Member Reviews
I started reading Jayne Castle Harmony books many many years ago. She keeps the suspense and characters fun and exciting. This is book 16 in the Ghost Hunters series and set in the futurist town of Harmony which uses crystals buried underground to keep life going. His name is Joshua Knight. Once a respected explorer, the press now calls him the Tarnished Knight. He took the fall for a disaster in the Underworld that destroyed his career. The devastating event occurred in the newly discovered sector known as Glass House—a maze of crystal that is rumored to conceal powerful Alien antiquities. The rest of the Hollister Expedition team disappeared and are presumed dead.
Whatever happened down in the tunnels scrambled Josh’s psychic senses and his memories, but he’s determined to uncover the truth. Labeled delusional and paranoid, he retreats to an abandoned mansion in the desert, a house filled with mirrors. Now a recluse, Josh spends his days trying to discover the secrets in the looking glasses that cover the walls. He knows he is running out of time.
Talented, ambitious crystal artist Molly Griffin is shocked to learn that the Tarnished Knight has been located. She drops everything and heads for the mansion to find Josh, confident she can help him regain control of his shattered senses. She has no choice—he is the key to finding her sister, Leona, a member of the vanished expedition team. Josh reluctantly allows her to stay one night but there are two rules: she must not go down into the basement, and she must not uncover the mirrors that have been draped.
But her only hope for finding her sister is to break the rules…
I received this book as an advanced reader copy from NetGalley.
Jayne Castle is a favorite and I love the Harmony world (aka the Ghost Hunters series).
Joshua Knight did the unthinkable. He survived in Harmony's underground psi heavy world without the regular tools needed to get out in one mental piece. But the team didn't. Branded as psi burned and useless, he wallows away in an out of the way house with major negative vibes. Molly Griffin isn't about to let him hide. She needs his help to find the rest of his team, because her sister is on it. A little negative vibe (okay, a lot of negative vibes) isn't gonna stop her from saving her sister. Luckily Molly is just what Joshua needs to heal his psi burns.
Another great Jayne Castle book with dust bunnies, underground travel and two willful, powerful MCs who work to build each other up as they fall in love.
Thi s s the 16th book in the Ghost Hunter series. This is a paranormal series with connections to Jayne Anne Krentz's contemporary and historical worlds. It can be read as a stand alone, but it's fun to see familiar family names and powers. This take place an Harmony, another world. I've read the whole series and love the world building. There's always a romance and some type of mystery. A strong interesting heroine, a loner type of alpha hero, lots of chemistry, and dust bunnies that always make me smile. This is a comfort read series for me. I enjoyed Molly and Josh's story, their talents, and the new parts of Harmony that we got to see. I"m looking forward to the next one.
Thanks to the publisher for sharing a copy with me. All opinions are my own.
This is book 16 in Jayne Castle’s Ghost Hunters/Harmony series, but it can be read as as standalone, so don’t let that intimidate you.
This book opens with a couple of little girls who are playing on a swing set when one of them is kidnapped. While she is rescued almost immediately, when we fast forward to the present, we see that her kidnapping is still relevant.
Molly Griffin needs Joshua Knight. Her sister is missing and he is her only link, her only clue, her only hope. But the problem is that Joshua Knight doesn’t want to be found.
Joshua Knight was the leader for an academic archaeology team. He was to navigate them into the uncharted area called the Glass House, but that team has been missing for a month, and his mind is fractured. He somehow made it out of the alien tunnels alive, and in a weird abandoned house. But he can’t find the team, he can’t remember what happened, how he escaped, or why he’s alive when everyone else is presumed dead.
One of the missing archaeologists is Molly’s sister. And Molly’s convinced not only is her sister alive, but that she can help Joshua. So she hunts him down and it turns out that he lives in the weird abandoned house he woke up in. The house has its own unknown energy source and weird things happen, especially at night. The town is convinced the house is cursed so they give Joshua the house since he’s been staying there anyway. They just want it off their hands.
When Molly finds him, Joshua tries to push her away since he thinks the house is dangerous, and he’s not in his right mind. What he doesn’t know is that Molly is able to fix his fractured memory and burnt out talent.
This is a case of the two main characters being stronger together than apart, and I really love that. This author is always good about having strong and independent characters who compliment each other. There is always a fun pet dust bunny, and I really do love that aspect of this series. This book has the crazy weird house as its own character as well. If you haven’t read the Harmony/Ghost Hunters series, you’re in for a treat. This series is light, fun, and it’s something different out there in the realm of Paranormal Romance.
***ARC courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley
Joshua Knight and Molly Griffin search for Molly’s sister in the latest installment of the Harmony Series. Joshua’s aura has been damaged while exploring a new section of the Harmony Underworld. Only through Molly’s skill as a crystal artist can Joshua be healed and Molly’s sister found.
Dust bunnies are one of the pets I would love to have. It would be a hard choice between the fire dragons of Perth and the dust bunnies of Harmony. Why not have both? All kidding aside, this latest in the Harmony series is another great read. This can be read as a standalone. I recommend reading all the books in the series. They can be read in any order and still be enjoyable. This one follows a similar pattern of a tarnished reputation and a person caught between a rock and a hard spot.
This time, it is the woman who rides to the rescue of the man who is labeled as crazy. Molly is determined to help Joshua because he is the only one who can give her what she wants. What she wants, is her sister back. Joshua is the last person who saw her and Molly does not care if he has to suffer to help her find Leona. The adventure because with Molly tracking down Joshua. From there it only gets wilder.
Ms. Castle continues to tease the reader about the aliens who originally inhabited this planet. Will we ever learn where they came from and where they went? Will we ever learn more about how the dust bunnies came to be? So many questions and there seems to be no answer in sight. This only makes me want more and more from this familiar yet alien world.
The plot of this story moved along at the right pace for me. Cameos from previous main characters in this story enhanced my enjoyment. I also adored Newton, the latest dust bunny to show up. He didn't steal the show like in some of the previous stories where the dust bunny became the unintentional focal point. Newton is the solid sidekick that helps both Molly and Joshua solve their mystery. This is another great addition to the series and highly recommended for a fun read.
If you love the Harmony series and dust bunnies then PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES with give you a thrilling ride.
Reviewed by Annetta Sweetko for Fresh Fiction
Complete review: https://freshfiction.com/review.php?id=86596
FINAL DECISION: PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES is a very enjoyable entry in the Ghost Hunters series, offering a well-balanced mix of romance, mystery, and paranormal elements. Castle's engaging characters, intricate plot, and unique setting make for an enjoyable read that will satisfy fans of the series and attract new readers to the world of Harmony.
THE STORY: Joshua Knight, the disgraced explorer now known as the Tarnished Knight, seeks refuge in a remote, mirror-filled mansion after a disastrous expedition in the Underworld's Glass House sector. With his psychic senses shattered and memories lost, he is determined to uncover the truth behind his team's disappearance.
Molly Griffin, a gifted crystal artist, believes Josh holds the key to finding her missing sister, Leona, who was part of the ill-fated expedition. She arrives at the mansion, ready to help Josh regain control of his abilities, but she must abide by his rules: stay away from the basement and leave the draped mirrors undisturbed.
OPINION: Castle's masterful world-building and skillful storytelling create an immersive experience from the very first page. The author knows the rules of this world well, and thus, it feels as real as her contemporary books. The plot, filled with secrets and supernatural elements, keeps readers engaged and guessing until the end.
One of the greatest strengths of this novel lies in its characters. Molly and Josh are both incredibly likable and relatable, each with their own unique personalities, flaws, and motivations. As they spend nearly the entire book together, Castle allows ample time for their relationship to develop organically. The initial tension between them gradually transforms into a deep, genuine connection that feels both earned and satisfying.
The dynamic between Molly and Josh is electric, their personalities clashing and complementing each other in equal measure. Castle expertly weaves together their individual struggles and shared goals, creating a compelling and emotionally resonant relationship.
The presence of Newton, Molly's loyal and adorable dust bunny companion, adds a delightful touch of humor and warmth to the story, as dust bunnies always do.
WORTH MENTIONING: Gabriel Jones and Lucy Bell, characters from the previous book GUILD BOSS, make an appearance as Molly works on their wedding celebration. This nice tie-in rewards longtime readers and adds depth to the interconnected world of Harmony.
CONNECTED BOOKS: PEOPLE IN GLASS HOUSES is the sixteenth book in the Ghost Hunters/Harmony series. While it can be enjoyed as a standalone novel, starting from earlier books is recommended to provide a richer understanding of the Harmony universe and its inhabitants.
STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.
NOTE: I received an eARC of this book in order to prepare a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.
So this is the 16th installment of the ʜᴀʀᴍᴏɴʏ / ɢʜᴏꜱᴛ ʜᴜɴᴛᴇʀꜱ series, and I kind of wish I read the other books before this because I was a bit lost in some parts. You can read it as a standalone but I definitely recommend reading a few of the books in this series before so you'll know some of the lingo going on.
This book follows Joshua Knight & Molly Griffin. Joshua was picked to lead an expedition team in the Underworld; but due to a horrible event that occurred there, his career is now over.
Not only is his career over, but the event also “rezzed out” (scrambled) his memories & psychic senses. He now lives alone in an abandoned mansion in the middle of nowhere, but the mansion is not all it seems to be.
Molly’s sister was part of this team, & will stop at nothing to locate her missing sister. Not only is Molly looking for her sister, she was hand-chosen by the head of the Guild to create an energy crystal piece for his upcoming wedding, as she is an up & coming crystal energy artist.
Molly tracks down Joshua to help him recover his memories & help lead her to her sister; but in doing so, Molly is abandoning all of her rules by falling for Josh.
I wouldn't normally go for a book like this because it is a sci-fi romance, which are 2 genres I don't gravitate towards. This book felt all over the place and too jumpy. Some parts felt rushed and others felt like it dragged on. I would've liked if there was an epilogue because the ending just felt .. blah.
Overall, just because it isn't my type of book and I felt this way doesn't mean someone else would. If you like sci-fi books and romance, then this is the book for you.
The h goes looking for the H because he led a group, one of which is her sister, that has been lost. The H is psi burned and doesn’t remember what happened. The h finds the H and helps him regain his senses and memories. They locate the missing explorers. There is more to deal with between both then and the H. Although it is a good story, I’d like to see less of this series and more of her contemporary romances.
Molly Griffin’s sister, Leona, has gone missing from the underground Hollister Expedition and Molly’s determined to find her. When she discovers the location of Joshua Knight, the navigator of the lost expedition she heads out to find him and piece together what happened and how to rescue her sister. However, Joshua has no memory of what happened.
People in Glass Houses 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.
Both Joshua and Molly have paranormal abilities they use to help solve the mystery and end up getting close and of course falling for each other. This is a low angst romance, with the majority of the conflict coming from the mystery and danger they encounter trying to look for Leona.
I think my favorite part of the story is Newton, the dust bunny! He could go from full on “adorable mode” to “sleeked out” and ready for a fight on a dime!
This was a fun combination of romance, humor, sci-fi with paranormal elements mixed in. The story is part of a larger series, but the story works well on its own and Ms. Castle does a nice job introducing and explaining the world of Harmony in the prologue.
I'm so happy to be back into the world of Jayne Castle's Ghost Hunters. Okay, let's be really I'm just happy to be with the dust bunnies. I so badly want one. I will try my best to not make this whole review about them.
For me the story started off really good then went a bit slowing shortly after a few chapters. It took a bit to get back to moving again but when it did, I was lost in the story. The slowness didn't take away from the story or make me want to quit reading it, but it did drag. Thankfully it didn't for long and I was really into the story then.
Part of why I love her books are her characters. She has a wonderful way of writing them. I connect with them and like them as people. She very seldom makes her characters totally over the top beautiful which I like. They are always beautiful to the men in their lives and isn't that what really counts?
Molly is a fun character. She is the type who's very sweet but still manages to get her own way. At times you have to look closely to see it. I like how Joshua knows it and still lets her even when he feels he shouldn't. She is the type who loves her family and will do anything to keep them all safe.
Joshua is a great character too. You feel for what he is going though in the beginning of the book. It's not easy when you feel like your life in not under your control. After meeting Molly things change for the better. He gains control and I have to say I love his love language. They man has no game. It's pretty funny at times.
The best part of the story is the three of them together. Okay, for me the best part is how Newton acts within the story. The party he throws. Of boy. The characters aren't the only thing about the story that I enjoyed. It has a great mystery too. By the time I was done with People in Glass Houses I was all excited about the next one. If you haven't yet read the stories in this world, you really need to. Read most of them in order to fully enjoy the world that she created.
Molly Griffin is a crystal tuner and the biggest job of her career is jeopardized when a man is found dead in her shop. It's not like her life isn't complicated enough. Her sister was part of the Hollister Expedition, the one that was lost in the underground Glass House sector three weeks ago. But her mothers finally found the one person who made it out alive, Joshua Knight.
His psi vision burned out after the expedition, Joshua doesn't have any memories from that night. He's recently escaped from a psychiatric institute and is living in a house of mirrors; one so spooky the town gifted it to him at no cost. He's startled to see Molly show up on his doorstep but he can't turn her away as the local fog is getting too intense. That night starts their relationship as Molly ignores one of Joshua's rules but then saves him.
The story is a little disjointed but I think regular Ghost Hunters readers will enjoy it.
Three and a half stars
This book comes out May 7, 2024
Follows Sweetwater & the Witch
ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley
Opinions are my own
The planet Harmony is mysterious, full of both wonders and dangers. The descendants of its human colonists have developed a variety of psychic powers, thanks to the planet's high levels of paranormal radiation.
Molly and Leona are orphans of unknown origin with abnormally high powers due to experimentation on their mothers. When Leona goes missing during an expedition to the Underworld, Molly seeks out assistance from Joshua Knight, the leader of the expedition. Joshua has lost his memories and psychic abilities; he is hiding out in a bizarre mansion with connections to Underworld tunnels in its basement.
This was a fun, quick read; the main characters were likable and I loved the dust bunnies. There were loose ends though, and a lot of miscommunication for two people who supposedly had highly sensitive psychic abilities.
Thank you so much to Berkley and Netgalley for this book to review!
People in Glass Houses by Jayne Castle is the 16th book in her Harmony series. This takes place in Illusion Town within Harmony, which is a colonized alien world, and the underground maze in Illusion Town, has weird paranormal activity/hallucinations, with many people never escaping.
The story starts when a young Molly and Leona were raised in an orphanage, with both having some psi-talents. After Molly was kidnapped, Leona calls the Griffin Investigations to rescue Molly, and after the Griffin ladies rescued them, they are then adopted by Charlotte and Eugenie. Years later, Molly and Leona have their own special psych talents, and are part of Griffin Investigations.
When Leona is missing during an expedition exploring the underworld, Molly sets out to find her. She knows the only way to find her sister is to find Joshua Knight, the then leader of the Hollister Expedition, who ended up severely damaged, and the rest of the team all disappeared. Molly is determined to convince Joshua that she can help him with his dreams, as well as restoring his memory. Joshua is hiding from the world, staying in a haunted house filled with crystal mirrors. Despite his wanting to close the door on Molly, Josh reluctantly allows her to stay one night. She manages to prove her abilities in helping him regain control of his shattered senses; which will lead them to team up.
Molly was a fantastic heroine, with amazing abilities, which leads Joshua to get his memory back. Both of them worked closely to find Leona and two other team members, and manage to get them back to freedom.
In a short time, the chemistry between Molly and Joshua escalates, especially after he kisses her, he falls unconscious. I really liked both of them together, as they made a perfect match. I also adored the lovable Newton, the dust bunny, who loves his zing chips, and was so much fun. I was also liked both Charlotte and Eugenie, their adopted mothers.
What follows is an exciting mysterious and romantic story line, with a fantastic couple in Molly and Joshua, as well as our adorable Newton. There is a lot of action, as we race to the climax, with Joshua and Molly using their powers to defeat the enemy. People in Glass Houses was an excellent paranormal mystery, with a number of surprises along the way. People in Glass Houses was very well written by Jayne Castle. I look forward to the next book, which is expected to feature Leona as the lead.
It was good to travel off planet to Harmony again in Jayne Ann Krentz’s newest novel, People in Glass Houses, writing as Jayne Castle. Molly Griffin, a talented crystal artist, is looking for the Tarnished Knight to find her sister. The two must work together and perhaps discover more. Come see why I love The Harmony & Ghost Hunters series. Castle pulled me in with the tale of two orphans, a dust bunny, and Guild Hunter rescue. She then pulled us forward as crystal artist Molly Griffin, works on her most ambitious project yet, one that could make her career. A little murder, and finding out the moms have located the Tarnished Knight, have Molly setting things aside and traveling to the Glass House to confront Joshua Knight. Joshua is a talented navigator who lost her sister and the Hollister Expedition team in an uncharted underground tunnel.
Sparks fly when Joshua and Molly meet. He’s annoyed and wants her to leave. Honestly, he doesn’t think she’d survive a night in the house of mirrors, but Molly is full of surprises and soon the two are working together to find the lost team. I loved the back-and-forth banter, a sizzling “enemies to lovers'” tale combined with plenty of suspense, danger and alien woo-woo.
I liked Molly from the get go, and despite how gruff Joshua is, it’s easy to understand him and feel compassion. He was psi-burned and is also very talented, and did I mention stubborn. The two worked well together, and their chemistry felt genuine.
Of course, I adored Newton our dust bunny, who loves to eat chips, can sense danger and has excellent taste in people. Secondary characters from family to villains rounded out the story and grounded the characters.
Castle combined a great mystery with sizzling romance, powerful characters, family and humor, keeping me reading past my bedtime. It is unnecessary to read the books in order, as the author explains the world enough in each book. However, I recommend reading all of them!
If Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle/Amanda Quick (she's all three) ever writes a book I'm able to put down before reaching the end, I'll probably fall over in shock. It doesn't matter if they're set in the past, the present, or the future, they are all compelling, addictive, and keep me compulsively reading way past my bedtime. People in Glass Houses is the newest entry in what is a very long list of books that would not only fill a keeper shelf of their own in my library, they would fill the whole dang bookcase.
Molly and Joshua drew me into their story and kept me riveted through a series of surprises, twists, breath-stealing danger (haunted houses, anyone?), and endearing romance right up until the final scene. I loved them, had the best time tagging along on their adventures, and am already eagerly anticipating Molly's sister, Leona's story next.
This is the seventeenth novel set on the planet of Harmony, far into the future, but don't let that scare you off. First, Harmony was originally populated by citizens of Earth when a curtain opened between the planets (then suddenly and inexplicably closed). Characters have developed advanced psychic and crystal using skills but they're descended from Earth's explorers, not aliens. Each book is written in such a way that you really can start anywhere and not feel lost or confused. Having said that, however, don't be surprised if once you experience any of these stories you immediately want to read more. The characters are relatable, the suspense threads are tightly constructed, the unique qualities of Harmony are fascinating (it really is a character in itself), and the dust bunnies are beyond adorable. Also dangerous when necessary. Or hungry. It's part of their charm.
If you're a Krentz/Castle/Quick fan, add this one to your summer reading list. If you're new to the author, People in Glass Houses is a great place to jump in. It has my enthusiastic recommendation.
*ARC received from publisher via NetGalley. Fair and unbiased review.
Molly drops everything to rush to the haunted mansion where Joshua Knight has been hiding out in. He is her only key to locating her sister Leona who was lost in the expedition that destroyed Joshua's reputation. Is it the same as finding the right frequency in tuning crystals to tuning Joshua's fried senses and finding the directions to where her sister was last seen?
The glass house where Joshua's is hiding out is definitely the stuff of nightmares. Even Molly with all her talents is going to have a hard time cooling all the heat. Of course, she is definitely not willing to follow the rules that Joshua has laid down for her safety so that is an adventure in itself when she and her dust bunny go exploring.
The underground tunnels have a lot of priceless and artifacts and at some level it is all about following the money. To complicate things, Molly shop is broken into, and a body left behind even while she is tuning the wedding crystals for the guild boss. The story moves at an excellent clip on both the romantic and suspenseful front.
I am so happy that Ms. Castle has come back to this futuristic world with its touch of wild west after a hiatus. Can't wait to see what else lies in story. The dust bunnies with their love for music, parties, and pizza are a wonderful set of characters to break the tension.
Life on Harmony takes a Gothic turn in Jayne Castle’s 16th(!) novel in the Ghost Hunters series.
The main setting of the story was the “Funhouse,” a literal house of mirrors, and horrors, located in a remote and desolate area outside of Illusion Town. As a fan of Gothic literature, I really enjoyed this spooky setting. It was in stark contrast to the underground world and city states we usually encounter in these novels. Castle really made the most of this setting by combining elements of the Victorian Gothic aesthetic and the Medium craze of the 1930’s alongside the paranormal elements.
I also enjoyed the gender role reversal in this story: the heroine is smart, confident, talented, and the one who has it, mostly all together, while it is the hero who seems to be frazzled and needing of rescue and, in a running joke, appropriate clothing.
Along with the setting, Molly and her sister Leona’s childhood as orphans was appropriately mysterious and spooky, as was their introduction in the opening flashback. I very much look forward to learning more about them and their history in the next book (the ending makes it clear that that the sisters’ story is not over).
The hero’s background story was somewhat thin and I suspect there are a few things about him, and, especially his family, that we will also discover more about it in the next installment.
As always, Castle has succeeded in creating a book that will appeal to longtime readers of the series like me, with references to previous events, locations and characters, while still creating a standalone story that new readers will easily delve into.
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of People in Glass Houses.
I enjoy revisiting the futuristic world with dust bunnies. The hero and heroine were interesting, and I felt their chemistry. I