Crazy In Love by Ashley Ladd

Crazy in Love

An MF erotic romance by Ashley Ladd

Released March 22, 2010

Available at Total-E-Bound.com

The ghost of Kacey's crazy great-grandfather threatens her life but just might save her marriage.

When the ghost of Kacey's crazy great-grandfather mistakes her for her great-grandmother, he threatens to kill her for cheating on him. Meanwhile her husband, Heath, finds out she believes he's fallen out of love with her and he sets out to show her just how much he loves her. However, he fears she's crazy as she claims to see homicidal ghosts.

Although Kacey longs to save her marriage, she doesn't know if she can stay with a man who doesn't believe her and thinks she's insane.

Excerpt From: Crazy in Love


A mixture of awe, disbelief, enlightenment, and grief washing over her, Kacey Carlisle poured over her great-great-grandmother’s pension claim records. The ancient handwriting was almost illegible in places yet it was clear—her grandfather, August, hadn’t left his wife and family as the descendants had believed all these years. Her grandmother, Emma, had kicked him out.

Emma had sworn under deposition she’d feared for her life after August had returned home from the Civil War, physically and mentally ill. Other acquaintances had also testified under oath that August had suffered from crazy spells, that he’d thought spirits were chasing him. Others claimed August believed Emma to have been unfaithful. For sure, he’d been a tortured soul.

Kacey’s head spun so she took another sip of her soda as she tried to make sense of her readings. Clearly, there were two sides. Still, she sympathised with Emma. Her own husband, Heath, while not insane or abusive, had been ignoring her for a long time and so her thoughts had turned more and more to divorce. It broke her heart, but she could no longer deny it. Heath had fallen out of love with her. If she paraded naked before him, he’d only tell her to quit acting silly and stop blocking the TV.

Oh, yeah. She empathised with her ancestor. Men could be real shits. Who needed them?

Her heart cracked a little more. Who was she fooling? She still loved her husband, desperately, madly. Insanely. At least, they didn’t have kids who would get hurt.

Miffed at herself, she chewed her lower lip. So it would seem she was insane, too. Who would hang on when the situation was so hopeless?

Only a crazy person. Maybe she’d inherited Grandpa August’s crazy streak.

”It’s late. Come to bed,” Heath muttered on a growl. Barefoot, he padded through the hall and scowled at her. He scrubbed the heel of his hand over the beginnings of new stubble on his chin. “I’ll lose my job if you keep me awake all night. I won’t be able to function at work tomorrow.”

Valentine's Day Contest - Free Book Giveaway

In honor of Valentine's Day and also in honor of my soon to be released book "Naked Ambition", I'm going to give away two free download copies of my book.

How to enter?

Leave a comment on my blog between today and February 7th telling me what your perfect Valentine's Day date would be.

Or...

Retweet the following tweet on Twitter using the hashtag #NakedAmbition

"Win a download copy of Ashley Ladd's Valentine's erotic romance Naked Ambition. RT to enter before Feb 7th" #NakedAmbition

The Prize

Blurb
Ali James will do anything to raise her orphaned sister and finish medical school, even work as a topless waitress.


Ali James is determined to finish medical school and cure cancers like the one that killed her mother. She's also determined to raise her trouble-making teenage sister. As if it's not hard enough to juggle all this and her job as a topless waitress, her ex-fiancé comes back to town and makes it plain he's still sore she chose her career over him and that he very much disapproves her of job.


Excerpt: Naked Ambition
“You’re okay by the grace of God. If I hadn’t been here, you could be dead.” Cliff faced off against her and narrowed his eyes.


They were dark and inscrutable but the set of his lips and his flared nostrils told her he was pissed. Not that he had any right—he’d given that up when he’d dumped her on Valentine’s Day four years ago.

“Hello to you, too,” she drawled and squared her shoulders. “I never expected you to darken my door again. What brings you back to town?”

His glance slid around the room then dwelled on Timmy who stood by her as if he was her personal bodyguard. “This isn’t the place and I’ll be the one asking the questions. I need you to go to the station.”

Frankie appeared out of nowhere. His face was red and blustery and he seethed. “You can’t take her. She did nothing wrong. I’ll be short a waitress if she leaves.”

Cliff looked Frankie up and down with disdain. “I need to get her official statement.”

He turned his back on Frankie and looked at her again. “Did you bring decent clothes with you? Change and come with me.”

She bristled. Did he think so little of her that she’d drive across town in this scandalous costume? “Of course.”

Even though she wasn’t eager to spend time with the holier-than-thou cop, she wanted out of this place more. She didn’t feel safe and was too shaky to continue her shift.

When she rejoined her ex, she returned his t-shirt. For a moment she was sorry he had to cover his awesome chest. Then she chastised herself for such a random, out-of-place thought. She had no intention of seeing this man naked again, much less any intention of seeing him after he finished with her statement. “Can we hurry this up?”

When she went to get into her car, he grabbed her elbow. “You’re coming with me. We’ll send someone back for your car.”

Aghast her jaw dropped. “Am I under arrest? Or do you just not trust me?”

“You’re not under arrest. You’re more like summoned. As far as trusting you, I don’t know. I never expected you to do something so boneheaded. Why are you here?” He opened the passenger door to his unmarked vehicle and waited until she slid in. Then he locked and closed the door.

She quirked a brow and twisted in her seat to glare at him. “If I refuse to go with you, nothing will happen to me?”

“I’ll have to take you into official custody.”

She rolled her eyes and leaned against the seat. “Why were you there? Business?”

“Yeah.”

She was frustrated when he didn’t elaborate. It was one of the things that had driven her crazy when they’d been together. He’d had so many secrets. He’d been away so many nights without being able to tell her where. “Is this the type of place you were at all those nights you couldn’t or wouldn’t tell me where you were?”

He guffawed and turned into traffic. “Who are you to ask me that? After the way I caught you tonight?”

“Caught me?” The hair on the back of her neck bristled and she gave him the glare of death. “How can you catch me if we’re not together?”

“Ditto.”

Naked Ambition coming soon from Total-E-Bound


When will the winners be picked?
I'll pick the winners Sunday night February 7, 2010. I'll announce them both on Twitter and here on my blog.


What my favorite Valentine's Day would be
I'll get the ball rolling. My idea of a perfect Valentine's Day would be a romantic candlelit dinner for two outside under the moonlight with some snuggling and slow dancing. Then I'd like to see a romantic movie with my sweetie. If you know my hubby, please feel free to tell him.

Your turn. Leave me a comment and tell me what your favorite Valentine's Day date would be.


Recent posts you might like to read:

Don't Be Quick To Quit Your Day Job

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Why You Should Consider Library Booksignings

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Are You Writing Me Into Your Book?

Dont Give Up Too Early

Must Write Must Write Must Write!!!

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Saturday Snippets: Explosions

Today's Saturday Snippet theme is "explosions".

Explosions could merely be someone losing their temper. Or it could be a kid's scientific miniature volcano experiement. Or a real volcano exploding.

In the case of my book "Last Man On Earth", the planet Earth exploded. I'd say that's a pretty big, terrible explosion. Earth also exploded in my book "Eternal Damnation". I have a penchant for Armageddon stories.

Here's a snippet from "Last Man On Earth" published by Total-E-Bound.

After Earth blows up, Astronauts Colonel Genie Siska and Major David Randolph are kidnapped by aliens.


Astronaut Major David Randolph is the last human male alive after Earth blows up. Colonel Genie Siska and David witness Earth's explosion from their space ship. In shock and despair, the couple run through a myriad of emotions. Although Genie's always been highly attracted to the major, he's also fourteen years younger than her. Even though he's literally the last man left alive, she still doesn't know if she can take a man so much younger than her as her lover.

David's always been in love with his commanding officer, and he's frustrated that even now, she resists him. They are literally mankind's last chance for survival. Or are they? When they are "rescued" or is it kidnapped by aliens, the whole picture changes. However, they are not sure if it's for better or worse.

Excerpt from: Last Man on Earth


USAF Colonel Genie Siska gaped at the blinding lights pinpointing the Earth. In shock, she wasn’t sure if she was speaking aloud or thinking, “My dear God. What’ve they done? How could they?”

“God save our souls,” Major David Randolph whispered beside her. His shoulder crowded hers and his hip bumped her as he ran back to his station.

The com channels were frantic with chatter. Maydays arose in every language. Reports of massive death and destruction filled Genie’s ears as she stared in disbelief from the command link to the planet below. Her fingers dug into the ledge in front of her, and she feared she’d sink to the ground if she let go. “How can they do this?”

She prayed to God for forgiveness and deliverance.

“Don’t just stand there, Colonel!” David grabbed her and dragged her into their escape ship. “We’ve got to get out of here now. If the planet explodes, it’ll blast apart the station.”

Earth explode?

She gulped. Her heart shattered as she envisioned the fiery deaths of all the children of Earth. The babies. The animals. All innocents. None deserving of the fate their elders decreed.

Mutely, swallowing hard, hoping David’s words weren’t prophetic, she forced herself to focus. But she couldn’t wrap her mind around the possible reality.

She helped David steer the ship out into space far enough for safety but close enough to see their home. When he put his arm around her, she didn’t demur. Rather, she wrapped her arms around him and laid her cheek on his shoulder, taking comfort from his steady heartbeat and the rise and fall of his chest. “Why is this happening?”

He squeezed her shoulder and huskily murmured, “Who really knows? Greed? Selfishness? Stupidity? Religious fanaticism?”

A sad snort arose from her lips, and she struggled to hold back tears and not damn all the religious nuts to hell. For heaven’s sake, USAF Colonels didn’t cry. In particular, female officers couldn’t show such weakness or her troops lose respect. She’d rather be a tough bitch. But against orders, tears clung to her lashes, and she tried to blink them back. “So we blew ourselves up in the name of God?”

He pressed his lips to her temple. “Quite possibly. We’ll never know.”

He sounded so much more mature than his mere twenty-eight years, and she burrowed into his strength.

The ship rocked with shock waves, and she gasped. Blinding light and meteors hurled at them.

“Damn! The idiots really did it,” David seethed and gathered her closer and held her tightly as if he craved the human contact.

Anxious for affirmation she wasn’t alone in the big, cold universe, she clutched him. Tears dropped unchecked from her eyes and sobs racked her throat. Although she’d never married nor had children, her heart ached for her nephew and her sister, for all the lost souls, for lost dreams, for the terror and pain everyone must have felt.

Furious at the sons of bitches who’d turned the doomsday switches, she flung back her head and howled her rage, and she pummelled her fists against David’s chest. “We’re dead! This is the end of the human race. How could we?”

A million visions collided in her mind, changing with such lightning speed she grew dizzy and crumpled to the floor. Gasping for air, her sobs came on hiccoughs. Irony in her voice, she mused, “I never thought it fair to marry or have kids as I thought my mission too dangerous, that I’d be the one to die in this godforsaken space…and now we’re the only ones left.”

David hunkered down on his haunches and stroked her face. His intensely blue gaze bore into her. Very sombrely and seriously he said, “We weren’t the only satellite orbiting Earth. The Russians and the Chinese are up here, too.”

“If they didn’t get pulverised.” Acid tears burned her eyes and hovered on her lashes. They burned her eyes much like the explosion burned away Earth’s atmosphere.

Again, David pulled her close and rocked back and forth with her in his arms. “Shush. We’ll make it. We’re resilient.”

She peeked out the window at the spookily empty space—empty barring all the dust and debris from their home.

Damn it! It shouldn’t be so beautiful, like sparkling fairy dust.


"Last Man On Earth" is available at Total-E-Bound.

For your reading enjoyment follow the links below to the other authors participating in Saturday Snippets.


McKenna Jeffries
Vivian Arend
Ashley Ladd
Kelly Maher
Shelley Munro
Taige Crenshaw
Mari Carr
Eliza Gayle
Victoria Janssen
TJ Micheals

Recent posts you might like to read:

When Do You Write?

Nanowrimo Thoughts 

To Nano Or Not To Nano - That Is The Question

Why You Should Consider Library Booksignings

Make Sure Pretentious Words Don't Turn Off Your Readers

Are You Writing Me Into Your Book?

Dont Give Up Too Early

Must Write Must Write Must Write!!!

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Saturday Snippets: Unusual Professions

Today's Saturday Snippets deal with unusual professions.

I looked through my books and pondered which of my characters have unusual professions: the topless waittress (Naked Ambition), queen of a cartoon world (Make-Believe Lover), professional blogger (Liquid Heat), or the newly turned vampire who fancies himself a super hero (Truth, Justice and the Vampire Way), etc. I decided to feature Felicia in "Wishcraft". She's a nice witch who makes love potions for people. They don't always work the way they're supposed to, especially when the ghosts of her great aunt and grandfather dabble in her potions. But they come up with interesting results that creates some confusion and even some fun - just like falling in love the usual way.

Wishcraft

by Ashley Ladd

Felicia likes to dabble in love potions, but when she brews one for her old enemy Acacia, it goes awry when Acacia’s intended, Jeremy Knowles, falls for Felicia.

Jeremy pursues Felicia and although she fears it’s only spell-induced, Felicia can’t resist his charms. She only hopes that she won’t be forced to turn Acacia into a toad to keep the secret so that Jeremy won’t find out, before she can confess her sins.

EXCERPT:


By reading any further, you are stating that you are 18 years of age, or over.

If you are under the age of 18, it is necessary to exit this site.

Copyright © Ashley Ladd, 2007

All Rights Reserved, Total-E-Ntwined Limited, T/A Total-e-bound.

Excerpt from: Wishcraft

Drawing together her brows, Felicia checked her mental agenda as she gave her potion one last stir, and then went to see who was brave enough to venture here without an invitation. No one was scheduled, and her clients were well schooled to ring before venturing here. No one visited the Heks’ house unless they were an out-of-town salesman or a lost traveller who hadn’t been spoon fed the gruesome, if made up, stories about human sacrifices and demonic rituals.

“Felicia, open up! I hear you scuttling around in there,” Acacia Pangbourn’s voice shrilled through the house just before the floorboards creaked suspiciously.

Mere seconds later, the door slammed testifying to an illegal entry.

Blimey! Acacia was one of Felicia’s ex-classmates, a ghastly creature who’d made her secondary school years a constant misery. Not only had she made goo goo eyes at every man in whom Felicia had shown an interest, she’d committed the unforgivable crime of trying to steal Jeremy. The other woman had never known how close she had come to being turned into a chalkboard eraser.

To her dismay, Felicia discovered the woman was already through the front door and well into the house before she could catch her. Swearing under her breath, she followed the whispery sound of her nemesis’ footsteps on the throw rugs.

After her father had expunged Jeremy’s memories of their beautiful night together and had made Felicia swear never to date another Naggie, not even to talk to another one, the embers of the dead flame had blazed to life. Of course, she had done a little fanning. Okay, more than a little.

No matter what her father had decreed, no matter how much she respected her pop, she couldn’t live her life without Jeremy. She’d had to face the facts—she was a Jeremy addict. He had been as heroin in her blood. His presence intoxicated her and she savoured every memory of their cherished night.

And so, unable to live without him, she’d won back his love.

One summery night after they had graduated, they slow danced under the moonlight, wrapped in each other’s arms. Lost in love, teetering on the precipice of ecstasy just holding one another, they’d gazed into each other’s eyes.

“You’re a vision,” he’d murmured against her lips, his breath minty and highly stimulating.

With a halo of moonlight making his dark hair gleam, he was the vision. As if struck by lightning, she’d sucked in a ragged breath and huskily murmured, “So are you.” Then, with her heart hammering with such force she feared it would spill from her chest, she’d stood on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his.

Without hesitation, he’d accepted her gift, drawing her up to him. Plundering each other’s lips, they’d let their tongues finish the tango. Fevered, she’d moulded herself against him, noting how perfectly they fit. Only a brief twinge of guilt had crept in to dim her bliss. How could a magical person, or “Maggie,” as they called themselves, fit so well with a Naggie? According to her father, this was impossible—and more than distasteful.

She’d found it anything but distasteful. Jeremy was the most luscious man she’d ever met, his touch the only one that had ever made her senses whirl.

“I only feel alive when I’m with you. All I ever want to be is with you.” It had taken a lot of courage for her to admit this to herself, much less to him. Her father would have disowned her. Her family would have mourned the unholy association. They’d sooner have seen her copulate with a demon.

“I can’t believe what a lucky bloke I am, to have such a beautiful woman in love with me.” He’d stroked her hair away from her flushed cheeks and then nibbled on her ear. His hands had roamed her back and settled on her bottom before he pulled her hips tight against his.

Only later in retrospect had she noted that he hadn’t declared undying love for her. Wryly, her lips twisted. Had it all been one-sided? Oh, sure, he’d been consumed with lust. But love? If it had been love, would any spell have vanquished it?

She didn’t know, but she shook her head.

Now, as then, Jeremy wouldn’t go away. Rather, the memory of him refused to leave her in peace.

Wishcraft is available at: Total-E-Bound


McKenna Jeffries


Vivian Arend

Ashley Ladd

Kelly Maher

Lissa Matthews

Mari Carr

Jody Wallace

Shelley Munro

Taige Crenshaw

Saturday Snippets: Parties

This week's Snippet Saturday theme is parties.

My daughters attended a Christmas party yesterday. I have two this coming week. It's certainly a happy season.

There are parties and there are parties. My first snippet is a sad party of one. That's not the type any of us anticipate but a lot of us have endured them nevertheless.

As I hate to leave things on a sad note, I'll post a second, happier excerpt to lift the spirits.

Here's the first from "Christmas Miracles" a Christmas story obviously, published by Total-E-Bound.

Tifanny gains courage from a visit by the Ghost of Christmas Past to reunite with three important people from her past.

Tiffany's alone and lonely again this Christmas until the Ghost of Christmas Past takes her to revisit her cousin, her best friend, and her lost love, Dax. Although she's not sure it wasn't just a bad dream induced by an overload of Christmas movies and spiked Eggnog, she still tries to make things better with the people she lost long ago.

But her mission's tougher than she'd hoped and she's only got till the Epiphany before real life reclaims her and she has to return to the day job a thousand miles away.

Excerpt from: Christmas Miracles


Tiffany Davis stared at her ornately decorated tree tied up with fancy, blue and silver ribbons. It was absolutely perfect. The built-in, multicoloured lights merrily twinkled at just the right intervals. A gorgeous angel with serenely flowing blonde hair topped the tree.

Beneath the tree, beautifully wrapped gifts were piled high, also in blue and silver to match. Only she knew they were empty, merely for decoration and affectation.

They were as fake as the pine scent she’d sprayed on the metal monstrosity, as fake and empty as she was.

She snorted. Who was she kidding?

This year, like many of the previous ones, she found Christmas depressing. An only child of deceased parents, divorced, childless, she was alone in the world.

Oh, sure, she had a lot of friends. Go-to-lunch kind of friends. None had invited her to join them for their Christmas celebrations.

Well, that wasn’t entirely true. Her cousins had invited her, but they were a day’s drive away, and she couldn’t justify travelling so far with the astronomical gas prices when she only had a three-day weekend off work. Besides, it wasn’t like they were close. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen them since her mom had died ten years ago.

Thoughts of her mother rumbled in her mind. Tears pricked the back of her eyes, and she choked on a sob. God, she missed her mom like hell. And she felt guilty she hadn’t spent more time with her. But Tiffany had been too busy building her career. She’d always thought they’d have plenty of time.

Her mom’s favourite Christmas CD by Elvis filled the empty apartment. Then the AC whooshed on, and a dry chuckle tickled her throat. AC—on Christmas Eve? That and hurricanes were what she got for living in Southern Florida. It was nothing like the white snowy Christmases she used to love in Cincinnati.

She thought about attending midnight mass and hearing the beautiful bell choir, but voted against it as she’d feel even more alone in the crowd of families and loving couples. Instead, she turned on the TV and landed on a station that was having a Christmas marathon, starting with a Jimmy Stewart tear-jerker.

Although she was on a perpetual diet, she felt sorry enough for herself to open the box of iced Christmas cookies a co-worker had given her and pour a glass of eggnog to sip as she watched the show. Curling her feet beneath her on the couch, splayed her Christmas skirt over her knees then dipped her cookies in the drink. She wondered if the world would miss her like they had Jimmy Stewart. She had no husband. No kids. Not even a dog. She wasn’t a humanitarian like Jimmy was in the movie—she sold socks for a living. Not cute, frilly socks. Just plain white socks.

Maybe she should get a dog, she mused. At least, she’d have a warm body to cuddle, and someone who would be eager to see her when she got home from work. She’d always had a dog as a kid, usually a big, lovable husky.

She sighed as reality decked her square between the eyes. She worked and travelled way too much. It wouldn’t be fair to a dog to leave it alone so much.

In a fit of self pity, she downed the rest of her eggnog in one gulp and flicked the TV to another station. She didn’t need any more tear-jerkers tonight. She felt sorry enough for herself as it was.

Again it was a blasted Christmas movie, but at least it was a funny one with Bill Murray getting the snot kicked out of him by a pissed-off angel. Much more in keeping with her style and her mood. She dimmed the lights, stretched out on the couch and laughed despite herself as the miserable wretch got himself Scrooged by the three ghosts of Christmas.

At the stroke of midnight, she sat up long enough to lift another glass of eggnog. “To me. To Christmas,” she murmured ruefully. She couldn’t wait for the holidays to be over so she’d stop feeling so wretched.

Book DetailsErotic Rating Total-e-burning

Christmas Miracles is available at: Total-E-Bound

Here's a much happier holiday excerpt from "Naughty Boys" also published by Total-E-Bound.

Drew's had other Secret Santas but never one like this - one that gives him erotic sex toys every day of the week leading up to Christmas and the masquerade Christmas party.

When Ryan picks Drew's name in the office Secret Santa draw, he can't help but spoil the man of his fantasies. He finds that it really is better to give than receive when he has fun sneaking sex toys into Drew's office every day of the week before Christmas. He hopes Drew will be as turned on as him, and that Drew will return his feelings to make this their best Christmas ever.

Excerpt from: Naughty Boys


Ryan Holt fished around in the Santa cap his co-worker Angie held out and pulled out a name. He wondered if he would throw away good money again this Christmas.

Last year, his secret Santa had given him a box of envelopes. Not fancy stationery. Just envelopes.

He scrunched his brows.

What a cheap bastard!

And he’d spent a lot of time and effort getting a good gift last year, and he’d dropped a wad of cash.

He hoped he’d picked his own name as he had his eye on Josh Groban’s Christmas CD. He could hear Josh’s golden tones caressing his ears now. He could feel them vibrating in his soul.

In holiday heaven, he rocked back in his chair and unfolded the slip of paper as he hummed the tune tickling his mind.

His jaw dropped when he stared at the name written in bold, sexy scroll and his heart skipped several beats before racing full speed ahead.

Drew Mason.

God, Drew was what he really longed for Santa to leave in his stocking, all six feet three of gorgeous, delectable man. Forget Josh Groban.

Drew’s blond vision flashed in his mind, and Ryan drooled. His cock flexed, as he longed to take his fantasy man into his arms, drink deeply of his lips, and strip him of his clothes. He yearned to see every naked, mouth watering inch of him. He lusted for carnal knowledge in the worst way. His two-year old bed was still a virgin, and it was high time it got worn in.

A grin tilted his lips as he envisioned wrapping his fully aroused body around Drew’s and pulling him into the cradle of his thighs. He could almost feel Drew’s cock rubbing against his, could feel his powerful thighs fitting against him as if they were made for each other. Their musk overpowered the scent of Christmas pine and peppermint. Already, their sweet juices oozed from their cocks which were so ready to fuck one another.

Their gazes glazed over with passion as they caught and held. Ryan grew hotter still when Drew’s tongue darted out, moistening his suddenly dry lips. Then slowly, sensually, Drew lowered his lips and his breath coasted over Ryan before plundering his lips with a hot, fevered kiss and rubbing his groin against his.

Ryan’s blood was on fire, he couldn’t wait a moment longer to make Drew his. Savouring his closeness, the feel of his hard body, he let his ragged voice whisper over his lover’s warm flesh, “Love me. Let me love you. Fate brought us together.”

Drew huskily drawled, “Stop talking so much and kiss me again.”

Oh he wanted a whole lot more than a mere kiss, but he laid a big wet one on the man as he reverently laid him on the bed. When he came up for air, he lubed his cock then he rocked back and hoisted his lover onto his lap.

“Fuck me now,” Drew implored, his beautiful eyes adoring him, his hand pumping his cock. “Before I come without you.”

From the hazy edges of his peripheral vision, Angie snapped her fingers in front of Ryan’s face. “Earth to Ryan. Come in, Ryan.”

Embarrassed, aware of the humongous bulge in his pants, he rolled his chair beneath his desk to hide his obvious erection. Not that Drew worked in his end of the building. It was unlikely the man would walk by and see him, but Angie would blab to anybody who would listen. Worse, she might think him hot for her.

“Uh, I was just thinking about my, uh, work project…”

Damn! He cursed himself for how raspy his voice came out.

Book DetailsErotic Rating Total-e-burning

Genre Seasonal/ Contemporary/ MM

"Naughty Boys"is  available at: Total-E-Bound


Please visit the other authors participating in today's Snippet Saturdays and read their excerpts.

Vivian Arend

Moira Rogers

Ashley Ladd

Kelly Maher

Leah Braemel

McKenna Jeffries

Sasha White

Taige Crenshaw

Shelli Stevens

Shelley Munro

Eliza Gayle

Jody Wallace

Elizabeth Naughton

TJ Michaels


Recent posts you might like to read:

When Do You Write?

Nanowrimo Thoughts 

To Nano Or Not To Nano - That Is The Question

Why You Should Consider Library Booksignings

Make Sure Pretentious Words Don't Turn Off Your Readers

Are You Writing Me Into Your Book?

Dont Give Up Too Early

Must Write Must Write Must Write!!!

You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

Saturday Snippets: Arrivals

Today's theme for Saturday Snippets is "arrivals".

When I thought about this I thought about the arrival of a new child. But it can mean other things as well.

My morsel for you today is the arrival of the demi-God Leo, as in Leo the Lion. He's tired of being in heaven and wants someone fun to celebrate his birthday with so he skips down to Earth. His father Zeus is mad at him of course and wants him to learn a lesson so he can't get home without help. Meanwhile, without Leo's guidance all his earthly Leos start to run amuck and chaos ensues.


This was a fun story to write and I was thrilled when Ellora's Cave selected my story about Leo for their month of August Zodiac story in 2006. It's still available if you want to read the entire story. :)

By the way, I'm a Scorpio and my birthday is today. My moon is in Leo, however, and if you know anything about the Zodiac, I'm on the cusp of Sagitarrius.

This story began as a story directed at Scorpio - the heroine's a Scorpio like me with her moon in Leo. But Ellora's Cave asked me to write it for Leo babies and I was happy to oblige. I hope you like it.

So here's my birthday present for you.

Hubby gave me a new laptop for my birthday this year and I love it! However, it has a different version of Word and everything including blogger is acting wonky. I don't know if my links will work. I'll have to fix them after my daughter's softball tournament game which I have to run to now. If they don't work please stop by again later so you can also visit all the other authors in today's group to read their excerpts.

An Excerpt From: HEAVENLY HIJINKS
Copyright © ASHLEY LADD, 2006

All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave Publishing, Inc.

The bell tinkled again and Clestie slumped against the counter and breathed a sigh of inordinate relief. “Hallelujah! She left.”

Then a duet of voices interrupted the blessed silence, and Clestie’s heart skipped a beat. She clawed at Elizabeth’s wrist. “Hurry. Lock the door. They’re multiplying.” Like an invasion of locusts and all the other frightening biblical stuff in Revelations.

Her cousin rolled her eyes and shook off her death grip. “Our aunt was revered.”

Clestie could go for a little mediocrity about now. “Do I have to go out there?” She’d rather face a swarm of locusts.

“Afraid so.” Elizabeth patted her back.

She wished Elizabeth had a canister of oxygen as well. She might have to purchase an inhaler of her own. Truly, she’d have to practice her deep breathing exercises as soon as she could get a few minutes to herself. The way things were going, she’d have to lock herself in the bathroom to get any private time. “Save me.”

Her cousin cracked a smile. “Welcome to the joys of entrepreneurship.”

Clestie checked her watch and almost groaned when it only emphasized how many hours of daylight were left. “You mean the headaches.”

The bell tinkled again…and again. By the time Clestie ran to the front, a mini mob had formed. She dragged in several deep, cleansing breaths. “I’m sorry, but we’re not open for business.”

“But we’re lost. We need guidance.” They started chanting, “Sun. Moon. Sun. Moon.”

A tall blond man with golden tresses cascading down his back pushed through the crowd. And he was only wearing a loincloth! But he moved oh-so sensually, with leonine grace and assured strides, that he could be forgiven anything. “Perhaps I can lend assistance. I am a master of reading the zodiacal charts and prophesying fortunes. I also read the tarot.”

Really needing that oxygen desperately now, Clestie was about to hyperventilate as her gaze took in the nearly naked Tarzan. Mesmerized by the man’s godlike beauty, Clestie’s skin tingled in decadently scandalous ways and she prayed that mind-reading wasn’t another one of his many talents. Her respiration shallowed and perspiration beaded heavily on her brow, threatening to run into her eyes. She dabbed at the tiny droplets with her fingers as she searched for her voice. After several muffled attempts, she finally croaked out, “You can?”

Elizabeth hissed, “Mr. Chippendales is stealing our business. Kick him out.”

Ignoring her cousin, Clestie stepped forward, trying not to ogle the man’s hunky bod. But his rippling muscles and shimmering hair made her pussy clench and her nipples peak so tightly that she was about to orgasm without anyone touching her. His intensely golden eyes and sparkling smile stole her breath. “Are you applying for a job?”

Heavenly Hijinks is available at: Ellora's Cave

Vivian Arend
Leah Braemel
Taige Crenshaw
Shelley Munro
TJ Michaels
Juliana Stone
Eliza Gayle
McKenna Jeffries
Jody Wallace
Lauren Dane
Juliana Stone
Kelly Maher
Shelli Stevens
Victoria Janssen
Moira Rogers

Loving Reseach

I work a full time day job and I write books, so weekends, even holidays off the day job, I work the other job. Sometimes I think I'm always working. My youngest has complained such -- recently. Friday, my holiday for the 4th of July, I worked at Borders as usual. This time, however, I noticed the non-fiction sex books section. Since I write erotic romance and since I've been blocked on my story lately, particularly the sex scenes, I checked them out. I purchased two how to have sex better books which also suggests many different sexual positions. One even had semi-explicit pictures. I read that book the same evening as soon as I got home. I was amazed how much I don't know about sex. I'm almost 50 for God's sake. I have five children and two grandchildren. And I write EROTIC romance. I'm supposed to know a lot about this stuff, right? I thought I did. Obviously, I didn't. So I did more research this afternoon in Spencer's, in the sex toy and sexy books section. I'm sure I was blushing. I couldn't believe I was embarrassed. I should have been passing out my business cards and been carrying copies of my books. I'll work up to that. I bought several toys at Spencers and I borrowed several more sex manuals at the library today. I couldn't wait for hubby to get home from his weekend away umpiring. I had trouble deciding which dildo to buy. I wanted to find nipple clamps but couldn't and I was too embarrassed to ask the clerk. I bought a mini vibrator that attaches to your tongue (it wouldn't stay on so I attached it to my finger instead. Hubby still loved it.). I bought sugar-free, strawberry flavored, warming lube. I almost bought a game of different sexual positions. I discovered a kit to make your own dildo of your lover's penis. It's a cast. People who make this will have their lover's shape. Also, he won't get jealous as it will be his. I'm seriously thinking of buying one for my d-i-l's birthday later this month. Every pay day I'll buy another sex toy or two. Can I write them off on my taxes since they are (partially anyway) research for my books? New blog posts? Seriously. They could run into some money. One dildo was $80. I'll be busy researching for awhile. Reading and researching is wonderful to break through writer's block. I have so many new ideas I can't wait to find the time to write. Also, this has the added excellent benefit of making hubby very happy. He's not bitten off my head all night and he's willing to do just about anything for me tonight. You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)

In Search of Dynamite, Must-Buy Titles

Not too long ago I asked on my blog what is the #1 thing that prompts you as a reader to buy a book. At that time, I said it was the blurb. But last night when I was looking at books again, I never read a single blurb. First, I looked to see if I knew any of the authors or if any were on my auto buy list. This time, nada. By now I've been on enough writers loops and gone to enough RT conventions and other writers conventions that I know a lot of other writers, so this is unusual. Next I perused the titles. This was at Walmart and I was in the romance section which is a pretty small section at Walmart, so it was primarily books by a couple publishers. I couldn't get past one single title. Not one enticed me to pick up the book and read the blurb. And I used to devour books by these publishers. Why? All the titles just turned me off. They seemed pretty, well, insipid. Not saying that I've come up with wonderful titles - I know it's really tough to sum up a story and wet a reader's appetite in just a few short words. It's damned tough. I've also heard that in larger publishers the author usually doesn't get that last say in the title. In this case I doubt it as all the titles sound pretty much alike to me. I mean titles like: (state) Ranger Takes A Wife The Tycoon's Proposal Crazy About Her Boss The Groom's Secret (name) and the Playboy Prince The Mom and Her Boss The Millionaire's Secret The Boss's Assistant Her Sheikh Boss His Pregnant Woman The Desert Sheikh The Doctor's Love Child I changed the titles a bit, but the drift is the same. I'm trying to pinpoint it. These titles don't grab me. In fact, they're repelling me. I know I love these books when I start reading them, so I'm beginning to think I'll just pick up a few without looking at the titles and then dig in. So what titles grab me and make me want to read more? Here's one I bought for the title alone as it gave me a laugh: "Phi Beta Bimbo" Here's some others that make me want to read the blurb: Dating Without Novacaine Obsession, Deceit and Really Dark Chocolate Sorcery and the Single Girl Notes from the Backseat Welcome to the Real World Questions to Ask Before Marrying Wednesday Night Witches Tales of a Drama Queen Confessions of a Shopaholic Loose Screws These are just a sampling of titles that make me laugh or at least make me ask "why?" so that I at least pick up the book and read the blurb. At least they give me reason to look further and hopefully get me hooked. So I'm revising my earlier statement. It's the title that really grabs me, not the blurb. Now, ask me if I can come up with great titles? Ever? A couple times (I hope and then usually with my friend's help). All the time? Certainly not. But I'm trying. What is the trick to coming up with dynamite, must-buy titles? Inquiring minds want to know. I mean I really really need to know. My career's at stake. Recently I thought I came up with a dynamite title. I really loved it. I thought for once that I was dead on. Guess what? I got a note from my editor that the publisher wanted to change it. I don't know why. I can only guess she had a similar title or that she didn't like it. I didn't fight it and I'm not complaining now. This is just an observation and me scratching my chin in bewilderment. Just the opposite happened when I first started writing. I'd heard that the publishers ALWAYS changed the titles so I didn't think it mattered much what I called the book - and then the publisher kept my titles. Oops. Obviously, I'm no mind reader (I've not won the lotto yet and retired from the day job, right? Although I am in the office lotto pool so if we win big, our company no longer has a trained customer service staff.) So let me ask everyone in blog land: If you're a fellow writer how do you come up with titles? If you're a reader, what type of titles do you like or dislike? You'll also want to see what Amarinda Jones, Anika Hamilton, Anny Cook, Barbara Huffert, Brynn Paulin, Bronwyn Green, Dakota Rebel, Kelly Kirch, Molly Daniels, Sandra Cox, Regina Carlysle, and Cindy Spencer Pape are up to, so make sure to visit them also. :)