First things first:
We promised you the links to the place where you can order signed print copies of Sanctuary: the Blue Willow independent bookstore in Houston. Here is the preorder for Sanctuary and here is the zoom link for the release week Q&A event on Saturday August 3rd which will be hosted by Blue Willow.
You don’t have to buy a copy to attend the zoom. Please note that POD books are expensive, and that Sanctuary is a novella. Blue Willow is a small independent book store, so there is a bit of a mark up. The books will have a book plate, a fancy sticker, with our signature.
The next item on the agenda: congratulations, Sarah P. You are our Kinsmen winner!
Sarah P’s comment: I’d check out the food and shopping, then do a hike in the trippy forest, maybe check out the Adra festival.
Mod R will be reaching out by email as well.
Now then. Back to the foul smelling dwellings and pizza-eating dogs.
I slipped into the building. Our office had started as a wedding pavilion, and we’d remodeled it into a long hallway with individual rooms branching off on both sides. The door of Catalina’s office stood open, and I heard her voice. It had a measured, slow cadence. My sister was controlling her temper.
“…As I’ve said, Mr. Rivas, your wife is alive and well.”
Hmm. Judging by that tone, she could use some back up.
And she wasn’t in her office like I first thought. She was across the hallway in the conference room, which meant she wanted to be able to exit the room quickly if things went sour. In her office, she would’ve had to get around the desk to reach the door, while in the conference room, the client would sit toward the back of the room.
“I’ve paid your ridiculous fee!” the man growled.
Our fees were not ridiculous. They were carefully calculated and reasonable, considering the level of the service we provided. How dare you?
“Your retainer has been refunded. Your wife is an adult, Mr. Rivas. You hired us to find her because, as you’ve indicated during our initial meeting, you worried about her well-being. I’m here to assure you that she is safe and unharmed. She simply doesn’t want to be found.”
I stopped just before the glass wall of the conference room. As agitated as he sounded, barging in on the meeting could escalate things. The shades hiding the windows of the room were down, and I couldn’t see anything.
Honestly, Catalina, would it have killed you to prep the room?
A woman’s voice floated down – my sister must’ve turned on one of the monitors.
“I’m perfectly fine, Estevo. I know what you want, and I don’t have it. I threw it away.”
Threw what away? The wedding band? The engagement ring? Some priceless family heirloom?
“The marriage is over. My lawyers will reach out. Don’t look for me.”
A citizen of United States had a right to abandon their life and walk away. However, a decision like that carried certain financial and legal ramifications, especially if minor children were involved or if the person who wanted to vanish was contractually obligated to remain available, like a soldier enlisted in the military, for example. But fundamentally, disappearing wasn’t against the law.
“What did she promise you?” Rivas demanded.
Probably nothing. The Baylor Investigative Agency had only three rules: we didn’t break the law, we stayed bought once hired, and we had to be able to look our reflection in the eye. It wasn’t a matter of taking a bribe. My sister must’ve determined that Mrs. Rivas was in imminent danger from her husband. The last rule always trumped the previous two.
“Our business is concluded. We regret that we are unable to assist you further.” Catalina appeared in the doorway of the conference room. “Good-bye, Mr. Rivas.”
“I don’t think so.” His voice turned cold.
Okay, change of plans. Now was the perfect time to barge in.
Magic contracted in the conference room like a spring being compressed. A hopper. Shit.
Catalina tried to dash out into the hallway. She made it two and a half steps before the magic burst, and she hurtled through the air, straight at me.
We collided. The impact swept me off my feet.
A monstrous shape swirled with a kaleidoscope of colors in my mind, and I grabbed a dark brown shade and yanked it to myself, trying to reinforce my body. My back smashed into the wall next to the door.
Ow. Not quite fast enough.
My sister landed on top of me in a heap of arms and legs.
Ow, ow.
A dark-haired man in his forties stepped out of the conference room.
I shoved Catalina off of me into the break room to our left and scrambled after her. We flattened ourselves on both sides of the glass wall facing the hallway.
Hoppers were bad news. They compressed the space around them, launching either themselves or their chosen objects through it. A high caliber hopper could cover short distances very quickly and if they were a Prime, they could hop through solid walls.
Rivas didn’t launch anything at us. He strode into Catalina’s office instead.
Something thudded. An alarming sound of shattered glass followed.
Catalina got that scary look on her face that usually meant her patience had run dry.
“That asshole is ransacking my office, looking for something to point him to the location of his estranged wife.”
“Thank you, Captain Obvious.”
I leaned out. Rivas was rummaging through Catalina’s desk. A pair of charming pink cat-eared headphones perched on his head.
“He put your headphones on,” I reported.
“Damn it.”
Normally she would just sing him out, but the headphones put a new wrinkle in that plan.
I stuck my head out again. Magic compressed. Something shot at me from Catalina’s office, shattering the bullet-resistant glass wall on the way. I ducked, and a big Yankee candle, in a jar with a glass lid, whistled through the doorway between Catalina and me and exploded against the far wall, spraying glass shards all over. Oh, the irony.
“He found the closet,” Catalina squeezed out. “I’m going to kill him.”
“Let’s not be hasty.” Subduing him was warranted. Killing would mean litigation and damages.
“That’s the Beach Walk. I can tell by the color. You can’t buy it, it’s no longer on sale. Do you know how much that damn candle cost?”
Another candle missile thudded into the wall next to the first. If one of those hit her or me, we’d be lucky if we made it to the hospital. He was actually trying to kill us.
“One more, and I will end you!” Catalina called out.
“Stop throwing the candles, you bastard! They are seasonal!”
“Tell me where she is, and I will leave!” he yelled.
Oh no. Leaving was no longer an option. “You will leave here in handcuffs or a bag. Your choice!”
Putting things into perspective never hurt.
The door was right there. Technically, we could escape or call for backup. But neither of us would do it. We couldn’t allow him to punk us in our own office. Borrowing another aspect of my metamorphosis form so soon would wipe me out. I would need a nap quickly after, so if something went wrong, Catalina would be by herself.
A third candle streaked between us and smashed into the wall. Thud!
“I’ll feather him out and you shoot him,” Catalina said.
“With what gun?”
“The gun in your purse.” She pointed at my purse lying by the front door.
“I don’t have it.”
Thud!
“What? You always have a gun.”
“I took it out because I babysat Arthur yesterday. He knows I keep lollypops in my purse.”
“Since when?”
“Since forever! The last time he found the Hellcat and was disassembling it in mid-air in two seconds. I can’t let a five-year-old have access to my gun. You saw that repeating crossbow he built out of garbage. He will turn my Hellcat into a world-ending death ray.”
Thud!
“He can’t make a death ray. There is no such thing, and he doesn’t have the parts for it.”
Sometimes she was so literal, it hurt. “He took apart a doorbell and made a taser!”
My sister made big eyes at me. “Are you telling me you went into the city without a gun?”
“Of course not! It’s in my glove compartment. I had court today, so I didn’t put it back in my purse.”
Thud!
“Vernon case?”
“Yes. I testified for the prosecution and then his mother pulled some kind of nasty worm from under her clothes and threw it at me.”
I fucking hated summoners. Hated them. Every single one. They reached into the arcane realm, knowing nothing about it, and yanked creatures out, and then the rest of us suffered the consequences.
Thud!
“Is that what happened to your clothes?” Catalina asked.
The memory of the pallid four-foot leech flying through the air at me popped in my head like a soap bubble. I’d caught it just before it landed on me, and the feeling of its wrinkled slimy flesh against my fingers was so disgusting, I gagged and tasted the coffee from that morning in my mouth, and then its maw opened large enough to swallow a basketball, like some pit studied with teeth…
“It vomited stomach bile all over me.”
I had to strangle it. I stood at the witness stand, in my nice outfit, in the middle of testifying against a man who defrauded hundreds of investors and then killed a woman to cover it up, and I squeezed the life out of a revolting arcane tape worm so it wouldn’t injure anyone else while it sprayed foul smelling slime at me.
Fuck it.
I yanked the red glow into myself and lunged into the doorway. The next candle hurtled through the air like a pink grenade. I caught it and launched it back. Here, have some Juicy Watermelon.
The candle smashed into Rivas’s chest. He folded in half and went down.
Catalina stared at me.
“What?”
“Sometimes I wonder about you.”
“I wonder about you all the time. I’ve had a very hard day.” I marched into her office, picked up Rivas by his foot, and dragged him into the hallway over broken glass. “I got vomited on, I killed a creature with my hands, my dog had diarrhea, I got thrown into the wall… I just wanted some candles. That was all.”
It took about thirty minutes to wrap Rivas up and turn him over to Houston PD. By the end of it, I was over the candles. I was over everything.
“Fifteen thousand dollars’ worth of damage,” I told Catalina.
She stopped surveying her ruined office and looked at me. “Seems high.”
“I’m going to replace all this broken glass with ballistic-resistant polycarbonite. Please don’t argue with me. I know you think it looks cheap, but it’s clear that the glass-clad version isn’t cutting it.”
Catalina raised her hands in the air.
I sighed, walked over to the candle closet, and grabbed three candles at random. “Look on the bright side. You have room to shop.”
Catalina grimaced.
I headed for the door and stopped. “Hey. What was it that she threw away?”
“Mrs. Rivas?”
“Mhm.”
Catalina reached into the pocket of her jeans and pulled out a small key.
“Bank safety deposit box?”
“Yep. Houston Federal Credit Union,” she said.
“What’s in there?”
“I don’t know. She wouldn’t tell me. She just said she didn’t want anything to do with it.” Catalina gave me a small smile. “Do you want it?”
“No. I want to swim in my pool and drink a mojito.”
“Are you sure?” She practically sang that out.
“I’m sure.”
I went to the broken door, made a U turn, came back, swiped the key from her fingers, and headed to the front door. Catalina’s melodious laugh floated behind me.
So I was curious. Sue me.
first ???
Yes, congrats 😀
yey…. signed up for the Q&A done
and looking forward to the next part(s) 😉
Thanks Ilona and Mod R for the snippet.
I truly love you – I don’t say that often & never to people I’ve not met, but here we are.
That was so good, thank you!
Yes I thought I missed it? So nice to read the Baylor family again.
Even more fun!
Wonderful, thank you
Second?
Yay been waiting for this, thanks House Andrews!! Hope your busy week became easier 🙂
Hehehehe…..
ok, now I am also curious. plus, haven’t seen Leon payback yet. please tell me there will be more!
Payback should have been making him clean up the diahrea HE CAUSED. Plus it would have made him understand what it did to the dog.
Oooh… what’s in the box?!?! (couldn’t resist) 😉
Thanks for another great installment!
Thank you house Andrews!!!
Oooh, top 10! I can’t wait to see what’s in the box…
I just got some very very bad news about a family member. I needed some Arabella today, thank you.
*hugs*
I love them all. She’s become even more wonderful. I miss them but can patiently wait u til you’re ready to give us more. Have a great weekend
+1
Oh yeah, Arabella!
These two are such sisters! Wonderful lift to the spirits today-thank you!
This slice of the Baylor sisters life – hit all my happy spots
Thank you :)🍉
The Baylor family dynamics are always so funny! Thank you!
+1.
I love this. If this is a book, I’m buying the paperback and the ebook.
Oooh! this is so exciting! I love how Arabella sounds different from her sisters, but still has the same core. Thank you so much!
Oh boy. Arabella can’t catch a break.
At least we know Arthur is taking after his father (Connor) and great grandfather (Linus). 😁🤪
Now the next couple of questions are what’s in the box, and how is Arabella going to get back at Leon?
Tune in next time for Lollipops. 🍭🍭
Thank you for the snippet!
I liked that the reason you can’t let that five year old have a gun is that he will make something MORE destructive with it.
Give him the box!
+1
Also, I want to see the revenge on Leon. Another good question is what’s in the box? In addition, Arabella, their finance person, insisting to Catalina that they are going to put in a bulletproof replacement for the glass while telling her at least now she can shop for more candles was awesome.
Like a doorbell made into a taser. 🤦♀️😂😂😂😂😂🤪
Yes yes wonderful
nice………….thank you so much – keep cool everyone
Thank you for giving us more Arabella!
love this family.. thank you!!
Happy Friday dance. Thank you for this.
(pounds fist on table)
Yes, more Arabella!
Please keep going. Fridays are so much better with these shorts. I’m also loving seeing more of Arabella. I miss House Baylor and crew.
I do have priorities and registered first before reading. Looking forward to August.
+1
Awwww – I love their interaction!
Thank you!!
OMG!!!
What’s in the box? (couldn’t resist 🙂)
Wait, that’s it? No more lollipops? I want more Arabella!!!!! I want more Baylor/Rogan family shenanigans!
I loved, loved, loved it, thank you!
‘Tis not the end, my friend! 😉
I’m so glad. The Baylors are like family and I always want to know what they’re up to.
Ooooo! Thanks Mod R. 😊
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Oh, nice! I thought that was the end; I’m glad to know there’s more.
Whooo hooo!!! Now we are allllll curious!!! And will haunt the blog more than usual 😂😎 genius tricksy authors. No seriously it was a stupid day at work and now I’m smiling and happy. So thank you! And it’s less than 30 days to a book birthday so super happy!
When I looked at this, it promised to be amusing. It delivered.
Thank you for giving us more Arabella. And making it obvious there will be at least one more.
I’m hoping for Arabella Trio <3
Promise, I’ve been good this year.
+10000000
OMG, THE PAIN,
having such wonderful teasers and the unknown of wondering if or when it story is in the works or near in the future lol 😂 love it. you all know how to do the best teasers to keep us entertained. this is why the BDH loves your stories.
+1000
Love, love, love Arabella! 💕
Love this family!
thanks so much for the read! I’ve been trapped with my 5 sick grumpy kids all day and an escape was needed!
Dog vomit and worm slime sounds like a fourth grader’s joke is about to be sprung on us.
A lot of fun will be on the next few pages. I love it.
I’m lying in bed with a migraine and this almost makes me feel better.
So she is curious? Oh oh…in Germany we have „ Neugier ist der Katze Tod“
Curiousity is the dead of the cat. So it is good that Arabella isn‘t a cat 😀
I love fridays and thank you very much house Andrews
Oooh Arthur seems to be turning into a super-powered version of Bulma Briefs! Yeah!!!!
Or Forge from X-Men.
So much yay! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thank you. Hidden Legacy is my favorite world. Loved it!
Chanting :
“Yes!!”
“Yes!!
“Yesssssss!!!!”
How would the PD hold him?
Linus made null cuffs, obvs.
Police in a magical world have magical means 🙂
Remembering a certain DA and her magic chains.
Chanting :
“Yes!!”
“Yes!!”
“Yesssssss!!!!”
Thank you. Made my Friday. Glad to know There are other candle hoarders in the world. Have a great weekend
Thank you for all you do. It’s much appreciated.
And just like that, we get to enjoy life at the Baylor compound. Thank you!
Thank you for this! Great to read because it’s too blasted hot to go outside and mow like I should.
That reminds me… Ilona, whatever happened to the – what did you call them – mowing mafia??
The lawn orphans, I seem to recall they were dubbed 😂 but mowing mafia does have a nice alliterative ring to it 😁
This family makes me so happy.
I miss this world.
Honestly, love this family. I am dying to read about Arabella and her Russian prince!
And Arthur too! Hopefully Nevada had more little ones in the last 5 years!
I saw this pop up on Facebook a couple of hours ago and forgot about it. I’m a bad Hordean.
::hangs head in shame::
Never!! Sometimes we HORDE them all week for a lovely Saturday morning read!
Such a happy gifting!
Arthur is five, so perhaps Catalina is married, and Arabella is old enough to have a healthy relationship. With someone near her age. Talents. Intellect.
Woo hoo. I love the Baylor family, always and forever, still deeply dislike Rynda Charles. I hope Augustine has a love interest of his own.
I could go on, We all can go on with our fantasies about these fantasy characters who feel so real.best authors ever.
You are right. These characters do feel so very real. I wasn’t fond of the Russian bear, so I hope he really has to work to get Arabella.
yumy sooo good onward she goes. thanks
Death rays aren’t real and he doesn’t have the parts. This implies that if Art did have the parts, death rays would be real. Wonder what Linus was making at the same age?
BTW when Linus held up the rubber band gatling I imagined that he was hearing Angel song.
I loved this! Thank You. Arabella had an awful day. But umm I worry about Nevada and Connor with Arthurs constructions
Oh oh oh, what’s in the box? This was fun! I almost forgot to check today, too. Thank you!!
Now I’m curious!
What’s in the box!?
Delight! Arabella’s so fun.
Interesting comment on Arabella’s magic – the monstrous shape with a kaleidoscope of colors, and she grabs “a dark brown shade” to try to “reinforce her body”. And with the stuff about smells in the last snippet, maybe she’s developed the ability to pick and choose certain aspects of the Beast of Cologne at times, without having to transform all the way? In the earlier books, I kind of had the impression it was all or nothing?
No, she always could choose; but other narrators don’t really know this information. Here she is in The Cool Aunt doing the same 🙂 https://ilona-andrews.com/the-cool-aunt/
I had forgotten about that. Kind of cool. Too bad there’s not a color for doing math…
There was also the snippet where she goes to help Leon and Grandma Frida with the lady in the safe room. I think she talked about grabbing one of the beast’s colors in that snippet, too.
This family is so deep in patterning affinity that they all process inputs wicked fast. I love the Baylors!
This was so cool, especially being outside all day in the heat. Thank you!
Candles for the win!
Yay!
Arabella, I love you so much! Hope the candles made your day. (Your day sure put mine in perspective.)
I am so ready to return to Hidden Legacy world!! Love this update on Arabella – thank you
Ordered from the independent bookstore. Thank you! If possible, I would love to buy physically signed vs book plates if that is in the cards for any future releases.
I’m always astonished at the end of reading each snippet that I’m not actually in that world, I exist only in this one. The storytelling pulls me in completely every time.
Yes, exactly.
Arabella is having a real Garbage Pail Kids day. Did Tapeworm Mama at least manage to get her son a mistrial?
OMG! that was awesome! Thank you very much!
“Stop throwing the candles, you bastard! They are seasonal!” <–💀
Do love this adventure with Arabella and Catalina!! Thank you!! 📚📚📚
I ordered my copy of Sanctuary from Blue Willow Books last night! Yay!
Wish I lived closer, so I could pick up in person, but then they’d never be rid of me….🤣
Awesome! Lol just what I needed after a feisty work week. Thanks!
I laughed so hard.
Those scented candle jars can kill. So would it be “Death by Juicy Watermelon”.
CAN HE MAKE A DEATH RAY?????
Only if he has the parts, apparently 🤣🤣
Thank you, that’s a lovely end to a crappy day. I needed that bit of escape.
Sigh, I love these guy! Thank you!!!
Thank you – another great snippet!
It will be fun to find out what’s in the box! Arabella isn’t the only curious one. 😉
And signed right up for the Q&A of course!
😀😀😀 thank you!
Ahhhhhhrabella!!!!
You go, Girl!
Poor Catalina – although, she will be able to shop for more candles.
Lollipops and Arthur – hmmmmm – Candy Man?
Thank you – I so needed this today.
Thank you!
This was awesome!! Thank you! So, I’m trying to do the math; Arthur was 1 years old in Ruby Fever and he is 5 now…….so does this mean it’s 3-4 years later? Arabella is around 24 years old now, right? The same age as when Nevada was introduced to us? Also, Kate was 24 years old when we first met her. Hint hint🤞🤞
Would you guys ever consider releasing an ebook/paperback of Small Magics, Vol. 2? Since the original Small Magics, there have been a bunch of blog short stories that are not available anywhere else. Yes, I know that I can read them for free on the website, but it would be easier on my eyes to read it on my kindle. I would be willing to pay $5 for a nicely formatted ebook and paperback.
Unless I am mistaken, these stories have never been included in any ebook.
– Gerald and Helen Meet (Innkeeper)
– Klaus Explains Things (Innkeeper)
– Caldenia’s Favorite Book (Innkeeper)
– Inn Chats: Luther, Roman, Hugh, Dina arbitration over best series, Augustine, Arabella
– Purpose (KD)
– No Heroes (KD)
– Sandra (KD)
– Grand Master Damian Angevin (KD)
– A Bit More Roman (KD)
– Kate and Curran texts (KD)
– Rogan POVs (Hidden Legacy)
– A Misunderstanding (Hidden Legacy)
– The Cool Aunt (Hidden Legacy)
– Rogan and the Stomach Bug (Hidden Legacy)
– Regina (Hidden Legacy)
– Corporate Agility (Hidden Legacy)
– Lollipops (Hidden Legacy)
– Arabella reading Innkeeper Tapas (Hidden Legacy)
– HL deleted scenes (Pay Me, Sgt Munoz had to go)
– Jack and George in School (Edge)
– Lucas And Karina Have A Family (Alphas)
– Questing Beast (misc)
– A Small Blue Key (misc)
– Puffles/Man on the Road (misc)
– The Life and Trials of Tubbs (misc)
– Final Option (misc)
– Rusalochka (misc)
– Only Forever (misc)
– plus anything that I’ve forgotten 😅
Honestly, I’ve paid way more for short story collections that aren’t as long as this list. I’d love to have an ebook or paperback that is easy to flip through. I understand if it’s not viable, just wanted to ask. This recent short story, plus Luisa’s artwork sale, inspired me to ask since she had illustrated the original Small Magics cover.
some of those are hopefully teaser scenes for the next installment in the series (Innkeeper, Wilmington Years) or potential future books (Puffles) so wouldn’t be material for a collection, but as you’ve shown, there’s a lot of other possibilities also!
Agreed on Puffles and maybe Klaus (I don’t think it’s going to start the next book) but the Wilmington shorts were explicitly written as short stories independent from any longer work.
They make a great duo, I’m hooked! Here’s my pre-order guarantee 💜
Thank you for sharing 😁
You guys are masters of your craft. Everything you write hits the spot perfectly. Everytime. It’s like magic, except I know it’s actually hard work and dedication. Thank you! I so enjoyed this! It gave me a beautiful break from being a mostly-responsible adult.
Now i am curious too.
Thank you so very much !
Have a great weekend
Laurence
I love Arabella 💕, thank you!
omg thats one way to introduce candles lol this is gonna be fun
Thank You HA!♥️
for another great escape opportunity from unhappy reality, yo! 🙃
SOOO EXCELLENT!!!! Thank You, very, very much!!!
Danke für den kleinen Text von Catalina und Arabella.
es hat mir den Tag versüßt.
Grüße aus Germany Berlin
“Stop throwing the candles, you bastard! They are seasonal!”
You da best!
Love love love. Arabella has my heart. I miss this world so much
Love the story line, and thanks for the heads-up so I could put in an order.
I’m ready for more……
Ooh can’t wait for the next snippet
Not the seasonal ones!
Also, yeeeeee! Implied continuation!
I love your books. thank you
I’m curious too:)
Thank you!
Thank you, Authorlords. I am but a tired, first time mother dealing with a three week old and it’s nice to have something small my brain can snack on that releases all the happy feels that doesn’t have to do with putting an infant down for a nap or changing a diaper that, blessedly, only has pee in it.
Congrats Danae, and hang in there: it gets easier! (Well, until they hit pre-teen, then it gets harder again….but then it gets easier again!) 😂
Congratulations!! Sending hugs to you and your baby!! 💖
LOVE it!!!
I love it. Arabella is my favorite and I’m so glad you write about her again!!! Love you HA!!!!
Such fabulous Baylor Sisters goodness!
Thank you ! 🙂
Yup, the “little’ cases are just as interesting as the city-threatening ones….
Lucky for Arabella the arcane worm was not like an earth type of worm. If you cut a worm in half, both halves are alive and can regenerate. Worms don’t have brains (or lungs) so Arabella can’t cut oxygen or blood to a vital organ by choking it.
On the other hand, earth worms probably won’t throw up disgusting bile on your nice outfit, so I suppose you win some and you lose some 😂
Oh wow! Squeeee! That was so much fun!
I needed this today. Thank you so much!
Oh, Leon, you are going to remember to never feed Ophelia pizza once Arabella turns her focus to you. I am not sure which I want answered more Arabella’s revenge on her obtuse cousin or to know what is in the box once it is opened (which could lead to another story!). I look foward to the surprise.
Arabella …. heart eyes !!!
Can’t wait for more ….
Thank you for this !
Oh, how fun?! I love the start of an Arabella caper! More pretty please!!!
I have missed this family. They are in my top 10 fictional characters. Thank you so much! I’m hoping and looking for more snippets.
So good. Thanks so much.
Yay Arabella!
This is such a nice pick up from a rough week. thank you!
I so needed this snippet! Smiling now!!!! Thanks and signed up for the Zoom! Really smiling now!
thank you!!
“…and he doesn’t have the parts for it.”
That made me *bark* a laugh out, and I had to read that line to my (fellow House Andrews superfan) hubby.
Being that we’re visiting my parents for my Mom’s 75th birthday, I then had to try to explain to my Dad about a toddler who can make weapons out of anything; that he basically has a compulsion to do it, and that yes, he probably *could* make a death ray.
Thankfully Dad’s been a hardcore sci-fi fan his entire life, *and* he was a Top Secret-level Department of Defense engineer who made all kinds of cool toys, so he just chuckled at us.
I have a feeling that your dad might end up reading the HL series, just for Art and Linus.
You have the uncanny ability, to write so lively, you just transport me right there, in the scene… all your books are my go to novels… need something familiar and awesome? Ilona Andrews….
And of course I run to the release schedule to check for any announcements!!! 🙄no pressure!!!
What a wonderful unexpected reading for the day. Beautiful, just beautiful.
Thank you so very much!!!
Just want to send the Baylors and HA LOVE!! I missed this family!
Love it. Another great story unfurling! Thanks!
And they’re back!?!?
“They are seasonal!” Hilarious. And Arthur is five!?! OMG! Thank you for that short and sweet story!
love it! can’t wait for the next one.
I love this world, the characters, and this story. More, please, and thank you. A lovely way to start the day.
New to blog – is there a part 1 to Lollipops? How do access it?
Go back in the blog 5 or 6 posts and there is Lollypops. Part 1.
You can also go to the title of the post. Just above and below, you will see the categories this post belongs to. If you click on “Arabella”, you’ll have a list of all posts related to her.
Here is the link https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/lollypops-part-1/ 🙂. You can use the search function with a key word or the tag under the title or browse the first page of the blog.
I just love you guys. Thank you! 🙏 ❤️😎🤓
Forgot how much I loved Arabella. Thank you for this!
Kate Daniels must always be my favorite because her’s was the first HA series I read, but the entire extended Baylor family will always live in a very special and honored place in my heart.
The Baylors are so real, and such a wonderful family: loving and always there for each other no matter what, even when they get on each others’ nerves. And Arabella will always be my favorite Baylor sister, the one I identify most with: sassy,funny, feisty, loving, and so loyal. I want her to be my sister!
Thank you for a delightful visit…I missed them! 💕💕💕
Pardon the request, but could you add the time zone to the zoom meeting date/time information for Sanctuary?
Thanks.
Never mind. My invite sent me an Eastern time zone marker, and I went back and found the Central time zone description so the invite must do the change for you. It made me nervous to see Eastern.
Thanks! I really enjoy this world!
I love these snippets!
Now we know why she was slimed (ewww) and she has refined her talents – grabbing colors- how interesting!
It’s a serial!!! Wheee! Such a treat thankyou!
Thank you very much. Your writing always cheers me up and keeps me going. Hope your weekend is lovely and that you all can relax a bit.
Thank you!
I’ve missed this world, thank you HA for giving us another glimpse.
I am really enjoying Lollipops and hope you are enjoying writing it! I remember you were having frustrating wuffles with the last full length Baylor book, so I feel guilty wishing you were writing all the rest of the book immediately….I just wanted to thank you for your returning to Houston and the Baylors. Please don’t leave Dina and Kate dangling too long, though. We love everything you write!
I loved this and I hope it turns into a whole book. I love Arabella!
<3
Please tell me we get to find out what’s in the box!
I enjoyed this so much that I spent my afternoon reading every snippet on the blog.
Wonderful work, every bit, snip and full length novel.
Thank you for gifting us with your talents.
Thank you! I love all your works but Hidden Legacy is my favourite😍 I’ve read/listened each book 100000000 times. If Graphic Audio picked them up, I’d pass out from excitement!
The outrage over a discontinued seasonal candle being a destroyed… XD I get it.
Loved it! Thank you!
Rainbows!
I needed this reread. We had a wildfire rumor but it wasn’t real or they put it out so fast it didn’t rate listing The question was to hook up horse trailer or not. Animals get evacuated first. Probably will hookup just because it is 105 degrees out
Please stay safe!! After you hook up the horse trailer, remember a jump bag for yourself and family, and one for the animals!
This was such a splash of refreshing cool water today. Thank you. 😊
I don’t think I can make the zoom meeting. Will there be a transcript, Mod R? I know it’s a lot of work, but hope, hope….
No, not of this one, but we will organise another Q&A on Wednesday 31st of July because of popular request and I will prepare a transcript for that one 🙂
Thank you!! You’re the best!
+1
Will it be reposted on YouTube? TYVM!
Yes 🙂
A day in the life of Arabella and Catalina! Oy! What a day! Loved this! Thank you house Andrews!
Ps…what in the lock box?! 😄😉
Lovely fun
Love this! The Baylor family is so much fun and funny. Their powers, client management, and family interactions have always been the real draw of this series for me.
Now that we’ve spent time in their world, I’d happily buy and read a collection of random “day(s) in the life” short stories about them, in lieu of a novel or three.
Thank you, thank you!
A delight. Truly delightful. Leon should have to deep clean her house because if you can still smell it it’s not gone, and pay for the vet and a box of safe approved squeaky toys. Bad Leon.
Please don’t be the end of the story I want fight between Ara and Leon pls
Thank you!
Sounds like an amazing story lining up. I love reading your guys work.
is Arabella getting her books? Did I miss an announcement about this? if so I’ll be very very excited!
Oh, that was sooo good. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thanks you!!! Loved this sooo much!
Thankyou so much! This made my day. I love all the gifts, stories and novels you share with us! House Andrews Rocks! I was missing the Baylor family.
Started reading with my love for Arabella strong in my heart…and came out with a crush on Arthur. HA rocks!!
I can barely contain my excitement. I just re-raad all of the books. And I love them more with each read. still love Nevada’s books the most. Hope we don’t have a long wait for Arabella’s books.
Poor Arabella! Her bad day just keeps getting worse.
I’m super curious too!!
How much time has passed between Ruby Fever and this snippet?
Around 4 years 🙂
Mod R what avatar generator do you use for your avatars? They are terrific. I always look forward to seeing what each season will bring.
Bitmoji creates the image and then I use Gravatar to use it as profile pic 😊
Thank you.
Yes! I missed Les Baylors so much🥲
did you ever find your boxy sweater pattern? I
just typed boxy into the Ravelry pattern finder and got 18 pages of boxy delightfulness. And remember any pullover can easily become a cardigan by cutting it up the front!
Arabella must be so difficult to write. Nevada and Catalina are steady and focused and their emotions build. Arabella turns on a dime and proceeds full speed in the new direction, emotionally and physically. I bet she hits the lockbox before she deals with Leon, but I await her glorious revenge. Do NOT make my dog sick.
wanted to say thank you for the story!
especially loved the Arthur update.
We are very beloved House Andrews, thank you for the snippet. 🙂
Ah, now I want an Arthur babysitting story.
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Thank you for the gift! Love the cliff-hanger, it gives me so many thoughts on what might be next.
I love the girls’ relationship. And good to know baby Baylor is as much of a handful as we hoped.
I love Arabella ♥️
I am so glad you picked up her story again 😊
I do love the Baylors. Love that Arabella is getting to reach into her monster and pull out powers now rather than having to go furry every time! Thank you so much for this xxxxx
Where do I find “Lollipop 1”. Somehow I missed it. I really want to read the post.
Thanks.
Hi Joan,
You can find Lollipops 1 on the blog, just like the second part, here is the link https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/lollypops-part-1/ 🙂
You can also click the “Arabella Baylor” tag under the title or use the search function at the bottom of the page.
I miss them ❤️
LOVE our little check in with the Baylor fam. My fav Ilona Andrews series!
I love Arabella.
Squeeeeee!
Yeah!
Go Arabella!
LOVE it!
I love this series.
So exciting.