Wanna Sample?

I love samples, don't you? A good bite, more than a nibble, something to sink your teeth into to gauge if you want the whole enchilada or not. 

Yes, you may be thinking food, but today I'm talking about books.

Up today at D Renee Bagby's blog, First Chapters, you can get your sample of my new release -- Soul Debt: Party Girl -- in the form of reading the entire first chapter. 

Here's the link. Use it wisely,and enjoy. ;-)

http://drb1stchp.com/2013/02/party-girl-by-ayla-ruse/

Hitting the Hot Spot today with Pampering

Please join me for a few minutes over at Total E-Bound's Hitting the Hot Spot. I'm talking about how wonderful something as apparently simple as a haircut can revitalize your soul. Well, mine at least. 

Hitting the Hot Spot: Pampering Feeds the Soul

Have a great Friday, wherever you are!
~Ayla

Brand New Release out today!

I am so excited! Today is the release of Party Girl from Changeling Press. This is the second book in the multi-author series, Soul Debt. What began as a fun flash fiction Friday theme turned into a scorching hot series of books that centers around this scenario: You open the door and there's a demon needing to collect a debt. What happens next?

My little flash fiction piece spawned this story. If you like romance that is dark, intense, and scorching hot, this is the story for you! Read on for more...

Party Girl

Soul Debt (#2)

by Ayla Ruse

Buy Now

Publisher: Changeling Press

Editor: Katriena Knights

Cover Art: Renee George

Genre/Themes: Erotic Romance, Dark Fantasy, BDSM, Menage, Bisexual and More, Magic, Voyeurism and Exhibitionism, Dark Desire

Santos teaches Erin some debts are hell to pay.

Blurb:

Santos, a Collection demon from Hell, finds himself drawn to a human. He doesn't want to corrupt Erin, he simply wants her, but he doesn't understand how humans interact. As he tries to blend in, his demon partner tricks Erin into bartering her soul.

When the time comes for Erin to regain her lost soul, Santos is chosen as her debt collector. He is bound by rules, yet he finagles options. One choice will corrupt her soul forever, but the other choice could spell her death.

Caught up in a situation neither wanted, Santos and Erin form a bond with one another, but will this be enough for them to survive and find love?

Excerpt: 

“Oh, my apologies, Erin,” Nirvana purred, the smile that adorned her lips looking wicked. “I am someone special, you see. Santos and I are partners of a sort. I initiate and he comes in at the end. He’s a Collector. He’d finished with someone else’s debt when he spied you and brought you to my attention.” Erin turned to fully face the woman, her words intriguing again, but very strange. Before Erin could question her, Nirvana continued. “Erin, I seek out those who have desires unmet. I seek out those who are willing to pay a small price in order to have these desires come true.”

Erin snorted to cover her pain. “So the both of you think I’m a basket case. Thank you. I think I’ll be going now.”

Erin stood up to leave, but Nirvana’s cool touch on her arm stopped her. “We’re not done yet, Erin. Wait.”

Nirvana’s voice had turned almost as cool as her touch. It made Erin nervous, but the seriousness in the tone made her do the woman’s bidding. Their gazes locked and in moments, Erin felt calm and steady.

“Good girl,” Nirvana praised. She took Erin’s plate from her hand and set it on the chaise without breaking eye contact. Erin saw the woman wave her hand to someone behind them, but didn’t pay the movement any mind.

“You’re really pretty,” Erin heard herself say. Nirvana stroked her cheek again and smiled, her red lips parting to show even, white teeth.

“Thank you. I think you’re a knock-out, yourself.”

A warm body pressed against Erin’s back. She would have jumped if Nirvana hadn’t been right in front of her.

“Hi, Erin.” A warm breath teased her ear. His voice sounded husky and a little agitated. “Is everything okay?”

“S-Santos?” Erin asked, shocked and excited at once. She wanted to turn to him but Nirvana had taken her face in her palms and wouldn’t let her go.

“It’s me,” he confirmed, and ran a tongue over the shell of her ear. Erin shivered between the two people. Their closeness seemed to have grown tighter.

“Good evening, Santos,” Nirvana purred. “Were you saving her for me?”

“I’m sure I don’t know what you’re talking about, Nirvana. I finished collecting on a debt and stopped by here to unwind.”

Nirvana chuckled as though his words were funny. “I love working with you, Santos. You are ever the surprise. Either way, she’s a beauty, isn’t she?”

Erin listened to their banter in confusion. Santos’ body pressed against her back and his embrace made her feel like a possession. Being Santos’ possession didn’t sound all that bad, actually.

Santos nodded against her cheek, then asked, “Erin, would you like to return to the party, or have you agreed to Nirvana’s terms already?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pick up your copy of Party Girl today!

Thanks for stopping by. I hope this story heats up your weekend. 
~Ayla 

Visit me anytime to Ensnare Yourself in Love...

website   |   facebook   |   twitter

Winners and Food!

Yes, a multi-combination of information today!

First, the winner from my portion of the contest from the Swept Away Blog Hop is...

Susan M P

Congratulations! Susan gets to have a $15 gift certificate from her choice of amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com.

And yes, I did mention food...

Today I'm over at the Changeling Press blog, sharing an unbelievably delicious recipe of Baked Beef Stew and garlic cheddar biscuits. You have to try this! The link is through here: http://bit.ly/UEP2iM

Thanks, and Visit Again!

First off, thank you to everyone who stopped by during the Swept Away Blog Hop. I love the hops hosted by Drea and I know you had a great time visiting everyone. I have all the entries, and tomorrow I'll post the randomly selected winner of my contest. 

If you haven't already, be sure to follow my blog to make sure you don't miss any upcoming events.

And speaking of following, why not join me over at Castle and Guns today. I'm blogging there about anniversary gifts. 

Thanks again, and I'll see you around!
Ayla

Last Day to be Swept Away!

Welcome to my blog -- if you haven't been here before. This is the last day of the Swept Away Blog Hop, and the last day to enter my contest to win a $15 gift certificate to your choice of amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. Comment on any of my posts during this blog hop with your email and you're entered. Simple!

Today I'm going to leave you with a burning hot excerpt from my upcoming release: Party Girl. If you thought Taryn's trip to Hell (in Zarakion's Tip) was exciting, just wait until you see what's in store for Erin. But I'll go ahead and let you know, this excerpt takes place before Erin has to step below. 
  

Soul Debt: Party Girl

by Ayla Ruse

Available February 21, 2013

All rights reserved.
Copyright (c)2013 Ayla Ruse

Formats that will be available:
Adobe PDF, Epub, HTML,
MobiPocket, Microsoft Reader

Publisher: Changeling Press 
Editor: Katriena Knights
Cover Artist: Reneé George

Genres/Themes: Dark Fantasy, BDSM, Erotic Romance, Menage, Bisexual and more, Magic, Voyeurism and Exhibitionism, Dark Desire (M/F/F/M/M...)

Santos teaches Erin some debts are hell to pay...

Santos, a Collection demon from Hell, finds himself drawn to a human. He doesn't want to corrupt Erin, he simply wants her, but he doesn't understand how humans interact. As he tries to blend in, his demon partner tricks Erin into bartering her soul.

When the time comes for Erin to regain her lost soul, Santos is chosen as her debt collector. He is bound by rules, yet he finagles options. One choice will corrupt her soul forever, but the other choice could spell her death.

Caught up in a situation neither wanted, Santos and Erin form a bond with one another, but will this be enough for them to survive and find love?

Excerpt (before the darkness descends):


Erin took a deep breath and, in what felt like slow motion, twisted the knob and swung open the door. Her eyes trailed up the most handsome man in existence. Strong legs encased in perfectly creased dark slacks. A dark silk shirt tucked in and a suit coat in the same color completed the simple outfit. Memories flooded her brain as her eyes met his dark ones.
 
"Santos." Her voice trembled, and her heart skipped a beat. She hadn't seen him in probably a year. She'd had the biggest crush on him, back before she knew how to talk and flirt with men. Something dark flitted across her thoughts, that there was more to her memories than what she knew, but she shook it off. Despite the fact they'd hardly ever said two words to each other, she'd always felt drawn to him. Strange.
 
"Hello, Erin." His voice felt like he'd run a firm hand up her spine. She shivered and stepped back to let him in. His eyes never left hers and she took a deep breath.
 
He grinned, but it wasn't as welcoming as she'd expected. He seemed grim. Determined.
 
"Your year is up," he explained in his deep voice, stepping over the threshold. "It's time to repay your debt."
 
"My debt?"
 
He shut the door behind him and stroked her cheek. "Yes. Your debt." He ran a rough thumb across her lips before tilting her chin back. "Remember."
 
His word was a command and worked as a key to a hidden lock inside herself. Those flittering, dark memories poured through her and she remembered. Everything.
 
Santos. Nirvana. Sex. A contract. Popularity.
 
Time skittered ahead and she saw herself over this past year, how she'd become more confident, how her number of friends had increased and how her sex life had begun to... hell, she'd actually started to have a sex life.
 

Image Credit: © Andrey Saprykin - Fotolia.com

"It's been a trick," she said softly. Something vital had been missing from her life as her popularity had grown, but she'd ignored the empty feeling because she'd had no idea what could fill that hole.
 
"No. No trick, Erin. It's a contract. You indebted yourself to us with your soul as collateral. It's time. You do want your soul back, don't you?"
 
Goosebumps sprang up over her skin and she stepped back, not sure anymore if she should be overjoyed or scared at his return. But his words made her realize it was her soul that'd been missing.
 
"Yes, I want it back. But I thought Nirvana would handle that."
 
Santos chuckled low and deep, the sound reaching out to wind its way around her spine. "You forget. She's the Negotiator. I'm the Collector. If my luck holds out, you won't ever see Nirvana again."
 
"Oh."
 
He gazed at her as if expecting her to say more. Erin remembered now how they'd set the contract up, and her body trembled with desire. They'd... she and Nirvana had... Santos had... Images of hot sex and warm flesh flashed in front of her. Yes, that had been the most amazing sexual experience ever. Why hadn't she remembered any of this before now? She looked into Santos' eyes and felt herself falling into the dark depths there. He wanted her to accept what she remembered and, probably, what would come. Amazing.
 
"Erin. Are you ready to begin repaying your debt?"
 
She bit her lip, hoping her eagerness didn't show. "Let me guess. It involves sex, doesn't it?"
 
Santos flashed a tight grin. "Yes. Contracts always end in a similar fashion to how they began."
 
Erin applauded herself for her outward calm because inside she shouted and yelled, yes, yes, yes! Sex with Santos. Again. Could life get any better?
 
She nodded.
 
"Words, Erin. I need the words."
 
"Yes, Santos. I want to have sex with you again. Um, I mean, I'm ready to repay my debt."
 
He didn't drop his eyes from hers, and forced her to walk backward toward the den. The loud music added to her growing excitement. Her pussy throbbed and her panties grew wet with every brush of his body against hers.
 
"My room is --"
 
She never got a chance to tell him anything else because he stopped and twirled her around. Her leg bumped the counter separating the dining room from the den, and she reached out to keep from falling over.
 
Without warning, he grabbed the neckline at the back of her emerald dress and yanked. Her dress split completely in half. She shuddered, but stood motionless under his command. He pushed the dress off her body and stripped off her bra and panties. He left her in thigh highs and heels, then pushed her down over the counter.
 
Realizing his intent, Erin shoved bowls of chips, dip and finger foods out of the way as his large hands held her down. Bowls crashed to the floor, and bits of food that had been knocked over found themselves smeared over her belly and chest.
 
With wide eyes, she stared at the other people; these friends of hers, in her home, and for a brief moment, felt an exhilaration such as she'd never known.
 
"You'd damn well better be wet," Santos warned, seconds before he lined his cock up to her pussy and slammed into her.
 
Hell, yes, she was wet. He fucked her hard and she pushed up to her elbows, thrilled at how he filled her body and how she was the center of attention. She'd always wanted to be fucked in public. She remembered now how Santos and Nirvana had screwed her at that party last year. How everyone else got off on their actions, and an orgy had ensued as a result. She wasn't sure how that party had ended, as the next memory she'd had was waking up in her own bed, exhausted.
 
Since then, she'd dreamed of having a handsome hunk take her while everyone watched. In envy, in greed, in fascination. This was the popularity she wanted. Look but don't touch, she mentally told everyone. Don't you wish your man would fuck you like this? she taunted them now behind her smile.
 
Santos was huge. She'd forgotten over the past year, but the extra-tight fit of him inside her caused a burn that only made her hotter.
 
Someone had shut the music off, and no one spoke. The wet sounds of his body slamming into her over and over, along with their grunts and pants, bounced around the room. Erin wanted to shout with joy and tell everyone to join in. She could just imagine her party turning into an orgy, with her being the queen. Everyone here would want to fuck her, she was sure of it now, but she'd get to pick and choose who could have her.
 
If this was indeed her repayment, she'd have her soul back before the night was over. This was too easy.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And yet, sometimes all is not as it seems...
You can pick up copy of Party Girl in just a few more days! Here's the link; make sure you bookmark this. Yes, I'm excited! :D

I hope you've had the best time being Swept Away in this blog hop. Be sure to leave a comment with an email for a chance to win a gift certificate, and click here to go to the main hop page to figure out which great blog you'll visit next.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope to see you around again,
Ayla

Friday Free Read and a Link

It's Day 2 of the Swept Away Valentine's Day blog hop. So many great authors to see and even more fabulous books to add to your TBB piles. I know this is true for me, too! 

Friday's are full of sexy fun over at the Changeling Press Yahoo Group. Every Friday a new Flash Fiction theme is posted in which every and anyone can play (authors and readers alike). We try to keep our FF between 100 and 150 words, with as much heat and excitement as possible. 

Sometimes, oftentimes, these flash fiction snippets turn into something more. Personally, for me, two great stories have made their way to publication as a direct result of these flash fictions.

One story revolved around this theme: you overhear someone talking dirty at the office. What do you do? My flash fiction piece spoke to me, you could say, and developed into the over-the-top sex everywhere tale called Office Work. Although it seems run-of-the-mill at first glance, it's anything but. If you like the thought of five industrious, sexy, creative individuals finding pleasure with each other, then this books for you!

Here's the flash fiction piece that started me on this story, followed by links.

Flash Fiction piece (100 words) which led to Office Work :

"I want your head between my legs."
 
Roger peeked around the corner. There sat Melinda, proper as ever, a phone pressed to her ear. Melinda, and phone sex?

"Yes, honey. You can fuck me later. Keep licking."

Her words were right, just…not very enthusiastic. You had to be enthusiastic to have phone sex, else what's the point? It'd be a sin to let her monotone continue.

He spun her chair around, yanked her hips to the edge of the seat, and pressed his mouth against her pussy.

"No, stop! I don't mean you, Steve. I meant you can't...oh...my. God. Yes!"

*eg* And here's info on the full story version: 

Office Work

by Ayla Ruse
(A Razor's Edge story)
Novella, Erotic, menage, bisexual and more, contemporary, guilty pleasures (M/F/F/M/M)
23 pages
Published by Changeling Press

Barb from Bad Barb's Place reviewed Office Work and said, "Saying it was burning hot would be a mild description. This was so much fun to read and made me want to read more."

Blurb: 
Roger's interest in Melinda is piqued when he overhears her talking naughty at the office. Unfortunately, she sounds like she's reading a boring script. Not one to pass up an opportunity to help out a fellow employee, Roger proceeds to demonstrate what Melinda and her caller are fantasizing. After all, it's a selfless effort to help her sound more realistic.

It's all fun and games until one caller demands more than Melinda alone can give. In a situation gone sexually out of control, five industrious office workers soon succumb to the control of this caller.

How far are these helpful employees willing to go in the name of realism? And will Roger ever be able to claim Melinda for his own? 

You can pick up your copy today from

Amazon
All Romance eBooks
Barnes and Noble
Changeling Press

Have the best sexy Friday, and don't forget these important tips: Check out the other authors on the blog hop (click here), and leave me a comment (with your e mail) so you can be entered to win a $15 gift certificate from me to your choice of amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. I'll announce winners no later than Feb. 19. Thanks, and good luck!

~Ayla

Day 1 to be Swept Away!

{A short interjection here; sorry for the later-in-the-day post; I'd set the schedule time to PM instead of AM.}

Good Morning! Do you want to be swept away? Join me on this glorious Valentine's Day and fall in love a little more. Let me know what your plans are for today (if any??) and your comment will be entered -- along with any other comments during the course of this Swept Away Valentines Day Blog Hop -- to win a $15 Gift Certificate to your choice of Amazon.com or BarnesandNoble.com!! Just remember to leave me an email addy so I can notify you if you win. The blog hop and contest begins today and runs through February 17. I'll announce a winner no later than Tuesday, Feb. 19th.

Today, I'm going to introduce you to some demon love. This past week saw the release of my short Christmas tale, Zarakion's Tip, at some of your favorite booksellers like Amazon, Barnes and Noble and All Romance eBooks. The theme may sound like Christmas, but the sexy hot love Zarakion and Taryn (the elf) discover will melt even the coldest heart.

Santa's Helpers: Zarakion's Tip

by Ayla Ruse
A paranormal/fantasy erotic romance; novella

Delivery tips come in all shapes and sizes...


Chrissy from Romance Junkies gives Zarakion's Tip 4.5 Blue Ribbons!

"ZARAKION’S TIP is unexpectedly delightful just because the characters and the setting are so unique.  The sexual interactions are deliciously hot and imaginative."  

Blurb

The SPDS -- Santa's Package Delivery System -- is in full swing this Christmas. This special co-op of the North Pole delivers packages to the Otherworlders, including demons.

Taryn is a new delivery elf this year, and she draws the short straw -- having to deliver packages to Hell.

Zarakion, a Cha'horz demon -- the guardians of the dividing line between Earth and Hell -- has to work the unstable drop point. He has to play at receiving; not his favorite job.

When Taryn steps through the Gate, she's intimidated at first by the huge demon, but Zarakion gives her a delivery tip that'll have her scrambling to return to the drop point again and again.

Excerpt: 

Taryn studied the number carved into the door, for no other reason than to gain focus. "You can do this," she murmured.
 
With bolstered resolve, she lifted her chin, set her five-foot height as straight and tall as she could, and reached up on tiptoe to lift the heavy knocker centered on the metal door. The loud bang made her jump, and when the door immediately swung open, some of that pep talk she'd given herself disappeared like Santa going up a chimney. Light from the passageway spilled a few feet into a dark and seemingly empty space.
 
"Enter. State your business and leave," growled a voice from within the darkened depths.

Taryn gulped, her palms grown sweaty on the handlebar grips.

"The Hall Monitors will snack on you if you don't get your ass in here."

Feeling like she'd been whipped for a naughtiness she hadn't understood, she hurried to push her monstrous bike through the portal. She stopped right at the light's edge inside the... room? Station? Area? Heck, she couldn't see past the line of that darkness.

Her bravado failed, however, when a loud clanking sound indicated the gates were shutting, with her inside. And her precious light was going with it.

"Wait," she stammered. "I'm here to drop off packages. I'm from Santa's Package Delivery System. Don't shut me in. I won't be two minutes. Promise. Can't we leave the gate open?"

"And have any do-gooder wander in here? Or the Hall Monitors? Come to think of it, that might be fun. They truly are monitors -- of the reptilian kind." Then its playful tone vanished like a bad version of Jekyll and Hyde. "Enough. I don't want to be here, and I know you don't want to be here, so do your business and be --"

Whatever the voice was going to say was cut off. Taryn shifted but wouldn't let go of her bike. She swung her leg over the seat, ready to high tail it somewhere if her comfort level didn't increase, and fast.

The door shut completely and blackness surrounded her like a heavy cloak. A gust of wind blew by her, ruffling her silky hair. It smelled sweet and spicy all at once. Odd kind of wind. Come to think of it, she'd never figured Hell to have wind. The air changed direction and she tossed her head, frustrated because the wind was blowing her hair into her eyes and she couldn't see a damn thing.

"What do we have here?" The voice sounded close, and Taryn's body clenched. Strangely, it wasn't all fear. Some parts of her responded to that deep, gravelly voice, as if it stroked her inside.

"Snowflake. That's what you make me think of. I've never seen a snowflake, but I've heard many passers-by tell of the delicate, fragile, frozen liquid."

The praise from the demon had her squirming on her seat. Despite her nervousness, she liked his voice. She could feel herself bend toward him, ready to listen to whatever he had to say.

"I wonder," the demon continued, "what you would feel like if I touched you."

That snapped her straight. She set her lips into a firm line. She knew he couldn't touch her. Mebon had assured her. No, she could not let herself be intimidated by this creature. "No time. I'm here to do my job. I'm going to get your packages, but I need some light."

A dim pool of light washed over her, like a center-stage gel surrounding her and her bike. She hopped off and opened her saddlebags. "Thank you. Where should I put them?"

A crackling, groaning sound met her ears right before a flat trolley rolled into view. She gasped. The trolley appeared to be made of bones.

The mysterious demon didn't speak, so Taryn shook off her shock and started pulling out little cubes from her bags. As she gingerly set each one on the trolley, it shimmered and grew in size until the cart was stacked with gaily wrapped packages. She wanted so badly to ask who would be getting such packages in Hell, but she bit her lip. Questions would only cause her to stay longer, and she wasn't sure she'd like the answers given.

"There you go, demon." She held out the clipboard. "Sign where I've marked, and I'll be gone."

She never saw the demon, but a sparkling glow and pressure hit her clipboard, almost knocking it from her hand. When she pulled it back to her, a dark red signature lit up next to each mark.

"All right. If you'll open the gate, I'll be on my way. Thanks."

She replaced her clipboard as she spoke, then decided what the hell, why not, and stuck out her hand, hoping to get a tip.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~

You can find out if she gets her tip from Zarakion, and exactly what kind of tips demons dole out, by picking up your own copy today.

All Romance eBooks 
Amazon
Barnes and Noble 
Changeling Press

And don't forget to *comment* with your email addy for a chance to win a $15 GC! Click this link and you can go back to the Swept Away blog event page to visit another great author. 

I'll see you tomorrow!!
~Ayla

 

Cover Reveal

Take a look at the cover for my upcoming release, Party Girl. Huge thanks go out to Renee George for her mystical, magical work!

Party Girl releases February 21, 2013, with Changeling Press

Read an excerpt here: http://aylaruse.blogspot.com/p/coming-soon_20.html

Bookmark the link here:  http://www.changelingpress.com/product.php?&upt=book&ubid=2002

Party at TRS today!

All day long, me and a bunch of other Changeling Press authors are partying over at The Romance Studio. Join us. Read great excerpts, free reads, get the on-dit and behind the scenes info as well as maybe a recipe or two. Oh, and did I mention there are contests? Yep! Free books and gift cards. Go over there before midnight for the details. And give yourself a break. You deserve to expand your TBB list!

TRS Party Site: http://trsparties.com/

The Grass is Always Greener Syndrome

Image credit: © zimous - Fotolia.com

Do you suffer from this? 

Isn't this what we've always been warned against? A kind of be-happy-for-what-you-do-have because even though the grass may look greener over there, it has it's own mountain of problems.

Yeah, we all know this. But it doesn't stop us from peering over the fence. It doesn't stop us from wondering if maybe the other lawn's problems aren't ones we could handle better than our own? 

We humans are a fine fickle mess.

Myself included. 

The lawn I envy from time to time is one of solitude. Where there is no hubby, no kiddos, no family or friends. Okay, maybe not quite that extreme, but a life completely and entirely my own. Any appointments made would be solely for me. Any decisions would basically affect only me. Anything going on in my life, all me. 

Damn I sound selfish.   ;-)

Perhaps because in truth, I'm anything but. And, I've had a bit of that solitude in my past and let me tell you, it sucked. I peered at family and couples and bemoaned the fact I didn't have any of that. 

My how times change. Now, despite my moments of a desire for solitude, I'm happy where I am. I have my weeds and the grass isn't always cut ruler straight, but damn it, they're my weeds and my trimmings. 

So yes, there are times I'll walk past or even through that supposedly perfectly manicured lawn of solitude and enjoy every blessed moment. But I'll come back across the fence to my own yard, and even find myself appreciating the mess and chaos I have -- right where I am.