It takes a psychic
Jayne Ann Krentz, nee Jayne Castle

Ingredients to an imaginative read:
Take an alien world and a whole lot of psychic characters with improbable powers. And don’t forget their pet dust bunnies. Add mystery, suspense and romance And you’ve found one of the fascinating treasures of this author

Again a cute dust bunny to add to the fun. Two high level talents who meet on the job are pushed together on a wild ride. Look for more backstory about Harmony Great addition to series

Is she the hunter or the hunted?

Leona Griffin is a gifted para-archeologist in a world known as Harmony, where generations ago people from Earth (aka the Old World) arrived to form colonies. When the energy curtain that allowed interstellar travel between Earth and colonies like Harmony abruptly closed, the residents in these new worlds were cut off from receiving supplies as well as traveling to and from their home planet. Life became a lot more rustic but people forged on and have achieved a level of existence comparable to what they had when the Curtain closed. Harmony was discovered at the onset of colonization to have strong paranormal forces and had been previously inhabited by some form of aliens who left behind a subterranean infrastructure which emits huge amounts of paranormal radiation. The human population who lives there now have developed a wide variety of psychic powers, due at least in part to the energy in the environment around them. This is the world in which Leona has been building her academic career, and a recent event (in which she and two colleagues were taken hostage by antiquities thieves) has brought her heightened visibility in the competitive worlds of academia and antiquities acquisitions. She is asked by her boss at the university where she works to attend a reception at the exclusive Antiquarian Society where she will use her para-abilities to authenticate several items being offered to the group. Should be a boring but easy task, but instead Leona is swept up into circumstances beyond her control. She finds a dead body, is followed by someone who claims to be somewhat nerdy museum director Oliver Rancourt but acts more like Indiana Jones, and is fired due to the controversy that the Society found itself in when the FBPI raided the reception. She joins forces with Oliver as they try to track the source of crystal objects that might, or might not, be connected to a machine known as a Vortex which is supposed to enhance peoples psychic abilities….the Philospher’s Stone of the para world….and a group of conspiracy theorists looking to reanimate their leader. Both she and Oliver have things about themselves they wish to keep hidden, especially when it comes to their own talents….but their growing attraction to one another and their search for truth may require both to reveal all if they are to survive their quest.
Author Jayne Castle writes futuristic romantic suspense with paranormal elements, while her alter egos of Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick write in a similar way but set in present day and historic times respectively. If you have read any of her books, the Rancourt name may ring a bell. This is a quick and enjoyable read, with a smart and stubborn female protagonist who initially butts heads with the equally smart and stubborn male protagonist but soon finds him to be a valuable partner. The mystery of Leona and her sister’s past, an abduction and a Family Secret that must be kept is hinted at early on and slowly revealed, as is the reason for the annulment of Oliver’s marriage years ago. There’s a cute….animal? pet?….known as a dust bunny which is cute until its not (at which point it can be quite dangerous with its sharp teeth) who becomes attached to Leona and Oliver and is both a source of amusement and an aid to their search, an unstable psychic focused on Leona and what she can and cannot do, and a village of people who seem to be in some sort of cult to add to the tale. Readers of Ms Castle/Krentz/Quick will definitely enjoy this novel, as should readers of J D Robb, Maya Banks and Kaylea Cross. Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for allowing me early access to this enjoyable installment in the Harmony series.

Jayne Castle delivers pure magic with this one. The world of Harmony is vibrant and eerie, but it’s Leona and Oliver who steal the show. Their chemistry is electric, with witty banter, simmering tension, and a connection that’s impossible to resist. The mystery of Pandora’s Box had me hooked, but it’s the lush writing and perfect balance of suspense and romance that kept me glued. Thrilling, addictive, and utterly swoon worthy, this book is an absolute gem.

I always enjoy my visits to the fascinating world of Harmony and its dust bunnies. Castle puts enough action, suspense and romance that you don’t want to put her books down. Leona is a para-archeologist that authenticates old relics for the university. Leona has been directed to attend a reception and determine if the artifacts on display are authentic. She ends up meeting Oliver at this reception and that is when the action begins because the reception is raided by the police and Oliver gets Leona out before she can be arrested. Oliver would like her help on finding a vortex machine that could possibly enhance people’s psychic talent. I highly recommend reading this book and the series especially when the dust bunnies enter the adventure. Thank you, Netgalley and Berkley for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.