Book picks similar to
Gifts by Lindsay Buroker


urban-fantasy
dragons
death-before-dragons
vampires

Danil's Mate


Selena Scott - 2017
    "The Secret Shifters of Spokane" is the story of the Malashovik family who emigrated from Belarus to America to escape political unrest, and who hold a deep family secret, resulting in the closeness and support the four brothers feel for each other. Join them as they fight against all odds for their true mates. Each book in the series, is beautifully tied to the next one.*** *** *** *** ***A curvy reporter who's just arrived in town and an alpha bear shifter who holds a deep family secret. Can their attraction become something more and can she tame the animal within him?Danil is an immigration lawyer, originally from Belarus. His family moved to America when dissidents of the president started to disappear. The youngest of four brothers, his love for his family is paramount. He seeks to protect those close to him. Dora is a sexy, curvy and not afraid to speak her mind. She's arrived in Spokane to investigate reports of a bear in the forest that has been experimented on. Little does she know what her inquiries will uncover. What will happen to Danil's family if their secret is exposed? Can the intense desire between them survive and flourish into a true love story?*** *** *** *** ***Note: The story contains strong sexual themes/language and is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Bewitched By Moonlight


Deanna Chase - 2018
    But when innocent vampires start to go missing in the city of New Orleans, she’s asked to do just that. It doesn’t take long before she has a shifter in her sights. The problem? It seems she’d rather kiss him than fight him.

Alpha & Omega


Patricia Briggs - 2007
    Now, read "Alpha and Omega," the novella that inspired the new series, and see how it all began...Anna Latham never knew werewolves existed, until the night she survived a violent attack... and became one herself. After three years at the bottom of the Chicago pack, she's learned to keep her head down and never, ever trust dominant males. But when she discovers wrongdoing in her pack, she has to go above her Alpha's head to ask for help.Charles Cornick is the son — and enforcer — of the leader of the North American werewolves. Now his father has sent him to Chicago to clean up a problem there. Charles never expected to find Anna, a rare Omega wolf — and he certainly never expected to recognize her as his mate...This novella was originally published in the anthology, On the Prowl.

Ballgowns & Butterflies


Kelley Armstrong - 2021
    For Bronwyn Dale, it is the stuff of dreams. Fancy-dress balls, quirky small-town traditions, even that classic one-horse open sleigh, complete with jingle bells. There’s just the tiny problem of the Butterfly Effect. How does a time-traveler make a difference without disrupting the future forever?Note: this is a holiday novella not a full-length book

Taming the Vampire


Chloe Hart - 2011
    But when a powerful enemy threatens their beloved city of Boston, they form a reluctant alliance. It's supposed to be temporary--just one night, in fact. But as the tension between them builds to the breaking point, neither is prepared for what happens next.Taming the Vampire is a sexy paranormal romance novella of 17,000 words, or about 60 pages. It's the first book in the Blood and Absinthe series.The Blood and Absinthe series:Book 1 - Taming the Vampire (a novella)Book 2 - Bound by the Vampire (a novella)Book 3 - Claiming the Vampire (a full-length novel)Book 4 - Drawn to the Vampire (a full-length novel)Book 5 - Caught by the Wolf (coming in 2014!)EXCERPT"I'll stay on one condition," he said.Her heart thumped against her ribs. "What?""We'll do the ritual, but on my terms."She wished he wasn't so tall. It gave him an unfair advantage, being able to tower over her like this. It was hard to breathe, hard to-- "What do you mean, your terms?""Do you want to know a secret?"Her blood was rushing in her ears. She couldn't speak.He slid an arm around her waist and pulled her hard against him. She gasped, as shocked as if she'd stepped into icy water. She felt his strength, his power, and for a second her own power seemed to desert her. He bent his head close to hers. "I want you," he whispered.Her face flamed, like a teenager's."I've wanted you from the first moment I saw you," he said, and now his lips were on her throat, at her pulse point, against her collar bone.She opened her mouth but no words came out. Her eyes closed and her head went back, and he kissed his way up her throat, to her ear, and then he was whispering to her again."I can make you feel good, Liz. Better than anyone's ever made you feel."

Ready to Were


Robyn Peterman - 2014
    Ever.I was a top notch Were agent for the secret paranormal Council and happily living in Chicago where I had everything I needed – a gym membership, season tickets to the Cubs and Dwayne – my gay, Vampyre best friend. Going back now would mean facing the reason I’d left and I’d rather chew my own paw off than deal with Hank. Hank the Tank Wilson was the six foot three, obnoxious, egotistical, perfect-assed, best-sex-of-my-life, Werewolf who cheated on me and broke my heart. At the time, I did what any rational woman would do. I left in the middle of the night with a suitcase, big plans and enough money for a one-way bus ticket to freedom. I vowed to never return. But here I am, trying to wrap my head around what has happened to some missing Weres without wrapping my body around Hank. I hope I don’t have to eat my words and my paw.***This novella originally appeared in the Three Southern Beaches collection released July of 2014. This is an extended version of that story.

Zanaikeyros: Son of Dragons


Tessa Dawn - 2016
    Zanaikeyros Saphyrius, better known as Zane, is an original dragyri, a badass male, and a Genesis Son—one of the original embryos made by the dragon lords. Like all the Dragyr he has ten days from the time he meets his fated—a human female—to take her to the Temple of Seven and present her to the ancient dragon lords to be consecrated…remade…and reborn. Jordan Anderson is as talented as she is independent. Despite losing her parents when she was only seven years old, she has managed to create a successful career, establish a comfortable life, and lay the groundwork for a safe, predictable future. The last thing she wants — or needs — is to enter a savage world teeming with demons, shadow-walkers, and fearsome dragon lords. When Zane and Jordan’s lives cross paths in a dimly lit parking garage, an immortal flame is ignited…and the ten-day clock starts running.Zane sees all the signs.Jordan sees only a predator.And a dark, perilous journey begins… ZANAIKEYROS ~ SON OF DRAGONS: a fiery fusion of Dark Fantasy and Gothic Romance.

Fearless


Christine Rains - 2012
    Now she slays creatures spawned by the fertile imaginations of children, and the number of these nightmares are on the rise. Neither she nor her guide - a stuffed hippo named Tawa - know why.When she rescues Demetrius from an iron prison, he pledges his life to protect hers until he can return the favor. She doesn't want the help. And how can she concentrate on her job when the gorgeous wild fae throws himself in front of her during every fight? No matter how tempting, she can't take the time to lose herself to him.To save the children and all she loves, Abby must be truly Fearless.

Expired


C.P. Rider - 2021
    A truckstop town bar called the Dusty Cactus Saloon. Now, if everyone will stop asking for her help, she might actually find some time to run the damn thing.A full-length novel from Chandra's point of view. Just a little shorter than Neely's books. Full description coming soon!You don't have to have read the other books in the Sundance series to understand this one, but it's helpful.

Levet


Alexandra Ivy - 2013
    Of miniscule stature, rather beastly looks, and with fragile, delicate wings, even his family has shunned him, banished him from his beloved Paris. That he is the only gargoyle ever to help defeat the Dark Lord and his hordes of minions makes no impression. But now Levet has come home, determined to be restored to the official Gargoyle Guild. To do so, he must confront the most feared gargoyle in all of Europe. The one who tried to kill him as a child: his own mother. . .With few allies, Levet's survival may depend on the aid of two strangers: Valla, a beautiful but damaged nymph, and Elijah, the fiercely possessive, love-struck vampire clan chief to whom she can't quite surrender--unless Levet has something to do with it. . .

Tempest Rising


Nicole Peeler - 2009
    During her nightly, clandestine swim in the freezing winter ocean, a grisly find leads Jane to startling revelations about her heritage: she is only half-human. Now, Jane must enter a world filled with supernatural creatures alternatively terrifying, beautiful, and deadly- all of which perfectly describe her new "friend," Ryu, a gorgeous and powerful vampire. It is a world where nothing can be taken for granted: a dog can heal with a lick; spirits bag your groceries; and whatever you do, never-ever rub the genie's lamp. If you love Sookie Stackhouse, then you'll want to dive into Nicole Peeler's enchanting debut novel.

Immortal Defiance


Laura Maybrooke - 2019
    An elven Dragonmistress and an immortal vampire warrior may be each other’s best hope for peace... if the world doesn’t destroy them first!Things take a strange turn for Dulcea, the elven enchantress turned war heroine and Dragonmistress, when a countryman's betrayal lands her in enemy hands.As she awaits her execution, a handsome stranger with mysterious powers offers her another chance at life. Will she die here or risk what sinister fate he has in store for her?Can Dulcea reclaim her rightful place and lead her army once more? Or does Krath, the man who travels the Realm of the Dead as one of its own, prove to be the obstacle that fells her rebellion?… Or will this immortal vampire warrior turn out to be the best chance she has of defying the ancient evil arising in the west?Some things never die. Hope. Heroes. Defiance.

Naked City


Ellen DatlowJohn Crowley - 2011
    In Jim Butcher’s ”Curses”, Harry Dresden investigates how to lift a curse laid by the Fair Folk on the Chicago Cubs. In Patricia Briggs’ “Fairy Gifts,”, a vampire is called home by magic to save the Fae who freed him from a dark curse. In Melissa Marr’s “Guns for the Dead”, the newly dead Frankie Lee seeks a job in the afterlife on the wrong side of the law. In Holly Black’s “Noble Rot”, a dying rock star discovers that the young woman who brings him food every day has some strange appetites of her own.Featuring original stories from 20 authors, this dark, captivating, fabulous, and fantastical collection is not to be missed!Contents:Curses / by Jim Butcher --How the pooka came to New York City / by Delia Sherman --On the slide / by Richard Bowes --The Duke of Riverside / by Ellen Kushner --Oblivion by Calvin Klein / by Christopher Fowler --Fairy gifts / by Patricia Briggs --Picking up the pieces / by Pat Cadigan --Underbridge / by Peter S. Beagle --Priced to sell / by Naomi Novik --The bricks of Gelecek / by Matthew Kressel --Weston walks / by Kit Reed --The projected girl/ by Lavie Tidhar --The way station / by Nathan Ballingrud --Guns for the dead / by Melissa Marr --And go like this / by John Crowley --Noble rot / by Holly Black --Daddy longlegs of the evening / by Jeffrey Ford --The skinny girl / by Lucius Shepard --The Colliers' Venus (1893) / by Caitlín R. Kiernan --King pole, gallows pole, bottle tree / by Elizabeth Bear.

Christmas Eve


Jim Butcher - 2018
    It is posted to his website and Facebook page. The story is set after Peace Talks and Battle Ground and depicts Harry's first Christmas Eve as a dad, as well as a few other familiar faces. As it was released before its predecessor, it does offer some hints as to the happenings of Peace Talks and Battle Ground, but no major spoilers.

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble


H.P. Mallory - 2010
    If you like your books steamy (this is a paranormal romance series for adults, not for kids or teens!) and you appreciate a good witch, warlock and vampire romance triangle, read on!A self-deprecating witch with the unique ability to reanimate the dead.A dangerously handsome warlock torn between being her boss and her would-be lover.A six hundred year old English vampire with his own agenda; one that includes an appetite for witches.The Underworld in a state of chaos.Let the games begin.Life isn’t bad for psychic Jolie Wilkins. True, she doesn’t have a love life to speak of, but she has a cute house in the suburbs of Los Angeles, a cat and a quirky best friend.Enter Rand Balfour, a sinfully attractive warlock who insists she’s a witch and who just might turn her life upside down. Rand hires her to help him solve a mystery regarding the death of his client who also happens to be a ghost. Jolie not only uncovers the cause of the ghost’s demise but, in the process, she brings him back to life!Word of Jolie’s incredible ability to bring back the dead spreads like wildfire, putting her at the top of the Underworld’s most wanted list. Consequently, she finds herself at the center of a custody battle between a villainous witch, a dangerous but oh-so-sexy vampire, and her warlock boss, Rand.