Early Review: White Hot by Ilona Andrews

White Hot by Ilona Andrews

Hidden Legacy #2

Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice …

Boy oh boy do the sparks fly between Nevada and Rogan in WHITE HOT. You can practically feel the heat between them as they dance around one another. He's determined to have her, and she's just as determined to keep him away despite wanting him just as much. They both are so incredibly strong willed, and yet Nevada's backbone is almost solid iron in comparison to his and she can out stubborn him all day. It was so enjoyable watching her bring MAD Rogan to his knees. But don't worry, he isn't neutered just gentled a bit, which made this romantic build up/progression in this series absolutely perfect in my book! I cannot wait to see how things continue with this pair in the next book.

Romance aside there was even so much more to love about this book. The political and magicial issues have hit the fan, so to speak, and wow was it all intense. The feeling of family is so strong in this book, and I loved every moment of it. Nevada and company have some pretty hard choices to make, and this book set things up perfectly for what I imagine will be one heck of an ending to the trilogy in the next book.

You know you've read a truly amazing book when upon finishing it, you immediately want to start over from the beginning and re-read it all over again. Everything about WHITE HOT was top knotch, from the intense fast paced action, to the character development, and oh the romance! There was never a single dull moment in this book and I simply couldn't put it down.

I simply cannot recommend this book and this series any higher! An absolute must read, run do not walk and grab this book immediately!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Fangs, Wands, & Fairy Dust
     Tome Tender

Previous Books:
     1. Burn for Me

Release Day Review: Firestorm by Nancy Holzner

Firestorm by Nancy Holzner

Deadtown #6

They call it Deadtown: the city’s quarantined section for its inhuman and undead residents. Most humans stay far from its borders—but Victory Vaughn, Boston’s only professional demon slayer, isn’t exactly human…

When Vicky allowed an ancient goddess to possess her, she had no regrets—it was the only way to protect the people she loved. But now Ceridwen, locked in a power struggle with the Hellion that long ago claimed Vicky with its mark, refuses to leave. Both beings believe controlling Vicky is the key to winning the coming war for the human realm.

Despite the forces pulling her apart, Vicky needs all her wits about her. The demons of Hell are growing bold and she can barely keep up with the attacks plaguing the city: sirens in the Mystic River, goblins snarling traffic on Storrow Drive, imps tearing the gold from the State House dome. As the signs of war multiply and Hell threatens to overrun its boundaries, Vicky finds herself torn between her duty to save the world and her desire to save something of herself…

Whew was this a whirlwind of a series ending book! There was so much going on with all the many plot threads being wrapped up that the pacing is almost frenetic at times. There's simply not a dull moment in FIRESTORM. Between the demon/goddess duos possessing her, and all the external issues attacking humans and the paranormals in and out of Deadtown alike, Vicky couldn't catch a moment's breath. That being said the pacing never steps over the line into the "too much" category, instead it was a perfect balance of intense action that I had no trouble following. Very impressive.

All in all FIRESTORM was an enjoyable end to the Deadtown series that should more than please fans. While this book was a long time coming, I have to say it was worth the wait!

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Tome Tender

Previous Books:
     1. Deadtown
     2. Hellforged
     3. Bloodstone
     4. Darklands
     5. Hellhound

Review: Veiled Menace by Deborah Blake

Veiled Menance by Deborah Blake

Veiled Magic #2

Since Witches came out of the broom-closet in the early 21st century, they have worked alongside humans as police officers, healers, stock traders, and more. But they aren’t the only paranormal entities in our world...

Witch and police officer Donata Santori is no stranger to magical mayhem, but lately her life has been unexpectedly charmed. Her job as a Ghost Yanker now includes the occasional paranormal investigation, and she’s advancing her magical abilities with the help of an ancestor’s treasured spell book. And while both of her former love interests—reclusive half-Dragon art forger Peter Casaventi and disgraced Shapechanger Magnus Torvald—are nowhere to be found, she’s not averse to being wined and dined by wealthy businessman Anton Eastman.

But Eastman isn’t what he seems, and what he wants from Donata is far more than she’s willing to give. When a mysterious relic, the Pentacle Pentimento, resurfaces, along with Peter’s Dragon father and a shocking Santori family secret, Donata must fight to save herself, her friends, and just maybe the fate of the world from a magic as old as it is dangerous…

VEILED MENACE was an enjoyable followup to the first book in the series. I admit I had a little bit of a struggle at first to remember what happened in the previous book, but the author did a good job at easing readers back into this world. I really enjoy how rich the entire world is and how the author masterfully crafts her reveals with all the twists and turns in-between. The characters, Donata in particular, are utterly fabulous as well.

I have to admit that the romance in this series is one place where things just aren't quite up to par. At least not in comparison to Deborah's Baba Yaga series. There's just something about the romance arcs in this one that aren't working for me. First off there's two potential love interests, which in itself isn't the problem as I don't mind a love triangle when it's handled well. It's that there's too much back and forth of will they or won't they. Too many misconceptions and misunderstandings. And then when the tide seemed to fully turn to one of the men, immediately after a ridiculous fight happens and things are back to will they won't they status. I guess it was just too much of a tennis match for this romance lover's heart.

All in all this was an enjoyable installment in a series that I hope to see plenty more books from. I feel like we've only scratched the surface, and I want to see more. 

(Received a copy from the publisher)

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Other Reviews:
     Urban Fantasy Investigations
     Delighted Reader

Previous Books:
     1. Veiled Magic