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Ghost Hunters #6
Obsidian Prey
The world of Harmony has its own special glow, thanks to the aliens who left behind powerful amber and twisting underground catacombs. Sparks fly, senses are rezzed, and passion can take you by surprise...
Three months ago, amber tuner and independent prospector Lyra Dore made the find of the decade in an underground rain forest: amethyst ruins. But the very man she was dating stole her claim -- and her heart. At least she has her artistically talented dust bunny, Vincent, to comfort her...
Amber Inc. CEO Cruz Sweetwater never meant to hurt Lyra. His affinity for obsidian amber gives him the ability to sense that she is his true love. But the ruins have mysterious powers, putting everyone involved with the project in danger. Only by trusting their psychic instincts will Cruz and Lyra survive -- and surrender to the desire that binds them.
Three months ago, amber tuner and independent prospector Lyra Dore made the find of the decade in an underground rain forest: amethyst ruins. But the very man she was dating stole her claim -- and her heart. At least she has her artistically talented dust bunny, Vincent, to comfort her...
Amber Inc. CEO Cruz Sweetwater never meant to hurt Lyra. His affinity for obsidian amber gives him the ability to sense that she is his true love. But the ruins have mysterious powers, putting everyone involved with the project in danger. Only by trusting their psychic instincts will Cruz and Lyra survive -- and surrender to the desire that binds them.
351 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 25, 2009
433 people are currently reading
1454 people want to read
About the author
Jayne Castle
55 books2,159 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 271 reviews
May 14, 2017
This book series is just cute and mindless fun. I have to say that if you like the PR that really "brings it" in the sex department, this one is a little bit of a dud in that area. I don't know why, but the sex and romance scenes are not that hot in these books. But, it doesn't suffer because of it, instead there is a lot more "other stuff" going on in place of giant sex scenes. So, don't read it for the smut.
Read it for the dust bunnies! These things are the cutest animal side-kicks ever in a book series. Each one has its own little personality and they all look like balls of fuzz. Our dust bunny in this book is named Vincent and he wears a little beret and paints. I don't know if he only has half an ear on one side of his head because I'm not really sure if dust bunnies have ears, but he did go through a "blue period".
It is, Creepy Guy!! It's totally delightful!
Our couple in this book are Lyra and Cruz. They had been in a relationship a few months ago, but she then found out that he was using her and tricking her to help his company steal an amber mine that she discovered. She was heartbroken and has been pining for him ever since. But, she did dump his ass and even sued his company for their deceptiveness, so she didn't roll over like a weak bitch. Jilly approves.
Revenge is also delightful!
Cruz steps back into Lyra's life. He now needs her help, which is hilarious. He actually expects her to help him?
Oh, but the problem is that people will die if she doesn't help, so she does. But, then Cruz tells her that he wants her back romantically too, and if she went running into his arms, it would have been over for me and Lyra. Luckily, even though she's dreamed of him crawling back to her, she doesn't jump at the chance. She makes things as difficult as possible. Jilly approves again!
"You're going to make this as difficult as possible, aren't you?"
She gave him her most dazzling smile. "I'm certainly going to try."
You go, Lyra! Make him crawl over Lego wearing shorts to kiss your feet and present you with gifts. That's a good start.
Let's just say that Jilly's husband doesn't piss her off very often. He's a wise man.
So, we get their love story while we also have a mystery over who has stolen some artifacts and is killing people.
Overall, the book was fun , like this whole series is. I'm looking forward to the next one.
Read it for the dust bunnies! These things are the cutest animal side-kicks ever in a book series. Each one has its own little personality and they all look like balls of fuzz. Our dust bunny in this book is named Vincent and he wears a little beret and paints. I don't know if he only has half an ear on one side of his head because I'm not really sure if dust bunnies have ears, but he did go through a "blue period".
It is, Creepy Guy!! It's totally delightful!
Our couple in this book are Lyra and Cruz. They had been in a relationship a few months ago, but she then found out that he was using her and tricking her to help his company steal an amber mine that she discovered. She was heartbroken and has been pining for him ever since. But, she did dump his ass and even sued his company for their deceptiveness, so she didn't roll over like a weak bitch. Jilly approves.
Revenge is also delightful!
Cruz steps back into Lyra's life. He now needs her help, which is hilarious. He actually expects her to help him?
Oh, but the problem is that people will die if she doesn't help, so she does. But, then Cruz tells her that he wants her back romantically too, and if she went running into his arms, it would have been over for me and Lyra. Luckily, even though she's dreamed of him crawling back to her, she doesn't jump at the chance. She makes things as difficult as possible. Jilly approves again!
"You're going to make this as difficult as possible, aren't you?"
She gave him her most dazzling smile. "I'm certainly going to try."
You go, Lyra! Make him crawl over Lego wearing shorts to kiss your feet and present you with gifts. That's a good start.
Let's just say that Jilly's husband doesn't piss her off very often. He's a wise man.
So, we get their love story while we also have a mystery over who has stolen some artifacts and is killing people.
Overall, the book was fun , like this whole series is. I'm looking forward to the next one.
February 4, 2015
If you don't enjoy books with a hero who uses a false name to deceive the heroine, steals her property, leaves her basically bankrupt after she tries to sue to get her property back, walks back into her life after he needs something from her, and never apologizes for anything then you'll hate this book. I did. One minute Lyra is shouting to his family that he did all these things (including the lack of apology for any of them) and then next she declares her love for him. HEA.
Since apparently he knew she was his soulmate and true love from the moment they met yet still completely betrays her, I have no idea why she'd think he wouldn't do it again in a heartbeat. At one point he says "I'd never hurt you" and she answers "I know". Based on what? It can't be based on prior experience because he's already hurt her and doesn't see that he did anything wrong.
The plot was only there to set up reasons for Cruz and Lyra to be together and since there's a very limited number of characters and we don't really know them, it doesn't matter who the stalker turns out to be.
Since apparently he knew she was his soulmate and true love from the moment they met yet still completely betrays her, I have no idea why she'd think he wouldn't do it again in a heartbeat. At one point he says "I'd never hurt you" and she answers "I know". Based on what? It can't be based on prior experience because he's already hurt her and doesn't see that he did anything wrong.
The plot was only there to set up reasons for Cruz and Lyra to be together and since there's a very limited number of characters and we don't really know them, it doesn't matter who the stalker turns out to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2019
One of her worst stories. She's all right when she remains in the stupid and fluffy, but as soon as she touches some points or feelings that should not be taken in this mood, she comes out as unreadable, fake, irritating.
The problem is you can't write off betrayal and lies like they are details, not main points. The main consequence is that the heroine comes out as robotic, fake, a character drawn by the numbers rather than real.
All the plot was problematic in its stupidity and Pollyannish nightmare. Yes, I understand... , no, honestly I really can't: he is not a law officer, he's a private business owner who earns his living out of amber. So even if he's on the right side of the law, what he did is unforgivable. He lies to her so he can manipulate her, and even if what he did it's what the law says should be done, it's still unacceptable. (I am the heroine here)
And buying a few paintings does not cover the fact he has financially destroyed her (or helped her to do it). But nothing of those points is really reflected in the story. She pines, she ignores, she makes a quib. Nothing else. It's the elephant in the room. The problem is that it should be a rotten one, instead you are given the Disney version, the dancing one in a pink tutu. WTH
And the shallowness of her friend Nancy was chilling to me.
I had a real problem in accepting and therefore reading this book. And I found all his family insistence on her breaking his heart highly offensive.
The ending is the final nail in the coffin, she humiliates herself but not once he does. Nor does he moves from his position of power.
This book left a real sour taste in my mouth.
The problem is you can't write off betrayal and lies like they are details, not main points. The main consequence is that the heroine comes out as robotic, fake, a character drawn by the numbers rather than real.
All the plot was problematic in its stupidity and Pollyannish nightmare. Yes, I understand... , no, honestly I really can't: he is not a law officer, he's a private business owner who earns his living out of amber. So even if he's on the right side of the law, what he did is unforgivable. He lies to her so he can manipulate her, and even if what he did it's what the law says should be done, it's still unacceptable. (I am the heroine here)
And buying a few paintings does not cover the fact he has financially destroyed her (or helped her to do it). But nothing of those points is really reflected in the story. She pines, she ignores, she makes a quib. Nothing else. It's the elephant in the room. The problem is that it should be a rotten one, instead you are given the Disney version, the dancing one in a pink tutu. WTH
And the shallowness of her friend Nancy was chilling to me.
I had a real problem in accepting and therefore reading this book. And I found all his family insistence on her breaking his heart highly offensive.
The ending is the final nail in the coffin, she humiliates herself but not once he does. Nor does he moves from his position of power.
This book left a real sour taste in my mouth.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 22, 2015
This book wasn't really successful, to me. I mean, I liked it well enough and wasn't ever tempted to simply stop, but it felt flat all the same. If you've read any of the others in the series, then you'll know what to expect. And you really shouldn't start with this one because it's one of the least of them.
The thing is that while Cruz and Lyra are excellent romantic leads, the actual romance really concluded three months before the book starts. Which might have made for an interesting "former lovers" story except that each still knows that they love the other so there's really never any actual tension. Indeed, if anything, there's just so much exasperation as you wait for them to talk it out, finally, and admit they're still in love. Not that either really ever doubts...
So an uninteresting romance, but does the mystery hold up? Sadly, not terribly well. This was more mystery than suspense, so it was appropriate that we didn't get much more than a scene or two from outside perspectives. And even those not from any of the actual conspirator(s). Unfortunately, the mystery wasn't terribly mysterious, relying mainly on information constraint to keep the reader unknowing (i.e. the discovery of new information is the key to unraveling the mystery rather than a discovery that puts the known information in a new light).
Anyway, this was a two and a half star read with, again, the dust bunny impelling a round up. Again, I liked Lyra and Cruz and that kept me interested enough. It just didn't engage my mystery or romance interest along the way.
A note about Steamy: Middle of my steam tolerance. There were two explicit scenes, though neither was terribly remarkable.
The thing is that while Cruz and Lyra are excellent romantic leads, the actual romance really concluded three months before the book starts. Which might have made for an interesting "former lovers" story except that each still knows that they love the other so there's really never any actual tension. Indeed, if anything, there's just so much exasperation as you wait for them to talk it out, finally, and admit they're still in love. Not that either really ever doubts...
So an uninteresting romance, but does the mystery hold up? Sadly, not terribly well. This was more mystery than suspense, so it was appropriate that we didn't get much more than a scene or two from outside perspectives. And even those not from any of the actual conspirator(s). Unfortunately, the mystery wasn't terribly mysterious, relying mainly on information constraint to keep the reader unknowing (i.e. the discovery of new information is the key to unraveling the mystery rather than a discovery that puts the known information in a new light).
Anyway, this was a two and a half star read with, again, the dust bunny impelling a round up. Again, I liked Lyra and Cruz and that kept me interested enough. It just didn't engage my mystery or romance interest along the way.
A note about Steamy: Middle of my steam tolerance. There were two explicit scenes, though neither was terribly remarkable.
April 16, 2011
I picked this one up on a whim, because after 2 years I finally found my library's paperback section (I'm shy, I don't like to ask questions). I decided to branch out from my usual historical romances after a particularly bad rash of classic "trashy" romance novels left me with a bad taste (probably roofies). While this book certainly had a take-charge heroine who wasn't actually sexually assaulted by the male lead (yay!), it was really not *quite* as original as I had hoped it would be from reading the back.
Futuristic setting? Check. Psychic powers? Check. Alien technology? Check. Alien life-form as loyal, cuddly pet that is more than it seems? Check. Strong female character who doesn't need a man to be complete except that she is just fooling herself and needs a man to be complete? Check. Alpha male who is sensitive to the heroine's feelings except when he is keeping secrets from her to protect her from his enemies/his past/his secret/herself? Check.
I think despite all this (I don't read romances expecting them to be unpredictable, the same way I don't read horror and expect it to be uplifting) the only reason it got 3 stars instead of 4 is that there wasn't enough sex for me. I like more sex in my romance novels, and while this does get a bonus for having psychically connected sex (I'm a sucker for soulmates), it just wasn't quite as steamy as I was hoping.
All in all, it was a fun book, and I may in fact pick up the other books in this series sometime from the library now that I know exactly what to expect.
Futuristic setting? Check. Psychic powers? Check. Alien technology? Check. Alien life-form as loyal, cuddly pet that is more than it seems? Check. Strong female character who doesn't need a man to be complete except that she is just fooling herself and needs a man to be complete? Check. Alpha male who is sensitive to the heroine's feelings except when he is keeping secrets from her to protect her from his enemies/his past/his secret/herself? Check.
I think despite all this (I don't read romances expecting them to be unpredictable, the same way I don't read horror and expect it to be uplifting) the only reason it got 3 stars instead of 4 is that there wasn't enough sex for me. I like more sex in my romance novels, and while this does get a bonus for having psychically connected sex (I'm a sucker for soulmates), it just wasn't quite as steamy as I was hoping.
All in all, it was a fun book, and I may in fact pick up the other books in this series sometime from the library now that I know exactly what to expect.
June 25, 2016
Reread June 2016
I love this series of futuristic romantic suspense. The heroine is always plucky. The hero is always the HERO. Love conquers all. And the dust bunny makes the icing on this delicious cake of a tale. Especially this particular dust bunny, the famous painter Chimera. Don’t ask. Read the story.
May 29, 2012
I've been OD-ing on Jayne Castle - read 6 of her Harmony novels and 3 of St. Helens during the last couple of months. This one is Harmony #6, although it's not really a series. The novels don't share a protagonist, just the world. All of them are futuristic romances. All of them combine sci-fi atmosphere (the action takes place on another planet), plot elements of mystery or thriller, and a huge dose of romance. The resulting brew is a delightful read; quick and effortless. No thinking required. A pleasure as always. I'm going to read #7 soon.
I love this series of futuristic romantic suspense. The heroine is always plucky. The hero is always the HERO. Love conquers all. And the dust bunny makes the icing on this delicious cake of a tale. Especially this particular dust bunny, the famous painter Chimera. Don’t ask. Read the story.
May 29, 2012
I've been OD-ing on Jayne Castle - read 6 of her Harmony novels and 3 of St. Helens during the last couple of months. This one is Harmony #6, although it's not really a series. The novels don't share a protagonist, just the world. All of them are futuristic romances. All of them combine sci-fi atmosphere (the action takes place on another planet), plot elements of mystery or thriller, and a huge dose of romance. The resulting brew is a delightful read; quick and effortless. No thinking required. A pleasure as always. I'm going to read #7 soon.
January 1, 2026
Re-listen 12/31/2025:
I really enjoyed my revisit to this wonderful paranormal romance. I completely agree with my rave review below.
Review from 12/2/2023:
Fantastic addition to the Ghost Hunters series
Lyra Dore has several powerful paranormal abilities related to a rare type of amber, amethyst. Her day job is as an amber tuner, but by channeling her psychic ability through amethyst amber, she can do a specialized type of tuning of amber to the personal psychic profile of the user.
Three months ago, with the assistance of her dust bunny companion, Vincent, she made the discovery of a lifetime as an independent prospector in the alien underworld, an ancient, alien amethyst ruin. Soon after, she began dating a handsome, psychically powerful man named Cruz. She did not find out his real last name until she had fallen in love with him, and he had participated in her claim being legally stolen from her by the powerful Sweetwater mining family. He is Cruz Sweetwater, head of security for the Sweetwater Corporation. She accepted no excuses from Cruz but kicked him out of her life and beggared herself taking the Sweetwaters to court, fighting to regain the rights to her claim. She inevitably, ultimately lost, and at the start of the story she has not seen Cruz for three whole months. Until the day he walks back into her life and, instead of falling on his knees and begging forgiveness for betraying her, asks for a big favor on behalf of Sweetwater Corporation. He needs her to rescue some members of the Sweetwater scientific research team, who have gotten trapped behind a deadly, amethyst energy storm that only she can tame.
I love the entire Ghost Hunters, paranormal, romantic-suspense series, but this particular book is one of my top favorites. I adore both Lyra and Cruz, who are well matched, equally strong people. I greatly enjoyed that the main source of romantic conflict between them is the well motivated one of the competing loyalties of Cruz between his love for Lyra and love for his family. It is also intriguing to me that the Sweetwaters are a lineage that appear multiple times within the Arcane Society series. As always, the dust bunny character, which is a motif throughout this series, is a terrific addition to this story as well.
I have read this book many times over the years since it was first released, and I will read it many times again in the future. It is a real keeper.
I really enjoyed my revisit to this wonderful paranormal romance. I completely agree with my rave review below.
Review from 12/2/2023:
Fantastic addition to the Ghost Hunters series
Lyra Dore has several powerful paranormal abilities related to a rare type of amber, amethyst. Her day job is as an amber tuner, but by channeling her psychic ability through amethyst amber, she can do a specialized type of tuning of amber to the personal psychic profile of the user.
Three months ago, with the assistance of her dust bunny companion, Vincent, she made the discovery of a lifetime as an independent prospector in the alien underworld, an ancient, alien amethyst ruin. Soon after, she began dating a handsome, psychically powerful man named Cruz. She did not find out his real last name until she had fallen in love with him, and he had participated in her claim being legally stolen from her by the powerful Sweetwater mining family. He is Cruz Sweetwater, head of security for the Sweetwater Corporation. She accepted no excuses from Cruz but kicked him out of her life and beggared herself taking the Sweetwaters to court, fighting to regain the rights to her claim. She inevitably, ultimately lost, and at the start of the story she has not seen Cruz for three whole months. Until the day he walks back into her life and, instead of falling on his knees and begging forgiveness for betraying her, asks for a big favor on behalf of Sweetwater Corporation. He needs her to rescue some members of the Sweetwater scientific research team, who have gotten trapped behind a deadly, amethyst energy storm that only she can tame.
I love the entire Ghost Hunters, paranormal, romantic-suspense series, but this particular book is one of my top favorites. I adore both Lyra and Cruz, who are well matched, equally strong people. I greatly enjoyed that the main source of romantic conflict between them is the well motivated one of the competing loyalties of Cruz between his love for Lyra and love for his family. It is also intriguing to me that the Sweetwaters are a lineage that appear multiple times within the Arcane Society series. As always, the dust bunny character, which is a motif throughout this series, is a terrific addition to this story as well.
I have read this book many times over the years since it was first released, and I will read it many times again in the future. It is a real keeper.
March 4, 2017
Lyra Dore is an amber tuner and three months ago, after she'd discovered an amethyst amber ruin, the man she was dating, Cruz Sweetwater, betrayed her and stole her discovery. Now, he's back, but only because he needs help with the amber ruin. She's disappointed in herself when she realizes that, despite how much he hurt her, she still kind of hoped he'd wanted to reconcile. Turns out, he still does, but now she doesn't trust his motives. Cruz is actually from a line of people who know their "mates" and have a psychic bond with them. Cruz knows that Lyria is his future wife, but he has to earn back her trust and convince her he loves her. Oh, and there's a suspense plot involving missing amber relics and thievery and murder.
So this is my least favorite of this series thus far, primarily because the author creates problem-filled relationships and doesn't resolve them well enough. Here you have Cruz, who basically lied to Lyra, dating her in order to find out where the amber ruins she found was and then taking it over once he found it. To compound things she tried to sue him but his lawyers destroyed hers. So after that, despite all the chemistry in the world, I am honestly surprised that she let him anywhere near her or that he thought he had any chance of winning her back. So I figured, the author is going to have to do some fancy footwork to get them out of this. Only she didn't really. They succumb to their chemistry pretty early on and Lyra gets a lot of good snipes in about Cruz and his business, but she basically forgives him for it. And it kills me because he never really apologizes for any of it. That's what I hated about Cruz. Also the fact that we, as readers, never really get to feel his emotions or how much he supposedly loves Lyra. Yeah, he loves her so much that he completely discounts how much he hurt her, he let's her impoverish herself trying to sue him and never once looks at things with the lens of, "What can I do to make Lyra happy?" It's always, "What can I do to make her mine again?" So I had a REALLY tough time believing that Cruz was in any way sorry and his excuses about protecting her sounded like excuses. And maybe, throughout the story, if Lyra hadn't been as upset about it, I wouldn't have been as upset about it and I wouldn't have cared so much about Cruz's lack of good grovel.
So this is my least favorite of this series thus far, primarily because the author creates problem-filled relationships and doesn't resolve them well enough. Here you have Cruz, who basically lied to Lyra, dating her in order to find out where the amber ruins she found was and then taking it over once he found it. To compound things she tried to sue him but his lawyers destroyed hers. So after that, despite all the chemistry in the world, I am honestly surprised that she let him anywhere near her or that he thought he had any chance of winning her back. So I figured, the author is going to have to do some fancy footwork to get them out of this. Only she didn't really. They succumb to their chemistry pretty early on and Lyra gets a lot of good snipes in about Cruz and his business, but she basically forgives him for it. And it kills me because he never really apologizes for any of it. That's what I hated about Cruz. Also the fact that we, as readers, never really get to feel his emotions or how much he supposedly loves Lyra. Yeah, he loves her so much that he completely discounts how much he hurt her, he let's her impoverish herself trying to sue him and never once looks at things with the lens of, "What can I do to make Lyra happy?" It's always, "What can I do to make her mine again?" So I had a REALLY tough time believing that Cruz was in any way sorry and his excuses about protecting her sounded like excuses. And maybe, throughout the story, if Lyra hadn't been as upset about it, I wouldn't have been as upset about it and I wouldn't have cared so much about Cruz's lack of good grovel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 12, 2012
Argh! Sooner or later, even in a series this good, there's always a bad egg somewhere. Obsidian Prey is one of those bed eggs for the Harmony series.
Not because of the story, because it was great overall. Not for the intrigue, mystery or suspense. Not even for the villain. And especially not for the hero, because I simply loved Cruz and now I want to read Quicksilver again (I love those Sweetwater men).
No, my bad-egg-theory derives from the fact I utterly hated the heroine, the bitch with the warped logic. Lyra made all the other previous, annoying heroines with their adversity toward the Guild and the hunters, look like fairytale princesses. This one was judgmental, sarcastic beyond the point of feisty, stubborn, raised on poison by her bitter grandfather, and so stupidly she blind she didn't see what was in front of her nose.
I couldn't stand her to the point I wished someone would stab/shoot/strangle/drown/etc. her and replace her with some other woman. Someone with a bit more sense, at least.
So I sort of squinted and squirmed through the scenes she was in, not a great reading experience, let me tell you, and somehow made it through the book without throwing it against the wall or through the window. She didn't even become likable in the end.
So this one gets three stars, because of the plot, the pacing, the suspense, and the hero.
Not because of the story, because it was great overall. Not for the intrigue, mystery or suspense. Not even for the villain. And especially not for the hero, because I simply loved Cruz and now I want to read Quicksilver again (I love those Sweetwater men).
No, my bad-egg-theory derives from the fact I utterly hated the heroine, the bitch with the warped logic. Lyra made all the other previous, annoying heroines with their adversity toward the Guild and the hunters, look like fairytale princesses. This one was judgmental, sarcastic beyond the point of feisty, stubborn, raised on poison by her bitter grandfather, and so stupidly she blind she didn't see what was in front of her nose.
I couldn't stand her to the point I wished someone would stab/shoot/strangle/drown/etc. her and replace her with some other woman. Someone with a bit more sense, at least.
So I sort of squinted and squirmed through the scenes she was in, not a great reading experience, let me tell you, and somehow made it through the book without throwing it against the wall or through the window. She didn't even become likable in the end.
So this one gets three stars, because of the plot, the pacing, the suspense, and the hero.
January 6, 2024
Another good book with great characters from Ms. Krentz. Her males are always so . . . well, male - not only macho but clueless when it comes to women. Cruz Sweetwater definitely is stumbling around in the dark when it comes to Lyra Dore. I particularly liked Lyra's taunts and comebacks throughout the book. She could really hold a grudge and rightfully so. It was easy to see both sides of the argument, but Cruz was definitely off to a bad start in this relationship, and I liked the way Ms. Krentz did not have Lyra just sluff it off after a few pages. I did feel that this book was more Arcane Society than Harmony, but that didn't keep me from thoroughly enjoying it - multiple times. This genre is one of my favorites and no one does it like Ms. Krentz, although there are a few that I love from other authors as well, like The Restoree by Anne McCaffery. When one reads as much Krentz as I do, one finds that the themes start repeating themselves, but I've always said, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." It works. I don't need originality anymore. I do wish she'd go back and write sequels to some of her other books in this genre, however, and not just stick to Harmony. She has created many wonderful worlds that are exhilarating to visit - so far by re-reading, but it would be nice to get something new in the future from the worlds she created in Amaryllis, Zinnia, and Orchid and/or the ones from Sweet Starfire, Crystal Flame, and Shield's Lady. Well, let's face it. I won't be happy until she's writing six or seven books a year. Sigh.
September 11, 2012
why can't I give less than one star? I haven't read a book this bad in a long time.
November 5, 2017
Obsidian Prey is number 6 in the Harmony series, set on a human colony planet, 200 years after it was cut off from contact with Earth. The inhabitants have developed psychic powers, fostered by the psychic energy which emanates from the alien ruins around which every human settlement is based. And in the last few books, the author has also introduced some additional powers which do not depend on the mineral called amber, which most people use to focus their psychic energies. Continuing this theme, the hero is a descendant of one of the families who are part of the Arcane Society, and who came to Harmony as colonists, and uses the obsidian of the title as his focusing stone of choice. This book, in fact, makes explicit the connection between this series and the Arcane Society books, which had been eluded to in earlier books, especially the one preceding this.
As the story opens, Lyra is at loggerheads with Cruz Sweetwater, member of the powerful Sweetwater family. His family have been involved in the amber trade for genearations, and he heads up their security branch. Lyra has a grudge against the Sweetwaters, stemming from when her grandfather was supposedly swindled out of his amber mine in a poker game by Cruz's grandfather. Three months ago, she and Cruz were having an affair, but then she found out he was actually trying to find out the location of some alien ruins she had discovered. These ruins contained various artefacts made from the rare amethyst amber, with which Lyra, an amber tuner of great skill, has a particular affinity, and she had attracted Cruz's attention by trying to sell some of the artefacts on the black market. His parent company moved in and took the mine from her, as she refused to accept the compensation offered and instead started a law suit, which she has had to abandon due to lack of funds.
Cruz comes back into Lyra's life when five people become trapped in the ruins by an energy field, which only she, being an amethyst adept, can dispel. He confines in her that the 'accident' was deliberate - someone has stolen an amethyst artefact from the Sweetwater laboratories and murdered a lab tech in the process. He and Lyra join forces, albeit with a lot of friction, to find out who is committing the crimes and seemingly trying to frame Lyra. Meanwhile, Lyra has been dealing with her own issues, as she has been having strange distorted hallucinations and an unknown admirer has been sending her very expensive orchids.
This wouldn't be a Harmony novel without a cute dust bunny or two, and here we have Vincent who, in accordance with his name, turns out to be an artist. Lyra and a friend who runs a gallery have a mini scam going, selling Vincent's paintings without letting on that the reclusive artist is not human, something she justifies on the grounds that the law suit left her broke.
I liked the heroine in this novel because she works hard, with her hands, which is a bit of a change from the usual female protagonist businesswoman working in more refined professions. Lyra routinely goes into the catacombs and the underground jungle environment and explores, looking for amber. She has been raised by her grandfather which may explain part of the toughness of her character. I did find it a bit disconcerting at first to have a hero whose name is one letter away from sounding rather unfortunate, then worked out it was meant to be like Tom Cruz's surname and pronounced that way. As usual, we have a mixture of murder mystery, Harmony weirdness, a couple who have issues, and cute furry animals. A likeable 3-star read.
As the story opens, Lyra is at loggerheads with Cruz Sweetwater, member of the powerful Sweetwater family. His family have been involved in the amber trade for genearations, and he heads up their security branch. Lyra has a grudge against the Sweetwaters, stemming from when her grandfather was supposedly swindled out of his amber mine in a poker game by Cruz's grandfather. Three months ago, she and Cruz were having an affair, but then she found out he was actually trying to find out the location of some alien ruins she had discovered. These ruins contained various artefacts made from the rare amethyst amber, with which Lyra, an amber tuner of great skill, has a particular affinity, and she had attracted Cruz's attention by trying to sell some of the artefacts on the black market. His parent company moved in and took the mine from her, as she refused to accept the compensation offered and instead started a law suit, which she has had to abandon due to lack of funds.
Cruz comes back into Lyra's life when five people become trapped in the ruins by an energy field, which only she, being an amethyst adept, can dispel. He confines in her that the 'accident' was deliberate - someone has stolen an amethyst artefact from the Sweetwater laboratories and murdered a lab tech in the process. He and Lyra join forces, albeit with a lot of friction, to find out who is committing the crimes and seemingly trying to frame Lyra. Meanwhile, Lyra has been dealing with her own issues, as she has been having strange distorted hallucinations and an unknown admirer has been sending her very expensive orchids.
This wouldn't be a Harmony novel without a cute dust bunny or two, and here we have Vincent who, in accordance with his name, turns out to be an artist. Lyra and a friend who runs a gallery have a mini scam going, selling Vincent's paintings without letting on that the reclusive artist is not human, something she justifies on the grounds that the law suit left her broke.
I liked the heroine in this novel because she works hard, with her hands, which is a bit of a change from the usual female protagonist businesswoman working in more refined professions. Lyra routinely goes into the catacombs and the underground jungle environment and explores, looking for amber. She has been raised by her grandfather which may explain part of the toughness of her character. I did find it a bit disconcerting at first to have a hero whose name is one letter away from sounding rather unfortunate, then worked out it was meant to be like Tom Cruz's surname and pronounced that way. As usual, we have a mixture of murder mystery, Harmony weirdness, a couple who have issues, and cute furry animals. A likeable 3-star read.
July 4, 2018
Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later in my foray into the world of Harmony, a tale that just didn't rez with me. It's funny though because individually I liked both characters. I mean I really liked Lyra, she was tough, smart, talented, and resilient. Cruz didn't seem so bad except that he needed to be brought up to snuff and he never quite made it. I don't blame him, he was dealt a terrible hand in his backstory and then it wasn't handled in a way that would generate any sympanthy for the character. Although Lyra finally had enough and had her moment at the end, I was ready to picth the book across the room myself if another Sweetwater mentioned how heartbroken Cruz was. Seriously. He deserved everything that he got, and did nothing, at any point to try and rectify the situation, no apology, or explanation, or attempt to reconcile.
Aside from the bedroom chemistry and the fact that "Sweetwater men recognize their true mates...", I'm really struggling to see how Lyra and Cruz are a good match. There certainly didn't seem to be a lot of give and take in the relationship, they didn't complement each other or work together to achieve a common goal, in fact, it seemed to me that Cruz was happy to take whatever Lyra offered without much consideration for her at all. He was needlessly overbearing and he never seemed to have faith in or trust Lyra and her abilities. If his ultimate motive was to win/protect Lyra it didn't come across that way.
Perhaps, the "relationship" suffers from having the reader dropped into it three months after it had met an untimely demise, though I don't really think that is it, at least not for me. The "betrayal" is brought up again, and again, and again but no real motive for it was given other than he "did what he thought he had to do". Let me tell you, after lying about who he was, beginning a romance under false pretenses, orchestrating the takeover of the ruins that she had discovered, allowing her to bankrupt herself in a lawsuit over said ruins, and then only reinitiating contact after three months becasue he needed a favour the very first words out of his mouth should have been "I'm sorry". There aren't enough Amythest Orchids in the world to make up for the way he behaved, and he never even tried to redeeem himself, which is what truly irritated me, especially since Lyra brings it up over and over again. Even if the reader were inclined to forgive and forget, it wasn't possible. I guess it was a pitfall in trying to convey the gravity of the betrayal that had occurred.
Oh, and don't even get me started on all the Sweetwater and Dore family history, it just added an unneccessary complication to an overly complicated tale (though, in retrospect it could have worked for the story if they had skipped the romantic history of the couple, had Lyra betrayed by someone else in the Sweetwater empire, and then had her meet Cruz for the first time when he had to come begging her to help his workers who were trapped in the ruin, against his family's wishes - he would still have to overcome the betrayal, it just wouldn't have been quite so personal, the feuding families plot point would have been relevant, and he wouldn't have started the story with the deck stacked quite so high against him because he wouldn't have treated his soul mate in such a terrible manner).
All in all, the story was okay, not the best in the series but even that is better than a lot of romances out there. If for no other reason, read it for Vincent, the dust bunny, who was adorable.
Aside from the bedroom chemistry and the fact that "Sweetwater men recognize their true mates...", I'm really struggling to see how Lyra and Cruz are a good match. There certainly didn't seem to be a lot of give and take in the relationship, they didn't complement each other or work together to achieve a common goal, in fact, it seemed to me that Cruz was happy to take whatever Lyra offered without much consideration for her at all. He was needlessly overbearing and he never seemed to have faith in or trust Lyra and her abilities. If his ultimate motive was to win/protect Lyra it didn't come across that way.
Perhaps, the "relationship" suffers from having the reader dropped into it three months after it had met an untimely demise, though I don't really think that is it, at least not for me. The "betrayal" is brought up again, and again, and again but no real motive for it was given other than he "did what he thought he had to do". Let me tell you, after lying about who he was, beginning a romance under false pretenses, orchestrating the takeover of the ruins that she had discovered, allowing her to bankrupt herself in a lawsuit over said ruins, and then only reinitiating contact after three months becasue he needed a favour the very first words out of his mouth should have been "I'm sorry". There aren't enough Amythest Orchids in the world to make up for the way he behaved, and he never even tried to redeeem himself, which is what truly irritated me, especially since Lyra brings it up over and over again. Even if the reader were inclined to forgive and forget, it wasn't possible. I guess it was a pitfall in trying to convey the gravity of the betrayal that had occurred.
Oh, and don't even get me started on all the Sweetwater and Dore family history, it just added an unneccessary complication to an overly complicated tale (though, in retrospect it could have worked for the story if they had skipped the romantic history of the couple, had Lyra betrayed by someone else in the Sweetwater empire, and then had her meet Cruz for the first time when he had to come begging her to help his workers who were trapped in the ruin, against his family's wishes - he would still have to overcome the betrayal, it just wouldn't have been quite so personal, the feuding families plot point would have been relevant, and he wouldn't have started the story with the deck stacked quite so high against him because he wouldn't have treated his soul mate in such a terrible manner).
All in all, the story was okay, not the best in the series but even that is better than a lot of romances out there. If for no other reason, read it for Vincent, the dust bunny, who was adorable.
August 31, 2009
Jayne Ann Krentz has always brought a quirky and somewhat light-hearted touch to all her novels, and this one, under her pseudonym Jayne Castle, is no exception. It takes place in the future on Harmony, a planet colonized by people from Earth who travelled through a "curtain" in which to reach it. But the curtain closed with no warning, stranding the colonists who, two hundred years later, not only survived but thrived by adapting to the unique situation open to them. Lyra and Cruz are at odds with each other but there's no doubt they belong together. Vincent, Lyra's pet dust bunny provides the comic relief with his artistic predilection. Dust bunnies, a little animal so named because of its resemblance to a bundle of lint, are predators that for some people make wonderful and loyal pets. Sporting two sets of eyes, one set is only used for hunting. But beware, once you've seen the second set, it's too late. The Arcane Society is introduced here, making way for the new Arcane Society trilogy that will span all of Krentz's time periods: her historic romantic suspense under the name Amanda Quick, as well as her Krentz and Castle contemporary and futuristic romantic suspense. Can't wait.
September 14, 2024
Lyra is an amber-tuner and independent prospector who discovered a stash of incredibly rare and powerful amber. Cruz is a member of a huge and powerful family that also works with amber and takes the find away from her. However, before he does so, they fall in love. After he does so, she sues him until she runs out of money and has to abandon the suit. He comes to her again when he needs help with the find. Both are descendents of the Arcane Society though Lyra doesn't know she is. Both have strong pychic abilities that are unusual. Lyra also has a dust bunny named Vincent who paints (and there is quite a market for his work).
September 26, 2010
A great example of how quickly and efficiently you can build a new world (although granted Jayne Castle is building this world off of the success of the Arcane series). I like any book that makes a dust bunny a pet!
June 1, 2017
Actual Rating: 3.5 Stars
As has been with all of Jayne Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz)'s Harmony books, I immensely enjoyed Obsidian Prey. The writing style is smooth and easy to read, the story line is straight forward, the progression is fast-paced, and the characters are fun.
I love me some dust bunnies! They are my mascot and I really, really want to create a stuffed dust bunny of my own! Although, while I DID love our resident dust bunny in this book, I can't say that Vincent really stood out from the other dust bunnies from previous books. HOWEVER, I do love that each of our bunnies has their own unique style and personality; the entire world of Harmony is like a playground to them.
I enjoyed the entire "Dust bunny as mysterious, new, and celebrated artist" thing going in this book. I thought it was adorable.
Our human characters, however, were less relatable. Lyra was standard--feisty, stubborn, etc.... I DID like the whole "Dore luck" thing, because it reflects life so well. Cruz was standard--broody, alpha, stubborn, demanding... etc.... But there really wasn't much about him that I did like, even if the whole "Sweetwaters take their romance very seriously" thing was kind of intriguing, if also kind of tacky. Because Cruz was kind of a jackass in the beginning, and even as the story progressed, he didn't really stop being a jackass, he just managed to add some charm into his jackass personality.
I liked the other young Sweetwater male we get to meet, Jeff, a whole lot more; he who wants to quit the family business and be part of real law enforcement so he can help fight for the little people--the people who can't afford major security companies like Amber Inc., run by the Sweetwaters, geared towards the wealthy.
I like every time we uncover continued connections between Arcane Society and Harmony. I like the new developments of different paranormal talents.
The suspense part of the book--mysterious hallucinations, a murder in the background, stolen artifacts, hired thugs--were a little lacking, I felt. The romance was also a bit lukewarm, compared to previous romances in this series.
And, really that's all I can come up with. It's not a memorable book, truth be told, though it was an enjoyable one while it lasted.
***
Booklikes-opoly
Roll #14: (See Also: Memorial Weekend Extra Roll Activities)
This book it tagged 'science fiction' on GR.
Page Count: 351
Cash Award: +$3.00
Updated Bank Balance: $64.00
As has been with all of Jayne Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz)'s Harmony books, I immensely enjoyed Obsidian Prey. The writing style is smooth and easy to read, the story line is straight forward, the progression is fast-paced, and the characters are fun.
I love me some dust bunnies! They are my mascot and I really, really want to create a stuffed dust bunny of my own! Although, while I DID love our resident dust bunny in this book, I can't say that Vincent really stood out from the other dust bunnies from previous books. HOWEVER, I do love that each of our bunnies has their own unique style and personality; the entire world of Harmony is like a playground to them.
I enjoyed the entire "Dust bunny as mysterious, new, and celebrated artist" thing going in this book. I thought it was adorable.
Our human characters, however, were less relatable. Lyra was standard--feisty, stubborn, etc.... I DID like the whole "Dore luck" thing, because it reflects life so well. Cruz was standard--broody, alpha, stubborn, demanding... etc.... But there really wasn't much about him that I did like, even if the whole "Sweetwaters take their romance very seriously" thing was kind of intriguing, if also kind of tacky. Because Cruz was kind of a jackass in the beginning, and even as the story progressed, he didn't really stop being a jackass, he just managed to add some charm into his jackass personality.
I liked the other young Sweetwater male we get to meet, Jeff, a whole lot more; he who wants to quit the family business and be part of real law enforcement so he can help fight for the little people--the people who can't afford major security companies like Amber Inc., run by the Sweetwaters, geared towards the wealthy.
I like every time we uncover continued connections between Arcane Society and Harmony. I like the new developments of different paranormal talents.
The suspense part of the book--mysterious hallucinations, a murder in the background, stolen artifacts, hired thugs--were a little lacking, I felt. The romance was also a bit lukewarm, compared to previous romances in this series.
And, really that's all I can come up with. It's not a memorable book, truth be told, though it was an enjoyable one while it lasted.
***
Booklikes-opoly
Roll #14: (See Also: Memorial Weekend Extra Roll Activities)
This book it tagged 'science fiction' on GR.
Page Count: 351
Cash Award: +$3.00
Updated Bank Balance: $64.00
June 21, 2023
UPDATE: I recently purchased the audiobook of OBSIDIAN PREY, narrated by Joyce Bean. Bean does a wonderful job voicing the various characters (both male and female) as I imagined, successfully pulling me and keeping me engaged in the story. I have enjoyed OP as a book. I enjoyed the audio even more.
ORIGINAL POST ~
I have previously read this entire series; its one of my favorites in the Future Fantasy Paranormal genre. This is book #6 in a series by Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle (in her future period Paranormal novels). Do check out her web page for reading order; it’s a bit complicated (Jayne Ann Krentz >Harmony series). Each book can certainly be read as a stand-alone but JC makes slight references to previous novels’ characters that can be better enjoyed if read in order.
OBSIDIAN PREY ~
On the planet of Harmony, the underground catacombs provide jobs and careers for many of the inhabitants. Lyra Dore/h is an independent amber prospector. More than 3 months ago she discovered an amethyst ruin in the underground rainforest. Soon afterward Cruz Sweetwater/H, CEO of Amber Inc managed to take control of the find, claiming it was too dangerous for her to keep it and study the relics herself - due to underground gangs, thieves, and other riff-raff. Lyra was furious & sued his mega company, to no avail. The story of OP begins 3 mos later when Cruz Sweetwater approaches Lyra for assistance in a matter involving the Amber mine he now controls. Ha!
I love the fantasy setting JC creates on Harmony, the characters are compelling and likable, the situations fun, and the dialogue is snappy and humorous (rather than angst-filled). OBSIDIAN PREY is a fun novel in JCs Harmony series which have no cliffhangers and end in HEAs. I recommend the series and OBSIDIAN PREY for readers who enjoy light fantasy, futuristic, paranormal or alien genre novels. These have a touch of humor with independent, smart, capable heroines. The men are sometimes arrogant but they are men of integrity. Intimacy occurs within committed relationships.
October 21, 2010
I haven't liked Jayne Castle's (akaJayne Krentz/Amanda Quick) science fiction as much as her other stuff, but this book finally worked for me. I enjoyed this book for both the romance and suspense elements. The characters remind me of most of her characters, but the situational interplay between them in this story created a nice dynamic. Basically, three months before the book began, he edged his way into her life under cover, lied to her, and cheated her out of a big archaeological find. Kind of an interesting place to start, and at first I wasn't sure how it would play out but it worked well.
The more books I read in this series, the more I am liking the world building as well. I think I was unconvinced by it in the first book I read because it came at me as a huge info dump and I was a little put off that this is basically the same suspense/romance with an other-world backdrop. But, then I figured, why not? And her world is pretty fun. The colonists on her world were cut off from earth two centuries ago when a curtain that temporarily linked the two worlds closed. Now the colonists live in world with basically 21st century technology, but it's powered in different ways. The world is also swimming in alien catacombs and ruins that have secrets yet to be discovered. The only real problem I have with the world building is that I'm not convined by her system of marriage. I get her argument that the colonists wanted to make the family unit important, but I don't see how created a two-tiered marriage system helps. The marriage of convenience is nothing more than a legally recognized affair which, if you're unlucky with birth control and get pregnant, instantly becomes the covenant marriage which cannot be broken as long as their are minor children around. (Kind of sucks if anyone's getting abused but hey, let's not overanalyze.)
Anyway, I would recommend this if you like romance or suspense or science fiction, and especially if you enjoy this author.
The more books I read in this series, the more I am liking the world building as well. I think I was unconvinced by it in the first book I read because it came at me as a huge info dump and I was a little put off that this is basically the same suspense/romance with an other-world backdrop. But, then I figured, why not? And her world is pretty fun. The colonists on her world were cut off from earth two centuries ago when a curtain that temporarily linked the two worlds closed. Now the colonists live in world with basically 21st century technology, but it's powered in different ways. The world is also swimming in alien catacombs and ruins that have secrets yet to be discovered. The only real problem I have with the world building is that I'm not convined by her system of marriage. I get her argument that the colonists wanted to make the family unit important, but I don't see how created a two-tiered marriage system helps. The marriage of convenience is nothing more than a legally recognized affair which, if you're unlucky with birth control and get pregnant, instantly becomes the covenant marriage which cannot be broken as long as their are minor children around. (Kind of sucks if anyone's getting abused but hey, let's not overanalyze.)
Anyway, I would recommend this if you like romance or suspense or science fiction, and especially if you enjoy this author.
March 28, 2023
Okay. So I'm backtracking a little reading-wise (because I read this series out of order for reasons unknown to me) and I'm meeting the Sweetwater clan. Well, mostly we're meeting Cruz, but his family is hovering on the periphery. Lamenting his broken-hearted state. Family, amirite?!?!
But before we get to the family aspect, let's talk about Lyra and Cruz. She was burned by the Sweetwaters - specifically, Cruz - after they stole her claim out from under her and she's made no bones about what they did. She's been shouting it from the rooftops and into the ears of the media since it happened. Which makes things a little difficult for Cruz since he really only did what he did to keep her safe. Not that she knew that at the time, but there you go.
Which means he had a rough road ahead of him when it came to convincing her he really only had her best interests at heart. Also, the fact that she's the only person in the area who can work amethyst amber and he needs her for a job makes things look even more suspect. But the guy has guts and intuition and he sets out to prove whatever Lyra needs him to prove so she'll give him another chance.
A little danger, a case of side-dealing, a couple of scorching kisses, and a family that bemoans Cruz's broken heart whenever they get the chance. Which, for the record, Lyra doesn't appreciate. Good stuff!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
But before we get to the family aspect, let's talk about Lyra and Cruz. She was burned by the Sweetwaters - specifically, Cruz - after they stole her claim out from under her and she's made no bones about what they did. She's been shouting it from the rooftops and into the ears of the media since it happened. Which makes things a little difficult for Cruz since he really only did what he did to keep her safe. Not that she knew that at the time, but there you go.
Which means he had a rough road ahead of him when it came to convincing her he really only had her best interests at heart. Also, the fact that she's the only person in the area who can work amethyst amber and he needs her for a job makes things look even more suspect. But the guy has guts and intuition and he sets out to prove whatever Lyra needs him to prove so she'll give him another chance.
A little danger, a case of side-dealing, a couple of scorching kisses, and a family that bemoans Cruz's broken heart whenever they get the chance. Which, for the record, Lyra doesn't appreciate. Good stuff!
-Kelly @ Reading the Paranormal
October 6, 2009
The planet Harmony was cut off from Earth centuries before these stories take place. The descendants have developed a culture based on amber as a power source. Psychic powers are developing more each year. Indigenous creatures called 'dust bunnies' are pairing up with humans...
Before the story begins, the heroine made a 'find' in the catacombs. The hero - acting in everyone's best interest at least in his opinion - takes control of it away from her because 'it might be dangerous'. The heroine has an attitude [not an unjustifiable reaction to the situation:] and the hero feels his decisions were the right ones. Now things have gone wrong at the site and he wants her help. She'd like to tell him to take a hike but there are lives at stake...
A good read although not an epic one. This one also emphasizes the Arcane Society which she is writing about in her Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick incarnations. Vince the artistic dust bunny is another winner.
The first three could probably be read in any order but the last ones really need to be sequential or the reader will become fairly confused.
Harmony World series
1. Bridal Jitters (2005)
2. After Dark (2000)
3. After Glow (2004)
4. Ghost Hunter (2006)
5. Silver Master (2007)
6. Dark Light (2008)
7. Obsidian Prey (2009)
Harmony (omnibus) (2002)
Midnight Crystal (2010) (with Jayne Ann Krentz)
Before the story begins, the heroine made a 'find' in the catacombs. The hero - acting in everyone's best interest at least in his opinion - takes control of it away from her because 'it might be dangerous'. The heroine has an attitude [not an unjustifiable reaction to the situation:] and the hero feels his decisions were the right ones. Now things have gone wrong at the site and he wants her help. She'd like to tell him to take a hike but there are lives at stake...
A good read although not an epic one. This one also emphasizes the Arcane Society which she is writing about in her Jayne Ann Krentz and Amanda Quick incarnations. Vince the artistic dust bunny is another winner.
The first three could probably be read in any order but the last ones really need to be sequential or the reader will become fairly confused.
Harmony World series
1. Bridal Jitters (2005)
2. After Dark (2000)
3. After Glow (2004)
4. Ghost Hunter (2006)
5. Silver Master (2007)
6. Dark Light (2008)
7. Obsidian Prey (2009)
Harmony (omnibus) (2002)
Midnight Crystal (2010) (with Jayne Ann Krentz)
November 16, 2009
I am a true blue Jayne Ann Krentz fan. Once I read her, way back when, I fell in love with her leap-off-the-page characters. Obsidian Prey is another of her excellent paranormal futristic books, set in the world of Harmony. I'm intrigued by the personality she imbues in the sidekicks, often using the native fluffballs known as dustbunnies. In this book, the dustbunny has a painting hobby that features in the plot.
This book ties in with her Arcane series, both in the Amanda Quick line and her contmporary books penned under her own name. I was intrigued by the Sweetwater clan when I met them in an earlier book, so it was good to have more exposure to them here.
The leads, Cruz and Lyra, dance around the fact that they get each other on every level because of the high-handed way he stole her find of the century. It seems everyone wants a piece of the amethyst ruins but only Lyra can tap into their true value, making her a most sought after commodity.
The book was fast paced and certainly held my attention.
This book ties in with her Arcane series, both in the Amanda Quick line and her contmporary books penned under her own name. I was intrigued by the Sweetwater clan when I met them in an earlier book, so it was good to have more exposure to them here.
The leads, Cruz and Lyra, dance around the fact that they get each other on every level because of the high-handed way he stole her find of the century. It seems everyone wants a piece of the amethyst ruins but only Lyra can tap into their true value, making her a most sought after commodity.
The book was fast paced and certainly held my attention.
February 15, 2015
Obsidian Prey by Jayne Castle.
Gak, gak, gak! The female lead character is so icky that I almost couldn't finish the book. Lyra Dore is a mix of a stupid historical female and Eeyore. "That damn Dore luck!" She blames everything that doesn't go right in her life on her "Dore luck". Let's get real, at some point it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The reader makes Dore sound like Betty Boop and an idiot.
Fortunately I read books later in the series first or I probably wouldn't continue to read this series. Later in the series some of the female leads are stronger, more independent and smarter.
I do like the world Castle has built, it's kind of funny how the words "amber", "dust bunny" and "rez" are used in common phrases from earth.
Gak, gak, gak! The female lead character is so icky that I almost couldn't finish the book. Lyra Dore is a mix of a stupid historical female and Eeyore. "That damn Dore luck!" She blames everything that doesn't go right in her life on her "Dore luck". Let's get real, at some point it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.
The reader makes Dore sound like Betty Boop and an idiot.
Fortunately I read books later in the series first or I probably wouldn't continue to read this series. Later in the series some of the female leads are stronger, more independent and smarter.
I do like the world Castle has built, it's kind of funny how the words "amber", "dust bunny" and "rez" are used in common phrases from earth.
September 5, 2009
Lyra and Cruz had a passionate bond, but it was shattered. Cruz's mysterious company took over a valuable discovery by Lyra, an alien ruin. In that discovery are artifacts more dangerous than anyone could have guessed. It takes the special talents of both Lyra and Cruz, plus Lyra's dust bunny Vincent, to stop their power-hungry opponents. I enjoyed the way Lyra managed the social occasions in which powerful men vied against each other.
The Harmony series remains a fun, light, sexy read. OBSIDIAN PREY is more successful IMO than the earlier Harmony book SILVER MASTER. I buy each of the new books in this series as they come out, and read them within a few days of buying.
The Harmony series remains a fun, light, sexy read. OBSIDIAN PREY is more successful IMO than the earlier Harmony book SILVER MASTER. I buy each of the new books in this series as they come out, and read them within a few days of buying.
October 18, 2016
Maybe I shouldn't have binged on books from this series one after another since they all basically feature the same character types in similar situations and they've all blended together in my mind so that I can't even recall which ones I read over the last week and a half.
In their defense though, I think they'd be less repetitive/monotonous and more quick, mindless fun if read with some hiatus between them.
In their defense though, I think they'd be less repetitive/monotonous and more quick, mindless fun if read with some hiatus between them.
May 5, 2017
Ugh. She put up this huge stink about the stolen amber ruin and instead of getting it back she marries the guy who stole it from her.
Two villains this time, not working on the same villainous project, that's new.
Cute romance but other than that it was a standard Jayne Castle book. I'm all caught up now, no more gaps in my knowledge, onto the new novel that just came out!
Two villains this time, not working on the same villainous project, that's new.
Cute romance but other than that it was a standard Jayne Castle book. I'm all caught up now, no more gaps in my knowledge, onto the new novel that just came out!
April 22, 2020
Situaţii extreme, cu rezolvari de-a dreptul surprinzătoare, trădări, crime, iubiri împlinite – constituie ingredientele acestei uimitoare poveşti care nu poate fi lăsată din mână de la prima până la ultima pagină.
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/ser...
Recenzia mea:
https://www.delicateseliterare.ro/ser...
December 4, 2017
I liked this story the most so far out of the Ghost Hunters series and that probably has to do with the strong ties it has to the Arcane Series, which I loved. I always wanted a story about the Sweetwater family and this was great. The only thing I didn't love was the very ending with the couple.
November 19, 2014
Typical book by Jayne Ann Krentz. A bit naïve heroine and her very alpha-man love interest. The mystery part was not bad.
February 14, 2021
This was almost a 5 star book but I really feel cheated out of a good ending. It was ok, it was rushed and very fast and unlike her normal endings. I'll write a full review later, but quickly, the heroine found some ruins, the hero is part of the company that would take over sites like that one, and they were dating at the time so it makes the betrayal extra hard.
His side is that she's operating in the grey area of the law and his company would have wound up with the project no matter what, so by doing it this way, he is able to protect her from the black market criminals who would have found her site.
He's not wrong, and she can see that, but she feels completely betrayed and sues his company. She loses big time, but it's worth it rather than taking a settlement. She knows it's her site and he stole it from her.
I LOVE a good betrayal plot/second chances romance. They are my favorite. But this one just...I think what missed for me was that he never really apologized. There was no grovel. The ending was abrupt and rushed and it felt like something was missing. She finally told him hey look, you broke my heart, this isn't about money or fame...it really hurt me. And he was bemused and happy that she actually loved him...and they ended there with I love yous. I felt like...we've spent the whole book waiting for him to acknowledge that while he might have been right legally to do what he did, as her boyfriend? It really sucked and he hurt her.
Okay this wasn't as quick as I'd intended, but seriously this bothered me! I still enjoyed it, and it didn't ruin the book for me or anything, but I was disappointed that it was glossed over even though it was the main motivation for the heroine and mentioned often. I also wish we'd seen more from that part of their relationship where he was undercover and betrayed her. I wonder if it's maybe in the book before this one? I'll have to check.
All in all, very typical story of Castle/Krentz, and fits well in the series.
His side is that she's operating in the grey area of the law and his company would have wound up with the project no matter what, so by doing it this way, he is able to protect her from the black market criminals who would have found her site.
He's not wrong, and she can see that, but she feels completely betrayed and sues his company. She loses big time, but it's worth it rather than taking a settlement. She knows it's her site and he stole it from her.
I LOVE a good betrayal plot/second chances romance. They are my favorite. But this one just...I think what missed for me was that he never really apologized. There was no grovel. The ending was abrupt and rushed and it felt like something was missing. She finally told him hey look, you broke my heart, this isn't about money or fame...it really hurt me. And he was bemused and happy that she actually loved him...and they ended there with I love yous. I felt like...we've spent the whole book waiting for him to acknowledge that while he might have been right legally to do what he did, as her boyfriend? It really sucked and he hurt her.
Okay this wasn't as quick as I'd intended, but seriously this bothered me! I still enjoyed it, and it didn't ruin the book for me or anything, but I was disappointed that it was glossed over even though it was the main motivation for the heroine and mentioned often. I also wish we'd seen more from that part of their relationship where he was undercover and betrayed her. I wonder if it's maybe in the book before this one? I'll have to check.
All in all, very typical story of Castle/Krentz, and fits well in the series.
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