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maggietoussaint55's review against another edition
5.0
Amaryllis is a hoot. She's very much a by-the-numbers kind of gal who gets into all kind of trouble in her chosen profession. She lands at a not-so-highly thought of tourist attraction and finds a dead guy.
Don't want to reveal the plot, but if you like futuristic paranormals, this one is for you. It was the start of the dust bunnies and ghost hunters.
This one's on my keeper shelf
Don't want to reveal the plot, but if you like futuristic paranormals, this one is for you. It was the start of the dust bunnies and ghost hunters.
This one's on my keeper shelf
mornirdragon's review against another edition
2.0
The characters and the story were only limitedly engaging. The romance between the leads seemed forced and completely lack chemistry. The world building was clunky.
It can't have been the worst novel in the world as i finished it and i don't finish many novels i don't like but I would still reccomend looking elsewhere for a romance novel. Its not like there is a shortage.
It can't have been the worst novel in the world as i finished it and i don't finish many novels i don't like but I would still reccomend looking elsewhere for a romance novel. Its not like there is a shortage.
fleurette's review against another edition
3.0
First book in St. Helen's series and the last I read. It was okay. The heroine less naive than usual and the hero less possessive. Actually, the whole romance part was a bit different than in other books by JAK I read recently. Or so I think.
amshofner's review against another edition
3.0
3.5
Long before I got into book blogging--probably even as early as high school--I was a huge Jayne Ann Krentz fan. Huge fan like I trolled library shelves looking for any new Jayne Ann Krentz or Amanda Quick book I could find. (And by new, I mean anything I hadn't read yet.) I avoided her Jayne Castle books because I didn't do paranormal. (Ha. I was so funny back then, wasn't I?)
Amaryllis would have likely been a good transition to paranormal for me if I had ever picked it up. It's true that it's set in St. Helen's, a world cut off from earth. But St. Helen's is basically the Pacific Northwest--where many Jayne Ann Krentz books are set--with a few differences: coff-tea, jelly-ice, and some random other things that I don't even remember anymore. The world made me realize how masterful other authors are with their world building. St. Helen's failed to live up to my expectations in that regard.
The characters, on the other hand, were fun. They were very Jayne Ann Krentz--almost formulaic--but I like her characters (obviously, since she was my favorite author at one point) so it worked. It's been a while since I've read her books, but I was still able to predict, quite easily, certain points in Amaryllis and Lucas's relationship. The predictability didn't bother me--I was reading for the pleasure of it--so it was easy to sit back and watch it unfold.
Long before I got into book blogging--probably even as early as high school--I was a huge Jayne Ann Krentz fan. Huge fan like I trolled library shelves looking for any new Jayne Ann Krentz or Amanda Quick book I could find. (And by new, I mean anything I hadn't read yet.) I avoided her Jayne Castle books because I didn't do paranormal. (Ha. I was so funny back then, wasn't I?)
Amaryllis would have likely been a good transition to paranormal for me if I had ever picked it up. It's true that it's set in St. Helen's, a world cut off from earth. But St. Helen's is basically the Pacific Northwest--where many Jayne Ann Krentz books are set--with a few differences: coff-tea, jelly-ice, and some random other things that I don't even remember anymore. The world made me realize how masterful other authors are with their world building. St. Helen's failed to live up to my expectations in that regard.
The characters, on the other hand, were fun. They were very Jayne Ann Krentz--almost formulaic--but I like her characters (obviously, since she was my favorite author at one point) so it worked. It's been a while since I've read her books, but I was still able to predict, quite easily, certain points in Amaryllis and Lucas's relationship. The predictability didn't bother me--I was reading for the pleasure of it--so it was easy to sit back and watch it unfold.
asphaltcowgrrl's review
5.0
The world building in this novel is amazing. The idea of those with paranormal abilities (talents) needing someone to focus their energy (prisms) was one of the most unique things I've heard. Add to that an Earth-like planet somewhere in the universe and I was hooked. Amaryllis, although a bit stuffy, was a lot of fun. Lucas was my kind of hero, too - smart, determined, and snarky as hell.
cleocleveland's review against another edition
4.0
4*s because even a Jayne Castle that I don't love is still an entertaining book. This one didn't hold my attention as much as the Harmony books (I think I missed the dust bunnies!) but I really liked Lucas and Amaryllis and am intrigued by the set ups for the books.
mousegoddess's review against another edition
3.0
I do love a good Jayne Castle read. While I think I prefer the world of Harmony and its marriage practices, I still really enjoyed this story and world (and not just because I like thinking of Bellevue as podunk nowhereville). I thought the characters were engaging, I love the opposites attract trope, and the chemistry was nice. Also appreciate stories that know when to interject humour. Which...yeah, there's a reason Jayne under all her nom de plumes is a perennial favourite. Recommend to fans of romance, humour, and family.
Okay for Aayesha
Okay for Aayesha
lauriereadslohf's review against another edition
2.0
This one disappointed me big-time. I've come to the realization that Jayne Castle/Krentz/Quick's voice/style just doesn't work for me because this is the 6th book of hers that I've read that I found very dull. I should note that I do not like mysteries as a rule so maybe that's my problem because that's what the bulk of this book was.
Set on another planet, 200 years in the future, Amaryllis Lark is what they call a professional "prism." Her world is filled with people born with differing psychic abilities who are unable to use them without the help of a prism who helps them focus their talents. Lucas needs a high talent prism to help him find a leak in his company. This leads to much adventure and when they "link" it leads to true love.
I found my mind wandering a lot while reading this one. I was so looking forward to a good futuristic romance but was disappointed because this one read so much like a contemporary/mystery. Castle's world of psychics and prisms was filled with so much promise that was never fulfilled in my eyes. It disappointingly mirrored current day earth with the exception of the psychic talents and the unimaginatively and laughably named items like jelly-ice, snake-bat, coff-tea, etc. and so on. She had explanations for the non-advances in technology and the silly sounding named items (nostalgia! ) but still it really bugged me. IMO, this book might as well have been set in current day Seattle rather than "New Seattle". I also thought the mystery portion of the book far overwhelmed the love story.
There were moments of wit that made me smile but that didn't cut it for me. In the end I didn't feel anything for Amaryllis or Lucas - they just didn't move me and that's the most disappointing thing of all.
Set on another planet, 200 years in the future, Amaryllis Lark is what they call a professional "prism." Her world is filled with people born with differing psychic abilities who are unable to use them without the help of a prism who helps them focus their talents. Lucas needs a high talent prism to help him find a leak in his company. This leads to much adventure and when they "link" it leads to true love.
I found my mind wandering a lot while reading this one. I was so looking forward to a good futuristic romance but was disappointed because this one read so much like a contemporary/mystery. Castle's world of psychics and prisms was filled with so much promise that was never fulfilled in my eyes. It disappointingly mirrored current day earth with the exception of the psychic talents and the unimaginatively and laughably named items like jelly-ice, snake-bat, coff-tea, etc. and so on. She had explanations for the non-advances in technology and the silly sounding named items (nostalgia! ) but still it really bugged me. IMO, this book might as well have been set in current day Seattle rather than "New Seattle". I also thought the mystery portion of the book far overwhelmed the love story.
There were moments of wit that made me smile but that didn't cut it for me. In the end I didn't feel anything for Amaryllis or Lucas - they just didn't move me and that's the most disappointing thing of all.