Bittersweet

It’s been a brutal week for me personally. I had to finally face the reality of my little Shih Tzu, Zoe’s condition: her quality of life had degraded to poor. Was she suffering? Not as long as she was curled up in my lap. For nearly twelve years, that was her happy place. I asked my husband a couple of weeks ago if it was time. He shook his head no, but said, “We’re almost there.” He came into my office this past Sunday afternoon, sat down, and calmly said, “I know you’re having a rough week, baby, and I don’t want to add to it, but it’s time.” My stomach bottomed out because I knew it was time to face reality.

I made the call to the vet that afternoon, and Tuesday morning, I drove with my little sweetheart on my lap to the man who brought her into this world, and who patiently sat with me as he eased Zoe over the Rainbow Bridge.

It was hard. One of the hardest things I’ve had to do in my life. I didn’t want anyone to go with me, I wanted it to be just me and Zoe. As I felt her heart beat for the last time, I lost it. Dr. O, God bless him, sat with me until I was finally able to collect myself.

I drove home dry-eyed. I had cried nonstop since I made the call Sunday. Yet when I came home and Coco, Zoe’s momma who is still spry and alert, greeted me with a look like, “Hey, I woke up and my girl’s gone, where is she?” I lost it again. It’s been painful watching her search the house for her baby girl.

Tuesday Nov 5^th is going to be one of those bittersweet memory days. I lost a dear friend but it was also the release day for THE TRUTH, book three in my Chronicles of Katrina series. Had I known beforehand that the release would coincide with the day I lost Zoe, I would have pushed it up or back, but knowing now how the day would play out, I wouldn’t change it. I needed the love and support of my friends and readers. I needed the distraction. It got me through a terrible day. Thank you for that.

I feel like I haven’t done my author job in sharing my excitement about THE TRUTH, the third installment of Kat and Simon’s story. But my readers have shared! I have received nonstop messages and emails since its release Tuesday. Here are a few snippets:

“All I can say is OMG!!!!”

“…December can’t come soon enough!… I loved it!”

“OMG!!! You killed me with the Truth!!…Amazing just like last time. So I love and hate you! Now until December. Thanks for a great continuation…”

“…EFFIN LOVED IT!”

“…just finished the truth and I want to kill someone argh!!!!”

“…I usually don’t go for cliffhangers and super angst endings but now I’m sucked in dam it…”

There is more of the same from the reviewers. J

I am especially pleased because this series is really my first total immersion into the self-publishing arena. I gathered together a remarkable production team who has worked as hard as I have on these books. Simon, the green-eyed hero of the series has resonated with readers like no other hero I have written. I am as smitten with him as you all are. I smile, laugh and squirm in my seat every time I’m writing this story. It’s good. Really good. The only person telling me I can’t do something are the characters themselves.

So, I’m here to say, if you love sexy, fun, emotional smokin’ hot romance and haven’t picked up a copy of book one, THE DARE, you should, it will only cost you time. It’s a free read.

If after you get to the end of THE DARE, DOUBLE DARE awaits followed by THE TRUTH. The grand finale, THE CONSEQUENCE will hit etailer book shelves December 10^th.

If you have read any one of the books in the series and enjoyed, I’d love it if you posted a review. If you haven’t read the series, I hope you give it a try, I mean THE DARE is FREE!

However, I’m happy to give away 5 Nook or Kindle copies of DOUBLE DARE and 5 Nook or Kindle copies of THE TRUTH today to 10 randomly selected commenters who answer this question: Who is the sexiest person you have ever met?

Just in case you wanted to hop on over to your favorite etailer and buy a copy….

THE DARE, Book One in The Chronicles of Katrina.

FREE at your favorite etailer!

Free @ Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Dare-Chronicles-Katrina-ebook/dp/B00E1M6LCE

Free @ iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-dare/id672935432?mt=11

Free @ Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-dare-12

Free @ Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-dare-karin-tabke/1116090026?ean=9780988187917

DOUBLE DARE, Book two in The Chronicles of Katrina at your favorite etailer!

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Double-Dare-The-Chronicles-Katrina-ebook/dp/B00EO6R1N0/ref=pd_sim_kstore_1

iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/double- dare/id690672992?mt=11

Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/double-dare-12

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-dare-karin-tabke/1116789078?ean=9780988187924