MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL

Author: Jayne Castle ISBN: 9780515148367 9/2010 FUTURISTIC/PARANORMAL Publisher: JOVE

Adam Winters has enough responsibility as the new head of the local Ghost Hunter Guild without being saddled with the family curse. He’s convinced his recent nightmares and hallucinations will lead to him becoming a psychic rogue—unless he can find a stolen relic and a woman who can read dreamlight. Marlowe Jones rides into his life on a motorcycle and with a dust bunny at her side. Though a descendant of the rival Arcane family, she’s just what Adam needs: a psychic private investigator and dreamlight reader extraordinaire. Together, amid the glowing catacombs and steamy underground jungles of Harmony, Adam and Marlowe must break the curse, save the entire underworld—and fight a passion that could destroy them both…

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

A few things to get clear up front: this is the third book in Castle's genre-spanning Dreamlight trilogy.  Book 1, FIRED UP, under her contemporary paranormal romance name Jayne Ann Krentz, and Book 2, BURNING LAMP, under her  'Amanda Quick' historical romance pseudonym, precede this one.  I believe this is the first time she has had such a direct connection between her 'Arcane Society' novels and her 'Harmony' novels, though there has been teases in the past, and she has said in interviews they are related.

I should mention I really hate when authors do that.  The implication that I won't get the complete story without reading books I wouldn't normally pick up, rankles.  I'm a completest sort of reader; if I like a series after two books, I will hunt down every other book, short story, or reference to read. And I love the Harmony series.

Standing on its own, it works well enough.  Castle refers to events of the past, which are the plots for the preceding books, without making it fully necessary to go read those events first hand.  Those unfamiliar with the Arcane Society (from her contemporary paranormals and historical paranormals) may find themselves wondering at the Society, but overall, this is another Guild adventure in love and danger.

Adam and Marlowe surprised me.  The feud between their families (the genesis for the Burning Lamp fiasco) led me to believe that it is still very much in sway.  Yet these two, aside from some mutual mistrust issues that are inherent in their respective jobs as PI and Guild boss, put all that aside to work really well together.  Aside from when secrets cropped up that they couldn't divulge at that moment, they played it straight with each other.  They were mature about it, in other words, which I appreciated.

The two main problems they both faced—Adam's growing psychosis and Marlowe's unusually strong Dreamlight powers—were resolved too quickly in my opinion, however.  Adam's more so, as it seemed like Castle used it as a plot convenience instead of a true disabling thing.  There's certain circumstances surrounding it, which kind of explain it away, but really, I was just left feeling more confused.

Marlowe's dust bunny partner 'Gibson' was a treat and delight.  Each new time I read about the dust bunnies, I want one of my own.  And Gibson sounds my sort of pet, nicking cookies whenever he can!

As a new book in the Harmony series, I enjoyed and loved it.  As the third part of a cross genre trilogy, however, I was less than pleased.

Alexandra Cenni