Books published by Kensington Publishing Corporation

"If you've never read Margaret Way before, you're in for a treat." -New York Times bestselling author Diana PalmerAn epic tale of modern day Australia, where greed, desire, tragedy, and ambition collide . . . Alexandra Ross has always known Lavender Hill will be hers one day. The grand old house, with its waving jacaranda fronds circling around it like a canopy against the white-hot Australian sun. The acres of orchards, trees heavy with sweet-smelling mangoes and prickly pink lychee. The rushing emerald creek that claimed her brother's life; the genteel boudoir where her mother died of grief, gin, and stroke. Even the quad bike her bullheaded father uses to tear around the plantation like a teenager, as his covetous young wife plays tea party with Alex's mother's favorite china. Someday Alex will undo her father's blunders and be the good neighbor her childhood friend Rafe Rutherford deserves. The yearning she feels for Rafe can never overcome the heartbreak they've lived through together, but at least she will have his companionship. Until her father is killed and the plantation is divided. If she wants to keep the land she loves Alex must break free of guilt and hesitation. And once she begins to fight for what her heart desires, there's no telling where she'll stop . . .

Ranger bred, Ranger bound...Being a Texas Ranger is Zach Travis's destiny. But war-weary Zach didn't come home to Texas to take on his father's legacy, only to heal his emotional scars...until his family's compound is invaded by an enemy as brazen as she is beautiful. Not only does Hana Nakatomi seem willing to risk everything for the sake of her own birthright, she could be tied to the organized crime syndicate responsible for the murder of a Ranger. Yet, from the first moment Zach has the alluring thief in his grasp, he can't deny the pulsing attraction between them.... It's Zach's duty to bring Hana in for questioning. But he has his own ideas about how to capitalize on her street smarts and martial arts skills. Even as sparks fly during their pursuit of a common enemy, Zach is never sure if Hana is his ally-or his worst nightmare. One thing's for certain: she's the first woman to breach the walls of his battered heart...."Intense romantic suspense with a sexy edge." -New York Times bestselling author Tanya Anne Crosby on Foster Justice

Hauntingly beautiful, Alcina Cove lures many into its lovely port. But these days, the coastal New England town's allure could be deadly....Drawn back to Alcina Cove by an ominous dream, Maris Granger hopes to reconcile with her beloved but long-estranged Aunt Alva. Sadly, Maris discovers Alva has died under mysterious circumstances, destroying any hope for closure. Bereft and vulnerable, Maris finds shelter in the arms of the sexy, stalwart cop handling the case. But loving Detective Dan Stauffer feels like a betrayal of Aunt Alva's memory, especially when the stubborn lawman denies her sinister suspicions about her aunt's death. Falling for Maris is easy. Believing in the "clues" the dark-haired beauty swears will solve her aunt's murder is another story. Dan isn't about to let go of reason when it comes to solving the biggest case of his career. But when Maris is suddenly pegged as the prime suspect, Dan is ready to do anything to keep her safe, no matter what dark truths emerge.... Praise for Celia Ashley's Dark Tides"A darkly seductive tale filled with unpredictable twists and turns...A smoothly written and creatively detailed thrill ride." -Affaire de Coeur, 4 Stars and Reviewer's Pick"A top-notch tale filled with danger and mystery, all wrapped around a spicy romance." -Romance Reviews Today "An incredible riveting story, Dark Tides takes the reader on a turbulent ride of intense emotions blended with suspenseful mystery." -Romance at Heart

Named after a goddess who turns her lovers to stone, an insular New England coastal town holds more secrets than it can keep...Torn from her hometown and her father as a child, Paige Waters' last memory of both is fraught with mystery and confusion. Now, sixteen years later, with both her parents gone, Paige returns to Alcina Cove, certain there is more to the painful story than she's been led to believe. The answers must lie within the community, buffered from the larger world by the sea; but when she finds the townspeople more reticent than ever, her only hope is the intriguing man who lives in her childhood home--if she can break down his reserve...A fisherman turned writer, Liam Gray is haunted by secrets of his own, some of which are deeply entangled with the closure Paige seeks. But as he and Paige grow intimate, their attraction building, Liam finds himself torn between truth and betrayal. Whichever he chooses will risk his future with Paige and cause someone pain--until an even greater danger leaves him no choice...Praise for Celia Ashley's Dark Tides"A darkly seductive tale filled with unpredictable twists and turns. . .A smoothly written and creatively detailed thrill ride." -Affaire de Coeur, 4 Stars and Reviewer's Pick"A top-notch tale filled with danger and mystery, all wrapped around a spicy romance." -Romance Reviews Today "An incredible riveting story, Dark Tides takes the reader on a turbulent ride of intense emotions blended with suspenseful mystery." -Romance at Heart

"Diana Cosby is superbly talented." -Cathy Maxwell, New York Times bestselling author Deep within Scotland, a healer and a warrior join forces to protect Scotland's future . . . There is an intruder in the woods near King Robert Bruce's camp, but when Sir Thomas MacKelloch comes face-to-face with the interloper, he is shocked to discover his assailant is a woman. The fair lady is skilled with a bow and arrow and defiant in her responses. The wary Knight Templar dare not allow her beauty to lower his guard. Irritated by his attraction, he hauls her before his sovereign to expose her nefarious intent. Outraged Sir Thomas dismissed her claim, Mistress Alesone MacNiven awaits the shock on the arrogant knight's face when he learns that she has told the truth. But it is she who is shocked, and then horrified, as it is revealed that her father, the king's mortal enemy, has betrothed her to a powerful noble, a deal that could jeopardize the king's efforts to unite Scotland. Robert Bruce orders Sir Thomas to escort Alesone to safety. As they embark on a harrowing journey through the Highlands, Alesone tries to ignore her attraction to the intimidating warrior, but as she burns beneath Thomas's kiss she realizes this fearless knight could steal her heart. Praise for the novels of Diana Cosby "Cosby gives you it all-passion, danger, lush history and a touch of magic. Excellent reading." -Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author "A sexy new voice in historical romance. Scottish historicals have a bright new star." -Sandra Hill, USA Today bestselling author "Diana Cosby writes wonderful historical romance!" -Susan King

"Diana Cosby is superbly talented." -Cathy Maxwell, New York Times bestselling authorA betrothal neither wants . . . a passion neither can resist.When the English murder Lady Katherine Calbraith's family, she refuses their demands to wed an English noble to retain her home. Avalon Castle is her birthright, one she's determined to keep. After Katherine's daring escape, she's stunned when Scotland's king agrees to allow her to return to Avalon, but under the protection of Sir Stephan MacQuistan . . . as the knight's wife. To reclaim her heritage, Katherine agrees. She accepts her married fate, certain that regardless of the caliber of the man, Stephan may earn her trust, but he'll never win her love. One of the Knights Templar, Stephan desires no bride, only vengeance for a family lost and a legacy stolen. A profound twist of fate tears apart the Brotherhood he loves, but offers him an opportunity to reclaim his legacy-Avalon Castle. Except to procure his childhood home along with a place to store Templar treasures, he must wed the unsuspecting daughter of the man who killed his family. To settle old scores, Stephan agrees, aware Katherine is merely a means to an end. The passion that arises between them is as dangerous as it is unexpected. When mortal enemies find themselves locked in love's embrace, Stephan and Katherine must reconsider their mission and everything they once thought to be true . . . Praise for the novels of Diana Cosby "Cosby gives you it all-passion, danger, lush history and a touch of magic. Excellent reading." -Hannah Howell, New York Times bestselling author"A sexy new voice in historical romance. Scottish historicals have a bright new star." -Sandra Hill, USA Today bestselling author "Diana Cosby writes wonderful historical romance!" -Susan King

Choose How Far You Want To Go . . . You are Honey Noble, this month's Rock N Roll Magazine cover star, with a platinum debut album and swarms of devoted "Honey Bees." Life has never been sweeter-or crazier, as you juggle a cross-country tour (traveling on your luxury Airstream tour bus), a clothing line, fabulous endorsements, and a relationship with gorgeous former boy-bander, Crispin Hershey. But rumors are swirling about Crispin's flirtation with pop's bad girl, Trixie Sheer. And life on tour is opening up all kinds of intriguing possibilities for you, too . . . Do you snoop into Crispin's phone to discover the truth about Trixie? Will a night in Vegas lead to a quickie wedding, a gambling debt, or a rehab stint? Should you enjoy a fling with a sizzling backup dancer or reconnect with Han Lee, your Korean pop star ex-or is your soul mate someone closer to home? Every choice has a juicy consequence, and the potential for steamy fun, fulfillment, tabloid scandal . . . or even a fatal misstep. The choice is yours . . .

Are You Ready To Choose Your Own Hollywood Ending?You are Anna Chambliss, a beautiful A-list actress engaged to a gorgeous Hollywood star. Life is beyond perfect-until you wake one morning to find tabloid headlines proclaiming that your fiancé is cheating on you. How do you react? Your love life, your career, and your future happiness all depend on what you choose to do-and who you do it with. Will your engagement crumble in public scandal? Do you seek out a sexy new leading man? Enjoy a night of mind-blowing bliss with a near stranger?Or do you find your soul mate away from the spotlight's glare? Every decision you make has consequences, some steamy, some dangerous. Follow your destiny from movie sets to glittering premieres to glamorous vacation spots-and always remember: life in the fast lane can include all kinds of juicy detours. The choice is yours...

Charli Rae Warren is back home in Hazel Rock, Texas, spending her time reading, collecting, and selling books-at least, the ones that don''t get eaten first by her father''s pet armadillo. Running the family bookstore is a demanding job, but solving murders on the side can be flat out dangerous...The Book Barn is more than just a shop, it''s a part of the community-and Charli is keeping busy with a fundraising auction and the big rodeo event that''s come to town. That includes dealing with the Texas-sized egos of some celebrity cowboys, including Dalton Hibbs, a blond, blue-eyed bull rider who gets overly rowdy one night with the local hairdresser . . . and soon afterward, disappears into thin air. Dalton''s brother also vanished seven years ago-and Charli is thrown about whether Dalton is a villain or a victim. After a close call with an assailant wielding a branding iron (that plays havoc with her hair), and some strange vandalism on her property, she''s going to have to team up with the sheriff to untangle this mystery, before she gets gored . . .

Is that a gun in his pocket or...?Jamie Fields can hardly refuse a free vacation. Jobless and broke, the struggling single gal is in need of serious stress relief. Sure, the set up is suspicious-no one gives away a trip to exotic Cuba-complete with 50,000 dollars cash-just for delivering a package. But once Jamie's enjoying sunny beach days and exhilarating tropical nights, she's too happy to care. Especially when she finds herself hotly pursued by a sexy stranger... The McCoy empire is under siege, and Sam Hayes has been tapped to take care of the culprit. Sam knows better than to get involved with his target, but there's something about Jamie that keeps him from simply finishing the job and moving on. Maybe the hard-bodied hitman just can't wrap his mind around the fact that the first woman to set his soul on fire is a common criminal. The only thing Sam can do is keep her close. An easy enough task-if Sam doesn't do something stupid. Like fall in love with the bombshell he was sent to kill....

A life of crime-or a lifetime of love?Mary Billing knows her solitary mountain life is over when a handsome stranger blows on to her land in an unmarked chopper. Terry McCoy is not only dangerous to the pretty widow's shattered senses, he's a hardened criminal no woman in her right mind would fall for. Yet there's something tender about Terry-something that makes her surrender to his searing touch. Now Mary is in deep-deep enough to be taken hostage by a villain whose true target is Terry...The son of a notorious crime boss, Terry is about to take over his murdered father's multi-million dollar empire. But first there's the little matter of avenging his father's death-and rescuing the one woman he knows could turn his hard-bitten life around. Terry never wanted a life of crime, but suddenly he's ready to do just about anything to bring Mary back...

Louisiana hat maker Miss DuBois is making a name for herself veiling Southern brides-to-be with her sophisticated designs. She''s also gaining a reputation for unveiling murderers . . .Missy is shocked when she sees the asking price for the Sweetwater mansion . . . in a good way. With business thriving at Crowning Glory, it would be nice to set up shop surrounded by alabaster columns and gleaming mahogany. The Southern connections only deepen when it turns out the real estate agent is Mellette Babineaux, a college classmate and sorority sister. But when Missy drags her best friend Bo along to the mansion for a second look, they barely make it past the live oaks before they discover Mellette''s dead body in a shed. Now, for the sake of her college friend, Missy finds herself investigating everyone from a superstitious Cajun caretaker to a Rolls Royce-driving billionaire--and finding that lots of closet space can mean lots of skeletons, too . . . Something Foul At Sweetwater

Hat designer Missy DuBois opened her shop, Crowning Glory, along Louisiana''s Great River Road to cater to the sophisticated Southern bride. But bless her heart, who knew creating stylish wedding veils would lead to murder? Hired to craft a veil for a socialite getting married at Morningside Plantation means Missy can bask in the height of antebellum atmosphere. But when the bride is found dead in a women''s bathroom, Missy the milliner finds herself entangled in one unfashionable murder. With the list of suspects thicker than the sweltering Louisiana heat, including a gaggle of bridesmaids shedding nary a tear and a family with no shortage of enemies, it seems anyone at the mansion may have done away with the bride-to-be. While Missy has Southern charm to spare, she''s going to need more than manners and a manicure to put a hat pin on this murderous affair . . .

It's a long way from Seattle to Otter Bite, Alaska. But if one woman can survive the trip--and the locals--she just might find what her heart has been searching for.Her mango chutney is exquisite; her blueberry sauce is to die for. But right now, Chef de Cuisine Daisy Moon is a woman without a kitchen--and without a fiancé. Unceremoniously dumped from her place of business and her relationship, Daisy sells her belongings, plus a few of her ex's, and packs her bags. Maybe smashing all the china in her former restaurant was a bad move. Stripped of her Golden Spoon for "un-chef-like" conduct, she is now blacklisted all over Seattle. Her sole job offer is from the Wild Man Lodge. . .in Otter Bite, Alaska. Too bad Daisy can't even get out of Dodge without incident. By the time she boards a ship for Alaska, she's got a trail of new troubles behind her, and suddenly Otter Bite is sounding pretty good. But the vessel turns into her own personal Titanic when a series of close encounters confirms her terrible taste in men--including one very good looking bad luck charm named Max Kendall. She vows to dedicate the rest of her days to chowders and brulée. Yet even Alaska isn't far enough away to shake the memories of the sexy shipmate who rocked her cabin--and her world. Thank goodness she's done with surprises--but they may not be done with her. . .

From author Janie DeVos comes a poignant and richly detailed novel set in 1950s North Carolina, where one young woman struggles to save her own life-and finds the strength to truly live it. When Kathryn Cavanaugh steps over the threshold of the Pelham Sanatorium in 1954, she has no idea when, or if, she will ever leave it again. Despite the rise of promising new treatments, Tuberculosis is still feared and often fatal. But twenty-four-year-old Kate has proven her resilience before, leaving her Blue Ridge Mountain home for a very different life in the city with her ambitious attorney husband, Geoffrey. For the sake of her family, especially her young son, she's determined to get healthy again.  The sanatorium is a strange battlefield, with every patient fighting for survival amidst a numbing routine of tests, treatment, and enforced rest. Kate quickly finds camaraderie among the women on her ward-and a growing kinship with fellow patient Philip McAllister. As weeks pass, the hospital's confines come to offer more independence than Geoffrey's preoccupation with status ever allowed. And with this surprising new discovery comes the courage to contemplate the choices she has made-and, perhaps, the chance to breathe freely at last...

TIED UPReturning home to help out with his brother's dude ranch is cool with Ethan. After all, he's as comfortable in the saddle as he is roping a calf. But what's really jangling his spurs is a chance to indulge his kink in the ranch's monthly Giddyup event. Did someone say suspension bondage? Yee-Haw!TEASEDWhen Victoria realizes her family's number one goal in sending her to college is to get her hitched to a husband, she drops out one semester shy of graduation. But paying her own way turns out to be the hardest lesson of all. Thankfully she's found her way to the Hilltop Ranch. A place to get away and refocus. And get herself all tied up . . .TAKENSure, Ethan's pretty handy with that length of rope. But it turns out the expensive design school wasn't a total waste for Victoria. Bringing an "academic" approach to their play-and Ethan's hobby-is opening up new possibilities. Like maybe the chemistry between them is something more than a game . . .

-Maggie McDonald is hoping to raise the profile of her new Orchard View organizing business via her first high-profile client. Professor Lincoln Sinclair may be up for a Nobel Prize, but he's hopeless when it comes to organizing anything other than his thoughts. For an academic, he's also amassed more than his share of enemies. When Sinclair's fiancaee is found dead on the floor of his home laboratoryelectrocuted in a puddle of waterMaggie takes on the added task of finding the woman's murderer. To do so, she'll have to outmaneuver the suspicious, obnoxious police investigator she's nicknamed -Detective Awful- before a shadowy figure can check off the first item on their personal to-do listKill Maggie McDonald.- --

If a man can live forever . . .A lifetime ago, the debauched Viscount Ravenswood lost his life, only to be revived as a new man with a new name . . . and a new desire for love. Now, scarred and monstrous of visage, Luke Madden has outlived his beloved wife. Crushed by loss and despair, he swears to never feel such a love again. For such a perfect mingling of souls could never happen twice in one lifetime. Especially for a beast such as Luke believes himself to be . . .. . . how can he love forever?Gillian Browning is a bold woman of action. But her spy activities in pre-war Germany have made her a target. Now in London, she is being hunted by ruthless Nazi operatives. Luckily, a fellow spy knows someone who can protect her-Luke. Taking Gillian to his former home in the country, he reluctantly finds himself caring for her more than he thought possible, and to his surprise she reciprocates. But when a threat from Luke's own past increases their peril, he must decide if he has the true strength to love-and trust-again . . .

What makes a man? The wild and dissolute Viscount Ravenswood lives only for his own pleasure, caring not one wit for the broken hearts left trampled in his wake. But his decadent lifestyle finally catches up to him in a fatal carriage race. It's an infamous and spectacular end to a brief, immoral life-or is it? And who is the woman who loves him?When Glenna Parker stumbles upon her cousin Reed Parker's cluttered laboratory, she could never have imagined the mad experiment he is about to embark upon-to bring a man back from the dead. Not just any man, but Ravenswood, who once shattered her heart. With no memory of his former life, Glenna calls him Luke, and finds herself enchanted by his compassion-and passion. Protecting the scarred Luke has become Glenna's sole mission, but can she protect her heart from her beloved monster?

An eye for an eye, blood for blood. UCLA student Cass Turner was hoping to move on from the family business-but when the business is professional assassination, that's easier said than done. And sleeping with the man she was supposed to kill only complicates things. Her relationship with Nick Kosta, a lieutenant in LA's largest crime family, was supposed to be no-strings-attached fun. But if the two of them want to stay alive, they'll have to keep each other close. Nick's traitorous cousin, Isaiah, is out for blood, so Cass can't afford any distractions as they try to hunt him down. Yet she can't help puzzling over Nick's motives-does he really share her deepening feelings or does he just feel responsible for her? And if their relationship is for real, will they even have a future? Because with their enemies several steps ahead of them, one false move could bring disaster for everyone Cass holds dear...and in this game of cat and mouse, no one will leave unscathed.

"The people of Truhart will find a place in your heart." -Cindy Myers, author of The View From Here Big dreams can come true in a small town...While some young women would jump through hoops to claim ownership of a bookshop, free-spirited Gertrude "Trudy" Brown wants nothing to do with the rundown store her late Aunt Gertrude left her. Having suffered from dyslexia all her life, books aren't exactly her friends. With not much more than a collie dog who's scared of his own shadow, and a rusty but trusty '74 Beetle, Trudy arrives in the tiny town of Truhart, determined to sell off her cumbersome inheritance as quickly as possible... But Trudy is not the only stranger in town. Christopher "Kit" Darlington, a professor of American Studies at Cambridge, is searching for an elusive manuscript-and he secretly thinks Trudy's ramshackle bookshop might hold the key to its discovery. As these two opposites spend the autumn days together, cleaning out Trudy's bookshop, they soon find that uncovering both literature and love can be equally mysterious... Trudy's never been the type to stay in one spot too long, but something about Kit makes her consider starting a new chapter-and maybe even finding there's a happily-ever-after... Praise for A Wedding in Truhart "Cynthia Tennent has captured the charm, humor, loyalty, and love of small towns, close families, and long-time friends." -Cindy Myers, author of The View From Here"An A.W.O.L. wedding dress, family feuds, and kinky characters! What's not to love? A Wedding in Truhart is a wedding to remember." -Lois Greiman, award winning author of the Hope Springs series

One Summer Can Change Everything . . .Elizabeth Lively dresses conservatively, straightens her curly hair into submission, and works hard to uphold her political family's reputation. Her therapist might call it "OCD," but she's just trying her best to live by the rules-until her carefully crafted world comes crashing down when she's fired, painfully jilted, and arrested for a crime she didn't commit. All she can think to do is flee to her grandmother's lakeside house in tiny Truhart, Michigan, a town that's as quirky as it is quaint . . . No stranger to second chances, Acting Sheriff JD Hardy isn't pleased to have Elizabeth in Truhart for the summer. A former city cop with a painful past, JD now runs a tight ship, and isn't keen on a newcomer with a criminal past, even one as tempting as Elizabeth. Between lazy summer days and lakeside evenings, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, Elizabeth must decide what the future holds for her, and where her heart belongs. She will learn that sometimes you have to dip a toe in cautiously, and other times you just have to dive in . . . Praise for A Wedding in Truhart"Cynthia Tennent has captured the charm, humor, loyalty, and love of small towns, close families, and long-time friends. ..the people of Truhart will find a place in your heart." -Cindy Myers, author of The View From Here"An A.W.O.L. wedding dress, family feuds, and kinky characters! What's not to love? A Wedding in Truhart is a wedding to remember." -Lois Greiman, award winning author of the Hope Springs series

It Takes A Cop Like Jack Murphy To Find Justice . . .Jack Murphy knows a setup when he sees one. Proving it makes his day. Especially when it involves his own partner. Lured into a trap, Evansville P.D. Detective Liddell Blanchard is accused of murdering a cop who was investigating a shadowy voodoo cult. Justice is murky enough in the swamplands of Louisiana, but when a purported descendent of Marie Leveaux menaces a murder investigation, the gumbo really hits the fan. Corruption comes with the territory. But there are darker forces at play-and only Murphy can see the light . . . Praise for Rick Reed and his novels "A jaw-dropping thriller."-Gregg Olsen "As authentic and scary as crime thrillers get."-Nelson DeMille "Rick Reed knows the dark side as onlya real life cop can, and his writing crackles with authenticity."-Shane Gericke "Put this on your must-read list."-John Lutz "Det. Jack Murphy tracks killers through a political maze of lies, deceptionand dishonor that leads to a violent, pulse-pounding climax."-Robert S. Levinson "Reed thrusts the boundaries of his story forward to bring us along on a ride we won't soon forget!"-Suspense Magazine "Reed gives the reader a genre story worth every minute and every penny spent."-Book Reporter