The Hot Zone

July 28, 2014
Castle, aka Jayne Ann Krentz, returns to the world of Harmony for the sprightly third tale of spooky Rainshadow Island (after Deception Cove). Spunky “gatekeeper” Sedona Snow has always been able to manipulate the psi forces swirling through the island’s ancient alien-made catacombs, and the malevolent Dr. Blankenship’s unpleasant experiments also give her control of fire. Finally she escapes Blankenship’s subterranean prison, along with her nearly too-cutesy dust bunny companion, Lyle. While making a new life for herself as a Rainshadow innkeeper and overcoming the trauma of imprisonment and heartache from her earlier marriage, Sedona is drawn to newly arrived ghost-hunter Cyrus Jones, a charismatic “cooler” who can damp out other people’s psi forces. Their physiques and talents mesh, and erotic thrills ensue. The breathless narrow escapes and familial conflicts will be familiar to genre fans, but they’re made intriguing by the otherworldly and esoteric setting and some complicated generational backstories.

August 1, 2014

Kidnapped while on assignment in the dangerous Alien catacombs and held for experimental purposes, high-rez gatekeeper Sedona Snow, now with additional incendiary talents, manages to escape with the help of Lyle, a most resourceful dust bunny, and retreats to the relative safety and quiet of mysterious Rainshadow Island. Her peace is shattered when she barely avoids an enemy's psi-trap, her smarmy ex-husband comes calling, and dangerously sexy "Dead Zone" Cyrus Jones, a powerful guild boss with a legendary heritage, arrives with a covert agenda. The spooky fun of Halloween week and the strange goings-on at the island's restricted Preserve stir up the action and increase the risk for humans and dust bunnies alike. This lively adventure adds a few more pieces to the puzzle of the Preserve, drops occasional historical tidbits from related novels by Castle's alter egos (Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick), and pairs up another off-the-charts talented, perfect-for-each-other couple. VERDICT Inventive and brimming with whimsy, this pleasing escapade gives sexy new meaning to the term fire and ice and carves another brilliant facet in Castle's mesmerizing futuristic world. Great fun! Castle (Deception Cove) lives in the Seattle area.

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

August 1, 2014
Here be monsters. As far as Sedona Snow is concerned, there couldn't be a more apropos sign for the Preserve on Rainshadow Island. The two half-gnawed bodies discovered inside the Preserve are just the latest proof that something living in the catacombs doesn't welcome visitors. Sedona has had firsthand experience with monsters, having recently escaped from a mad scientist who tried to imprison her in his lab. Now all Sedona wants is a quiet, uncomplicated life managing Knox's Resort and Tavern, but those hopes are about to be dashed when Cyrus Dead Zone Jones arrives on Rainshadow. Cyrus' first task as the new Ghost-Hunter's Guild boss, is to clean up any monsters, and the first name on his list of people to see is Sedona. In her own mad-genius fashion, Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz) combines a perfectly matched pair of protagonists with a riveting plot filled with plenty of sexy twists and dangerous turns, and adds just the right dash of dry wit to cook up another riveting addition to her futuristic Harmony series (Deception Cove, 2013).(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2014, American Library Association.)