Review: Sizzle and Burn by Jayne Ann Krentz

When Raine Tallentyre made the mistake of revealing her paranormal abilities, her most recent romantic relationship came to a hasty end. Her Aunt Vella, a gifted but troubled soul, had told her years ago to keep her talents a secret. And now that poor Aunt Vella—her last blood relative—has died, Raine has resigned herself to a lonely life.

But when she journeys to Shelbyville, Washington, to clear out Aunt Vella’s house, Raine’s highly developed sensitivity leads her to a horrifying discovery: a young woman bound and terrified in a basement storage locker. The victim has survived, but the culprit is still on the loose. Without warning, a new man enters Raine’s life—investigator Zack Jones. Surprisingly, Zack isn’t repelled by her powers: in fact, he has them himself. While Raine hears voices, Zack sees visions and within hours of their meeting, Raine experiences an intense, thrilling intimacy—mental, emotional, and physical—she never dared to expect.

There’s one complication, however: Zack Jones is working for the Arcane Society. This secret organization, dedicated to the study of paranormal phenomena, shattered Raine’s family with an act of betrayal long ago, and she’s not about to trust them now. But as a killer makes her his target, and a cabal of psychic criminals known as Nightshade operates in the shadows surrounding them, Raine and Zack must rely not only on their powerful abilities but on each other . . .

Sizzle and Burn (An Arcane Society Novel, Book 3) by Jayne Ann Krentz is a paranormal suspense series. The three Arcane Society books include Sizzle and Burn, White Lies (both taking place in the present day) and Second Sight–first in the series–(taking place in late Victorian England.) Second Sight is written by Krentz under the pseudonym Amanda Quick. She uses the Amanda Quick name when she writes historicals. Even though the books are part of a series they stand alone quite well.

Krentz is one of my favorite authors–her books are comfort reads for me. I own many of her books including some of her earliest books (from the 1980s). Her books just make me feel good. I like her strong, independent, intelligent and sometimes quirky female characters and the equally strong alpha males. Often one or both of her main characters will be an “absent minded professor” type of character. Even though Sizzle and Burn has these typical characters and doesn’t necessarily break new ground I really enjoyed the book.

Raine Tallentyre sometimes hears voices when she touches objects–a “clairaudient psychometry.” She sometimes helps the police solve crimes because she can hear the criminal when she touches something he touched. Zack Jones who is working for the Arcane Society also has paranormal abilities–he senses things by touch.

The Society expelled Raine’s father and destroyed his laboratory when Raine was a small child. Though Raine is suspicious of the Arcane Society and of Zack she immediately feels a connection with him. He obviously feels the same way. A characteristic of Krentz’s alpha males I like–they are quickly aware the women they meet are the right ones for them and they don’t fight it. They are also willing to let the women they love be themselves–strong, independent, intelligent and often quirky! I like that. An enjoyable read.