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8/22/2012

Welcome erotic contemporary author Karla Doyle--CONTEST!


Welcome to Karla Doyle, Ellora's Cave author of Game Plan and her latest book, More Than Words! 

You know how you read a book from an author and just know that you're going to be reading all their books from now on? Yeah, me too. That's what happened when I read Karla's amazing debut, Game Plan. I'm so excited her second book, More Than Words, is out now!

Read on for how you can win a GC to buy your very own copy! Make sure to answer Karla's great question and please leave your email in your comment so she can contact you if you win.


Hi, Cari J Can I just say how unbelievably cool it is to be guest-posting at one of my favorite author’s blogs? Total fangirl moment here!

Okay, breathing has almost returned to normal. Thank you so much, Cari, for inviting me to visit and talk about my new book.

MORE THAN WORDS released August 17th from Ellora’s Cave. MTW is my second novel, a contemporary erotic romance I usually refer to as ‘the dirty Scrabble story’.

Here’s the blurb:

A brutal mugging two years ago left Calli terrified to go out after dark, and incapable of real dating. Hanging out with a resentful Chihuahua every night hasn’t filled the void, and all the sex toys from the store she owns could never replace a flesh-and-blood man. An online Scrabble site promising anonymous, flirty fun sounds like just the ticket. A like-minded geek, that’s what she needs. Unbeknownst to her, the man on the other end of the game is anything but geeky.

Tired of the party scene, Travis seeks a venue where he can meet a woman who is drawn to his mind, not his profession. Having women chase after his bad-boy musician persona has grown stale. After heating up the tiles online with Calli, he knows he must meet her in person. Touch her in person. And when he does, their chemistry is undeniable. She stimulates him, mind and body. But when he discovers her tragic past he realizes it will take more than words to win her heart…and her trust.


In MORE THAN WORDS, Travis and Calli are both lonely, though in very different ways. Both want to connect with somebody, even if their end goals in that regard are worlds apart. Calli is just looking for a distraction from her life. Travis wants somebody to share his with.

Cari suggested I write a post about why my hero and heroine fell in love. I’m the author, so that should be easy, right? Nope. Ever ask your special person why they love you? Tried to verbalize why you fell in love with your significant other? It’s hard to put that amazing feeling into words.

Of course, there’s Travis’ outside. His dark hair, sexy stubble, hard body with lots of tattoos, and his position as a guitar player in a rock band make him the kind of guy women swoon over. Sure, Calli drools every time she looks at Travis, but his looks aren’t why Calli falls in love with him. Before she’d had a glimpse of the packaging, she fell for his quick witted way with words. As their relationship develops, she’s drawn to his intelligence, his mixture of attentiveness and determination. Travis doesn’t make excuses—he doesn’t buy into them either. Calli respects and loves this about him, even when it infuriates her or breaks her heart.

Travis is no stranger to attractive females, yet Calli’s buttoned-up version of sexy brings him to his knees. She intrigues him with her contradictions, inside and out. Conservative clothes hide naughty lingerie. Her naïveté coupled with scorching-hot willingness. And the big one, her strength of character while battling a paralyzing fear. Despite her soft sweetness, she refuses to let him take over. Calli wants him but doesn’t need him. She accepts him as-is and demands the same in return.

Now that you’ve had a glimpse inside Travis & Calli’s heads and hearts, I’m throwing the question out to you, dear readers.

“Why did you fall in love with your significant other?”

On Friday, I’ll choose one commenter to receive a $5.00 Amazon gift card, so be sure to leave your email address with the comment.

Now, here’s an all-new excerpt from MORE THAN WORDS:

His toes were officially numb, but he deserved it. “I should’ve told you all this before shutting down my computer and driving over here.” And now, the part where he behaved like a decent guy, not Travis Graham, womanizing charmer of panties in three provinces and at least four states. “I’m going to head home. If you give me your number, we could talk, which I would very much like to do.”

“I’d rather we, uh…”

The frigid November night had turned the tip of her nose red. The pink on her cheeks had nothing to do with the weather. Both were fucking adorable.

“Pick up our game online?” He sounded like a desperate man. Appropriate, because that’s exactly how he felt.

“No, I want… Ugh, I’m not very experienced at this stuff.”

“Me either.” He laughed when she raised an eyebrow at him. “What—it’s true.” And it was—he’d never had to wait in subzero weather for an invitation from a woman.

“You’re full of shit, but I’d like you to come in anyway. If you still want to…Travis.”

“I want to.” Jumped all over that, hadn’t he? The sound of his name in her sexy voice, the way she tested it on those pretty lips, heated the blood now surging through his veins. He stepped inside and she triple-bolted the door behind him. Locking him in with her—fine by him. “I like it when you say my name.”

She smiled up at him while returning her dog to the ground. “I like it too. I mean, when you call me Calli.”

“It suits you. Very feminine, with a hint of incredibly cute.” He shrugged his coat off and delivered it to her waiting arms. Watching her move around, the simple act of hanging a coat on a hook, had him itching to touch her. She caught him staring. Smiled a little, blushed a lot. Damn.

Her hands knotted together in front of her waist. “Would you like to come upstairs?”

So sweet, so proper. So unlike the women he’d grown accustomed to. If they were chatting online, he’d play on her words, tell her it didn’t matter where he came, as long as it was with her. For now, he dialed it back. “Very much. Lead the way.” He kept his hands at his sides as they climbed the wooden stairs. Took all his willpower, but he didn’t touch her. Just stared at her pert ass swaying in front of his face. His cock pushed against his fly. Taking the edge off a few hours ago didn’t count for much now, not with Calli’s bare legs mere inches away, tempting him to the point of insanity.

“You don’t have a heart condition or something, do you?” she asked when they entered her apartment at the top of the stairs.

“Nope. All my organs have been tested and checked as clean.”

Again with the shy smile. “Just out of shape, then?”

“I like to think I’m not. I run ten kilometers without stopping and hit the gym at least three times a week.” To hell with it, he was going for it. He stepped closer and lightly cupped her waist. “Decide for yourself…put your hands on my stomach, or chest, or whatever else you want to check the fitness of.”

♥♥♥

MORE THAN WORDS is now available from Ellora’s Cave. For more buy-links, stop by my website.

I love chatting, so stop by my blog, Twitter or Facebook, or shoot me an email and say hello.

Doesn't More Than Words sound great? I know I can't wait to read it! Be sure to answer Karla's question for a chance to win an Amazon gift card!

21 comments:

Unknown said...

Great post. I fell in love with my husband for a lot of reasons. I was friends with him for years (and actually dated two of his best friends). He was always a bit of a rebel and dominant and that turned me on. He was also extremely good looking and sexy. When I really fell in love, though, was when I saw what was inside him. No one ever treated me as well as he does. 20+ years now!!

kesummer69 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

Hi Kelsey,

I love real-life love stories like that! And 20+ years--wow! Thank you for sharing. :)

~Karla

Kaylyn D said...

I fell for mine because of his sense of humor. He is rarely serious and loves to make me laugh.
kaylyndavis1986@yahoo.com

wulf said...

I don't think there was one specific reason. I think it was just a lot of traits and behaviors he had that I liked. Then eventually time spent together. It was a gradual thing.

penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Hi Cari, Hi Karla! funny thing, I met my husband online 10 years ago, and we still ask each other every once in a while (okay, he asks almost weekly) "what made you fall in love with me?" and we still give the same answer every time, lol. He tells me it's because I was unlike any woman he'd ever met. He said I was funny, smart, caring and just different. I tell him it's because he's my hero in every way, we share a lot in common, and he's my best friend. I also jokingly tell him it was his Navy uniform that did me in :)

I loved the blurb and the excerpt. It has everything I love about a good romance - especially a tattooed hero. The fact that he's a rock star is icing on the cake. I also love a heroine, who is very unassuming with her sensuality. I'm adding this to my TBR list! Thank you for the chance to win!

msromanticreads at gmail dot com

AliceTheWriter said...

Josh and I met in college, but he didn't catch my eye until he dressed up as a woman for Halloween. He was so convincing, so pretty, that I realized he had attractive traits I'd been ignoring because he wasn't the most outgoing of his friends. I got to know him better, and noticed more and more physical traits I liked. At the same time, I was falling in love with who he was: a kind, sensitive person who'll make time for a friend in need no matter what he has going on in his life.

We've been married for 11 years.

alicetheowl[at]gmail[dot]com

Cathy M said...

His sense of humor drew me to him, and one look in his eyes and I was a goner. Going on 37 years now.

Great excerpt up at EC too, Karla. Have a fabulous release week.


caity_mack at yahoo dot com

Taryn Elliott said...

Great excerpt! Tattooed badguy guitarist? I think my buy finger started quivering at that.

As for your question...
Not married, but the big love was because he made me laugh. He was goofy and sweet and the man was all about the giving. ;)

Even when he did a lot of stupid crap, in the end there was a sweetness that made it very hard to say no to.

taryn(at)tarynelliott.com

Deb PelletierC said...

My guy is a cutie and has a wonderful sense of humor. :-)
r.d1@myfairpoint.net

Christine said...

Wow this is a hard one.. I met my now husband online 14 years ago. I liked how he acted, he was funny and flirty and a bit devilish without being crude. He was respectful, intelligent, etc. etc. etc. We finally met for real 12 1/2 years ago and he was in real life like he was online. I moved in with him a little over a year later and we married 7 years ago. I fell in love with him because of all the traits I listed, and through good and definitely a lot of bad, we seemed to stick together when most others would have gone their separate ways.

cms72023(at)gmail(dot)com

Carin said...

This sounds like a great book, loved the excerpt.
I fell in love with my husband because he accepts my crazy and he treats me like a queen. He is the most supportive and caring man I have met. Thanks Carin
mawmom at gmail dot com

Vanessa N. said...

I fell for him because he makes me feel safe and is always there for me.

mythic021@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

Wow, I go away for a few hours and come back to so many awesome answers to my question! I absolutely love reading all of your real-life, romantic happy endings.

Keep them coming! :)

~Karla

Cara Bristol said...

Met my husband at Toastmasters (a public speaking organization). He was a fireman. He seemed very solid and dependable. I'd dated a few flakes. It wasn't love at first sight, but my first thought when I saw him was "that's the kind of guy I could go for." We're been married 19 years.

Shadow said...

This sounds great!! Id love to read it! I dont have a signigicant other. No love yet. :) Thanks for sharing and for the great giveaway!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

Love the post! I met my husband 15 years ago at a Christmas party. Two of our friends set us up. I love his sense of humor and he gets my silliness. Our marriage just gets better everyday.
mel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com

bn100 said...

Congrats on the book! Very nice excerpt.

bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com

June M. said...

Congrats on the release & thank you for the excerpt. This book sounds great.
I can't answer your question because I am completely single, no love yet :(
June
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com

Cynthia Rayne said...

I met him at work and he wore me down. Asking me out to lunch, then dinner, and then asking me to go out with him. I wasn't really ready for the relationship, but boy am I glad I did eventually give i n!

andieleah said...

I feel in love with my bf because of the sweet things he would do for me like opening doors...boys don't do that these days.
andieleah78@gmail.com

Karla Doyle said...

Thanks again, Cari, for letting me hijack your blog.

I LOVED all of these incredible comments. So many romantic real-life love stories...each one gave me a great big smile. :) Thanks to all of you for sharing them with me.

I tossed numbers corresponding to the comments in a hat and had my real-life romance hero draw one.
The winner of the Amazon gift card is: Cathy M!

Cathy, I'll be emailing you directly about your win. :)

Thanks again to eveybody who stopped by to share in my release week fun.