ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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Chapter 1

Innkeeper Chronicles, Sweep of the Heart POST A COMMENT by

There was great wisdom in striking the iron while it was hot. 

I took a sip of my iced tea and brushed a little bug off the skirt of my yellow sun dress.  I was sitting on the back porch of Gertrude Hunt Bed and Breakfast in a comfortable wooden recliner. In front of me our backyard spread, flooded with golden sunshine.  The lawn was still green – we had a lot of rain this year – but the heat of a Texas summer poured from the sky, bringing everything to a standstill.  The squirrels napped in their nests deep within the oaks.  The mice and bunnies hid in their burrows. Even the bugs fell quiet, too hot to trill. Beast, my tiny black and white Shih Tzu, lay on her back by my feet and snored softly. The fan in the porch roof above me was going full force, but my forehead was still sweating.

Such a lovely hot day.  Perfect day to take a nap.

I drank another swallow of my tea and closed my eyes.  Behind me Gertrude Hunt unfolded, a complex collection of rooms and passageways many times larger than its physical footprint visible from the street and the subdivision on the other side of it. I focused on the kitchen.  A seven-foot-tall shape moved within it, big, with foot-long quills thrusting from its back.  The shape wiped down the counter, holding the rag with large, clawed hands.

 Nap.  Nap, nap, nap, you want to nap…  If only I had powers of suggestion, my life would be so much easier.

I opened my eyes.

Next to me Caldenia fanned herself with a glittering fan and took a sip of her Mello Yello.  “Still no luck?”

I shook my head.

“Then I will have to help you, my dear.”

She rose, put her straw hat on, and strolled into the kitchen.  At first glance, our permanent guest looked just like an older Southern woman with a gentle tan, long platinum-grey hair pulled into an elegant updo, and a refined face that said she was stunning in her youth and still remained so. She chatted with neighbors, grew tomatoes with resounding success – I made sure that the inn watered them and added fertilizer at appropriate times – and mastered the art of smiling without showing her teeth.  They were pointed and sharp, like those of a shark.

I concentrated on the kitchen.

“This heat is stifling,” Caldenia announced. “I’m going to retire for the afternoon.  You could use some rest as well, Orro.  If I were you, I’d take this opportunity before to nap before dinner starts.”

Orro rumbled something. 

I felt Caldenia move through the kitchen and up the stairs toward her suite.

In the kitchen, Orro stopped, stared out the window…

Come on…

He carefully folded the towel, hung it on the towel rack by the sink, and ambled out of the kitchen heading toward the narrow winding stairs leading down.

I held my breath, tracking him with my magic.  Down the stairs, down, down, and to the cozy den where he made his lair.  He stepped inside and shut the door.

Now!

I jumped out of my recliner.  Beast leaped three feet into the air, landed on her feet, and barked once, looking from side to side.

“Shh!”

I swung the back door open and dashed inside the kitchen.  Beast chased me.

I sprinted to the oven, turned it on to bake at 350°, and spun around. The door of the pantry flew open, displaying 3,000 sq feet of space filled with shelves and refrigerators.  Tendrils of striated wood burst from the ceiling, shot into the pantry, and dragged ingredients onto the island: sugar, flour, baking powder…  I grabbed eggs and a bag of Granny Smith apples from the only refrigerator visible in the kitchen.  The inn hauled out a heavy KitchenAid mixer out.

“Not that one, the small one,” I hissed. “That one is too loud.”

The KitchenAid vanished back into the pantry and another tendril delivered the handheld mixer into my hands.  I put two large bowls onto the island and reached out with my magic.

The creature who ruled our kitchen with an iron claw was settling into his nest bed. Operation Apple Cake was a go.

I creamed the butter in the bowl and added a ¾ cup of sugar to it. Baking a cake for the man you love was stressful enough.  Baking a cake in a kitchen ran by a Red Cleaver chef was an impossible feat. Orro viewed both the kitchen and the pantry as his sole domain.  Trying to cook anything meant being observed over your shoulder, treated to a detailed critique, followed by multiple offers to help, followed by hurt feelings when said offers were politely and repeatedly declined, culminating in pouting and declarations of woe.  If he was really in the moment, he would throw an existential crisis into it.

Orro typically slept for at least an hour and a half.  My cake only took 50 minutes to bake. If I played my cards right, it would be cooked before he ever caught on.  He would not mess with it once it was cooked.  He was very ethical and respectful of others’ efforts.

I folded my dry ingredients into my wet ones, mixed everything, poured it into a greased springform pan, and focused on the apples.

Sean had gone out this morning to get more firewood.  The inn required wood in the worst way, and we’d been going through a cord, sometimes two, every few days. It wouldn’t have been a problem if we were a BBQ joint, but we were masquerading as a quaint bed and breakfast that did a very limited business.  Sooner or later, someone would start wondering what we were doing with all that wood.  Sean staggered our firewood orders between different suppliers and bought waste wood whenever he could find it.  Usually we ordered firewood online, but he found a supplier a couple of hours away who would deliver a full tri-axle load, seven and a half cords. The only catch was, they wanted payment up front in cash.

Sean didn’t like to leave the inn.

He didn’t mind it as much when he had to go to places other than our planet. Earth was home, the place where he was born and grew up, and Sean learned how to pass for a human.  But then he walked out into the Great Beyond.  The Universe bathed him in its breath.  He saw the stars and other planets, he fought enemies he couldn’t have imagined, and he learned the true nature of his people.

Out there, he could be himself, an alpha strain werewolf.  Here, on Earth, he had to pass for an ordinary man and after years in space, it no longer came easily to him.

I mixed cinnamon, sugar, and lemon juice into my peeled sliced apples, added a bit of flour, layered them on top of the dough, popped the pan into the oven, and exhaled. Halfway there. 

“Thirty minutes,” I told the inn.

The inn creaked in acknowledgment.

Sean wanted to get the firewood.  I offered to go with him, but he declined. I couldn’t make it easier for him while he was out, but I could greet him with his favorite cake when he came back.

A gentle chime rolled through my mind.  A familiar presence entered the boundary of the inn. I motioned with my fingers and the wall sprouted a screen.  On it, Officer Hector Marais carefully maneuvered his Red Deer PD cruiser up my driveway.  Usually he parked on the street.  Driving up like that meant he had special delivery.

I wiped my hands with a kitchen towel and headed to the garage.  No rest for the wicked.

#

Officer Marais opened the trunk of his cruiser and bent down to give Beast a pet.  In his mid-thirties, bronze-skinned, athletic, with blue-black hair cut short and a clean-shaven jaw, he was the very definition of the modern police officer. Everything from the collar of his uniform to the soles of his boots was “squared away” as Sean said. If the police department ever needed a model for a recruitment poster, there was nobody better.

He truly was a model police officer, completely committed to protecting citizens in his jurisdiction.  Which was why once he found out that aliens existed, and that Earth enjoyed the special protected status, he took it upon himself to add extraterrestrial policing to his regular duties. If any normal Earth mechanic ever popped the hood of his cruiser, they would faint on the spot. We were very fortunate that Red Deer made its officers buy their vehicles through a subsidized program.

I looked into the trunk.  A woman lay inside it wrapped in a stun net. She was a little older than me and wore a grey combat suit. Her tan skin had a slight cinnamon tint, her hair was dark red and braided away from her face, and her green eyes regarded me with open hostility.

The stun net, one of the fun modifications Sean and Marais had added to the police cruiser, was self-guiding and acted like a taser on contact, short circuiting the neural pathways. Marais had practiced firing it on Sean in an abandoned warehouse parking lot. He’d chase him with the cruiser and Sean would do his best to evade, while I served as a lookout and tried not to have a heart attack every time I heard a car coming. Marais hadn’t had a chance to use his new gadget until now.

The net should have stunned the woman into a mild coma.  Instead, it seemed to just piss her off. She glared at me like I was everything that was wrong with her life. If looks could kill, my face would be sporting two burning holes. I leaned closer.  A faint golden sheen rolled over her irises.

A werewolf. Made sense.

“Where did you find her?”

Marais nodded at the car.  “I’ll show you.”

I let the tendril accept the transmission from the cruiser. Gertrude Hunt produced another screen showing the view from Marais’s dashcam camera.  He had two sets in his car, one the standard issue from Red Deer PD and the other bootleg from us.

The street looked familiar.  He was on Rattlesnake Trail, by the high school, heading east, with the walled subdivision on one side and the school’s baseball diamond on the other. Bright summer sunshine flooded the mostly empty road.  The record temperatures chased the kids inside or to the pools, and their parents were still at work.

A dark humanoid shape shot past the cruiser. Marais was going at least 35. Top human speed was 28 miles per hour and whatever that was blew by his vehicle like it was standing still.

“Someone was running at superhuman speeds in broad daylight for all the honest world to see,” Marais said.  “Apparently, she thinks the Earth Treaty doesn’t apply to her.”

The treaty applied to everyone.

I motioned to Gertrude Hunt. A tendril emerged from the ceiling, plucked the woman, still in the stun net, out of the trunk, and wound around her, pinning her arms to her sides.  The stun net dropped to the ground.  The inn’s tendrils widened, splitting into smaller branches and spun the woman.  Weapons rained to the floor of the garage: a short-range energy sidearm, two knifes, a monomolecular cleaver short sword, and three small sticky bombs, each the size of a large grape.  When attached to a door and detonated, they could blow a hole through the strongest terrestrial safe.

Hmm. I wonder what she intended to blow up with those. I could hazard a pretty good guess, and I didn’t like it.

The tendrils twisted my captive upright. She glowered at me and snarled.

Beast snarled back by my feet.

The werewolf woman didn’t seem impressed. In her place, I wouldn’t have taken the ten-pound Shih Tzu seriously either. It was a potentially deadly mistake.

I studied the woman. Let’s see, second generation, judging by her age, born after her people had sacrificed their home world to keep it from falling into invaders’ hands. In good shape, lean, with attractive, bold features. On Earth someone would think she was a star athlete, track, or tennis maybe.

“You are in violation of the Earth Treaty,” I told her. “Do you know what that means?”

She didn’t answer.

“The Treaty expressly forbids exposing the human population to the existence of extraterrestrial life. Any traveler wishing to visit Earth must make arrangements with an Inn like this one. Have you made such arrangements?”

No answer.

“She knows,” Marais said. “I read her the rights on the way. She was heading this way when I apprehended her. Probably to see you.”

“Not you.” The woman sneered.

Oh.  Another one.

“Thank you, Officer,” I told Marais. “I’ll take it from here.”

“Never a dull moment.”  He opened the front door, reached for a hidden button in the dashboard, pressed it, and the net slid back into the trunk, primed and ready to be reused.

“Oh! I have something for you.”

I held out my hand.  The ceiling parted and a vacuum-sealed parcel landed in my hand, two skeins of wool yarn, shimmering with blue and green. “For your wife.”

“Thanks. She’ll love it. What kind of wool is it?”

“Tell her it’s muskox.” It was close enough unless someone did a microscopic analysis. It was a gift from a guest, and Officer Marais’ wife ran a knitting blog. She would enjoy it much more than I would.

“Thanks again.”

I watched Officer Marais get into his vehicle and drive down the driveway. A moment later I felt him cross the boundary of the inn.

It was just me, the female werewolf, and her undying hatred for me. I didn’t take it personally.

The werewolves of Auul were poets, and storytelling was in their blood. Sadly, the saga of their planet turned out tragic, the way sagas often do. They were invaded by an overwhelming force, so they bioengineered werewolfism to repel it. Then decades later, the enemy made their own version of supersoldiers and invaded again. The people of Auul built teleportation gates, knowing they would destabilize their planet, and created the second-generation werewolves, the alpha strain, more dangerous and deadly, to guard them as they evacuated. 

The alpha strain werewolves protected the gates to the bitter end, until the cosmic forces that powered them tore Auul apart.  Almost all of them died in that last stand.

Sean was the son of two alpha strain werewolves who somehow made it out just before the cataclysm.  He was born against all odds, he was freakishly powerful, and after serving in the military, he met me, learned where he came from, and caught a glimpse of the Galaxy. It beckoned, and Sean followed its starlight.

He had fought a devastating war on Nexus, bringing both the Hope Crushing Horde’s and the Holy Anocracy’s offensives to a halt. He battled the best fighters in the Galaxy and triumphed. He had no equal in close quarters combat. He could lead an army or stand alone against overwhelming odds.

It was simply too much for the werewolves. Here was the son of their heroes who came out of nowhere and became the best werewolf ever. They were a people without a planet, refugees scattered across dozens of worlds. They needed a folk hero in the worst way, and my boyfriend proved to be irresistible. Everything about him was legendary and mythical. The fact that he shunned fame and glory only made it worse.

Werewolves favored a direct kind of courtship. In the past few months, we’d had several female and male visitors who arrived at Gertrude Hunt to declare their admiration and interest. Luckily for me, the man was very different from the legend he had inspired.

The image on the screen changed into a big timer counting down.  30… 29… 28…

My cake!

“I have to go,” I told her.

“I want to talk to him!” the werewolf woman snarled.

“He should be back soon.”

“When?”

“Hopefully not for another twenty minutes. It will give you a chance to rehearse your speech.”

She blinked but recovered. “I don’t have a speech!”

“You say it like it’s my first time. There is always a speech.”

The timer reached zero and went off.

“Got to go.”

I took off down the hallway, escorted by Beast, while the woman’s curses slowly grew fainter behind me.

Dina’s Apple Cake

Dough:

4 egg yolks

2/3 cup white sugar

1 stick of butter (1/2 cup)

1/3 cup of sour cream

1 1/2 cup flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 pinch of salt

1 Tbsp vanilla extract

Zest of 1 lemon

Filling:

3-4 large Granny Smith or other baking apples

1 tsp of cinnamon

1 pinch of flour

Meringue:

4 egg whites

2/3 cups white sugar

Equipment:

a mixer

springform pan

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a springform pan. I used 2 6-inch ones, because smaller cakes are easier to store, but 9 or 10 inch springform pan would work as well.

Separate egg yolks from egg whites. Refrigerate egg whites.

Grate zest from 1 lemon. Peel apples, slice them into 1/2 inch thick slices, add cinnamon and flour. Mix thoroughly. If the apples are on the sweeter side, add a bit of lemon juice. Set aside.

Cream 2/3 cups sugar with room temperature butter with a hand mixer. Add egg yolks one by one, mix thoroughly. Add sour cream, vanilla, and lemon zest. Mix.

In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder, and salt. Mix. Add to the wet ingredients and pour into the springform pan. Layer the apples on top. Bake for 30 minutes.

After 30 minutes, removed the pan from the oven. Whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Add sugar a little at a time and continue whipping until meringue forms and the entire 2/3 cups of sugar is gone.

Layer meringue on top of the apples. Bake for additional 20 minutes. Meringue should be blush and pretty. Remove from oven and let cool to room temperature. Gently run a knife along the edge of the pan just like Dina did, to cut meringue, otherwise when you release the pan, half of it will come off. Release the pan and lift straight up.

Enjoy with tea or your favorite beverage.

I found a typo!

Thank you for not pointing it out. You are reading the first draft, which will contains mistakes. Dedicated proofreaders will go through the chapter and proofread it before publication.

Chapter 2 Part 1 coming next Friday.

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Comments

  7. Eeeeeeeee! I love how she has yarn for his wife and the werewolf seige of women is hilarious. Poor Sean. He’s Earth’s Sexiest Werewolf!

  9. Merry Christmas and thanks for the lovely gift! =) This added to the preliminary work on a commissioned art piece of hubby’s Jedi Guardian and Kira Carsen makes for a wonderful day!

    • I am so excited both for the story and the apple cake recipe! I will make it the moment I get home from the holidays! I am ordering 6 inch spring form pans now. Happy holidays to one and all.

  19. This is so yummy in all the levels of feel. Thank you. May your holidays be merry and bright, and 2022 healthy and wealthy and a little more wise.

  28. Happy Christmas to House Andrews!!!! (And also Super Mods, and also the BDH, long may our hunger live) This was a lovely treat! Thank you!!!

  31. Lovely! I hope the meh week does not extend to the writing. Thank you for this lovely Christmas present!
    Happy Holidays everyone!

  32. Best holiday gift ever–a new story *and* the promise of more to come! Thank you for brightening my days–not just with new stories, but with snippets of your lives. I love hearing about dogs, kids, and house tribulations too. Your true gift is making it all manageable, relatable, and usually darn funny, which makes all of the same here…somehow more manageable and sometimes funny as well. Best of holidays wishes to you all, can’t wait for the next installment!

  33. Such a lovely present! Thank you so much. (I won’t say “You shouldn’t have”. My fellow members of the BDH would kill me…)

    I also appreciate the recipe. I probably won’t make it – I live alone and do not have a large family to help me eat it – but I love to read about great food. Cookbooks are great reading, if you aren’t too hungry when you start. (You *will* be hungry before you stop.)

    I hope your holidays are happy, safe and filled with love, now and always.

  35. Thank you so much. I am an avid reader. Sometimes some of the new books get repetitive and I miss why my favorites are such excellent stories. Whenever I need a reset I have been turning to the Innkeeper series and Hidden Legacy series. So this is a wonderful Christmas present.

  36. Thank you! Both for the excellent words and for the yummy cake recipe. Have a wonderful holiday, be safe and healthy, and your readers are here….. always!!

  42. Thank you! What a great surprise gift! Merry Christmas and Happy New Years to you both and to your family! May 2022 be a better year for all of us! 🎄🎉

  44. Darn you House Andrews, my wife and I have company coming over tomorrow and we are in major cleanup mode today. My wife is going to kick my butt when she sees me kicking back reading this gift.

  45. Nothing says holiday cheer like a visit to the inn. Thank you for writing and posting! This definitely makes my holiday (especially when I’ve got gestational diabetes so hard limit on holiday cookies/cakes and my whole family has all come down with a cold). Cheers and happy holidays!

  47. Hooooo…. Thanks so much! This is so wonderful! Thank you for sharing and a very Merry Christmas/ Happy Holidays to all.

    • Hey Michelle,

      The first picture after the Sweeping Heart title is a slice of the cake from the recipe :), decorated with blueberries on top.

  55. Thank you for this delightful Christmas present.

    May you and your family have a great holiday and a happy and healthy New Year!

  57. Yay! Thank you!!!!!
    A snippet!
    A recipe!
    I can’t cook worth a darn but I can bake. Unfortunately that means that I have to avoid baking at all costs as I might be the one eating it. However anything apple involved just must be made.

    • But Mela, don’t you know the first rule of baking? Anything that has fruit (especially apples) as an ingredient is considered to be a fruit-based dessert, and everyone knows that fruit-based desserts are always good for you…..honest! So bake that cake and enjoy eating it! 😁

  64. Merry Christmas! What a glorious present and sheer delight (as usual!!!)

    Thank you and best wishes for your holidays and to all the BDH for a better 2022!!

  66. Thank you for Chapter 1 — it is a fabulous Christmas Eve present — wishing you and yours Happy Holidays!

  69. I have the conscious desire to say, “I found a typo” and declare that you spelled peaches wrong….

    I wonder what this would be like with peaches? :O

    Thank you for the wonderful recipe! And have a Merry Christmas!

  72. Thank you! Was going to search fora recipe I hadn’t tried that would help use up the very large supply of eggs I have. Merry Christmas to you all.

  73. From our house to yours, near and far, to all my Family and Friends, we wish you a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

    Thank y’all for the wonder Christmas read!

  75. Husband is wondering why I’m hooting “I have all the ingredients! I have all the ingredients!” TY for chapter and recipe! Happy Holidays to all!

  78. Thank you for this wonderful Christmas Eve gift! Having an Inn Keeper serial again feels like a small return to normalcy after these last two crazy years! Merry Christmas to the whole family, I hope it is filled with love and laughter!

  82. Yayy thank you so much for the little peak into Dina and Sean’s life. Didn’t know I needed it so hard today (been hit in the vitals by the COVID booster shot). As always, great chapter. I will try the cake recipe as soon as we finish off the banana bread I baked yesterday.

    Happy holidays everyone…

  88. From me and mine to you (y’all) and yours, a Thousand Thanks and our wishes for 2022 to be the best year yet.
    May love and appreciation for the gift of love suffuse your lives. Let there always be a hug where and when it’s needed.
    May the foods you eat sustain you and the gifts of time and skill that are included make make your food another expression of the love shared.

  90. Thank you!!!

    Loved it, and can’t wait for next Friday!

    Hope you have an awesome Christmas, and New Year 2022

  91. Aah I forgot. Also, I hope this chick is not another Lorelei. I mean I love drama and Kate was such a star in that book, and of course we all want drama. But I cry for things like that and then my toddler thinks the world is ending because mommy is crying. So I am relegated to reading at night under the quilt. And I am rambling now.

    I’ll get back to my tea and banana bread.

  93. Merry Christmas and thank you for the chapter – one of my very favorite series! I re-read it quite often

  94. Thank you for such a wonderful Christmas gift! The minute I read Gertrude Hunt, I just sighed and smiled! Enjoy the holidays!

  98. That was the best Christmas present ever!!

    Thank you😃🎅☃️🎁 🎄 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all xxx

  99. Love that you automatically included the cake recipe rather than deal with 6 million requests for it… 😊

  101. Merry Christmas/Happy Yuletide to House Andrew’s and the BDH! Loved your gift. Rereading Innkeeper and all of your stories keeps me saner. Hugs and happiness to all!

  104. Thanks for this Christmas Eve treat! Wishing everyone a Christmas and New Year full of only the good stuff.

  105. Thank you for the Christmas present. I laughed when Dina has to get Orro to take a nap in order for her to bake in the kitchen. Iron claw indeed. The William Tell overture went through my head when Dina made her cake.

    It will be interesting to read Shawn’s response to the new guest.

    Merry Christmas everyone! Stay warm or cool depending where you live and enjoy. 🥧🎁

  106. You give the best Christmas presents. Thank you so much. MERRY CHRISTMAS and have a FUN AND SAFE NEW YEAR. From our family to yours.

  108. Thank you 🥰. So happy to be back at Gertrude Hunt! Merry Christmas to you and your family and Merry Christmas to Mod R. HHappy Holidays to the BDH!

  110. Best Christmas gift ever! A peek into the next Innkeeper story was just what I needed today.
    It already has grabbed my attention and that’s saying something on Christmas eve.
    Can’t wait for the full story to be in my hands.
    And the apple cake recipe is just begging to be tried.
    Thank you.

    • Exactly. I know patience is supposedly a virtue, but it is darn difficult to practice when it involves things you really need/want. Happy holidays to all!

  114. Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! Loved the short story of course, and any mention of Orro is always magical. I also just finished Fated Blades, all I can say is wow and that ending is just pure Ilona Andrews and that says a lot:)

    Our S showed up, only for a couple of days, he has to fly to Reno on the 26th in the middle of the current mess for a music festival ( he is a classical music chamber musician). We of course worry about him but was able to find n95 3m masks for him for his flight. That is his life, he was in Italy twice this year in the middle of the year when it was exploding again.

    As I write this listening to classical holiday music streamed to my laptop playing through a tube amplifier ( how is that for creative anachronism!).

    May the holiday season bring relaxation and joy, may all your family be safe, including the various fuzzy and non fuzzy creatures ( you guys really need a parrot to make your life complete *lol*), and may this next year grant us all a reprieve from having to worry about so much and simply live:)

  116. Thank you and Merry Christmas to you, your family and to all of the extended literary family.
    🎄🎁🦌☃️🧑‍🎄🎉

  120. Thank you for this!! This has made my day!! A great way to rest for a minute, as I have been cooking all morning 😂! Merry Christmas to you and your family!!

  121. Thank you so much! My day has been made brighter. May you all have a good holiday with the gifts you want.

  122. What an awesome Christmas present!!! Thank you. I hope that you, your family, and your friends, have a wonderful Christmas!

  124. Thank you so much for taking the time to post this during the busy holidays! I LOVE the Innkeeper series so you totally made my day! For some reason, despite all the action and disasters that happen, Innkeeper has always been a comfort-read for me; it feels like home and family whenever I read it. So thank you for continuing to add to it! Looking forward to next week now!

  125. Snippet! What a perfect gift.

    Also, I have been doing a reread of your catalog and just wanted to say how much I appreciate your steadfast inclusiveness and respect. Just the small line about interested male and female visitors was good. A lot of hero characters tout their protection of humanity, but your writing really portrays it in a low key, this is normal way. Thank you.

  126. Lovely, thank you! May this season and the coming year be kind you you and all you hold dear.
    And may you be able to drink from the skulls of your enemies, … er, enjoy a warm cup of cheer for the season.

    • Just saw the previous commenter was from Glasgow, KY. I’m in Henderson, KY, so your Kentucky fans are out in force today!

  129. This was a lovely Christmas surprise! The Innkeeper series is one of my favorites! Happy Holidays to you and yours!

  131. Merry Christmas!!! Thank you for the wonderful present!! A complete surprise when I read the email while drinking tea and waiting for pie to cool. It was a perfect moment! Wishing you and yours health and happiness.

  132. Thank you so very very much!! A new Innkeeper story may be my favorite Christmas present this year.

    Mele Kalikimaka from Maui

  133. I was just thinking that Dina should create a separate little kitchen for such special little occasions like this, that Orro wouldn’t Know about, and have The Inn ‘tendril’ her necessary ingredients from the stock, when Orro wasn’t looking. My mom and stepdad had a house with 4 kitchens, upstairs & downstairs fireplaces and atriums, 2-3 dining rooms-spaces,2-3 family rooms-spaces, 6 bathrooms, 2 laundry rooms, at least 9 bedrooms, sunroom, office, pantry(s), storage spaces, hot tub room, sauna room, some uncompleted rooms, an a garage that could have had an upper level built into additional living/storage, that could easily held 6 vehicles, along side his workshop, more storage, and on property that had space to put into a pond with fishing. Originally built, though not completed, by a Mormon subcontractor, who used leftover materials. Unfortunately, it was the 2nd one burnt in the Black Forest Fire, of Colorado, 2013. Rather a bit like a tiny version of Gertrude Hunt. I understand, it wouldn’t be moving the story the same; just a thought.

    • Hmmm, he’d find out quickly though, once he saw people eating food he didn’t make. He’d ask where it came from – after all, he was in the kitchen the entire time – and boom, Dina would already have to spill the beans. Easier to just get him out of the kitchen. He’s courteous once the food is made.

  136. Thank you!!!!!!

    – from an atheist. Lol. Spell check wanted to change to arthritic. That too, applies.

  137. It is déjà vu all over again. Thank you for memories of past christmases. This was absolutely lovely.

  138. I NEEDED this today. At work until 2 pm (of course technology schedules a critical meeting at 2 pm). And every possible thing that could go wrong has gone wrong this morning. Ready to take the sword to the hearts of my enemies (multiple software systems).

    Merry Christmas to House Andrews and the BDH!!

  141. Merry Christmas!!! Thank you so much for the excerpt. Hope that you and your family get a chance to relax together after all the excitement. ❤️

  142. Joyeux Noel House Andrews, ModR and the BDH from a snowy and slightly frozen Alberta, Canada.
    May the night be bright and Christmas day full of joy and laughter!

    • ..another Joyeux Noel from another Albertan. I’m in Edmonton; any chance you’re from Red Deer?

      (just taking the apple cake from the oven: halved the recipe, used orange zest – it’s minus 33 so ain’t going out for a lemon! – and baked it in a shallow 9″ flan pan. yay! no overflow & it looks great!)

      Happy Hols to all and best wishes for the New Year.

  150. Best Christmas morning find ever!!

    Working a night shift and took my break and look what I found, so happy.

    Thank you and Merry Christmas from Brisbane, Australia!

  153. What a great Christmas gift! Thanks! I had no idea innkeeper was coming so soon. This reminds me of the meme mocking moms when they tell u that you aren’t getting something for Christmas, and you’re sad. And then on Christmas morning you open your gifts and see that thing she said you weren’t getting, and she’s sitting there with a grin and a cup of coffee…

  154. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family!! Thank You for the wonderful sneak peak, I can’t wait for the next installment! 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

  155. Thank you so much for this story. It’s already Christmas day here in NZ and this chapter, and the promise of more to come, is the best present I’ve received so far! Actually, it’s the only present I’ve received so far as the rest of my family are sleeping in… Seriously, though, I am truly grateful to you both for your generosity
    to the BDH in sharing Innkeeper stories with us this way. Thank you! Wishing you, your family, ModR and her family a happy holiday season and a wonderful 2022.

  156. Woooohooooo! Vacay at Gertrude Hunt! Thankyou and merry Christmss to you and you family and may the New Year be all you hope for and need

  160. Merry Christmas! This was my first experience at receiving a chapter and it’s the best present ever. I can hardly wait for next week.

  161. I’m so excited! A new Inkeeper story!!! I love the premise and thank you for sharing the cake recipe! Happy Holidays! ❤️❤️❤️

  162. As everyone has said, Thank you SO much for this! I’m glad that Innkeeper is the one you chose to work on next. I wonder if the stream of werewolf admirers will stop once Sean & Dina are finally married… Nah, there will probably be stubborn/idiotic ones who will keep coming, unless Sean can think of something to make it clear that Dina is the ONLY one he wants, even if she isn’t a werewolf!

    I’m glad that the Red Deer police make each officer responsible for their own cruiser. I wonder what else Sean has added to it for him… 😉

    Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays/Happy Midwinter to all!

  163. Yay!! Second only to the beautiful letter my kid wrote me years ago, as the best Christmas present surprise!
    So happy to have another Innkeeper story! Bless you both ❤️
    Merry Christmas to you and yours- wishing you all a happy and healthy season and a new year full of joy, music, and laughter!

  166. Wonderful! AND the recipe for that gorgeous cake! This is THE best Christmas present! Can’t wait till Orro wakes up. Thank you and happy holidays!

  172. Merry Christmas, House Andrews! Many thanks for the lovely gift, there aren’t enough exclamation points to capture how excited I am about the new Innkeeper!

    💃‼️❤️

      • When my husband joined his department back in 1988, he had to buy his own gun and bullets. And Kevlar vest. (Not since then, though.)

        I can believe some cheap town would make cops buy their own cars, though we’ve never had to do that. I mean, what happens if it gets repoed? A marked car? Bad idea.

        But considering what cops are paid, not hard to believe.

        Besides, if I can believe a giant hedgehog cook and a woman with a symbiotic relationship with a house, that ain’t snapping my suspension of disbelief.

  181. Thank you for the Christmas blessing .. hehe!! LOVED Chapter 1. So excited anticipating a new book from you.

    Hope your Christmas is merry and the New Year to come even better!

  185. Thank you so much. 😊😊😊 what a lovely Christmas 🎁 to the bdh!! Merry Christmas to you all. 🎄🎅

  187. Just finished…what an absolutely fantastic beginning, and (as fantastic ideas tend to do) it makes perfect sense. I was already excited, but now it’s escalated to thrilled/ecstatic/can’t-wait-to-find-out-where-this-is-going-and-what-happens-next-ness!

  190. NEW Inkeeper adventures!!!! What a way to end one year and step into the next! Thank you for painting joy at both doorways

  194. I am so excited to see another Innkeeper in the works. I know that this series will be wrapping up, so I will savor every bit of it! I love this world!

  196. So poor Sean has become an unwilling rockstar! I guess it had to happen eventually. Maybe he should offer an interview or ? to whoever helps discover what happened to Dina’s parents?

  198. Ps. Thank you so very much for making our holidays so much brighter and hope you and your family enjoy a joyous Christmas and a great New Year! (& Happy Birthday too!)

  199. Merry Christmas, Ilona and Gordon! Wishing you a happy and peaceful festive season.

    Have you heard anything about Dougie? I do worry about that little lad, hope he is getting better.

    I love your work – I would rather re-read one of your books than slog my way through ten “writing by numbers” offerings.

    Thank you.

  201. Meri Kirihimete from New Zealand. Have just completed our traditional Christmas morning beach walk and now get to re-read the chapter again.
    Wishing you, your family and all the BDH a very peaceful, relaxing Christmas.

  206. What a wonderful Holiday surprize ! Thank you so much, I will be making that delicious cake.I hope you and Gordon, Kid One and Two and all your loved ones have a fun, restful and party holiday.

  208. Well, damn. I’m going to add apple cake to the bakery today. Tourtiére in the oven (7 of them) and cranberry orange scones (3 dozen) and a mincemeat pie and cherry pie waiting to go in. But now I want apple cake.

    I think I have apples.

  209. So Happy!!! Installment and a recipe. Can’t wait to try making the apple cake since I haven’t been able to find one I really like.

    Hope your Holidays are blessed, bright and merry.

    Thank you!

  211. I love this! What a great Christmas Present! I’m so happy you decided to write this. Mind you I would have been happy about any book you write, but the innkeeper series is the one I share with my hubby. I hope your Christmas goes really well!

  215. Sqweeeeeee!!!
    Thank you!!!
    Loved the pre with the lined through….!
    Such a treat!
    Merry Christmas to you all!
    Greets from Switzerland!
    Inga

  217. I woke up on Christmas morning in Australia to this. My first present and the best way to start Christmas ever. And now I get to look forward to the best way to start the New Year next week! (And maybe even make apple cake)

  218. I just love to open an early Christmas Gift from my favorite authors from my favorite storyline. Thank you for sharing!

  225. Yea!! This is the best Christmas present! I’ve missed Gertrude Hunt & Co. so much!!! Thank you 🥰🥳

  226. What lovely surprise to wake up to Christmas morning. My Christmas day is all by myself so lots of reading and knitting and it is going to be a hot one in Christchurch, New Zealand today.

    Merry Christmas!

  229. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays! Thank you for the chapter. It is great to be back at the Inn. Such fun 😀🏘🎄

  237. The holiday wishes cracked me up! Best wishes to you both, all your family and the BDH for a wonderful Christmas (if celebrating) and very very happy holidays!

    And many thanks of course for Ch 1, which I will read shortly!

  244. Thank you! This was great. Also, the cake! It has been a staple of my childhood. We used to call it “tears cake” because of the sugar golden “tears” that would form on the meringue. Thanks for the memory.

  246. May your Christmas be safe and Merry. For comparison, we live in North Queensland and today it’s 34*C, 60+ humidity, and the aircon is on at 6am. Roast pork and salad , ice cream and chilled plum pudding for dessert.
    Thank you so much for the new Innkeeper story, my favourite series from you.
    Best wishes for 2022 to all your family.🍾🥂

  247. I am so happy that the Gertrude Hunt Inn and her inhabitants are back! Thank you for the early Christmas present. Merry Christmas to you and yours.

  249. Yay!!! Saving for tomorrow. Thank you so much. Wishing you and your family a Merry Christmas and happy holiday season!

  254. Thank you so much for the wonderful gift! Here’s hoping everyone in House Andrews is now on the mend and that you all (including Mod R, of course!) have a wonderful holiday full of good food, happy memories, and great hopes for the new year! 💕🎄💕🎅🏼💕☃️💕

  257. OMG! So many levels of amazing!!! The cake – can’t have it, so i am living vicariously through the description…🍰🍎💖And so cool to visit with all my fave innkeeper characters…wait i love all innkeeper characters. So funny. Dina is just amazing. Sean and Dina💖

  263. I loved it. Funny, I saw my favorite characters, except Sean, all in 1 chapter and I can hardly wait for more. Thank you very much.

  264. Wonderful Christmas gift, Thanks. Happy Holidays to all. I’m excited to find out why the Inn needs so much wood. New buildings? I love that there’s so many amazing things going on in the Innkeeper series. Now I have another reason to look forward to Fridays.

  265. Sqeeeeeeeeee. More Sean and Dina. Thank you thank you thank you ❤️ oh and happy holidays and blessed be. 🥰

  266. Wow, what a wonderful surprise! It is like some friends you haven’t seen for too long unexpectantly showing up for the holidays! Thank you for sharing some more of Dina’s story with us. I wish you and yours Joy for the holidays!

  267. Thank you thank you thank you!!!!! Oh, this made me so happy, and I wasn’t expecting it, and I LOVE surprises, so it was even better!! Happy holidays to my favorite authors and their family, Mod R and the BDH ❤

  269. Doing the Happy Dance! Thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift! Innkeeper is here! Innkeeper is here!

    Merry Happy everything to everyone.

  270. Happy holidays, my my what a lovely Christmas present 🥰 In Iceland we actually celebrate Christmas on the 24th and I found this lump of gold after we opened the other gifts 😘 I will anxiously wait for the next installment 💖

  274. Thank you so much for this. I work in a hospital where Covid patients are losing their battle every day. This was wonderful to come home to. Yum, apple cake…

  275. Thank you so much but now I want more… Merry Xmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year

  277. Merry Christmas to the Andrews household. Love the inn keeper. Thanks for the gift. Enjoy the festive season

  279. Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post. We loved the snippet.

    Have a great Christmas holiday. Hopefully with all the family be they human or not. 😁

    And have a wonderful holiday mod R.

  280. So easy to fall back into the Innkeeper world. Thank you for a lovely Christmas present. Have a lovely holiday.

  281. Thank you for the enjoyment you have provided over the past year. Stay safe and may House Andrews have a wonderful Christmas and a happy new year 🎉 😊

  283. Thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift! Loved the chapter and tried the recipe. It’s delicious! Wondering if I should put the leftover in the refrigerator. Thoughts?

    • That’s an awesome job! Proud Baking Bookworm now hehe.
      The cake is ok at room temp overnight, if you plan on finishing it tomorrow. But any longer than that, refrigerate 🙂

      • Thank you for the advice on the fridge! Fortunately I had two bowls that were the correct size to act as cake domes. As a side note, Dina must be quite the efficient baker. While yes, I am most proud of the result, I don’t think I could have finished this in the allotted time. I think I’m slow on prepping apples…

  288. Woohoo! Oh my gosh, I’m feeling so giddy!

    And thank you for the well wishes- I wish the same to you and yours, Happy Holidays!!!!!!!

  289. Thank you.

    I’m enjoying a bourbon and Coke with unseasonably hot weather in Houston, and that was absolutely delightful.

    Merry Christmas!

  290. What a wonderful holiday gift 🎁 Thank you! You guys are the best.Hope you have a Merry Christmas!

  291. Merry Christmas! Thank you, best gift ever! I always re-reread Inn Keeper at this time of the year 😊

  299. Thank you so much for this chapter. Love it & can’t wait for the next bit of it. As for the recipe😊❤️.I shall be trying this out for my birthday in January 👍🏻😊

  300. Thank you!
    Thank you ☺️
    INNKEEPER!!!
    Happy Holidays
    and
    A Very Merry Christmas Eve to all this night…

  304. Amazing!!!!! Thank you for returning to this series, and …I hope… the serials? Being able to read a snippet or chapter regularly is such a joy and privilege.

    I’m hoping your hands are ok, and please stop if it’s too much time pressure.

  305. Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you! While I was reading this, we got an inch of extremely polite snow. Between an Innkeeper chapter and a White Christmas, my soul is at peace. A very Merry Christmas to House Andrews and all of the Book Devouring Horde!

  308. What a Christmas treat! Unexpected and delightful, you made my day brighter.
    I hope you and all your family are recovering and can enjoy some of this lovely season.

  312. Thank you for sharing this delight! I’m so excited to see what Dina and Sean have been up to! And how the constant parade of potential partners for Sean impacts everything.

    Happy Holidays! May it be kind and peaceful for you and your family in the best way!

  314. Thank you!

    I needed this-my kids are spending Christmas with their dad and it’s so nice to have something like this when I’m home by myself on Christmas Eve. (I will go see my parents tomorrow so it’s not quite as sad as it sounds!)

  316. You are sooo good to us!! Wishing you and your family a wonderful holiday and happy, healthy new year..thank you sooooo much for the chapter! 💛💛💛

  317. Thank you so much for this gift! My dad found out he has covid on Christmas Eve so Christmas Day celebrations with the grandchildren have been cancelled while everyone who came into contact with him tests and self isolates. A return to Gertrude Hunt is such a welcome escape from nasal swabs! Wishing House Andrews a wonderful Christmas with their loved ones 🎄🎄🎄

  318. BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!!! 😍😍😍

    Thank you so much and the Happiest of Holidays to House Andrews!! 🎄🌟

  319. Today’s post made my day. No wonder I love you! Thank you, Gordon, Ilona, Kids # 1+2 and all of the wonderful critters who are part of House Andrews. A Merry Christmas to all of you! You have helped to make ours in so many ways. Thank you.

  320. Merry Christmas from our house to yours. 🌲

    Thank you for the Innkeeper chapter so unexpected & so welcomed. 🤓

  323. A return to Gertrude
    Hunt!! What a lovely Christmas gift! Thank you and Merry Christmas to the entire Andrews family 👪 🎄🎁❤

  331. Nothing better than getting spoiled by an Innkeeper Story at Christmas. Thank you. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

  332. Yay Innkeeper!! Love Dina & Co.!! Thank you so much! 📚

    Merry Christmas to all 🎄
    Light 🌟 and Peace ❄️

  333. Thank you so much to House Andrews for this lovely Christmas gift! What a great way to wind down from a frenetic (but fun) holiday gathering with the grandkids.

  334. Thank you so much. Makes the countdown to Christmas so much easier to take.
    Have a wonderful, joyous Christmas!

  337. Thank You for this Most Generous Christmas gift!

    Merry Christmas to you and yours and have a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year.

  338. Thanks for making my day! Loved the story and looking forward to a new addition for the collection and will be trying the recipe. Happy holidays.

  339. Happy! Love and lots of little hearts coming out of my head. Thank you!

    It never occurred to me that Sean would become the werewolf celebrity and that some of his fans would seek to acquire him as a mate. Makes total sense.

    (Currently I cannot always make full sentences. Except that one.)

  340. Blessed Christmas to House Andrews, Mod R and to the fellow BDH!

    Happy holidays to all!!!

    Thank you for the chapter and recipe! 😍🥰

  343. Merry Christmas!

    Thanks so much for the early present. I hope that your kiddos are feeling better and that you are able to celebrate together in some form or another soon.

  345. Thanks for the lovely Christmas gift and delectable recipe! Perfect for settling down for a “long winter’s nap”. Merry Christmas!

  346. Thank you so very much! This has been a bright spot in a stressful holiday season. My parents just moved in with us and my stepmom has end stage dementia.
    I can’t wait to read the next post! If-when. Please no pressure intented!
    With gratitude for the time we have with family and friends, wishing you a happy close to this year and a new one filled with love and learning.

  348. Merry Christmas! You all are a gift ❤️ Thank you for the wonderful snippets and sharing your stories, bringing joy and adventure to all. May all your wits and swords stay sharp and bright.

  349. Thank you for the best gifts. This chapter, the promise of more to come, and the recipe. May your holiday be a wonderful experience. Be safe, be well, be happy

  351. Thank you! What a lovely surprise! I love your Innkeeper stories. I’m so happy! And now I have next Friday to look forward to. Merry Christmas!!

  352. I had two Christmas presents on my list: a new Ilona Andrews book and a new cat. I don’t think the cat is happening but a new Innkeeper is a wish come true. I hope your Christmas is filled with joy and wonder and good health!

  354. Oh my gosh. An Inkeeper story. I teared up. Thank you for giving us Orro, and beautiful Gertrude Hunt, and more Dina & Sean. :’)

    Hah! Soon as I read female werewolf I thought: either long lost relative or here comes the love rival arc. Hah but in typical Andrew’s twist, old news for Dina, yawn…next! (And she’s so polite too… potential customers I suppose.)

  356. Thank you for a bright spot on a hellish day with the in-laws.

    I can’t really express how much this brief escape meant to me.

    Happy holidays!

  362. Yes, yes, yes. Freaking yes. I have to lock all my muscles so I do not jump up and down in place 😀 I want to squeal. This is the best Christmas present. Thank you so much and enjoy the holidays!

  363. Thank you so much for sharing this! I really needed this today and I appreciate your efforts. Merry Christmas! 😊

  365. Ah, I missed this feeling! When you sink into another world and for a few glorious moments you are happily skipping through space and time. Thank you – this was fantastic (as usual). It is deeply appreciated and I am eager for the next installment. I wish you and yours a peaceful, safe and deeply happy festive holiday season.
    Merry Christmas!

  371. Innkeeper! Yes so good, thank you. Happy holidays!

    You say that like it’s my first time 🤣🤣🤣

  372. I check the Innkeeper status at least weekly. So happy. What a nice xmas gift from you to us. You Guys are the best. I hoped, seeing as it was xmas and was pleasantly rewarded.
    Have all your work, just read all the Kates and Julie again, just for fun. Love you the best. Thank you, Merry Christmas *

  377. Just sweltered through the hottest Christmas day on record in Perth, 42.8C (109F), dishes done, leftovers put away. Quiet time, check blog and yay, Innkeeper.
    Merry Christmas to all.

  378. Thank you for the lovely Innkeeper story, after the recent quiz I’ve been re-reading so this is great! Merry Christmas and best wishes to House Andrews.

  381. Squee! Thank you, best Christmas present so far. I love this series. I wish you and your family a very happy holiday season.

  382. Merry Christmas to House Andrews from Clan Callahan.
    Thank you for the delicious chapter. It was devoured with great joy. 💜

  386. Don’t know what the rest of the BDH commented. That perusal would take too much time on this Christmas morning. Like I would have much to do.

    I never would have thought about a female wolf searching for Sean. That is a wonderful surprise beginning and an excellent Christmas gift. Thank you. I hope this season brings you health and happiness.

  388. Thank you for the snippet!

    I also like how you got ahead of the ‘Give me the cake recipe!’ comments.

    It’s like you know us.

    I feel seen.

    😇

  390. Love, love, love this! All of it. Thank you and blessings to HA surrounded by bountiful happiness and contentment (similar to what you bring to me -smile) and please include Mod R in this.

  391. I am happy to have another innkeeper novel. I wanted to know more about Klaus, their parents and Sebastion North.

  392. Fabulous Christmas present! I was hoping for this so hard. Thank you thank you thank you. Wishing you and yours the merriest of merriest.

  394. Merry Christmas house Andrews!

    I’ve been saving Fated Blades for after I (hopefully!) pass an exam next week, but I couldn’t resist this today.

  398. Happy Holidays to all. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks for the 1st Chapter. I enjoy your writing.

  399. This is the first time I have heard of a cake with meringue on it. Sounds delicious.

    I remember from previous books that Gertrude Hunt will store and use stones and apple trees not to mention damaged weapons and other odds and ends for future building projects. But the description of the amount of wood the inn is using now sounds huge. It does suggest a building project of some kind. I look forward to the rest of the story and hopefully an answer to the puzzle.

  400. Happy Holidays to you and yours, House Andrews and Mod R!

    Thank you for starting the new Innkeeper, and a delicious recipe.

  404. Merry Christmas. Thank you so very much. Hope everyone is well and enjoying family time.

    I wish I could give you as nice of a gift as you have given us. Unfortunately I have no words – except thank you.

  405. Thank You Ilona and Gordon for all your best wishes, and for the high quality and immensely imaginative stories you continue to unleash upon the BDH and those first timers, innocently ignorant of your ability to snatch them from their humdrum lives catapulting them into adventures the likes of which they hv never known. (Whew, can u say, “Run-on sentence run amuck?” See this is why I’ll never be a writer. 😁)

    Hope you and yours had a safe and happy holiday, wishing you a much better New Year.

    Thx for the sneak peek.

  406. Im going to buy the first 3 books again. I sold mine to used books during leaner times to buy more books. Im already wishing i could buy this one! Thank u so much for your gifted abilities. Your snark in writing can not be beat! Thank u for each and every aspect u bring to the written word, and you already know you help us escape and lighten our load while enjoying your stories. Merry Christmas!

  407. Thank you for the story — reading it with my post-tree/gift opening lunch. It is perfect…and I am looking forward to the next installment.

  408. She reads the “from” tag and immediately unwraps the digital ribbons. Her breath catches as she reads the note within. Her favorite!

    Thank you House Andrews. I love it so much. Hugs the screen.

  410. What a WONDERFUL Christmas present along with a fantastic recipe. Thank you so much.

    Hope your family time and been great.

  412. Best Xmas gift ever. Thank you! Hope you’re enjoying our randomly summer weather today (live in Texas and am wearing shorts today 😆)

    Merry Christmas!!

  413. ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ merry Christmas and thank you!

  414. Thank you so much for this yummy Christmas gift. It’s really appreciated. Looking forward to part 2.
    I hope that you and yours are doing well and this is a restful time for you all.

  416. Merry meryy Christmas you House Andrews.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for this chapter, it was inspiring.

  417. Thank you so much for this Christmas present. I would love to make the cake, but, I really, REALLY NEED apples, from one of the trees Sean marked, to do it justice!! Cannot wait to read the next chapter. Hubs is hooked as well! Happy New Year, all!

  418. AAAAHHHH omg, thank you for this holiday gift! Merry Christmas!

    I’ve just been rereading One Fell Sweep (Inkeeper #3) because it takes place around Christmas. This chapter coming out makes me so happy!

  420. A Blessed Holiday Season to House Andrews!

    Thank You for Sharing Your Genius with Us!

    And now I’m back to “TGIF” again😇

  421. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and thank you so much for sharing! (And giving us something to look forward to)

  425. Wow, I really needed a break from houseguests and present wrapping yesterday when I opened the blog and discovered this wonderful Innkeeper post. Thank you!!
    (Although I can’t help but think that Gertrude Hunt might feel that Dina is getting excluded from her own kitchen and *presto* a lovely outdoor kitchen emerges on the back patio :D)

  426. This was an absolutely marvelous Christmas gift! Thank you, thank you, thank you for the perfect end to a very long but good day!

  427. YUMMY! I will make it for Church next week. Thank you for the snippet. Merry Christmas and Thank you for being the House Andrews of my dreams.

  428. Thank you so much for everything you give us! This was a wonderful Christmas gift! Wish I had something to give you in return. Just my undying thanks and appreciation for your amazing talents. Happy healthy 2022 to House Andrews!

  433. Am I the only one fixating on the gay/bi werewolves coming to woo Sean?
    But I definitely love the inverted trope of men coming to woo a princess! I hope this one might become a friend to Dina, that would be cool.
    Dina is stress baking, right?
    I love that you chose to use external suitors to bring tension into this relationship instead of people not talking and misunderstanding each other!
    Thank you for posting this. I love it!

  434. From the land down under, thanks so much for this. I really enjoy all your work but the Inn is something special. Hope you and your family had a great Christmas.

  437. Best Christmas present EVER! With a recipe to boot! Yum!

    Wish the Andrews hosehold and MOD the Best of Holidays with love peace and excellent food.

    Take care and well wishes to all the people here as well who Love these stories as much as I do.

    Joyeux Noël from France!

  439. Thanks for this gift. I read the Innkeeper books three or four times a year. I absolutely love this series!

  446. Thank you. Honestly, one of the most welcome Christmas gifts I’ve received 🙂 Seriously, you two are one of the blessings in my life. It’s the small blessing that just makes day-to-day life easier, and more enjoyable, and I don’t take it for granted. Here’s to this next year ushering in the end of this never-ending plague. Stay healthy and God bless.

  448. Thank you for the the lovely first chapter and Merry Christmas to House Andrews! It’s so good to meet old friends again 🙂

  449. Sean is werewolf “catnip” to the wolves. They literally cannot help themselves, Meroow…. or is it Woooah ….ha ha ha. I can’t wait for chapter 2. And Orro’s reaction to the *bootleg* baking LOL

  450. 🎅🏼 I’m back to, once again, say Thank You. Dina is my favorite character and I’ve decided to reread the entire Innkeeper series while following along with: This Sweeping Heart 💜

    Sean has become the Chris Evans of the werewolf world, I am here for it!!!! 😊🤣😊

  452. I feel very privileged- not only do we get a glimpse at a fun snippet from a first draft, we get a kick-ass recipe to boot! Hope you and yours are happy and healthy! Best wishes for a wonderful New Year;) Thanks for two special treats in one!

  456. Happy Holidays to AH and the BDH! This blog and AH books have gotten me through so many horrible things over the last few years, from the death of my husband to Covidv 19 that I need to say Thank You All. I want to share one of my favorite Christmas gifts with you all. My 16 yo son drew each person’s favorite fictional character on his hand made Christmas cards.

  458. Thank you so much for all you do, especially putting up with the BDH. I absolutely adore the Innkeeper series. I can’t wait to read a little more each week, something to help me get through the work week. What a great way to end 2021 and start 2022!!!

    • Hi CharisN,

      There is always a reason to keep breathing.
      Help is available if you are struggling, please reach out. I don’t know where you are in the world, but if I can look up the number of a helpline for you, please let me know.

  467. The cake sounds delicious but does this cake need to be refrigerated? Im trying to plan ahead. 😉👍🏼🎂

    • Hey Patti,

      It’s ok out of the fridge overnight, but any longer and you would need to refrigerate.
      Some “tears” will form on top of the merengue (syrup drops)- those are perfectly normal 🙂

  470. Thank you, a double gift, a story and a recipe. The gift that keeps giving. I will try this with the apples in the house. I get what is on sale, but Granny smith were not on sale.

    And a Happy soon to be birthday to you.

    Barbara

    • Hey Chkai,

      Chapter 2 Part 1 is coming next Friday 🙂- check out the announcement at the very end of the blog post!

  476. Love this treat during the holidays, including the recipe !!! You two always lift my spirits! Thank you!

  477. This is Wonderful! Amazing gift to start the new year with. Y’all are the best! Have a Happy New Years. My hope for your birthday is a celebration to match the special, generous woman you are.

  479. Amazing blogg entry. ❤️ Thank you so much. I made an attempt at the cake. Yummy, but something went wrong with the merengue. Oh well.

    • Cold egg whites (from the fridge, a must), cold bowl that you whip in (helps a lot, also keep in the fridge a bit if you can), plus a tsp of lemon juice or vinegar added if you see they’re not collaborating (works wonders!).
      Good luck 🙂, I hope you try again!

      • Aha! Thank you! I probably didn’t cool the eggwhites enough then.
        Lemon juice you Day? That sounds both deliciuos and a great help. I will try again. Thank you!!❤️

    • Could you have gotten a speck of yolk in your whites? It’s better to whip whites in stainless steel bowls rather than plastic because plastic tends to hold onto grease.
      Without any details (did your meringue never whip? Did it look stiff/dry?) it’s hard to troubleshoot, but usually it’s either a grease problem or overwhipping 🤔

      • It’s absolutely possible I did get some egg yolks in there. And I did whip them in a plastic bowl… the texture of the merengue is all weird. It’s like I boiled it kind of?….It soft and mushy…. No crunch ! I am so grateful for the tips, I must try again ! Thank you so much! ❤️

      • I took a closer look at the recipe (the meringe part) and it said to whip until stiff peaks and then add sugar a little at a time. If you do it in that exact order, you’ll overwhip.

        If you try making meringue again (after making there’s no yolk or grease in your bowl) do this: start whipping your egg whites (I usually medium high speed rather than cranking all the way) until they start looking a little foamy. Then you can add your sugar a little at a time (usually people add it in 3 parts–to give the sugar a minute or so to dissolve before adding another small bit) until the sugar is gone. Your egg whites will eventually start coming together and looking glossy. This is when I stop and check for peaks because it’s easy to overwhip at this point.
        If you lift your beater and hold it upside down and the whites are droopy, it’s at soft peak. If they seem to hold but the point droops a little, you’re at medium peak. I’d whip for about 15-25 seconds more. If the egg whites stick straight up, you’re at stiff peak and good to go.

        Googling pics of soft peak vs medium peak vs stiff peak will help too. Sorry for the lengthy explanation but making meringue is one of those things that’s so simple and yet easy to screw up.
        I hope your next attempt turns out much better!

        • Thank you so much🙏 ! I absolutely will try again. I feel really motivated to try when armed with all this knowledge! I wish I had a house that would obey my orders and whip the whites to perfection, but your thoroug advice is the equivalent in an innkeeper free world ❤️

          • You’re welcome!
            I should also clarify that depending on whether its a hand mixer ot stand mixer, the time it takes to become a meringue may vary a bit, but once you get to the medium peak stage, it’s good practice to count off every 15-20 seconds to get to stiff peak.

  480. Cute!!!
    Thank you for more Inkeeper! Thank you for the recipe! Will there be any more recipes? Happy holidays! I appreciate you! (So many exclamations, but I’m full of joy right now 🙂🥳)

  481. Hi. Sorry hate to be greedy, or whatever…but, well will there be more audiobooks coming? I can’t do the reading right now and for me Renee Raudman has become a huge part of the story for me. No offense intended, just I’ve reached my listening limit (10) of the series and I need more. I finally got the whole Edge series and working on that, and of course will listen to the Inn Keeper again (11) once that is finished.

    • Hi Jo,

      Currently, all Ilona Andrews books have audiobook versions. So no more until more books are published.
      There is a complete IA book list here with purchase links for all versions – https://ilona-andrews.com/release-schedule/ .Disclaimer that not all KD audiobooks are available outside the US due to rights issues which a house Andrews are working to solve.
      However, as Renee has voiced several characters and diversity is needed, there will be no further books narrated by her.

  486. Thank you for the wonderful Christmas gift! So excited for another installment of the Innkeeper series. Kate is badass, but the Innkeeper characters had me at hello.
    Sounds like a crazy Christmas, but hope you were able to have fun, Ilona and Gordon.

  488. Very Best Wishes for a Wonderful New Year!
    I love all your books, but the Innkeeper series is my favorite _
    Thank you So Much

  494. Thank you so much for both the story and the recipe! For some reason I never thought of Sean as having a fan club, then having Marais and Dina having to deal with the groupies. I see a trying and entertaining time ahead.

    I love sour cream cakes. I have a recipe for a Belgian chocolate cake that uses sour cream and a ganache filling. Will need to dig it out and post it.

  496. I have preordered the Audiobook on Audible, but I read epubs on Nook do you know when the preorder for Ruby Fever will be available from Barnes and Noble on Nook?

  499. Thank you for this. I think I will wait for the book to be published before I read it. This just feels too disjointed. Still, thank you for the Christmas gift.

  500. I love it. Cannot wait to read and own the book. Thank you for the many hours I have spent reading your books

  501. This makes me so happy! I was hoping for another Innkeeper book, but the poll results diminished my hope. Yay! So happy!!!

  504. Thanks so much!!! I just love all the books about Dina and her family, let’s hope this one brings her parents back!

  506. Thank you. My mom passed Monday. I feel like I walk around and find sudden holes.
    Your work helps ground me. So, thanks.

  512. I always love what everything you guys write. Thank you for giving us the free stuff. And for anyone that wants to complain about the free stuff they’re going to get their ears boxed LOL. No complaining about the free stuff people! Keep your grumpiness to yourself!

  513. I LOVE apple cake but am NOT a fan of merengue. Is there an alternate topping? The recipe looks as though it may be good without it!

  515. Happy New Year to everyone. I pray we all have a safe, happy and healthy year!
    Thank you from the bottom of my heart for the new Innkeeper stories. You are the BEST!!

  516. What a delightful way to end 2021! Thanks so much for this little treasure. Looking forward to 2022 shenanigans with some of my favsies.

  518. wonderful as usual. But it really leaves me biting my nails to see what happens next. I mean who is she? what does she want? etc.

  526. I love it as usual I don’t want it to end thank you so much for writing more of the innkeeper chronicles it is my go to – to read again and again when I can’t find anything that can hold my interest

  530. I am so happy to see another innkeeper book! Thank you, thank you.
    Merry Christmas and a most Happy New Year!

  531. Thanks so much for this! I knew it was coming, but saved it until I was home as a treat for surviving all the holiday craziness. To get a recipe, too! Awesome!!

    But I have a question. The recipe as included at the end doesn’t quite match the description of Dina baking. So I’m not sure if this is a recipe question or a (forbidden) typo question. It depends on the answer.

    Anyway, in the story, it says Dina adds cinnamon, sugar and a bit of flour to the sliced apples. But the recipe doesn’t list sugar there, instead saying to add lemon juice if the apples are very sweet. So, how much sugar? Or how much lemon juice? Probably not adding both to the apples? Confusion…

    I very much appreciate having upcoming postings to look forward to on Fridays! Plus, all minou Camille posting just make me happy. So cute! Sending my best wishes and thanks to you all!

    • The sugar or lemon juice is up to everyone’s preferences and the type of apples they have.

      If they’re causing so much confusion, you can leave both out 🙂. Only coat the apples in cinnamon and a bit of flour so they don’t sink in the batter.

  533. How about the house sets up a small sub-kitchen just for Dina? More than a kitchenette, less than The Full Shebang Orro rules?

    Waiting with happy baited breath for this to come out!

  534. Oooh, that cakes looks delicious!!! I haven’t baked in such a long time, I’m definitely going to try a hand at it.

  536. Wonderful end-of-year present! 🙂
    Thank you, the Innkeeper is my favorite series of your books.

  537. Best gift ever….even if I’m a few days late 🤷🏾‍♀️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

  538. Heading to the store tomorrow to get everything to make this cake! Looks like it should be yummy.

  540. hello, I made the cake and some notes:
    cooking time is definitely more for the first part if using a 9″ spring-from. I would recommend 40-45 instead of 30. Also, the mixer is non-negotiable! You need the batter to be whipped.
    Full disclosure I have made it twice now and the second time I replaced a 1/2 cup of the flour for a 1/4 cup of corn starch and I increased the baking powder to a tablespoon. I also caramelized the apples a little before hand in some butter and a dash of sugar. The whole thing came out much better. 🙂
    Regardless, this recipe made my weekend, so thank you! Im adding it to my repertoire and Im thinking of making it with candied lemons instead of apples…

  541. Thank you so much for continuing this saga. Your characters are wonderful, unique and prone to frequent fits of brilliance. I love that they range from the sorrowful and gentle, to the insane and vicious, without anyone seeming out of place within the context of the story. Often, in books-in-a-series, characters either start to blend together, or become caricatures as the author struggles to make each one different (usually by loading them down with weird quirks). Each one of your people are recognizable as simply themselves and
    their motivations are understandable and reasonable. Long live the Inn Keepers, and long may they rule!

  542. Thank you so much! This has made me happier than you will ever know at a very difficult time. You are a gift to the universe❤❤❤

  543. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Got covid for Christmas and reading has been a blessing. I love Dina, Sean and the entire crew. Can’t wait for the next installment.