Friday, July 25, 2014

It's 2 boys! BUSINESS OR PLEASURE by Ashley Ladd Just Born Today


My newest book BUSINESS OR PLEASURE is now available for early download at Totally Bound: https://www.totallybound.com/business-or-pleasure#excerpt

Of course it will be available at Amazon, ARe, and the usual booksellers as of August 22nd.

But you don’t have to wait. You can have instant gratification and read it TODAY!

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Business or Pleasure


Tommy Boudreaux is extremely attracted to Guy Rogers even though he’s a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist and Tommy’s family owns the most popular barbecue joint in town.

 

Guy Rogers is extremely attracted to his new realtor, Tom Boudreaux. As a passionate vegetarian and animal rights activist, he’s ecstatic that Tom is a kindred soul. He could never be with a carnivore. Unfortunately, Tommy isn’t really a vegetarian or an animal rights activist. He never said he was, either, he just didn’t eat meat when he was with Guy. And maybe he emptied his house of all meat and dairy products before inviting Guy over. In fact, Tommy’s family owns the most popular barbecue restaurant in town and, if his family has their way, he’ll manage the new location.


When Guy finds out that Tommy eats meat and his family owns a restaurant that’s a monument to eating meat, he’s livid and doesn’t know if he wants anything else to do with Tommy.


But then Guy’s life gets crazy—his dad’s paranoia blossoms into violent dementia, Guy gets arrested for picketing a doggy mill then he winds up in even more legal trouble. When Tommy sticks by him through all his problems and does everything he can to help him, Guy wonders if he’s been too militant and narrow-minded. Perhaps he can learn to live with people who have opposite views.

 

Excerpt:

 

Ready to die to protect the poor, abused animals being murdered at this slaughter house daily, Guy Rogers held his picket sign high and proud. He raised his voice and chanted with his animal rights activist group, “This little piggy won’t go to market.”


The business’ owners shouted at them to leave. Would-be customers growled at them and tried to cross the line. But every time someone tried, Guy got in their face, growled and bared his teeth. “What gives you the right to slaughter innocents?”


A man wearing a baseball cap and chewing on a piece of straw stomped up to him and thrust an open Bible into his face. With exaggerated emphasis he stabbed his finger at a passage. “Read the Bible. God gave us animals to eat. Just look at Deuteronomy. It says ‘Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything’.”


He looked pointedly at the man’s protruding belly under his faded plaid flannel shirt. “I know He told you not to be a glutton, either. Get out of my face, man. That verse says ‘every moving thing that lives’. Does that mean you’re gonna start eating your fellow human beings? Huh?”


“Uh, no. It doesn’t mean that! That’s disgusting!” The carnivore tugged his hat lower over his rheumy eyes and scowled.


“What’s disgusting is eating living creatures that can’t defend themselves. I tell you what. You go out and fight a lion barehanded, and if you win, you can eat him. If he wins, he can eat you. Now that’s fair.”


“You’re sick!”


“You’re the pathetic one, eating innocent creatures that can’t speak up for themselves.” Guy puffed up in pride. Vegetarians like him ate well-balanced diets with plenty of protein that never had a face or a mother. He could live with himself just fine.


“Guy! Get back in line before you get yourself arrested.” Jessica, one of his fellow activists, motioned him back, away from a couple of policemen inching toward him. She fancied herself a protective little sister and even looked like it with her fierce bulldog attitude.


Guy grimaced but pulled himself away from the one-on-one conflict. As much as his adrenaline was flowing, and he did want to deck the guy, violence wasn’t the answer.


“You’re so brave letting a little girl tell you what to do.” Mischief danced in the antagonist’s eyes, and he clenched his fists at his sides.


“You’re not worth wasting my breath.” Guy turned to his fellows and commanded, “Lay down in front of the entrances. Don’t let anyone through.”


A policeman rushed up and got in his face. The man’s eyes were mere slits of fire. “Do that and I’m arresting you.”


Backing down wasn’t in Guy’s vocabulary. To make his point he lay spread-eagled on the ground. Daring him, he sneered at the official. “I do what I must. You do what you must.”


The policemen rolled him over roughly and handcuffed him. “You’re coming with us, funny guy.”

 


 

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