STANDARD VISITOR NOTICE
You are leaving the comfort of a magic-free existence and entering a world shaped by powerful Houses. These dynasties control corporations, command private armies, and enforce their own rules. Their rivalries are long-standing, their resources vast, and their disputes often deadly.
Some magic talents destroy. Some deceive. None should be underestimated.
House Andrews is responsible for maintaining order and providing this advisory. By continuing, you acknowledge that House Andrews cannot be held liable for any squeeing, urgent sequel sensations or sudden appreciation for Illusion Primes that may occur. If this is your first visit, proceed at your own risk and do not accept experimental serums from anyone.Welcome to Hidden Legacy!
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Augustine Montgomery is an Illusion Prime who owns a premier PI corporation and alters his appearance with magic. The people who have seen Augustine’s real face can be counted on the fingers of one hand. The people who witnessed the full extent of his power are dead. The illusion isn’t just the brand of his magic. It’s become his lifestyle.
Show as little as possible. Make them think that illusion is all you have. Your life depends on it.
Augustine lives by this creed. He’s cold, rational, and calculating. He doesn’t get emotionally involved. Then one day Diana Harrison walks into his office and asks for his help. Diana is a Prime, an animal mage who bonds with animals through her magic and prefers their company to humans. Something precious has been stolen from House Harrison. Something Diana must recover at all costs.
The two Houses are allied through a friendship pact. Assisting Diana is simply good business. And yet, there is something about her that disturbs the careful balance of Augustine’s inner world.
Neither of them is who they appear to be. Both would die to keep their secrets. But the enemy they face is more powerful than either had imagined, and saving the life that hangs in the balance will demand the ultimate price neither Augustine nor Diana ever anticipated to pay – complete honesty.
Le Admin:
What all is in Beast Business?
- Augustine Montgomery and Diana Harrison (Cornelius’ older sister and Head of House Harrison) adventure novella
- Arabella Baylor new POV short story
I’m duty-bound to say: don’t read this first. Arabella is my favourite, I know we all want her books, but it lands much better after Augustine and Dian…oh, you’re already midway through it. Sigh. At least I tried.
- Beloved Hidden Legacy blog extras, for the first time in a published book. Free from dangerous archiving! A Misunderstanding, The Cool Aunt, Marty, and the FrInnterviews of Augustine and Arabella.
Formats, woman, which formats?
Epub – see above. It will be available everywhere you usually get self-published Ilona Andrews books from – please search the retailer catalogue if it’s not included above.
Print – paperback PODs are starting to populate. For now just on Amazon but soon to appear on other retailers, as soon as the internal systems finish checks. If you wish to buy from your local indie booksellers, they can place order through Ingram with the book’s print ISBN 9781641973724.
Audiobook – a few months down the line, we will of course keep you updated.
It doesn’t have a cover on Amazon.
It does now. You may have to sync your device or redownload your file in order to see it on your Kindle.
Thank you so much for your patience while we dealt with the bug that ate @helena.illustrated‘s beautiful cover art.
I’m leaving up the links to Amazon Canada and Amazon India, in case people still have issue finding them.
Zoom? Release Q&A?
Not this weekend, but maybe the next one if you’re interested. Let us know!
When does Beast Business happen, chronologically?
About 2 months after the Baylors buy their new compound, so in the gap between the prologue and main body of Ruby Fever.
Is. There. KISSY FAAAAACE??? Are we officially sailing the good ship Panthercakes?
There’s a spoiler comment section below, why don’t you check?
*walks off whistling sea chanties*
From Ilona: A quick note to those who are participating in the No-Buy day: go for it and please don’t worry about us. The book will be there for later purchase, and it’s not going anywhere. We had to put it out now, because delaying it would be cutting into Tor release window, so this was a no-choice type of deal – it was now or summer. We’ve gotten a couple of concerned emails, and I want to assure you that absolutely no stress, the lists are not important for this release and even if they were, standing up for causes you believe in is more important.
It’s so good! Thank you for this lovely unexpected gift of a story. More Hidden Legacy please! More Augustine! And Arabella’s story!!! (Though I also love Kate and Innkeeper and the Maggie preview so really more of anything and everything will be met with equal enthusiasm, thank you)
Would love another zoom when you are up to it!
Congratulations on being the #1 bestseller in Paranormal Romance on Amazon!!!!
Magical – Thanks 😊
Squeee! I cannot wait.
I recently finished The Inheritance and my. God. So. Good.
Thank you for sharing your brilliance with the world and giving us magical worlds to explore while ours implodes.
Thank you, HA.
Sending a heart full of appreciation your way.
Loved being able to buy it direct from you. Thank you for that option. It felt great not paying a big store a share in order to get your art.
Fantastic intro to Panthercakes. Loved every second of my first read.
Love that the audiobook is in the works. I appreciate being able to read with my ears while I do the necessary things for modern life. It also makes it more accessible for my dyslexic family members, who share the reading with me as I do chores or drive.
Please refill your cups, with activities you love, and our love for your art.
We will w*it, as best we can for the next release. I personally hope that it will also be sold on your store at some point. I do not mind buying multiple copies.
I am in Australia so it was Saturday for me, and no work. One of the benefits for living on the other side of the IDL.
Cyber hugs and many thanks for a wonderful adventure.
Looking forward to thr next release date.
Beast Business was excellent. Lots of character reveals and insights. Can we have a Leon novella, please? I wondering what Leon majored in college and if he has a PI license. Also did he ever test for a rating or stick to his plan to be a Baylor House secret? Maybe Philip can hang with Leon and Ryan and House Baylor and learn how to be Alpha male without all the b%#. Maybe Penelope and Heart can start a business of teaching members of other Houses to be badasses without being d!€<$.😊
Ragnar not Ryan. Damn autocorrect!
it was great now I want more!
thank you for a terrific story
Due to recent eye surgery, I was able to read only small bites of “Beast Business” for two days and it was challenging. My poor eye began to burn if I read anything for more than 2-3 minutes. I had to wait for hours before I could try again. It was so worth it. I’m feeling better today: I could read for 5-8 minutes every hour or so. Pacing myself through it was very motivating. The long excerpt from Maggie was something I read prior to the surgery. I believe that book will be deeply rewarding as well. Many, many thanks to HA for their talent and skill.
After loosing much sleep reading and rereading This Kingdom preview this week I’m now snowed in with nothing to do but nap. it was a wonderful week. thank you for the wonderful books. just wondering: Are our favorite animal mages vegetarian? I am thinking they likely are. Yes, please. More Zooms. I hope you all are safe, well and warm. I think I will listen to “Wild Fire” for a while and have another nap. Btw I just got a friend happily hooked on your books. Please keep them coming. We love you.
Oh got distracted and didn’t mention Beast Business by name. was up all night and day reading Augustine too and wonder about Arabella and Tia. the ramifications of that friendship should be hilarious (and scary). I’m looking forward to more of them Mathilda and Augustine and Diana.
#3 in kindle store. Not too shabby
Omg!! I am so glad I so this post today (Saturday) as plopped myself on the couch with a coffee and didn’t move till the end.
Diana and Augustine are such bad assess….and Arabella desperately needs her own book (s)- she has come such a long way
OMG!! Glad I saw this on the weekend as I didn’t leave my house till I was finished.
Augustine and Diana are badasses!! And Arabella definitely needs her own book (s)- she’s come such a long way
Loved the novella! Were the chapters out of order?
Hi Lisa, what do you mean? 🙂
Thank you for the book! It was DELICIOUS! Buurp!
Sincerely, one of your most faithful Devourers.
House Andrews is the best ever . Love everything you write . Such a joy to read your books (and then read them again ….. and again ) !
Can’t wait for Maggie !
I absolutely loved reading more about some of my favorite characters! Hidden Legacy is one of my favorite series, thank you so much!
I bought directly from your store without any difficulties. I have several ebooks and audiobooks in my Bookfunnel library. My Chirp library for audiobooks is also growing. So far I have not had any issues with these two apps.
Just finished my 2nd read, the hell with all the other ships, TiaBella for president.
Thank you! I needed this. I love this series! Can we have some more please?
The worst thing happened today while I was drinking my after supper Tea. I finished Beast Business. Arrrgh & just as bad, a Cliff Hanger. Down right sadistic.
HL is my favorite House Andrews series So I hope it won’t be a Verrry long time til we get an update on A & D.
TY for the Arabella shorts. Somehow I missed the one with Tia.
Looking forward to the full release of “Maggie”.
TY again for hours of relaxing & losing myself in a great book.
Google Play listing finally showed up today and I *loved* it!!!
That one scene with Diana?? Incredible. Beautiful. Perfection.
Panthercakes is an amazing ship name. I hope there will be more of this beautiful couple. ❤️
Thank you. I didn’t realize how much I missed the Hidden Legacy world. This was a perfect winter treat.
I bought the Ebook directly from you, I hope this means you make more from it.
Love love love! Best way to pass time in an evil Florida cold wave!
Great book. I love that the House Harrison got Zeus friend. Can’t wait to see Augustine and Diana together
Ann
I just want to say… Augustine needs to up his trust game.
I know he went through a terrible ordeal after his family was attacked. But…
He should have told Diana that rescue was expected.
And he should have remembered he was supposed to be keeping Arabella safe, and not have her privately rescue him in what could have been a dangerous combat situation.
Hey anyone know why there are currently two Inheritance books on audible right now?
One is from back in the day when it was an Audible exclusive in October.
In January, the exclusivity period ended and the file got sent to all the audio retailers. Unfortunately, the Audible system picked it up as a second release and we have a ticket with them to sort it out, but they are slow at it. Will chase up on Monday 🙂
Thank you for your patience!
I got my copy on Thursday night at 10:45 Eastern Time. I read it before I went to bed and now I’m rereading the series. I am finishing Ruby Fever now so tomorrow after church my afternoon delight will be a slow and luxurious reread of Beast Business. May I stick in a plug for more Hidden Legacy books? I do so enjoy them!
Beast Business is an excellent story! Thank you for sharing it with us! I love the characters, the plot is a wonderful ride, and the story and world reveals are incredibly satisfying!
SPOILERS BELOW!
I disagree with the time line in the post above for two reasons. I believe Beast Business must be after the Ruby Fever epilogue. First, and most compelling, when Arabella tells Tia about Catalina and Victoria, she references events that only occurred near the end of Ruby Fevor. Second, Matilda could not have been bonded to Kitty during Ruby Fevor, or Kitty would have been with Matilda during that story. It makes much more sense for this story to come shortly after Ruby Fevor ends.
Also, to the BDH members calling this a cliffhanger … um, no. A cliffhanger would be stopping the story before Arabella bursts through the wall, not knowing if our protagonists live or die. Unresolved character tension feels compelling, but it is far less than the “screaming at the page fury” a real cliffhanger would inspire.
The beginning of Beast Business has Matilda making friends with every small critter on the Baylor Estate in the 2 months since they bought the Estate. So… This is 4 months before the main body of Ruby Fever.
I could seen Diana forcing Matilda to keep Kitty at House Harrison until they (he? she?) has finished nursing and grown up enough to be trained to protect Matilda. And we know now that Matilda is very good at keeping secrets. And so is Arabella.
And since Bern and Runa’s wedding is where we see Augustine sitting at the Harrison table, we hope he and Diana have come to an understanding by then. And that’s a couple of months after the big fight. So… Augustine has about a half year to get it together and woo the lady.
Now about Catalina outmaneuvering Victoria… that does seem a little off. Maybe there’s more there that we haven’t seen, related to Warden business maybe? Maybe Arabella’s in on the operation to shut Victoria down when Catalina pulls the ripcord? Maybe… *shrugs* I don’t know.
loved the two new stories, they are so amazing. I had no idea how much I’d love Diana’s point of view and how fantastic Augustine’s reaction to her rocking his world would be. there has to be more to their story that we get. . . sorry but being part of the horde means I have to immediately demand more the second content has been consumed. Arabella is amazing, it’s been so fun reading her from others perspectives and then the snippets of her perspective have been massively revealing. can’t wait for the time when her story can be shared. thank you!
So fun. So much fun. Thank you. I love these stories.
Are we shipping Tion yet?
Yes! Tion…love it
I feel like walking past the obvious: Tea Leoni 🤣🤪
Oooooooo! Good one! But Tia is still in high school and Leon is an adult. Perhaps a few years down the line?
Of course, if at all 🙂
Like it! Much better. If this is not possible, ‘Leontia’ turns out to be an empress of the Eastern Roman Empire as the wife of Phocas. Together they could rule the world…
As of 1 Feb, BB is number 4 in Amazon Kindle and #1 I all three sub-genres. Congratulations and well-deserved!
+1,000,000
I bought from Apple Books.
I have always enjoyed reading about the Harrison family. This time I loved the insights even more and I hope we can have more stories about them someday.
I liked Augustine’s POV more than I expected. Arabella’s as well.
❤️ Thank you ❤️
I’ve read it multiple times and it never gets old. Thank you House Andrews.
You left us with sooo many intriguing questions. Watching Arabella growup is a joy and making her own friend/support group is wonderful.
Have a fabulous week! Y’all deserve it!!
When Arabella is interviewed, did she violate her contract when she said Catelina has black circles under her eyes because she stayed up too late working on some thorny Warden case?
Beast Business is really good. I enjoyed it. The insights into Augustine and animal magery (if that’s a word) were fascinating. The added snippets were also very informative. Tangent – I don’t recall if it was mentioned, but was Augustine the best man at Conor’s wedding??
Yes, it’s in Diamond Fire 🙂
Thanks!
I loved the book. Read it twice already. Augustine was always a favorite but Diana was a complete surprise. She appears so cold in her other appearences. How can you be a panther for three years and return to being a human? Cornelious bonding with a raccoon is hilarious.
Finished it on last leg of very very long flight home yesterday. So yummy! Will need to re-read asap, as I’m sure many tidbits just did not imprint into my tired brain. Still, overall I loved the insight into the two very different magic houses and the two main characters. And the Arabella POV was delightful in itself. What is Dave going to think when he finds out who Tia’s bestie is 🤣? Hope she shows up again sometime. Thanks so much for another delightful story! It’s a great addition to the canon.
This was such perfect release timing as I’m going through a hard time right now & have just said goodbye to my family (I live abroad) which is always sad but right now doubly so. But I just binged this book & it distracted me from real life! No sad emotions were felt for the duration of this book.
House Andrews smashed it as always!! Love returning to this world so much. Also big big fan of Arabella. I love that she feels like an underdog in the family but it only motivates her to try harder. So real.
I purchased the ebook at 12:30 in the morning the first day, but I saved it until last night, early morning, as we waited for the brunt of the storm in Virginia. We expected gusts over 55mph but thank goodness did not have that. I stayed on the couch all night (per advise to stay on first floor from weather people). Perfect time to read so I finished the book about 4 this morning. What a treat. Thank you for taking us away from the real storms in our life to the storms in your world.
I havent read it yet so i’m avoiding reading all the comments but is there going to be a zoom event for this release?
Shipping Tia and Leon now!
Loved Beast Business!!!
+100
Loved it! It was a great way to pass the time while it’s chilly outside.
Just finished reading it. Thank you so much for another satisfying book!! 🤩📖
Your worldbuilding is as delicious as ever. 🌍✨
Sending you all lots of love and light 💕🌟☀️ as you do the heavy lifting to launch This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me. 💪🚀📚
I am still going to hold House Andrews responsible for my sudden sequel urge.
Loved it! And, yes, I read the Arabella story before the novella–and after. Looks like House Baylor may be making another alliance through their awesome powers of friendship and ferocity.
Loved the book! We need a sequel – so many unanswered questions ☺️
So good! I bought it this morning. Read it in an hour and am now rereading it already. I loved the plot, but also the deeper look into magic. Of course now I am reminded how much I love the Hidden Legacy world and how much I want more.
Zoom Q&A please! Will this be the start of a series of novels or novellas with these characters?
P.S. …psst…Gordon please tell us all the things. 😉
Thank you so much! I had a horrible day at work and when I saw this blog I was so excited! Beast Business has been downloaded and absorbed!
Loved it, loooooved it!!! I really want more of Augustine’s back story! His family, the attack, who did the seal, all the deets! Also, I love Mathilda, and how Arabella interacts with her. Thanks for the wonderful story!