Second Sight (The Arcane Society, Book 1) (Hardcover)

by Amanda Quick (Author), Jayne Ann Krentz (Author) "THE SKELETON LAY on an elaborately carved and gilded bed in the center of the ancient laboratory that had become the alchemist's tomb..." (more)
Key Phrases: psychical talents, paranormal senses, psychical abilities, Arcane House, Arcane Society, Aunt Beatrice (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Writing as Amanda Quick (Lie by Moonlight, etc.), Jayne Ann Krentz offers another spirited Victorian romance, light on Victorian, heavy on romance. Photographer Venetia Milton supports her brother, sister and maiden aunt while keeping secrets: her late father's bigamy, her paranormal gift for seeing people's auras ("like looking at a negative image of the world") and her more-than-willing ravishment by client Gabriel Jones. Heir to a generations-old clandestine association of alchemists, scientists and dabblers in psychic phenomena, Gabriel has a few secrets of his own. After his servants report his death to authorities to confound his enemies, grieving Venetia begins posing as his widow, with Gabriel soon showing up on her doorstep very much alive. Miffed, she consigns him to the attic, but their chemistry quickly reignites; while tracking down one murderous, blackmailing thief after another, they steal opportunities for fervent encounters in the garden, in the carriage, in the society's mansion and at home. But the evildoers still want Gabriel's family secrets—and now they want Venetia as well. Women masquerade as men and criminals masquerade as aristocrats in a society so full of disguise that not even second sight provides much protection. But with Quick's stylish dialogue, compelling secondary characters and near-operatic denouement, fans won't need or want it. (May 9)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist
Photographer Venetia Milton is a spinster by Victorian standards. Economically strapped, she's also the sole support of her aunt and younger siblings. Things start to look up when she is chosen to photograph a collection of artifacts belonging to the Arcane Society, a 200-year-old clandestine organization founded by an alchemist. The collection is housed in an isolated gothic mansion, and Venetia finds herself there in the company of handsome and mysterious Gabriel Jones. Deciding that it's now or never for love, Venetia seduces him, only to lose the man of her dreams in a fire set by a nefarious enemy. Venetia resourcefully moves on, opening a portrait shop and assuming the persona of Gabriel's grieving widow. The talented Mrs. Jones becomes the toast of London, a surprising turnaround, but not nearly as astonishing as Gabriel's reappearance, and the danger she finds herself in. Quick's latest is a clever and entertaining tale about secrets, from a secret society to secret powers to a secret theft. Quick also slips in serious observations about the status of women, debunking the all-too-common assumption that feminism isn't alive and well in the romance genre. With her witty dialogue, multidimensional characters complete with eccentricities and psychic abilities, clever plotting, and generous humor, the perennially popular Quick has penned another surefire winner. Shelley Mosley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 400 pages
• Publisher: Putnam Adult (May 9, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0399153527
• ISBN-13: 978-0399153525
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (55 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #118,221 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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• This is item 1 in The Arcane Society Series.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars This one's a stinker, July 20, 2006

By	Sharon Wylie (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I really love Amanda Quick, but this one just didn't work. We don't even get to see the hero and heroine meet and spend time together; the action starts after they've already spent a week getting to know each other. Very disappointing from a romance novel.

And I don't really expect tightly woven mysteries in my romance novels, but the plot in this one defies belief. It's never explained why the first murder even occurs. The hero's fear that the murderer will focus on Venetia because she's using the last name "Jones" is beyond ludicrous. If that was going to be a major plot point, at least make it an unusual name that would link the hero and heroine together. But JONES?!

All would be forgiven if the romance were compelling, but it wasn't in the slightest. I will probably choose to wait for the next one in paperback or at the library.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ROMANCE, MYSTERY, INTRIGUE. WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT, May 16, 2006

By	Gail Cooke (TX, USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

This review is from: Second Sight (The Arcane Society, Book 1) (MP3 CD)

Jayne Ann Krentz is nothing but amazing. She turns out riveting bestsellers published under her name and also finds time to pen intriguing Victorian romances writing as Amanda Quick. Now, following on the heels of "Lie By Moonlight" we're treated to another return to the 19th century when men were handsome and mysterious and women submitted to their "ravishment."

Heroine Venetia Milton not only submitted, she planned it. A photographer with paranormal gifts she is pleased to be away from those who know her and at Arcane House where she is employed to photograph a collection of relics. She was retained by Gabriel Jones, a gentleman with many secrets. Fans of Amanda Quick know that it isn't very long before Venetia and Gabriel are in each other's arms.

Venetia is stunned when she reads of her paramours death. Then, for reasons which were not quite clear she pretends to be his widow. As any widow would be, she's shocked to find her supposed late husband living and breathing. Please note that the breathing on both their parts is heavy as their attraction to one another is renewed.

Nonetheless, there are those who would do them both harm in order to discover the secrets that Gabriel possesses.

Romance, mystery, intrigue all set in Victorian England and given voice by stellar actress Anne Flosnik. What more could a listener want? Enjoy!

- Gail Cooke

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars a disappointing read, August 9, 2006

By	tregatt (Portland, Oregon) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

After a night of passion with Gabriel Jones (the gentleman who had hired her to photograph his collection), photographer Venetia Milton is saddened to read that Gabriel has lost his life in a fire. Deciding to make use of this opportunity, Venetia poses as Gabriel's widow and moves her family to London, where she opens a new portrait shop. Imagine her surprise then when Gabriel walks into to drawing room many months later, very much alive. Apparently, someone wants access to some papers that they think Gabriel has, and he had pretended to play dead in order to discover who had tried to kill him. But now, with Venetia pretending to be his widow, Gabriel is afraid that the killer will come after Venetia. Venetia is stunned, and a little miffed that her plans have come crashing down around her; after all a live husband was the last thing she expected to have to contend with. But with her life, and potentially that of her loved ones at stake, Venetia will have to put her ire behind her and work with Gabriel. But can she? For Venetia has secrets that she'd rather not share, esp with the man she's so terribly attracted to...

I know that the last few novels by Amanda Quick haven't exactly been stellar ones --esp when one compares them with her earlier work "Seduction," "Scandal, etc. But there's always been something, even in her less than stellar works for one to grab onto -- a good storyline, good chemistry between the hero and heroine, suspense. This time around, however, everything seems very flat and very formulaic. The storyline is a variation of one that has been used a number of times, the chemistry between the hero (Gabriel) and the heroine (Venetia) is almost nonexistent, and the villain of the piece not only sticks out a mile (the villain might as well have carried a sign saying "here I stand, come and get me.") Who would have thought that there would come the day when I would actually give an Amanda Quick novel 2 stars?

The shame of it was that the storyline, although it was much used intrigue/mystery subplot, had quite a bit going for it. However, while one can overlook the fact that an author has much used a very familiar subplot, slightly harder to overlook is the fact that the interaction between the hero and heroine in "Second Sight" lacked sparkle. From the manner in which the first few chapters unfolded, I rather thought that I was going to like Venetia quite a bit -- she seemed intelligent and very capable. But while, thank goodness, Amanda Quick did not allow her heroine to behave in an extremely foolish manner even once, she did make her seem rather obtuse at times. Gabriel, on the other hand, was easy to like and take to, even if his character was under-developed -- and really, one has little choice but to approve of a hero who possesses a sense of humour. All in all, though, this was a disappointing read: the historical aspect was mere wall papering (and although I realize that for many readers this is not a priority. I rather like a little more detail in these historical novels), the suspense was lacking, as was the chemistry between Venetia and Gabriel, and the storyline just lacked energy and vivacity. If you are a fan, by all means read this book, but be forewarned, it is nothing like her earlier works. If you've never picked up an Amanda Quick romance novel, than choose one of her earlier works instead (esp her "S" series), you won't be disappointed