Amaryllis [Large Print] [Hardcover]

Jayne Castle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1998

Amaryllis Lark is undeniably beautiful. She's also one of the best psychic detectives on St. Helen's, the earth colony recently cut off from the mother planet. A bold hunch leads her from a wild murder investigation into a red-hot love affair with the rugged head of Lodestar Exploration, Lucas Trent--and no power on heaven, earth, of St. Helen's can keep them apart. This is the first installment in Castle's futuristic series.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

When professional full-scale prism Amaryllis Lark agrees to serve as the "focus" for the highly psychically talented Lucas Trent in a security investigation for his company, their mind-link produces excitement?and leads them into a dangerous search for a clever psychic murderer. The chemistry between the pragmatic hero and prissy heroine is on target here. Writing under the name Jayne Castle for the first time in 16 years, veteran romance writer Jayne Ann Krentz takes her trademark combination of witty, upbeat action; lively sensuality; and appealing characters to the unique, synergistic world of St. Helens. Readers may also be interested in some of Krentz's earlier futuristic works (e.g., Shield's Lady, Starfire), recently re-released under her own name. She lives in Seattle.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

Review

In the futuristic city of New Seattle on the Earth colony of St. Helen's, love and passion bring together two very unlikely people. Amaryllis Lark is a prism, able to focus the power of a psychic talent. She's also one of the best psychic detectives working for Psynergy, Inc. She's cool, proper and completely professional-- until Lucas Trent gets past her defenses. Lucas is head of Lodestar Exploration and wants Amaryllis to help him track down a corporate thief. This should be just another job to Amaryllis, but it turns into something much more as the rugged adventurer touches her heart and mind. Someone is betraying Lucas and he intends to find out why. Used to living life on the edge, Lucas has no interest in the prissy Miss Lark, even if her prism ability is a match for his off-the-chart talent. What starts out as a simple corporate security situation turns into a murder investigation that puts both Lucas and Amaryllis right in the middle of the danger. Lucas doesn't count on being attracted to Amaryllis, but when their minds touch, passion takes over. The unlikely duo discover that there's more to appearances than meets the eye! The incomparable Jayne Ann Krentz returns, writing as Jayne Castle in this delightful and delicious romance. Part fantasy, part paranormal, part futuristic, Amaryllis is a thoroughly entertaining love story. Lucas is the to-sigh-for hero of every woman's dreams. Rugged and handsome, he is the perfect match for Amaryllis. Their adventures together keep the reader on the edge of her seat! The genre of futuristics is still growing, but readers have already seen certain themes being repeated and redone with too much emphasis on technology and Star Wars-like intergalactic battles. Thankfully, Ms. Krentz (Castle) does an incredible job of creating a unique, realistic world in the not-too-distant future and filling it up with real characters. Readers will be looking forward to the next passionate story from Jayne Castle and Psynergy, Inc. A stunning tale from the amazing Jayne Castle! This is the future of futuristics! Ms. Castle creates a believable future with characters we care about! Readers have come to expect only the best from Jayne Ann Krentz... and she never disappoints!Kristina Wright -- Copyright © 1994-97 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times --This text refers to the Mass Market Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 385 pages
• Publisher: Thomas T Beeler (June 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574901397
• ISBN-13: 978-1574901399
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.2 x 2.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,572,511 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

When a curtain opened allowing travel between Earth and a new world, it was a tourism opportunity like no one could have envisioned. Travelers moved back and forth between worlds with ease until...the curtain closed.

Abandoned on the new world with no access to Earth technology, the unexpected colonists had to learn to survive. And survive they did. JAYNE CASTLE chronicles the lives of their descendants in her best selling HARMONY SERIES. Turns out folks on HARMONY are starting to exhibit paranormal abilities and -- wouldn't you know it -- some of those people with psychic talents descend from members of the ARCANE SOCIETY (a bestselling series that Jayne writes under her two other pen names, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ and AMANDA QUICK).

Jayne is busy working on CANYONS OF NIGHT, Book 3 in the LOOKING GLASS TRILOGY due out in Summer 2011. Writing as JAYNE ANN KRENTZ she will release Book I, IN TOO DEEP, in Winter 2011. And writing under her historical pen name, AMANDA QUICK, she will contribute Book II in the trilogy, QUICKSILVER, in Spring 2011.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lot of Fun!, June 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Amaryllis (Paperback)

Being a fan of futuristic romance I was very happy to "surf" into this, the first book in the series (followed by Zinnia and Orchid). The icing on the cake for me was having psychic abilities added to the story! Amaryllis Lark and Lucas Trent get off to a rocky start, but slowly acknowledge their growing attraction to each other. This is fueled by their Prism/Talent Link that leads them into a nice little murder mystery to solve.

Ms. Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) did a nice job of educating the reader about the time and place of the story without getting long winded. I loved the names for various foods, drinks, places and animals that are a combination of nouns used "here on earth!"

I do not regret in the least ordering all three of these books sight unseen. I've enjoyed all three enormously.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Lush Futuristic Romance Fantasy & A Fun Read!!, September 7, 2004

By 

Jana L. Perskie "ceruleana" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Amaryllis (Mass Market Paperback)

St. Helen's, a lush green world, is an earth colony founded by humans over two centuries before "Amaryllis" begins. The original humans, Founders, were stranded shortly after discovering the planet, and were forever cut off from their home on earth. They adapted to the new environment, utilizing native metals and materials, but much of the science and technology they brought with them was lost over time. Eventually the population of St. Helens evolved into two kinds of humans - "prisms" and "talents," both with psychic ability. Talents have significant degrees of paranormal ability, but cannot focus their energy without a prism. The necessary link between a "talent" and a "prism" has to be mutually consensual in order to accomplish any paranormal activity.

Amaryllis Lark, a professional, academically trained full-spectrum prism, is quite beautiful - but she's also a buttoned-up, prim, proper kind of gal who plays by the rules. Amaryllis is a top psychic detective at Psynergy, Inc., one of the best companies in the business. Lucas Trent, president of Lodestar Exploration and Mining, is a talent of the strongest degree, but he needs Amaryllis to work with him in order to focus his paranormal gifts, and assist him in a simple investigation. Needless to say, Lucas is definitely not prim or proper, nor does he have rules - but when the two join forces, sparks fly! Their business arrangement turns into a murder investigation, and a much closer merger than either of them bargained for.

Jayne Castle has a real winner with "Amaryllis." St, Helens is a fascinating world peopled with some real characters. Lucas and Amaryllis are polar opposites - she's Miss Priss, a real lady - and he lets it all hang out. That's why they're so good together. As a twosome they gravitate toward the middle and compromise, with many arguments and much humor along the way. The romance is steamy and the mystery exciting.

What else is there to say? If you like romance, the paranormal, novels about the future, or just a good story - this book is for you!

JANA

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended :), March 16, 2003

By 

M. B. Alcat "Curiosity killed the cat, but sa... (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Amaryllis (Paperback)

Even though this book was published quite some time ago, I only read it this weekend, due to the recommendation of one of my Amazon.com friends. If it hadn't been for her recommendation, I don't think I would have tried it, because the whole plot of this futuristic romance seemed a little far-fetched.

But then, if I hadn't read it I would have missed a real keeper, so I guess I'm very lucky for having friends who share my tastes, and who know what I might like even before I do.

The story is set in the Earth colony of St. Helen's, and the main characters are two very different. Amaryllis Lark is a prism, and she can help people who have psychic talents to focus them. She works for Psynergy, Inc., and is quite happy with her job. One of the tasks she must perform is help Lucas, the owner of Lodestar Exploration, to find a corporate thief. She does exactly that, by focusing his talent (remember that Amaryllis is a prism, this is more extensely explained in the book). Even they are very different, they find that they are intensely attracted to each other, and that atraction only increases as the case they investigate develops to include murder.

Jayne Castle is the name that Jayne Ann Krentz uses when she writes futuristic paranormal romances. I can only tell that she is incredible! After finishing this book, I immediately searched in the web for the sequels, "Zinnia" and "Orchid", and by now I've already read both of them (they are also great, 5 star rating). This "compulsion" to read everything similar that the author may have written is what distinguishes really good romances novels (for example, Dark Series by Feehan or Cynsters by Laurens) from others that are only midly good.

Anyway, if you follow my advise, good reading! You will have a great time! :)