Just a Few Innkeeper Chronicles #audioreview

This feature is for short reviews, reviews of books in a series where it might feel repetitive, or (as Michelle suggested) books I was too lazy to write a “real” review for. Today’s books are all from the Innkeeper Chronicles series so I’m trying to avoid being TOO repetitive 🙂

Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews
Narrator: Renée Raudman
Series: Innkeeper Chronicles #1
on March 19, 2014
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 7 hours 55 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Goodreads

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.

I have had this book on my TBR forever – if it weren’t for book club I have no idea when I would have read it, since I’ve been dragging my heels really reading anything from this author.

And that would have been a shame because I really enjoyed the story – it was quite different. The role of an innkeeper is unique and quirky. I liked the characters and will look forward to reading more. The narration was good, though not my favorite from Renee. Maybe an A, instead of her usual A+

Sweep in Peace by Ilona Andrews
Narrator: Renée Raudman
Series: Innkeeper Chronicles #2
Published by NYLA on December 15, 2015
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 10 hours 57 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Borrowed
Goodreads

Dina DeMille isn't your typical bed and breakfast owner. Her inn defies laws of physics, her dog is secretly a monster, and the only permanent guest of the inn is a former galactic tyrant with a price on her head. The inn needs guests to thrive and guests have been scarce, so when an arbitrator shows up at Dina's door and asks her to host a peace summit between three warring species, she jumps on the chance. Unfortunately, for Dina, bridging the gap between space vampires, the Hope-Crushing Horde, and the merchants of Baha-char is much easier said than done. To make the summit a success, she must find a chef, remodel the inn, keep her guests from murdering each other, and risk everything, even her life, to save the man she might fall in love with. But then it's all in the day's work for an innkeeper....

I enjoyed this one a lot more than the first – I don’t know if it was because it was better or if the timing in my life was just better, though.

I found myself wishing I remembered some of the characters better, but I was able to catch on.

For me, what makes this series cool is the concept of the inn and innkeeper. It’s so different from anything I’ve read. The other races are enjoyable, and some are very unique as well.

I love Renee’s narration, probably the BEST thing about the series 🙂

One Fell Sweep by Ilona Andrews
Narrator: Renée Raudman
Series: Innkeeper Chronicles #3
Published by Nancy Yost Literary Agency on February 14, 2017
Genres: Urban Fantasy
Length: 10 hours 40 minutes
Format: Audiobook
Source: Borrowed
Goodreads

Gertrude Hunt, the nicest Bed and Breakfast in Red Deer, Texas, is glad to have you. We cater to particular kind of guests, the ones most people don’t know about. The older lady sipping her Mello Yello is called Caldenia, although she prefers Your Grace. She has a sizable bounty on her head, so if you hear kinetic or laser fire, try not to stand close to the target. Our chef is a Quillonian. The claws are a little unsettling, but he is a consummate professional and truly is the best chef in the Galaxy. If you see a dark shadow in the orchard late at night, don’t worry. Someone is patrolling the grounds. Do beware of our dog.

Your safety and comfort is our first priority. The inn and your host, Dina Demille, will defend you at all costs. We ask only that you mind other guests and conduct yourself in a polite manner.

So I started this thinking it was the final book – now I realize it just the last one out (or better be!). There’s so much more to happen, I think. I loved seeing her sister and a bit more of vampire culture. And the heroo (no idea how to spell since I was listening) were a heartbreaking addition to the story. Amazing narration!

Update: There is more! Since reading these books (and writing the above reviews) Ilona Andrews has published on their website/blog a short novella from the POV of Maud. I haven’t read it yet, but plan to. Hoping it will – like the other books that started in the same way – be combined with other books and get narration, etc.

Berls is sharing Just a Few Innkeeper Chronicles she read. Have you read them? #audioreview Share on X

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