Goodreads Librarians Group discussion

Well I didn't see this thread here so I thought I would Start it. For Me it's the Anita Blake Series. But I can't forget the Dark Hunter Series and Christine Feehan's Carpathian series. sooo good. Oh there are so many more I probably would be typing for a whole day to list them, but you know what I'm kinda ashamed I still haven't read any of Stephanie Myers books. I've heard they are really good, but alas I must wait until my birthday oh well.

There are books that are "good" and books that are "Great!" We all know the difference, but I find it a hard difference to define.

Is there one thing about a book that will put it over the top from Good to Great? Is it an overall impression? What do you think?

For me a good book is one i have a hard time putting down. and great book is one I don't put down and have to tell all my friends (who read) about it.

I've not figured out the formula for a great book for me. there are some books by an author who i think is great and some books by the same author that i can barely finish

Oh my goodness you must read The Twilight series!!! It's not just "really good." It is really really really really good. It was so addicting that I barely did anything for two days while I finished eclipse. Loved it!!!! Although, I haven't read any other Vampire romances...what would you recommend?

hi, i've noticed that several entries for books by the same author record the author's name wrong. is there any way to change multiple records at once? thanks!

For me it's all about the characters. That's something I noticed recently when reviewing on here. I so often say "The characters blah blah blah." They really make a book for me. I love getting to know the people on the pages and to me that's one of the things that frustrates me about so many of the "classics"; the characters in them are just tools to carry some sort of message and quite often aren't that well developed into people. I have to care about who the book is about for it to be Great. I like finishing a book and still wondering about the people in it.

hey! nevermind, i figured it out!

A great book for me is one that I'm sad to see end. There are books that I'm so reluctant to say goobye to when I'm done that I'll re-read the last passages over, or go back to the beginning and linger over the first chapter again.

I would recommend everything in the group's library! :)

I would recommend JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood series. Its about warrior vampires who defends their race from extinction. Set in modern-day Caldwell, New York, Ward's vampires are sexy, aggressive, bad-asses. LOL. Check them out and you will see why these series have garnered so much attention since it was launched. So far there are five books out. I just can't enough of the Brothers.

L.A. Banks! I love these books and I would highly recommend them. I bought one and after that I couldn't put them down. I read them on vacation, before bed, when my son is taking a nap... after I was done with the last book I was bummed because the next one doesn't come out till April '08. There are 9 books right now... and I suggest everyone should read them.

I just read one by a new author - Halfway to the Grave, by Jeaniene Frost. It's the first in the series, so it doesn't have the "happily ever after" ending, but this book is great. I highly recommend it. The heroine is half-human/half-vampire, and the vampire hero has an English accent, which is one of my weaknesses. I'm already impatient for the next one to come out, which isn't until April.

My fav vamp book is SUNSHINE by Robin McKinley. The author weaves a lovely web of opposites attract in this non-fluffly novel. TWILIGHT, NEW MOON and ECLIPSE are definitely right behind SUNSHINE...

You're right, Lisa, "Sunshine" is great! The character of Sunshine drove me a little crazy with all the chatter going on inside her head, but I adored the vamp Con. And I so wanted a sequel to this book to find out how Con and Sunshine's relationship developed, since the book ended rather suddenly before we had a chance to find out. I have read on McKinley's website that she gets requests for a sequel all the time, but has no plans to write one.

I am just starting to read Katie MacAlister's two series. Right now I am laughing my way through her "Aisling Grey" series, but also have her vamp romance series, and I am really looking forward to that. I'm just crazy about vamps. Go figure (grin)!

Okay, I am now reading Katie MacAlister's "The Dark Ones" vamp series and LOVING it!! The first novel ("A Girl's Guide to Vampires") was so-so IMO, because the vamp was a very minor character. I guess that was her introduction to the series. But since then the vamps have been the main plot. The second novel "Sex and the Single Vampire" was fabulous. And the third one, "Sex, Lies, and Vampires," seems to be more of the same. Yummy! If MacAlister keeps this up, this is going to become one of my favorite vamp series. No kidding! I'm really enjoying it.

xoxo
Laura
http://www.OccultFiction.blogspot.com

Anyone who likes vampire romance has to read Twilight, new Moon, and eclipse!!! They are some of the best books I've ever read!

I, too, would love to read a sequel to "Sunshine."

I love Kim Harrison's books, and also the Sookie Stackhouse books by Charlaine Harris are great. Both are really inventive and well-written series.

I recommend the Undead and Unwed (Queen Betsy) series by MaryJanice Davidson. They're funny, cute, and not typical fluff-stuff.

I gobble up every new book in the Undead series. I love it!

My favorite are the LKH books. "Blood is thicker than water" by, Wynette Hoffman is also really good

I'm going to have to say Twilight and its sequels - they got me into the genre and nothing yet has eclipsed (ha ha) these books, though I'm really enjoying the more "adult" ones ;)

Other favourites so far include Keri Arthur, J.R. Ward, Kathy Love, Anya Bast and Nalini Singh.

I agree - both of those series are high on my list of favorites. Right now I am catching up for the new Hollows that comes out on the 23rd, and the series is even better the second time around. I think there is also a new Charlaine Harris book due later this year.
I also enjoy the RIley Jenson series by Keri Arthur. They don't focus entirely on vampires, but they play a big role.

Well Sookie Stackhouse is the one I look forward to the most. I also love Mary Janice Davidson, Kim Harrison, Katie Maclister (her teen dark ones series too), and shockingly Kimberly Raye as well.

Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse are the best. Tantalize is a vampire/werewolf book and it's pretty good. Also, Blue Bloods and Masquerade are great. I've heard that Marked and Betrayed are good too.

Lynsay Sands writes a really good vampire series, the Argeneau vampires. Modern, but still funny as heck. Teresa Medieros also wrote two vampire books, After midnight, and the vampire who loved me. I third the Ward recommendation as well. But you gotta start with the first one!

I love Meyer's Twilight series, Ward's BDB series, and Sands Argeneau series. Halfway to the Grave was a very fun book, and I can't wait for the second to be published. When I was younger, I loved L.J. Smith's Vampire Diaries series.

When I was younger my favorites were L.J. Smith Night World series. Now that I'm older I would have to go with Charlaine Harris' Southern Vampire series.

J.R.Ward's BDB , Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed on the serious side
On the hilarious side Lynsay Sands' Argeneaus and Mry Janice Davidson's Queen Betsy
It seems I will have to start reading Twilight all your comments have made me seriously curious about it. Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't it a young adult book? (I'm nowhere near young anymore *sigh*)
Oh! Honorable Mention Teresa Medeiros' After Midnight (haven't read the other one yet)

Most of us are no longer young adults, but Twilight is still awesome. Its a great well-written, character driven story. The rest of the series is fantastic as well. Besides, we're all young at heart!

My three favorite vampire series r: the Black Dagger Brotherhood, the Argeneau Vampires, and the Midnight Breed series. They are all the best romance books I have ever read!!

I haven't read J.R. Ward's BDB series but, I know a lot of people that say it's the best. They are on my next to read list. But my favs so far are Kenyon's Dark Hunters, and Feehan's Carpathians.
I read a book recently by a new author (Joey Hill) called "The Vampire Queen's Servant" and it was great!!!! Her sequel just came out but, I haven't read it yet. It's called "The Mark of the Vampire Queen" I think these fall into the erotica catagory. However, I don't think they are any racier than Lora Leigh or Laurell K. Hamilton.

I'd say the BDB,Carpathians, and Vampire Huntress by LA Banks. I like Lynsay Sands a lot too, she's one of the "new to me" authors.

Recently I've been reading Lynn Viehl's Darkyn series. It's got action, romance, intrigue, betrayal... good stuff! I also love Kresley Cole's Immortals After Dark series, which doesn't solely focus on vampires, but they are an integral part to the series.

well i would definatly suggest the twilight series but there is another book SILVER KISS
which is also a good vampire romance. Here is the brief summary:

16-year-old Zoë is faced with the reality that her mother is dying of cancer. When she meets the mysterious and handsome Simon, she feels he can understand her pain better than anyone else has. As Zoë's life goes from bad to worse, Simon becomes her one true support. However, there is something very creepy about the pale young man. Will that creepy something (that is, the fact that Simon is a vampire) force the two apart? Zoe realizes that Simon is just as lonely as she is. The two fall in love and Simon tells her of his secret. In the story it is discovered that Simon has an older brother, Christopher, who is also a vampire. But he loves killing for pleasure and is stuck in a child's body. Simon has set out to kill Christopher since he was the one who murdered their mother. He disguises himself as an orphan with albinism in order to find temporary homes and new victims.

When Zoë finds out about Christopher, she sets out with Simon with the intent of killing him but his older brother is wise and will not be taken down easily...

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Silv..."

I love Mary Janice Davidson's Undead series - a good mix of humor and romance, contemporary and light.

My all time favorite vampire romance would have to be, 'Seize The Night by Sherrilyn Kenyon. I love the connection between Valerius and Tabitha. Also, 'Night Embrace' (Kenyon) Talon and Sunshine gives me hope that soulmates do exist.

Now if only men like these were real.

My fav is the Twilight series but in VERY CLOSE 2nd is the House of Night novels!! They are so wonderful! And then the Blue Bloods series is in 3rd!

Sookie and The Night Huntress series by Jeaniene Frost. Twilight was pretty good and I did start with that series first. Edward was hard to resist, LOL.

I hate to say this but I'm tired of everybody saying, "THE TWILIGHT SERIES!" Okay... we get it. Twilight was great. But there are many other AMAZING vampire books out there, people! Live a little, be more open, read ANOTHER book!

My suggestions (for series):

Nina Bangs - The Mackenzie Vampires Series
Nina Bangs - The Castle of Dark Dreams Trilogy
Robin T. Popp - Night Slayer Series
Lynsay Sands - Argeneau Series
Kerrelyn Sparks - Love at Stake Series
Alexandra Ivy - Guardians of Eternity Series
Rosemary Laurey - Vampire Series
Katie MacAlister - Dark Ones Series
Jacquelyn Frank - The Nightwalkers Series
Sandy Lynn - Bloodmates Series
J.R. Ward - Black Dagger Brotherhood Series
Susan Sizemore - Primes Series
Erin McCarthy - Vegas Vampires Series

I do agree. I've read so many books that are 10 times better than Twilight was. It was good but it wasn't the be all to end all for me.

I can suggest:

The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost
The Southern Vampire Series by Charlaine Harris
Blood Ties by Jennifer Armintrout
The Anna Strong Chronicles by Jeanne C. Stein

And that's pretty much all I've read series wise.

I'll look into some of your suggestions, Michelle.

Michelle- I agree it's why i left Yahoo Answers, everytime so one requested suggestions for books at least 3(or More) people would suggest Twilight. it became very nerve wracking especially when it wasn't the genre some one was looking for or when they specifically asked people not to suggest Twilight.

I agree, I'm a little irritated with Twilight. I thought it was a really good series but now it's over with.

I can't think of a single vampire series to reccomend because I would probably just list the series already mentioned. That being said, we all have our preference and I am completely open to reading anything. I do love Kenyon, Ward and Sands but it could be becuase those were the only series I have every single book of. I have a few other authors who I have a book from but haven't gotten the rest yet.

I have to second the mention of The Night Huntress Series by Jeaniene Frost. I just finished the first book and I want more! I know the book spine says paranormal romance, but I found it in the Sci-fi/Fantasty section at Barnes & Noble. I think Bones may be my second favorite Vampire.

easy peasy... Vampire Academy Series!!
love them!!

I just read "Evernight"... it was really good

and the vampire kisses series i enjoyed too.

Stacy wrote: "Well I didn't see this thread here so I thought I would Start it. For Me it's the Anita Blake Series. But I can't forget the Dark Hunter Series and Christine Feehan's Carpathian series. sooo good. ..."
I liked Christine Feehan but I hated how she always made the males so commanding. She would take a strong willed woman, and suddenly the woman would be practically a slave to the mans decisions. I hated that. Otherwise the series was good!

P.C. Cast's House of Night series was pretty good, and so was Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy series...

Evermore by Alyson Noel was fairly good. Vampire Diaries by L.J. Smith(being turned into a tv show this fall) was good, but I hated the last book!

Amelia Atwater Rhodes has some unique vampire books.
Jessica's Guide to Dating on the Dark Side was decent.
Maggie Shayne wrote a Twilight series that was good!

Those were all the ones I could think of...LOL

An older series I liked was Lori Herter's Forever series

And some of the Maggie Shayne books. And Amanda Ashley

Twilight + vampire diaries