In the last few months, I’ve been listening to two series: Historical romance Survivors’ Club series by Mary Balogh, and paranormal romance Deep In Your Veins Series by Suzanne Wright. What a wide spectrum of genres, heh?
I came across Suzanne’s books while looking for a new shape-shifter story. I do love those. One of my favorites is Jennifer Ashley’s Shifters Unbound series. Sadly, she rarely writes new additions to it. So, I went looking for someone else’s. Suzanne does have a shape-shifter series but her vampire one caught my attention instead. With a title like Here Be Sexist Vampires, how could I resist?
The first book was funny and sexy with a yummy alpha male and a kick ass female. I would like to point out the heroine was strong, but still feminine. Some of the books I’ve read with kick-ass heroines often act like they want to be a man. Considering I love men, but don’t want to be one, I want to be able to relate to the main female character. Not everyone feels like I do and that’s okay. There are books for everyone out there, but I’m talking about what I like. You can talk about what you like on your blog. Ha!
The world building in the series has been unique to me. I’ve read paranormal romance back when it was called science fiction. So, that’s hard to do, being unique that is. She’s found a way around the drinking blood requirement. They don’t normally drink from humans. That’s pretty good.
The first three books (if I remember correctly) were of the same couple, but the later books are of different couples, same world with the original couples showing up and not taking over. I like that. Usually by a second or third book, I’m tired of the same couple. Suzanne handled that well and I’ve enjoyed the others so far. Some a little better than others, but overall, I’ll keep listening (or reading) as long as she’ll write them.
Be sure to check out her vampire books.
Now for Mary Balogh. Do you hear the reverence in that little sentence? Goodness, I’m not sure how to begin. Let’s say this. I’m learning so much about storytelling from this author. She’s like a story weaver. She takes an emotion and threads it through the fabric of the story until you have this beautiful picture about romance with all its twists and 
turns. See. She even has me waxing poetic about her books. Let’s say this. If you enjoy a well-written historical romance, with romance and certainly some hot kissing and a little bit of sex sprinkled throughout, this is certainly the author for you to read.
Her heroes are not always a typical alpha male. For example, Avery Archer in Someone to Love (Wescott series – as you can see, I listen to several series of hers ). He’s slightly taller than the heroine, almost effeminate, and he uses a quizzing glass to unnerve those around him. But DAMN the man is sexy when it comes to lovemaking and his sarcastic teasing and fighting. Yep, fighting. He knows his martial arts. Read/listen to the book to find out how he came about that skill.
I will say she’s not perfect, but 98% of the time she does not disappoint. Her heroes are usually most understanding. I can’t tell you how many times I tear up because the hero has said just the right thing. Remember, this is fiction. And being fiction, I want my heroes to be smarter than the average man.
The first 1% is the same problem most romance authors have (including me). We often understand why the heroine does the things she does, but sometimes as a reader we want to slap the back of her head. We must remember not all women are smart as ourselves (sarcastic font used in this last sentence).
The other 1% is about the pace. She does take her time telling you the secret or what the bad guy has planned or whatever happens that causes the couple to feel that love is hopeless. But I have never regretted or gotten bored (not like I did with the Outlander books – Geez, never again. Love Jamie, but the books overall, hell no, I got a life to live) with reading/listening to every word.
Okay. If you love regency, go buy her books or audio (Love Rosalyn Landor’s narrative. The woman is a genius with all the voices.) and plan to relax and enjoy.
I love marriages of convenience (historical or contemporary), male – female spy teams, cowboys (historical or contemporary), and reverse roles (like my book Circle of Desire, the heroine was the dangerous assassin). Most of my reading and writing is dark, though I do enjoy reading romantic comedy on occasion. But the hero or heroine cannot be or act stupid. Bad or dumb luck is okay.
Carla Swafford, Author 