Welcome to the Weird, the Wild, & the Wicked for a very
special event. My friend Karla Doyle, an erotic romance
author who infuses her books with humor, has asked me to help show off her gorgeous new cover art for her
upcoming release,
Cup of Sugar.
This is the first book in her new Close to Home series and it's bound to be good. Karla's books will make you laugh, and remind you there are still great things in the world. :)
Here's the blurb:
After
several failed relationships, Nia has one rule—don’t date neighbors. Simple,
except the guy next door is single, handsome, and not inclined to close his
blinds while naked. When her car dies, Conn takes “being neighborly” to a new
level by offering a ride to her long-distance destination. Nia has resisted his
looks and charm for months. Surely she can handle a few hours in his truck…
For months, Conn has blatantly put himself on display, hoping his
pretty blonde neighbor would tire of secretly watching and come knock on his
door for a cup of sugar—or more. No such luck—until an unusual opportunity
arises. After a six-hour drive turns into a sweet-and-sexy weekend, Conn wants
more than neighborly status with Nia. To get it, he must convince her to break
the rule protecting her heart—by putting his on the line.
You can find
Cup of Sugar on
Goodreads and you can add it to your "want to read" shelf.
Goodreads
And to keep up with Karla, you can find her here:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Google Plus
Goodreads
Amazon
Pinterest
EXCERPT
Well, look
at that—Nia’s little Chevy, its lights on, but not running. Perfect timing.
Conn
pulled into his side of the joined driveway and parked beside her car. For the
eight months since she’d moved in next door, the twenty-four feet of asphalt
separating their houses had been almost impassable. Whenever he got close to
crossing the distance, something or somebody got in the way. A time-consuming
sideline job he couldn’t afford to pass up. Phone calls from his family that he
had to answer. His pissed-off ex-girlfriend dropping by to unleash her rage.
Yeah, that last one had particularly sucked.
The times
he’d had the opportunity to speak to Nia, she’d blushed throughout their brief,
casual conversations, bolting as soon as she had the chance. Polite, neighborly
waving seemed to be her preferred method of communication.
But he’d
caught her looking his way. Many times. The pretty blonde’s ability to fry his
circuits with her stolen glances had had Conn on high alert for months. Hell,
he’d purposely put himself on display—doing all kinds of things—hoping she’d
get tired of secretly watching and come knocking on his door. She never did.
He wasn’t
one for making New Year’s resolutions, but this opportunity called for one.
Tonight, he resolved that Nia wouldn’t get away so easily.
His
steel-toed boots hit the snow-covered ground. Not much accumulation yet, but
the forecast called for six inches before the calendar rolled over at midnight.
He’d shovel it before it piled up, then again later, when it quit coming down.
He’d do Nia’s side of the driveway too, as he did whenever she didn’t beat him
to the job. She was a petite thing, but never shied away from property
maintenance. Such as climbing a ladder to clean out the eaves troughs—which
she’d done wearing cut-off jean shorts and a pale-pink, body-hugging tank top.
Best day in all of August, that one.
He left
the shopping bags in the back of his truck and cut between their vehicles. The
groceries could wait a few. Spotlights mounted on Nia’s backyard pergola
illuminated most of the driveway. She hadn’t started her engine, nor had she
gotten out of the car. Intentionally avoiding him? If so, about time he found
out why.
He bent
and peered through the window, giving a light rap on the glass as he did. “Hey,
neighbor.”
Her
muffled “hello” was as soft as Conn imagined her skin and hair would be—if she
ever let him close enough to find out. Her gloved hands gripped the hell out of
the steering wheel. The keys dangled from the ignition. Small clouds formed and
dissipated as she breathed the cold air. She darted another glance at him, but
didn’t move.
“Everything
okay, Nia?”
Her
shoulders slumped and a larger puff of fog left her lips. “My car won’t start.”
Chalk this
one up as a late Christmas present from the universe. He motioned at the
passenger door. She nodded in response, so he opened it, stuck his head and
shoulders inside. “I’m at your service. I can jump you or give you a ride.”
She squeaked—actually
squeaked—and the frost melted from her expression. Oh, she was still pink in
the cheeks, the color just didn’t look cold-weather-induced. Maybe this New
Year’s Eve wouldn’t completely suck after all.
Thanks for stopping by. Keep an eye out for
Cup of Sugar. Happy reading. :)
.jpg)
