Second Sight (Arcane Society Series #1)

I've enjoyed all her books. This one started it.

The plot, characters are great. The story line gave insight to research being done. I believe you will not go wrong with this series.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Second Sight

My Synopsis:

Second Sight (Arcane Society Series - Book 1) by Amanda Quick (a.k.a. Jayne Ann Krentz)

Venetia Milton is called to Arcane House to photograph artifacts that the secret society has gathered in it's two century history. Her employer, Gabriel Jones is more than Venetia could ask for and she begins a plan to seduce him.

Venetia believed that one night of passion would satisfy her, but when she hears of Gabriel's death she is shocked. She takes on his name, calling herself Mrs. Jones as she prepares to support her family with a photography business in London.

When Gabriel shows up very much alive, Venetia must use her "second sight" to help him find a killer who would go to any length to possess one of the ancient artifacts. Will Venetia and Gabriel find love? Who is the mysterious killer? What secret does Gabriel hold that could change everything?

My Thoughts:

I liked the idea of the Arcane Society series upon first hearing about it. Jayne Ann Krentz, using the pen name Amanda Quick writes the Historical Fiction titles in the series and uses her own name for the Contemporary romance titles in the series. Very interesting way to go about doing a Series.

This was a good book. I had no idea that it had some paranormal elements until I began reading it and that was a very nice surprise. I liked the idea that Venetia could read a person's 'aura' and learn things about them. Gabriel's psychical abilities were harder to define, but very interesting as well.

Jayne Ann Krentz is a great writer and her attention to detail was very apparent in this book. Her descriptions of the scenes were fantastic. I could just imagine, Arcane house, and Venetia's photography studio with ease.

The secondary characters like Edward, Beatrice, and Amelia add interest to the story and insight into the characters. I'm very intrigued by this series after reading the first one. We'll have to see how the historical and the contemporary mix.

2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Looooovvve-itz

I enjoyed and love reading her books.... fast paste and enjoyable ending with a bliss that I just love. I think this is the one of the 10th book that I read and I just can't stop.
FYI...you r correct....Jayne Ann Krentz is Amanda Quick
I also recommend JULIE GARWOOD (The Wedding and Ransom)
Also so love her boooook mmmmmmmuuuuuch.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Suspense, romance, and the paranormal all rolled up into one great book

I really, really enjoyed this book more than I expected to. Amanda Quick (a.k.a. Jayne Ann Krentz) does not disappoint the reader with this novel set in late Victorian England. The novel has interesting characters, a complex plot, and fascinating details. I especially love Venetia Milton; she is very strong, brave, and compelling. The paranormal aspects are particularly intriguing, and the romance aspect is well done. This book will leave you feeling that the time was well spent, and you'll definitely want to read more.

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Cookie Cutter characters

I started reading this book and it was hard to finish it. The characters are so bland. There is a lack of development. You feel like screaming at the characters as the plod along in the book. The story plods along no surprises nothing that makes you gasp in surprise. It was very predictable. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have a prim and proper relationship and how they respond to things are very disappointing. They don't develop at all during the book. The plot followed a storyline that has been used and reused so many times. The heroine lives on her own, the man moves in and takes over, they solve the mystery and then get married. No conflict no development. Stay away from this book. There is no emotional involvement in this book on the characters side and the readers side.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

First Time I've ever returned a book!!

I LOVE Amanda Quick's books. I rushed out to purchase this one as soon as it hit the store. What a mistake. I read the entire book thinking 'it's got to get better'. It didn't and yes I actually returned it to the store and told them exactly why. I can only hope her next effort returns to the writing that I loved!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Enjoyed this book - hard to put it down

I enjoyed the intrigue and suspense of this novel.

highly recommended

Great! I love Amanda Quick.

Interesting start to a series....

Really, I'd have to say this is more of a 3 1/2 star book, not quite four stars...about a page and a half into the first chapter, I experienced major deja-vu. I'm positive I started reading this book before, but don't remember finishing it. I have no idea why...it's pretty good, if a little overdone in parts. Gabriel and Venetia are interesting characters, with witty and fun dialogue. The supernatural elements are subtle but interesting. It was a page turner, or would have been if I'd been reading a version with pages. I listened to it on audio, and though it was well done overall, the transition between chapters tended to be disconcertingly abrupt. It didn't seriously detract from my enjoyment of it, however. I am interested in checking out others in the series, though I've got (many!) other books on my list to read before then.I

Good Read

I don't usually read historical fiction but this one was able to keep my attention. I am looking forward to reading more in this series.

Second Sight

This is the first book in the series about people with paranormal gifts. Unlike the nowadays series by Jayne Ann Krentz, these stories are placed in Victorian England. This first book explains the founder's formula and the Arcane House before the creation of the famous Jones and Jones. It tells of a romantic story where two people are coming into the terms with thier phenomonal gifts and the fight against the people who will become Nightshade in the nowadays books. I read this after I finished the books set in present time and love the way it shows how Jones and Jones comes to be. This is a must-read for any Krentz/Quick fan.

Exciting Adventure

Venetia Milton is a woman in her late twenties, over proper marrying age. She has already accepted the fact that she will never have a husband but does not see why she can't enjoy a little passion in her life. She is sent to photograph certain artifacts for a very secret society when she meets Gabriel Jones. Gabriel seems like the perfect man for her seduction scheme. On the night her seduction becomes a success she is suddenly escaping the house from dangerous intruders leaving Gabriel to fend them off. Later Venetia is shocked to hear that Gabriel has died. She moves to London taking his name and starting her successful career as the recently widowed photographer Mrs. Jones. Everything seems to be going well for Mrs. Jones until Mr. Jones arrives on her door step. It looks like what she hoped was one uncomplicated night of pleasure has entered her into the dangerous tangles of this secret society with ties to the paranormal. I thoroughly enjoyed this book it kept me guessing as to who was the real culprit was until at last it was revealed and the romance between Venetia and Gabriel was so endearing and genuine.

Writing lacks depth

Maybe being new to the romance novel, my views are somewhat different in the area of what to expect from a book. However, I found the characters to be shallow, the story to be one-dimensional and even though I read the whole book, I would not recommend it or re-read it. IMHO, this book lacked depth in most areas. The cover is nice though.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Another great Arcane Society story!

I enjoy the turn of the century and modern day Arcane Society stories. I love that in the turn of the century stories, such as this, the woman are strong, capable and don't need a man to "guide" them through life. They become partners with their men.

Didn't work for me

Could not understand if I was reading the same book as these other people until is saw the reviews on the next page. I also had to return this book to the library. Boring Boring.......

Gripping: Full of Danger & Intrique

I love all of the Arcane Society books. I am very confused as to why Jayne Ann Krentz has written some of this series under her real name, and the rest under the pen name Amanda Quick. By doing so, I nearly missed some really good books, and books from the same series! Arcane Society members are blessed with an exaggerated 6th sense. This giftedness can be in many forms, and in varied degrees. Some see auras, others are hunters, some have an exaggerated sense of seeing patterns where others see only chaos, and so forth. This book features Venetia, a female photographer who lives in an early era when females did not typically run their own business or have much freedom. She accepts a commission to photograph the artifacts owned by the Arcane Society. That is how she meets Gabriel, one of the Jones family descendants, and a powerful hunter. Venetia, too, is gifted as an aura reader, but has never been a member of the Society. The two are powerfully attracted to each other from day one. Their relationship is interrupted by a fire, and Gabriel is assumed dead. To appear a more legitimate business person, and acceptable to society, Venetia takes on the last name of Jones, and claims to be a widow. Little did she know that this would make her a target for some very bad people. It also creates some interesting problems when Mr Jones returns with the intent of protecting her while catching the bad guys! This book is gripping, exciting, transports you to a different time and place in history, and is full of fast paced drama, danger and intrique. There is romance, fantasy and all things considered, an outstanding work.

Exciting and suspensful Victorian romance

I loved this book. Not only does it have witty dialogue that moves along very quickly (you'll not want to put it down), but it has an unexpectedly sweet romance topped off by an intriguing mystery that includes a bit of the paranormal. You really do get caught up in the feeling of being caught up in the foggy nights and creepy events taking place. This may be the best Amanda Quick novel I have ever read and I've read a few.

Another Great Arcane Book

I really loved this book and read it in one nite 'about 4 1/2 Hrs' I love all of the books that deal with the Arcane Society. It doesn't matter if its modern day or Victorian era. Keep them coming. I am anticipating reading the Third Circle!

Enjoyable book, but not the author's best

I used to be a big fan of historical romance novels but over the past several years have gravitated toward popular fiction and mystery. I took up Anne Perry's Pitt and Monk series since I greatly enjoyed Victorian historical fiction. I have read all of Amanda Quick's novels, but it has been many years since I have read them. I found Second Sight to be enjoyable, but not quite as good as I remember Amanda Quick's novels. I did find myself smiling several times however and enjoyed the entertaining story.

disappointing....

This book is strictly for the paperback romance reader. Jayne Ann Krentz can do MUCH better than this.