The winners are:

August: American Gods by Neil Gaiman

September: Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs

We had a few extra submissions so I'll add them to the list... setting up the polls now. Any nominations submitted after this post will not be included in the August and September polls. Thanks!

Jacob (Nightwalkers, #1) by Jacquelyn Frank*


i am not sure if this is UF......

if it is then maybe i hope this wont be..

The Rest Falls Away (Gardella Vampire Chronicles, #1) by Colleen Gleason*

Hi! I understand that UFs are preferred, but since fantasy is allowed, here's my pick:

Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop; Book 1 in the Black Jewels Trilogy.

It's one of my absolute favorite books and I think it'd be a great group read.

Stray by Rachel Vincent. It looks like a terrific series that this group would enjoy. The 4th book has just come out, an indication that there is a fan base. And she's a Goodreads author, always nice to give them some support.

Melodie wrote: "Melissa wrote: "I nominate Skinwalker A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter.

From Amazon:

First in a brand new series from the author of the rogue mage novels


Jane Yell..."


I've had my eye on this one so I nominated it. :)

Can i nominate Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells? It seems like a good book and then i'll have a reason to buy it :)

Melissa wrote: "I nominate Skinwalker A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter.

From Amazon:

First in a brand new series from the author of the rogue mage novels


Jane Yellowrock is the last..."

I picked this up at BN Saturday night. I went there specifically to get just one book and then this one caught my eye!

I nominate Skinwalker A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter.

From Amazon:

First in a brand new series from the author of the rogue mage novels

Jane Yellowrock is the last of her kind—a skinwalker of Cherokee descent who can turn into any creature she desires and hunts vampires for a living. But now she’s been hired by Katherine Fontaneau, one of the oldest vampires in New Orleans and the madam of Katie’s Ladies, to hunt a powerful rogue vampire who’s killing other vamps...

Theresa wrote: "J, you want to make that your nomination for Sept? I'll go ahead and add it to the list... let me know if you don't want it as a nomination. :)"

Thanks. I do want to nominate it.

J, you want to make that your nomination for Sept? I'll go ahead and add it to the list... let me know if you don't want it as a nomination. :)

I think a few of us are already planing to read Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs when it comes out in late August.

I nominate Some Girls Bite A Chicagoland Vampires Novel. It's the first book in the Chicagoland Vampire series.

I nominate The Devil Inside by Jenna Black. Really great UF series about demons in the more traditional (or perhaps a better word would be "religious") sense that they are non-corporeal and must possess human bodies. Some people are willing demon hosts - others, not so willing. This is one of my favorite series but it doesn't seem to be getting much attention so I thought I'd nominate for a group read!

by Thomas E. Sniegoski

I'd like to recommend Unshapley Things by Mark del Franco

In the alleys of the decrepit Boston neighborhood known as the Weird, fairy prostitutes are turning up dead. The crime scenes show signs of residual magic, but the Guild, which polices the fey, has more "important" crimes to investigate and dumps the case on human law enforcement.
Boston police call in Connor Grey, a druid and former hotshot Guild investigator-whose magical abilities were crippled after a run-in with a radical environmentalist elf. As Connor battles red tape and his own shortcomings, he realizes that the murders are not random, but part of an ancient magical ritual. And if Connor can't figure out the killer's M.O., the culmination of the spell might just bring about a worldwide cataclysm.

How about American Gods by Neil Gaiman?? I'd still count it as an UF book, Gaiman's fairly well known, and yet we - as a group - read none of his books (at least as far as I can tell).

Sandman Slim A Novel by Richard Kadrey

"Supernatural fantasy has a new antihero

Life sucks, and then you die. Or, if you're James Stark, you spend eleven years in Hell as a hitman before finally escaping, only to land back in the hell-on-earth that is Los Angeles.

Now Stark's back, and ready for revenge. And absolution, and maybe even love. But when his first stop saddles him with an abusive talking head, Stark discovers that the road to absolution and revenge is much longer than you'd expect, and both Heaven and Hell have their own ideas for his future.

Resurrection sucks. Saving the world is worse.

Darkly twisted, irreverent, and completely hilarious, Sandman Slim is the breakthrough novel by an acclaimed author. "

Because there is limit of one book per UF member, and because there was already book by Patricia Briggs, I'll sumbit book by another author, one we haven't read yet (if I remember correctly):

* Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon R. Green. Standalone book, a quirky urban fantasy (although you would encounter some characters and some ideas which can be found in other books by Simon R. Green).

Dejsha & Meg, there is only one nomination per member. I took your first nomination... Sorry if that was unclear - I can see how it could be confusing with there being two months we are nominating and voting for.

I have updated the rules to hopefully clarify this... this rule allows for more group members to have a chance to nominate a book.

August:

Iron Hunt, Marjorie M. Liu (Hunter Kiss, Book 1)

From Amazon.com: Demon hunter Maxine Kiss wears her armor as tattoos, which unwind from her body to take on forms of their own at night. They stand between her and her enemies, just as Maxine stands between humanity and the demons breaking out from behind the prison veils. It is a life lacking in love, reveling in death, until one moment—and one man— changes everything.


September:

Butcher Bird, Richard M. Kadrey (A Novel of the Dominion)

From Amazon.com: Buffyand Angel fans are likely to enjoy Kadrey's offbeat supernatural romp, which blends demonic evil and quirky humor. The relatively normal life of San Francisco tattoo artist Spyder Lee goes thoroughly crazy when he's rescued from a mugger by Shrike, a mysterious blind woman who reveals that Lee's assailant was actually a demon. The wounds he suffered in the assault give him the ability to see the Dominions, other spheres of existence that regular mortals are unaware of. Soon Spyder finds himself hip-deep in demonic trouble, protecting his friend Lulu by offering his body to the organ-collecting Black and then dragging her off to join Shrike on a madcap journey to Hell, where they encounter monsters, Lucifer and even an alternate-time version of Lee himself. Kadrey (Kamikaze L'Amour) juxtaposes gore and brash insouciance in the face of apocalyptic evil, a blend that may not suit everyone's taste.

On a personal note, I'd love for this group to read this book. I can't recommend it highly enough. It features a lot of great, very colorful characters and a blind assassin princess! It's both funny and strangely touching and completely irreverent, and I think people who may want a little something different from the same-old-same-old Kickass Heroine^TM may appreciate something that goes in a different direction. No vampires or werewolves to be seen, though plenty of strong women to go around and a really unique world to explore.

Tanya Huff's The Enchantment Emporium
"Alysha Gale is a member of a family capable of changing the world with the charms they cast. Then she receives word that she’s inherited her grandmother’s junk shop in Calgary, only to discover upon arriving that she’ll be serving the fey community. And when Alysha learns just how much trouble is brewing in Calgary, even calling in the family to help may not be enough to save the day."

I always seem to get into this one late, so I hope I am in the right area to nominate.

I recommend:
August:
Devon Monk, Magic to the Bone, Book 1
Allie Beckstrom series
From amazon:Publishers Weekly Starred Review. In this clever and compulsively readable debut, set in a magical analog of Portland, Ore., Allie Beckstrom is a Hound, able to trace a spell back to its caster. When a young boy is injured by a spell, Allie tracks it back to her estranged father, Daniel, a ruthless businessman who protests his innocence. Then someone magically disguised as Allie kills Daniel. Allie and sexy corporate operative Zayvion race against time to find the answers. Magic is common in this alternate universe, but using it always incurs a physical or mental cost, rendering it a commodity to be bought and sold, used and abused. Allie's internal and external struggles are brilliantly and tightly written, creating a multifaceted character who will surprise, amuse, amaze and absorb readers. (Nov.)Copyright © Reed Business Information

September:
The Becoming by Jeanne C. Stein Book 1
Anna Strong series
From amazon:Publishers Weekly Anna Strong can't face herself in the mirror—not because she left her teaching career to become a bounty hunter or because she's torn between her boyfriend and a new suitor, but because she's been turned into a reflection-deficient vampire. After being savagely attacked by one of her marks, Anna is left for dead—only to become, surprise surprise, undead. Helping her come to terms with her new, nocturnal lifestyle is an attractive doctor and vampire by the name of Grant Avery. Anna's new assignment is to find and destroy the rogue vamp that turned her and who is leaving a path of violent destruction in his wake. With plot twists, engaging characters and smart writing, this first installment in a new supernatural series has all the marks of a hit. Anna Strong lives up to her name: equally tenacious and vulnerable, she's a heroine with the charm, savvy and intelligence that fans of Laurell K. Hamilton and Kim Harrison will be happy to root for. As Anna tries to temper her new bloodlust with her lingering humanity, the trauma of her "becoming" is as compelling as the action-packed story line. If this debut novel is any indication, Stein has a fine career ahead of her. (Dec.)Copyright © Reed Business Information

Anyway, I really loved both of these books.

Hope this isn't too long of a post for recommendations.

Happy reading all!

We're going to vote for August and September's book selections at the same time again. We'll take the first 14 book title nominations and I'll split them up in to two groups of seven in the Polls. The winner from each group will be our Group Read for August and then September.

The rules for submitting a book title:
1) One submission per UF member (regardless of whether we are nominating for more than one month at a time)
2) Please submit the title and author
3) UF titles are preferred, but supernatural, sci-fi, and fantasy are acceptable too.
4) It must be the first book in a series or a stand-alone title
NOTE = If the title is in a series, but can be read without previous knowledge of the earlier books, feel free to submit it.
5) If we have already read and discussed the first book in the series as a group, the second title can be submitted.

You can view our Group Read History here.

Let's go to a total of 14 nominations or an end date of Wednesday, July 22nd - whichever comes first.

Please start nominating titles... and newcomers, please don't be shy - we would love to hear from you!

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AUGUST:
1. Magic to the Bone by Devon Monk
2. The Enchantment Emporium by Tanya Huff
3. The Iron Hunt by Marjorie M. Liu
4. Drinking Midnight Wine by Simon R. Green
5. Sandman Slim A Novel by Richard Kadrey
6. American Gods by Neil Gaiman
7. Unshapely Things by Mark del Franco
8. Daughter of the Blood by Anne Bishop

SEPTEMBER:
9. A Kiss Before the Apocalypse by Thomas E. Sniegoski
10. The Devil Inside by Jenna Black
11. Some Girls Bite A Chicagoland Vampires Novel by Chloe Neill
12. Hunting Ground by Patricia Briggs*
13. Skinwalker A Jane Yellowrock Novel by Faith Hunter
14. Red-Headed Stepchild by Jaye Wells
15. Stray by Rachel Vincent
16. Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank


(* = We read the first book, Cry Wolf, in this series as a group in August '08. This second book is being released on 8/25/2009.)