I hope your holidays were quiet and peaceful. Our Christmas was low stress and chill, with lots of gifts and warm and cozy family time. I got a new toolkit, markers, and yarn. Beautiful yarn! Hehehehe.
It’s Monday. All of the previous giveaway winners have been taken care of. Their prizes have been sent or put into production and they should be receiving them shortly.
I’ve had a very frustrating morning. Our health insurer pulled out of the state exchange and so we are back to BCBS HMO, and that means trying to get a primary doctor for all referrals. I cannot even explain what a PIA that has been so far. Grrr. I finally gave up and called Jeaniene to vent.
Oh, by the way, this was not from my cousin-in-law but from Jeaniene.
I should’ve known!
Also the following dialogue had taken place just before Christmas.
Gordon: Strange package from Amazon. No specific sender.
Me: What’s in it?
Gordon: Wagyu beef lard, black garlic, and a stuffed toy French fires. Who would send us expensive lard?
Me: I have no idea. Was this misaddressed?
Gordon: I have to tell you, the idea that unknown and possibly random people are sending us packages is vaguely upsetting.
The next day…
Grace Draven, texting: Did you get an Amazon delivery yesterday?
Me: It was you!
Grace: I thought you would figure it out because of the fries.
I am in possession of gourmet lard and black garlic. I must do something with it. But the French Fries are probably the best. I’ve hugged them already. They helped.
The Last 2024 Giveaway
I promised you one more. This one will be a very simple one and will have no monetary value assigned to it. Not very exciting. There will be just one prize.
Prize:
- The winner will receive one spot on ARC list for all Ilona Andrews fiction for the year 2025. Meaning, you will get to read Maggie early and whatever else is coming down the pipeline.
Limitations:
- For the legal purposes, we might have to ask you to sign a document stating that you will not upload or share confidential files. It will not be a full NDA, as in we will not prevent you from discussing the book, but we might request that you stick to a certain time frame. We will have to coordinate with our publisher. This is not a reflection on BDH trustworthiness, but more of a standard operating procedure because there is a publishing partner involved.
Who Can Enter:
- Anyone.
How to Enter:
Leave a comment on this blog post telling us which is your favorite Ilona Andrews book and why. If you are a new reader and haven’t tried us before, leave us a comment wishing us happy holidays. You must comment here, on the blog. Not on Facebook or on Insta, on this blog post. Here is a link if you are reading the article in your email newsletter.
Deadline:
You must enter by the end of Thursday, January 2nd. Winners will be announced on Friday.
Hello! My favorite book is Iron and Magic, Hugh and Elara’s first book.
I love the redemptive nature of the story line. Hugh has done (and continues to do) some pretty terrible things, but he’s regained his ability to choose what and who to devote his life to. Elara is possibly a terrible thing herself but still strives to be a good person. I enjoy the grimmer tone because sometimes loving yourself can be a challenge and both Hugh and Elara have to reconcile who and what they are to a degree.
I appreciate the reluctant allies to lovers (and slightly less reluctant allies) vibe that lets Hugh and Elara be honest, even some times brutal to each other, while still retaining their respect for each other’s authority. And this will sound crazy, but their relationship almost reminds of the Sound of Music, where Maria and the Captain first care for the children then develop a romantic relationship, Elara and Hugh first care for their people and admire that in one another before really caring for each other personally.
I will be extremely excited when the next Iron Covenant book comes out. And in the meantime, I will read everything else (again) because I enjoy all of the series.
Happy New Year!
Magic Rises is my favorite. This book made me angry cry and want to smack Curran because he was acting like such a Douche.
Hi. My favorite book is Clean Sweep. The world building is magnificent. I could move in myself in a heartbeat. This Grandma has a little crush on Sean, but I save a big space in my heart for Dina who misses her family so much. Happy 2025!
Sweep of the Blade. Why? All of it! But partly for every scene with Arland’s scary mom. (What kind of cookies? The delicious kind)
I don’t have a favorite book just as I don’t have a favorite song because it depends on how I’m feeling that day, week or month! I’ve read and reread all of your books so many times, it’s like visiting old friends. I’m looking forward to Arabella’s story but understand your feelings about writing it with the current situation in Ukraine. Many prayers things don’t get even worse with the new administration. Also, just a thank you for sharing your life and friendships with other authors with us fans. I’ve read many of their works as well based on your friendships. It’s inspiring to see how you all support and lift each other up while promoting each other professionally as well! Happy New Year and blessings for the book devouring horde!
I love every offering from Ilona Andrews but my very first read is still my favourite; Magic Bites was my reading epiphany. I loved the idea of a world were magic was like an ocean tide, the gun toting villian could find themselves with a useless lump of metal instead of a lethal weapon. The universe building was fantastic, still evolving and is my yardstick when for choosing what to read.
Happy New Year, best of health and happiness for the coming year!
My favorite book (this is really hard) is “On the Edge” because it was the first Ilona Andrews book I read.
Hello, I’ve spent several minutes trying to choose a favorite book, and I just can’t. I can’t even pick a favorite series. I love them all. Like, really really love. I’m glad you had a good holiday, and that blanket is awesome.
My favorite Kate book is Magic Breaks, favorite Innkeeper is One Fell Sweep, and favorite Edge book is Bayou Moon (that’s the best I could narrow it down lol).
Hope you and all your loved ones have a very healthy and happy new year!☺️
They’re all my favorite!! Hope your holidays were magical <3
More, more, more of the Edge series. More about the children.
And when will the parents be found in the Innkeeper series?
My favorite is Sweep of the Blade. It’s everything…..Arland and Maud’s interactions and their growing relationship, Helen and the ripper cushions scene, the fight at the Ladies social, and the future book tease— complete with A & M’s upcoming, glorious marriage ceremony with highly anticipated guests to entertain/kill.
Not a new reader and I like them ALL.
I hope everyone has a Happy New Year!
Mine is off to a great start with some college football wins!
My favourite Ilona Andrews book is the first in the Hidden Legacy Novels – Burn for Me. I have read a lot of books and the new world this opened up was a revelation. Loved it! – Michelle from QLD Australia
Easy! Burn For Me. It was my first many years ago. That book opened up like a flower and I have been sucked into the horde ever since.
So hard!! I think Silent Blade is my favorite because of the passion cones and how bad assed Meli is
You are so generous with your readers. This one tempts me to comment. I don’t have a favorite book. Currently rereading Nevada’s trilogy — on the last one. Happy new year!!!
My favorite Ilona Andrews book is Magic Strikes. At this point, if I remember right, Kate and Andrea are good friends and they’re both working for the order. So kate has a steady paycheck and this is the book that eventually gets them to the midnight games, and I really enjoyed the different pieces that went into the games. (Although this book changes derek forever.)
Sweep of the Heart. I love Caldenia even more after getting her backstory. I want to be her when I grow up.
Very hard to pick, but I’ll go with Wildfire. Nevada and Rogan are my favourite!
Happy Holidays!
My initial favourite Ilona Andrew’s book is Magic Bites, as it was the first of yours I read and I love the concept of magic waves. However, my real favourite is whatever book I’m reading at the time, as each one is fantastic!
Happy New Year!
I love everything I have read -honestly! But if I had to pick I would have to say ‘Blood Heir.’
All the dynamics & stakes… and that back and forth between Aurelia/Julie & Derek!
Aaah! So good!
Thanks for the opportunity!
An impossible choice! 😉 But for purposes of this post, I will say Sweep in Peace for the chapter with the otrakar celebration. I wish I could go back in time and read it for the first time all over again. My husband and I both say it’s one of the best things we’ve ever read.
Innkeeper books are my favourite that you’ve written, simply because it’s such unique worldbuilding! I don’t know that I could pick a favourite out of the series though 🙂
Happy Holidays!
My favorite – that’s hard and it depends on my mood but I have to say KD overall is my favorite and out of them is Magic Rises. Kate really starts to come into her own in that one. Blood Heir and Sweep of the Heart are a close second and third. Also magic tides because it expands on the relationship between Kate and Curran and they become who they should be. I could just go on and on and on. I am currently doing a audio listen of the KD books, after reading them multiple times.
Good luck on the BCBS HMO, I dislike it with a passion. My daughter and I have been on BCBS HMO since Aug 1, 2024 when we lost my small business BCBS PPO health insurance because of money issues. I lost my cardiologist but managed to keep my eye surgeon doctor for my glaucoma.
My wife is on Medicare (not the Advantage HMO system) since 2023, she loves it. I will go on Medicare on Jun 1, 2025 and am looking forward to getting back on a PPO system (again, not the Advantage HMO system). But our disabled 37 year old daughter will stay on the crappy BCBS system.
I’ve said it before but Hidden Legacy, and then specifically Burn for me, remains my absolute favourite. Yes, Nevada and Rogan are an amazing couple but I especially like her family and their dynamics. They feel very real and their love for each other is funny, warm and just a little messy. Just like real families. I also always love the knowledge that I’m once again going down the rabbit hole of the Baylor family. Throughout the series you can really see them grow, even the characters with smaller roles, and adapt to their new place in life. Also, I really like grandma Frida. She cracks me up.
Happy New Year to House Andrews and to the Horde! Choosing a favorite is hard… but for extra comfort I usually turn to Innkeeper (particularly book 2), I love how they mix adventure with cozy warm feelings; makes me feel like I’ve got my own little version of Orro’s nest/burrow room.
I’ve loved all of the Kate Daniel novels, anything in her world really. But my current favourite is Magic Claims.
It has everything I love in a Kate Daniel’s book. Plenty of Kate & Curran and loads of laugh out loud moments. There’s also more of my favourite character from the Wilmington years – Keelan ( seriously this guy has the best lines), as well as a few cameo’s from the original series.
Can’t wait for the next one 🤞
My favorite book is Sweep of the Blade. I love Dina, Arland and Helen story of becoming a family.
Happy New Year!
I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season! My favorite book is probably Magic Breaks, but I love all of the Kate Daniels stories – especially the Wilmington years. My favorite snippets have been Puffles and Raina 🙂
Gah it’s impossible to choose! But I would probably have to say Magic Bites because it was my first Ilona Andrews book! It introduced me to beloved book friends that I love to revisit time and time again. It also had one of my favorite character introductions. “Here kitty kitty” lives rent free in my head haha
Happy new year and thanks for offering these wonderful giveaways!
Love them all, Sweep of the heart. Ripper cushions.
Narrowing down an absolute favourite from your books is frustratingly hard! At this point, I am going with *Magic Claims* as my favourite. In part due to the, shall we say icy origins of the villain; the mystery of a power similar but different than Roland’s; and the ongoing growth of Kate as a leader.
I have to Pick ONE?!
Hmmmmm….
Maybe Sweep in Peace. Dina and Turin Adin’s arc really struck a chord, but/and I also really loved seeing George and others all grown up and changing the world(s). Runners up would Sweep of the Blade, Bayou Moon, Magic Strikes, and Burn for Me.
It is difficult to have one favourite HA book, I tend to have a favourite book for each series. However, shout out to The Edge novels, they have a special space in the library of my mind.
Hope 2025 is a banner year for everyone.
My favorite IA book is Clean Sweep. It’s the first ever book I read by the authors and I was hooked. I love that it doesn’t really fit neatly into any one genre which makes for the most entertaining books to read. Loved how it plays on the vampire vs. werewolf trope. Made me laugh so hard I snorted coffee up my nose.
Like so many others, trying to pick a favourite Ilona Andrews book is like trying to pick a favourite child (impossible!), but I think I would have to say Iron and Magic because it delves into who Hugh is and why. Plus I absolutely adore Elara and am looking forward to learning more about her.
Happy New Year! Here’s hoping it is kind to us all.
Hey
My favorite book has to be Sapphire Flames, Catalina‘s first novel. I also have an older sister and could really identify with Catalina‘s struggle to get out of Nevada‘s shadow and how to exist without being someone else‘s younger sister mostly. That book really helped me to figure out my own personality without my sister as a reference.
What a wonderful idea for a give-away! I wonder if you’ve ever received more comments below a post.
I discovered your books via the Innkeeper Chronicles. I read the first three books in German, then in English, then proceeded to patiently wait for the next ones and, in the meantime, discovered Kate and Nevada and Rose and all the other strong heroines and lovable characters you created (and those I love to hate, too, hehe). Still, Dina’s story is my favorite. I love it because it gives me a warm, cozy feeling to read about the inn’s rag-tag bunch of characters who grow so close over the course of the books as well as the small town’s quirks. Dina has to deal with neighbors, must do her chores, and deal with guests. Everyday problems that I can relate to. At the same time, she goes on out-of-this-world adventures and, while struggling from time to time, succeeds with her friends’ help. This combination allows me to daydream about accidentally stumbling into such an inn one day (fingers crossed!!). How amazing would it be to discover so many different worlds beyond our own!
While I would obviously be over the moon excited to win the give-away, the best part is imagining you reading the comments and seeing how much your readers love your books. Enjoy the gushing!
Happy New Year
Hello Andrews team! Happy holidays and Happy new Year! It’s so difficult to choose a favourite, but if I have to, I will say Magic Bleeds. The pace was relentless and I could simply not put it down. Such an enthralling read from cover to cover.
Hope you all have a wonderful year. May 2025 be a year of good health, lots of laughter, and unforgettable moments for you and your loved ones.
I like Sweep of the Blade the best – House Krahr rules 🙂
Happy New Year – all the best to you, your family and friends
My favorite depends on my mood and rotates between: “Sweep of the Heart” (super competent galactic ruler with lots of interesting behind-the-scenes activity), “Blood Heir” (will Julie get her happy-ever-after while kicking butt and taking names?), and “Ruby Fever” (loved seeing Catalina coming into her own).
Thankfully audiobooks aren’t on tape anymore, so I can’t wear it out listening to the stories over and over again.
Talk about an impossible quest! But I will go with Magic Games.
1) The fight scenes are epic
2) The rakshasa mythology is so good – you don’t see much Indian mythology intertwined with western fiction
3) Love how Kate begins to learn blood magic
4) The sexual tension between Kate and Curran…whew…
ARGH! Magic Strikes!!!
Burn for Me, although the Gertrude Hawk interview regarding the best series between Kate/Curran and Nevada/Rogan . . . chef’s kiss
I’ve read and re-read all of the series probably 7-8 times. It’s like hanging out w old friends. Binge reading a series at a book a day makes me happy and takes no time at all. I wouldn’t mind more hidden legacy books w Conner and Nevada. Kate and Curran are definitely my favorites, but I also wait for news of innkeeper shenanigans to drop.
How do you pick a favorite? I started with the Kate and Curran series and read them all and always want more. I feel the same way about the Inn Keeper series too though. And of course the Baylors. With all that, I think my favorite is the first book I read, Magic Bites. It drew me into the world and I didn’t want to leave. I love Kate’s determination, bad assery and dry humor.
My favourite book is ‘Sweep of the Blade’
(Although choosing a favourite HA book is like being asked to choose a favourite child!)
I love the Innkeeper series, but learning about Maud’s back story, seeing her relationship with Arland develop (which shows a new side to him too), and her forging a new life using her talents and skills, keeps me coming back to the book again and again.
And it is, of course, the origin of ‘There will be ripper cushions’ 😎
Happy 2025!
Sweep of the blade/ Emerald blaze can’t decide.
I can’t pick one. I have always been a fan of books that could be our world “with a twist”. Urban fantasy is my go to for books. I would have to say the Kate Daniels series is my favorite. Her journey, the changes she goes through, both good and bad, and the way she tries to do the right thing, is what keeps me coming back.
Bom dia do Brasil para meus autores favoritos!!
Meu livro favorito é com certeza Magic Bleeds de Kate Daniels! É um lindo livro, cheio de emoções que me apertam o coração todas as vezes que eu leio, sem falar na evolução monumental que ocorre com a Kate!
Amo, amo!