Zinnia

Zinnia Spring seems to have met her match when fate forces her into the path of Nick Chastain. With her richly warm alto, Peiffer varies voices and emotions with aplomb. She keeps the plot moving as she agilely changes from one character to the next, dramatizing action scenes and intensifying the romantic interludes. Nick's voice becomes a deeper shade of Peiffer's natural alto; Zinnia's voice reflects the lighter, softer tones of her vocal range. Many secondary characters take on unique voices, as in Aunt Wilhelmina's precise pronunciation and nasal tones. Adventure, romance and family intrigue spring to life with Peiffer's distinct narration. P.A.J. (c) AudioFile, Portland, Maine

Starred review from March 1, 2010
In this return to the futuristic setting of Castle's (aka Jayne Ann Krentz) Amaryllis, casino owner Nick Chastain searches for a full-spectrum "prism" who can focus his psychic talents and help locate his late father's long-lost journal. The journal, which holds the key to a treasure-trove of alien artifacts, is sought by many--including a prism named Zinnia Spring. In a world where divorce is non-existent and lifetime marriages are contracted by matched-couple agencies, Nick and Zinnia are labeled unmatchable. But as they join forces to find the journal and a dangerous murderer, the laws of society cease to exist for this star-crossed pair. A riveting but squeamish climax that takes place in a maze of carnivorous plants, brings this imaginative, finely crafted tale to a splendid conclusion while setting the pace for future volumes. (July) FYI: Jayne Ann Krentz (who also writes historicals as Amanda Quick) lives in Seattle. Some of her earlier pseudonymous futuristic novels (such as Starfire) have recently been re-released under her own name.