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. 

Lost Night

Lost Night  
by Jayne Castle/Jayne Ann Krentz is a 'Rainshadow' novel which returns the reader to the world of Harmony where dust bunnies are an accepted part of society and psychic abilities are not that unusual.  For those who are not familiar with dust bunnies other than those which are under the furniture, these particular creatures are more than capable of independent movement and have the ability to go from cute and cuddly in what the author calls 'drier lint mode' (this particular novel features a dust bunny named Darwina who is amazingly attached to a doll named Amberina that is dressed in a beautiful gown decorated with crystals) to full on attack mode which involves opening a second set of eyes and displaying formidable teeth and claws.  They are some of my favorite characters and appear throughout this series.

Jayne Ann Krentz at RWA 2012

(sorry for the fuzzy picture, I didn't want to blind the author so I turned the flash off...and I haven't figured out what the indoor setting should be!)

If you are new to this author's books, she writes under several names and each name traditionally has been associated with a certain period of time...historical (as Amanda Quick), modern (as Jayne Ann Krentz) or future (as Jayne Castle) but the books in this particular series are all linked by the theme of psychic phenomena.  This talented author has been a favorite of mine since (gasp) the 1980s when she wrote for series romance titles such as Candlelight Ecstasy and Silhouette (under yet another pseudonym).  She has a pretty intricate website at this link that is fun to explore which has interesting tidbits about some of her series, particularly the Arcane Society and the world of Harmony (which this novel is set on).  They are all fun reads and you are in for a treat, no matter which incarnation of the author you start with!

My Amazon review for Lost Night is at this link under ELF2060 and as usual, I appreciate any 'yes, this was helpful' votes.
 

Crystal Gardens

Crystal Gardens    

by Amanda Quick (aka Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle) introduces the 'Ladies of Lantern Street' series which centers around resourceful women who parlay their paranormal talents into an unconventional vocation.  I enjoy the exploration of the paranormal that is depicted in the different series penned by this author under her varied pseudonyms although the stories are getting slightly predictable to long-time fans familiar with the series.  The tales told using the Amanda Quick pseudonym tend to be suspenseful historical romances but it is my understanding that the author is going to give up her 'split personalities' and begin penning all of the books in the series under one name.  Ms Castle/Krentz/Quick has a fun website at this link that allows the reader to explore the various series.

I grumble about the roses in my garden attacking me but the garden in this tale is much more deadly to the unwary and forms part of the mystery facing the main characters.  As is typical with these books, the hero and heroine must learn to lower their barriers and allow someone into their respective lives who is familiar with the issues that they have overcome.  Together, they form a formidable team with remarkable abilities.  My Goodreads review is at this link.