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I would really like to see what the group thinks of the Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones.

@Gabrielle @Tiffany I read the 2nd book first and really liked that one, but when I went back to the first book didn't enjoy it at all. Do you both agree that the series got better as it went on?

Personally, I would love to see some more LGBT romance. So far, my favorite picks have been Tipping the Velvet and Swordspoint from that month celebrating the overturning of DOMA.

I'll second the LGBT romance suggestion, a little more variety in pairings would be interesting to read and discuss.

Going along with the theme of variety, it would be nice to read about more non-white characters like Yeine Darr from The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms. Maybe we could read some Octavia Butler or Tanarieve Due?

vf should read earth logic by laurie j marks, which has multiple lgbt relationships, with the main character being a queer woc and is just a fantastic series in general.

I'm definitely on board for diversity of all kinds if anyone has suggestions of good reads. In the mean time I really liked "Soulless" by Gail Carriger (first in the Parasol Protectorate Series) & Darkfever by Karen Marie Moaning if you want something smutty (if a little problematic).

How about a murder mystery pick? I know that I started reading some of Kerry Greenwood's works after seeing the Miss Fisher series on Netflix and that one or two of the gals mentioned seeing that too. I actually think that her other series would work better for Vag. Fan. since it involves a romance. It also has an atypical romance heroine who is older and "pleasantly plump" and fine with her body type.

I'd love to see us read any of the books from Delilah S. Dawson's Wicked series! She does steampunk like no other :)

Siobhan wrote: " In the mean time I really liked "Soulless" by Gail Carriger (first in the Parasol Protectorate Series) ..."

I definitely second Soulless (The Parasol Protectorate). The sequels become increasingly silly but the first book is marvelous - a great fit for VF. Lots of genre-bending and parody, a unique and fun narrative voice and a nice side dish of romance.

Suggestions for next book:

Red (Transplanted Tales, #1)
Good Omens
Charming (Pax Arcana #1)
Chosen By Blood (Para-Ops #1)
The Ghost Bride
Stardust
The Shadow Prince

Thumbs up to good omens and stardust but we're getting away from romance with those novels (although they're both fantastic and worth reading on your own). Good Omens is hands down my favourite novel :)

P.S. this group already read Soulless a few months ago as an alt pick.

Gail Carriger's Soulless is definitely a great pick suggestion. I found it to be quite original in it's portrayal of Alexia that I think the VagFan girls would enjoy.

Personally, the first and one of the most interesting books with any kind of romance that I read was "Melusine" by Sarah Monette in the Doctrine of Labyrinths series. It has lgbt and straight romances and portrays sex in all its aspects well, without making it the main sell of the novels.

Anyone ever try out the Masters of the Shadowlands series by Cherise Sinclair, book 5 in particular? I'm curious as to what opinions are on this genre.

has anyone ever read anything by Catherine Asaro. I like a lot of her books and I especially love her skolian empire series which does have romance in it. I think Primary Inversion is a great book.

I just finished Prince of Hearts by Margaret Foxe and think it would be a great fit for this group. It's steampunk romance, very steamy, but still solid world building. Bonnie might be interested to know that I thought the male lead's character resembled BENEDICT CUMBERBATCH, and I have confirmation from the author that I was right on. =)

The Black London series by Caitlin Kittredge.

"Geist" by Philippa Ballantine

Over on Chuck Wendig's blog I saw a few people mention which sounds very interesting!

Alicia wrote: "Over on Chuck Wendig's blog I saw a few people mention which sounds very interesting!"

I heard about it on a Smart Bitches Trashy Books podcast and had to read it immediately. It's long-ish but is so absorbing as it works as both a romance and as science fiction and will leave you wanting a lizard boyfriend of your own. Graphic, but so good. So so good.

PointyEars42 wrote: "It's long-ish but is so absorbing as it works as both a romance and as science fiction and will leave you wanting a lizard boyfriend of your own. ..."

Anything that could inspire an interest in a lizard boyfriend must be amazing!

it would fun to see our intrepid heroines discussing a double bill of:


main - justine or the misfortunes of virtue by the marquis de sade.

alt - venus in furs by leopold von sacher-masoch.

failing that i would love the never-voted-for android books to come up.

We need to revisit BDSM again, but with a Domme (female Dom).

I have a hard time finding female Dominant/male submissive stories that don't carry a taint of disapproval or feminist rage/revenge in the author's tone, but I've finally read one that had me swooning as a romance reader as well as finally being the Domme BDSM book I've been looking for. It's also a trapped-in-a-cabin romance and is a wonderfully sensitive look into addiction, recovery, isolation, and finding yourself. On top of all that, it’s well written. Not just compared to the execrable 50 Shades and the utter shite that tries to ride on its coat tails, but just plain good. Layers and nuances and realism. It has a damaged beta hero who is trying to sort himself out (good boy!) and a heroine who is pushing past her own issues to create the version of herself that she wants to be. And bondage. Mmmmmm.

It also has a hilariously bad man-titty cover!

I'm also still keen on a Classic vs Revamp month.

I had thought perhaps Austen? Pride and Prejudice followed by either Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or Mr. Darcy Takes a Wife: Pride and Prejudice Continues or something else that either rips off or expands the P&P universe. As long as it's not Austenland, cos that book makes our most hated VF book to date look like high art. Holy crap it was bad!

PointyEars42 wrote: "I'm also still keen on a Classic vs Revamp month.

I had thought perhaps Austen? Pride and Prejudice followed by either Pride and Prejudice and Zombies or [book:Mr. Darc..."

How about Longbourn as the alt?

Virgin Hero Month, you time will come. (e.g. Unclaimed by Courtney Milan)

How about we read about a hero who HASN'T dipped his wick so many times that, in any sensible universe, he would be either riddled with STDs or deemed piss-poor husband material? Rakes? Give me a hero who has some discernment & a functioning right hand! (I think the rapey hero in Outlander was a virgin, but I want books where it's a major issue). Where are the fantasy matriarchal societies that prize a guy's first time? Where are the colonists or castaways or isolated farm-types mingling in society for the 1st time? Any religious types who've decided to see how the sinners live? Happy to read m/m if that’s where a good example of a virgin!hero is to be found.

For some really great boy and boy romance please check out Hayden Thorne. I have been reading her works for years and she never fails to enthrall. She also has a huge spectrum of styles.

Her Mask series is fantastic. A basic summary for Mask: Rise of Heroes would be "Eric lives a rather mundane existence with his struggling working-class family. He's gay, in love with his best friend, and has to be constantly rescued by superheroes who keep cropping up in his dingy city to protect everyone from a maniac who is hypnotizing people with music and causing wonton destruction... Wait? What!?" There is the initial trilogy and then several additional novels that continue they wacky adventures. Like in Dr. Morbid's Castle of Blood Where Eric wants to impress his boyfriend and inadvertently traps them and their friends in a video game. It is fantastic, guys. Read these books if you want something light and quick and funny and refreshingly original.

But there's more! Thorne re-imagines fairy tales like The Sleeping Beauty and Jack and The Beanstalk and the definitely adult (read: sexy times), creepy, and dark Snow White retelling Arabesque.

Do you want a ghost story? Read Banshee or The Twilight Gods.

Do you want satire? In the Desmond and Garrick series a poor, brilliant scholar is destitute so he gets a job as a tutor. For a family of vampires. Of course.

Want straightforward Victorian romance? Check out Icarus in Flight.

Read her books. They are witty, unique, superbly well written and well researched, and just refreshingly good reads. Also, some of her cover art is so damned beautiful you may want to possess actual corporeal books.

Lindsay wrote: "For some really great boy and boy romance please check out Hayden Thorne. I have been reading her works for years and she never fails to enthrall. She also has a huge spectrum of styles."

And there goes my weekend, curse you. Must. Read. ALL. The. Books.

Since I was a convert to romance, I usually have a quick list of suggested romances for people just getting into the genre.

For historicals, Amanda Quick. (Who also writes contemporaries as Jayne Anne Krentz) Fast-paced, smart heroines, a little touch of magic, and, well, I once went through 20 of them in one winter. They're like crack.

Christine Merrill writes Harlequin Historicals with great heroines. My favorite is the book where the heroine arranges a marriage for herself with a noble because she's trying to get out under the thumb of her brother. The problem with the brother? He's blocking her from buying rare books to study. :) (Full disclosure--yes, Chris is a friend of mine but I adore her stuff. She also has Tourist of Zenda, a romantic twist on Prisoner of Zenda.

For contemporary, Jennifer Crusie, either Bet Me Or Tell Me Lies are my favorites, then there's Don't Look Down, which is co-written with Bob Mayer.

Cordelia's Honor by Lois Bujold is classified as SF. I think it's romance and it's one of my favorites. Aral. ::sigh::

For more male/male, go look at Heidi Cullinan's books.

And Laura Kinsale's books are gorgeous and layered and lovely. Second that recommendation.

PointyEars42 wrote: "And there goes my weekend, curse you. Must. Read. ALL. The. Books. .."

Do it! You will not regret! I've been following this author since before she was published. She started by writing fanfiction (mainly animes such as Gundam Wing and Kaze to Ki no Uta) and she has always had a singular voice and beautiful writing style. And her books can also be silly and fun as anything!

I just read Samson's Lovely Mortal by Tina Folsom. It's the first in the series, i know there is at least one that fits into the LGBTQ category. I would recommend it, or the author for consideration.

Kylie wrote: "I just read Samson's Lovely Mortal by Tina Folsom. It's the first in the series, i know there is at least one that fits into the LGBTQ category. I would recommend it, or the author for consideration."

Great suggestion! Thanks, Kylie!

I think The Merry Gentry books will go over better than the Anita Books. If they give the other LKH series a try they will be much happier.

I second Darynda Jones.... the sixth book of her series is coming out may 20.... I'm planning on rereading her books anyways :)

also Patrica Briggs is an amazing author.... and Tanya Huff. Sing the Four Quarters is a good one, tho I like No Quarter better. They're both lighter on the romance but heavy on fantasy...I feel like we haven't had a solid fantasy read in a while.

Rachel Bach's book Honor's Knight is now one of my all time favorite scifi vagfan books! It's the first in a three part series, the last of which is coming out in two days! Yay! Devi is SUCH a great character. Love it.

Sunshine by Robin McKinley would be fun!

Sabriel by Garth Nix from the Abhorsen series is quite fantastic. It's in the same realm as Daughter of the Forest in that there's no sexy-times, but the writing is beautiful, the main character is resilient, strong, and brave, and the story is so captivating. Plus there's a sassy talking cat... so... it's perfect.

This:

Or this:

Once Upon a Tower by Eloisa James.


This is a light hearted time period romance, but unlike other romances things aren't all perfect as soon as the couple get together and have sex. Trouble in the marriage bed is actually the catalyst for the story and its refreshing to see them have to work through some real problems that couples often face.

Ok. To be honest I can't remember everything people have suggested. But just in case it was missed I think Warprize by Elizabeth Vaughan would be a good choice.

The world building is really good. The horse culture detail is amazing. and it is really really really refreshing to read a romance book that doesn't leave me cringing over the treatment of women.

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Hannah wrote: "I'd love to see us read any of the books from Delilah S. Dawson's Wicked series! She does steampunk like no other :)"

Wicked is so good, if it's the one I think it is! It's hard to recall but oh, the bunnies, right? Bluds? Or whatever. VF would love that book and hate it, but mostly love.

Ok, so my book preferences seem to be along the same lines as Felicia and Kiala's book choices. So i am going to suggest The Sword for the main and The Wolf as book two, Both are by Jean Johnson and are part of an eight book series. The books are easy reads and full of magic and very very nice sexy times. Plus the worlds are written quite nicely and easy to immurse in.

Cas wrote: "Hannah wrote: "I'd love to see us read any of the books from Delilah S. Dawson's Wicked series! She does steampunk like no other :)"

Wicked is so good, if it's the one I think it is! It's hard to ..."

Yeah, you've got the right one! :)

I would love to see us read any of the Gray Court Series by Dana Marie Bell. I LOVE those books.

I just binge read all of the Descent series from SM Reine, which I really enjoyed. The first three books are free on Kindle at the moment too.

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I'd like to suggest 3 very different titles.

1. The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty by A.N. Roquelaure (Anne Rice) this is true erotica, very very out there version of Sleeping Beauty, but well written and not garbage like so many "Anonymous" type. All sorts of disturbing fetishes to discuss.

2. The Mummy by Anne Rice - very romantic version of the story, adventure, more like a fantasy than horror.

3. Bewitching by Jill Barnett - Regency romance with a young, inept witch and a cynical duke, magic and fun, sort of a reimagining of the tv show.

I just finished It was pretty good.

I am currently reading Honor's Splendour, by Julie Garwood, and I can't put it down. I love the way she can get inside the mind of a man, making their dialogue and behavior very believable. There is romance, and characters you like, and hate, and funny dialogue, and sad situations, and a few steamy scenes. I'd say this book is well rounded.