I received a copy of #ItTakesAPsychic by #JayneCastle throug #NetGalley. This book is about Oliver, a museum director and Leona, a para-archeologist, who meet at a society function where she is to tell if the artifacts are real and he is looking for a piece. Leona is amazed that no one recognizes this man walking in their mist. They then have to escape as Leona has found a dead body and is covered in blood and he decides in a split second that she didn't kill the person., but he knows the place is being raided. Meanwhile, she finds a dust bunny and other dust bunnies that are being tested on. This book takes place on Harmony and starts in Illusion Town. At the end of the night, they exchange phone numbers and he says he will contact her when he gets back. Unfortunately, her job is cut, but luckily for her, her moms are private investigators who tell her about Oliver and that he is who he says he was. Oliver and Leona end up going to a different town and while there get in trouble which they resolve. Of course, it ends up as an HEA. My favorite is always the dust bunnies and Roxie didn't disappoint. with her blue fascinator. I enjoy all of Jayne Castle alien romances, but this one did not hold my interest as tightly as others.

I love the Jayne Verse and am always excited to read anything and everything that she writes - no matter which version it is.

This is book 17 in the Ghost Hunters series. I started reading it many years ago and have probably read a majority of them. It's always fun to return too the Alien world of Harmony and especially see how the Dust Bunnies are doing. Lenora and Oliver meet at a fund raiser where an ancient artifact is being unveiled. She's there to authenticate it and he's there to steal it. When they find a dead body they team up to uncover a group of unethical scientists. You might want to read some of the previous books to familiar yourself with the series.

The h meets the H at an event where she is supposed to authenticate an artifact. The H is also there and they are forced to work together to solve a murder. They go looking for clues about the artifact they found. This is the second book in the series.

I received an ARC from net galley.

Leona Griffin used to be a para-archaeologist. Now, she verifies antiquities. That's the reason she's here to night, at the Society's new member ball. She's going to verify that the offerings people bring are authentic. She's distracted by two things: the first being a man that keeps looking at her but no one else seems to notice, the second is a dustbunny that seems to want her help.
It is the strange man, Oliver Rancourt, who helps her when the evening starts to fall apart. First, as she is verifying antiquities on stage, she's put to a test, second, one of the antiquities is an artifact known as Pandora's box which the host seems overly eager for her to open, then there's the raid, and the dead body. Overall, not a very good night.
The two make it out but it's just the beginning of their journey. Soon, Leona is joining Oliver in heading to a small town, Lost Creek. It seems to keep coming up in his investigations and also seems to be attached to the night at the Society.
This story was fine. I spent a lot of time trying to remember who characters were from previous books in the series. I think new readers would have fewere issues because there is some linking information but not enough to be helpful. There is also sort of an abrupt bridge from the beginning of the story to the end. I'm not sure why Leona would have gone to a small town with a man she just met even for a mysterious stone. There are bookish "reasons" but I was mostly thinking "you're willingly going to a secondary location."

Three stars
Ghost Hunters #17
This book comes out June 3, 2025
Follows People in Glass Houses
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

I was debating between three and four stars. Here is why I went with four. Although I am not sure I can say I truly enjoyed this read, I think that it is not the author's fault. It just was not for me. While I have definitely been getting more into the paranormal, I think that this was perhaps a bit over the top. I loved the idea of a world, which was not earth, where ESP and psychic powers are common and a mystery involves characters who have that trait. I did like the heroine and the romance with the man whom she does not trust at first (although it also seemed a tad formulaic). I think what got me were the dust bunnies. At first, the idea of dust bunny being real beings was cute but eventually, it wore on me. Lastly, I would have loved to know more about the planet, which other than the mention of it, could have been earth, but perhaps that is explored earlier in the series. I will know the dialogue was good and the pace was good.
Perhaps, if I get more solidly into the paranormal, I may pick up some others in the series, but for now, maybe not.
Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Publishing for granting me access to this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

I enjoy this author under all of the names she uses, even though I am not usually a fan of the more sci-fi leaning of books,, I do enjoy this author, so I gave this one a chance. And, it was a lot of fun. The otherworldly stuff is well explained in a note at the beginning, so even though I was picking this up at number seventeen in the series, I wasn't lost.

I am not able to speak to the others in the series, but this one didn't really feel all that sci-fi, or at least I didn't find those elements to be distracting, and that is probably a better way to phrase it.

Leona and Oliver were great together. Their inner dialogue as well as the conversations they have with one another were a strength of the book and are honestly a strength of the author in all of her titles. The mystery was interesting, the romance was not the focus of the title, but it was present enough that the development of the relationship and the characters throughout the title was fulfilling.

I enjoyed and recommend this title.

Veena’s review of It Takes a Psychic (Harmony, Book 18) by Jayne Castle
Paranormal Romance published by Berkley 03 Jun 25

Leona and Oliver meet under interesting circumstances. She’s a guest brought to authenticate an alien artifact; he might have been the one to supply the artifact. The evening, however, has many surprises to offer, including trapped dust bunnies, a dead body, a waiter wearing an alien artifact with special significance to Leona, and a police raid to end things on a high note. Of course, there’s more to come, since this is just the beginning.


Leona ends up with a dust bunny who adopts her and will look after her, along with a security guard from the guild who is to be the new guild boss in town. She and Oliver follow the clues that lead them to an island in search of answers.

The plot thickens with a huge pool of suspects. In fact, the entire town may be up to no good – or is there an alien force in play that has the entire town turned into zombies who follow orders?

I always enjoy these tales from Harmony, exploring the glowing underground tunnels and the unexpected nature of the traps, ghosts, and twists and turns that the characters have to get through in order to come to a happy ending. The highlight of these stories are the antics of the dust bunnies that make you want to take one home, despite the lethal teeth and sleeked-out exteriors.

Another winner for Ms. Castle.

Grade: A

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.