Balanced PNR Relationships?

[Sharmila]

I'm new to this group, so if this topic has been discussed to death, please excuse me.

I like reading paranormal romances but the more I read, the more annoyed I become by a pervading theme in most of the series I have read- the controlling, borderline abusive, overly possessive love interests. Don't get me wrong- sometimes the alpha dominance thing is well written and works (usually when the heroine kicks butt in her own right) but after reading dozens of books, most with the same kind of unbalanced relationship, it gets old.

I am looking for series' with independent (maybe a little vulnerable) heroines with love interests who respect and don't try to own, intimidate or manipulate the heroine in the name of protecting her or knowing what is best for her or 'I'm a vampire/werewolf/demon/donkey and the males of my species are just wired this way so deal with it.' Is this a feminist pipe dream or is there an author out there that writes paranormal romance that fits the bill?

So far I have read-
Immortals After Dark- Kresley Cole
Lords of the Underworld- Gena Showalter
Black Dagger Brotherhood- J R Ward
Night Huntress- Jeaniene Frost
Mercy Thompson- Patricia Briggs
Southern Vampire- Sookie Stackhouse- Charlaine Harris
Dark Hunter- Sherrilyn Kenyon

Also, I don't mean to be offensive but, of all of these, I liked Patricia Briggs' books the least. I do not like the subtle preachiness in her paranormal books and her heroines always seem to go out of their way to proclaim their faith or even use their faith to save the day. I'd appreciate it if you could warn me if the main characters are religious so I can avoid that series.

Are there any suggestions?

Thank you.

[Sandra J]

For alpha females who hold their own (at least ) with their love interests, it's hard to beat Shelly Laurenston. Her plots and characters tend to the OTT though. Her Pride series is complete. Her Call of Crows series is three books in.



She also writes a series of dragon shifter books under the name G.A. Aikens.

[Robin]

I would second Laurenston/Aikens. Other authors I would suggest is: Eileen Wilks World of the Lupi

Most of Christine Warren, both The Others series and the first four books of the Gargoyles series (I didn't care for the last book in that series personally)

Jacqueline Franks Nightwalker books were also pretty good for the most part

[Amyiw]

You haven't read the Kate Daniels series of Ilona Andrews. It starts a little slow in the first book but pretty balanced.

Or you could try their new series, Hidden Legacy.
, which is a little more romance but still UF and still strong female.

[Robin]

Ooh, I forgot about Andrews--I never really liked the Kate Daniels books, but I loved her Innkeeper Chronicles and the two books set in the Kate Daniels universe that featured other characters and, especially I love the Dali character from that universe.

I have Hidden Legacy on my TBR list, but I haven't gotten around to starting that yet.

[Clara]

I would recommend the Rylee Adamson Series by Shannon Mayer. Its a 10 book series plus some novellas, with a follow up series as well. It has an extremely strong heroine in it playing the main role that I think you would enjoy. It does have some romance in it, but its not as much the main focus of the books, say as it is in something like Immortals After Dark or Dark Hunter. I enjoyed the series very much.

[Sharmila]

Sandra J wrote: "For alpha females who hold their own (at least ) with their love interests, it's hard to beat Shelly Laurenston. Her plots and characters tend to the OTT though. Her Pride series is complete. Her C..."

Sandra, I just wanted to say thanks! This series is exactly what I was looking for. I didn't realize how serious and unnecessarily complicated other pnr series could get until I dove into this blissfully uncomplicated, fun series. I just finished a couple of her books and I loved them. Can't wait to read all of them!

[Sandra J]

You're welcome. And there are lots of books to enjoy. I'm currently obsessed with the Call of Crows series.