Books published by Kensington Publishing

Maya and Sandra are friends, fellow moms, and private-detective partners in the picturesque waterfront city of Portland—where sometimes their cases can get as rocky as the Maine coast... While private investigator Maya Kendrick is still mentoring her new partner, PTA president Sandra Wallage, in the detective game, the two women don’t need incredible powers of deduction to know their marriages are on the rocks. With Maya’s ex-cop husband in prison and Sandra’s senator spouse separated from her, both find themselves investigating the dating scene. Until Diego Sanchez turns up dead. The flirtatious high school Spanish teacher who had eyes for Maya was poisoned by cookies from a bake sale fundraiser for a Portland High school class trip to Spain. Hired by the students to find out who killed their popular and beloved teacher—including their own children—Maya and Sandra get a real education in parenting, relationships, and murder as their search for whodunit leads them deep into the unpleasant realities found in the small town politics and gossip of their Maine community...

Stella "Granny" Reid's youth wasn't the only thing changed by time in tiny, nondescript McGill, Georgia. Except even back in the 1980s, the Southern town still had a way of attracting downright dubious characters-some with a talent for murder. As quirky as McGill's residents can be, they usually welcome society's oddballs and outcasts into the community with open arms. But the three members of the Lone White Wolf Pack are a different story. Townsfolk aren't feeling the least bit neighborly toward the gang widely believed to have orchestrated several hate crimes in the area. When the group's leader Billy Ray Sonner is found dead in an abandoned motel, most assume it was the result of an accidental overdose. An unfortunate yet predictable end for a man who lived the way Billy did. Only Stella and the sheriff have witnessed the crime scene in person, and suspect something more disturbing happened in that ramshackle room... While Stella wades through a flood of potential culprits, one thing becomes clear-this wasn't an impulsive act of revenge. There's a sophisticated killer on the loose, and Stella must expose deep-rooted fears and dark pasts if she wants to crack a carefully planned murder and stop McGill from descending into chaos.

From beloved author Melinda Metz, a charming, feel-good story about small town life, unexpected love, and second chances-all made possible by one very special fox. A perfect read for animal lovers and those who enjoy smart, uplifting, heartwarming stories with a twist.Return to the charming mountain town of Fox Crossing, Maine-where nature lovers are welcome, the locals are friendly, and a single glimpse of a legendary fox can change your life forever... Most people think The Fox is just a folk tale, designed to lure tourists to their quiet little town on the Appalachian Trail. But kindergarten teacher Lillian Smith is hoping the stories of the white-earred, white-pawed vixen-who brings luck and love to those who see her-are all true. After a chance sighting of the fabled fox, Lillian hopes her hiker boyfriend Owen will finally propose. Instead, he publicly dumps her, claiming she's not adventurous enough. Lillian's determined to prove him wrong. But she sure could use some of that foxy magic to win him back... Luckily, Lillian is not alone. She has her good friend Gavin, the local boot camp worker who agrees to help her reinvent herself-even though he thinks she's fine the way she is. Then there are the townsfolk who also claim to have caught glimpses of The Fox: an offbeat musician with a downbeat career, a not-so-fortunate couple who've forgotten just how lucky they are, and a playwright whose life needs a second act. But if the fox legend is true, things always have a way of working out-for those crazy enough to keep believing...YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE CRAZY TO LIVE HERE.BUT IT HELPS…IF YOU'RE CRAZY LIKE A FOX!

In a tourist town on Lake Michigan, Athena Spencer keeps busy raising a son (and a pet raccoon named Oscar) while working at her family’s garden center. But sometimes, she also has to get the dirt on a murderer, in the new series by the New York Times bestselling author of the Flower Shop Mysteries...  Athena has invited Case Donnelly, recently relocated from Pittsburgh and awaiting his PI license, to accompany her to a Save Our Dunes fundraiser and art festival. And her date proves helpful when the body of a disgraced photographer turns up during a nature walk. The crime—and the photos taken by the dead man—raise a lot of questions about local politics, environmental battles, and the victim’s womanizing ways. As Athena’s endearing Greek-American family strives to solve a mystery of their own (uncovering the identity of Athena’s anonymous blog), she and Case try to find the tangled roots of this murder and make sure there’s no sanctuary for a killer... 

The perfect stocking stuffer for fans of culinary capers, this holiday omnibus from New York Times bestselling author Joanne Fluke featuring two classic mysteries set in Hannah Swensen’s Cookie Jar bakery in Lake Eden, Minnesota: Christmas Caramel Murder and Christmas Cake Murder.It’s Christmas in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and there’s no better way to enjoy the holidays than by cozying up to two Hannah Swensen yuletide mysteries with a plateful of goodies from The Cookie Jar bakery… CHRISTMAS CARAMEL MURDERHannah and her good pal Lisa have agreed to provide all the goodies for the town’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. But before anyone can say “Bah, humbug!” the actress playing Mrs. Claus exits stage left for good. As murder suspects pile up faster than snowdrifts in a blizzard, it might take a visit from ghosts of Christmas past to wrap up this mystery in time for the holidays... CHRISTMAS CAKE MURDERHannah’s life matches the hectic December hustle and bustle of Lake Eden when she agrees to help recreate a spectacular Christmas Ball in honor of Essie Granger, an elderly local in hospice care. But instead of poring over decadent dessert recipes, Hannah’s surprised by Essie’s secret talent for penning crime fiction. She’s even more surprised when the story turns real. It’ll be a true miracle if she can prevent another Yuletide disaster by solving a mystery as dense as a Christmas fruitcake... Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!

Three weeks before Thanksgiving, bookshop owner Addie Greyborne already has a full plate—and a killer on her case... Addie’s determined to turn a seemingly ordinary November in coastal Greyborne Harbor into one for the books. The windows of her shop display carefully curated works by American writers, including a rare selection of traditional holiday recipes from the influential 19th-century publication Godey’s Ladies Magazine. And then there’s the town’s Civil War-era themed cooking and baking competition, with a hefty cash prize and free publicity going to the winning dish... But when she finds her cousin’s boyfriend murdered, a stunned Addie reluctantly realizes she may be the only person who can blow the cover off a grisly crime. With so many unanswered questions surrounding the victim’s death, Addie must figure out the strange connection between a mysterious vintage briefcase, the disappearance of a first edition copy of Sarah Josepha Hale’s famous nursery rhyme, “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” and a dangerously well-read culprit...  

In #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jackson’s riveting novel of heart-stopping suspense, New Orleans detectives Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya race to help a grief-stricken woman discover the truth about a convent filled with unholy secrets…  The crime scene at St. Marguerite’s cathedral in New Orleans is shocking, even to seasoned detectives like Rick Bentz and Reuben Montoya. A novice nun named Sister Camille has been found dressed in a yellowed bridal gown and viciously garroted, her body covered with an altar cloth. Valerie Houston is devastated by her sister’s death. For weeks, she’d begged Camille to leave St. Marguerite’s, where she seemed determined to live as some kind of martyr. But Camille had a knack for making bad choices—she joined the convent in part because she’d fallen for Val’s soon-to-be ex-husband, Slade. Convinced the police aren’t doing enough, Val begins to investigate. But the deeper Val’s inquiries go, the more twisted the case becomes. St. Marguerite’s is far from the tranquil retreat many believe; everyone has their own agenda. Even Camille had a hidden life Val never suspected. But someone knew about Camille’s past—and Val’s, too. Now she has no choice but to catch a devious, depraved killer intent on purging St. Marguerite’s of all its sins—before she becomes the next victim...

Johnstone Justice. Making the West wild again. Keeping the peace in a West Texas town like Buffalo Peak should be easy for a legendary frontiersman like Marshal Elwood "Firestick" McQueen. He’s got his longtime buddies "Beartooth" Skinner and "Moosejaw" Hendricks as his deputies—not to mention the famous rifle that earned him his nickname. But when Firestick learns that their ornery old friend “Rip” Ripley just rode into town, all bets are off. It’s darn near impossible to keep the peace when Rip’s specialty is disturbing it. Firestick finds a decade-old wanted poster for Rip—the reward is one dollar.  Firestick uses it to toss Rip into the clink till he decides to leave town. But Ripley’s still up to his old tricks—he has a new gang of cutthroats coming to Buffalo Peak to steal a king’s ransom in gold in the town bank. Firestick, Beartooth, and Moosejaw become pawns in what just might be the heist of the century. Because Rip’s kill-crazy pals will have to bust him out of jail first... 

Johnstone Country. Be Quick or Be Dead. In a twist of fate, Slash and Pecos are riding hard for the law, dispensing justice as they see fit, and determined to watch their final sunset as heroes...not outlaws. His wicked ways mostly behind him, reformed bank robber Jimmy “Slash” Braddock is getting hitched to his sweetheart. But before the honeymoon, Chief U.S. Marshal Luther T. “Bleed-’Em-So” Bledsoe needs Slash and his former partner-in-crime, Melvin “Pecos Kid” Baker, to don a couple of deputy marshal badges and saddle up for a trip to Nebraska. Seems the town of Harveyville has fallen prey to a trio of murderous badmen blasting away up and down Main Street, and the local law needs some assistance from men who know how to handle a gun. But Slash and Pecos killed the wrong man. Worse, the town marshal tells them that the outlaws rode on and he doesn’t need their help after all. But now Slash and Pecos are wanted men. Tom Gyllenwater’s son is dead. He won’t rest until Slash and Pecos are permanently relocated to Boot Hill. And as the duo are targeted by every gun-crazy desperado in the territory, Slash and Pecos discover they’ll find no help from anyone in Harveyville, a town of ruthless and corrupt folks willing to kill to protect their secrets...

Gripping, explosive, and timely, Lutishia Lovely's latest novel is a tale of one woman's shocking discovery--and how it turns her and her celebrity sister's different worlds upside down...Since childhood, Chantel has idolized her older sister, Jett, a superstar performer. But she's seldom seen her Hollywood-based sibling. More on the shy side, Chantel is perfectly happy with her own modest singing career and quiet Missouri hometown life. But when their mother dies and Chantel's world is upended, she hopes that moving to Los Angeles will give her a fresh start--and a chance to know Jett better. But the truth is, she doesn't know Jett at all. When Jett rebuffs her efforts to bond, Chantel learns a devastating secret she never could have imagined. Reeling and angry, Chantel soon comes up with the perfect vengeful weapon: a bestselling tell-all book that will reveal Jett's stormy past--and wreak havoc on the stardom she prizes more than anything or anyone. But Jett guards her private life for a reason and will stop at nothing to keep the past from being exposed. Now, between hard hidden truths and bitter new revelations, Chantel must decide how much payback is too much--and if the reward is worth the life-altering price.

In this edgy, sexy,page-turning follow-up to award-winning, bestselling author Trice Hickman's The Other Side, three friends who've shared everything-including the same birthday-bond over the triumphs, trials, and unexpected complications surrounding the men they love... Formerly single, D.C. businesswoman Bernadette Gibson is amazed at what a difference a year makes. Now in a committed relationship with a man who cherishes her, the practical fifty-something is thrilled with the laid-back peace and promise of her new southern small-town life. But when she discovers she's pregnant, complications she never saw coming will cause her to question everything... Fortyish bestselling novelist Testimony "Tess" Sinclair couldn't be happier with her engagement to successful restaurateur, Maceo Dennis. But he longs to have children, and Tess fears to tell him her real story-she has difficulty conceiving. Once she reveals the truth, will they be strong enough to survive heartbreak they never bargained for?... Married to the almost-perfect love of her life-it's a dream-come-true for outgoing makeup artist Arizona Mays. She hopes that the deep connection between her and her hot new husband, Chris Pendleton, will lead him to work out his intimacy problems in the bedroom. But when her past and his secrets collide, their happily-ever-after faces irreparable disaster... Now as Bernadette, Tess, and Arizona face the biggest challenges of their lives, these three best friends must rely more than ever on their sisterhood bond-and irrepressible differences-to confront hard truths, handle the damage done,and at last secure the happiness they've always wanted...

Throughout one summer spent on an idyllic island off the coast of North Carolina, a weekly book club offers three very different women the chance to rewrite their own stories. In bestselling author Rochelle Alers' second Book Club novel, a new chapter begins as one woman's seemingly perfect life unravels...It's been almost a year since Leah Berkley Kent left her lavish Richmond home to spend two months on Coates Island, North Carolina. There she found friendship with two extraordinary women, Kayana and Cherie. Together they formed a summer book club, meeting weekly at the Seaside Café. Leah also found the courage to finally stand up to Alan, her domineering husband of twenty-eight years. With her twin sons now grown, Leah decides to return to Coates Island again this summer. Alan's explosive reaction only convinces her that her marriage, and her old life, may be ending. But what comes next? Helping out at the Seaside Café, Leah grows closer to Kayana's widowed brother, Derrick. He knows what it's like to start over--he traded a Wall Street career for a beachfront house and a slower pace.Derrick is drawn to Leah, but wonders if she's truly ready to move on. It'll take a summer filled with lazy beach walks, bold new horizons, and book club meetings rich with shared laughter and support, for Leah to find the answers she's been looking for...

Treasure Hernandez takes readers on a captivating, headlong plunge into the depths of the streets of Raleigh, North Carolina. It will leave you feenin' for more.With the skills of Michael Vick and the looks of Tyreese, Andrew "Amir" Davis, a.k.a. Amir, is destined to be a star. But in the streets of Raleigh, North Carolina, NFL dreams can quickly vanish, and a black man can either go with the flow or become another name added to the local obituaries. Amir has the whole hood behind him. He's a beacon of hope for young men who feel they've been discarded by society. North Carolina is breeding him to be their star, but he has other plans in mind. Amir wants to be like his daddy, a hustler with principles who keeps his enemies close and treats his friends like family. Death Before Dishonor is his motto.When his childhood friend ends up in prison with a nine-year bid, Amir is true to the game and holds him down. He adheres to the code of the streets, but will that be enough to keep his crew together? Will Amir be able to forgive one of his childhood friends for being unfaithful to the game that made him the man he is today? Sometimes, a big booty and a smile can bring a soldier to his knees, but there are consequences for violating the code of the streets. Once a vow is taken, there's no turning back.