Book picks similar to
Spell of the Ball by Deanna Chase


paranormal
halloween
paranormal-romance
kristen-painter

Dancers in the Dark


Charlaine Harris - 2008
    Dancer Layla Rue Le May's childhood prepared her to handle just about anything, including her aloof partner, Sean McClendon, a three-hundred-year-old redheaded vampire. Even so, when she somehow acquires a stalker, Layla Rue is surprised to find that Sean is the only one she can trust....Originally published in Night's Edge (HQN Books, October 2004)"The Britlingens Go to Hell" is set in the Sookieverse and features the vampires Dahlia and Taffy. Bodyguards Batanya and Clovache, previously introduced in All Together Dead, battle demons, wolfwomen, and two hellhounds guarding some unusual prisoners.Originally published in Must Love Hellhounds (Berkley, September 2009)

Magic after Dark


S.M. Reine - 2013
    Prepare for a wild ride, whether you're looking for nail-biting drama, mystery, intense action, humor, new breeds of paranormals, or passionate romance. Indulge in this amazing boxed set from 6 bestselling urban fantasy authors:SM Reine - Sacrificed in ShadowMarie Hall - Crimson Night, DarkDeanna Chase - Influential MagicDanielle Monsch - Fairy Tales and Ever AftersKate Danley - Maggie for HireDannika Dark - SterlingSACRIFICED IN SHADOW (Ascension #1) by SM ReineLincoln Marshall is a small-town deputy with a very big problem. Six members of his church have been found dead, killed by a rogue werewolf. He'll have to make a deal with the Devil to save victims that have gone missing -- maybe literally. Elise Kavanagh, preternatural investigator and exorcist, is the expert when it comes to violent deaths at the jaws of evil. She's also among the most powerful demons that Hell has spawned. Elise jumps at Lincoln's case, and it's not just because of his down-home charm. Someone's laid a trap for her in Northgate, and she wants to find out who.... CRIMSON NIGHT by Marie Hall Welcome one and all to Carnival Diabolique- my name is Pandora, and I'm a Nephilim. What does that mean? I'm half demon, what's my other name? Lust. But I'm not all bad. I fight for light, for goodness and truth. But people are starting to disappear and lately I've felt a dark presence lurking around me. I think it might be a death priest and that's really bad. This should have been easy, me killing fanged freaks, getting rid of my pesky priest problem, but I'm about to be betrayed by the one person I thought I could trust with my life and before the night is through I'll be covered in crimson... -Dark Urban FantasyINFLUENTIAL MAGIC by Deanna Chase Welcome to the Crescent City, the home of Willow Rhoswen, faery and magical baker extraordinaire. While fighting for her life, Willow is caught between two gorgeous men as she navigates the corruption of a powerful vampire organization and her own supernatural government agency.FAIRY TALES AND EVER AFTERS by Danielle MonschIf you like your fairy tales just a little twisted, this is the series for you! Three tales follow our fairy godmothers as they figure out ways to help the damsels - and mansels - in distress, all the while making sure every couple gets their happily ever after. MAGGIE FOR HIRE by Kate Danley When monsters appear on earth, Maggie MacKay is on the job. No one is better at hauling the creepy crawlies back where they belong… no one except her dad, who disappeared mysteriously in the middle of an assignment. When an elf named Killian shows up with a gig, Maggie finds herself at the center of a plot to turn the earth into a vampire playground. The only hope for survival is tracking down two missing statues and a secret that disappeared with Maggie's father.Warning: This book contains cussing, brawling, and unladylike behavior. Proceed with caution. STERLING (Mageri #1) by Dannika Dark Follow the journey of a young woman's claim to immortality and her own identity. Zoë Merrick's human life ends when she is brutally attacked by a Mage who gives her the gift of immortality. She soon discovers they are not magicians, but powerful beings who can manipulate energy. Justus De Gradi steps forward to act as her Ghuardian, teaching her how to fight to protect the light within her. Will she learn to accept her fate and trust those around her? Urban Fantasy Romance Series.

Dark Matters


Vicki Pettersson - 2012
    became an Agent of the Light. But now, in Vicki Pettersson's Dark Matters, his love for the beautiful killer who spared his life transforms the fierce defender into the most perfect predator of all.

The Mammoth Book of Irish Romance


Trisha TelepKathleen Givens - 2010
    These stories--by writers such as Roberta Gellis, Bertice Small, Jennifer Ashley, Claire Delacroix, and Mary Jo Putney--honor Ireland's rich heritage as a land of poets, magic, and mystery. The publication will be just in time for St. Patrick's Day.THE BLUE PEBBLE by Shirley KennedyTHE BALLAD OF ROSAMUNDE by Claire DelacroixORACLE by Margo MaguireTHE TRIALS OF BRYAN MURPHY by Cat AdamsNIA AND THE BEAST OF KILLARNEY WOOD by Cindy MilesBEYOND THE VEIL by Patricia RiceSHIFTER MADE by Jennifer AshleyDAUGHTER OF THE SEA by Kathleen GivensTHE WARRIOR by Jenna MaclaineETERNAL STRIFE by Dara EnglandQUICKSILVER by Cindy HolbyTHE FEAST OF BEAUTY by Helen Scott TaylorCOMPEER by Roberta GellisON INISHMORE by Ciar CullenTHE MORRÍGAN’S DAUGHTER by Susan KrinardTARA’S FIND by Nadia WilliamsTHE SKRYING GLASS by Penelope NeriTHE HOUNDMASTER by Sandra NewgentTHE SEVENTH SISTER by Sue-Ellen WelfonderBY THE LIGHT OF MY HEART by Pat McDermott

Murder by Magic: Twenty Tales of Crime and the Supernatural


Rosemary EdghillLaura Anne Gilman - 2004
    Here are twenty original stories of diabolical crimes and magical solutions featuring some of today's top science fiction, fantasy, and mystery writers. From the Elizabethan era to the far-flung future, from the interstellar realm of the Eraasian Hegemony to the Las Vegas Strip, these ingenious whodunits (or whatdunits) are sure to baffle and delight every lover of mystery and the fantastic.From WorldCat - Contents:Introduction and Afterword by Rosemary EdghillPiece of Mind by Jennifer RobersonSpecial Surprise Guest Appearance by ... by Carole Nelson DouglasDoppelgangster by Laura ResnickMixed Marriages Can Be Murder by Will GrahamCase of the Headless Corpse by Josepha ShermanDeath in the Working by Debra DoyleCold Case by Diane DuaneSnake in the Grass by Susan R. MatthewsDouble Jeopardy by M.J. HamiltonWitch Sight by Roberta GellisOverrush by Laura Anne GilmanCaptured in Silver by Teresa EdgertonNight at the Opera by Sharon Lee and Steve MillerTremble in the Air by James D. MacdonaldMurder Entailed by Susan KrinardDropping Hints by Lawrence Watt-EvansAu Purr by Esther FriesnerGetting the Chair by Keith R.A. DeCandidoNecromancer's Apprentice by Lillian Stewart CarlGrey Eminence by Mercedes Lackey

Human Nature


Eileen Wilks - 2015
    But her birthday celebration is cut short when the naked, heavily tattooed body of a man is found in a Northern California town. The victim was David Pruitt, and years ago, he was close friends with Rule Turner, prince of the lupi. At first it seems like a bizarre ritual killing, but there’s more than magic afoot: David wasn’t human. And the killer isn’t finished… Human Nature originally appeared in the anthology Inked. Includes a teaser for the upcoming novel Mind Magic, out November 2015.

The Mammoth Book of Hot Romance


Sonia FlorensMadelynne Ellis - 2011
    This is writing which is more direct, less euphemistic, and frankly accepting of sexuality.

Midnight Mysteries


Ritter AmesMaria Grazia Swan - 2016
    But with Halloween approaching and too many items on the to-do list, she and Meg Berman find themselves in another puzzling dilemma—where every answer leads to another question. Morgana Best – “No Time to Witch” (The Kitchen Witch mystery series) In a historical mystery prequel to the novel MISS SPELLED, Thelma Spelled must discover the mystery around a murder that entangles her and her husband. The paranormal tale reveals more about the magic of the house and early 20th century Australia. Karen Cantwell – “It Takes a Ghost” (tie-in to the Sophie Rhodes mystery series) New detective Brenna Sage can’t solve a series of robberies—until she gains a partner in the guise of Marmaduke Dodsworth. While Marmaduke is better versed in decorum and refinement than forensics and interrogation, he has one decidedly clear advantage: He can walk through walls. Carolyn Haines – “Clacking Bones” (Sarah Booth Delaney series) When Jitty’s husband, Coker, goes missing from the Great Beyond, Sarah Booth Delaney, Tinkie, and all the animals sign on to find out why the spirit is AWOL. Sarah Booth has to dig deep into the past to find the answer to this puzzling mystery. Eleanor Cawood Jones – “Salad Days, Halloween Nights” (author of A Baker’s Dozen) A vegetable-loving chef has cooked his way into trouble when a Halloween treat leads to murder. If he wants a happy future, he must first make sure the police don’t have him down as the main ingredient in a recipe for a prison sentence. Larissa Reinhart – “The Vigilante Vignette” (Cherry Tucker Mystery series) When Cherry pays a mercy call on a neighbor, she’s roped into a quid pro quo deal—if she recovers a stolen family heirloom both somewhat embarrassing and due to be discovered missing very shortly, the neighbor will use family clout to help her with zoning issues. But if she fails, the expression “someone’s got her goat” takes on a whole new meaning. And when she discovers a thievery ring, illegal auctions, and green-eyed emotions after spotting Luke where he’s not expected—it’s another hilarious day in Halo, Georgia. Connie Shelton – “Spellbound Sweets” (Samantha Sweets Magical Cozy Mysteries) It’s Halloween, one of the busiest times of the year for Samantha Sweet and the crew at her pastry shop, Sweet’s Sweets. The gang looks forward to a gala costume party at the neighborhood bookstore, but the evening takes a different turn when a guest is murdered, a rare book vanishes, and Sam finds herself in the midst of another mystery. Maria Grazia Swan – “Weeping Moon” (Lella York Mysteries series) Lella York has a way of getting herself into trouble, even when she’s doing volunteer work. Who's the mysterious storyteller, and what's going on at the senior living center? Will Lella find out before it’s too late? LynDee Walker – “Frightening Features” (Nichelle Clarke Mystery series) Not a patient recovery patient, while Nichelle Clarke waits for an injury to heal all she really wants is a story to write and research—hard news to get her mind occupied. Instead, her boss gives her a fluff piece. Not her idea of fun. But with Nichelle snooping around, it’s not surprising her soft story takes a decidedly hard turn.

A Witch Possessed


Isabel Micheals - 2016
    Two claim to be ghosts, one claims to be her mate, and the other insists on her calling him dad.Desperate to help her unconscious Aunt Viola, Zoe doesn’t know who to believe. But one thing is for sure, there’s a warlock named Alaric, who wants her dead… and dead she will be. When the energy balls start flying, things begin to heat up.Will this band of misfits find common ground, or will magic as they know it cease to exist?Strap yourself in and hold on to your funny bone because the little town of Bass Ackwards, TN will never be the same.A Witch Possessed is based on some of the wonderful characters found in Robyn Peterman’s Magic & Mayhem series.

Phantom Kiss


Chloe Neill - 2017
    So when they learn that someone is messing with graves in Chicago’s cemeteries, stealing skulls and snatching souls, they fear that their powerful foe might be back for even more magical vengeance. But after a specter begins haunting Cadogan House—and targeting vampires—they realize that their being taunted by an altogether different sort of monster. A ghoulish villain straight out of the Windy City’s urban legends is on the prowl—and he won’t stop until he’s killed again... Includes a sneak peek of Blade Bound, the epic final novel in the New York Times bestselling Chicagoland Vampires series.

Vampires: The Recent Undead


Paula GuranMichael Marshall Smith - 2011
    Immortal? Indeed! Nothing has sunk its teeth into 21st century popular culture as pervasively as the vampire. The fangsters have the freedom to fly across all genres and all mediums - there's even apps for vamps. Whether roaming into romance, haunting horror, sneaking into science fiction, capering into humor, meandering through mystery - no icon is more versatile than the vampire. Slake your insatiable thirst with the best sanguinary stories of the new millennium: terrifying or tender, deadly or delicious, bad-ass or beneficent, classic or cutting-edge. ContentsLa Vampiresse • (1999) • by Tanith LeeThe Coldest Girl in Coldtown • (2009) • by Holly BlackThis Is Now • (2004) • by Michael Marshall SmithSisters • [Ottawa and the Valley] • (2002) • by Charles de LintThe Screaming • (2004) • by J. A. KonrathZen and the Art of Vampirism • [Women of the Otherworld Short Fiction] • (2009) • by Kelley ArmstrongDead Man Stalking • (2008) • by Rachel CaineThe Ghost of Leadville • (2009) • by Jeanne C. SteinWaste Land • (2002) • by Stephen DedmanA Gentleman of the Old School • [Count of Saint-Germain] • (2005) • by Chelsea Quinn YarbroNo Matter Where You Go • (2010) • by Tanya HuffOutfangthief • by Conrad WilliamsDancing with the Star • (2008) • by Susan SizemoreA Trick of the Dark • (2004) • by Tina RathWhen Gretchen Was Human • (2001) • by Mary A. Turzillo [as by Mary Turzillo ]Conquistador de la Noche • [Kitty] • (2009) • by Carrie VaughnEndless Night • (2008) • by Barbara RodenDahlia Underground • (2010) • by Charlaine HarrisThe Belated Burial • (2009) • by Caitlín R. KiernanTwilight States • (2005) • by Albert E. CowdreyTo the Moment • by Nisi ShawlCastle in the Desert: Anno Dracula 1977 • [Anno Dracula] • (2000) • by Kim NewmanVampires in the Lemon Grove • (2007) • by Karen RussellVampires Anonymous • by Nancy KilpatrickThe Wide, Carnivorous Sky • (2009) • by John Langan©2011 Paula Guran (P)2011 Audible, Inc.

Trolling for Trouble


Olivia Hardin - 2012
    I make my living at keeping the world from discovering magic, but tonight my best friend and I are trolling into territory we might not be able to escape from… My name is Lynlee, and I'm a Neutralizer. It's my job to keep magical and undead creatures out of sticky situations. What kind of sticky? The kind where humans find out that we really do exist. The kind that derails the great big train of our happy coexistence.It might sound like I'm complaining, but I love what I do. Still, sometimes a girl just needs a break from all of the supernatural chaos. Tonight, I want to collapse into my bed and forget the day… until I discover two little kids scavenging through my refrigerator. One look at the motley pair, and my heartstrings get a good, hard tug. Imagine my surprise when I discover that their father is the one human I've spent years trying to forget. This is the sort of trouble I certainly never bargained for. It might just change things forever…***My name is Rhiannon, and I might not be a Neutralizer like my friend Lynlee, but that doesn't mean I get to take it easy. When Magical And Undead Creatures cross paths with humans, sometimes they get hurt. That's when this doctor to the paranormal world, steps into action. What I never expected was to get an urgent call from my secret crush.Risking my life to grant Sandy a favor might not be the smartest decision I've ever made, but sometimes love means taking chances.

My Paranormal Valentine


Alyssa Day - 2019
    Will the heat between them be strong enough to save the day — or burn down the world?From Amazon Best Selling author Lisa Kessler: Lure of Obsession (Muse Chronicles, #1): Detective Nate Malone has been marked by the gods to protect the Muse of Tragic Poetry. When a killer sets his sights on her, Nate will risk everything to protect her, and tragedy isn't part of his plan...From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Robyn Peterman: Switching Hour (Magic and Mayhem, #1): Released from the magic pokey and paroled with limited power is enough to make any witch grumpy. However, if you throw in a recently resurrected cat, a lime-green Kia and a sexy egotistical werewolf, it's enough to make a gal fly off the edge. Not to mention a mission...with no freaking directions. If they think I'm the right witch for the job, they've swallowed some bad brew.From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Michelle M. Pillow: The Mighty Hunter (Lords of the Abyss, #1): The merman may have rescued her from death, but who’s going to rescue her from him? Welcome to the underwater world of Atlantes!From International Bestselling Author Debra Dunbar: Rogue (Northern Wolves, #2): Sabrina had a hot sexy night with a bear shifter during her wolf pack's annual barbeque — then never heard from him again. Sent to track down a murderous rogue, she's surprised to find herself partnered with Karl — the same bear shifter that has been fueling her fantasies for the last year. Can Sabrina trust a brooding bear shifter with secrets of his own to have her back as well as hold her heart?From USA Today Bestselling Author Renee George: You've Got Tail (Peculiar Mysteries, #1): Psychic Sunny hightails it to the Missouri Ozarks to find her missing friend Chavvah, only to discover romance with her friend’s younger brother, a kidnapping conspiracy, and a town full of secrets that some will kill to protect.From Award-Winning Author Abigail Owen: Her Demigod Complex (Legendary Consultants, #1): As an ex-nymph, Lyleia Naiad has the unique ability to resist her boss's demigod-like charms. The man's been breaking hearts for millennia. But Castor Dioskouri shows her a different side — compassionate, dedicated, protective and loyal. And that Castor is nearly impossible to resist. Attending a werewolf mating ceremony together — where the pheromones fly, and so do clothes, inhibitions, and common sense — might be one temptation too many.

The Mysterious Madam Morpho


Delilah S. Dawson - 2012
     An elusive woman arrives at Criminy’s doorstep with a steamer trunk, begging for a position in the caravan to perform her unique new act. She opens her trunk to reveal a menagerie of brilliantly colored butterflies. The woman, who calls herself Madam Morpho, is on the run from a dark past in London, where she was forced to leave her equipment behind and abscond with only her tiny performers. Playing a hunch, Criminy hires Madam Morpho on the spot. Taking her down to meet Mr. Murdoch, the reclusive talented engineer who keeps the carnival’s clockworks running, Criminy instructs them to work together to design and build a groundbreaking new circus for the butterflies. Amid the magical ambiance of the circus and the hint of danger from Madam Morpho’s pursuers, she and Mr. Murdoch soon find that their scientific collaboration has produced chemistry of a more romantic kind.

All Hallows Eve


Heather Graham - 2015
    That history could repeat itself in a most macabre and terrifying fashion.But, then again, it was Salem at Halloween. Seasoned Krewe members, they still find themselves facing the unspeakable horrors in a desperate race to save each other—and perhaps even their very souls.