Reading order
| # | Title | Published | Author | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vintage of Surrender | 1979 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 2 | Queen of Hearts | 1979 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 3 | Gentle Pirate | 1980 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 4 | Wagered Weekend | 1981 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 5 | Right of Possession | 1981 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 6 | Bargain with the Devil | 1981 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 7 | A Man’s Protection | 1982 | Jayne Castle | N/A |
| 8 | Relentless Adversary | 1982 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 9 | Affair of Risk | 1982 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 10 | Spellbound | 1982 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 11 | A Negotiated Surrender | 1982 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 12 | Power Play | 1982 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 13 | Conflict of Interest | 1983 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 14 | Double Dealing | 1984 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
| 15 | Trading Secrets | 1985 | Jayne Castle | Buy |
These fifteen standalone novels represent the earliest phase of Jayne Castle’s career, published between 1979 and 1985 under her birth name. At this point, Castle (later known as Jayne Ann Krentz) was writing contemporary category romance for Dell and other publishers.
Titles like Queen of Hearts, Gentle Pirate, and Bargain with the Devil are typical of the category romance genre of the era, featuring strong heroines and conflict-driven love stories. After this initial burst of standalone titles, Castle shifted toward series fiction and eventually began using the Jayne Castle name specifically for her futuristic paranormal romances set on the world of Harmony. These early books remain of interest to completist readers who want to trace the full arc of one of romance fiction’s most prolific careers.