Jack Winters enters Harper Investigations with the sole
purpose of engaging Chloe Harper to locate a missing family
heirloom. His research shows Chloe as a Dreamlight talent
reader, which he needs to break the Winters curse. His fate
is tied to the lamp his alchemist ancestor, Nicolas
Winters, created. According to legend, if he cannot unlock
the secrets with a Dreamlight reader, Jack will sink into
insanity. Jack had put no faith in the curse, until the
nightmares and hallucinations began. The recent blackouts
prove his time is short. Tapping into Chloe's weakness for
rescuing underdogs, Jack convinces her to help him.
Chloe is intrigued by Jack's talent as a high-level
sensitive and by the job. The challenge of breaking the
curse is too tempting to pass up, plus her rule about zero
involvement with her clients is about to be broken. The
sparks flying between them make Chloe question her celibate
lifestyle. As they search for the lamp, killers with the
deadly Nightshade organization pursue them, intent on
retrieving the lamp and removing any one in their way.
Jayne Ann Krentz melds her three writing identities --
Krentz, Quick and Castle -- with her new Dreamlight
Trilogy. It centers on the male descendants of Nicolas
Winters in the past, present and future. It encompasses the
Burning Lamp and the curse that can only be broken when a
Winters male finds a woman with Dreamlight abilities. Fans
will be thrilled with this new trilogy.
The New York Times–bestselling author presents her latest Arcane Society novel and introduces the first book in the Dreamlight Trilogy—the story of a curse that spans generations, and the love that can heal it. . . .
More than three centuries ago, Nicholas Winters irrevocably altered his genetic makeup in an obsession fueled competition with alchemist and Arcane Society founder Sylvester Jones. Driven to control their psychic abilities, each man’s decision has reverberated throughout the family line, rewarding some with powers beyond their wildest dreams, and cursing others to a life filled with madness and hallucinations.
Jack Winters, descendant of Nicholas, has been experiencing nightmares and blackouts—just the beginning, he believes— of the manifestation of the Winters family curse. The legend says that he must find the Burning Lamp or risk turning into a monster. But he can’t do it alone; he needs the help of a woman with the gift to read the lamp’s dreamlight.
Jack is convinced that private investigator Chloe Harper is that woman. Her talents for finding objects and accessing dream energy are what will save him, but their sudden and powerful sexual pull threatens to overwhelm them both. Danger surrounds them, and it doesn’t take long for Chloe to pick up the trail of the missing lamp. And as they draw closer to the lamp, the raw power that dwells within it threatens to sweep them into a hurricane of psychic force.
Excerpt
“I’m probably going to regret asking this, but what is The Talk?” “That’s when I explain about my commitment issues. I make it clear that any relationship I enter into is likely to be short-term and that there are no strings attached. I make sure that the other person knows that he is free to dump me on a moment’s notice without feeling any guilt.” She frowned a little. “But for some reason I’m usually the one who ends up doing the dumping.” “You’re a real romantic, aren’t you?” he said flatly. “I can’t afford to be a romantic, Mr. Winters. Not with my talent.” He shot her a quick, searching look. “What does your talent have to do with it?” “It’s hard to explain,” she said. She leaned her head against the back of the seat, folded her arms and closed her eyes. “It doesn’t matter now, anyway.” “Why not?” “The serial monogamy thing got old. I moved into a new phase about a year ago. I admit that I toyed with the idea of going back to serial monogamy for a time with Fletcher but I finally realized it just wouldn’t work.” “I really know I’m going to regret asking the next question, but I can’t help myself. What comes after serial monogamy?” “Celibacy.” He felt blindsided again. “Celibacy?” “There’s a kind of freedom in the celibate lifestyle.” “Yeah? I hadn’t heard that.”