Quicksilver: Book Two of the Looking Glass Trilogy [Hardcover]

I'll start by saying that this is a good story surrounding the psychical talents we've associated in the past with the arcane society. I like that there is a sort of World Building with cameos and references to previous books, and the overall premise in Victorian era where humans have psychical talents that secretly police their own kind is fascinating to me. The problem is, if you've read many Amanda Quick books, this one is a carbon copy of all the others, right down to the description of the hero and heroine. Keeping that in mind, our heroine is a 26 year old, independent spinster of her time, who is not pretty in a traditional sense and our hero is the brooding tall dark and handsome man who is trying to stave off the family's inherited madness. Sound familiar? If so, then you can understand my disappointment. If not, then it's an enjoyable read.

Virginia Dean is in trade as a powerful glasslight reader, which means she can see the historical imprints like photographs in mirrors. She is often hired by people looking for closure or who want to know what happened to their loved ones upon their deaths, and the story begins with Virginia doing just that for a wealthy and respectable Mrs. Hollister. Not long after her reading, Virginia wakes up half naked in bed, in a mirrored room, with a dead Mr. Hollister lying next to her and she's clutching the murder weapon. With absolutely no memory of the events and trapped with no way out, Owen Sweetwater, a psychical hunter and a gentleman, literally swoops in to her rescue and gets her out of there. He's been watching over Virginia ever since he was hired by J&J Investigations to look into the deaths of two other Glasslight readers. He realizes that Virginia is the key to finding the murderer and they end up working together to solve the case. That and from the moment he laid eyes on her, he realized that she is the soulmate he's been searching for that can prevent his family's bloodlust curse from consuming him.

I'd truly like to see the author mixing things up a bit. Dare we request a heroine who is not on the shelf or is actually the most beautiful sought after belle of the ball? Perhaps the hero is actually a gregarious flirt who's very sanity is not on death's door. As soon as I read their descriptions and social status, I couldn't help but cringe. I've read all of her novels under this pen name and although the premise doesn't change, they do vary by wit, humor and sensuality. I don't know if it's because this is too similar to the rest, but Quicksilver does not capture the magic that some of her older stories have. There's a lot of dialogue discussing the case and the romance was almost flip a switch to me. I did, however, love the secondary characters and found them highly entertaining, as well as strong characters for future novels.

This was an excellent second book in the Looking Glass trilogy. This one moves the setting to England in the 1800s when being psychic or seeming so was a career path. Virginia Dean is the illegitimate daughter of a member of the peerage who is also a glass-reader. She has carved out a life for herself using her talents. At 26 and with her current profession, she is certain that she will never make an acceptable marriage but she isn't opposed to an affair if the right man should happen to come along.

Owen Sweetwater is in his early 30s. He is a member of the mysterious and secretive Sweetwater family. They are paranormal hunters and investigators and sometimes assassins of those who are abusing their psychic powers. Sweetwater men are in danger of losing their minds to nightwalking if they don't find their destined mate. Owen sees Virginia and knows that she is the one for him. All he has to do is convince an independent, strong minded woman who sees herself unsuited for marriage that he is the one for her.

Owen and Virginia meet in the course of Owen's investigation into the deaths of two other glass-readers but their relationship takes a new turn when he rescues her from the evil Lord Hollister. It so happens that Virginia has been overcome and wakes up next to a dead Lord Hollister.

I love the quirky characters and crisp dialog in Quick's work. Both characters are strong and quirky and just right for each other. The secondary characters including Virginia's best friend Charlotte and Own's cousin Nick also add depth to this story. I was especially fond of Virginia's housekeeper Mrs. Crofton. Virginia is constantly worried that she will find a better offer and leave Virginia's employ. Mrs. Crofton, however, finds Virginia's household very interesting and is eager to become involved in the investigations.

I recommend this story to lovers of romantic suspense and historical fiction. The first volume was In Too Deep (Dec. 23, 2010) by Jayne Ann Krentz and the third volume will be Canyons of Night by Jayne Castle (August 30, 2011) as Krentz tells the story across her three pseudonyms and her three worlds.

This second volume of the looking glass trilogy is much better than the first volume, the romance was more believable and the plot was less confused. For the most part, the secondary characters added to plot. A little bit formulaic, but fun reading experience.
I'm glad I bought it!