Alicia’s review of Sizzle and Burn (The Arcane Society, Book 3) by Jayne Ann Krentz
Paranormal romance released by Putnam on 15 Jan 08

I decided to review Sizzle and Burn in preparation for the release of The Third Circle (Arcane 4) March 25th. I’m a big JAK fan but with so many great older titles out there, I wasn’t up to date with her new ones.

Just in case you don’t know, Jayne Ann Krentz is also Amanda Quick. Krentz is the pseudonym she uses for her contemporary titles. Quick is the one she uses for her historicals. In the Arcane Society series she is including both past and present, so the books aren’t actually listed under the same author name. These books can stand alone just fine. If you read them in order you do get the history of the society and a cohesive underlying plot but, really, feel free to buy the new one first and then catch up.

Raine is a psychic who hears things by touching objects. Her experience with others with psychic gifts if pretty much limited to her aunt who suffered mentally and herself. She has had loving people she could depend on, though, and is a strong, well adjusted woman. She has helped solve crimes for years. She has a good feeling of her own self-worth.

Zack is also a psychic. He sees things instead of hearing but his gift is similar enough to Raine’s to give them common ground. He, though, has been raised in the Arcane Society. He has been surrounded, all his life, by people with gifts. He has had training on using his talent and has had the support of friends and family like himself. He has never been an outcast nor has he been afraid his gift driving him insane.

Zack and Raine’s romance starts with a bang. One thing I like about JAK is that her characters rarely wallow in exaggerated self doubt or self pity. This book is no exception. The description mentions that Raine had a recent failed relationship, and she did. It was pretty bad but she gets over it. She’s ok. She’s more than ok, in fact, she has a cocky confidence that Zack loves and so do I.

There are two suspense plots going in this story but it felt natural. She has a history of crime investigation and her gift lends itself to discovering violent crimes. It’s not far-fetched that she gets caught in another one. The Arcane Society’s arch enemy also has something going on. That’s a given. The book flowed well and never felt rushed or crowded.

With good characters, good dialogue, strong tension and a fun plot this book never disappointed. A perfect comfort read. If you haven’t tried JAK this is ok to try first (though, to me, it doesn’t touch Trust Me, Deep Waters or Absolutely Positively). I’m waiting –IMpatiently- for the next book, Arcane 4 – The Third Circle, which will be released April 22 by Putnam under Amanda Quick.

Grade: B+

Book summary:

     When Raine Tallentyre made the mistake of revealing her paranormal abilities, her most recent romantic relationship came to a hasty end. Her Aunt Vella, a gifted but troubled soul, had told her years ago to keep her talents a secret. And now that poor Aunt Vella—her last blood relative—has died, Raine has resigned herself to a lonely life.

     But when she journeys to Shelbyville, Washington, to clear out Aunt Vella’s house, Raine’s highly developed sensitivity leads her to a horrifying discovery: a young woman bound and terrified in a basement storage locker. The victim has survived, but the culprit is still on the loose. Without warning, a new man enters Raine’s life—investigator Zack Jones. Surprisingly, Zack isn’t repelled by her powers: in fact, he has them himself. While Raine hears voices, Zack sees visions and within hours of their meeting, Raine experiences an intense, thrilling intimacy—mental, emotional, and physical—she never dared to expect.

     There’s one complication, however: Zack Jones is working for the Arcane Society. This secret organization, dedicated to the study of paranormal phenomena, shattered Raine’s family with an act of betrayal long ago, and she’s not about to trust them now. But as a killer makes her his target, and a cabal of psychic criminals known as Nightshade operates in the shadows surrounding them, Raine and Zack must rely not only on their powerful abilities but on each other . . .

     Read an excerpt.