Most Popular Books by Linda Howard

An Independent Wife by Linda Howard released on Mar 25, 1999 is available now for purchase.

New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard sets a tale of power, suspense, and passion in the savage New Mexico Territory. Only true love could redeem.... Victoria Waverly, noble daughter of the war-ruined South, is sold in marriage to a ruthless rancher. Honor and pride help her endure life as a wife in name only but nothing can quench her forbidden desire for hired gunman Jake Roper. His gaze is hard, but tenderness he can''t hide promises to unveil to Victoria the mysteries of love. Only true love can destroy.... Jake curses his burning need for Victoria, for he wants nothing to stand in the way of his drive to reclaim Sarratt''s Kingdom -- the ranch that is his legacy and obsession. But ancient wrongs and blazing passions will bind together the aristocratic beauty and the powerful cowboy. In a bloody land war, they will fight for Jake''s birthright...and seize at all costs the love that is their destiny.

SON OF THE MORNING: Targeted by a murderer who wants to foil her search for a lost Celtic treasure linked to the legendary Knights Templar, scholar Grace St. John must travel back in time to obtain the assistance of warrior Black Niall of Scotland.

Family secrets and murder converge in this captivating and suspenseful romance from New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard. Some secrets need to be told... Still reeling from her mother''s recent death, Karen Whitlaw is stunned when she receives a package containing a mysterious notebook from her estranged father, whom she has barely seen since his return from the Vietnam War decades ago. Then, a shocking phone call: Karen''s father has been murdered on the gritty streets of New Orleans. Even if they lead to murder.... For homicide detective Marc Chastain, something about the case of a murdered homeless man just doesn''t add up--especially after he meets the victim''s daughter. Far from the cold woman he expected, Karen Whitlaw is warm and passionate. She is also in serious danger. A string of "accidents" have shaken Karen to the core, and forced her into the protective embrace of the charming detective she vowed to resist. Together they unravel a disturbing story of politics, power, and murder—and face a killer who will stop at nothing to get his hands on her father''s secrets.

Desire swept through the Colorado hills like wildfire, determined to claim both a woman’s land—and her heart—in this unforgettable western romance from New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard, author of A Lady of the West. For five years after her father’s death, Dee Swann has fiercely protected her Angel Creek homestead and her independence. Surrounded by the rugged beauty of the high country, she vowed that no one would ever take her land…or her freedom. But drought has left the valley desperate, and when Lucas Cochran returns to Colorado, he has his sights set on Angel Creek. The water running through Dee’s property is the key to turning his Double C Ranch into the cattle empire he dreams of. Ruthless in ambition and determined to succeed, Lucas is ready to battle the stubborn, black-haired, green-eyed woman who stands in his way. Yet the passion that sparks when Dee and Lucas meet is as fierce as any fight over land. Drawn together by desire and divided by pride, they must face a dangerous path—where dreams could be destroyed, lives could be lost, or love could blaze as wild and untamed as the Colorado frontier itself.

The New York Times bestselling author of Open Season weaves a sizzling novel of love and hate between the girl from the wrong side of the tracks and the town’s wealthy and powerful favorite son. A poor, outcast child in Prescott, Louisiana, Faith Devlin always adored the town’s golden boy—Gray Rouillard—from afar. But after he called her white trash that sultry Southern night when his rich, respected father disappeared, along with her pretty mother, Faith wants to hate Gray Rouillard. Yet she can’t quench her passion, any more than she can hide the truth about the past she has waited so long to unravel. Meanwhile, reckless, rich, and charming Gray never wants to hear the name of Devlin again. But when he gazes at Faith Devlin, all he sees is a swirl of tangled sheets and her silken flesh beneath him. To care for her is impossible, unthinkable...because Gray Rouillard planned to use all his power to ruin her.

In Linda Howard’s gifted hands, second chances, unexpected romance, and unrelenting action combine into a riveting new novel of suspense. In Death Angel, bad girls can wake up and trust their hearts, bad guys can fight for what’s right . . . and dying just might be the only way to change one’s life. A striking beauty with a taste for diamonds and dangerous men, Drea Rousseau is more than content to be arm candy for Rafael Salinas, a notorious crime lord who deals with betrayal through quick and treacherous means: a bullet to the back of the head, a blade across the neck, an incendiary device beneath a car. Eager to break with Rafael, Drea makes a fateful decision and a desperate move, stealing a mountain of cash from the malicious killer. After all, an escape needs to be financed. Though Drea runs, Salinas knows she can’t hide–and he dispatches a cold-blooded assassin in hot pursuit, resulting in a tragic turn of events. Or does it? Left for dead, Drea miraculously returns to the realm of the living a changed woman. She’s no longer shallow and selfish, no longer steals or cheats or sells herself short. Both humbled and thrilled with this unexpected second chance, Drea embraces her new life. But in order to feel safe and sound–and stop nervously looking over her shoulder–she will need to take down those who marked her for death. Joining forces with the FBI, supplying vital inside information that only she can provide, Drea finds herself working with the most dangerous man she’s ever known. Yet the closer they get to danger, the more intense their feelings for each other become, and the more Drea realizes that the cost of her new life may be her life itself–as well as her heart.

A mysterious plane crash . . . a dangerous trek through the Idaho wilderness . . . a smoldering attraction . . . and a deadly game of cat and mouse. In her latest tour de force of romantic suspense, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard blends these elements into a gripping story that will keep readers breathless–and leave them begging for more. For in Linda Howard’s world, trust can be a weapon, a kiss can be a threat, and intimacy can be deadly. Bailey Wingate’s scheming adult stepchildren are surprised when their father’s will leaves Bailey in control of their fortune, and war ensues. A year later, while flying from Seattle to Denver in a small plane, Bailey nearly dies herself when the engine sputters–and then fails. Cam Justice, her sexy Texan pilot, manages to crash-land the aircraft. Stranded in the wilderness, and struggling to douse her feelings for the ruggedly handsome man by her side, Bailey begins to wonder whether this was a mere accident. Who tampered with their plane? Who’s trying to reunite Bailey and her husband in the afterlife? Cut off from the world, and with little hope of rescue, Bailey must trust her life–and heart–to Cam, as they battle the harsh elements to find a way out of the unforgiving wilds and back to civilization . . . where a killer may be waiting to finish the job. Sexy, suspenseful, and lightning fast, Up Close and Dangerous showcases a beloved author at her dazzling best. From the Hardcover edition.

Written in her “trademark darkly sensual style” (Booklist), New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard brings us an electrifying page-turner of passion and suspense with a captivating premise… What would make the perfect man? That''s the delicious topic that heats up the proceedings at a certain table of professional women at their favorite restaurant. What qualities would he have? Would he be tall, dark, and handsome? Caring and warmhearted—or would just muscular do? Jaine Bright and her three girlfriends start off with the basics: he''d be faithful and reliable, the responsible type, and have a great sense of humor. But as the conversation picks up momentum, so do the quartet''s requirements for Mr. Perfect as and they write down a tongue-in-cheek checklist that''s both funny and racy. The next thing they know, the List, as it has come to be called, becomes an overnight sensation, spreading through their company like wildfire and grabbing the interest of local newspapers and television coverage. No one expected this avalanche of attention for something that began as a joke among friends. But the joke turns deadly serious when one of the four women is murdered... The prime suspect in the case is the victim''s boyfriend, who was one of a number of men who found the List sexist and offensive. An impenetrable alibi gets him off the hook, but a deadly stalker targets the three remaining friends. Now, with the help of Jaine''s neighbor, an unpredictable police detective, the puzzle must be solved as the dream of Mr. Perfect becomes a chilling nightmare.

Seamlessly blending heart-pounding romance and breathless intrigue, New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard writes a masterful, stylish, and provocative suspense novel that absolutely defies readers to put it down. Daisy Minor is bored. Worse than that, she''s boring. A plain, small-town librarian, she''s got a wardrobe as sexy as a dictionary and hasn''t been on a date in years. She''s never even had a lukewarm love affair, let alone a hot one. So when she wakes up on her thirty-fourth birthday, still living with her widowed mom and spinster aunt, she decides it''s time to get a life. But can a lifelong good girl turn bad? No, not exactly. But she can pretend, right? One makeover later, Daisy has transformed herself into a party girl extraordinaire. She''s letting her hair down, dancing the night away at clubs, and laughing and flirting with men for the first time in, well, ever. With a new lease on her own place and her life, it''s open season for man-hunting. But on her way home late one night, Daisy sees something she''s not supposed to see. Suddenly the target of a killer, she''s forced to put her manhunt on hold. But the very moment she stops looking might be the moment she finds what she''s wanted all along. Trouble is, before he can share her life, he might just have to save it.

For breathless action, gripping suspense, and intense romance, bestselling author Linda Howard never misses a beat—and her thrilling new novel will have your heart racing. In the charming rural town of Trail Stop, Idaho, accessible to the outside world by only a single road, young widow Cate Nightingale lives peacefully with her four-year-old twin boys, running a bed-and-breakfast. Though the overnight guests are few and far between—occasional hunters and lake fishermen—Cate always manages to make ends meet with the help of the local jack-of-all-trades, Calvin Harris, who can handle everything from carpentry to plumbing. But Calvin is not what he seems, and Cate’s luck is about to run out. One morning, the B&B’s only guest inexplicably vanishes, leaving behind his personal effects. A few days later Cate is shocked when armed men storm the house, demanding the mystery man’s belongings. Fearing for her children’s lives, Cate agrees to cooperate—until Calvin saves the day, forcing the intruders to scatter into the surrounding woods. The nightmare, however, is just beginning. Cate, Calvin, and their entire community find themselves cut off and alone with no means to call for help as the threat gathers intensity and first blood is drawn. With their fellow residents trapped and the entire town held hostage, Cate and Calvin have no choice but to take the fight to their enemies under the cover of night. While reticent Cal becomes a fearless protector, Cate makes the most daring move of her life . . . into the very heart of danger.

Lizette Henry, possessing unusual detection skills but struggling with a memory disorder, accepts help from the mysterious and seductive Xavier--a stranger who triggers disturbing images of an unspeakable crime of which Lizette may or may not be the perpetrator.

If you sense someone’s watching you from afar, or if you feel a shadow other than your own at your back, I might as well pack it up and call it a day. It’s a job that makes a killing. Efficient, professional, and without apology, Lily Mansfield is a hired assassin, working as a contract agent for the CIA. Her targets are the powerful and corrupt, those who can’t be touched by the law. Now, after nineteen years of service, Lily has been drawn into a dangerous game that hasn’t been sanctioned, seeking vengeance for her own reasons. Each move bolder than the next, she is compromising her superiors, drawing unwanted attention, and endangering her very life. Though stress and shock have made her feel somewhat invincible and a little cocky, Lily knows that she too can be taken out in an instant. And if it’s her time, so be it. She intends to go down fighting. A CIA agent himself, Lucas Swain recognizes the signs of trauma in the line of fire. His orders: either bring her in or bring her down. Yet he too is drawn into the game with Lily Mansfield, dancing on a tightrope as he tries to avoid a major international incident while still battling a tenacious foe who is dogging their every step. Keeping laser focus on the task at hand while vigilantly watching her back, Mansfield never sees the lethal peril that lies directly in her path . . . and how loyalty has a price. Chock-full of the intrigue, breathless action, and sensuality that have made Linda Howard the master of romantic suspense, Kiss Me While I Sleep is a daring thriller of passion, sudden twists, and richly imagined characters who live and breathe in readers’ hearts. It is the most gripping and complex novel of Linda Howard’s career.

“Linda Howard is a superbly original storyteller.”—Iris Johansen Blair Mallory has already survived one murder attempt. Now, while planning her wedding and dealing with holiday-season madness, Blair once again dodges a bullet. Or more precisely, a Buick. And though the driver’s identity remains a mystery, his or her murderous intentions are all too clear. Or are they? After all, Blair’s homicidal ex-husband and his partner in crime/wife are safely behind bars. And even Wyatt Bloodsworth, her police detective groom-to-be, isn’t inclined to believe she’s being targeted again. All of which makes Blair wonder if her close call was simply a mishap. But the wondering stops when she narrowly cheats death again in another seemingly innocent accident. Two strikes is all it takes to convince Blair that she’s back in someone’ s crosshairs. And the only thing more frightening is that Wyatt still doubts her. That means this time, no one will be watching Blair’s back when she sets out to get the drop on her would-be killer–before whoever it is finally drops her.

“BRu003e Linda Howard seamlessly melds thrilling sensuality with heart-pounding dramatic tension -- and brings back the elusive hero of her smash hit novel Kill and Tell -- in this powerful New York Times bestseller. John Medina, the CIA''s legendary Black Ops specialist, works in the shadows of the government''s deadliest missions. And no one knows the dangers of getting close to him better than does communications expert Niema Burdock. Five years ago, Niema and her husband, Dallas, worked with Medina on an explosive mission that trapped Dallas in the crossfire -- fatally. Although she has slowly healed from her terrible loss, Niema never planned to see Medina again. But now John Medina needs her.... A French arms dealer is supplying international terrorist units, and only Niema can plant the undetectable bugs needed to crack the deadly ring. Against her better instincts, Niema infiltrates the dealer''s glamorous world by going undercover. But when their careful strategy begins to crack, Niema and John take flight in a strange land -- and find their partnership sparking with an erotically charged electricity. In a world of deception, John Medina has once again set Niema on a free fall into danger and desire. Includes an excerpt from Mr. Perfect, Linda Howard''s new hardcover novel of romantic suspense

Come lie with me and be my love. How Dione Kelley longed to hear those words. But Blake Remington could never speak them to her. An accident had left him unable to walk, and her therapy had made him whole again. She had given him back the strength he needed to be a man—and in so doing robbed him of the chance to see her as a woman. How could she believe his words of love, when she knew they were spoken only out of gratitude?

From a New York Times–bestselling author, a classic holiday romance about a woman who gives birth in a blizzard and the doctor who comes to her rescue. When Dr. Derek Taliferro delivers Kathleen Fields’s baby during a snowstorm on Christmas Day, all his protective instincts are aroused by the sight of the beautiful mother and baby. Knowing Kathleen needs a strong shoulder to lean on, he proposes a way to keep the new family in his life a little longer. But what starts as a convenient marriage soon has him dreaming of forever . . .

New York Times bestseller Linda Howard brings scintillating sensuality and high-voltage thrills to this novel following a painter as she embarks on a sizzling romance while also coming under suspicion for a shocking murder. A talented painter in her early thirties, Paris Sweeney has achieved enviable success: her work sells at an exclusive New York City gallery, and her popularity is at an all-time high. Life is good, and Sweeney, as she prefers to be called, is content. But lately, Sweeney’s dreams seem to echo a growing restlessness that has taken hold of her. Suddenly, impulsively, Sweeney falls into a night of intense passion with millionaire Richard Worth. Now, the true dangers of her all-consuming urges are about to be revealed where Sweeney least expects it: in her paintings. After a creative frenzy she can barely recall, Sweeney discovers she has rendered a disturbing image—a graphic murder scene. Against her better instincts, she returns to the canvas time and again, filling out each chilling detail piece by piece. But when a shattering, real-life murder mirrors her creation, Sweeney falls under suspicion. With every stroke of her brush, she risks incriminating herself with her inexplicable knowledge of a deadly crime. And every desire—including her hunger for Richard—is loaded with uncertainty as Sweeney races to unmask a killer.

Loyal. Beautiful. Professional. Impeccably organized. Potentially lethal. Sarah Stevens is a woman with many distinct qualities. First and foremost a butler par excellence, skilled at running large households smoothly and efficiently, she is also a trained bodyguard and expert marksman–indispensable to her elderly employer, a courtly gentleman whom Sarah has come to respect and love as a father. Then one night she thwarts a burglary in progress, a courageous act that rewards Sarah her requisite “fifteen minutes of fame” with the local press. But the exposure is enough to catch the attention of a tortured soul who, unbeknownst to Sarah, will stop at nothing to have her for himself. Sarah’s perfectly ordered life is shattered when tragedy strikes: her beloved employer is brutally murdered. The detective investigating the case, assures Sarah that she is not a suspect. Until lightning strikes twice. There’s a second killing–and this time, despite a lack of evidence connecting her to the crime, Sarah cannot escape the shadow of guilt. The only option left for Sarah is to carry on with her life. But she doesn’t realize that a deranged stalker is luring her into an elaborate trap . . . one in which she, once ensnared, might never escape. For Sarah soon finds herself at the mercy of a man who will tend to her every whim, smother her with affection, and crush her in his all-consuming embrace. In a nonstop roller-coaster ride of unrelenting suspense, Linda Howard has written her most chilling novel yet. Dying to Please is a breathless thriller of desire and obsession.

A fabulous lost Amazon city containing a rare red diamond. It sounded like a myth, but archaeologist Jillian Sherwood was willing to put up with anything to look for it--even Ben Lewis, ruffian, knock-about, and number-one river guide in Brazil. Another sensuous and spellbinding romance from "an incredibly talented writer" (Affaire de Coeur).