Book Reviews of After Dark (Harmony, Bk 1)

Taking what she learned in creating her first futuristic other-world novels (Amaryllis, Zinnia, and Orchid), Jayne Castle gets it right in this series of novels set on another planet called Harmony, set in the same universe. Each book will stand alone, but they are better if you read this one first as you will get a good introduction to life on Harmony, it's history, and it's culture.

The book description is right here, so I won't repeat that - but look over it to see if this is your "cup of tea." You will find likable characters, romance and love, and an interesting murder mystery, in a well-thought out, imaginative, and interesting setting.

Unlike the first novels set on the planet of St Helens, this series, set on Harmony uses characteristics of the alien world well to increase the mystery and provide some action and interesting characters.

I'd rate any book in the Harmony series as an "all-nighter."

Typical para-archeologist novel.

I liked this book a lot. Lydia is a strong character fighting to get her life back and fighting the attraction she feels for her new "boss", Emmett. He's everything she thought she didn't want, but - he's also everything she's ever desired. It was cool watching them dance around each other's issues and learn to trust each other and fall in love.

Here is the back cover stuff:

Llife is tough enough these days for Lydia Smith, licensed Para-archeologist. Seriously stressed-out from a nasty incident in an alien tomb, she is obliged to work part-time in Shrimpton's House of Ancient Horrors, a very low-budget museum. She has a plan to get her career back on track, but it isn't going well. Stuff keeps happening.

Take the dead body that she discovered in one of the sarcophagus exhibits. Who needed that? Finding out that her new client, Emmett London, is one of the most dangerous men in the city isn't helping matters either. And that's just today's list of setbacks. Here in the shadows of the Dead City of Old Cadence, things don't really heat up until After Dark.

If, like me, you sometimes relish your romantic suspense with a paranormal twist, welcome to Lydia's and Emmett's world . . . the rules are a little different here . . .

Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle: Lydia Smith, licensed Paara-archaeologist is seriously stressed out from a nasty incident in an alien tomb and obliged to work par time in Shrimpton's House of Ancient Horrors, a very low budget museum as a result. Planning to get her career back on track, she finds that nasty stuff just keeps on happening. Like finding dead bodies in the work place. . .Of course, her new client, Emmett London, might be a plus. Then again, maybe not. She really can't afford to be distracted from her career goals right now, can she? But when somebody seriously tries to take her out, it appears that this one very dangerous man might be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem. And a very tasty part of the the solution indeed! This is primo Jayne Castle/Krentz - dig out the chocolates and run a hot bath. You'll want to read this one in one fell swoop!

I really liked this one - by this time Castle/Krentz is fairly comfortable with her future world and doesn't have to wow us with funny names for stuff. I've enjoyed all of the Harmony series.

Good book. Set in another world, a woman is hired to find an object for and ex-mob boss.

If you like romantic suspense with a paranormal twist, you'll this book. It is one of several that take place on another world where certain paranormal abilities are normal.

Lydia Smith has had a run of bad luck. She got lost in the alien catacombs for an entire weekend and as a result, lost her job as a professor of para-archeology. Now, she is working part-time at a third-rate dump of a museum. She is also trying to start out a new career as a consultant and Emmett London is her first client. Unfortunately, the first thing that happens is that Lydia finds a dead body - not a good way to start out a working relationship with a client who wishes to remain low-key. This was a fun romantic murder-mystery set on a different planet with several plot twists. I enjoyed it.

Romantic suspense with paranormal overtones. Is actually Jayne Ann Krentz writing as Jayne Castle. Great read!

Sci-fi, romance and mystery all get tangled up in this book, which is part of a futuristic series.

Part of a series. Para-archeologist, Lydia Smith is trying to pull her life back together when she finds a dead body in a sarcophogus. A very good and different book.

This book follows up "After Glow" and we read more about Lydia and Emmett. Another great romantic, paranormal read.

Good mixture of fantasy, futureworld, romance and intrigue. There is a sequel: After Glow.

Life is tough enough these days for Lydia Smith, licensed Para-archaeologist. Seriously stressed-out from a nasty incident in an alien tomb, she is obliged to work part-time in Shrimpton's House of Ancient Horrors, a very low-bidget museum. She has a plan to get her career back on track, but it isn't going well. Stuff keeps happening. Take the dead body that she discovered in one of the sarcophagus exhibits. Who needed that? Finding out that her new client, Emmett London, is one of the most dangerous men in the city isn't helping matters either. And that's just today's list of setbacks. Here in the shadows of the Dead City of Old Cadence, things don't really heat up until After Dark.

Excellent book

Another futuristic romance set beyond the Curtain, this time on Harmony. The residents of Harmony have different psychic gifts than those of St. Helens. They are able to use amber and psi energy to power everything from cars to televisions. Some are more gifted in that they can manipulate 'ghosts' and untangle 'traps' left in the old cities built by the former residents of the planet. These people are para-archaeologists and ghost hunters. Lydia and Emmett are just such a team, trying to find Emmett's nephew and a family heirloom he stole, they uncover something much more valuable, and dangerous.

Really good book, Well worth the credits I spent..First book in series.When I finished it I ordered the rest of them..A very well written paranormal series..Funny and dangerous.Have read them all. Well worth your reading time.

very enjoyable

To me this reads more like a Paranormal Romance than a science fiction book. For me it definitely had the same feel as JD Robb's In Death series. If you like those you'll probably like these.

Set in Harmony, a planet settled sometime in the future by settlers cut off from Earth completely, this book follows Lydia Smith, a Para-archaeologist recovering from a bad psychic injury and Emmett London, the man who hires her to recover an artifact stolen and pawned by his nephew. As she looks into the artifact, London's secrets begin to clash with her own, and they are both drawn into a dangerous investigation that will lead to either death - or love.

A good paranormal romance series - I've read these COMPLETELY out of order, but it doesn't really make any difference to each story.

quick easy enjoyable paranormal read!

good read

An interesting new take on the paranormal, set on the planet Harmony.

From back cover: Life is tough enough these days for Lydia Smith, licensed Para-archeologist. Seriously stressed-out from a nasty incident in an alien tomb, she is obliged to wrok part-time in Shrimpton's House of Ancient Horrors, a very low budget museum. She has a plan to get her career back on track, but it isn't going well. Stuff keeps happening.
Take the dead body that she discovered in one of the sarcophagus exhibits. Who needed that? Finding out that her new client, Emmett London, is one of the most dangerous men in the city isn't helping matters either. And that's just today's list of setbacks. Here in the shadows of the Dead City of Old Cadence, things don't really heat up until AFTER DARK.

Good sci-fi romance with strong characters. Heros are sigh-worthy and female lead isn't a worthless wimp either. This author (Krentz as Castly) is usually good and I really like this series. My humble opinion, that the society originated on Earth and then have been developing uniquely makes you relate to characters more.

Enjoyable read on the planet Harmony, same world as in her earlier books, Orchid, Zinnia and Amaryllis.

From Amazon:

A race of aliens once lived on the future Earth colony called Harmony, leaving behind them the ruins of a vast, beautiful, and mysterious culture that is still protected by the psychic illusion traps and eerie ghosts that they created. Lydia Smith is an archaeologist who can resonate and dissolve the illusions, and those talents, combined with her lack of finances and questionable professional reputation, make her the obvious hire for Emmett London, who is trying to track down a lost antique and the nephew who stole it. Lydia's first consulting job quickly turns dangerous, however, as corpses, ghosts, and illusion traps start popping up--not to mention the rather unprofessional electricity between her and her first client.

Jayne Ann Krentz does her usual fine job of making the reader believe the unbelievable.

Life is tough enough these days for Lydia Smith, licensed Para-archaeologist. Seriously stressed-out from a nasty incident in an alien tomb, she is obliged to work part-time in Shrimpton's House of Ancient Horrors, a very low-budget musuem. She has a plan to get her career back on track, but it isn't going well. Stuff keeps happening

Take the dead body that she discovered in one of the sargohagus exhibits. Finding out that her new client is one of the most dangerous men in the city isn't helping matters either.

Loved it! Interesting and quick read.

A very good mystery/romance with a bit of the paramormal in another world atmosphere. Enjoyed it greatly.

Pretty good.

be sure to read this book BEFORE you read AFter Glow it is the same couple and it was really weird to read them backwards.

"An oasis of delight for readers who appreciate nuance and wit, as well as the heady charm of a great romance." - Romantic Times

different sci-fantasy twist. good story kept me turning the pages

This paranormal mystery-romance takes place several centuries in the future, on the planet Harmony, a colony of Earth. Heroine Lydia Smith is a down-on-her-luck archaeologist who specializes in extraterrestrial alien cultures. Lydia is forced to take on a consulting client named Emmett London, who needs her to help him find a valuable antiquity. Though Lydia realizes that Emmett might be a dangerous man, she finds herself attracted to him nevertheless

One of Jayne Krentz's books of the futuristic sub-genre.

A romantic suspense with a paranormal twist...

Excellent book! I love all of Jayne Ann Krentz/Jayne Castle's paranormal romances.

this book is Great. Life is tough enough these days for Lydia Smith, licensed Para-archaeologiest. seriously stressed out from a nasty incident in an alien tomb, she is obliged to work part time in shrimptions house of Ancient Horrors, a very low budget museum. She has a plan to get her career back on track, but it isnt going well. Stuff keeps happenin. Take the dead body tht she discovered in one of the sarcophagus exhibits. Who needed that? Finding out that her new client, is one of the most dangerous men in the city isnt helping matters either. and thats just todays list of set back...Here in the shadows of the Dead City of Old Cadence, things dont really heat up until AFTER DARK....

Cute story.

I haven't read it! This was a book I inherited and would like to pass onto someone else. :) Condition of cover and pages is very good.

Good story. Interesting twists.