Sophia Rose Reviews Lightning in a Mirror Jayne Ann Krentz

Today my friend Sophia Rose returns to share her review of Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz.
Enjoy!

Lightning in a Mirror by Jayne Ann Krentz

#3 Fogg Lake

Romantic Suspense

Publisher:  Berkley Romance

Published:  1.18.22

ASIN:  B092V35KJF

Pages:  320

Rating: 4.5 stars

Format: eARC

Source:  Berkley

Sellers: Amazon

ADD TO: GoodReads

 

GoodReads Blurb:

The final installment in the chilling Fogg Lake trilogy by New York Times bestselling author Jayne Ann Krentz.

Olivia LeClair's experiment with speed dating is not going well. First there was the nasty encounter with the date from hell who tried to murder her and now the mysterious Harlan Rancourt—long believed dead—sits down at her table and tells her she's the only one who can help him locate the legendary Vortex lab.

This is not what Olivia had in mind when she signed up for the Four Event Success Guaranteed package offered by the dating agency. She doesn't have much choice, though, because her psychic investigation firm works for the mysterious Foundation and Victor Arganbright, the director, is adamant that she assist Harlan. There's just one problem—no one knows Harlan's real agenda. His father once ran the Foundation like a mob organization, and Harlan was destined to be his heir. There's a real possibility Harlan has returned to claim his inheritance.

For now, however, it's a case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend because others are after the secrets of the long-lost lab. Unfortunately for Olivia, the one thing friend and foe have in common is that everyone is convinced she is the key. Her unique psychic talent is required to defuse the ticking time bomb that is Vortex.

Neither trusts the other but Olivia and Harlan soon realize they must work together to survive and unlock the Bluestone Project's most dangerous secrets before more innocent people die.

 

Sophia Rose's Review:

Government secret labs, a hidden powerful artifact, and some shady types who want it.  It is down to the last and things are about to get explosive.  I love when a series has me in a flurry of excitement for the last book.

 

Lightning in the Mirror is the third book in the Fogg Lake trilogy.  In a pinch, it is most definitely a series that works best to start from the beginning so all the players and the situations makes better sense.

 

People have latent psychic talents in the world of this series, but the government started experimenting back in the sixties with stuff they didn’t understand.  The labs were shut down and research and workers were destroyed or scattered, but the rumors are rife about the most powerful psychic artifact of them all hidden in the Vortex lab and people for good and not so good reasons are out to find it first so they can make psychic super soldiers.  The Foundation doesn’t want it falling into the wrong hands and have already had deadly skirmishes in the attempt to discover its location.

 

I can’t say why because I loved the other books, the characters, and all that went on in them, but Lightning in a Mirror really grabbed me.  While, the earlier books felt more ethereal.  This one got right to the point and hammered down on the tension and rush to the goal. 

Then, there are the lead characters.  Olivia’s a smart, capable if a bit reluctant, heroine.  She has guts, but she isn’t reckless.  She was a good counterpart for the damaged and darker Harlan.  She knew his psychic talents made him deadly scary and he has secrets that have everyone wary of him. 

But, it was Harlan who made this book hit a deeply satisfying level that the earlier books didn’t quite reach.  He should have been a solid villain, but he refused to follow the script set by his grandfather and father and he went to the powerful Victor and Lucas at the Foundation to put himself firmly in the open on the playing field.  He struggles in normal social situations.  They had a meet cute for the ages at a speed dating event when she asked:  "If I disappeared tomorrow would you walk into hell to find me? – and Harlan responded: "If you disappeared I would walk into hell to find you. I know the way. I've been there."

 

The romance was as quick and on the run as the others, but there was so much going on with the danger to Olivia and race to get to Vortex that it all worked together in harmony and I had no trouble believing in it.  It had some breath-stealing moments that made the hype in tension payoff.  This book finished solid and tied up the plot threads, but, hallelujah, left a trailing thread so that more could be added in future.  Fans of her earlier Arcane Society (different author pseudo) will spot some fun crossovers.

 

All in all, it met my high anticipation and expectations- exceeded them.  I read this so quickly that I couldn’t believe it had the page count it did.  Definitely recommend it to those who enjoy paranormal, conspiracies, spicy romance, and well developed suspense.

 

Author Bio:

The author of over 50 consecutive New York Times bestsellers, JAYNE ANN KRENTZ writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick) and futuristic (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print.

She earned a B.A. in History from the University of California at Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Masters degree in Library Science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries.

Ms. Krentz is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington.

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/jayneannkrentz

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz

Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Sophia’s Social Media Links:

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/sophia.rose.7587

Twitter: https://twitter.com/sophiarose1816

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13418187.Sophia_Rose