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Searching... Hardwood Creek Library (Forest Lake) | ROMANCE QUI | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
New York TimesÂbestselling author Amanda QuickÂs new Arcane Society novel reveals the passionate and paranormalÂsecrets of proper Victorian London. Called Âsupremely addictive by Booklist, the Arcane Society novels, written under both the Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz names, have pulled readers into a saga filled with steamy romance, drama, and dark intrigue. Her newest novel promises to mesmerize as well. Leona Hewitt, disguised in menÂs formal evening clothes, has secretly made her way into Lord DelbridgeÂs private museum to retrieve a relic stolen from her family. But someone else is in the dimly lit gallery on the same errand: a tall, blackcloaked man whose very voice is enough to cause her to fall into a trance. Thaddeus Ware, a mesmerist with psychic gifts, is accustomed to fearful reactions from othersÂwomen, in particular. After all, a man who can control the minds of others could rob a lady of her virtueÂcompletely unbeknownst to her. But Leona shows no trace of hysteria in his presence. A gifted crystal worker, she exerts a rather hypnotic power over the hypnotist himself. And she is determined to keep the coveted crystal they manage to recover by giving him the slip at a run-down London inn. Thaddeus, on assignment for the Arcane Society, knows the menace Leona is courting by absconding with the crystal. A source of remarkable energy, it holds the potential for great destruction. Lord Delbridge has already killed to acquire the crystal, his key to membership in the elite, shadowy group known as the Third Circle. And, with the help of a ruthless hunter of preternatural skillÂdubbed the Midnight Monster by the pressÂDelbridge intends to find Leona. With the stolen crystal in their possession, the danger is only beginning.
Author Notes
Jayne Ann Krentz was born in Borrego Springs, California on March 28, 1948. She received a B.A. in history from the University of California at Santa Cruz and a master's degree in library science from San Jose State University. Before becoming a full-time author, she worked as a librarian.
She has written under seven different names: Jayne Bentley, Amanda Glass, Stephanie James, Jayne Taylor, Jayne Castle, Amanda Quick and Jayne Ann Krentz. Her first book, Gentle Pirate, was published in 1980 under the name Jayne Castle. She currently uses only three personas to represent her three specialties. She uses the name Jayne Ann Krentz for her contemporary pieces, Amanda Quick for her historical fiction pieces, and Jayne Castle for her futuristic pieces. She has written numerous books under the pseudonym Amanda Quick including Surrender, Scandal, Seduction, Affair, With This Ring, I Thee Wed, Garden of Lies, Burning Lamp, and Quicksilver.
She has received numerous awards for her work including the 1995 Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Trust Me, the 2004 Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award for Falling Awake, the Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, the Romantic Times Jane Austen Award, and the Susan Koppelman Award for Feminist Studies for Dangerous Men and Adventurous Women: Romance Writers on the Appeal of the Romance. She made the New York Times Best Seller List in 2017 with her title, The Girl Who Knew Too Much.
(Bowker Author Biography)
Reviews (3)
Publisher's Weekly Review
In Quick's (Jayne Ann Krentz's pseudonym) mediocre latest installment to the Arcane Society series, Leona Hewitt, a crystal reader, and Thaddeus Ware, a hypnotist, meet trying to steal the same relic-the aurora stone-from a private collection, but a murdered prostitute and a trap protecting the stone initially complicate their success. Thaddeus, hired by the Arcane Society to claim the stone, allows the plot's loudly grinding gears to ally him with Leona. Both Leona and Thaddeus are sensible and pragmatic, qualities that make for efficient sleuths but passionless lovers, and Quick has to try unusually hard to make their romance believable. The story fares better when it focuses on the crystal and its connections to secret societies, to the Midnight Monster (a hackneyed serial killer) and to Leona's personal history. When the plot threads finally pull taut and the villains' motives and schemes are completely (if clumsily) exposed, Leona is endangered in a suspenseful climax. This is unlikely to garner Quick any new fans, or even delight her devotees, but it will tide them over until the next episode. (Apr.) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Booklist Review
Leona Hewitt knew breaking into Lord Delbridges' estate to steal a valuable crystal would involve some danger; she just didn't expect to stumble across a woman's body while doing so. Fortunately, a mystery man with a hypnotic voice and mesmerizing powers is also in the gallery, and he helps Leona retrieve the crystal she seeks. Unfortunately, while they are stealing the crystal, the man is poisoned, and Leona realizes that she can't just leave him there to die. When Thaddeus Ware wakes up in a London inn the next day, he discovers that not only did his partner in crime use her crystal-working powers to save him but she has also disappeared with the rare crystal. Which gives Thaddeus no other option but to locate the lady before she gets herself killed. The latest in Quick's delightfully original, paranormal-spiced Arcane Society series is another dazzling combination of superbly realized characters, an intrigue-studded plot, and spellbindingly sexy romance.--Charles, John Copyright 2008 Booklist
Library Journal Review
Leona Hewitt sneaks into Lord Delbridge's private museum to steal back a family heirloom and encounters mesmerist Thaddeus Ware, who knows that the heirloom is trouble. (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
