypse, Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth is excellent.

This is a bit older, but I thought Lois McMaster Bujold's Shards of Honour did a great job with romance. But the relationship was more mature and based on respect and personality, there wasn't much swooning, flirting, or palpitating of hearts if that's what you like in romance.

I highly recommend the fantasy/historical fiction mix in the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. Hefty doses of romance in there, it's the integral plot line in the entire series.

I agree... Diana Gabaldon is one of my all-time favorite authors. A must-read!

Also, the Dragon Prince trilogy and Dragon Star trilogy by Melanie Rawn are wondeful fantasy/romance. I've read all of them at least 3 times.

I don't remember it very well now, but I seem to remember liking The Hob's Bargain.