by Jayne Castle
Series: Harmony #13, Ghost Hunters #13
Genres: Paranormal Romance
Source: Publisher
Purchase*: Amazon *affiliate
Heat Level:
A new adventure begins on Harmony…
With its opulent casinos and hotels, the desert city of Illusion Town is totally unique—and will take you on a thrill ride you’ll never forget.
Hannah West isn’t the first woman to wake up in Illusion Town married to a man she barely knows, but she has no memory of the ceremony at all. For that matter, neither does Elias Coppersmith, her new husband. All either can remember is that they were on the run…
With Hannah’s dubious background and shaky para-psych profile, she could have done much worse. The cooly competent mining heir arouses her curiosity—as well as other parts of her mind and body. And even her dust bunny likes him.
But a honeymoon spent retracing their footsteps leads Hannah and Elias into the twisting underground catacombs, where secrets from both their pasts will come to light—and where the energy of their clashing auras will grow hot enough to burn…
Illusion Town by Jayne Castle is the thirteenth book in the Harmony series and works as a standalone. This paranormal suspense takes us to Illusion Town, Harmony’s version of Vegas with its opulent casinos and hotels. For Finder, Hannah West, things are about to become intense as she wakes up married and in danger. Fast-paced with suspense, twist, and a delicious romance Illusion Town delivered all that I have come to love from this author.
Five reasons to grab Illusion Town
- Off planet paranormal woo-woo – Jayne Castle (Jayne Ann Krentz) has created a futuristic planet where inhabitants of Earth have relocated. The series ties into her Arcane series but books in this series work as standalone and some are broken into trilogies. Harmony is a fascinating planet filled with underground catacombs and ancient alien technology left by earlier inhabitants of the planet. Castle brilliantly explains the world from the colonized cities to the strange paranormal elements.
- The characters will quickly pull you in as Castle reveals their secrets.- Elias Coopersmith is a member of the Coppersmith Mining Family. Fans of the series are familiar with this family and Elias’ siblings. Elias will be heading up the mining of Ghost City located just outside Illusion Town. Elias is an engineer with a special talent for working stones. Recently he hired Hannah West a dream talent with a finder ability to locate a missing family ring. The two have developed an online rapport and now that the job is finished, Elias’ asks Hannah out to dinner. This was essentially a blind date and I had a blast with the way Castle unfolded their story. Secondary characters from Hannah’s Aunts, locals, and villains added depth and pulled me into Illusion Town.
- The plot was delicious, suspenseful and action packed. Elias picks Hannah up for their date and the next thing you know the two of them wake up in a hotel room with no memory of the previous night. She has a fortune in her purse and he has an MC in his wallet. An MC is a marriage of convenience and apparently, sometime last night these two tied the knot! As they retrace their steps, they soon discover they’re in danger and the tale that unfolds delivered a well-crafted mystery, danger and a slow-building romance.
- Dust bunnies If you have never met these delightful creatures who inhabit Harmony and befriend talents you are missing out. Wait until you meet Virgil our little furry fluff ball. I love getting to know each of the bunnies as much as I do their owners and Virgil made me laugh.
- The writing While these books tend to have a formulaic plot the characters, mystery and dust bunnies always manage to keep things fresh. Honestly, I devour them in a single sitting and then huff about it because I am once again counting down the days until my next visit. Castle quickly pulls the reader in with her suspenseful plots and delivers genuine romances with characters who make you swoon and laugh.
Illusion Town was another wonderful installment in Harmony series. I loved the new town and its inhabitants. I am hoping we continue to have more stories set in and around Illusion Town.
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About Kimberly
Kimberly is a coffee loving book addict who reads and listens to fictional stories in all genres. Whovian, Ravenclaw, Howler and proud Nonna. She owns and manages Caffeinated PR. The coffee is always on and she is ready to chat. BlueSky | Facebook | Instagram
Dani Chapman
I also devour her books in a single sitting! There is something about her stories that makes it so easy to slip inside her worlds and enjoy the ride they take you on.
Thanks for the wonderful review!
kimbacaffeinate
Exactly Dani!
Sharon - Obsession with Books
The setting sounds wonderful and you have me curious about these dust bunnies! This is such a long series :0
A great review Kimba! Sharon – Obsession with Books
kimbacaffeinate
It is a long series, but most work as standalone and some a trilogies. I would just try a trilogy, and jump in 🙂
Leona
I think I’ve started reading a book by this author (under a different name) but then when I realized the AMOUNT of books this author has written from Amanda Quick and Jayne Anne Krentz I got overwhelmed. Maybe I’ll pick and choose which books by this author I’d want to read and let the intimidation slide. Really enjoyed your review 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
They will work as standalone. Look carefully, because some within the series are trilogies..so maybe that is where you should jump in.
Melissa
I so need to check out this series…I used to devour this author!
kimbacaffeinate
I enjoy these, their quick reads 🙂
The Bibliophile Babe
They sound absolutely addictive!
kimbacaffeinate
It is 🙂 I love the world she has created.
Angela Adams
“The plot was delicious, suspenseful and action packed.” — the ingredients of a great read! Thanks for the post.
kimbacaffeinate
Yes. I love this author 🙂
sherry fundin
I never turn my nose up at one of her books. I am so curious about the dust bunny!
kimbacaffeinate
Yay..one of my favorite authors 🙂
Christy LoveOfBooks
Dang, this series has been going since 1999? I know you said it can be read as a standalone, but still. This book looks awesome! i *guess* I could jump in at this point, even if it gives me hives. lol.
kimbacaffeinate
Bwahaha..yes most work as standalone although some are trilogies within series for example Rainbow trilogy.
Melissa (Books and Things)
Oh I love that it works as a standalone, but I do think I want to read them all… so… maybe in order (don’t faint)? LOL Oh and I wonder if the dust bunny could reasonably become a fur ball. With my dogs, it is the only possibility in my house. 😀
kimbacaffeinate
Yes in order is much more fun..but there are also trilogie within where you can start.
blodeuedd
I think tried book 1 ages ago
kimbacaffeinate
1999?
Angela
I haven’t read this series yet, but I’ve seen it around. The covers look awesome and the books sound interesting. One of these day’s I’ll try it. ^_^ Thank’s for the review!
kimbacaffeinate
I hope you do 🙂 Angela
kindlemom1
I keep telling myself I will start this series but there are so many books out already and so many series I’m already reading I need to catch up on. Maybe one day. 😉
kimbacaffeinate
LOL, they will work on their own and some are broken into mini trilogies.
Angela
I’m curious to check out this book just for the dust bunnies.
kimbacaffeinate
They are unique 🙂
Katherine
I have heard of the dust bunnies but have yet to meet them and I’m so curious! I’ve read quite a bit from Jayne Ann Krentz but none under the Castle name and I’m definitely intrigued They sound really different but just as fun. Plus I want to meet the dust bunnies!
Nick
The futuristic planet setting is really interesting. I don’t think I’ve read an adult book with such a setting.
And I really want to meet one of these dust bunnies! They sound adorable! 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
I love the little dust bunnies..they are cute and lethal 🙂
Debbie Haupt
Kim all I had to read was, new beginning and on Harmony and I’m hooked. I love JAK’s alter egos and especially Jayne Castle rings my fantasy lover bells. Thanks for this wonderful review, oh and for adding yet another to my aching tbr pile 😉
kimbacaffeinate
One of my favorite authors -I read all of her books 🙂
Kathy
I really like the synopsis for this one, and dust bunnies? You have me curious with that one. I’m not familiar with the series and just know the author’s name, but you make it sound so fun.
kimbacaffeinate
This is a fun series and they will work on their own
Lexxie
Dust bunnies? And they’re actual characters, you say? That alone is enough to make me want to give this series a try, Kim 🙂
kimbacaffeinate
Yes they are tiny, fuzzy little creatures and each has it’s own unique personality.
Verushka
So, wait, the author is using her worldbuilding over two different series, with different caharcters? This one sounds like SO much fun, I have to look up the other!
kimbacaffeinate
Ok..let me try to explain. The ARCANE Society series begins with Second Sight by Amanda Quick (also Jayne Ann Krentz) it is historical, the series continues into the present with books written as Krentz herself that are contemporary and then into the future on Harmony written as Jayne Castle.. All work as standalone and deal with abilities and artifacts. It is one of my favorite series and uber cool.