Thursday, October 30, 2014

Review: Burn for Me

BURN FOR ME
Hidden Legacy #1
Ilona Andrews
Urban Fantasy
384 pages
Avon
Available Now
Source: Finished copy from publisher for review

THE STORY (from Goodreads)
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
Burn For Me is everything readers have long come to expect from the writing team of Ilona Andrews, time in the beginning spent setting the world up so that we have our feet firmly beneath us before yanking our hearts into the mix thanks to a set of fun and multifaceted characters. The fairly extensive setup of world and story in the beginning, while appreciated, does make for a slightly slower start, but as always, before long we find ourselves in all sorts of dangerous situations alongside Nevada as she fights for her business, her life and her family. Things get even more interesting when Nevada finds herself paired with Mad Rogan, and once he enters the picture, the tension between them ensures we can’t put this first installment down until we’ve seen it all the way through.

Nevada is a woman with the perfect amount of attitude–feisty and in possession of a sharp wit she puts to good use, but not so exaggerated in those areas as to push us away rather than draw us in. Her relationship with her family is a highlight, her love for them clear from page one, but what really makes the entire lot of them shine are the moments of irritation or silliness that so often accompany familial relationships when all parties live in close proximity. They bicker and pick at one another in the most relatable, hilarious way possible, luring us into their world with their genuineness and the obvious affection that exists between them. Nevada’s trigger-happy mother and bad boy-loving grandmother lead the way, bringing a smile to our faces whenever they appear on page and providing a touch of comedic relief just when we need it most.

In addition to a family we can't wait to return to in the next installment, Burn For Me also gives us a romantic relationship positively thrumming with sexual tension. The dance between Nevada and Mad Rogan doesn’t start until about a hundred pages in, but we are more than fairly rewarded for our patience when the immense force of both their personalities finally collides. Despite Rogan’s staggering power and intimidating reputation, Nevada goes toe to toe with him without flinching, refusing to be strong-armed into doing what he wants when he wants it, and repeatedly rebuffing advances every woman around her would happily die surrendering to. Though she’s not a game player in the traditional romantic sense given she's as honest as they come about every aspect of herself, she and Mad Rogan play their own game nonetheless, one they both know they’re playing and one that is all the more entertaining for us because of it.

Overall, Burn For Me is a fantastic start to the Hidden Legacy series, full of action, humor, and a romance that is all about the delicious build-up rather than the pay off. It’s clear things between Nevada and Rogan are just beginning, and we can’t help but smile as we think about the merry chase on which we're sure to be led as their story progresses.

Rating: 4.5/5
  

Find Ilona:


This book was sent to me by the publisher free of charge for the purpose of a review
I received no other compensation and the above is my honest opinion.

32 comments:

  1. I'm so excited to read this, Jenny! Nevada and her family sound amazing! I love quirky family/secondary characters.Hearing about a trigger happy mother and a bad-boy loving grandmother already makes me smile! The romance sounds just as delicious. Brilliant review! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You are going to love her grandma Rachel, I know it! She was a trip:)

      Delete
  2. I haven't read any of Andrews books, Jenny, so reading this might be a good way to get introduced to her writing. I like the sound of Nevada and especially that of her family. Her mother and grandmother seem particularly amusing to read about.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES!!! I love the Kate Daniels books as well, but with this one you can start at the beginning and be caught up already instead of having to read 6 or 7 books:)

      Delete
  3. Yay! So happy to see you enjoyed this one as well. I loooooved it as well but now I really want more and it's sad we have to wait lol (like always). Great review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Waiting is never fun:( BUT, Ilona Andrews always makes it worth it:)

      Delete
  4. I've been hearing so many great things about this book, Jenny. I definitely want to read this now. I love the sound of Nevada and the tension between her and Mad Rogan!
    Lovely review, Jenny! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Books by Ilona Andrews are always fun for me, Nick. I'm entertained throughout and I'm always left wanting more (but not in a frustrating cliffhanger kind of way) :)

      Delete
  5. I like the sound of delicious build-up, Jenny. It sounds, well, delicious. (I don't think I'm fully awake yet.) I need to get back on the Ilona Andrews wagon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YES!!! I love me some sexual tension and these two have it in spades. It's going to be fun watching them come together as the series continues:)

      Delete
  6. I'm hoping to listen to this story in audio VERY soon, but I'm not the least bit surprised by your review or your rating. This is Ilona Andrews after all! The sexual tension is a definite bonus; I can't wait to meet Nevada and Rogan!

    Carmel @ Rabid Reads.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think you'll be a fan of the pair of them Carmel. And her grandma. *dies*

      Delete
  7. Oh my God! This book is stalking me! But seriously!!!
    I'm so glad to hear that you liked it this much (extra push for me to read it asap).

    ReplyDelete
  8. Gah everyone is loving this Jenny and writing fantastic reviews for it. I know I will be buying this soon!
    Wonderful review as always my friend!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. This book was just what I needed. I'd been in a bit of a slump and I just sprinted through this one. So fun:)

      Delete
  9. Oh my gosh I love the sound of this! I never need an excuse to read a new Ilona Andrews book, but your review is the perfect reason for me to go out and get a copy. I love the sound of the game playing between Nevada and Rogan, and that it's not the petty kind. Lovely review!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DO IT LAUREN!!!! I don't think you'll be sorry:)

      Delete
  10. Everyone is RAVING about this book! I think it's going to have to go on my must-read list!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It was just pure entertainment Candace. Great story, layered characters, and a romance that's going to be fun to watch unfold in future books:)

      Delete
  11. YAY! I'm thrilled you loved this one, Jenny. I still have to order it, which is on my to do list for tonight. Can't wait to read it and meet these wonderful characters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I can't wait to see what you think Rummanah! I'm already looking forward to a reread:)

      Delete
  12. I'm nearly done with this and I'm absolutely loving it as well. It really is such a fantastic read and the characters and plot are so well done. Can't wait for more from Ilona Andrews--they keep proving, time and time again, that their talent lies beyond just the Kate-verse. Gorgeous review, Jenny!(:

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm so glad to hear that Keertana! Ilona Andrews never let me down:)

      Delete
  13. Oh I so want to read this even more now. I love the sound of the play between them. I'm just getting into her books but she already has a fan in me. Yea, I'm so putting this one on my tbr!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. READ IT SOON MELISSA!!! Then we can discuss Mad Rogan:) He's harem-worthy for sure.

      Delete
  14. Yay! I'm glad you loved Burn for Me Jenny. The worldbuilding sounds engrossing and the romantic relationship positively thrumming with sexual tension -yep, I'm there ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. I have not read anything by this author but I'm happy that you have enjoyed it. Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete