White Hot & Wildfire (Hidden Legacy, #2-3) by Ilona Andrews

Narrated by Renee Raudman

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Nevada Baylor has a unique and secret skill—she knows when people are lying—and she's used that magic (along with plain, hard work) to keep her colorful and close-knit family's detective agency afloat. But her new case pits her against the shadowy forces that almost destroyed the city of Houston once before, bringing Nevada back into contact with Connor "Mad" Rogan.

Rogan is a billionaire Prime—the highest rank of magic user—and as unreadable as ever, despite Nevada’s “talent.” But there’s no hiding the sparks between them. Now that the stakes are even higher, both professionally and personally, and their foes are unimaginably powerful, Rogan and Nevada will find that nothing burns like ice … 

“Grandma pointed her fork at me. “Just watch. Fate will throw you two together. One day you’ll just run right into him and boom! True love.” 

♡

Narrated by Renee Raudman

Synopsis (via Goodreads): Just when Nevada Baylor has finally come to accept the depths of her magical powers, she also realizes she’s fallen in love. Connor “Mad” Rogan is in many ways her equal when it comes to magic, but she’s completely out of her elements when it comes to her feelings for him. To make matters more complicated, an old flame comes back into Rogan’s life…

Rogan knows there’s nothing between him and his ex-fiance, Rynda Sherwood. But as Nevada begins to learn more about her past, her power, and her potential future, he knows she will be faced with choices she never dreamed of and the promise of a life spent without him.

As Nevada and Rogan race to discover the whereabouts of Rynda’s kidnapped husband and are forced to confront Nevada’s grandmother, who may or may not have evil motives, these two people must decide if they can trust in each other or allow everything to go up in smoke. 

“When we were at the lodge, and you were dancing in the snow, I kept wondering why the snow wasn’t melting. You’re like spring. My spring.” 

This review is going to be for White Hot and Wildfire. I devoured these books (barely sleeping), and I'm not sure where one ended and the other began.

Words cannot express how much I love this series! It's seriously one of my all-time favorites. They are books that I will read again and again until I'm old and gray, and even then their audiobooks will be played at an insanely loud volume to compensate for my nearly nonexistent hearing.

I love the relationship Nevada and Conner have. He wants to protect her and keep her safe, but he isn't macho about it. He wants Nevada to be her own person and make choices without his influence. He knows that she is capable of defending herself (even if he wants to murder all of her enemies), so he doesn't try to keep her away from danger. He sees her as an equal, and I absolutely love that. They are repeatedly there for each other, and I adored the progression of their relationship. It was perfect.

The family dynamic in this series is incredible. I love the Baylor family and its many members. Grandma Frida is hysterical, and you know you'll laugh when she's around. There is a small age gap between some of the members, and I think Ilona does a wonderful job highlighting those differences. Teenagers are angsty and emotional. They're also prone to rash decisions and heightened feelings. Nevada is always concerned about what is best for them, but really they are all devoted to each other. They fight like family, but their love for each other is always there.

The villains are even superbly written. I don't think I had an issue with any character (except morally), because they were all detailed and driven. There was a reason behind everything, even if we don't know what those reasons are.

The magical aspect is phenomenal. It's new and refreshing, but also detailed and descriptive. I'm not confused by how it works, and you can tell the author put a lot of work into the why and how of it all.

Bonus: I never knew what was going to happen! If the characters were surprised, so was I. I didn't know anything before they did, and I wasn't able to guess things before they happened.

Magic, steamy romance, action, family, monsters, pacifist bears--this series has it all and more! If you haven't read the first book, Burn for Me, stop reading this right now and go find it!