Helpful Score: 3
First in the New Seattle books, furistic and fun. A curtin is discovered in space, that allows intant trasportation to another planet. A society is set up, but then the curtin disappears. And the society is left to cope alone.
Paranormal powers develop... Prisms, that focus the powere of a talent. And Talents so varied that they are still being discovered. And the size of talents are also being tested and the levels are always being recalibered.
This is a story of Amaryllis and Lucus and what they are together as they learn that not all powers can be catagorized, or that not all marriages can be found by a matchmaking service.
Paranormal powers develop... Prisms, that focus the powere of a talent. And Talents so varied that they are still being discovered. And the size of talents are also being tested and the levels are always being recalibered.
This is a story of Amaryllis and Lucus and what they are together as they learn that not all powers can be catagorized, or that not all marriages can be found by a matchmaking service.
Helpful Score: 2
Writing as Jayne Castle, Judith Ann Krentz has a series of books set on far off worlds, originally colonized by Earth, but now cut off from their home world. Amaryllis, Zinnia, and Orchid are the first (in that order), set on the planet of St Helens where psychic energy is evolving to replace no-longer working Earth-based technology.
In these first forays into a futuristic setting for this author, the off-world details occasionally feel a little awkward. None of these 3 made me feel like reading an entire book in one sitting. That said, They kept my interest, the characters are interesting, and there is a mystery to solve as the hero and heroine fall in love in each book. From Amaryllis to Orchid, the books seem to become more polished and entertaining as the series develops.
The other-world marriage customs (using matchmaking agencies) were believable, but some of the descriptions of the technology and psychic powers felt less real, and the author just did NOT know what to do with other-worldly plants, animals, and by-products. In particular the practice of naming plant and animal items on the new planet with hyphenated versions of Earth names, drove me *crazy,* i.e. coff-tea, "shaggy six-legged ox-mules," honey-syrup, bee-flies, twin-snakes. Argghhh! And yet, they have (non-hyphenated) cars, trees, clocks, and phones.
If the frequent consuming of coff*hyphenated*tea doesn't get to you like it did me, you will enjoy getting into Ms. Castle's new universe.
In these first forays into a futuristic setting for this author, the off-world details occasionally feel a little awkward. None of these 3 made me feel like reading an entire book in one sitting. That said, They kept my interest, the characters are interesting, and there is a mystery to solve as the hero and heroine fall in love in each book. From Amaryllis to Orchid, the books seem to become more polished and entertaining as the series develops.
The other-world marriage customs (using matchmaking agencies) were believable, but some of the descriptions of the technology and psychic powers felt less real, and the author just did NOT know what to do with other-worldly plants, animals, and by-products. In particular the practice of naming plant and animal items on the new planet with hyphenated versions of Earth names, drove me *crazy,* i.e. coff-tea, "shaggy six-legged ox-mules," honey-syrup, bee-flies, twin-snakes. Argghhh! And yet, they have (non-hyphenated) cars, trees, clocks, and phones.
If the frequent consuming of coff*hyphenated*tea doesn't get to you like it did me, you will enjoy getting into Ms. Castle's new universe.
Helpful Score: 1
In the futuristic city of New Seattle on the Earth colony of St. Helen's, love and passion bring together two very unlikely people. Amaryllis Lark is a prism, able to focus the power of a psychic talent. She's also one of the best psychic detectives working for Psynergy, Inc. She's cool, proper and completely professional-- until Lucas Trent gets past her defenses. Lucas is head of Lodestar Exploration and wants Amaryllis to help him track down a corporate thief. This should be just another job to Amaryllis, but it turns into something much more as the rugged adventurer touches her heart and mind. Someone is betraying Lucas and he intends to find out why. Used to living life on the edge, Lucas has no interest in the prissy Miss Lark, even if her prism ability is a match for his off-the-chart talent. What starts out as a simple corporate security situation turns into a murder investigation that puts both Lucas and Amaryllis right in the middle of the danger. Lucas doesn't count on being attracted to Amaryllis, but when their minds touch, passion takes over. The unlikely duo discover that there's more to appearances than meets the eye!
Helpful Score: 1
Zinnia is still my favorite but the mystery is great and Lucas getting Amaryllis to loosen up is alot of fun!!
Diane P. (pranaprincess) - , reviewed Amaryllis (Curtain: St. Helen's, Bk 1) on + 52 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 1
I loved this book! Good story, good characters and made me laugh out loud more than once. I highly recommend "Amaryllis" and can't wait to read the others in this series.
D.P.
D.P.
