Books published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

WHEN YOU CAN'T TRUST THE LAWHE DELIVERS JUSTICE Morgan Clyde, former New York City peacekeeper and Union army veteran, is a man of righteous words and a gunfighter of uncanny skill. With deadly aim he has ended the reign of every badman to walk the dirt-packed streets of Indian Terriotry's notorious Ironhead Station. But now he faces those who wear the badge. HOSTILE HOMECOMING With every corrupt businessman, immoral thief, and brutal outlaw either behind bars or six feet under, the town of Eufaula has come under the jurisdiction of men who bend the law to their own whims. They've broken their sworn oaths to protect the innocent and annointed themselves as judges, juries, and executioners. Now Morgan must break the law to enforce it, even if it means putting old friendsand loversinto his line of fire . . . Praise for Spur Award winner Brett Cogburn';Cogburn treats familiar subjects with freshness and originality, spinning engaging tales true to the Western tradition but told in his own distinctive voice.'Roundup Magazine';Cogburn amazes and astounds.' Booklist

Luke Ransom was just eighteen years old when he answered an ad in a St. Louis newspaper that would change his life forever. The American Fur Company needed one-hundred enterprising men to travel up the Missouri River -- the longest in North America -- all the way to its source. They would hunt and trap furs for one, two, or three years. Along the way, they would face unimaginable hardships: grueling weather, wild animals, hunger, exhaustion, and hostile attacks by the Blackfeet and Arikara. Luke Ransom was one of the brave men chosen for the job -- and one of the few to survive ... Five years later. Luke is a seasoned trapper and hunter, a master of his trade. The year is 1833, and the American Fur Company is sending him to the now-famous Rendezvous at Green River. For Luke, it may be his last job for the company. After facing death countless times, he is ready to strike out on his own. But when he encounters a fellow trapper under attack by Indians, his life takes an unexpected turn. A new friendship is forged in blood. And a dangerous new journey begins ...

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. DANGEROUS CURVES AHEAD.Slash and Pecos match wits with the wiliest opponent they've ever hada wickedly smart woman who can't be caughtin their wildest western adventure yet. . . . It sounds like an easy job: track down the lady friend of notorious outlaw Duke Winter and bring her in for questioning. There's just one problem: Slash and Pecos have never met a woman like Miss Fannie Diamond, a glamorous showgirl who's prettier than a French poodle, slicker than a Dodge City gambler, and more slippery than a Mojave rattlesnake. She knows that Slash and Pecos are coming for her and has no intention of being caughtnot without one of hell of a fight. . . . By the time the duo arrive at the Rocky Mountain mining camp where Miss Diamond is performing, the devilishly clever gal has already arranged a welcome wagon for them: some hired thugs who knock Slash and Pecos silly. Still, the show must go onso the pair decide to snatch Miss Diamond off the stage in the middle of a performance. It doesn't take long for Slash and Pecos to learn that there's no business like show businessand no showgirl like Miss Fannie Diamond. Sometimes, the female of the species is deadlier than the male. . . . Live Free. Read Hard.

"Darkly engrossing, SINthetic shines a stark light on the age-old question, what does it mean to be human?"-Julie Kagawa, New York Times bestselling authorThe Artificial EvolutionThey look like us. Act like us. Burrt they are not human. Created to perform the menial tasks real humans detest, Synths were designed with only a basic intelligence and minimal emotional response. It stands to reason that they have no rights. Like any technology, they are designed for human convenience. Disposable. In the city of New Lyons, Detective Jason Campbell is investigating a vicious crime: a female body found mutilated and left in the streets. Once the victim is identified as a Synth, the crime is designated no more than the destruction of property, and Campbell is pulled from the case. But when a mysterious stranger approaches Campbell and asks him to continue his investigation in secret, Campbell is dragged into a dark world of unimaginable corruption. One that leaves him questioning the true nature of humanity. And what he discovers is only the beginning . . .

Young features editor Eugenia Shaw is thrilled to have a scoop on not one but two major stories for Lady Fair magazine. The last thing Gena expects is to fall in love—with a quirky looking Chinese Crested named Wiley. Or with the fellow Crested lover she keeps accidentally-on-purpose running into in Central Park . . .   Unlike Gena’s ambitious and self-centered live-in boyfriend, Paul is a man who appreciates Wiley’s unconventional elegance. And the better they get to know each other, the more it appears that he appreciates Gena, too. Soon she can’t help noticing how much happier and more confident she is when they’re together. She’s even beginning to see a new Gena when she looks in the mirror. But will she be brave enough to rewrite her own next chapter? . . .   Praise for A Cowboy’s Love   “This sweet, modern cowboy tale is just the book you’re looking for!” –RT Book Reviews, 4.5 Stars Top Pick

Daisy Lansing's ability to transfer images from people's thoughts onto paper was a novelty she used to trot out to amuse her friends. But when her "entranced drawing" begins to cause serious trouble for her guardians, she is banished to the country and forced to marry a man twice her age. After the joyless wedding, Daisy is determined to bury forever the strange skill that upended her life. However, she soon finds herself a widow and in dire financial straits. Suddenly, her curse may be her one chance at true independence.Jackson Gallway's reputation as a rogue has far surpassed his success as a lawyer. In the wake of yet another scandal, he decides to head west. But before he can escape Misty Lake, Jax makes a promise to find an elusive killer. When he encounters a lovely young artist with an unusual talent that could help him in his search, what he finds is something neither of them can escape . . .

Cursed with prophetic visions and desperate to atone for a death she could have prevented, Gianna York swears she will never again ignore the chance to save a life. When she is hired by Landen Elmsworth to serve as companion to his sister, Gia repeatedly sees the image of her employer's lifeless corpse floating in Misty Lake. As subsequent visions reveal more details, Gia soon realizes her best chance to save this difficult man is by becoming his wife.At first, Landen Elmsworth believes the fetching Miss York might be right for a meaningless dalliance, but he grossly underestimates her capacity for cunning and soon finds himself bound until death to a woman he may never be able to trust. Yet in the dark of their bedroom they discover an undeniable passion--and a capacity to forge their own destiny . . .

Wherever the tides take you . . . Guided by the winds of fate, Henry 'Ric' Robbins arrives on a hot June day in Port Royal. But the moment he sets foot on what should be a pirate's paradise, he's driven to steal a woman destined for slavery, survives the worst natural disaster to ever hit the isle of Jamaica, and answers the call to be captain of the Scarlet Night. Jocelyn Beauchamp's life is one of privilege-until she is rudely thrown into the hands of pirates. Freed from the chains of her cloistered society, Jocelyn is drawn to her newfound life at sea-reckless, thrilling, and utterly unpredictable. And the man who saved her life not once, but twice-why not do it all over again?

Just one gorgeous weekend away from reality. Then they can go on like it never happened...Riley Fisher doesn''t have time to chase after men. As a single mother working two jobs, she barely has time to eat or sleep. But a girl has needs. So when handsome veteran Sam Brooks asks her out, she decides she deserves some R&R. She doesn''t expect anything else from him-after all, he''s hardly the type to get serious. Sam came back from Afghanistan lucky to be alive, despite PTSD that hits whenever he lets down his guard. His therapist told him to forget about relationships. When he meets Riley, he''s not planning on breaking the rules. She''s cute, petite, and a total smartass-not even his type. But she''s hard to forget. Especially once he runs into Riley and her toddler on a rustic mountain getaway and sees what he''s missing. Her kid makes him laugh all day. And Riley makes him burn all night. Too bad a relationship is impossible. But they can enjoy the attraction. It''s not like they''re going to fall in love...

Poisons, prophecies-and a peculiar past . . .When a local woman begins searching for a couple she hasn't seen since the 1960s, Redwood Cove Bed and Breakfast manager Kelly Jackson and the crime-solving group, the "Silver Sentinels," are quick to help out. They're also quick to guess that they're in over their heads after the woman is found dead beside the body of a Greek fortune teller-and a fellow Sentinel gets attacked. As Kelly juggles work and her responsibilities at a food and wine festival in town, she and her sleuthing posse must confront a killer obsessed with old secrets . . . and solve a murder mystery more than fifty years in the making . . .

Fortunes, fineries, and foul play . . .It's whale-watching season in Redwood Cove, and B&B manager Kelly Jackson's battening down the hatches for the tourist rush at Redwood Heights-a Victorian-style estate owned by her boss. And due to recent jewelry thefts, her duties include keeping track of the many dust-covered artifacts spread throughout the property. But when Kelly finds Sylvia Porter's lifeless body with a blood-splattered brooch around her neck, menial tasks don't seem so terrible. Enlisting the help of a ragtag group of brainy retirees, aka the "Silver Sentinels," Kelly's on the hunt for clues hidden behind the mansion's glamorous façade . . . and for a killer who may want to make history of her next!

The Hamilton brothers have horse racing in their blood, and their sprawling Kentucky farm is the family's pride and joy. But they've got plenty of passion to spare...Nick Hamilton has always known he'd take the reins of the family business when his father died, but that doesn't make it any easier when the time comes. Especially with his two siblings tempted by a shrewd offer from a huge corporation to buy Hamilton Industries. Needing advice, Nick turns to his sensible childhood friend, Becca Stark-and finds her suddenly grown-up beauty ignites brand-new confusion, and crystal clear desire...Becca has loved Nick for as far back as she can remember, but she decided long ago that telling him would be a mistake. Stubborn, strong Nick doesn't see her as anything but the tomboy she used to be-or does he? As she helps him untangle his feelings about the ranch's future, the familiar bond between them heats into an explosive attraction-and the kind of love that just might take the lead...Praise for Melissa West's Racing Hearts"An emotional story filled with heart, humor, and second chances, Racing Hearts is a love letter to small towns, southern pride, and the heartbeat of all tight communities-its strong families. I laughed, I cried, and I never wanted to leave. An incredible story!" --Rachel Harris, New York Times bestselling author

In order to protect her, they'll both have to let their guards down...Country music's It Girl Jessi Tucker is fed up with her family's stifling security measures. The threat of a dangerous stalker has gotten the men in her life-including her football star cousin, Tuck Tucker-monitoring her every move. To get the freedom she yearns for, Jessi hatches a plan to recruit Max Grayson, Tuck's sexy brawler best friend, to play the role of her new boyfriend. But if her scheme works, will she be forced to hide her true romantic feelings for the sake of her independence? Or will she finally steal the heart of her dream man?... Max has been pining for Jessi for years and would do anything to protect her, but a professional cage fighter with too many skeletons in his closet has no business being with one of America's sweethearts. Yet while Max does his best to keep Jessi at arm's length, the Tucker family persuades him to accept her offer. Max believes he can keep Jessi safe from danger, but can he shelter her from his own dark secrets, the media's unforgiving spotlight-and a mutual desire that's harder to resist each day...

No Rules. No Limits.Party girl Tyler Gillette has just one rule: no football players. As the daughter of the owner of the San Antonio Hawks, she grew up in the shadow of the sport and her father's enormous wealth. She was even named Tyler because he wanted a boy. Life couldn't have drawn up a better play for turning her into a wild child-until that same life is threatened by someone from the past . . . Former Hawks running back Rafe Ortiz has a few rules of his own. First, no weaknesses. Second, no babysitting spoiled football princesses. But his new career as a bodyguard means he's responsible for protecting the beautiful Tyler Gillette from her mysterious stalker. But keeping his hands off her might be harder than keeping her safe . . .

Sometimes it takes hurt to open your heart...,At twenty-two, Thane Wells is the highest-paid pitcher in Major League Baseball-and he owes it all to his adoptive Mama, "Queen" Elizabeth Sommerville, a wise, beautiful, entrepreneurial African-American woman who always encouraged him and his two white brothers to reach for the stars...the woman Thane still talks to daily. He never dreamed their most recent conversation would be their last. With his beloved supporter suddenly gone, Thane is grief-stricken, shaken, and vulnerable-especially to a woman like Kari Meyers. Kari's had her eye on Thane for a while, but strictly for business. As a junior sports agent, she's hungry to sign him, especially when she hears his current agent will be retiring soon. When she finally locates Thane, she's shocked to discover he's attending his mother's funeral-and he's shocked to find Kari in his hotel room. Assuming she's an escort is just the beginning of their misunderstandings. But one thing that's clear is their mutual attraction. As a single mom with an NBA ex, Kari has a rule against dating athletes. Yet as circumstances bring the two closer together, they just might find they're on the same team, heart and soul...

Her love life has gone to the dogs...Rose Richardson is on the run from her dangerous ex-husband, a crime she didn't commit--and the embarrassment of being an advice columnist with a disastrous personal life. Donning a fake identity, she escapes to a lovely lake house rental in rural Connecticut...only to discover her refuge is already occupied. Leo Drake is devastatingly handsome-and clearly wants to be alone. Rose stands her ground, even while she fears being found out for the fugitive she is. Plus, her sweet dog, Bella, seems to like the brooding widower, so how bad could he be? A prize winning novelist, Leo lost everything after he lost his wife. But his mysterious housemate just might be the muse he needs to reignite his writing career. Despite his misgivings, Rose has secrets that only draw him closer, firing his imagination, even as his heart struggles with the attraction building between them. Plus, he kind of likes the quirky pooch. And as he tries to untangle his unusual predicament, Bella's antics just might be the key to showing the loner that love is the only inspiration he needs...Praise for Sharon Struth"Struth has a gift for layering stories within stories while keeping them all connected." --Library Journal"Struth is an author to watch!" --Laura Drake, author of RITA-award winner The Sweet Spot"Sharon Struth writes a good story about love and loss. She knows her characters and has a path she wants them to take." --Eye on Romance"The plot is refreshing and will definitely keep the reader turning page after page." --Fresh Fiction

Some teens go to the Caribbean on spring break. Piper goes to save the world. Piper Dunn isn't who you would call a normal teenager. For one thing, she doesn't want anyone to know she was born with a blowhole. Even stranger, she has two love interests. Joel, a fellow dolphin-human hybrid, and Tyler, a human. It's hard to choose when a mad scientist is hot on Piper's trail. Worse, she's trapped in the Bermuda Triangle. And . . . wait for it . . . Angel, her test-tube daughter, is apparently a real-deal reincarnation. It all adds up to an impossible situation, with happy endings all but lost at sea. Unless, of course, a voodoo high priestess casts a spell or two . . .

Ever ready to do the right thing, The Emperors of London act bravely-and when it comes to matters of the heart, impetuously...Despite her cover as the daughter of the land steward for Lord Malton, Marcus Aurelius, spirited Viola Gates is tied by birth to the treacherous Jacobite legacy. Not that this keeps her from falling for the dashing Lord from afar. Despite his staid demeanor, Marcus is devastatingly handsome-and hopelessly beyond her reach. Then Viola's father is mortally wounded and her secret identity revealed, sending her straight into danger's path-and Marcus's arms... For years, he'd only known her as a wild child, the tempting-and forbidden-daughter of his trusted steward. But when Viola's life is threatened, Marcus must act as duty-and his barely contained passion-dictates. Ferrying the bold beauty on an eventful journey to safer quarters, he offers her the protection of his name. Their tempestuous union might succeed in vanquishing their enemies, but will the chivalrous lord and his unsuitable wife surrender to the power of love? "Lynne Connolly writes Georgian romances with a deft touch. Her characters amuse, entertain and reach into your heart." -Desiree Holt "Plots, deviousness and passion galore...a truly enjoyable read." -Fresh Fiction on Temptation Has Green Eyes

A surprise inheritance. A family of strangers. And a man she can't avoid . . .Cassidy Calhoun can't believe she's the secret daughter of an oil billionaire. This small-town Texas girl with student loans by the barrel has never gotten a thing she didn't earn for herself. The terms of her late father's will say Cassidy-and her newfound spoiled half-siblings-must work a year at the family's floundering business before they inherit a dime. Too bad the only thing Cass knows about oil is that it makes the junker she drives go. Mason MacKenzie, the evaluator for their test, will help her get up to speed. Or will he? Mason is a boot-wearing, truck-driving Houston hottie who runs Calhoun Petroleum's biggest rival. The sparks between him and Cassidy could combust any minute. But the closer they get, the more strange near-accidents Cassidy seems to be having. And Mason has plenty of reasons to play up their attraction for his own benefit. If she can trust him, the two of them working together might save a crumbling dynasty. But if she can't, Cass might just lose both her fortune and her heart . . .

It's all fun and games until fantasy gets real . . .At twenty-seven, Dinah Gallagher thought she'd have it all figured out. Instead, she's having mind-blowing online sex with a man she knows nothing about and fighting for her rightful place in the family business. Part of that battle means expanding their century-old restaurant by getting the stubborn urban farmer next door to sell them his lot.But Carter Trask is tired of being pushed around-especially by rich families like the Gallaghers. All he has left is the little farm he's scratched out of his grandmother's yard. At least he can blow off steam with the anonymous woman he's been emailing for the past eight months, who makes his every sexual fantasy come alive-even if it's only online.When Dinah suddenly realizes that Carter's gardens look just like some of her mystery man's photos, she can't resist trying to turn her dreams into reality. Against his better judgment, Carter joins in the game. But in real life, passion has a way of becoming very complicated, very quickly. And sometimes the wrong choice can turn out to be oh so right . . ."Sharp, funny, and sinfully sexy-Nicole Helm is my favorite new author!" -Maisey Yates, New York Times bestselling author.

A Promise Broken Rowan Harper sacrificed her blood and her soul to keep her friend, Aleksei, alive-and in the process, broke a bond of sacred trust with her lover, Gabriel. But her act of heroism wasn't enough to stop the evil bent on tearing the world asunder. Newly turned vampires are slaughtering innocents, and those lurking in the darkness are threatening the people Rowan loves. She may be Gabriel's Promise, but it's looking more and more like Rowan will belong to the demon of the Dark Realm instead. Time is of the essence and with her soul already tainted, will Rowan be forced to break the ties she's forged with Gabriel? Which of the two rivals will stand beside her as she faces the end of the world?... "This series is highly recommended." --Library Journal "Wicked fun not to be missed!" -USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Zanetti