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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

Book Review: Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1) by Ilona Andrews

 Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)
By: Ilona Andrews
On the outside, Dina Demille is the epitome of normal. She runs a quaint Victorian Bed and Breakfast in a small Texas town, owns a Shih Tzu named Beast, and is a perfect neighbor, whose biggest problem should be what to serve her guests for breakfast. But Dina is...different: Her broom is a deadly weapon; her Inn is magic and thinks for itself. Meant to be a lodging for otherworldly visitors, the only permanent guest is a retired Galactic aristocrat who can’t leave the grounds because she’s responsible for the deaths of millions and someone might shoot her on sight. Under the circumstances, "normal" is a bit of a stretch for Dina.

And now, something with wicked claws and deepwater teeth has begun to hunt at night....Feeling responsible for her neighbors, Dina decides to get involved. Before long, she has to juggle dealing with the annoyingly attractive, ex-military, new neighbor, Sean Evans—an alpha-strain werewolf—and the equally arresting cosmic vampire soldier, Arland, while trying to keep her inn and its guests safe. But the enemy she’s facing is unlike anything she’s ever encountered before. It’s smart, vicious, and lethal, and putting herself between this creature and her neighbors might just cost her everything.


Clean Sweep is the beginning of a new series by author Ilona Andrews. Andrews is also the best selling author of the Kate Daniels Series and The Edge Series. It's the story of an other worldly Inn Keeper, Dina Demille, who's trying to rebuild her life around an Old Victorian Bed and Breakfast that she has reopened. When something deadly invades her neighborhood and threatens the lives around her, Dina decides to take matters into her own hands. With a little help from a sexy neighbor, Seth Evans, and some added difficulties from a visiting vampire, Arland, you have a pretty intriguing story.

I was hooked on Clean Sweep right from the beginning. Having enjoyed other stories by Ilona Andrews, I was excited to read this one. It didn’t disappoint. Andrews who has a knack for building new worlds has done it again. Personally, I’m a huge fan of world building and was intrigued with the Inn right away. I mean who wouldn’t want a house that can decorate itself? The inn adds such a unique twist to the story that the whole idea felt fresh and new. So much in fact, that although it does include the usual cast of characters typically found in this genre, a really sexy werewolf (Seth), and some vampires, the inn makes the whole story feel like you’ve never heard of them before. Andrews also manages to change up the werewolf and the vampire in intriguing new ways.

Dina Demille, the Innkeeper, is a great lead character. I liked her instantly. She has unique talents, doesn’t take no for an answer and is brave but not stupid. The key being, she is not stupid like many leads now a days. In addition, she has a great little dog, a trusty broom and a kick ass attitude. I can’t wait to learn more about her. The only complaint some may have is that the story is light on the romance, but I would say hang in there. There was just enough sparks between the main characters to keep me happy, and the story definitely hinted that there was more to come. I suspect, we may even be in for a love triangle. All in all it was a great start to what seems to be a pretty promising series. I for one can’t wait for book two. And just for record, come home SETH!!!!!

5 Wooly Warmth Sheep



By Lisa A

About the authors:
Ilona Andrews is the pseudonym for a husband-and-wife writing team. author2sm“Ilona is a native-born Russian and Gordon is a former communications sergeant in the U.S. Army. Contrary to popular belief, Gordon was never an intelligence officer with a license to kill, and Ilona was never the mysterious Russian spy who seduced him. They met in college, in English Composition 101, where Ilona got a better grade. (Gordon is still sore about that.)

Gordon and Ilona currently reside in Oregon with their two children, three dogs and a cat. They have co-authored two series, the bestselling urban fantasy of Kate Daniels and romantic urban fantasy of The Edge.


8 comments:

  1. Great review, I love the author's bio listed, cute
    thanks
    deb

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  2. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. WOW am I a happy girl, this sounds like so much fun - skipping over to check out more :)

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  3. Oh I so need to read this one still. I love their books but darnnit just haven't been able to squeeze it in. I've been missing a dang good read it looks like!

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    1. I'm right there with you. All my favorites I haven't been reading because they aren't on my have to read review list...need to make more time for 'me' books!

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  4. I LOVE this book/serial/whatev. I've been dying since they posted the first chapter of book 2 a couple of weeks ago . . . and then NOTHING. Gah. Still, it's kind of amazing that they have time for this sort of thing at all while putting out two books (and maybe the odd novella) a year. Great review! I'm glad you liked it too ;)

    Jessica @ Rabid Reads

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    1. they do a great job of keeping in touch with their fans even thought their lives are soooo busy

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  5. I loved too! The Andrews team seemed to never disappoint.
    Great Review!

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  6. I loved this book so much! Can't wait for book 2.

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