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.

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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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If you’ve been following for a while then you know how much I love this Harmony series Jayne Castle/Jayne Ann Krentz is writing. This takes place on another planet a couple hundred years in the future, however, once the original settlers made it there, the gateway closed and they were stuck, cut off from Earth. Their tech crumbled and they wound up having to adapt. So while they’re on another planet in the future, it’s very similar to the current year we the reader are in, here on Earth.

This book opens up with Leona at a really important event for her company and her career. She’s going to verify an artifact at an auction. However she keeps getting distracted by a man. Not just because he’s handsome, but also because no one else seems to see him. He’s moving in and out of the crowd as if it isn’t even there. She assumes this man is a thief, and she keeps an eye on him. But once she’s verified the item, things feel “off” to her. And she’s right! There’s a murder, and she’s right in the thick of it.

Oliver sees a damsel in distress, knows she didn’t kill the poor victim, and helps her out. Turns out he can make himself not invisible so much, as just no one will notice him. And he can keep Leona in his “bubble” as well, so the two of them jet out of the chaos and into the Underground tunnels.

What happens next is that the mystery goes much deeper than a dead body. There are stolen artifacts, an enthralled town, and an eccentric old man who seems like he’s pulling the strings one minute, and seems like he couldn’t find his way out of a wet paper sack the next. And through it all, the two of them are fighting their attraction to each other. Well, Leona is fighting it for a while, but Oliver is all in.

One of my favorite things about this series is the fun. These books are fun. They’re exciting, and sexy, and interesting, but they’re also fun, and I love how the men usually fall in love first, and the women need to be persuaded. I love the mystery, I love the romance, and I can’t wait for the next Harmony/Ghost Hunters book. They’re like candy! Easy to read, enjoyable to read, and you want to read them all in one sitting!

***ARC courtesy of the publisher Berkley via NetGalley

Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact.
Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent—they say you never see him coming—is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver.
Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.
The 17th Ghost Hunters novel is not my favorite, but it still has everything I look for in a Jayne Castle novel. By that I mean, the dust bunnies, who have an excellent scene at the end of the novel.
3 stars for the story, and extra .25 for the dust bunnies.

I say this every time I read a JAK (whether that be a Krentz, a Quick, or a Castle): she has a formula and it's one I swallow down every time! As far as the Harmony series goes, the formula is something like this: the FMC has a scary psychic talent! So does the MMC! But they don't scare each other. Also there's a cute alien dust bunny who helps save the day.

This particular entry felt even more like the modern day PNW than most Harmony books do, with references to cabins, cults, and rain. Funnily enough, the old timey cult leader of the series is named Vincent Lee Vance. Castle wrote the first harmony book in 2000, so this prescience really tickled me.

I don't recommend starting with this one, since there are references to previous Harmony books, her Arcane Society series, and even her recent contemporaries. But if you're already a Castle fan but you haven't picked up a Harmony book for a while, you're fine jumping in here without reading all of the previous ones.

This objective review is based on a complimentary copy of the novel.

I have been a Krentz/Castle fan forever and I always get what I expect from her novels and this was no exception. I really liked how they tied it to other books and was glad I read it right after the previous in the series. The only bad part – waiting another year for a new dust bunny.

After being kidnapped by artifact pirates and saved by her sister (People in Glass Houses) para-archeologist Leona Griffin is ready to give a few lectures and work her way up the tenure ladder at her university. Finding a dead body at a collector's meeting ends that plan rather spectacularly. Excaping the police raid that follows with the mysterious Oliver Rancourt makes things even more complicated. But also a great deal more interesting. When Leona and Oliver (and dust bunny Roxy) decide to work together to uncover the truth behind leads too strange to be coincides, things start moving fast- and getting dangerous. Good thing all three of them have some tricks to pull along the way!

Leona is Molly's sister from People in Glass Houses, so it helps if you've read that book first, but I think you could also read this one as a stand-alone. Glass Houses would just give you a little character background for Leona's story, as well as already knowing Molly and their moms heading into this book. Like Molly, Leona has been raised to take care of herself. She has no problem relying on her own instincts and training but is also caring and compassionate. The first night Oliver (and the reader) meet her she frees dust bunnies and follows him into the Underworld where she sets her dress on fire to help them escape some bad guys. If that doesn't make you like her (or Oliver fall for her) what will?! Oliver is more subtle than some of Castle's men. A Museum Guy, as Leona thinks of him, and not a Guild man as many of Castle's previous heroes, Oliver has no trouble with the idea of calling in the Guild and the cops when he thinks there might be more trouble than he, Leona, and Roxy can handle on their own. But underestimate him at your own risk, because he's not above taking care of business when he needs to protect his people. Although Leona got to protect him in this one pretty nicely too.

On a completely random note, I've always been slightly disappointed that Castle describes characters (usually the men) as having specter-cat eyes but we never get to find out more about wild specter-cats or see one. So the sculpture of the specter-cat in this book for some reason made me extremely happy.

Cut-throat collectors and academics, ruthless cults, a fashionista dust bunny, and Castle's trademark banter between her main characters: It Takes a Psychic was just what I needed to read when it came out and I needed something to take me away from a particularly difficult life situation for a few hours.

A fun addition to the delightful dust bunny world of Harmony

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review

Any time Jayne Castle publishes another book about the world of Harmony, it’s a cause for celebration. It Takes a Psychic is no exception.
Leona Griffin is a para-archaeologist whose job is to authenticate alien artifacts. This story starts with her being called to a gala evening at the Antiquarian Society to confirm that their artifacts are indeed alien and therefore very, very old. For these items to be in private hands means a black market and that a lot of money has changed hands.
Enter Oliver Rancourt, a man with the ability to remain unnoticed by everyone, except, that is, Leona.
Leona is surprised to find a box from old Earth alongside the alien artifacts, since most of what the colonists brought with them did not do well in the new world. Surprised and apprehensive, she decides to slip out early, but finds a trail of blood that leads to a dead body on the premises. Oliver shows up and guides her out through the alien tunnels that lie under the city.
So, what is so important that it is hidden inside the old Earth box? And who is willing to kill to get to it? And even more important, why is what is hidden in the box so important to both Oliver and Leona and not just to the killer?
For anyone who is unfamiliar with Jayne Castle’s books, she has created the world of Harmony, which emigrants from Earth colonized over ancient, alien ruins. Several generations have now lived on Harmony, which has influenced the psychic abilities of its populace to some degree. Some people can make their living by tapping into this psychic energy, such as Leona being able to authenticate the alien artifacts and Oliver remaining unnoticed in social environments.
Action, tension, romance and humor are blended in exactly the right quantities.
Well done, Jayne Castle.
I am absolutely delighted that NetGalley sent me this book to read and review.

I always enjoy JAK writing in any of her pseudonyms. IT TAKES A PSYCHIC in the world of the Harmony series written as Jayne Castle is no exception. I like these stories because of this idea of alien technology in an otherworld where humans had settled in the past and evolving psychic talents in some humans. I enjoy the addition of the dust bunnies. These little creatures are described in such a way, that you want one, regardless of the fact that they have multiple limbs, four eyes, and fangs. I like how they’re incorporated into the stories and this one is my favorite of the those I am familiar with. The dust bunny Roxie is introduced into the story early on to Leona. She is feisty and adorable. Leona is a para-archeologist and her presence has been required at an affluent, secretive society’s event. Oliver is also at the event and he ends up having several interactions with Leona, causing them to become associates in the search clues as to the a few interesting coincidences. Both Leona and Oliver have “extra” talents and they’re forced to utilize them as the story moves forward. Another interesting paranormal mystery in a long running series that shows no sign of letting up in the entertainment department.

Leona Griffin has a career as a para-archeologist on Harmony. She is asked to authenticate a relic from the powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. When she touch it she doesn't authenticate the artifact. Oliver Rancourt a man with talents is at the same reception and finds Leona bending over a body of a dead woman. Oliver helps Leona and him escape the reception when its raided.
They try to learn more about the relic and where it came from. Leona of course has a dust bunny helping with the case.

cool and well written! i didn't read the previous book but never really felt like i was missing everything. everyone was clearly written, the chemistry was great, and the dust bunnies were ADORABLE. 5 stars. tysm for the arc.

I love this series set on Harmony in the Future. It’s called the Ghost Hunter series, but I don’t think we really had many ghost hunters in the book.
Leona is experiencing a moment of fame after the events referenced in People in Glass Houses. She is a para-Archeologist invited to a special meeting of an artifact loving society. There she see Oliver Rancourt, even though he is using his talent of not being noticed.
The events of the evening throw them together and the story takes off from there. There is some resolution to the Vortex machine question.
Roxy, the dust bunny, steals the show. The blend of humor, romance and action made for a book I didn’t want to put down.
I recommend It Takes a Psychic, because I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley and Berkeley for the opportunity to read this book.

Para-archeologist and academician, Leona Griffin, has recently gotten famous after a kidnapping during which she made a new Underworld discovery. Because of her new found fame, Leona has been tasked in a high-profile event of collectors to validate some artifacts which would allow wannabes to join the group of elites. Under the spotlight at the ceremony, Leona is astonished to see a famous Old-World item known as Pandora’s Box with some very unexpected contents.

Oliver Rancort, a man with some very strong magical talent of his own, has an intense interest in the famed box as well. Though she does not yet know him, Leona senses this man could prove to be a threat. During the pandemonium caused by the object, Leona tries to leave only to come across a suspicious death. Oliver shows up and convinces Leona to leave with him to avoid the authorities.

Although Leona is not sure she can trust Oliver, she agrees to work with him to uncover the secrets of a small, cult town full of strange and obsessed people. A machine known as the Vortex has a history from back on Earth and may have somehow ended in their planet, Harmony, used by shadowy figure who may still be around.

Since paranormal is actually the normal in this strange world previously inhabited by unknown aliens, all manner of odd goings on are an everyday occurrence as readers of the series will know; they will also recognize some crossover from another of the author's series. This is book #17 in the Ghost Hunters series and is best read in order.

It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle is the 17th book in The Ghost Hunters Series. The book absolutely can be read as a standalone or out of order in the series. The novel takes place in the future in an alien world called Harmony. One of the best characters to come from Harmony are the dust bunnies. They are like guinea pigs with fluffy hair, four eyes and sharp teeth. They are known to steal things and are very protective of the humans they claim.

In Harmony, everyone seems to have an extra trait called a talent. It is considered abnormal to have two or more talents. Leona Griffin is a para-archeologist and has a talent she keeps hidden as a person who can unlock anything. She is asked to help verify some objects as artifacts as genuine. Interestingly enough she runs into Oliver Rancourt, who has a talent of hiding in plain sight. Together they run into a death and escape (while being chased) into the tunnels. Meanwhile they end up being acquired by a dust bunny! They band together to solve a mystery. Of course they are HOT together and sparks fly!

The author, Jayne Castle is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz. Jayne Ann Krentz is a prolific author who writes under her name when writing contemporary novels. When she writes as Jayne Castle, she is in the future in the world of Harmony. Amanda Quick is her pseudonym for when she writes in the past. The books sometimes share family lines across the generations, although needing the knowledge does not take away from the novels. I love Jayne Ann Krentz no matter what name she writes under!

It Takes a Psychic by Jayne Castle is a great read with elements of humor, hotness, thrill, and suspense.