Reading Pathways: Jayne Ann Krentz

Start with Absolutely, Positively especially if contemporary romance is your jam. This mid-’90s novel stands out to me as quintessential Jayne Ann Krentz romance. By which I mean there is a very strong-willed heroine, a quirky family, light suspense and paranormal storylines (seriously so light), and high amounts of humor and sexy scenes. Molly is a trustee of her late father’s scientific foundation. Harry is the scientist she hired to help her decide what projects to help fund. At first, they couldn’t seem more different. Molly is driven by emotions, while Harry is ruled by logic. But the chemistry between them is deep, both in their back-and-forth banter and (eventually) in the bedroom. And it turns out that Harry has a family and past connected with paranormal premonitions that will become handy when a rejected grantee begins threatening Molly’s life.

Next read Ravished written under Jayne Ann Krentz’s pen name, Amanda Quick. This historical romance takes us back to the Regency for a Beauty and the Beast retelling, with a dash of paleontology! Harriet is an awkward, nerdy wallflower who is obsessed with fossils. When she discovers thieves are using the caves she’s been exploring to hide their jewels, she enlists the help of the viscount Gideon to help protect her fossils and get rid of them. He has become a social pariah because of his scandalous past and scared face. But Harriet doesn’t know any of that, because she pays little attention to London society. A very swoony romance unfolds between them, leading to one of my all time favorite tropes. A marriage of convenience. This book is equal parts zany and sexy, along with being absolutely iconic. A definite must-read for romance fans!

Like paranormal elements? Like fossils? After reading those first two books, you are perfectly primed for this futuristic romance written under the name Jayne Castle. It’s 200 years in the future. Humans are living on an alien planet that makes everyone at least a little psychic. And there’s no way to get back to Earth. Lydia is licensed para-archeologist, which basically means clearing dig sites from bad psychic energy. She’s given up her prestigious university job after a bad case of burnout and traumatizing experience in an alien tomb. She’s hoping her new client, Emmett, will help her get her career back on track. But he is a dangerous ghost hunter on a mission that will put both of them in harm’s way.