Clever, cunning and highly skilled-there's only one Bianca St. Ives and don't you dare forget it
Bianca St. Ives was recently put through the wringer, but she came out the same way she always does-the way her father trained her to-hungry for a fight. Still navigating the fallout from a shocking revelation that's left a network of assassins' crosshairs trained on her, Bianca's ready to take fate into her own hands. It's kill or be killed, and she's got her finger flush against the trigger. But as Bianca races to outmaneuver her tireless pursuers, her father loops her in on a job that might just do the trick: recover King Priam's Treasure, a collection of heavily guarded, priceless artifacts stolen by the Russians during World War II, and return it to Germany.
Impossible? Maybe for some, but a high-risk heist is all in a day's work for Bianca St. Ives, especially when there's intel on the line-intel that could finally bring down the shadowy forces seeking to bury Bianca for good. Faced with threats that circle closer with every move she makes, she knows the stakes have never been higher, but when you're already living on borrowed time, you have to hustle if you want to live to see tomorrow.
Growing up, Bianca St. Ives knew she was different from all her friends. Instead of playing hopscotch or combing her dolls’ hair, she studied martial arts with sensei masters and dismantled explosives with special-ops retirees. Her father prepped her well to carry on the family business. Now a striking beauty with fierce skills, the prodigy has surpassed the master.
She’s known as the Guardian. Running a multinational firm with her father, she makes a living swindling con men out of money they stole—and she’s damn good at it. She does things on her own terms. But her latest gig had a little hiccup—if you count two hundred million dollars and top secret government documents going missing as little. Her father also died on the mission. The thing is, the US government doesn’t believe he’s really dead. They’ll stop at nothing to capture Richard St. Ives, a high-value target and someone who has been on most-wanted lists all over the world for over two decades, and they mean to use Bianca as bait. With only a fellow criminal for backup and her life on the line, it’s up to Bianca to uncover the terrifying truth behind what really happened…and set it right, before it’s too late.
BOOM. That's the sound that changes everything for Dr. Gina Sullivan, a renowned ornithologist on a group research grant trip on the remote island of Attu, Alaska. When an everyday outing turns sinister at the onset of one of Attu's infamous storms, Gina expects thunder and lightning-but what she doesn't see coming is the small jet plane that drops out of the sky and into the water mere feet from her boat. Even more unprecedented: there's a sole survivor from the crash, and he needs Gina's help. But it turns out that rescuing the stranger and getting them both out of the oncoming storm is just the beginning. Because the more Gina learns about James "Cal" Callahan, he of brooding eyes and muscled frame, the more she fears-for herself, and for him.
Cal has made a career of trading on government secrets and emerging unscathed-until a routine pickup goes horribly wrong and lands him in ice-cold water. Literally. He knows the plane crash was no accident and that there could very well be an enemy force currently combing the Alaskan island, ensuring there were no survivors. Now if only the arrestingly beautiful bird-watcher with the clear blue gaze would stop watching him, well, like a hawk. Cal convinces Gina to return to base camp and help him covertly get off the island. But when Gina makes it safely back to camp and finds her entire team murdered, all bets are off, and as darkness envelops the island, she must decide: trust a man she barely knows, or go it alone and risk running straight into the arms of a killer?
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author and "master of romantic suspense" (Booklist) Karen Robards does it again with this atmospheric, tightly wound thriller that will keep you spellbound until the very last page.
In the sizzling new novel from New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards, Dr. Charlie Stone must prove the innocence of a dangerously sexy condemned man, or lose her one chance at true love.
THE LAST TIME I SAW HER
In this world, Dr. Charlotte "Charlie" Stone skillfully probes the twisted minds of incarcerated serial killers to better understand what makes them tick, and to help nab those who remain at large. But in the next world, Charlotte's ghostly lover-convicted killer Michael Garland-is facing death yet again. It seem the only way Charlie can snatch Michael from the jaws of oblivion is by proving his innocence. And this dead man's dead ringer may just be the key.
A mysterious stranger has turned up in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, and Charlie is shocked to realize he could be Michael Garland's identical twin. But she suspects the resemblance is only skin deep-and that behind the handsome face may lurk the perverse mind of a killer. While using all her keen profiling gifts, Charlie risks her life to discover the shocking secret that will clear Michael's name.
Then a breakout at Wallens Ridge State Prison forces Charlie to contend with a sudden swarm of psychopaths bent on spilling blood. No one has a better chance of tracking down the deadly fugitives than Charlie-unless the rampaging killers manage to find her first and make this case her last. But Michael will move heaven and hell-and even make a devil's bargain-for the chance to save Charlie's life, and feel her touch once more . . . if only for the final time.
Praise for The Last Time I Saw Her
"The always talented Robards brings her uniquely compelling ghostly romantic suspense series to a truly magnificent close. The evolution of the strange but utterly riveting romance between Dr. Charlotte 'Charlie' Stone and deceased convicted killer Michael Garland has been transfixing to read. . . . This has been one amazing ride."-RT Book Reviews (Top Pick)
Praise for Karen Robards
"One of the most popular voices in women's fiction."-Newsweek
"Draw a line between two extremely popular genres, mysteries and romance novels, and in the middle you will find the bestselling Robards. She merges the two worlds like no one else, deftly interlacing plot and passion."-Albany Times Union
Praise for The Last Victim
"Excellent . . . This story is going to haunt you."-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Last Kiss Goodbye
"This suspense tale will truly have you on the edge of your seat."-RT Book Reviews
Her Last Whisper
"An absolute winner . . . explodes with both passion and mystery . . . providing both thrills and chills."-Bookreporter
From the Hardcover edition.
Jeff told her they were after him. And now that her ex-husband is gone, Riley Cowan wishes he’d told her who they were. The police ruled Jeff’s death a suicide, but Riley has her doubts. The evidence is staggering: His billionaire father is in jail, accused of one of the biggest financial frauds of all time. His once-powerful family has lost everything. Hundreds of millions in investors’ money is still unaccounted for. And ever since the scandal broke, a rash of mysterious deaths has hit the firm. Someone is trying to send a message. Riley is sure of it. Especially when she discovers that she’s next on the killer’s agenda. Enter FBI agent Finn Bradley—sexy, handsome, and in the right place at the right time when Riley is brutally attacked. But Finn has an agenda too. He has been following Riley, trying to figure out what she knows. At first she won’t talk. She can’t afford to trust anyone, not even the man who saved her life. Then the killer ups the ante and gives her one week to find the money. Now Finn is the only one who can help her make sense of the few clues Jeff left behind. With the pressure turned up to high, the duo can no longer ignore the sizzling chemistry that has been building between them. Solving this deadly puzzle feels like an impossible task, but at least they’re on the same side…aren’t they? New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Karen Robards is “a master of romantic suspense” (Booklist) who once again delivers a down-to-the-wire nail-biter crackling with delicious, red-hot tension.
Readers who relish heated passion and chilling suspense love New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards's acclaimed novels featuring Dr. Charlotte "Charlie" Stone. A heroine with a keen mind for catching killers and a soft heart for bad boys, Charlie is back in this third sizzling paranormal romance thriller.
HER LAST WHISPER
Madness and murder invaded Dr. Charlotte Stone's life when she was just a girl-and made her a woman determined to save others from the horror she survived. An expert in the psychology of serial killers, she's faced down more than her share of human monsters. But Charlie can also communicate with the spirits of those who die violently, an extrasensory skill that has helped the FBI bring lethal predators to justice. Now, after narrowly escaping death a second time, Charlie's ready to step away from the edge . . . before her luck runs out.
Too bad Charlie is too dedicated for her own good-and too devoted to federal agent Tony Bartoli to say no when he asks her to ride shotgun on yet another risky mission. Of course, she already has her hands full with Michael Garland: the handsome, roguish ghost with whom she's hopelessly in love-a spirit who depends on Charlie to keep him from slipping forever into the dark side of the afterlife. But in the mortal world, beautiful single women are vanishing from Las Vegas hotels at night. All signs indicate that a psychopath is on the prowl in Sin City, and Bartoli's FBI colleague Lena Kaminsky has reason to fear that her missing sister may be just the killer's type.
In a town full of fast players and few rules, flushing out a smooth-talking stalker like the Cinderella Killer might be a loser's game. But for Charlie, the only way to cage her quarry is to plunge back into the homicidal hell she vowed to leave behind-and may not leave alive.
Praise for Her Last Whisper
"A tightly written ghostly romantic suspense novel with intriguing supernatural elements and sizzling sexual tension."-Kirkus Reviews
"An absolute winner . . . explodes with both passion and mystery . . . a tale that will haunt you, providing both thrills and chills."-Bookreporter
"Outstanding . . . Robards is truly a master storyteller."-RT Book Reviews
Praise for Karen Robards
"One of the most popular voices in women's fiction."-Newsweek
"Draw a line between two extremely popular genres, mysteries and romance novels, and in the middle you will find the bestselling Robards. She merges the two worlds like no one else, deftly interlacing plot and passion."-Albany Times Union
From New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards comes a thrilling love story between an orphan and an outlaw nobleman. Contains mature themes.
Caitlyn was an orphaned beauty with no future—until the rugged outlaw nobleman rescued her from the streets. And now they ride together in the shadows of the night—on the run from corrupt minions of the law—emboldened by the exhilarating heat of the chase...and by a love as wild and free as the wind on the moors. Caitlyn has vowed she will never forsake Connor, her brave champion, her sensuous lover. But to save Connor, she must now betray him. Yet the proud lady can never betray the passion that joins their hearts...and draws Connor into harm's way to rescue his cherished love once more.
Johnny Harris is home again, his too-tight jeans and damn-your-eyes belligerence honed to perfection by a ten-year stretch in federal prison for murder. Now he’s out on parole and ready for the job Rachel Grant has promised him to help him begin a new life. Unlike the rest of the town, Rachel has always believed in her former student’s innocence. But one thing has changed.
The sullenly handsome boy she remembers is still sullen, still handsome—but no longer a boy. And now the small Kentucky town is alive with gossip and whispers of a scandal, as friendship turns to passion and Rachel abandons a lifetime of propriety in the ex-con’s arms. Then the killer strikes again. All evidence points to Johnny Harris, but Rachel knows he is innocent. And she knows she is next—as a shattering truth is uncovered and dark passions explode in the relentless summer heat.
“Karen Robards defines passion in this story of love and scandal in a small Kentucky town. One Summer is an outstanding novel that readers will turn to again and again.”—Amazon.com, editorial review
’Twas the night before Christmas . . . and dozens of rich, influential hostages are trapped inside a sprawling lakefront mansion in New Orleans. The perp? Detective Reed Ware, model cop turned outlaw. After receiving a panicked call from Hollis “Holly” Bayard, a teenage street tough with a penchant for amateur sleuthing who stumbles upon the scene of a drug-deal-turned-murder, Ware finds his and his friend’s lives in dire danger. The crime Holly witnessed could be the biggest police cover-up this side of New Orleans — and no one’s talking. Driven to desperate measures to uncover the truth, Ware stages a coup at a Christmas party for the New Orleans elite, including the mayor, the council chairman, the sheriff, and the superintendent of police, who just happens to be hostage negotiator Caroline Wallace’s estranged father. Cool, calm, controlled. That’s Caroline’s reputation. But when she’s brought in to talk Ware off the proverbial ledge, she realizes no amount of false promises is going to placate this man, who looks even hotter than he did years ago when seventeen-year-old Caroline tried to seduce him. It was his duty to protect her family then. Now it’s her turn . . . if she can think fast enough over the pounding of her heart. When Caroline becomes wrapped up in the drama, it’s clear the sizzling tension she shared with Ware never let up. And the harder she tries to defuse the situation, the more she begins to wonder whose side she’s really on.
NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY RT BOOK REVIEWS
When New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards brought her irresistible brand of hot passion and chilling suspense to the paranormal romance scene with The Last Victim, it was just the beginning. Now her series cranks up the deadly danger and intense desire to the next level, as sexy serial killer hunter Charlotte Stone returns to action in her thrilling second adventure.
THE LAST KISS GOODBYE
Dr. Charlotte "Charlie" Stone has dedicated her career as a psychiatrist to exploring the darkest territory of all: the hearts and minds of serial killers. It's a job she's uniquely suited for, thanks to the secret talent that gives her an uncanny edge-Charlie can see dead people, whose tormented spirits cry out to her for the justice only she can provide. This blessing-or curse-gives Charlie the power to hunt down and catch madmen and murderers. It's also turned her love life upside down by drawing her into a hopelessly passionate relationship with the lingering ghost of charismatic bad boy Michael Garland.
But there's little time for romance with her supernatural suitor when murder comes pounding at Charlie's door in the form of a terrified young woman fleeing a homicidal maniac. Saving her life places Charlie squarely in the cross-hairs of a sadistic predator nicknamed "the Gingerbread Man," notorious for manipulating his victims like pawns in a deadly chess game. And now the queen this psychopath's bent on capturing is Charlie. Refusal to play will only put more innocent lives in danger. Matching wits with this cunningly twisted opponent will require all of Charlie's training and expert skills. But even with her devilish "guardian angel"-not to mention her favorite flesh-and-blood Fed, Tony Bartoli-watching her beautiful back, the Gingerbread Man's horrifying grin might be the last thing Charlie ever sees.
Praise for The Last Kiss Goodbye
'Top-notch . . . Suspense mixed with heart-pounding sensual tension.'-Kirkus Reviews
"Filled with gritty thrills and featuring a psychopathic madman, this suspense tale will truly have you on the edge of your seat!"-RT Book Reviews
Praise for Karen Robards
"One of the most popular voices in women's fiction."-Newsweek
"Draw a line between two extremely popular genres, mysteries and romance novels, and in the middle you will find the bestselling Robards. She merges the two worlds like no one else, deftly interlacing plot and passion."-Albany Times Union
Praise for The Last Victim
"[An] exceptional storyteller . . . Leave it to Robards to deliver the start of a series that is distinctive and unforgettable!"-RT Book Reviews
"Excellent . . . This story is going to haunt you."-Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Thrilling . . . a fun and sexy read."-Booklist
From the Hardcover edition.
With one sweet, seductive kiss, Megan Kinkead is no longer the impudent child Justin Brant remembers. She was a girl when she left Maam's Cross Court for school, but she has returned a woman, body and soul. Once Megan's guardian, Justin, the sixth Earl of Weston, is soon her heart's obsession. Desire smolders between them, and then he tells her he is married. . . . Set against the lush green hills of Ireland, Karen Robards's classic tale will captivate your imagination and set your soul ablaze as a stubborn young beauty and her aristocratic paramour are caught between loyalty and Forbidden Love
If driving a piece-of-crap tow truck through the seediest part of town with a Smith & Wesson beside her means putting a roof over her son's head, then Samantha Jones is going to be the best damn repo woman on the books. The streetwalkers, the drug pushers, the bands of looking-for-trouble punks haunting the mean streets at midnight don't intimidate her. These are her people. The guy she finds bound and bloodied in the trunk of her latest conquest, a flashy new BMW, is a different breed entirely. Daniel Panterro was certain he was going to die. Instead, by a stroke of luck, he was beaten to within an inch of his life and left for dead. But if he's having a bad day, Sam's day is about to get way worse. Danny knows he hasn't seen the last of the vicious drug runners who kidnapped him from protective custody. His only recourse is to take his pretty savior hostage and force her to help him. There's no going back for Sam and her four-year-old son, Tyler. They're in way too deep. With ruthless killers stalking their trail, Sam's only choice is to trust this handsome, menacing stranger. But as she relinquishes control, Sam feels an unmistakable desire. Could she be tempted by Danny, who seems intent on protecting her and Tyler from even his own darkest secrets? And what is the price of falling in love with a man who operates on the edge of danger - her heart, her life . . . or both?
