Hello, and welcome back! I'm still enjoying my outside reading time, but I think the next couple days, I'll be staying inside with my reading instead, as it's going to be hot and sticky again. Just as fall officially begins. I'm going to hope it doesn't last long, so I can be back out on the porch with my books by the weekend, but we'll see.

This time out, I have the latest from Jayne Castle, aka Jayne Ann Krentz, Midnight Crystal (Jove, bought), the final book in her 'Dreamlight Trilogy' that began early in the year with Fired Up, then continued with her Amanda Quick offering Burning Lamp. Now we meet Adam Winters, descendant of Nicholas, who's the newest head of the local Guild as he's meeting up with Marlowe Jones, descendant of Sylvester Jones, Nicholas's one-time partner. Marlowe is a powerful dreamlight worker, and Adam needs her help to find the Burning Lamp and help him stop the curse of his family that may turn him into a monster. But someone doesn't want them to find the lamp, and Marlowe and Adam are forced underground, where she gets a look at just how powerful Adam is. They pair up to locate the missing lamp, growing closer to one another while they try to outwit whoever is attempting to steal the lamp for their own purposes. This one has a few interesting twists regarding their families, though if you pay attention along the way, you'll know who the villain is. That didn't bother me, however, as the main focus is on Adam and Marlowe's relationship, as it should be in a great romance. Castle/Krentz is one of the masters at creating characters you can believe in, and, in this series, a world you can also buy into. As in all of her 'Harmony' novels, there's a dust bunny companion to aid and entertain, making me wish the dust bunnies in my house were more like these. I went into this one knowing I'd be getting a great story, and I wasn't disappointed. Marlowe and Adam are a compelling couple, generating plenty of heat along the way, and each just right to balance the other. It's a terrific addition to the series. I'm borrowing four of Cupid's five arrows for this one.

Until next time, happy reading!