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Ghost Hunters #4
Silver Master
Fleeing a lurid scandal, matchmaker Celinda Ingram arrived in Cadence City desperate for a new start. Known for her strong para-resonator abilities, she is able to match up clients by reading their psi waves. It's this talent that sets her body tingling when security specialist Davis Oakes shows up at her office.
A formidable psychic himself, Davis is trying to track down a powerful relic that Celinda supposedly bought as a toy for her pet dust bunny. Trying to wrest the ruby red object from the suspicious duo nearly drains Davis of the energy he'll need to keep his growing desire for Celinda in check--and to keep her safe from those who will do anything to possess the relic...
A formidable psychic himself, Davis is trying to track down a powerful relic that Celinda supposedly bought as a toy for her pet dust bunny. Trying to wrest the ruby red object from the suspicious duo nearly drains Davis of the energy he'll need to keep his growing desire for Celinda in check--and to keep her safe from those who will do anything to possess the relic...
296 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 1, 2007
666 people are currently reading
1520 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Castle
54 books2,158 followersThe author of over 40 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense, often with a psychic and paranormal twist, in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
Pseudonyms:
Jayne Ann Krentz
Amanda Quick
Stephanie James
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass
She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.
Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.
Pseudonyms:
Jayne Ann Krentz
Amanda Quick
Stephanie James
Jayne Bentley
Jayne Taylor
Amanda Glass
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 261 reviews
May 19, 2009
“Dust bunnies rule!!!!!! Jayne Castle is another pseudonym of Jayne Ann Krentz. Jayne Castle books are more futuristic and paranormal. Dust bunnies are pets of the humans inhabitants of the planet Harmony and have captured the hearts of many fans of this series. Just finished this book and thought it was a superb addition to the other Harmony books. Loved Max and Araminta, the two latest dust bunnies to make our acquaintance. Davis and Celinda, hero and heroine, made a great couple. Well plotted and imaginative story. This one is a keeper!
March 18, 2018
The dust-bunnies make the book! The weired relics are so interesting: finding them and learning what they do is the other thing I love in the series.
August 16, 2015
This was a great deal of fun. By now in the series, you should know what to expect. While this series does better than most at keeping each book independent of the others, I'd still recommend at least reading the first two before later volumes. One of the benefits of doing so is that you'll know whether you like these books in general. Castle does a great job maintaining the same tone and general expectations without being predictable or formulaic.
I liked this one much better than the last one. The two main characters were fantastic and I fell for both early and hard. Davis is that perfect blend of competence and caring with all the alpha capability and only brief flashes of trying to tell Celinda what to do—flashes that she was more than willing and able to tell him to stuff it. And I liked Celinda almost as much. She was strong and resolute in the face of serious set-backs, working carefully to recover from a truly horrifying, life-disrupting event. Castle deserves some serious kudos for managing the revelations of Celinda's past trauma in a way that was the perfect crafting of new detail and right moment.
I was worried about Celinda's particular psi talent at first. She reads people's psi energy and that gives her insight into their personalities. There's hints of more being possible. This could easily have been abused by a clumsier author by giving either too much information or conveniently forgetting it to maintain suspense. Castle does a great job of having it remain consistent and still impact the story appropriately. I worried a bit when her talent had her attach to Davis so quickly, but that turned out pretty perfect as well.
And yes, this was another suspense novel, so more of the bad-guy PoV. I didn't mind it in this one, though, because Castle played it pretty straight (that I knew it was coming didn't hurt, either).
And I'm coming to really love the dust bunnies. They're cute and a rather broad gimmick but they have such personality and presence that I fall for them every time. Interestingly, Castle manages to give each one distinctive enough personality even with their limited range of interactions (they're predatory fluff. There's only so much they can do) that I attach to them nearly as much as to the main characters.
Anyway, stronger main characters and an interesting story had me glued to the action throughout. It's a solid four stars pretty much from start to finish.
A note about Steamy: The middle of my steam range. There were three explicit sex scenes though of relatively short length (a page or so).
I liked this one much better than the last one. The two main characters were fantastic and I fell for both early and hard. Davis is that perfect blend of competence and caring with all the alpha capability and only brief flashes of trying to tell Celinda what to do—flashes that she was more than willing and able to tell him to stuff it. And I liked Celinda almost as much. She was strong and resolute in the face of serious set-backs, working carefully to recover from a truly horrifying, life-disrupting event. Castle deserves some serious kudos for managing the revelations of Celinda's past trauma in a way that was the perfect crafting of new detail and right moment.
I was worried about Celinda's particular psi talent at first. She reads people's psi energy and that gives her insight into their personalities. There's hints of more being possible. This could easily have been abused by a clumsier author by giving either too much information or conveniently forgetting it to maintain suspense. Castle does a great job of having it remain consistent and still impact the story appropriately. I worried a bit when her talent had her attach to Davis so quickly, but that turned out pretty perfect as well.
And yes, this was another suspense novel, so more of the bad-guy PoV. I didn't mind it in this one, though, because Castle played it pretty straight (that I knew it was coming didn't hurt, either).
And I'm coming to really love the dust bunnies. They're cute and a rather broad gimmick but they have such personality and presence that I fall for them every time. Interestingly, Castle manages to give each one distinctive enough personality even with their limited range of interactions (they're predatory fluff. There's only so much they can do) that I attach to them nearly as much as to the main characters.
Anyway, stronger main characters and an interesting story had me glued to the action throughout. It's a solid four stars pretty much from start to finish.
A note about Steamy: The middle of my steam range. There were three explicit sex scenes though of relatively short length (a page or so).
December 29, 2025
Re-listen 12/29/2025:
I completely agree with my rave review below. This book is a terrific addition to the wonderful Harmony series. I own the Joyce Bean audiobook version. She does an excellent job.
Review 11/18/2023:
Exciting entry in the Harmony series
Celinda Ingram works as a matchmaker at a premiere agency in Cadence City. Due to her "off the chart" para-resonator abilities, she is able to match up clients far better than almost any other matchmaker on the planet, because she can read their psi waves. Due to this talent, from the moment he walks into her office, she knows that Davis Oakes is her personal Mr. Perfect. His psi waves are compatible with hers in an ideal way.
Davis is a highly experienced PI, who has his own "off the chart" paranormal talent. He has been hired by the boss of the local ghost hunter guild to track down a powerful alien relic that was stolen from the guild. His investigation has tracked down the relic to Celinda, who informs him, when he arrives at her business office, that she bought it as a toy for her dust bunny companion, Araminta. Celinda is willing to provide Davis with the relic, but Araminta shocks both of them when she grabs the relic, as Celinda is handing it to Davis, and dashes away with it.
Davis has never experienced anything remotely as strong as the magnetic physical and psi pull he feels toward Celinda from the moment he lays eyes on her. In spite of the complication of her dust bunny fouling up a vital case with the local guild, he invites her on a date, and is deeply satisfied when she agrees. A high point of the date occurs when they are mutually overcome with their intense attraction to each other and begin kissing frantically in an alley on the way to his car after dinner. But a shockingly unexpected low of their outing occurs when their torrid embrace is interrupted by a ghost hunter assassin, who attempts to murder them. Fortunately, Davis employs his unique ghost hunter talent to save them, but he insists that due to her connection to the valuable relic, it is clear that Celinda needs a bodyguard, and he nominates himself to the task.
I have read this terrific paranormal romance multiple times since it was first released in 2007. Celinda and Davis are both highly sympathetic protagonists. Their paranormal powers compliment each other in fascinating ways. As a really fun addition to the dust bunny motif of this series, Davis has a dust bunny companion, as well, named Max. There are multiple evil villains in this novel, and Celinda, Davis, Araminta, and Max make a terrific team in taking them down.
The Harmony series is my favorite by Jayne Ann Krentz, writing as Jayne Castle. I am currently relistening to the entire series in audiobook format, which is something I do at least every couple of years. These books are treasured keepers for me.
I completely agree with my rave review below. This book is a terrific addition to the wonderful Harmony series. I own the Joyce Bean audiobook version. She does an excellent job.
Review 11/18/2023:
Exciting entry in the Harmony series
Celinda Ingram works as a matchmaker at a premiere agency in Cadence City. Due to her "off the chart" para-resonator abilities, she is able to match up clients far better than almost any other matchmaker on the planet, because she can read their psi waves. Due to this talent, from the moment he walks into her office, she knows that Davis Oakes is her personal Mr. Perfect. His psi waves are compatible with hers in an ideal way.
Davis is a highly experienced PI, who has his own "off the chart" paranormal talent. He has been hired by the boss of the local ghost hunter guild to track down a powerful alien relic that was stolen from the guild. His investigation has tracked down the relic to Celinda, who informs him, when he arrives at her business office, that she bought it as a toy for her dust bunny companion, Araminta. Celinda is willing to provide Davis with the relic, but Araminta shocks both of them when she grabs the relic, as Celinda is handing it to Davis, and dashes away with it.
Davis has never experienced anything remotely as strong as the magnetic physical and psi pull he feels toward Celinda from the moment he lays eyes on her. In spite of the complication of her dust bunny fouling up a vital case with the local guild, he invites her on a date, and is deeply satisfied when she agrees. A high point of the date occurs when they are mutually overcome with their intense attraction to each other and begin kissing frantically in an alley on the way to his car after dinner. But a shockingly unexpected low of their outing occurs when their torrid embrace is interrupted by a ghost hunter assassin, who attempts to murder them. Fortunately, Davis employs his unique ghost hunter talent to save them, but he insists that due to her connection to the valuable relic, it is clear that Celinda needs a bodyguard, and he nominates himself to the task.
I have read this terrific paranormal romance multiple times since it was first released in 2007. Celinda and Davis are both highly sympathetic protagonists. Their paranormal powers compliment each other in fascinating ways. As a really fun addition to the dust bunny motif of this series, Davis has a dust bunny companion, as well, named Max. There are multiple evil villains in this novel, and Celinda, Davis, Araminta, and Max make a terrific team in taking them down.
The Harmony series is my favorite by Jayne Ann Krentz, writing as Jayne Castle. I am currently relistening to the entire series in audiobook format, which is something I do at least every couple of years. These books are treasured keepers for me.
April 29, 2017
Now that I'm used to this series, I am looking less at the weird little quirky things I don't like, and just enjoying the stories. To be honest, the world threw me for a loop at first, but now I feel comfortable in it.
In this book we have Celinda and Davis. He works for a man who had something stolen from him, and she has the item because she found it at junk store and thought it was a toy for her dust bunny. She is perfectly willing to give it back, but her dust bunny is not. So, basically, this whole story revolves (in a way) around dust bunnies which makes me happier than giant hot fudge sundae.
Those two fall in love..blah..blah..blah.. But, let's talk more about dust bunnies. Both Celinda and Davis have one, so we get to see them interact together and it is adorable. Plus, we get to check up on Fuzz from the first book. He's a father now.. That's right, dust bunny babies are about as awesome as pupcubs. I really need to read the rest of this series so I can meet more dust bunnies. I have a feeling that this was planned out by the author and I just have to say to her, "Well played, girlfriend!" cuz there is no way I'm NOT going to read a book with these amazing little creatures in it.
In this book we have Celinda and Davis. He works for a man who had something stolen from him, and she has the item because she found it at junk store and thought it was a toy for her dust bunny. She is perfectly willing to give it back, but her dust bunny is not. So, basically, this whole story revolves (in a way) around dust bunnies which makes me happier than giant hot fudge sundae.
Those two fall in love..blah..blah..blah.. But, let's talk more about dust bunnies. Both Celinda and Davis have one, so we get to see them interact together and it is adorable. Plus, we get to check up on Fuzz from the first book. He's a father now.. That's right, dust bunny babies are about as awesome as pupcubs. I really need to read the rest of this series so I can meet more dust bunnies. I have a feeling that this was planned out by the author and I just have to say to her, "Well played, girlfriend!" cuz there is no way I'm NOT going to read a book with these amazing little creatures in it.
October 3, 2023
3.5
Despite the formulaic plot, such a trademark of this author, I still think the romance could have been more engaging and better done.
Despite the formulaic plot, such a trademark of this author, I still think the romance could have been more engaging and better done.
June 14, 2015
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle
First published: 2007
Length: 441 pages (Large Print)
Setting: Around 200 years in the future on the planet Harmony, cut off from Earth. In Cadence City.
Sex: Very explicit, infrequent
Hero: PI
Heroine: marriage consultant.
Filled with references to Krentz/Castle/Quick's Arcane Society series as well as other Harmony books, Silver Master is yet another enjoyable, quality Krentz/Castle paranormal romance.
Of course, it's much like other books in the series, and a nod to her stand alone 2005 dreams book Falling Awake, leaving not a lot more to say.
Enjoyable, fun, easy to read. A nice combination of sf/f, romance and mystery/suspense.
Harmony:
"Although the first few Harmony titles make no direct mention of Arcane, paranormal ability is evident on Harmony and references to the ancient Society are made in SILVER MASTER and DARK LIGHT. Harmony has now officially joined the Arcane series. In OBSIDIAN PREY (August 25, 2009) you will meet the Sweetwater family, descendants of the mysterious Sweetwaters who first appear in RUNNING HOT. The Sweetwaters are a family of professional assassins who occasionally work for Jones & Jones. Some things still haven’t changed…" Krentz @ Harmony faq http://jayneannkrentz.com/f-a-q/
Book 0.5 Bridal Jitters - Virginia Burch and Sam Gage
Book 1 After Dark - Lydia Smith (Ghost Hunters #1)
Book 2 After Glow - Lydia Smith (Ghost Hunters #2)
Book 3 Ghost Hunter - Cooper Boone and Elly St. Clair (Ghost Hunters #3)
Book 4 Silver Master - Celinda Ingram and Davis Oakes (Ghost Hunters #4)
Book 5 Dark Light - Sierra McIntyre and John Fontana (Ghost Hunters #5)
Book 6 Obsidian Prey - Lyra Dore and Cruz Sweetwater
Book 7 Midnight Crystal - Adam Winters and Marlowe Jones (Arcane #9, Dreamlight Trilogy #3)
Book 8 Canyons of Night - Charlotte Enright and Slade Attridge (Rainshadow #.5, Looking Glass Trilogy #3, Arcane #12)
Book 9 The Lost Night - Rachel Bonner and Harry Sebastian (Rainshadow #1)
Book 10 Deception Cove - Alice North and Drake Sebastian (Rainshadow #2)
Book 11 The Hot Zone - Sedona Snow and Cyrus Jones (Rainshadow #3)
Book 12 Siren's Call - Rafe Coppersmith and Ella Morgan (Rainshadow #4)
References:
Author's website: http://jayneannkrentz.com/silver-master/
(ISBN 9781597225908)
-CR-
First published: 2007
Length: 441 pages (Large Print)
Setting: Around 200 years in the future on the planet Harmony, cut off from Earth. In Cadence City.
Sex: Very explicit, infrequent
Hero: PI
Heroine: marriage consultant.
Filled with references to Krentz/Castle/Quick's Arcane Society series as well as other Harmony books, Silver Master is yet another enjoyable, quality Krentz/Castle paranormal romance.
Of course, it's much like other books in the series, and a nod to her stand alone 2005 dreams book Falling Awake, leaving not a lot more to say.
Enjoyable, fun, easy to read. A nice combination of sf/f, romance and mystery/suspense.
Harmony:
"Although the first few Harmony titles make no direct mention of Arcane, paranormal ability is evident on Harmony and references to the ancient Society are made in SILVER MASTER and DARK LIGHT. Harmony has now officially joined the Arcane series. In OBSIDIAN PREY (August 25, 2009) you will meet the Sweetwater family, descendants of the mysterious Sweetwaters who first appear in RUNNING HOT. The Sweetwaters are a family of professional assassins who occasionally work for Jones & Jones. Some things still haven’t changed…" Krentz @ Harmony faq http://jayneannkrentz.com/f-a-q/
Book 0.5 Bridal Jitters - Virginia Burch and Sam Gage
Book 1 After Dark - Lydia Smith (Ghost Hunters #1)
Book 2 After Glow - Lydia Smith (Ghost Hunters #2)
Book 3 Ghost Hunter - Cooper Boone and Elly St. Clair (Ghost Hunters #3)
Book 4 Silver Master - Celinda Ingram and Davis Oakes (Ghost Hunters #4)
Book 5 Dark Light - Sierra McIntyre and John Fontana (Ghost Hunters #5)
Book 6 Obsidian Prey - Lyra Dore and Cruz Sweetwater
Book 7 Midnight Crystal - Adam Winters and Marlowe Jones (Arcane #9, Dreamlight Trilogy #3)
Book 8 Canyons of Night - Charlotte Enright and Slade Attridge (Rainshadow #.5, Looking Glass Trilogy #3, Arcane #12)
Book 9 The Lost Night - Rachel Bonner and Harry Sebastian (Rainshadow #1)
Book 10 Deception Cove - Alice North and Drake Sebastian (Rainshadow #2)
Book 11 The Hot Zone - Sedona Snow and Cyrus Jones (Rainshadow #3)
Book 12 Siren's Call - Rafe Coppersmith and Ella Morgan (Rainshadow #4)
References:
Author's website: http://jayneannkrentz.com/silver-master/
(ISBN 9781597225908)
-CR-
September 25, 2010
Ok story but I wouldn't recommend buying it.
It sounded creative: humans and pets with psychic abilities and living on another planet, but it felt like a "made-for-tv movie." The book seemed formulaic. The hero and heroine (Davis and Celinda) met, fought and chased the bad guys and ended up in love. I was hoping for creative or witty dialogue which was not there. Nothing surprised or delighted me. The characters seemed like copies of characters from other books. In one scene, Celinda was too whiny for me. Davis was her bodyguard. She had to go to her sister's wedding, and she didn't want him to come. She was complaining about the social awkwardness and everyone asking her questions about him.
CAUTION SPOILER: The violence level was mild. A bad guy died when he accidentally shot himself. Thugs were chasing and trying to kill Davis, but he knocked them unconscious instead of killing them. Other bad guy deaths were told rather than shown.
Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: three. Setting: a time similar to early 21st century on the planet Harmony. Humans had colonized the planet. Copyright: 2007. Genre: paranormal romantic suspense.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For a list of other books by this author that I have reviewed, see my review for Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz aka Jayne Castle, posted 2-9-08.
It sounded creative: humans and pets with psychic abilities and living on another planet, but it felt like a "made-for-tv movie." The book seemed formulaic. The hero and heroine (Davis and Celinda) met, fought and chased the bad guys and ended up in love. I was hoping for creative or witty dialogue which was not there. Nothing surprised or delighted me. The characters seemed like copies of characters from other books. In one scene, Celinda was too whiny for me. Davis was her bodyguard. She had to go to her sister's wedding, and she didn't want him to come. She was complaining about the social awkwardness and everyone asking her questions about him.
CAUTION SPOILER: The violence level was mild. A bad guy died when he accidentally shot himself. Thugs were chasing and trying to kill Davis, but he knocked them unconscious instead of killing them. Other bad guy deaths were told rather than shown.
Sexual language: mild. Number of sex scenes: three. Setting: a time similar to early 21st century on the planet Harmony. Humans had colonized the planet. Copyright: 2007. Genre: paranormal romantic suspense.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
For a list of other books by this author that I have reviewed, see my review for Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz aka Jayne Castle, posted 2-9-08.
October 20, 2018
Well I will never be objective with Jayne's books. While reading this one, I thought it has been too long since my last read of her. Time to change that. :-p
As Always, I loved everything in this book, from the main characters to the dust bunnies.
As Always, I loved everything in this book, from the main characters to the dust bunnies.
May 27, 2021
Silver Master is one of those books that takes you away to another place. You’re not reading, you’re transported into the story, living side by side with the characters—the world-building is that real.
In the Ghost Hunters series, humans are living on Harmony, a planet once occupied by aliens with powerful mental abilities. The remnants of their civilization still exist and resonate, which has allowed humans to develop their para-psy mental abilities. The blending of paranormal and the alien/human world is just fantastic.
So, the story…Celinda is a matchmaker who purchases a trinket as a toy for her pet. It turns out the trinket is an ancient alien artifact that the both the government and the bad guys want. Enter security specialist Davis Oakes, hired by the government to recover the artifact. But when Celinda’s pet runs off with the trinket, and Celinda is targeted by the bad guys, he sticks around to protect her. They have great chemistry together.
There is so much to love about this story--the world-building, the characters, the writing, the adorable “dust bunnies.” The story isn’t overly angsty, but there’s enough conflict and danger to keep the pace moving.
Silver Master is book 4 of the Ghost Hunter series, and I had no problem keeping up with the story. It definitely can be read as a standalone, but now I want to read the rest of the series.
In the Ghost Hunters series, humans are living on Harmony, a planet once occupied by aliens with powerful mental abilities. The remnants of their civilization still exist and resonate, which has allowed humans to develop their para-psy mental abilities. The blending of paranormal and the alien/human world is just fantastic.
So, the story…Celinda is a matchmaker who purchases a trinket as a toy for her pet. It turns out the trinket is an ancient alien artifact that the both the government and the bad guys want. Enter security specialist Davis Oakes, hired by the government to recover the artifact. But when Celinda’s pet runs off with the trinket, and Celinda is targeted by the bad guys, he sticks around to protect her. They have great chemistry together.
There is so much to love about this story--the world-building, the characters, the writing, the adorable “dust bunnies.” The story isn’t overly angsty, but there’s enough conflict and danger to keep the pace moving.
Silver Master is book 4 of the Ghost Hunter series, and I had no problem keeping up with the story. It definitely can be read as a standalone, but now I want to read the rest of the series.
October 31, 2017
In this fourth volume of the Ghost Hunters series, the author returns in some respects to the territory previously explored in her earlier trilogy set on a similar planet with a colony cut off from Earth. Before now, we haven't heard about marriage bureaus despite the fact that Covenant Marriages are for life - on Harmony, Marriages of Convenience allow people to see if they are compatible first. But the heroine in this book is a marriage counsellor.
In the prologue, a woman is attacked in an underground carpark and drugged. It is some time before we discover what happened to her. We switch immediately to the heroine Celinda who is visited by the police - a cameo appearance by Detective Martinez who has been a minor character in previous volumes - in company with Davis Oakes of Oakes Security. It transpires that a small object Celinda purchased in a junk shop for the amusement of her 'companion animal', a dust bunny called Araminta, is connected with the death of a drug addict and small-time thief. The object is actually a relic from the alien ruins which cover much of Harmony, especially underground. It was stolen from the ghost hunter Guild in the city, and the chief of the guild has hired Davis to get it back. (To explain, pyschic powers are routine on Harmony and one of the most important is that of ghost hunting - the ability to control/manipulate the energy clouds which manifest in and around the underground catacombs and which are dangerous to humans. The guild provides protection for anyone who works underground to retrieve alien artefacts, the trade in which is an important part of the economy of Harmony, as well as creating a lot of research jobs in universities.) Most ghost hunters are male as the talent is very bound up with testosterone.
Celinda is about to give Davis the object when her dust bunny, objecting, grabs it and runs off with it. For quite a bit of the story following, they attempt to find out where she has put it, without success. The object of course turns out to have special properties, and a couple of very dangerous people are after it. Various threads are interwoven in the novel: the continued search for the artefact and the evil machinations of those working against them go on alongside the mutual attraction which Celinda and Davis are fighting. They end up attending a family wedding as a couple so that he can provide her with protection, to the surprise of her family. And even there, they are not safe.
In previous volumes, we saw the author expand on the psychic powers developed by the human population since the colony was cut off from Earth, with some individuals not being dependent on amber, the stone which allows most people to focus their psychic power most effectively. We also saw the discovery of an artificial environment underground - rain forests created and left behind by the long-departed aliens. As part of this, came the revelation that some ghost hunters can manipulate energy elsewhere on the spectrum, rather than the normal green light. It transpires that Davis is one of these: he is the Silver Master of the title, and silver light has particular properties which I won't divulge to avoid spoilers. The downside is that to use it heavily doesn't just put him into the normal post burn situation - ghost hunters experience strong sexual desire followed by an irrestible urge to sleep for several hours - it can put him into a coma. His past experience of hospital treatment after such an episode has left him paranoid about the medical profession. Meanwhile, Celinda has her own past traumas to deal with, and her own particular psychic ability, which makes her a good matchmaker - she can pick up on the mental and psychic characteristics of others, and in extremis influence them. We have the usual situation in this series where the characters are strongly attracted to each other, but resist it to the bitter end.
Light relief is provided this time by Davis' partner in the business, a down-to-earth character called Trig, who is reading Celinda's book on how to make a good Covenant Marriage, and the protagonists are a little more developed than in the previous volume, and more interesting as a result. And for double cuteness, both the heroine and the hero have dust bunny 'companions' this time. A 3-star read: satisfying but not spectacular.
In the prologue, a woman is attacked in an underground carpark and drugged. It is some time before we discover what happened to her. We switch immediately to the heroine Celinda who is visited by the police - a cameo appearance by Detective Martinez who has been a minor character in previous volumes - in company with Davis Oakes of Oakes Security. It transpires that a small object Celinda purchased in a junk shop for the amusement of her 'companion animal', a dust bunny called Araminta, is connected with the death of a drug addict and small-time thief. The object is actually a relic from the alien ruins which cover much of Harmony, especially underground. It was stolen from the ghost hunter Guild in the city, and the chief of the guild has hired Davis to get it back. (To explain, pyschic powers are routine on Harmony and one of the most important is that of ghost hunting - the ability to control/manipulate the energy clouds which manifest in and around the underground catacombs and which are dangerous to humans. The guild provides protection for anyone who works underground to retrieve alien artefacts, the trade in which is an important part of the economy of Harmony, as well as creating a lot of research jobs in universities.) Most ghost hunters are male as the talent is very bound up with testosterone.
Celinda is about to give Davis the object when her dust bunny, objecting, grabs it and runs off with it. For quite a bit of the story following, they attempt to find out where she has put it, without success. The object of course turns out to have special properties, and a couple of very dangerous people are after it. Various threads are interwoven in the novel: the continued search for the artefact and the evil machinations of those working against them go on alongside the mutual attraction which Celinda and Davis are fighting. They end up attending a family wedding as a couple so that he can provide her with protection, to the surprise of her family. And even there, they are not safe.
In previous volumes, we saw the author expand on the psychic powers developed by the human population since the colony was cut off from Earth, with some individuals not being dependent on amber, the stone which allows most people to focus their psychic power most effectively. We also saw the discovery of an artificial environment underground - rain forests created and left behind by the long-departed aliens. As part of this, came the revelation that some ghost hunters can manipulate energy elsewhere on the spectrum, rather than the normal green light. It transpires that Davis is one of these: he is the Silver Master of the title, and silver light has particular properties which I won't divulge to avoid spoilers. The downside is that to use it heavily doesn't just put him into the normal post burn situation - ghost hunters experience strong sexual desire followed by an irrestible urge to sleep for several hours - it can put him into a coma. His past experience of hospital treatment after such an episode has left him paranoid about the medical profession. Meanwhile, Celinda has her own past traumas to deal with, and her own particular psychic ability, which makes her a good matchmaker - she can pick up on the mental and psychic characteristics of others, and in extremis influence them. We have the usual situation in this series where the characters are strongly attracted to each other, but resist it to the bitter end.
Light relief is provided this time by Davis' partner in the business, a down-to-earth character called Trig, who is reading Celinda's book on how to make a good Covenant Marriage, and the protagonists are a little more developed than in the previous volume, and more interesting as a result. And for double cuteness, both the heroine and the hero have dust bunny 'companions' this time. A 3-star read: satisfying but not spectacular.
July 5, 2016
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
The summary blurb is a little bit misleading, but then again, not really. So this first sentence was moot.
Much like the previous book in Jayne Castle's Harmony series, Silver Master is a lot of fun to read--entertaining, with great characters, and a hooking story line despite the predictability of it all. The pacing is fast and smooth, so we get into the action right away, just as it seems we do for all other JAK books.
Unfortunately, much like the previous book in this series, Silver Master isn't really all that memorable, I guess, aside from the dust bunnies and the "Great Pink Wedding."
What I DO like about these books--aside from their absurd addictive quality and how well they keep me entertained--is that there are new developments in the Harmony world as each book progresses. Besides a new set of characters and a new crime thriller and a new suspense, we also get new psychic abilities, new discoveries... it beats reading several installments of the same stories about ghost hunters and tanglers exploring the alien catacombs, that's for sure.
So I love that, while the stories are somewhat predictable, the story lines and plot progressions are all unique in their own way, with introductions of new stuff.
Also, I find it hard to dislike books that have adorable critters and those dust bunnies are certainly doing it for me.
The romance was another standard type: Woman with eccentric qualities meets man with similar eccentric qualities, therein changing each other's outlook on their own love lives. Sparks fly, steamy sex happens, Happily Ever After™.
Don't get me wrong, Davis and Celinda are both great individuals, and as per JAK standards, they both also make a great investigating team as well as romantic coupling. There is nothing I can think of that I disliked about the romance. It was just so standard that it doesn't really stand out.
Side characters are always nice, and I'm always intrigued by them and wonder if they will get their own stories. I'm specifically also curious about Detective Alice Martinez, who has thus far graced the pages of every Harmony book so far since After Dark --she gets little scene time in the books as a side character, but her presence is quite strong nonetheless.
The suspense part was predictable, although we don't really have much of a mystery, per se. So most of the suspense parts were really just that, some suspense, some action, some thrill, and some investigation, of sorts.
Overall, Silver Master is another entertaining and enjoyable Jayne Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz) read and I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
***
2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
The summary blurb is a little bit misleading, but then again, not really. So this first sentence was moot.
Much like the previous book in Jayne Castle's Harmony series, Silver Master is a lot of fun to read--entertaining, with great characters, and a hooking story line despite the predictability of it all. The pacing is fast and smooth, so we get into the action right away, just as it seems we do for all other JAK books.
Unfortunately, much like the previous book in this series, Silver Master isn't really all that memorable, I guess, aside from the dust bunnies and the "Great Pink Wedding."
What I DO like about these books--aside from their absurd addictive quality and how well they keep me entertained--is that there are new developments in the Harmony world as each book progresses. Besides a new set of characters and a new crime thriller and a new suspense, we also get new psychic abilities, new discoveries... it beats reading several installments of the same stories about ghost hunters and tanglers exploring the alien catacombs, that's for sure.
So I love that, while the stories are somewhat predictable, the story lines and plot progressions are all unique in their own way, with introductions of new stuff.
Also, I find it hard to dislike books that have adorable critters and those dust bunnies are certainly doing it for me.
The romance was another standard type: Woman with eccentric qualities meets man with similar eccentric qualities, therein changing each other's outlook on their own love lives. Sparks fly, steamy sex happens, Happily Ever After™.
Don't get me wrong, Davis and Celinda are both great individuals, and as per JAK standards, they both also make a great investigating team as well as romantic coupling. There is nothing I can think of that I disliked about the romance. It was just so standard that it doesn't really stand out.
Side characters are always nice, and I'm always intrigued by them and wonder if they will get their own stories. I'm specifically also curious about Detective Alice Martinez, who has thus far graced the pages of every Harmony book so far since After Dark --she gets little scene time in the books as a side character, but her presence is quite strong nonetheless.
The suspense part was predictable, although we don't really have much of a mystery, per se. So most of the suspense parts were really just that, some suspense, some action, some thrill, and some investigation, of sorts.
Overall, Silver Master is another entertaining and enjoyable Jayne Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz) read and I'm looking forward to continuing this series.
***
2016 Reading Challenges:
• Goodreads Reading Challenge
• BookLikes Reading Challenge
February 9, 2012
Let's start with something different this time. I don’t understand the adversity of these heroine toward the Guild. I simply don’t. “Hunters [Guild men] are just glorified mobsters, good enough only to provide not-so-much needed protection underground.” Yeah? I didn’t hear any of the heroines so far protest and diss the Guild while the heroes protected them from becoming ghost bait. But as soon as the danger has passed, let’s go back to bitching about the Guild.
I mean, sure, the organization has some bad eggs, which one doesn’t? That doesn’t mean they’re all bad. Just look at your hero. You let him into your pants, didn’t you? That means he has some redeeming qualities, right?
That aside, this one was yet another great installment in the Harmony series. There are (for now) 8 books in the series and I was starting to wonder just how Ms. Castle would keep it up, keeping the reader interested in the series, when the first two books pretty much explored all there could be explored about the Guild and its men. Yeah, they’re ghost hunters, they manipulate ghost light (the green stuff) and they’re all (at least the heroes) hunky, yummy, mysterious, dangerous types.
I’m sure the next books would sound repetitive (at least in the hero’s ability department), right? Wrong. Because she goes and throws us all a curve ball – first with blue-ghost energy and then with the ‘silver stuff’. Yay! More ‘freaks’ from the other end of the para-spectrum. More, more, please, let’s have more. Beside the hunky, yummy, mysterious and dangerous heroes working all kinds of ghost energy.
So, yeah, another winner in the series if you ask me. Intrigue galore, two (2 !) baddies, a hottie for a hero, a feisty (if slightly judgmental heroine), two (2 !) dust-bunnies (I loved Max more than that spoiled little brat Araminta), great pacing, an invisible brawl scene, hot attraction, even hotter sex, a secretive past on the hero’s side, a secretive past from the heroine’s side...Woohoo! Sit tight and enjoy the ride.
I mean, sure, the organization has some bad eggs, which one doesn’t? That doesn’t mean they’re all bad. Just look at your hero. You let him into your pants, didn’t you? That means he has some redeeming qualities, right?
That aside, this one was yet another great installment in the Harmony series. There are (for now) 8 books in the series and I was starting to wonder just how Ms. Castle would keep it up, keeping the reader interested in the series, when the first two books pretty much explored all there could be explored about the Guild and its men. Yeah, they’re ghost hunters, they manipulate ghost light (the green stuff) and they’re all (at least the heroes) hunky, yummy, mysterious, dangerous types.
I’m sure the next books would sound repetitive (at least in the hero’s ability department), right? Wrong. Because she goes and throws us all a curve ball – first with blue-ghost energy and then with the ‘silver stuff’. Yay! More ‘freaks’ from the other end of the para-spectrum. More, more, please, let’s have more. Beside the hunky, yummy, mysterious and dangerous heroes working all kinds of ghost energy.
So, yeah, another winner in the series if you ask me. Intrigue galore, two (2 !) baddies, a hottie for a hero, a feisty (if slightly judgmental heroine), two (2 !) dust-bunnies (I loved Max more than that spoiled little brat Araminta), great pacing, an invisible brawl scene, hot attraction, even hotter sex, a secretive past on the hero’s side, a secretive past from the heroine’s side...Woohoo! Sit tight and enjoy the ride.
March 31, 2021
Silver Master
4 Stars
A former celebrity matchmaker in Frequency, Celinda Ingram is forced to reinvent herself in Cadence City after a lurid scandal ruined her reputation. But now her livelihood is threatened once again when security specialist Davis Oakes turns up in her office with disturbing information on a mysterious relic that Celinda recently purchased for her dust bunny. It seems that there are several parties interested in the innocuous-looking ruby toy and are willing to go to any lengths to obtain it - even murder.
While the adage "If you've read one, you've read them all" certainly applies to the books in this futuristic romance series, they are, nevertheless, entertaining with unique world-building, engaging characters, and satisfying plots.
Davis and Celinda have an instant connection bordering on "lust at first sight". Nevertheless, an emotional connection develops alongside the physical once they spend more time together. They each have interesting abilities and complement each other very well.
The villains in this installment are at the higher end of the disturbing and creepy scale, and it is good to see them getting their just reward.
The dust bunnies, Araminta and Max, are simply adorable and it worth reading the book just for them.
4 Stars
A former celebrity matchmaker in Frequency, Celinda Ingram is forced to reinvent herself in Cadence City after a lurid scandal ruined her reputation. But now her livelihood is threatened once again when security specialist Davis Oakes turns up in her office with disturbing information on a mysterious relic that Celinda recently purchased for her dust bunny. It seems that there are several parties interested in the innocuous-looking ruby toy and are willing to go to any lengths to obtain it - even murder.
While the adage "If you've read one, you've read them all" certainly applies to the books in this futuristic romance series, they are, nevertheless, entertaining with unique world-building, engaging characters, and satisfying plots.
Davis and Celinda have an instant connection bordering on "lust at first sight". Nevertheless, an emotional connection develops alongside the physical once they spend more time together. They each have interesting abilities and complement each other very well.
The villains in this installment are at the higher end of the disturbing and creepy scale, and it is good to see them getting their just reward.
The dust bunnies, Araminta and Max, are simply adorable and it worth reading the book just for them.
November 18, 2019
It's been quite a while since I read the previous book in the series and I'd forgotten how much I enjoy this world.
This is the story of Celinda, a matchmaker, and Davis, a security specialist.
Celinda, who has had to move after a scandal ruined her career in her hometown, is less than happy to get a visit from a detective and Davis, who is working for the Hunter Guild.
When her dust bunny takes off with the artifact that Davis came to retrieve, the two of them pair up until it can be recovered. The previous owners of the artifact have all turned up dead, and Davis is determined to keep Celinda safe.
The attraction between them is intense and immediate, and although they seem to want different things from life, they can't seem to resist the draw they feel.
Engaging story with likable, well rounded characters and an interesting plot full of romance and mystery in the fascinating world of Harmony. I am looking forward to reading Dark Light next.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Ghost Hunter (Harmony, #3) ~ ★★★★ (04/04/2015)
✦ After Glow (Harmony, #2) ~ ★★★ (10/12/2014)
✦ After Dark (Harmony, #1) ~ ★★★ (20/09/2014)
✦ Bridal Jitters (Harmony, #0.5) ~ ★★★ (19/02/2013)
This is the story of Celinda, a matchmaker, and Davis, a security specialist.
Celinda, who has had to move after a scandal ruined her career in her hometown, is less than happy to get a visit from a detective and Davis, who is working for the Hunter Guild.
When her dust bunny takes off with the artifact that Davis came to retrieve, the two of them pair up until it can be recovered. The previous owners of the artifact have all turned up dead, and Davis is determined to keep Celinda safe.
The attraction between them is intense and immediate, and although they seem to want different things from life, they can't seem to resist the draw they feel.
Engaging story with likable, well rounded characters and an interesting plot full of romance and mystery in the fascinating world of Harmony. I am looking forward to reading Dark Light next.
Previous book reviews:
✦ Ghost Hunter (Harmony, #3) ~ ★★★★ (04/04/2015)
✦ After Glow (Harmony, #2) ~ ★★★ (10/12/2014)
✦ After Dark (Harmony, #1) ~ ★★★ (20/09/2014)
✦ Bridal Jitters (Harmony, #0.5) ~ ★★★ (19/02/2013)
August 3, 2014
Great Addition to the Harmony Series
SILVER MASTER is the fourth book in the Harmony series. The Harmony series is a futuristic paranormal romantic suspense series about an earth colony which was cut off from earth and where psychic abilities have been developing in humans. This book is the story of Celinda Ingram, a matchmaker building a new life after a horrendous scandal. She meets security specialist Davis Oakes when he comes in search of a missing relic. She is determined to stay away from him even while they are deeply attracted to one another. Dangers from Celinda's past and those involving the relic, put Celinda and Davis in danger.
I liked the relationship between Celinda and Davis. Both are nervous about relationships since both were hurt. They also both have unusual talents that are vital to the story. As with the other books in the Harmony series, the characters are strong and independent people that make a good team in order to solve the mystery surrounding them. This book is more action and most of the comedy involves the dust bunnies, Araminta and Max, who provide much of the comedy in the book. I loved how the characters end up working together and how Celinda ends up saving Davis's life. She is an active member of this team with her talent.
This book is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. For fans of the series, however, there are cameo appearances by prior characters that keep the reader in the intricate world that Castle has created.
SILVER MASTER is the fourth book in the Harmony series. The Harmony series is a futuristic paranormal romantic suspense series about an earth colony which was cut off from earth and where psychic abilities have been developing in humans. This book is the story of Celinda Ingram, a matchmaker building a new life after a horrendous scandal. She meets security specialist Davis Oakes when he comes in search of a missing relic. She is determined to stay away from him even while they are deeply attracted to one another. Dangers from Celinda's past and those involving the relic, put Celinda and Davis in danger.
I liked the relationship between Celinda and Davis. Both are nervous about relationships since both were hurt. They also both have unusual talents that are vital to the story. As with the other books in the Harmony series, the characters are strong and independent people that make a good team in order to solve the mystery surrounding them. This book is more action and most of the comedy involves the dust bunnies, Araminta and Max, who provide much of the comedy in the book. I loved how the characters end up working together and how Celinda ends up saving Davis's life. She is an active member of this team with her talent.
This book is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. For fans of the series, however, there are cameo appearances by prior characters that keep the reader in the intricate world that Castle has created.
March 26, 2023
Okay. We're back in Harmony (technically a re-read for me, although I read it long enough ago that I really didn't remember the details about how things played out. Which is kind of neat because it's all new again when that happens.) and THINGS ARE HAPPENING. As you might expect.
This time around we have Celinda and Davis and, well, things aren't easy for them. His talents range down the not-often-seen level of the psi-spectrum. Hers is also a little outside the norm, but not quite at the oddness level his is. Or maybe it's just that she can conceal hers easier within her chosen profession. (Because everybody expects a matchmaker to make good matches, amirite? They just, you know, don't *know* how easy it is for her to match people.)
Anywho. A relic, a couple of sassy dust bunnies, a very bad man (or two), and two people who sort of circle one another warily before deciding to dive on in. Davis doesn't expect Celinda to accept some of the side effects of his ability and Celinda's still trying to shake off the very bad experience that sent her running to Cadence City in the first place. Danger, steam, and sass. Good stuff.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
This time around we have Celinda and Davis and, well, things aren't easy for them. His talents range down the not-often-seen level of the psi-spectrum. Hers is also a little outside the norm, but not quite at the oddness level his is. Or maybe it's just that she can conceal hers easier within her chosen profession. (Because everybody expects a matchmaker to make good matches, amirite? They just, you know, don't *know* how easy it is for her to match people.)
Anywho. A relic, a couple of sassy dust bunnies, a very bad man (or two), and two people who sort of circle one another warily before deciding to dive on in. Davis doesn't expect Celinda to accept some of the side effects of his ability and Celinda's still trying to shake off the very bad experience that sent her running to Cadence City in the first place. Danger, steam, and sass. Good stuff.
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
October 16, 2012
After the horrible scandal in her old town, matchmaker Celinda Ingram tries to make a new life for herself in Cadence City. She's very good at what she does because of her rare para-resonator abilities. Everyone in Harmony has some ability, but hers is particularly strong. Davis Oakes also has a powerful ability which allows him to go invisible. He's tracking a rare artifact and Celinda just happens to have possession of it. Several devious people want to get their hands on it too. Davis has to keep her and the relic safe, but it's difficult when their so perfectly matched for one another.
It was a fast, fun read. The world of Harmony, its history, and unique psychic atmosphere is fascinating. Celinda and Davis are a good team, and their dust bunnies are hilarious. Dark villains and sizzling scenes. Entertaining paranormal romance.
It was a fast, fun read. The world of Harmony, its history, and unique psychic atmosphere is fascinating. Celinda and Davis are a good team, and their dust bunnies are hilarious. Dark villains and sizzling scenes. Entertaining paranormal romance.
December 30, 2020
Read again on may, 4, 2018.
I stand by my words. Easily read, easily forgotten. Purely instalust/love. Fun to read, but really nothing to talk about.
Again, not a bad book in itself, but the insta love made me realize that at the end this author, like many in PNR, choose the easy way out. The couple doesn't fall in love, they are linked by some mystical sh*. So, yes, you read about their adventures (and they are fun!), but as a couple they leave you flat.
There's no real crisis, no pain, no reaction to action (like betraying one's word and someone else trust), no real story.
It's a Harlequin in a futuristica setting. Not for me.
I stand by my words. Easily read, easily forgotten. Purely instalust/love. Fun to read, but really nothing to talk about.
Again, not a bad book in itself, but the insta love made me realize that at the end this author, like many in PNR, choose the easy way out. The couple doesn't fall in love, they are linked by some mystical sh*. So, yes, you read about their adventures (and they are fun!), but as a couple they leave you flat.
There's no real crisis, no pain, no reaction to action (like betraying one's word and someone else trust), no real story.
It's a Harlequin in a futuristica setting. Not for me.
August 5, 2015
This was another fun book in the Harmony series. Overall, I haven't been disappointed in one of these yet. The two lead characters were fun and had good interaction. It's fun to see all the new discoveries and new talents coming to light in Harmony. A solid, enjoyable read.
September 5, 2016
romance for the summer reading program: check!
September 2, 2020
Great Story
I read and enjoy all books by Jayne Ann Krentz in all her pseudom . I especially like the stories that are science fiction. I have read all her books in all her names and enjoyed each and every one of them.
I read and enjoy all books by Jayne Ann Krentz in all her pseudom . I especially like the stories that are science fiction. I have read all her books in all her names and enjoyed each and every one of them.
April 22, 2020
O lectură atractivă și amuzantă, o poveste plină de mister și suspans, din care nu lipsesc aventura și erotismul prezentate adesea cu umor.
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/ser...
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/ser...
March 25, 2019
In the fourth Harmony series book, professional matchmaker Celinda Ingram moves to Cadence City to start her life and her career over. After she buys a small red plastic relic from an antique store, she ends up in the middle of a murder/theft investigation. The thief stole the relic from the local Cadence Guild, so she’s more than willing to give it to the private investigator who showed up at her office. Unfortunately, her pet dust bunny, Araminta, had other plans and absconded with the relic.
Davis Oakes owns a private investigation firm, and it’s up to him to retrieve the relic for his client, CEO/Guild Boss Mercer Wyatt. Sparks of attraction fly when he and Celinda meet, but his guild connections worry her. Davis has some secrets of his own—he’s not a normal ghost hunter—and he definitely has issues when it comes to his heart and to marriage.
Celinda and Davis are perfect for one another. They both needed each other to work through their past traumas and to learn to trust again. When up against the bad guys, they worked together and used their unusual skills to turn the tide in their favor. Not only are they a great couple, Araminta and Davis’s dust bunny, Max, are so cute and totally in love.
This book seemed shorter than the previous ones, but it’s still a full length novel with complete, well thought out plots. Though I like the author’s writing style, the amount of adverbs can be annoying at times, and it’s odd when one character knows something that he/she shouldn’t know. For example, in one scene, Davis knew the secretary’s name when they’ve never met and no one has ever told him the name. He’s not a mind reader, so how does he know it?
I really liked this story and plan to read more in the series.
4 Stars
Disclaimer – I bought this book for my own enjoyment. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
Davis Oakes owns a private investigation firm, and it’s up to him to retrieve the relic for his client, CEO/Guild Boss Mercer Wyatt. Sparks of attraction fly when he and Celinda meet, but his guild connections worry her. Davis has some secrets of his own—he’s not a normal ghost hunter—and he definitely has issues when it comes to his heart and to marriage.
Celinda and Davis are perfect for one another. They both needed each other to work through their past traumas and to learn to trust again. When up against the bad guys, they worked together and used their unusual skills to turn the tide in their favor. Not only are they a great couple, Araminta and Davis’s dust bunny, Max, are so cute and totally in love.
This book seemed shorter than the previous ones, but it’s still a full length novel with complete, well thought out plots. Though I like the author’s writing style, the amount of adverbs can be annoying at times, and it’s odd when one character knows something that he/she shouldn’t know. For example, in one scene, Davis knew the secretary’s name when they’ve never met and no one has ever told him the name. He’s not a mind reader, so how does he know it?
I really liked this story and plan to read more in the series.
4 Stars
Disclaimer – I bought this book for my own enjoyment. I am not paid or compensated in any way, shape, or form for this honest review. I will not change or alter this review for any reason unless at my discretion.
July 30, 2020
Matchmaking And Mastery
Not a fan of "futuristic" stories but I have read and loved everyone of Jayne Castle's. Matchmaker Celinda has something a guild boss wanted. David Oakes is the PI who is hired to find it. If course there is someone else who wants the "relic" from the earth days and will do whatever it takes to possess the artifact. And who doesn't like a story with dust bunnies!!!
Not a fan of "futuristic" stories but I have read and loved everyone of Jayne Castle's. Matchmaker Celinda has something a guild boss wanted. David Oakes is the PI who is hired to find it. If course there is someone else who wants the "relic" from the earth days and will do whatever it takes to possess the artifact. And who doesn't like a story with dust bunnies!!!
September 4, 2020
This book is a very easy read. The heroine, Celinda, works as a matchmaker. She bought an alien artifact that the secretive Guild wants. The Guild is something like the mafia. It's always been one of the two problems I have with this entire series that they are glorified. The other major problem I have is that the settlers on the planet where the story takes place tried to maintain the family structure after they were cut off from Earth was by nearly outlawing divorce. It's only possible if you have an expensive lawyer. This is clearly ridiculous and counter productive. It annoys me every time I read these books. I guess the permanent marriage (there is also an impermanent marriage) creates a romantic finale since the couple are truly together forever.
Davis, our hero and member of a fourth generation Guild family, was hired by the Guild to find the artifact. He and a police detective meet Celinda at her workplace investigating a death that happened outside the antique dealer who had the artifact. While the policewoman is interest in the death, Davis is interested in the artifact. In addition, there is a Guild boss who is trying to capture Celinda because of a grudge.
These books are a quick read, but the world building is interesting. While some books focus on the catacombs, this one is nearly all set above ground.
Davis, our hero and member of a fourth generation Guild family, was hired by the Guild to find the artifact. He and a police detective meet Celinda at her workplace investigating a death that happened outside the antique dealer who had the artifact. While the policewoman is interest in the death, Davis is interested in the artifact. In addition, there is a Guild boss who is trying to capture Celinda because of a grudge.
These books are a quick read, but the world building is interesting. While some books focus on the catacombs, this one is nearly all set above ground.
May 9, 2016
The futuristic Harmony world is made up of humans who came through a "curtain" in space 2 hundred yrs ago. Once there the "curtain" closed and they found that a lot of their artifacts no longer worked. However, they started to develop psychic powers that were enhanced by using tuned amber.
Celinda Ingram is a matchmaker, which is a very important role as once you're married there is no divorce, because Society needed the stability after the 'curtain' closed. Davis Oakes is a PI, working for Mercer Wyatt, head of the Cadence City Ghost Hunter Guild. Think mob boss that has gone straight.
Celinda bought a relic from an antique store that looks like red plastic, for her dust bunny Araminta. It had been stolen from the Guild, and Davis is sent to track it down. Davis also has a dust bunny named Max.
The dust bunnies are not really pets, they lead independent lives and are fantastic. Loyal, eccentric and able to go from grey fluff ball with blue eyes to sleeked out 6 legged predator with sharp teeth in an instant.
As always in a JAK novel there are several plots happening at once, lots of action, kidnappings and weddings and dust bunny eating.
I recommend that anyone wanting to read these books that they start at the beginning just so they don't miss any of the fun.
Celinda Ingram is a matchmaker, which is a very important role as once you're married there is no divorce, because Society needed the stability after the 'curtain' closed. Davis Oakes is a PI, working for Mercer Wyatt, head of the Cadence City Ghost Hunter Guild. Think mob boss that has gone straight.
Celinda bought a relic from an antique store that looks like red plastic, for her dust bunny Araminta. It had been stolen from the Guild, and Davis is sent to track it down. Davis also has a dust bunny named Max.
The dust bunnies are not really pets, they lead independent lives and are fantastic. Loyal, eccentric and able to go from grey fluff ball with blue eyes to sleeked out 6 legged predator with sharp teeth in an instant.
As always in a JAK novel there are several plots happening at once, lots of action, kidnappings and weddings and dust bunny eating.
I recommend that anyone wanting to read these books that they start at the beginning just so they don't miss any of the fun.
July 14, 2021
I really have no idea of the background of the Arcane society and the references to it. This is the first one I've read. I like what I could figure out. I think though I like the idea of a pet dust bunny.
July 13, 2021> I really did not remember this story, and I love Jayne Ann Krentz stories, under any name, an try to read all I can find. Evidentally 1o years ago it was my first JAK novel.
Celinda is a professional matchmaker who was forced into a compromising situation, and her reputation was ruined. She starts over in Cadence, but her past ccatches up with her when her Dust Bunny Armenita manages to convince her to buy a red plastic-looking strip at a pawn shop. However, it is a missing artifact from the crystal caves that run beneath the icity. Now too many want it, the local parapsychologist, the Guild in two cities, and Armenita insists Celinda keeps it in her possession.
July 13, 2021> I really did not remember this story, and I love Jayne Ann Krentz stories, under any name, an try to read all I can find. Evidentally 1o years ago it was my first JAK novel.
Celinda is a professional matchmaker who was forced into a compromising situation, and her reputation was ruined. She starts over in Cadence, but her past ccatches up with her when her Dust Bunny Armenita manages to convince her to buy a red plastic-looking strip at a pawn shop. However, it is a missing artifact from the crystal caves that run beneath the icity. Now too many want it, the local parapsychologist, the Guild in two cities, and Armenita insists Celinda keeps it in her possession.
July 12, 2020
I was a little disappointed at first to see this one was shorter than the others, but it turns out it just didn't require as many pages to convey the story.
I like that books 3 & 4 are expanding on the types of abilities. I got excited because the Arcane Society was mentioned in this one.
Silver Master had the love at first sight trope, but I was mildly annoyed about Davis' blatant hypocrisy toward the beginning. Claiming not to be interested in ever getting married one day, then blatantly stating the opposite the next. He knew he was lying when he said it the first time, because love at first sight trope.
Dust bunny shenanigans are best shenanigans. They were little trouble makers in this one. I love that every dust bunny has a way of accessorizing.
I like that books 3 & 4 are expanding on the types of abilities. I got excited because the Arcane Society was mentioned in this one.
Silver Master had the love at first sight trope, but I was mildly annoyed about Davis' blatant hypocrisy toward the beginning. Claiming not to be interested in ever getting married one day, then blatantly stating the opposite the next. He knew he was lying when he said it the first time, because love at first sight trope.
Dust bunny shenanigans are best shenanigans. They were little trouble makers in this one. I love that every dust bunny has a way of accessorizing.
December 11, 2018
Lots of suspense with some heated romance
Jayne never disappoints. Interesting characters, complex plots, well written and edited...a reader just can’t ask for much else. Lots of history to find out on both characters, things which have made them who they are in this tale. I love the dust bunnies and their connection to the story. I will admit I figured out Arminta’s situation rather early...but that’s about all that I figured out early. Exactly who was the villain is not as much the question as is what will happen next. Suspense and romance set in a different world...well done.
Jayne never disappoints. Interesting characters, complex plots, well written and edited...a reader just can’t ask for much else. Lots of history to find out on both characters, things which have made them who they are in this tale. I love the dust bunnies and their connection to the story. I will admit I figured out Arminta’s situation rather early...but that’s about all that I figured out early. Exactly who was the villain is not as much the question as is what will happen next. Suspense and romance set in a different world...well done.
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