Clean Sweep (Innkeeper Chronicles #1)
Publisher: NYLA
Pub Date: 2 December 2013
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance
Panda Rating:
(4 pandas)
📖 SYNOPSIS
his is a short novel, about 60,000 words.
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.
⚠️ CONTENT/TRIGGER WARNINGS
Violence, gore, blood, explosion, disappearance of a parent, animal death
2023 is apparently my year of reading Ilona Andrews and I’m not mad about it at all. They have a pretty formulaic way of storytelling that I thankfully really enjoy and it also means I know exactly what I’m getting. Clean Sweep didn’t disappoint and I can’t wait to continue on with the rest of the series!
This was a short, action-packed, mysterious and entertaining paranormal fantasy romance. As always, I love the humourous and witty writing and the dry/sarcastic narrative voice. It’s funny and sharp and definitely my kind of thing. I loved the idea of a sentient magical inn and the powers that it bestows upon its innkeeper, Dina. She may not seem like it at first glance but she’s a total badass and definitely reminded me of Kate Daniels in the best way! She’s sharp, feisty, resourceful and just really cool.
Sean was also an interesting werewolf though I wished we got to learn more about him. In many ways, he’s not your typical shifter, namely because he doesn’t actually know the complex war-torn history of intergalactic werewolves and I’m assuming that’s how we’re going to learn more about the intergalactic world as the series goes on. There’s also the alien vampire warrior who was unexpectedly sexy and it definitely made this lean towards love-triangle territory but hopefully, the series doesn’t play out that way. 😂
I will say that the thing that always throws me off about Andrews’ books is how they always throw us into the middle of this world as if we already know about it. Although the story is set on Earth, there’s a whole retinue of intergalactic worlds, species, history and politics that exist and that we’re very gradually roped into. I was definitely confused at first but knowing how Andrews’ books unfold, we’ll learn more about this as the series continues and I’m happy to sit along for the ride!
Have you read Clean Sweep or is it on your TBR?
dinipandareads 
I love this series and can’t wait to see your thoughts on the rest of the books.
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I’ve had this author on my tbr for so long but haven’t made the jump to read any of their books just yet. I know I need to, haha. Great review!
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I would have been confused too, if they just throw you in. I’m glad you’ve found another author that works well for you.
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I absolutely devoured Ilona Andrews’ Hidden Legacy series. It’s such addicting reading! You’re right – they’re very formulaic, but I find that just makes them so easy to read. I’m definitely putting this one on my tbr
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[…] Book Review: Clean Sweep by Ilona Andrews […]
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I hope you get another book in this series soon. 🙂
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