Available Soon: HIS KIND OF COWGIRL by Karen Rock - Excerpt and Giveaway

His Kind 0f Cowgirl

by Karen Rock

Published by: Harlequin

Category: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: March 1, 2016

Would he still love her…if he knew?

Tanner Hayes smashed Claire's life to pieces when he chose the rodeo over her ten years ago. And now he'd wrecked her truck! Fantastic. She'd lost her husband, the family ranch was mired in debt, her father was recuperating from a stroke and her son was being bullied. Why not throw a reckless bull rider into the mix?

All she'd wanted was a safe, stable life. But with Tanner back in town—and staying on her ranch—nothing was safe, or under control. Not the feelings she'd fought so hard to forget. Not the son she was determined to protect. And certainly not her long-held secret…

Everything happened at once and in slow motion.
A crushing jolt shuddered through the truck. Her wheels skidded sideways. She smacked against the window when her pickup rolled down an embankment, as if punched by something large and lethal. Glass rained deadly sharp. The earth tumbled around her, her truck in spin cycle. When a massive tree loomed, the Chevy slammed into it then stilled.
Winded and stunned, she hung upside-down in her lap belt, blood, metallic and warm, on her tongue, a rushing sound whistling in her ears. Her heartbeat changed and grew slow and rolling in darkness. Something hurt, a long way away. Then nothing.
“Ma’am. Ma’am. Are you all right?” A man’s voice shouted, rousing her. She tried turning her head but pain held it in place. When she opened her mouth, silent panic flew out.
“Hold on. I’m getting you out of there.”
Acrid smoke pierced her consciousness. She closed her eyes against the billowing grit.
This wasn’t happening. It was a dream. No. A nightmare.
A tugging motion jerked her right and left, followed by a ripping sound. Large hands halted her sudden fall.
“Got you.”
Her rescuer cradled her against his chest, his breaths heaving beneath her ear. After carrying her some distance, he lowered her slowly to the ground. Grass scraped against her stinging cheeks and she opened her eyes.
“What?” she croaked, then swiped at the trickle leaking from her mouth. A man wearing a cowboy hat hunched over her, his features blurred.
“You’ve been in an accident. We have. Our trucks collided in the intersection.”
“My truck!” She bolted upright and clutched the swirling ground.
An arm snaked around her back and eased her down. “I called the dispatcher. The fire department’s on the way.”
A wail sounded in the distance and Claire wanted to shriek with it.
Her special day. Her anniversary. Ruined. No. Demolished by this…this…
She squinted upward and focused. A dark swirl of hair brushed across the tall man’s forehead; a light scar zigzagged down his square jaw. Recognition zapped through her.
It couldn’t be…
“Tanner?”
“Hello, Claire.” His mouth went up, just a fraction—the same ready-for-anything smile that had once undone her.
She closed her eyes, heart thudding. Ten years since she’d vowed never to see him again…and now here he stood, two for two in wrecking her life.

Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary romance author. She holds a master's degree in English and was an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time writer. Currently she writes for Harlequin Blaze and Harlequin Heartwarming. Her novel, A LEAGUE OF HER OWN, won the 2015 National Excellence in Romance Fiction award in contemporary romance series and the 2015 Bookseller's Best award for contemporary romance, long.

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/karenrockwrites

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/karenrockauthor

Tumblr: http://www.karenrockauthor.tumblr.com

Website:  http://www.karenrock.com

Quarterly Newsletter:  http://bit.ly/1rcOVJK

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1reobGf

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RAISING THE STAKES by Karen Rock: Excerpt and Giveaway

Raising the Stakes
by Karen Rock
Publication Date: April 1, 2015
Published by Harlequin
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 286











Hiding from the world… 

Tucking herself away in the Adirondack woods was supposed to keep Vivienne Harris safe. From dark memories of the Bronx, from danger, from entanglements. But when an orphaned bear cub raids her pantry and conservation officer Liam Walsh appears with news of poachers nearby, her private, peaceful world is turned upside down!

Suddenly two forces are drawing her out—Button, the cub who needs her help, and Liam, the man who's dead set against her rehabilitating the bear. If she can just win Liam's support, Vivie knows she can give Button a good life. And maybe find the courage to embrace a future with Liam…

EXCERPT

“What about the cub?”

His gaze swerved to hers. “I’ll have to put it down if I can’t find the mother.”

Vivie clutched the back of a chair, lightheaded and nauseous. “What? No!” How could he say that so casually? 

“I’ve called around and our wildlife rehabilitators are overloaded. Since the cub is too young to fend for itself, the humane thing to do is—”

“Kill it?” she stormed, interrupting. “How is that humane?” The cub’s frightened eyes came to mind and she backed up against the pantry door. Officer or not, he wouldn’t take the bear. Stop her from helping. It’d come to her home. Had sought refuge here.

He pulled off his hat and rubbed his forehead. “Ma’am, I don’t expect you to understand. But you need to trust me and move aside so that I can do my job.”

“Not a chance,” she ground out, wishing her pepper spray wasn’t across the room.

“Please be reasonable.” He raised his eyebrows, looking harmless. His holstered weapon told a different story.

Maybe she could reason with him, though she’d failed before. There had to be a way to save the cub. “How do you become a wildlife rehabilitator?”

He drew in a long breath and crossed his arms over his chest. “Pass a certification test then work under the supervision of a rehabilitator for six months.”

Tests. She hated them. Had only ever done well on presentation-style exams in culinary school. Still, for the baby bear...anything. “And when is the next one?”

“In a week.” He made a vague motion in the air with his hand. “Look. I’d be happy to discuss that with you another time, but the cub might be suffering. Please step aside so that I can take it.”

She raised her voice over her drumming heartbeat. “I’ll pass the test. Get certified.”

He ran a hand through his hair, making the curl-tipped ends stand up. “You’d have to study hundreds of pages of online material. It’s not easy. Trust me. I took it and barely finished my apprenticeship before my academy training started.”

“So you’re a certified wildlife rehabilitator? You could care for it.”

His chin jerked. “I already have a job.”

Her mind shifted into overdrive, churning up possibilities. “Not next week. You said you’re on vacation. You could take her while I study for the test.”

He blew out a long breath. “I don’t have an enclosure—something you’ll need along with someone to supervise you.”

She tried to come across as commanding, though at five-foot-three inches that was always a challenge. “You could help with both.”

He shook his head, his earnest expression replaced with a wash of annoyance. “Out of the question. There are too many ifs in that idea.”

She tried keeping the heat out of her voice. The DEC. Always so difficult. Especially Walsh. “Why? I’m sure you could call in a favor. Ask one of the rehabilitators to find temporary space for the cub. Then I’ll pass the test and, with your help, be approved to care for it. Don’t you want to do the right thing?”

Wasn’t that his job?

“I do. Which is why I’m taking the bear. Now.”

“Not a chance. You’ll have to go through me first.” She hated to sound dramatic, use a cheesy line from bad TV, but there was no other way to say it.

A crease appeared between his brows, his eyes scanning hers. Finally, he released a long breath.

“How about this—I’ll take her to the vet where they’ll check her jaw, give her some food and a safe place to stay, temporarily, while I continue investigating.”

She considered, wishing she could trust him. But after her dealings with him before, her faith was on the short side.

“Let’s try this,” she countered. “I’ll go with you and stay with the bear until you come back. Then we’ll talk about what happens next.”

He settled his hat back on, pinching the indented top. “There’s no reason to get more involved, ma’am.”

She pulled out her cell and tapped in Maggie’s number. Someone could come by and pick up the pies. Another worker would be called in for an extra shift. The Homestead would manage without her today. She wasn’t leaving the cub’s side until she knew it’d be safe—from nature and the DEC.

“It’s much too late for that, Officer Walsh.”

She studied him for a long, heavy moment, then moved aside. If the cub’s mother was dead, then she’d take on the role.

And nothing was more ferocious than a mama bear…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary romance author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time writer.  Currently she writes for Harlequin Heartwarming and has published five novels with them. Her first novel for the line, WISH ME TOMORROW, has won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and was a finalist in the Published Maggie Awards. The first novel in her co-authored YA series, CAMP BOYFRIEND, has been a finalist in the Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards.

Find Karen Rock Online


Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5

Facebook:  http://www.facebook.com/karenrockwrites

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/karenrockauthor

Tumblr: http://www.karenrockauthor.tumblr.com

Website:  http://www.karenrock.com

Quarterly Newsletter:  http://bit.ly/1rcOVJK

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1reobGf

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Review: A League of Her Own by Karen Rock

A LEAGUE OF HER OWN

by Karen Rock

Publication Date: December 1, 2014

Published by Harlequin

Pages: 312

Source: Publisher via Netgalley

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He was attractive, talented…and way off limits.

Heather Gadway may have been a world-class college pitcher and a top university coach, but she's a rank amateur when it comes to managing the Falcons, her father's struggling minor league team. And when it comes to managing her aggravating attraction to Garrett Wolf, their talented new pitcher. It's going to be difficult enough to make it as the first female manager in the league and prove to her overly critical father she's worthy. No distractions. No missteps. And certainly no romances with players. Everything stands between them—including their troubled pasts—even as Heather's world falls apart and Garrett's the one who's there to catch her…

My Thoughts

The title A League of Her Own immediately makes me think of the movie A League of Our Own about the all-female baseball league and the important role of women played in sport of baseball. While Heather, the main character of A League of Her Own no longer plays ball, she, like the women in the movie (and in history) is trying to make her way in a predominately male-run industry. 

I enjoyed reading about Heather and Garrett. In many ways Heather is someone to be admired. Her strength of character shines through in decisions that she makes. She wants what is best for the team and strives to make the players better. Garrett has a lot going for him too. He is trying to recover from a rocky past and makes an effort to be better. They are on parallel paths to prove they were good enough and deserved their successes. They showed doubts and struggles that I related to and that made me want to read more about them.

There is an undeniable attraction between Heather and Garrett. There is a level of admiration of their athletic capabilities (well there is after Heather has to show Garrett what's up), but they both are hesitant to act on their attraction. Heather's role as manager and Garrett's past make the both keep their guard up. Through her writing, Rock creates just enough tension to make me wonder: Are they ever going to figure a way to make this work?

As in Rock's previous books, I like that the story is set in a small town. In A League of Her Own, we read about the struggles of a town that relies on industry in order for the community to not just thrive but to simply survive. Without a major money maker, the town will cease to exist. Heather understands the importance of the baseball team and the impact its success and the influence it has on the community. 

Rock is an author whose stories I really enjoy. They are human, relatable, and a new go-to when I want to read a sweet romance. I look forward to the stories Karen Rock gives her readers next.

Disclaimer:  I requested this e-ARC from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.  I was not compensated in any way other than the e-ARC provided. Thoughts and opinions are my own.

Author Interview and Giveaway: Karen Rock - A LEAGUE OF HER OWN

Today I am hosting Karen Rock on the blog in celebration of her latest  book, A League of Her Own, published by Harlequin Heartwarming. I've read A League of Her Own and am looking forward to sharing my thoughts. You can check out my review later this week.

For my stop on the ALoHO tour, I've asked Karen to share her thoughts on reading and writing.

Welcome Karen!!

Have you always been a writer? Did you keep a journal or write stories when you were younger? 

I kept a journal since I was around nine until into my late twenties! Journals are such great places to express yourself and try out ideas without any fear that people will judge you or think you’re crazy… I always loved telling stories. Even before I could read or write, I used to make up stories and make my younger sister act out the parts with me as we recorded them into a tape recorder (anyone remember that technology?!). I would give ANYTHING to have those tapes. I would laugh hysterically and feel so lucky that the love I always had for creating stories has finally come true.

How long do you think about a story or characters until you finally decide what you want to write about it/them? 

Ideas come to me fairly quickly. The characters… that takes a lot more time and thought. They have to be the kinds of people that I can relate to, who have flaws and imperfections- fears and insecurities- like the rest of us. I’m not a big fan of the perfect vampire, Viking, pirate, sheik, millionaire, (not to say there’s anything wrong with those men… I just can’t feel close to them). I want characters that have something to learn and overcome in the book. People who deserve love but have too much against them, at first, to see how that is possible. So… finding the right man, the right woman and seeing if they would make a couple with strong chemistry definitely is something that I takes lots of care to create. Once I do, however, I usually fall madly in love with my hero! Occupational hazard, I guess J

What is the best piece of writing advice you've received? 

Stephen King said in his memoir, write the first draft of your novel for yourself, as if no one else will read it. That way, you’ll feel free and willing to take chances you wouldn’t take if you thought anyone would actually read this draft. I love that advice because I would inhibit myself if I obsessed over questions like what will this person think… or am I going  too far? Stuff like that. The parts of my stories I love the most are when I “write out of the margins” and do things that are unexpected. I need that freedom to have the emotional depth, the plot twists that come out of left field, and the quirky elements that make a story mine.

What one piece of advice you would give to aspiring writers? 

I would encourage them to write what they know and enjoy reading yourself. What speaks to them. If you love imagining worlds… write fantasy. If you adore supernatural creatures… write paranormal. Most of all, don’t follow trends- follow what you love. You’ll never get frustrated with your career if you are always immersed in stories you love to tell.

Tell me five random things about yourself.

1. Both of my arms are double jointed and were an awesome gross-out move to get rid of annoying guys in clubs J 
2.  I’m obsessed with Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and at Easter, I get at least two of those huge (I’m talking foot long) Jumbo Reeses Peanut Butter Eggs and will eat at least half of one or even all of one while reading. I really need to enter a food-eating contest, don’t you think?
3. I’m addicted to Reality TV… even The People’s Couch where I watch other people watching TV… so pathetic… but I just can’t stop. 
4. I once saved a blue jay by ordering a cat to drop it. Poor bird. Actually I’ve saved a few birds from my neighbors cats… they are incredible hunters, but they’re still more afraid of crazy me, lol.
5. I’m a terrible singer… like my husband turns up the radio when I open my mouth to sing along to anything… but for some strange reason I can sing Stevie Nick’s LANDSLIDE perfectly and trot it out at karaoke sometimes though I can never- ever- do an encore!

A League of Her Own

By Karen Rock

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age category: Adult

Published: December 1, 2014

Blurb:
He was attractive, talented…and way off limits.

Heather Gadway may have been a world-class college pitcher and a top university coach, but she's a rank amateur when it comes to managing the Falcons, her father's struggling minor league team. And when it comes to managing her aggravating attraction to Garrett Wolf, their talented new pitcher. It's going to be difficult enough to make it as the first female manager in the league and prove to her overly critical father she's worthy. No distractions. No missteps. And certainly no romances with players. Everything stands between them—including their troubled pasts—even as Heather's world falls apart and Garrett's the one who's there to catch her…

You can find A League of Her Own on Goodreads.

You can buy A League of Her Own here:

- Amazon (Kindle)

- Barnes & Noble

- Kobo

- eHarlequin

About the Author:
Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary romance author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time writer. Currently she writes for Harlequin Heartwarming and her first novel for the line, WISH ME TOMORROW, has won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the 2014 Golden Quill Contest and a finalist in the Published Maggie Awards. The first novel in her co-authored YA series, CAMP BOYFRIEND, has been a finalist in the Booksellers Best and Golden Leaf awards.



You can find and connect with Karen here:
- Website
- Facebook
- Twitter
- Goodreads
- Tumblr
- Quarterly Newsletter

There is a tour wide giveaway for the blog tour of A League of Her Own.

 These are the prizes you can win:

- a 100$ Amazon gift card (INT)

- a set of signed paperback of Wish Me Tomorrow, His Hometown Girl, Someone Like You and A League of Her Own (US only)

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:

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This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from December 1st through 14th, you can view the complete tour schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.

Someone Like You by Karen Rock: Excerpt and Giveaway

Someone Like You 
by Karen Rock
Publication Date: September 1, 2014
Published by Harlequin (Heartwarming)


 You can't program love…or can you?

Kayleigh Renshaw has come up with the idea for a brilliant "compatibility app," a new kind of matchmaking software. All she needs is a programmer to help her bring the idea to market…and she knows exactly who she wants. But Niall Walsh—a code whiz and her former best friend—has been avoiding her since he returned from Afghanistan. In spite of their history, and some sparks that go beyond friendship, he's proving reluctant…. Is it her, or is something darker holding him back?

PRE-ORDER

“I don’t need to be around other people,” he said drily, his gaze never leaving hers. “Except you.”
Heated blood rushed through her. That was treacherous thinking—for both of them. “But if you used the app, you’d find the right girlfriend. Want to be with her. You can’t waste your time on someone like me. I’ll never be more than a friend.”
He closed the distance between them in one stride and eyed her. “Sure about that?”
And suddenly, he pulled her into his arms, his strong body enfolding her. His lips lowered then paused, his heated eyes questioning. Was he waiting for her to refuse him?
Her bones melted against him, and her resolve to keep things professional crumbled. She wanted this kiss as badly as she’d ever wanted anything. She stretched up on her tiptoes and heard him groan as his lips swept down and captured hers, the caress as feather soft as the dragonfly’s wings.
He pulled the band around her bun loose, and her hair tumbled down her back, his hands burying themselves in it. When he deepened their kiss, his mouth slanting firmly against hers, her skin heated. Their hearts pounded together, and she breathed in his minty breath, tasting the strawberries they’d eaten earlier. Wanting him closer, she traced his bunching back muscles, loving their hardness and strength.
When his lips left hers and traveled along her jaw, she fitted herself against him closer still, needing to feel all of him. As his lips slid along her earlobe then down her neck, the world tilted and spun madly in the wrong direction.
She cupped his face and brought it back to hers, wanting his mouth again, the caress deepening into a demanding kiss that left her breathless and clutching on to his shoulders when her knees weakened.
At last he stopped, and they stared at each other, chests heaving, breath coming in fits and starts.
“Still sure?” he murmured, his eyes searching hers. Struck dumb, she nodded automatically, her gesture making him scowl, disappointment in his eyes. When he strode out of the pavilion, her fingers traced her swollen lips
How had she let that happen?

Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary author. She holds a master’s degree in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author.  With her co-author, Joanne Rock, she’s penned the CAMP BOYFRIEND series with Spencer Hill Press under the pseudonym J.K. Rock. She also writes contemporary romance for Harlequin Enterprises. Her wholesome romance, Heartwarming novels have won the 2014 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence and the 2014 Golden Quill Contest. When she's not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes and hiking. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels who have yet to understand the concept of "fetch" though they know a lot about love. To find out about her upcoming releases, appearance and latest news, visit http://www.karenrock.com or follow her on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/karenrockwrites or Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5!
She’d love to connect with you!

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