Fired Up

Whether writing historical, contemporary, or futuristic "romance" novels, Krentz/Quick/Castle is a masterful writer. She gives great plots, lots of twists and turns, and sly humor along with the good overcoming the bad and love winning in the end. One of my absolute favorite writers.

With a well-established writer there are generally 2 criticisms: a)it wasn't like her other books or b)it was too much like her other books. The first type of reader is looking for what makes the author distinct from all others-with JAK, it's witty dialogue, well-rounded characters, steamy romance, and a well-written plot. Rest assured, these are all in Fired Up! In answer to the second , the book takes a different direction from the other Arcane Society books, away from the founder's formula, thus opening up a new direction for the series, while still exploring the paranormal world that readers of the Arcane Society enjoy. Fired Up wasn't what I expected, it was better!

Jack Winters, descendant of alchemist Nicholas Winters, who in the 1660s created the Burning Lamp, which increases psychic powers in a person with paranormal skills and gives them a new one but at a horrible cost. Those with the dominant gene become insane unless they find the Burning Lamp and the female psychic who can work dreamlight produced by that object. Jack fears he is cursed because he can suddenly induce nightmares in people while he suffers blackouts and sleepwalks. Jack seeks out private investigator Chloe Harper, a high level psi who can work with dream energy. Through her aunt, she locates the Burning Lamp; the owner is happy to get rid of it as it makes him uneasy. The organization Nightshade, made up of paranormal criminals want the Burning Lamp too. While on the run from these thugs, Chloe uses the artifact on Jack who has fallen in love with her; she reciprocates. While praying use of the map turns him into a safe psi, Nightshade capture Chloe, who believe they possess the perfect way to force her to work for them. This Arcane Society tale is the first book of the Dreamlight trilogy, which occurs in the present; books two and three will be in the Victorian Era and the far future on Planet harmony respectively. The story line is fast-paced from the opening three centuries ago as the rivalry between Nicholas and Sebastian Jones heats up and never slows down as Nicholas and Chloe team up. Fans of this brilliant author will enjoy this romantic suspense as the lead couple is a wonderful pairing and the support cast either quirky or deadly quirky. Readers will enjoy this strong contemporary and look forward to the talent of the author to take her saga historically and futuristic. Harriet Klausner