Review copy was received from Publisher, Purchased. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews Narrator: Emily Rankin
Series: Hidden Legacy #5
Published by HarperAudio on August 25, 2020
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 12 hours, 41 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Publisher, Purchased
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Catalina Baylor is looking forward to wearing her maid of honor dress and watching her older sister walk down the aisle. Then the wedding planner gets escorted off the premises, the bride’s priceless tiara disappears, and Rogan's extensive family overruns his mother’s home. Someone is cheating, someone is lying, and someone is plotting murder.
To make this wedding happen, Catalina will have to do the thing she fears most: use her magic. But she’s a Baylor and there’s nothing she wouldn't do for her sister's happiness. Nevada will have her fairy tale wedding, even if Catalina has to tear the mansion apart brick by brick to get it done.
These are my favorite authors and I am so excited whenever I get to read one of their books. There is this feeling of joy which fills me. I preordered this on Kindle (in December 2019!) and audio, as I have done for the entire Hidden Legacy series. I would read the series in order. You don’t want to miss anything!
Emerald Blaze is the second book in Catalina’s trilogy. In each book, we learn more about her and what she is trying to accomplish. She really holds it all close, and we learn there is much Nevada kept to herself also. Interestingly in my Sapphire Flames review, I was worried she may be in over her head with Linus Duncan and her grandmother wanting to control her. I was thinking exactly the same again. I am wary of Linus Duncan, and don’t want to be anywhere near Victoria.
Catalina is sent on another difficult case by Linus and who shows up right away? Alessandro Sagredo, who left her devasted. He stays with her throughout this world-changing case. Their relationship grows as they actually talk to each other. This time he is open with her, answering any questions she has. Catalina is not sure she wants to know. She can’t afford to let him in again. Linus, on the other hand, is hardly available.
I know and love so many characters. The family group is full of amazing people and they had me laughing several times. In spite of the life and death situations, they don’t forget to care about others and try to make the world better.
Books by Ilona Andrews are smart and so well-developed. They give me all the feels and I am never disappointed. I want to give them all the hearts! As expected, this will be one of my favorite books this year. OMG the ending here! I need more as soon as it is available.
Narration:
I listened to Emily Rankin on Sapphire Flames also. I really enjoyed her as Catalina. I didn’t feel quite as distinct about Alessandro as I did in SF. There were some unique voices, male and female. Her voices for Nevada and Connor didn’t seem quite right to me. Overall, I enjoyed the performance. I was able to listen at my normal 1.5x speed.
Listen to a clip:
About Ilona Andrews
“Ilona Andrews” is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)
Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Texas with their two children and many dogs and cats.
They have co-authored several bestselling series, including the #1 NYT bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels, rustic fantasy of the Edge, paranormal romance of Hidden Legacy, and Innkeeper Chronicles, which they post as a free weekly serial.
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I read all types of books but my favorites are urban fantasy and romantic suspense.I like some romance and some action / adventure / mystery in everything.I like sex in my books but please, only between TWO people.Intimate conversation is equally important to the sex in a book.It lets me see the characters.The other thing I enjoy is humor.
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Reading this book contributed to these challenges:
- COYER-20
I’m glad you continue to love this series? Can you believe I’ve never read Ilona Andrews before?
No!!!!!! They are my favorite authors. Please tell me you will read something soon. Everything is amazing.
i want, i want, i want. off to see what the library has. i have been meaning to do some binge reading of her work
My favorite authors. I recommend everything they write. This one won’t be out until next week but if you have read them you could start at the beginning of this series.
Did read review; because I love this author and I want this to be a surprise. I’m excited for next week and the release. I’ve got my copy ordered and can’t wait to dive in. ^_^
They’re my favorites. I pre-ordered in both digital formats. It’s a winner – enjoy!
This sounds like a fun read! I haven’t read any books by this author before but I’ve read some great stuff about them.
I’m glad you liked this audiobook 😉
OMG. This is my favorite author. I highly recommend this series but start at the beginning with Burn for Me. You won’t regret it.
I can’t wait to read *listen* to this one! Just a few more days. I would think that Nevada and Conor would sound strange narrated by someone else. We’re so used to Rene Raudman. I do like Rankin for Catalina. Makes a nice distinction between her and Nevada.
Yes exactly what you said about the narration. I do really like Rankin for Catalina. The book is amazing – enjoy!
This author duo is such a comfort to read right? I just adore especially this family and their kinship to each other. Definitely eager to continue with Catalina’s journey.
Yes when reading a favorite author like this it is a comfort because you know, you trust it will be amazing. It’s just a pleasure and I feel happy every moment. It also seems to read so quickly because nothing distracts me.
5 more days until I get my Audible copy. Forgot I pre-ordered it, but since I have the other 4, I’m not surprised. I also have on request the paper version at two libraries. Sometimes I miss stuff in audio so when it’s a favorite series I’ll do both (provided the library has copies).
I got this whole series on audio and Kindle. It’s amazing. I know I will reread. I’ve already reread the Nevada books which is a little unusual for me but not surprising when it is so enjoyable. Wildfire I started rereading as soon as I finished reading. It’s a favorite of favorites. Enjoy!
I’m so excited. Tuesday is just around the corner.
When I get one of their books, I just drop everything else and read it. Nothing distracts me.
I am looking forward to reading Emerald Blaze. Love this series.
Me too! It’ the action, the well defined characters, the plot, the humor, it’s everything.
I’ve been wanting to try her books and I’ve now got my eye on this series. You sure are loving it!
Ilona Andrews is my favorite author. Period. I love everything they write and I certainly highly recommend this series. It is shorter (newer) than the Kate Daniels series I did for my 2018 Read-along. You might like the Innkeeper series which is more scifi too.
I’ve only read the Innkeeper Chronicles by these authors and absolutely love them. I haven’t yet read anything else by them – but I am tempted, because there is just something about the way they write that gets right under my skin. I always get a massive book hangover when I finish one of their books… Thank you for sharing, Anne:)
They write so well. You have much pleasure ahead. Everything is amazing.
Ilona Andrews is on my list of authors to try this year. The books always sound so good.
They are my favorite of favorite authors. There are several series depending on what genres suit you most, but they are all amazing.
I’m so excited… I’m on a Zoom virtual signing event with them this afternoon!!
So… I recently listened to SF before reading EB… The whole Linus thing… I feel like I missed it the first time I read SF, but now… We should chat! And I do worry for her around Victoria, but dang, Catalina showed us and her family that she can handle things. She’s definitely NOT Nevada. I can’t wait to read this one again! So good.
That’s awesome. I haven’t taken advantage of many of the Zoom things yet. It’s certainly easier than going to all kinds of events and maybe your favorite doesn’t attend at the last minute. I’m not sure which Linus thing but he was messing with them throughout the series.
I’m with you on the Ilona Andrews love! I adore their writing, their characters and their worlds. I preordered this as soon as it became available too and was so excited to see it arrive on my kindle on Tuesday! I still haven’t read it though… I waited about 6 weeks after Sapphire Flame’s release before reading that one and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s similar for Emerald Blaze. I don’t know why I do it! I think I enjoy knowing it’s there waiting for me and don’t want to dive straight in for I know I’ll read it in a few hours and be left hanging, lol.
I always jump in as soon as I get their stuff. I will say the epilogue for this one is particularly hangy. I’m so ready for more, as usual.