Tour Review - - People in Glass Houses

People in Glass Houses

By Jayne Castle

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: May 7, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

His name is Joshua Knight. Once a respected explorer, the press now calls him the Tarnished Knight. He took the fall for a disaster in the Underworld that destroyed his career. The devastating event occurred in the newly discovered sector known as Glass House—a maze of crystal that is rumored to conceal powerful Alien antiquities. The rest of the Hollister Expedition team disappeared and are presumed dead.

Whatever happened down in the tunnels scrambled Josh’s psychic senses and his memories, but he’s determined to uncover the truth. Labeled delusional and paranoid, he retreats to an abandoned mansion in the desert, a house filled with mirrors. Now a recluse, Josh spends his days trying to discover the secrets in the looking glasses that cover the walls. He knows he is running out of time.

Talented, ambitious crystal artist Molly Griffin is shocked to learn that the Tarnished Knight has been located. She drops everything and heads for the mansion to find Josh, confident she can help him regain control of his shattered senses. She has no choice—he is the key to finding her sister, Leona, a member of the vanished expedition team. Josh reluctantly allows her to stay one night but there are two rules: she must not go down into the basement, and she must not uncover the mirrors that have been draped.

But her only hope for finding her sister is to break the rules…

PJ's Thoughts:

If Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick (she's all three) ever writes a book I'm able to put down before reaching the end, I'll probably fall over in shock. It doesn't matter if they're set in the past, the present, or the future, they are all compelling, addictive, and keep me compulsively reading way past my bedtime. People in Glass Houses is the newest entry in what is a very long list of books that would not only fill a keeper shelf of their own in my library, they would fill the whole dang bookcase. 

Molly and Joshua drew me into their story and kept me riveted through a series of surprises, twists, breath-stealing danger (haunted houses, anyone?), and endearing romance right up until the final scene. I loved them, had the best time tagging along on their adventures, and am already eagerly anticipating Molly's sister, Leona's story next. 

This is the seventeenth novel set on the planet of Harmony, far into the future, but don't let that scare you off. First, Harmony was originally populated by citizens of Earth when a curtain opened between the planets (then suddenly and inexplicably closed). Characters have developed advanced psychic and crystal using skills but they're descended from Earth's explorers, not aliens. Each book is written in such a way that you really can start anywhere and not feel lost or confused. Having said that, however, don't be surprised if once you experience any of these stories you immediately want to read more. The characters are relatable, the suspense threads are tightly constructed, the unique qualities of Harmony are fascinating (it really is a character in itself), and the dust bunnies are beyond adorable. Also dangerous when necessary. Or hungry. It's part of their charm. 

If you're a Krentz/Castle/Quick fan, add this one to your summer reading list. If you're new to the author, People in Glass Houses is a great place to jump in. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

Tour Review - - Sweetwater and the Witch

Sweetwater and the Witch

by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle

A Harmony Novel  

Publisher: Berkley

Release Date: September 20, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

If there’s something Ravenna Chastain knows, it’s when to end things. And after she almost winds up the victim of a cult that believes she’s a witch, it’s easy to walk away from her dead-end career, ready for a new start. But where to find a job that would allow her to use her very specialized skill set? The answer is clear: she becomes a matchmaker.
 
But even a successful matchmaker can’t find someone for everyone, and Ravenna considers Ethan Sweetwater her first professional failure. After nine failed dates, Ravenna knows it’s time to cut Ethan loose. But Ethan refuses to be fired as a client—he needs one final date to a business function. Since Ravenna needs a date herself to a family event, they agree to a deal: she will be his (business) date if he will be her (fake) date to her grandparents’ anniversary celebration.
 
What Ethan fails to mention is that attending the business function is a cover for some industrial espionage that he’s doing as a favor to the new Illusion Town Guild boss. Ravenna is happy to help, but their relationship gets even more complicated when things heat up—the chemistry between them is explosive, as explosive as the danger that’s stalking Ravenna. Lucky for her, Ethan isn’t just an engineer—he’s also a Sweetwater, and Sweetwaters are known for hunting down monsters…

PJ's Thoughts:

Harriet is my new favorite dust bunny. I know. I know. My favorite changes with each new Harmony book that's published but I can't help it. Krentz/Castle keeps upping her game with each book written. She's just that good, as are her stories, her characters, and especially her dust bunnies. If you're new to the Harmony series you should know that dust bunnies are cute, cuddly, mischievous critters who closely resemble a piece of dryer lint and can turn deadly in a heartbeat. They pretty much steal every scene they're in. 

My eyes have been a bit strained lately so I decided to take my time with this book, reading a few chapters here and there over the course of a week. I finished it in one day. Could not put it down. Immersive. Compelling. Riveting. All the words apply. 

What makes these books so special? First there's the setting of Harmony. It doesn't matter if this is your first Harmony book or your fifteenth. The author does an amazing job of describing this planet with its glittering cities, dark streets, deadly underground, glowing gardens, dangerous alien artifacts, and psi energy, making it all seem normal and incredibly easy to visualize, like a movie moving across your mind. 

Buckle your seatbelts because once you're immersed into the other-worldly atmosphere of Harmony, Krentz/Castle takes you on a fast-paced, twisty, non-stop ride filled with action, danger, romance, and suspense. I spent much of the book on the edge of my seat, holding my breath, wondering what would happen next, while turning the pages as fast as I could to find out. 

Then there are the characters. If you've ever read a Jayne Castle, Jayne Ann Krentz, or Amanda Quick book, you know that creating unforgettable characters is a skill in which this author excels. Ravenna and Ethan are two of my favorites, showcasing the banter, wit, and quirky humor for which the author is known. I couldn't get enough of them. She could make them the featured couple in her next five books and I still wouldn't be tired of them. Nope. I would just grab a cauldron of popcorn and settle in for the fireworks (you'll understand once you've read the book). ;-)

If you're new to Harmony, don't be scared off by the fact that this is the 16th book in the series. This is one of those times where you really can jump in with Sweetwater and the Witch and not miss a beat. 

Warning: dust bunnies are addictive. 

Jayne Castle, the author of Guild Boss, Illusion Town, Siren's Call, The Hot Zone, Deception Cove, The Lost Night, Canyons of Night, Midnight Crystal, Obsidian Prey, Dark Light, Silver Master, Ghost Hunter, After Glow, and After Dark, is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She writes contemporary romantic suspense novels under the Krentz name, as well as historical novels under the pseudonym Amanda Quick. Learn more online at www.jayneannkrentz.com. 

Author photo credit: Marc von Borstel.