New Releases in Romance - Week of July 8, 2014

Here are a few of the new releases in romance this week.  I'm thinking of picking up the Wedding Dare novella series down there.  It looks pretty good.

Paranormal


Historical


Contemporary


Erotic


New Adult

Review: The Demon Bride (The Witching Pen #3) by Dianna Hardy

Title: The Demon Bride (The Witching Pen #3)
Author: Dianna Hardy
Source: Self-Purchased
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 3, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 5
Sexual - 4

Two thousand and eleven years after the birth of the Failed One, the Witching Pen will be
made manifest on Earth by the Great Shanka Witch of the Old Scrolls. By her hand, the Earth will rumble and shatter, and all dimensions will bleed into one.

The true purpose of the Witching Pen has been revealed, and it must be destroyed before an apocalyptic prophecy comes true. There's just one problem -- the Pen is indestructible.

As everyone searches for much needed answers, Elena lays down plans for a radical mission to save her mother from the Shanka's shadow world.

Meanwhile, Mary has finally discovered who she really is, and what that means for the human race.

What Mary doesn't know, is that Gwain has been searching for her for over ten thousand years, and had lost all hope of finding her. Now that he has her, he's faced with an impossible choice: does he save the woman who altered his very existence, or does he sacrifice her to save mankind?

Book One: The Witching Pen - Review
Book Two: The Sands of Time - Review 

The Demon Bride was an amazing book.  Mary has been sucked through a strange portal and Gwain took off after her without consulting with anyone.  He senses that she is something more that what she seems and is shocked to discover who she really is.

We get to meet a lot of new big players in this one - Abbadon, Archangel Michael, and some of the mysterious fae themselves.  As prophecies begin to unfold and new ones are brought to life, the entire world as we know it is in for quite the wake up call - and Mary and Gwain seem to be at the heart of it all.  Their romance is an interesting one that has been unfolding for far longer than anyone realizes.  Their history and future is one of the most romantic things I've ever seen.  And at the end I wanted to scream, cry, and cheer for them.

We can't forget about Elena and Karl, and Amy and Pueblo though.  They all have an important part in the story as well.  Amy has been feeling out of sorts since she was returned, and the reasons why are exciting and a little disconcerting.  Her part of the story plays almost as important a role as our main characters.

Karl and Elena are on a mission to save Elena's mother from the Shanka realm.  This is a more minor part of the story, but triggers many of the other events.  I loved how Dianna Hardy keeps all the players in active roles throughout each book.  We never have to really say good-bye to them at the end.  There is a spin-off that is more of an urban fantasy that I just started, and I'm hoping that it can live up to the standard this book just set.

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Cover Reveal: Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel by Nina Jones

Book Title: Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel 

Author: Nina G. Jones 

Genre: Erotic Romance (Humor) 

Release Date: June 15, 2014 

Hosted by: Book Enthusiast Promotions

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 He was a pig, a jerk, selfish, callous, crude, tactless, prone to outbursts and gorgeous. The kind of gorgeous where you didn’t even attempt to hide the fact that you were staring. I knew the type: His entire life he has coasted on his good looks, artificial charm, and sex appeal. Everyone wanted to be on him or be him. I had been hurt by jerks like him before. He was like those guys but far worse. I was the unfortunate sucker to be offered a gig I desperately needed as his live-in chef for a Summer in the Hamptons. But I wasn’t like the other girls, the models and socialites who came through the revolving door of his bedroom. I would bite the bullet, take the gig, deal with his sexist comments, his expectation that I would fawn over him, and have no problem letting the door hit my ass on the way out when I was done. But then something unexpected happened that changed everything and I realized that there maybe more to him than the labels I had affixed to his character. Maybe. But if he really wanted me, it wasn’t going to be easy, not like everything else in his life. He was going to have to work, I was going to make him miserable. He was going to hate wanting me just as much as I hated myself for wanting him back. Heath Hillabrand: International Supermodel. Womanizer. Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel.

 

He leaned in to kiss me, and I sort of, kind of, pushed back. But I'll admit, it was a weak attempt, because dammit he's so fucking hot and his kisses taste like sex. If there was a sex-flavored popsicle, it would be called the Heathsicle. Maybe we could do this just this once and get it out of our systems, I thought to myself, pulling him in by his shirt collar as we kissed.

He moved to my neck, kissing it so softly, and it made everything tingle. I cannot believe I am making out with a supermodel. He buried his face into the crook of my neck, kissing softly, but pausing in between, caressing my skin with his warm breaths.

Why is he doing this to me? It's like he knows I have a weak spot for narcissists.

He ran his right hand up my thigh, pushing my dress up. All I had underneath was a thong, a flimsy shield for a sex machine like Heath Hillabrand. He grabbed my ass firmly, pressing me up against him and when I felt his huge hardness through his jeans, the reality of the situation began to sink in, but not nearly as much as when his fingers slid into me.

Oh god, oh god, oh god. This is the point of no return, get your shit together. You cannot be this fucking weak, Sadie.

"Okay, we have to stop," I said, pushing him away from me, as a I panted for air. My skin was prickly all-over with sex tingles and my body so wanted to keep on, but that sliver of sober brain I had left would not let me move forward.

 Nina G. Jones was born and raised in Bronx, NY and currently resides in Milwaukee, WI with her husband and two crazy Boxers. She is the author of the Strapped series, and is currently working on an Erotic Romance, Gorgeous Rotten Scoundrel, slated to be released in Spring 2014. Nina lives a pretty wholesome life, but is fascinated with the dark side of things and has the mouth of a sailor. She loves watching true crime TV shows and it creeps her husband out to no end. Nina has a degree in Psychology and uses her characters as a vehicle to explore the human psyche.

 

 

Review: Vampyre Kisses By: Elizabeth J Kolodziej

Title: Vampyre Kisses 
Author: Elizabeth J Kolodziej
Source: Review Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewer: Emi 

Overall Rating: 4
Sexual Rating: 2 

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

Vampyre Kisses is an enthralling story about a young woman named Faith, who seems content with her life, but deep down craves more excitement. Then a mysterious man named Trent enters her world and everything changes. Surprising to Faith, Trent is a green-eyed vampire from Ireland. She is even more amazed to find out that she is a witch, and the last of her kind. 

Faith learns that she is destined to restore her witch line and becomes more powerful as she gains confidence and knowledge, but danger lurks everywhere -- especially when unknown assailants steal the most important gems from the vampire master and werewolf royalty. 

Now surrounded by a world filled with mystifying vampires and werewolves, can Faith gain enough power to help her friends and rescue the stolen gems? 

My Review:

I really enjoyed  Vampyre Kisses. I was in a bit of a reading funk, and this book took me out of it a bit. It's full of action, which is just the way I like it, lol. I did have a few eye roll moments but not enough to deter me from finishing it.  
Faith is out having a good time with friends, she meets a very delicious looking man, Trent. Little does she know that meeting him will change her life in more ways that she can imagine.  While she is thrown into a world she din't know existed she comes to find out how she is a part of it and will need to learn fast, trouble is lurking in every corner. 
I thought this was a great read! I am definitely looking forward to more!! 

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Review: Prudence and the Professor (Brides of Jubilee #1) by Sibelle Stone

Title: Prudence and the Professor (Brides of Jubilee #1)
Author: Sibelle Stone
Source: Author Request
Genre: Steampunk Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: January 20, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 3
Sexual - 3

Civil War widow Prudence Worthington has vowed to never again be at the mercy of a
man. She’s determined to make her own way in the world after being one of the first women to graduate from a business school in upstate New York. In search of adventure and independence she takes a position as a personal secretary to an eccentric inventor and heads to Montana Territory.

Professor Gerritt Rhinehart must develop his newest invention to meet a critical deadline. Someone is willing to do almost anything to stop him, and the distraction of a raven haired beauty he hired as his secretary makes it impossible to concentrate. But he must stay focused, especially when his invention could change the course of the War-Between-the-States.

Discover a rollicking steampunk romance from an award-winning author. The first book in the Brides of Jubilee series.

I have found that it can be difficult to find a good mix of steampunk and romance.  One of the halves always seems to come up a little short.  Prudence and the Professor had a very nice balance of the two.  The machines and contraption were a little lacking in the  middle, but the Screaming Meemie and the devices at the end made up for it.  

Prudence and Gerrit seem to be made for each other, but neither of them want to admit it.  Their reasons aren't very sound, and it was really the only downside of the book( although the bath house scene near the beginning is pricelss).  I would have liked to see a slightly different conflict between them.  There was plenty of other conflict to go around though.  With espionage and assassination on the agenda, both Prudence and Gerrit are attached for several different reasons.

There is a bit of paranormal twist as well, but since it was a surprise I don't want to say exactly what it was.  It was very nicely done though and leads the way into an interesting set up for book two.  I think it will be another very exciting one.

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Review: The Sands of Time (The Witching Pen #2) by Dianna Hardy

Review: The Sands of Time (The Witching Pen #2)
Author: Dianna Hardy
Source: Self - Purchase
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

Seven days ago, Elizabeth May tried to commit suicide. She was found by Paul, her
husband, who took her under his wing and back to their home. But the attempted suicide is not Elizabeth's main problem - Elizabeth can't remember who she is, or a single thing about her life beyond the past week.

Plagued by nightmares about a familiar black panther, and a terrifying snow leopard, she is convinced that the dreams are trying to show her something important, and is determined to regain her memories, one way or another.

Meanwhile, Pueblo - the demon blood-bonded to the witch, Amy - is going insane trying to find her. Amy disappeared one week ago, and it seems not even their bond is strong enough to penetrate whatever magic hides her.

As Pueblo enlists the help of angels and demons alike, Elizabeth begins to piece together parts of her forgotten life. But what she uncovers may just have her wanting to turn away from who she really is ... for good.

Book One: The Witching Pen - Review

I was really excited to see the Pueblo would be one of the main characters in Sands of Time.  I fell in love with him in The Witching Pen and couldn't wait to see what happened with him and Amy.  Amy was kidnapped right at the end of book one, and now everyone is on the hunt to find her.  Pueblo shouldn't have a problem tracking her down by their blood bond, but where ever she has been taken, hides her even from him.

Most of the story seems to be told by Elizabeth May - she is the piece of the puzzle that holds everything together in this story.  She knows that something isn't right - she's knows that the life she is living isn't her own, but she's not sure how it happened or what to do about it.  Her struggle was hard to watch at times as she tried to make her current feelings match what she had been told about her life.

There is a lot happening around Elena as well.  She is still new to her new powers, and needs Karl to help keep her balanced.  But when something happens to Mary as well, we find a new hero ready to save the day.  While this was a great story, there is a time paradox involved and I always struggle with those a little bit.

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Review: Once Bitten Twice Shy By: C.C. Wood

Title: Once Bitten Twice Shy

Author: C.C. Wood

Genre: Paranormal Romance 

Source: Review Request 

Reviewer: Emi

Rating: 5
Sexual Rating: 4

**I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review**

                                     

 I used to think that my life was boring. I resigned myself to the rut I was stuck in. Then my entire existence was turned upside down.

In the last six months, I’ve learned things that would get me committed to an asylum if I repeated them. First, I was kidnapped by vampires. Yes, vampires. Sounds crazy, right? My best friend, Donna, became one of the fanged after that little adventure and hooked up with a hot, Scottish vampire named Conner. They’re even planning a wedding.

Secondly, I learned not all vampires are evil. In fact, some of them are downright sexy.

Alexander Dimitriades has it all. He’s tall, dark, and handsome and manages to give me tingles in all the right place and also make me laugh. Unfortunately, to be with him, I would have to give up my humanity and I like being human. Then, there’s the fact that the whole drinking blood thing gives me the heebie jeebies.

To make matters worse, there are plans in motion to change the place vampires hold in the human world. And I’m caught in the middle, between the vampire I’m falling in love with and a group that wants to create a vampire dictatorship, with humans as slaves.

Now, all I want is my calm, normal life back. As my friend, Ricki, likes to say, “Be careful what you wish for because it might come and bite you on the ass.” I hate it when she’s right.

                                                                    **My review**

Once Bitten Twice Shy is the second book in the bitten series by C.C. Wood, and I absolutely loved it! I was sooooo looking forward to this book, and I was not disappointed! I cannot wait to read what's next!! 

Ivie is sometimes a bit annoying to me, she's independent yes, but I guess I don't really like female characters that are always thinking the worst or a bit insecure of themselves.  As I sit here writing this and thinking back on the book,  I can also see why she is the was she is. The way she speaks about growing up the way she did I'd probably feel the same way about certain things. So actually she seems more real that way, so I take back my original statement, she's just a normal chick going through the motions. Then there is him;  Alexander, Alexander, Alexander, what can I possibly say about a sexy, dominant, Alpha vampire?!  I! Love! Him! He's not too overbearing, just the right amount of sexy protective alpha. Once Bitten Twice Shy picks up where we left off, only this time the threat is more dangerous, which makes for a lot of action and suspense. I totally love it! Now I am anxiously awaiting the next book in the series. The circle of Donna's  friends continues to intermingle with Conner's circle, and I love reading series like this one. Where you get to meet multiple characters and eventually each pair gets a story. 

I highly recommend this series! 

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Review: A Ghostly Menage by Eve Langlais

Title: A Ghostly Menage
Author: Eve Langlais
Source: Review Request
Genre: Paranormal Romance, M/F/M
Length: Novella
Release Date: May 23, 2014
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 4

Forget ghosts with rattling chains, try dealing with ones who like to grope.

Desperate for change, Jenna buys a repossessed home on a whim. The townsfolk claim it's haunted, but Jenna's pretty sure all it needs is some TLC to stop the drafts. It doesn't take long before she realizes there's more going on than the vagaries of an old house. Something, or someone, is playing poltergeist with her house, and whatever it is keeps stroking her with ghostly fingers and haunting her dreams.

Derrick and Mark learned the hard way not to piss off a witch. But in their defense, as cocky werewolves, they weren't used to anything actually defying them. Unable to ask for help, they're forced to haunt their own home, which turns out to be less boring than expected when their fated mate suddenly becomes the new owner.

Disembodied or not, they end up taking haunting to a whole new erotic level.

A Ghostly Menage takes a fun twist on the traditional werewolf menage theme.  These werewolves have a special problem - being cursed by a witch into limbo.  They are stuck in spirit form inside their family house - until she decides to release them.  Several years later - enter Jenna.  I really really liked her.  She didn't take shit from anyone and was determined to live her life the way she wanted to.  She was fiest and had an amazing sense of humor.  She needed it to deal with two horny werewolf spirits.

Our two boys were just as fun to watch.  Their playful bickering back and forth easily showed me how much they cared for each other - they were brothers and willing to do anything for each other.  They were even willing to share, but who got to do what first was an interesting conversation.

The story revolves around Derrick and Mark trying to find a way to let Jenna know they are there and to escape the curse.  Their methods are humorous to the reader and maddening to Jenna who can't figure out what the heck is going on in her new house.

I wish I could have seen a little more of the witch.  I like my bad guy to have a "face" and I didn't feel very connected to her on any level.  She was just sort of there.  I still very much enjoyed every page of this novella.  It was easy to finish in one sitting - I couldn't put it down.

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Review: The Witching Pen (The Witching Pen #1) by Dianna Hardy and Wilted (The Witching Pen Prequel)

Title: The Witching Pen (The Witching Pen #1)
Author: Dianna Hardy
Source: Self Purchased
Length: Novel
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4
Sexual - 3

It's hard being the most powerful witch on the planet. It's even harder when you're a
twenty-five year old virgin who'll lose all of that power the moment you sleep with someone ... that's why Elena's never slept with her best friend and flatmate, Karl, despite the true feelings they harbour for each other.

Elena's about to discover that there are even more difficult things in life to deal with. One of them comes in the form of a pen she discovers one day, a pen that allows anything she writes to come to pass...

Suddenly, it's not just her powers or her heart that's at stake, but her very soul, as a dream demon with a seductive pull uses the pen to try and turn her away from her reality, and from Karl.

But the pen is just the beginning. Everything Elena has believed in is a lie, and her world is about to fall apart...

Poor Elena - the most powerful witch in existence and she can't have the one thing she really wants.  Her best friends Karl has been in love with her since they were kids and she thinks she may be in love with him as well.  Too bad she can't do anything about it.  But that's nothing when a demon starts to visit your dreams and uses your body to do horrible things while you're sleeping.

Elena and Karl need to figure out what is going on - and fast - before Elena is forced to give herself to one of the creepiest bad guys I've read.  He's determined to make Elena his, but not for any good reason.  Elena and Karl begin to dig into Elena's past and find some pretty amazingly scary stuff.  And it's no longer just Elena that's as risk - if the demon gets what it wants, the whole world could be in danger.

There are some witchy friends and some other demonic types that  play a big role in the story - I really loved Pueblo and was happy to see his name mentioned on the blurb for book two.  Lots and lots of stuff happens for such a short novel, and there were a few times it got a little too rushed for me - especially the part right after the explosion (you'll know it when you read it).  The ending is one big massive cluster of awesome though.  I had to read it a couple times just to let it all sink in.

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Title: Wilted (The Witching Pen #0.5)

Author: Dianna Hardy

Source: Amazon Free

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Length: Short Story

Release Date: December 3, 3013

Reviewed by: Jasmyn

Rating - 4

Sexual - 1

(This story takes place ten years before the events of The Witching Pen.)


Fifteen-year-old Elena hides her magical abilities from everyone, except her best friend, Karl. Inseparable since they were very young, they've always shared everything together, including the darkest parts of their lives.

Elena's beginning to realise that her feelings for Karl are growing into something more. But her mother's about to drop a bombshell on her – one that will change the course of her life, and heart, forever.

This was a nice little addition to The Witching Pen.  It covers a short, but very important,  period of time in Elena and Karl's past.  The events are referenced several times in book one and it was fun to see how and why they became so important to both of them.

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Cover Reveal: Crossing the Line by Sherri Hayes

Crossing The Line (Daniels Brothers #3)

Summary

Detective Paul Daniels has spent four and a half years mourning the loss of his wife. He’s been doing his best to raise their daughter, Chloe, with the help of his in-laws. When they inform him right before Thanksgiving that they’re going to be moving over two hours away, Paul finds himself without anyone to watch Chloe—especially when he’s called out to a crime scene in the middle of the night. Little does he know that meeting his baby brother’s girlfriend and her sister, Megan, will change everything.

Megan Carson has taken a few wrong turns in her life, but she’s doing her best to get back on track. When she meets Chloe, the little girl swiftly worms her way into Megan’s heart. The opportunity to help Paul out and watch his daughter appears to be a blessing in disguise. She quickly volunteers to be Chloe’s live-in nanny.

Everything is working well until the three of them head back to Ohio for Chris and Elizabeth’s wedding. Paul has a little too much to drink during the reception, and he and Megan end up sharing a heated kiss. When he wakes up the next day, he has a pounding headache but remembers nothing.

Megan, however, isn’t willing to forget. Over the past few months since she’s been playing nanny, her feelings for Paul have changed. He is everything she never knew she wanted, and now that she knows there might be something there, she’s going after what she wants—Paul.

Sherri spent most of her childhood detesting English class. It was one of her least favorite subjects because she never seemed to fit into the standard mold. She wasn't good at spelling, or following grammar rules, and outlines made her head spin. For that reason, Sherri never imagined becoming an author.

At the age of thirty, all of that changed. After getting frustrated with the direction a television show was taking two of its characters, Sherri decided to try her hand at writing an alternate ending, and give the characters their happily ever after. By the time the story finished, it was one of the top ten read stories on the site, and her readers were encouraging her to write more.

Seven years later, Sherri is the author of seven full-length novels, and one short story. Writing has become a creative outlet for Sherri that allows her to explore a wide range of emotions, while having fun taking her characters through all the twists and turns she can create. She is most well known for her Finding Anna Series about a young woman rescued from being a sex slave by a wealthy Dominant. Sherri’s eighth novel, Crossing The Line, is scheduled to release September 2014.

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Paranormal Romance

 Paranormal Romance

There are people who think Paranormal Romance is a trend, but after running a paranormal romance blog for over 6 years, I am here to say it’s not. It’s here to stay. Will it slow down? Yes, it will. Why? Because the big 8 publishers will deem it was a trend and only take authors that have been bestsellers in the genre. I have already witnessed this. I have seen bestselling authors turn indie to publish their paranormal romance books. But never fear, as the indie authors keep growing, this genre will not die.

I have always considered Paranormal Romance as having an “identity crisis” because so many are confused with its identity. Reason being is because it’s really quite new, but so is romance itself as we know it today. Back in the day, Romance novels were quite different. Take for instance the first known US paperback published romance book (recorded by Avon in 1972) by Kathleen Woodiwiss, ‘The Flame and the Flower’. I’ve read this book and several others from that time and it’s nothing like the romance we know today. These types of books, known as Bodice Ripper Novels, carried such things as the hero raping the heroine and you won’t find many romance books like that now days. Pre-1980’s romance novels didn’t have rules set in place so they didn’t have to provide HEA’s, nor did they have a romance plot between a hero and a heroine.

Before we go on, I would like to ask that you please keep in mind that in the pre-1970’s and even in the 1980’s, women didn’t read romance like we do today; out in the open and by so many. Romance has always been considered taboo, even by other women. I know to most of us today, this is hard to fathom but times were very different.

During the 1970’s there were no recorded PNR’s. You would have to look under genres such as Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Futuristic, Horror, Goth and Time Travel to hopefully find some kind of a romance plot.

During the 1980’s romance started to become popular with millions of copies being sold and the creation for the RWA (Romance Writers of America). RWA stepped up and separated romance from your regular fiction. You see, you can have sex and some romance in fiction, but fiction doesn’t carry a HEA and nor does fiction focus mainly on a couple’s love affair. These two elements separate romance from regular fiction. Example of this is the book Outlander people wants to say it Romance but it’s not, there is not HEA therefore it’s a regular fiction series that has some romance elements which includes sex. 

 During the early 1980’s Romance started to blossom and take shape and in different genres. Historical Time Travel and Futuristic Romance were starting to take off.  Authors such as, Jayne Ann Krentz, was the first romance author to get her book, ‘Sweet Starfire’, labeled Futuristic Romance in 1986. Still no PNR, so let’s keep going.

During the 1990’s, there is some movement in the Paranormal Romance genre. There are two known authors who were able to publish under the PNR label. The first labeled paranormal romance book was published in 1995 titled, Everlastin’ by Mickee Madden (Time Travel and a Ghost romance). Linda Lael Miller (Forever and the night Night) was published in 1993 but I have not confirmed if the book was labeled PNR. Kathleen Nance‘s, ‘Wishes Come True’ was published in 1998. Christine Feehan published, ‘Dark Prince’ (Vampire Romance) in 1999. Susan Krinard’s, ‘Prince of Wolves’ was also published in 1999. Other authors who were publishing Time Travel Romance and Futuristic Romance during this time were, Diana Gabaldon, Karen Marie Moning, Justine Davis, Dara Joy, Stobie Piel, Sandra Hill, and Lynn Kurland. Also, during the late 1990’s, the popular author Shannon Drake published a popular vampire series (Vampire) but it was labeled as Romantic Suspense.

The early 2000’s the PRN sub-genre started to take sprout. With authors such as Robin D. Owens (Heart Mate 2001), Sherrilyn Kenyon (Fantasy Lover 2002), Rebecca York (Killing Moon 2003), Susan Sizemore (I Burn for You 2003), Christine Warren (One Bite With A Stranger 2003), Lori Handeland (Blue Moon 2004), Angela Knight (Master of Wolves 2004), C.T. Adams & Cathy Clamp’s (Hunter's Moon 2004), Katie MacAlister (You Slay Me 2005), Ronda Thompson (Dark One 2005), J.R. Ward (Dark Lover 2005), Susan Squires (The Companion 2005), Lynsay Sands (A Quick Bite 2005), Kerrelyn Sparks (How to Marry a Millionaire Vampire 2005), Kresley Cole (Hunger Like No Other 2006), Jenna Black (Watchers in the Night 2006), Kathryn Smith (Be Mine Tonight 2006) and Patty O’Shea (In the Midnight Hour 2007). By this time, there was no stopping the Romance sub-genre. Authors such as, Allyson James, Susan Kearney, Gena Showalter, Anya Blast, Alyssa Day, Shannon K. Butcher, Pamela Palmer, Addison Fox, Annette McCleave…Hold on finger cramp… Okay, that’s better! I can keep going now…Jessica Andersen, Nalini Singh, Lara Adrian, Christina Dodd, Kathy Love, Michele Bardsley, Kim Lenox, Anna Windsor, Rhyannon Byrd, Larissa Ione, Jacquelyn Frank, Shayla Black, G.A. Aiken, Alexandra Ivy, Erin McCarthy, Annette Blair, Juliana Stone, Alexis Morgan, Jennifer St. Giles, Megan Hatfiled, Vicki Lewis Thompson all found themselves published during this time. Most with the PNR labels on their books, but some not. Even with all of these NY published authors named above, I haven’t touched the tip of the iceberg. There are even more NY authors and that’s not counting the small publisher, trade publisher and indie publishers. Look at it this way, if you look at my Goodreads shelf you will find over 800 books marked PNR (These are true PNR’s not UF) and I have over 400 books of them on my bookshelf that I haven’t even read yet. So, yes we can say in the 2000’s paranormal romance exploded.

When Paranormal Romance first started Sherrilyn Kenyon and J.R. Ward and other PNR authors struggled to get published. Still today, other PNR authors are finding themselves having to Indie Publish or go to Small Press publisher because of the strict rules from NY publishers. It’s not only the strict rules the NY publisher places on the stories, they also won’t look at an author’s manuscript unless they are already a big name in the PNR world. I had one NY Paranormal Romance author send me her book to review. She had to Indie Publish it because the Publisher wanted her heroine witch to land in Salem, Massachusetts instead of the destination the author felt inspired to write about. I for one was glad she stood up for her inspiration and told the Publisher to stuff it. As a reader, you would be amazed at what the publisher cuts out and adds to the author’s story.

Now let’s get back into the “identity crisis”. Since the PNR explosion, Publishers and Retailers want to add Gothic, Time Travel Romance, Fantasy Romance, Urban Fantasy and Futuristic Romance into this genre; therefore causing lots of confusion in the labeling of this genre. As a review blogger, I read them daily and I see a huge difference in each genre, but for some reason others don’t. Urban Fantasy gets confused with paranormal romance all the time and there is a huge difference between the two. Paranormal romance carries the love affair, HEA and its writing in third person POV, where Urban Fantasy doesn’t carry either a heavy love affair, HEA or its writing in the first person POV.

With the odds stacked up against Paranormal Romance due to its mislabeling identity crisis and people deeming it a trend, the sub-genre still keeps growing and growing. As a PNR reviewer/blogger/reader, I don’t see anything stopping it because readers love to get away from real life and lose themselves into a world that is nothing like what they are facing every day.