Burn for Me

A Hidden Legacy, Book 1

By: Ilona Andrews

Narrated by: Renee Raudman

Number-one New York Times best-selling author Ilona Andrews launches a brand-new Hidden Legacy series, in which one woman must place her trust in a seductive, dangerous man who sets off an even more dangerous desire.

Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career - a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile situation. 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 and wanting to 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.

©2014 Ilona Gordon and Andrew Gordon (P)2014 HarperCollins Publishers

An amazing series!

I know that Ilona Andrews are an amazing writing team, but I’m always in awe all over again when I pick up one of their books. Burn For Me was a perfect blend of action, adventure, danger, humor, and sizzling HOT chemistry all wrapped into one riveting story!

It the Hidden Legacy world there are regular humans and humans who’ve inherited magical talents thanks to the Osiris serum discovered in 1863. Now in present day there are families or Houses of magic users with differing talents and levels of strength: Minor, Average, Notable, Significant, and Prime, the most powerful level.

Nevada Baylor, of Baylor Investigative Agency is tasked with the impossible by her parent company: bring in Adam Pierce, a Prime pyrokinetic, someone who controls fire. He’s rich, good looking, raises trouble wherever he goes, and now has just been accused of killing a man. Adam’s family, House Pierce wants him brought in, unharmed, before the cops find him. As if that isn’t bad enough, Mad Rogan, a Prime of legendary powers, is also on Adam’s trail, and decides Nevada is the best way to get to him.

Being so powerful makes both Adam and Mad deadly, unstoppable forces. Adam is a dangerous combination of arrogance and power with no regard for others. The guy is seriously unhinged, and on a mission. Mad is also arrogant and entitled, but he seemed like he had some conscience. We don’t know much about him, yet except from what Nevada observes. Nevada wants nothing to do with either man, but she’s forced into finding Adam or lose her business. Nevada reluctantly teams up with Mad after it becomes apparent she won’t succeed without help. She doesn’t want to be attracted to Mad, but their chemistry is intense and sexually charged! I loved their banter, the push and pull was funny as hell!

I also got a kick out of Nevada’s family: Grandma Frida, the mechanic, her Mother, a retired army sniper, two teenage younger sisters, Bern, her cousin and part-time intelligence officer. Grandma’s teasing about Mad Rogan and Nevada getting together was priceless! The family bickering was hilarious and so true to life, and the love they shared was obvious and strong.

Nevada’s the kind of character I love: conformable in her own skin, fiercely protective of her family, with a strong moral compass. Her powers have been held in secret, for good reason, although, as a reader you find out what it is very early on. I have my suspicions about her ranking, but I’ll keep that to myself, too.

Renee Raudman is Ilona Andrews’ fantastic narrator! I’m beyond excited to get my hands on the next installment!

Sorry narrator...

As others have said, the narrator could have been better. She has too nice of a voice and I would have preferred someone with a more bad ass vibe. None the less the story is worth reading and I’m going to listen to the next one even though it’s the same narrator. I hope they swap the narrators eventually but at this point, I’m still intrigued enough with the story to continue.

Voice does not match the age of the characters

The main characters are supposed to be mid twenties and the voice actress sounds in her 50’s. Besides that great story!!

Lots of surprises

Would you listen to Burn for Me again? Why?

Yes, I will definitely listen to Burn for Me again. I was a little put off by the almost continual "hot guy" commentary, but there was plenty of action. The heroine, Nevada, is well grounded in professional responsibility and love of her family. She is clearly a well-rounded person. The other characters in the book are not quite as well developed, but Mad Rogan is coming along nicely by the end of the book, as are Nevada's cousin, mother and grandmother. The plot is nicely tied up, with plenty of loose ends for future development.

What other book might you compare Burn for Me to and why?

I put off buying this book until I read a review that indicated that it is tied to the novella, of Swine and Roses -- which I found to be an absolute hoot. I have read all of the Ilona Andrews books that I can lay hands on -- both the Edge series and the Kate Daniels series, as well as Clean sweep and assorted short stories. I'm not sure how they do it, but the Ilona and Gordon Andrews husband and wife writing team can pull of some super yarns that include family warmth, romantic love and exceptionally fast-paced scary plots. I hope they keep writing for a long time to come.

Which scene was your favorite?

There were so many good scenes in this book it is hard to choose. I think my favorite might have been when Nevada sees the parking lot full of red carnations -- but the two scenes where she discovers the active aspects of her power are close runners-up.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Yes...when Bern steps out of the van. And I can't say a bit more about it without spoilers. Just take my word for it...it is moving.

Any additional comments?

Can't wait for the next one.

I loved this book!

Just like all Ilona Andrews books it was very well written and Renee Rodman did a great job. I enjoyed the relationship between Nevada and Mad Rogan and I can't wait for it to blossom into a loving and passionate relationship. I can hardly wait for the next book.....really looking forward to it.

A great start for a new series.

Nevada Baylor's world is set in a slightly different reality. An agent to stimulate magic in people was given in the past. This agent caused a genetic mutation in their future descendants. Children, grandchildren become able to use magic in different ways. Individual families, clans, countries start to breed for magic use. Nevada has a small family detective agency. She is given an apparent suicide mission of bringing in a rogue prime (highest ranked) alive and unharmed. Nevada's agency has no police contacts and the prime is a strong suspect in killing an off duty cop. This prime specializes in fire. Nevada must decide how to find and convince into surrender. She doesn't have the magic on her own to do the job. In the meantime the story starts out with the mother of the co-defendant a 16 year old boy trying to enlist the aid of a family member. He is known by the name of 'Mad' Rogan. Mr Rogan is a retired military grade prime. He isn't known by any good name. Since retirement he is a supposed hermit. 'Mad' Rogan is presented as a dis-likable character. His first action in the book is to kidnap Nevada and use magic on her in an attempt to locate the main suspect and young boy. The story has lots of action. It was fun to try and figure out what was going on. 'Mad' Rogan and Nevada must form a reluctant team. The ending has a surprise. It makes me anxious to see if there will be a book 2 and when it will be out. Renee Raudman does a great job reading this story.

Loved the story. but narration was distracting.

I absolutely love the story and the heated relationship between Nevada and Rogan, but the was the narator did the voice of the characters made them seem WAY older than college range. It was extremely distracting and hard to get into. She's phenomenal for other parts, Im sure, just not what I picked for these...

5 Star review

Love this series. I am patiently waiting for the next book in the series. KUDDOS

I love this series

I have read all the books in the series thus far and I loved them!! the story line was good, the smart ass mouths where funny and I really wanted to hang out with Grandma Freda!!

Fantastic Story!

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Ilona Andrews! Her stories are amazing! They grab you fast and don't let go and this story was no different. Interesting world and magic premise. Strong, funny female lead with a marvelous not-your-average hero and multiple quirky supporting characters. It was a stellar story. My only complaint, is that having listened to both the Edge and Kate Daniels stories I'd occasionally find myself pulled from the story wondering, when did Curran or Elenore show up? Although I do think the narrator is superb overall.