Böcker utgivna av Kensington Publishing

An enthralling novel of historical fiction for fans of Lisa Wingate and Ellen Marie Wiseman, The Undertaker's Assistant is a powerful story of human resilience set during Reconstruction-era New Orleans that features an extraordinary and unforgettable heroine at its heart. "The dead can't hurt you. Only the living can." Effie Jones, a former slave who escaped to the Union side as a child, knows the truth of her words. Taken in by an army surgeon and his wife during the War, she learned to read and write, to tolerate the sight of blood and broken bodies-and to forget what is too painful to bear. Now a young freedwoman, she has returned south to New Orleans and earns her living as an embalmer, her steady hand and skillful incisions compensating for her white employer's shortcomings. Tall and serious, Effie keeps her distance from the other girls in her boarding house, holding tight to the satisfaction she finds in her work. But despite her reticence, two encounters-with a charismatic state legislator named Samson Greene, and a beautiful young Creole, Adeline-introduce her to new worlds of protests and activism, of soirees and social ambition. Effie decides to seek out the past she has blocked from her memory and try to trace her kin. As her hopes are tested by betrayal, and New Orleans grapples with violence and growing racial turmoil, Effie faces loss and heartache, but also a chance to finally find her place . . .

All three of the Godmothers novellas together for the very first time! Old friends reunite for an adventure unlike any they've faced before in the latest novel by beloved storyteller and #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels. As Sophie De Luca has learned, many things really are better the second time around, whether that's a wonderful year of marriage with Goebel, her sweet second husband, or strengthening her bonds with childhood friends Toots, Ida, and Mavis. Yet ever since she and Goebel moved into their new home, Sophie has sensed something a little . . . unusual. Old houses often contain items left behind from previous owners, but what remains in this case is a painful secret. Facing this past presents a special kind of challenge, but with her three extraordinary friends by her side, Sophie is ready to confront a terrible wrong that occurred within the house decades ago. And, just maybe, each of the lifelong friends will get the chance to claim a sweet, surprising future chiming with wedding bells when the task is done . . . Praise for Fern Michaels and The Godmothers Series "Whoever thought the 'golden years' were boring never met the Godmothers." -RT Book Reviews "Michaels' engaging version of the Golden Girls." -Booklist

Of all the legends of the Old West, few are as stained with ink, blood, and bullets as the violent days of bounty hunter Lou Prophet. But what happens when the hunter becomes the hunted? Heaven knows there'll be hell to pay . . . THE DEVIL RIDES AGAIN After a hard night with his sometime lover Louisa Bonaventure-"the Vengeance Queen"-Lou Prophet decides to cool his heels at a local honky tonk. Things heat up fast when he defends one of the girls from a sadistic brute who also happens to be the deputy sheriff. And now Prophet is running for his life . . . WITH A BOUNTY ON HIS HEAD Heading south of the border to Mexico, Prophet isn't the only man marked for death. The young red-headed pistolero Colter Farrow has made an awful lot of enemies, too-and now practically every bounter hunter south of the Rio Grande is gunning for blood. For money. For fun. And, now, for Lou Prophet . . . "Here's a writer with hot, fast violence and the guts to write what he wants."-Tom McNulty, Dispatches from the Last Outlaw

TRUSTING HER… They all loved her. That was their mistake. Two husbands, her college fiancé, an influential boss-every man who gets close to Jordan Price is made to pay in blood. And the list is growing… COULD BE… Hired by the Powell Agency to investigate Senator Dan Price's death, Rick Carson can see at once why people would believe Jordan Price incapable of cold-blooded murder. Slender, pale, and elegant, she stands by her late husband's graveside exuding sweet vulnerability. Only Rick notices that she never sheds a tear. And the deeper he delves into the string of deaths from which Jordan has profited handsomely, the more convinced Rick becomes that he is dealing with a callous, cunning, unstoppable killer… THE LAST THING YOU EVER DO… The closer Rick gets to the chilling truth, the more dangerous this game of cat-and-mouse becomes. The targets are changing, and suddenly, nothing and no one is safe. If Jordan is as innocent as she claims, Rick may have placed her in a killer's cross hairs. And if she's guilty, he'll never live to regret it…

The Blue-Collar Lover Series They don't wear suits, but the five Carter brothers work hard to earn a day's pay-and keep the right woman satisfied . . . No one turns out luscious pies and to-die-for cakes like Marvin Carter. Few outside of the family know about his baking skills, but working as a restaurant line cook is getting old fast. Now he'll do whatever it takes to win start-up money from a major cooking contest and launch his own business. But his prime competition is making things hot for him in-and out-of the kitchen . . . Naomi Carson is as savory as her soul food and has twice the spice. This confident, large-and-in-charge beauty also has high aspirations, and will work all her skills against the tasty Mr. Marvin to take first place-and stop living with Grandma. As their attraction burns hot, the other contestants can't take their heat nor their talent, and threaten to burn their dreams to ash. Will the desire be doused-or can Marvin and Naomi find common ground and fire up the chance of a lifetime? ALSO IN THIS SERIES "Great escapism." -Library Journal on Packing Heat "Sexy, hot deliciousness . . . this power couple light up the page like a 100-megawatt bulb." -USAToday.com on Bad Boy Seduction

Johnstone Country. Stay awhile. With their acclaimed novels of the Jensen family, bestselling authors William W. Johnstone and J.A. Johnstone have captured the pioneering spirit of America itself. Now a new generation of Jensens prepares to take the reins-and live the dream their ancestors fought for . . . A JENSEN CELEBRATION. A JENSEN RECKONING. There's nothing like a wedding to bring families together. And there's no place like the Sugarloaf Ranch to throw a foot-stomping hoedown-even if it turns into a gun-blazing showdown. Smoke and Sally Jensen are delighted that their son Louis is marrying the lovely widow he met during a perilous stagecoach journey through the Donner Pass. The whole family welcomes the bride and her young son with open arms. In fact, everyone is invited to the party-even the handsome stranger who rescued Louis's twin sister Denise from a runaway mustang. Who is this mysterious hero? No one knows. But there's going to be a lot of gunshots along with the wedding bells when this stranger makes his deadly moves. Once more, the Jensens band together to fight for what's theirs. And it just might be till death do they part . . . Live Free. Read Hard.

JOHNSTONE COUNTRY. WHERE THE BULLET IS LAW. Of all the Western series by William Johnstone, the epic saga of the mountain man known as Preacher may be the most beloved and enduring. This special edition includes two of Preacher's greatest adventures-Cheyenne Challenge and Preacher and the Mountain Caesar-featuring two of the legend's bloodiest showdowns . . . TO HELL AND BACK Ten years ago, Preacher taught a bad man from the east a violent lesson he'd never forget. Today, that man returns to even the score by igniting an all-out Indian war. The battle lines are drawn. The players are cutthroat. And Preacher's scalp is the ultimate prize . . . OF GODS AND MONSTERS In the mountains of Montana, Preacher stumbles upon the town of Nova Roma, aka New Rome. It's ruled by a ruthless tyrant straight out of ancient history. But Preacher refuses to bow down to a power-mad Caesar who thinks he's a god-not if he bleeds like a man . . . Live Free. Read Hard.

Kalif is everything his adoptive family wanted him not to be: treacherous, conniving, and coldhearted. As much as he wishes to please them, he can't deny who and what he is destined to be. The hot-tempered young man is indeed his father's son. While off his meds, Kalif discovers the circumstances surrounding the brutal murder of his birth parents. In a matter of seconds, he totally snaps, ignoring the possible consequences. His rage and thirst for power increases. Deep off into the zone, Kalif develops zero tolerance for nonsense. Quickly, he rises through the ranks of the Motor City crime underworld, proving to everyone, including himself, he deserved the hard-earned title of kingpin of Detroit.

It's the final test for our favorite Freedom University alumni. It's been two years since Lena decided to take time away from her drama to find herself and focus on her child. But the present finds her staring at images of Denise, the one who got away. Will she finally be able to move on to someone new, or will she go after the one she's wanted all along? Denise has learned that there is more to Hollywood than fame and fortune. The dark side of celebrity rears its ugly head as Denise's star grows brighter and Farih's starts to dim. With the past reappearing in her life, Denise finds herself torn between the stable relationship she's always wanted and the chaotic love that her heart just doesn't want to let go. Never in a million years did Cooley think she would be in a committed relationship-and happy. Managing two of the hottest up-and-coming lesbian stars in the world, she finds her life is right on track. But when a secret comes out, it could derail all she's worked for and threaten her relationship. Misha pictured her future as an independent jet-setter, not as a housewife. As she watches her ex live the life she envisioned for herself, the temptation to pursue her dreams and revisit the life she abandoned might just get the best of her.While her friends live fabulously in Atlanta, Carmen is stuck in Memphis, in a teaching job she despises. While Nic is perfectly happy with the average life they have created together, Carmen wants more, including the perfect "royal wedding." Her caviar wishes might end up destroying her relationship dreams. The future might be bright and sunny for the crew, but there are still storm clouds ahead. Their relationships and friendships have never been so vigorously tested. As Carmen and Nic's wedding approaches, will skeletons in their closets wreck the worlds they have created, or will everything finally come full circle?

WESTERN WRITERS OF AMERICA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE Champion cowboy Ben Smith is on trial for assault and battery, destruction of property, and intent to commit murder.   His real troubles are just beginning.   One of the last of the great American cowboys, Ben Smith is a three-time rodeo champion with one last chance to take a stand. Injured in a rodeo fall, he heads home at the age of forty to the Little Brawny Ranch, where he befriends the son of the Big Brawny’s owner. Ben agrees to show little Jimmy the ropes: the rigors of ranching, the rewards of hard work, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the wild mustang herds running free. But when they learn the horses are being rounded up—for the slaughterhouse—the rawhide cowboy and skinny greenhorn strike back, each in his own way, to save the mustangs. But there is the inevitable, violent, historic showdown. Ablaze with action, humanity, humor, and a noble cause, The Mustangers is Andrew J. Fenady at the top of his game.   “Outstanding.” —Trail Dust Magazine on The Christmas Trespassers   “If you want to escape into a western by a one-of-a-kind storyteller, here’s the perfect stocking-stuffer.” —Roundup Magazine

When Birds & Bees owner Amy Simms volunteers to act in a local production of Annie, Get Your Gun, she finds herself upstaged by a killer waiting in the wings . . . Who's got time for birdwatching? Amy has enough to do running her shop, fighting attempts by the town planning commission to demolish her old Victorian house, and rescuing an injured towhee. Yet somehow she allows herself to get roped into performing in the Ruby Lake, North Carolina, community theater's new musical after some cast members get injured by mysterious mishaps. The production seems plagued by bad luck, but events turn tragic when a member of the company is found murdered in a locked dressing room. Trading in her binoculars for a magnifying glass, Amy steps into the role of amateur sleuth and soon discovers the victim ruffled a lot of feathers. With a flock of suspects, Amy will need to beat the bushes before the cagey killer takes flight. After all, the show must go on . . .

Spring is in the air, but for Edindale, Illinois, attorney Keli Milanni, murder is the only thing blooming . . . Keli's looking forward to Beltane, the time-honored Wiccan holiday that celebrates life with feasting, ceremonial dancing, and ancient Celtic rituals. But since recently leaving her law firm and opening her own practice, Keli has more on her plate than simple abundance. Still, she always has time for a friend. Erik, a Druid from a neighboring town, has had a run of bad luck he blames on a curse cast by his ex-girlfriend Denise, a practicing witch whose expertise in the dark arts can't save her from her own deadly end. When Keli finds herself a person of interest in the investigation, she begins to wonder if she herself might be cursed. With a little help from her friends, including her devoted boyfriend Wes, Keli aims to find out who poisoned Denise. What she uncovers is a witch's brew of spells, hexes, and black magic that raises questions about her own Wiccan worldview. As the community gathers for the May Day festivities, it's up to Keli to stop a killer from springing ahead to another murder . . . Praise for the Wiccan Wheel Mysteries "A perfect read." -Library Journal on Yuletide Homicide "Enjoyable . . . A wintry, woodsy setting." -Kirkus Reviews on Bell, Book & Candlemas "A good atmospheric read for fall." -Parkersburg News & Sentinel on Samhain Secrets

Take a walk down the aisle-western style-with these tales of unbridled love, from a trio of New York Times bestselling authors who know the way to a cowboy's heart … The Rancher's Wedding* Diana Palmer When a rugged Colorado rancher who's in the red meets up with a screenwriter-turned-waitress dogged by scandal, they put their talents-and their hearts-together. But will front page news put a damper on the sparks flying between them? "No one beats this author for sensual anticipation." -Rave Reviews Wind River Wedding * Lindsay McKenna A sprawling family ranch in Wyoming, or a swanky Hamptons hideaway? A young couple's future in-laws try to stake their claim on where the newlyweds will live. But these lovebirds won't be corralled … "Moving and real … impossible to put down." -Publisher's Weekly, STARRED REVIEW on Wind River Rancher The Cowboy Lassoes a Bride * Kate Pearce Between a hen night that goes terribly wrong and a missing wedding dress, a bride-to-be wonders if her plan to marry her longtime bad boy cowboy beau is doomed-and he wonders if his fiancée is avoiding the altar. Will love prevail? … "Captures the spirit of the West." -Booklist on The Maverick Cowboy

A deliciously sexy and passionate tale for fans of Lisa Kleypas, Anabelle Bryant's latest Regency romance features a devious lord who will stop at nothing to possess the lady of his dreams…but can she keep his secret? In monetary matters, Jeremy Lockhart, Viscount Dearing, is used to being in control, but from his first sight of Lady Charlotte, his carefully cultivated world is rocked to its foundations. Determined to best her other, more eligible suitors, he goes to great lengths to ensure his betrothal to Charlotte. A locked black leather box holds the dark secret that has assured his success. Innocent Lady Charlotte is baffled by her new husband's behavior. Why does Lord Dearing seem so distant one day, and so attentive the next? Her family's dire financial straits did not allow her the luxury of an extended courtship. If only she could entice him into the marriage bed! When at last Charlotte's efforts are rewarded, she revels in Jeremy's unexpectedly bold possessiveness. But outside of their bedchambers, her groom's guardedness quickly returns. Passion is no longer enough for sweet Charlotte, who vows to unlock the mystery of this complicated man. The truth, however, might be more than her principled heart is prepared to handle. . . .

Beloved bestselling author Janet Dailey continues her New Americana saga in this powerful tale of one woman's struggles to save her marriage in the rugged Ozarks of beautiful Branson, Missouri. Allison felt like she'd stepped into a fairy tale when she married widower Burke Caldwell. But after less than a year of marriage, he's become removed and distant. His friends see Allison as little more than a trophy wife, his only daughter regards her as the enemy. With everyone so devoted to the memory of Burke's first wife, Kate, how can Allison possibly compete? Then a harrowing car crash leaves Burke badly injured. But it becomes achingly clear that the woman Burke wants by his side is the wife he lost . . . No longer able to dismiss the power Kate still holds, Allison can't resist reading a trove of hidden letters from Kate to Burke. What she discovers sets her mind reeling. The letters give Allison an enlightening window into her husband's heart. But will she have the courage to put aside her own fears, and grab hold of a love as big and bold as the man she once dared to marry? Praise for Janet Dailey and her bestselling novels "Fans of Dailey's sweet, small-town romances are sure to delight in this story of second chances and new beginnings." -RT Book Reviews on Just a Little Christmas "Dailey is one of my favorite authors for western romances, and Sunrise Canyon did not disappoint." -Romance Junkies on Sunrise Canyon "Wonderful." -Cowgirl Magazine on Sunrise Canyon "Dailey confirms her place as a top megaseller." -Kirkus Reviews on Calder Pride

From the author of the acclaimed The Dry Grass of August comes a richly researched yet lyrical Southern-set novel that explores the conflicts of gentrification-a moving story of loss, love, and resilience. In 1961 Charlotte, North Carolina, the predominantly black neighborhood of Brooklyn is a bustling city within a city. Self-contained and vibrant, it has its own restaurants, schools, theaters, churches, and night clubs. There are shotgun shacks and poverty, along with well-maintained houses like the one Loraylee Hawkins shares with her young son, Hawk, her Uncle Ray, and her grandmother, Bibi. Loraylee's love for Archibald Griffin, Hawk's white father and manager of the cafeteria where she works, must be kept secret in the segregated South. Loraylee has heard rumors that the city plans to bulldoze her neighborhood, claiming it's dilapidated and dangerous. The government promises to provide new housing and relocate businesses. But locals like Pastor Ebenezer Polk, who's facing the demolition of his church, know the value of Brooklyn does not lie in bricks and mortar. Generations have lived, loved, and died here, supporting and strengthening each other. Yet street by street, longtime residents are being forced out. And Loraylee, searching for a way to keep her family together, will form new alliances-and find an unexpected path that may yet lead her home.