We have a very special guest author on the blog today. It’s Karen Rose Smith, the USA Today bestselling writer of warm and heartfelt contemporary romance. Unbelievably, Karen has published 75 books since 1991, with publishers like Silhouette, Harlequin, and Kensington. She’s won several awards, including the Golden Leaf and the Golden Quill, and she’s made the Borders Group Bestseller list for Series Romance and the Amazon Romance Bestseller list.
Whew! What a career!
Karen loves writing books with a lot of emotion. She was an only child who dreamed of having lots of brothers and sisters, although she did grow up in a big extended family. She brings that love of family into her books, with plotlines that include small towns and strong personal and family relationships. Critics and readers alike love her stories. Here’s what Romance Reviews Today had to say about her books:
“Karen Rose Smith’s storeyworlds are complete and realistic and lovely places to visit and revisit. She excels at stories that feature couples brought together by infants and children, and she handles her plots and characters with sublime sensitivity.”
Fortunately for her readers, Karen has lots of good stuff out this year. In August, her Montana Mavericks release, His Country Cinderella, came out from Harlequin Special Edition.
The hero of this book is a country music singer—I love that idea! Here’s the blurb:
Zane Gunther once entertained fans with his down-home, heartfelt songs. But a tragedy at one of his concerts has turned him into a hermit. The gift of music has left him.
Can a resilient single mom give him back that gift along with her love?
Who doesn’t love a good Cinderella story?
Karen continues the Cinderella theme with her next book, coming out in late September. This story is part of her Reunion Brides series, set in the fictional town of Miner’s Bluff, Arizona and featuring couples who attend their high school reunion. Fun!
Here’s the blurb for Once Upon A Groom:
Zack and Jenny fell in love in high school. But Zack intended to escape the Rocky D while Jenny craved the roots she’d found on his parents’ ranch. With resentment and bitterness toward his father, blaming him for his mother’s death, Zack found a life as a movie director with wealth, fame and privilege. Now when he returns to Miners Bluff, his father isn’t the man he once was. And Jenny has a secret she has never divulged.
Old fires reignite as Zack and Jenny fall in love all over again. Will their differences push them apart once more? Or can love truly conquer all?
I love both fairy tale themes and reunion plots, so this book sounds great! You can check out the details for both Once Upon A Groom and His Country Cinderella on Karen’s website.
While you’re there, you might want to check out her short story collections, which also continue her Cinderella theme. There’s Everyday Prince Charming and Everyday Cinderellas, both of which sound like lovely collections. She also has some new e-books and number of backlist books re-released in digital format. You can get all the details on her Dear Reader page.
And Karen has a lovely blog too, called Cats, Roses…And Books. Trust me—you’ll want to stop by and check out her Cranberry-Orange-Pecan scone recipe!
For my readers, Karen has graciously donated a copy of His Country Cinderella. Let’s talk contemporary romance. Do you read contemporary romance? If so, which authors do you really enjoy? One person who comments will win a copy of Karen’s book.
I haven’t read any of Ms Karen’s books – shame on me 🙁 They sound very interesting; I would love to read His Country Cinderella.
There are a lot of good authors out there, Host! It’s hard to keep up sometimes, which is why I like to do these features.
wow 75 books, it’s great, really great!!
my first comtemporary romance i really enjoy is travis series especially blue eyed devil by lisa kleypas and other author is nora roberts and sandra brown.
Blue-eyed Devil was a FABULOUS book, and I really like Sandra Brown.
I’m more of a historical buff — but I’ve read some of Karen’s books and enjoyed them immensely! glad she stopped by today & reminded me to go out and find some of her books!!! 75!! wow!!
I know – what an impressive stat!
Hi, everyone! Thanks to Vanessa for inviting me to stop by. Good luck with book win. KRS
Thanks for letting me feature you, Karen!
Hi Karen. I do read contemporary romance. Some of my favorite authors are Jane Porter, Jill Shalvis, Carly Phillips and Janelle Denison.
Crystal, I just “discovered” Jill Shalvis recently. I am glomming onto her back list. I also really love Toni Blake and Kelly Hunter.
I usually prefer historical but I do read my Jennifer Cruisie and Rachel Gibson too. Congratulations on the new book!
Jennifer Cruisie is SO good. I really love Susan Elisabeth Phillips, too. Have you read any of Jennifer’s books co-written with Bob Mayer. Agnes and the Hitman was a total riot.
Thank you so much for the congrats on this book. I love country music so writing a country star hero came naturally! If you have a favorite scene in HIS COUNTRY CINDERELLA, I’d like to know what it is. (Without giving too much away.:)) KRS
I love country music too, Karen, which is an industry with its share of sexy guys! Perfect for romance heroes.
Vanessa Kelly – You do a great job of making my TBR list longer. I haven’t read Karen Rose Smith , but will make an effort to read her now. Popped over to her beautiful website and really enjoyed her article about secondary characters.
Bwahahaha! My evil plan is working.
Gayle–I have a wonderful web mistress. And she always manages to designing exactly what I have in mind. I’m so glad you visited my blog. I have everything there from writing tip to gardening to recipes. I’m doing a blog tour the next two weeks, but will blog at Cats, Roses…and Books! after that. KRS
I love contemporary stories for what they are -modern, relevant and relatable. I also have a whole bunch of contemporary authors to go to and they include Kristan Higgins (funny, quirky), JoAnn Ross (sweet, small-town cozy), Carla Neggers (mystery), and Susan Wiggs (romantic and realistic). I’m always ready to discover more 🙂
What a good list! And I love JoAnn Ross – she is the bomb!
I do enjoy contemporary stories – I just finished Nora Robert’s Bride Quartet series. Such a nice read. And Karen’s stories look to be in a similiar style, so I’m sure I would enjoy them very much.
I enjoy creating small towns with recurring characters who are in and out of each others lives. That way, readers can catch up with them in new releases. KRS
I do read contemporary romance!:)
I enjoyed Lisa Kleypas’s contemporary I’m eagerly waiting her next book!;)
also, Janelle Denison, Victoria Dahl, Susan Mallery, Susan Andersen, Nora Roberts, Maya Banks, Jacquie D’Alessandro, Louisa Edwards.. And the list goes on and on.. LOL!;)
thank you for the giveaway this books sound great!;)
Thanks to everyone who stopped by today! KRS
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