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.
For me it’s the audiobook of Sweep of the Blade. I love Arland and Maud (and Helen).
For me it’s Blood Heir. I just love the dynamics between Julie and Derek.
Especially the scene on the roof where Derek finds Julie on top of the telephone pole and they fight against the thing that can only be killed with lemon juice. I’ve read that book so many times but I can never remember the name of that specific monster…
I just saw that I checked the Sperling for the post but forgot to check my own name…🤣
Fixed it ☺️
seeing your childhood home in ruins is a shock and a reminder of time passing. thank goodness we can always return to our favorite books, and know that any changes we detect are all on us 😀. my favorite comfort read is sweep of the blade. I love the way Maud is so competent and clever, and everything falls into a sweet and happy place. too many books today slice up your soul and don’t bother with a bandage, or even duct tape. I trust house andrews to never do that.
Grace of Small Magics! She has all this crazy stuff and a scary, violent new world shoved on her, yet is able to react with such compassion and courage. It just makes the real world seem a little less bleak. She’s an inspiration ❤️
Book: Bayou Moon, Edge #2
Scenes: 1) Maud and her supreme equestrian skills, riding a Hoard mount because she can.
2) the ferret heist – makes me laugh every time. The pure joy of the critters as they pull off the caper of the century.
Me: “Oh! My favorite is …. Hmmmmm … wait ….” (purses mouth and squints eyes)
(Points finger in the air) “Ah! There is too much! Let me sum up: Everything.”
🤣
I do love it all. I could pick scenes from every book.
I love some for the tingles I get from the nearly cinematic (to me) descriptions of the imagery (Blood Heir, to name just one).
I love the warm fuzzies for the family interactions (blood and found family).
I love the complex relationship of Kate & Roland & Hugh.
Hugh’s heartbreaking back story made me understand he’s complicated (as villains often are) but deserving of redemption.
I love the bloodthirsty justice (Cornelius in White Hot! Maud in Sweep of the Blade!).
I love the quirky characters (Bug!).
I love the kickass moms (I want to be a mom like Maud when I grow up – I’m 46 so I need to get on that growing up thing 😄).
I really enjoy the scenes with Sergeant Teddy in the Hidden Legacy books. For whatever reason, I identify with his character. 🐻
I am in a different boat with the growing up thing, but waving from the same sea. I went to my parents house for Thanksgiving. I called in sick to work today because I needed to put my pieces back together. last night at 130 am I put on an unnamed audiobook when I couldn’t sleep and kept telling myself I was home and safe. it was complicated growing up as me.
I go to Dina when I need comfort. Clean Sweep is my favorite. I have bother the kindle and audiobook versions and when I just need something familiar Dina and her haven is where I land.
oh, and I can’t wait for the latest Dina book in audible as graphic audio. I really want the scene where Sean takes down the space pirates because Dina understands his demons.
I gravitate to Kate’s world because I love the characters and I’ve read them several times so they feel like family! My family is just as crazy as theirs is so it’s my go to! I start at the beginning and work my way through!
that moment in mishmar when Kate looks up and sees Curran. I’ll dig through the whole book or that moment. then I’ll inevitably finish the book, go back and start from the beginning for balance and end up burning through the whole series again. But that moment is usually the catalyst.
I always want to go back to the time Curran was pursuing Kate and she denies any thought of a relationship.
And of course the scene where he hunts her down and she physically assaults him and then……….
I love reading Curans point of views right at the same time as Kate’s. it gives a great depth to the scenes, and really shows neither are perfect, but they try… and why they are such a great match
my personal fav reread is from Sapphire Flames. The proving that the girls are all Primes, thus creating House Baylor. The best part of it is poor Arabella trying to solve math problems while in her alternate form. While I love mathematics, I remember my younger brother ranting about how unfair it was that he had to take math in school. And that’s why I reread that book in mid-Ocyober, which is my brother’s birthday. he passed away from cancer just before his 41st birthday. But that memory was always a fun one for me.
Sweep of the Blade is a great second, but part of what makes a comfort read a comfort read for me is how many times you’ve reached back for it and how it keeps scratching that itch time and time again, so I have to vote Magic Strikes.
It’s Kate before the pain of Erra, Julie’s almost death and Aunt B, so she’s still a little lighter. There are a lot of great Kate/Curran moments, the phonecall, the bathtub, but I also feel it’s the book where the gang all gets together. The team in the Arena is great, has almost all of my original favs, Jim hasn’t become too Jim yet, and it’s fun and lovely and often hilarious. The ending is thrilling and devastating and Curran coming for Kate in the jungle is just top notch romance.
I just love that book so much. I’ll have a need for comfort, reread that one, and then I end up rereading the whole series.
LOL, I have anxiety anf so I comfort read all the series one after the other when I’m struggling. All the Kate Daniels books together make it so I know I have something to read continuously for several weeks. Two of my favorite scenes are when Kate meets the Atsani and the Shepard in Magic Rises and when Christopher walks home next door and Kate realizes Barabas and Derek split from the pack in Magic Shifts. The most comforting series to me is the Innkeeper series, though. It’s funny and poignant and I really love the characters and how kind they all are in their own ways.
I re-read everything HA has put out, several times a year.
But my go-to series, when I need a real comfort read, is the Inkeeper series. Dina’s anguish at the loss of her parents – even if it seems that they’re still alive, somewhere – resonates deeply with me.
That one scene, where she pulls out her favorite blue robe and suddenly has this incredible desire for a hug from her mother… that always breaks my heart. Because in that moment I sit here and I want nothing more than a hug from mine – and I know that it will never happen again, because she passed away last year.
A lot of things Dina feels in the books really hits home for me.
So, strangely enough, those are my comfort books… I guess it feels like my pain is being shared by someone else. And if she can get through it, then so can I…
“Mr. Evans?” I called. “A moment of your time?” He looked at me as if he’d never seen me before. “Do I know you?” “My name is Dina. I own the bed-and-breakfast.” He glanced past me at the old house sitting at the mouth of the subdivision. “That monstrosity?” Aren’t you sweet?
I love this, this conversation signals the start of the Innkeeper series that I know and love. I laugh, I smile and I just love this series.
Like many others on this thread, I go back and re-read many IA books. If I had to pick one book though it would be Iron and Magic. I despised Hugh in the Kate Daniels series and went into I&M with a LOT of skepticism. How could they take that absolute a-hole and make me care about him one iota without completely changing his character? His arc is *chef’s kiss* and they did it while keeping his personality believably jerkish. He didn’t turn into a NICE GUY™️, but I like him anyway. The banter between him and Elara is wonderful. I feel gleeful every time I read this book. Love it!
Hard to choose – it has evolved for me! I started out with Kate, but having read them at least 20 times, I now prefer the ones I haven’t read as often. I do really love Silver Shark as well, I loved the description of all the fruit and vegetables and just how capable she is! My favorite character pair is still Julie and Derek though, so Blood Heir is also up there!
Clean Sweep. It’s still fresh and funny. I get my competence fix, it’s sci fi enough to be an escape but also innocent in many ways. I re-read when I need a safe place to land.
that is SUCH a hard question. so many happy book memories to choose from, and Ive re-read all of them so many times. especially these last 5years or so. I can relate to every MC, each in their own way.
I’ve never been married, but I can feel Mauds pain and frustration after trying so hard to meet her vampire family’s approval, the betrayal, feeling her husband blame her for his stupidity. “horrible witch that I am” And how reluctant she was to trust and open up again, the joy when she finally did. (I STILL want to know how Arland and Helen got sap on them)
I can feel the desperation Nevada did when she was trapped into an impossible task, the rage, the determination to cram Adam peirce down MIIs throat. The confusion, thrills and exhilaration as she fell in love with Rogan. how she Would Not Leave him, not in the cistern when he was freezing, not when he kept trying to tell her she would be better off with someone else. “foolish foolish Rogan”
the edge stories, where each one finds exactly what they need even when they don’t think it could possibly be real. and at the end of the edge books, I wailed because I wanted to see George, Jack, Gaston and Lark grow up. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BRINGING THEM BACK!
I didn’t know the word monachopsis until I read Catalinas story, but I’ve been there too. watching her grow into herself was awesome. The way she kept going even when it was hard. How she REFUSED to let anyone break her and yet she still held on the the soft parts. she could be ‘Victoria’s granddaughter’ when people needed a sneer, yet she remembered to cry and love fiercely. When she told Alessandro “from what pulpit are you speaking” and he froze I lost it!
the in-between stories like ‘the cool aunt’, ‘pay me’ and Regina’s cut scene. Jack and George in school. the Rogan and curran POVs. I played ‘mere formality’ for a friend who’d never heard of your books and we laughed so hard. (he devoured the innkeeper series soon after)
there are too many things to list about Kate, Curran, Julie, Andrea, Rafael, Dali, Jim, Derek, Ascanio, Roman, Hugh and Elara. don’t get me started. and now Conlan is involved. Sigh. I don’t have words. the feels. So. Many. Things. About Kate’s world. maybe ONE thing I can say….
“Ianitori te salutant!”
“Not another word. Latin is a dead language but that doesn’t mean you can molest its corpse. ”
in silent blade when we first meet Meli and she goes through her interview with Agostino, then turns the table, drops the mike and walks out, it was epic. Then she does the same with Celino. then again with her father and brother when they’re pissed she didn’t kill him. she is her own woman and nobody tells her what to do.
I loved watching Matais and Ramona dance around each other as they learned to appreciate an enemy they had never truly met before. and when they danced in the courtyard, mowing through everyone, so they could each stand before their spouses and make them face reality?
“you killed everyone ”
“yes”
“sign”
“I don’t want to”
“I. Will. Break. You.”
(cackles)
in swine and roses, where she has caught the pig, and Pushes her way through the bullies, takes him home without a word to her family and then tells the poor pig all her problems while she cleans him, And her….only to have him turn into a person. I talk to my cat when I’m stressed. God help me if any cat turned into a person while I vented.
and in silver shark, how the whole building was family when you need them. I think that’s awesome.
I can’t pick a favorite. there are too many. but I do love the moments that are ‘victorious’. I love the moments that are ‘couch time’. I love the broken moments where someone takes the time to acknowledge their pain and then just breathe. breathe again. one more time. ok, I’m good now. when someone is caught flat footed and totally blown away and just stares. I Love all these moments and House Andrews delivers them all, over and over. thank you. for such beautiful, dark and hopeful, dangerous and fulfilling words that I can explore and revisit.
That’s a hard question. I like so many of them. Magic Breaks is one of my favorites. I love the whole Kate Daniels series the most.
When I’m feeling stressed and helpless, I like to be Kate.
Iron and Magic is my comfort read.
I re-read innkeeper and HL quite often, however last year my 10yo daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumour, while in hospital with her the one story I wanted to read was alphas origins, the line ‘don’t worry, I’m the biggest and the strongest and I’ll protect you’ resonated with me.
I made my husband travel for 2 hrs to bring me all my hard copy HA books, I re-read them all during her 9 month recovery 🙂
All of them but especially Sweep of the Blade and Iron and Magic.
Your characters are so well developed and have an intense emtional connection with life whether it be laughter or tears.
Oh I give up all the Legacy books too.
Over the past 61 years I have collected the complete works of twelve authors, you all are one of those.
It depends on what the situation is. Whenever I’m nervous for a date, I can never sleep, and I always go to Swine and Roses.
“Of Swine and Roses” is most often my HA comfort read. Of course, the answer to this question varies sometimes! “Iron and Magic”, too
If we are talking a specific scene, it’s the scene in Clean Sweep when Dina makes the patio move from under Sean’s feet. I’ve reread CS any number of times, and it still makes me laugh. If we’re talking a comfort reread of a full book, it’s Silver Shark for me too. Claire is so strong and compassionate, even in the pale world of her origin and I love seeing her burgeon with color and joy over the course of the book.
My comfort read will always be Kate’s world, doesn’t matter what book. I found magic Bites on a shelf randomly around 2007 in a bleak time in my life when I was young and very poor and my spouse and I were scraping by. I adored her and her world, and as I grew up and built a life for myself, so did Kate. She’ll always have my heart. 🙂
So many great books and scenes, but I always smile at how happy/braggy Roman is that they chose him to officiate.
Also any scene in the innkeeper books describing Orro’s food, lol.
Right now, it is Purpose. I love that story
I’ve read it at least a half of dozen times. It’s so Kate.
It is bittersweet to look back at your childhood; I was a young child in the 60s and looking back it seems things were much more innocent then. You’re right; as you grow up you definitely are more aware of bad things that are happening. I hope your younger, sweet memories of flowers and friends out weigh the harsher times that came later.
As for a comfort scene: Love Matilda and her animal friends; Bunny, the cat, and Zeus. and her laughter heheh “silver bells”!
Thank you for your hard work; it is much enjoyed.
Silver shark bc it epitomizes how a persons inner life can be so hidden from the outside world and reminds me to look for buried treasures in the people I meet
Innkeeper. Any of them.
Definitely Magic Strikes. It’s my go-to comfort book, especially when I’m going through a hard time.
I get the feeling that for all her adventures, Kate’s at her bravest(& loneliest) in this one, true to herself, witty, badass, and a great friend.
Honestly, I just pick one that I haven’t read in a while. Then once I’m started, I go through the list again.
I have treatment resistant depression. I’m a school administrator, and the last few years have been extra hard. Plus, some massive things have happened for me personally. I’m very, very grateful for familiar series. With all the IRL stuff, it’s really hard for me to learn new worlds. I love revisiting all the Ilona Andrews settings, though am partial to Kate overall.
I am US native with a… challenging childhood. Due to ongoing flooding concerns, my childhood home was demolished and the ground is now government owned. Standing in the street, looking at what it has become, was deeply surreal. “Desaturated” is an excellent description. I, too, am grateful for the vividness of my current life.
Thank you for the gift of familiar heroines and smart mouthed young people.
Magic Bleeds is my go to comfort reread. I love all your series, of course, but Kate and Curran will always be my absolute favorite!
For comfort reading my go to is Innkeeper. My life was in shambles -like most- during the Pandemic and I found a sanctuary in Gertrude Hunt. It has all the things that draw me to IA:They are written with developed and inventive worlds. Peopled by great main characters and more importantly to me also great secondary characters. Excellent plots! There is an emotional balance I enjoy, humor and an emphasis on family. What makes Innkeepers extra comforting to me is the place. An Inn with magic that wants and needs you to come visit and an Inn Keeper whose primary goal is to welcome guests and do whatever they can to help that person be happier. It is the ultimate safe place. Sanctuary. I needed that more than I realized. I am a people person and I love helping and caring for them . I was a nanny for 25 years for 2E kids (gifted and special need 2E is twice exceptional) and then did some caretaking for Family then worked in a few group homes . I did not handle the isolation well. The Inn offered me vicarious company and a caretaking mind set and became my comfort bread spot of choice. I am in a better place now but I still go to the Inn to recharge when stressed. I think Sweep in Peace is my fav if I had to pick one. Fav scene ? Can’t pick one but if Orro or Caldenia is in it? I love it!
Definitely Clean Sweep (and all in that series) but certainly the first one. I read it during a time in my life that I really needed an escape and not only did that but made me laugh as well!
I constantly tell people that Innkeeper is one of my comfort reads and Dina is my spirit animal.
I will never get over the pain of having Dina go through the death of her ‘baby inn’. It still makes me cry.
I also love when she rescues Maude on the desert planet. That’s the first time you really see Dina wield a weapon in a significant way, without the help of the inn, and you realize how much of a core of inner strength she has 😊
I usually go for one of Nevada or Catalina’s books. Throughout them all the strength of their family remains constant and that is comforting.
Comfort read: Sweep of the Blade
I grew up a tomboy, so I can identify with Maud. I still would rather be outside than inside.
For me, it is the Innkeeper Chronicles, especially Sweep of the Heart, followed by the triumphant Sweep of the Blade. When I’m depressed, nothing comforts me more than the rescue of Maude and Helen, Helen and bacon, Helen’s gift of the tree ornament, and mango ice cream. Then I am ready to enjoy how totally outclassed by Maud (and Helen), everyone is! I can’t resist the ripper cushions, the bride’s coffee hour, and the whole amazing, wonderful hunting episode! So much to treasure in both books. I read them both multiple times last year.
Thank you, thank you both for helping me through the pandemic. When I couldn’t concentrate on any other books, yours reached my soul with uplifting comfort. I love them all and all your series, but these two books are my go-to when things are dire.
I’m so blessed to have found you both so many years ago!
Kate Daniels. I love the stories but my ultimate favorites are the scenes were Kate and Curran are working out their relationship. It is so functional in such a dysfunctional world.
And the parenting!
Hidden Legacy, Emerald Fire to be exact. I honestly love that entire series but that book from start to finish really draws me in. Probably because of the whole “STEP AWAY FROM THE MONKEY” Scene.
They are all my comfort reads!
Midnight Games with Jim breaking clipboards, hot tubs getting people into trouble and the phone call beforehand that was worth the money. It’s wonderful, fun, a little dark but beautifully written.
Maud and Arland I adore. There is not a moment in this book that is not perfection. I have re-read this so many times it’s crazy but I still adore it and may now be off to read it again 🙂
Sweep of the Blade.
I enjoy re-reading Helen’s first trevail at their new home, which starts on page 89 and I have it highlighted so I can easily find it:
“Then the scary old knight came and told me that if I challenged the boy, there would be ripper cushions.” “Repercussions.”
The scene in Iron and Magic where they worship the elephant and he stops the attack. I don’t know why, I just love that scene so much.
On the Edge is my first Ilona Andrew’s book at it make me happy and thankful every time I reread it.
I LOVE the “kinsmen world” i will tell you.. i read one of them at least once a month.. whenever i’m looking for a pick me up.. it’s a feel good.. i would love if you went back.. maybe the kids get together.. lol.. now i’m going to go read them all
Silver Shark is definitely a comfort read for me, I have it on audio and I will listen to it multiple times while cleaning the house, something about it just feels cozy. I also really enjoy Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks, something about that book makes me just plain happy
silver 🦈 shark’s my comfort read .
I comfort read Genres… and they are usually Regency Historical and Paranormal/Urban Fantasy. My favorite CRR’s from you would be the Hidden Legacy series… I don’t make book notes like others,,, I just read and do not over analyse books…. no post-it on pages or notes in the column I’m afraid.. just a reader who likes to read… I either like a book or I don’t. No discussions, no in-depth whys and wherefores, no book groups to bother me with trifles… I just read. K.I.S.S! The world is crazy enough, just sweep me away.
Well of course there are more words… you went from pages 78 to page 163.
Too soon??? 😜
I’m sorry Ilona and Gordon that your book is long. 😪(Does secret happy dance inside…. more to read more to read MORE TO REEEEAAAAD!!! Woohoo)
Thank goodness no one heard that.
We all want you to have the best book possible, you’ll get there. “Shakes pompoms”
I love Kate and I love Julie.
I love re-reading various scenes and books in that world depending on my mood, but your books are always turning up new details despite being read repeatedly which is what makescit so much fun. That and the characters.
although I love Nevada and Rogan too,especially Acubens Exemplar. And Nevadas date here Rogan crumples cars for Grandma Frida- who always steals the scenes by the way.
Love Kinsmen too- keep reading the stories matching Luisa Preisslers warrior calendar, so right now it’s kinsmen. Love Claire and Deirdre too.
Oh and I should say Jim & Dali (who need longer books IMHO) I love their little snippets…
I always start Hidden legacy with the I will just read some parts but end up reading all of them.
A lot of times it can depend on why I need comfort, but to save you from me listing half your books with a detailed explanation of which mood goes with which book I’ve narrowed it down to two. The first is Magic Breaks. There’s just so many great/heartwarming (and heart wrenching) scenes. There’s Ascanio refusing to be left behind, sacrificing himself to give them a chance to escape, and them refusing that sacrifice. Beau saving the day. Kate refusing to let Ghastek give up. Christopher facing his biggest fear to save Kate, and really everyone that goes on that suicide mission. Sarrat. Robert and Christopher’s sacrifice. Kate getting revenge for Aunt B. Kate meeting her father then making the choice to live for herself rather than for revenge.
The other one is Steel’s Edge. In a land of alphaholes where there can be such a fine line between protective and controlling, it’s nice to have a guy that is charming and courteous without it feeling cheesy or like he’s a pushover or not masculine enough. Then there’s Charlotte. She’s not a fighter and she’s completely out of her comfort zone, but she doesn’t let that stop her. She steps up and shows you don’t have to be Kate Daniels to be a bada**.
My current favorite comfort read is the Kate Daniels Wilmington Years books I really like them when I am stressed because the problems are a bit smaller and the relationships are more stable. If I had to pick between the two books it would be Magic Claims.
Sweep of the blade for me!! The are of course others that make me so happy to reread, but there is just something about this one that I kept turning back to when I need a pick-me-up.
I comfort read the entire kinsman universe but something about the scene where Meli is walking through the market. “She wore a green dress with a red skirt. It made her look like an upside-down flower. Her hair was down, a windblown mess of dark happy brown. Her face wore a deadly serious expression as she bargained for a bunch of herbs with a vendor. The vendor threw his hands up in exasperation. She raised her eyes to the sky. The vendor shook his head. An ancient ritual of haggling proceeded merrily along, both par parties having entirely too much fun their own good, until finally she walked away from the booth, her bundle of herbs deposited into a small expandable satchel.”
This is scene right here. I can feel the warmth of the sun, smell the spices in the air, and hear the organized chaos of the market all around her. She is vibrant, content, and glorious. I think about this scene when I am seeking contentment in my life. If I am stressed about work or life then you can be sure I am listening to the kinsmen universe.
Silver Shark for me, too. I must have read the teaser a dozen times before the novella came out. I’ve reread the whole thing many times over the years! More flower inspired buildings please!!
I was tempted to say Sweep of the Blade too, but I think it would have to be Magic Strikes, the scene after Kate’s conversation with Hugh in the pit with Curran when she tells him who’s responsible for Derek’s face. There are a lot of scenes in that book that I think of fondly, but that one is a favorite. I don’t know, it was nice to see them both on the same page and feeling so protective.
It’s gotta be Magic Stars, although I do love to reread Retribution Clause too.
Sweep of the blade is my comfort read.
Fated Blades is one of my favorites. It’s a fun read with action, drama and a killer love story that never grows old. Who can ask for more?!? (Ummm, skip that last question. We are after all, the BDH….)
Kate Daniels, any of the series. I’ve read the entire series including all of the spin offs at least 12 times. Something about a badass women killing monsters makes me incredibly happy
Sweep of the Blademy go to comfort Bookand audible book
Kate. She will always be my comfort read. Hard time with family? Kate reread. Work sucks? Magic Bites here I am. Bank account looks sad – ooh look, Kate’s free because I bought them years ago (girl math at its finest).
Specific Comfort Scenes – 1. Kate and Curran living their new normal with Conlan in Magic Triumphs. 2. Kate fighting Hugh in Magic Rises and the scenes following – love when Curran throws the boulder and she offers to fix it.
I really like to read Sweep of the Blade when I’m feeling a bit powerless. I also love to read all the Hidden Legacy books when I’m feeling stressed and need something fun to chill me out.
Thanks for all the books that make my life so much better!
All of your books actually but I think I read Sweep of the Blade most often as my comfort read (and love the GraphicAudio version).
The audio version of On the Edge. The dialogue between Declan and Rose is priceless! The way that Declan saved George, Jack saved William, and Rose saved everyone is amazing.
For me it really depends on why I want comfort…Magic Rises is one of my go-tos because there is just so much vindication and emotional satisfaction in the later portions. 🤣
Its hard to pick which one, but it would be one or any of the books in the Inn Keeper series. Maybe the first – I love the way Dina and Sean bickered when they first met. Or maybe the one with the space chicken philosophy debate, because that is all kinds of hilarious.
I have a cycle, first is Kate Daniels, then the Edge and Innkeeper, then Hidden Legacy, usually don’t read kinsman, but I enjoy it when I do.
I have the gift of a poor memory, so I can do it once or twice a year and enjoy them.
I will ask your forgiveness for my English, I’m still self learning it.
I really love what gifts HA has given me. hours of fun and feelings, confort reads that feed my soul and mind.
The only bad thing is that after reading your books I had book hangover. Meaning that nothing is as good and nothing tempts me for a while.
Thanks a million to you.
I really like Maud and Helen’s rescue from Karhari. I have read it a couple of times. It defines the characters really well and sets the stage for Maud and Arland.
sweep of the blade – love maud and arlands story.
Kate Daniel’s the first one. I feel like I entered a completely different world
My comfort reads are the hidden legacy series because even at their most desperate the characters have support from family and friends and it never feels bleak. Who doesn’t want a family pancake breakfast or taco night to unwind in the comfort of home?
Magic Strikes is one of my faves, as I love all the snark, the arena fight scenes, and the hot tub scene! I have my original audiobook version loaded on my cell phone so I can listen to it whenever. Good stuff and such fantastically well-written characters.
hmmm, probably Burn for Me and Clean Sweep.
Any of the Innkeeper books. I keep going back to them and they never get old!
Ruby Fever I know it was hard to write but I love seeing a young woman come into her own, realize she is strong and to have a handsome talented man stand for her and beside her. It’s just comforting. Also magic Claims. It’s comforting to me to see Kate get her home.
The last 2 books of Hidden Legacy. The story really grabs me, so interesting!
While I read or listen I look at the fabulous art, and fantasize a bit about having someone that handsome in love w me.
My go to comfort read of House Andrews is Sweep of the Blade, and the scene where Helen gets ,”Ripper-cushions “.
Hard choice, but I’m going with Sweep of the Blade. Maude is a Bad Ass!
I absolutely adore HL and reread Nevada’s books regularly. In particular, the ferret heist always makes me giggle.
But one scene that I always keep coming back to is when Gastek opens up to Kate while they’re trapped in Mishmar in Magic Breaks. I know that it’s weird to list as a comfort read given how dark it is, but that scene and the following conclusion of the book is so thoroughly satisfying as a culmination of Kate’s journey up to that point, that I will often skip the rest of the book and start reading in mishmar. (Although this is partly because magic breaks is not my favorite Kate book despite its phenomenal ending)
The first 3 Hidden Legacy books.
I am from Houston but don’t live there anymore. That part of my life was tumultuous and in flux and I don’t love the city. But it’s where my family lived and sometimes reading about the places in the book give me a rose-tinted view into the mess that is Houston.
If I had to choose one then I would say Magic Strikes! The games draw me in every time and this book is when we see big movement for Kate and Curran as a couple. We also get to see Julie using her powers to save Derek and we find out that the pack recognizes Kate as an alpha personality. All around amazing!
Magic Strikes….I love the humor, passion, growing family feel, and writing that leaves me breathless of the Midnight Games.
Silent Blade – love the fact she hooked him with comfort food!
Whenever I’m in a book slump or I can’t pick a new book to start, I tend to re-read the Hidden Legacy series and Silver Shark. Sometimes it’s just Silver Shark. I’ve read it at least ten times. 🤓
Ummm has anyone told her we are encouraging “more” words not less?
All I read repetitively, but I just happened to reread Andrea and Raphael’s novel. her healing and their love is wonderful. Gunmetal Magic is a comfort read. Hidden Legacy and Sweep of the Blade are great comforts too
When Kate has had a stroke and all she wants is to be home. For some reason that scene makes me cry but also feels so human. Brings back many sad yet peaceful memories of my grandpa’s final days.
Not exactly a “comfort” read, but more of a memory jogger
Of Swine and Roses. I love this book. If I need a quick happy book. There is nothing better.
Ok, so I’ve only read thru about a third of the comments and I feel like I want to +1 to half of them!
Sweep of the Blade is it for me, though. Especially when Maud realizes why she hasn’t said “yes” yet. Figures out what is really important to her. I reread that scene with Ilemina whenever I need to feel certain about something.
But there is also Threat Assessment from the beginning of MT. “Call me Kate.” It really makes me happy to know that even in her HEA Kate is kicking a$$ and taking care of things.
Wonderful question!
July 29th I had a stroke. As soon as the double vision cleared I went straight to my favorite Inn and read through from the beginning. It was such an uplifting comfort. My most heartfelt thanks for creating a wonderful retreat from the harsh realities of learning to use my right arm and leg again 🤗
Wishing you nothing but healing and comfort, Dawn 🤗
I love all of HA’s work, but Innkeeper’s Chronicles are definitely my comfort reads. I love Dina and her very grounded core.
Silver Shark for me too.
I admit ho to is probably Hidden Legacy or Innkeeper, Kinsmen when I want a shorter one. Edge and KD are reread every couple of years.