Zinnia [Mass Market Paperback]

Jayne Castle (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997

New York Times bestselling author JAYNE CASTLE 

Capturing the “lively sensuality” (Library Journal ) of the passion-filled, near-future space colony of St. Helen’s, the wildly popular alter ego of bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz delivers “delectably entertaining paranormal romantic suspense” (Booklist)!

Ever since a false tabloid story ruined her reputation and her interior design business, Zinnia Spring has been labeled the “Scarlet Lady” of St. Helen’s. Now, headstrong Zinnia makes a living using her psychic abilities—a highly prized skill that attracts the attention of another planetary outcast, Nick Chastain. The rough-edged casino owner craves what he doesn’t have— respectability—and he enlists Zinnia to help find his father’s journal and dig up answers to his own mysterious past. Zinnia doesn’t have to be psychic to know what else Nick wants; soon they’re reaching the electrifying heights of ecstasy—and danger. For when a ruthless killer crosses their search, it will take everything in their power to keep their feet on terra firma and survive a deadly trap!

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Continuing her futuristic, paranormal series set on the imaginary world of St. Helens, where matched marriages are the norm and almost everyone is psychically gifted to some degree, Castle (Amaryllis, Pocket, 1996) focuses on two "matchless," highly gifted psychics. She gives them mysteries to solve, murders to avenge, and scandals to deal with and lets them discover their own "impossible" love in the process. There is a high-intensity level to this intelligently humorous romance that features a heroine with a scarlet reputation, a wealthy bastard hero, a demented but seemingly sane villain, and a lethal maze of carnivorous, almost human plants. Castle also writes contemporaries under her own name, Jayne Ann Krentz, and historicals as Amanda Quick and lives in the Seattle area. Note: Librarians will appreciate the casual, favorable references to libraries and librarians in this and in many of the author's other works.
Copyright 1997 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

The author of a string of New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ uses three different pen names for each of her three "worlds". As JAYNE ANN KRENTZ (her married name) she writes contemporary romantic-suspense. She uses AMANDA QUICK for her novels of historical romantic-suspense. JAYNE CASTLE (her birth name) is reserved these days for her stories of futuristic/paranormal romantic-suspense.

She is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671569015
• ISBN-13: 978-0671569013
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #116,216 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

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another keeper !!! :), March 16, 2003

By 

M. B. Alcat "Curiosity killed the cat, but sa... (Los Angeles, California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zinnia (Mass Market Paperback)

This is a "paranormal futuristic romance"... The name is quite long but explains well what this novel is about. It can be read as a sequel to "Amaryllis" or on its own. It takes place in the Earth colony of St. Helens, were people are divided between those with psychic powers (talents) and those who can help them to focus those powers, thus increasing them (prisms).

The main characters in this book are Nick Chastain, a powerful matrix talent and casino owner, and Zinnia Spring, a full spectrum prism. They meet because Zinnia thinks Nick kidnapped one of her clients,a stormy beginning for an exciting relationship. What follows is a mad chase for a missing journal, and a developing love story that keeps you enthralled...

I really loved this book, and consider it to be a real keeper !!!. I only regret it wasn't longer... If you have at least some imagination (a necessary ingredient in this kind of book, read it now: you won't regret doing so!!!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Utterly, Simply, Delightful! JAK's at her best, April 3, 2002

By 

Deborah MacGillivray "Author," (US & UK) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Zinnia (Mass Market Paperback)

They recently repacked Amaryllis and Zinnia into a single volume called Harmony, so I got these out and decided to reread them. And found I enjoyed them more the second time around. Maybe this stems from the past few Jayne Anne Krentz/ Amanda Quick books not living up to the standard of her talent, making these shine even more. These St. Helen's books, set on Harmony a plant where Earth traveler colonized are Jayne Anne writing as Jayne Castle, and writing at the very top of her form. Originally, her fans had mixed reviews over these books. This was before Paranormal Romance hit big in the sales. Now they are getting a much-deserved second look. Amaryllis, Zinnia and Orchid are the trio of tales set in this Futuristic world, with After Dark and After Glow continuing the sagas.
Zinnia Spring (don't you love JAK's names?) was called the Scarlet Lady by the press. She was mistakenly caught in the middle of a tacky tabloid triangle scandal. An interior decorator, she decides to take lemons and make lemonade. Instead of trying to shout her innocence or trying to hide, she plays the reputation for all its worth, creating a real Lady in Red. She dresses red, she drives red.

When sexy Nick Chastain, owner of a Casino, hires her things really heat up for both. Nick and Zinnia, like all the off-worlders, have a little something extra to their make up. In the Earth Colony of St. Helens on Harmony, people evolved with two supernatural talents: they were either a prism or a psychic. The prisms serve to increase the power of the psychics by channeling their powers through them, amplifying it and keeping it stable. Even the strongest of psychics needs a prism, for without them they cannot control and maintain their powers for long periods.

Though he has hired Zinnia for her decorating ability, he needs something more from her. He wants his respectability. He is an off the chart top psychic, but he needs the perfectly matched prism - and that is Zinnia. Nick's father was Bartholomew Chastain, a member of the elite of St. Helens, and a respected explorer. However, Nick's father died, leaving the legitimacy of Nick's birth unclear. Nick maintains his father married his mother just before his last expedition, but the family disputes this. Nick craves finding his father's journal and proving he is his heir. He craves that respectability.

As Zinnia falls in love with Nick, she views her Scarlet Lady as nothing more than a passing affair for Nick. How can a man, who desires respectability above all else, want the Scarlet Lady for his wife?

This is ONE super read for Jayne Anne Krentz Fan. Don't miss the first in the series Amaryllis and then Orchid. Jayne Anne, whatever name she is using, is at the peak of her prose with this book. I compliment her deft use of Multi-POV (Point of View) so missing from many of today's new writers. It makes the story richer and gives you a full sense of the story and characters instead of limits the writer and reader.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fun Read!, June 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Zinnia (Mass Market Paperback)

In this second book of the series, Ms. Castle (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) introduces us to Zinnia Spring and Nick Chastain on earth colony St. Helen's. Here we learn about another Prism/Talent pair that track down the missing journal of a doomed exploration, lead by Nick's late father. Sparks between Zinnia and Nick burn bright when they join in their "link" and as their romance grows. The reader also will enjoy revisiting friends and places from the previous story.

If you're a fan of futuristic romance with a psychic twist, this book is for you! I've enjoyed all three books so far (the first: Amaryllis, the second: Zinnia, and the third: Orchid), and am looking forward to more!