The Hot Zone (Rainshadow Series Book 3)

In THE HOT ZONE it is Halloween on Rainshadow Island. The latest installment of Castle's paranormal futuristic Rainshadow series is about the creatures that go bump in the night. At times funny and suspenseful, this is the story of a woman who fears having been the victim of an experiment and a man who has come to see if she is a danger.THE STORY: Sedona Snow is a gatekeeper which means that she has a talent which allows her to open gates in the underground on Harmony. While on an expedition, she is kidnapped and subjected to experiments whereby she obtains an additional talent which allows her to produce and control fire. She knows that double talents are notorious for being unstable and descending into madness. She fears for herself and ends up on the island of misfits (Rainshadow) managing an inn.Cyrus Jones (yes, one of those Jones from Krentz's Arcane series and also in the Harmony series book MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL) is the first boss of the newly organized Rainshadow Ghost Hunters Guild. Cyrus is known as Dead Zone Jones and some people believe he has that name because he has no talent. Cyrus actually possesses a dangerous talent that people instinctively fear. Ostensibly, Cyrus in on Rainshadow to help with the dangerous preserve areas located in the previous books in the series. He is also on Rainshadow looking for Sedona who the Jones are concerned may be a dangerous multi-talent. He doesn't expect to find a sexy woman to whom he is instantly attracted.As Halloween comes to Rainshadow, there are dangerous alien creatures, creepy new landscapes and funny costumes (especially for dust bunnies). There is also dangers that bring a man and a woman who don't think that they can ever find love together.OPINION: This is one of my favorite Rainshadow books. Sedona is very complex and spunky. She is incredibly strong and I love how Cyrus supports her and trusts in her competence and abilities. This allows Sedona to believe in herself as well. I am also a great fan of Jayne Ann Krentz's Arcane series and am happy that she has once again decided to continue the storyline from that series. I love the Jones family and am happy to read more about the Arcane's struggle with the infamous formula created by their ancestor.I love the romantic suspense that Krentz/Castle/Quick creates in her different time periods and I especially like it when, as here, she focuses on the romance and the suspense only support and gives structure to the romance. I've complained before when her books tip too far towards suspense. Here, she has a great balance where the characters...not the plot...is the focus.WORTH MENTIONING: Dust bunny Lyle is a cutie and a great addition to the dust bunny family. It was also nice seeing the dust bunnies of the previous books. I was also happy to have a short cameo by Marlowe and Adam from MIDNIGHT CRYSTAL.FINAL DEICISION: I recommend this book especially to fans of Castle's Harmony and Rainshadow series. The quirky, funny, suspenseful tone is well done and it is an easy read where the characters are engaging and likeable.CONNECTED BOOKS: THE HOT ZONE is the third Rainshadow book and the eleventh Harmony series book. It is also connected with the Arcane series as well. This book might be hard for a new reader to adopt. I would recommend reading at least the first Rainshadow book before this one.STAR RATING: I give this book a 4.5. I really love the characters and the story is engaging. I will definitely re-read.

I love Krentz/Quick/Castle and adore her Harmony series as well as her Arcane series. This continues her trend of mixing the two while throwing that recipe on her strange & remote island (Rainshadow) on another world (Harmony) with alien archaeology (Harmony/Ghost Hunter fare) taking on a new spin when it starts to come to life. Add the psychic nature of the characters (Arcane fare) PLUS throw-back names to her contemporary non-fantastical fiction (Eclipse Bay series) and you have a jolly romp for all Krentz/Quick/Castle lovers.Even without the easter eggs for long-time readers, the story is fun and the characters typically Castle quirky. Murder mayhem must ensue but true love... well, there is a reason she makes it all work so well.

Another fun romantic suspense book by Jayne Castle aka Jayne Ann Krentz featuring lovable dust bunnies.Sedona Snow, an illegitimate member of the Snow family has been on her own since she was 18. Kidnapped by a mad scientist and held hostage in an underground alien catacombs, she is being used as a guinea pig by the scientist, when she is found by Lyle, a dust bunny. With the help of Lyle, she escapes her jail cell and Lyle leads her to the surface. She makes her way to her husband's home and finds out the jerk divorced her while she was missing.Cut to Rainshadow Island where the recent dust bunny novels have been taking place. Sedona has moved to the island and made friends there. When we last visited the island, it was under a dark storm cloud of rampant psi energy and overrun with large mutant insects. Our previous heroine, her dust bunny, and her lover took care of that problem but with Rainshadow Island it is one surprise after another. Roaring noises are emanating from The Preserve and carcasses of huge animals are being found in the island's catacombs. Sedona and Lyle are working at a inn of rustic cottages attached to a tavern where ghost hunters and thrill seeking tourists are staying and drinking the days and nights away.Sedona and Lyle meet Cyrus Jones (who does not have his own dust bunny, poor man), a ghost hunter who has been named the Guild boss for the island and given the task of clearing out the underground predators. When Sedona and Cyrus meet, the sparks fly. Lyle sees lots of action too.Sweet, sensuous, with some wackiness that makes these dust bunny books stand out from the ordinary romantic suspense.

This story takes place on Rainshadow Island - the place where misfits go. Sedona Snow has escaped from people who were doing scientific experiments on her. She is a stronger gatekeeper and has developed a talent for fire. She is concerned that she might be unstable because many multi-talents are. She is also concerned that those who kidnapped her will try to capture her again. She was adopted by a dustbunny she named Lyle while she was in captivity. In fact, without Lyle she would not have been about to find her way out of the Underworld.She is settling in on Rainshadow and getting ready for Halloween when a new Guild boss arrives to take over the island. Cyrus Jones is concerned about the protection of the island but he also has been trying to find Sedona. He's afraid that the long lost formula discovered by one of his ancestors has made another appearance. However, no matter how many times it reappears, there are always the same problems with the side effects. The formula is addictive and missing a dose means madness and death. Cyrus wonders how Sedona has escaped those side effects.Cyrus and Sedona are meant for each other. Both have off-the-charts psi talents. But keeping Sedona safe and convincing her that he is one Guild boss who can be trusted isn't an easy job for Cyrus. It is complicated by an ex-husband who wants her back and the family that disowned her because she was illegitimate now wanting to rekindle their relationship.This was a fun romance and a great entry into this series.

I am a big fan of JAK's psi and Arcane stories, all of which I have read and enjoyed. I like each book as a self contained tale but also enjoy the development of the back story that connects them. This is no exception with strong central characters with the usual dust bunny sidekick who seems more intelligent than the villains, and a hint of possible future adventures on Rainshadow. I will be looking out for the next one and hope I do not have too long to wait.

I adore Jayne Ann Krentz

For me the dust bunnies make this series. They add humour and lightness when the going gets heavy or scary. Let's hear it for the dust bunnies!

As usual. I really enjoyed this book. I love the Rainshadow community and consider Dust bunnies one of the best 'inventions' ever....I am constantly amazed at how much character Jayne manages to give everyone.

Loved the series this is no exception