Truth or Dare (A Whispering Springs Novel Book 2)

My favourite because the gentle humour puts a smile on my face as I read the corny jokes and the milk of human kindness flows strongly throughout this novel. I counted five couples - just loved Hooper and Robyn's interactions - this is the kind of cosy romantic suspense I like best. The action flows and there are no boring moments. I liked the first book but in my view the sequel is far superior.I read all the Kindle negative reviews and just want to absolutely refute them - this is a masterpiece - light fiction at its finest. A thing of beauty is a joy forever and this book is a true joy.

This is the second book in a 2 book series and it is a wonderful, well written climax to the series. I have enjoyed this series for many years in paperback and really like having it on my Kindle, making it very easy to re-read the book as often as I want. This book has some suspense, a romance between characters who are afraid to trust, some humor to put a smile on my face and is well written so I don't go nuts when I feel the author and editor haven't read the previous boo. The series is a good read on a winter night.

Why is this only 4 stars since it's one of my favorites? Because some of the things that other reviewers have mentioned are true. It did have enough romance for me, but I'll have to agree that there were a lot of different story threads and not much of a mystery. In that sense, the first book of the duology - "Light in Shadow" - was the stronger book.Both books are favorites, but I think I like "Truth or Dare" a bit better because I got a clearer idea of what was driving Ethan, who was a little bit too alpha hero for me in the first book. In a sense, "Light in Shadow" was Zoe's book and "Truth or Dare" is Ethan's.Bottomline - I love both of the books and think the good parts are more than worth the lack of mystery and too many plot lines.

This author can truly write a mystery filled with suspense, some terror and good characters. She combines a mysterious short term stay in a mental hospital, two women with a short term acquaintance who join forces, a private detective, a quick Vegas marriage, three love stories, two young boys and a old manuscript. Put all this together and you will enjoy the results.

I adored JAK's Light in Shadow - the first in the Whispering Springs Novels. The characters were crisp, witty and it was JAK at her best.This does measure up to that book. Not that it is bad. It's just this is in the pattern of her recent trilogies of books. One really good and then two weaker continuation of the same story. I really hoped since Light and Shadow was so strong that she would break that curse. I love JAK - she is one of my favourite writers, but I do feel a wee bit let down by these weaker part 2 and 3 books. Only the Eclipse Bay books were as good all the way through, in fact got stronger as they went. In paperback, maybe you would grump less, but at hardback prices her fans might feel they deserve a little bit more.When we last saw the Whispering Hills gang, it was just a month early. Ethan Truax, PI, had married Zoe Luce to stop Zoe's brother-in-law from trying to pop her back in to the high-priced Candle Lake Manor Psychiatric Hospital. The bluff had worked and the mystery - who killed Zoe's husband - was solved. Zoe's fellow escapee from Crystal Lake - Arcadia was now living with Harry, Ethan's PI friend. Neither Zoe or Arcadia had mental problems, but Crystal Lake specialised in hiding rich people's "embarrassments" - for enough money they quietly keep the problemsome relative away from prying eyes. However, in Arcadia's case, she was actually hiding from a husband, and deliberately checked herself into Crystal Lake. Grant Loring tried to kill her. She figured her husband would never look for her at an institute for the mentally ill.Arcadia suddenly fears, Grant's still alive - not dead from a skiing accident as reported - and that he has now decided to come after his wife who has too much information on him. She fears her "new" identity has been compromised.The whole gang, for one reason or another is uneasy. It's November, the month Ethan's brother was murdered, leaving Ethan, Bonnie, his sister-in-law, and his two nephews dealing with the grief. Ethan also is concerned about his marriage. He jumped at the chance to use the excuse of protecting Zoe, when he really wanted to marry her. Now, he fears she may be having second thoughts. Zoe is having seconds thoughts, but not because of love. She loves Ethan, but he refuses to believe Zoe is psychic, just chalks up her "gift" to good intuition. She feels if he cannot accept WHAT she is how can he love her? This is a sticking point, especially when she starts running into "spider webs" of dark emotions somehow connected to Crystal Lake. But those worries, take a back seat when someone tries to kill Ethan. Is it connected to his brother's death? Connected to Zoe's stay at Crystal Lake? Or the con man that Ethan exposed?Frankly, this books is a enjoyable read, with some really fine JAK's humour. On the whole, she once again has too many story lines going all at once - to hide there is not much of a mystery (Smoke and Mirrors problem). The romance between Zoe and Ethan is pushed aside as it become the "Gang's" Story. Maybe it's a transitional period for JAK. That passion for writing romance seem to have lost that brilliant spark. She covers with extra story threads, lots of chatter about food (yes, we know JAK doesn't like meat!!) food, food and more food (Quick's Don't Look Back's Problem).This is enjoyable, diverting, and will please fans, but they would do well to wait for paperback.The same complaints I see from other readers concerning her last half dozen books - thin mysteries, too many story threads shifting the focus from the leads - and the biggest zinger - not enough romance. This book just seems to anti-climatic after the first brilliant Whispering Springs tale which I adored.

Love Jayne Ann Kenya' novels, especially the crystal ones. This book solved several mysteries around the main mystery which made it exciting, interesting and an excellent read! The characters are believable and draw you into their lives. This is an excellent series!

Again, I read this book overnight - I didn't want to put it down.Zoe and Ethan's story continues and we see how their marriage of convenience develops, how the relationships of the friends and families progress and how they solve a few mysteries along the way.It's not rocket science or Shakespeare but it is a good read, where all's well that end well. Relationships are tested, love develops in several places and everyone ends up with the partners they love. We get happy endings all round - and why not?I, for one, have no wish to read about misery or strife. I want to read, well written romantic stories, with an element of mystery and Ms Krentz delivers this every time.

So pleased to have a second book to read about Ethan and Zoe and the progression of their relationship - lots of chemistry without becoming mawkish. Both have underlying psychic traits that are identifiable if you've read the Harmony books, etc., but there is no link and Ethan remains a sceptic of all that is labelled psychic.The computer references are amusingly dated, but still definitely recommended!

In this book we meet a host of characters whose budding romances are all linked in this facinating read. While you know you are reading the latest in a series of novels the twists and turns are unpredictable and gripping.Zoe and her new husband Ethan must strive to build a real marriage on the basis of their marriage of convenience and Arcadia must overcome her past and look to the future. While I prefer the Arcane Society novels this one makes a pleasant change of pace.

Loved the book but then I love all her work what ever name she writes under.

Another sizzling JAK story, love the storyline and all the characters