Best Selling Books by Karen Rose

Includes an excerpt from: Drape expectations (pages [295]-310).

A home stager finds a few skeletons in her client’s closet in this cozy series debut—“an elegantly crafted murder mystery featuring an irresistible sleuth" (Leslie Meier). Former interior designer Caprice De Luca has parlayed her skills into a thriving new career as a home stager, helping the people of Kismet, Pennsylvania, make their homes shine in a lackluster real estate market. When her old high school friend Roz Winslow asks Caprice to spruce up her mess of a mansion, she’s happy to share her skills. But when Roz''s husband Ted is found skewered in the sword room, it seems that Caprice has been setting the stage for murder. When suspicion falls on Roz, it looks like she’ll be making a new home in the State Penitentiary. Determined to clear her name, Caprice starts applying her eye for detail to gathering clues and catching the real killer. "A cozy blend of murder and romance. A fun read--with recipes!" --Laura Levine

SNOWBOUND WITH THE BOSS? Well, loyal readers, another spring, another blizzard. But this prospector has the pleasure of bringing you all some unusually hot gossip. It seems that the Queen of Hearts Mine may not belong to the Douglas family after all! Old Caleb has actually hired a private investigator to prove his ownership. Unfortunately, handsome playboy Brad Vaughn and his beautiful secretary, Emily Stanton, have been stranded up at the Douglas cabin. It''s been rumored that Brad never mixes business with pleasure, and Emily looks like she''ll only play for keeps. Still, despite their differences, they''ll have to keep warm somehow…Perhaps the spring thaw will bring more than sunshine to these two!

From the #1 international bestselling author of the Baltimore series comes a suspenseful novella featuring Assistant State’s Attorney Daphne Montgomery and Special Agent Joseph Carter. After a traumatic kidnapping, Daphne’s boss insists that she take time off. But she refuses to sit on the sidelines when she meets a six-year-old girl who the police call Angel. Angel hasn’t spoken a word since they found her four days ago next to a burned out car, frozen with shock, not far from the bodies of two adults who may or may not have been her parents. Joseph knows that helping Angel is exactly what Daphne needs right now. But when Daphne gets Angel to talk, a mysterious and chilling crime begins to unravel—one that drives Daphne into the darkest corners of her past as she and Joseph track a ruthless killer. Includes a preview of Watch Your Back

She’s making over a mansion for a good cause—but her client just met a bad end in this novel by the USA Today–bestselling author. Between her booming business, her family, and her work rescuing stray animals, home stager Caprice De Luca’s life is packed. But when a murder unsettles peaceful Kismet, Pennsylvania, she adds amateur sleuth to her resume. Thanks to a wealthy patron, Kismet’s women''s shelter, Sunrise Tomorrow, has inherited a run-down mansion. Now the shelter’s director, Wendy Newcomb, wants Caprice’s decorating expertise. Caprice is happy to help, but when she glimpses a few heated encounters between Wendy and some locals, she fears that Wendy may be in need of protection herself. When Wendy is found dead inside the old house, Caprice is compelled to poke around in her affairs—and discovers she had her share of enemies. Now, with countless clients, a TV gig that could make her a household name, and rumors of a marriage proposal on its way, Caprice must find time to design an investigation that will lure a crafty killer into the wide open—before someone else winds up in a state of permanent disrepair . . . “The author’s plotting skills are impressive.” —New York Journal of Books

She''d just gone into labor… …seven weeks early! Now Dr. Lily Wescott was the proud mother of twin baby girls. But she couldn''t have done it without Mitch Cortega. The decorated combat surgeon was with her every step of the way. And the young widow was finding it awfully hard to resist Mitch''s overpowering masculinity…. Spending time with Lily and her infant daughters was making Mitch yearn for something he''d never known was missing. The wounded combat surgeon knew they both needed time to heal. But how much longer could they fight their attraction? With Christmas just around the corner, it was time to move on and trust in a love that could transform the past into a future filled with the true joy of giving!

"WILL YOU MARRY ME?" Those were the words Jenny Farber had always longed to hear Zack Decker say. But marrying him would have meant leaving the only home she''d ever really known. So instead of following her high school sweetheart to L.A., she stayed on at his family''s ranch, training the horses she adored. Zack never knew about the secret she carried…or how much she still loved him. Until a near-tragedy brought him home again…. Fifteen years ago, Jenny broke Zack''s heart. Seeing her again rekindles all the sweet passion they once shared. But Zack came home to Miners Bluff only to deal with a family crisis—then he''s pulling up stakes again. So why is Jenny making him dream of settling down in the one place he''d vowed to leave forever?

Her Tycoon Boss by Karen Rose Smith released on May 25, 2001 is available now for purchase.

Ever since Dr. Dillon Traub arrived at Thunder Canyon Resort, tongues have been wagging about the chemistry zinging between the Texas oil tycoon and his new receptionist. Those broad shoulders of his may be awfully tempting…but single mom Erika Rodriguez knows better than to give in to her attraction to the handsome bachelor doctor. So why is the sought-after playboy going out of his way to prove to the love-burned Erika that he''d make the ideal husband—and perfect father to her adorable baby girl? Stay tuned, dear readers, to see if the town''s favorite new physician will be heading back home. Or if this Dr. Daddy is writing a prescription for lifetime happiness!

Includes recipes and an excerpt from an upcoming novel in the series entitled ''Silence of the lamps.''

In this Pennsylvania town, crime lurks behind the Christmas decorations . . . “A great storyline that will keep you guessing to the very end.” —Suspense Magazine It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially now that Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismet, Pennsylvania. Behind all the red ribbon and glowing string lights, homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather have it all. But Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange behavior after a recent trip to Washington, DC The joy of the season vanishes entirely when Chris is found murdered on Santa Lane, leaving behind his loyal malamute and lots of unfinished business. As Caprice uncovers hidden secrets in Santa''s workshop, the pressure is on to catch the candy cane-wielding culprit—before she’s next on a killer’s deadly wish list . . . “An irresistible sleuth.” —Leslie Meier, New York Times–bestselling author of Irish Parade Murder

A catering job has come in for Daisy’s Tea Garden in Pennsylvania’s Amish country—but death will be served before dessert . . . Margaret Vaughn has hired Daisy to provide afternoon tea for her theater group. A local girl who left long ago for an acting career in New York, Margaret has returned home—with a multimillionaire husband in tow. But while Daisy bustles around Margaret’s historic farmhouse, she senses that there’s tension behind the scenes. Then she discovers the hostess on the floor of the pantry—dead and covered with clotted cream. Barely recovered from her previous sleuthing adventure, Daisy joins forces with the former detective she’s been dating to help solve the case. Should she cast suspicion on the stars of the upcoming play? Can Margaret’s sister shine a spotlight on potential culprits? Or are there clues to be found in the victim’s past? With plenty of family stress of her own to deal with, all Daisy knows is she better act fast . . .

Could he be her little boy? Six years ago, Sara Hobart helped a childless couple create their own miracle. Now she needed one of her own. All her instincts were telling her she was Kyle Barclay''s birth mother. Only one thing stood in her way: Kyle''s widowed father. Ever since his wife had died, Nathan had tried to be the best parent he could to five-year-old Kyle. Then this sensual stranger showed up. Legally, Sara had no claim on his son. But how could he keep her from the little boy who already adored her? That went double for Nathan, who was suddenly yearning to go from single dad to devoted family man.…

After losing his wife in a tragic accident, successful businessman Dawson Barrett was determined to help his son, Luke, who was dealing with his pain by acting out at school and at home. Luckily, the devoted dad knew just who to call.... As talented as she was beautiful, music therapist Mikala Conti could work miracles. To her, the real miracle was that Dawson--the boy who''d once stirred her teenage heart, then vanished--was back in town. Still, Mikala wasn''t sure Dawson was ready to move on. And she certainly didn''t believe that one reckless moment of passion could change their lives forever. But it might just be the way to heal three troubled souls searching for a second chance at a forever family.

Daisy’s Tea Garden in Pennsylvania’s Amish country is known for its elegant finger foods—but now owner Daisy Swanson has to finger a killer . . . Restaurant critic Derek Schumaker, notorious for his bitter reviews, is about to visit Daisy’s Tea Garden, and Daisy and Aunt Iris are simmering with anxiety. A bad word from the culinary curmudgeon could really hurt their business, but Daisy tries to stay confident. After all, how can he resist her cucumber sandwiches with pimento spread—not to mention the cheesy cauliflower soup and strawberry walnut salad? Schumaker takes a to-go order when the afternoon tea service is done, which Daisy hopes is a good sign. But when he perishes from a seizure, it looks like his food was dosed with something deadly. Considering a threat that recently appeared on his blog—and whispers of scandal in his past—Daisy has quite an assortment of suspects to sift through . . . Includes delicious recipes!

Rugged, hardworking Sheriff Tucker Malone is as upright as the weather vane on Gertie Anderson''s roof! So who better to shelter sweet, virginal Emma—the amnesiac who surfaced in Storkville without a nickel or last name—while he investigates her past? Still, the broad-shouldered lawman seems mighty distracted since Emma started spending nights. And he gets downright testy when other males come near Emma and the angelic abandoned twins she''s taken under her wing. For a man who''s sworn off women and family, Tucker sure is protective of his little brood. And we townsfolk suspect the sheriff hasn''t a clue…that Emma and her charges have stolen his heart!

Celeste Wells didn''t think twice about becoming a surrogate mom for her twin sister. But when Zoie''s marriage ended suddenly, heartbroken Celeste just couldn''t let the little girl go. Clay Sullivan''s world shattered once his wife walked out on him and their daughter, and Celeste was a reminder of the painful memories the tough survival guide had barely survived. Yet she was everything her sister wasn''t—loyal, loving, committed to the child to whom she''d given birth. Not to mention the attraction that sizzled between them the moment they came face-to-face at their fifteen-year reunion! Would falling for Celeste be making the same mistake twice…or giving Abby the mother she was always meant to have?

USA Today–bestselling author:The lights have gone out permanently for a highly competitive caterer . . . “The plot is beyond engaging . . . A great protagonist.” —Rifflebooks Caprice’s house staging is disrupted by Drew Pierson, a caterer who opened Portable Edibles, a business in direct competition with her sister Nikki''s Catered Capers. Nikki turned down Drew as a possible partner and he seems determined to undermine and bury her. But his successful deal for his blackberry barbecue sauce must have stirred up his enemies. When Nikki visits the house where Drew lives with his grandmother to resolve differences, she and Caprice find him dead—murdered with the base of a valuable Tiffany lamp. Caprice discovers clues about Drew’s sly business dealings—from stealing recipes from another chef, to friends who hold grudges, to a sister who will now inherit half of her grandmother’s estate since Drew is dead. In the midst of her own romantic relationship upheaval, helping her uncle set up his pet sitting-business, and assisting in the care of a pregnant stray cat, Caprice follows the suspect trail, inadvertently putting herself in danger once more. “An irresistible sleuth.” —Leslie Meier, New York Times–bestselling author of Irish Parade Murder

Be My Bride? by Karen Rose Smith released on Dec 25, 2000 is available now for purchase.

Three kids. One pregnant cat. And one perfect nanny… When Daniel Sutton’s daughters rescue an abandoned calico, the hardworking attorney doesn’t expect to be sharing his home with a litter of newborns! And the adorable kittens aren’t his only houseguests. Animal shelter volunteer Emma Alvarez is transforming the lives of Daniel and his three girls. The first-time nanny is a natural with kids and pets. Will that extend to a single father ready to trust in love again?

Handsome cowboy Ryder Redstone always got what he wanted, and he wanted Daisy Harding—as his wife. But she stubbornly refused to marry him, despite her carrying his child. She didn''t deny that a blazing passion sizzled between them, but she insisted that she wouldn''t accept a proposal inspired out of duty. Well, Ryder had had enough of this nonsense. He was determined to make Daisy irrevocably his, and while he regretted that he hadn''t put a ring on her finger before they learned they were about to become parents, Ryder planned to change that the next time around!

In Pennsylvania’s Amish country, Daisy Swanson has a tea shop to run, a daughter to marry off—and a murder to solve . . . Daisy’s worried one of her employees at Daisy’s Tea Garden may be in a spot of trouble. Lately Karina’s been loading up on soup and second-day baked goods at the end of her shift—and while the shop’s scrumptious treats may be hard to resist, Daisy suspects there’s more going on, especially since Karina has been seen hanging out in a rundown part of Willow Creek. Planning her own daughter’s wedding is enough to keep her busy, but Daisy can’t help feeling a protective maternal instinct—and an instinct to investigate. It turns out Karina has been helping a down-on-his luck single dad who’s been making ends meet—barely—by selling antiques at a place called Pirated Treasures. But when an employee at the antiques store is bludgeoned to death with a marble rolling pin, Karina’s new friend is suspect number one. Though the motives are muddy and steeped in intrigue, Daisy is more than determined to flush the real killer out. Includes delicious recipes!

Parallels the lives of a Negro youth beginning a possible journey into crime and a white boy uncertain of his self-image in his new neighborhood.

After one torrid night at their high school reunion, Riley O''Rourke thought his torch for Brenna McDougall had finally been extinguished. But after she appeared on his doorstep—with his infant son, no less!—it was clear that the flames of passion sizzled hotter than ever. Brenna knew that Riley was all wrong for her. But one encounter with her secret love plunged her back into his life for keeps. She hadn''t bargained on their long-muffled chemistry being as explosive as ever. Or that the old feud still simmering between his family and hers could threaten their new family…and their rekindled romance!

Hitched for love—or business? Find out as Karen Rose Smith returns to Rust Creek Falls in the latest installment of the Montana Mavericks: Rust Creek Cowboys.! Rust Creek Ramblings It seems as if all we''ve been hearing about these days in Rust Creek Falls is folks falling in love and getting engaged. But this latest one tops them all. Dr. Brooks Smith, our favorite veterinarian, the most confirmed bachelor in all of Montana, is taking himself a bride! The fact that he has chosen Jasmine "Jazzy" Cates, his new assistant, a visitor from Thunder Canyon, is only fueling speculation. Rumors are this "love match" is really just a business proposition, but sweet Jazzy may have something more in mind. Can she turn her convenient husband''s wedding fever into a lifelong condition?

To love, or not to love? That is the question for widower Leo Montgomery, a boat designer who''d do anything to make his little .girl happy—except let himself fall for her sweet-faced nanny. Even if that nanny is staying in the bedroom riext door. And even if he can''t keep khis mind off Verity Sumpter. Because beneath her drab clothes and plain-Jane glasses he senses there is a beautiful woman who could fill his heart with joy. And a woman who seems as wary of embracing love as he is. Still, can Leo find the courage to put a new spin on this beloved old play…?

On the surface, Brian and Carrie Summers had a fairy-tale marriage. But their battle with infertility puts a strain on their marriage that neither had expected. Can their love overcome this obstacle?

Her painful past had taught neonatologist Francesca Talbot to rely on no one but herself. Until an accident landed the mother-to-be in the hospital…and she was forced to turn to fiercely protective rancher Grady Fitzgerald—her baby''s father. Grady was determined to be part of his new family''s life…which meant watching over mother and unborn child whether Francesca liked it or not! And once the irresistible beauty was ensconced at his Texas ranch, Grady knew it was where she belonged. So he''d just have to put his own heartache aside and break down the wall the wary doctor had built around her heart. Because it was no longer just their baby''s future at stake….

Wealth, Power And A Proper Wife by Karen Rose Smith released on Jul 24, 1998 is available now for purchase.

A tragic accident had taken everything from Dane Cameron–his wife, his child, even his skill as a surgeon–so he''d come here to the New Mexico desert to practice a different kind of medicine. He was searching for a new beginning–but he found something more....

Daisy Swanson, bride-to-be and owner of Daisy’s Tea Garden in Pennsylvania’s Amish country, may have one or two more murders to solve before she says “ I do . . .” Daisy has a lot to celebrate this summer. She’s supervising a special tea event to help commemorate the 100-year-anniversary of her town’s historic covered bridge. But the main event is her upcoming wedding to her beloved fiancé Jonas. Somehow Willow Creek’s busiest brewer of specialty teas and amateur sleuth still finds time to be a guest on local journalist Trevor Lundquist’s crime podcast to discuss the last murder she solved. After the podcast, Trevor receives an anonymous tip from a caller who claims a travel chest that’s about to be auctioned holds a clue to a twenty-year-old unsolved murder. Is it a hoax or a genuine lead? When a body turns up in Willow Creek, Trevor suspects a connection between this current homicide and the cold case. Has the murderer killed again to cover their tracks? Now Daisy has another mystery steeping and Trevor may just have his next podcast . . . Includes delicious recipes!

Hot as a Texas summer one minute, vulnerable, sweet and down-to-earth the next, all supermodel Gabriella McCord needed right now was a little space after a scorching breakup. It was bodyguard Rafe Balthazar''s job to provide just that during her assignment in Dallas. But peace and quiet weren''t in the cards…because no one got her pulse racing quite like Rafe. In Gabby, Rafe discovered a woman as multifaceted as the diamonds she''d been hired to promote. But this former Secret Service agent didn''t like mixing business and pleasure, especially with paparazzi tracking their every move. What would it take for him to let down his guard and let Gabby into his heart?

A desperate hunt to find a young girl''s killer is about to turn deadly. ALONE IN THE DARK is the breath-taking second novel in the Cincinnati series, by bestselling author Karen Rose. ''Intense, complex and unforgettable'' JAMES PATTERSON ''Fast and furious'' SUN _________ Would you cross the line between danger and desire, justice and revenge? Former Army Ranger Marcus O''Bannion and homicide cop Scarlett Bishop have met only briefly but when Scarlett receives a phone call in the middle of the night, she immediately recognises the hauntingly smooth voice asking her to meet him in one of Cincinnati''s roughest areas. On arriving, Scarlett finds the body of a seventeen-year-old Asian girl and Marcus injured. A fierce champion of victims'' rights, Marcus claims the young woman was working for an affluent local family and the last time he saw her she was terrified, abused, and clearly in need of help. Having agreed to meet her, both Marcus and the young woman were targeted for death. As they investigate, Scarlett and Marcus are pulled into the dangerous world of human trafficking where they soon realise they are going to have to become as ruthless as those they are hunting. Because if they don''t, how many other girls may end up alone in the dark? _________ Praise for Karen Rose: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''A thriller that grips you from the start and takes you on a rollercoaster ride of action, romance and murder... Karen rose is an acclaimed author who knows how to enthral, and captivate her readers and this book does all of that and more'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''I Love this author. All of her books I''ve read never fail to disappoint me. Twists and turns, intrigue and end of seat anticipation... every time!'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''I enjoyed this story very much. It was full of action and mystery throughout. Good plots that kept you on the edge of your seat. Would recommend all to read. Thank you'' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ ''I absolutely love Karen rose''s books... great characters, brilliant stories and a hero to fall in love with in each book''

THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEARWith three kids to care for and two jobs to make ends meet, the last thing on Angela Schumacher’s mind was a relationship. And then Santa delivered the perfect man to her door…. Football coach David Moore agreed to be a “big brother” to Angela’s troubled older son, but he didn’t anticipate falling hard for the boy’s beautiful mom. As the holidays approached and their romance heated up, David knew Angela was torn between family duty and heart’s desire—but was he willing to wait for her to make up her mind? After all, love was waiting under the tree, if only Angela could reach out and grab it! Talk of the Neighborhood Welcome to Danbury Way, where nothing is as it seems…

GUESS WHAT…WE''RE (STILL) MARRIED! She was only seventeen when Chase Parker swept Lady Lucie Fortune Chesterfield off her royal feet. His oil magnate father cut their love affair short and forced them to annul their union…or so he thought. Ten years later, the wealthy Texas rancher uncovers a secret—he''s still wed to the one woman he''s never been able to forget! Lucie was always "the quiet one." While her mom and sister have been tailed mercilessly by the tabloids, she''s maintained a low profile and a gracious image. No one has ever uncovered her deep, dark secret—an impulsive teenage marriage. When Chase tracks her down, she still finds him hard to resist. And as they prepare to untie the wedding knot, Lucie wonders: What if their biggest mistake was saying goodbye?

The Sunday Times bestselling author of Every Dark Corner returns with an exclusive novel celebrating ten years of Karen Rose''s thrillers in the UK. MONSTER IN THE CLOSET reunites readers with characters from Karen Rose''s bestselling Baltimore series. A mother is dead, and now her killer hunts the child that witnessed the brutal crime... Private Investigator Clay Maynard locates missing children for clients, but has nearly given up hope of finding his own daughter, cruelly stolen from him by his ex-wife twenty-three years ago. Equine therapist Taylor Dawson has chosen to intern at Daphne Montgomery-Carter''s stables so that she can observe the program''s security director - her father, Clay Maynard. Trying to reconcile the wonderful man she''s getting to know with the monster her mother always described, Taylor never expects to become the target of a real monster, the man who murdered the mother of the little girls she works with at the stable. Neither does she expect to fall for Ford Elkhart, Daphne''s handsome son, who is dealing with his own demons. As family and friends gather for a wedding, Taylor starts to imagine a permanent life in Baltimore. But not if the real monster gets to her first...