3.5, maybe 4 Stars.
It's too soon to be sure, but after three or four reads I may bloody love this book. Which is really saying something, because going into this read, I did not like Catalina. And I can't stand NA which this book is not advertised as, but absolutely is. So, I came into this with a lot of baggage.
I love the Baylor family. I wish we were neighbors. Not next-door neighbors, of course, because danger has a way of following them home and I'd need some distance when the bullets start flying. But when the inevitable fire broke out at Casa de Baylor, I'd be the first to show up with an extra-long garden hose. (Assuming I could make it past security.)
The first 3 Hidden Legacy books are possibly my all-time favorite para romance stories. I turn to them whenever I need a pick me up. For two reasons:
1) The Andrews are amazing writers.
2) The chemistry between Nevada and Rogan.
Watching them come together was like dropping an iceberg into an active volcano and watching steam shoot out.
Saying I resisted transitioning from Nevada's lead to Catalina's is like saying The Duke of Wellington resisted Napoleon (that's The Battle of Waterloo for you millennials).
Suitcase #1: Catalina is my least favorite Baylor, last in line behind Romeo the tank. If they'd had a dog, she'd have ranked behind it too. Way back in book one when her homework was more important to her than helping Nevada with a critical issue she cemented her position in my mind as a self-centered, selfish snowflake.
Suitcase #2: Catalina is 21. You know what 21-year olds are? Young. And untried. And God love them, nowhere near as experienced as they think they are. I don't read YA or NA for exactly this reason. I'm a cranky old broad. Young people make my teeth ache. They make rash emotional decisions and when things go pear shaped, they wonder what the hell went wrong? I get enough of that in my real life, I don't want to read their stories until they've at least cracked the quarter century mark. Hit a few brick walls, got their heart broken at least once. Actually done a little living.
Suitcase #3: I'm allergic to YA and NA for all the reasons mentioned above, and so many more.
Suitcase #4: Head of House at 21. Yep, Legal to drink for about half a minute. And right before their 3-year House reprieve expires Nevada dumps the Head of House gig on her untried, unproven, young sister. âLove you. Bye!â (BITCH)
So I came into Sapphire Flames wanting to be won over and terrified it wouldn't happen.
And was very pleasantly surprised.
As I made plain I avoid this type of story because YA/NA does not give me the kind of read I want. But this is an Ilona Andrews. Even when they don't give me the story I want, they always deliver a damn good read. Once I got over myself, the writing was so satisfying I was stunned to find myself invested in the story.
I guess the reason I put this down the way I did was for people (like me) who are hesitant to read Sapphire Flames because you aren't sure Catalina can step into Nevada's shoes. Take it from a reader who did not want the torch to pass to Catalina; she can. They may be a little lose just yet, but I have a feeling she'll grow into those shoes just fine.
Catalina has enough of Nevada's sass to satisfy my need for snark, and enough of her own personality to become a fine lead character. I really need to quit taking my frustrations out on her. It's the story structure that offends me, not her.
Alessandro is a great addition to the cast. Mysterious, a little dark, a lot charming (de rigueur for an Ilona Andrews hero). The perfect foil for the reserved inward looking Catalina. I look forward to seeing more of what he's made of, because I'm sure what we see in this book is just a sampling of what's to come. It's going to be fun watching their relationship develop.
Most of our favorite characters are back. Bug makes a short appearance, and is as entertaining as always. Runa Etterson (the poison mage from Diamond Fire) has a supporting role, and adds an interesting element to Catalina's defensive arsenal. And Fans of Linus will be delighted to get to know him a little better.
Don't go into this book looking for another Burn For Me, you won't find it.
What you will find is a smartly written story with heart and excitement and the beginnings of another great adventure. I, ME, the cranky never met a NA book I liked reader liked it
And I really want to get my hands on the next one.
I was given an ARC from netgalley. These are my honest thoughts. #sapphireflames#netgalley
It's too soon to be sure, but after three or four reads I may bloody love this book. Which is really saying something, because going into this read, I did not like Catalina. And I can't stand NA which this book is not advertised as, but absolutely is. So, I came into this with a lot of baggage.
I love the Baylor family. I wish we were neighbors. Not next-door neighbors, of course, because danger has a way of following them home and I'd need some distance when the bullets start flying. But when the inevitable fire broke out at Casa de Baylor, I'd be the first to show up with an extra-long garden hose. (Assuming I could make it past security.)
The first 3 Hidden Legacy books are possibly my all-time favorite para romance stories. I turn to them whenever I need a pick me up. For two reasons:
1) The Andrews are amazing writers.
2) The chemistry between Nevada and Rogan.
Watching them come together was like dropping an iceberg into an active volcano and watching steam shoot out.
Saying I resisted transitioning from Nevada's lead to Catalina's is like saying The Duke of Wellington resisted Napoleon (that's The Battle of Waterloo for you millennials).
Suitcase #1: Catalina is my least favorite Baylor, last in line behind Romeo the tank. If they'd had a dog, she'd have ranked behind it too. Way back in book one when her homework was more important to her than helping Nevada with a critical issue she cemented her position in my mind as a self-centered, selfish snowflake.
Suitcase #2: Catalina is 21. You know what 21-year olds are? Young. And untried. And God love them, nowhere near as experienced as they think they are. I don't read YA or NA for exactly this reason. I'm a cranky old broad. Young people make my teeth ache. They make rash emotional decisions and when things go pear shaped, they wonder what the hell went wrong? I get enough of that in my real life, I don't want to read their stories until they've at least cracked the quarter century mark. Hit a few brick walls, got their heart broken at least once. Actually done a little living.
Suitcase #3: I'm allergic to YA and NA for all the reasons mentioned above, and so many more.
Suitcase #4: Head of House at 21. Yep, Legal to drink for about half a minute. And right before their 3-year House reprieve expires Nevada dumps the Head of House gig on her untried, unproven, young sister. âLove you. Bye!â (BITCH)
So I came into Sapphire Flames wanting to be won over and terrified it wouldn't happen.
And was very pleasantly surprised.
As I made plain I avoid this type of story because YA/NA does not give me the kind of read I want. But this is an Ilona Andrews. Even when they don't give me the story I want, they always deliver a damn good read. Once I got over myself, the writing was so satisfying I was stunned to find myself invested in the story.
I guess the reason I put this down the way I did was for people (like me) who are hesitant to read Sapphire Flames because you aren't sure Catalina can step into Nevada's shoes. Take it from a reader who did not want the torch to pass to Catalina; she can. They may be a little lose just yet, but I have a feeling she'll grow into those shoes just fine.
Catalina has enough of Nevada's sass to satisfy my need for snark, and enough of her own personality to become a fine lead character. I really need to quit taking my frustrations out on her. It's the story structure that offends me, not her.
Alessandro is a great addition to the cast. Mysterious, a little dark, a lot charming (de rigueur for an Ilona Andrews hero). The perfect foil for the reserved inward looking Catalina. I look forward to seeing more of what he's made of, because I'm sure what we see in this book is just a sampling of what's to come. It's going to be fun watching their relationship develop.
Most of our favorite characters are back. Bug makes a short appearance, and is as entertaining as always. Runa Etterson (the poison mage from Diamond Fire) has a supporting role, and adds an interesting element to Catalina's defensive arsenal. And Fans of Linus will be delighted to get to know him a little better.
Don't go into this book looking for another Burn For Me, you won't find it.
What you will find is a smartly written story with heart and excitement and the beginnings of another great adventure. I, ME, the cranky never met a NA book I liked reader liked it
And I really want to get my hands on the next one.
I was given an ARC from netgalley. These are my honest thoughts. #sapphireflames#netgalley
