Birthday gift book help

[Daniel]

Well so my sister turns 20 soon and I'm looking for a really (really!) good book for her. She is not all "lovey dovey", but she enjoyed the Twilight Series a LOT. So I'm looking for a new book for her that would fit the general description Paranormal Romance. But I'm looking for something...special. Not the common everyday Paranormal Romance stuff - if you can understand me here hehe. Thanks in advance!

[Shannen *aka Mrs. Jericho Barrons*]

Are you wanting something that is more Young Adult like Twilight or hot and steamy?

[Kat]

You can try the Vampire Academy series by Richelle Mead; I liked it a lot more than the Twilight Series :)

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins is also really really good, it's not a paranormal romance but it could be a good gift too.

[Ann aka Iftcan]

Hum, if she's not totally "lovey dovey" what about an UF? There are several (massive understatement there :oP) really good series she might like in that category. Kitty is good--Kitty and the Midnight Hour. Then there are the Harry Dresden books (maybe give her the dvd series from the very short run of the TV show) Storm Front is the first one--but it IS the weakest of the series, so maybe 1 & 2 at the same time. If she has a good sense of humour, try the first 2 or 3 of the Betsy books Undead and Unwed. Kat is really interesting (along with her undead love, Bones) Halfway to the Grave. There are also the Argeneau vampires A Quick Bite.

oh--and if you are looking for YA--I will second the first couple of books of the Vamp Academy series. Or there is the House of Night series Marked which is another good YA series.

[Sharon]

LJ Smith Night World

House of Night is pretty good
Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

[Daniel]

Thanks for all the replies so far. As for YA vs Hot and Steamy, I think YA is preferred, but as long as its good stuff...anything goes I guess

@ Ann aka Iftcan what exactly is UF?

[~~*Julie]

I think she needs a more grown up series-- this is not quite so lovey dovey but I loved the anita Blacke Vampire Huntress Series. although I have read the whole series I can not say that I enjoyed hte Marked bookes very much the first and second ones were good but I think they went downhill after that.

[Sharon]

Julie wrote: "I think she needs a more grown up series-- this is not quite so lovey dovey but I loved the anita Blacke Vampire Huntress Series. although I have read the whole series I can not say that I enjoyed..."

Well Zoey does have issues lol

[Shannen *aka Mrs. Jericho Barrons*]

Here are my recommendations:

Darkfever by Karen Marie Moning
Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater
The Dark Divine by Bree Despain

Darkfever is not YA but it is a series. It has some steamy sexual parts but not much and definitely not erotica. Shiver and The Dark Divine are both YA.

[Sammie]

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia.

I really loved this book, it is quite 'lovey dovey' but it is a really good read. I enjoyed it more than the Twilight Series!!

[Francie]

Hush Hush is a good book. I also agree about House of Night & Vampire Academy.

[Cassie]

I was going to suggest Vampire Academy too. I sort of thought House of Night and Blue Bloods were a little common, or at least not books I would buy for my little sister as a gift. I did buy them for her, but more as books to casually read rather than a reading experience. (I don't mean to bash anybody's suggestions, btw, just saying what I went through recently to find my little sis some post-Twilight books)

[Valerie]

I strongly second the recommendation for Shiver. It is a very good "post-Twilight" book and one I planned on giving to my 19-year-old daughter who is going through Twilight withdrawal.

[Shannen *aka Mrs. Jericho Barrons*]

Valerie wrote: "I strongly second the recommendation for Shiver. It is a very good "post-Twilight" book and one I planned on giving to my 19-year-old daughter who is going through Twilight withdrawal."

That's exactly how I felt about Shiver. It made me feel similar to how I felt when I read the Twilight series.

[twinfish2]

Daniel wrote: "Thanks for all the replies so far. As for YA vs Hot and Steamy, I think YA is preferred, but as long as its good stuff...anything goes I guess

@ Ann aka Iftcan what exactly is UF?"

UF is urban fantasy. The story concentrates more on the world building and less on the romance. Takes place in an urban setting. Sometimes there is no romance at all, or it comes out gradually over many books.

[Martina the Book Fairy]

I'd also have to suggest Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead and Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. They're both young adult and very good.

With her age, I'd also recommend the Chicagoland Vampire series - first book is Some Girls Bite by Chloe Neill. It's urban fantasy but features a college girl who gets "accidentally" turned into a vampire. The other two books are high school aged. None of them have explicit sex scenes, but are more adventure with a hint of romance.

Good luck!

[Nic]

I also recommend The Dark Divine or Shiver. Another favourite of mine is Intertwined by Gena Showalter which is YA. The Evernight series by Claudia Gray is also very popular.

[Katey]

Daniel wrote: "Well so my sister turns 20 soon and I'm looking for a really (really!) good book for her. She is not all "lovey dovey", but she enjoyed the Twilight Series a LOT. So I'm looking for a new book for ..."

I HIGHLY recommend the first book of the sookie stackhouse (true blood) series
It is AMAZING! I've bought that book as a birthday present for a friend that loved twilight too and she loved it :)

[Harlequin Books]

Daniel wrote: "Thanks for all the replies so far. As for YA vs Hot and Steamy, I think YA is preferred, but as long as its good stuff...anything goes I guess"

My Soul to Take and My Soul to Save by Rachel Vincent are both excellent reads from Harlequin Teen. http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.h...

Both my daughter and I were stalking the mailman when waiting for them. LOL

I haven't had a chance to read it yet but my daughter says the Iron King would make an excellent movie so I feel safe recommending that book as well.
http://www.eharlequin.com/storeitem.h...


Rachel Vincent also has a miniseries from the MIRA line that is more hot and steamy but also highly recommended. http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?...

Then of course, There are several in the Silhouette Nocturne line that would be excellent.
http://www.eharlequin.com/store.html?...

I would recommend a title to you but without knowing more about why your sister loved Twilight so much, I'm not sure which author would suit her best. :) If she is anything like my niece, you know every little detail about why she LOVED it and should be able to pick out the best one for her.

Best of luck!

[Daniel]

Thanks for all the help, I have decided on Shiver for now ;)

[Courtney]

This series changed my world! :) A little intense and there's definitely some lovey stuff but it's just an AMAZING series!