ILONA ANDREWS

#1 New York Times Bestselling Author

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Happy Birthday to Ruby Fever and Tapas Innkeeper Chronicles.

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We have never before had to do two releases on the same day. This is a bit of a dilemma. Ahem.

The Missing Tyrant

I moved through the inn briskly, Beast dancing by my side. Caldenia hadn’t come down for dinner last night. She took it in her rooms instead, which she had almost never done for the entire duration of her stay. Her Grace relished social contact.

She hadn’t come down for breakfast either. It was past noon now and she hadn’t reached out to Orro. She hadn’t even asked him for her usual snacks. Something was terribly wrong.

I stopped before the ornate door leading to Caldenia’s quarter and rapped my knuckles on it. “Your Grace?”

No answer. She was inside. I could feel her.

“Your Grace?”

A faint moan came from behind the door.

“Is everything alright?”

“Come in,” she called out.

I flicked the door open with my fingertips and stepped inside. A round room with many windows greeted me. Between the windows, glass doors led to three different balconies, one facing the street, one facing the orchard and the third facing our lawn. The floor was dalon stone, a beautiful green ranging from emerald to sage with cream and white marbling and flecks of gold. It looked like expensive marble but had a texture and softness of wood. The walls were cream, and they met above in a domed ceiling. Decorative plants flourished in the pots between priceless statuary from light years away.

Her Grace’s chair by her table at her favorite window was empty. Where was she?

“Over here,” she called out.

I turned to the grouping of couches on the left. A foot in an embroidered slipper stuck out over one of the couch’s armrest. I crossed the floor to the couch. Caldenia lay on it, dressed in a luxurious sage robe. There were bags under her eyes.

“Are you ill? Is everything okay?”

“I’m perfectly fine, my dear.”

“You didn’t come down for dinner…”

“I was reading the most wonderful book.” She plucked her tablet off the coffee table and held it out to me. I glanced at it. A bright red cover with a young darkhaired woman and a handsome man poised against some magical glowing swirls. Not her usual cup of tea. She leaned toward political thrillers and historicals, and she preferred older characters.

“Ruby Fever?”

“Yes. I finally finished a couple of hour ago, and now I’m going to nap. Feel free to borrow it. The heroine is delightful.”

I scrolled to the synopsis. Oh, I guess, it did have a prince in it…

“I’m surprised you like someone that young.”

Caldenia wrinkled her nose. “No, not her. Who cares about her. She has the most delightful grandmother. Now that is a woman I would love to have over for tea. Also Linus, that devious, conniving bastard.”

“Devious and conniving?”

“In the best ways. Enjoy the book.”

She closed her eyes. Beast and I retreated quietly and shut the door behind us.

No Talking

“Arabella?”

My sister lay on her stomach across the oversized stuffed ottoman in the main house’s family room. Her iPad lay on the floor and she didn’t find it necessary to raise her head to look at me. “Wut?”

“How can you lay like that? All the blood will rush to your head.”

“I’m comfy, Catalina. Go away.”

“The Prensky case.”

“What about it?”

“It says here Prensky Junior was trying to flee in a vehicle belonging to the Kellerman family and that you tore the door off the Kellerman’s car to get Prensky Junior out.”

“Do I look like I can tear a door off a car?”

“Not in this form.”

“Did they say I transformed?”

They didn’t, but the Kellermans were trying to bill us for the car.

“No.”

“Then it’s fine.” She waved me off without looking.

“What are you reading?”

“Important things.”

I walked over and squinted at the iPad. “A webcomic?”

She finally sat up and looked at me. “Yes. It’s a webcomic about a magical inn that hosts aliens.”

“And vampires?” The blond man in the webcomic panel definitely had fangs. And armor?

“Space vampires. The vampires are not important.”

“What’s important?”

“The werewolf. I identify with werewolves.”

Did she see herself as a werewolf? She couldn’t possibly think she was some murderous monster who was forced to change against her will by the moon and then indiscriminately slaughtered people… Oh my God.

“You are not a werewolf. Listen, may be therapy could help…”

She stabbed her finger in the direction of the iPad. “This is my therapy. Let me read the Innkeeper Chronicles in peace. I’ve worked very hard and now me and the Tapas app are having our fun time. Go away, Catalina.”

“What about the Kellermans?”

“How much do they want?”

“19K.”

“We made 300K on that case. If they are trying to save face by claiming I ripped a door off their car, let them. No need to make an enemy. I will issue them a payment. It will be fine.”

She flopped back down.

Sometimes there was no talking to her.

Please stand by for the individual posts with spoiler threads on Ruby Fever and Tapas Innkeeper Chronicles. Please do not post spoilers here.

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Comments

  3. Alright, I’m stuck – I KNOW that Caldenia and Victoria a) exist in two totally separate universes and b) would probably destroy the world with their plotting…but seriously: BRING IT ON!!!

    Also, these are both hysterical, and I totally needed that – especially since I didn’t get enough sleep last night because my Kindle dropped some new book on me…

  5. Thank you very much for the extra post. I very much needed it. I am having a major health crisis with one of the furbabies and am massively sleep deprived and going a little nuts. Your snippets really help put me in my happy place.

      • Thank you for the kind thoughts but it really is a matter of me deciding not to be selfish because I don’t want to make a difficult decision versus doing the last act of kindness for my 16 year old rescue kitty Possum. Note sure of his early history but he had a very hard kittenhood and spent 8 years in foster care before he managed to make it to Golden Acres Retirement Villa (my home) for some good food, lots of cuddles, and some good combings.

        • *Hugs* That is the worth decision to make.

          I had to make it for my 16 year old rescue kitty in 2020 (That year just kept on giving…), so all the support from here!

  6. Thanks for an excellent conclusion to the series! I don’t know if you guys plan on an Arabella book, but I thought the hints about Michael were very intriguing.

    • I did ponder about Michael and Arabella but now I’m wondering if The Beast of Cologne and a giant Bear just might be a really good romance hehehe ????

  10. Thank you, Ilona & Gordon, for Ruby Fever and the Hidden Legacy series as a whole. I enjoyed it immensely and it will slide seamlessly into my reread rotation quite beautifully. Such a satisfying read overall, with many if not most, loose ends tied off.
    Thank you again.

  12. ha! i have many times over been caldenia staying up far too late to finish a book i couldn’t put down. i also identify with arabella where reading is my therapy.

  14. This was very fun and make me actually laugh out loud and scare my dog who was napping peacefully.

    Thank you for all the new material I get to devour now!

  15. LOVING IT!!!! =)

    You know, you two probably don’t hear this enough, given that we all whine for more so much, but you make the world a brighter place.

  18. Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me!

    This is the BEST birthday ever! Ruby Fever was just delivered to my house. Thanks for all your hard work!

  23. This is great fun! Thank you!
    Enjoying Ruby Fever, A LOT, while Tapas will update in a couple hours, I think. I also made a new acolyte for the horde, today!

  30. I would so read a whole book going back and forth like this. Her Grace and Arabella would, terrifyingly, like each other a lot.

  32. ???????? those were awesome. I’m over here giggling and my husband wants to know what’s so funny.

  37. These were so much fun, thanks for the snippets and the awesome books!! Ruby Fever was so good!!!! Looking forward to reading more in the HL world when you’re ready to write about it. 🙂

  38. OMG – I had a brain fart and thought… “What would Caldenia and Grandma Frida have in common?” I always forget there are 2 grandmothers.

    • My first thought was Grandma Frida as well. ???? I do think Caldenia would appreciate the fire power that she can put into a vehicle. Caldenia seems like a woman to appreciate a good weapon. ????

  41. ???? I love it, I identify with Dina…. Since I always imagine myself to be an all powerful being in my own domain too, I haven’t exactly trained my husband to read my mind, but he responds to commands well. ???? muahahahahaa

  43. The book is fantastic!! I haven’t tried Tapas yet but I can’t wait. And this crossover was amazing. ????

  45. ???????????? you are the bestest that ever was.

    Thank you for the fan service. Maybe this will diminish our ravening demand that every last one of your worlds intertwine…

    …eh, we are the BDH, it probably won’t!

      • Hey, they managed to do a crossover from the Edge to Innkeeper. But … no, drat it, having the Osiris serum just makes to much difference in the world to integrate any of them. If the Edge weren’t a “pocket universe” it would have been impossible to bring it to the Innkeeper series – which is pretty much our Earth.

        Shucks. Well – they can read about each other.

  47. This was delightful! Thank you. Hmm, I wonder what it says about me that I pictured Frida and not Victoria when Caldenia mentioned the delightful grandmother? ????

  49. Ooh, goodies but still can’t properly read for a few days yet thanks to “family time”????????

  53. Excellent release blog. Funny as. So like Caldenia to root for the evilly manipulative – for the ‘right’ reasons (?) – grandparents ???? I’m in the same state she is after stuffing my eyes with that highly anticipated book.

  54. Beautiful! I’ve always loved when an author can devise a clever crossover. Well done, HA! Congratulations x2???????? And thanks for this delightful tidbit. ????

  55. Could you have made me any more happy??? Nope – today has just hit fabulous and I’m soo good with that. Thanks

  58. Also THREE pre-orders PLUS the Tapas webcomic dropped today and I am literally (ok, fine, figuratively, if one MUST be pedantic) over the moon.

    Part of me wants to leave work early and go home and READ ALL THE THINGS NOW RIGHT NOW and part of me wants to tuck them away for my upcoming post-tax-season time off so I have something to look forward to.

    THE STRUGGLE IS REAL.

  61. Just imagine Caldenia and Victoria having tea together! Having tea together sounds like such an innocuous activity, but those two? Together? Houses, nay whole kingdoms would tremble.

  62. What a delightful crossover and of course Caldenia would identify with Victoria Tremaine. I absolutely loved their separate reveals and character motivation.

    I feel so blessed with excellent reading this week. I seem to remember Ruby Fever being stressful to complete but after reading it, I can say that it is a complete masterpiece. I cried when it was over. So many feelings. The same with the last Innkeeper chapter.

    I don’t know any other authors with the same level of skill of character development, banter, and world building. It really is a magical place that sucks me in with each read.

    Just bravo. I wish all the success for you with the new releases. You deserve it.

  66. Aha just what I needed crossover….yes they must meet.
    Thank you the Ruby overload made it difficult to sleep

  67. All right. When I see Gaston fighting alongside Alessandro, I will know that the universe has completely folded in on itself.

  70. Oh eow.
    Loved this ????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????❤️

  72. I giggled at how the Tapas Innkeeper is an awesome fantacy escape for Arabella and that Ruby Fever was so engrossing for Caldenia that she stayed up all night and skipped meals to read it! I deeply enjoy the cross over refrences without having to deal with yet another multi-verse. Thank you!

  73. Just heard about the 1-in-1,000 year rain in Dallas. I don’t remember if, but hope that none of, you or yours are in danger of flooding.

    • Thank you for asking! House Andrews are closer to Austin than Dallas, but of course we hope everyone comes out of it safely!

  74. I just SCREAMED laughing so hard.

    Oh please. Please. Ohpleaseohpleaseohplease we neeeeeeed Caldenia and Victoria having tea and plotting.

    Ruby Fever was AMAZING and I loved it so much ❤❤❤

    But a CROSSOVER???? ????

    OHPLEASEOHPLEASEOHPLEASEOHPLEASE ????????

  75. Thank you for the realistic snippets! Ive just finished the legacy series and am ready to go! I am looking forward to figuring out Tapas. Congratulations!!!

  76. O.O
    Caldenia ka ret Magren. Victoria Tremaine. In the same room. Having tea.
    O.O
    I’m with Dina, I’d pack my bags and leave the galaxy with that!

  77. So now I have this scene in my head, Victoria, Caldenia, and Roland, sitting at tea, and one says “ The children just don’t understand”. Another says “We can fix it, and we should.” And the last “it’s for their own good”.

    And the universe trembled…..

    The crossovers are delightful, thanks!

  79. Happy Book Birthdays and a big thank you for both the beautiful tapas Innkeeper and of course Ruby Fever since I love your Hidden Legacy series and the Baylors very much.
    Hope you have as good a day as we of the BDH have with your books- and then the snippet cherry on top ????

    Laughed so hard imagining those scenes and the plotting that would result from Caldenia meeting with Victoria. Really the snippets are amazing.

  82. In love with both, I’m hooked on Tapas too,the art work is great, it follow the storyline as close as possible ❤ ♥ ????

  83. I have read everyone, until these. WILL BE LOOKING for them. Enjoy your books so very much, thankyou for being a great authoress.

    Sincerely
    Linda Oaks

  88. I absolutely adore the cross over book readings of eachothers worlds!! What an absolute delight!!! Of course our dearest tyrant would love murderous grandmother! And Arabella identifying with Sean is a ton of fun! This is such a treat!

  91. This is how much my brain is fried, i was convinced today was friday and i was looking for the latest inkeeper installment only to realize it was tuesday but then i found such delightful crossover. What should we call this multiverse? Hordeverse?

  94. I just finished Ruby Fever! I loved it. I’m listening to it on Audible now. I’m really enjoying it!

    Will Arabella get her own story arc?

    Thank you!

    Btw, I really love the narrator who read the Blood Heir audiobook! She is amazing!

  95. Happy book and webcomic birthday! I’m halfway through ruby fever, sleep deprived but so happy ????

  97. House Andrews always provides the best service and fun introduction to book releases. Like mini snippets with a twist. Love it and the books! 🙂

  103. I checked at 11:30 pm in the Midwest to see if Ruby Fever had arrived on my kindle. I ended up going to bed at 5:00 am. I can identify with Caldenia.

  105. First time post – cried last Friday and now am grinning like an idiot. Appreciate you all and all that you do to bring a little bit of joy into the world.

  106. OMG! This is so much fun! Great crossover! I just finished my re-read of all the House Baylor books last night, so I’ll be starting Ruby Fever tonight!

  107. I hope it’s okay I post this, Mod R, feel free to remove this if it’s not!

    If anyone is looking to make a new Tapas account, you can use my invite code to get 500 free ink to start with.

    EMAI767N

    Happy reading!

  108. I’m late in reading the book. Periodically B&N manage to totally screw up my pre-orders. Usually for a book I have been counting down for its release. (Sound familiar to anyone?) I spent 6 hours yesterday trying everything that they had ever had me do in the past to get “Ruby Fever” to download with no luck. I finally went on-line for some assistance. The poor person helping me had me going through everything again with no luck. We worked together on it for 45 minutes (a very dedicated help-desk person) before she gave up and told me that all she could do was tell me to call back to the 800 number today because we had eliminated everything except some kind of issue with my credit card that only that one book had. I almost cried, and somehow that wonderful person understood. She offered me a final option–canceling my pre-order and allowing me to do a straight order for it. Which is what I did. So I did get my ecopy on release day, even if I didn’t get to start reading it until today.

    Ilona, Gordon and Mod R. For the last 6 weeks you 3 have been a bright spot in my day. And I want to thank you all three for your abilities to entertain, move, and thrill your faithful fans. The world would be a duller place without your literary contributions. I am sure the rest of this group feels the same way, but I thought that today would be a good day to remind you all how much you are lived and appreciated. Thank you for another wonder book.

  110. Delightful. This Post, Ruby Fever, and the Innkeeper comic on Tapas. Read Ruby Fever twice – once very quickly and the second time to savor. The Innkeeper episodes were consumed all together, so yes you will be getting Ink from me. I will be re-reading the comic daily until the next episode is out. So glad I was on vacation through Tuesday and returned at 11 am Wednesday. I used the 10 days I was off to read and re-read 1-4 books a day. It was very restoring. I did laundry at the start and admit to wearing the same clothes each day. I was enjoying my vacation ay home.

    • I get the books in both e-book and physical form. The E-book for me to read immediately and the physical book to say to people “Take this and read it! Return it when you are done.”

  114. That was so delightful.! I almost missed it. So funny and unexpected.
    It felt like my mind this week when I re-listened to “Sapphire…” then “Emerald…”
    then “Sweep In Peace” back to back, pausing only to sleep.

  117. I have all the feels. Kept refreshing Tapas for 3rd web page after 3am at work on lunch break ( not happening )and downloaded Ruby Fever as soon as I got home at 8am. Had a Dr appointment for a mammogram at 10am that was 45min away. Read all day until I finished, slept, got up to download Innkeeper, and had to go to leave for work at 10 pm. Thank you!!! I so enjoyed both!!! Now I am reading Soul Taken, and then…a reread of Ruby! Ahhhh I love when a new book comes out.

  118. I completely understand Caldenia’s book obsession, I couldn’t put Ruby Fever down either! Thanks for this fun post, and all the engrossing books from HA!!!

  119. Love it!
    Having them reading about each other is spectacular, almost a as good as a crossover book. ♡♡♡

  121. Thank you so much for the time and effort you’ve put into not only Ruby Fever but all of Hidden Legacy. It is truly one of my favorite series of all time and one of my comfort rereads when I need a pick me up. I finished RF and my heart was just so full and I was basically giddy because it was everything I wanted. I am really hoping for an Arabella series or a Cornelius novella because I just love this family so much, but if it doesn’t work out this book wrapped it up so completely… truly the characterizations, the world building, the relationships are all masterclasses.

    And then on top of it the new Innkeeper adaptation dropping the same day?!?! You have truly spoiled us between the gorgeous Tapas comic which is so freaking pretty and the Graphic Audio which is so incredibly immersive. This is also right up there as one of my favorite series and an ultimate comfort reread and now I have the pick of the litter!!

    Both of these series have brought me so much personal joy, and I cannot thank you enough for sharing all of this us. BDH forever!!

  122. I loved that snippet thank you! I am on vacation in Italy right now and my one regret (besides missing my kids) is not being able to read Ruby Fever yet!

    I mean I know I could get it but I would be intolerable to my husband and friends with staying up late and trying to read instead of going anywhere haha.

    So excited to read it and the webcomics when I get back!

  123. First, Congratulations on the awesome reviews for Ruby Fever,and expanding In keeper to Tapas. Next, I need to say a big thanks to House Andrews for being such amazing writers, artfully crafting worlds and friends I revisit time and again over the years. Then,there’s this lovely blog where we celebrate with snippets(yay!),artwork,pets,food; we commiserate at times and survive pandemics and more together. Since 2018 I lost Dad (feb), Husband (mar), a brother (aug) to health issues, Mom fell (with brain injury-aug),Brother-in-law was an a$$-got prison(dec). 2019- Mom moved in with me (more care-giving on top of hospital job) & I had emergency retina surgery. 2020 we both had Covid (dec-before vaccines)Moms brain took a big hit from the virus. 2021-emergency appendectomy (dec again!)for me (at my age!) So, your stories, your generosity, the BDH with all their fun, ModR, have so helped me survive the last few years. I am so very grateful, House Andrews. You make our lives brighter. Thankyou.

  124. Just finished *Ruby Fever,* and it was awesome, amazing and all-around terrific!

    And while we’re talking about much-anticipated books…

    (Whispering so the rest of the BDH won’t hear…)

    …is the second Julie/Derek story next in line after the current Innkeeper is complete??

    I just re-read the first after-publication Blood Heir post with those eye-popping sales figures, and then immediately opened my Kindle copy to re-read again. I can hardly wait!!!

    Thanks to you both for adding so much action, adventure, true love and creative amazingness to my Kindle library. Would you believe a Kindle library can actually exceed 4,500 books (including every Kindle-available Ilona Andrews ever published)?

    I’m now off to re-read the current Innkeeper blog posts for the umpteenth time.

    Faith

  128. Omg how did I miss this? Folks commenting on Ch 24 also talked about two gifts already this week and I had to go check it out. Seriously fun stuff! Of course Caldenia would identify with the evil grandmother chortle! Thanks so much HA. And congrats on two delightful releases! ????????

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