Sapphire flames

Andrews's breakneck fourth Hidden Legacy novel, which opens a trilogy, is set in a world ruled by dynastic families of mages. Prime mage and private investigator Catalina Baylor, who can compel people like a siren, just became the Head of House Baylor, and she's agreed to help her friends Runa and Ragnar, both Prime poison mages, discover who killed their mother and sister. Soon she's fending off reanimated corpses, murderous mages, and a ruthless team of assassins. Even worse, her not-so-secret crush, the insufferable and smoking-hot Italian playboy Alessandro Sagredo (another Prime mage with a few spectacular tricks up his sleeves), keeps popping up and telling her to drop the case. Catalina won't back down, and Alessandro's not going anywhere, so Catalina reluctantly agrees to work with him to find a mage who has found a way to create twisted new killing machines, all while keeping her family safe and juggling her new responsibilities. Andrews's endlessly inventive action scenes are chock full of strange magic, and Catalina and Alessandro's sexy sparring is a delight. Fans and new readers alike will enjoy the wit and worldbuilding and be thrilled to have this exciting new heroine to root for. (Sept.)

Catalina Baylor is called on to help two siblings, the rest of whose family members have been murdered, but the more she digs, the more things don't add up, especially after a gorgeous playboy shows up, determined to get her to stop investigating.After Catalina saves a boy from jumping off a building, suddenly she's embroiled in a huge mystery that makes less and less sense the more she digs. Ragnar is despondent. He and his sister Runa have recently lost their mother and other sister in a house fire. Yet once Catalina saves him, they discover Halle may not be dead but has likely been taken captive to use her powers for nefarious purposes. From the moment Catalina starts investigating, it's clear someone doesn't want her asking questions, and soon she's the target of a string of assassins. Unexpectedly, international playboy and global heartthrob Alessandro Sagredo keeps appearing when she needs help, and together they thwart the villains. She's grateful but annoyed because he warns her to drop her probe. Catalina has had a crush on Alessandro for years, but now she's confused as to why he's continually underfoot and how good he is at using magic to kill enemies. She doesn't have time to think about it too hard, though, because some powerful enemies have targeted her family, and the first order of business is to survive. It's clear she and Alessandro share an attraction, but his attention rattles her. Then they discover the frightening secrets threatening the world as they know it. Andrews (Diamon Fire, 2018, etc.) continues the Hidden Legacy series with Catalina's first book, which is a start as imaginative and high-octane as that found in Nevada's trilogy.Another creative, thrilling paranormal romance from the masterful Andrews. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.