Always fun to be back on Harmony. The Griffin story continues here with the addition of a Rancourt. A new dust bunny is introduced. Interesting tale that resolves with questions answered.

This book is not my normal read, but I found it delightful, and I plunged right in. Leona is a renowned academic, and she’s been invited to an elite event to provide readings/information of artifacts. However, she needs to hustle out of there when a sudden turn makes the event unsafe for her. She teams up with Oliver Rancort, who is curator for a small collection of similar artifacts.

Because it takes place in a hostile, very different future, their escape includes a bit of paranormal, unusual devices and vehicles, and a fun creature called a dust bunny. It turns out that each has certain psychic gifts that they hide from the rest of the world because they are considered different and dangerous in this world.

Together they end up in the town of Lost Creek where they encounter followers of the missing cult leader, Vincent Lee Vance. They are under watch almost immediately.

Although this is a sci-fi story, which I normally don’t read, I enjoyed the mystery, romance, and humor. I haven’t read any of the previous books in the series, but I didn’t find it at all difficult to follow the story.

If you are in love with dust bunnies, this is the book for you. They are highly featured. The author has leaned in. Great scene with an amusement ride. Last scene of the book is great!!! Enjoyed how two of the characters have ties to characters in other books. Good story. May the bunny be with you.

Another fun futuristic romance set on the planet Harmony, including your favorite dust bunnies. Para-archaeology professor, Leona Griffin teams up with Oliver Rancourt, head of a private museum after an incident at a paranormal collectors gala where they come across a powerful Old-World relic known as Pandora’s Box

With the help of Roxy, Leona's "licensed emotional support animal," they head to the town of Lost Creek where the locals believe Leona is the key to a legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments.

If you're a fan of this series, you will not be disappointed.

I received this advance review copy from NetGalley & the publisher for my honest review.

Editor's note: This roundup is scheduled to publish in Georgia June 11 online and June 14 print in several newspapers. Will also publish in Mississippi and Alabama during the month in newspapers and magazines, timing up to local editors. Link below will be active June 11.

From new series starters (Michael Connelly’s “Nightshade”) to the tried-and-true (Kendra Elliot’s “Her First Mistake”) our beach bag is already overflowing, and what we offer here are just a few — OK, actually 25 — of the best beach reads published through the end of June. Later this season we’ll round out the list, but for now, find an old favorite, a debut thriller or just about anything in between — including a North Alabama favorite who you just might see dining at a Cullman restaurant.

“Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man” (Berkley) by Jesse Q. Sutanto: A lovable Chinese tea shop owner stumbles upon a distressed, young woman — and a murder, the investigation of which she decides to serve up herself. With lots of tea and nosy charm, Vera tackles the project unasked as a “favor” to her (hoped for) future daughter-in-law. Sutanto mixes cozy mystery with smart humor and heartfelt moments.

“When She Was Gone” (Blackstone Publishing) by Sara Foster: When a young nanny working for one of Perth’s wealthiest families disappears, a tense investigation unravels the secrets of a seemingly perfect family, forcing everyone to confront the lies they’ve told themselves and each other. Foster delivers a taut, emotionally resonant thriller that lingers. And as expected from Blackstone Publishing, the story itself is packaged beautifully with subtle and tactile cover art: Buy the hardcover of this one.

“Follow Me” (Thomas & Mercer) by Elizabeth Rose Quinn: An eerie digital breadcrumb trail leads a tech-savvy woman into a web of deception and danger. Quinn crafts a smart, suspenseful mystery that taps into our modern fears of surveillance and online identity. “Heathers” meets “The Stepford Wives” in this tale of twin sisters.

“The Book That Held Her Heart” (Ace) by Mark Lawrence: In this final chapter of The Library Trilogy, a mysterious book bridges love, loss and literary magic in a haunting story that defies time and tests the bond between Livira and Evar — one that has never been more taut. Lawrence blends fantasy and emotion in this lyrical, genre-bending tale.

“The Great Pyramids: Collected Stories” (Arcade Publishing) by Frederick Barthelme: This sharp, wry collection captures small-town oddities, human longing and ironic twists with Barthelme’s signature minimalist flair. A masterclass in short fiction that’s both grounded and subtly surreal.

“The Boomerang” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Bailey: Big Pharma is on trial as Eli James, chief of staff to the president, attempts to rescue his daughter from a cancer diagnosis while simultaneously stumbling upon a cover up that could affect millions of lives — and more importantly to the bad guys, billions of dollars. Bailey keeps the thrills high and the emotional stakes higher. He also lives with his family in Huntsville — and has been know to visit Cullman County now and then. Let him know what you think of his latest if you see him around town.

“A Thousand Natural Shocks” (Blackstone Publishing) by Omar Hussain: A reporter fleeing his past while investigating a serial killer becomes entangled in a cult that promises a pill to erase his memory. The story turns to a test of time as dark secrets about the cult and the serial killer surface in an attempt to reconcile everything he’s learned with his past — before his memories evaporate.

“My Friends” (Atria Books) by Fredrik Backman: Backman returns with a moving meditation on friendship, aging, the quiet heroism of everyday people and a famous painting picturing an isolated moment of time of three tiny figures sitting at the end of a long pier. Tender, funny and unmistakably human, this is Backman’s most eloquent and lyrical story to date about how lives intersect in unknowable and unpredictable ways. An engaging read from the author of “A Man Called Ove.”

“The Language of the Birds” (Ballantine) by K.A. Merson: Arizona is no average teenager and when she finds a cryptic ransom note, she sets out to solve the riddles — and save her mother. Unwittingly, she becomes entangled in a worldwide treasure hunt that involves a centuries-old secret her father took to his grave. A quirky, surprising story soars in an introspective mystery.

“The Eternal Warrior” (Blackstone Publishing) by Ari Marmell: An immortal fighter who defies even death — an Eternal Warrior — is caught in a conflict that spans centuries, grappling with his past sins and the future of humanity in an attempt to reclaim everything that has slipped from his personal history. Marmell delivers epic fantasy with grit, heart and unrelenting pace.

“Nightshade” (Little, Brown and Company) by Michael Connelly: Done with Bosch and Ballard, at least for now, Connelly’s new series starter centers on another one-name detective, Stilwell. Due to department politics, the Los Angeles County sheriff detective has been exiled to a low-level post on Catalina Island, where he promptly begins to ruffle local feathers as he unearths secrets the natives would rather keep to themselves. Hopefully Connelly’s flair for backstory and depth will surface in future offerings, but for now, our first meeting with Stilwell offers a familiar, fun summer read.

“Kaua’i Storm” (Thomas & Mercer) by Tori Eldridge: In the lush Hawaiian landscape, a repatriated national park ranger uncovers a mystery surrounding the disappearance of her two cousins. Unfortunately for her, it’s a mystery and investigation that neither the family, the locals nor the police truly want exposed. Eldridge blends action and cultural depth in a uniquely tropical thriller.

“Rockets’ Red Glare” (Blackstone Publishing) by William Webster and Dick Lochte: A high-octane political thriller unfolds against the backdrop of a potentially explosive Fourth of July. Lochte’s sharp storytelling and fast pacing make for a perfect July 4 holiday page-turner. The book is the first in a series with Tribal Police Deputy Sage Mendiluze. Reacher and Pickett fans will find common ground here.

“Written on the Dark” (Ace) by Guy Gavriel Kay: Kay returns with an evocative, elegant historical fantasy set in a world where poetry, memory and fate collide. Centering on a tavern poet who must cater to both rogues and courtiers, Thierry Villar must also navigate churning political waters in a game of assassins and armies. Richly imagined and beautifully told storytelling.

“A Dead Draw” (Thomas & Mercer) by Robert Dugoni: In book 11 of the Tracy Crosswhite series, a pair of cold cases stir ties to the murder of Tracy’s sister in the form of suspect Erik Schmidt. When Schmidt is freed due to an investigative error, the lives of her friends and family are under direct threat. Schmidt is a master of taunt and tease as he draws Tracy deeper into his dark world. Wonderful character building in this story and the sensitive drawing of Lydia, a young woman on the spectrum whose mannerisms echo those of Tracy’s murdered sister, is exceptionally done. One of Dugoni’s best works, the author brings in just enough backstory to both start the series here, and reward long-time readers with vintage Crosswhite.

“The Martha’s Vineyard Beach and Book Club” (Ballantine Books) by Martha Hall Kelly: In a story told through dual timelines, Kelly’s narrative is a personal ode to her mother’s heritage. Involving a contemporary mystery, set at Martha’s Vineyard, whose only answers will come from the past, the story taps a wartime romance set in 1942 — and a beach read written for today. Kelly is touring extensively for this book through the end of July. Meet up with her at marthahallkelly.com/events/.

“The Turn” (Blackstone Publishing) by Christopher Ransom: An heirloom, of sorts, following his father’s death sends Casey Sweet into his dad’s past — and a current country club where Casey might just have met the long-lost son he never knew he had. Written in the tradition of “Caddyshack,” Ransom’s new novel is an engaging summer break.

“The Afterlife Project” (Podium Publishing) by Tim Weed: Humanity is facing extinction. A group of scientists with the capability to send a test subject 10,000 years into the future. One of the last women on Earth capable of getting pregnant. All of this portends that the survival of humankind is at stake in a futuristic setting evoking the ills of today.

“It Takes a Psychic” (Berkley) by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle: A psychic investigator — actually, a para-archeologist — with a flair for romance and the paranormal dives into a case filled with danger and sizzling chemistry. Castle delivers her signature mix of mystery charm in a story centering on a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. “It Takes a Psychic” is No. 18 in Castle’s A Harmony Novel series.

“The Ghostwriter” (Sourcebooks Landmark) by Julie Clark: An author’s past returns to haunt her in the form of a ghostwriting project undertaken for her estranged father. When the project turns out to be just another one of dad’s lies, writer Olivia Dumont is forced to confront her relationship with her father … and a web of family secrets.

“Stop All the Clocks” (Arcade) by Noah Kumin: Kumin’s debut is a meditative, poetic novel about time, grief and the modern-life moments that define us … in ones and zeroes. The death of a colleague and the collapse of her AI company send Mona Veigh’s life in directions not determined by any algorithm.

“Plays Well with Others” (Blackstone Publishing) by Lauren Myracle: A bout of social media betrayal forces Jake Nolan from her job, house and husband and into a receptive bungalow on Sweetwater Lane. There, she befriends those just like herself — people itching to act on entrenched thoughts of retaliation.

“Her First Mistake” (Montlake) by Kendra Elliot: Elliot has written nearly two dozen thrillers set in her home state of Oregon and this latest offering features a minor character from the Columbia River novels: Here, Deschutes County sheriff’s detective Noelle Marshall gets her own origin story. A cold case murder mystery, this is the tale that explains what happened to Marshall to make her the detective she is today, or at least what she becomes in later storylines. A fulfilling storyline delivers much more than backstory in a captivating summer read.

“Jill Is Not Happy” (Scarlet) by Kaira Rouda: In this darkly comic tale, Jill and Jack live an enviable life in South California and, as recent empty-nesters, an unbearable marriage. A road trip “to reconnect” is really a cat-and-mouse game unknown to each other as they unwittingly match their cunning to pull one in … and push the other over, the more-than-metaphorical ledge.

“The Farm House” (Poisoned Pen Press) by Chelsea Conradt: Looking for a fresh start after her mother dies, Emily Hauk and her husband depart for a farm in rural Nebraska. Learning nothing from centuries of thrillers (“The Amityville Horror,” anyone?), they should have asked why the asking price was so low. Unknown to them, everyone who has ever lived on this farm has died. The lure of the soil is compelling, though, as Emily digs into the mystery enveloping her new home.

Reach book reviewer Tom Mayer at tmayer@rn-t.com or tmayer132435@gmail.com.

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Once again Jayne Castle/Jayne Ann Krentz takes her readers on another successful adventure in her Harmony world. This book follows Leona Griffin, the sister of Molly Griffin who was the heroine in the previous Harmony book, PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES.

From the first chapter, when Leona rescues dust bunnies who have been captured in a secret laboratory, the action doesn't stop until the dramatic conclusion. Murder, suspense, a cult dedicated to the return of a rebel from 100 hundred years ago, a slow burn romance and Roxy, the dust bunny fashionista kept me turning the pages until the end. I really enjoy that Ms. Castle brings in characters that have familial ties with previous characters from both her contemporary and historical romantic suspense books. She's brought in the Sebastians, the Sweetwaters, the Coppersmiths, the Jones and now the Rancourts. I would love to see a new Arganbright on Harmony, too. Oh and Roxy, the dust bunny fashionista, stole every scene when she appeared on the page.

The dustbunnies are back !

They bring a splash of humor to this paranormal adventure romance read.

As always, they are guaranteed to add a touch of humor to the perilous adventures the main characters, Oliver and Leona find themselves experiencing. From the start, there is action and the plot keeps the reader riveted.

This ARC was provided by the publisher, Berkley Publishing Group | Berkley, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

#ItTakesaPsychic #NetGalley

Leona Griffin KNOWS she’s in the middle of a setup, she just doesn’t know what the setup is supposed to set her up FOR.

The job seemed on the up-and-up, for select definitions of up all the way around. Leona is at the height of her career as a para-archaeologist, as well as temporarily famous for rescuing herself and her colleagues from conducting and/or being part of an experiment, trapped in the mesmerizing, mysterious and above all psionically powerful section of planet Harmony’s Underworld known as the Glass House.

She assumes that the university where she works as a researcher is just using her temporary fame to get more donations. Which would work for her – even if she hates this part of the work – as Leona IS a researcher and would hopefully get some of her own research funded by at least some of those donations.

But that would be too simple. Also not nearly as distasteful, not to mention dangerous, as the actual setup she’s stuck on stage participating in.

Her talent – or at least the one that is publicly known – is her ability to determine whether an artifact is a fake or the ‘Real McCoy’, assuming that old idiom is still in use centuries in the future. However, the elite collectors’ society that strong-armed her employer into providing her services for this dog and pony show has a different agenda. They’re just testing her, hoping that she’ll miss a fake so they can embarrass her in public. Not because they know her, but because entertainment value of one sort or another is all that the hired help is there for – and that’s all she is to the rich and entitled no matter what her professional qualifications are.

While the person pulling the society’s strings has a third, nefarious reason for setting Leona up. It’s a reason that reaches back into the darkest period of Harmony’s history and hopes to repeat it. No matter how many deaths the notorious Vincent Lee Vance caused in that chaotic past.

Or how many deaths his self-appointed heir needs to cause in their here and now to achieve their insane goals. Starting with Leona Griffin’s.

Escape Rating A-: This was one of those cases of the right book at the right time. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it, even if the right time was several weeks before I could post this review. I love this series so much that I just couldn’t resist the siren song of dust bunny chortles a minute longer. And I’m not in the least bit sorry about that!

If you’ve never visited Harmony, you’ve never met a dust bunny. Which means you are really missing something special, because the native dust bunnies pretty much steal the show in every single adventure.

That’s particularly true in this latest story, as Roxy starts out by persuading Leona to rescue a bunch of caged dust bunnies in a clandestine research lab (and we all know where THAT was heading), then stealing a suspiciously specifically tuned crystal as well as a psionically powered dildo, moves on to picking up a fancy hat at a bridal store, and ends up by stealing Leona Griffin’s heart along with an entire floating fantasy amusement park thrill ride.

Dust bunnies are ALL adrenaline junkies at heart, and Roxy is no exception. Not that she can’t throw down when danger is near. Dust bunnies are predators, after all. By the time you see their second set of eyes, it’s too late for whoever has endangered them or the human they’ve decided to adopt.

And never, for a single second, think that it’s the other way around.

This particular entry in the Harmony/Ghost Hunters series, hearkens back to its immediate predecessor in this series, People in Glass Houses, where we were first introduced to the Griffin Sisters and their dangerous family secret. It also reaches way back into the connecting Arcane Society series and its Fogg Lake offshoot – back to Harmony’s literal and literary ancestors in Lightning in a Mirror.

I’ve read the whole interconnected series, both the historical/contemporary Arcane Society and the futuristic Harmony series and ALWAYS had a ball – and not just because of the dust bunnies although they certainly ‘help’. As they generally do. But I love the great interconnected, interwoven web of the whole thing. And I’ll confess that I’m not sure this one is a good entry point – especially with the web of connections linked to it.

But I DO love this whole thing and want to share it, so if you’re looking for a way in, try starting at either the first Fogg Lake story, The Vanishing, or the first Griffin Sisters story, People in Glass Houses. Be advised, once you get hooked you’ll want to read them ALL! (Speaking of sharing, there’s an excerpt below so that you can get a taste of this book!)

I know that I’ve talked more about the series as a whole than this particular entry in it, but that’s how I felt about this one. I read it because I was looking to be comfortably immersed in a world I knew and loved, even if – or especially because – I knew that the characters IN the story would have to go through some uncomfortable experiences and revelations along the way. As they did.

But the happy ever after was earned, the dust bunnies DEFINITELY got their just reward, and the latest evil was successfully vanquished. I don’t know which of her many interconnected worlds the author will be visiting next, but whichever it is, I will absolutely be there!

It Takes a Psychic takes place in Jayne Castle’s fun, futuristic world of Harmony. People came from Earth after interstellar travel opened up, and those who colonized ended up with paranormal abilities awakened by the planet’s energy.

Ms. Castle does a fantastic job introducing and explaining the world of Harmony at the beginning so even though this is book seventeen in a series it works well as a standalone.

Leona Griffin is called into an elite event to authenticate alien artifacts but is amazed to discover she feels a connection to one of the items, Pandora’s Box. It could unlock information about her and her sister’s psychic abilities. The event takes a dangerous turn and is helped to flee by Oliver Rancourt, a man interested in that particular Object of Power. In their escape they stumble upon a dead body.

Their investigation into the history of Pandora’s Box leads them to the town of Lost Creek, a place full of followers of the missing cult leader Vincent Lee Vance.

Both Oliver and Leona have paranormal abilities they use to help solve the mystery. Teaming up brings them closer, and they can’t help but act on the immediate attraction they felt upon meeting. This is a low angst romance, with the majority of the conflict coming from the mystery and danger they encounter in their investigations.

One of my favorite parts about the series is the dust bunnies! Leona gets attached to Roxy when she helps her in the beginning. These dust bunnies can go from “full on adorable mode” to “sleeked out” attack mode in the blink of an eye. Roxy “the licensed emotional support dust bunny” cracked me up always ready to defend or up for an adventure! Never ask “What could go wrong?” when a dust bunny is involved!

This was a fun combination of mystery, romance, humor, sci-fi with paranormal elements mixed in.

Love the dust bunnies. They are so cute but can be fierce when needed. Leona isn't sure about Oliver. Is he a thief? As she rescues some dust bunnies, Oliver finds her and suspects maybe she is a thief. When they both have to escape, they find they can rely on each other. They have mutual interests, and it seems as if someone wants them to be at the same place at the same time, together. As they face one danger after another, they grow closer. Neither thinks they will ever get married, but they might have to rethink that. She is just the kind of woman he is attracted to, and he isn't afraid of her talent. She isn't afraid of his either. Will they be able to make a CM?

This was a fast-paced, fun blend of sci-fi, suspense, and swoony romance—classic Jayne Castle! Set on the planet Harmony, where psychic powers are the norm and alien ruins radiate energy, the story follows para-archaeologist Leona Griffin. What should’ve been a simple artifact authentication gig turns into chaos: a dead body, a raid, a firing, and a very mysterious (and very attractive) museum director named Oliver Rancourt.

The mystery is twisty without being confusing, the romantic tension sizzles, and the world-building is just the right amount of quirky. There’s also a dust bunny sidekick that’s equal parts adorable and deadly—need I say more?

If you love smart heroines, psychic shenanigans, and a touch of danger with your romance, this is an easy recommendation. Not groundbreaking, but definitely entertaining!

FINAL DECISION: A fun, fast-paced mix of romance, mystery, and teamwork, IT TAKES A PSYCHIC is everything I love about Jayne Castle’s Harmony books—smart characters, a rich world, and dust bunnies that steal the show.

THE STORY: IT TAKES A PSYCHIC is set on Harmony, a distant planet settled by humans where psychic powers and alien tech are part of everyday life. Leona Griffin is a psychic archeologist who can tell if ancient artifacts are real. When she’s invited to a fancy collectors’ event, she finds a mysterious object called Pandora’s Box—and then stumbles across a murder. She ends up on the run with Oliver Rancourt, a private investigator with his own psychic skills. Together, they head to the spooky town of Lost Creek to figure out what’s going on in that town.

OPINION: Leona and Oliver made a great team. I really enjoyed watching them work together—no unnecessary drama, no games, just two capable people thrown into a dangerous situation and handling it with trust and teamwork. Their connection felt real, and the romance developed naturally alongside the action.

The mystery and suspense kept things moving. There were enough twists to stay interesting, and the stakes felt high without ever getting too heavy. And as always, Harmony is just a fun place to spend time. Castle keeps finding new corners of this world to explore, and it never feels stale.

And then there’s Roxy. The dust bunnies are always a highlight of these books—sometimes even more than the romance—and Roxy is no exception. She’s unpredictable, funny, and totally steals every scene she’s in.

I’ve enjoyed my time on Harmony with its psychic talents and offbeat charm, especially as a longtime fan of the Arcane series. These books are clearly the descendants—maybe even the great-great-grandchildren—of those historical (and contemporary) novels, and I love seeing how that world has expanded.

One thing I’ve always appreciated about Krentz/Castle/Quick is how she writes competency. From her early books in the 1980s to now, her characters know what they’re doing—at work, in danger, and in relationships. That’s true here too. The couple doesn’t just fall in love—they solve problems together. The characters may have a little “extra” with their psychic edge, but they still feel grounded, and honestly, some of her most compelling.

This is the perfect book for summer fun—even if the summer happens to be on another planet.

WORTH MENTIONING: Dust Bunnies!!! I am a sucker for them.

CONNECTED BOOKS: IT TAKES A PSYCHIC is book seventeen in the Ghost Hunters series. You don’t need to read the others to enjoy this one—the story and romance stand on their own—but the world feels richer if you’re already familiar with the series. Longtime readers will catch more of the background and details, and it does pick up where the prior book in the series left off and answers some lingering questions.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an eARC of this book used to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

The only thing I have to say is DUST BUNNIES! Okay, that's not the only thing. That would make for a very short review. But if you know, you know. I so look forward every year for a story from Jayne Castle. I just love the world she created. It's a wonderful mix of home and somewhere else. I also love how characters family members show up from her Jayne Ann Krentz book.

I've been looking forward to Leona's book. I enjoy her family and her story. You meet them in the prior book. I personally would read them in order at least for the sisters but each book does stand on its own. Now that she is back on track with her life it does what life often does, it blew up again.

I really enjoyed how Oliver was introduced to Leona. I really liked Oliver; he reminded me of Sam Stark from Trust Me. I think we need to see a relation of his showing up in the Ghost Hunter series. We didn't get to know a ton about Olivers family, but we did get to know him. He's one of those characters you wished you had more of.

This was a fun story that I really enjoyed. I felt they should have learned a bit more about their past but other than that I enjoyed it. I found myself speeding through the story and yelling at myself to slow down and savor it. Not to worry I savored.

The mystery in the story is very good. You spend a lot of the time wondering who and why. Both things I like in a mystery. This gave me my yearly dose of dust bunnies, we'll have to see if it lasts or if I'll have to do a reread of the series.

I enjoy the world Jayne Castle has created with this series, and it was fun to jump into this one, thanks to an ARC from NetGalley. Leona is a para-archeologist with a traumatic past and secret powers. Oliver runs a small museum that acquires rare artifacts. This was an easy read! I especially liked the dust bunny's shenanigans and the cult town.

Thanks to Berkley and NetGalley for the early reader copy.

It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle is a captivating paranormal romance infused with elements of mystery and suspense. The narrative drew me in from the very beginning, compelling me to turn the pages eagerly as I sought to uncover what would happen next.

Review: IT TAKES A PSYCHIC by Jayne Castle https://bit.ly/3T30xCe
Publication Date: 06/03/2025
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Reviewed by: Reading in Pajamas/ Donna
Rated 4 Stars

This is my first time reading Jayne Castle, and I was not disappointed. I am trying to categorize the genre of this story and can only say it is a combination of Syfy, fantasy, and paranormal romance. It all takes place on an alien planet called Harmony. I didn’t realize this was book 18 in the series, but that did not matter. The world building was smooth, and I quickly fell into the nuances of a different reality.

It was fun reading the exciting introduction of Leona and Oliver, their quick banter while danger surrounded them made me want to read more. Later their flirting was a joy as their lively conversations flowed. I enjoyed Leona’s family as well. They added a nice dimension to the book. The action thrown at them was interesting and kept me reading. Overall, it was a fun book. Oh….and now I want my own dust bunny.

*Review copy provided by Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest review.

~*~*~*~

Kindle https://amzn.to/4jAu40W

Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts is a fantastic standalone novel. We meet our heroine, Sloan Cooper, who is a respected police officer in the Maryland Natural Resources. She has just finished an operation with her partner, capturing dangerous hikers in the mountains. She stops in a convenience store, and is gunned down by an armed robber; almost dying before being shocked back on the operating table multiple times. Sloan moves back home to Heron’s Rest, staying with her family’s resort, to recuperate for her long recovery ahead.

While she becomes bored during recovery, Sloan hears about a case of a missing women, and is drawn to this intriguing case, as the women was abducted from a grocery store parking lot. She begins to research on her own and soon discovers that other missing people from other areas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, West Virgina that have disappeared. Sloane discovers a chilling pattern, with multiple people of different genders having disappeared abandoning their cars; suggesting a serial killer. The deeper she investigates, she suspects that maybe she would be on the killers list.

I really loved how Sloan’s family and friends were so great, including her parents and sister, Drea. We meet both Nash and Theo Littlefield, who moved from New York, with both leaving behind their careers, and forming a handyman business, The Fix-It Brothers. In a short time, their business begins to escalate, and Sloan having bought a house, hires them to fix her place. Sparks spark between Theo and Drea, as they both find themselves falling in love. Nash finds himself intrigued with Sloan, especially helping her on some of the cases; with Nash realizing that he is also falling in love with Sloane, as she also has strong feelings.

The antagonists were chilling, as well as evil. Especially killing the victims who all had survived near death. Sloan and Nash find themselves working together to uncover the truth about the killers.

Hidden Nature was a fantastic intriguing thriller, that was a blend of suspense, romance, mystery and action-packed. Sloan was a terrific heroine, who was dedicated, tenacious, decisive and gripping. Hidden Nature was so very well written by Nora Roberts. I suggest you read Hidden Nature, which was an exciting thriller.

This was absolutely bonkers in the most fun, readable way and it starts off fast. Leona is at a gala-style event when she notices things aren't quite right and things quickly go awry. We also meet Oliver pretty quickly in though who he really is and his motives take awhile to be revealed. I read the book previous to this one and enjoyed it though it took a bit to get used to the world. In this book the author included a quick explanation of the setup that I found really helpful. There is a mystery (or four) and there some pretty intense cat and mouse action. There are also dust bunnies which are my absolute favorite. I very much enjoyed them in the previous book and was thrilled to see their appearance in this book.

I love Castle's world building and the connections to other books in other series under her Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz names. This was such a fun escapist story with intriguing characters and story arcs that really caught my attention. Is it one that will keep me up thinking about the characters? No probably not but it was one I looked forward to reading and enjoyed from the first page. I now really want to do a big reading binge of all of this author's books to get a real understanding of Harmony itself and the Foundation and everything else which I think is a good sign!

If you're looking for a fun action-packed escapist read I really recommend this book and this series as all. While it is part of a long running series I didn't have too much trouble jumping in - especially with the author's note at the beginning of this one.

We are back on Harmony with It Takes A Psychic by Jayne Castle. This is the eleventh book in the Harmony series & seventeenth in the Guild Hunter series, but each book stands on its own. If you like off planet romantic suspense, paranormal activities and cute dust bunnies, you’ll want to grab this one!

I love spending time on Harmony. Harmony is full of Earth settlers when a door opened between worlds. That door has since closed and the people on Harmony live with alien artifacts left behind by previous colonizers. Some humans have psychic abilities and can tune and work with the amber left behind. Oh, and did I mention there are cute dust bunnies who can be very scary when needed and adorable when befriended?

Leona Griffin is a para-archeologist who has been asked by an elite group of collectors to authenticate objects. She is shocked to discover they have a powerful Old-World relic known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact. The tale that unfolds was suspenseful, swoon-worthy and full of danger as Leona finds herself teamed up with Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent as their investigation leads them to a strange cult.

The world Castle has created which got its origins in Krentz’s Arcane Society. Both Griffin and Rancourt are high-ability psychics, something they keep hidden from the rest of society. I loved their interactions and the sizzling chemistry these two had. The two end up in Lost Creek with Leona’s adorable dust bunny, Roxy. Lost Creek is a town obsessed with a cult leader who is dead but prophesied to return.

It Takes A Psychic, delivered a suspenseful, fast-paced paranormal romantic suspense with characters I was rooting for and an intense mystery. Castle is an auto-buy for me and I devoured this one!

Welcome back to Illusion Town with dust bunnies, para rez, the guild the underground and so much more. Each book entertains, and opens up another world, with suspense, humor, mystery and yes some romance. Leona is a Para-archeologist at a high society do asking her to validate a part. She just wants to do it and leave. She notices a man, Oliver and no one seems to see him except her. As she is contemplating this a dust bunny comes to her for help. That is just the beginning, if that doesn't intrigue you. I was turning pages trying to connect the dots and pleased with the ending. Thank you for the advance copy. I freely share my honest thoughts and opinions. #ItTakesAPsychic
#GhostHunters #JayneCastle #Berkley #NetGalley

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