New and Undiscovered PNR authors

[jeanie]

Some of us read very fast and are always on the lookout for new things to read and some of us are new to PNR and want to know what to read next. In this post I would like suggestions for new authors that you have discovered and enjoyed. Obviously there are quite a few recommendations in other posts for the more well known authors, but what I'm looking for here is more of a list of authors who are relatively new or undiscovered, but still worth a read.

[Stephanie]

Yes, this is somewhat self-serving because I write for Ellora's Cave (and yes, I write PNR) but some of those favorite authors you read about here, started at EC. And most of their books are available in trade paper. Jory Strong, Lora Leigh, Delilah Devlin, Evangeline Anderson, Vivi Anna, Anya Bast, Jaci Burton, Joy Nash, Denise Rosetti, Stacia Kane (w/a December Quinn), Sylvia Day, Shiloh Walker, Lisa Renee Jones, Joey W. Hill. You may be surprised at what you find.

My books are listed as fantasy romance but really they're PNR. They're contemporary but based on an Etruscan mythology. My first two stories are in trade under Shadow Magic by Stephanie Julian. You can get the boooks from the site but also from Amazon.

[jeanie]

Stephanie, Thanks for that information. Personally i recently ran across a promising new series by Carolyn Jewel My Wicked Enemy and My Forbidden Desire a few days ago and realized that I never would have found this author had i not been digging through the Listmania lists on Amazon looking for things to read, so I figured why not start a post to give the new and not so famous a chance.

[Christy]

[image error]

johnny, The Mark of Chaos An Urban Dark Fantasy by Susan D. Kalior is an odd book I came across. I was interested in it because someone said the author actually practices witchcraft and I thought it would be interesting to read a paranormal book where someone actually knew what they were talking about.

It has all those must-haves for a romance novel. The leading man is handsome, dark, mysterious, a murderer, a kidnapper, violent, egotistical, likely psychopathic, and rescues the leading lady quite a bit. I liked the leading lady in the beginning but after a while I just wanted her to stop being such a pussy (although I would have been terrified of that dude too)

[Treece]

I read a large mix of e-books and novels b/c I review. So here's a list of some of my favorites if you like original,edgy authors:
Morgan Hawke

Storm Constantine

Brenna Lyons

Angelique Anjou

Kaitlyn O'Connor

Ruby Duvall

Tanith Lee

Adrian Phoenix

Belinda McBride

Nalini Singh

Lyssa Hart

Anastasia Rabiyah

Most of the authors on this list are new, some are old but aren't mainstream so they have a good body of work and cult following but did not make it to LK Hamilton fame. :-)

[Adrienne]

thanks for the list::useful point of reference::

[jeanie]

Thanks PR I think I have read a few of these but this gives me a list to check out when I'm waiting for new books to come out by my favorite authors.

[Nichole (DirrtyH)]

Christy wrote: "[image error]

johnny, The Mark of Chaos An Urban Dark Fantasy by Susan D. Kalior is an odd book I came acro..."

I was really really intrigued by the idea of this book. It sounds so good. But I'm very wary of self-published books. I just have this opinion that there isn't a single writer out there that wouldn't benefit from an editor, so self-publishing raises a red flag for me. I ignored that when I bought the book Vulnerable by Amy Lane, and I regretted it, honestly. That was a book that could have been good but was screaming for some guidance and focus. I could see why she hadn't found a publisher.
And the little excerpt of johnny, The Mark of Chaos that I read on Amazon reminded me a little bit of that. So I don't want to spend my money on something that's going to turn out to be almost good.

Oh, and to comment on PR's list - Adrian Phoenix and Nalini Singh are both authors that get a lot of love around here. Recommend both of them, especially Adrian. Her Maker's Song series is sooooo great. And very different from anything else in the genre. Very dark and tortured.

[Lori]

PR wrote: "I read a large mix of e-books and novels b/c I review. So here's a list of some of my favorites if you like original,edgy authors:
Morgan Hawke

Storm Constantine
..."

Love Morgan Hawke's Interstellar Discipline series but it's not for everyone, that's for sure. I also have to give a big thumbs up for Adrian Phoenix and Nalini Singh. I'll definitely check out the rest of your list.

[new_user]

Storm Constantine is edgy indeed. If it wasn't for the fact that her stories stall and the, er, impossible relationships in them I would have liked her books better.

[Jael ~ *~ Syhren ~* ~]

Melanie Jackson has some interesting books I just bought Selkie can't wait to read it.

[Treece]

Lori wrote: ]Love Morgan Hawke's Interstellar Discipline series but it's not for everyone, that's for sure. I also have to give a big thumbs up for Adrian Phoenix and Nalini Singh. I'll definitely check out the rest of your list.


I just read and finished Lost Star last night. It could have been longer. I liked it though.

Started reading Caressed By Ice and it's pretty good so far.

[Treece]

new_user wrote: "Storm Constantine is edgy indeed. If it wasn't for the fact that her stories stall and the, er, impossible relationships in them I would have liked her books better."

The Wraethru series is her best work, impossible relationships and all. Heh.

The Grigori series is painful in the beginning but does take off. I like her b/c I can see how heavily influenced she was by Tanith Lee, who is as brilliant as she is prolific.

[Jessa]

Thanks for the list, PR. I found Adrian Phoenix through one of these threads and loved it. So I'm definitely up for another new-to-me adventure.

[new_user]

Here are some of my favorites that are lesser known:

Shana Abé (Drákon)
Lynn Viehl (Darkyn)
Joey W. Hill (Daughters of Arriane)
Autumn Dawn (Teasing Danger)
Cynthia Eden (Midnight)
Christina Dodd (Darkness Chosen)

[Michelle]

I really enjoyed Angie Fox, the second one just arrived from Amazon.
Jaye Wells was another new author I recently discovered and thoroughly enjoyed.
I'm reading Nalini Singh at the moment, so I will third that recommendation... Interesting worlds...

[Treece]

Suz deMello's Queen of Shadow is really good.

http://www.suzdemello.com/queenofshad...

here's a couple more
Viola Grace

Darcy Abriel

Tianna Xander

Lynn Crain

[Amelia]

KIMBERLY FROST!

I found her first book about a year ago?



Then waited sufferingly for her second ...



Alas I am again eagerly awaiting the 3rd ...

Halfway Hexed

Frost herself calls the series Charmed meets the Dukes of Hazzard.

It's HILARIOUS. It's a humorous light take on Urban Fantasy. It deserves a lot more props than what it's getting!

[Valorie]

I think Amanda Downum is new?! Has anyone read The Drowning City?

It sounds like a pretty interesting read. I'm thinking about buying but wanted to get some opinions before I did. Anyone????

[Jennlhee]

I am really surprised that Amy Lane is not well known. She deserves to be. I think her Little goddess series (starting with Vulnerable) is everything a good PNR/UF Romantic series should be, and then some.

There is character building, world building, plot building, love and sex and laughter and tears.

They have made me laugh, sob and cry in addition to needin a cold shower.

The writer has a very unique style that I have not found elsewhere. It is told first person in a way that is pulls you into each charactor's head space. I would say that it is a stream-of-conscious method.

The worldbuilding is rich
The characters are multi-dimensional
It is rich in plot
There are life lessons
There is finding your inner strenght and learning your weaknesses
There is love and loss and love continued
There are Fae, Werefolk and Vampires
There is sex- lots of it that ADDS to the STORY :)

The sex scenes are written in a very unique way that I don't have the skill to explain. They are graphic without being crude-even though the launguage can be. I think that it is the stream-of-consciousness that I mentioned. There is an intense almost poetic flavor to them. They are not repetitive. There are M/F M/F/M, M/M, M/M/F and a few other combos.

The author is self-published. The only complaint I've encountered is the overuse of the comma BUT I think that the way she uses the adds to her writing style.

I hope you check them out. Vulnerable is the first in the series. Word of caution, the book descriptions (in the next two) contain a spoiler for the first.

Did I mention that she is my favorite? I'm only sorry that I'm not enough of a writer for this recommendation to do her justice.
-jennlhee

[DarkHeart "Vehngeance"]

You're right, Jennlhee, Amy Lane is brilliant!

[TheGeekyBlogger]

I read the Sons of Destiny series by Jean Johnson and they were pretty good. I had never heard of her before and while it is not completely paranormal (she sets it in a place where witches and such are normal) it still has all the elements! I was pleasantly surprised.

[Sally]

Maria Lima! I've just finished reading the first of her books, Matters of the Blood, and immediately ordered bood two, Blood Bargain.
She writes in contemporary times with her heroine Keira who is part of a huge clan of supernaturals. Keira is just going through her 'change' where her powers are magnified until her true talent comes through.
Keira lives in a small town in Texas, the only one of her family left behind when the rest of the clan moved to Canada. Into her life comes an old (human) flame and another man she knew two years ago in London. Who and what he is changes her life as they try to find a murderer of her cousin.
Lima is a find and tells a good yarn with likeable characters and the attraction between Keira and Adam sent shivers down my spine. I recommend the book and the author.

[✿Dawn✿]

Amelia wrote: "KIMBERLY FROST!

I found her first book about a year ago?



Then waited sufferingly for her second ...



Alas I am ..."

Oh this sounds good! I Have already called and had copies put on hold. Merry Christmas to me lol! Thanks for making the suggestion =o)

[Amelia]

This pleases me greatly! They really are great books. :D

[[deleted user]]

Here is a List of Authors that I have just recently discovered.

Shannon K. Butcher-The Sentinel Wars series(2 books so far)
J.C. Wilder
Jenna McKnight
Jennifer Lyon
Karen Kelley
Maria Lima
Nicole Peeler
Rita Herron
Samantha Sommersby
Shanna Swendson
CJ Barry
Jessa Slade
Sydney Somers
Tracey O'Hara

[Valorie]

This is a new book out that I just bought. I havent read it yet but it sounded good.

[Amelia]

Valorie, I almost snatched it up too! Let me know how it goes.

[Valorie]

Amelia wrote: "Valorie, I almost snatched it up too! Let me know how it goes."

You got it! I'm going to try and fit it into a challenge for next month!

[Kelly]

Jennlhee wrote: "I am really surprised that Amy Lane is not well known. She deserves to be. I think her Little goddess series (starting with Vulnerable) is everything a good PNR/UF Romantic series should be, and ..."

I just went to take a look at this series you suggested and they do look good. I think the problem is the book's covers. They don't grab you and say "pick me!"

[namericanwordcat]

I love Robin Owens. Her Heart series is on the sweeter side but you can't beat talking cats. Its a fun world. I buy each book as it comes out.

[namericanwordcat]

I love Robin Owens. Her Heart series is on the sweeter side but you can't beat talking cats. Its a fun world. I buy each book as it comes out. Laurenston is excellent and not as read/