Nevada Frida Baylor and Connor Ander Rogan cordially invite you to join their wedding celebration. Summoning, weather manipulation, and other magical activities strictly forbidden.Catalina Baylor is looking forward to wearing her maid of honor dress and watching her older sister walk down the aisle. Then the wedding planner gets escorted off the premises, the bride’s priceless tiara disappears, … priceless tiara disappears, and Rogan’s extensive family overruns his mother’s home. Someone is cheating, someone is lying, and someone is plotting murder.
To make this wedding happen, Catalina will have to do the thing she fears most: use her magic. But she’s a Baylor and there’s nothing she wouldn’t do for her sister’s happiness. Nevada will have her fairy tale wedding, even if Catalina has to tear the mansion apart brick by brick to get it done.
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Diamond Fire is a novella set in the Hidden Legacy world. It’s an introduction to Catalina the middle sister to Nevada.
I very much enjoyed this novella. It gives us the POV of Catalina. We get a great introduction to Catalina, the challenges and struggles she faces as a coming Prime and a young women. Her gift is not a simple one and it’s one people; including herself do not understand.
Besides seeing Catalina we get to see the preparations to Nevada and Connor’s wedding. It can’t be a simple wedding, Oh No, it has to be big, make a statement; because of who they are. And, last we get a little investigating that Catalina is in charge of.
I loved everything about this novella. My favorite part was finally meeting Connor’s mother. She is so level headed and at the end she connects to Catalina. The investigation/mystery was a great side-plot and lots of fun.
Diamond Fire was a delight. I can’t wait to dive back into this world and learn more about Catalina and see the rest of the Baylor family. I highly recommend this series to Urban Fantasy fans. The world building is outstanding, the romance is solid, and the cast is amazing.
Rated: 5 Stars
When the Hidden Legacy trilogy was over, I was quite sad. Like a true fangirl I was hurting that I couldn’t read new books about Mad Rogan’s beautiful powerful self and the self assured and confident Nevada.
I later rejoiced when I found that Catalina, Nevada’s middle sister, was getting her own spin off with the first book being the Diamond Fire Novella. And rejoiced loudly I did!!
Catalina and Arabella have been given the task of taking over wedding planning since their stubborn bride-to-be sister fired the one that Mrs. Rogan hired. Easy Peasy right? WRONG. Easy is not in their vocabulary unless you are discussing their family dynamics.
Catalina has grown over the three Hidden Legecy books but this novella is where she shines. She is still struggling with becoming a house and learning her way as a prime but she does it with both style and grace.
Ilona Andrew’s never ceases to amaze me with their word play, creativity and character development. Even introducing new characters in a novella is easy for them. They just build and build into the urban fantasy world and never skip a beat.
Without a doubt a 5 star read! I thoroughly enjoyed this installment.
A tip of my Nerd Girl hat, a bow and a curtsey!!
*This review was done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official.
November 6 cannot come soon enough! Disclaimer: Ilona Andrews could write a phone book and I’d read it because somehow there would still be this incredible world building in the yellow pages and amazing character development differentiating all the “Smiths.”
I adore Nevada and Rogan. I love his unpredictability, her fierce devotion to her family, and the way that she stand toe-to-toe with this unstable man of unparalleled power.
While I wish their upcoming nuptials were in the form of a 500 page tomb and not a novella, I’ll take what I can get and continue to be thankful that the urban fantasy landscape has an author of this stellar calibre. Yeah, I’m a fangirl.
I love this series, so getting a new novella (this time from Catalina’s POV) was great. Hijinks ensue when Nevada Baylor prepares to marry into Connor Rogan’s ultra-rich and well-bred family—when the bride’s tiara goes missing, it’s up to her sister Catalina to find it. Loved the mystery, loved seeing the wedding. Hilarious, romantic and all about family. Highly recommend.
Nevada and Connor is getting married and everyone is invited although they have strictly forbidden any summonings, weather manipulation or other magical activities. Catalina Baylor finds herself in charge of the wedding and in order to make it happen Catalina will have to do what she fears most…use her magic.
This super exciting and thrilling story is full of wonderful, bold characters that charm the pants off readers with the good guys of course stealing the show although those bad guys sure know how to get everyone’s attention as well. The plot is fast paced and there is never a dull moment to be found as Catalina tries to ensure that Nevada has her fairy tale wedding. There are plenty of twists and intriguing events which keep readers holding on to the edge of their seat with anticipation and fascinating use of magic. Readers will be excited to find that the Hidden Legacy series continues to wow readers with wicked and witty fun that they have come to expect and they will definitely be coming back for more.
I love the Hidden Legacy series. In book 3.5, DIAMOND FIRE, Nevada Baylor and Connor Rogan are getting married. The wedding is the talk of the town. Nevada’s younger sister Catalina is her maid of honor and doing everything in her power to make sure that the wedding runs smoothly. This includes acting as the wedding planner after the second planner has been fired and finding the priceless heirloom wedding tiara that has gone missing.
I like Catalina. She is uncomfortable with her Siren talent and needs to embrace it. I like how her magic is similar to Nevada’s but also very different. It is understandable why she is wary of her magic. I’m looking forward to her upcoming series of books to see how she develops. I feel like she has taken a step in the right direction in this story.
DIAMOND FIRE was an exciting and entertaining read throughout. I found the bridezilla aspect of the story amusing. The mystery of the stolen tiara was a thrilling plot. I like how it involved family members and the sensitivity surrounding the case. The story had interesting twists. DIAMOND FIRE is a wonderful addition to the series. I’m looking forward to the next book. I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.
I don’t always like novellas, they tend to leave you wanting more… in all the wrong ways. And I don’t always like adjacent character stories, but with Diamond Fire Ilona Andrews have proved again that anything they write is worth a read.
Catalina’s story gives just enough connection to the Nevada/Mad Rogan story to draw you back into the world, but she still stands on her own as a character. The plot was complex enough to have a few twists (especially for a novella), the story was entertaining to read, and the characters all had their own motivations and personality, making the read fun and entertaining without sacrificing content.
Yep, it was good, a thoroughly enjoyable read. Novella length.
Catalina is planing Nevada and Rogan’s wedding while hunting for a stolen family heirloom. Along the way Catalina learns how to use her powers, stands up for herself, and digs up a whole bunch of dirt on the Rogan family.
I really liked Catalina. She is wise beyond her years and has not had an easy life. We see her finally start to push herself out of her comfort zone and interact with others. I am fascinated by Catalina’ powers and how they will grow as she learns. I can’t wait to see what she will do next.
Great to get a story focusing on a younger Catalina, and to experience her growing in confidence. As always, impossible to put down this book, as the storyline, characters and writing is so compelling.
/5 – 0
This novella should be called: “A compilation of moments that explain why Leon is the most underrated character in this series”
I wish I was talented enough to draw this boy so I could make some fanart because I am officially a Leon fangirl and I’d buy 300 copies of a book with him in the center of it. Unfortunately I’ll have to live with just making him on the sims. Please ILLONA ANDREWS HEAR ME OUT… a whole book on this boy. No. A whole trilogy. I beg you.
Here is my list of reasons why I love him to death. Directly quoting Leon my king himself:
Leon let out a long-suffering sigh. “Are you sure that I’ll be enough? These places can get pretty rough. You walk into a cake shop and then some gunslinger tells you, ‘You ain’t from around here, partner,’ and the next thing you know, you’re in the middle of the street, your horse is dead, the bad guy’s got your girl by her hair, and you’re down to one bullet.” “What is going on in your head?” “It’s a dark, lawless place, Catalina. So dark.”
“I’m going to shove a gun up his ass sideways,” Leon snarled.
“Don’t cry, Catalina—he’s not worth it. Don’t let him make you sad.” Leon hovered next to me. “Please don’t cry. I’ll make it okay somehow. Just don’t cry, or I might cry with you, and then you’ll tell everybody, and I’ll be embarrassed. Do you need tissues? I have tissues.”
The passion, the humor, the intelligence, the sass, how caring and loving he is. Please give me more Leon. Also Catalina won’t stop getting better either. I love them all too much. I thought I was going to force myself to stop so I didn’t have to wait a whole year for the third book. I won’t be able to stop. I need more and more and I know I’m going to suffer but it will be worth it.
After wrapping up Wildfire and getting that sense of utter satisfaction, but thoroughly saddened to say farewell to a well-written series, I was not ready to be done with the Baylor family and Rogan and all the usual suspects. A transition novella and a new season in the series was just the thing to sweep away my book depression.
Diamond Fire, book #3.5, in the Hidden Legacy series wraps up the loose threads and a chance to transition from Nevada to Catalina as the lead figure. This is definitely not a good place to jump in and the series works best taking it in order.
Nevada and Connor’s wedding is at the center of this new Hidden Legacy story. Catalina and Arabella somehow end up the wedding coordinators and it is hectic since this is a wedding for two primes and two magical Houses. While keeping up with her sister’s wedding needs and skirting around Connor’s large dysfunctional family, Catalina is called upon to locate the missing wedding tiara and keep the wedding safe and enjoyable for all involved. The list of suspects is long and Catalina is forced to call upon her cursed magic as she thinks of it, to get the case closed before the wedding.
It was interesting shifting to Catalina’s point of view. She is very different from her sister, Nevada. And, that is a good thing. I love that the author’s gave her individuality. Unlike Nevada, Catalina is well aware of what she is capable of doing. She is relatively untried, but she is terrified of her own magical skill set which is that of Siren who can compel people against their will. She doesn’t like that responsibility and backs away from relationships and other people because she doesn’t want to slip up and not know if they really like her or if they are under the influence of her magic. She gets a front row seat in observing the difference in family dynamics and struggles with seeing how being involved with House power and wealth can warp a family. She likes her family just the way it is and worries now that they are a new House.
Catalina’s investigation kept me fascinated as did some of the situations she had to step up and deal with. I enjoyed her kickbutt heroine moments. The mystery of the tiara was simple enough when the distractions were stripped aside.
So, Diamond Fire did the job of getting me enthused for the next chapter in the story with the focus turning to another Baylor, but still getting all the Baylors along for the ride. Fans of Urban Fantasy can’t go wrong with this series.
Any thing by Ilona Andrews is a must read for me. Love this series.
Love anything by Ilona Andrews!
loved it
Love her books
Great series. I didn’t think I would like it when the series focused on a different main character but I did. Keeps you guessing about what’s going to happen.
Another good book by Ilona Andrews original and interesting. Great Characters
I love this book and I love the series!! If Ilona Andrews writes it you can almost guarantee that the book will be worthwhile to read. The previous books all build up to this one – where Catalina has to step up and run the family business, plan her sister’s wedding, solve multiple magic-related problems, and deal with a romantic interest of her own. I just totally enjoyed this book. Can’t wait for the next one.
This short novella was a sparkling glimpse of experiencing this world through the eyes of Catalina (Nevada’s sister). We get to explore the hidden talents of this young woman and see a different perspective of Nevada and Connor. Not only did we’re there to a of new characters introduced, but they mostly consisted of Rogan’s family and learning more about his reasons to avoiding his family.
I was excited to see Catalina use her powers once again and watch her evolve with them. Like always, this was another spectacular story to fall in love with in the Hidden Legacy series!