Karen Robards – författare

Nine years after leaving in disgrace, Olivia Morrison is coming home again with her eight-year-old, Sara, to put things right with the Archer clan. But there is no welcome for the prodigal daughter at the lavish Louisiana estate.Her stepcousin, Seth, once her only comfort, is icy, dangerously attractive — and engaged. Her formidable stepgrandfather collapses with a heart attack at the sight of her, gasping her dead mother’s name: “Selena!”The bayou echoes with memories of her mother’s mysterious death. Suicide by drowning, they said. But Olivia’s terrifying nightmares suggest another story. She is determined to learn the truth, and to face a newly ignited passion for Seth, who is too close for comfort, despite his vows. When a new danger threatens her and her daughter, Olivia must find the courage to confront her old demons ... and uncover a shocking secret buried in the long-forgotten past....From the Paperback edition.

Defiantly beautiful, Caroline Wetherby stepped ashore in a land so wild and fierce, she trembled.  She had come seeking refuge with the last of her family, but her sister was dead.  Waiting to greet her were pious Pilgrims, warring Indians, howling wolves, a boisterous household of men and boys...and him, her rugged, unwelcoming brother-in-law, Matt Mathieson.  Caroline wanted to hate Matt as she hated all men.After her father''s death, she''d been eager to escape England.  But as daughter of a gambler and a gypsy, her flamboyant ways and healing skills tempted disaster in the sanctimonious Connecticut Colony.  And putting herself in the hands of a big, handsome stranger tempted something far more dangerous--emotions she couldn''t resist, kisses she couldn''t forget, and a future that could bring ruin...or a journey to heaven on earth in his arms.From the Paperback edition.

In Carolina Colony, the community admired Susannah Redmon, plain eldest daughter of the preacher. Her herbal healing skills made her an angel of mercy, her determination held together the family''s farm, and her strong will always got her what she wanted--even the buying of a man.  But no suitor had ever courted her...Ian Connelly, Marquis of Derne, had been betrayed, branded a criminal, and beaten.  Still defiant, he had been indentured and transported to the Colonies, where a bossy, primly proper woman had bought him!  But he alone saw the strength of her character, the gold in her tawny hair, and, in her eyes, the fire of her long-hidden desire...Now Susannah "owned" this magnificently handsome rogue, but it was his passion that could free her imprisoned, lonely heart.  From the frontier South to society London or even to hell itself, with her body she would worship him and with her soul she would love him, for she was...Nobody''s Angel.From the Paperback edition.

He was pure, unadulterated trouble.  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 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.From the Paperback edition.

She was Mrs. Lyle Forrest now, the coolly elegant wife of Louisville''s most prominent publisher, the slum girl whose dreams -- and nightmares -- came true the night she married the multimillionaire old enough to be her father. For twelve years Maggy played the role of beautiful, devoted wife, the burnished jewel in Lyle''s crown, mother of the child he adored. She did it for David, the son who could never know the price she paid to protect him, would never see her scars...Suddenly Maggy''s hard-won control shattered when Nick King came back to claim her. It was twelve years since they''d parted, twelve years of fear and loathing at the hands of Lyle Forrest. She couldn''t afford to remember the soul-searing passion she''d known so long ago in the arms of the only man she''d ever loved. She must think of David, her son, Lyle''s most potent weapon, and not of the man she could never forget, Nick, who''s returned to set her free...A riveting novel of love, lust, and savagery in Kentucky''s bluegrass country--a spellbinding story of a mother''s sacrifice, a dynasty''s power, and one man''s passion to reclaim the woman who was born to be his.From the Paperback edition.

The nude male body lay on the embalming table, battered beyond recognition. Gingerly, Summer McAfee, chairman, CEO, and sole employee of Daisy Fresh cleaning service, reached out to touch an arm to reassure herself that she hadn''t just seen the corpse move.  Suddenly, shockingly, her hand was in the viselike grip of a man very much alive and desperate enough to take her captive on a no-holds-barred run from cops, killers, and his own decidedly complicated past...Summer''s former life as a New York lingerie model had gone south with her marriage, leaving her, at thirty-six, single and back home in Tennessee, on her hands and knees scrubbing other people''s bathrooms.  But the drab present vanishes in a flash as she''s forced to flee into the Tennessee wilds with the stranger she calls Frankenstein, first as his captive, then his companion, as they run from the enemies determined to destroy them both--straight into a raging passion that could only be the last laugh of fate...From the Paperback edition.

Molly Ballard was desperate. It wasn''t easy caring for two brothers and two sisters, and keeping a roof over their heads. She needed money more than ever. Yet in a fit of anger she quit her job as a groom at the posh Wyland Farm in Kentucky''s rich turf--and then stole out of the tack room with $5,000 in FBI cash. So when Agent Will Lyman catches her in a lie, she agrees to cooperate in a sting. She''ll do anything to protect her family, to shield the secrets of her past, and guard her heart from further hurt. Molly will even spy for Will and let him pose as her lover. But soon the passion they pretend becomes searingly real as they court danger in bluegrass country and cross the path of a killer who will stop at nothing under a Hunter''s Moon.From the Paperback edition.

While vacationing in Utah’s mountain wilderness, Lynn Nelson suddenly finds herself having to deal with her teenage daughter Rory’s raging hormones. The object of Rory’s passion is their guide, drop-dead gorgeous Jess Feldman, a man the divorced Lynn instinctively distrusts, even as she shields herself from his blazing baby blues. But after Lynn and Rory fall off a cliff of sheared rock, Jess becomes their only hope. Risking his life, he navigates them through the impenetrable forest thousands of feet below, unwittingly plunging them into a danger more menacing than they could have imagined. Exhausted and injured, all they have is one another—a terrified child, and a man and a woman who rediscover passion in each other’s arms—as they race against time for their lives.Praise for Heartbreaker   “A romantic thriller, not to be missed.”—The Philadelphia Inquirer   “Brilliant . . . Nonstop action combines with humor and romance.”—Romantic Times   “A fast-paced tale.”—The Chattanooga NewsFrom the Paperback edition.

A public scandal.  A private torment. A love that changed everything--Ronnie Honneker is the senator''s wife.  When she fell for the dashing politician, the stars in her eyes kept her from seeing his flaws.  And when she discovered his constant need for other women, it was already too late.  Now all the glamour of politics can''t make up for Ronnie''s loneliness--or her husband''s affairs.  Especially the one that explodes into a media sex scandal.Pursued by reporters, Ronnie reluctantly lets handsome political strategist Tom Quinlan clean up the mess.  She agrees to publicly stand by her man until after the next election.  Privately, she is in turmoil, and falling passionately in love--with Tom.  As Ronnie and Tom seek shelter in each other, suddenly the unexpected happens.  The senator''s violent death thrusts Ronnie into the spotlight--as the leading suspect in his murder.  Now only one thing can prove Ronnie''s innocence: the whole shocking truth....From the Paperback edition.

“[An] exceptional storyteller . . . Leave it to [Karen] Robards to deliver the start of a series that is distinctive and unforgettable!”—RT Book Reviews   A sought-after expert in criminal pathology, Dr. Charlotte Stone regularly sits face-to-face with madmen. At the age of sixteen, she herself survived a serial killer’s bloodbath. Because of the information she gave police, the Boardwalk Killer went underground, but Charlie kept her postmortem visions of the victims to herself. Years later, to protect her credibility as a psychological expert, she tells no one about these apparitions. Now a teenage girl is missing, her family slaughtered. The Boardwalk Killer—or a sick copycat with his M.O.—is back. This is the one case Charlie knows she shouldn’t go near. But she also knows that she may be the one person in the world who can stop this vicious killer, especially when she receives help from an unexpected source: The fiery spirit of a seductive bad boy who refuses to be ignored.   “Excellent . . . This story is going to haunt you.”—Pittsburgh Post-Gazette   “Thrilling . . . a fun and sexy read.”—Booklist   “Tantalizing.”—Library Journal   Features a preview of the next Charlotte Stone novel, The Last Kiss Goodbye.

NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY RT BOOK REVIEWSWhen 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.Features a preview of the next Charlotte Stone novel, HER LAST WHISPERPraise 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.”—BooklistFrom the Paperback edition.

A time to fear....Grace Hart seemed to have it all: a bright, beautiful daughter, a successful career as a judge, and a lovely home in an Ohio suburb. But beneath the placid veneer, darker truths lie waiting. Her fifteen-year-old, Jessica, is teetering on the cusp of drugs and delinquency. And someone is stalking the troubled teenager. Someone who has already violated their home and stolen their peace of mind.A time to love....Now the police are involved. Grace is relieved--and worried. Is Jessica in danger from a drug dealer who wants to silence her? Detective Tony Marino is on the case. He''s too close for comfort, asking disturbing questions, probing into her long-buried past, igniting feelings Grace has tried to suppress. In Tony''s strong arms, Grace finds comfort, protection--passion--as he tries to shield them from the evil lurking just beyond their door....

An unexpected romance emerges between a young woman desperate to keep her family’s wealth and the man trying to gain it in this first in New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards’s Regency-era series.England, 1810: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family’s riches will pass to the next male heir—a distant cousin—and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast. Which she does. Pretending that her brother is still alive, Gabby arranges beautiful Claire’s London season. She’ll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be the Earl of Wickham, Gabby’s plan backfires. For if she exposes this mysterious stranger’s deceit, she exposes her own. Bound by secrets and lies, Gabby and the roguish adventurer strike sparks off each other—and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of “siblings” who appear to be falling in love.

With this sensual and entrancing tale, bestselling author Karen Robards continues her wonderful trilogy of three sisters taking their rightful place as the belles of Regency England''s ton.Claire Banning fulfilled every debutante''s dream when she married a rich nobleman. Soon, however, the celebrated beauty realizes she wed a dissolute wastrel. Bitterly hurt and desperately lonely, Claire vows nonetheless to take her expected place in society. Then on a journey home to her husband''s estate on the coast of Sussex, she is abducted, and her life—and her heart—are changed forever. Hugh Battancourt—a dark and dangerous nobleman who long ago turned his back on the ton and now leads a life secretly dedicated to his country''s service—is determined not to be swayed by his prisoner''s beauty as they share a cabin on a ship bound for France. Lives depend on his retrieving from her a letter full of secrets she intends to turn over to the enemy. But even as Claire and Hugh engage in a battle of wits and wills, captor and captive find themselves drawn irresistibly to each other. Is it possible, Claire wonders, that she could discover the true meaning of love that has eluded her with this handsome stranger? One who will lay his life on the line in order to protect her from someone who is intent on placing Claire in the path of danger?

One of the most popular voices in women’s fiction” (Newsweek), Karen Robards delivers another electrifying national bestseller with this story of unexpected attraction and evil that lurks beneath a bit of Southern splendor.Left bankrupt after her billionaire father’s sudden death, Alexandra Haywood returns to Shelby County, Kentucky—that bit of Southern splendor known as Paradise County—to sell the family’s magnificent horse farm. Part of her mission is to fire Joe Welch, the sexy, stubborn farm manager who worked hard for the Haywoods while raising his children. But Joe refuses to be fired, and he and Alex clash. They also fall for each other—hard. Just as their attraction flares, a shocking murder with ties to the past rocks the county—and cuts close to home when Joe’s teenage son, Eli, and Alex’s wild-spirited younger sister, Neely, vanish. Now, the evil that lurks beneath Paradise County raises its gruesome head—and Alex is targeted as the next victim.

Karen Robards, who delivered "a racy read" (Cosmopolitan) in her acclaimed bestseller Paradise County, once again electrifies the page with hardwired passion and thrilling suspense in this heart-pounding new novel.Suspicion burned within Julie Carlson—the heartbreaking, infuriating suspicion that her husband, a wealthy and powerful contractor, was having an affair. Not sure whom to trust, Julie turns to a handsome stranger... Private detective Mac McQuarry ignores his better judgment about not mixing women and work when he''s hired by Julie Carlson. Not only is she drop-dead gorgeous, but Sid Carlson was a player in Mac''s inglorious downfall from the Charleston P.D.—and revenge would be sweet indeed. But when Mac witnesses an explosive hit that targeted Julie, the tables are turned—and Mac and Julie become the hunted. With their fiery flirtation sparking into full-blown passion, they must crash their way through a maze of buried secrets and deadly deceptions.

The first novel in Karen Robards's Regency-era historical romance Banning Sisters trilogy, Scandalous is full of scheming, secrets, and an unexpected romance between a young woman trying to keep her family's wealth and a man trying to gain it. England, 1810: When Lady Gabriella Banning receives word that her half-brother, the Earl of Wickham, has died on his tea plantation in Ceylon, she faces the reality that she and her younger sisters, Claire and Elizabeth, are suddenly penniless. The family's riches will pass to the next male heir—a distant cousin—and the Banning sisters are doomed unless Gabby thinks fast. Which she does. Pretending that Marcus is still alive, Gabby arranges beautiful Claire's London season. She'll keep up the pretense just long enough for Claire to marry a fabulously wealthy nobleman. But when a handsome gentleman arrives at the door and claims to be Marcus, Gabby's plan backfires. For if she exposes this mysterious stranger's deceit, she exposes her own. Bound by secrets and lies, Gabby and the roguish adventurer strike sparks off each other—and soon London society is abuzz over the scandalous pair of "siblings" who appear to be falling in love... With this beautifully rendered romance, bestselling author Karen Robards begins a sweeping series about three unforgettable sisters poised to take the ton by storm.

Suspicion. It burned through every nerve and fiber of Julie Carlson—the heartbreaking, infuriating suspicion that her husband was having an affair. To the rest of the world, Sid Carlson was a wealthy contractor with friends in highly influential places. But to Julie, he was a man who had cheated on their marriage vow—and she knew she had to take desperate measures. Who can she trust? Heartbroken by her husband, Julie turns to a handsome stranger. Mac McQuarry knew better than to mix women and work: the private detective had tracked enough cheating spouses to know unbridled desire usually has no good end. And he had enough trouble of his own: the disgraced former cop had been bumped way down to his current status after an explosive shakedown of the Charleston police department. But when Julie Carlson hires him, Mac can't resist. Not only is she drop-dead gorgeous, but her husband, a longtime enemy, was a player in Mac's inglorious downfall—and he'd love nothing more than to catch the corrupt jerk with his pants down, so to speak. But what begins as a run-of-the-mill assignment spiced by a fiery flirtation with beautiful Julie suddenly spirals into a harrowing race for survival. Tracking the Carlsons' car down a lonely road one night, Mac witnesses an incredible hit that targeted Julie—and suddenly Mac and Julie have become the hunted. With the mob and the police in hot pursuit, they can rely only on each other as they crash their way through a maze of buried secrets and deadly deceptions.

From New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards, whom Newsweek magazine calls “one of the most popular voices in women’s fiction,” comes a thrilling novel of romantic suspense set in a sultry small southern town.Carly Linton returns to her hometown of Benton, Georgia, to open a bed-and-breakfast in the house she inherited from her grandmother. She’s also dead-set on burying her former good-girl image—by seducing the one man who can give her a guided tour of the wild side...Matt Converse, the local sheriff, was once the town’s bad boy who shared one magical night with Carly at her senior prom. But igniting the sparks of the past can lead to a blaze of danger: First her house is burglarized, then someone comes after her. A mysterious enemy wants Carly out of Benton for good, and now she needs Matt more than ever—to keep her alive.

From New York Times bestselling author Karen Robards comes a thrilling new novel of suspense and steamy seaside sensuality set in North Carolina''s Outer Banks, where a serial killer combs the beaches filled with beautiful female tourists for his next victim. Christy Petrino hadn''t planned on a vacation on Ocracoke Island, but when she learns her fiancé and boss, suave Michael DePalma, is a "made man" and the Philadelphia law firm where she works is a front for the mob, she breaks her engagement and quits her job. But no one walks away from the DePalma family business so easily. Only if she delivers a locked briefcase to a motel on Ocracoke Island will she—and her mother and sisters—be free. But after clandestinely making her drop-off late at night, Christy suspects she is being followed on the moonlit beach—and unwittingly runs into a new kind of terror. Now a witness at the center of a homicide investigation, Christy learns the police are hunting a serial killer they refer to as the "Beachcomber" because beautiful young women—women who, in fact, resemble her—have disappeared recently while vacationing at nearby beach communities. Christy doesn''t know whom to fear more—a serial killer who believes she might be able to identify him, or the DePalma family, whose tentacles she can''t seem to escape. Only when she''s with Luke Rand, her big surfer-dude next-door neighbor, does she feel safe. But with Luke''s asking so many questions about her ex-fiancé and his showing up almost too conveniently whenever danger strikes, she can''t help but wonder if his interest in her is due to more than sexual attraction. Can she trust this handsome stranger to help her survive a hot and deadly summer? Karen Robards creates a tour de force of passion and suspense in this scintillating page-turner, the quintessential summertime read.

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

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.”—BookreporterFrom the Hardcover edition.