Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows
when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard
work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency
afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost
destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into
contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.
Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice … |
“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 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.
Book Quotes:
“I can be a good dragon, when the occasion requires it.”
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