Narrated by Justine Eyre

I often pick up a book by Amanda Quick when I need a sure thing—a comfortable book that is unlikely to push any emotional buttons. When I got the chance to review Crystal Gardens I was hoping for that “cup of tea on a rainy day” sort of book. Unfortunately, it didn’t turn out to be as enjoyable as I’d hoped. While Crystal Gardens doesn’t push any emotional buttons, it does manage to irritate a few of my nerves.

Psychical powers, auras, and resonating energies! Oh my!  The book had me seriously considering a drinking game–a drink of wine every time one of those words or phrases is used–but then I remembered I don’t drink much. And anyway, I’d never be sober enough to finish the book. I no longer read the paranormal romances by this author written as Jayne Ann Krentz because of the repetitiveness. Now I know to avoid any PNR from this author under any of her pen names. Besides the use of paranormal catch phrases, the incessant bickering between Lucas and Evangeline is also overdone. There is very little reason or common sense behind the unwillingness of the two to give an inch or work together in peace.

Evangeline works for a firm that provides paid companions to people who need some discrete detective work done. The firm uses women with some form of psychic power that helps them ferret out information, usually about matters such the suitability of a suitor. After the conclusion of an unusually difficult case, Evangeline retires to the country hoping to use the time to jumpstart her career as an author. She rents a cottage on the estate of the reclusive Lucas Sebastian. The Crystal Gardens are on the estate and are said to be filled with powerful and mysterious paranormal energy, and Evangeline wants to secretly tour the gardens. When would-be killers chase Evangeline into the gardens one night, Lucas saves her, both from the killers and the gardens, and the two become reluctant sparring partners in a series of mysteries. The partnership takes on greater importance when it’s discovered Evangeline and Lucas might have a common enemy, or two. Adding to the danger is the increasing power of the garden itself, which may prove more ominous than any human villain.

Sometimes an excellent narration can overcome some of the deficiencies in a story, but in this case the narration left me wanting as well. Justine Eyre is a talented narrator with many excellent titles to her credit. I hesitate to criticize what might be a matter of personal taste, but I’m not a fan of Ms. Eyre’s English accent. When I couldn’t figure out what wasn’t working for me, I did a little background check and found out she’s not a native of Great Britain, although she was educated in British schools. Her speech in the reading sounds very affected to me. At times she slows down her delivery of a word or sentence, and elongates certain sounds. It is very possible that my difficulty with the accent won’t bother most listeners. I’ve found a few native English narrators with very polished, upper crust accents whose books don’t work for me either. Therefore my problem with Eyre’s reading might have more to do with the type of English accent she chose, not her accuracy in speaking it.

If you are a great fan of Jayne Ann Krentz/Amada Quick paranormals, you might enjoy Crystal Gardens. But be prepared to overlook repetitive word usage, sniping characters, and a few plot holes.

Carrie