Reader Recommendations – Our Favorite Smart & Steamy Shifter Romance Books with a Great Plot!

Our fellow reader Harper is in the mood for shifter books (she’s just started reading them) & she’s looking for a very specific feel.

While we already have a few favorite “shifters” and paranormal favorites lists on the blog, I thought perhaps we could come up with a special list just for her (and for others here that are in the mood for what she’s looking for, too).

P.S. You can scroll down past our conversation to see all of our recommendations.

She asks:

Harper: I decided to give the shapeshifters a chance and I’m reading a few books of the genre for the first time (I read Twilight, of course, a long time ago). Any recommendations?

So far I read The Wildflower Series by Rachelle Mills, Becoming His by Albany Walker, Feral Sins by Suzanne Wright (tried the second book, but it was super tiresome) and now Im reading Bitten by Kelley Armstrong.

I read almost all of the shifter/paranormal romance genre recommendations the girls gave me and many others.

I liked Patricia Briggs but it’s a love triangle and it doesn’t have much of a romance. I was looking for something more steamy.

Of all of them, the best is The Wildflower Series. The first book is awesome (made me cry and had a really good romance story). The second is good too, but not as good. The third I DNF. The h was weak and the H clearly wasn’t into her.

I’m still looking for a favorite in the genre since none of them had everything I’m looking for (really good romance story, steamy, badass h, well written, original plot).”

Maryse: Okay what is (or… are) your absolute favorite books in the genre that did blow you away? I’ll include them in the examples of what we’re looking for (more like…. “this and this”)?

Harper: I started reading paranormal romances just two weeks ago, so I still don’t have an absolute favorite.
Mercy Thompson (Patricia Briggs) was a truly badass h and that’s what I loved about the first book. She didn’t need any men protecting her and was very smart and independent. I liked her story with Adam too, but there wasn’t much of a romance, only in the last couple of pages.

Wildflower Series (Rachelle Mills) was really well written and the romance was truly believable. There was a lot of chemistry between the couple. The author took her time developing their story, so when it was time for the bonding and claiming part it made sense and truly moved us. You could feel the pain the h felt on the first book and how her character developed into a stronger and more confident woman.

I can’t say that I liked any other. The stories are always very similar. There is always a couple fighting for the pack (or the equivalent) and the H is trying to protect the h. They are both extremely powerful.

I guess I want to find a story where the focus is more on their relationship (like Wildflower). There can be some action too to enrich the story, but not the whole book. The steamy scenes have to be well written as well. There are so many books that they just put the sex scenes there for the sake of it, but they are just wasted because they fail to make you feel anything and don’t strengthen the bond between the couple.

I guess I want something between Clayton and Mercy Thompson with a bit more of a steam factor (like the menage scene in Feral Sins by Suzanne Wright).

DO YOU HAVE A RECOMMENDATION THAT MIGHT BE JUST WHAT SHE’S LOOKING FOR? 🤔

Lani Lynn: Just a side note but, Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series doesn’t stay a love triangle. It’s that for maybe a quarter of the book, but not even that. Check out Nalini Singh or Jeaniene Frost. Oh, and Patricia Briggs also has an Alpha and Omega series that has a more romance vibe to it. Charles is lovely.

Jan: I know what you’re saying about Mercy Thompson. It’s quite a long series and the romance element gets stronger (with Adam) in later books in the series. The romance is more up front in the Alpha and Omega series by Briggs. (Im in love with Charles). But yeah, Mercy Thomson is perhaps a little more urban fantasy rather than pnr.

Mony: I agree that the Mercy Thomson series is great. Finished book #5 and will be reading the next one soon. Adam, the H, is a great alpha in this slow burn series. He reminds me of Curran (also a fantastic alpha of his pack) in the Kate Daniels series. Both series are really good.

Harper: I saw on gd the sequels for Mercy Thompson and everyone agrees with you. I think I will keep reading it later. It was very well written and I’m not ready to give up on the series.

Melissa: Nalini Singh too!!

Kim: Nalini Singh’s Psy Changling series. Or Eve Cole’s series that’s coming out in August.

Nicola: Nalini Singh’s psy-changelings is my fave

Alison: Jeaniene Frost definitely

Angie: Jeaniene Frost – Night Huntress series! If you like vamps, you won’t be disappointed.

Elizabeth: one of my ultimate favorites

M.L. Gabrielle: Suzanne Wright’s Dark in You Series might be a good fit, but it’s not a shifter romance per se. There are some shifter demons in the story though – think hellcats & hellhounds. If you’re open to non-shifter romances, I have a bunch of recos. Happy reading!!

Harper: I read Burn already. After that, I tried Slave to Sensation (Psy-Changelings, Book 1)  because everyone was saying it was similar but with a more well-developed story and it really was.

I think I’m being too judgmental, I don’t know. But they all are okays reads for me, but none of them I wish to continue with the series or read again in the future. That’s how I usually review all the books I read.

Christy: Wolf Tales series by Kate Douglas is exactly what she is describing!

Allison: I just finished Kate Douglas’s Wolf Tales’ Series I need something new and can’t figure where to go next….

Lori: Wolf Tales series by Kate Douglas. Its more Erotica though. Very good series.

Michele G: It’s not werewolves…but if you’re going paranormal, I really enjoyed the Dark Elements series by Jennifer L. Armentrout….gargoyles & demons primarily. Another series I enjoyed (shapeshifter-wise) is Dannika Dark’s Seven series. Also, I enjoyed the first couple of Hettie Ivers books in the Werelock Evolution series. Also, the It’s You duet by Katy Regnery (writing as K.P. Kelley) was really enjoyable.

Lori: Christine Feehan Dark Carpathian Series is awesome, Leopard series and The Ghost Walkers. Mac Flynn Werewolf Shifter (lots are on Unlimited) and Terry Bolryder an older series but really good.

Kristi: An oldie but goodie is The Demonica series by Larissa Ione. It was STEAMY. (Very explicit and not for faint of heart.) One character (I think book 2 is his book but he’s in each throughout series) is a shifter but all books in series I devoured in paperback years ago!!!

Maryse: I loved ALL of them too!

Mony: Just wondering if you had a chance to look at Dragon Bound…don’t let the poor book cover fool you…While not a series, an excellent read…writing is good, steamy, good story, bad ass H and h… 🙂 …my all time favourite book in this genre… I’m thinking it’s time to do a re-read. 🙂

Nancy: AND, of course, Kristen Ashley!!

Angie: …The Three series by Kristen Ashley (another favorite author). If you haven’t read this series I highly recommend it. The first one is about a vampire, the second book is about a werewolf, and the third is about a vampire/werewolf hybrid who all three together will save the world. 🌎

Carissa: I love Kristen Ashley Fantasyland series

Angie: I’m a huge Kristen Ashley fan. I think I’ll have to pick the book The Golden Dynasty (Fantasyland Series). It’s so wrong, but so right at the same time. I highly recommend this book if your looking for something to read.

Diana: I LOVED The Fantasyland and The Three series. LOVED.

Carrie: Rochelle Paige has a couple different shifter series, and she & Elle Christensen have a new shifter series as Fiona Davenport. They’re short & steamy, all alpha & all romance!