
“Do you need to rest?” I asked.
Alessandro paused midway up the stairs and pivoted to me, [Redacted] draped over his shoulders and back in classic fireman’s carry. “Why?”
Because you are carrying a two-hundred-pound man up a narrow winding stairway consisting of seventy-five steps? “I thought you might want to take a short break.”
“No time.” He turned and continued up the steps. “Enjoy the view.”
Sometimes he really was too much.
???? Awesome!
+1
Squee!
What a view she must have!
Also, who do you think [Redacted] is? I don’t know why, i think its Linus!
Yes! Augustine might be a possibility, too.
I don’t think of Augustine as being a big hefty guy more in the city sophisticate range and build.
+1 I also think of Augustine as being leaner.
Yes, Augustine seems more athletic/ trim. Big big 200lbs I’m thinking Connor, Bern. Trying not to focus on the fact that it’s coming out until 2022…
Bern post bachelor night out?!?!
I am not sure I can survive a whole year without a new Ilona Andrews book. If I don’t make it, I hope I have a Kindle in heaven. If I go the other direction, there will the gnashing of teeth preventing reading. I suppose not being able to read would truly be hell.
LOL, literally!
+1
I think it’ s one of the Maderos. They are big and heavy 😀
Or could be someone New. The staircase seems italian to me
That’s Alessandro for you! I can’t wait to read Ruby Fever!!!
Alessandro is my all time fav <3
Hahaha
Thank you for sharing.
+1 ????
sigh. Counting the months.
I love Alessandro. Little snippets like this help keep me going on those days when everything seems to be just… grey.
Thank you.
I agree. I have to get a root canal procedure done, I’ve been gray all day. This cheered me right up.
Thanks!
Now I want to enjoy the view too! ????
Me too ????
Woohoo, a little bit of Catalina and Alessandro. Thank you!
Hee hee, love it! Just reread Emerald Blaze and I’m so SO excited for the next one.
Nice! I wish I had that view on this cold and snowy Monday in New England.
Ohh I just love the back and forth.
Could you please, please, have Luisa, paint the men from Hidden Legacy.
We need to see Rogan, Bern, Alessandro and Leon. Especially Leon. I know I am being greedy.Thank you so much for Nevada, Catalina and Arabella.
They are so gorgeous and fierce.
Don’t forget Bug.
+1 ????????????????
Yes, Bug too!
On Equizol (sp?) or off?
If he is off, and caffeinated, wouldn’t he be slightly blurry? 😉
LOL, no one here to care if I laugh, but the dog is looking at me funny. thanks for the chuckle.
Yes, please!!
Thank you! I laughed out loud and now people are staring ????????
Thank you! What a view Catalina must of had with Alessandro (eyebrows wiggling for added effect). I started laughing out loud after reading this. I’m glad there was no one else around to hear me.
People in restaurants especially start looking at you while you cackle like a demented idiot. No charming giggle for me unfortunately. Waiters rush over, you try to explain but can’t stop laughing. Then you manage to gasp that the book was funny. I still can’t figure out why people ask. Woman alone reading book bursts into laughter. Obviously, very funny book. Possibly jealousy over my book being more entertaining than whoever they are talking to?
But have the neighboring diners told the waiter, “I’ll have what she’s having?”
????????????
Meg Ryan excelled in that scene. I have been told that Billy Crystal’s mother was the neighboring diner who made that request.
It was Rob Reiner’s mom. 🙂
Ooooh, neat!
Thank you.
I really, really can’t wait for the next book!
Very short and I am still intrigued. I love their interaction. Now as a guess about who he is carrying….? Linus?
Love. it.
hahahahaha….
thanks for the snippet.
T M Testorene. Got it ????
???????????????? I will take any tidbits you will share. Thank you.
Hehe, enjoying the snippet 😀
Since the name is hidden (pun not intended, but fits oh so good indeed XD) it must be someone we know, right? Hmmmm…
For some reason, I think the man Alessandro is carrying is Leon. The winding narrow staircase brings to mind his tower.
In that case, Leon must have had quite a growth spurt since the last book! 🙂 He’s always been described as being lean, as far as I remember
That’s the second good thing today, woo-hoo ????
Just a few minutes ago I could confirm a date for the covid-vaccination for my 88 year old mom – so relieved…
Rogan and Bern are both massive enough to be the burden.
“Why?”
????????????
Lol! I love the humor in all of your books.
Thank you
Hahahaha!!
I love it when you make me smile!
I think it’s other Connor or Bern. Or Linus. But My guess is Bern.
75 steps,maybe 5 or 6 flights of stairs.
Not the new buildings, I don’t think they are that tall. Except Ilona did mention Towers? Didn’t Bern and Leon say they wanted to live in one of the towers?
Always like to speculate about the snippets, and every so often I get it right. They I do a YUS and a happy dance.
I can’t believe I am so excited about a book that doesn’t even come out this year.
P.S. Loved the photo of Tuna. The cat was a hit during the Blood Heir Zoom meeting. Also Charlie. Gordon was so nice to include your doggy in the festivities.
Thank you.
Umm… I just re-read the post to be sure because I knew Leon wanted a tower, but Bern and Runa wanted the “casitas”. I’m thinking that with most houses I’ve been in having about a dozen steps — mine has 13, of course, but who’s counting? — 75 steps makes wherever they are at least 6 stories tall. They’re not on the property they were looking to buy. So I’m wondering where they are as well as who the 200-pound man he’s carrying is. *sigh* I hope I can wait to find out! It could be difficult.
It’s Xavier. Alessandro captured him and is taking him up the tower for interrogation. This scene is near the front of the book.
Nah, no way that pipsqueak weighs 200 pounds.
But my money is on one of would-be assassins. You’d think after a while they’d go “No, thanks, Boss. How about you just kill me now and get it over with.”
I haven’t guessed right in the very few years I’ve been in the BDH. Remember Xavier took the serum and he is now a Prime.
Love the snippet! I was thinking about the romantic pairings in these books. I like how Alessandro’s charm is a foil and relief for serious and earnest Catalina. Rogan is strength and security for Nevada, who previously shouldered everything on her own. And I LOVE the idea of an Arabella series with multiple love interests over time. This is much more interesting in some ways especially if she is maturing over the arc of several books. It’s true that this isn’t the romance genre trope, but it’s one of my favorites in series that contain strong romantic elements. In YA makes me think of the Alanna books by Tamora Pierce, where she has three different relationships over the course of her teenage and young adult books. (Also, more romantic interests, more swoon, yes?)
Hahaha ????! Thanks for the snippet. You guys develop such great characters.
Well this certainly made me giggle 🙂 I really like Alessandro but then again I like all your characters, even the “side” ones. Thank you!
I love this couple. I hope we get to enjoy many more of their adventures.
Lol, thank you!
I just love your posts.. they bring laughter and brightness to very long days.
Thanks!
I think redacted is the guy he killed right before the proposal.
By now I should know better than to read any snippets while drinking something.
Thank you!
? Seems like it could be really interesting, but need context. (Underhanded try at getting some more lol)
Well whoever Redacted is is certainly enjoying the view if they’re conscious.????
My boo!!!! Absolutely would not want to fight Catalina for him, but my boo nonetheless!!!
Yay, snippet!! ????????????
A Very Good Thing in a week of “several Not good things”. (As a philosopher bear has said many times, “oh, bother!”)
Love it!
Makes me more excited about reading the book. I do love the HL books.
Love it
Thanks for the smile!
More and more please. Think you are awesome
Bwah ha ha ha. Go ! Alessandro. Thank you, Ilona Andrews for the post.
Thanks for the birthday present! It was a much needed breath of fresh air yesterday!
This has filled my tummy with bubbles of delight! Thanks for sharing this snippet!
I’m so sorry, but this made me think of gas bubbles! ????????????????????☺
<3
Oh, made me smile ???? Thank yew!
***Scream*** Thank you. ????
I don’t feel any worry in this snippet that would mean bad guys. Instead, what about Leon being carried bc Alessandro’s sister drank him under the table during the wedding rehearsal?
Would be cute.
Oops. My bad. Thank you ALs for giving us some fun during these times.
Thank you!
Fun! I just love Alessandro! Then again, who wouldn’t?
Yeah!
Very funny!
“[Redacted]” – Haha! Nicely done.
Allessandro, nearly always with panache.
Er, 75 steps up is a fairly good rise. Narrow and windy. Huh.
From the standpoint of character driven fiction, I get a huge kick out of Allessandro, with his inherent prettiness, dealing with its issues, being in the same circle as Augustine, with his veneered prettiness, and *its* issues. Not sure who’s got the bigger resultant challenges. So interesting!
I’m sure the view is very fine. Might as well enjoy it!
You are making us drool in anticipation As a loyal member of the BGH I can’t wait for the release. Thank you for the giggle
This one puzzles me. The long winding staircase makes me think of castles, not something local to Houston. I’m wondering if they went to meet Alessandro’s family and they’re in that fabulous place where he grew up in Italy, the home that was built small and grew larger and more like a royal home as the family hung around for generations. Particularly if it’s narrow, it feels old to me, because humans used to be smaller than they are in today’s world. No place would have a single staircase with that many steps in today’s world of elevators, right? There would be landings for floors, and straight-line stairs in between.
My imagination does not work as well as those of Ilona and Gordon, but that’s what they brought to my mind in this tiny little itty-bitty snippet of what I’m sure will be the best book of 2022.
Well, you are a better person than me, if your mind went to staircases…;) lol
Oh I could use that view! ????????????
soooooooooooooooo happy!! thank you!! 🙂
These two are so classy. Thank you for the snippet.
Dear @Ilona, now we’re left with the question: what is the view?
Is he NAKED doing this, does his butt have dimples. Is he wearing short shorts, lederhosen? Tuxedo pants? jeans? Cowboy cut jeans ? Just in his skivvies (and are those boxers, or briefs)? Is he wearing a kinky fetish stripper costume? Latex bondage gear? A clown suit? Sweats?
The possibilities with such a teaser scene are endless until we have the full thing.
Hey BookDevouringHorde what other crazy insane clothes could he be wearing, most ridiculous answers only!
I would like to say cowboy cut jeans with shirt tucked in , yummy.
Funny: Speedos, plumber crack pants, flounced flamenco pants, jeans with leather biker chaps, etc.
It’s getting hot in here.
More more more!!!!!! <3
I’ve decided in my head he’s carrying Connor up the stairs lol
Ach!!!
Ha, Ha, Ha! Love these two. Thanks for a good laugh. 😀
Oh, my. Thanks – I needed that! Made me laugh *and* fan myself.
Love it
enjoy the view haha
And you know just by him saying that, eyes would not be able to help themselves in taking in that view LOL! He is a whole mess! Ha!
I love Alessandro so much! Thank you for the snippet!!!
Hubba, hubba…
????????????????????
I’m dead come back later ????????????
I’ve read the series now for like the 5th time. Here is a thought, Regina Taft in Emerald Blaze talks about “She can’t pass it on to anyone, do you hear me? Swear to me. Swear to me or I will march right out of here to my cousin’s house, because once he hears about this, he will rip her apart.” I think the cousin is Michael Latimer, she is in hiding because of an abuser, which is why he tried to help Nevada. Thoughts?