If you recall, earlier this month I discussed my thrilling discovery of Eric Garcia’s perplexing Anonymous Rex series. Once you’ve warmed to the “Dino Mafia” genre (a phrase I never thought I’d write), you won’t have to suspend much belief at all when entering Christine Feehan’s worlds of paranormal romance.

Paranormal romances, if you’re not familiar, are romance novels with a spooky or fantastical twist. Virile vampires? Check. Wicked werewolves? We got ‘em. And don’t even get me started on the ghosts. Feehan has won several Paranormal Excellence Awards for Romantic Literature (PEARL), and has a devoted fan base and active author website. Feehan’s written all manner of series, with characters ranging from ancient races of shapeshifting, blood-sucking, vampire-ish beings to military personnel with psychic abilities, but I’m most fascinated by her Leopard series (they’re also the only ones currently available in LBPH’s holdings).

The series features shapeshifting leopard/humans that assume their human forms in order to fulfill their destinies- stuff like holding powerful roles in the corporate world, serving time in the armed forces, patrolling the bayous as deadly and powerful cops, and, of course, finding their mates. The shapeshifters are both men and women, and, as you can imagine, their leopardness makes for some very passionate (ahem, animalistic) encounters. It’s kind of like Animorphs, but R-rated.

If you’re growing wearing of your standard romance fodder, why not take a walk on the wild side and channel your inner leopard? Start with the prequel, or jump in right in the middle. I have a feeling that, in the world of Christine Feehan’s leopards, there are no rules.

Leopards Prey
DB 77029
Jazz singer Bijou Breaux, daughter of a rock star, returns to New Orleans and entices leopard shape-shifter Remy Boudreaux, a homicide detective. Meanwhile, a serial killer preying on the French Quarter has also reemerged. Violence, strong language, and explicit descriptions of sex. 2013.

Wild Rain
DB 70838
Human/leopard shape-shifter Rio Santana returns from a rescue mission and finds an intruder in his home. Rachael Lospostos is seeking refuge in the rain forest from an unknown assassin. But her encounter with Rio ignites both desire and fear. Explicit descriptions of sex and some violence. Commercial audiobook. 2004.