Differentiating Between Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance

Carol and I are writing a joint list of books(I love Google documents!) and since a bunch of my books are paranormal and fasntasy, I decided to list them down in separate categories. paranormal and urban fantasy but hmmm how do you define which genre a book is? Of course, let's check online! I found this great article written by Keri Arthur about the difference between paranormal romance and urban fantasy, which pretty much explains deeper of what my idea of each category is. Good to know I wasn't so far out of it. Anyway, decided to share the description of the great keri Arthur, See the link for the complete article. Also got my description from this article.

Paranormal Romance: Usually written in the 3rd person. Main characters are Hero and Heroine and they MUST have a happily ever after together. This couple is exclusive. Love shall overcome is the theme. Each book in the series has a new hero/heroine pair, and these characters often show up as secondary characters in the other books in the series. Like regular romance, paranormal romance covers the whole genre spectrum. They can be humorous, historical, futuristics, contemporary, mystery, fantasy, urban fantasy, scifi, gothic, erotica—basically, if the romance is front and center, then it’s labeled a paranormal romance, regardless of the genre. Examples: JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood, Nalini Singh’s Psy/Changelings series, Kresley Cole’s Immortals After Dark series, Marjorie M. Liu’s Dirk & Steele series, Meljean Brooks’ Guardian series, Lori Handeland’s Nightcreature series , Lara Adrian’s Midnight Breeds series, Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Dark Hunter series, Alexis Morgan’s Paladins of Darkness series

Urban Fantasy: Usually written in the first person. Theme is horror, not love. A single protagonist often narrates the entire series. (Kelly Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld is a notable exception). The protagonist is often a cynical, fiercely independent, tough chick with commitment and trust issues. lol. (Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden is a notable exception.) There may be a love interest, but it is subtle and may build over the course of the series. Or maybe the more the merrier, a la Anita Blake. Urban fantasy is fantasy that is set in a modern, urban environment (for example, Melbourne, New York, or even some made up city) and it can contain any and all paranormal or fantasy elements (such as vampires, weres, shifters, demons, succubus, magi etc). But in urban fantasy, romance and romantic entanglements are not the main plot element, though they are often present as a sub-plot. Dark urban fantasy contains the same elements as urban fantasy, but usually has serious leanings towards horror elements. Dark and bloody events can and do happen in these novels, and a happy ended is not a necessity. Examples: Laurell K Hamilton’s Antia Blake series, Ilona Andrews’ Kate Daniels’s series, Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, Kelly Armstrong’s Women of the Otherworld series, Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series, Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden series, Marjorie M. Liu’s Maxine Kiss series, Keri Arthur’s Riley Jensen series, Karen Chance’s Cassandra Palmer series, Jeanine Frost’s Night Huntress series

Now on to continue my list!

January Reads

130. The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair  B-
129. Grave Surprise (Harper Connelly #2) by Chalaine Harris  B
128. An Ice Cold Grave (Harper Connelly #3) by Chalaine Harris B
127. Real Murders  (Aurora Teagarden #1) by Chalaine Harris B+
126. A Bone to Pick  (Aurora Teagarden #2) by Chalaine Harris B
125. Rogue Hunter by Lynsay Sands B+
124. Don of the Dead (Pepper Martin Mystery #1 ) by Casey Daniels B
123. Chick and the Dead (Pepper Martin Mystery #2 ) by Casey Daniels  B+
122. Tombs of Endearment (Pepper Martin Mystery #3) by Casey Daniels B

Currently Reading The Trouble with Witches by Shirley Damsgaard

129. Grave Surprise by Charlaine Harris

genre: cozy mystery

Rating: B

"A college class gets more than it bargained for when Harper gives a demonstration of her uncanny talent. Instead of just finding one body in an old grave, she finds two: the original occupant and a recently deceased girl whom Harper had tried, and failed, to find two years previously. To dispel suspicions about her own innocence, Harper and her stepbrother Tolliver undertake their own hunt to find the killer-only to find yet another body in the same grave."

The reason why I only gave it a B wasn't because it was bad. Honestly it was better then the first book.  It felt like Harris had gotten on track with who the characters were and where she was going to take them. Only thing was it didn't really feel like a mystery except for the discovery of the dead body. In trying not to implicate themselves, Harper and Tolliver pretty much just get mixes up in situation after situation without really trying to ferret out the murderer. The characters were starting to develope and a lot of angst and rehashing is put into the book. The thing about Harris is that there's always a depressing tone to her books so it takes a little getting use to. I did like this book though. Reading an Ice Cold Grave next.

130. The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Rating: B

Series: Accidental Witch Book 1

"When a single-dad TV executive hires Melody Seabright--a flaky rich girl and rumored witch--as his babysitter, she magically lands her own cooking show...and makes sparks fly."

This is actually my second book from the author, but this is one of her earlier books and is the first book in the Accidental Witch Series. As her other book had more magic and with the title I assumed that this one would contain the same elements, but the witch in the title pretty much worked like a gimmick as in the tv show. I liked Melody and all the other supporting characters especially Shane but the reasons for Logan not pursuing a relationship with Melody and both realizing they should be together was too short and rushed for me, a little late. It was a cute and funny read though. had potential. Would probably read the next book too.

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Book Reading 2009

Well it's 2009 and I managed to reach 100 books so this year my goal is 130 books starting with book 100. The Kitchen Witch by Annette Blair

Currently reading Gave Surprise by Charlainne Harris

December reads

will comment later

December
10. Chill Factor (Weather Warden #3) by Rachel Caine
11.  Armed and Magical (Raine Benares 2) by Lisa Shearin
12. I'm the Vampire, That's Why (Broken Heart, Oklahoma #1) by Michele Bardsley
13. Don't Talk Back To Your Vampire (Broken Heart, Oklahoma #2) by Michele Bardsley
14. Because Your Vampire Said So (Broken Heart, Oklahoma #3) by Michele Bardsley
15. Tall Dark and Hungry (Argeneau #4) by Lynsay Sands
16. A Bite to Remember  (Argeneau #5) by Lynsay Sands
17. Bite Me If You Can  (Argeneau #6) by Lynsay Sands
18. The Accidental Vampire (Argeneau #7) by Lynsay Sands
19. Vampires are Forever (Argeneau #8) by Lynsay Sands
20. Vampire Interrupted (Argeneau #9) by Lynsay Sands