Sapphire Flames (Hidden Legacy, #4) by Ilona Andrews

Synopsis (via Goodreads): From #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews comes an enthralling new trilogy set in the Hidden Legacy world, where magic means power, and family bloodlines are the new currency of society…

In a world where magic is the key to power and wealth, Catalina Baylor is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, and the Head of her House. Catalina has always been afraid to use her unique powers, but when her friend’s mother and sister are murdered, Catalina risks her reputation and safety to unravel the mystery.

But behind the scenes powerful forces are at work, and one of them is Alessandro Sagredo, the Italian Prime who was once Catalina’s teenage crush. Dangerous and unpredictable, Alessandro’s true motives are unclear, but he’s drawn to Catalina like a moth to a flame.

To help her friend, Catalina must test the limits of her extraordinary powers, but doing so may cost her both her House–and her heart.

"I couldn't fight a mental duel with flying scorpion ticks trying to rip us apart."

Whenever I start a book by Ilona Andrews, I struggle to put it down and resume my day-to-day activates. Knowing this about myself, I decided to start Sapphire Flames one night while I was putting the kids down for bed. This was both good and bad. The good: no interruptions. The bad: I stayed up all night reading. I never went to sleep that night, and was a barely-functioning zombie the next day. Was it worth it? And how!  Am I still tired? You betcha!

There's just something about this author duo and their stories that completely captivates me as a reader. I have devoured every book of theirs that I've picked up, and look forward to reading the ones I haven't. I simply lose myself in the worlds they've created, and I know I'll happily revisit these books in the future. I was a little concerned about the character shift (the first three books were from Nevada's perspective), but Catalina is on par with her sister. They're completely different characters, but they both love their family and would do anything to keep them safe. Also, they seem to have similar tastes when it comes to men -- ruthless and unbelievably attractive.

I really love how the individual books have a mystery that's resolved by the end, but still contributes to a larger Unknown Problem that's slowly unraveled over the course of the entire series. Every book has a Bad Guy, but one that's usually connected to a Big Bad Guy that manages to stay just out of reach. I also enjoy connecting the dots, and usually don't discover clues and secrets until the characters do. It's like we're experiencing everything together, and every twist is a surprise. Additionally, all of the magical elements are fascinating and creative. It's amazing how effortless the world-building feels, like I could drive over there and insert myself into their lives.

Catalina's relationship with Alessandro is hot. The physical attraction alone -- phew! However, the underlying desire they share really sets the tone for their interactions. Alessandro is quick to tease and flirt, while Catalina fervently tries to keep from blushing, but they're both quick to protect the other. I enjoyed their banter and how well they worked together as a team. It's impossible not to smile when the two of them are sharing a space.

"There was life before this kiss and there would be one after, but they wouldn't be the same."

I really, really love the family dynamics, and it was so great to read about all of the Baylor's again. I wasn't particularly fond of where they left things with Nevada, but her current circumstances make sense. I just hope there's more resolution in the future, so their family can go back to being a cohesive unit. I'm not going to lie... I missed Mad Rogan and Nevada being major players in the story, but I can definitely get behind Catalina and Alessandro. I just hope there's more of them together in the next book.

If you haven't read a book by Ilona Andrews, you're missing out!