Review: Burn For Me by Ilona Andrews

Description:
#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews launches a brand new Hidden Legacy series, in which one woman must place her trust in a seductive, dangerous man who sets off an even more dangerous desire…

Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.

Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.

Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.


My Thoughts:
This is the first of a new series and I love it. It's set in a world like ours, but with magic. And the families with the most magic have the most power. Nevada is a human lie detector and uses her skills as an investigator in her family's PI business. She is forced to take a case that is too dangerous for her and ends up working with Mad Rogan because they are after the same bad guy. Their first meeting is interesting to say the least. This book has magic, action, danger, and a hint of romance. There are secrets and hints of what is to come. I cannot wait for the next book.


My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !
*Notes: Language.

My Source: Purchased


Where to get it:

Amazon | B&N


Where to find the author:

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Review: Fate's Edge (Edge #3) by Ilona Andrews

Description:
Audrey Callahan left behind her life in the Edge, and she's determined to stay on the straight and narrow. But when her brother gets into hot water, the former thief takes on one last heist and finds herself matching wits with a jack of all trades...

Kaldar Mar-a gambler, lawyer, thief, and spy-expects his latest assignment tracking down a stolen item to be a piece of cake, until Audrey shows up. But when the item falls into the hands of a lethal criminal, Kaldar realizes that in order to finish the job, he's going to need Audrey's help...

My Thoughts:
I liked Kaldar in Bayou Moon and was happy to read his story. Audrey is a good match for him. Here is a quote I liked, from Kaldar's point of view: "Before this was all over, either they would be lovers or they'd kill each other. Right now, he had no idea which it would be." I think that sums up their relationship nicely. I like the Edge series and this was my favorite book so far. It is probably best to read these in the proper order, starting with On the Edge, or it might feel like you are missing something.

My Rating: ****
Steam Factor: !!!!
My Source: library

Where to get it:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Where to find the author:
Ilona Andrews
Twitter
Facebook

Review: Bayou Moon (The Edge #2)

Bayou Moon by Ilona Andrews

Description:
The Edge lies between worlds, on the border between the Broken, where people shop at Walmart and magic is a fairytale–and the Weird, where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny…

Cerise Mar and her unruly clan are cash poor but land rich, claiming a large swathe of the Mire, the Edge swamplands between the state of Louisiana and the Weird. When her parents vanish, her clan’s long-time rivals are suspect number one.

But all is not as it seems. Two nations of the Weird are waging a cold war fought by feint and espionage, and their conflict is about to spill over into the Edge—and Cerise’s life . William, a changeling soldier who left behind the politics of the Weird, has been forced back into service to track down a rival nation’s spymaster.

When William’s and Cerise’s missions lead them to cross paths, sparks fly—but they’ll have to work together if they want to succeed…and survive.


My Thoughts:


This is the second book in in the Edge series. I talk about book 1 here. The characters in the first book are referred to, and it takes place in the same world but things are explained well enough that this book could stand alone. 


In the first book, I liked William and I felt bad for him. He seemed like a nice guy, he just had a rotten childhood and all he wants is a family. I'm glad that he got his own book. Cerise is  a great character as well. She has the responsibility of leading her very large family. She can kick some butt and William doesn't scare her. 


Here is a quote from the book that I think sums up William and Cerise pretty well: 


When she was a teenager, she used to imagine meeting a stranger. He would be from the Weird or the Broken, not from the Mire. He would be lethal and tough, so tough, he wouldn't be afraid of her. He would be funny. And he would be handsome. She'd gotten so good at imagining this mysterious man, she could almost picture his face.


William would kick his ass.


There is action, magic, and odd swamp creatures. The ending sets up for future books. 


My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!!

Review: On the Edge

On the Edge by Ilona Andrews

Description:

Rose Drayton lives on the Edge, between the world of the Broken (where people drive cars, shop at Wal-Mart, and magic is a fairy tale) and the Weird (where blueblood aristocrats rule, changelings roam, and the strength of your magic can change your destiny). Only Edgers like Rose can easily travel from one world to the next, but they never truly belong in either.

Rose thought if she practiced her magic, she could build a better life for herself. But things didn’t turn out how she planned, and now she works a minimum wage, off the books job in the Broken just to survive. Then Declan Camarine, a blueblood noble straight out of the deepest part of the Weird, comes into her life, determined to have her (and her power).

But when a terrible danger invades the Edge from the Weird, a flood of creatures hungry for magic, Declan and Rose must work together to destroy them—or they’ll devour the Edge and everyone in it

My Thoughts:
I decided to read this because I like the Kate Daniels series. This series is so different! It is hard to describe exactly what type of book it is. Here is a quote straight from the Ilona Andrews website:  "It’s like Twinkies. Everybody likes it, nobody is 100% sure what it is." 

I was intrigued from the beginning, trying to figure out the different worlds and the rules. The world-building is well done. There is a lot of information given, but it doesn't get boring. Very soon into the book I laughed out loud at this line: "Stop trying to resurrect his shoes. They were never alive in the first place."

Rose is a great character. She is just trying to raise her younger brothers when Declan comes along. I loved the characters and the magic. There was action of the fighting variety as well as romance. I can't wait to read the next book.

My Rating: *****
Steam Factor: !!!!

Review: Magic Gifts

Magic Gifts by Ilona Andrews 

Description:

A dinner date after a hard day at work sounds heavenly. Of course, when that date is between the Beast Lord and Kate Daniels, things don’t go as planned. Before you know it, undead are running amok, heads are being chopped off, lawyers are deployed and used with extereme prejudice, and drunk vikings are calling people out.

Read at your own risk.

My Thoughts:
Magic Gifts was a Christmas gift from the authors of the Kate Daniels series.  I love the series, so I snagged it immediately.  If you didn't get it, it will be in the back of Gunmetal Magic.

What a wonderful gift! This is a novella that takes place after Magic Slays, at the same time as Andrea's book, the upcoming Gunmetal Magic.  It is about what happens when Kate and Curran try to go out on a date.  That should help hold me until the next Kate book. It was great to see Kate and Curran interact. I love their banter. "Your Furriness" makes me chuckle every time. 

I don't normally like novellas, but I thought this one was great. It felt complete to me, and not rushed. I originally was not very excited for the next book, Gunmetal Magic, but after reading this and getting a bit of a taste, I am anxious for Andrea's story now. 

My Rating:  *****
Steam Factor: !
*Note:  A few instances of the f-word when someone was angry.