I love Ilona Andrews but this book almost killed me. I know it was released as a serial
But it was way too long, all over the place, and just bloated. The humor and cleverness was still there so I kept going but it was way too much.

I cannot believe how long it took me to actually pick up this book. My love for IA is really boundless, tbh. I love them so much. Sweep of the Heart was a really fun installment in this series, but if you're looking for a book that actually moves the overall plot forward, this one doesn't really do that, until the very end. If you, like me, are just here for the vibes and the characters and the found family aspect of the Inn, then I think you'll love this installment just like I did.

Also, the unique take on The Bachelor in this spousal selection concept was also interesting. I really loved seeing all of the unique aliens, but tbh, how do they come up with these things? They are so weird sometimes. I just find it fascinating. I really enjoyed getting to meet more characters, learning more about Caldania (no idea how to spell her name, oops) and just generally speaking, I enjoyed this book a whole bunch. Also, spending time with Gaston was a delight! (And the reason why we didn't have time with George was honestly equally delightful.)

So, yeah, I loved this! So much. And I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment.

This was another fantastic addition to The Innkeeper Chronicles. We start off with Sean and Dina right before a holiday hoping for some downtime only to be sorely disappointed on that front. First, Wilmos is kidnapped. Then they are asked to host another intergalactic event after the peace summit, but they're also a last resort as most other capable inns have declined due to the violent possibilities. The event is a spousal selection for the ruler of a galactic empire with many factions vying to be chosen. There is LOTS of political intrigue, crazy plots, fighting, and cameos from the every growing cast of secondary and tertiary characters. I can see where some people can get bogged down by ALL the politics in this one, and that fact that it's not a graphic audio yet makes me sad, but I still thoroughly enjoyed listening. As always there's a nugget of information dropped at the end keeping you on the edge of your seat until the next release.

*I had the absolute privilege of getting an audio ARC from NYLA and Netgalley and I could not be more grateful. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

Gah! I loved it. I am a HUGE Ilona Andrews fan and I could not have loved this more!

If you have been following the Graphic Audio re-tellings of the Innkeeper Chronicles then you will be familiar with the narrator, Nora Sofyan, who performs Dana's voice. She did a phenomenal job.

In this installment, we have kidnapped werewolves, corrupted magic, growing Inns, space chickens, an errant sphinx, Intergalactic Bachelor, carnivorous space trees, jazz fins, Caldinea's back story, suspicious wives, long-held grudges, political machinations, assassins, and SO MUCH MORE!

Honestly, I wasn't sure how I felt about the Bachelor-esque aspect of the book, but I loved it. I love, love, love that we get background deets on our favorite law enforcement officer and the tie-in from Clean Sweep. Caldinea's back story was fantabulous. Honestly, I don't know if there is much to the book that I can impartially speak about. I love it. I love the series. The audio narration was great. I can't wait for more, because, Claude!!!!!

I realize I’m in the minority here with my rating, but here is what I thought.

The idea of writing this as a weekly serial on their website is so fun and I’m glad that they published it as a book. The consistency in the characters- especially Dina and Shaun- is nice when so many new individuals were introduced for this story. I really liked the idea of Dina essentially having to host The Bachelor at the Inn, and with such high stakes involved too.

But, this 400 page book felt so long. With so many characters to account for, we never really got to know the new ones in depth, there wasn’t any growth for the characters we did get details about, and it felt like two books smushed into one. The Save So-and-So and Intergalactic Bachelor plots didn’t fit very well together for me and I honestly forgot that So-and-So was even in danger when I was halfway to three quarters of the way through the book. I think the book would have been stronger with just one of those plots. I think the book would have been stronger if there had been more tension or conflict amongst the main characters, too.

I love this series, but this installment just felt so flat for me.

I so love everything Ilona Andrews writes, this new installment in The Innkeeper series is amazing!! I love Dina and all the adventures she has. This book was interesting and full of action. I would highly recommend this book to everyone!!

This was not the book for me and was my own fault, nothing to do with the author. I love their other series but this one does not work for me, I did not realize this was in the middle of the series.

Sweep of the Heart by Ilona Andrews Narrated by Nora Sofyan 5 stars

This is the audiobook version of Sweep of Heart (Innkeeper Chronicles #5)

Sweep of the Heart is a book in the Innkeeper Series and it chronicles the adventures of Dina DeMille and Sean Evans. They are “Innkeepers”, an organization that operates a series of inns that cater to “special guests” – think intergalactic rulers, vampires, space chickens, etc. This is the fifth in the series and it is a roller coaster of an adventure. I enjoyed the book immensely, but this is a review of the audiobook. I have to say that Nora Sofyan did not disappoint, she is a familiar voice since she voiced Dina in the Graphic Audio versions of the Innkeeper series. I loved how she did the beginning recaps for each chapter and her rendition of Caldonia was masterful. In terms of reading, I look forward to anything Ilona Andrews writes. As a member of the Book Devouring Horde, I am willing to press the buy button as soon as it is active and I hope there will be many more opportunities in the future.

Thank you Netgalley and NYLA for this audiobook.

Really, really enjoyed this story. The fact that it is the fifth in the series did not detract from my ability to follow along at all. While it is clearly part of a full cycle of stories, this book largely stands on its own. What background the reader does need is provided clearly and concisely throughout the book without being a boring information dump. I adore the characters, the world-building is phenomenal, and I definitely want to check out the other books in the series. Within several chapters of starting, I could think of at least three people for whom I would buy or at least recommend this series. A very fun read.

I started this series since I got this one (the fifth) as an ARC from Net Galley. I wanted to be immersed in the world for a fair review, but that might have backfired. I loved the first two books and the concept of the world however I DNF this book at 25%. By this point the plots are a bit repetitive and the relationships between the characters aren’t as engaging. Three stars for the world overall, which I did really love at first.

Sweep of the Heart is the sixth installment of the Innkeeper Chronicles by Ilona Andrews, and was originally released as a few novella series. The audiobook is narrated by Nora Sofyan. Life is busier than ever for Innkeeper, Dina DeMille and Sean Evans. But it’s about to get even more chaotic when Sean's werewolf mentor is kidnapped. To find him, they must host an intergalactic spouse-search for one of the most powerful rulers in the Galaxy. Dina is never one to back down from a challenge. That is, if she can manage her temperamental Red Cleaver chef; the consequences of her favorite Galactic ex-tyrant's dark history; the tangled politics of an interstellar nation, and oh, yes, keep the wedding candidates from a dozen alien species from killing each other. Not to mention the Costco lady. They say love is a battlefield; but Dina and Sean are determined to limit the casualties!

Sweep of the Heart is a must read (or listen) for fans of the series. There is plenty of action and danger, great growth and display of character for Dina and Sean as well as the secondary characters. I really enjoyed getting to see some visits from characters that I remember from the Edge series, and those that have made prior appearances in the Innkeeper world. I feel like I got a great deal out of this audiobook, but that readers that are new to the series would be very lost. There are some great summaries and catch up moments if readers mist a related book, but someone with no prior foray into this series would not fully appreciate the amount of information, humor, and winks to other books that fans and returning readers that will enjoy. I have to admit to laughing in my car as I was listening to this, and I was inspired to go back and download other books by the author that I had somehow missed.

Can we just take a moment to dance and celebrate the release of Sweep of the Heart? This series is phenomenal!

Book Summary:

Dina Demille and Sean Evans are Innkeepers. They keep the peace, maintain secrecy, and protect their guests – at all costs. Yet Gertrude Hunt seems to be gaining a reputation of sorts, as they consistently take upon the most dangerous of situations.

Gertrude Hunt will be the new location of a famous spousal selection – of intergalactic proportions. The stakes are high, but Dina and Sean need to do this. It is the only way they'll be able to save their friend.

My Review:

They've done it again! House Andrews has written another brilliant Innkeeper novel, and I am here for it! This makes the fifth book in the series, and I sincerely hope many more will come!

It's been a while since we've spent time at Gertrude Hunt, so it was pleasant to come back and enjoy their adventures. However, I don't think any readers could have anticipated the scale for Sweep of the Heart. It is, forgive the pun, out of this world.

To say this was a dramatic read would be an understatement. We had politics, plotting, romance (a la the bachelor), and more. So much more! The biggest thing, for me, was how this latest addition to the series really began to delve into the mystery and secrets we've been dying to understand. We still have many questions to answer (along with a few new ones thrown into the mix), but I'm thrilled with what we've been given so far.

As with all of the Innkeeper series, Sweep of the Heart was originally updated every week on the Ilona AnAdrews blog. Unlike the others (thus far), it was HIGHLY interactive, letting readers vote on their favorite spousal contenders as we went along. It was a blast and a half to experience. If you missed out this time around, I highly recommend you sign up for updates from the blog so you don't miss out the next time!

Long story short - Sweep of the Heart was everything readers could have hoped for. Go read it!

Highlights
Sentient building
Urban fantasy
Intergalactic Bachelor
Space hedge-hog chief
Super important house cat
Space werewolves
Magical inn
Ongoing series

Trigger Warnings
Animal death
Stalking
Abuse

Audiobook Review:
Narrator: Nora Sofyan

Since I absolutely fell in love with Sweep of the Heart (no pun intended, but appreciated), I jumped at the chance to listen to the audiobook version. Narrated by Nora Sofyan, this novel once again swept (heh) me off my feet.

I'll stop kidding around – Nora Sofyan did a brilliant job bringing the characters to life. I was delighted with her portrayal of our main characters, not to mention the many (many) secondary characters and cameos. It added a whole new layer to the world. Now I'm going to have to go back and listen to the rest of this series on audiobook because, clearly, I've been missing out!

Dina DeMille and Sean Evans are innkeepers, though not in the traditional sense. Gertrude Hunt has a symbiotic relationship with the aforementioned, with the inn being a refuge to intergalactic beings. When one of their friends goes missing under suspicious circumstances, Dina and Sean have to strike a bargain with one of the most powerful rulers in the Galaxy. Will the chaos at the inn prove disastrous for all involved?

I am new to the series, but I never once felt lost. The authors do a great job of explaining the backstory, which might prove to be too repetitive for faithful readers. The book is a bit sluggish in the middle, especially regarding the situation at the inn. The audiobook is well narrated, with the story flowing well, though I do not care one portion. At the beginning of each chapter, a second narrator gives a bit of synopsis of the story and tells the reader to stay tuned. This is unnecessary and is a bit off-putting.

Overall, I enjoyed Sweep of the Heart. There were too many spoilers for the previous books for me to want to go back and read more, so I will have to be content with looking forward to a new novel by these authors.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Audio Version of Sweep of the Heart by NetGalley and the publisher. The choice to read and review this book was entirely my own.

I always enjoy a good Ilona Andrews book, and this was no exception. Great writing, fun characters, even the crazy Bachelor set-up was amusing. Also loved finding out more about Caldenia's past. I do feel like there's something missing from this series, though. Right from the beginning, the issue of Dina's parents has been introduced as The Main Overarching Plot... and yet they never really work towards solving it; any progress is incidental. I find this mildly frustrating.
What also made this one less enjoyable for me was that there was too much exposition from Dina. She can’t know everything, and yet she knows about every random alien species ever. This would be a much better book if occasionally our heroine was wrong about something or had to learn.
So in short: I enjoyed it, but I'd really like something more from this series. Dina and Sean felt too much like overpowered Mary Sues to me now and the book could have done with fewer pages long monologues. Still, I look forward to what the author has planned for the future for this universe.
Last but not least, I listened to an audio version of this book and the narrator did a great job! Her male voices were a little similar but it wasn't a huge distraction. Otherwise, I enjoyed it.

Where to begin? First of all, this is a review for the audiobook version of Sweepmof the Heart. Perhaps, if I had read or listened to this as serial novellas, I would have. Higher opinion, but there were SO MANY characters involved that it seemed like oit favorites kind of took a back step. Aside from that, Sean’s werewolf mentor is kidnapped and in order to gain access to the portal to reach him, Dina hosts a bachelor type contest to find a spouse for an intergalactic leader who just happens to be the nephew of Caldenia. There was too much going on to follow in an audiobook. I will have to read the kindle version to feel better about the book. My recommendation then would be to actually read this book and THEN listen to the audiobook. Fortunately, I had read the previous Inkeeper books, so the main characters were familiar.

GENERAL INFO

Year Pub/Re Pub:1/13/23

Book's cover: features H/h

Format: Audiobook

Source: Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Listen time: 16 hrs 25 mins

Narrator: Nora Sofyan

Setting: Texas

Genre: PNR, Sci-fi

Tropes: femme fatales, forced proximity, magic

Standalone/Cliffhanger/Part of a Series: Bk#6 Innkeeper Chronicles

HEA/HFN ending: HFN

Epilogue Included: no

Character(s)POV Spoken: h

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Synopsis/Plot Summary:
Dina and Sean are still running Getrude Hunt B&B. Sean's mentor Wilmos is kidnapped, and they must agree to host an intergalactic spouse-search for one of the most powerful rulers in the galaxy to get information to rescue him.

M/F-M/M-M/M/F-etc: M/F

Contains Cheating: no

Contains Children: no

Flashbacks: yes, some of Dina and Sean's past deeds and enemies. Caldenia's back story.

Jealy/Possy/OTT H/h: no, both trust each other implicitly.

Amount of Sex In The Book: none

Overall Smex Rating: 0

CHARACTER DESCRIPTION

Hero: Sean Evans

Hero Description: Alpha strain werewolf. One of the most powerful beings in the galaxy.

Hero Likability Rating: 5

Hero loves books/writing: n/a

Heroine: Dina DeMille

Heroine Description: innkeeper, most powerful inside her inn

Heroine Likability Rating: 5

Heroine loves books/writing: n/a

Secondary characters:
Caldenia-their 1st guest, killed previous Sovereign-her brother. Now is an exile @ the inn
Kosandion-the Sovereign of the Seven Star Dominion, spouse-searching. Caldenia's nephew
Orro-rules the kitchen, The Red Cleaver Chef
Officer Marais-human police officer that knows about aliens. His wife Donna stole the show though.
Maud and Helen-Dina's sister and niece
Klaus-Dina's brother she found out is alive and is an Arbitrator
George-Arbitrator who resolves disputes between cosmic powers to avoid war. He also has a vast knowledge of the galaxy.
Gaston-another scene stealer, steps in for George to help Dina and Sean
Tony-ad-hal, his father Brian Rodriguez is an innkeeper in Dallas. Also tasked with helping Dina

OW/OM/Exes: Derryl-female werewolf looking for Sean to mate w/ and have strong offspring.

Cheating Before/During/Outside H/h Relationship: no

CONTENT WARNINGS/TRIGGERS: animal cruelty

AUTHOR OVERVIEW: Ilona Andrews

New or read before & any favorites: an auto-buy author for me

PERSONAL OVERVIEW

Overall Rating: 4/4.5

Do You Recommend This Book: yes

Will You Re-read This Book: yes

Would You Read More Books by this Author: yes

COMMENTS/NOTES: The author never disappoints. Another solid entry in this series. Definitely opened the world to showcase how complicated politics is. Loved the competition, all the plotting, and Dina's reconnection to her parents' inn Magnolia Green. Can't wait to find out what happened to them.

Sweep of the Heart is an exciting, action-packed adventure that will keep readers entertained from start to finish. Ilona Andrews once again brings her signature style of witty dialogue and captivating characters to this latest installment in the Innkeeper Chronicles. With a perfect blend of humor, romance, and unexpected twists and turns, this story is sure to satisfy fans of the series. Highly recommended for sci-fi fans and fantasy lovers alike.

I think this was a really great entry to the innkeeper series. It was fun, rompy, deeply emotional, and continued the broad intrigue of the series. Dina and her relationship with the inn and so many people is so core, and I love how Sean has continued to grow to be a part of that.

A new book from IA I hadn’t realized was coming out? Sign me up immediately!

These authors are some of the very few who qualify for the “drop everything and pick up on release day” category. As the Innkeeper series is actually a web serial first and only later published into volumes, I suppose I could be even more on the ball and read them as they’re published. As it is, these books are very episodic and wildly entertaining.

My favorite thing about Sweep of the Heart was the alien interactions. Hosting a matchmaking event at the Inn, the main characters had to navigate many off-world politics while keeping their guests from being eaten by other guests. It was loads of fun – the different biological makeups adding even more variety to an already enjoyable read. I also liked the element of competition in the book, as these species were all in attendance seeking the hand of a single ruler in marriage. Now, how the marriage and, er, succession producing would work between two different alien species was a little over my head, but the technicalities of it didn’t seem to take away my enjoyment of the story.

That’s something I can say about all of IA’s works. They’re so much fun and some of the few stories that can take me out of critical mode into just enjoy it mode almost every time. The fun components here were entertaining enough that I think under different circumstances I may have given it a five stars, but it took me a bit longer than it should have to get reacclimated with the story and the characters. It had been so long since I’d read book four that I spend a lot of time at the beginning trying to remember context and who everyone was (yet another reason why I should probably follow the series online instead of waiting for it to go to print). Once I figured it out though, it was smooth sailing to the end.

I consumed this one on audio and would endorse going that route for the series. Most of IA’s works are narrated by Renee Raudman, but this one was performed by Nora Sofyan and honestly I didn’t even notice the shift until researching for this review. I thought she did an excellent job at bringing the story to life and had a good mix of character accents.

Recommendations: the Innkeepers is another delightful series from my ultimate favorite urban fantasy writers. If you want the full effect of everything going on in this series, consider reading the Edge series first, as there is some crossover.

Niki Hawkes - The Obsessive Bookseller

I love this series, and I enjoyed listening to the narrator. I really enjoyed all of the chaos and seeing the growth in this series, but my favorite part is that we are getting closer to finding out what happened to her family.