We'll be highlighting 13 FREE short stories by beloved Harlequin Heartwarming authors that will be available from Harlequin during November. All Heartwarming titles are 30% OFF during November from Harlequin as well! Use code HEART1115.
TODAY'S FREE SHORT STORY:
Thankful for You by Karen Rock
Way back when, Hunter Boone thought he and Josie Stephens had something that would last forever. Then she got her ticket out of town and took off—alone. The hurt nearly tore him apart. By the time Josie realized she'd made a mistake, Hunter had already married.
Now Josie's back in Stonewall Crossing, and while instant fire flares between them, she can't come between the now single dad and his son. As the whole town gets ready for Christmas, Josie finds it hard to avoid Hunter. No matter how much he tempts her with the promise of a future together, she has to tell herself—for her own survival—that relationships just aren't her thing…
Maggie James has worked hard to get over her commitment phobic ex, Lt. Eric Langley. Yet old feelings resurface when they’re reunited to put on a Thanksgiving dinner for foster children displaced by their group home’s fire. She still loves Eric, but she’d grown up vowing to have the traditional, nuclear family her loving parents provided and won’t accept anything less. This time around, does she dare give them a second chance?
After watching his vibrant mother retreat from life following his firefighter father’s tragic death, Lt. Eric Langley vowed never to inflict that pain on anyone, especially Maggie. When she’d begun talking kids, marriage, it’d nearly killed him to break things off. But how could he take the risks his job required, if he worried about a family counting on his safety? Although he’d shut away his pain when he and Maggie had broken up, his old feelings rush back after one glimpse of her beautiful face. He should want to avoid her, but feels thankful for this time together instead. Is it possible some surprising wisdom from the children he saved, could rescue him, too?
Read it HERE!
Thankful
for You Guest Post by Karen Rock
Three years ago, I taught ELA to 8th
graders and spent nights co-authoring a teen romance series, CAMP BOYFRIEND
with my dearest friend and sister-in-law, Harlequin romance author, Joanne
Rock. When her agent forwarded an email from Victoria Curran, Senior Editor of
Harlequin Heartwarming, I was intrigued. In the note, Victoria asked if
Barbara, (Joanne’s and now my agent) had any authors interested in writing
wholesome romance that mothers would feel comfortable sharing with their
teenage daughters.
I’d never written adult romance before, and nearly
deleted the forwarded note. Yet something held me back. The next day, on my way
to work, I passed the home of a couple my husband and I have been friends with
for years. They have one of the most beautiful, moving love stories of all
time. While in nursing school, Marty contracted leukemia and thought he’d have
to leave the program and lose the woman he’d recently begun dating and fallen
for. Cathy, however, refused to let go of Marty. She didn’t give up on her new
love because she wanted it to be forever. She stayed by his side during his
treatment and kept him up to date with his school work so that they graduated
together. Twenty five years later, they’re still happily married, have three
lovely children and Marty is cancer free.
I mulled over their story all day and thought how
much I wanted to write a love story between two people when tomorrow wasn’t
guaranteed. I wrote a quick proposal to my agent which was later on accepted by
Victoria and, after writing chapters and gaining a contract, my very first
Harlequin Heartwarming novel, WISH ME TOMORROW was born.
I love writing Heartwarming novels because they are
deeply emotional and extremely romantic. As they are “clean reads” the author
has lots of page room to devote to developing the love between two compelling
characters and their journey to find it. I believe that the awards I, and
several of my fellow Heartwarming authors have won for these heartfelt books
demonstrates just how moving and intricate these uplifting stories are. Chicken
Soup for the Heart? Maybe…
I’m grateful to have published six of them thus far
with three more on the way. My most recent Heartwarming project is one of
three, connected novellas in Harlequin Heartwarming’s Christmas anthology out
this month, about a holiday destination wedding gone awry, WINTER WEDDING BELLS
as well as my Thanksgiving short read THANKFUL FOR YOU available for free
download at eHarlequin.
I’m thankful for many things this holiday season and
at the top of the list is being a part of the wonderful Heartwarming family! If
you are interested in learning more about me or my books, please stop by http://www.karenrock.com
or click on the follow button beneath my picture on Amazon’s author page http://amzn.to/1NSRVrT You can also find me on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/karenrock5
or facebook at http://facebook.com/karenrockauthor
Happy Holidays everyone!
Other Heartwarming Titles by this Author
TOUR SCHEDULE
Don't miss any of these FREE novellas or the extra tour content! Stop by each of the tour stops each day:
11/2: Snow Day Baby by Amy Vastine
Singing Librarian Books, The Power of Words, & Katie's Clean Book Collection
11/4: Wedding at Turkey Run by Liz Flaherty
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing, Babs Book Bistro, & Heidi Reads...
11/6: Her Thanksgiving Soldier by Leigh Riker
Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima, Mel's Shelves, & Brooke Blogs
11/9: Mr. Right All Along by Jen Snow
Katie's Clean Book Collection, Min Reads and Reviews, & Love thy Shelf
11/11: Falling for the Cowboy by Sophia Sasson
Kindle and Me, The Power of Words, & Colorimetry
11/13: The Marriage Gift by Tara Taylor Quinn
deal sharing aunt, Babs Book Bistro, & Brooke Blogs
11/16: Heart of a Hero by Pamela Tracy
Writing Pearls, Wishful Endings, & Waiting For Wentworth
11/18: Thankful for You by Karen Rock
Christian Chick's Thoughts, Getting Your Read On, & Love, Laughter, Friendship
11/20: Autumn at Jasper Lake by Carol Ross
Reading Is My SuperPower, I Am A Reader, & Colorimetry
11/23: The Firefighter’s Promise by Kate James
Canadian Book Addict, Mel's Shelves, & Beck Valley Books
11/24: Wedding of His Dreams by Cari Lynn Webb
Bookworm Lisa, Kindle and Me, & Zerina Blossom's Books
11/25: The Sweetheart Tree by Rula Sinara
The Written Adventure, Reading Is My SuperPower, & Writing Pearl
11/26: Married by Thanksgiving by Melinda Curtis
Heidi Reads..., Love, Laughter, Friendship, & Singing Librarian Books
11/29: Grand Finale
11/30: Facebook Party
11/2: Snow Day Baby by Amy Vastine
Singing Librarian Books, The Power of Words, & Katie's Clean Book Collection
11/4: Wedding at Turkey Run by Liz Flaherty
My Love for Reading Keeps Growing, Babs Book Bistro, & Heidi Reads...
11/6: Her Thanksgiving Soldier by Leigh Riker
Letters from Annie (Douglass) Lima, Mel's Shelves, & Brooke Blogs
11/9: Mr. Right All Along by Jen Snow
Katie's Clean Book Collection, Min Reads and Reviews, & Love thy Shelf
11/11: Falling for the Cowboy by Sophia Sasson
Kindle and Me, The Power of Words, & Colorimetry
11/13: The Marriage Gift by Tara Taylor Quinn
deal sharing aunt, Babs Book Bistro, & Brooke Blogs
11/16: Heart of a Hero by Pamela Tracy
Writing Pearls, Wishful Endings, & Waiting For Wentworth
11/18: Thankful for You by Karen Rock
Christian Chick's Thoughts, Getting Your Read On, & Love, Laughter, Friendship
11/20: Autumn at Jasper Lake by Carol Ross
Reading Is My SuperPower, I Am A Reader, & Colorimetry
11/23: The Firefighter’s Promise by Kate James
Canadian Book Addict, Mel's Shelves, & Beck Valley Books
11/24: Wedding of His Dreams by Cari Lynn Webb
Bookworm Lisa, Kindle and Me, & Zerina Blossom's Books
11/25: The Sweetheart Tree by Rula Sinara
The Written Adventure, Reading Is My SuperPower, & Writing Pearl
11/26: Married by Thanksgiving by Melinda Curtis
Heidi Reads..., Love, Laughter, Friendship, & Singing Librarian Books
11/29: Grand Finale
11/30: Facebook Party
GIVEAWAYS
Goodreads Giveaway
13 Harlequin Heartwarming Books
Enter on Goodreads HERE.
Goodreads Giveaway
13 Harlequin Heartwarming Books
Enter on Goodreads HERE.
Pinterest Giveaway
Pin one or both of these images to spread the word and enter to win this adorably festive Thanksgiving Table Set:
Pinterest Prize includes: four reversible, quilted placemats, four matching napkins, hand-painted matching napkin rings, matching table runner, matching quilted hot pad/trivet, floral centerpiece in pot, and hand-crafted pilgrim pair.
- Enter via the Rafflecopter below
- Open to US/CAN only
- Ends December 4th
Grand Prize: Harlequin Heartwarming Year Subscription (Provided by Harlequin and to US/CAN only)
$40 VISA card (US only)
13-Book Heartwarming Prize Pack: The Best Laid Plans, Back to McGuffy's, If I Loved You, Love, Lies & Mistletoe, First Comes Marriage, Once Upon A Marriage, Small Town Secrets, Winter Wedding Bells, If Not For A Bee, When The Right One Comes Along, Wedding of His Dreams, After The Silence, and A Memory Away (print copies if US, ebooks if international)
9-Book Prize Pack: The Best Laid Plans, If I Loved You, Love, Lies & Mistletoe, First Comes Marriage, Once Upon A Marriage, When The Right One Comes Along, Winter Wedding Bells, If Not For A Bee, and After The Silence (print copies if US, ebooks if international)
Congratulations for another wonderful story, Karen! I can hardly wait to read your story in the Winter Wedding Bells anthology.
ReplyDeleteGoing over to read your story right now, Karen!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Kate and Liz!!! I'm so excited for you to read it :) And thank you so much, Aimee, for hosting me today on your wonderful sight <3
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed Thankful For You. Thank you for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading Thankful for You. Thank you, Karen, for sharing it with us.
ReplyDeleteKaren,
ReplyDeleteWere these secondary characters from another book? You've got six! I hadn't realized it until I saw them all together. All I can say is Karen Rock rocks!