Book picks similar to
Practical Boots by C.E. Murphy
urban-fantasy
ebook
fantasy
supernatural-beings
The Vampire on the Train: A Spinoza Story
J.R. Rain - 2015
What could possibly go wrong?Spinoza is a private investigator who specializes in finding the missing. He’s good at what he does. Damn good. But he’s also got a secret past that haunts him. In the short story, THE VAMPIRE ON THE TRAIN, Spinoza takes on a different kind of investigation when he’s hired to ride a train with a vampire whose dreams predict the future. Spinoza is in the vampire’s dreams. And so is the train…“The Vampire on the Train” is a mystery thriller and a paranormal adventure for an intrepid private detective who finds out he is the key to one vampire living...or dying. Now Spinoza must make the decision of a lifetime before the train reaches its final destination...**Acclaim for J.R. Rain and Samantha Moon** “J.R. Rain’s Samantha Moon, private investigator, is a vampire heroine to cheer for. The VAMPIRE FOR HIRE urban fantasy series has sparkling dialogue, quirky mystery, paranormal thrills and chills, fun romance and humor, and a great ensemble cast of characters. Get hooked with MOON DANCE and be swept away into the mystique of an unforgettable vampire saga.” —Eve Paludan, bestselling author of the WITCH DETECTIVES series “I enjoyed Moon Dance immensely. The protagonist, Samantha Moon, is a female vampire with a husband and children. Those predate her condition; six years ago, she was attacked by a vampire and rendered into one. Now she’s trying to carry on with family and private eye business, and she’s a feisty, skilled person, so is doing mostly okay. It is not a horror story; she buys animal blood to eat and doesn’t generally prey on humans. But her husband has an increasing problem with her coldness—not of spirit, but of body. ‘You sicken me and scare the hell out of me,’ he tells her. ‘And when I touch you it’s all I can do to not gag.’ She replies, ‘Words every wife wants to hear.’ I love this! What makes it special are her character and nature.” —Piers Anthony, bestselling author of the XANTH series “J.R. Rain delivers a blend of action and wit that always entertains. Quick with the one-liners, but his characters are fully fleshed out (even the undead ones) and you’ll come back again and again.” —Scott Nicholson, bestselling author of the AFTER series “Is it possible to redefine two genres in one book? I don’t know, but J.R. Rain has left a lasting impression for the vampire and mystery genres.” —P.J. Day, bestselling author of the JACK KING vampire thrillers “Impossible to put down. J.R. Rain’s Moon Dance is a fabulous urban fantasy replete with multifarious and unusual characters, a perfectly synchronized plot, vibrant dialogue and sterling witticism, all wrapped in a voice that is as beautiful as it is rich and vividly intense as it is relaxed.” —April Vine, bestselling author of UNBOUND
Malediction
Melissa F. Olson - 2015
In life, Samantha Wheaton often got the last word—and not much has changed after her death. To find out what really happened to her sister, boundary witch Allison “Lex” Luther will travel to Los Angeles to talk to Cruz, the former LAPD detective who investigated the murder. When Jesse proves reluctant to talk, however, Lex must find more of the people connected to the Henry Remus case –including a young woman with a very ugly dog and very familiar powers. As she searches for answers, Lex finds herself venturing deeper down a rabbit hole—one that may lead her to a big bad wolf. Note: This story is set between Boundary Crossed and Boundary Lines.
Dating Cupid
Eve Langlais - 2011
But it’s hard to smear a company when you’ve got the hots for the owner.Maverick Eros is more than the CEO of CDS, he’s Cupid himself. However, forget the media images of a chubby diapered cherub because the god of love is actually six feet plus of yummy, muscled male.When they meet, sparks fly--the lusty kind--but they both know from experience, love hurts. In the end though, they’ll learn that love will have its way with them with or without the aid of Cupid’s arrow.
Wrong Side of Forty
Jana Deleon - 2020
It was a day like any other day for Marina Trahan…until she caught her husband in bed with another woman. Before that eye-opening wake-up call, Marina would have described her life as average or uneventful, maybe even boring. But now, chaos and confusion reign supreme. She’d expected to slide through midlife with her unwanted extra pounds, chin hair, and hot flashes and move somewhat gracefully into elastic waist pants and having no verbal filter. But with a wayward husband, a high-maintenance daughter, a lackluster career, and a crazy mother all weighing her down, Marina is ready to wave the white flag of surrender. Then an intriguing stranger named Alexios shows up out of nowhere and insists she is descended from a goddess and is the only person who can save the world from certain destruction. She has roughly a week to do it. Solving a centuries-old mystery seems like a more interesting proposition than the other situations Marina is facing, so she accepts his challenge. But her search for a magical item of power reveals far more about Marina than she ever knew. Maybe enough to save the world. And even herself.
The Shattered Mountain
Rae Carson - 2013
Mara's village has been safe--so far--but Mara decides to escape anyway. Escape from her harsh, abusive father. Escape with her first love. But when their plans fall on the same day that the animagi burn the village to the ground, Mara faces losses that could destroy her. She's a survivor, though. She is going to make it through the mountains, and she is going to protect the refugees following her. Because there's a rumored safe haven . . . and some say they have found the Chosen One. Told from Mara's point-of-view, The Shattered Mountain is an alternate perspective of the beginning of the acclaimed The Girl of Fire and Thorns.
Taken
Susan Copperfield - 2020
After being taken from his family and home, Pat decides he’ll just rescue himself and ruin their plans while he's at it. Texas is about to learn their king is far more than the horse loving, bootscraping of a chef they believe he is.In chronological reading order, Taken takes place following Storm Called.
Envy of Angels
Matt Wallace - 2015
It's like I dropped a heroic dose of acid and turned on the Food Network for eight hours. It's funny and demented and sticks in you like a pinbone. Matt Wallace writes like someone just jammed a needle full of adrenaline in his heart - and then, in yours. From this point forward, I'll read anything this guy writes."-Chuck Wendig, author of BLACKBIRDS and ZER0ES"No one makes me think, 'Dammit, I should have thought of that!' like Matt Wallace. The Sin du Jour series is something I read with equal amounts of envy and delight." - Mur Lafferty, Campbell Award winning author of THE SHAMBLING GUIDE TO NEW YORK CITY
Sages Of The Underpass
Aaron Michael Ritchey - 2019
Thanks to his damaged core and crazy family, he never stood a chance anyway. With money, fame, and untold power on the line, the corporations decide who wins. End of story.But when a mysterious group, calling themselves the Sages of the Underpass, threaten to upend the entire system with their unorthodox training and cultivation methods, Niko soon learns that what was once a handicap might be his greatest asset. The only thing standing in his way is a bitter, hard-hearted veteran, who would like nothing more than to see Niko stay in his place. Right at the bottom.Rocky meets Dragon Ball Z in this underdog redemption story from Dragon Award Finalist Aaron Michael Ritchey. Sages of the Underpass is an epic blend of Urban Fantasy, Cultivation, and Magical MMA that captures the passion, the power, and the perseverance it takes to follow your dreams—no matter what kind of artist you are.
Layla Steps Up
Charlaine Harris - 2018
It’s been a year since Layla became a vampire and she still hasn’t tapped into the raw power of her transformation. It’s a point of contention with some of the other, older vampire dancers at Blue Moon Entertainment. But there’s only one vampire’s opinion that matters…Sean O’Rourke, Layla’s maker, protector, husband, and dance partner suddenly seems to be keeping secrets about her true nature…and their future as a couple. But when a sadistic ex-lover appears in Rhodes to reclaim possession of Sean, Layla must finally harness her supernatural gifts and prove her strength…or lose him forever.Layla Steps Up is a brand new novella from Charlaine Harris, the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse vampire series, as well as the Agatha Award-nominated Aurora Teagarden series.
West Coast Witch
Justen Hunter - 2013
Then a PI showed up, asking about a missing ex of mine. A corpse and a vampire attack later, I've got a guardian dragging me further in to the world of magic with a gift of magic I never knew I had. Now I'm getting pulled into vampire politics, the arcane drug wars, and trying to get the hang of magic. Saving my own skin, much less anyone else's, is looking like a tall order now...
This Place is Death
Denise Grover Swank - 2014
But conditions are harsh, and hostile natives have already spilled English blood. Only the peaceful Croatan Indians welcome the settlers. But when friend and guide Manteo has a haunting encounter deep in the woods, Ananias fears the colony faces a threat much darker than mortal enemies. As a brutal winter and an Indian massacre loom, Manteo and Ananias—and the dreadful secret they share—may be the settlers’ only hope of survival. But for the salvation they desperately seek, there will be hell to pay.This Place Is Death is a short story revealing the chilling origins of New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank’s urban fantasy series, The Curse Keepers.
Paint the Town Red
Shanna Swendson - 2016
Or gargoyle, as the case may be. As head of security for Magic, Spells, and Illusions, Inc., Sam makes sure the company's people and secrets are safe. In his spare time, he keeps an eye on the city, looking for skullduggery that only a magical gargoyle can take care of.When he spots an alarming outbreak of garden gnomes, he knows there's danger brewing--and not just because of the kitsch overload. He recognizes what those shiny red hats really mean, and if he doesn't take action tonight, more blood will be shed by the morning.This short story set in the universe of the Enchanted, Inc., series offers a glimpse into the world of one of the most popular secondary characters and what he does when he's not helping Katie Chandler save the company from bad magic.
For I Have Sinned
Darynda Jones - 2011
Darynda Jones revisits the sexy, suspenseful world of supernatural shenanigans she created in her Grave series with For I Have Sinned. In this Charley Davidson story, Charley helps a woman find out how she died and gives her the closure she needs to pass through to the other side.
My Shifter Showmance
R.G. Alexander - 2010
Alexander, Shifting Reality, Book 1. Thomas Lyons is your average cat shifter. Cool, seductive…and bored out of his mind. He doesn’t like hiding, and with the new popularity of all things paranormal, he doesn’t see why he should. When his roommate Saint, a half demon technofile, gets him hooked up with his own computer, he has an idea. He starts a weblog called Shifting Reality, announcing to the world who and what he is. Oddly enough, the more he shares, the less he is believed. In fact, people begin thinking it is a new online series with fantastic effects. Margo Anderson prefers not to be noticed, she is no longer the wild young thing she used to be. No more dancing on tables for her. Not after her reckless behavior cost her so much. Her only guilty pleasures are dark chocolate and shoes—and a certain website with a man whose purring voice sends shivers down her spine. She never thought she’d win a trip to spend a week in a haunted Scottish castle with the men of Shifting Reality. Or that her boss at the production office would want her to mix business with pleasure…or else. When Margo and Thomas meet, its love at first scent for the usually fickle Casanova. It’s hard to host the show when his attention is taken up by the luscious handful. And it’s hard for a girl to think about contracts when she’s surrounded by newlywed ghosthunters, a matchmaking demon and a man whose addictive touch makes her head spin. Warning: Tons of explicit sex. A cat shifter with an oral fixation, voyeurism, anal sex, sex in pantries, with ghosts…you get the idea. *Previously published in 2010.
Winter Moon
Dannika Dark - 2016
Spirits are low, and now they're in a scramble when a freak snowstorm knocks out the power. Despite bickering among packmates and the threat of rogues, the family is determined to make this a memorable Christmas.But when an important family member goes missing, the pack is galvanized into action. Time is running out, and the temperature is dropping fast.Winter Moon is a bonus novella that takes place after the final book in the series, One Second.