Siren's Call by Jayne Castle (review)

4.75 out of 5 stars


Siren's Call by Jayne Castle is part of the ‘Rainshadow’ series that features those with extraordinary psychic abilities and their enigmatic dust bunny companions. Ella Morgan comes from a very talented musical family but very few know she is that rare being, a Siren, whose very voice can be used as an instrument for manipulation of psychic energies. She opens her own dream counseling service but is struggling until a dust bunny she names Lorelei comes into her life. Even greater changes are prompted by her interaction with Rafe Coppersmith, who eventually hires her to deal with dinosaurs on Rainshadow that were altered by Aliens. Unfortunately, dinosaurs are not the only danger to be faced, and Ella and Rafe must race against time to solve the mystery threatening them before their lives are destroyed.



This exciting addition to one of my favorite paranormal series grabs your attention and doesn’t let go as it takes you on a thrill ride that ratchets up with each increasingly fantastical occurrence and ends with a wonderful sense of coming full circle. I love the great start to the story, as someone actually takes seriously the (usually rhetorical) wedding question about whether anyone knows of a reason the ritual should not take place.
 
One of my favorite things about this author’s works is her ability to make the impossible believable using larger-than-life characters who have a mesmerizing intensity and a sense of self-deprecating humor to leaven all of that energy. Add in those beloved characters who threaten to steal the spotlight, in this case a dust bunny named Lorelei, and the reader is in for a singular treat that will keep one enthralled for hours. I think that it may be difficult to read this book as a stand-alone if one is new to the universe that features such remarkable examples of psychic ability but it probably would be entertaining to anyone who keeps an open mind.

I enjoy visiting the different eras and locales characteristic of each facet of Ms. Krentz’s (or her alter-egos, Ms. Castle’s or Ms. Quick’s, lol) masterful series and psychic phenomena has always fascinated me, so I am always thrilled when a new book is added to the collection, but this particular story resonated with me even more than usual. The wry asides (e.g. as Ella savors her first paying, albeit non-human, customer), quirky characteristics (yay for powdered sugar donuts), mysteries of the Aliens (wow, dinosaurs!), and delicious heat between Ella and Rafe combine to make this a fantastic adventure and I look forward to reading about more charismatic couples who combine to form unbeatable partnerships that utilize both their brains and their psychic talents!

 © Night Owl Reviews

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Amazon link
 

The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle

                                       
 


4.5 out of 5 stars


The Hot Zone by Jayne Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick) is another imaginative and thought-provoking tale that explores the capability of the human mind with the complications inherent when artificial enhancements are explored without proper safeguards. Sedona Snow is the very talented Class 5 paranormal gatekeeper who runs afoul of those who are looking for a shortcut to enhancing their powers. Her encounters with the newly appointed Rainshadow Guild boss, Cyrus (Dead Zone) Jones, is just as life-changing as her adoption by the enigmatic dust bunny she names Lyle, she just has to decide whether she is willing to accept the new responsibilities each confers upon her, in his (or its) own way. Rainshadow has always been a place of secrets and Sedona may discover that some are far more deadly than others, but the two newcomers in her life will do their best to make sure that the secrets don’t prove fatal to the intriguing woman who has inestimable value to each of them.


  Dust bunnies rule! (and apparently like Halloween candy) This is another great addition to a fun series that is part of the ongoing saga that covers the past, present and future progression of humans with psychic powers. I alternate between my preferences for the various incarnations of this author’s titles but I have to admit that I have a distinct bias toward the various dust bunnies and the idea of the alien influence left behind on the planet of Harmony. I found this particular story to be more disconcerting as the contrast between MC (marriages of convenience) and CM (covenant marriages) is highlighted, but, as always, the repartee between the determined heroine and the self-deprecating hero is a wonderful facet of a creative story. The monsters that are roaming are a creepy element and the question of the alien influence on this planet adds a twist to the evolution of the humans who have found a way to survive and thrive on Harmony. I adore these stories because they combine romance, science fiction and human ingenuity in a delightful story AND they continue to gradually reveal more about the charismatic creatures who can go from cuddly chortling companion to a being that has created the reputation, “Once you see the teeth, it’s too late!”

© Night Owl Reviews 

I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review. 

Contests and blog hops

Randi Alexander has a wonderfully appropriate title out...Cowboy Jackpot:  St. Patrick's Day.  She has a contest on her blog to celebrate the new release at this link.

The Romance Reviews is still celebrating its 2nd Anniversary party at this link.

Shirley Hailstock has a nice blog tour to promote her book White Diamonds at this  link
I am reluctant to share it because I figure I would have a much better shot at the $20 GC, lol but it looks like she could use some love

Skhye Moncrief has a blog hop at this link.


Secret Cravings has a Just Desserts blog hop at this link.


Don't forget the regular contests at:

Night Owl Romance at this link.

Coffee Time Romance (a very long list, scroll down the page) at this link.

Writerspace contests at this link.

Fresh Fiction contests at this link.

(and don't forget to set your clocks forward if you live in a place that practices Daylight Savings)

Meanwhile, I am working on reviews for:

Julie Miller's fascinating romantic suspense, Always Faithful
Sharon Lee & Steve Miller's wonderful science fiction addition to their Liaden Universe, Necessity's Child
Jayne Krentz's  paranormal tale (sorry, no dust bunnies) Dream Eyes
Rob Thurman's urban fantasy Slashback
Sandra Leesmith's women's fiction tale about cycling The Price of Victory
Pamela Clare's American Historical romance Ride the Fire 
(as usual, I am reading them faster than I can write them up...but I 'm working on it!)

               





 

RWA here I come!

I am so very tickled to be going to the RWA (Romance Writers of America) conference in Anaheim this week.  My very favorite historical romance writer, Stephanie Laurens, is the keynote speaker and I am thrilled that she has come all of the way from Australia to our side of the continent!  I have been reading her works since I first discovered the Cynster family and have enjoyed the various Bastion Club, Black Cobra titles as well as the many anthologies she has contributed to (yes, her books take up a couple of shelves on my bookshelf).  I am also delighted and hope to glimpse from afar some of my other favorites including Jayne Anne Krentz/Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick, Nora Roberts (I figure I'll know where she is because of the hordes of people around her) and Suzanne Brockmann.  I am amazed to have been reading works from all of these lovely ladies since most of them wrote in the series romance categories and I fell in love with their styles then.
 
   

I am ecstatic to realize that I may also get a chance to meet some of my newer favorite authors such as Maya Banks, Sylvia Day, Nalini Singh, Jennifer Estep, Thea Harrison, Jaci Burton, Cheryl Brooks, Tamara Hogan, Lauren Dane, Karen Erickson, Lori Handeland, Elisabeth Naughton, Brenda Novak, and Terry Spear to name just a few.  Just looking at the map of the room makes me tired so who knows if I will get the opportunity to make it all the way around to meeting all of them.
                 


I am looking forward to attending the "Christmas" party that Sabrina Jeffries is giving for her fans and I have had the very wonderful experience of being invited to the Kensington reception so it will be a fantastic week!


Then there will the wonderful and whirlwind experience of seeing Kim (that dynamo from the SOS Aloha blog) and her young men.  It is always breathless hanging with Kim since she seems to know practically everyone and she just brightens the room whenever she appears!  So....I will be a little quiet for the rest of the week but I will be definitely immersed in the world of BOOKS!