Emerald Blaze

Andrew’s whirlwind fifth Hidden Legacy romance (after Sapphire Flames) opens with a bang and maintains a breakneck pace, dealing in magic that rouses and entertains. After Felix Morton, the heir to House Morton, one of several dynastic magical families, is found dead, prime mage Catalina Baylor takes the case. The Head of House Baylor, Catalina recently (and reluctantly) became Deputy to the Warden of Texas and hopes this position within magical law enforcement will protect her and her sisters from their scheming grandmother. Catalina suspects Felix’s murderer to be one of four representatives of the other magical Houses that Felix was working with on a reclamation project, but before she can question them, her investigation is derailed by prime mage Alessandro Sagredo, the man who broke her heart. The alluring Alessandro just happens to be working the same case and the pair must find a way to work together to catch the murderer while fending off attacks from magically powered mechanical monsters. Andrew’s worldbuilding is world-class, and the banter between Catalina and Alessandro sings. New readers will have no trouble jumping in with this installment and series fans will not be disappointed. Agent: Nancy Yost, Nancy Yost Literary. (Aug.)