Eye of the Beholder

Written by Jayne Ann Krentz

Narrated by Jayne Atkinson

A hard-edged businessman and a beautiful art expert make a tantalizing mind-body connection at a new age resort until a killer threatens their piece of paradise in this “fun-filled and sensational tale by the incomparable Jayne Ann Krentz” (RT Book Reviews).

Alexa Chambers has a flair for style, an eye for art, and a reputation in tatters after blowing the whistle on an employer who was selling fakes to wealthy clients. Now she runs a shop in her Arizona hometown, but she’s determined to rebuild her career even if it means taking risks. She begins secretly consults on an exquisite art collection being installed at the new Avalon Resorts. Her scheme might just work—if she can steer clear of the resort’s owner, the enigmatic and possibly dangerous J. L. Trask.

Alexa was a scared teenager the last time she saw Trask, the man who accused her stepfather of murder. Insisting his dad’s fatal car crash had been no accident, Trask vowed one day he’d come back to Avalon for revenge. Now, twelve years later, their meeting is inevitable. Their attraction is immediate. And their chances of bliss are infinitesimal.

Trask wants to piece together the past with Alexa’s help and get closer to this dazzling deco diva. Alexa wants to protect her family and figure out Trask’s real motivations. But when a killer emerges from the shadows, they have no choice but to team up to solve a deadly crime from long ago. As they trade sizzling sparks and snappy repartee, their trail leads to a trendy spa called the Dimensions Institute, whose flaky denizens and strange atmosphere suggest there is more hidden there than meets the eye. They don’t need a crystal ball to see that their survival—and relationship—depends on more than tantric breathing or a heavenly passion. They need a little help from a higher power: a true and trustworthy love.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
• Release date: May 1, 1999
• ISBN: 9780743546935

Jayne Ann Krentz

The author of over fifty consecutive New York Times bestsellers, Jayne Ann Krentz writes romantic-suspense in three different worlds: Contemporary (as Jayne Ann Krentz), historical (as Amanda Quick), and futuristic/paranormal (as Jayne Castle). There are over 30 million copies of her books in print. She earned a BA in history from the University of California, Santa Cruz and went on to obtain a Master’s degree in library science from San Jose State University in California. Before she began writing full time she worked as a librarian in both academic and corporate libraries. She is married and lives with her husband, Frank, in Seattle, Washington. Jayne loves to hear from her readers and can be found at Facebook.com/JayneAnnKrentz.

Reviews for Eye of the Beholder

[jetangen4571 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The whole murder/suspense thing was pretty well done and with lots of plot twists. The art world background was pretty interesting. The "hop into bed as quickly as possible" felt awfully contrived this time. Not a bad tale, and does hold interest through most of the book. See publisher's blurb for more clues.The narrator did good character differentiation, but the intonation of the MC sounded more like an irritating early teen.

[narshkite · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This was fine, much better than the last JAK book I read. Really exactly what you expect from Krentz. I listened to this while walking, and it was a fine mindless companion other than the reader not being good at all.

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Eye of the Beholder
3.5 Stars

Synopsis:
Alexa Chambers will never forget the night J. L. Trask barged into her family home and accused her stepfather of murder. Now Trask is back and determined to find those responsible for his father?s death even if it means dredging up old skeletons. There are many who actively object to Trask?s investigations including an exceedingly dangerous killer with a mysterious agenda of their own.

Review:
While this is a solid romantic mystery, I was not completely swept away by it. The plot had a good foundation but develops in a predictable manner. There is a definite lack of tension and suspense, and the final scenes feel contrived and anti-climactic. Due to a process of elimination, the villain is quite obvious as all other suspects are conveniently out of the way by the time the killer?s identity is revealed.
The romance was enjoyable mainly because the characters are very personable. Alexa is an intelligent, independent and confident woman, and Trask is attractive and compelling. There is one aspect of the characterization that bothered me and that is the sudden appearance of a particular character at the end. It too me a fear minutes to figure out who this person even though it is someone who is mentioned repeatedly throughout the book ? it was a confusing twist.
As always, Krentz?s writing flows and her dialogue is witty and engaging. There are also one or two steamy scenes but nothing to get too excited about.
In sum, the book is very similar to other books Krentz has written so if you enjoy her writing then this is definitely for you.

[kikiak_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

She kept me on my tows. I would never suspect that the murderer was the one that end up being. A thrilling suspense, with an intriguing romantic tale, between Trask who wants to avenge his father and the daughter of one of the suspects.