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amyiw's review against another edition
3.0
I liked this 3 1/2. It is a bit old school futuristic paranormal romance with a standoffish woman, strung tight. Big businessman trying to hide his talents.
A curtain/veil opened on Earth 200 years earlier and allowed intrepid humans to venture to a planet in another part of the galaxy, St Helens. Unluckily the curtain closed, so St Helens has evolved through the founders perseverance though 200 years later many question those motives and really what were the founders beliefs. Many people have gifts but those gifts take two people to use, the psy and the focus.
St Helen's society is very conservative in some ways yet liberal in others. Divorce is looked down upon and almost impossible to get. Children out of wedlock is a no, no and bastards are treated very unkindly. There is birth control for both males and females so it doesn't stop relationships. It does make many cautious about making their own matches, so they go to psychic counselors whom specialize in finding the perfect fit.
So our heroine works as a for hire focus, for psychics. Lucas, a wealthy businessman hires her to attend a party to investigate a traitor in his firm. They immediately have sparks and stumble upon other happenings during the investigation. They continue to look into the questions that opened up, while getting closer and having a relationship develop. It was a pretty good story and world though I felt a little like I was in the 70tys. Being on their own planet where no Earth made object functions or exists, makes it easy to develop a technology that is behind the times even though it is in the future. It was also written in 1996 which was the edge of the PNR boom of the 2000. This was a lead in and IMO, a basis for much of the Psychic PNR of today. Nalini Singh says it is one of her favorite series, and I can definitely see where it may have influenced her.
I enjoyed the romance and the story and will continue on with the series. It wasn't my favorite but it was good for an early PNR.
A curtain/veil opened on Earth 200 years earlier and allowed intrepid humans to venture to a planet in another part of the galaxy, St Helens. Unluckily the curtain closed, so St Helens has evolved through the founders perseverance though 200 years later many question those motives and really what were the founders beliefs. Many people have gifts but those gifts take two people to use, the psy and the focus.
St Helen's society is very conservative in some ways yet liberal in others. Divorce is looked down upon and almost impossible to get. Children out of wedlock is a no, no and bastards are treated very unkindly. There is birth control for both males and females so it doesn't stop relationships. It does make many cautious about making their own matches, so they go to psychic counselors whom specialize in finding the perfect fit.
So our heroine works as a for hire focus, for psychics. Lucas, a wealthy businessman hires her to attend a party to investigate a traitor in his firm. They immediately have sparks and stumble upon other happenings during the investigation. They continue to look into the questions that opened up, while getting closer and having a relationship develop. It was a pretty good story and world though I felt a little like I was in the 70tys. Being on their own planet where no Earth made object functions or exists, makes it easy to develop a technology that is behind the times even though it is in the future. It was also written in 1996 which was the edge of the PNR boom of the 2000. This was a lead in and IMO, a basis for much of the Psychic PNR of today. Nalini Singh says it is one of her favorite series, and I can definitely see where it may have influenced her.
I enjoyed the romance and the story and will continue on with the series. It wasn't my favorite but it was good for an early PNR.
severelyhopefulcloud's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content
Moderate: Gun violence
eol's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
emilyleia's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Amaryllis is a child of unwed parents in a world where marriage is taken very seriously. To say it was a stain on her personality in the eyes of others is an understatement. But she has worked hard and is now an integral part of a focus agency. In St. Helens there are talents and there are the prisms that focus for them.
Lucas Trent is a high class talent whose parents were killed and he was raised in the jungle where he discovered a load of valuables that shot him into the highest of tax brackets and society. But he needs to hire a prism because someone in his company is stealing from him and he thinks that they've been hypnotized.
This starts a series of events that keep the two involved with each other and as they do, they discover a straight-laced prig and a loose explorer might be perfect for each other.
Not the most convincing romance but I liked it when it came out and still remember that feeling. And it definitely sets the world building for this trio as well as shades of. The worlds Castle builds later.
Lucas Trent is a high class talent whose parents were killed and he was raised in the jungle where he discovered a load of valuables that shot him into the highest of tax brackets and society. But he needs to hire a prism because someone in his company is stealing from him and he thinks that they've been hypnotized.
This starts a series of events that keep the two involved with each other and as they do, they discover a straight-laced prig and a loose explorer might be perfect for each other.
Not the most convincing romance but I liked it when it came out and still remember that feeling. And it definitely sets the world building for this trio as well as shades of. The worlds Castle builds later.
esadday's review
5.0
Stranded Settlers and Psychic Talents
Really enjoyed this world. Unusual psychic talents and strangely named things (like pear-berries and coff-tea). Liked the characters, too. Good mystery (with a villain I didn’t guess) enabled us to get to know this truly original place. One quibble: the expositive discussion at the end where the villain does a James Bond and revels in their genius and superiority. Jayne Castle has a new fan.
Really enjoyed this world. Unusual psychic talents and strangely named things (like pear-berries and coff-tea). Liked the characters, too. Good mystery (with a villain I didn’t guess) enabled us to get to know this truly original place. One quibble: the expositive discussion at the end where the villain does a James Bond and revels in their genius and superiority. Jayne Castle has a new fan.
zinamae's review
4.0
This was the first in the St Helens trilogy and is some her earlier work. I enjoyed this story but I could tell it just didn't gel like her later work does.
A curtain/veil opened on Earth 200 years earlier and allowed humans to explore other planets in another part of the galaxy. Humans came upon St Helens and established a settlement and then the curtain closed and there was no more travelling between Earth and St Helens.
St. Helen's, is similar to Earth in many ways, aside from the fact that the majority of its inhabitants have varying levels of psychic abilities. St Helen's society is very conservative in some ways yet liberal in others.
Amaryllis Lark helps others focus and control their psychic abilities. Lucas Trent , a wealthy businessman, the rugged owner of Lodestar Exploration hires her to attend a party to investigate a suspected traitor within his firm.
Neither of them are prepared for the connection they feel towards each other as they try to determine if Amaryllis' former boss and mentor was killed in an accident as the police have concluded, or if he was murdered, as Amaryllis suspects.
I was interested enough in this world and will continue with the series.
A curtain/veil opened on Earth 200 years earlier and allowed humans to explore other planets in another part of the galaxy. Humans came upon St Helens and established a settlement and then the curtain closed and there was no more travelling between Earth and St Helens.
St. Helen's, is similar to Earth in many ways, aside from the fact that the majority of its inhabitants have varying levels of psychic abilities. St Helen's society is very conservative in some ways yet liberal in others.
Amaryllis Lark helps others focus and control their psychic abilities. Lucas Trent , a wealthy businessman, the rugged owner of Lodestar Exploration hires her to attend a party to investigate a suspected traitor within his firm.
Neither of them are prepared for the connection they feel towards each other as they try to determine if Amaryllis' former boss and mentor was killed in an accident as the police have concluded, or if he was murdered, as Amaryllis suspects.
I was interested enough in this world and will continue with the series.
hollie313's review
adventurous
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
sonyakdr's review
1.0
Nice cover – unfortunately the book didn’t live up to it.
The prissy, goody-two shoes, self righteous, irrationally stubborn heroine was…do I even need to say anymore? Good grief, I wanted to reach through the pages and smack her. Hard.
Midway through the book I started seriously skimming – right to the end.
The prissy, goody-two shoes, self righteous, irrationally stubborn heroine was…do I even need to say anymore? Good grief, I wanted to reach through the pages and smack her. Hard.
Midway through the book I started seriously skimming – right to the end.