Help me find the absolute best.

[Cherrie]

I'm new to Goodreads and am finding myself totally overwhelmed by all the different books/series/heroes referenced in this group.

My "to-read" shelf is getting bigger and bigger, yet I have no idea what to read next. I'm also afraid I'm going to miss out on a great recommendation.

Please help out a fellow Dangerous Hero Addict by listing your SINGLE most favorite series and stand alone book of all time. Just one of each please.

I'm not a fan of vampire/werewolf/supernatural type heroes.

Thanks in advance :-)

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

You ask the impossible, Cherrie! lol

But I'll throw a couple of worthies your way.
For Contemporary Romance
I-Team series by Pamela Clare
and
Open Season by Linda Howard

For Historical Romances
Hathaway series by Lisa Kleypas
and
Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

I was actually thinking of starting a definitive dangerous hero addict support group book list. Good idea.


It's so hard to pick favorites.....

[Kryptonite]

I agree with the I-Team Pam mentioned. Haven't read the others.

Okay, so with no PNR: I enjoyed the FBI & US-Attorney Series by Julie James. You might enjoy Last Chance Rescue Series by Christy Reese. And I also liked The Chronicles of the Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan.

[Cherrie]

Thanks guys. I just added these books to their own special shelves. They are next on my reading list. I'll let you all know :-)

[Iliada]

I don't know if you read historical romance but one of everyone's favorites is Devil in Winter. It's book three of the Wallflowers series by Lisa Kleypas. I also like all of McNaught's historical and my favorite is Whitney, My Love.

[Cherrie]

Pamela - I'm going to start Honor's Splendour later today. Looking forward to it.

[Cherrie]

Thanks Iliada I do like historical romance, I'm going to add these books to my "to read" list. Do you think I should read the series of books? Is it important to read them in order?

[Iliada]

It's not necessary, but you will miss background information on the characters, so I suggest you would. Even though Devil in Winter is definitely the best book in the series, the other ones are also good. Whitney my love can be read as a stand alone. You won't miss anything if you don't read the others.
Also, I know you said you don't like paranormal but The Black Dagger Brotherhood series is really good! Maybe you should give it a try. I don't like paranormal either, but I'm hooked with this series.

[Iliada]

Check out my favorites shelf if you want to know what else I liked.

[Daisy Sloan]

So, here are my recommendations:

- Motorcycle Gang, definitely Alpha, but the wrong side of the law

Kristen Ashley has several. The Unfinished Hero Series, Dream Man Series

Shannon K. Butcher Delta Force Series

These are some of my favorites.

[Iliada]

Oh and you should read The Bronze Horseman books 1 and 2. You can skip the third. This book is a tearjerker but has a happy ending!

[Cherrie]

Lee Anne -I have read almost all of KA's books and absolutely LOVE them! I also recently read Reaper's Property and liked that too. Although in my humble opinion no one comes close to KA.

I am going to add the Delta Force books to my "to read" list. Thanks for the recommendation.

[Daisy Sloan]

Cherrie wrote: "Lee Anne -I have read almost all of KA's books and absolutely LOVE them! I also recently read Reaper's Property and liked that too. Although in my humble opinion no one comes close to KA.

I am goi..."

KA is good. Reaper's Property was a surprise to me. I kept seeing all these wonderful reviews, so I took a chance and boy am I glad I did!

[Daisy Sloan]

I like Shannon K Butcher. She's good.

[Cherrie]

Pamela - I just finished Honor's Splendour and I enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation.

Since you liked that book, you would probably really enjoy Highland Surrender by Tracey Brogan. I loved it.

[Lauren]

I second Pamela Clares - I Team series. I devoured them all very quickly.

Favorite stand alones - any of Nora Roberts' romantic suspense books but particularly and

[Cherrie]

Pamela, Kryptonite, & Lauren - I am starting the first book in the I-Team series today. I'll let you know what I think. I'm really hoping I'll love it. The last few books I've read have been just ok.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Hope you love them as much as I did!

[Applefruit]

Hard to pick favorites, but here goes:

Favorite series: "Ice" series by Anne Stuart (start with "Black Ice")

Stand alone book: try "Lethal" by Sandra Brown

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

@Applefruit: Lethal was awesome!

[Kryptonite]

Cherrie wrote: "Pamela, Kryptonite, & Lauren - I am starting the first book in the I-Team series today. I'll let you know what I think. I'm really hoping I'll love it. The last few books I've read have been just ok."

I really hope you enjoy it too. The first book I started with, in that series, was unlawful contact.
That got me hooked! Extreme Exposure is very good too.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Kryptonite wrote: "I really hope you enjoy it too. The first book I started with, in that series, was unlawful contact."

I started the series backwards too. Read Unlawful Contact first, then Hard Evidence and finally, Extreme Exposure. I loved them all.

[Kryptonite]

Me too... I read them in the same order. The only one that was not as great for me was Naked Edge. But Breaking Point was up there with the first 3 books.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Kryptonite wrote: "Me too... I read them in the same order. The only one that was not as great for me was Naked Edge. But Breaking Point was up there with the first 3 books."

Same here. I liked Naked Edge but it wasn't as great as the others IMO. And I loved Breaking Point too. Can't wait for the next book in the series.

[Pallavi]

@Applefruit.....Lethal was FAB-tastic! I loved that book and wanna to send a howler to Sandra Brown for giving it an open ending! :/
I hate open endings.
There better be some kind of sequel.

[Lauren]

Cherrie wrote: "Pamela, Kryptonite, & Lauren - I am starting the first book in the I-Team series today. I'll let you know what I think. I'm really hoping I'll love it. The last few books I've read have been just ok."

Enjoy! Come back and let us know what you think of the books/series.

[Cherrie]

Lauren wrote: "Cherrie wrote: "Pamela, Kryptonite, & Lauren - I am starting the first book in the I-Team series today. I'll let you know what I think. I'm really hoping I'll love it. The last few books I've read ..."

I finished Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare this morning. I'm beginning to think I am just too hard to please.

The writing was great and this book had a strong story. Unfortunately the character development fell short for me. The relationship between the two major characters felt rushed. The most important factor of a book for me is whether or not the characters are believable. Because these characters did not appear to be "real" to me, I was unable to become emotionally invested in them or the story.

Saying all that, since the writing was so good I think I may read the next book in the series at some point.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

There are a lot of people who say the Extreme Exposure was not their favorite. Hopefully, the other books in the series will work better for you.

What authors do you like? Maybe I can think of someone that might work better for you.

[Pallavi]

Cherrie, Extreme Exposure didn't work for me too. But don't give up on the series. Hard Evidence and Unlawful Contact will surprise you. They did, me.

And I agree that Naked Edge might be a li'l draggy but then Breaking Point again blows your flippin' mind off, like off-off!
(Yeah! I sound like a total gonecase even to myself)
But getting what me wanna say right?

[Cherrie]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "There are a lot of people who say the Extreme Exposure was not their favorite. Hopefully, the other books in the series will work better for you.

What authors do you like? Maybe I can think of som..."

Pamela, below are the books I have read in the last year that I really loved. Although they are all quite different from one another, I think the thing they all had in common for me was that the characters were believable from the very beginning.

Fifty shades trilogy.
Dream Man, Colorado Mountain, The 'Burg, and Rock Chick Series by Kristen Ashley.
Seducing Cinderella
Wrong Bed, Right Guy
Hopeless
The Light Between Oceans

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

Another KA fan, eh?

Have you tried Jill Shalvis' Lucky Harbor series? Or you might like Toni Blake's Destiny series. And Lisa Kleypas' Travises series or her Friday Harbor series.

[Iliada]

My absolute favorite book is The Bronze Horseman. IMHO, this is the most amazing, romantic, heartbreaking, epic story ever written.

[Kryptonite]

Lhethal wrote: "Cherrie, Extreme Exposure didn't work for me too. But don't give up on the series. Hard Evidence and Unlawful Contact will surprise you. They did, me.

And I agree that Naked Edge might be a li'l ..."

I agree. Hard Evidence and Unlawful Contact were great. Naked Edge wasn't up to the same level but Breaking Point was awesome. I think my favorties in this series is Unlawful Contact and Breaking Point.

[Cherrie]

I've heard so many people recommend Lisa Kleypas that I just have to try one of her books next. I'm starting the first book in the Wallflowers series tonight.

[Iliada]

Cherrie wrote: "I've heard so many people recommend Lisa Kleypas that I just have to try one of her books next. I'm starting the first book in the Wallflowers series tonight."

I didn't like the first one in the series very much, but all the others were great! My favorite is Devil in Winter by far! When you read them, please let us know if you liked them.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

My faves of the Wallflower series are #2 and #3 and

[Iliada]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "My faves of the Wallflower series are #2 and #3 and "

I'm probably the only one, but I actually like #4
more than #2.

[Pamela(AllHoney), Danger Zone]

I think I was one of those people who had hopes of a Cam and Daisy hook-up but it didn't happen. I liked #4 but still preferred #2 and 3.

[Iliada]

Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "I think I was one of those people who had hopes of a Cam and Daisy hook-up but it didn't happen. I liked #4 but still preferred #2 and 3."

I thought Kleypas would pair up Daisy with Cam, too. I have no idea why that didn't happen, when it was obviously her intention to do so initially, but I absolutely love Matthew. I think he's perfect for Daisy.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Cherrie wrote: "I've heard so many people recommend Lisa Kleypas that I just have to try one of her books next. I'm starting the first book in the Wallflowers series tonight."

She's one of my top favorites, and has been for a very long time.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Iliada wrote: "Pamela(AllHoney) wrote: "My faves of the Wallflower series are #2 and #3 and "

I'm probably the only one, but I actually..."

I like 4 more than 2 as well. Westcliff and Lillian are a very aggressive combination. Daisy and Matthew had a more peaceful courtship, IMO.

[Cherrie]

I am 1/3 of the way through the first Wallflowers book and... I think we have a winner!
I love it so far :-)

[Lauren]

Cherrie wrote: "I finished Extreme Exposure by Pamela Clare this morning. I'm beginning to think I am just too hard to please. "

I completely agree. Extreme Exposure is an OK read but it is the weakest in the series in terms of character and plot. is much better and is still my favorite even though I loved the others as well.

Lisa Kleypas is fabulous. Once again the first book was just OK for me (I didn't really like Annabel's character).

is my favorite. Don't tell the St.Vincent fans but Marcus is her best hero in that series ;0)

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

That's a matter of opinion, Lauren. I know others love Marcus, but those of us who love Simon and St. Vincent are just as vocal! :)

[Lady Wesley]

Cherrie:

You can't go wrong with Lisa Kleypas, but I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the book voted #1 in the last All About Romance Top 100, Loretta Chase's Lord of Scoundrels, featuring the awful yet lovable Marquess of Dain.

No. 2, is Kleypas's Dreaming of You, with the ultimate bad boy hero, Derek Craven. Kleypas's Devil in Winter, already mentioned above, is No. 3, and I have to say that Lord St. Vincent is just the most delicious hero of them all IMO.

And coming in at number 10 is another all-time favorite, The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie, the first book in the very popular Highland Pleasures series.

You can find a printable list of these books at http://www.likesbooks.com/printableto.... (I actually copied and pasted it into a spreadsheet.)

[Lauren]

Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "That's a matter of opinion, Lauren. I know others love Marcus, but those of us who love Simon and St. Vincent are just as vocal! :)"

I knew that would get your back up, Danielle. Lol!

[Cherrie]

Thank you Lady Wesley, I'll add your recommendations to my "to read" list.

I absolutely adored Simon and Annabelle and can't wait to start the 2nd Wallflowers book.

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Lady Wesley wrote: "Cherrie:

You can't go wrong with Lisa Kleypas, but I'm surprised that nobody has mentioned the book voted #1 in the last All About Romance Top 100, Loretta Chase's Lord of Scoundrels, featuring th..."

I love all three of those books, Lady Wesley!

[Danielle The Book Huntress , Loves 'Em Lethal]

Lauren wrote: "Lady Danielle aka The Book Huntress wrote: "That's a matter of opinion, Lauren. I know others love Marcus, but those of us who love Simon and St. Vincent are just as vocal! :)"

I knew that would ..."

Gotta stand up for my LK men, Lauren! :)