Books published by Kensington Publishing

The third book in acclaimed author Kristin Vayden's Regency historical series set in an elite gentleman's club, no place for a London debutante. But what happens at Temptation stays at Temptation . . . or does it? Dogged by gossip and scandal, Ramsey Scott, Marquess of Sterling, is the last man who should stand guard over lovely Miss Grace Morgan, much less fall for her. When the innocent's first outings of the season land her in Temptation, the private club Ramsey manages, he longs to take her in his arms and keep her there, if only his past would allow it. Their friendship will have to suffice-but as Grace blooms in society, Ramsey feels her slipping from his grasp. Until she lures him into his greatest temptation yet . . . She should never have come to his office unattended. But how else was Grace to get Ramsey's romantic attention? Yet now she is left waiting for a proposal that may never come-and wondering if Ramsey's vexing propriety will force her to marry another . . . Praise for the Gentleman of Temptation series "Vayden's fun conclusion to the Gentlemen of Temptation trilogy is full of passion and flirty banter." -Booklist on The Temptation of Grace "This Regency romp is a well-balanced mix of heat and sweetness…Vayden's considerable promise will keep readers eager for sequels." -Publishers Weekly on Falling from His Grace "Vayden has penned a true standout." -Booklist on Falling from His Grace

After a career working with rare books at the Boston Public Library, Addie Greyborne is back in her seaside New England hometown-where unfortunately, murder is not so rare . . . Gossip columnists love a bold-faced name-but "Miss Newsy" at Greyborne Harbor's local paper seems to specialize in bald-faced lies. She's pointed a finger of suspicion at Addie after librarian June Winslow never makes it home from a book club meeting. And when June's found at the bottom of a steep flight of stairs, Addie's not only dealing with a busybody, but a dead body. It's a good thing the guy she's dating is the police chief. But both the case and her love life get more complicated when a lanky blonde reporter from Los Angeles shows up. She's trying her hardest to drive a wedge between the couple . . . as if Addie doesn't have enough problems dealing with angry townspeople. Despite all the rumors, Addie doesn't know a thing about the murder-but she plans to find out. And the key may lie in a book about pirate legends that June published. Now she just has to hunt down the clues before she becomes a buried treasure herself . . .

Storyton Hall, Virginia, is a paradise for book lovers who come from all over for literary getaways. But manager Jane Steward is temporarily leaving for another renowned resort-in hopes of solving a twist-filled mystery . . . Jane's boyfriend is missing, and she thinks she may find him at North Carolina's historic Biltmore Estate. Officially, she's there to learn about luxury hotel management, but she's also prowling around the breathtaking buildings and grounds looking for secret passageways and clues. One of the staff gardeners promises to be helpful . . . that is, until his body turns up in the reading room of his cottage, a book on his lap. When she finally locates the kidnapped Edwin, his captor insists that she lead him back to Storyton Hall, convinced that it houses Ernest Hemingway's lost suitcase, stolen from a Paris train station in 1922. But before they can turn up the treasure, the bell may toll for another victim . . . "Readers will find themselves wanting to live in Storyton, no matter how many people end up dead there." -Suspense Magazine on Murder in the Locked Library

A dangerous element discovered by Bianca Goddard's father falls into the wrong hands . . . leading to a chain of multiple murders. Spring 1544: Now that she is with child, Bianca is more determined than ever to distance herself from her unstable father. Desperate to win back the favor of King Henry VIII, disgraced alchemist Albern Goddard plans to reveal a powerful new element he's discovered-one with deadly potential. But when the substance is stolen, he is panicked and expects his daughter to help. Soon after, a woman's body is found behind the Dim Dragon Inn, an eerie green vapor rising from her breathless mouth. To her grave concern, Bianca has reason to suspect her own mother may be involved in the theft and the murder. As her husband John is conscripted into King Henry's army to subdue Scottish resistance, Bianca must navigate a twisted and treacherous path among alchemists, apothecaries, chandlers, and scoundrels-to find out who among them is willing to kill to possess the element known as lapis mortem, the stone of death . . . Praise for Death at St. Vedast "Full of period details, Lawrence's latest series outing captures Tudor London in all its colorful splendor. A solid choice for devotees of Karen Harper's Elizabethan mysteries." -Library Journal

Patricia Johns makes her Amish romance debut with The Bishop's Daughter. In this poignant, beautifully written novel, a faithful young Amish widow has a second chance at romance when she is reunited with her wayward first love . . . As a bishop's daughter and good Amish mother, widowed Sadie Hochstetler teaches her young son that God blesses those who try their best to please Him. But her brief marriage taught her that life is infinitely more complicated than that. Older, and serious, her late husband seemed a sensible choice-especially compared to Elijah Fisher, the spirited boy with whom she butted heads and hearts. Then Elijah abruptly left for the Englisher world, taking Sadie's beloved brother along with him-a double betrayal she still strives to forgive. Especially now that Elijah has returned . . . Elijah plans to stay in the Amish community only as long as he's needed, helping his family and working for Sadie's ailing father. The outside world has changed him, leading him to question rules and restrictions that others take on faith. Once, he'd been head over heels in love with the bishop's daughter-a girl he was judged unworthy of courting. Nine years have changed so much between them. Yet something remains-a spark that, for all their differences, might light the way home again . . . "Heartrending, poignant and perceptive, this beautifully written story has a cultural rather than a solely religious focus and will appeal to fans of sweet romance across the board. A solid debut." -Library Journal STARRED REVIEW for The Bishop's Daughter

From New York Times bestselling author Madeline Hunter comes the fabulous finale in her Decadent Dukes Society trilogy about three untamable dukes and the strong, alluring women who ignite their decadent desires. A woman seeks to reclaim the land she believes was unfairly stripped from her family by the Duke who now refuses to return the land to her. A classic and witty battle of wills ensues as only Madeline Hunter can deliver. HE IS THE LAST DUKE STANDING . . . the sole remaining bachelor of the three self-proclaimed Decadent Dukes. Yet Davina MacCallum's reasons for searching out the handsome Duke of Brentworth have nothing to do with marriage. Scottish lands were unfairly confiscated from her family by the Crown and given to his. A reasonable man with vast holdings can surely part with one trivial estate, especially when Davina intends to put it to good use. Brentworth, however, is as difficult to persuade as he is to resist. The Duke of Brentworth's discretion and steely control make him an enigma even to his best friends. Women especially find him inscrutable and unapproachable-but also compellingly magnetic. So when Davina MacCallum shows no signs of being even mildly impressed by him, he is intrigued. Until he learns that her mission in London involves claims against his estate. Soon the two of them are engaged in a contest that allows no compromise. When duty and desire collide, the best laid plans are about to take a scandalous turn-into the very heart of passion . . . Madeline Hunter's novels are: "Brilliant, compelling. . . . An excellent read." -The Washington Post "Mesmerizing." -Publishers Weekly "Pure passion." -Booklist

Sienna has no memory of her late mother, yet every significant day of her life—birthdays, the first day of high school, graduation—has been marked by a letter written during her last weeks of life. Sienna knows her father feels grateful to be able to offer up these connections to the loving, talented woman his daughter never got a chance to know. Yet for Sienna herself, the letters have become a dreaded burden, a reminder that every milestone is less than it would be if both parents were still living. A month before her twenty-fifth birthday, Sienna finds a lump. Facing a cancer diagnosis, Sienna begins to ask questions about her mother’s terminal illness—questions that reveal unsettling inconsistencies and voids in the stories she’s been told. The deeper she digs, the more the image of her mother as a contented homemaker warps into something much darker and far more troubling. If Sienna’s dad lied about this, what else did he lie about? What does it mean to be a good parent? What role does the past play in who we are? And to what lengths should one go to protect a child? Like the best of Jodi Picoult, Whatever It Takes delves into these fascinating questions of family and identity with power, insight, and love. Praise for Jessica Pack’s As Wide as the Sky National Reading Group Month Selection!   “Characters as rich and indelible as the life they endure . . . A phenomenal read.”—Internationally Bestselling Author Davis Bunn   “In the vein of Jodi Picoult’s Nineteen Minutes, As Wide as the Sky explores the human component of tragedy.” —Mandy Mikulencak, author of The Last Suppers and Forgiveness Road   “A story that is painfully relatable even as it shines with originality. I felt this tale all the way to my toes. A treasure.”  —Amy Harmon, New York Times bestselling author of The Law of Moses

In this exciting historical mystery debut set in Victorian England, a wealthy young widow encounters the pleasures—and scandalous pitfalls—of a London social season . . .   Frances Wynn, the American-born Countess of Harleigh, enjoys more freedom as a widow than she did as a wife. With her young daughter in tow, Frances rents a home in Belgravia and prepares to welcome her sister, Lily, arriving from New York—for her first London season.   But no sooner has Frances begun her new life than the Metropolitan police receive an anonymous letter implicating Frances in her husband’s death. Frances assures Inspector Delaney of her innocence, but she’s also keen to keep him from learning the scandalous circumstances of Reggie’s demise. As fate would have it, her dashing new neighbor, George Hazelton, is one of only two other people aware of the full story.   While busy with social engagements on Lily’s behalf, and worrying if Reggie really was murdered, Frances rallies her wits, a circle of gossips, and the ever-chivalrous Mr. Hazelton to uncover the truth. A killer is in their midst and Frances must unmask the villain before Lily’s season—and their lives—come to a most unseemly end . . .   “This lighthearted debut tale of mystery, love, and a delightful sleuth will leave you wanting more—which is presumably just what Freeman had in mind.”  —Kirkus Reviews

Emma Lapp tries to be the perfect daughter, to earn the loving embrace of her family and her Amish community in Pennsylvania. Yet she can’t quite win her mother’s smile—or her forgiveness for a transgression Emma can’t quite place . . .   Emma knows she’s a reminder of her mother’s greatest sorrow, having been born on the same day Mamm lost her beloved sister. The one bright spot has been the odd trinkets anonymously left at her aunt’s grave each year on Emma’s birthday—gifts Emma secretly hides because they upset her parents. But the day she turns 22, a locket bears a surprise that sends her on an unexpected journey . . .   Searching for answers, Emma travels to the English world and finds a kinship as intriguing as it is forbidden.  But is this newfound connection enough to leave behind the future she’d expected? The answers are as mysterious, and as devastating, as the truth that divides Emma from the only family, and the only life, she’s ever known . . .   Praise for Portrait of a Sister   “Laura Bradford is a master storyteller; this book will stay with you for a long, long time.”—New York Times bestselling author, Tasha Alexander    “A charming, well-told story of love and devotion between sisters.”—New York Times bestselling author Rachel Hauck   “Kudos to Bradford for a complex and compelling story about faith, family, and love.”—Sally Kilpatrick, author of Bless Her Heart   “A gentle and engaging tale, a lovely escape.” —USA Today bestselling author Susan McBride