The Last Kiss Goodbye: A Novel

Front Cover
Ballantine Books, 2013 - Fiction - 317 pages
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 all-new 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"
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"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"
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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"
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" "Excellent . . . This story is going to haunt you.""--Pittsburgh Post-Gazette"
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"Thrilling . . . a fun and sexy read.""--Booklist"
 

Selected pages

Contents

Section 1
3
Section 2
17
Section 3
29
Section 4
40
Section 5
58
Section 6
67
Section 7
79
Section 8
91
Section 15
176
Section 16
188
Section 17
198
Section 18
212
Section 19
225
Section 20
240
Section 21
251
Section 22
267

Section 9
104
Section 10
113
Section 11
124
Section 12
136
Section 13
149
Section 14
161
Section 23
278
Section 24
291
Section 25
307
Section 26
314
Copyright

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About the author (2013)

Karen Robards was born in Louisville, Kentucky on August 24, 1954. She graduated from the University of Kentucky. Her first novel, Island Flame, was published in 1981, when she was 24 years old. Since then, she has written more than 40 contemporary and historical romances including To Love a Man, Sea Fire, One Summer, Irresistible, Whispers at Midnight, Guilty, Shameless, and Sleepwalker. She has received six Silver Pen Awards, two Waldenbooks Wally Awards, one Romantic Times award, a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award, and has been named to the Romantic Times Romance Writers Hall of Fame. She has written a number of series, including The Banning Sisters and Charlotte Stone. Her title's, The Last Kiss Goodbye and Hush made The New York Times best seller list.

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