Rating: 
Summary: PURE PLEASURE!!
Review: Since they will be repackaging two from this series under the title of Harmony soon, I got these out and decided to reread them. And found I enjoyed them more the second time around. This is some of JAK's best writing of late. I had been a wee tad disappointed in her last couple HBs and her Amanda Quicks. She seems to have polished her diamond too much and lost some of the spontaneity that was her trademark. But Amaryllis, Zinnia and Orchid, and the off world antics, are her at top form and if fans of JAK has missed these, them do grab them when they come out as Harmony 2 in 1 package. In this off world tale, Amaryllis Lark is a private detective, but she is also a prism. In the Colony of from Old Earth, people evolved with two talents: either they were a prism or a psychic. The prisms serve to increase the power of the psychics by channeling their powers through them and amplifying it. Even the strongest of psychics needs a prism, for without them they cannot control and maintain their powers. Lucas Trent the founder of Lodestar hires her for her prism talents. He is an off the chart psychic who need the talent of a prism of his level. If psychic and prism are not of matched talents, the psychic can burn out the prism. And prisms that are as strong as Amaryllis are rare. In order to foil nasty cooperate todos, they are forced to join talents...and more!! A super, brilliant work from the fine craft of JAK. Soon be to re-released under a 2 for 1 reprint called Harmony. These had been hard to come by at times, so if you missed them I highly recommend snatching it up!!
Rating: 
Summary: A Lush Futuristic Romance Fantasy & A Fun Read!!
Review: St. Helen's, a lush green world, is an earth colony founded by humans over two centuries before "Amaryllis" begins. The original humans, Founders, were stranded shortly after discovering the planet, and were forever cut off from their home on earth. They adapted to the new environment, utilizing native metals and materials, but much of the science and technology they brought with them was lost over time. Eventually the population of St. Helens evolved into two kinds of humans - "prisms" and "talents," both with psychic ability. Talents have significant degrees of paranormal ability, but cannot focus their energy without a prism. The necessary link between a "talent" and a "prism" has to be mutually consensual in order to accomplish any paranormal activity.
Amaryllis Lark, a professional, academically trained full-spectrum prism, is quite beautiful - but she's also a buttoned-up, prim, proper kind of gal who plays by the rules. Amaryllis is a top psychic detective at Psynergy, Inc., one of the best companies in the business. Lucas Trent, president of Lodestar Exploration and Mining, is a talent of the strongest degree, but he needs Amaryllis to work with him in order to focus his paranormal gifts, and assist him in a simple investigation. Needless to say, Lucas is definitely not prim or proper, nor does he have rules - but when the two join forces, sparks fly! Their business arrangement turns into a murder investigation, and a much closer merger than either of them bargained for.
Jayne Castle has a real winner with "Amaryllis." St, Helens is a fascinating world peopled with some real characters. Lucas and Amaryllis are polar opposites - she's Miss Priss, a real lady - and he lets it all hang out. That's why they're so good together. As a twosome they gravitate toward the middle and compromise, with many arguments and much humor along the way. The romance is steamy and the mystery exciting.
What else is there to say? If you like romance, the paranormal, novels about the future, or just a good story - this book is for you!
JANA
Rating: 
Summary: Not a believable futuristic OR romance
Review: The romance between Amaryllis and Lucas wasn't much to write home about, and the world Castle has created is a confusing mix of earth words and concepts and fantasy. Amaryllis is a prism, which in psychic terms means she can help focus talents, and this just adds another confusing dimension. It's definitely not my kind of book. I prefer the older Quick books with their better love scenes.
Rating: 
Summary: Original Concept - But don't expect much else
Review: There are a lot of original and interesting concepts in this book. The idea of people with a psychic ability that need a complimentary psychic to channel their talent is fascinating. Too bad the characters and plot in this book are not. Riddled with attempts at clever dialog that mostly fall flat, a hero that talks to the heroine like she is a not too bright child, and a half-baked mystery this book plods along unevenly. There are many drawn out scenes full of repetitous dialog that do nothing to advance the plot, or entertain the reader. Still the book is readable and parts do sizzle, but not one of the better futuristics I've read.
Rating:
Summary: Encore! Encore!
Review: This book, and the rest of the "flower" series, takes the reader on a remarkable journey. Very entertaining ... a great diversion. I sincerely hope that there are more "flowers" to come from this bouquet.
Rating:
Summary: Terrific
Review: This is a wonderful read about the future on a parallel world, complete with a new vocabulary. The characters are delightful and entertaining. A must read for Jayne Ann Krentz fans
Rating:
Summary: A Fantastic Book
Review: This is my first Jayne Castle book (Jayne Ann Krentz) and I loved it. She actually develops the world of St. Helens and explains life in this world. The concept of Prisms and Talents may not be unique but is very well written. And most importantly, her characters Amaryllis and Lucas are very likable. This is a definate winner, I can't wait to read Zinna and Orchard.
Rating:
Summary: This book went from boring to just really bad...
Review: This is the second book that I have read by this author, under the name Jayne Ann Krentz. I picked it up from the library. Had I known this book was by the same author that wrote, "Dawn in Eclipse Bay," I wouldn't have bothered. Not only was the concept not believable but it was just plain stupid. The writing is juvenile and the characters were neither interesting nor likable. I found myself not caring one way or another about the out come of the book. ... It was a real struggle to finish this book. For those of you who will read this review before you read her book, DON'T... Try JD Robb, you will not be disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: This book went from boring to just really bad...
Review: This is the second book that I have read by this author, under the name Jayne Ann Krentz. I picked it up from the library. Had I known this book was by the same author that wrote, "Dawn in Eclipse Bay," I wouldn't have bothered. Not only was the concept not believable but it was just plain stupid. The writing is juvenile and the characters were neither interesting nor likable. I found myself not caring one way or another about the out come of the book. ... It was a real struggle to finish this book. For those of you who will read this review before you read her book, DON'T... Try JD Robb, you will not be disappointed.
Rating: 
Summary: A HUGE disapointment!
Review: This one disappointed me big-time. I've come to the realization that Jayne Castle/Krentz/Quick's voice/style just doesn't work for me because this is the 6th book of hers that I've read that I found very dull. I should note that I do not like mysteries as a rule so maybe that's my problem because that's what the bulk of this book was. Set on another planet, 200 years in the future, Amaryllis Lark is what they call a professional "prism." Her world is filled with people born with differing psychic abilities who are unable to use them without the help of a prism who helps them focus their talents. Lucas needs a high talent prism to help him find a leak in his company. This leads to much adventure and when they "link" it leads to true love. I found my mind wandering a lot while reading this one. I was so looking forward to a good futuristic romance but was disappointed because this one read so much like a contemporary/mystery. Castle's world of psychics and prisms was filled with so much promise that was never fulfilled in my eyes. It disappointingly mirrored current day earth with the exception of the psychic talents and the unimaginatively and laughably named items like jelly-ice, snake-bat, coff-tea, etc. and so on. She had explanations for the non-advances in technology and the silly sounding named items (nostalgia! ) but still it really bugged me. IMO, this book might as well have been set in current day Seattle rather than "New Seattle". I also thought the mystery portion of the book far overwhelmed the love story. There were moments of wit that made me smile but that didn't cut it for me. In the end I didn't feel anything for Amaryllis or Lucas - they just didn't move me and that's the most disappointing thing of all.
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