Status
Available
Genres
Collection
Publication
Berkley (2009), Edition: Jove Premium ed., 480 pages
Description
A member of the Archane Society, a secret organization dedicated to the study of paranormal phenomena, must recruit a reluctant woman to use her psychic gift against a cabal of psychic criminals.
User reviews
LibraryThing member anterastilis
This is another book that I put on my queue at the library because so many people had asked for it. I figure it's part of my job as a librarian to keep up with the trends, you know? Plus, the brief notes in the record indicated that this was a novel about psychic detectives. That sounded pretty
It certainly wasn't a BAD book. It moved along at a decent pace, there was a mystery to be solved, and the whole psychic society thing was pretty interesting. Raine is a psychic (one who hears voices when she touches objects, to be exact). Her aunt was also psychic, and spent the last year of her life in an asylum. After her death, Raine goes to her house in Washington to wrap up loose ends. There, she encounters a man from the Arcane Society - an organization that is dedicated to the study of the paranormal - and also the society responsible for her father's death. Raine and Jack, the operative, have to work together to unravel the mystery surrounding her aunt's death.
So, sounds interesting, right? I liked it...but there were enough little things that bothered me to give it an overall thumbs-down.
For starters, the main female characters were named Raine, Pandora, and Cassidy. With the possible exception of Cassidy, the names sounded like what an eighth-grade goth girl might daydream about naming her children someday. Cassidy is part of a sub-plot that doesn't mesh well with the rest of the book - that of an author who wants to write a book about Raine.
Jayne Ann Krentz is also Amanda Quick - a pretty well-known romance novelist. That became apparent when we periodically had to take a break from the action...so that the main characters could get some action. It's a very romance novel-lish device that didn't really mesh with the rest of the book.
The Arcane Society itself sounded pretty neat. We learn about it in the first few chapters, but then nothing more. I was a bit peeved at the lack of information, but I knew that if I'd wanted an in-depth book on a society dedicated to the study of the paranormal, I would probably have to look elsewhere.
Raine (and the other folks in this book) continuously and invariably refer to murderers as "freaks". This is apparently the strongest term that Jayne Ann Krentz could come up with? I know this is personal preference, but I have never considered "freak" to be a particularly bad word. Hell, I would probably describe psychic voice-hearing Raine and drama queen Pandora as "freaks" before a cold-blooded killer. It just got old. Every time the term was used, I pulled back a bit more.
Anyway, Sizzle and Burn. Kind of fizzled. I probably won't pick up another one of her books...but I won't say never. It was a quick, entertaining read. Something light, like a snack between meals. I didn't have any dreams about it, and I'll probably forget about it when I find something more interesting upon which to spend my reading time.
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cool. I also spoke to a patron about the series - she said that she read the second one before the first, and she wasn't lost at all. I decided to give reading them out of order a chance.It certainly wasn't a BAD book. It moved along at a decent pace, there was a mystery to be solved, and the whole psychic society thing was pretty interesting. Raine is a psychic (one who hears voices when she touches objects, to be exact). Her aunt was also psychic, and spent the last year of her life in an asylum. After her death, Raine goes to her house in Washington to wrap up loose ends. There, she encounters a man from the Arcane Society - an organization that is dedicated to the study of the paranormal - and also the society responsible for her father's death. Raine and Jack, the operative, have to work together to unravel the mystery surrounding her aunt's death.
So, sounds interesting, right? I liked it...but there were enough little things that bothered me to give it an overall thumbs-down.
For starters, the main female characters were named Raine, Pandora, and Cassidy. With the possible exception of Cassidy, the names sounded like what an eighth-grade goth girl might daydream about naming her children someday. Cassidy is part of a sub-plot that doesn't mesh well with the rest of the book - that of an author who wants to write a book about Raine.
Jayne Ann Krentz is also Amanda Quick - a pretty well-known romance novelist. That became apparent when we periodically had to take a break from the action...so that the main characters could get some action. It's a very romance novel-lish device that didn't really mesh with the rest of the book.
The Arcane Society itself sounded pretty neat. We learn about it in the first few chapters, but then nothing more. I was a bit peeved at the lack of information, but I knew that if I'd wanted an in-depth book on a society dedicated to the study of the paranormal, I would probably have to look elsewhere.
Raine (and the other folks in this book) continuously and invariably refer to murderers as "freaks". This is apparently the strongest term that Jayne Ann Krentz could come up with? I know this is personal preference, but I have never considered "freak" to be a particularly bad word. Hell, I would probably describe psychic voice-hearing Raine and drama queen Pandora as "freaks" before a cold-blooded killer. It just got old. Every time the term was used, I pulled back a bit more.
Anyway, Sizzle and Burn. Kind of fizzled. I probably won't pick up another one of her books...but I won't say never. It was a quick, entertaining read. Something light, like a snack between meals. I didn't have any dreams about it, and I'll probably forget about it when I find something more interesting upon which to spend my reading time.
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LibraryThing member lrobe190
When Raine McIntyre visits her aunt's house after her death, her psychic ability causes her to realize that someone has been in the home and that there is a body in a locked room in the basement. Fortunately, the woman in the room is still alive, but the police dont' want to believe that Raine knew
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about the woman because of her psychic abilities. Her discovery brings her to the attention of the Arcane Society, more specifically to Zach Jones a high-level psychic in his own right. The attraction between Raine and Zach is instantaneous and hot and together they must solve the mystery of her aunt's death and and the involvement of the Society. This book moves at a quick pace and is very suspenseful. The romance between Zach and Raine is hot. This is a hard one to put down, especially if you enjoy the paranormal romances. Show Less
LibraryThing member wyvernfriend
Raine Tallentyre is closing up her aunt's house. Aunt Vella heard voices and ended up her days in an insane asylum. Raine also hears things but she's convinced that it's paranormal stuff, at least it's helped solve some cold cases, and managed to ruin any possibility of romance with the cop
They find themselves attracted and being chased by a number of bad guys!
It's light fun. The two characters were people I enjoyed reading about with problems, issues and interesting moments. They also had some very human flaws.
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involved. When she discovers a young woman tied and helpless in a storage locker in the basement this brings Zack Jones into her life. Zach is a psychic, part of Jones & Jones and the Arcane Society, a society that threw her father out and contributed to his death.They find themselves attracted and being chased by a number of bad guys!
It's light fun. The two characters were people I enjoyed reading about with problems, issues and interesting moments. They also had some very human flaws.
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LibraryThing member eviltammy
The third book in the Arcane Society series is another winner for Krentz. Paranormal power battles between good and evil with the more 'mundane' addition of a serial killer hunting the heroine. Nice patter and chemistry between the protagonists show off Krentz's usual style.
LibraryThing member sbrush
Raine Tallentyre is mourning the loss of her closest relative, the aunt who raised her after her father’s death. When she walks the real estate agent through her aunt’s house Raine immediately calls 911. A kidnap victim is imprisoned in a storage locker among the detritus of the basement. Raine
The next day Zack Jones shows up. He is a member of the secretive Arcane Society an organization that is responsible for psychic research and a community of people with psychic abilities like Raine’s. Zack needs her help finding a missing scientist whom he believes may have been pursuing the same dangerous formula that got her father kicked out of the Arcane Society so many years ago. In return Zack offers Raine answers about her own past and the night her father died.
Sizzle and Burn is a new Arcane Society novel by Jayne Ann Krentz. Check out the first White Lies or take a look at her historical novel Second Sight written as Amanda Quick and discover the historic origins of the Arcane Society. (by papercuts)
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tries to explain to the police how she knew about the girl without revealing her own secret. She is a psychic and hears voices, the voices of the desperate, criminal, and evil. They led her to the girl.The next day Zack Jones shows up. He is a member of the secretive Arcane Society an organization that is responsible for psychic research and a community of people with psychic abilities like Raine’s. Zack needs her help finding a missing scientist whom he believes may have been pursuing the same dangerous formula that got her father kicked out of the Arcane Society so many years ago. In return Zack offers Raine answers about her own past and the night her father died.
Sizzle and Burn is a new Arcane Society novel by Jayne Ann Krentz. Check out the first White Lies or take a look at her historical novel Second Sight written as Amanda Quick and discover the historic origins of the Arcane Society. (by papercuts)
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
Raine Tallentyre is a strong touch empath: when she handles items associated with violence or handled by ill-wishers, she hears voices and senses leftover emotional residue. She's used to being treated like a nut. Mostly, she tries to keep her talents quiet, using them secretly as much as she can
Zack Jones works for Jones & Jones, the private investigatory arm of the Arcane Society. A rare, level ten mirror talent, he's been groomed to take over as the US Master of the Society, but is resisting the responsibility for reasons of his own. Zack is on the trail of Nightshade, the evil counterpart of the Arcane Society, and when Vella Tallentyre's death hits the Arcane Society radar. The trail leads to Raine, and of course when the two meet, sparks fly.
Middle of the road for Krentz: it's certainly not her best work. The characters are fairly cookie-cutter, and there's not much in the way of character development. Some of the descriptions seem recycled from her Harmony series. This doesn't have the zest of her earlier novels, but there are some cute one-liners.
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to help out in local police cases. Raine is resigned to a life of loneliness -- after all, her last relationship ended with her boyfriend calling her creepy, and her aunt Vella died in a mental institution hearing voices. Raine is attempting to tie up the loose ends of her aunt's life and estate when she stumbles across the trail of a serial killer. Complication enough, but the Arcane Society -- which banned her father for his research -- is about to come calling in the form of one virile, dangerously attractive private investigator.Zack Jones works for Jones & Jones, the private investigatory arm of the Arcane Society. A rare, level ten mirror talent, he's been groomed to take over as the US Master of the Society, but is resisting the responsibility for reasons of his own. Zack is on the trail of Nightshade, the evil counterpart of the Arcane Society, and when Vella Tallentyre's death hits the Arcane Society radar. The trail leads to Raine, and of course when the two meet, sparks fly.
Middle of the road for Krentz: it's certainly not her best work. The characters are fairly cookie-cutter, and there's not much in the way of character development. Some of the descriptions seem recycled from her Harmony series. This doesn't have the zest of her earlier novels, but there are some cute one-liners.
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LibraryThing member wirtley
Writing could have been better. Easy read. Good story, but not engaging enough. It took too long to end.
Would not recommend.
Would not recommend.
LibraryThing member NemesisClaws
The descriptions of what the main female character was wearing really intruiged me, and that's rare. I really loved the designs and style of her outfits, and couldn't wait to read what else she was wearing. As for the storyline itself, I thought the two rather rushed into a relationship very
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quickly after having just met, but the rest of it was great. Show Less
LibraryThing member CarolynStrickland
I didn't think I would like the Arcane Society series, but books 2 and 3 were really fun to read. A bit of psychic hocus pocus mixed with mystery and romance. I'll try the "Amanda Quick" book 1, but I'm not holding my breath. I usually don't like the "Amanda Quick" titles.
LibraryThing member phyllis2779
Once you get used to the fact that almost all of Krentz's heroes and heroines are cut from the same mold, with a few differing identifying characteristics, e.g., glasses or a different talent, you can enjoy her books. She writes zippy dialog, the book moves along speedily, and sometimes the plots
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are interesting. This one was enjoyable and I do want to to read the next one in the series. But I'm resigned to the sameness in the overall characters of the heroes and heroines. Show Less
LibraryThing member hoosgracie
This was a good mix of suspense and romance. The plot did run out a bit before the book actually did, but I enjoyed it.
LibraryThing member JenJ.
Spent a lazy Saturday morning reading this, but I think I'll take a bit of break before continuing on with the series. I wouldn't want to get tired of it since I'm really enjoying it right now.
LibraryThing member KC9333
Weak.......
LibraryThing member Lauren2013
Sizzle and Burn
4 Stars
Synopsis:
Raine Tallentyre and J&J agent, Zack Jones, have one thing in common - their paranormal abilities. Raine can hear voices while Zack has visions. With Raine in the sights of a deranged serial killer and a secret cabal of psychic criminals intent on obtaining the
Review:
The most entertaining in the series so far. The romance is wonderful even if the plot is lacking in suspense.
Once again, Krentz excels with her dialogue and characterization. Raine uses wit and sarcasm to conceal her insecurities but is, nevertheless, a self-sufficient woman with a powerful sense of justice. Zack is absolutely gorgeous, and I really enjoyed the way in which he helps Raine come to terms with her abilities. Their chemistry definitely sizzles and burns and it was interesting to see their relationship develop from extremely hot and sensual to intensely emotional. I also liked the fact that their romance is not plagued by any contrived misunderstandings or trust issues.
My only real problem with the story is that the serial killer plot is so minor as to be almost non-existent and has very little relevance to the main storyline. As a fan of serial killer books, I was hoping for more details on the victims and the murderer but this is not forthcoming and is ultimately resolved very quickly and almost as an afterthought. The psychic cabal plot is more complex and better developed with additional details provided about the Nightshade organization introduced in the previous book. There is also a nifty plot twist and cliffhanger at the end to keep the reader guessing.
It should be noted that it is not necessary to read the series in order. There is no direct connection between the plots of the individual books perhaps because some are contemporary while others are historical. The only common thread is the Jones family and the Arcane society, and it is fairly easy to grasp their significance in the series arc. On the whole, I prefer Krentz’s historical romances written under her pseudonym, Amanda Quick, but the Arcane series is very entertaining and enjoyable. I look forward to reading the next installment.
4 Stars
Synopsis:
Raine Tallentyre and J&J agent, Zack Jones, have one thing in common - their paranormal abilities. Raine can hear voices while Zack has visions. With Raine in the sights of a deranged serial killer and a secret cabal of psychic criminals intent on obtaining the
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Tallentyre family secrets, Raine and Zack must rely both on their abilities and on each other in order to survive.Review:
The most entertaining in the series so far. The romance is wonderful even if the plot is lacking in suspense.
Once again, Krentz excels with her dialogue and characterization. Raine uses wit and sarcasm to conceal her insecurities but is, nevertheless, a self-sufficient woman with a powerful sense of justice. Zack is absolutely gorgeous, and I really enjoyed the way in which he helps Raine come to terms with her abilities. Their chemistry definitely sizzles and burns and it was interesting to see their relationship develop from extremely hot and sensual to intensely emotional. I also liked the fact that their romance is not plagued by any contrived misunderstandings or trust issues.
My only real problem with the story is that the serial killer plot is so minor as to be almost non-existent and has very little relevance to the main storyline. As a fan of serial killer books, I was hoping for more details on the victims and the murderer but this is not forthcoming and is ultimately resolved very quickly and almost as an afterthought. The psychic cabal plot is more complex and better developed with additional details provided about the Nightshade organization introduced in the previous book. There is also a nifty plot twist and cliffhanger at the end to keep the reader guessing.
It should be noted that it is not necessary to read the series in order. There is no direct connection between the plots of the individual books perhaps because some are contemporary while others are historical. The only common thread is the Jones family and the Arcane society, and it is fairly easy to grasp their significance in the series arc. On the whole, I prefer Krentz’s historical romances written under her pseudonym, Amanda Quick, but the Arcane series is very entertaining and enjoyable. I look forward to reading the next installment.
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LibraryThing member mktoronto
Zack is dreamy, Raine is suitably complex and mature, their relationship has a beautiful back and forth, the mystery is compelling, the backstory is suitably tragic, and the ending has a delicious twist. Love, love, love this book!
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2008-01-29
Physical description
7.52 inches
ISBN
9780515145816