The Girl Who Knew Too Much by Amanda Quick

For those of you who know me (or have read my bio on the blog) you know that Jayne Ann Krentz (and her alter-egos Jayne Castle, Amanda Quick, & Stephanie James) is my absolute favorite author.  All-time.  Forever.  The best.  Her novel Absolutely Positively was the first romance novel I ever plucked off the shelf and was the start of my love of romance novels.

So when I was digging through the advanced reader copies in the back of the bookstore where I work I was absolutely astounded to find the name Amanda Quick staring back at me.  Super popular authors don’t tend to send out ARCs because they don’t need to.  They’ve already developed their hoard of devoted followers.  But here it was.

Amanda Quick usually writes regency romance, but with her new novel The Girl Who Knew Too Much she has decided to give 1930s California a chance.  Irena Glasson is on the run.  From what?  She’s not sure.  But she only knows that she has to keep herself, and the secret journal left to her by her murdered former employer, safe.  She’s just made a new life for herself when she finds herself, yet again, discovering a dead body.  Irene doesn’t plan on running this time.  Instead, with the help of Oliver Ward, washed up magician and current owner of California’s most exclusive hotel, she plans to uncover the truth of what’s happening in Burning Cove.  But when the bodies start piling up Irene realizes that she might be in very real danger and she might have to do something she promised herself she’d never do… trust a man with her life.

This story had everything an Amanda Quick novel is known for: unique characters, a steamy romance, and a mystery you’re dying to solve.  I was enamored from start to finish with the fabulous story-telling.  I can never guess what I, as the reader, am going to uncover next in her enigmatic tale of murder, mayhem, and somehow… romance.  It just all blends together so well to create a book you can’t put down.

Ms. Quick’s characters cannot be beat in terms of realism.  You won’t find model looks and flawless personalities here.  You’ll find characters with creative pasts, but very real traits.  They’re smart, but make mistakes.  Strong, but with very real weaknesses.  Confident, but insecure in the ways that we, as the readers, are also insecure.  I pass her characters on the street every day, or so it seems.  They’re that wonderfully believable without being boring.   

And this story.  Woosh.  Like I’ve mentioned before, I simply cannot guess where an Amanda Quick story is going to end up.  Every time I think I know the ending, that I’ve solved the mystery, she throws another twist into the plotline and I find myself scrambling to catch back up.  It’s exhausting and thrilling and unforgettable. 

If you’ve never read an Amanda Quick novel, you should.  If historical novels aren’t where you interests lie then have no fear:

For paranormal romance, check out Jayne Castle.  These are some of the most exceptional paranormal romances I’ve ever read.  The imagination of Ms. Castle is utterly phenomenal.  And the men aren’t bad either, if you know what I’m saying (they’re hotter than the depths of hell).

For contemporary romance, check out Jayne Ann Krentz (the real name of the author responsible for all these works).  Some of her series are mind-blowing.

And hey, fun bonus.  Ms. Krentz’s Arcane Series crosses over between all three worlds (paranormal, contemporary, and historical).  AND THEY ARE FABULOUS.