Burn for MeAuthor: Ilona Andrews
Series: Hidden Legacy #1
Published by: Avon
Publication Date: October 28, 2014
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher
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.
Oh, you guys! This book! Wow, okay, so Burn for Me is the first book in a new series by Ilona Andrews. Boy, did it ever friggin’ rock. Very rarely does the first book in the UF genre impress me so much. It usually take 2-3 installments to earn my undying devotion. I am already at the author’s mercy with the first book. Seriously, I didn’t even want to read anything for a while after I finished it, because I wanted to hold on to that book high for as long as possible.
I only recently had my first taste of Andrews’ work with Magic Bites. I loved it and look forward to continuing the Kate Daniels series. However, when I first saw Burn for Me, I hesitated big time. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to invest in another series just yet, while being so behind on Kate Daniels. Also, the cover is kind of meh. I can’t even tell you how glad I am that I decided to read it.
Burn for Me has so many elements that I love, just like other books, but authors do an exceptional job with them. It’s like when my brother and I make brownies. We both put the same ingredients in, but his always come out better, perfect. While mine are good, just not great. This book would be my brother’s brownies.
Nevada is a private investigator who runs the family business. She is reluctantly pulled into working a dangerous case where she’s supposed to bring in someone much more powerful than her. Yeah, she is expected to fail. That is, until Mad Rogan takes an interest in the case for his own reasons. He and Nevada work together to put a stop to the wrath that has been set upon Houston. But it turns out to be so much bigger than they could have imagined.
I love Nevada! She’s strong, funny and smart. Best of all, she doesn’t do any of that whiny, pity party crap. She knows what she has to do and does it. I would love to have her magical powers. She’s like a human lie detector, but as we find out, there’s a lot more to it. I can’t wait to see where that goes.
Connor (aka Mad Rogan) was the kind of man I love to see in this genre. Well, any genre, really. This guy is extremely powerful, and he’s a bit … infuriating, but it’s the kind of infuriating that makes you smile instead of wanting to smack him. He can be a bit scary and needs some lessons in morality; he just needs to be under Nevada’s influence more.. Anyway, what I really, truly love is, he doesn’t question Nevada. He doesn’t get all alpha protective, doubt her, or tell her to stay put. If fact, he supports and pushes her, helps her become stronger. That is the kind of man I love.
There are a slew of secondary characters that I adore! Nevada is very close with her family, and they all live together. Her mom and grandma are some tough women, and believe me when I say you do not want to cross them. Her sisters and cousins are quite entertaining. There is just a great family dynamic that works beautifully in this book.
When it comes to world-building in this genre, it’s often weighed down in the first book or two. But in Burn for Me, it was very well done. It gave me enough info about the magic and how it works, without making me want to zone out. The magic element is great and easy to understand.
Burn for Me was exciting and completely engaging. It’s almost 400 pages long, but I was so engrossed it felt like I flew through it. I didn’t want it to end! Believe me, I am eagerly waiting for the next book. It can’t be here soon enough!
Heck yes my friend..I adored every dang thing about this. We are review twins today and both fangirling!
I loved this one so so so so much!! It was my first time reading Ilona Andrews, and I have been crazy fan-girling since I started reading this.
They certainly know ho to write some amazing books. I can’t wait for the next in this series.
All I could think while I was nearing the end was…Nooooo I’m reading the ARC, it’s going to be soooo long til the next one! 🙂
I know how you feel. It’s the worst when it’s such a good book like this one.
I just skimmed trough your review because I plan to read this, but I am happy that you enjoyed it this much and that it has that wow-factor we want in our UF reads. I will start reading Kate Daniels series soon – I hope I’ll like it as much as you did.
I’m sure you will!
I swear, I am the only blogger out there that did not get an ARC. I think I was blind for like the two weeks it was available. So happy it turned out great. Andrews is just an amazing author team. They always have bad covers though, so never let that deter you.
This is definitely a case of don’t judge a book by its cover.
I agree, the cover isn’t fabulous but there have been so many great reviews for it I so want to read it now and honestly, the last thing I need is another new series to start but I know I won’t be able to resist.
Great review!
Do not resist! If you do, there will be much regret in your future.
Sounds like I write for fortune cookies. lol
Ohhh. Second review in the last couple of days who sang this book’s praises! I’m convinced. I’d love to meet Mad Rogan, and look forward to getting my feathers ruffled by him. Lol!
You must, you must, you must! 😀
YAY!!!!! I really loved this one too Christy, and for all the reasons you mentioned. Nevada was awesome, and ROGAN. Yes. He was alpha but not overly so and I loved that he let her be who she was:) Also, I want her grandma. Just saying. So ready for book 2!
I adore grandma!
Oh you have me totally sold on this. I’ve been looking for a new UF series to sink into. I’ve been into Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones and I love those. Rogan sounds like my kind of Reyes Farrow in the series I was talking about. Great review. I found your blog through another. I can’t wait to talk books with you! 🙂
Yes! You definitely need to read this then. I love the Charley Davidson series too, and this is right up there in awesomeness. I’m so glad you visited, Emma! 🙂
Yeah, I’m so adding this to my read list!
This makes me very happy! 😉
Awesome review! Agree with everyone else, the cover leaves a bit to be desired, it looks like another bodice ripper from the eighties. I’m so glad it was much, much more than that. Not my usual read, but love picking up new books and this sounds like a series I can sink my teeth into.
Yeah, there isn’t even any sex in this. There’s some tension, but it isn’t big on the romance.
I have read nothing but stellar reviews for this one and I so excited to read it. My copy is screaming my name. I still havent’ started Kate but it is my audio book fix starting soon. So happy to hear this rocks.
Yes, yes, and yes! I only have 4 audio chapters to go 🙂 But I already love everything about it 🙂
Great review girl!!
This one looks so fun! I’ve heard great things about this author before but this book really makes me want to go out and get it. Great review!
I hope you do, because you won’t regret it. 🙂
Now I’m even more excited about reading this, because I’ve been reading only raving review about it :D. I’m a huge fan of Kate Daniels series, too.
I’ve read the first two KD books and love them, but this one is even better!
“This book would be my brother’s brownies.” – I love that! 😀
It’s good to know Connor can be infuriating, thanks for the heads up. This books sounds so good; onto the wish list it goes. 🙂
It’s sad but true, his baking is to die for. Yet I use the exact same ingredients. sigh
I thought this was contemporary… oh well, I need to try this writing duo’s work anyways so I’ll check this one out tonight. I’m on a contemporary mood, not really feeling paranormal lately but I heard their writing is magic so they might just do it for me.
You should definitely go for this book anyway. It’s good for any mood. 😀
I REALLY want to get this book… I love their Kate Daniels series.
I am so glad you really enjoyed it, considering you thought it would take longer to get into the world.
Ahhh I so want to read this one! I didn’t take it for review because I was a bit behind and now kicking myself. Hopefully I can sneak it in soon. Those two are just so dang good together.
This is the second great review that I’ve read about this book in… 5mn ! Gotta get it 🙂
I still haven’t read anything by this author before but your review for this one makes me want to change that asap! I’m going to have to move this author up on my TBR pile ASAP!
oh gosh I recently started reading her Kate series and been really loving it so soo looking forward to this one! Glad to hear you loved it.
The more people are coming out with their love for this book the higher on my wishlist it goes! So need to read this one. I just started on her Kate Daniels books as well. Oh the second book in that series is already better the first. Now I need this series. I’d say to tell her to slow down, but then I’ll have all these books at my disposal when I’m ready. 😀
This sounds pretty awesome! I have yet to read this author but this may be a good place to start.
I love it when a book stays with you once it’s finished, but it does make it hard to start the next one. Great review!
I’m glad you had a wonderful time with this one as well. It’s awesome right? But now it will be so difficult to wait for more! great review!
I’ve never read an Andrews book before, but want to. I actually received a copy last week, and now I’m really excited!
I’m sold! Got to grab that book right now. Sounds like an exciting read!
I HAD to go back to your review of this one and say I LOVED this one to pieces too!!! What I loved the most, besides Nevada and her awesome family (Grandma!!!) was Mad Rogan! I loved that aspect where he almost, like, studied Nevada as if she was this odd, rare, weird creature he wasn’t sure what to make of.
LOVED!!!! Great review!!!
Yep, and that he didn’t treat her like a damsel in distress.
Agreed, I loved it to bits too!
And honestly, it was my first Ilona Andrews read, I’ve been meaning to get into the Kate Daniels series, but then again I didn’t even get around to finishing The Hollows series by Kim Harrison and I love it hardcore, so I’m reluctant to jump into a many-books series at this point, lol.
But this was the perfect scenario in which to try out Ilona Andrews, and boy was it a good experience!
Yey for waiting on the second one in the series now, haha. Waiting sucks…