The Hot Zone (Rainshadow, #3) by Jayne Castle
Paranormal Romance
Paperback, 352 pages
August 26, 2014
Jove
Reviewed by Tori
Favorite Quote: “If you ever disappeared, I would look for you and I would not stop until I found you.”
Sedona Snow, a gate keeper, came to Rainshadow when she was left for dead by a guild boss and subsequently kidnapped and experimented on. She escapes her captors with the help of a dust bunny, Lyle, four days later only to discover her “husband” has already replaced her. When Sedona begins to notice the experiments done to her have altered her original psi talents, she decides to hide on the island before the kidnappers strike again.
A bizarre accident beings Cyrus Jones and his band of ghost hunters to the island. Named the island’s new guild boss, Cyrus’s family wants to know what is happening down there and have sent him to investigate. He has his eye on Sedona but for reasons other than harm. When her ex husband comes looking for Sedona, Cyrus decides to stick close to Sedona, convinced she plays an important part in the strange happenings. His attraction to her is only an added bonus.
The Hot Zone is the third installment in Ms. Castle’s Rainshadow series. A spin off of her popular Harmony series, Rainshadow is an island that has become a refuge of sorts to those who don’t fit in with Harmony’s upper class society. People with unusual or dangerous psi talents gravitate to the island, knowing the island tends to protect its inhabitants from outsiders . The island, a hot bed of unexplored alien energy areas, keeps the local talent on their toes. Dry witty humor and a suspense filled mystery go hand in hand to create a well developed storyline that revolves around as two “misfits” who band together to investigate the island’s unusual alien infrastructure. Personable characters, intriguing plot lines, and vivid world building makes each installment a fun engaing read. Though each book can be read as a stand alone, this series does interact lightly with her Harmony and Arcane series as the three series follow specific families through time.
Sedona and Cyrus are interesting and well developed leads. Intelligent, strong, and loyal, both have suffered for their gifts and family connections. Sedona was disowned by both sides of her family because of her parents forbidden affair. Growing up alone and unwanted left Sedona with a heightened sense of independence and an innate emotional wall. Cast aside by her husband only reinforced that wall. Sedona’s natural gift, the ability to open psi energy gates, is a well sought after gift that gives her plenty of work but her betrayal by the guild leaves her un trusting of them and therefore, unavailable.
Cyrus Jones already has two strikes against him…being a member of the strange and unpredictable Jones family and his gift. Cyrus is a null of sorts. He is able to dampen other psi gifts which isn’t someone the average person wants around them. After the Harmony matchmakers all but throw their hands up at his “unmatchability” Cyrus figures he will just have to get used to being alone. Meeting Sedona is like a gift from the Gods. She needs his ability in order to get a handle on hers and he needs her…period.
The romance is slow to start though the chemistry is apparent from their first meeting. The sparks and snark fly with abandonment. Sedona doesn’t trust anyone; especially a guild boss. Plus, her altered gift and it’s unpredictability doesn’t leave her with many romantic options. Cyrus wasn’t prepared for his attraction to her but chooses to be honest in why he’s been sent to Rainshadow in order to forestall any hindrances to that attraction. This particular storyline actually coincides with a long running open storyline in the Harmony and Arcane series.
One aspect of all Castle’s stories (writing as Krentz and Quick, also) is the strength of her relationships. Though overly protective and stoic at times, her heroes aren’t jerks. Castle matches them expertly with strong women who can more than hold their own in any situation. The sex is satisfying towards solidifying the attraction and romance though not overly explicit. A lot is left to the imagination.
The main conflict is a mash up of seemingly unrelated events that Castle expertly weaves together until the larger picture is seen. Righteous and evil villains swarm the island while Cyrus and Sedona get to the bottom of the mysterious events.
Castle’s The Hot Zone is definitely hot in more ways then one. The world and characterization continues to expand and evolve in the most delicious of ways. I recommend to all readers who enjoy a more suspenseful PNR.
RATING: B+
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Jayne Anne Krentz in all her forms is an auto-buy for me. While her storylines are predictable, her writing never fails to satisfy.
I also have a soft spot for the Dust Bunnies, who know more than they let on. I’m convinced some day they’re going to kick the humans off the planet with a farewell, “So long, and thanks for all the kibble.”
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the dust bunnies.
Dust bunnies! And I adore how there are so many connections between the series under different pen names. You don’t have to know about all the connections, but it sure does make things more fun.
Oh, I do too. I love reading between the series and seeing the connections.
JAK is one of the authors that I want to read all her books.