Karen Booth
You’re probably not surprised to learn that I’m an introvert. It’s part of what makes my job so perfect–I’m completely content to stay home all day, dreaming up stories and keeping my people-ing to a minimum. I’m not entirely sure why it takes so much effort for me to go out and engage with others, other than the fact that I am also an empath, and therefore spend much of my social time soaking up the emotions of everyone around me. Believe me–if there is something “off” in a room, I will sense it!
But here’s the other side of this coin: I love meeting readers. I love talking to them about books, sometimes mine, and other times books written by other amazing authors. I think all readers have at least a little introvert in them–a part of their soul that loves the idea of ducking under the covers with a flashlight and reading until the wee hours.
So, since I love meeting readers, I am going on a mini tour of NC bookstores in support of NOT SO FAST. If you are in or near Chapel Hill, Jacksonville, or Durham when I am, I sincerely hope you’ll stop by and see me! I will reward you with a hug (if you’re a hugger), as well as some stickers and a NOT SO FAST bookmark. Fun for all, introvert or not.
The eBook and audio of Not So Fast are here! I’m super excited for the first wave of readers to get their hands on Xander and Mia’s story. It’s fun and funny with banter and lots of spicy moments. But don’t take my word for it! Here are a few quotes:
“A sizzling romance that blends the fast-paced world of Formula One with undeniable chemistry. With sharp banter, steamy tension, and an irresistible enemies-to-lovers spark, Mia and Xander’s story will keep readers racing to the finish line.” –Carly Robyn, author of Drive Me Crazy
“Booth […] delights with a deliciously spicy sports romance.” —Publishers Weekly starred review
“Full of passion, wit, and high-octane F1 racing… Xander and Mia’s chemistry burns up the pages! One of my favorite reads of the year!” —Amanda Weaver, author of Fast & Reckless
You can get the eBook and audio from your favorite retailer. It’s also available in Kindle Unlimited. I hope you decide to check out the eBook or audio. And if you’re waiting for the trade paperback, it won’t be too much longer. May 27 is the release date. You can preorder from all online book retailers or get a signed copy with special bonuses from three amazing indie booksellers:
Flyleaf Books | The Ripped Bodice | Love’s Sweet Arrow
All three ship throughout the U.S. The Ripped Bodice has limited international shipping. Contact them for more info. And thanks for checking out Not So Fast!
If you love rom-coms, I hope you’ll join me, Adele Buck, and M.C. Vaughan on Wednesday, October 23 at 7:00 PM EDT on Zoom for The Afterglow Books Fall Rom-Com Romp!
I love the idea of setting goals, but I don’t always meet them, especially when they’re big ones. What can I say? I’m human. When I first signed with Harlequin, I set a goal for myself of publishing ten books with them. That first contract was for two books, so ten was a stretch. I knew I was going to have to work hard to get there, and honestly? I wasn’t sure I could do it. That was 2015, and I’m completely gobsmacked to say that my 30th book with Harlequin–SWAP AND SMELL THE ROSES–is out now! (Cue the celebratory horns and confetti!)
I’m not entirely sure how this happened, other than the fact that I showed up every day and chipped away at it for nine years. That old adage about eating an elephant one bite at a time? Turns out it works! This book is incredibly close to my heart. I absolutely love the deliciousness of a slow burn romance, and I worked very hard to build a story that would leave readers turning pages. It’s what I live for as a reader–just one more page. One more chapter.
There are other tropes to love in this book–small town, grumpy/sunshine, opposites attract, and sandwiches as a love language (not officially a trope, but I’m working on it). For the Swifties, the female main character is a singer/songwriter who was inspired by TS. The hero is a former chef–both characters are burned out. He by success and she by failure. It made for a very fun juxtaposition as they both look for a way to slow down and find joy in life. Add in a farmers market, a bakery, a garden, two cottages on the same property, some warm summer nights, and some extra hot romantic interludes, and you have SWAP AND SMELL THE ROSES. I hope you decide to check it out! It’s available for your favorite retailer, including:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Google Play | Kobo | The Ripped Bodice | Target | Walmart
There are lots of fun things about being a romance author, but one of the best parts is when you get to show off a shiny new cover to the world. Today, I’m beyond excited to share the cover for my next book, SWAP AND SMELL THE ROSES! Y’all…this book has my heart, as does this cover. I love everything about the whole situation! This is Book 1 in a 2-book series (plus a special online read, but more on that when it’s ready…) about best friends Willow and Bailey, who swap living situations for two months. Bailey takes Willow’s Brooklyn apartment and Willow, in turn, takes Bailey’s tiny cottage in Connecticut. The latter is the setting for SWAP AND SMELL THE ROSES…it’s a small town, slow burn, grumpy/sunshine, romance with both heat and heart. It’s available for preorder now, or you can add it to Goodreads. Let me know what you think of the cover, and in the meantime, here’s the full book description:
In this deliciously tender, steamy romance, a burned-out musician swaps city life for cottage country only to find that slowing down means a racing heart, thanks to the grumpy guy next door…
When Willow Moore’s lifelong dream of music stardom goes bust, she’s burned out enough to need drastic change. As in, she’s trading her Brooklyn apartment for two months in the Connecticut countryside. Soon she’s baking bread, spending Saturdays at the farmer’s market and stopping to smell the roses, but some things in her new #cottagecore life aren’t so pleasant. Like her landlord, former chef Reid Harrell. As grouchy and reserved as Willow is chatty and outgoing, Reid is an annoyingly sexy keep-out sign. If only Willow was good at staying away.
Something about Reid, a sliver of pain poking through that flinty facade, makes her wonder if they’re more alike than she thought. Reid once chased success, too, and found it—at a price. Now all he wants is to be left alone to garden, but Willow’s not giving up so quick, especially when one of their heated arguments sparks an idea for a song. Her renewed creativity awakens them both, hurling them into a passionate vortex neither expects.
As the summer winds down, Willow is forced to confront her needs, wants and desires, not to mention Reid, the hardest puzzle of all to figure out. Maybe it’s time for the city girl to stop dwelling on dreams dashed and start following her heart—no matter where it might take her…
