Best Selling Books by Kat Martin

"Mr. Justice! Mr. Justice, can you give us a moment of your time?" Sabrina Eckhart stared at the news broadcast on KTRK-TV. She had watched the segment run on an earlier edition, but found herself watching it again. The reporter, a small man with dark hair and a determined expression, hurried to keep up with Alex Justice''s long strides as he walked out of the downtown Houston Police Department building. "Mr. Justice!" At the sight of several TV cameras, Alex''s steps reluctantly slowed. "Everyone in the city is grateful for what you did," the reporter said. "People are calling you a hero. What do you think about that?" The man thrust a microphone into Alex''s handsome face. Six two, dark blond hair and blue eyes, always dressed as if he''d just stepped out of a GQ magazine, Alex Justice was an amazing-looking man. "I''m a private investigator," Alex said. "I did what I was paid to do—find evidence that would identify the killer of a ten-year-old girl. I was lucky enough to make that happen. There''s nothing heroic about it." "It''s been said you''ll do anything to catch your man. Is that true?" Alex just kept walking. There wasn''t a glimpse of the deep dimples bracketing his mouth that Rina remembered so well. She hadn''t seen him in more than six months, not since the day her best friend, Sage Du-mont, married Jake Cantrell, one of Alex''s best friends. Rina watched him stride away until he disappeared offscreen, then the camera cut to the reporter, who relayed the story of the little girl who had been abducted, sexually abused and murdered three years ago. Ten-year-old Carrie Wiseman''s killer had never been found—not until Alex Justice had come up with DNA evidence that directly linked the girl to a neighbor who lived down the street from her home. Two days ago, the neighbor, Edward Bagley

A fan-favorite from New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin, originally published in 2011. At thirty-two, Dev is “mostly retired” from Raines Investigations, content to run operations from his sprawling Arizona home. But Dev has never been able to say no to a beautiful woman, so when Lark Delaney comes to him for help, the former U.S. Army Ranger from Wind Canyon gets back in the game. Lark is sexy, successful and dedicated to tracking down the baby girl her sister gave up for adoption. It should be a straightforward case, but it’s not long before Dev uncovers a shady adoption ring and worse—the child’s parents have been murdered and the little girl has been taken. As the case grows dangerous and Lark needs him more than ever, Dev can’t ignore his growing attraction for her. He also can’t trust his judgment with women or the emotions he’s long-since buried. But there’s a chance, if he gets this right and saves Lark’s niece, that he’ll end up saving himself, too.

Teddy Williams was eight years old that Christmas, too young to understand all the undercurrents swirling around him in the tiny Michigan town of Dreyerville. He wasn''t able to value that Christmas for the miracle it truly was. Teddy only knew he wanted to buy the beautiful Victorian clock in the window of Tremont''s Antiques as a gift for his grandmother, Lottie Sparks, a woman desperate to find him a home before her rapidly progressing Alzheimer''s left him an orphan. Teddy didn''t know that in trying to buy the clock he would meet Sylvia Winters and Joe Dixon, a couple, once in love, desperate to overcome the past. He didn''t know he would form a friendship with his neighbors, Floyd and Doris Culver, two people struggling to revive their long-dead marriage. He didn''t know that these people would fill his Christmas with magic and hope; that the love of his friends would change his world, and that he would forever change theirs.

Despite her disguise as Silver Jones, tavern maid, Lady Selena Hardwich-Jones was captured by bounty hunters combing the Georgia coast for the runaway with hair pale as spun silver and eyes like soft brown velvet. Forced onto a ship headed for her home in the West Indies, Silver vowed to make her break for freedom. But in the vessel''s brash owner she found a will to match her own. Major Morgan Trask was determined to deliver his lovely human cargo safely to the aristocrat he had long admired. Was the ship''s dashing captain Silver''s stern captor—or her gallant protector? Tormented by doubts, tantalized by desire, Silver''s emotions were in turmoil. For a secret shame kept her from telling Morgan Trask the real reason for her flight, all the while fearing—and yearning—to trust him. As they sailed into treacherous waters, their very lives in peril, Silver and Morgan could no longer deny their hunger for each other ... as they surrendered to a passion that burned hotter than the Savannah heat.

New York Times-Bestselling Author: “Powerful . . . Intense mystery and sensual love scenes will lure readers into this novel and not let go until the final page.” —Publishers Weekly It’s been three years since Lane Bishop tragically lost her fiancé, and she’s finally ready to risk her heart on someone else. The hot look in Dylan Brodie’s eyes says he’s going to be that man. But when Lane flies to a remote fishing lodge in the untamed Alaskan wilderness to help him renovate it, she discovers a little girl who won’t speak, eerie legends, and strange sounds in the night. And when she investigates the history of the lodge, she uncovers a legacy of injustice and murder. As danger stalks his daughter and the woman he is coming to love, Dylan must risk everything to uncover the shocking truth . . . “I love her books.” —Linda Lael Miller, #1 New York Times-bestselling author of Country Strong “Martin is superb.” —RT Book Reviews

Cheating the heiress Alexa Garrick out of her fortune at a gaming table, Damien, Lord Falon, proposes that he will discharge her debt if she will spend the night with him and enable him to get revenge for his brother''s destroyed life.

A New York Times–bestselling author “delivers the goods” in this Regency romance about a lady in love with her guardian''s son (Publishers Weekly). Jessica Fox wasn''t always the beautiful, composed young woman who is the toast of the London ton in Regency England. Born in poverty, Jessica wandered the streets until fate found her a guardian in the aging Marquess of Belmore. Now, it is fate she tempts with her longing for the Marquess''s son, the arrogant and handsome Captain Mathew Seaton. Upon his return from the sea, Matthew is forced to confront the sensuous beauty he believes has set her sights on the Belmore title. Though his mind tells him to beware, his blood boils with thoughts of luring her into his bed. To win his love, Jessica will do anything. But when desire flames and the dark shadow of her childhood lengthens, she risks everything she has dreamed of in a dangerous dance of denial.

Isolating himself in a remote part of the Yukon territory in order to forget his past, Call Hawkins finds himself unable to ignore New York City girl Charity Sinclair, who is being targeted by a vengeful killer.

From New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin comes another thrilling story in The Raines of Wind Canyon series. It’s not in bodyguard Jake Cantrell’s job description to share his suspicions with his assignments. Beautiful executive Sage Dumont may be in charge, but Jake’s not on her payroll. As a former Special Forces marine, Jake trusts his gut, and it’s telling him there’s something off about a shipment arriving at Marine Drilling International. His instinct is aroused…in more ways than one. Drawn into a terrifying web of lies and deceit—and into feelings they can’t afford to explore—what Jake and Sage uncover may be frighteningly worse than they ever imagined. Originally published in 2012.

The perfect murder is a work of art In one catastrophic instant, Haley Warren''s estranged father was taken from her. She never got the chance to reconnect with him, so now she''s doing it the only way she''s got left: by proving the explosion that killed him was no accident. When Tyler Brodie, the provocative and handsome P.I. hired by Haley, discovers that her father was investigating a suspected art theft, he knows his death is no coincidence. After all, tens of millions of dollars worth of stolen art could motivate a thief to go to any lengths—including getting rid of anyone poking around where they don''t belong. As Haley and Ty get closer to the truth, the truth gets ugly: Did Haley''s dad know too much…or was he in on the take? And although Ty''s a consummate professional, he''s having trouble focusing on the facts of the case, and not the figure of his gorgeous client. The two are determined to get to the bottom of the case, even if it means they die trying.

Determined to please the uncle who saved her from poverty, Caralee McConnell moves to California in 1855 to marry the man he has chosen for her, resisting her love for Ramon de la Guerra, who is determined to reclaim his stolen land.

From a New York Times–bestselling author and a “terrific storyteller,” a paranormal suspense in which a woman abducted by an alien falls for her captor (Booklist). In one fleeting moment, anything—and anyone—can change . . . Real estate agent Julie Ferris is enjoying a day at the beach with her sister Laura when a strange, almost undetectable charge fills the air. Then, under the hot Malibu sun, time stops altogether. Neither sister can explain their “lost day” —nor the blinding headaches and horrific nightmares that follow—but Julie chalks it up to the stress she’s been under since her boss’s son took over Donovan Real Estate. Patrick Donovan would be a real catch if not for his notorious playboy lifestyle and matching attitude. But when a cocaine-fueled heart attack nearly kills him, Patrick makes an astonishingly fast—and peculiar—recovery. Julie barely recognizes the newly sober Patrick as the same man she once struggled to resist. Maybe it’s the strange beach experience fueling her paranoia, but she can’t help sensing something just isn’t . . . right. As Julie’s feelings for Patrick intensify, she’s about to discover how that day at the beach links her newfound happiness with her wildest suspicions. . . .

After a brush with death, Kate Rollins and her young son arrive in Lost Peak, Montana, to start a new life, but soon it becomes apparent that someone doesn''t want her in Lost Peak, and she turns to handsome Chance McLain for comfort.

WHERE THERE''S SMOKE… Gabriel Raines still has a pair of cowboy boots in his closet, even though he''s now a successful real-estate developer in Texas. And he continues to live by the same Wyoming values that he and his brothers were raised by—hard work, determination and fairness. But when two of his projects are set on fire, Gabe realizes he''s crossed dangerous lines. The police suspect the arsonist is a troubled teen. But Mattie Baker, who''s been working with the teen, doesn''t believe he''s responsible. She has to convince Gabe that someone else is targeting him… She just didn''t expect Gabe to be quite so rugged. As things between Gabe and Mattie heat up, they race to find the true arsonist…before he finds them. FREE BONUS STORY INCLUDED IN THIS VOLUME! Outlaw Lawman by USA TODAY bestselling author Delores Fossen Caitlyn Barnes unexpectedly shows up at Texas marshal Harlan McKinney''s ranch—with a killer on her trail. To survive, they must trust each other, but can Harlan trust himself around his ex?

From New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin’s comes a fan favorite story about a dangerous passion! She’s got the face of an angel and the body of…well, isn’t that what he’d expect from an exotic dancer? But there’s something about Amy Brewster that Johnnie Riggs can’t shake. The former army ranger is hot on the trail of an elusive drug lord—and suddenly very hot under the collar, as well. Disguised as a stripper, Amy’s got her own agenda to pursue: her sister is missing and Amy seems to be the only one who cares. She’ll enlist Johnnie’s help and do her best to ignore her growing attraction to finally get some answers. They’ll bring the truth to light…or die trying. Originally published in 2012.

Don’t miss this scorching novella, part of what Publishers Weekly is calling Kat Martin’s “tantalizing” new Maximum Security series! Private detective Jaxon Ryker swore to himself he would keep his hands off Mindy Stewart. No matter how much Jax might secretly wish otherwise, his colleague at The Max is strictly off-limits. But when Mindy is the victim of an attempted kidnapping, everything changes. With both of them thrust into danger, Jax swears to protect her. As they work together in search of answers, it becomes clear Mindy’s life is on the line, so a trap is set—with Mindy as bait. Jax and Mindy have to put aside their overwhelming attraction, but if they live through this, all bets are off… “Martin keeps the twists and turns coming in the sensuous and spirited Maximum Security romantic thrillers.” —Publishers Weekly

Determined to find out Vermillion Lee Durant''s family secret, British officer Caleb Tanner acts as a stable boy in an attempt to gain information from Vermillion, a young seductress, only to find himself falling for her beauty.

“Fans of romantic suspense won’t be able to put this book down until the final page is turned.”—Publishers Weekly on The Deception When missing turns to murdered, one woman''s search for answers will take her to a place she never wanted to go... After searching for her sister for two long years, Kate Gallagher is devastated when she’s called to the morgue to identify Chrissy’s body, the runaway teen the victim of a brutal attack. Guilt and grief send Kate into a tailspin. She failed Chrissy once...she won’t do it again. Even if finding her sister’s killer means following a lethal bounty hunter into the heart of darkness, placing both their lives in danger. Working at Maximum Security has taken Jason Maddox down some dangerous paths, but never for a client he’s so drawn to, or for a case so monstrous. As clues lead them deeper into the city’s underbelly, connections to human trafficking draw them closer and closer to peril, but even Jase’s warnings can’t convince Kate to walk away. As the deadly operation puts a target on their backs, they’ll have to decide what matters most: the truth...or their lives.

“Martin keeps the twists and turns coming in the sensuous and spirited first Maximum Security romantic thriller.… Readers will find it hard to wait for the next book in this tantalizing series about detectives, bodyguards, and bounty hunters.” —Publishers Weekly New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin raises the tension and the passion when family ambition turns deadly… Harper Winston’s brother has disappeared. Pursuing his dream of sailing the Caribbean, Michael hasn’t responded to texts or emails in days. When even the Coast Guard can’t find him, Harper is forced to take desperate measures. Which means going to Chase Garrett, once her brother’s best friend, now the only man she can trust…or so she hopes. As the successful owner of Maximum Security, Chase has learned to trust his gut. He knows Harper’s father is mixed up in a deadly business, and suspects there’s more to Michael’s disappearance than meets the eye. Getting involved again with the Winstons goes against everything he stands for, yet old loyalties die hard. As the case draws him closer to Harper and deeper into the Winstons’ snarled crime family, he is forced to put everything on the line to keep Harper safe…and both of them alive.

From a New York Times–bestselling author, a Regency debutante rescues a Viking only to becomes his captive. As publisher of the weekly London ladies’ gazette Heart to Heart, Krista Hart is known for her outspoken views on such unpopular issues as social reform—risking her reputation and her very safety with every controversial article. She refuses to be intimidated, although she knows full well it makes her the target of angry opposition. When she encounters a powerful Viking descendant imprisoned as a local sideshow attraction, Krista angrily demands his release. Although she tells herself that freeing Leif Draugr is simply the right thing to do, she can’t deny being attracted to the fierce Nordic chieftain, especially after her father transforms him into a “proper” English gentleman. But as anonymous threats against Krista become more and more aggressive, it is Leif who must face the enemies desperate to silence her, even as they push her closer into the embrace of a warrior prepared to do whatever it takes to make her his.

Gypsy Lord is the first book in a beautiful repackaging and reissuing of classic Kat Martin historical romances! He was Dominic Edgemont, Lord Nightwyck, heir to the Marquis of Gravenwold. But he was also a dark-eyed, half-gypsy bastard.... When tall, handsome Dominic sees one of his Romany band whipping a beautiful, flame-haired captive, he never dreams she is a pampered heiress stolen from the English court. To have her, he will pay a king''s ransom and make himself her lord. Lovely Catrina forbids Dominic her bed, but her fiery temper is no match for his cool determination to take her as his lover. Still, in this novel from Kat Martin, she will not be passion''s slave forever. She and her Gypsy Lord will meet again-in a glittering London setting, far from the rustic tent they shared. Will her desire for revenge overwhelm her natural urge to love?

To British privateer Ethan Sharpe, Grace Chastain was nothing but a pawn for vengeance against Harmon Jeffries, the traitor responsible for his brutal years in prison. Believing Grace to be Jeffries'' mistress, he plans to humiliate his enemy by seducing her. Grace fears her priceless heirloom necklace has begun to live up to its curse when Captain Sharpe makes her his prisoner aboard his schooner. Defiantly she resists his coarse advances, but suspects there is more to this complex sea captain than his brooding anger and silent accusations. And Ethan quickly realizes that she is not the wicked woman he imagined her to be. Grace is as headstrong as she is lovely, and the battle of wills that ensues weakens his resolve. But can Ethan settle the demons of his past and follow the destiny his heart commands?

Kat Martin is back with another thrilling Maximum Security novella filled with danger, suspense and one smoldering road trip to the mountains of Mexico! When her best friend’s son is kidnapped, private detective Lissa Blayne drops everything to focus on the missing boy. Julie and Lissa have been close for years, so when Julie’s friend Colt Wheeler joins the investigation, Lissa bristles at the former ranger’s take-charge attitude. Lissa doesn’t need a man calling the shots, even if there is something about Colt’s protective side that has her tough exterior melting away. As Lissa and Colt take their search on the road, the tension between them slowly morphs into trust and understanding—and they’ll need both in order to outsmart the dangerous abductor they’re tracking. The only thing hotter than their attraction is the heat of the Mexican sun, but this road trip is no vacation…

Adam Hawthorne has little use or trust for women until he encounters Jillian Whitney, the lovely young companion of an aged earl, but his growing trust could be shattered when Jillian becomes the prime suspect in her employer''s murder.

From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kat Martin comes a reprint of her beloved historical romance, Silk and Steel SHE COULD TAKE HIS NAME. Lady Kathryn Grayson is a gently bred noblewoman with a privileged future ahead of her...until her greedy uncle decides to steal her fortune by committing her to an insane asylum. Her only escape is to stow away in the carriage of Lucien Montaine, Marquess of Litchfield, who hears her story with disbelief and suspicion. Yet Kathryn''s instincts tell her Lucien is a man of honor—and her only salvation. Desperate to save herself, she attempts to seduce him and force him into marriage. BUT WOULD SHE TAKE HIS HEART? The moment Lucien encounters the ragged, hungry waif with the dignity of a queen, he fights against wanting her. Though captivated by her intellect, strong will, and beauty, he will never love the woman who has deceived him. Though their battle of wills grows stronger every day, desire threatens to overpower his fury. Can this maddening woman who is now his bride melt his heart of steel? Or will her silken touch only strengthen his vow never to fall prey to the dangers of love?

“With plenty of suspense, plot twists and turns and the kind of fast-paced love story that will keep you on your toes, it’s exactly the kind of summer escape you’ve been craving.”—BookTrib To prove her father’s innocence, she’ll have to turn a killer’s sights on herself When journalist Jessie Kegan’s father is accused of espionage and treason, Jessie has no doubt the man she looked up to her entire life is innocent. Worse yet, before Colonel Kegan can stand trial, he’s found dead of a heart attack…but Jessie knows it was murder. Forcing down her grief, she’s determined to use her investigative skills and resources to clear her father’s name. But going after the truth means Jessie soon finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who wants that truth to stay buried with her father. Protecting Jessie Kegan is a job bodyguard Brandon Garrett can’t refuse. Jessie isn’t just a client at Maximum Security—she’s the sister of his best friend, Danny, killed in Afghanistan. With dangerous forces gunning for Jessie from every angle, keeping her safe will mean keeping her close and Bran finds their mutual attraction growing, though being Danny’s sister puts Jessie out of bounds. With their backs against the wall, Jessie and Bran will have to risk everything to expose her father’s killer—before his legacy dies with his daughter.

Uncover dark secrets in this pair of classic romantic suspense stories from New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin. Scent of Roses Elizabeth doesn’t believe in ghosts. But this time she has no choice. Family counselor Elizabeth Connor isn’t sure what to think when Maria Santiago comes to her pregnant, terrified, and claiming to be visited each night by the ghost of a little girl, warning her to flee. Sympathetic to the young woman, Elizabeth agrees to help by contacting Carson and Zack Harcourt, the owners of the cottage where Maria lives. While Carson only takes interest in Elizabeth, Zack grudgingly agrees to help her look into the history of the cottage. But as unexpected desire draws Zack and Elizabeth together, the two sense a darkness in the house, something that has roots in murder… Originally published in 2006 Season of Strangers In one fleeting moment, anything—and anyone—can change… Patrick Donovan would be a real catch if not for his notorious playboy lifestyle and matching attitude. But when a cocaine-fueled heart attack nearly kills him, Patrick makes an astonishingly fast—and peculiar—recovery. Julie Ferris barely recognizes the newly sober Patrick as the same man she once struggled to resist. Maybe it’s an unexplainable time warp fueling her paranoia, but she can’t help sensing something just isn’t… right. Originally published in 2008

Knowing that she alone can protect her sister from the Baron Harwood, their lecherous stepfather, Victoria Temple Whiting snatches the family''s heirloom necklace, believed to hold the power to bring great happiness or terrible tragedy, to pay for their escape to London. Terrified that the baron will find them, Victoria poses as Tory Temple and finds employment as a servant in the household of handsome Cordell Easton, the scandalous Earl of Brant. The sisters'' arrival couldn''t have been more welcome. In need of a new mistress, Cord turns to Tory, whose wit and intellect intrigue him. But when the baron discovers the girls'' whereabouts, Cord learns Tory''s secret--her noble birth. Furious that he has compromised the daughter of a peer, Cord must decide--marry Tory and keep her safe, or allow his stubborn pride to deny his heart.

As a viscount''s daughter, vivacious Coralee Whitmore is perfectly placed to write about London''s elite in the outspoken ladies'' gazette, Heart to Heart. But beneath her fashionable exterior beats the heart of a serious journalist. So when her sister''s death is dismissed as suicide, Corrie vows to uncover the truth, suspecting the notorious Earl of Tremaine was Laurel''s lover and the father of her illegitimate child. Corrie infiltrates Castle Tremaine posing as a wide-eyed country relation whose charming figure--and reduced circumstances--make her irresistible to the confirmed scoundrel. But Corrie finds the earl is not all he seems...nor is she immune to his charms, however much she despises his caddish ways. Far from a society column, Corrie''s life soon reads more like one of Mr. Dickens''s serials. But the danger of her ruse is hardly fictional: someone is bent on ensuring Corrie''s questions go unanswered--and unasked.

In the tradition of "The Christmas Clock, New York Times"-bestselling author Martin takes readers back to the charming town of Dreyersville in another compelling story of love, loss, and the hope in second chances.

“Set in 1854 England, this steamy trilogy opener” from a New York Times–bestselling author “is an enjoyable mixture of tension and romance” (Publishers Weekly). After years abroad, Royal has returned to Bransford Castle to find his father dying and the family treasury nearly empty. Then the old duke wrests a final promise from his guilt-ridden son: that Royal will marry heiress Jocelyn Caulfield and restore the estate to its former glory. However, it is not his fiancée who quickens Royal’s pulse, but rather her beautiful cousin Lily Moran. Penniless Lily knows that nothing can come of their undeniable attraction but there is a way she can help Royal. Enlisting some questionable characters from her past, Lily concocts an elaborate ruse to recover some of the Bransford fortune from a notorious confidence artist. As the dangerous scheme unfolds, Lily and Royal are thrown together in pursuit of the very thing—money—that keeps them apart.

"Kat Martin is a fast gun when it comes to storytelling, and I love her books." —Linda Lael Miller, #1 New York Times bestselling author New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin is back with her most thrilling novel yet in the Maximum Security series—The Perfect Murder. Fans of Sandra Brown, Linda Howard and Julie Garwood will fall in love with The Max. The eldest of the three wealthy Garrett brothers, Reese Garrett is in the middle of a major purchase for his multimillion-dollar oil and gas company, Garrett Resources. The Poseidon offshore drilling platform venture will greatly enhance the company’s value. But when Reese is on a trip out to see the rig, his helicopter crashes, leaving him hospitalized and two men dead. It’s discovered the chopper was sabotaged, and Reese is determined to find out who’s behind the crash—and whether he was the intended target. Then, when his lover, Kenzie, is accused of her ex-husband’s murder—a man with a vested interest in the Poseidon deal—clues start pointing to a connection that puts Reese, Kenzie and her young son in the sights of a killer. From the Texas heat to the Louisiana bayous, Reese and his brothers must track down the truth before the body count gets any higher. Watch for The Perfect Murder, the latest in the bestselling Maximum Security series, coming soon! Maximum Security Book 1: The Conspiracy Book 2: The Deception Book 3: The Ultimate Betrayal

Captain Blackwell, devilishly handsome, a rake and rogue; Glory Summerfield, spoiled and pampered, breathtakingly beautiful. Marriage was the last thing on either of their minds...but still, the captain vowed he''d teach this insolent girl a lesson...a lesson in lovemaking she''d never forget. "Highly entertaining...a lively love story unfolding against a vivid backdrop of high seas adventure and passionate romance." RT Book Reviews

"When Kade Logan said goodbye to his estranged wife eight years ago, he never thought it would be the last time he saw her alive. Now her car has been hauled out of a nearby lake and Kade is determined to track down the man who murdered her. Enter Eleanor Bowman, a talented private investigator who''s about to stir up a hornet''s nest on his Colorado ranch. With old scandals still buzzing about his late wife''s many affairs and new violence erupting, Kade is faced with the discovery of another beautiful woman''s body. Are the two killings linked? Who is the man who seduced, then murdered both victims? Ellie believes they are dangerously close to the truth. From corporate Denver high-rises to posh Vail mansions, Kade and Ellie sense the killer is closing in again, and this time Ellie is the target. Kade must risk everything to save the woman he''s coming to love-before she becomes the next one to die"--

INSTANT USA TODAY BESTSELLER! From New York Times bestselling authors Kat Martin, Rebecca Zanetti, and Alexandra Ivy come three interwoven stories of secrets, murder, and riveting suspense. Three women. Three connected stories. Three bestselling authors. As girls, they bonded over broken homes and growing up in foster care. As women, they’re fighting for their lives, and loves, once more . . . MERI When Meriwether Jones takes her young daughter and runs from trouble in L.A., that trouble follows. By the time Meri reaches Spokane, she’s out of gas, money, and ideas. Luckily, ex-cop Ian Brodie hires her to help him with his father’s farmhouse, and they seem like the answer to each other’s prayers. But Meri is keeping a dangerous secret—and Ian is in danger of losing his heart . . . MELANIE That secret explodes when Melanie Cassidy spots two men trying to kidnap a young boy she tutors and responds by ramming them with her car. The last thing she expects is for the man she once loved, Detective Gray Hawkins, to appear and rescue them both. Now she has no choice but to trust him as they investigate the truth about a conspiracy of dirty, drug trafficking cops—and the truth about their relationship . . . MICHELLE After a rough youth, Michelle Peach was finally content in Portland—until two men broke into her home, threatened her, and sent her mentally unstable mom on a blackmail spree that Michelle has to stop. The last person Michelle wants to see is her ex, Evan Boldon, a former marine turned sheriff. But Evan misses the woman who walked away instead of letting him help years ago. This time he’s not asking permission; he’s going to put a stop to the trouble stalking Michelle and her friends—and win her heart for good.

Five years ago, Rafael, Duke of Sheffield, believed he was betrayed by the woman he loved and the pain haunts him still. When Rafe discovers that he was cruelly tricked and that Danielle Duval was never unfaithful, he''s desperate to win her back. But Dani is already on a steamer bound for America to marry another man. Impulsively, Rafe follows her and, trapping her in a compromising situation, quickly makes her his wife. Promising her that with time he can prove his love and win her trust, Rafe presents her with a stunning necklace rumored to hold great power. As much as Dani wants to believe it can right the wrongs of the past, she fears there is one truth it cannot conceal, a truth that could cost her this second chance with Rafe, the only man she has ever loved….

Wounded in battle, Major Reese Dewar returns to England--but his injuries are nothing compared to his shattered heart Years ago, love-struck Reese departed his home at Briarwood with a promise from raven-haired Elizabeth Clemens that she would make a life with him upon his return. But mere months later, she married the Earl of Aldridge, attaining wealth and status Reese could never match. Memories of that betrayal make his homecoming far more bitter than sweet. Seeing Elizabeth on his doorstep dressed in widow''s garb twists the knife even deeper. But fear for her young son''s safety has overcome her pride: she begs Reese for protection from those who would see the boy dead to possess his fortune. He agrees to an uneasy alliance, sensing Elizabeth still harbors deep secrets--and Reese knows that he''s placing himself in danger...of losing his heart all over again.

A heiress falls for her bodyguard as they hunt a killer in a “romantic and intriguing romance-mystery” historical from a New York Times–bestselling author (Booklist). Under the pert pen name “Lady Smart,” opinionated Lindsey Graham crusades for social change among London’s elite, writing for the ladies’ gazette Heart to Heart. But Lindsey’s greatest campaign begins when her brother Rudy, a notorious rake, is accused of murdering a string of prostitutes. Her confidence in his innocence is bolstered when an anonymous letter arrives naming Viscount Merrick as the killer. Lindsey launches her own investigation into the gentleman’s questionable pursuits, a risky venture that earns her an unwelcome bodyguard—Thor Draugr. At first, Lindsey refuses the protection of her employer’s brother-in-law. They are like oil and water, yet she can barely conceal her attraction to the rugged Norseman. But an attempt on her life reveals not only the lengths that someone will go to in order to prevent her interference in the viscount’s sordid affairs, but that she can no longer deny that she desires the warrior by her side. . . . “Sparks fly and hearts are conquered in this sensual conclusion to a great trilogy.” —RT Book Reviews

Unrepentant rake Rule Dewar is living the good life when a most surprising event occurs--he falls in love with his wife. After their strategic "marriage of commerce" three years ago, Rule quite forgot about Violet Griffin, the teenage heiress to a Boston manufacturing fortune. He simply spoke his vows, took over her father''s business and returned to England to resume his usual pursuits: high-priced wine, high-stakes gambling and highborn women. Yet when Violet, now a sophisticated woman, unexpectedly appears at Rule''s London town house, husbandly duties no longer seem so odious--he can''t wait to take his stunning bride to their marriage bed. Violet, however, is not so easily led: she has her own ideas and is seeking an annulment to marry another. But as Rule attempts to win her over, someone else is determined to frame him for murder and keep him out of the way for good....