We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
In Book One, Christmas at Cade Ranch, you're in for a heartwarming holiday romance that will touch your heart and get you in the holiday spirit. It involves James Cade, second oldest brother and Cade Ranch’s manager. James is fiercely protective of his family and takes his responsibility of keeping them safe from outside threats seriously, especially after they lost their troubled youngest brother, Jesse, an opioid addict, to vicious murderers. He’s shocked to discover that Jesse had a child when the boy's beautiful, enigmatic mother arrives on his doorstep. He senses there’s more to Sofia’s story than she’s telling and he’s determined to uncover what she’s hiding in case her secrets threaten the peace of his still grieving family. . .
"The emotion and triumphs are what I love best about this story. With a sweet and gentle romance blossoming in the wings, second chances at life and a family's love give the characters power to change prejudices and allow for stunning growth. Family really is everything and this whole family is fantastic, even with their flaws. I ran the gamut with my feelings and was enveloped in Carbondale, CO from the first page to the last. This is one series that I'm definitely watching out for."
“Are you my grandma?” Javi’s left-sided dimple appeared in a quick smile.
Joy gasped. “Yes.”
“You don’t look so old.”
Despite the tense moment, Sofia held in a short laugh. Joy’s warm eyes met hers. “Well. I appreciate that. And how old are you?”
He held up four fingers, and Sofia shook her head. Red stained Javi’s cheeks as he peeled up one more digit.
James slugged a hot draw of black coffee the next afternoon and set the thermos in his truck’s cup holder. A boot-stomping country rock tune blared from his sound system and Sofia perched beside him, her arms hugging her knees to her chest.
Sofia sang softly, a low sound he found himself straining to hear. They were lyrics to a familiar song that she nearly had right…
Sofia was warm and sweet in James’ arms, her kisses tentative at first and then more aggressive as he prolonged them. He relished the feel of her fingers walking up his chest to curve around his neck, nails gently scraping through the hard facade he showed the rest of the world to the man he was beneath.
How fragile a person became, he marveled, when you entrusted your heart to another. Yet he wouldn’t have it any other way, even if he could control his feelings for Sofia. She brought him to his knees with one look, yet he’d never felt stronger, more alive than when she smiled at him. It was a strange juxtaposition, this helpless potency she alone drew out of him.
"As usual, Karen Rock keeps the reader engaged with her descriptive writing and realistic, no-holds-barred portrayal of circumstantial human behavior. She also offers possible avenues of resolution, making the reading of Christmas at Cade Ranch a meaningful learning experience as well as a gratifying journey."
I love how there are connecting stories for certain settings - Cade Ranch was previously explored in a bit of a prequel within the pages of "A Cowboy to Keep". What initially inspired you to set a series of Romances within the Rocky Mountain range and how did you develop 'Cade Ranch'?
...After writing A COWBOY TO KEEP, a western romantic suspense featuring Jack Cade, a rancher turned bounty hunter, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the rich history and beautiful setting of the dramatic Rocky Mountains. Jack’s quest to avenge his murdered brother, one of his five siblings, gave him a powerful backstory. Since his murdered brother, Jesse, was an opioid addict, I was also drawn to the theme of addiction and loss and how that can affect a family as close as the Cades. They were a broken family after losing a loved one. I wanted to write a series which would allow me to show how love is the path to healing by giving each sibling his or her own happily-ever-after.
"As usual, Karen Rock keeps the reader engaged with her descriptive writing and realistic, no-holds-barred portrayal of circumstantial human behavior. She also offers possible avenues of resolution, making the reading of Christmas at Cade Ranch a meaningful learning experience as well as a gratifying journey."
"This story wasn’t about the love interest between James and Sofia, it’s about so much more. It’s about love of family, and one’s self. It’s about addiction and the long and difficult road to recovery. It’s about acceptance and finding the strength to forgive. It’s about finding the courage to claim the happiness you deserve, despite all the wrongs in your past. And it’s about second chances, giving them and receiving them. . . . I loved the story. . . CHRISTMAS AT CADE RANCH is a heartfelt holiday read full of family, love and forgiveness and I’d recommend it to any reader in search of the same."
"A heart wrenching story of love, forgiveness and redemption! . . . A very powerful message … and a sweet story of coming out on the other side!"
"Good read. . . . Liked the characters and reading their individual struggles and how they work through them. Would recommend this book."
"I also found the themes of redemption, second chances, and forgiveness in the book. This book can really be read at anytime, even though it centers on the Christmas Season. The messages that it contains are good for anytime and help me feel a little more thankful in the month of November."
James encircled Sofia’s waist and her head tipped back. He brought his lips close and the warm, sweet curls of his breath brushed against her skin. “You’re beautiful.”
“No.” She pressed her eyes closed.
“Yes,” he insisted...
"If you are looking for a book to put you in the holiday spirit, this book has plenty of that as well. 'Tis the season for a good Christmas romance! I can't wait to get back to Cade Ranch with the next book."
“You loved him, Joy.” She blinked her eyes against the stinging rush rising inside them.
“Yes. But he also needed my understanding. My unconditional love. He needed me to love and support him for who he was, not who I wanted him to be. I never accepted that side of him, and he must have felt so lonely.”
"Another Karen Rock book that is a Harlequin Heartwarming and she hits it out the park for me. There is something about an author that can write emotional, at times raw, heartwarming romance like this..."
"I absolutely loved and adored this book, not only because of the love story between hero and heroine, but because of the scars of the past coming to the present every time they encounter each other. Taking into account that the chemistry between them is explosive and both not recognizing the chemistry as love, there’s a sizzle in the air, that has nothing to do with the upcoming Christmas."
"Christmas at Cade Ranch is a sweet Christmas story. Set on a ranch in contemporary times, it tells a cute romance between Sofia and James. I enjoyed it, and it reminded me a little bit of a Hallmark movie. It was sweet, showed the characters facing real struggles, and ended satisfyingly. . . . I enjoyed Christmas at Cade Ranch, and I recommend it to fans of sweet, contemporary romance."
Where did the inspiration for this book come from?
After writing A COWBOY TO KEEP, a western romantic suspense featuring Jack Cade, a rancher turned bounty hunter, I wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the rich history and beautiful setting of the dramatic Rocky Mountains. Jack’s quest to avenge his murdered brother, one of his five siblings, gave him a powerful backstory. Since his murdered brother, Jesse, was an opioid addict, I was also drawn to the theme of addiction and loss and how that can affect a family as close as the Cades. They were a broken family after losing a loved one. I wanted to write a series which would allow me to show how love is the path to healing by giving each sibling his or her own happily-ever-after.
Sofia’s glossy black mane swung back from her face as she tilted it to study James. “No. I feel guilty because I’m glad you’re here and not—not—Jesse.” Tears welled in her eyes. “That makes me a monster.”
He cupped her shaking shoulders and their feet stilled. Something exploded in his chest. His heart maybe. She cared about him. She experienced the same powerful emotions that had taken him by storm from the moment he’d laid eyes on her. “Then I’m one, too, because I want you here, would have wanted you even if Jesse had brought you home, and I’m glad I don’t have to compete for you.”
"Christmas at Cade Ranch by Karen Rock is the first book in the Rocky Mountain Cowboys mini series. If you have never read a book by Karen Rock GO NOW and GRAB this one!!! You will not be disappointed. . . . Christmas at Cade Ranch is a heartwrenching story that will take you through many struggles and obstacles. These happen to be true elements of many peoples every day life in this current time. You will not regret this one. Thank you again Karen for such an amazing read!"
"Christmas at Cade Ranch by Karen Rock is a great read when the weather outside is cold and snowy – or even just when you wish it were! (We never get enough wintry-Christmas here in Kentucky for my taste.) Kisses to make you melt, a sweet message of family and faith and restoration, and vivid characters who settle right into your heart… when you want a clean read that isn’t short on romance, it doesn’t get much better than this!"
"Christmas At Cade Ranch is a truly inspiring story about a mother's journey and her wanting a better life for herself and her son, along with finding love along the way. I liked how the story drew on a topic, such as substance misuse which not many books draw upon as it is a sensitive subject. Although it is one of those things that is relevant in the world today and I am was really pleased to read this amazing story that can put it into a truly modern spin on a brilliantly written Christmas story."
"Karen Rock has written an entertaining and powerful story that touches the heart. I haven’t read much from Harlequin’s Heartwarming series before now, but ifChristmas at Cade Ranch is the norm, then I’m a fan."
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