new here and looking for recommendations

[misserica]

Hi, all. I just started an account and was glad to see there was a forum for recommendations. I'm a very avid reader and always open to new authors and genres, and I was wondering if anyone could help me out with that. I'm open to pretty much anything except romance novels. To give whoever reads this an idea of what I like...I mostly read Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series, Anne Rice's Vampire Chronicles (although I just recently read the last book), as well as anything by Stephen King, Chuck Palahniuk, J.R.R. Tolkien, James Patterson, Alex Kava, etc. I also like true crime novels and some autobiographies, as well as literary classics. I'd like to try out some new authors and maybe even different types of books, so if someone could give me some recommendations, I'd really appreciate it. I also like a good book series and I need another one to start! Thanks!

[alyssamerwin]

Devilish and Suite Scarlett by Maureen Johnson are very good books, also Liar by Justine Larbalestier is one of my favorites. Hope that helps!

[Retired Teacher]

There is an author, female, named J. A. Jance and she writes murder mysteries involving a female Police Chief. I have read some of them and am aware of her other writings involving a different hero/heroine. Here is the bibliography of this author:

"J.A. Jance is the top 10 New York Times bestselling author of the Joanna Brady series; the J. P. Beaumont series; three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family; and Edge of Evil, the first in a series featuring Ali Reynolds."

The latest issue of Bookmarks Magazine compared this next author to Stephen King. The book won't be available until June of 2010 but here is the summary of the book, THE PASSAGE:

" Fans of vampire fiction who are bored by the endless hordes of sensitive, misunderstood Byronesque bloodsuckers will revel in Cronin's engrossingly horrific account of a post-apocalyptic America overrun by the gruesome reality behind the wish-fulfillment fantasies. When a secret project to create a super-soldier backfires, a virus leads to a plague of vampiric revenants that wipes out most of the population. One of the few bands of survivors is the Colony, a FEMA-established island of safety bunkered behind massive banks of lights that repel the virals, or dracs—but a small group realizes that the aging technological defenses will soon fail. When members of the Colony find a young girl, Amy, living outside their enclave, they realize that Amy shares the virals' agelessness, but not the virals' mindless hunger, and they embark on a search to find answers to her condition"

Let me know what you think....

[NY_bookworm]

Ohh! I too, love Laurell K Hamilton and Stephen King. I really like supernatural and horror. A friend of mine suggested a book called Enchanted Island. I had never heard of the author before, so I was a little skeptical. But oh wow! It was a good read. It was fast paced and never lagged. I learned new things. I found myself so connected to the characters. I think it's safe to say it's one of my new favorites. I recommended it to a bunch of my friends, who are now reading it. I would even dare say, I'd like to see it as a movie one day. Hope this helps.

*Had to come back and edit because I realized I never gave the author
Enchanted Island is written by May Torres

[Captain Slow]

I have just read a book by Gavin Hoffen called 'Dandelion.' I struggle to find a book that keeps me gripped all the way through. I can honestly say I could not put this down and I read it in little over 3 days (that's amazing for me!) I even took it to work to read.

If you like a good conspiracy theory that is faced paced and very quick to get into the story then you have to read this one. I have looked to see if this author has released any more novels but unfortunatly Dandelion appears to be his only one at the moment.

10/10 for this book.

Regards

Adam

[Stinkin' Fascist]

The Hollows series by Kim Harrison is great, it's along the lines of vampires, elves, witches, etc but not so much in a whole "woodsy fantasy" point of view as a down to earth everyday thing; I enjoy them..

And I suggest Jonathan Kellerman, he writes great murder/mystery books, often with psychological twists; Alex Delaware series.

Good luck!

[NY_bookworm]

Thank you so much! All of these sound so great. I'm excited. The Hollows series sounds like something I'd really enjoy!

[Stinkin' Fascist]

Thank you so much! All of these sound so great. I'm excited. The Hollows series sounds like something I'd really enjoy!

Oh absolutely!

There are 8 books total now I believe, but make sure to start in order, at least try. Otherwise if you read out of order you won't necessarily get too confused, but you'll miss out.
I hated that, i did it!

Just in case (since I got confused), the order is:
1. Dead Witch Walking
2. The Good, Bad, and Undead
3. Every Which Way But Dead
4. A Fistful of Charms
5. For A Few Demons More
6. The Outlaw Demon Wails
7. White Witch, Black Curse
8. Black Magic Sanction

[NY_bookworm]

I just picked up Dead Witch Walking. I can't wait to sit down later and crack it open! Thanks

[arnezcoleman]

Pride Before a Fall by K.A. Qhole

[Bowlie]

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo is an amazing thriller novel. The best I've ever read.

[doglvr]

My reading friends think I'm crazy because I like vampire, etc. books. Glad to see I'm not alone. Added some of your recommendations to my list and, hopefully, will get to them not too far into the future. Thanks.

[Stinkin' Fascist]

Anytime, I hope it goes well!

[BookwormService]

you may like the author Dave Eggers

[Clio_hk]

There is an author, female, named J. A. Jance and she writes murder mysteries involving a female Police Chief. I have read some of them and am aware of her other writings involving a different hero/heroine. Here is the bibliography of this author:

"J.A. Jance is the top 10 New York Times bestselling author of the Joanna Brady series; the J. P. Beaumont series; three interrelated thrillers featuring the Walker family; and Edge of Evil, the first in a series featuring Ali Reynolds."

The latest issue of Bookmarks Magazine compared this next author to Stephen King. The book won't be available until June of 2010 but here is the summary of the book, THE PASSAGE:

" Fans of vampire fiction who are bored by the endless hordes of sensitive, misunderstood Byronesque bloodsuckers will revel in Cronin's engrossingly horrific account of a post-apocalyptic America overrun by the gruesome reality behind the wish-fulfillment fantasies. When a secret project to create a super-soldier backfires, a virus leads to a plague of vampiric revenants that wipes out most of the population. One of the few bands of survivors is the Colony, a FEMA-established island of safety bunkered behind massive banks of lights that repel the virals, or dracs—but a small group realizes that the aging technological defenses will soon fail. When members of the Colony find a young girl, Amy, living outside their enclave, they realize that Amy shares the virals' agelessness, but not the virals' mindless hunger, and they embark on a search to find answers to her condition"

Let me know what you think....

Just finished 'The Passage'. It's a good read ~ can't put it down once started. I'm looking forward to the 2nd installment of the trilogy