Burn for Me by Ilona Andrews

Burn for Me
by Ilona Andrews
Read: November 1-2, 2014
Published: October 28, 2014 by Avon
Source: Kindle Purchase
Tags: Adult Fantasy, Magic, 
Find: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N 

#1 New York Times bestselling 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 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.
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I've finally read an Ilona Andrews book, and all I can think is: "What was I waiting for?!" This was so good! 

What I love - The whole world building drew me in from the start. I'm a sucker for stories that take our world and tweak it a bit, throwing in some real historical events to add context. It just makes the story seem more real to me for some reason. This book does all that, while creating an incredibly rich society. Nevada lives in an America that looks very much like our own, except that magic is real and families and people are ranked by how much they have. Nevada's family has some magical blood running thorough it, but nothing that gives them any status in society. Mad Rogan on the other hand is the very powerful head of a very powerful House (or magical family). 

Along with the world building, I couldn't get enough of these characters. Nevada runs a small family detective company that gets bullied into taking an impossible case by another powerful House. She's clearly in way over her head, but she will do anything to save her business. I fell so hard for this girl, and her fierce love of her family. At first, it seems like Nevada couldn't possibly survive in this high stakes death match against a egotistical Prime Fire user. But Nevada is clever, determined, and has a neat and effective little magic trick of her own. Despite other people's best efforts to out smart her or take her down, she just keeps living and surprising everyone she meets in this book, none more than Connor "Mad" Rogan. 

Mad Rogan has his own interest Nevada's case, and he decides getting to her is the best way to accomplish his goals. Rogan kidnaps Nevada and is shocked when things don't go exactly as he plans. Then they are both shocked when they somehow end up becoming uneasy allies. I was very wary - and unhappy with Rogan - at first, but the more I read, the more I understood him and fell in love with his and Nevada's dynamic. 

With the incredible difference in their magical abilities, social status and general moral code, Nevada and Mad Rogan don't seem to be a good match at all. But as the story progresses, it becomes clear that they're actually incredibly well suited. And despite the fact that I wanted them to hurry along their romance, I really enjoyed the way it is paced in this first installment, as well as the fact that Nevada is clear about her limits and what she is (and isn't) looking for. It's refreshing to see that in a heroine, especially one up against an alpha male like Mad Rogan, who is used to getting his way. I also didn't feel like she was being annoyingly stubborn for frustration's sake, which sometimes happens to heroines. I cannot wait to watch where that relationship goes in the future! 

The plot of this book is equally exciting, and well balanced against the strong world building and complex characters. It is filled with action, danger and lots of intrigue. Along the way, we also meet a great secondary cast of characters. I can't wait to discover more of this world, and find out where Nevada and Mad Rogan take us next. 

What I wish - I basically loved all of this book. But now I remember why I like to wait to read Urban Fantasy until multiple books are out. This just wasn't enough of these characters and this story for me! I'm dying for the next installment. Also, while I adore the text, I greatly dislike this book cover. I'm pretty sure Nevada would not be happy about her representation on it. I'm not sure Mad Rogan would appreciate it either. Though Adam would be pleased - well, if that were Adam on the cover, which it is not. So actually, maybe he'd not like it. Basically, I think the cover is a poor representation of the excellent story in these pages.

PS. I think the original cover was 100x better. I think the new one sends the wrong message, actually. 

Love Triangle Factor: None
Cliffhanger Scale: Low/Medium. Low danger. This part of the story wraps, but lots of indication of what is to come. I want MORE. If you want further info about the future of this series/relationship, visit the author's FAQ page (I wish more stated this explicitly).