Ruby Fever

July 1, 2022

Andrews (Emerald Blaze) continues her "Hidden Legacy" series with the conclusion of Catalina Baylor's story, one full of action and magic. After Catalina's boss is attacked, she finds herself becoming acting Warden, investigating not only that event but the assassinations of two powerful and important people as well. As a Prime and the head of her house, she must bring to justice those responsible, but she is also coming to terms with and learning more about her heritage and her powers. That would be enough on its own but she and her fianc�, Alessandro, are also faced with the unwelcome arrival of a powerful Imperial Russian Prince. He is a master at causing trouble and chaos while also hinting of a mysterious past with Alessandro. This series installment can be read as a stand-alone title, as plenty of backstory is provided throughout. VERDICT This paranormal is a fun read full of magical battles and intrigue that keeps the action coming.--Bridgette Whitt

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Starred review from June 15, 2022
The magical elite of Houston are under threat from a rogue assassin trained by the Russian imperium. Catalina Baylor is a woman with many responsibilities: She heads her magical house, runs her family's investigative firm, and is the Deputy Warden of Texas. When she's called to investigate the murder of a local politician, Catalina and her lover, Alessandro Sagredo, realize that Russian assassin Arkan must be responsible for the crime. Arkan is creating hyperpowerful mages by infecting them with a stolen strain of the Osiris serum that introduced magic into the world 150 years ago; unfortunately, the mages are also irrational, paranoid, and unable to control their terrifying new powers. Since Arkan also murdered Alessandro's father, they are determined to bring him to justice and find the stolen serum before he can do more damage. However, Catalina quickly realizes that she has another problem: A related incident has incapacitated her boss and left him in a coma. Catalina is elevated to Acting Warden, making her the ultimate magical law enforcement officer in the state of Texas. The case quickly becomes an unholy tangle of competing interests, as Catalina weighs her personal needs against those of her job as Warden. She and Alessandro are in a committed relationship, but they face new challenges around trust and family obligations while hunting down the most dangerous killer on the planet. All the beloved characters from earlier in the Hidden Legacy series reappear, which gives the thrilling final showdown with Arkan a gratifying "Avengers Assemble" feeling. Mysteries from previous books are finally wrapped up and explained, and there are a few juicy clues about future potential love interests for the youngest Baylor sister, Arabella. The action-packed and imaginative second trilogy of the Hidden Legacy series ends with a spectacular, satisfying finish.

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July 15, 2022
The sixth book in the Hidden Legacy series follows the magical Baylor family, powerful modern-day mages who play a vital role in keeping the peace and keeping other magic users under control in their home state of Texas. As the last book in Catalina Baylor's trilogy (after Emerald Blaze, 2020), the story puts Catalina in the hot seat when Linus Duncan, Warden of Texas, is incapacitated as the result of a mental mage's attack. As acting warden, Catalina is in charge of finding out who attacked Linus as well as who killed the Texas Speaker. She and her love and partner, Alessandro, have a pretty good idea who both initiated the Speaker's attack and illegally enhanced the mage that attacked Linus, but hunches aren't good enough. They, and the rest of the Baylor family, must unravel these entwined mysteries before one of them becomes the next victim. Readers who enjoy the fusion of light romance and urban fantasy will enjoy Ruby Fever, but may feel a little lost at times if this is their first book in the Hidden Legacy series.

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