White Hot

(Insert generic rant about covers.)

Putting my intense hate aside for just a moment, I do need to clarify that I loved the actual text of this book. I've gotten through all of the Kate Daniels series and the Innkeeper stuff, but I really ought to spell this out... I think I am in love with this series and it's even better than the others.

Sheesh. It's really a case of misleading expectations thanks to that damn cover. I mean, technically, it has a strong romance plot through it, but for the most part, it's magical PI stuff with an intensely powerful city-killer who's in love with Nevada, our main character... not, I should mention, the state.

And even pushing that aside, we have wonderful character development, solid and near perfect show more progression and change of circumstances, and very cute moments with the family. What else could we need? Well, there's always murder, revenge, political stuff revolving the Primes, and multiple near-death experiences culminating in a really hot scene after so much cold... but that's just icing on the cake.

It's a pure pleasure to read and you know what? As a UF, it's rather unique because it focuses almost entirely on a great magic system... without vamps or weres at all. WHAT???? A UF WITHOUT vamps or weres? GET OUT OF HERE! :) Seriously. It only rises higher in my estimation from here. :) show less

Why do I keep giving them 5 stars?

I hate five star reviews. All gushy and worshipful. I never read them.

Somehow, this team of authors makes characters I want to read more about. Repeatedly, they design new worlds and magic systems that are coherent without being repetitive. They provide action and drama, and enough romance without making it smarmy or overblown.

And then there will be a paragraph that is a defining moment where you think "YES" as a simple discussion lays bare a basic law of civility or humanity.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
🌶/4

*Contains spoilers if you haven't read book 1*

Book 2 of the Hidden Legacy series starts off a few months after book 1 (Burn for Me) and Nevada has tried to forget all about the dark, dangerous, and sexy Mad Rogan. But when an old acquaintance comes to her with a new case, things are not all as they seem.

What started out as trying to find who murdered her client's wife quickly turns into a much larger investigation into a conspiracy for ultimate power in Houston. As fate would have it and as the details unfold, Nevada is once again forced to work with Mad Rogan and the sparks pick right back up brighter and hotter than before.

Alongside the continuing excitement that comes with murder show more investigations, magical House power struggles, and the slow burn tension that is Nevada and Rogan, we also learn more about the other members of the Baylor Family and see that Nevada might not be the only one hiding her powerful magical secrets.

A great second installment in this series, and we FINALLY get some relief from the steamy slow burn tension that has been building between Nevada & Rogan from book 1. The side characters are all delightful and offer both story depth and comic relief. Between the Baylor Clan and many of Rogan's associates, we have a fantastic growing cast to choose many new favorites from.

Best random scene, two words: Ferret Heist. show less

White Hot is the second book in the Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews. The action starts fast and furious with this installment as Nevada takes on a new client.

Private Investigator Nevada Baylor is a truthseeker, a rare talent and someone who can tell if a person is lying or telling the truth. She is approached by Cornelius Harrison of House Harrison for a job: investigate and solve his wife's murder. Nari Harrison was gunned down at the Hotel Sha Sha under suspicious circumstances. Normally the Baylor Investigative Agency refuses murder investigations due to the high risk nature of the job. Nevada finds she can't turn down someone who is obviously so upset over his wife's death. It also turns out that Connor Rogan is interested in show more this investigation as one of his employees was also killed in the crossfire at Hotel Sha Sha. As the pair begin digging into Nari's murder it's obvious this is just a small part of a much larger conspiracy.

I am loving this UF universe that the Andrews have created. With the basic world building handled in the first book, this book expands upon what we already know. We get to see more of everything: more magic powers, more action, more House politics, more romance, more about the Baylor's mysterious heritage. While Nevada and Connor are the stars of the show, the supporting characters are every bit as well-drawn and enjoyable to read about. Nevada's family is so much fun. Grandma Freida has to be the coolest 73-year old ever! I'm glad Nevada's sisters Catalina and Arabella provide more help with the investigation as it lets them show off their personalities and powers more. Cornelius Harrison and his daughter Matilda come from a House of animal mages so it was super neat to see that power in action. It is the basis of my favorite scene in the whole book, the ferret heist.

The romance kicks it up a notch as well. The chemistry between Nevada and Connor sizzles which leads to one hell of a sex scene. It is fairly explicit in nature reinforcing that this series not for younger audiences.

I am enjoying the hell out of this series. Can't wait to see what happens next. show less

The second Hidden Legacy novel was as compelling and the first and has left me aching for the third.

Nevada Baylor takes the case of Cornelius Harrison who wants to find out who caused the death of his wife. Normally the magical community in Houston has its own ways of dealing with this sort of problem. But the House Nari Harrison worked for is covering and threatens to blacken her reputation if Cornelius doesn't drop his inquiries.

Normally a case that would pit Nevada's small family run private investigation business would be too much for her to handle. But she takes the case because someone needs to stand up for Nari. Her investigation brings her back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan is one of the fiercest and scariest Primes in show more Houston and who is an object of romantic interest to Nevada even though she knows a romance with him would be a bad, bad idea.

The investigation quickly leads deep into House business and House goals and gets Nevada, Rogan, and others into the middle of a very twisty mess. It doesn't help that Nevada is hiding a Prime level talent of her own that makes her someone any House would want to control.

This twisty plot combines a romance that is hot enough to scorch the pages, a conspiracy with ruthless villains, and an evil grandmother with plans of her own for Nevada and her family. I loved the fast paced action, the romance, and the love and loyalty shown by Nevada and her family. show less

Original review below. Thoughts on this one based on a 7/22/2019 re-read. I hope Cornelius is in Catalina's book and doesn't disappear. There's something about the quiet character that interests me. And will we see the protective man from the party again? He was interesting. Ack, so many interesting characters and so little books/time. :(

“I can be a good dragon, when the occasion requires it.”

The first book was my favorite read of 2015. To say I was excited for the two sequels to be released in 2017 is an understatement. I couldn’t wait to get back to Rogan and Nevada’s adventures and romance, Ilona Andrews fun and inventive worldbuilding, and see what the author duo had in store for their appreciative readers. They’re show more definitely favorite authors of mine.

This book opens up with two different openings – the prologue shows Nevada daring to use her talent, cloaked of course, to help the police in a particularly disturbing case to save a child from a predator. The first chapter opens where Nevada takes a case she doesn’t really want, moved by the man’s plight and financial struggles since he’s cushioned between two houses and their dangerous politics.

While most of the book focuses on the first chapters story and mystery, that prologue plays into a personal disaster that rears its head later on, showing more on Nevada’s past, family history, and future issues with having to maybe reveal more than she wanted to with the public and her family.

Character-wise, it’s awesome. Nevada is still a favorite heroine with compassion and determination. Her power is nifty but she discovers it’s advanced to whole other level in this book, which was a little wobbly. Rogan is as sexy as he was in the first book, and even if it seemed he was hiding out for a bit, he’s been changing things for Nevada’s life in the background. I finally get to see her sister’s power at the end in an exciting, intense scene. Her new client is fun and I was blown away by the ending finale when he deals with the villain who killed his wife. So glad to hear he will be staying around!

Nevada’s family is still hilarious – the wedding photos taped to her door gave me some serious grins. I LOVE her family, which isn't usually the way it goes for me with large families already existing in books. With the grandmother, it reminds me a little of Stephanie Plum, although I'm not a fan of those books and family nearly as much.

The romance is still smoking and finally Nevada opens her heart more to Rogan – seriously, who could resist? And yes, readers will be happy with their relationship in all the bedroom ways too.

“Maybe I should roll down the window to let some of the sexual tension out.”

Throw in the series natural darkness with demented family politics and some creepy moments? Check. Toss in some serious romance and smoldering Rogan? Check. Throw in a detailed mystery with plenty of action scenes? Check. Top it off with more character development, more revealed about Nevada’s family, and you have another winner in the series. Seriously, read it.

Why a small shaving off the stars to give it a 4.5 instead of a 5? There were a few developments that bugged me with how Nevada acted with her power, I didn’t dig the give-up attitude with Rogan if she had to do a particular thing in the end, and a few questions made me nervous. Overall though I have confidence it will turn out fine, which it did since I’ve read the third book before doing this review. All is well again in the end. show less

Oof, that is a bad cover. But the book is great!

You’re gonna have to read the first in the series, Burn for Me, to truly enjoy the sequel. And then you’ll be like me, desperately wanting the last in the trilogy to be published.

These are not standalone novels. Instead, like they did with the Kate Daniels series, Andrews builds a robust and fascinating world just slightly skewed from our own, where magic is real and deeply shapes the social structure. They push the protagonists through a wide assortment of events and adventures, all the while constructing a larger narrative that unites the trilogy.

One thing I really appreciate about Andrews is that even as they write urban fantasy, they really use a lot of the tropes and tricks of show more romance. They appreciate romantic development as much as character and plot. I’m reading just as much for the incredible push-pull and amazing sexual tension between Nevada and Rogan as I am for the almost nonstop action and page-turning thrills. Really, it’s a great book. show less