Best Selling Books by Brenda Novak

He''s a man from the past—and a man with a past… When Harley Nelson got on his motorcycle and drove out of Portland, Oregon, 10 years ago, he left behind a bad reputation—and a baby. Audra Worthington was the reason for both. Well, the baby, anyway. The reputation he already had. It''s why rich girl Audra fell for him in the first place. Now Audra''s dead. His son, Brandon, is being raised by her family—good girl Lauren, the perfect daughter, and her uncompromising parents. But Harley''s a self-made success down in California and he''s ready to take responsibility for his son. She''s a woman who knows trouble when she sees it…. And Harley Nelson''s trouble. He''s shown up at her door, saying he wants to get to know his son—10 years too late, in Lauren''s opinion. Too bad he didn''t stick by her sister, Audra, when he got her pregnant. (At least, that''s the story Lauren''s always heard.) And too bad he still looks so good in that black leather jacket….

They’re taking a chance on love…by marrying the wrong person All of Grady Amos’s brothers are married, and he''s feeling left behind. Aja Kermani wants to break away from the man chosen by her parents and marry for love. This leads them both to Tying the Knot, a reality TV show where contestants meet their soulmate. Grady and Aja end up married—yet they have absolutely nothing in common! But there is something—beyond a powerful attraction—that draws them to each other, despite their completely different lives and backgrounds. Is a post-show annulment in their future? Or are two opposites truly meant for each other? From Harlequin Special Edition: Believe in love. Overcome obstacles. Find happiness.

Originally published as Expectations, this charming story takes you back to where you first found love… Jenna Livingston’s moved back to Mendocino with her eight-year-old son, where she’s living and working at the Victoriana Bed and Breakfast. It’s owned by the elderly Durhams - whose grandson, Adam, was her first love. And, in some ways, her last... But that was 15 years ago, before Adam abandoned her and his family for a successful career and a fast-track life in the big city. When Adam and Jenna rediscover each other, he wants her back. But much as Jenna knows she could love him again, she also knows there are too many obstacles between them. Too much history. Too many expectations. And now…the future. Originally published in 2000 under the title Expectations

When Maximillian Wilder hides his noble identity and joins the notorious body snatchers known as the London Supply Company, the last thing on his mind is love. He’s worried about Madeline, his vanished half sister, who was last seen in the company of Jack Hurtsill, the gang’s conscienceless leader. Raiding graveyards, stealing corpses, and selling them to medical colleges as dissection material is dirty work, but Max knows he must gain Jack’s trust. He’s determined to find out what happened to Madeline—and to bring Jack to justice if she was murdered for the coin her body could earn. Beautiful, spirited Abigail Hale, daughter of the surgeon at Aldersgate School of Medicine, detests the challenging, hard-bargaining Max almost as much as Jack. But she must procure the necessary specimens if she is to save the college and her father’s career. She believes she is going to be successful—until Jack double-crosses her. Then she’s swept into a plot of danger and intrigue, one where Max must intervene to protect her, no matter the risk to his plan…or his heart. “Novak expertly weaves powerful characters into a complex plot set in a skillfully crafted 1830s London underworld.... (An) entertaining page-turner.” —Publishers’ Weekly on A Matter of Grave Concern “[F]ascinating... a danger-rich, deliciously sexy thrill ride that will have readers hooked from the first page to the last.” —Booklist on A Matter of Grave Concern

When their private plane crashes in the Sierra Nevada Mountains shortly before Christmas, two political enemies must do what it takes to survive in the icy terrain. Neither one of them ever thought they’d have to rely on the other to survive. But they soon discover that survival means more than just staying alive. In their case, it also means falling in love… Originally published in 2009

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak welcomes you to Silver Springs, a picturesque small town in Southern California where even the hardest hearts can learn to love again… Struggling to make ends meet after a messy divorce, Sadie Harris is at the end of her tether. Her waitressing gig isn’t enough to pay the bills let alone secure primary custody of her son, Jayden, a battle she refuses to lose. Desperate, she accepts a position assisting Dawson Reed—the same Dawson Reed who recently stood trial for the murder of his adoptive parents. Joining him at his isolated farm seems risky, but Sadie is out of options. Dawson has given small town Silver Springs plenty of reasons to be wary, but he’s innocent of the charges against him. He wants to leave his painful past behind and fix up the family farm so he can finally bring his dependent sister home where she belongs. As Sadie and Dawson’s professional relationship grows into something undeniably personal, Sadie realizes there’s more to Dawson than the bad boy everyone else sees—he has a good heart, one that might even be worth fighting for. Don’t miss Brenda Novak’s latest book, When I Found You!

The people of Stillwater, Mississippi, are asking questions about murder. Again. Twenty years ago Madeline Barker''s father disappeared. Despite what everyone else thinks, Madeline''s convinced her stepfamily had nothing to do with it. But the recent discovery of his car finally proves he didn''t just drive away. Worse, the police find something in the trunk that says there''s more to this case than murder. With no other recourse, Madeline decides to hire a private investigator—even if the cops don''t like it. Even if her family doesn''t like it. But when P.I. Hunter Solozano begins to uncover some shocking evidence, someone in Stillwater is determined to put a stop to Madeline''s search for the truth. And that means putting a stop to her. Permanently.

The Birth Place gave her sanctuary Hope Tanner escaped from her polygamous community in Superior, Utah, ten years ago—pregnant and alone. She ended up at The Birth Place in Enchantment, New Mexico, where Lydia Kane, the clinic''s founder, handled the private adoption of her baby. A baby Hope never held…and never stopped thinking about. Now Hope briefly returns to her hometown to help her pregnant younger sister, Faith, escape, too. They need somewhere to go, a sanctuary. Where but The Birth Place? Faith can have her baby in safety and Hope can revisit old friends. Like Lydia—and the handsome Parker Reynolds. But Parker, the birth center''s administrator and a widowed single father, isn''t pleased to see Hope back in Enchantment. He''s even less pleased when Lydia offers her a job. Hope doesn''t understand his animosity. In fact, she almost wonders if he has something to hide….

Four years ago… Skye Kellerman was attacked in her own bed. She managed to fend off her knife-wielding assailant, but the trauma changed everything about her life. As a result of that night, she joined two friends—also survivors—in starting The Last Stand, an organization to help victims of crime. But now… Her would-be rapist is getting out of prison. Skye knows that Dr. Oliver Burke hasn''t forgotten that her testimony cost him his reputation—and his freedom. Sacramento detective David Willis, who investigated her case, believes Burke is a clear and present danger—and guilty of at least two unsolved murders. And now Burke is free to terrorize Skye again. Unless David can stop him. Unless Skye can fight back. Because Oliver Burke has every intention of finishing what he started. And that''s a promise. Trust me.

It happened one snowy night… When Chantel Miller gets lost during an unexpected snowstorm, a stranger named Dillon Broderick rescues her. In the hours they spend together they become very close and the intimacy of that night creates a special bond between them. But real life intervenes. The woman Chantel was on her way to see is her sister, Stacy. They''ve been estranged for 10 years and Chantel is determined to regain her affection. The woman Dillon was on his way to see is…Stacy. They''ve been friends for some time but now there''s an added complication. Stacy''s in love with him. Which means Chantel can''t pursue a relationship with Dillon. Even when she discovers she''s pregnant because of that snowy night…

A Baby Of Her Own by Brenda Novak released on Aug 23, 2002 is available now for purchase.

Escape with Kisses in the Country—four full-length small-town romances from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak''s beloved Dundee, Idaho series, all in one volume! THAT ONE NIGHT The one thing that Delaney wants more in the world is to become a mother, but at thirty years old and with no relationship prospects, her dream seems far out of reach. Until a one-night stand with a handsome stranger during a night out in Boise quite literally changes her life. Delaney thought she was never going to see him again, but when this stranger moves to Dundee, she gets both a husband and baby daddy in the same package. FALLING FOR YOU Rebecca Wells and Josh Hill have grown up sharing a legendary rivalry known to everyone in the small town of Dundee, Idaho. Now, Rebecca is struggling to drop her resentment towards Josh, and admitting that she feels more for him than she’s ever let on would be the first step. FIRST LOVE, SECOND CHANCE When Katie Rogers reluctantly returns to Dundee, her hometown in Idaho, she is broke, pregnant, and determined to never trust the wrong man again. But when Booker Robinson not only opens the doors of his home for her, but also the doors of her heart, she understands that sometimes a man isn''t everything he seems. And sometimes he''s more.... SAY YOU LOVE ME Morris Caldwell was more than a stepfather for Lucky Caldwell, he showed her kindness and love, even after his passing. Now, Lucky returns to Dundee, Idaho, to restore the Victorian mansion that Morris left her. But Morris’s grandson, Mike Hill is not happy about Lucky’s inheritance, and since his ranch is located right next to the mansion, they have no choice but to learn how to live next to the person they don’t want to like. Can''t get enough? Don''t miss the rest of the Dundee, Idaho series! Meant for You (Book 5) Finding You (Book 6) Just the Two of Us (Book 7) The More I Love You (Book 8)

Jaclyn Wentworth is on her own with three little kids. She used to be married to the golden boy of their small Nevada town, but the marriage was a disaster because the golden boy never grew up. And he sure wasn''t much of a daddy. Now Jaclyn''s living in Reno, making it on her own. And who, of all people, does she run into there but Cole Perrini, bad boy of Feld, Nevada. Or should she say former bad boy? He was always her ex-husband''s opposite in every way—and he still is. Because Cole''s made good in every sense of the word. Jaclyn and Cole both have their reasons for being cautious, but with a love like theirs it''s bound to be a special holiday season.

Join the many readers who''ve fallen in love with Whiskey Creek,the Northern California town created by New York Times bestsellingauthor Brenda Novak. HOME TO WHISKEY CREEK When Adelaide Davies has returned to Whiskey Creek to take care of her aging grandmother, sheisn''t happy to be back—there are too many people here who wereinvolved in that terrible June night fifteen years ago, people she''drather avoid. But popular and successful Noah Rackham is shocked whenAdelaide won''t have anything to do with him. He has no idea that hisvery presence reminds her of something she''d rather forget. He onlyknows that he''s finally met a woman he could love. TAKE ME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS Everyone in Whiskey Creek remembers Sophia DeBussi as the town''s Mean Girl. Especially Ted Dixon, whose love sheonce scorned. But Sophia has paid the price—the man she did marry wasrich and powerful but abusive. When he goes missing, she learns thathe died running from an FBI probe of his investment firm, leaving herpenniless and forced to face all the townspeople he cheated. Desperatefor work, she accepts a job as housekeeper for Ted, now a successfulwriter. He refuses to get emotionally involved, but will the holidaysbring them another chance at happiness? COME HOME TO ME When Presley Christensen returns to Whiskey Creek withher little boy, she has completely changed her life. Now she''s back inthe small town that was the closest thing to “home” she ever knew.There''s just one catch. Aaron Amos still lives in Whiskey Creek, andno matter how hard she''s tried, Presley hasn''t been able to get overhim. She''s come too far to backslide now. And there''s a secret she''sbeen guarding—a secret she''ll do anything to protect.

From the New York Times bestselling author of The Bookstore on the Beach There are secrets that bring friends together, and others that drive them apart… Mariners Island is barely ten miles long, but when Ivy, Ariana and Cam were teenagers, it was their whole world. Beyond the pristine beaches and iconic lighthouse lies the beautiful old library that belongs to Ivy’s family. While that bound Ivy to the island as an adult, Ariana could not leave Mariners behind fast enough. The town holds too many…memories. Not only her unrequited feelings for Cam, but the tragedy that left a scar on the community. When a young girl went missing, a teenage Cam was unthinkably the prime suspect. Ariana and Ivy knew he couldn’t have hurt anyone, and they promised to protect him—even if it meant lying on his behalf. Now, twenty years later, Ariana returns to Mariners just as new evidence emerges on the case, calling into question everything the three friends thought they knew—and everyone they thought they could trust. What really happened that night? Over the course of one eventful summer, Ariana, Ivy and Cam will learn the truth—about their pasts, their futures and the ties that still bind them as closely as the pages of a book… Don''t miss these other great summer beach reads from Brenda Novak One Perfect Summer The Bookstore on the Beach Summer on the Island

The car accident was Hannah Price''s fault–a few seconds of inattention that changed Gabe Holbrook''s life forever, destroying everything he''d been or ever wanted to be.

The Baby Business Collection from New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak inludes three full-length classic romances novels all in one volume! BACK TO YOU Jenna Livingston’s moved back to Mendocino with her eight-year-old son, where she’s living and working at the Victoriana Bed and Breakfast. It’s owned by the elderly Durhams - whose grandson, Adam, was her first love 15 years ago. But when Adam and Jenna rediscover each other, he wants her back. As much as Jenna knows she could love him again, she also knows there are too many obstacles between them. Too much history. Too many expectations. And now…the future. Previously published. SNOW BABY When Chantel Miller gets lost during an unexpected snowstorm, a stranger named Dillon Broderick rescues her. In the hours they spend together, they become very close and the intimacy of that night creates a special bond between them. But real life intervenes. Chantel was on her way to see her sister, Stacy. Dillon was on his way to see his longtime friend…Stacy. Stacy’s in love with him. Chantel can’t pursue a relationship with Dillon. Even when she discovers she’s pregnant because of that snowy night… Previously published. BABY BUSINESS Macy McKinney needs money, a lot of it, to pay for her daughter''s operation. She will do anything for five-year-old Haley. Meanwhile, Businessman Thad Winters, a widower, wants a child without the complications of a relationship. He''s willing to pay for that. He interviews applicants—and hires Macy to have his baby. Once Macy''s pregnant, they decide that a temporary marriage will simplify the situation—but it does exactly the opposite! Previously published.

New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak’s beloved Dundee series begins with a one-night stand that becomes so much more in this irresistible romance originally published as A Baby of Her Own in 2002 At thirty, Delaney is no longer interested in playing the role of “good girl.” After all, what has it gotten her this far in life? The one thing she wants most of all—to become a mother—still seems far out of reach. When she and her best friend go to Boise for a night out, the handsome stranger Delaney meets seems too good to be true. Conner is attractive, and she can’t help but notice his other qualities too—he’s healthy, seems to have good genes, and she never has to see him again. If she just so happens to get what she’s always wanted out of spending the night with him, he’ll never have to know. But soon after Delaney discovers she’s pregnant, a newcomer moves onto the ranch just outside of Dundee. And wouldn’t you know, it just so happens to be Conner…

A heartfelt holiday novella by New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak… Natasha Sharp was just a teenager when her mom married Mack Amos’s dad, and despite her crush, Mack always held her at arm’s length. Years after their parents’ divorce, they’re both adults when they run into each other at their hometown Christmas market. Will Mack still keep his distance, or is the timing finally right for their love? This short story follows two characters from Brenda Novak''s Whiskey Creek series. But it''s also the best of two worlds! Natasha and Mack star in their own full-length romance, When I Found You, in the Silver Springs series, available now.

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Brenda Novak brings you a trilogy that Publishers Weekly called "a great read." Every town has its secrets—and Stillwater, Mississippi, has more than most! Starting with a murder almost twenty years ago… Three compelling connected novels of suspense: DEAD SILENCE, DEAD GIVEAWAY and DEAD RIGHT. Bet you can''t read just one!

Who was the real killer? Romain Fornier lost his reason for living when his daughter was kidnapped and murdered. He used a cop''s gun to mete out his own justice and spent the next few years in prison. Once he was freed, he returned to his Cajun roots in small-town Louisiana. But now he learns that he might have killed the wrong man. Jasmine Stratford, a psychological profiler, is convinced his daughter''s killer is still alive—and that she and Romain have something in common. She believes the same man kidnapped her sister, Kimberly, sixteen years ago. What happens next? Jasmine is determined to track him down when she receives an anonymous package, postmarked New Orleans—the bracelet she gave Kimberly for her eighth birthday. She approaches Romain because she knows he can help her…if he chooses. But searching for the man who irrevocably changed both their lives means they have to rise to a killer''s challenge: stop me.

A Husband Of Her Own by Brenda Novak released on Apr 24, 2003 is available now for purchase.

“Intense and sensual and chock-full of emotional torment…a riveting read.”—USA TODAY Claire O’Toole’s mother, Alana, went missing fifteen years ago. That was big news in Pineview, Montana, the kind of town where nothing much ever happens. Then, last year, Claire’s husband, David, died in a freak accident—after launching his own investigation into Alana’s disappearance. Is Alana dead? Or did she simply abandon her husband and daughters? Claire is determined to find out—and her former boyfriend, Isaac Morgan, wants to help. Although their relationship didn’t end well, he still has feelings for her. And yet it isn’t until he starts to suspect David’s death wasn’t an accident that he’s drawn back into her life. Together, Claire and Isaac search for answers to the questions that have haunted Pineview all this time. But as they soon discover, someone’s prepared to kill so those answers won’t be found. Originally published in 2011

From New York Times bestselling author Brenda Novak comes Face Off, the next installment of Dr. Evelyn Talbot and her murderous home for psychopaths. SHE VOWED NEVER TO BE A VICTIM AGAIN. BUT NOW A KILLER HAS HER IN HIS SIGHT. . . Tortured and left for dead at sixteen, Evelyn Talbot turned her personal nightmare into her life’s work—studying the disturbing psychopathy of some of the world’s most vicious serial killers. Now a leading psychiatrist at Hanover House in a small Alaskan town, she tries to believe the past will never come back to haunt her—until a woman goes missing from a cabin nearby, and every clue points to the man who once brutalized her... As her boyfriend, who is the area’s only police, begins to investigate—and finds not one but two bodies—Evelyn can’t forget that her would-be killer, Jasper Moore, was never caught. But there are no new faces in tiny Hilltop, no one who seems suspicious or potentially violent. In this twisted game of cat and mouse, Evelyn is certain of only one thing—Jasper must be hiding in plain sight. And if she can’t find him before he comes for her, she won’t be lucky enough to survive twice... “Novak is a master of suspense.”—RT Book Reviews

RT READER''S CHOICE WINNER Sometimes home is the refuge you need—and sometimes it isn''t Adelaide Davies, who''s been living in Sacramento, returns to Whiskey Creek, the place she once called home. She''s there to take care of her aging grandmother and to help with Gran''s restaurant, Just Like Mom''s. But Adelaide isn''t happy to be back. There are too many people here she''d rather avoid, people who were involved in that terrible June night fifteen years ago. Ever since the graduation party that changed her life, she''s wanted to go to the police and make sure the boys responsible—men now—are punished. But she can''t, not without revealing an even darker secret. So it''s better to pretend…. Noah Rackham, popular, attractive, successful, is shocked when Adelaide won''t have anything to do with him. He has no idea that his very presence reminds her of something she''d rather forget. He only knows that he''s finally met a woman he could love. www.brendanovak.com

The Reverend Lee Barker went missing nineteen years ago… And the people of Stillwater, Mississippi, believe they know why. They''re convinced he was murdered—by his stepson, Clay Montgomery. But only Clay—and his mother and sisters—can say for sure. They were the only ones there that fateful night, the only ones who know what really happened. And they''re not talking. Allie McCormick is a cold-case detective from Chicago. After a particularly difficult divorce, she''s returned to Stillwater with her six-year-old daughter to find the peace she once knew in her hometown, and to work for the local police force while she''s starting over. But when Clay''s powerful enemies join forces to put him behind bars, Allie feels duty bound to uncover the truth. Her instincts tell her he didn''t murder the Reverend Lee Barker. Maybe Clay''s a dark and brooding man with more than his share of secrets, but he was just sixteen at the time. And he''s not a cold-blooded killer. At least, that''s what Allie believes—until she finds proof that behind the preacher''s pious demeanor lurked the heart of a monster. Then she has to ask herself whether justice has already been done….

Lieutenant Crawford Treynor has fought valiantly for everything he has. The bastard child of a noblewoman, he was handed over as an infant to a poor farmer—and beaten so badly that he ran away at age fourteen. Now a respected officer, he vows to command his own frigate one day. There is no place in his life for a woman, especially one of noble birth. He has no love for the aristocracy… After narrowly escaping the guillotine in the French Revolution, petite beauty Jeannette Boucher agrees to secure her family’s future by marrying a wealthy English baron. But when she learns what her impotent husband has planned in order to produce an heir, she escapes on their wedding night, stowing away aboard Lieutenant Treynor’s ship. Once she’s discovered, the handsome, duty-bound lieutenant is tempted enough by her beauty and spirit to go against everything he believed he’d ever do—and soon he must decide between returning her to a husband he knows will abuse her, or risking everything to keep her all to himself. “A wonderful love story, full of adventure, action and romance.” —Madeline Hunter, New York Times Bestselling Author on Honor Bound “A rip-roaring story brimming with adventure and passion. I dare you to put Honor Bound down once you start reading it!” —Anna Campbell, Award-winning Author

“A sharply plotted, emotionally intense novel of family secrets, fresh starts and community” —Jayne Ann Krentz She left her hometown following a scandal—but family loyalty is dragging her back… Despite their strained relationship, when Gia Rossi’s sister, Margot, begs her to come home to Wakefield, Iowa, to help with their ailing mother, Gia knows she has no choice. After her rebellious and at-times-tumultuous teen years, Gia left town with little reason to look back. But she knows Margot’s borne the brunt of their mother’s care and now it’s Gia’s turn to help, even if it means opening old wounds. As expected, Gia’s homecoming is far from welcome. There’s the Banned Books Club she started after the PTA overzealously slashed the high school reading list, which is right where she left it. But there is also Mr. Hart, her former favorite teacher. The one who was fired after Gia publicly and painfully accused him of sexual misconduct. The one who prompted Gia to leave behind a very conflicted town the minute she turned eighteen. The one person she hoped never to see again. When Margot leaves town without explanation, Gia sees the cracks in her sister’s “perfect” life for the first time and plans to offer support. But as the town, including members of the book club, takes sides between Gia and Mr. Hart, everything gets harder. Fortunately, she learns that there are people she can depend on. And by standing up for the truth, she finds love and a future in the town she thought had rejected her.

OF NOBLE BIRTH Furious at his aristocratic father for abandoning him as an infant, Nathaniel Kent spends his days exacting revenge…in a most lucrative way. The handsome, blue-eyed pirate captain attacks his father’s boats, plundering their cargo and reaping the rewards. When Nathaniel takes a lovely seamstress as his hostage, mistaking her for his spoiled and wealthy half sister, he feels elated over his clever capture. But his sense of triumph disappears as he slowly becomes tormented by his rising passion for the spirited young woman. After years of abuse from her violent stepfather, seamstress Alexandra Cogsworth finally planned her escape. But she never intended to wind up as a hostage on a pirate ship. Determined to ensure her safe passage on the Royal Vengeance, she keeps her true identity secret, playing the part of Nathaniel’s blood relation. But as her desire for the charismatic yet dangerous Nathaniel grows, the rising current of their mutual longing could sweep them both away…forever. HONOR BOUND Lieutenant Crawford Treynor has fought valiantly for everything he has. The bastard child of a noblewoman, he was handed over as an infant to a poor farmer—and beaten so badly that he ran away at age fourteen. Now a respected officer, he vows to command his own frigate one day. There is no place in his life for a woman, especially one of noble birth. He has no love for the aristocracy… After narrowly escaping the guillotine in the French Revolution, petite beauty Jeannette Boucher agrees to secure her family’s future by marrying a wealthy English baron. But when she learns what her impotent husband has planned in order to produce an heir, she escapes on their wedding night, stowing away aboard Lieutenant Treynor’s ship. Once she’s discovered, the handsome, duty-bound lieutenant is tempted enough by her beauty and spirit to go against everything he believed he’d ever do—and soon he must decide between returning her to a husband he knows will abuse her, or risking everything to keep her all to himself. THROUGH THE SMOKE A shocking betrayal… Riches. Power. An ancient heritage of pride. The Earl of Druridge wanted only for an heir. So when he learned that his wife was carrying another man’s child, he was filled with a thirst for vengeance. But he wasn’t the one who caused Katherine’s death. Or was he? To his horror, he remembers nothing of that dreadful night, when their last confrontation ended in scorching flame and cold blood. A forbidden love… Rachel McTavish, the beautiful daughter of a coal miner, knows something about the fire that took Lady Katherine’s life. In secret, the strong-willed girl strikes a bargain with the desperate earl: he must send his physician to help her dying mother or he may go to the devil—and the scaffold. He agrees, but she is still unsure that her revelation will be enough to save him when so many wish him dead. Passionately drawn to the nobleman, despite all the doubt and mystery that shrouds him, Rachel wonders if he can really be a murderer. Or if he is the only man who will ever own her heart… A MATTER OF GRAVE CONCERN When Maximillian Wilder hides his noble identity and joins the notorious body snatchers known as the London Supply Company, the last thing on his mind is love. He’s worried about Madeline, his vanished half sister, who was last seen in the company of Jack Hurtsill, the gang’s conscienceless leader. Raiding graveyards, stealing corpses, and selling them to medical colleges as dissection material is dirty work, but Max knows he must gain Jack’s trust. He’s determined to find out what happened to Madeline—and to bring Jack to justice if she was murdered for the coin her body could earn. Beautiful, spirited Abigail Hale, daughter of the surgeon at Aldersgate School of Medicine, detests the challenging, hard-bargaining Max almost as much as Jack. But she must procure the necessary specimens if she is to save the college and her father’s career. She believes she is going to be successful—until Jack double-crosses her. Then she’s swept into a plot of danger and intrigue, one where Max must intervene to protect her, no matter the risk to his plan…or his heart.

After a painful divorce, Maisey Lazarow returns to the small island off the North Carolina coast where she grew up. Upon finding a box of old photographs, Maisey and her brother Keith begin to uncover distant memories of a little girl who they believe was their sister. Their mother claims there was no sister, but Maisey is convinced there was. So where is she now?

See why critics have called these two books by New York Times bestselling author Brenda “the best romantic thriller I’ve ever read” (The San Francisco Book Review on The Secret Sister) and a “richly rewarding story” (Booklist on The Secrets She Kept). The Secret Sister After a painful divorce, Maisey Lazarow returns to Fairham, the small island off the South Carolina coast where she grew up. But the last person she wants to see is the wealthy, controlling mother she escaped years ago. She finds herself living next door to someone else she’d prefer to avoid—Rafe Romero, the wild, reckless boy to whom she lost her virginity at sixteen. He’s back on the island, and to her surprise, he’s raising a young daughter alone. Maisey’s still attracted to him, but her heart’s too broken to risk… Then something even more disturbing happens. She discovers a box of photographs that evoke distant memories of a little girl. Maisey believes the girl must’ve been her sister, but her mother claims there was no sister. Don’t miss Brenda Novak’s latest book, When I Found You! She’s convinced that child existed. So where is she now? Originally published in 2015 The Secrets She Kept The rich and powerful Josephine Lazarow, matriarch of Fairham Island, is dead. The police say it’s suicide, but Keith, her estranged son, doesn’t believe it. Keith bears scars—both physical and emotional—from his childhood, but he’s worked hard to overcome the past. But he feels he owes it to his grandfather to put the family empire together again—and he’s determined to find his mother’s killer. Problem is…coming home to Fairham puts him back in contact with Nancy Dellinger, the woman he hurt so badly when he left before. And digging that deep into his mother’s final days and hours entails a very real risk. Because the person who killed her could be someone he loves… Originally published in 2016

New York Times & USA Today Bestselling Author Brenda Novak has written more than fifty novels. She is also a mother of five, and there is nothing that turns a woman into a fighter more quickly than a threat to one of her children. When her youngest son was in kindergarten, he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. She’s spent the years since trying to juggle her career with the demands of providing healthy meals for her large and boisterous family, managing her son’s diabetes care and raising money for research. To date, she’s raised $2.5 million and is continuing her efforts with the sale of this cookbook, which includes her own personal recipes (all her healthy favorites) along with recipes collected from friend and co-author Jan Coad. For more about Brenda’s fundraising efforts, please visit www.brendanovakforthecure.org, where you will learn her latest fundraising endeavor--a limited-edition digital boxed set titled ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS that includes fourteen Christmas novellas from some of today’s most popular authors (she''s put her own Rita-nominated "A Dundee Christmas" in it). All proceeds for 2016 will go to Boston University to help Dr. Ed Damiano (who also has a son with Type 1) finish engineering the artificial pancreas, which is an important step toward keeping diabetics healthy until that elusive biological cure can be found. Download ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS today for only $9.99 (less then $1/story), and help Brenda make a difference!

From the New York Times bestseller Brenda Novak comes the next installment of Dr. Evelyn Talbot and her murderous home for psychopaths in Hello Again. SHE CAN MAKE SENSE OF A COMPLEX CRIMINAL MIND. Evelyn Talbot, a psychiatrist at a maximum-security prison in Alaska, studies some of the world''s worst serial killers. But she’s about to meet her most elusive patient at Hanover House yet: Dr. Lyman Bishop, AKA the Zombie Maker given his fondness for performing ice-pick lobotomies on his victims. A brilliant cancer researcher, Bishop is either the most cunning psychopath Evelyn has ever encountered—or he is wrongly convicted. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A CRIMINAL CAN SEE INTO HER OWN? When a new ice-pick fatality occurs, it seems Bishop really was wrongly convicted. Except...Evelyn has a personal connection to the victim and that suggests the killer may be someone from her own past: Jasper Moore, her high school boyfriend who tortured her and left her for dead when she was only sixteen. Jasper also murdered three of her friends—and was never caught. Is he trying to send a message with this copycat crime? The only thing Evelyn knows for sure is that if Jasper is on her trail, she might not be able to escape again . . .

A mother faces her greatest fear One afternoon in May, Zoe Duncan''s thirteen-year-old daughter goes missing from her own backyard. The police think Samantha ran away because she''s unhappy about her mother''s upcoming marriage—but Zoe doesn''t believe it. In fact, she''s willing to do anything to bring Sam home, even if it means losing her job, her beautiful home, her fiancé. Even if it means divulging all her secrets to a private investigator. A detective faces his hardest case Jonathan Stivers is a P.I. who donates his time to The Last Stand, a victims'' charity in Sacramento. He''s good at what he does, the best. But never has he had fewer leads to work with—or been more attracted to a client. Jonathan''s sure of only one thing: Sam was taken by someone close to the family. He doesn''t know how close until he realizes that the "perfect" couple next door is anything but….

Originally published as The Other Woman, this captivating story proves that a second chance doesn’t have to mean second best. Elizabeth O’Connell has survived one of the worst betrayals a wife can imagine. Finding out that she wasn’t the only woman in her husband’s life meant the end of her marriage and a year of personal hell. Now she’s focusing on her new business and raising her two kids. Carter Hudson isn’t part of her plan. When he’s introduced to Liz by well-meaning friends, her dislike is instant. But as she spends time with him, Liz realizes she likes having Carter in her life—more than likes it. However, Carter has secrets in his past that he can’t seem to escape, secrets that apparently involve a woman. Can Liz open her heart and learn to trust again? Originally published in 2006 under the title The Other Woman

When Lucky Caldwell was ten, her mother, Red--the best-known hooker in Dundee, Idaho--married Morris Caldwell, a wealthy and much older man. It didn''t last, of course, but Morris''s kindness was the highlight of Lucky''s life. Mike Hill, Morris''s grandson, doesn''t feel too well-disposed toward Red or her kids. He believes they alienated Morris from his family. Even Morris''s Victorian mansion, on the property next to the Hill ranch, wasn''t inherited by one of his grandchildren. Instead the house went to Lucky, who left it sitting empty for years. Now that Red and Morris are both dead, Lucky has finally come back to Dundee. She plans to restore the derelict place--and to look for her real father, who has to be one of three men named in her mother''s diary. That means Mike has a new neighbor. One he doesn''t want to like... Look for all eight books in Brenda Novak''s Dundee, Idaho series, available now. And don''t miss her new romantic Whiskey...

A body lies hidden in a small Mississippi town . . . First in the “compelling” romantic suspense series by the New York Times–bestselling author (Booklist). There’s a body buried behind a Mississippi farmhouse. Grace Montgomery knows who it is, and she knows why it happened. She was only thirteen the night it all went wrong. And now, like then, she has no choice but to keep her mouth shut. Grace left the town of Stillwater years ago, trying to forget, trying to make good. As an assistant D.A. in Jackson, she’s finally achieved the success that was supposed to change her life. But it hasn’t—so she’s come back to confront her own history. Which means returning to the farmhouse now owned by her brother and facing the people of Stillwater, a number of whom suspect the truth. Widower Kennedy Archer is one of those people. He’s running for mayor and needs to stay as far away from Grace as possible. And yet . . . she’s an enigma he can’t resist. Even though her enemies are close to finding out what really happened—and that could ruin them both. Praise for the Stillwater Trilogy “Strong characters bring the escalating suspense to life . . . a great read.” —Publishers Weekly “Novak expertly mixes her usual superior characterization with a chilling sense of evil.” —Booklist “Spine-tingling.” —Christine Feehan

How do you start a new chapter of your life when you haven''t closed the book on the previous one? Eighteen months ago, Autumn Divac''s husband went missing. Her desperate search has yielded no answers, and she can''t imagine moving forward without him. But for the sake of their two teenage children, she has to try. Autumn takes her kids home for the summer to the charming beachside town where she was raised. She seeks comfort working alongside her mother and aunt at their bookshop, only to learn that her daughter is facing a huge life change and her mother has been hiding a terrible secret for years. And when she runs into the boy who stole her heart in high school, old feelings start to bubble up again. Is she free to love him, or should she hold out hope for her husband''s return? She can only trust her heart...and hope it won''t lead her astray.

If someone commits the perfect murder… For more than a year, Sebastian Costas has been trying to unravel the truth behind the murder of his ex-wife and son. Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, he''s convinced that her second husband—a cop—committed both murders, then faked his own death. Now Sebastian has followed the slimmest of leads to Sacramento…and that''s where he finally gets the break he needs. Jane Burke, an investigator with The Last Stand, calls him in connection with a separate crime—a crime that could lead him straight to the man he''s been looking for. Will he try it again? Once married to a serial killer, Jane has spent the past five years rebuilding her life. And with Sebastian she finally has a chance at happiness. But the man they''re after is after them, too. For him this has become a personal battle, one he''s determined to win. Whatever it takes…

This Christmas, visit four of your favorite towns, created by four of your favorite authors! Listen to some of the stories people tell at Christmas… 5-B Poppy Lane by Debbie Macomber In Cedar Cove, Washington, you''ll meet Helen Shelton, her granddaughter Ruth and Ruth''s husband, Paul. You''ll find out how Ruth and Paul met—and you''ll learn about Helen''s breathtaking adventures during the Second World War. When We Touch by Brenda Novak Whiskey Creek, California, the site of a Victorian Days Christmas celebration, is where you''ll find out how Noelle stole Olivia''s fiancé, Kyle, and what happened next! But is there any chance the sisters can reconcile, especially at Christmas, the time of forgiveness and peace? Welcome to Icicle Falls by Sheila Roberts Come to Icicle Falls, Washington, for a Christmas cookie exchange at Muriel Sterling''s house. Hear about the summer Muriel fell in love with a handsome stranger. Her dad expected her to take over Sweet Dreams, the family''s chocolate company, but Muriel had sweet dreams of her own… Starstruck by RaeAnne Thayne And in Cold Creek, Idaho, visit with former Hollywood stuntman Justin Hartford, his daughter, Ruby, and wife, Ashley. Ruby and her friends love the story of how her dad and her new mom met! There''s something special about sharing our memories when we''re together for Christmas!