Lightning in a Mirror is the third book in the Fogg Lake series by Jayne Ann Krentz. A paranormal romantic suspense that is full of mystery and the fear of the unknown. The suspense and danger build slowly, letting you learn more about the lab, the man running it and why he needs Olivia. The story pulled me in from the beginning and held me captive with all the twists and turns which allowed the outside world to slip away.

Government secret labs, a hidden powerful artifact, and some shady types who want it. It is down to the last and things are about to get explosive. I love when a series has me in a flurry of excitement for the last book.



Lightning in the Mirror is the third book in the Fogg Lake trilogy. In a pinch, it is most definitely a series that works best to start from the beginning so all the players and the situations makes better sense.



People have latent psychic talents in the world of this series, but the government started experimenting back in the sixties with stuff they didn’t understand. The labs were shut down and research and workers were destroyed or scattered, but the rumors are rife about the most powerful psychic artifact of them all hidden in the Vortex lab and people for good and not so good reasons are out to find it first so they can make psychic super soldiers. The Foundation doesn’t want it falling into the wrong hands and have already had deadly skirmishes in the attempt to discover its location.



I can’t say why because I loved the other books, the characters, and all that went on in them, but Lightning in a Mirror really grabbed me. While, the earlier books felt more ethereal. This one got right to the point and hammered down on the tension and rush to the goal.

Then, there are the lead characters. Olivia’s a smart, capable if a bit reluctant, heroine. She has guts, but she isn’t reckless. She was a good counterpart for the damaged and darker Harlan. She knew his psychic talents made him deadly scary and he has secrets that have everyone wary of him.

But, it was Harlan who made this book hit a deeply satisfying level that the earlier books didn’t quite reach. He should have been a solid villain, but he refused to follow the script set by his grandfather and father and he went to the powerful Victor and Lucas at the Foundation to put himself firmly in the open on the playing field. He struggles in normal social situations. They had a meet cute for the ages at a speed dating event when she asked: "If I disappeared tomorrow would you walk into hell to find me? – and Harlan responded: "If you disappeared I would walk into hell to find you. I know the way. I've been there."



The romance was as quick and on the run as the others, but there was so much going on with the danger to Olivia and race to get to Vortex that it all worked together in harmony and I had no trouble believing in it. It had some breath-stealing moments that made the hype in tension payoff. This book finished solid and tied up the plot threads, but, hallelujah, left a trailing thread so that more could be added in future. Fans of her earlier Arcane Society (different author pseudo) will spot some fun crossovers.



All in all, it met my high anticipation and expectations- exceeded them. I read this so quickly that I couldn’t believe it had the page count it did. Definitely recommend it to those who enjoy paranormal, conspiracies, spicy romance, and well developed suspense.

Immersive. Compelling. Addictive. Those are the first three words that came to mind as I sat down to record my thoughts about Lightning in a Mirror, the third and final book in Jayne Ann Krentz's Fogg Lake Trilogy.

As with the first two books in the trilogy, Lightning in a Mirror engaged my interest right from the start and then quickly engaged my emotions as well. Krentz's characters are complex, intriguing, and fully developed. They could be anyone you meet on the street except, of course, for their finely-tuned psychic talents. It's those talents that make them unique, highly sought after, and in some cases, very, very dangerous.

What makes this story so addictive is the same thing that also makes it so compelling: the author's ability to create a world where paranormal talent is plausible. When I read a vampire story, I'm fully aware that what I'm reading is fiction. But when I spend time with Krentz's characters, the prevailing thought in my mind is that their abilities, and the dangerous situations they could lead to, are within the realm of possibility. At least, possibilities that I'm willing to be open to. The world within our present world that she has created is so vividly and realistically portrayed that I become completely immersed in it, watching it unfold across my mind as if I was sitting in a darkened theater, seeing it play out on a huge screen. I believe in that world.

Once I began reading, there was no way I was going to be able to put this book down until I reached the end. I had to know what was going to happen on the next page...and the next...and the next. I cared about Olivia, her search for her mother's killer, and her stubborn resistance to her psychic destiny. I cared about Harlan and, believe me, after reading the entire trilogy, that came as a big surprise. And that wasn't the only surprise Krentz had in store for readers. I love it when an author keeps me on my toes with a variety of twists, turns, and unexpected detours. From start to finish, I was excited to discover what would happen next. This thrilling conclusion to the Fogg Lake Trilogy was all I could have asked for. I can't wait to find out what Krentz has in store for readers next.

Each of the books in this trilogy can stand on its own but there is an overarching story that runs through all three books. For maximum enjoyment, I recommend reading the three books in order: The Vanishing, All the Colors of Night, and Lightning in a Mirror.

*ARC received for fair and unbiased review

SJ, Romance Junkies
3.75 Hearts

LIGHTNING IN A MIRROR is the last book in the Fogg Lake Trilogy by NYT bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz. You don't need to read the other books to understand this one (though you get a better feeling for Fogg Lake and its quirkly occupants if you do.) This is a romantic suspense light on romance and heavy on suspense with a satisfying conclusion.
 
Olivia LeClair has not had a good time of it dating. Her last date tried to kill her, and the guy who sits down with her at speed dating only wants her help finding a legendary psychic laboratory. Harlan is taken with Olivia from the very first, but she doesn't seem to warm up to him much at all. The romantic connection between the pair felt very one-sided all throughout the book, which made it difficult to like Olivia. She's tough, but almost too tough in her desire not to have anything to do with Harlan.

The mystery is spot-on as the pair try to find the lost Vortex Lab. Harlan has a packed past, since he's the son of the man who used to run the Vortex Lab, a man who was more a mobster and villain than scientist. Is Harlan on the up and up, or does he have an agenda?

Olivia is the key to the investigation, since her psychic talent is needed to settle Vortex so that it's stable enough to find...and perhaps use.

I am a huge Jayne Ann Krentz fan, but this book just didn't hit it for me. The mystery is great, but the romance really lacks. Well-written and for the most part engaging—if you pretend Olivia is nicer and warmer than portrayed—LIGHTNING IN A MIRROR will delight JAK fans and mystery lovers alike. Just don't expect a satisfying romance.

Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz is the third novel in the Fogg Lake paranormal romantic suspense series and with it comes answers about the mysterious Vortex Lab. While this is the end of the series, there is more to learn in the Arcane world that Krentz has created and more artifacts to be discovered.

I was delighted we would finally learn about Harlan Rancourt, the mysterious son of the murdered foundation leader. The story also belongs to Olivia LeClair. She is an aura reader and Cat’s partner. They own a private investigator agency that has helped Victor Arganbright, the director of the Foundation.

Harlan comes out of hiding and asks Victor for help to find the Vortex Lab. Victor asks Olivia to assist him. The two meet in the middle of a speed dating session. It was an interesting meet cute.

As it typical of this genre, the romance is of the insta-love variety, but the two work well together and Krentz did a good job of building trust and making both their attraction and feelings feel genuine.

I loved the chase to find the Vortex lab and the villains we encounter. We spend some time in Fogg Lake and get to see both Olivia and Harlan’s unique gifts. Krentz ties threads from the first two books and answers questions regarding the artifact dealer, the secret labs and the attack on the former director.

The suspense and danger slowly built as learn more about the lab, the man running it and why he needs Olivia. The story pulled me in and held me captive, allowing the outside world to slip away.

I loved the mentions of the Jones family and others who collect these dangerous artifacts to keep the world safe. This series, while standalone, has ties to the Arcane Society books and Harmony series, that take place in the past, present, and future. They are written under her other names as well, Amanda Quick (historical) and Jayne Castle (futuristic).

While I was sad to see this trilogy end, Krentz wrapped things up but left just enough open to revisit the Foundation and Fogg Lake again.

I have been reading books by Jayne Ann Krentz and her pseudonyms (Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick) for as long as I can remember, I saw a recent interview where she joked about having created a Jayneverse her books all have some commonalities with themes and characters albeit in different time periods and settings. I am here for all the stories and all of the connections. They also have a theme of paranormal which I love.

This particular book is the conclusion of the Fogg Lake trilogy. Each book has a combination of romance, mystery, and some paranormal aspects. I enjoyed the main characters, Olivia and Harlan. The banter was fun, there was a lot of action, and I enjoyed the storyline.

I'm looking forward to her next book.

Thanks to Berkley publishing and NetGalley fora complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz is the 3rd and final novel in the Fogg Lake trilogy. Olivia LeClair is halfway across her parking garage, headed up to her apartment, when she encounters Brian…someone she met at a speed dating event…someone who is there to kill her now. But Olivia is more than meets the eye. With the use of cunning and a mid-twentieth century camera, Olivia is able to channel paranormal energy to knock Brian unconscious and save herself. Meanwhile, Harlan Rancort has come to pay a visit to The Foundation after 5 years of vanishing into thin air…hiding in plain sight. The Foundation, specifically Pine and Arganbright, need Harlan as much as Harlan needs them. And Harlan needs Olivia too…if they want to find Vortex and keep people safe. Olivia is the key.
I love the overlapping worlds of Krentz’s books. The paranormal storyline that travels from past to present to future in Krentz’s books, allows her stories to go on and on. I love how things from stories set in the past show up in the present day books. For instance, the Jones and Jones Agency. Every time I pick up a novel by Jayne Ann Krentz/Amanda Quick/Jayne Castle, it ends up being a work I struggle to put down until I finish. I’m drawn into the worlds she’s created…loving the mystery, danger, fantasy, and romance that can be found in each novel.
This e-ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I received a copy of this book for review from NetGalley. I have been waiting for Olivia's book from the very beginning of this trilogy, and I am very satisfied with this conclusion to the series. Do I want more? Of course I do! Am I happy with this? Yup!
After her ordeal in the first book, Olivia is understandably a little skeptical about romance, but she is very confident about her skills as an investigator. To conclude the investigation that leads back to her own kidnapping, Olivia must team up with the most unlikely hero of them all, Harlan Rancourt. Together, they must use their skills, powers, and allies to stop history from repeating itself.
This story is so satisfying, and I loved Olivia and Harlan together. They had great chemistry, and if you've read the previous two books, you will feel very invested in the results of this arc. While this can be read as a standalone, I feel like you will be best served reading at least the other two books in this trilogy. I enjoyed the heck out of this book, and it is definitely going in my re-read pile.

Jayne Ann Krentz completes her Fogg Lake trilogy with an exciting paranormal cat and mouse between Olivia LeClair, psychic and possible oracle, and Harlan Rancourt, who is looking for the Vortex Lab, and a criminal psychic group who wish to use Vortex for violence. Romance and adventure for the reader in Lightning in a Mirror. Read and follow the non stop action and romance in this thriller.

Jayne Ann Krentz wraps up her Fogg Lake Trilogy (The Vanishing, All the Colors of the Night) with a thriller in Lightning in a Mirror. Harlan Rancourt is a powerful talent who passes as nondescript while hunting the monsters of the psychic world. Having disappeared for five years, he's back to help shut down the mysterious Vortex labs- but he's convinced he needs Olivia LeCLair to do that. Private investigator and aura reader, Olivia isn't sure what to make of Harlan, but he's promised to help find her mother's killer so she's willing to help. A series of kidnapping attempts makes it personal. Clearly many people believe Olivia is the key to to secret Vortex labs, even though Olivia herself doesn't. In a race against time Harlan and Olivia must work together to stop a dangerous psychic secret and the people who want to control it before innocent people die.

Olivia is a classic modern woman- tough enough to handle being bait for a serial killer, trying to find the efficient way to weed out the dating losers, and thinking a cat may be the better option when she meets Harlan. He's a bit of a challenge, a bit of a pain in the neck, and a bit clueless in social situations- but exactly the right guy to have at your side when people try to kidnap you or kill you. When he doesn't bother giving her the 'everything will be ok' line after an explosion, she thinks he might have potential. A forthright heroine, a strong-when-working-slightly-unsure-otherwise hero, many spinning plots within plots to get to the center of the conspiracy- this is a plot and character Krentz ties together well and will satisfy all.

Lightning in a Mirror is fast paced and action packed, with plenty of Krentz's dry wit and one liners. Readers new to her books won't need to have read the rest of the series, although it does help. Long time readers will be glad to get a few Easter eggs dropped along the way, particularly at the end as Harlan convinces Victor and Lucas of the Foundation that they should work more with other secretive psychic organizations out there, like a certain Jones & Jones agency . . .

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆
This is the final instalment in the Fogg Lake trilogy. Tracking down the location of the Vortex Lab is at the centre of the story, but for our heroine, Olivia, this also means finding her mother’s killer. Harlan Rancourt, our hero, needs Olivia’s help to locate the lab, and I found him interesting because he wasn’t what everyone expected him to be. Olivia and Harlan fit well together. The attraction between them grew over time and in the background. I like that they dealt with their feelings like the intelligent adults that they are.

Lightning in a Mirror is a well-paced story. It moves fast, but not so fast that you can’t keep up with what is going on. And it is a little complicated but still easy enough to follow. This was a story I was able to read a few chapters of, put it down to attend to life, and then happily come back to the book and pick up right where I left off and feel like I hadn’t left at all.

Lightning in a Mirror is a really enjoyable paranormal mystery/romance and it wrapped up the trilogy well. If you are someone like me who rarely reads paranormal romance or if you are looking to give the genre a go, I’d definitely recommend Lightning in a Mirror and the Fogg Lake series.

Olivia's experiments with speed dating haven't exactly been what the dating agency promised. The first one turned out to be a serial killer who followed her home. The second one promises to walk through hell for her but he's the mysterious Harlan Rancourt heir to the foundation. And what's the mysterious music on a dark night that seems to want to take over Olivia's senses?
Harlan Rancourt is a chaos talent. He disappeared after his father was killed in a mysterious fire but has shown up again at Victor Araganbright and Luke Pine's door in search of the Oracle. Convinced that Olivia is the oracle he makes his way to Seattle having paved the way to her through her biggest employer the Foundation.  He arrives in time to interrupt her speed dating event and then is in a position to save her from a group of teenagers who appear to want to harm her. 
Soon they're uneasy allies as they chase down the secrets behind a camera that Olivia obtained from Swan Antiques. Hot on their trail are the folks from the dark night in Seattle. Trying to stay one step ahead of the danger stalking them they make it to Fogg Lake. Olivia of course is in denial that she might have Oracle talents despite a couple of displays of the same. Harlan has his own talents that he keeps under the wraps and before they know it, they're doing the horizontal tango in her car of all places. 
Piper is an assassin character who's been using a hidden vortex lab to boost his talents. With things going wrong with the machine that he's using he desperately needs Olivia to recalibrate it. Turns out he's also her mother and grandmother's murderer that Olivia has been searching for. 
From a reader's perspective the suspense is not intense since the author keeps the reader in the loop with regard to what's going on with the various characters though of course there are well chosen moments when things come together surprisingly well. 
There are a lot of threads left dangling which I'm guessing will be picked up in new books in this universe even through this book marks the end of the original trilogy. All in all, a good story that could have been superb.

As always, with books by this author or by Amanda Quick, I enjoyed this title.

As we go farther into the Fogg Lake stories, the more paranormal they become, but at this point, we expect that from them and those of us who have read all of the books have a pretty good idea what to expect, even if we don't know quite how it will happen.

Olivia and Harlan are both high level paranormal talents, although don't tell Harlan you have caught on to that, as he would rather hide in plain sight. And, they are on the trail of a paranormal villain, and a plot, that has been going on for years...and is much too complicated to even begin to try to explain in this review. Suffice to say, you know enough to figure out what is going on if this is the first of these books for you, and the resolution of the story (and the small appearance of some other characters) is well worth the read.

There were parts where the paranormal aspect did start to feel a little long while reading, although by the end of the story they seemed to have ended up working rather well. So, I think I would have liked there to be less of that focus in parts of the story, but not all of it.

I liked the characters and the well-written personalities and quirks that are familiar to all readers of this author as they each are individual and all of them feel unique to the characters in previous novels.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

This final book in the Fogg Lake trilogy ties up the series and moves forward the world building in Krentz's many interconnected books about paranormal powers, the Arcane Society. Though you can read this as a stand alone, it helps if you have at least read some of the related books even if not books one and two in this trilogy.

Olivia LeClair is a paranormal private investigator. She's originally from the small mountain town of Fogg Lake and her adventurers in this book bring her back home. But not before she meets Harlan Rancourt, who may or may not be an enemy but is definitely not the ideal guy she's looking for, despite how they meet.

Mixing conspiracies, adventure, mysteries, suspense, romance, and witty banter, with a twisty, engaging story. I didn't always trust Harlan but that was due in large part to how his character was introduced. I also got frustrated at times with Olivia's stubborn resistance to the true nature of her psychic skills. That didn't stop me from enjoying the story and finishing it in just a day. I am always amazed at the different psychic abilities that Krentz comes up with; there seems to be no end to her imagination. I enjoyed "Lightning In A Mirror" and am looking forward to more Arcane Society books.

I'm a LOOONG time fan of all of Jayne's books (Amanda Quick, Jayne Castle as well as Jayne Ann Krentz).. I especially enjoyed this newest one in this series.

For the other books in this series, the Rancourt family has been set up as a former Big Bad. But in this book, Harlan Rancourt returns and appears to be on the side of angels. Or at least the same side as Olivia Le Clair.
Olivia is an investigator and an aura talent. She's not the oracle Harlan believes he needs. but he promises her a chance to solve her mother's murder.
The resulting investigation will include characters that we've seen from other books but not to the point of making it confusing to new readers. Regular readers will finally find out the secret to the camera in Swan's antique shop that has been teased in previous books and Olivia will find a man who is willing to walk through hell to find her.

Three and a half stars
This book comes out January 18th, 2022
Follows All the Colors of Night
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

I’ve loved the other two books in the Fogg Lake series and was so excited to see how it would end, particularly because I couldn’t wait for Olivia’s story. While Lightning in a Mirror was still a good story, I would say that it was unfortunately also the weakest one in the series. There were so many threads surrounding both Harlan and Vortex that needed to be wrapped up, and the second half of the story felt incredibly rushed. It took me a bit to warm up to the romance, but I eventually really liked Olivia and Harlan together. This one is also a little heavier on the world-building explanations than the previous two, which surprised me a bit because everything was woven so naturally into the story in the first two installments.

I did like how the story wrapped up, but it felt like it could have been amazing if certain parts were expanded on more. The door is left wide open for future series though, so I hope to see Krentz explore some of the threads that were left dangling.

But overall, Fogg Lake is a great paranormal romance series and I would definitely recommend it if you’re a fan of the genre! I’ve started diving into Krentz’s back catalogue, and am looking forward to reading more books from her in the future as well.

*Disclaimer: I received an advance digital copy of this book for free from the publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you to NetGalley, Berkley books and Ms. Krentz for the opportunity to read an ARC of this title. An honest review was requested but not required.

I'd say this is a solid 3.5 star book. If you're a reader of Ms. Krentz (or of "Ms. Castle" or "Ms. Quick"), then you pretty much know what you're in for. Pacific Northwest (or close to it), paranormal, romantic suspense. This one was right in line. We have a spunky, forthright,cat-loving heroine who is so romantically straightforward that she gives the impression of being on the spectrum. We have a pragmatic, powerful man who is her perfect match, social-skills wise. Together they team up to find a long-missing paranormal lab and, hopefully, her mother's killer.

This was a fun story and an enjoyable ride. I would have probably given this four stars if Olivia and Harlan had had ANY chemistry together. Frankly, they seemed like two complete strangers who relieve anxiety and stress by sleeping together but then inexplicably are "in love". I didn't really feel any connection or sparks between them. I had not read either of the preceding Fogg Lake books but I don't really think you need to. I got the gist of the previous characters just fine and if there was an overarching story line, it didn't really detract from the plot of this book.

The Jones cameo was a nice surprise and gives me some hope for future stories in the "Jayneverse." And I've been greatly enjoying the 1930s California series that Ms. Krentz has been writing under her Amanda Quick name, so I'll definitely be back for more.

This story is all kinds of psychic, suspense enjoyment! As the final installment in the Fogg Lake trilogy, the book focuses on Olivia LeClair, a character readers were introduced to in the first book. In a super fun and intriguing twist, she is paired with Harlan Rancourt, the son of the infamous former head of the highly secret organization, The Foundation, which polices all psychic activities and infractions. These two are a delightful combination. The paranormal-type spin on what would otherwise be just another romantic suspense allows this trilogy to shine, as the author masterfully develops an incredibly unique and creative world that exists within normal society. It is a contemporary suspense but with very strong psychic overtones. And that makes all the difference because it examines everyday people who just have heightened gifts - which can be a curse or a blessing depending on the day and on the person. And the best part is the author treats the subject matter with a depth and realism that easily draws a reader in without requiring any suspension of belief... It’s just a reality that intellectually “could be”.

Admittedly the romantic angle is a bit week and could use more depth and there are areas that don’t make a lot of sense such as when Olivia recognizes Gwendolyn from a chance encounter but not from actually working with her to purchase an antique in Gwen’s store... But overall, the story, and the trilogy is truly engaging and makes for a delightful nail-biting evening of escape!

*There are numerous other characters and situations that play into this storyline from previous books, so it is highly recommended that one reads those stories first in order to experience a full, rich experience. I do think it might be pretty confusing otherwise.*

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/01/10/lightning-in-a-mirror-by-jayne-ann-krentz/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from Publisher. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I've been enjoying the <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/series/261361-fogg-lake" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><em><strong>Fogg Lake</strong> </em></a>series.  I think this is the end of the trilogy and I would have liked to learn much more about the world and its magic.  It could have been much more developed and we don't get to understand all of it .  There are some things which carry along in all the books such as the Foundation which is sort of the collector / developer for the magic and its user, also kind of its police force.  Fogg Lake is part of each book since so many of those with magics are from there or live there.  The original lab found was there.

Each book has a couple which have a romance plot. There is also the overall series ARC of the Foundation and the labs.  Everyone is trying to find the Vortex for its weapons to control that technology.  I think each book could be read as a standalone because the connections between books are a bit loose and most characters aren't in each book.

Harlan Rancourt has been hiding since his father was murdered.  At first, he thought the Foundation caused his death and wanted revenge.  He also thought he was probably supposed to die too.  He has learned some other things and brings things to a head with the Foundation to finally track down the Vortex lab.  He needs some assistance.

Olivia is an aura reader and has set up a private investigation business with her best friend Cat, who was a main character in the first book. They grew up together in Fogg Lake.  The Foundation hires her to work with Harlan, who believes her ancestry has given her oracle talents.

Harlan and Olivia work well together.  The romance is a bit too insta-love for me.  The close proximity of working together and the dangerous situations do give them more opportunities to learn about each other and spend lots of time together.

I was glad to have some of the storylines wrap up, like the Vortex lab.  Overall, I didn't learn quite enough about the world or characters though.  It may have helped if the books had been more connected.

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