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on tour with Prism Book Tours
Hi, reader friends! Don’t y’all love finding new-to-me authors?! Today we welcome back our author friend, Karen Rock, and I’m pleased to share my review, an excerpt, and a tour-wide giveaway to celebrate her new release!
about the book
Rocky Mountain Cowboys #3
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
April 1st 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming
He’s not the only one who needs saving…
But maybe they can save each other?
Dark, brooding, dangerous…and possibly suicidal. Renegade rancher Justin Cade was exactly the kind of man former army chaplain Brielle Thompson needed to avoid after escaping the horrors of Afghanistan with an honorable discharge—and PTSD.
The whole point of moving to the remote Rocky Mountains of Colorado was to leave the darkness behind, not fall back into it. But falling she is…
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my thoughts
Since this is my first experience with Karen Rock’s stories, let me just say I enjoyed it so much! I appreciate the way heavy topics like grief, addiction, and suicide are tempered with humorous, sassy banter and steamy (yet clean) romance and anchored by a subtle foundation of faith and forgiveness.
Justin Cade’s struggle with self-worth and overwhelming grief in the years since his brother’s death is simply heartbreaking. Brielle Thompson’s no-nonsense approach to her clinic and patients is just what the doctor ordered for a broody, surly, daredevil like Justin. I relished pulling back the many layers of these authentic characters’ personalities!
I’m so thankful for stories that tackle tough issues to stretch and grow our compassion and understanding. I definitely recommend this story to readers who enjoy a little more heat in their sweet romance and everyone who loves a good underdog or cowboy or adventurist hero and thoughtful storyline.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
excerpt
“What are you afraid of, Justin?”
That snapped his spine straight. “Nothing.” “Then prove it. I dare you to spend the next ten weeks here, at the clinic.”
“Dare?” Was she joking? This wasn’t kid stuff… To him, it was life-and-death. And the way Brielle got under his skin, opened him up, was downright dangerous. If he accepted, he’d need to keep his distance. “I’m not going to any group talks.”
She pondered that a moment then sighed. “Fine. Go only if you want to, which I’m betting will be plenty.”
“You’re pretty sure of yourself.”
“I am.”
He found himself smiling. When was the last time he’d smiled for no reason? He liked Brielle’s gumption.
“So,” she pressed, looking so flushed and vibrant he wagered touching her would be like grabbing hold of an electric fence. He could feel the spark from where he sat. “Do we have a deal?”
He shoved back his chair and held out his hand.
“Dare accepted.”
Rocky Moutain Cowboys series
Christmas at Cade Ranch
Rocky Mountain Cowboys #1
Contemporary Romance
November 7, 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming
The Christmas they never had.
James Cade has one priority: keep the family ranch running smoothly in the wake of his younger brother’s death. With Jesse’s ex, Sofia Gallardo, and her young son, Javi, stranded at Cade Ranch over Christmas, this task just got a lot harder. The longer Sofia and Javi stay, the harder it is to imagine the ranch without them. James couldn’t save his brother from his inner demons, but he can give his nephew a secure future. Maybe more—if he can figure out how to trust Sofia, and stop feeling like he’s betraying Jesse. Because trying to stop thinking about beautiful, determined Sofia is impossible.
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Falling for a Cowboy
Rocky Mountain Cowboys #2
Contemporary Romance
January 1, 2018 by Harlequin Heartwarming
Doesn’t he get that she’s blind?
Barrel racer Amberley James wants to join the premier rodeo circuit more than anything, but she faces the ultimate hurdle when she loses her eyesight to a rare genetic condition. All she’d ever wanted seems out of reach. Giving up is the only option…until her best friend and local hero Jared Cade steps in. The last thing she wants is Jared’s help. But his persistence at encouraging her to get back in the saddle is ridiculously annoying. And undeniably inspiring…
goodreads│amazon│b&n│kobo│harlequin
about the author
In a quest to provide her ELA students with quality reading material, educator Karen Rock read everything out there and couldn’t wait to add her voice to the genre. In addition to her work as a Young Adult romance novelist, she’s now an author for Harlequin’s Heartwarming line and thrilled to pen stories that moms can share with their teenage daughters. She’s loved Harlequin books since she spent summers going through her grandmother’s Presents books that she passed along in paper grocery bags each year. As half of the writing duo J.K. Rock, Karen also pens young adult romance. When she’s not busy writing, Karen enjoys scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother’s family recipes, reinventing her gardens to suit her moods and occasionally rescuing local wildlife from neighborhood cats. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, her very appreciated beta-reader daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels, who have yet to understand the concept of “fetch” though they know a lot about love. For more information about Karen’s upcoming books, check out her website.
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other Heartwarming books by the author
tour giveaway
As part of her book tour, Karen is giving away two prizes:
1 winner will receive print copies of Christmas at Cade Ranch
1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift Card (open internationally)
giveaway ends 4/11/18
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Share your thoughts, reader friends!
Faithfully Bookish 
I found and fell in love with Karen Rock with the Rocky Mountain Cowboys series. All the stories are so very well written full of emotion, bringing tough subjects to light in the best possible way, and are books that keep you turning the pages and wanting more. I’ve read all three books and oh my goodness I can’t wait for book #4.
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Thanks for sharing about a new book. Suicide is definitely a difficult and emotional topic. I’m surprised you found the book to also have a light and fun approach.
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I’m kind of excited about this. I’d not heard of this book or author, but you make it sound great! Will add to my TBR list.
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Karen Rock is a new to me author, but definitely looks like books I would enjoy! This book sounds great, and that cover…whoa! 🙂 ❤
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one i like how halren does the book cover look like the older one and they are bright colors and then the cowboy are hot
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Karen’s books sound great!
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Hi, Beth! Thank you so much for your beautiful review and hosting me on Faithfully Bookish 🙂 I think sweet is a misnomer when it comes to my “sweet romances” and you described what my storytelling is about so perfectly- I’m more about tacking the tougher issues but in a way that gives us hope without sugarcoating the process. Redemption and healing is there for everyone and the more real I make the characters, the more I hope readers will relate to them and be inspired ❤️
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My pleasure, Karen! Hallmark fluff stories have their place but it’s usually not on my bookshelves 😉
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