Play Book Tag discussion

Ilona Andrews spells for BWF and this book not only has 71x Fantasy Romance tags, it really fits the monthly tag for anyone. I expect several besides me will be indulging in the author and this Innkeeper series of theirs in particular.

Clean Sweep is the first in this series. I started it a few hours ago and am already on p. 88. The inn itself is wonderfully alive and magical - reminiscent of the house in upstate NY that features in the last third of A Discovery of Witches, a real character. Dina is only 24 for sassy and confident. Sean is a studly werewolf who definitely is amusing in a way only a tough male can be. And Dina's dog Beast ... yes, a shih-tzu can be hunky dog!

Hope others will join me! There is slow foundation building for the series here. Time to get back to find out what happens next.

I love this series! Looking forward to seeing what others think.

I’ve read the first three (and remember them well enough that I won’t reread them this month) but have found there’s a fourth so that is firmly on the list!

The inn is a brilliant character and the dialogue is often fabulously snarky.

The ebook edition I am reading has color illustrations ... of Dina holding Beast, Sean the Werewolf in himan form, and now hunk of a military vampire. In armor. Yum.

Finished - solid 3 star read and I will definitely read more in series. Review tomorrow. This in the end did not enthrall me the way the Hidden Legacy series did, or even the Kate Daniels one I read did. They are however very different from each other in so many ways.

More after I write my review.

Interesting. I’m struggling a bit with the first Kate Daniels - it’s fading in and out for me a bit. Maybe I’m just in the mood for something more lighthearted

KateNZ wrote: "Interesting. I’m struggling a bit with the first Kate Daniels - it’s fading in and out for me a bit. Maybe I’m just in the mood for something more lighthearted"

Yes, it is much darker - apocalyptic. It's been a while since I read it so a bit fuzzy but I do remember it did not grab me as quickly as both Hidden Legacy did before and Clean Sweep just did.

But it does have a Zombie Dragon....

Theresa wrote: "Finished - solid 3 star read and I will definitely read more in series. Review tomorrow. This in the end did not enthrall me the way the Hidden Legacy series did, or even the Kate Daniels one I rea..."

@Theresa, I found that the Innkeeper Chronicles get better as they go. I enjoyed Clean Sweep but really got into the world as I continued the series. I so wish I had another left in the series!

Jen K wrote: "Theresa wrote: "Finished - solid 3 star read and I will definitely read more in series. Review tomorrow. This in the end did not enthrall me the way the Hidden Legacy series did, or even the Kate D..."

It definitely reads as a set up for a series, and I get that. I added the next but probably won't get to it. I have the last Hidden Legacy and 2nd Kate Daniels lined up this month.

Nice, I hope to get to my next Kate Daniels this month too. I haven't started the Hidden Legacy one yet. Kind of saving it to look forward to for now.

I'm a little late to the party, but I've got this one up next.

Oh, never too late just fashionably late - and there are 2 hunky men .. not one.

I'm definitely loving all the hunky men this month!

So...not liking the opening scene with the dog!

Sue wrote: "So...not liking the opening scene with the dog!"

I guess I should have warned ... but it's what catapults her to do something and this is an author who does not pussyfoot around things.

My next read is from the Hidden Legacy series - the last book Ruby Fever.

It’s good - you’ll like it!

Started Ruby Fever and enjoying a lot. Really like how author has handled providing the background on the series and characters so far without spoilers or sliwing the pace. I needed it too!

I had never read anything by this author before but I’ve torn through the first 3 in the series and have the last up next. Love the Inn, Helen and Dina…nice to see strong women that don’t need rescuing!

Sue wrote: "So...not liking the opening scene with the dog!"

No, me either. Almost stopped right there

I just finished Clean Sweep and I found it a nice enjoyable read. I liked it a lot more than Magic Bites. I like the originality of the inn concept, and the multiple planets offer a wider range of plots compared to other vampire/werewof stories.

I liked the characters, including the house. I liked the alternative sci fi explanations of vampires and werewolves, genetic modifications, etc. I listened to it on audio, as a full cast performance with sound effects. The sounds were sometimes cute - the house creaked, the monsters slobbered, and the people gulped their coffee or breathed hard- but not necessary,

Her trip to Costco was amusing when the monster attacked ( which is a violation of the interplanetary secrecy pact - or something like that). I loved that the other Texas woman held her own in the fight, by hitting it and throwing things at it. I liked her bravery and humor. Fortunately Dina had bleach. Dina supposedly has a lot less power outside the Inn, so it seemed odd that she could have the magical power to open up the (concrete?) floor at Costco to hide the monster, drop it down there, and magically fix the floor again before the other woman got back with a manager. That was a noisy process, and it wore her out.

I couldn’t believe The vampire - werewolf love triangle. Why is that in so many books?

On Dina's Costco trick - it was clear to me that she's still learning the strength of her powers. There seems always a theme in these books, or at least the first with a character with magic, where MC is learning or accepting still the extent and full power of her magic.

It also shows us exactly what happens when she draws on her full magic outside the bounds of the Inn. That too is always shown somehow in these stories by placing the character in a dangerous situation from which she or he barely survives.

I think there is more to that shopper in Costco and we will meet her again.

I finished Ruby Fever. It was wonderful! Definitely one of the best endings to a series I have ever read, leaving me fully satisfied.

I have a feeling I will reread the Hidden Legacy series again someday. Just love it!

I finally had a chance to finish Clean Sweep and I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked it!

I love the dry sense of humor and ridiculous scenarios. Made me laugh. Thanks for suggesting this one Theresa!

Theresa wrote: "I think there is more to that shopper in Costco and we will meet her again."

Oh good! Do you remember when she returns? I think Dina needs a community of friends. I used to love Buffy and Angel on TV and I was getting similar vibes here.

The authors have a gift for adding warmth and himor. If you didn't read their Hidden Legacy series during Favorite Author challenges as some of us did, you need to discover it. First is Burn for Me. It is wild crazy funny thrilling and one fab family.