To answer your question from January, Ilona Andrews does not write standalone novels.
The Kate Daniels series is 10 books long, and it there's no sex until book 4. But you do get sarcasm from page 2 of the first book onwards.

The Hidden Legacy series is 3 books and one novella long. Sassy heroine from chapter one, and badass hero enters the scene in chapter four.
Innkeeper Chronicles is 3 books so far, with another one coming out early next year. Very little sex, but lots of sassiness and sarcasm.
All three are well worth working through. I adore all of them, especially the Hidden Legacy books.