Books published by publisher Kensington -Teen/Dafina

For South Bay High's bold, beautiful Jayd Jackson, drama has reached record-breaking heights as she finds herself on the defensive at home, work, and school. Maybe it's time to take her destiny--and her power--into her own hands. . . Her relationship with now-ex boyfriend Jeremy behind her, Jayd realizes drama is just a never-ending part of daily life. Even so, she's reached her limit, battling with her new boss, jealousies at school, and tensions at home. To deal with it all, Jayd is ready to give some attention to her legacy as one in a long line of conjure women. But that legacy comes with a line of rivals too--and a couple of them are much too close to home. First, there's Misty, Jayd's enemy #1 and current girlfriend of Jayd's other ex, KJ. Then there's Jayd's neighbor, Esmeralda, a conjurer from Louisiana whose crystal-clear blue eyes are said to be deadly. When Jayd spots Misty's mom visiting Esmeralda, she knows something's up and it's time for Mama to fill her in. Turns out there's a history between these families, and if Jayd wants to keep the drama under control, she'll have to learn to use her power like never before--and become the woman she was born to be.

An amazingly addictive new series. –Fresh FictionI've seen so many freaky things since I started attending Mythos Academy last fall. I know I'm supposed to be a fearless warrior, but most of the time, I feel like I'm just waiting for the next Bad, Bad Thing to happen. Like someone trying to kill me--again.Everyone at Mythos Academy knows me as Gwen Frost, the Gypsy girl who uses her psychometry magic to find lost objects--and who just may be dating Logan Quinn, the hottest guy in school. But I'm also the girl the Reapers of Chaos want dead in the worst way. The Reapers are the baddest of the bad, the people who murdered my mom. So why do they have it in for me? It turns out my mom hid a powerful artifact called the Helheim Dagger before she died. Now, the Reapers will do anything to get it back. They think I know where the dagger is hidden, but this is one thing I can't use my magic to find. All I do know is that the Reapers are coming for me--and I'm in for the fight of my life. Praise for Touch of Frost"A great start to a new young adult paranormal series." –Night Owl Reviews"At the Mythos Academy, surviving high school means staying alive!" –Kerrelyn Sparks"It has literally everything: mystery, romance, mythology, boarding schools. What could be better?" --Simply Nerdy Book Reviews

First in the Elemental series: “A refreshingly human paranormal romance” in which a girl stumbles into a world of adventure, danger, and romantic intrigue (Kirkus Reviews). Thanks to her vindictive ex-boyfriend, Becca Chandler is suddenly getting attention from all the guys—and not the kind of attention she wants. Then she saves Chris Merrick from a fight in the school parking lot. He’s a nice enough boy, even if he is a bit odd—he barely even fought back against his attackers. But Becca soon discovers that Chris is no weakling. Chris is different. Way different: he can control water—just like his brothers can control fire, wind, and earth. They’re powerful. Dangerous. And they have been marked for death. And now that she knows the truth, so is Becca. But secrets are hard to keep when your life is at stake. So when Hunter, the mysterious new kid around school, proves to be a possible ally, Becca thinks she can trust him. But when Hunter goes head-to-head with Chris, Becca must uncover which one is hiding the most dangerous truth of all. Because a storm is coming . . . In this first book in the Elemental series, Brigid Kemmerer launches a thrilling new young adult series full of “magic, suspense, and enough twists to keep you reading until sunrise” (Erica O’Rourke).

Simone tells authentic stories of teen life in the 'hood better than any other author currently writing contemporary YA street lit. --Library Journal on Teenage Love Affair (starred review)True story: I'm Gem, G-E-M, like a precious jewel, and my life has been nothing like my name. I've been on my own since I was nine and now I'm sixteen. But so what. I'm good, and so is my little brother. So why the state won't let us do our own thing is beyond me. Instead, we've been forced to live with a foster family who wants to love us, but I'm not beat--I'm just trying to do me. To make matters worse, I've been checking for this guy, Ny'eem. But my new clique has an unbreakable rule--no boyz allowed to come between our friendship--which is forcing me to keep my relationship with Ny'eem a secret. Though not for long. . .because in high school secrets are always exposed, scandals always rewrite the rules, and friendships are never what they seem. . . . "Excitement, drama, and life lessons. . .. Upgrade U is sure to be a classic." --A.J. Byrd, author of Losing Romeo"A new series with a pair of drama-fueled stories about girls looking for love in all the wrong ways." --Publishers Weekly on The Break-Up Diaries

For a moment, a face flashed before my eyes--the most hideous face I'd ever seen. No matter how hard I tried to forget what had happened, I saw him everywhere I went. It was Loki--the evil god that I'd helped set free against my will.I should have known that my first official date with Logan Quinn was destined to end in disaster. If we'd gotten into a swordfight, or been ambushed by Reapers, I'd have been more prepared. But getting arrested mid-sip at the local coffee hangout? I didn't see that one coming. I've been accused of purposely helping the Reapers free Loki from his prison--and the person leading the charge against me is Linus Quinn, Logan's dad. The worst part is that pretty much everyone at Mythos Academy thinks I'm guilty. If I'm going to get out of this mess alive, I'll have to do it myself. . ."An amazingly addictive new series."--Fresh FictionPraise for the Mythos Academy series"Kiss of Frost has just as much ass-kicking as the first book in the series." --Good Choice Reading"Lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending will leave the reader breathless!" --RT Book Reviews on Kiss of Frost, 4 Stars"A great start to a new young adult paranormal series." --Night Owl Reviews on Touch of Frost"It has literally everything: mystery, romance, mythology, boarding schools. What could be better?" --Simply Nerdy Book Reviews on Touch of Frost

I've battled the Reapers of Chaos before—and survived. But this time I have a Bad, Bad Feeling it's going to be a fight to the death. . .most likely mine. Yeah, I've got my psychometry magic, my talking sword, Vic, and even the most dangerous Spartan on campus at my side in Logan freaking Quinn, but I'm no match for Loki, the evil Norse god of chaos. I may be Nike's Champion, but at heart, I'm still just Gwen Frost, that weird Gypsy girl everyone at school loves to gossip about. Then someone I love is put in more danger than ever before, and something inside me snaps. This time, Loki and his Reapers are going down for good . . . or I am. Praise for the international bestselling Mythos Academy series"Lots of twists and turns and a surprise ending will leave the reader breathless!" —RT Book Reviews on Kiss of Frost, 4 Stars"Humor, snark . . . a world you won't want to leave." —Heroes & Heartbreakers

Success is never easy. Neither is staying real. . .Sunday Tolliver's hard work and talent have finally paid off-she's got a smash album and mad-money beyond her wildest dreams. But earning fame is a lot easier than dealing with it. Sunday's diva cousin, Dreya, and bad-boy rapper, Truth, will do anything to get payback and wreck her reputation. Her gifted new collaborator Dilly has every reason not to make Sunday's crucial follow-up album a hit. And a new reality show starring Sunday is making her love life way too hot to handle. Now she has to figure out who's fake, who's for real, who's down, and who's really got her back. And the only way she can take control of her success is to keep making it her way. . .Praise for Nikki Carter "For celebrity-drama lovers everywhere." --Kirkus on Not a Good Look "Nikki Carter is a fresh, new voice." --ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Essence bestselling author". . .(a) hot new teen series." --Mitzi Miller, Essence bestselling author

Living your dreams is the hard part . . .Sunday Tolliver has a mega-smash album up for major awards--and her first few months as a college freshman are everything she hoped for. But juggling all this and her long-distance romance with boyfriend Sam is taking drama to mad-crazy levels. Hot up-and-coming video star DeShawn isn't letting Sunday's relationship keep him from getting close. And relentless online gossip is seriously shaking Sunday's trust in Sam. On top of that, her jealous diva cousin, Dreya, just won't stay out of Sunday's face--especially now that she's in the running for the same music awards. The only way Sunday can stop the madness and get back on track is to trust her instincts--and get a little help from her friends. . ."This series is poised to ‘blow up'. . ." --KirkusPraise for Nikki Carter ". . .plenty of reality show-type drama." --Romantic Times on Doing My Own Thing "Nikki Carter is a fresh, new voice." ?ReShonda Tate Billingsley, Essence® bestselling author

"The characters are as fantastic as Estep fans have come to expect." – RT Book ReviewsBad Things Always Come In Threes…As a thief, I'm good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls. Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families--and kill every last Sinclair. What they don't know is that I'm on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I've got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side… "An adventurous ride you will never want to get off." --#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout on Cold Burn of Magic

Back for another dose of high drama, Compton's sassiest, Jayd Jackson, is about to discover it really is a different world when she starts dating South Bay High's finest white boy. . .All Jayd Jackson wants is a drama-free year at South Bay High, a.k.a. Drama High. But it doesn't seem she's going to get it. It's only the second week of Junior year and already, Misty, her nemesis, has almost gotten her killed after instigating a fight between Jayd and KJ's girlfriend, Trecee. But it goes with the territory. She's a fire child, and granddaughter to Lynne Mae Williams--Mama--and Mama says that means the drama will follow Jayd wherever she goes. Even so, Jayd just wants to chill, still hoping Junior year can carry on, drama-free. And with Misty and KJ reportedly "hanging," Jayd is ready to move on. But the brother won't stop blowing up Jayd's cellie, and the text-messages keep coming; and the message is clear: KJ wants Jayd back bad. But Jayd couldn't care less. She's got a new man to kick-it with now--a half-Jewish white boy from Palos Verdes whose parents are loaded with a capital "L." And Jeremy Weiner's no ordinary white boy--he listens to East Coast rap, he's got a sweet ride, and he's got it bad for Jayd Jackson. But no one at South Bay High will just let a sistah be happy. Misty's back to her usual foolishness, KJ's all over her jock, and the notoriously anti-black teacher Mrs. Bennett is tripping. Jeremy's got her totally sprung, but she's going to have to rely on her brains--and some of Mama's magic, of course--if she's going to survive another week at Drama High.L. Divine is at the top of her game in this superb follow-up to the power-packed Drama High: The Fight. Look for the next juicy installment, Jayd's Legacy, coming soon.

"Kemmerer will melt your heart and blow your mind." --#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. ArmentroutOne misstep and they lose it all. For the last time.Michael Merrick is used to pressure. He's the only parent his three brothers have had for years. His power to control Earth could kill someone if he miscalculates. Now an Elemental Guide has it out for his family, and he's all that stands in the way. His girlfriend, Hannah, gets that. She's got a kid of her own, and a job as a firefighter that could end her life without a moment's notice. But there are people who have had enough of Michael's defiance, his family's "bad luck." Before he knows it, Michael's enemies have turned into the Merricks' enemies, and they're armed for war. They're not interested in surrender. But Michael isn't the white flag type anyway. There will be blood on the ground tonight. . . Praise for Brigid Kemmerer and The Elemental Series"Magic, suspense, and enough twists to keep you reading until sunrise.!" --Award winning author Erica O'Rourke"A refreshingly human paranormal romance. . . Read fast and keep that heart rate up." --Kirkus Reviews on Storm

It's almost Valentine's Day at South Bay High, but romance is the last thing on Jayd Jackson's mind. . .If Cupid had his way, love would be in the air at South Bay High. But even though Valentine's Day is around the corner, no one's having an easy time of it--especially not Jayd Jackson, who lost her mojo after her friend Tre's shooting. Worn out by Tre's death--and sick of the same old drama with Rah--Jayd's suddenly ruining her clients' hair and feeling alienated from her friends. And to make things worse, she's got to watch her back because her nemesis, Misty, is plotting her ruin. Good thing Jayd has her magical Mama on her side. Because to protect herself and bring her crew back together, Jayd will need more than her inner strength. She'll need the help of her gifted ancestors. . .