Karen Booth's Blog

This story about TOO FAST TO FALL starts with my dear friend, Piper Trace. Piper’s a fellow author, hilarious and smart, sweet and kind. The best.

I do a lot of book brainstorming with Piper. If I get stuck, she helps dig me out of the ditch. So, when I was trying to come up with a premise for the book to follow NOT SO FAST, I called Piper and begged her for a brainstorming session.

Now, these phone calls have varying degrees of success. Sometimes life gets in the way or we get sidetracked and don’t make much progress. This call, however, was like lightning in a bottle.

Let’s cut to the transcript:

Me: “I’d love to come up with a twist on a classic romance trope. Like a nanny story.”

Piper: “Dog nanny.”

Me: (brain whirring at one million miles a minute) “Yes. OMG, yes.”

That was all it took. It was just too perfect. Not only because I am animal lover to the NTH degree, but also because F1 fans (including me) are obsessed with the drivers’ pets, especially their dogs.

So that’s the story of how I came up with the premise for TOO FAST TO FALL, and that’s also the story of how my dog nanny got her name–Piper.

TOO FAST TO FALL comes out May 26, 2026. I’ll have a sneak preview of it way before then. Until then, here’s the blurb:

So what if she’s crushing on a race car driver? That doesn’t mean it’s love at first lap.

But maybe it’s love at first lap dog?

Yesterday, Piper Murphy was just another dog sitter helping her sister with wedding prep while pretending she’s over her own broken engagement.

Today, she’s the fill-in dog sitter for Formula One driver Emilio Baquero. Brooding, gorgeous driver + naughty, cute Lab? Woof, down boy.

When Emilio offers her a five-week gig as his live-in dog nanny in London, Piper can’t help but say yes. It’s out of her comfort zone, sure, but it’s also a ticket to travel, racing, and caring for a dog she already adores. All while escaping the wedding planning that’s put her failures front and center.

Only being under the same roof means there’s no escaping Emilio’s intensity, or grumpiness. Piper tries to be a sunny presence, but their clashes just fuel the slow-burn tension to something near combustible.

Because falling for your boss is risky when you have a broken heart. Falling for your famous boss and his adorable dog? That’s a crash waiting to happen.

You can preorder TOO FAST TO FALL from your favorite retailer!

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When I was a teenager, my cousins and I lived for People Magazine. We would save up our money and as soon as we had enough, we’d race to Walgreens or the grocery store to buy the latest issue. Spoiler alert: I was a teenager before the internet was a thing.

I suppose I’ve always been a sucker for celebrities, but growing up in small-town Minnesota, with not a lot of money, made all of those glamorous things you see in magazines just that much more glam-o-rous. Reading People was my equivalent of getting on a plane and flying to another country, something I didn’t get to do in real life until I was well into my 20s.

So when my editor sent me an email last week saying my book, NOT SO FAST, was going to be in the June 9th issue of People Magazine? My teenage self squealed and kicked her feet, while my present-day self shed an actual tear. Because I put a lot of hard work into my books and it doesn’t always get recognized or seen by a whole lot of people. This will be seen by a whole lot of people. And I couldn’t be more grateful. If you happen to catch it on shelves, I hope you’ll think of me, or at the very least your teenage self and all of the amazing things you’ve done to impress the person you used to be.

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I’m so excited (and relieved!) to say that NOT SO FAST has arrived in the world, fully formed in eBook, audio, and trade paperback formats. This book has been such a labor of love, and not just because I’m a huge Formula One fan. It’s because Mia and Xander wormed their ways into my heart and simply wouldn’t let go.

A writer always wants to reach the point where the characters in their imagination become three-dimensional people. Sometimes it’s very hard work. Like chiseling something out of stone. It wasn’t work with Xander and Mia. As soon as I had the smallest essence of them, they started talking to me, walking around in my head, sometimes waking me up in the middle of the night, and becoming a big part of me. They are two people with very big dreams and even bigger hearts and I loved watching them find each other, find love, and make it work for both of their lives. I loved the laughs, blushed at some of the things they said, and delighted in their very different personalities. I hope you take a chance on NOT SO FAST and I hope you love Mia and Xander, too. You can find the book at retailers everywhere and online. If you need something to point you in the right direction, go HERE.

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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.

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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!

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I often get asked about the inspiration behind my books, and there’s almost always a story. Gray Hair Don’t Care was inspired by my friend Ashley, who let her hair go gray, and it made her even more gorgeous. The Little Black Book of Secrets series was inspired by a Vanity Fair article I read about Truman Capote and the diaries he used to keep, chock full of everyone else’s secrets.

A lot of people have asked what made me write a Formula One romance. So let me tell you! During the pandemic, a friend of ours suggested we watch Drive to Survive. My immediate reaction? Why would I watch that? I was ignorant to what a truly and utterly fascinating sport it is. And, fair disclosure, I had no clue how utterly stunning the drivers are. No clue. A few episodes in, I was hooked. As was my daughter. When she latched onto F1, it gave us some prime mother/daughter bonding.

The first full season of racing we watched was the 2021 season, which was super exciting, and ended in the most controversial, thrilling way imaginable–seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton lost to Max Verstappen on the last lap of the last race, all because of a call made by the race director. I hate it when the refs end up deciding the outcome of a game (or in this case, a race). But that’s also sports–sometimes it just isn’t fair. Anyway, Ems and I have been die-hards since then. We watch every single practice session, qualifying, and race.

Early in 2024, I had a call with my editor at Harlequin. We were talking about the new line I write for, Afterglow Books, and I asked what was on her wish-list. (Editors often have a wish list of books they “wish” they could edit and publish.) She rattled off a few ideas, none of which were entirely up my alley, then she said, “And I really want a Formula One book.” Well, dear reader, my brain and really, my entire person exploded. It’s funny…I’m a romance author who had become consumed by the sport, but I hadn’t planned on writing an F1 romance. Until that moment. Then I was off to the races. So to speak!

Not So Fast was one of those rare books that just sort of spilled out of me. Xander and Mia appeared in my brain as fully-formed human beings from Day 1, and I loved writing the snarky enemies-to-lovers vibe that starts the book and how that transforms into a genuine love story full of ups and downs, sexy times, and ultimately an HEA that I think everyone can root for! The eBook and audio editions of Not So Fast are coming out a little earlier than originally planned. Release date for those is April 1. The trade paperback will be released May 27. And I hope you decide to take a chance on it. If you love my books, you will love this one, even if you don’t know a single thing about Formula One. I promise you’ll love the ride!

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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!In partnership with Afterglow Books by Harlequin and The Book Nook in Canby, OR, Bookstore Romance Day is presenting this special virtual event where we will chat about all things rom-com. Adele, M.C., and I all write steamy (no closed doors here) rom-coms for Harlequin’s Afterglow imprint. If you’re looking for an evening of fun conversation that’s sure to add to your TBR, you won’t want to miss it!Sign up for FREE at https://bit.ly/afterglowpanel

 

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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

Signed paperbacks from indie bookstore Flyleaf Books

 

 

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As you may or may not know, my next book, SWAP AND SMELL THE ROSES, is out May 21. This book is immensely close to my heart, and I’m essentially bursting at the seams while waiting for it to come out. I managed (somehow, don’t ask me exactly how) to squeeze so much into the pages–romance (of course), fun, humor, emotion, nostalgia, my love of the garden, sentimentality, and lots of heat. As a reader, I love reading a book that makes me laugh and cry and swoon, and that’s precisely what I think I managed to do with this one. Which brings me to my previous point–I’m super excited for it to be out in the world.

But it’s not May yet. Dammit. So I’m busy writing my next book while also talking about Swap as much as humanly possible. I’m making social posts, and reels, and this time, I even designed some stickers to go along with the book. Once you read it, you will 100% get the stickers and you will be super excited that you own them. But the only way to get them is to preorder the paperback from my hometown indie bookstore, Flyleaf Books. Indie bookstores are the pulsing heart of the book world, but it’s a tough side of the business. Anything I can do to bring sales to my indie is a good thing. Which is why I’m offering this exclusive preorder bonus–the book-themed sticker set (designed by me!) and a custom bookmark (also designed by me…authors wear a lot of hats, in case you didn’t know). That will all come with your signed, personalized copy of the paperback. So that’s it! I hope you’ll decide to preorder SWAP AND SMELL THE ROSES from Flyleaf Books!

 

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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…

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