POLL UP FOR DECEMBER PICKS: SCROLL DOWN TO BOTTOM OF PAGE!

[Alison]

As much as I LOVED Outlander, it seems like many people have already read it. Perhaps we should go with something less wildly popular?

I'd like to nominate Graceling. It is YA so not exactly full of smut, but it has an interesting fantasy setting and storyline with good romance. PLUS the main character (female) is a bad-ass. :)

[Julie]

I would like to nominate . Lots of action with a sweet romance. Not a lot of sexytimes, though ;-)

[Dave]

I'd love to see Outlander or The Host just to watch the discussion. Any Kelly Armstrong is also awesome.

One I would suggest is ; it's by the auther of the "Nice Girls" series, and it's light and sexy.

[RogueHireling]

I didn't read all the ones listed already, so I'm sorry if these have already been suggested. Also trying to find smutty ones as my preference is more for the heavy romance rather then the smut.

This is one of those series that people either love or hate, but it really seems like a staple of the Paranormal Romance genre. Seems like a really good addition to the reading list. Also lots of smut, though very alpha male, but leads down the road of 'behind every strong man, there is a strong woman'.

Artesia, is a graphic novel, but as such its amazing and might be a good change up from the norm. Totally powerful female character, tasteful smut, bit heavy on the politics sometimes, but still overall great read.

I love Illona Andrews and will recommend anything by them, ever! Not very smutty and also not the best book in the series.
Maybe would be a better first book, since its basically a standalone.

Sharon Shin is the queen of superb romance! Again not the smuttiest, but so well written and beautiful world.

Here is my smuttiest selection. We all call this elf porn. But its a decent world and quite entertaining, and very very smutty. In one of the books in the series, they spend almost the entire book in bed. Also this is perfect for any ladies who dream of having a male harem. =)

Hope this helps! <3

[Cherish]

1. "Bitten" by Kelley Armstrong
2. Another vote for "Outlander" by Diana Gabalon

[Emily]

Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh (book 1 of Guild Hunters).

Magic Bites by Iona Andrews (book 1 of Kate Daniels)

Both books should be pretty easy to find in paper and eBook formats.

[Kelaine]

These books are all Hugo, Nebula and Locus award recent nominees/winners. They are all on my TBR list. I want to read/discover new books. I don't know how romance-y some of them are but I think there is something to be said for falling in love with a well-crafted book.

Palimpsest
Saturn's Children
His Majesty's Dragon
Boneshaker
The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms
The Native Star
Orphans of Chaos

P.S. I would love another go at Space Romance but have no idea what to suggest. I think this genre was shorted during the summer.

P.S.S. Please NOT Outlander.

[Cherish]

Kelaine wrote: "These books are all Hugo, Nebula and Locus award recent nominees/winners. They are all on my TBR list. I want to read/discover new books. I don't know how romance-y some of them are but I think the..."

So, am I correct that Boneshaker is steam punk zombies?

[Paige]

I want to second/fifth On the Edge,or any Illona Andrews really. (Though I think the Kate Daniels series takes too long to get to the sexytimes, it is still SO good.)

I also liked Santa Olivia a lot and the sex in that book was different/interesting.

I'd also suggest maybe some Anne Bishop? The Black Jewels trilogy? Or perhaps her more recent Ephemera series. Sebastian is about a half incubus. Not tons of sexytimes if I recall correctly, but very romantic and fantastical.

[Elizabeth]

I also vote for Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. It's smutty, it's funny, it's action-packed and addictive.

[Stacy]

Brittany wrote: "I'd also appreciate an non-holiday alt book. I think it'd be cool if we could break up the heteronormativity with some LGBT fiction, too. Anyone have any recommendations?"

This is a steamy vampire m/m/f book. It was my first and I have to say I enjoyed it! I never thought seeing two dudes together would be hot but it was... It pushed my boundaries and I ended up liking it. All of the characters were hot too :)

Blood Knot by Tracy Cooper-Posey

[Bo]

Sarah wrote: "Undead and Unwed by Mary Janice Davidson. It's a fun fast read with one serious sexy time at the end!"

I second this. Apart from a cool male character and good sexy times, this is also a VERY funny read. Plus. Cool sidekicks. And you'll be able to fit it in one night, handy in busy december times.

[Elzibub]

Stacy wrote: "Brittany wrote: "I'd also appreciate an non-holiday alt book. I think it'd be cool if we could break up the heteronormativity with some LGBT fiction, too. Anyone have any recommendations?"

This is..."

That DOES sound hot!

[Elzibub]

Cherish wrote: "Kelaine wrote: "These books are all Hugo, Nebula and Locus award recent nominees/winners. They are all on my TBR list. I want to read/discover new books. I don't know how romance-y some of them are..."

Boneshaker is pretty much steampunk zombies, but is a VERY good book with a strong lead female character. I don't remember there even being romance, much less sexytimes, though, so I don't know if people would really go for it for a VF pick.

[James]

Caitlin wrote: "Yasmin Galenorn - Witchling

"

As of 75 pages in I would second that suggestion. More solid opinion in a few days. Also picked up Stygian's Honor by Lora Leigh in order to gauge Felicia's opinions of her naughty talk. Stranger by Zoe Archer is another I have but not started so looking for any feedback on that as well.

[Georgia]

Felicia wrote: "I'll pick ones with smut in them for the poll. That's your Christmas present haha."

and this is why we <3 you XD

[Brittney]

There are so many great suggestions on this thread. I think most of my suggestions have already been mentioned but I will say them again anyway.


On The Edge by Ilona Andrews. The first in the edge series. I don't remember exactly how much smut there is in this one but I know it is more than the early Kate Daniels books. I would love to see the Kate Daniels books done too but I know we will need to wait for another month when the focus isn't so much on sex.

Moon Called by Patricia Briggs. Not a lot of smut especially ealy in the series but great books.

Santa Olivia by Jacqueline Carey. Nowhere close to as good as here Kushiel books but still a fun read and features a lesbian relationship.

The Devil's Diadem by Sara Douglass. Sara Douglas is one of my all time favorite authors and I think the only one I haven't seen mentioned here. I would be very happy to reread any of her books but this is the one that I think would be most likely to be classified as Vaginal Fantasy. This one is a stand alone book. It is historical fantasy. I don't remember how much smut there was in this one but really great book.

Halfway To The Grave by Jeaniene Frost. I love Cat and Bones. Pretty smutty and very fun vampire book.

A Kiss Of Shadows by Laurell K Hamilton. The first in her Merry Gentry series. Lots of sex but she doesn't lose the plot to the sex quite as much as she does in the later Anita Blake books.

Guilty Pleasures by Laurell K Hamilton. There is no smut in this one so I know it won't be picked for this month but I figured I would throw it out there for a future suggestion.

Angel's Blood by Nalini Singh. I actually like her angel series as much or more than her Phy/Changeling series that we already read.

Dark Lover or Covet by JR Ward. Both series are more from the male perspective than we are used to but still fun reads.

[Elizabeth]

This are some of my faves and would love to see what the ladies had to say about them. Though they are heavy on the fantasy and light on the sexytimes.


The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms,
Mystic and Rider,
The Girl of Fire and ThornsThis one is a YA pick and the third in the trilogy isn't out yet but this series is wonderful.
Daughter of the Forest

[Candy]

Leslie wrote: "LULZ, my feels are so Merry!

All I Want for Christmas is a Vampire

Undead and Unreturnable

The Bite Before Christmas (There are SEVERAL incarnations on this theme)

Silent Night, Haunted Night

..."
Silent Night, Haunted Night I will vouch is an excellent book, I love Terri Garey, but it's not high on the smut. Sexy, not steamy, I guess. Maybe for AFTER the holidays, since we're all getting smut for Christmas from Felicia?

[Kimberly]

It'd rock my world if you'd consider Finding Gaia. If you check out the reviews here on GR so far, you'll see it's a hit with smart women and even a bunch of nerdy guys who really want to be in on this romance deal without having to feel like dorks about it. The kinds of guys who hear the term "vaginal fantasy" and respond, "Oh wow, how do I make that happen?"

It's pretty much my own fantasy about immortals with super-human powers looking for others like themselves across the centuries and now having to deal with the modern world. Plus I've thrown in conflicting morality issues, varying interpretations of what it means to be a strong woman, real-world science and environmentalism, nerdy references, and of course some hot sex (just for Bonnie...okay for everyone but I'm not above pandering).

The leading man happens to look exactly like Hugh Jackman because VAGINAL FANTASY THAT'S WHY.

The cover was illustrated by Charles Dowd, the wonderful artist behind Lilith Dark, a girl-positive comic.

It may be indie, but I'm a previously published author and journalist and it was professionally edited by Karen Babcock, who has worked for several small and medium publishing houses for ages.

I truly think you ladies will love it.

[Travis]

Duck! by Kim Dare.

It is Book 1 of the AVIAN SHIFTER (that's right, Bird Shifters) series. It's also LGBT.

[Genevieve]

Cursed by God, hunted by demons, desired by Cain and Abel... All in a day's work.

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.

[zombiemilkshake]

I suggest A Season for Tending: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13...

Previously we've read some historical romances that didn't contain any sci-fi elements so I thought maybe this would be considered as well. This book is about an Amish girl who tends to her herb garden and frequently has visions of the future and due to both, her community to believe she practices witchcraft and shuns her. This book was not something I thought I would be interested in, but it turned out to be so full of unexpected drama and romance that I could not put it down!

[Ylime]

Olivia wrote: "Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier :P"

I second that!

[Ylime]

Leah wrote: "Warprize - Elizabeth Vaughan
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78...

I thought warprize was fun, nice and smutty. :)

[Nik]

Phantom by Lindsay Randall is really sweet and a bit different as far as para-fantasy. Its kinda one of those cheesy romances but with soul stealing phantoms

[Leah]

Ylime wrote: "Leah wrote: "Warprize - Elizabeth Vaughan
http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/78...

I thought warprize was fun, nice and smutty. :)"

I'm so glad someone else thinks so too! :3