A Date to Die For by E.V. Hunter

Alexi Ellis is leaving London to hang out with her best friend and she's bringing along her feline with an attitude, Cosmo. She just got cut from the journalism job that she loves, her ex knowing about it and not telling her was just icing on the cake. So, now she's in a small town, living in a hotel, and wondering about a local woman who has disappeared.
While looking into it, she runs into a private investigator, Jack Maddox. The two team up to try and figure out exactly what happened to Natalie.
The characters were a little flat and I feel like there is going to be a build up to Jack and Alexi having Twu Lurv but there was something that just didn't quite fit for me. Will probably read the next book in the series but may wait a bit to do so.

The Hopgood Hall Murder Mysteries

Three stars

This book came out February 3, 2023

Followed by A Contest to Kill For

Borrowed as ebook from Kindle Unlimited

Opinions are my own

Perfect Partners by Jayne Ann Krentz

When Charlie Thornquist dies and leaves Thornquist Gear to his niece Leticia (Letty), Joel Blackstone is in a fury. While Charlie was off fishing, Joel was the one to build Thornquist Gear into a burgeoning empire.  It was understood that Charlie would be selling the company to Joel in a year (we hear about it a lot.)  And now Letty wants to use the company to reinvent herself or somesuch nonsense. A former librarian from Indiana, she's chucked the cheating fiance and has decided to throw her hand in at being a businesswoman. And wants Joel to be her mentor. But Joel is also wrestling with the seeds of revenge that are finally coming to fruition. He is about to take down Victor Copeland, the man who killed his father. 

I go back and forth on how to rate this book. Joel does seem like a jerk but, at the same time, he's spent so much time of his own building up the company. Then this librarian from Indiana (ha!) comes in and wants to use his company to change her life. Is the romance a little thin? Maybe. But the scene with Letty's ex barging into Joel's office makes me smile every time I read it.

Three stars
This book came out in 1992

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus catalog

Opinions are my own

Trust No One by Jayne Ann Krentz

When she was a teenager, Grace Elland stumbled onto a murder scene and rescued a child. An incident that left the killer dead. But now she's found another murder victim, that of her employer, Sprague Witherspoon, a motivational speaker.

The current murder investigation get entangled when the chief of police introduces her to Julian Arkwright at a blind date. The chief is married to graces best friend and they both think she need some companionship. As long as it turns out that she isn't a murderer.

Julian and Grace are drawn to each in ways that are more than just physical. Grace hires Julian is her consultant and Julian allows Grace to help him punch up his "Speech from Hell." But somebody sending Grace some nasty emails and now they're upping their game. So it's time for Julianne to step in and help Grace figure out exactly what's going on.

The story was very reminiscent of many of Krentz's older stories - in the very best ways. This book reminded me of why I love this author so much and why I continue to read all of her books under whatever name she's writing.

Three and a half stars

This book came out January 6, 2015

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Prime

Opinions are my own

Family Man by Jayne Ann Krentz

Katy Wade is the personal assistant for Justine Gilchrist, head of the Gilchrist food empire. Justine gave Katy a job when her parents died so Katy feels indebted to her. To the rest of the Gilchrist family, not so much. Even (especially?) the one Gilchrist Katy doesn't know. Justine disowned his father when he ran away with his secretary leaving a socialite bride at the altar. But Justine needs Luke now, he's the only one who can save the floundering company. And Katy is the one who gets him to come. But what will happen when he gets there?

This was one of the earlier romance novels I read so it's hard for me to separate that joy from what I read now but I think it holds up.

Four stars

This book came out in 1992

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

Falling Awake by Jayne Ann Krentz

Isabel Wainwright has just been fired. She worked for a dream lab as a Level 5 extreme dream analysis. Her former boss had postulated that there were five levels of dreaming with very few people who are able to reach the fifth level. So far, Isabel is the only analyst they know of. There is an unnamed government agency who has been using Level Five dreamers to solve particularly nasty crimes. Isabel then interprets their more enigmatic dreams.

But her boss has died and his son fires Isabel. She is frantic since she just spent a lot of money on some very expensive furniture. Eventually she ends up asking her sister's husband, who runs a motivational center, for a job as one of his teachers.
The romance aspect comes in to play when one of Isabel's client, Ellis Cutler, who she had privately dubbed as "Dream Man," finds her and tries to draw her into the unnamed government agency. But he's not the only one who wants her expertise. There's someone else who is willing to kill to make sure Isabel doesn't leave with Ellis.

Four stars

This book came out September 30, 2004

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

Truth or Dare by Jayne Ann Krentz

I like this second book in the Whispering Springs series. 

Zoe Luce married Ethan Truax in the last book in order to be safe from being returned to the mental hospital she escaped. In this book, her fellow escapee, Arcadia Ames is the target. Her presumed-dead husband, Grant Loring, is back and wants the information about his shady business dealings that Arcadia tucked away. Zoe and Ethan have to help out Arcadia, deal with their own professional problems and try to balance their own marriages.

Whispering Springs #2

Three stars

Follows Light in Shadows

This book came out September 1, 2003

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Plus

Opinions are my own

Wildest Hearts by Jayne Ann Krentz

When Daniel Lyncroft, the head of Lyncroft Unlimited, disappeared in a plane crash some time ago. His creditors are getting restless but his sister Annie doesn't want to sell his company; she knows that he is alive. So she's pulling her nuclear option, contacting his former employer, Oliver Rain. Everyone knows that he not pulled his own family's company from the brink of disaster several years ago, he multiplied their fortunes by quite a bit. He's invested in Daniel's company so it's in his best interests to make sure that the company doesn't fail. So Annie proposes a marriage of convenience.

It is possible that some of my enjoyment of this book is nostalgia but I still like that both Annie and Oliver are able to grow in this story. Oliver becomes a little less rigid while Annie becomes a bit less naive.

Four stars

This book came out in 1993

Borrowed as audiobook from Audible Prime

Opinions are my own

The Night Island by Jayne Ann Krentz

Though this is the second book in a series, there is not much overlap with the book before and stands alone nicely. In this book, we are following Talia (one of three presenters on the Lost Night podcast.) She has been given a tip from a woman named Phoebe who purports to have a list of other people who have been experimented on. But when Talia shows up at the cabin, no Phoebe. But there is a Luke Rand and he also wants the list. In fact, he tries to hold Talia psychically to see if she knows where the list is. Talia manages to break free and also manages to find a pendant that she knows will lead her to Phoebe.

The search will take she and Luke to a San Juan island where they will have to pretend to be a couple. They go under the guise of attending a meditation retreat but they aren't interested. Luckily, the retreat is just a cover for some more nefarious happenings. 

Like usual, there are a LOT of things happening in this story. And you think you get to the end but then there's another end. And another. This book didn't sound as much like Krentz as she has added some current-ish phrases. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 9, 2024

Follows Sleep No More

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread as audiobook from Libby March 2024

Sleep No More by Jayne Ann Krentz

This book starts seemingly somewhat in the middle of the story. Some major things have already happened to Pallas Llewellyn and Ambrose Drake before they meet. One of the things involves Pallas meeting her two friends Talia March and Amelia Rivers who we do not get to see much of at all in this book and, even knowing their books are coming, I was sad not to see more interactions to tie the series together.

Pallas is one of a trio of podcasters who investigate interesting cases. She is in town because Ambrose has contacted her. Her own past is complicated by a lost night that amplified her psychic powers. 

Ambrose has his own lost night and his family believes it is driving him mad. But he knows that someone died in a mental hospital and he wants help. Pallas... will be that help. 

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 3, 2023

Followed by The Night Island

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own 

Reread as audiobook January 2023

Full Bloom by Jayne Ann Krentz

In her late twenties, Emily Ravenscroft is finally feeling like she is coming into her own. She's been under her family's thumb for too long. But this is the last straw, chasing off a man she wasn't even seeing. If her parents or brother had bothered to ask, she would have let them know. Worst of all, they brought back their favorite enforcer, Jacob Stone, who Emily once had an unrequited crush on. 

Jacob Stone has left the Ravenscroft's employ but he came back to help out when he heard it was for Emily. Now a grown woman, Jacob is ready to be with the woman he's always adored. 

This is definitely an eighties book with a masterful man though the woman isn't quite so helpless. Lots of misunderstandings though that drove me nuts.

Two and a half stars

This book came out in 1988

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Lost and Found by Jayne Ann Krentz

Cady Briggs works with antiquities but that isn't the reason her great aunt Vesta left her the majority of shares in her company. The gallery is about to be a part of a big merger and one of Cady's cousins is the CEO of Chatelaine. So, why did Vesta leave those shares to Cady only? In fact, Vesta's death seems very mysterious. But Cady has a secret weapon: Mack Easton. They've worked together to uncover antiques and then verify them before. Mack knows the business and he knows Cady. Plus, he's her Fantasy Man.

Some of Krentz's stories age well. I would not lump this one in with them. Not just the technology but the attitudes of the characters and some of the secondary characters.

Three stars

This book came out November 1, 2001

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Trust Me by Jayne Ann Krentz

This is a book that is definitely dated (references to PDAs and characters who don't know how to email) but is still pretty fun.

Desdemona Wainwright meets Sam Stark because she caters his wedding. The opening scene has her talking to Sam about the bill for his aborted wedding. She knows that he is attracted to him and, as he comes out of his stupor, he realizes that he kind of likes her as well. Desdemona is a little worried that he is still upset over his wedding and invites him to an experimental theater show that stars members of her family. It is drilled into us over and over again that the Wainwrights are emotional, emoting, theater people and that Sam is akin to a robot (does he not have feelings or does he just hide them?). But he and Desdemona manage to get together, even managing a relationship around Sam's two half-brothers who show up at his house unexpectedly.

Three and a half stars

This book came out September 1, 1995

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Flash by Jayne Ann Krentz

Olivia Chantry has recently inherited 49% of her late-uncle's business. This is a problem for her and the rest of the family are nervous about an outsider joining the company. Jasper Sloane is slightly more excited about inheriting the other part of the company. He's been out-of-sorts lately and this job seems like it will be a good challenge, one he's looking forward to. If only he can get Olivia to see things his way... and work on figuring out who a murdering blackmailer is.

One of Krentz's works from the late 90's that I re-read every couple of years. Of course, some of the technology is dated but the love story holds up pretty well.

Four stars

This came out in 1998

Hard copy I didn't keep

Opinions are my own

Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz

For the other books in this series, the Rancourt family has been set up as a former Big Bad. But in this book, Harlan Rancourt returns and appears to be on the side of angels. Or at least the same side as Olivia Le Clair.

Olivia is an investigator and an aura talent. She's not the oracle Harlan believes he needs. but he promises her a chance to solve her mother's murder. 

The resulting investigation will include characters that we've seen from other books but not to the point of making it confusing to new readers. Regular readers will finally find out the secret to the camera in Swan's antique shop that has been teased in previous books and Olivia will find a man who is willing to walk through hell to find her.

Three and a half stars

This book comes out January 18th, 2022

Follows All the Colors of Night

ARC kindly provided by Berkley Publishing Group and NetGalley

Opinions are my own

Reread August 2022 as audibook from Libby

Dream Eyes by Jayne Ann Krentz

In the first book of the series, Judson Coppersmith's (biological) brother fell in love with Gwen Frazier's (found family) sister. When Gwen's mentor dies leaving a ghost alleging murder behind, Gwen knows who to call for help. Her sister. And of course her soon-to-be brother-in-law asks his own brother for help. 

Judson just experienced a burn out and isn't sure that he's really healed. But he really liked Gwen and figures, why not. He can at least provide some muscle for the woman who intrigued him until she started viewing him as one of her psychic counseling clients. But maybe that was a misunderstanding and he's going to have some time to figure that out.

It is quite swift that the two fall into bed and then love but Krentz is a good author. This may not be her best book but very few of her books aren't worth reading at all.

Three stars

Follows Copper Beach

This book came out January 9th, 2013

Borrowed as hard copy from library

Opinions are my own

All the Colors of Night by Jayne Ann Krentz

Sierra Raines is making a living as a go-between. She helps find rare items for collectors and then delivers them. But the life of a go-between isn't always easy. Sometimes people don't want to pay for the objects that have been found as happens to her in the opening scene. But that is okay, she has her own means of protecting herself that aren't as obvious as something like a gun. It is her skills as a finder that have her being called in to help North Chastain find out what happened to his father. 

North is a monster-hunter. He finds the people with psychic powers that are using them to harm others. At least, he is at the moment. Unfortunately, there is something going wrong with his powers and he is slowly losing them. But that isn't as big a concern as the fact that his father was attacked and left in a psychic coma. 

The attack seems linked to an incident that happened in Fogg Lake in the '50s. Psychic research was occurring there and an explosion caused the lab to be shut down but left a lingering residue of psychical powers in the residents. Sierra's family is from Fogg Lake and North's grandfather was a researcher there so they both have ties.

A nice addition to the series with characters that are well drawn and a story that is new but fits in with the series.

Four stars

This book comes out January 7th

Follows The Vanishing

Followed by Lightning in a Mirror
ARC kindly provided by Berkley and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Reread November 2021 as hard copy from library; August 2022 and January 2024 as audiobook from libby

When All the Girls Have Gone by Jayne Ann Krentz

 The book opens, not unlike many of Krentz's contemporaries, with a murder. We see it through the eyes of the killer. And it seems rather obvious who the killer is as the book goes on, but this is a Krentz novel.
To that end, we do get a hero and heroine. Max Cutler is a former profiler. A case went horribly wrong, stirring up ghosts from his past, and he decided (or the decision was made) for him to leave D.C. He ended up in Seattle, working as a private investigator. His current case involves a dead woman who the police believe to have died from an overdose. Her cousin isn't so sure. He things it's murder. 
Normally Charlotte Sawyer considers herself fairly boring. She works in a nursing home as an the activities coordinator. It's true that her former fiance left her at the altar, but she's working to get over that.  Charlotte step-sister, Jocelyn, says that she is too trusting, and Charlotte agrees. But it doesn't follow that she is also stupid. 
Max and Charlotte's paths cross when Charlotte, watching Jocelyn's house while she's on a tech-free month-long retreat, is the one who picks up the package sent to Jocelyn from the dead woman.  A packages that sends her on an adventure. 
Regular Krentz readers will definitely enjoy the book. It's very much in the rhythm of her recent contemporaries. The love story was a bit fast and furious and the multiple "epilogues" were a bit tedious but overall a fast and fun read. I do hope we get to hear about Max's brothers, Cabot and Jack and find out whether the guru Zane really did die.

Three and a half stars
Followed by Promise Not to Tell
This book came out November 29th, 2016
Audiobook from Cloud Library

Opinions are my own

Connecting Rooms by Jayne Ann Krentz

Owen Sweet is the only private investigator on Misplaced Island so when Amy Comfort needs help looking at her aunt's beau (he started dating her suspiciously soon after Amy's uncle died), she goes to Owen for help. She also can admit that she had a crush on him after he was a client of her real estate business. The two go to visit but pretend to be in a relationship so that Amy can explain why Owen is with her. While there, the two get sucked into a blackmail scheme.
This is a novella so there's not a lot of room to develop characters or the story so it's fine and indicative of Krent's early works.

Three stars
This novella originally came out in the 90s
Book borrowed from library
Opinions are my own

The Vanishing by Jayne Ann Krentz

The book opens with Catalina Lark and Olivia Dayton, teenagers spending the night in the local cave, witnessing a murder. They save themselves but it's a near thing and they spend the night trapped in a nightmare. When they come out, the townspeople are happy to believe that it was a hallucination. After all, Fogg Lake was the site of a paranormal disaster fifty years ago and the people of the town have been dealing with psychic repercussions ever since.
In the present day, Catalina and Olivia are private investigators, using their psychic powers to help their clients. One the same night that Catalina goes to save a client, Olivia is kidnapped. Luckily, Slate Arganbright has already come to town looking for her. He is also psychic but is still getting over being locked in his uncles' "attic" after being dosed with an unknown chemical that they thought might be driving him crazy. He might've been for a little bit but now he's here to help Catalina find her friend as well as trying to figure out why collectors of psychic items are dying.
There is some overlap with the Arcane Society novels (Vortex is a "bad guy" in that series as well) but I think this might actually be a similar, but new, world. Because it is so very similar, it took some time to adjust to the fact that this is a new series but there is a LOT of world building so we don't really get to see the relationshp between Catalina and Slate develop.

Three stars

Followed by All the Colors of the Night
This book came out January 7th

ARC kindly provided by Berkley and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

Reread November 2020 as audiobook from Overdrive, August 2022, January 2024 as audiobook from Libby

Untouchable by Jayne Ann Krentz

Jack Lancaster was introduced to us in previous books in the series (though I do not believe you have to have read them in order to enjoy this book). He is one of a trio of boys who were fostered by  Salinas after their mothers died in a fire caused by a cult leader, Zane Quinn. The cult leader that the rest of the world thinks perished in the last fire he set. But Jack and his family know better. They know that Zane is still out there pulling strings. And Jack is using his skill as a lucid dreamer who closes cold cases to go after Zane.
Winter Meadows is a meditation therapist who helped to get Jack past his last block. She is hiding in Eclipse Bay after having a really bad experience with a client at her last job. Normally, she wouldn't date a client, but Jack has just ended his sessions and is now fair game. Except that Jack may have to help her face an old enemy. And then she may have to help him.
There was so much going on in this book that refers to other Krentz books that it kept me somewhat removed from this story. I also didn't get the feeling that Jack and Winter had found an HEA. Their relationship didn't seem any deeper than attraction.

Three stars

Follows Promise Not to Tell
This book comes out January 8
ARC kindly provided by publisher and NetGalley