The slow editorial trudge continues.
Saturday:
Sunday:
Mod R is my witness, I keep cutting and cutting and somehow there are more words.
Thank you for all of the encouragement. You guys are too nice!
I received an interesting question the other day: if you could choose a comfort read among your books, what would you choose?
It’s probably Silver Shark for me. It grew out of my experiences more than any other. Don’t get me wrong, when I think about my childhood, it’s sun-filled and bright. The garden, the flowers, the River Street with the huge river flowing slowly past, the parks, the friends…
However, the older I grew, the more aware I became and the bleaker my life looked. It’s normal for teenagers to be nihilistic, but everything was truly falling apart by the time I was 14, and it only got worse from there. My adolescence is desaturated in my memories.
I had a chance to Google-drive past the house where I grew up, and it was in ruins. It really hammered home the point: that life is over. The place of my childhood exists only in my memories. It’s bittersweet, but the place where I live now is wonderful. It’s vivid, and bright, and I’m grateful for it. Yes, US has its problems, and I will complain about them as much as any American, but it’s a huge upgrade compared to the life I left behind.
Which brings me to another question:
Could we get a post sometime where folks share their favorite comfort read portions of House Andrews books?
This sounds like fun. Of everything we’ve written, what scenes or books do you go to when you need a little bit of comfort? One lucky commenter will get a signed book from our shelves.
Please don’t recommend other authors, as we will have a separate thread for that.
My most reread book is Mauds story, Sweep of the Blade, and the other Innkeepers stories.
When I’m under stress or not feeling well, I don’t reach for a new story, but these comfort books.
Sweep of the Blade is my all time favorite. I sleep with books playing and this one is played at least twice a week. I am an only parent to a girl so I guess I really enjoy Maud’s relationship with Helen. I wish I could be just as kick ask as Maud. 😀
Sweep with Me. Between the debating space chickens and Orro finding out that his favorite TV chef is a fraud I do not know what’s funnier. I also loved the whole idea of The Mountain. It was a great blend of mystery, tension, and humor. Lots of humor.
I love re-reading the Curran POV, the “text messages” if cellphones worked (so funny), and the scenes in the 4th Kate Daniel’s book where she fights all the battles at the Keep while Curran is laid up (including his POV too!). So good.
I love rereading the first three books of Hidden Legacy. I love Nevada and Rogan’s story. My top comfort read.
Mine goto for going to visit my book friends is the Innkeeper series. My special favorites is Sweep of the Blade.
What I love most about this series is the continuity. The Maven of House Krahr is killed in Book 1 and Maude becomes the Maven in Book 4. My only gripe is that House Krahr jumps in prestige between books 1 and 2, but I’ll accept that Dina may have been out of the loop for vampire politics.
The Innkeeper series is one of my comfort reads. I love going back and reading all of them, but Maude in Sweep of the Blade in particular I love.
It will be hard for me to choose among your books for a favorite comfort Read. They are all my favorites!
I‘d have to go with either Silver Shark or the Midnight games scenes from Magic Strikes. Especially the fights or the hot tub scene. Never fail to make me laugh.
I reread the HA books very often, and I love them all. But one if my absolute faves is the part in Magic Bleeds where Curran is in a coma and Kate takes on the council to stay with him <3
It is hard to choose. Sweep in Peace first, probably, but Magic Rises is also something I go back to over and over.
This was such a difficult question for me to answer – House Andrew’s “Comfort Read”…But I think it has to be book 2 of the Inn Keeper Chronicles. Meeting up with George, Jack, Gaston and Sophie again and getting a peak into the adults they have become is a thrill. Reading about Officer Maraias’ car debacle never fails to make me smile and when George, Dina, and Gertrude Hunt force the delegates to share each other’s pain to help bring the end to war on Nexus it is heart breaking – but some how relatable.
Oh, boy…this is a tough question, because I reread your books multiple times per year when I need to feel better about anything. Hidden Legacy, as a whole, I turn to the most. I particularly love Catalina’s books. Emerald Blaze is probably my favorite, but it actually hurts to pick just one!
The innkeeper books are so comforting – reading or on graphic audio. Sweep of the Blade with Helen and her ‘ripper cushions’ for standing up to the little boy are so funny and sweet. It’s a definite reread or listen if I’m sick!
Magic claims has been my comfort read recently, it just speaks to me in the way that both Kate and Curran are finally settled in their views of themselves and each other, finally understanding a lot of their own past choices. (Some of the peace I would like in my own life)
I reread Grace of Small Magics. It’s a short read but I love Grace and Nasaar. The story set up with a family being indentured (kinda) to another is interesting and I don’t see it very often.
I use Magic Stars for my comfort read. I’m not altogether sure why.
When I want a quick laugh, well I saved the scene of Kate scolding Grendel over chasing the chickens on my hard drive, and every time it makes me laugh.
From the Hidden Legacy stories, I particularly enjoy scenes featuring either Leon or Bug. I would love a short story of them investigating something together.
Sweep of the Heart- I absolutely love the scene in which the Dushegubs (spelling ?) are misbehaving and Dina turns on a beaver nature show. I laugh now, thinking about it.
I laughed for a long time after reading that scene.
Beast is also a favorite.
So is Bunny-Legacy.
I very much enjoy any scenes with loyal and super-scary animals.
My comfort read is all of the scenes involving Helen. No matter what is happening in life you know that in these books she will always be loved and ok in the end.
For escapism it’s the Baylor family’s adventures. I want to become a previously unknown cousin. Favorite scene is the epic battle at the pit. (I’m in love with a water wizard warrior!)
I reread Kate Daniels or Hidden Legacy books. I just love how all the characters interact with each other. They are dealing with serious issues but find things to tease and joke to each other about. I really love grandma in Hidden Legacy.
There are several that I will pick up when I need a comfort read but most recently it has been “Sweep of the Blade” and “Magic Claims.” These allow me to fall into a new world every time.
Hidden Legacy. The last 7 months have been just horrible with the death of both of my parents and I just need to get my mind off everything. I just keep re-reading them and it’s a wonderful escape!
Take care of yourself. That is a hard uphill slog.
When I need comfort or feel like revisiting old friends I re-read the Kat Daniel’s series or the Hidden Legacy series. (In fact I’ve just a finished a re-read of the HL series last week.)
Heh, I am re-re-reading Silver Shark right now. Started this morning. Thank you for giving so much of yourselves to the BDH.
The Gertrude Hunt books, the entire series. I usually re-read it starting shortly before Christmas and into the New Year.
If I had to pick one, it’d probably be Sweep With Me. The cozy holiday vibe, the full cast (poor Orro, trying desperately to recreate a horrible fast-food burger!) and good grief the koo-kos. The Innkeeper books are my faves and that one in particular just nails the comfort thing.
Blood Heir – it was so nice to revisit the Kate Daniels world during all the tumult of the pandemic and it felt like such a gift to your fans. It will always be a comfort read because it brings back memories of some of the highlight moments of the pandemic – reading the latest posting and then eventually the full book.
I’ve been rly stressed out the last couple months and read the hidden legacy series again. I would finish, wait a few days and then read it again (just Catalina’s trilogy tho). And again. And again. After the fifth re-read (in a month?) I just realized how stressed I actually am bc I couldn’t seem to stop. It’s like I could only cope by reading this trilogy. It’s funny bc I wasn’t that much of a fan of Catalina’s trilogy when it came out…
I’m not sure why but definitely On The Edge for me. I love Rose and the boys and their grandmother and the way that they love their family so much. It reminds me of my giant family. We are much bigger but staying close with my family is a priority and I hope to never lose that.
My comfort is KD which I re-read every year. For a quick comfort, I actually go to the latest book, Magic Claims. It is Kate accepting who she is, and recognizing what she needs to do. I love this book and my favorite phrase is actually not in the book, but the follow-up “Purpose”. I find myself throwing that out at various times 🙂
As for series, Innkeeper is always particularly comforting, partly because I love the idea of the sentient house, the garden is lovely, who wouldn’t want to have such a cook… But when I had a tumour a few years ago and couldn’t get surgery for months (it turned out to be non-malignant, but I couldn’t know that, and the pain kept getting worse), I just re-read anything by you and it did me good. There’s just a lot of humour and heart in your books. I then had to go on to other authors since it took so long and I ran out of your books, but I was so grateful for them. Thank you!
I have two: The Edge and Hidden Legacy. Both are more about family. I also love the Kate Daniels series plus any offshoots and have read all three many times over.
My comfort reads change, but my favorites currently are the post Atlanta years – Magic Tides and Magic Claims. I am reassured , every freaking time,that Kate, Curran and Conan are still having a thriving life after huge changes. And that their true natures surface and they recognize those.
I always come back to Magic Strikes when I’m stressed. I think the scene I love the most is actually a sequence. When Kate and Jim realize Julie can help Derek, the trip with Rafael, and then Julie coming and finding the shards. It’s like, “yes, they figured out how to make it okay,” and sometimes I just need that.
Hidden Legacy, particularly Nevada’s books.
Don’t know why but she is amazing and the whole family is now like old friends
Burn for me is a lovey cosy read for me.
Hidden Legacy books, Blood Hair and Hugh’s book.
I have read them over and over and over when I need it.
All of my comfort reads come out of the Innkeeper series – Book 1 Arland drunk on Coffee, Book 2 any thing with Orro but really every thing up to the poisoning Book 3 Maud’s rescue, Orro and Maris, Christmas when Helen gives Sunset the ornament & the Hirus’ reveal Book 4 ripper-cushions and Book 5 the whole thing!
I kind of envy those who can read for comfort. There is no such thing for me. I must put all my emotions, anger and stress into work. Like if cleaning and puting things back into shelves can help clean the mess in my life. Only after the storm is over I can sit down and enjoy my book.
I guess I don’t have specific scenes that are comforting. But Dina sitting on her porch with food and drink looking at the garden is comforting to me. Also when I am overwhelmed and need to read, but don’t want to start a new book, I frequently start at the beginning of any of your series and read through them again.
Silver Shark is my go-to comfort read. I have no idea how many times I’ve re-read it. The story hits all my personal pleasure buttons. Smart, brave, honest heroine who hides her abilities because Reasons suffers unrequited love for unattainable hot guy. Clever, privileged, somewhat spoiled hero uncovers the truth, learns to value and love her as she deserves. HEA.
I love, love, love the big reveal, where Ven scans Claire’s mind and discovers that the woman he’s been desperately searching for is right under his nose and hopelessly in love with him. Puts my world to rights every time.
I find it hard to pick just one book or passage. They are all so fine!!
I do adore Magic Triumphs when Kate exiles Roland. Great comfort read!
Sweep of the Blade. I love Maude’s snarky comments. Even when I am feeling unhappy or irritable, they can make me laugh out loud. “So just birds, then?”
+1 You just made me laugh out loud!
I specifically bought hard copy Innkeepers series for comfort reading. Because of the structure of those stories, I can randomly grab a book and randomly open it to a cool scene worth re-reading when I have a few minutes to relax.
All of your books are re-reads for me. But my favorites are Magic Burns and Magic Strikes. It’s the building of her found family during those 2 that really are comforting.
Comfort Scene:
It’s gotta be the scene in Magic Triumphs when Kate is trying to find baby Conlan and then rips through the Sahanu. I have no idea why thats a comfort scene for me but it lives rent free in my head.
Comfort Book:
KD book 3. The Midnight Games is my favorite thing in all of KD history. Ive read that one the most.
Love all the words, but I especially revisit these three things when I need a book hug:
1. All scenes in Innkeeper with Orro. Both the visits to his offended woods (when I am upset or frustrated myself) or for the food (for comfort and it’s better than any cooking show, esp. “Fire and Lightning”!)
2. Fated Blades–the dancing, the complete cesspool of the Senator and his allies, and Matias and Ramona realizing they have so much in common.
3. Of Swine and Roses–a short story that showcases House Andrews’ special brand of ideas and writing style (and anyone who’s had a horrible date or loves this pig).
+1 All excellent memories!
Hidden Legacy, especially Catilina’s arc. There is something awe inspiring about her growth through the three novels, well, through the series as a whole. But when I need a good pick me up, I read about her overcoming her trials and rising above and it just lifts my spirits.
My comfort read belongs to Helen in Sweep of the Blade where she explains what she did wrong and why she has “ripper cushions”. That entire book where Helen is constantly doing and explaning her actions has me smiling in delight. She’s a joy to read about be it her antics and/or her interactions with others in this book as well as One Fell Sweep.
My comfort read is Innkeeper. It is where I found the Andrew’s and where I fell in love with the magic that one house can hold.
The scene is the ribs scene for me. Sean found out where his species came from and decided to help. Just the little bits and pieces of the magic that got added to a normal BBQ scene that makes me smile every time.
The Kate Daniels series will always be my favourite by Ilona , but my comfort read is the innkeeper series. The innkeeper series gives me the warm fuzzies.
Me too! I’m especially grateful for the Wilmington KD.
I started reading your books with Magic Breaks, and haven’t looked back since then. Every book I’ve read is a wonder. However, Magic Breaks I come back to read when I’m not sure what to read.
Magic Breaks, for me, is a book about accepting who you are while trying to protect everyone else. I’m thinking about the part when Kate is rescued from Mishmar, and everyone’s huddled near the fire at the broken down gas station. The conversation between Kate and Landon, and then Kate and Curran was telling. The part with Kate, Landon, and Curran in the Land Rover makes me laugh to the point of tears every time. Then the whole scene in Roland’s swan palace so Kate could get Christopher and Robert back. Kate being at peace when backing down with Roland after breaking his blood ward.
I understand about not being able to go back home. The last time I went back to see if there were any changes to where I lived as a teenager, I felt like I was in a straight jacket. Nothing drastically changed.
Here, kitty, kitty, kitty…
Anytime I need a mental hug I restart the Innkeeper Chronicles. The amount of character growth and change and adjustments and loyalty comforts me so much. I just escape into Gertrude Hunt and forget whatever stresses I am feeling!
I’m sad to hear about your childhood home. Whenever I drive by my old house (rare) I remember what I felt and some of it was good, it’s over now.
All of you Innkeeper series are my comfort books. If I’m having to much brain activity when I’m trying to relax I listen to the Graphic Audio version of Sweep with Me. It’s the least anxty of them. I’ve probably listened to it a hundred times or more. You, and they, did a great job.
Thank you as always!
Innkeeper series, then Kinsmen, then Hidden Legacy. it’s all your fault anyway, you keep writing these relatable, sympathetic characters that feel like such good friends that I go back again and again. (Besides that; SPACE CHICKENS!)
Thank you for the gift of your imagination.
OMG I failed to mention the Costco lady. The original scene and the follow up when we find out who she is are both classics. Not comfort reads but wonderful nonetheless.
Good evening from Greece! My comfort read would be Magic Stars. My favorite characters are Derek and Julie and reading about them makes my day.
Thank you Ionna. I thought I was the only one. The scene where Julie and Derek eat their food side by side in silence is just golden. That for me is a love meant to last. That is why I was so happy to read Blood Heir and am desperately hoping for a sequel. Just saying…
For a quick fix: Of Swine And Roses
Hidden Legacy for the steadiness, humor, chaos, and above all unconditional love of the Baylor family, especially in combination with Nevada and Catalina’s convictions. I love reading the scenes like Arabella trying to go make Alessandro stay and Leon and Bern trying to make sure Nevada isn’t marrying just for money or security.
And Innkeeper because I love the tightness of the core concept (intergalactic, alive inn) and how naturally the whole world feels like it spirals out from there. It’s my favorite HA series. Also, because Dina is a bada** 🤩
Sometimes I need something darker to remind me it could ALWAYS be worse and still have a happy ending so I may be alone when I say the Edge Series. My favorite is PROBABLY Bayou Moon with Fate’s Edge as a close second.
If I need something light – totally turn to Innkeeper 🙂
The Edge Series is my comfort read. I like the strong women and the way they work together with the men in their lives to overcome hardship. There is a sense of rising above circumstances and being strong and independent that resonates with me. It’s in the little details like the way Declan dresses to match Rose’s slightly out of style wardrobe. I feel like I often live on that edge too, where imposter syndrome constantly threatens to sap my energy and steal my happiness. A quick re-read and I find my balance again. Thank you for making women strong and the men who love them equals.
I love all of Magic Strikes and Magic Bleeds. 😄
My comfort read is the Innkeeper Chronicles, specifically One Fell Sweep. I love Dina and Sean and the Innkeeper world. It reminds me a little of stores I read as a child whet magic could be around any corner.
To my everlasting surprise my HA comfort read is Hidden Legacy. I am not a romance fan, the predictable, insipid plots, the arrogant ass who just needs a woman’s love (actually, Rafael’s description of Lorna Stirling’s books fits me to a tee!).
Having read Edge, and all the Kate books to that point (no Innkeeper yet), and desperate for something more by IA, I found the HL books on Amazon. You have to understand I mercilessly tease my romance novel-loving lawyer friend for her taste for empty books with beefcake covers, I took one look at the cover and the description and fled with my eyes scorched!
Several months of deeply unsatisfying reading of random urban fantasy ensued. Finally in sheer desperation for something readable, witty, intelligent, engaging, I ordered Burn For Me.
Well, book by its cover and all that! So much fun. All the characters, the family, the plot, the hijinks, even the overdone romance tropes (seriously, how many incredibly handsome, yet lonely and troubled billionaires can be out there just waiting for their soulmate?!), it all just works when done by HA. I really enjoy the characters, they amuse, and entertain, and even thrill, and of all the HA series, this is the cast I’d most like to meet.
So, they are my comfort family. It’s not really a “read,” it’s more like going back for a visit every time – which I started again for the umpteenth time just yesterday, in fact! Thanks for giving me a whole virtual extended family to be adopted into now and then, to enjoy adventures vicariously, and to wait with bated breath for their next family episode.
+111111111111
Hidden Legacy (the whole series) is my favorite reread from you! Closely followed by Innskeeper.
Kate and Andrea covering Raphael’s house in purple shag carpet.
Kate getting past the officious Casino employee by taking control of all the vampires under the Casino was pretty fun too.
So hard to pick. I would have to say innkeeper, the reality surrounded by fantasy makes it any easy escape. I’m also really loving Kate’s books on GA.
i love the scene in Magic Bleeds when Curran walks back into the temple and buys the second cookbook. He’s so pissed off but still thinking about the beauty of food.
I love reading about William’s reaction to Cerise after she cleaned off the rancid spaghetti in Bayou Moon. The clear wanting, then pulling himself back..
Bayou Moon came to mind first! Love that “spaghetti” scene / “hobo queen” lol!!! And the court scene with the family and the different characters arriving. That family is hilarious! In Steel’s Edge Richard’s — “…a long ballad about the bleakness of my life and the heaviness of the burden that was being me…” In another scene Kaldar telling him his first words were probably “woe is me”. I still crack up at these books! Ilona Andrews IS my comfort read! I reread Kate/The Edge/Innkeeper every year! You’re my fave!!!
So glad to see a few votes for Bayou Moon. I love it! I know folks complain about the ending, and it does seem a bit contrived, but each scene is so darn well written and the characters feel so real that it lingers in my memory. On the Edge and Bayou Moon remind me of my Appalachian roots and remain my 2 fav books! Then all KD books and spinoffs, then the HL books, Sweep of the Blade and other Inn books, oh crap, I just freakin’ love ’em all!
I hope more people try them all out!
It is hard to pick one as each book fits with different moods. I really love rereading the Inn-Keeper stories. I’m hard pressed to choose just one within that series, but currently I’m rereading Sweep of the Heart. Some of my favorite scenes are with the tree creatures as they are particularly awesome in their annoyingness.
The first Kate Daniels story has a special place for me because my sister first introduced me to the world of Ilona Andrews with a gift of that book, so that is another comfort albeit for different reasons than the Inn Keeper stories.
I reread all of them several times a year. the Edge are a favorite along with the Hidden Legacy. Gertrude Hunt is more of a comfort read because my very favorite book of all of them is Sweep of the Blade. I pretty much have it memorized (lol).
I re-read all the scenes with baby Conlan. I don’t generally care for children in my fantasy but Conlan is a real doll! The blood claws are the best 😄.
At night when I’m too tired to hold my Kindle but also too tired to fall asleep I’ve been playing chapters from the Catalina books. Audible let’s you set a timer so it’s okay to fall asleep to Catalina/Alessandro dialog!
I’ve reread the innkeepers books at least twenty times now. Anytime I can’t find a book or series that holds my interest or things are just rough, I will start it over again. I have most of the scenes memorized and they still make me smile. Actually just got to maud’s story last night!
The Edge and Innkeeper are my comfy reads. specifically Edge 1&3, and Innkeeper 1.
The Innkeepers series is a true comfort read and I will read through the series at least once a year. In 2021 my younger brother passed and that series was a constant comfort through the heaviest days of my grief. I love all the books you guys have written but this series to me is family, both born and made 💗.
When Catalina has a mental break down in her roof top hide out in Emerald Blaze and Alessandro comforts her and then it gets spicy. Sighhhhh
Actually anything with Alessandro and Catalina because Catalina is a basket case of anxiety and I relate so much to her. Alessandro is so calm and collected and he just gets her. I love reading about them and how they are there for her each other.
It’s difficult to pick one, but I would say Diamond Fire would be my fave. There’s a wedding coming up, family dynamics (good and bad), bad person caught and Catalina maturing. Also the kinsmen universe stories.
The Innkeeper series for me… I have read and reread that series. Whenever I want to read a book or books that make me happy it is this series.
For sheer cozy comfort, I go to the Innkeeper Series. I start at the beginning and read the entire series.
I love Dina and her calmness and confidence just shine through. It always makes me feel better.
My version of comfort is something that makes me laugh.
Here, kitty kitty does it for me every time.
The Innkeeper Chronicles is one of my default (annual or more often) rereads.
I love reading the scenes where Dinah creates rooms to give people peace, particularly Turan Adin or the Hiru.
I also reread the scenes in Sweep of the Blade where Helen gets in trouble for fighting and where Maud is super competent, like preparing the meal for the Tachibana, battling Lady Ilemina, then sharing her past deeds with the Herald.
Hidden Legacy, particularly Nevada’s books, are my second place comfort reads, partly because I’m originally from Houston and partly for the family dynamics.
I have to say I fell in love the first time I read Kate Daniels. I love the whole series but I will admit that lately with personal things going on…I’m rereading the Innkeeper series.
Clean Sweep is my favorite reread.
The Edge books in order then the Innkeeper books probably once a year.
I’ve used both Magic Bites and Silver Shark as comfort reads more than once.
I love how both stories give me a competent main character to immerse myself in her brain for a while. I love seeing how Claire’s world opens up for her, how she embraces the color and light. And I love how you can tell Kate is smart, even as she hides it under snark and attitude, pretending to be “less than” to stay invisible. But she can’t help making an impression.
the short story of swine and roses is so fun to read. I have read all of the books at least four times, but this story always makes me laugh. the going back home, the shower scene, hilarious.
Easy-peasy. The first chapter of Magic Tides, because that told me Kate wasn’t gone forever.
I just started One Fell Sweep on Hoopla because 1) I’ve had a rotten November so far, and 2) some brilliant member of the BDH posted on some thread recently that the Graphic Audio versions were there (thank you x 1million!!). It soothed me to sleep without the anxiety bugs taking over my brain.
But I love all the HA books so much, it was hard to choose just one to listen to.
Alphas Origins! (one of their unpublished short stories online). It’s a bit strange, vampiric, and has growing happiness. The last line and twist is everything.
Hi Vonnie, Alphas Origins has been published 🙂, here are some retail links https://ilona-andrews.com/other-fiction/#alphas
My favorite comfort read that I most often go back to is White Hot. I love Hidden Legacy and the Baylor family in general but I usually go back to White hot because I really like the way Nevada and Rogan come together in that book, she discovers who he truly is. You also get to see who Nevada is going to become develop through the book.
My favorite comfort read is definitely the Innkeeper Chronicles. My favorite of those is probably Sweep of the Blade. I love how effective Maud’s I’m just a clumsy human routine is until her kill count is announced, and how she navigates vampire politics! Helen is also amazing, the “ripper cushions” are very funny.
Any House Andrews book is my choice for comfort read. I have them on kindle and start with first of each series and read until I run out of book.
Just reread the two Wilmington books and am queuing up Hugh’s story to reread after work. Cannot wait for the sequel!!
All House Andrews books are comfort reads for me 😅 I discovered Kate Daniels when I checked out the first three from the library and they kept me company in the emergency room when my dad had his gallbladder out and at all the follow up appointments.
When I was pregnant with my daughter and couldn’t sleep the audiobooks from KD kept me company in the middle of the night.
And this year the graphic audio Innkeeper novels have been getting me through my dad’s passing, my husband’s job loss and my iron infusions for anemia. I think Dina fighting through the darkness after the death of the inn seed is so potent to me right now.
I keep going back to White Hot and Magic Bleeds. But then that usually leads me to a full reread of both series! 😆
My comforts are always Kate Daniels. Mostly Magic Strikes or Magic Breaks. Kate has just always been my favorite and I really like how the story progresses in each of those books.
My favorite comfort read passage is the last chapter of One Fell Sweep. This is where we see the Inn see die and how it affects Dina. Sean’s care for her gets me every time. He sells his house before he knows she will recover. He has such faith in her. While I have affection for many of your characters, I think Dina and Sean are my favorites.
Hm, there are two that stand out for me: First one is the little fox-people experiment from On the Edge Declan did for George. I still think about it from time to time and I think I wrote an essay on reddit about that scene. It evokes something sweet and melancholic in me,because it’s essentially a kid finally letting go of irrational he clings so hard on, kind of like first separation from innocence and wonder of childhood and growing up. It gives me 20th century boys or the boy’s life vibe…It’s a small scene, but something about it tugs on my heartstrings.
Magic Strikes is my favorite IA book and the scene where Jim gives detailed strategy to Curran and Kate to downplay their danger lvl only for them to demolish the opposition is forever stamped onto my brain.
My comfort read is the Hidden legacy series. What I love most is the tight knit extended family of the books. The three sisters, mum, granny, grandpa,cousins husbands, boyfriends, friends, colleagues. I feel a part of that family. They are my comfort.
technically i listen to it, its Burn for me. i cant read when im so upset- i can read, i guess, it just doesnt register & i just keep reading the same few sentences like 20 times. anyway, i love the whole sense of family & pride in family. each person has something special & unique to contribute & it isnt ever a negative. its always spun in a humorous way if its very quirky, at least. it makes me feel better/good when i listen to it because i wish that for myself & my family. it makes me want to smell gun & machine oil and be hugged. then i dont feel so down. i can rely on HA to bring me to a place where i like being for hours at a time when all the rest of my life is uncomfortable or disappointing, which isnt all the time. i also love the strength in spirit of the characters. yes, life can be hard, and then you get on with it. wallowing endlessly isnt doing you or anyone else any favors & the best thing is to keep getting up & pushing through it while gleaning as much from the experience as you can retain to prepare for the next blow. im a jar full of rainbows & unicorns, i know. i love the way karma gets the last word in.
I reread all of your books every year anyway but I think the series I turn to most when I’m stressed or need a pick me up is Hidden Legacy.
I can’t just read specific passages though, as soon as I pick up Burn for Me I know I’ll be binging the entire series! It just has everything I love, wonderful characters and family dynamics, fantastic romance, amazing world building, cool magic and cute animals. The ferret heist never fails to make me laugh out loud!
I always start the new year with Kate and crew to set me off for a good year of reading and I’m not sure why but the Innkeeper series has become my between Christmas and new year read. I fit in the Edge and Fated Blades books whenever I get the mood throughout the year.