Well Julie started talking last week about our More Blazing Bedtime Stories release, coming at the end of next month. I figured I’d go one step further and actually share a first-time-anywhere excerpt from my story, “Once Upon A Mattress.” In case you haven’t figured it out from the title, it’s a Princess And The Pea type story, with a wolf hero and a multiply-pierced, tattooed, goth-like princess heroine. I had a blast writing it and absolutely loved working with Julie again.
Anyway, since I also have tons of copies of this book and not much use for them, I’ll give away two of them to random commenters today as well.
Enjoy!
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“Okay, let me get this straight,” Penny said after the stranger had finished a ridiculous explanation of what he wanted from her. “You say you represent my mother’s people and you have to take me back to her homeland to claim some old inheritance?”
The big, sexy man, whose glorious eyes appeared to have a hint of gold in them out here in the sunlight, nodded, unaffected by her obvious disbelief. “Exactly.”
Though her heart fluttered, Penny quickly stifled her excitement. Because things like this just didn’t happen. They were never this easy, not in the real world. She hadn’t gone on a fruitless, two-year journey of exploration only to have some hot dude in a black leather jacket show up out of the blue to provide answers to all her questions.
“But you won’t tell me where, or what this inheritance is, or who, exactly, sent you to find me.”
“Correct.”
“And you think I’m going to say, ‘Okey-dokey,’ grab my stuff and blindly follow you to the ass end of nowhere.”
He cast a long glance at her, visually assessing her admittedly unusual clothes.
For some reason, one corner of the sensual mouth pulled up a bit in what was probably his impersonation of a smile. “You don’t need to pack much. You should definitely come as you really are.”
Said like he didn’t mind her wardrobe, which Callie called her Witch-of-the-West look, complete with bright ruby slippers, by way of her high-top Chucks.
“You’re missing the point. The issue isn’t my packing.”
“It isn’t? What other issue is there?”
Oh, maybe the little one that this total stranger thought she would instantly trust him and let him whisk her away to who-knew-where to do who-knew-what.
Well, okay, some of the who-knew-what might be good. But only if she decided she wanted that what.
“The issue is, you can’t show up here and expect me to follow you like a dumb sheep.”
Though, following him would entail walking behind the man. And considering the way his faded jeans hugged those incredible thighs and lean hips, she honestly wouldn’t mind getting a look from—and at—the rear.
“I’m no shepherd,” he said, something gleaming in the depths of those eyes.
“More like the Big, Bad Wolf,” she muttered.
For some reason, he suddenly coughed, lifting his fist to his mouth as he turned his head to the side. Finally, after he’d cleared his throat, he said, “We don’t have much time, Princess. We have to go now.”
There he went with that stupid nickname again. She blew out a huffy breath, then curved her hand around one ear, tilting her head to the side. “What’s that? I think I hear something. Oh, it’s the nuthouse calling. They want you to bring back their straight-jacket.”
He merely lifted a brow. The man seemed incapable of antagonizing, as if, despite the dangerous looks, he really knew how to hold onto his temper. “What can I say to convince you?”
She hesitated, wanting to walk away, yet tempted—so damn tempted—to listen to what he had to say.
Part of her was dying to know more about who he said he represented. Her mother’s people? Meaning, people who’d actually known her mother, whom Penny couldn’t even remember? People who might be able to fill in the blanks of her history—tell her why Penny had been able to find no record of her mother’s existence, not anywhere. Maybe explain why there was no proof of her parents’ marriage. No record of where her father had lived for a good ten years of his younger life. Why her own birth certificate hadn’t been filed until Penny had been three years old.
So many questions. No answers.
Until now?
Finally, taking a chance, she said, “All right. Here’s how you convince me. Tell me everything. Every single detail. Let me hear it and then I’ll decide if you’re crazy…or I’m crazier and actually believe you.”
He frowned. Instead of making him look forbidding, it just added to the whole super-hot-bad-boy thing he had going on. “I can’t do that.”
Stabbed with disappointment, she immediately reached around him for the door handle. “Yeah, that’s what I thought you’d say.”
He refused to get out of the way. “You wouldn’t understand, not right now.”
“Look, Mr….what is your name, anyway?”
“It’s Lucas Wolf.”
An appropriately tough one. Then she rolled her eyes. No wonder he’d reacted when she’d called him the Big Bad Wolf. What was it, the name for words that sounded like what they were? Onomatopoeia? Yeah. That fit. His name definitely fit his whole big, bad self.
Besides, she’d bet he was a wolf as far as females were concerned. He sure had the looks for it, if not the flirtatious charm. Not that he probably needed to rely on charm or seduction. He was all tough, overpowering, alpha man who women flocked to like…well, like sheep.
Women often chose to settle down with nice guys. That didn’t mean they didn’t have fantasies about one last, wild fling with a dangerous, edgy man who was relentless in his pursuit. Many such females would probably have said, “When do we leave?” after hearing his proposition.
But not you.
No. Not her. Parts of her anatomy might already be packing her bags to follow him anywhere. But above the shoulders, she was firmly grounded in reality. She’d sown her wild oats. Big time.
She’d also followed far too many promising trails that led to only disappointment. She was done with all that. No more expectations meant no more disappointments.
“Well, Mr. Wolf, you’re wasting your time. If you won’t give me any more information, then our conversation is finished. I need to go back to work.”
“Tell me you don’t want to come with me, that you’re not dying of curiosity.”
She hesitated, then finally lied. “I’m not.”
In truth, this tall, sexy stranger probably couldn’t have said anything that would have enticed her more. Still, the fact that he was a stranger—a dangerous-looking one—meant she couldn’t even consider going along with what he was asking. Aside from not wanting to set herself up for yet another disappointment, her good instincts about people could be wrong this time. For all she knew, he could be the son of the Son of Sam.
“Hello!?” a muffled voice said. Someone knocked on the glass door behind Lucas, obviously wanting to exit.
“You should move to let them out. And I have to go back in.”
“No.”
He put a hand on her arm, and everything…changed.
Sizzling heat and pure electric energy erupted at the spot where hand met arm. More, though, there was a strange sense of recognition. As if confirming that she knew him far better than she should after such a brief acquaintance.
There’d been interest from the very start. This was something different. Something much bigger.
Penny sucked in a slow, uneven breath, astounded by the rush of pleasure that came with the unexpected contact. Her loose, gauzy shirt was thin enough to feel the indentation of each strong finger, though he didn’t clench them. It didn’t hurt in any way, yet she felt almost branded by the fire of it.
Claimed.
As crazy as it sounded, having this man touch her felt like finally discovering who she really was, where she belonged. Just that pressure, that hint of restrained power, affected her like no other touch she could remember.
It was disconcerting, unnerving. Good, but also too surprising to deal with on the spot.
Somehow, she managed to keep still, merely staring at him until he silently unhanded her, the reluctant gentleman inside winning out over the overpowering male.
Well, maybe not gentleman. But decent guy.
Stop it, you don’t know that. You can’t be sure!
Even after he’d let her go, their eyes remained locked, and confusion flashed briefly in his. As if he, too, had been taken by surprise by an instant rush of feelings.
“My apologies.” He stepped aside to let the customers out.
Penny scrunched her brow. His speech was strange. He was so rough-looking, but could also be polite, almost old-fashioned. He used normal words, yet once in a while something sounded off.
A family eased out, casting curious stares at Penny and the stranger before heading up the block. The second they were out of earshot, he put his hand on her again, clasping her shoulder with determination.
So much for thinking he’d decided to be a gentleman. She shivered, though because she was glad or worried, she honestly couldn’t say. “Didn’t you apologize for grabbing on me?”
“No. I was apologizing for accosting you in front of the door where people could see.”
“And now what, it’s accost away?” The words lacked anger. She didn’t feel a bit accosted. Just warm and tingly again.
“I have you alone and I need you to agree to come with me.”
She cast a pointed stare toward the windows. Lucas turned, blocking her view…and blocking her from view of those within.
“Say you’ll come.”
“And if I say no, are you gonna tie me up and toss me into a big bag, tough guy?”
His response flew out of his mouth so quickly, she didn’t believe he planned it.
“If I tie you up, Princess, I won’t be tossing you anywhere but flat onto your back.”
If you’d like to preorder it, here’s a link!
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Be sure to visit the Blaze Authors blog today, Julie’s blogging! http://blazeauthors.com/blog/2009/09/22/so-it-all-started-with-a-zucchini/
Leslie Kelly used to say she wanted to be a doctor when she grew up, but then she discovered Nancy Drew books. Being a flashlight-under-the-covers-nose-in-book reader throughout her childhood, she couldn’t think of anything else she’d rather do as an adult than continue to lose herself in fictional stories. Her real life marriage of 20 years to the man of her dreams is a constant reinforcement that happily-ever-afters really can happen…and that they’re worth writing about. Living in Maryland, Leslie spends her non-writing time laughing a lot with the above-mentioned romance hero and their three daughters. Though an author of more than thirty sexy, contemporary comedies, she has recently branched out to write dark romantic suspense under the pseudonym Leslie Parrish.
Destiny
Dirty Little Secrets
Once Upon A Valentine
Through The Night
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Looks like another winner to me. Just wish we didn’t have to wait another month to read both stories. Putting at the top of my TBB list now.
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I can’t wait to read the rest! Going off to pre-order it now :)
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OMG!!!! Now how am I going to get any work done!!!!! I can’t wait!!!!!
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This book sounds like loads of fun!
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I love it!! Throw my name in the hat, please!
Cher
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Sounds great. I would love to read this book.
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I can’t wait…I am glad I now know when it’s coming out! Whoot!
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Love the idea of the goth princess heroine!!! Sounds like a definite winner to me.
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I LOVE the heroine’s name. Just sayin’!
And I want to read this book right now! *adds to list to preorder on next writing break*
Leslie and Julie,
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I also love the idea of the goth princess heroine, and Lucas is just yummy! I can’t wait to read the rest of the story now
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Sounds amazing! Gotta love anything duo from the Plotmonkeys.
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Huge fan – I would love a copy!!!
Have a great day ladies.
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Oooh sounds really good!!! I want to read this book!!!
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Happy Tuesday everyone! What a great post Leslie, I can’t wait until it comes out. I just started the thrid book in the Black Cat Series…I’m loving it and can’t wait for my break to read some more!
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I love a bit of funny with my books! :-) While the half naked man is appreciated, I like when they do something different with the covers. Something different from the groping couple.
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Win or not, I’m going to get this book. The stories sound great!!
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Great excerpt!
And I loved the way you described it at the top “Princess And The Pea type story, with a wolf hero and a multiply-pierced, tattooed, goth-like princess heroine.” Sounds like its made of WIN!!
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How fantastic, two Plotmonkeys in the same book! Also I love a good Blaze!!
If I don’t win I will be buying this as soon as I can!. That said I picked up a copy of Fade to Black at Border’s yesterday. Yea! I’m looking forward to delving into this Leslie Parrish book. They had all three books on the shelf & the third one featured on a seperate display with newer books. I hope the books are selling well. 
You ladies: 
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I know it will be good even if I don’t read the sneak peak. That always ruins the fun for me when I go to read the book. Which I will- buy it or win it. Doesn’t matter to me.
Might matter to hubby and the credit card bill though!
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I love having two plotmonkeys in one book.
This story sounds like fun Leslie.
I have had 1 1/2 year old grand here for last 2 weeks while parents vacationed. Can you say tired 65+ woman…I have a list of books I need to pick up. Argh! I haven’t been able to read for 10 days and I am suffering withdrawals, biggggggggg-time. Hugs and good luckto all.
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Love the goth heroine. Love it.
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Leslie… This is so good… and a tease. I can’t wait to read the rest of the book. I love having plotmonkey’s together…
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Thanks for the excerpt. I want this book.
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Can’t wait to read it!
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Great excerpt, Leslie! Looking forward to reading it!
Jodie
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Wow, that is good. I can’t wait for it to come out, I’m really intrigued. I really love the cover!
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Lucas sounds yummy! Can’t wait to read this.
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OOOOOO, I can’t wait, I think I will be the first one in the store on release day………and it will be read by the end of the day…….
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Oh, I think I just had the same response as Penny.
I can’t wait to read the rest. 
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Sounds like fun!
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Congratulations on the enhanced fairy tale! It will be interesting to see
how it turns out! I know it will be growwwly good!
Pat Cochran
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Thanks for checking out the excerpt everyone–I’m so glad you liked it!
The two random winners are:
Donna M. Comment # 18
and
Carol Comment # 24
Drop me a line at author @ lesliekelly . com with your snail mail addy so I can get your books out.
Congrats!
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Leslie, me likey!! You’re so AWESOME!!!
I love those kind of fairy tales! 
They make the best kind of bed time stories, if you know what I mean…ooh la la! 
Make me a winner cuz I don’t think I can wait ! 
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I love stories with a fairy tale theme. Please put my name in the hat.
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The book sounds great can’t wait to read it
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Leslie, you’re such a tease !
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Congrats to Donna & Carol! Enjoy!
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Oh, thanks Leslie. I am thrilled to win the book.
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This story I bet is HOt, but very different that the regular Blaze reads!
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I would love to take one off your hands.
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Can’t wait to read this one!