When Love Matters Most by Kate James - Blog Tour

On Tour with Prism Book Tours.

Now More Readily Available in Print

This is an exciting time for Harlequin Heartwarming. Thanks to the loyalty of our readers, for the first time, our January releases, including When Love Matters Most, are available as mass-market paperbacks through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and Harlequin.com. Also, When Love Matters Most will be available in select Walmart stores in the United States in February! Please check the Harlequin website for the location nearest you. Thank you to all our readers who made these advancements possible for us!

— Kate

When Love Matters Most

(K-9 Trilogy #2)

by Kate James

Adult Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 368 pages

January 1st 2016 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Keeping her safe at all costs



Could their backgrounds be any more different? Rick Vasquez, a K-9 unit sergeant with the San Diego Police Department, fled drug-related violence in Mexico as a boy. Madison Long, who recently became primary veterinarian to the SDPD's canines, is the privileged daughter of a judge. Rick has dedicated his life to curtailing cross-border drug trafficking and preventing other young boys from being drawn into the dark world of the cartels.



But everything Rick and Madison value, and the growing love between them, is threatened by the dangers of Rick's job, and the risks he's determined to take…

Guest Post:

Researching the K-9 Trilogy

 

I am frequently asked how much of what I write is based on my own knowledge and experiences rather than research. Writing about what I know or have experienced leads to a more genuine, believable story, in my opinion. But to write convincing, diverse stories, there is always an element of research that is necessary.

 

The first book in the trilogy, When the Right One Comes Along, was released in October of 2015 and has already received a 2015 Best Book of the Year, Contemporary Category, honors from Carrie Schmidt of Reading is My Superpower. The second book, When Love Matters Most, now available for purchase. Having had only a passing knowledge of police service dogs through a friend who used to be a handler, I knew I had to do research, and it turned out to be a lot of fun.

 

 

After securing the requisite security clearance and necessary approvals, I had the great pleasure of spending a considerable amount of time with PC Jim Hilton of Ontario’s York Regional Police. PC Hilton is a K-9 expert and trainer, and is partnered with explosives detection dog, Max. PC Hilton was extremely generous with his time, knowledge and expertise, and I loved meeting Max.

 

My first introduction to explosives detection police service dog (PSD) Max.

 

Did you know police service dogs have their own police badges?

 

 

PSD Max’s badge.

 

Did you know that police service dogs often have their own “business cards,” too?

 

  

PSD Max’s “business card.”

 

Max’s bio is on his card. He was born on December 12, 2008 in the Czech Republic and was brought to Canada to become a police service dog in March 2011. Did you know that most police service dogs are not bred in North America, but are imported from countries such as Germany, Holland and Belgium? Read When Love Matters Most to find out why! 

 

PC Hilton was willing to put Max through some training exercises and demonstrate Max’s remarkable agility skills—a prerequisite for Max’s job.

 

PC Jim Hilton and his explosives detection K-9 partner, Max.

 

Would you think a police service dog could scale a six-foot barricade or climb a ladder . . . conditions the dogs can often face in the field while on duty? The following picture is from a video clip of Max running an obstacle course. If you watched the clip, you would think Max simply took flight and floated over the hurdle.

 

 

PC Hilton putting Max through his agility exercises.

 

For all animal lovers, you’d be thrilled to see how enthusiastic and joyous Max is about doing his exercises. I was surprised to learn that Max’s positive reinforcement for a job well done is praise and a Kong toy—no edible treats.

 

Did you know that the K-9 unit officers and their dogs have one of the most dangerous jobs in law enforcement? Read When Love Matters Most to find out why! 

 

PC Hilton even gave me reference materials to take home and read at my leisure!

 

Nothing like a little light nighttime reading.

 

It’s no hardship spending my time doing this type of research! I am grateful to PC Hilton and Max for educating me with respect to the roles and responsibilities of the K-9 unit, K-9 unit officers, and their police service dogs. If you get the chance to read my K-9 trilogy, I hope you enjoy it.

 

Amazon - Barnes & Noble - Harlequin

Kate James spent much of her childhood abroad before attending university in Canada. She built a successful business career, but her passion has always been literature. As a result, Kate turned her energy to her love of the written word. Her writing has been recognized with a number of awards, including first place honors for Silver Linings in both the First Coast Romance Writers’ Published Beacon Contest and Ancient City Romance Authors’ Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award. Her November 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release, A Child’s Christmas, received first-place honors from Southern Magic, the Birmingham Chapter of the Romance Writers of America, for the 2015 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, placed second in the Ancient City Romance Authors’ Heart of Excellence Readers’ Choice Award, and was a finalist in RWA’s Desert Rose Chapter’s Golden Quill Award and the Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence. Finally, her October 2015 release, When the Right One Comes Along, the first book in her K-9 trilogy, has received a Best Book of 2015 award in the contemporary category.

She and her husband, Ken, enjoy traveling and the outdoors with their beloved Labrador Retrievers, Harley and Logan.

Kate would love to hear from you! You can connect with her by e-mail, through her website, her Facebook page, Twitter, or mail at PO Box 446, Schomberg, ON, L0G 1T0, Canada.

Tour Schedule

January 4th: Launch

January 5th: Katie's Clean Book Collection

January 6th: Becky on Books & Sunrise Avenue

January 7th: Reading Is My SuperPower & Singing Librarian Books

January 8th: Getting Your Read On & deal sharing aunt

January 10th: Colorimetry & I Am A Reader

January 11th: Mel's Shelves & Slice of Life

January 12th: Thoughts of a Blonde & Falling Leaves

January 13th: underneath the covers & Teatime and Books

January 14th: Rockin' Book Reviews

January 15th: Enthralling Dimple & Love, Laughter, Friendship

January 17th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway



- $40 Amazon eGift Card & signed copies of The Truth About Hope and When the Right One Comes Along

- 3 winners of signed copies of When the Right One Comes Along

Open US/CAN only

Ends January 23rd



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