The Grand Finale! See the tour for His Hometown Girl by Karen Rock at-a-glance!

To post this Grand Finale and add your Social Media to the Rafflecopter, email Tressa at wishfulendings(at)outlook.com with "Hometown GF" in the subject line!

It's the GRAND FINALE for
His Hometown Girl

We hope you enjoyed getting to know Jodi and Daniel a little more on the tour. 
If you missed any of the stops, go back and check them out now! 
Then be sure to enter the amazing giveaway, if you haven't already.

3/3 - Tour Launch & Excerpt

     “Because we used to be friends, Jodi Lynn.”
     “Friends?” She snorted and shook off the water collecting on the stroller’s canopy.
“And don’t call me Jodi Lynn.”
     “Would you prefer ‘ma’am’? Is that what country folks are supposed to say when a city
girl comes to town?”

3/4

Katie's Clean Book Collection - Review

"I loved this story! I loved the strawberries, the farm life, the small town family feel, and of course, the clean romance. I loved the ending! It was perfect."

Just Jeannies Books & Bling - Author Interview

"This story goes out as a tribute to all of the parents, and extended family members helping to raise a special needs child. Like your children, you are extraordinary and more than worthy of having lasting love."

First Page to the Last - Review

"There were some very sweet moments between Jodi, Daniel, and Tyler. Moments that made you want this whole thing to work out for them. I could almost taste the berries when they picked them. Very nicely done, Ms. Rock!"

3/5

All That's Written - Character Interview

You used to have such a strong connection with Cedar Bay and an old childhood rival and later secret boyfriend, Daniel Gleason. Do you think you could ever care for either of them again?

When I left Cedar Bay, I tried putting it, and Daniel, out of my mind forever. In their own way, both had crushed me. However, when my boss offered me a promotion if I returned there to purchase farm land, I had no choice but to accept. I needed that extra money to pay for the special needs day care that would help Tyler speak again. Yet my loyalties were divided when I arrived and remembered how much I used to love living in Cedar Bay. I felt torn that it would become a massive industrial farm if I succeeded in purchasing all of the land for my employer. Of course Daniel Gleason wasn’t going to make that easy. In fact, he planned to stop me every way he could, even using his old charm. Only, I wasn’t falling for that again. Or at least I tried not to…

Cinnamon Cindy's Book Blog - Review

"This book kept me on the edge of my seat throughout the entire story. I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a clean romance about old love rekindling."

3/6

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer - Character Interview

You had strong connection with Jodi growing up. Do you think you’ll ever be close again?

Jodi Lynn used to drive me nuts as a boy- still does. She’s smart, pretty and always sure she knows best. I couldn’t help, growing up, wanting to best her every chance I got. Seeing that line appear between her blue eyes always made me smile. At least she knew who I was, even if she seemed like she hated me. Except one summer, the year we worked together after her father’s accident, she kissed me while we were berry picking. That changed everything...

You can see Kathy's review here.

Kelly P's Blog - Karen Rock: Caught between a Holstein and a Gander!

"...I had my own set of adventures on the farm and though some didn’t end well, as the one I’m about to relate, they’ve all stayed with me and inspired me while writing His Hometown Girl. This particular adventure began while I was spending a summer weekend at my grandparents’ farm house..."

Harlie's Books - Review

"If you are looking for a sweet, heartwarming romance this line from Harlequin will be just perfect for you. It’s not quite Harlequin Romance and it doesn’t have the religious overtones of Love Inspired (which I love). It’s in the middle dealing with every day folks, their community and home."

Fiona's Book Reviews - Review

"The story is written well. It is a lovely slow burning story with plenty to keep you interested. It isn't a simple romance story. Much of it is about her job and her need to provide for her son. A story which I enjoyed, and I look forward to seeing what the author comes up with next."

Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf - Author Interview

4.What do you hope that readers take away with them after reading your book? 

At its heart, this story is about acceptance. Jodi needs to learn to accept her past and forgive herself for old mistakes. She also needs to accept that no parent is perfect, nor is any child. We need to learn to love and accept ourselves to find true love. I hope the reader comes away knowing that you don’t have to be perfect to find the person who is perfect for you.

3/7

Mel's Shelves - Review

"This is a fun read! Jodi and Daniel go head to head to get the farmers to commit to each of their plans and some of their tactics were quite entertaining. I enjoyed their banter and watching their relationship progress. Jodi is protective of her heart and her son and isn't about to let just anyone in...

This is, indeed, a heartwarming story and a good book to curl up with when you're in the mood for a clean romance!"

Read a Book - Review

"Both Jodi and Daniel make mistakes, they can become rather stubborn and closed in their thinking, refusing to consider other possibilities than those that they think are right, but it is through these mistakes that will realize the reality and what really matters.

His Hometown Girl if it was an emotional read for me, holding a couple of scarves haha, but if you venture too fast in history, also the pace is quite fluid and I welcome both the plot and the characters (?), A book very touching, if they read it out!"

Reviews By Molly - Spotlight

3/9

My Devotional Thoughts - Review

"This author is one I would read again in a heartbeat, and this is one of those books you can read quickly and feel so good afterwards! I highly recommend it."

Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews - Guest Post: The Proof is in the Salsa

Suddenly, I felt the pressure and responsibility of having brought a tasty dish. It wasn’t until someone scooped out the last spoonful that I breathed easy and shared a jubilant hug with Gram. I’d done it!

Tressa's Wishful Endings - Review

"It also pulled me in with the humor, romance, and heartfelt story. I literally read it in one sitting. There are some great scenes and moments between these characters. I also really loved the small-town feel."

3/10

That's the Way it Goes - Excerpt

     The music began and Mary gave Daniel a little shove. “Have at her. Indulge us for old times’ sake. Everyone thought you two would make a great couple when you weren’t scrapping.”

     He looked down at a dismayed Jodi. “Guess we can’t disappoint our fans.”

3/11

Getting Your Read On - Review

"I really enjoyed this book and I will admit that when Daniel and Jodi call a semi-truce of sorts and start being nicer to each other I breathed a sigh of relief. This was a fluffy read, and a great distraction with a happily ever after that I loved."

Copywrite1985 - Review & Author Interview

"I loved His Hometown Girl! Jodi and Daniel are both compelling characters with complex motivations. I understood both of their positions and reasons, which made it all the more difficult as a reader to choose a side."

Q: For those who aren’t familiar with Heartwarming, how would you characterize the line?

Heartwarming novels are deeply romantic, tender love stories that are considered ‘clean’ or ‘wholesome’ without a faith-based element. They are the kinds of romances you’d be excited to share with your daughter as they’re great examples of what real-life relationships should be.

Bottles & Books Reviews - Spotlight

Colorimetry - Flashback to Strawberry Picking

     “It’s a free country,” she muttered, of two minds. Like always, she wanted him near. Though they’d been childhood rivals for years, he’d been the only boy who made her stomach turn itself into knots, her heart beat faster. Too often, she’d caught herself doodling his name in the margins of notebooks when she forgot herself. Yet his family had loaned her father the machine that’d caused the accident. It was hard not to see him as ‘the enemy’ more than ever.

3/12

The Wonderings of One Person - Author Interview

How has this story touched your life?

It meant a lot when I read the ‘Dear Reader’ letter to my sister and saw her smile and cry happy tears to see what I’d written about her. Like all parents of special needs children (and I’m one myself as my daughter has an anxiety disorder), she needs to know what an incredible job she is doing and never to feel less than other parents.

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima - Excerpt

     “So you do think about it.” His eyes lit up. “About us.”
     Her sigh felt as though it came from the deepest part of her. “Oh, Daniel.”
     He cupped her cheeks. “We can make this work.”
     Her brows came together. “Impossible. We both have too much to lose.”

3/13

Lola's Reviews - Review

"I really enjoyed the ending and there are some really sweet and touching scenes in this book."

I Would Rather Be Reading... - Review

"Karen Rock charms us with her second novel. Jodi and Daniel…and Tyler’s story makes you laugh out loud, sigh with longing and ball your fists in frustration and cry at the happily ever after. Readers will be completely blown away by this heartwarming tale and grabbing for the nearest box of tissues."

The Written Adventure - Author Interview

12) Do you have other stories you plan to write?

I have three more books contracted with Harlequin Heartwarming and each is very unique. I can’t wait to share them! I just finished one about two very different people- one’s a dreamer, the other a pragmatist- who team up to create a start-up company designing a dating compatibility app. It’s been a lot of fun trying to answer the question: Can love come with a guarantee?

Angels With Attitude Book Reviews - Author Interview

What was your inspiration behind this book?

A couple of things inspired HIS HOMETOWN GIRL. The first is my sister, Cathy. She’s my autistic niece, Abbie’s, mother and an incredible parent. Raising a child with special needs can be challenging and requires a lot of love and patience...

The second inspiration is my childhood days spent on my Uncle Bob’s dairy farm.

3/14

Brooke Blogs - Review

I loved that the story was much more than a romance, though. It was a genuine, full story of life, of love, and of all the things that people go through.

Jessie's Book Place - Excerpt

     He tucked a curl behind her ear and the feel of his touch made her shiver. It was so quiet, she could hear every breath he took, felt it vibrate through him in the cramped bottom of the boat.

Total Book Geek - Review

"There is plenty of drama and also fun times to keep it interesting. A sweet heartfelt story, perfect for lazy Sunday reading."

His Hometown Girl
by Karen Rock
Mass Market Paperback, Large Print, 331 pages
March 1st 2014 by Harlequin


He'd always managed to best her…

Jodi Chapman will do whatever it takes to get top care for her autistic son. If that means going home and convincing local farmers to sell their land, so be it. Even if her biggest opponent, childhood rival Daniel Gleason, is equally determined to convince farmers to buy into his co-op plan. And he's not playing fair.

Facing off against Daniel is the last thing Jodi wants. The attraction that's always fueled their competitiveness is as strong as ever and just as distracting. But with both their futures on the line, and years of distrust between them, how can they ever be on the same side?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * eHarlequin * Book Depository

Karen Rock has adored romance since receiving Harlequin Presents books from her grandmother each summer. She formed her Young Adult writing partnership, J.K. Rock- pseudonym for the CAMP BOYFRIEND series, with her sister-in-law and Blaze author, Joanne Rock in 2011. When Karen heard of a call for submissions to Heartwarming, Harlequin’s latest line, she was inspired by the possibilities of writing unforgettable, deeply romantic, tender love stories that mothers would feel comfortable sharing with their daughters. When she’s not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, hiking the ‘high peaks’, and redesigning her gardens. 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. 

For more information about Karen's upcoming books, check out her website, Facebook page, or follow her on twitter. She’d love to hear from you!

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Grand Prize: Hand-stitched, authentic Amish quilt (uses their overlapping heart-stitching- pattern), with matching dust ruffle for a king-sized bed, signed copies of Wish Me Tomorrow & Camp Boyfriend, and some surprise swag (US Only)
1 - Paperback/ebook copies of Wish Me Tomorrow and Camp Boyfriend (format is winner's choice, paperback for US Only) and $20 Amazon gift card
2 - ebooks of Wish Me Tomorrow and Camp Boyfriend (INT)

March 3 - 23

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.

Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.

His Hometown Girl by Karen Brock - on Tour! Strawberry Kisses - Flashback #2

On tour with Prism Book Tours...

Welcome to my Book Tour stop for
His Hometown Girl

His Hometown Girl
by Karen Rock
Mass Market Paperback, Large Print, 331 pages
March 1st 2014 by Harlequin


He'd always managed to best her…

Jodi Chapman will do whatever it takes to get top care for her autistic son. If that means going home and convincing local farmers to sell their land, so be it. Even if her biggest opponent, childhood rival Daniel Gleason, is equally determined to convince farmers to buy into his co-op plan. And he's not playing fair.

Facing off against Daniel is the last thing Jodi wants. The attraction that's always fueled their competitiveness is as strong as ever and just as distracting. But with both their futures on the line, and years of distrust between them, how can they ever be on the same side?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * eHarlequin
Book Depository

Strawberry Kisses- Flashback #2 from HIS HOMETOWN GIRL by Karen Rock

Jodi stepped carefully through a row of strawberry plants, her eyes drinking in the field of scarlet fruit dangling from mint green mounds. It felt good to be out in the fresh air, her heart filled with the light that streamed through cotton candy clouds spinning across a cerulean sky. How long since she’d left her father’s bedside? She mentally counted back the three weeks since his accident. It’d been the day before her high school graduation ceremony, when she’d mistakenly thought decorating the gym was more important than heading straight home to help out with chores.

She sighed and stopped at a thick patch, getting on her knees and setting her basket in the dirt. If only she’d been there when his arm had been pinned.  She would have called 911, helped move the malfunctioning machine off of him, talked him through a terrifying moment… anything but hanging crepe streamers and taping up glittering signs. Her insides curdled as she remembered the teacher hurrying across the gym floor, the look on her face spelling tragedy. Only the news had gotten worse as the hours went on. Her father’s arm had had to be amputated and now, without his farming income coming in, they were likely to lose the farm. The only home she’d ever known… except, she couldn’t look at the barn again without a shudder, picturing her father’s accident. Maybe being forced to leave all they had, even their friends, family and neighbors at Cedar Bay, wouldn’t be a bad thing. It might stop the nightmares that woke her every night, the bleeding shame that flowed from her guilty wound.

A shadow blocked the bright sun, and when she glanced up she could make out only a tall, rugged silhouette.  Yet she didn’t need details to know that shape. She could have traced it by heart. Daniel Gleason.

“Mind if I join you? This looks like a good section.” His husky voice did something funny to her heart and she busied her hands plucking berries from their stems. She’d rather stare at the handsome boy-now-man, but this was her first day of work on his family’s farm. She wasn’t going to mess up this chance to earn money for her father’s medical bills.

“It’s a free country,” she muttered, of two minds. Like always, she wanted him near. Though they’d been childhood rivals for years, he’d been the only boy who made her stomach turn itself into knots, her heart beat faster. Too often, she’d caught herself doodling his name in the margins of notebooks when she forgot herself. Yet his family had loaned her father the machine that’d caused the accident. It was hard not to see him as ‘the enemy’ more than ever.

“Thank you.” His muscular thighs came into view as he squatted across from her, his large fingers pinching off berries and dropping them in his pail.

“Is your mom making jam this week?” she asked when the silence between them felt as heavy as the humid summer air.

He was silent for so long she glanced up and noticed he’d stopped working, his jaw clenched.

“Is everything alright?” It wasn’t until she felt his bicep harden that she realized she’d touched him. When she tried to yank back her hand, his own covered hers and held it there. Her pulse thrummed at the sensation.

“No,” he replied, his answer so uncharacteristically curt she could practically hear alarm bells ringing.

“Want to talk about it?” Not that they’d ever been chummy that way. But he looked pained and something was definitely off. Plus, she couldn’t deny it. She cared. Always had.

He rubbed a finger absently across her knuckles, sending shivers of awareness tiptoeing down her spine. At last, he let go of her hand and dropped a strawberry in his mouth. After swallowing it, he shook his head. “How’s your dad?” he asked at last, changing the subject.

Disappointment filled her. So that’s why he’d come to her isolated spot in the berry field. He was getting the news about her father to share with his family. Not seeking her out.

“Okay. He sees someone in Burlington about a prosthetic next week.” She popped a berry in her mouth, the tart sweetness exploding on her tongue. It reminded her of Daniel. Teasing her one minute, treating her so kindly the next. Overhead, sparrows swooped and dove, their singsong emerging from a nearby tree line that tossed shadows to dance at their feet.

“I’m glad he’s doing okay. That it wasn’t worse.” Daniel’s hazel green eyes looked straight into hers and beyond, as if he could see what was inside of her, how she felt, know her thoughts.

Something wet splashed down her cheek and, with a start, she realized she was crying. Such a strange thing. She’d had to be strong for her parents and keep herself together that she hadn’t given in to tears. But suddenly, alone with this boy who alternately teased and tormented her, she felt she could open up. In a flash, Daniel was beside her, his strong arms holding her close. His heart beat steadily against her cheek and her sobs drenched his worn t-shirt. Yet he didn’t move, only held her closer and stroked her back, his lips moving against her part as he murmured something she couldn’t make out, but sounded reassuring.

At last, she stopped shaking and stared up at him in wonder. Never before had she seen such a tender expression in his eyes. Her chest constricted when his thumbs brushed away the last of her tears before his palms cupped the sides of her face. Did he care about her? After all these years, it seemed impossible to imagine. But he’d never looked at her this way before. Not as a competitor, someone to beat, but soulfully, as if she were someone that he…

Before she could finish the thought, he lowered his face and brushed his lips against hers, the gentle caress making her ache. Their eyes met and held, and she melted inside at the longing she glimpsed in his gold-flecked depths. She slipped her arms around his neck, and with a groan he captured her mouth again, this time kissing her deeper, the intensifying pressure igniting a fire inside that wanted to burn brighter, hotter. He angled his face and drew in her lower lip, his tongue nibbling it before slipping alongside hers. A jolt of pleasure sang through her veins at the unexpected touch, and she slid her hands up his neck through the thick brush of his hair, loving this moment with him.

His mouth left hers and travelled along her cheeks, the delicate sensation making her shudder in delight. When he reached her earlobe, he nipped the hypersensitive flesh and buried his hands in her hair, arching her backward so that she lay across his strong arm, his body bent over hers. Her breath came in fits and starts as his lips continued their trail of fire down her neck, making her chest heave. When he kissed her clavicle then looked up, the happiness dancing in his eyes matched the joy that lit her from within. A part of her knew this should feel strange. They’d been enemies for so long. Yet it felt perfect. Right.

“I’ve wanted to kiss you forever,” he said, his voice deeper that she’d ever heard it.

She raised his handsome face to hers and kissed him long and deep again, unable to taste his berry-flavored lips enough. “I never knew,” she answered when she pulled back, relieved to see that he looked as shaken as she felt.

“Now you do.” He grinned, his deep dimples making her heart stop.

She straightened in his arms but made no move to leave. “Will we – ah- do this again?” Her cheeks burned at the question, but she had to know where they stood.

A cloud seemed to pass over his eyes, dimming them. “Our folks can’t know. Not with them fighting over whose fault the accident was.”

Her shoulders slumped. Any chance of a romance with Daniel was over before it even began.

She made a move to slip away but he pulled her close and rested his head on top of hers. “But that won’t stop us, Jodi Lynn.” A fierce note entered his note. “Nothing will.”

Karen Rock has adored romance since receiving Harlequin Presents books from her grandmother each summer. She formed her Young Adult writing partnership, J.K. Rock- pseudonym for the CAMP BOYFRIEND series, with her sister-in-law and Blaze author, Joanne Rock in 2011. When Karen heard of a call for submissions to Heartwarming, Harlequin’s latest line, she was inspired by the possibilities of writing unforgettable, deeply romantic, tender love stories that mothers would feel comfortable sharing with their daughters. When she’s not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, hiking the ‘high peaks’, and redesigning her gardens. 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. 

For more information about Karen's upcoming books, check out her website, Facebook page, or follow her on twitter. She’d love to hear from you!

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Grand Prize: Hand-stitched, authentic Amish quilt (uses their overlapping heart-stitching- pattern), with matching dust ruffle for a king-sized bed, signed copies of Wish Me Tomorrow & Camp Boyfriend, and some surprise swag (US Only)

1 - Paperback/ebook copies of Wish Me Tomorrow and Camp Boyfriend (format is winner's choice, paperback for US Only) and $20 Amazon gift card

2 - ebooks of Wish Me Tomorrow and Camp Boyfriend (INT)

March 3 - 23

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Follow the Tour!

3/3 - Tour Launch & Excerpt

3/4

Katie's Clean Book Collection

Just Jeannies Books & Bling

First Page to the Last

3/5

All That's Written

Cinnamon Cindy's Book Blog

3/6

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Kelly P's Blog

Harlie's Books

Fiona's Book Reviews

Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

3/7

Mel's Shelves

Read a Book

Reviews By Molly

3/9

My Devotional Thoughts

Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews

Tressa's Wishful Endings

3/10

Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia

That's the Way it Goes

3/11

Getting Your Read On

Copywrite1985

Bottles & Books Reviews

3/12

The Wonderings of One Person

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima

3/13

Lola's Reviews

I Would Rather Be Reading...

The Written Adventure

Angels With Attitude Book Reviews

3/14

Brooke Blogs

Jessie's Book Place

Total Book Geek

3/16 - Tour Grand Finale

Are you a blogger and want to receive information about new tours? Go HERE.

Are you an author or publisher and would like to have us organize a tour event? Go HERE.

His Hometown Girl by Karen Brock - launching the tour!

We're Launching the Book Tour for
His Hometown Girl

Tour Schedule

3/3 - Tour Launch & Excerpt

3/4

Katie's Clean Book Collection

Just Jeannies Books & Bling

First Page to the Last

3/5

All That's Written

Cinnamon Cindy's Book Blog

3/6

I Am A Reader, Not A Writer

Kelly P's Blog

Harlie's Books

Fiona's Book Reviews

Melissa's Eclectic Bookshelf

3/7

Mel's Shelves

Read a Book

Reviews By Molly

3/9

My Devotional Thoughts

Laurie's Thoughts and Reviews

Tressa's Wishful Endings

3/10

Giveaway Breaking News for Indonesia

That's the Way it Goes

3/11

Getting Your Read On

Copywrite1985

Bottles & Books Reviews

3/12

The Wonderings of One Person

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima

3/13

Lola's Reviews

I Would Rather Be Reading...

The Written Adventure

Angels With Attitude Book Reviews

3/14

Brooke Blogs

Jessie's Book Place

Total Book Geek

3/16 - Tour Grand Finale

We're kicking it off with an excerpt that you can read below. First, let's find out about the book...

His Hometown Girl
by Karen Rock
Mass Market Paperback, Large Print, 331 pages
March 1st 2014 by Harlequin


He'd always managed to best her…

Jodi Chapman will do whatever it takes to get top care for her autistic son. If that means going home and convincing local farmers to sell their land, so be it. Even if her biggest opponent, childhood rival Daniel Gleason, is equally determined to convince farmers to buy into his co-op plan. And he's not playing fair.

Facing off against Daniel is the last thing Jodi wants. The attraction that's always fueled their competitiveness is as strong as ever and just as distracting. But with both their futures on the line, and years of distrust between them, how can they ever be on the same side?

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * eHarlequin
Book Depository

Excerpt
Airport Scene

     The sliding doors opened with a hiss and they stepped out into the cool, midmorning
drizzle. Daniel breathed in the smell of exhaust and couldn’t wait to get home, away from
all this concrete. He needed to strategize. Regroup and think about how he’d handle this
new, unflappable Jodi.
     She raised an eyebrow and gave him a measured look. “Where are you parked?” Her
stroller’s plastic wheels swerved along the parking lot’s asphalt.
     So she was letting his accusation go, her self-possession unnerving him. Gone was the
girl whose passion had once swept him away from his everyday life, her white-hot
temper later imploding it. How things had changed. At least the temporary cease-fire
meant he could find out her plans. Stop them before she put them in place. For that
matter, the drive home might soften her up with a tour down memory lane.
      “I’ve got a ground-level spot,” he said, raising his voice so it’d be heard over a plane’s
roar.
      “Great. The sooner Tyler gets his nap the better.”
      “Are you working right away or having some R & R first? I’ll show you some of the
old sights.”
      “I have to check in with my boss, then I plan to—” She stopped and shoved wet,
frizzing hair from her face. “Why am I telling you this?” Her eyes roamed over him,
mystified. Suddenly she looked like the girl he’d known years ago, the one who’d once
worn her heart on her sleeve and had captured his.
      “Because we used to be friends, Jodi Lynn.”
      “Friends?” She snorted and shook off the water collecting on the stroller’s canopy.
“And don’t call me Jodi Lynn.”
      “Would you prefer ‘ma’am’? Is that what country folks are supposed to say when a city
girl comes to town?”
      “Knock it off, Daniel.” She nudged him, and the warmth of her bare shoulder through
his thin shirt nearly burned.
      “That’s Mr. Gleason to you,” he joked to hide the response her touch ignited. Careful,
he warned himself.
     Jodi shot him a level look, then picked up speed when her son started to kick again, his voice sounding like a teakettle about to boil. No wonder. Daniel would scream, too, if he was strapped in when he could walk instead. Parking lots were unpredictable, but with a firm hand and a sharp eye the little guy could have had his freedom.
      “So why are you here instead of one of my aunt’s neighbors?” she asked once they
halted beside his muddy blue pickup. The misting rain had only streaked the dirt.
      “We’re all neighbors, and neighbors help each other.” He tossed her expensive-looking suitcases into the open bed, an echoing thunk sounding when plastic met metal. “In case you forgot.”
      “I haven’t. I’m helping my old hometown get a fair deal that will improve their lives.” She spoke without looking up at him, her movements practiced and efficient as she swept up her thrashing son and secured him in the child seat she’d detached from the stroller, buckling him into the center of the truck’s continuous front seat.
      “If you want something, use your words, Tyler,” she told her son.
     The boy screamed and pounded his fists against the dashboard, but Jodi slid in beside
him, looking as if it was any other day. And for her, maybe it was.
     Daniel felt his resistance weaken until he caught himself. Her “fair deal” would only
benefit Midland, not her former community. They’d either have to abandon their land or
become corporate drones, working for a Midland paycheck. No. Jodi was the enemy. No
matter that she made him remember good times he’d rather forget.
     If he couldn’t convince her that this was personal, not business, remind her of the good
times she’d had here and the people she’d cared about, then he needed her gone before
she wrecked havoc on his home and his heart.
     She’d done the latter the last time she’d left town. He’d be a fool to let her do it again.
     He wouldn’t let himself, or his town, fall for Jodi Lynn Chapman.
     No ma’am.

Karen Rock has adored romance since receiving Harlequin Presents books from her grandmother each summer. She formed her Young Adult writing partnership, J.K. Rock- pseudonym for the CAMP BOYFRIEND series, with her sister-in-law and Blaze author, Joanne Rock in 2011. When Karen heard of a call for submissions to Heartwarming, Harlequin’s latest line, she was inspired by the possibilities of writing unforgettable, deeply romantic, tender love stories that mothers would feel comfortable sharing with their daughters. When she’s not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, hiking the ‘high peaks’, and redesigning her gardens. 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. 

For more information about Karen's upcoming books, check out her website, Facebook page, or follow her on twitter. She’d love to hear from you!

Website * Goodreads * Facebook * Twitter

Tour-Wide Giveaway

Grand Prize: Hand-stitched, authentic Amish quilt (uses their overlapping heart-stitching- pattern), with matching dust ruffle for a king-sized bed, signed copies of Wish Me Tomorrow & Camp Boyfriend, and some surprise swag (US Only)
1 - Paperback/ebook copies of Wish Me Tomorrow and Camp Boyfriend (format is winner's choice, paperback for US Only) and $20 Amazon gift card
2 - ebooks of Wish Me Tomorrow and Camp Boyfriend (INT)

March 3 - 23

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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