Emerald Blaze by Ilona Andrews
Hidden Legacy #5 
Urban Fantasy Romance
August 25, 2020 by Avon
ARC

Favorite Quote:

“How did you even find me?”

“I will always find you,” he said. “I told you, Catalina. I won’t abandon you.”

He said it with complete sincerity, like it was the most obvious thing in the world. He’d come for me. Even if the thing dragged me into the river, he would find it, kill it, and pull me out. If the Abyss took me into the Pit, Alessandro would follow and bring me out.

Nobody besides my family would ever do that for me.

When an Ilona Andrews book hits your Kindle, no matter how far from release date, no matter what else you’re currently reading, no matter what’s on your plate for the day… you drop everything and read it. This is exactly what I did when the ARC for the latest in the Hidden Legacy series magically appeared on my Kindle. And I don’t regret a thing.

Emerald Blaze is the fifth book in the Hidden Legacy series, but the second book where Catalina is the main protagonist. If you haven’t read any of those books yet, you should stop and go start downloading. This is definitely not a stand-alone and the series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment. Trust me.

This is going to be a hard review to write because I in no way want to spoil this book for anyone. If you’ve read the blurb then you already know that House Baylor comes under attack and Catalina somehow (against her will) gets paired with Alessandro Sagredo by the Warden of Texas on a mission to find out how the monsters are being created. It’s an uneasy alliance as Alessandro left her and broke her heart at the end of Sapphire Flames.

Never fear! It doesn’t take long for this couple to makeup and their romance is truly sigh-worthy. One of the things I love about any Ilona Andrews story (and there is so, so many things I love) it’s their ability to create realistic and healthy relationships, both romantic and non-romantic. In Emerald Blaze Catalina and Alessandro finally let it all out and are honest with each other. Alessandro talks about his past and truly becomes the partner Catalina needs. Catalina is a powerful woman all on her own and can absolutely get herself out of dangerous situations, but it was amazing to see her and Alessandro work together to fight the bad guys.

Once again they are backed up by an amazing cast of secondary characters that will capture your heart and not let go. I am just as invested in them and their character development as I am by Catalina and Alessandro, or even Nevada and Connor. How can you not love Leon? Or Grandma Frida? Or be excited that Bern might have finally found love? I have a few theories about what is coming in the next book for them, but I’ll keep those to myself. Let’s just say I HOPE I’m right. LOL.

I’m not even going to venture into the meat of the plot, but suffice it to say it’s intricate and so well done.

Hidden Legacy is one of the best, if not THE best, series in the Urban Fantasy Romance genre. From the action scenes, to the complicated, yet smartly written plots, to the swoon-worthy romances and interesting characters I continue to be blown away.

Final grade- A

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