Books published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

Go Big or Go Home. When her relationship goes up in flames, Holly Funchess jumps straight back into the heat-by becoming a firefighter. Running as far away from her past as she can, Holly trains hard and lands a job with a small San Diego firehouse. With everything to prove, she has no problem putting her love life on the back burner. But where there's smoke...A former football player with a string of failed relationships behind him, Chase DeMarco has put his all into his Coast Guard career and the youth football team he coaches. He's not about to let anyone distract him-especially Holly, the woman at his gym who seems to relish getting under his skin. But when their skirmishes turn into full-contact workouts-and they face off against the dangers of their jobs-Chase and Holly must choose between letting the clock run down or playing to win...

Oh, baby!For the first time in her life, adventure reporter Miranda Wilde has a plan that doesn't involve scaling mountains or swimming with sharks. Miranda is about to do something scarier--she's about to become a mother. Determined to deliver the news to her unborn baby's father, Miranda arrives in Swift River to find the rugged resort owner with whom she shared an unexpectedly sexy weekend. Except Carson Swift is out of town--on his honeymoon--leaving his twin brother in charge. It's all Miranda can do not to fall apart in Cody Swift's strong arms.... Miranda is the only woman who ever tempted Cody to settle down, which is exactly why he doesn't reveal that he's the twin who shared those soul-searing nights with her. Cody knows Miranda needs more than a rough-edged river guide to give her the life she deserves. Then he learns Miranda is carrying a baby--his baby--and he's ready to stake his claim. But can he prove his heart is in the right place--and that this is one adventure they're meant to have together, for a lifetime?

Carson Swift may look exactly like his twin brother Cody, but they're as different as tie dye and camouflage. Reliable, responsible, and usually the designated driver, Carson is also over being his brother's keeper, but suddenly his plans to break free are complicated by the woman they fish out of Hidden Creek . . .Lily Price is not your typical damsel in distress. Infidelity, infertility, and downsizing provide a triple threat to her ego, but falling into the swollen river nearly ends her life. If not for the handsome stranger-make that two handsome strangers-she might not have had a chance at having a baby by any means necessary . . . As Carson helps Lily overcome her fear of the river, she helps him save his rafting business from going under. She also saves him from abandoning all that is important to him in order to get a taste of freedom. Together they find that love is the ultimate adventure.

Sometimes facing the future means saying goodbye to the past.A remarkable story of love and loss, Dona Sarkar's latest novel explores the timely subject of cultural diversity and the timeless matters of trust, faith, and grief through the eyes of one extraordinary young woman. Mars Alexander is the girl who has everything--the right clothes, the perfect boyfriend, the best grades. But when her military father is declared dead, Mars refuses to believe it--and refuses to say goodbye. With no body to bury, she's convinced her father will return from Afghanistan, and she's determined to make him proud. But when she meets the young Middle Eastern instructor of her essay prep class, a door to a whole new world opens. Zayed Anwar has lived a life Mars can barely imagine, or understand. But as he challenges both her intellect and her emotions, she finds herself making bold new choices, and looking at everything through a new lens. Falling in love is as frightening as it is exciting, until she realizes that Zayed is keeping painful secrets from her--secrets that could shatter her all over again.

In this exciting new series, the dramatic world of the Vikings is brought to life in vivid, historical detail. As brave warriors fight to defend family honor and tradition, they discover unexpected passion with memorable women who only further their resolve for justice . . . Following his father's murder, Eirik Ivarson plunges into a maelstrom of brutal warfare. As outsiders threaten his homeland and all he holds dear, Eirik vows to maintain his focus and avenge the jarl's death. In his quest for revenge, he will leave everything behind, all he knows, and all he loves. Asa Sigrundsdottir, a spirited shieldmaiden with warm brown eyes, is wary of the golden-haired warrior discovered half-frozen in a storm. It is clear Eirik is a man of valor, bestowed with the gift of reading runes and destined for greatness. And despite the shadows in her past, he chooses her to help him on his journey. But when their bond is tested, it will take the strength of a hero to keep their love alive . . .

Meet Red Harmon, a special ops veteran who learns he never left the call of duty . . .To a trio of muggers, Red looks like just another suburban dad. But when they demand his wallet at knifepoint, something snaps. In the blink of an eye, two muggers are dead, the third severely injured, and Red doesn't remember a thing. Once an elite member of the Det, a secret forces outfit whose existence is beyond classified, Red thought his active service was over. But his memory is coming back-and a lethal killing machine is returning to duty . . . Facing an unthinkable nuclear threat, a volatile international power play, and a personal attack against his family, Red has no choice. He must rejoin his old team, infiltrate the enemy camp, and complete the biggest mission of his life . . .

Say You're DreamingWhen a scream wakes Will Novak in the middle of the night, at first he puts it down to the nightmares. He's alone on a sailboat in the Caribbean, miles from land. And his demons never leave him. Say Your Prayers The screams are real, though, coming from another boat just a rifle's night scope away. It only takes seconds for Novak to witness one murder and stop another. But with the killer on the run and a beautiful stranger dripping on his deck, Novak has gotten himself into a new kind of deep water. But Don't Say Your Name The young woman he saved says she doesn't know who she is. But someone does, and they're burning fuel and cash to chase Novak and his new acquaintance from one island to the next, across dangerous seas and right into the wilds of the Yucatan jungle. If either of them is going to live, Novak is going to need answers, fast-and he's guessing he won't like what he finds out . . . Praise For Linda Ladd's Claire Morgan Thrillers "One of the most creepy, crawly, and compelling psychological thrillers ever." -Fresh Fiction "Chilling, compelling suspense...be prepared to lose sleep!" -Eileen Dryer on Head to Head "Exciting, thrill-a-minute!" -Midwest Book Review on Dark Places "Plenty of suspense and surprises." -Publishers Weekly on Dark Places

Nestled in the lush green mountains of North Carolina, the Honeywilde Inn will be a romantic's dream getaway, if only the Bradley siblings can keep it running. It will take a combination of hard work, good luck, and the kind of love that dreams are made of . . .Sophie Bradley can always count on Wright. He's not just her brother's best friend, he's practically part of the family. His honesty and willingness to listen are a constant comfort, and his culinary skills are a huge selling point for the inn. But when a casual moment in the kitchen turns electric, an impulsive kiss leaves her weak in the knees-a kiss Wright dismisses as "temporary insanity" and insists will never happen again. How could he have done it? Wright feels like a big enough jerk, disappointing his parents with his career choices-plus he's secretly entertaining job offers from restaurants coast-to-coast. He's betraying everyone . . . and now he's kissed his best friend's sister. The only option is to hit the brakes, hard. But once Sophie's been kissed, she can't be unkissed, and as things start falling apart around him, Wright wonders if a momentary lapse might be the beginning of something extraordinary.

Nestled in the lush green mountains of North Carolina, the Honeywilde Inn will be a romantic's dream getaway, if only the Bradley siblings can keep it running. It will take a combination of hard work, good luck, and the kind of love that dreams are made of . . .Devlin Bradley knows Honeywilde Inn's no-dating-guests policy is a sensible one, but when has he ever followed the rules? Sure, he's been working to change his reputation as the rebellious Bradley brother and town troublemaker, but the captivating new guest from Atlanta is worth risking his family's disapproval. Anna Martel is going to relax--even if it kills her. The alternative is a spectacular breakdown, according to her therapist, and that's something Anna would like to avoid. Taming her workaholic ways isn't going to be easy with nothing to focus on, though--until she meets devilishly attractive Devlin. His slow, sexy smile is a temptation she can't resist, even if she knows he's nothing more than a distraction. Or is he?

Nestled in the lush green mountains of North Carolina, the Honeywilde Inn will be a romantic's dream getaway-if only the Bradley siblings can keep it running. It will take a combination of hard work, good luck, and the kind of love that dreams are made of...Roark Bradley is no stranger to responsibility. Growing up, he practically raised his younger siblings while his parents threw themselves into working the inn-and arguing with each other. Determined to make the Honeywilde shine once more, Roark jumps at the chance to conduct business with a no-nonsense event planner who approaches him about celebrity nuptials that could put the inn back on the map. If only it wasn't so tempting to discuss some no-strings attached pleasure with her instead...Madison Kline is done with weddings-at least personally. Her own youthful mistake is a well-guarded secret, and one she refuses to repeat. But as she and bold, broad-shouldered Roark work together to make a rock star couple's wedding a reality, she finds herself wishing romance didn't feel like a four-letter word. Can either of them surrender their hard-won independence and workaholic ways for something sweeter-and even more rewarding?...

A red-bellied woodpecker may lead to a yellow-bellied killer . . .One morning when unwilling early bird Amy Simms grabs her binoculars for a closer look at the woodpecker who's been waking her up, she can't believe her eyes. Across Ruby Lake, through a curtain of rain, she sees a body being tossed out of an upstairs window at the old McKutcheon place. Or at least she thinks she does. The police chief finds no body-only a discarded dressmaker's dummy-and complains that Amy sent him on a wild-goose chase. She should probably focus on minding her store, Birds & Bees, but Amy can't help snooping. And when she turns up another body-a murdered member of her birdwatching group-Amy once again needs to wing it as a sleuth to zoom in on a killer . . . Praise for J.R. Ripley's Buried in Beignets "Those who like their mysteries relatively nonviolent and delivered with a smile will thoroughly enjoy this little gem." -Booklist "A fun new cozy series. I would definitely read another, so I hope this is the first of many." -Myshelf.com

Includes an excerpt from The woodpecker always pecks twice.

For Amy Simms, hatching a birding shop in her hometown of Ruby Lake, North Carolina, hasn't exactly been a breeze. But could a deadly discovery clip her wings for good? It's just days before Amy plans to open Birds & Bees on the first floor of her creaky Victorian house, but delayed seed shipments have prevented the fledging owner from stocking her shelves. And it doesn't help that Amy's best friend and business partner is out of town indefinitely. With locals skeptical about the niche shop taking flight, the last thing Amy needs now is a dead man in her storeroom-or for a crotchety tenant to catch her holding a bloody birdfeeder hook over his body . . . Pigeonholed as a leading murder suspect by police and lacking a solid alibi, Amy's delving into the victim's ugly past and buzzing around Ruby Lake for clues on his killer . . . beforeshe ends up like so many of her beloved feathery friends-trapped behind bars!

In the second book of Heather Heyford's series, set in Oregon's wine country, having a crush takes on a whole new meaning when a lady sommelier teams up with the hottie from her high school days . . . The Girl Most Likely . . . to be a waitress at her hometown café. That's what Clarkston's high school yearbook said about Poppy Springer ten years ago and that's where the beauty queen is today. But that's about to change now that Poppy has been offered a position as a lady sommelier at a cutting-edge new restaurant. Only Poppy has an embarrassing secret that could keep her from landing her dream job. A secret her high school crush seems determined to help her with . . . The Man Most Wanted In high school, Heath Sinclair may have been voted most likely to blow something up, but these days the sexy science prodigy is a self-made success story with his popular microbrewery and chiseled good looks.  So why is Clarkston's most-eligible man so hell-bent on helping Poppy prove that she is more than her reputation? Could it be the enigmatic bachelor has a hankering for the girl who got away?

In the first of Heather Heyford's new series, set in Oregon's Willamette Valley wine country, the grape isn't the only source of intoxication . . . A Perfect PairingJuniper Hart has her dream job-or rather, her dream job has her. Under Junie's management, the winery her late father started is finally getting noticed. But she's lonely, deep in debt, and overwhelmed with work. Even if she had time to date, the only men she meets are smug, stemware-breaking hotshots like Lieutenant Manolo Santos, whose good looks and smooth charm don't half make up for the sour taste he leaves on Junie's palate. After years as an army engineer and a childhood in a restaurant kitchen, Manolo can see Junie's winery is about to go sideways-and he's bursting with ideas to help. Except Junie's far too magnetic for comfort. He left New Jersey to escape becoming one more Santos man shackled to a captivating woman and a failing family business. But in the misty hills of Oregon, with a sip of supple pinot on his tongue, pulling away is the last thing he wants to do . . .

He's about to be conquered and hasn't a clue . . .After college, Birdie Ferguson hits London like a ray of California sunshine. She's fresh, cheery, and positive she's about to be the best Executive Assistant her father has ever had. But her chipper outlook is guaranteed to clash with her stuffy coworker Oswald Attenborough, who has probably never had a belly laugh in his life . . . Oswald knows he's not good enough for the boss's daughter. Although he's born of aristocracy and is proving himself at Lynford International, he's always had to play second or third fiddle to his Peers. But now he's ready to take his talents elsewhere. Until he's tasked with mentoring Birdie. Despite his own reluctance, he can't help but notice life's a lot less dreary with this West Coast beauty around . . .

A love song in the making...He was her high school sweetheart, the man Candy once dreamed of sharing her life with. But Ty was also a rock star on the rise with a flock of pretty groupies lining up to share his bed. So what makes Ty think that now that he's ready to settle down, Candy will be his one and only? These days the single mom is older and wiser. Still, Candy can't help but feel a stir of something at his hot pursuit.... Ty knows he's got a lot to prove when it comes to winning Candy back. But his rambling, rocker lifestyle has also shown him that she's a woman worth fighting for. No one has ever come close to captivating him the way she did from the first day they met, a sweet-faced young beauty who brought out his every protective instinct. That's why when Candy's family is in crisis, he's willing to risk everything for the woman he's never stopped loving....

"Goodger writes romances that touch readers' hearts and bring a smile to their day." --RT Book Reviews The Lost HeiressesSeek, and love will find... All Marcus Granton wants is to be left alone to lick his wounds after the humiliating scandal of his wife's death in another man's bed. Secluded in his moldering seaside estate on the cliffs of the Black Sea, he suddenly finds himself host to Lady Lilian Martin, one small child, and an annoying cache of servants all bent on ruining his solitude. Seems the lady got herself into a bit of a pickle and is accused of murder, of all things. Now she must rely on him for protection-and to keep his thoughts and hands away from her delectable body. Lilian has no intention of spending any more time with the insufferable Lord Marcus Granton than she has to. But at every turn, circumstances force her into his company, and by the time she truly makes her escape, it's far too late for her...and her heart. Praise for the novels of Jane Goodger"Fun, delightfully romantic-and sexy." -Sally MacKenzie on The Spinster Bride"A touching, compassionate, passion-filled romance." -RT Book Reviews on A Christmas Waltz

There's a different rhythm to life in small-town Mill Pond, Indiana. And with the easy pace come friendships that are built to last and love that starts out on a slow simmer...Charming boutiques, picturesque farms, and a growing foodie scene have turned Mill Pond into a tourist destination. And thanks to the culinary skills of Paula Hull, its beautiful rural resort is leading the way. The widowed mom left behind the stress of the New York City restaurant world to spend more time with her two young children. And now she's ready to see if there's more out there for her than being a chef and single parent...Chase Atwood is the local good guy with a bad reputation. He's a respected business owner and trusted friend, but the drop-dead gorgeous bar owner usually has women beating down his door--and Paula knows to keep her distance. His burgers and beer, on the other hand, are not off limits. But their mutual admiration is always on the back burner--until Chase turns up the heat. Soon he's determined to prove to Paula that he's the one key ingredient missing in her life...

Welcome to Mill Pond and small-town country living, filled with fresh air, fresh food, and plenty of fresh gossip-especially when it comes to romance...It's impossible not to notice when someone new shows up in Mill Pond. Especially someone as obviously out-of-place as Ian McGregor. His stylish suit and fancy car scream "city slicker." And when Tessa Lawrence discovers he can't even change a tire, she has no choice but to help. That's just what the locals do. And when she finds out Ian's her new neighbor, of course she's obliged to invite him to dinner too...Turns out Ian's come from New York to open a luxury resort on the property next door to Tessa's farm, where she grows berries and sells her famous jams and delectable baked goods. But despite their quickly growing friendship and temptingly close proximity, Tessa plans to keep things with Ian strictly neighborly. For one thing, Ian's got a fiancée who, unlike Tessa, doesn't have dirt under her nails. Plus, Tessa knows from bitter experience that a guy this gorgeous is all too likely to break a simple country girl's heart. Even if he's as sweet as one of her cinnamon buns-and equally hard to resist...

Where secrets make their home...Stopping to help a motorist in trouble, Katie Lynch stumbles upon a mystery as elusive as the Mothman legend that haunts her hometown of Point Pleasant, West Virginia. Could the coded message she finds herald an extraterrestrial visitor? According to locals, it wouldn't be the first time. And what sense should she make of her young son's sudden spate of bizarre drawings--and his claim of a late-night visitation? Determined to uncover the truth, Katie only breaks the surface when a new threat erupts. Suddenly her long-gone ex-boyfriend is back and it's as if he's under someone else's control. Not only is he half-crazed, he's intent on murder....As a sergeant in the sheriff's office of the famously uncanny Point Pleasant, Officer Ryan Flynn has learned to tolerate reports of puzzling paranormal events. But single mom Katie Lynch appears to be in very real danger--and somehow Ryan's own brother, Caden, is caught up in the madness, too. What the skeptical lawman discovers astounds him--and sends him into action. For stopping whatever evil forces are at play may just keep Katie and Caden alive....

Behind a legend lies the truth...As a child, Eve Parrish lost her father and her best friend, Maggie Flynn, in a tragic bridge collapse. Fifteen years later, she returns to Point Pleasant to settle her deceased aunt's estate. Though much has changed about the once thriving river community, the ghost of tragedy still weighs heavily on the town, as do rumors and sightings of the Mothman, a local legend. When Eve uncovers startling information about her aunt's death, that legend is in danger of becoming all too real . . . Caden Flynn is one of the few lucky survivors of the bridge collapse but blames himself for coercing his younger sister out that night. He's carried that guilt for fifteen years, unaware of darker currents haunting the town. It isn't long before Eve's arrival unravels an old secret-one that places her and Caden in the crosshairs of a deadly killer . . .

In this passionate saga set in present-day Australia, the passing of a wealthy patriarch leaves one young woman with a chance to change her life-if it doesn't bring her world crashing down first...After losing her parents in a tragic accident, young Charlotte was taken in by her grandfather, Sir Reginald Mansfield. Despite his tyrannical tendencies, he cherished her above all-a fact made clear by his surprising bequest. In her early twenties, she intends to follow in his illustrious footsteps in the field of law. And now she is the beneficiary not only of his vast financial assets, but of Clouds-the stunning sandstone house in New South Wales with a breathtaking view of the Blue Mountains and a bountiful garden of fragrant flowers. Unfortunately, not everyone is pleased for her. Charlotte's grasping aunt and uncle, as well as her controlling, entitled cousin cannot hide their fury. As rivalries simmer and naked greed roils the socially prominent clan, only Brendon Macmillan, Charlotte's longtime friend, seems genuinely happy for her-despite the bitter, scandalous history between their families. Charlotte's dream is to use the funds to open a shelter for abused women, and Brendon intends to support and protect her. But often, more money means more betrayals, secrets, and lies-and as Charlotte tries to determine who she can trust, she may be a woman in danger herself..."If you've never read Margaret Way before, you're in for a treat!" --New York Times bestselling author Diana Palmer