I am often wary of posting cover art for romance novels (even mixed suspense/fantasy romance novels like this one) because of the god-awful covers, but I have to say: I like this one! The colors pop, and the topless man with the ripped muscles looks like he actually has something interesting on his mind besides a (thankfully not present) half-clad woman.
Copper Beach is another paranormal suspense from Jayne Ann Krentz. If you know the author, you know the formula…psychic man meets psychic woman over psychic case of some sort. They solve it while hooking up. This particular one did NOT involve the Arcane Society, which I must confess, was a bonus for me. I was beginning to wonder if somehow the Arcane Society had managed to get every psychic on the planet under their thumb….apparently not. 🙂
I’m going to call this one a cozy. It was not challenging in the least, it was fun, and it was familiar. It was like reading something I’ve read before, but for the first time.
If I apply too much logic, I can pick this apart. For one thing, I have not been taken by Krentz’s romantic subplots of late. The psychic powers, far from complicating matters, tend to forge this instant and unbreakable bond between soulmates that rather detracts from the romantic tension. There was never any reason to suppose these two wouldn’t get together, making it feel a lot more like a hookup than an actual romance.
The suspense/mystery element worked well, though, and this is the beginning of a new trilogy, so if you’ve never read Krentz (or Amanda Quick or Jayne Castle) before, this is a good starting point.
I recommend if you’re looking for a quick, suspenseful cozy.
Rating: 3/5
Title: Copper Beach
Author: Jayne Ann Krentz
ISBN: 0399157875
Published January 2012