#psychicromance – Avonna Loves Genres

Book Description

The Harper and the Wells families have regarded each other with deep suspicion for four generations. The Harpers have been known to offer their psychic talents for less-than-legal purposes, and the powerful Wells clan has a reputation for playing both sides of the street. But for all the years of history and distrust between them, there is a mysterious pact binding the two. They share the responsibility for protecting a long-buried and very dangerous secret.

Sophy Harper and Luke Wells are shocked to learn that her aunt and his uncle have been sleeping together—and now they are both missing. Not only that, but the last traces of them are at the scene of a murder soaked in negative paranormal energy. Clearly, someone is willing to kill to obtain the secret their families have been charged with protecting. Despite their mutual distrust, which, as far as Sophy is concerned extends to Luke’s hellhound of a dog, they both know that the terms of the pact must be honored.

Their investigation uncovers a psychic trail leading to a bizarre desert art colony where nothing is as it seems. But Luke and Sophy are concealing a few secrets, too. By a strange twist of fate, a Harper and a Wells have no choice but to trust each other and the fierce attraction that is binding them as surely as the pact between the families.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/231203825-the-shop-on-hidden-lane?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=sHClCkLpBg&rank=1

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

THE SHOP ON HIDDEN LANE by Jayne Ann Krentz is hopefully the start of a new romantic suspense/paranormal series in the Jayneverse featuring two generational psychic families, the Harpers and the Wells, suspicious of each other but tied by a pact protecting a long-buried secret. If you love the other psychic/paranormal series in the Jayneverse, you will be excited for this new set of characters in present day Fogg Lake.

Sophie Harper is not happy about Luke Wells showing up to hire her to psychically read and clean a crime scene for him. When Sophie discovers her missing aunt and Luke’s missing uncle are together, they reluctantly pair up to find them. Sophie’s ability to read past crime scenes and Luke’s ability to connect seemingly random dots in a problem are perfect for the hunt as well as the nose of Luke’s dog, Bruce.

This story brings together supernatural elements from several past books and series from the Jayneverse; the Arcane Society, the Bluestone Project, and the disaster at Fogg Lake. Sophie and Luke, like many couples in Jayne’s books, seem to be completely incompatible, but are actually perfect for each other. The dialogue is always entertaining with Sophie’s sass and Luke’s low-key wit. While I wait for the next dustbunny in Harmony, I was excited to meet Bruce and look forward to discovering more about his past and current abilities. The suspense plot is full of twists, surprises, and comes to a satisfying conclusion.

I am always happy to curl up with and disappear into a Jayne Ann Krentz book. I know the crime will be solved and two disparate souls will find their perfect match. I highly recommend this new book in the Jayneverse and cannot wait for more.

***

About the Author

Jayne Ann Krentz is the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She has written contemporary romantic suspense novels under that name and futuristic and historical romance novels under the pseudonyms Jayne Castle and Amanda Quick, respectively. Jayne currently lives in Seattle, WA.

Social Media Links

Website: https://jayneannkrentz.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jayneannkrentzauthor/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-shop-on-hidden-lane-by-jayne-ann-krentz

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DG1GK7Y5

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Berkley

Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 3, 2025

Language ‏ : ‎ English

Print length ‏ : ‎ 316 pages

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0593639962

Book Description

Leona Griffin is at the height of her career as a para-archeologist thanks to a recent Underworld discovery. Her high profile attracts the attention of an organization of elite, secretive collectors. They want her to authenticate the artifacts that aspiring members submit as evidence to join their group. The ceremony takes place at a glittering reception where Leona is shocked to discover that one of the relics is a powerful Old-World object known as Pandora’s Box. But she’s not the only one interested in that artifact.

Oliver Rancourt, a man with a unique talent—they say you never see him coming—is also there. Leona knows she must not underestimate him. Attempting to make a discreet exit, she stumbles over the body of a waiter wearing the emblem of a dangerous cult. Before she can alert authorities, a police raid sends the reception into chaos. To avoid being arrested, Leona slips away with Oliver—a risky decision that gets her fired.

Now forced to work together, Leona and Oliver pursue an investigation that leads them to the town of Lost Creek where the locals are obsessed with a chilling legend involving a long-dead cult leader and illicit paranormal experiments. But Leona knows the real danger may be the irresistible attraction between herself and Oliver.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/218460334-it-takes-a-psychic?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=yMPRWjBSnQ&rank=1

***

My Book Review

RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars

IT TAKES A PSYCHIC (Ghost Hunter Book #17) by Jayne Castle is another exciting and fun addition to the Ghost Hunter series. All these books can be read as standalone paranormal romances, but this one does tie back to People in Glass Houses, Book #16 with the heroines of both stories being sisters.

Para-archeologist Leona Griffin is still riding the wave of her celebrity from her recent discoveries in the Underworld when she is asked to authenticate items at a meeting for membership in a secretive organization. From the moment she arrives, she has a bad feeling about this group, especially when the final object for her to authenticate is the infamous Old World object Pandora’s Box.

Oliver Rancourt is also at the meeting and has an interest in Pandora’s Box. While the other attendees all seem to ignore him, Leona not only sees him, but feels he is watching her. And she is right. Oliver has a unique ability to blend in and seem to disappear, which is perfect for retrieving his stolen property, but Leona’s ability to see him has intrigued him.

When Leona tries to make a discrete exit, she discovers a dead server wearing the symbol of a dangerous cult around her neck. Before she can alert anyone, a police raid occurs. Oliver shows up at her side and rather than be arrested, they slip away. Oliver has Pandora’s Box, which he tells Leona was stolen from him and when they open it, it has, in addition to its original contents, a strange golden pyramid inside.

Leona and Oliver work together to uncover secrets about the long dead cult leader and the illegal paranormal experiments. The attraction grows between the two, but they are both hiding secrets about their psychic profiles. The answer to questions about Leona and her sister’s past may be within reach, but can Oliver and Leona stay alive to find them.

I wait anxiously for each new installment in this long running series. Not only for a fun, intriguing new pair of romantic protagonists, but also for the new dustbunny. Roxy and her blue fascinator did not disappoint. There was a good amount of heat and chemistry between Leona and Oliver that grew believably over the course of the story, and even though there is sexual intercourse, it is a smaller part of this story than in other books in this series. These books are always a great mash-up of paranormal romance, mystery, and adventure in Harmony.

I highly recommend this addition to the series and would recommend the entire series to anyone. Long live dustbunnies!

***

About the Author

Jayne Castle, the author of Guild Boss, Illusion Town, Siren’s Call, The Hot Zone, Deception Cove, The Lost Night, Canyons of Night, Midnight Crystal, Obsidian Prey, Dark Light, Silver Master, Ghost Hunter, After Glow, and After Dark, is a pseudonym for Jayne Ann Krentz, the author of more than fifty New York Times bestsellers. She writes contemporary romantic suspense novels under the Krentz name, as well as historical novels under the pseudonym Amanda Quick.