Kensington Publishing

Unexpected sparks ignite a slow burn in this grumpy/sunshine workplace romance when a single mom proposes a marriage of convenience to save her boss's brewery. Fans of Lucy Score, Elsie Silver, Carley Fortune, and B.K. Borrison will find their next obsession with this second standalone in bestselling author Lena Hendrix's spicy, emotional, deeply romantic Kings Series set in small town Michigan. *DELUXE LIMITED EDITION PAPERBACK featuring stenciled edges, holographic foil, designed interior covers, chapter headers, and full color special character art!*You might think it's reckless for a single mom to enter into a marriage of convenience with her boss.You would be correct. To make matters worse, Abel King is a grumpy local brewer with a criminal past. He also happens to be my boss and a total stick-in-the-mud. Every time I come to work with a smile and wave, I'm lucky if I can get a grunt in response. When I accidentally-on-purpose overhear that he's having trouble securing a business loan due to his criminal record, I hatch a plan to help the both of us. The arrangement is perfect—a business transaction and nothing more. Like having a roommate without the hassle of other people bugging you for dates. I will definitely not be falling in love with him—no matter how many times he says "my wife" and tingles dance in all the right places. Trouble is, as time goes on, things stop feeling like business and start feeling a whole lot like pleasure . . . and really, that's just my luck . . .

For readers of Vanessa Miller, Sheila Williams, Victoria Christopher Murray and Tracy Chevalier, the story of an unconventional woman who overcame adversity to create enduring tributes in stone to her race and times. The life of pioneering Black Neoclassical sculptor Edmonia Lewis ? from the Civil War-era Midwest to Boston?s abolitionist circles, to Rome?s expatriate community ? is resurrected in this stunning debut biographical novel.?I plan to be a sculptor, to memorialize forever the great men and women of my race, and those who have fought for our cause.? At the age of 8, orphaned, precocious Wildfire seems fated to a life of toil selling her handmade crafts to Niagara Falls tourists alongside her Ojibwe aunts. But Wildfire?s older half-brother, Samuel, has been making other plans for his gifted sibling. Soon, she is set on a new trajectory?and with it comes her birth name, Edmonia, and a revelation about her true origins.Ensconced at the home of a trusted benefactor while Samuel makes his fortune in California, Edmonia flourishes?despite her abhorrence for etiquette lessons. Privately nurturing artistic ambitions, she advances through the abolitionist?s prep school and lands at Oberlin College. But at Oberlin lies a devastating trap: Edmonia is accused of poisoning, nearly fatally, two friends, with tainted wine.What ensues is a headline-making trial, a vicious attack by a white mob?and a bold journey that will lead Edmonia from a crucial introduction in Boston to a vibrant community of celebrated expatriate women artists in Rome, and encounters with such distinguished figures as President Ulysses S. Grant, Pope Pius IX, and Frederick Douglass.Still, Edmonia?s success is plagued by stinging critiques, potent racism, and haunting self-doubt. She must decide, too, whether to abandon her romantic entanglements, or devote herself to bringing to life her visions of beauty and justice?and hopefully, forge her place in a rapidly changing world.

An unlikely lord finally meets a problem he can't flirt his way out of in this adventurous and slyly light-hearted queer cozy fantasy featuring pirates, dragons, kidnapping, tea, and other high-fantasy delights for readers of Rebecca Thorne, TJ Klune, Sarah Beth Durst, and Travis Baldree. Deluxe Limited Edition Paperback with Stenciled Edges! In theory, the dragoness of Summer can make any resident on her island the ruler, if the previous Lord Summer is so careless as to die without an heir. In practice, absolutely no one expected her to choose Teddy, the last lord's middle-aged fancy man. With his quick wit, heaps of charisma, and excellent dress sense, Teddy brings plenty of virtues to his new role, but statecraft, pedigree, and decorum are not among them. That's all right: he's done his duty to the island, and his five-year-old daughter, Zinnia, will make a brilliant Lady Summer when her time comes. Except when a ship of desperate mainlander thieves arrives, Zinnia's caught in the fracas and taken hostage. Teddy jumps into the rescue mission without delay, even though his days of adventures on the mainland are long buried with his lover. But his sailors have never seen their destination, and worse, the hard-liner admiral who leads them thinks Teddy's a worthless dandy. Against a conniving robber baron, a sorceress who's tamed her own dragon, and ordinary people with everything to lose, the crew faces terrible odds. But with all he loves in danger, Teddy must prove there's more to him than he'd ever intended to show.

For fiercely independent Sincere Watkins, her stunning beauty is an obstacle to be overcome. Growing up in New Orleans'' most dangerous neighborhood, she caught the eye of Lorde, leader of the ruthless local gang, The Saints. Despite Lorde''s unstoppable obsession with her, Sincere is making a life for herself. She won''t let him stand in her way-even after he takes out someone she cares for. Sincere just focuses on fulfilling her dreams-and holds love at a distance to keep others safe... But when Lorde upends Sincere''s world irrevocably, she evades his every merciless move with strength, savvy, and resilience she never knew she had. And their battle of wills becomes all-out war when Lorde''s second-in-command, Supreme, falls hard for Sincere''s dignity and determination... Now she will work every angle by igniting long-buried resentments and lethal rivalries among The Saints. For in the Dirty South, where grudges run deep and life is short, power lies in how you seize it. And Sincere will pay any price, rack up any cost to get revenge-and all she deserves. Even if all that''s left is heartbreak-and smoking ash...

Gone without a trace... Once the most cunning luxury-car thief in the game, Ava Frost gladly gave it all up to become the wife of a successful Norfolk, Virginia, businessman, and raise their two children in better circumstances than she ever knew. But when the children are abducted - and held for a two-million-dollar ransom - Ava is stunned to discover her husband''s bad deals have drained their fortune. Determined, she pursues her best, and toughest, option: Her ex-boyfriend, the mastermind behind the South''s biggest car theft ring, offers her a chance to gain the money. But nothing ever comes for free, and Nick has a small request... Racing against the clock... Soon Ava is targeting one-of-a-kind cars that must be stolen within impossibly short timeframes. The excitement of the hunt and Ava''s vulnerability is reigniting dangerous heat between her and Nick - just as she''s finding out her husband''s betrayal runs deeper and more hurtful than she ever expected... Running out of time... Now with one heist gone very wrong and the police closing in, Ava''s down to her final chance to keep her bargain with Nick. But with hidden agendas and secret obsessions in play, will even her most skilled moves succeed in bringing her children home - or destroy everything she''s fighting to save?

These days, Annette Goode Davis has a full plate - literally and figuratively. Although she''s trying to reconcile with her husband, Pee Wee, she''s still seeing other men on the side. A woman''s got to cover her bases, right? With her love life hopping, Annette should be pleased as punch. Instead, the stress has her eating everything in sight and packing on the pounds. Meanwhile, Annette''s best friend, Rhoda O''Toole, has her hands full dealing with her wild child daughter, Jade. When Jade''s antics almost cost Rhoda her man, Rhoda throws her out. But Jade soon finds a way to make Rhoda regret her choice... Annette thanks her lucky stars that her daughter, Charlotte, has her head on straight. And she''s doubly blessed to have a strait-laced neighbour look after Charlotte when she''s caught up in Pee Wee and Rhoda''s problems. But when Annette''s world is rocked by a terrible revelation, she''ll discover that appearances can be very, very deceiving - and she''ll have to summon every ounce of strength to protect the ones she loves.

When Ridah discovers being pregnant, she prays that God will somehow favour her, and the child she is carrying will turn out to be K.J.''s. But Ridah knows it is almost impossible, especially after sleeping with his cousin, Smirky. After the lines are crossed between Ridah and K.J., Lanka is willing to do anything within her power to disconnect any bond Ridah and K.J. have built, and she makes attempts on Ridah''s life in fear of her exposing her secrets to the only man she has ever loved, K.J. As Ridah awaits trial, her life continues to unravel after unexpected tragedies. Ridah starts to wonder if sleeping with K.J. was worth the drama that comes along with dealing with him. Her ongoing beef with Lanka is now personal after Lanka kills her close friend in cold blood. With the stakes high and Ridah losing people who were once dear to her, she vows to exact revenge for her fallen loved ones. Everyone is not who they claim to be. The truth is staring them boldly in the face, and if they''re not paying attention, they may be next.

Kenny, Frankie, Ray. For these best friends, life on the Upper West Side during the upheaval of the 1960s showed undreamed-of possibilities - and temptations. Moved by visionaries like Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcom X, Kenny risks the draft as he plunges into civil rights activism. With surprising business savvy, Frankie expands his grandfather''s Harlem underworld empire to feed the growing demand for drugs - and his hunger to be the city''s biggest kingpin. Ray dreams of being a doctor, but his near-addictive desires lead him to a near-fatal confrontation... and a different sort of healing. But as the 1970s unwind, Kenny dedicates himself to revenge as well as social work - forming a dangerous alliance that puts him at an inescapable crossroads. Used to sexual playgrounds like Studio 54, Frankie falls for the one woman he shouldn''t want. And Ray embarks on a dangerous double life that throws him into conflict with his deepest convictions. With its relentless materialism, the 1980s will take these friends from a scandal-ridden Gracie Mansion mayoral campaign to wrenching urban change that will alter their old neighbourhood forever. Kenny, Frankie, and Ray must decide how far they will pursue dreams that can guarantee success - or disaster. And each must come to terms with the kind of man he wants to be - no matter the consequences...

In this uplifting holiday novel from New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels, four women travel to Italy for a Christmas to remember . . .Christmas is filled with beloved and long-kept traditions, but sometimes, there?s nothing better than creating brand-new ones. That?s why Francesca and her high school friends Amy, Rachael, and Nina are traveling to Italy to spend the holidays with Frankie?s boyfriend, Giovanni, and his family.Giovanni and his brother, Marco, run a small Italian restaurant in Manhattan, where cherished family recipes delight tourists and locals alike. But there?s one recipe that eludes the brothers. Their mama refuses to divulge the secret behind her coveted panettone, claiming it is ?Santa?s secret.?While Frankie joins Giovanni and Marco in the kitchen, hoping to uncover the mystery of Mrs. Lombardi?s mouthwatering panettone, Amy, Nina, and Rachael are on their own quests. Amy wants to see the sights, Nina needs career inspiration, and Rachael longs to meet some eligible Italian men.Can one trip provide the answers everyone seeks? With a stunning Italian backdrop and a sprinkling of holiday magic in the mix, there may be all kinds of sweet surprises in store . . .

Annette Goode Davis is a survivor. Life''s obstacles have often knocked her down, but she''s never stayed there for long. To Annette, it''s all about family and old friends like Rhoda O''Toole. And right now, Annette needs all the friends she can get... because her marriage is in big trouble, and she has no idea why... Lately, Annette''s husband, Pee Wee, barely has the time of day for her. Desperate to regain his affections, Annette goes on a crash diet, gets a makeover, and looks hotter than she has in a long, long time. Everyone notices - except Pee Wee. So, when handsome Louis Baines showers her with attention, Annette finds herself embroiled in a full-blown affair and spending money on Louis like there''s no tomorrow. But when she learns a terrible secret about her new lover, she realises she''s in way over her head. Soon, Annette must face the fact that she may have destroyed the life she loved - and this time, not even Rhoda can help her make things right...

Everyone in Lake Eden, Minnesota, may have had their doubts, but at long last, Hannah Swensen is getting married! Hannah is thrilled to be marrying Ross Barton, her college crush. And her excitement only grows when she learns he?ll be able to join her on her trip to New York City for the Food Channel?s dessert chef contest. They get a taste of the Big Apple before Hannah wins the Hometown Challenge and the producers bring all the contestants to Lake Eden to tape the remainder of the show. It?s nerve-wracking enough being judged by Alain Duquesne, a celebrity chef with a nasty reputation. But it?s even more chilling to find him stabbed to death in the Lake Eden Inn?s walk-in cooler?before he?s even had a chance to taste Hannah?s Butterscotch Sugar Cookies! Now Hannah has not only lost her advantage, she?ll have to solve a mystery with more layers than a five-tiered wedding cake…

Texas good-old-boys Doolin and Tubbs take on a pair of copy-cat outlaws?and prove they?re not getting older, they?re getting deadlier?in their latest, greatest adventure from the bestselling Johnstones .Some say the wild west is no country for old men. But apparently no one told Eli Doolin and Casey Tubbs. This rowdy pair of cowboys may be a bit long in the tooth but?thanks to the success of their new business venture, the D&T Cattle Company?they?re riding high in the saddle. And raking in the cash. What?s their secret?They rob banks.Disguised as even older men than they are, Doolin and Tubbs have managed to pull off a string of bank jobs without a hitch, making just a few withdrawals to help fund their ranch. They?re darn  good at it, too. Even the new deputy U.S. marshal?a determined young whippersnapper named Colton Gray?can?t catch them. But their money-making sideline as undercover criminals takes a sudden dark turn when a pair of dangerous outlaws start committing similar robberies?dressed up as old men just like Doolin and Tubbs. Even worse, these copy-cat crooks are cutthroat killers, too. To stop these bad guys from smearing their good names, Doolin and Tubbs have to do the unthinkable: Team up with Marshal Colton Gray before they get wrongfully jailed?or kill their own doubles before their doubles kill them . . .

Introducing a bold new saga from the bestselling Johnstones. This is the epic story of new arrivals in the Old West?a proud family of dreamers in the untamed wilds of Texas Hill Country . . .They came to America to start a new life. Three brothers and their sister, the Baxter heirs lost everything they had in Europe so they boarded a ship to the Texas coast, hoping to stake a claim in the land of opportunity. They knew frontier life will be hard. But their troubles begin before they even reach Texas. A man is killed on board?a member of the fierce MaClochlainn clan who blame one of the Baxters for his death. So begins a blood-drenched feud that will haunt and pursue them as they try to build a future in Texas Hill Country . . .Now a fugitive on the run, the wrongly accused Perry Baxter changes his name and joins the Texas Rangers?waiting for the day his past catches up to him. His oldest brother, Athelston, struggles to build a ranch in Commanche territory while the middle brother Jeremy turns to gambling and running with outlaws. Their sister, Bodie, falls in love with a rugged frontiersman, who teaches her the importance of riding, hunting?and shooting?in a life-or-death game of survival. Each of the siblings have forged a path of their own. But when one of them is in trouble?and a rival is out for revenge?the Baxters stick together. Because family is family. And blood is thicker than bullets . . .

In an adventure-filled holiday treat from New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels, Frankie, Amy, Rachael and Nina?aka Santa?s Crew?reunite to put a stop to some real-life Grinches, with a little help from their new friends in the Sisterhood . . . Christmas is so much more than tinsel, lights, and mistletoe. For onetime high school pals Amy, Frankie, Rachael and Nina, being together for the holidays has become a cherished tradition, whether they?re taking a trip or staying close to home.There?s something special about giving back during the holiday season too, which is why Frankie is so dismayed when she learns that Salvation Army buckets are being pilfered all over town. Amy, Rachael, and Nina quickly agree to help her track down the thieves. It might not be their usual gathering, but it promises to be an adventure, especially when they bump into two women on a very similar quest . . .Annie and Myra have learned that a shipment of children?s toys they sent to a charity event in New York City has been stolen. It looks like the thefts are connected, and it?s the kind of injustice that the ladies of the Sisterhood simply can?t abide. On a madcap spree through the city, the two groups join forces to find the bandits, save Christmas, and along the way, make this a holiday to remember for all the right reasons . . .

Robust or struggling, tireless or fatigued, traditional or future-bound - anyone in any stage or walk of life can become a ''radical senora. And in our post-hustle culture, post ''Boss Babe'' era, when the pandemic and ''Quiet Quitting'' have ushered in a major work-life reckoning, women everywhere are seeking ways to put self-care first - and find relatable alternatives to modern ''exclusive'' wellness practices. Now authors Christina Kelmon and Ann Murray Dunning turn decades of ancestral knowledge, personal lore, and cutting-edge research into a one-of-a-kind book that can help you learn time-tested, simple habits and rituals based on natural living. Rediscover how to do something purely for the pleasure of it without deadlines, goals, or the constant pressure to be ''productive.'' Find out how this generates a flow that is a mix of play and energy that consistently renews your spirit and outlook. Learn how to incorporate senora home practices that can help you integrate calm and positivity into your precious space. From teas to face masks to gardening wisdom, try the easy, nature-based beauty secrets and solutions that can help you feel good. Develop helpful rules for living that will lead to physical health and peace of mind. Inspirational and informative, Radical Senora Era can help you find joy in even the smallest moments of the day - and create a self-care toolbox that will not only bring you happiness, but ongoing, lifelong fulfilment.

She was once the best luxury car thief in the game. But Ava Frost paid a high price when her children were stolen. Forced to confront her ruthless ex-boss, Nick, she uncovered his devious silent partner in the kidnapping: her seemingly loving, seemingly wealthy husband, Kevin. Now Ava is making a new life with her children several states away from her former suburban life. She''s also struggling to help her young son heal from their traumatic ordeal. So, when her soon-to-be ex-husband pressures her to return his part of the ransom, Ava pushes back... hard. Along with a secret life insurance policy Kevin took out on her, Ava soon realizes she''s worth way more to him dead than alive. And when she learns he''s set Nick''s vengeful sister and her murderous gangster husband on her trail, she must go up against an overwhelming enemy who will never stop hunting her - or her kids... Fighting may be your last move... Now with the odds against her and time running out, Ava must marshal all her resources and formidable skills to defend everything she''s fought to save. But when one last dangerous twist causes her plans to irrevocably crash-and-burn, she''ll battle tooth and claw to put her pursuers on the run - straight into a trap so treacherous even she may have no chance to survive.