{Blog Tour} Wish Me Tomorrow by Karen Rock


Wish Me Tomorrow
Karen Rock

Can they build a future on hope alone?

For years nurse and grief counselor Christie Bates has been teaching her patients to confront their fears, express themselves and trust in hope. But as her feelings for cancer survivor Eli Roberts and his two children grow, can she overcome her own fear and love a man who lives every day with the possibility of recurring illness?

Tackling cancer and single parenthood simultaneously has turned Eli into a devout realist. Which is why he finds Christie's perpetually upbeat attitude so aggravating. Still, despite himself, she's making a place in his heart. If only he could offer Christie more than an uncertain future.
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Since Karen Rock’s grandmother passed her shopping bagfuls of Harlequin Presents as a teen, it’s been her dream to add her voice to the Romance genre. Now an author of Harlequin’s latest contemporary line, Heartwarming, Karen is thrilled to pen wholesome, tender, deeply romantic stories that all can relate to. Her first novel, WISH ME TOMORROW, is out in September 2013 and her next, HIS HOMETOWN GIRL, is out in spring 2013. Additionally, Karen is a young adult contemporary romance co-author with fellow Harlequin author, Joanne Rock for the CAMP BOYFRIEND series that debuted July 2013 with Spencer Hill Press.

When she’s not busy writing, Karen enjoys watching anything starring Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks, cooking her Nona’s family Italian recipes, and occasionally rescuing local wildlife from neighborhood cats. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, her very appreciated beta-reader daughter and two King Charles Cavalier cocker spaniels who have yet to understand the concept of “fetch,” though they’ve managed to teach her the trick! Hmmmm… wonder how that happened?! She loves to connect with other romance fans!
Connect with Karen:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
“So, why were you two talking about me?” Eli probed, shifting in his shining black Oxfords. In the background, the piano keys banged out the song “Let’s Do It,” an off-key chorus accompanying it.
Gran’s husky contralto rose above the rest, belting out the lyrics, “Let’s fall in love…” as she gazed down at an eyebrow-waggling John. Why was life so uncomplicated for them? They were enjoying each other’s company, plain and simple. So why, when it came to her and Eli, did their distance seem insurmountable?
“Something about Becca thinking we like each other.” Christie’s voice came out unevenly—he was standing very close to her, near enough that she could feel the warmth of him.
“Hmm. Guess she knows how to read her dad, at least.” He ran a hand through his hair, the intensity in his eyes making her flinch and turn away.
Her chest rose and fell, colored dots appearing on the edge of her vision.
“Christie. Talk to me.”
She shook her head mutely, unable to meet his gaze. There were too many secrets her eyes might tell.
He cupped her elbow and steered her farther from the party guests until they stood alone in a far corner. A sign outside the window cast red light on his pale face.
“Am I really alone in this?” His voice sounded as tattered as a retired flag. “I didn’t want to press you after our run in the rain because you looked so…surprised by my admission that I want more. But can you really tell me you’re not feeling something for me, too? Because I’m losing my mind, losing sleep. Every waking moment is me thinking about you…about us.”
His urgent tone made her look up into his pleading eyes, the surge of hope in their depths making her heart leap.
She nodded and felt his hand tighten, his hold draw her close. Her eyes shut, and she shivered at the caress of his breath against her temple. This was it. All this time, imagining what it would be like to have Eli’s arms around her, to feel him against her, their hearts beating together…it was close to coming true and she wasn’t going to deny it any longer…even though she knew she didn’t deserve any of it. And Eli needed to know why.
She wanted to admit what was in her heart before things went further, but she became suddenly conscious of the quiet crowd and the dimmed lights.
“Time to sing everyone,” Mary said. She carried a chocolate sheet cake with loopy writing and a blaze of candles. Luckily everyone was looking her way and not theirs.
John pounded out the opening notes to “Happy Birthday.” Christie avoided Gran’s speculative gaze as she and Eli stepped from the shadows and joined the assembly. Her voice blended with the rest, her body relaxing against the warm arm encircling her waist. Time to tuck away her rational self and live in this perfect, happy moment. There’d be time enough for doubts later.
“Make a wish, Eli” John called. “You’ll need a big breath to blow out all those candles.”
The group laughed then hushed as he closed his eyes and inhaled long and deep. Christie stepped aside to join Becca, Tommy and a tail-wagging Scout. Eli’s breath exploded from him, obliterating every pinpoint of light and smearing some of the candle wax on the frosting. Wow. Whatever he’d wished for, he meant it.
“What happened to Mister I-don’t-believe-in-wishes?” John wheeled closer and ruffled Scout’s ears.
Eli shrugged. He picked off the candles and dropped them on a paper plate. “Guess I’ve seen the light.”
“So, what’d you wish for, Dad?” Becca asked, grabbing hold of Tommy’s finger as it inched toward the cake.
When the lights came back up, his eyes leveled on Christie.
“Something I can’t live without.”
** I got a copy in exchange for an honest review**

It took me days, weeks, a month to feel and read the book. As it turned out, I wanted more from this book, from this author. Since this has been a different approach unlike the YA book Camp Boyfriend that Karen and Joanne wrote, I decided to give it a try and see how it goes with me. While in between classes, weekend marathons, catch-up reading has always been a must but is also hard time for me. Since I was into the story I really tried to take up some of my time to read and just be inside the story. I started, went until 20 something percent then stopped to give way for my exams. Yuuuuh, it has been hard resisting to read and studying.
“Hope was a four-letter word he didn’t dare say, let alone think. His body had healed but his spirit would never be that same.”
At first, it was a light read. Cancer patients, group meetings, seems like the normal things Christie do. Same faces, same routine, all and just the new poetry and quotations she shares. Christie has been optimistic with life and what comes after it. She anchored herself to positivity since her brother Bill died. Same with her patients, she’s lived under the pressure and moving on has not been an easy thing for her. What she’s felt for herself was a deep remorse and guilt that you can actually feel. I, myself, felt it. There’s this whole thing with emotions that captures me very hard that I end up torn about it, too. I understand how she managed to live her teenage life caring for her brother, pouring everything she can do to sustain his life. She’s grown up experiencing the harshness life can offer, live the life of an adult earlier than she expected it, and stop the hobby she liked the most. It was sad and sweet and heavy. All those jumbled up because of a one scenario.

When life throws you a curve ball, it’s either you let it hit you or you swing it with all your might. That’s how Eli restored his life. He’s a realist unlike Christie. His wife left him with their children, Becca and Tommy, when they found out about his cancer and has been the only one to raise the kids. His relationship with his daughter grew worse as she grows old and when he first met Christie, he tried to shake her off out of his system. They’re both opposites and he can’t stand the optimism Christie shared with all the other patients when he sees life differently. And talking about the kids, who wouldn't love Becca and Tommy? Tommy is such an energetic kid that if real, I'd love to play with. And Becca, she's honest and sweet as a pie, but just lacks the determination to tell how she really feels. 
“A dangerous warmth curled through her, setting in her heart. She knew better than to daydream about him. Yet, tonight, she would do just that, and thoughts of this complex, compelling man would fill that aching void inside her.”
I said it there, way up there, that at first it was a light read. I go on and on and on reading until the tension between the two characters builds up. There were nights that I couldn't put my phone down and stop reading. There were nights that I just have to deliberately sob until I grew unaware that I already am. It felt like a sunny day that grew and transformed into endless rain showers. I was in the book. It was like I was in there, with them, experiencing everything that has been happening, listening to every word they say, and seeing how they move. Karen created a surreal world where hope and wish are two important abstract things in the world. I begrudgingly ended the book, not because I hated it, but because there’s more into it.

The ending was okay, by okay I really mean just okay. I was torn when it ended just like that. When I was nearing the ninety-nine percent, I was panicking that it might end in that they just leave it there and hope was the only thing that's left for them, and everything. It was HEA and I love HEA but you know, I’ve been thinking day and night! I kept asking myself questions I cannot answer. What happens after tomorrow? And making my own conclusion just hurts me to the core. Yay me!

It was juicy! Yum! The delectable intricate pieces that fit perfectly. Life shows you lesson you’ll never know you’ve already found. I was annoyed, hurt, in love, touched, and all the family-feels I’ve experienced in this book. Not only did it captured my eye but the very core of my heart and soul.

And PS. If you want the family-feels I was saying, you go grab this book. :D

Lookie! I'm still looking for something. On the bright side, you captured my heart (:

So we move on to the best part!

 GRAND PRIZE
Signed copies:
Karen Rock's WISH ME TOMOROW
Robyn Carr's THE WANDERER
JoJo Moyes' ME BEFORE YOU 
JoJo Moyes' THE GIRL YOU LEFT BEHIND
JK Rock's CAMP BOYFRIEND

Unsigned copies:
Bella Andre's I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU
Pamela Tracy's KATIE'S RESCUE
Tara Randal's ORANGE BLOSSOM BRIDE
Syndi Powell's THE RELUCTANT BACHELOR
Harlequin tote bag
RWA 2013 water bottle
RWA water bottle holder

3 RUNNER UPS
$10 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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