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American author Jayne Ann Krentz is well known for her romance novels, having become a best-selling author under the ‘New York Times’, a list which she’s made on multiple occasion. Also going under the name ‘Amanda Quick’, she pens historical-romance as well. Her maiden name of ‘Castle’ is used for her more paranormal and futuristic romance-suspense novels.
Early and Personal Life
Born on the 28th of March, 1948, Jayne Ann Krentz was brought up in Cobb, California, in America. Raised alongside her two brothers by her mother in the area of Borrego Springs, she spent the initial decade of her life spent here. It was later that she’d go on to get her education, becoming the writer that she is today. Attending the University of California in Santa Cruz she graduated with a B.A. in history, a discipline that would help inform her material later on. Despite this, she chose to get another degree in library sciences from San Jose State University as she felt it would better prepare her for the working world. As it turned out, she did enjoy being a librarian, but not the teaching side of it, as she continued to progress in the world of academia.
Currently she lives she lives with Frank Krentz, an engineer she married after meeting him at San Jose State. After a short while working within Duke University operating on their library system, they both moved on. Now with both of them living together in Seattle Washington, she continues to write, which is something that she’ll continue into the foreseeable future.
Writing Career
For a six year period Krentz would submit stories, yet would constantly face rejection. This was during her time working at Duke University as she’d begun to mix both elements of romance and the paranormal together. It was only in 1979 that she finally sold her first novel, ‘Gentle Pirate’, after she and her husband had moved to Seattle in order to further his aerospace career. After this she operated under a variety of pen-names as she worked to develop her tone and her voice. Some of these included Jayne Bentley, Amanda Glass, Jayne Taylor and Stephanie James. It was only when she finally reached the mid-eighties that she gave way to using her real name as she progressed into the arena of more contemporary romance literature.
Later she’d begin to work in elements of science-fiction into her literature, with novels such as ‘Sweet Starfire’ that again incorporates her trademarked romance. She then followed up this 1986 novel with her 1987 published title; ‘Crystal Flame’. That was when she went under Amanda Quick as she begun to experiment with her now infamous brand of historical romance using humor in what was an initially light-hearted approach.
As the years have passed Krentz has slowly begun to gain recognition for her work, as she’s managed to get both critical and commercial attention. Thirty-two of her one hundred and twenty novels have been placed atop the ‘New York Times’ best-seller list as well. This is a trend Krentz will continue into the future as she shows no signs of stopping any time soon.
The Desperate Game
Written under the Jayne Castle pseudonym, this was to be the first of the Guinevere Jones series, originally published in 1986 in June. Also released as an audio-book, it is one of Krentz’s rarer titles, it being written during her early period in the eighties. As an artefact clearly displaying the writer’s early progress though it is unsurpassed.
With a distinctive style that can only lend itself to the eighties period, it is a thriller that still holds up today just as it did all the way back then. Starting with some shipments that have gone missing, the private investigator Zachariah Justis is hired to find them by the owner of StarrTech Inc. Guinevere Jones has taken $2000 during her time working as a temp for the company as she managed to help herself to these benefits undetected, or so she thought. Using this to blackmail her, Justis then manages to get her to help in his quest to locate the missing shipment, but this isn’t as easy as he was expecting. As she looks for revenge, she begins to eat away at his expense account more and more, working her way deep into it. As they go face-to-face with each other, they begin to play power games as they both struggle in a battle of wills against one another. Will they find the missing shipment together, or will it be too late leaving the real culprit to go free? Can they get over their initial differences and work together to solve the case in hand? What will become of them both as they play what is a desperate game?
The Lost Night
Also going under the pen-name of Jayne Castle, this particular novel of hers was first published in 2012 on the 1st of January. The beginning of what was to be her Rainshadow series, an offshoot of her Harmony franchise, which exists within the Curtain Worlds. This was to be the book that established a different tone, expanding upon the world even further.
Rainshadow Island is a sanctuary that is known for its beauty, where those in the world of Harmony that don’t quite fit in can go to find solace. It is here that Rachel Blake has sought to hide away running a bookstore, in the hope that she will finally manage to find some peace and quiet. This quiet doesn’t last though once Harry Sebastian arrives, a pirate with a notorious reputation as he throws her entire world into chaos. Looking to investigate a privately owned area that’s known as the Preserve, he enlists Rachel to help him in his quest. Soon he finds himself fighting his desire for her, breaking down his usually hardened defences in the process. Will they be able to find what they’re looking for as they search through the Preserve? Can they keep their passions in check in the process as they fight off their attraction to one another? What exactly did become of that lost night?
You have several series (i.e. Ghost Hunters, Arcane Society, Dreamlight Trilogy, Illusion Town, etc, (perhaps more) that are listed as separate series, but are, in fact, interconnected. I would like a chronological list of all the connected stories from beginning to end, in one timeline. I like to read series in chronological order, but they are listed as subseries sets, often under different pen names, as well) instead of in one timeline. For example, I know that the Dreamlight series starts on Earth but ends on Harmony. Could you please email me (and/or post somewhere), whether they are under the same pen name or not, a single chronological list of all the connected series?
Thank you very much. I really do love the Harmony books, especially the ones with dust bunnies. Please keep up the good work.
I thought Jayne Ann Krentz stopped writing about 10-15 years ago. But now in 2026 I have discovered her again. I see some books in series have a break of 15 years. I used to love her books and now will try to catch up. Thank you Jayne.
Is there going to be a book 3 of “Dark Legacy”? and I love all you books would like to have full list of the Scargill Files though or which books have that town in them please, I love all your books read them at least 2 or more times when I can’t find anything else good to read.
Is there going to be a book 3 of “Dark Legacy”? and I love all you books would like to have full list of the Scargill Files though or which books have that town in them please, I love all your books read them at least 2 or more times when I can’t find anything else goo to read.
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Any issues with the book list you are seeing? Or is there an author or series we don’t have? Let me know!
You have several series (i.e. Ghost Hunters, Arcane Society, Dreamlight Trilogy, Illusion Town, etc, (perhaps more) that are listed as separate series, but are, in fact, interconnected. I would like a chronological list of all the connected stories from beginning to end, in one timeline. I like to read series in chronological order, but they are listed as subseries sets, often under different pen names, as well) instead of in one timeline. For example, I know that the Dreamlight series starts on Earth but ends on Harmony. Could you please email me (and/or post somewhere), whether they are under the same pen name or not, a single chronological list of all the connected series?
Thank you very much. I really do love the Harmony books, especially the ones with dust bunnies. Please keep up the good work.
Sincerely,
Donna M Erwin
In the Dreamlight Trilogy there is a mention of another book related the lamp; however, I am not finding it. Please advise. Thanks
I thought Jayne Ann Krentz stopped writing about 10-15 years ago. But now in 2026 I have discovered her again. I see some books in series have a break of 15 years. I used to love her books and now will try to catch up. Thank you Jayne.
In which book does Pallas Llewellyn, Talia March, and Amelia Rivers meet at the Lucent Springs Hotel.
I’ve read / am reading The Lost Night Files Books but I would like to know how the “adventure” started.
Is there going to be a book 3 of “Dark Legacy”? and I love all you books would like to have full list of the Scargill Files though or which books have that town in them please, I love all your books read them at least 2 or more times when I can’t find anything else good to read.
Is there going to be a book 3 of “Dark Legacy”? and I love all you books would like to have full list of the Scargill Files though or which books have that town in them please, I love all your books read them at least 2 or more times when I can’t find anything else goo to read.
I like all the books under Krentz, Quick & Castle. I read them over & over. I eagerly await to see what she has coming in the future.
Love all of the books I read and reread during time at home I’ve read all of them agin I have saved all of them I get my hands on
At almost 89 I am still enjoying krentz quick and castle! Prefer to reread oldies than boring new cosy mysteries.kudos to me krentz!!!