Tuesday, August 31, 2010

10th Anniversary Contest Round Five

Congrats to Anne for winning Round Four of our contest! Anne will receive a free ebook of her choice and her entry will go into the final Grand Prize Round for a chance to win a netbook computer!

Now it's time to vote for the best of the Round Five entries in the right panel.

Louise
Ellora's Cave has showed me the joys of domination, and my love life has improved drastically!

Lisa
Life is all about choices. My husband and I have been together for 20 years, married for 17. One night when we were very young, I awoke in the wee hours of the morning to find him absent from the bed. I walked into the living room to find him in the act of pleasuring himself on the couch. He saw me, I saw him, and I promptly walked right back into the bedroom. I sat on the bed and thought, well I can be offended and have him be embarrassed, or I can trust him like no one else. So, I went out, sat beside him on the couch and said, "How would you like to know me better than anybody? … I do THAT too."

It was the best reaction I could have had. I showed him my secret toy. He was so relieved and excited. As time went on, children came, and my libido has gotten stronger and more demanding.

When I hit the big 4-0, I discovered Ellora's Cave. The stories I read gave me new ideas and helped us improve techniques. We even ordered a new toy! We have better sex now than ever and a lot more of it! The variety of genres on EC has helped me decide what I truly want in the bedroom and has given me a medium in which to communicate these desires to my wonderful husband. He has DEFINITELY been game!:)

I'm so glad I decided to be as open and honest with my mate. I even hesitated before telling him I was reading erotic stories. I chose to take the chance that he would judge me or not approve. I should have known that he would return the same unconditional love and understanding I showed him all those years ago. We have both been reaping the rewards! Thank you EC and all the fabulous authors. I have even corresponded with a few, they are great ladies and even encourage me to share my "stories". Don't know if I'm ready for that, but EC cave has a fan for life in me!!

Kurt
I've rediscovered passionate sex. Thanks for this offer.

Ruth
I'm an avid reader of all types of erotica, adore all genres and wish I could try most things out on the old man, I have to confess that as he is disabled and pretty much non-functional, all the wonderful ideas that I read about in your books are pretty much a no go in my case--so I was wondering if maybe just for laughs you could have a contest for those like me on how do all those wonderful erotic books from EC frustrate your love life even more than normal?
Seriously, I appreciate the fact that publishers such as you and others help to keep "sex" alive since we know that typical men know nothing of what true romance is and rely on sex to win us over. Books have become our "manuals" and when they ask "where did you learn that?" we can point it out on a page/s and they know we work to keep it interesting for both of us. Again, thanks for helping us keep the excitement going (even when we can't any more) and reminding ourselves that life doesn't stop when the body does.

Saturday, August 21, 2010

10th Anniversary Contest Round Four


We asked readers, "How has Ellora's Cave improved your sex life?" and boy have we gotten some fun answers! Big congrats to Laura, who won Round Three. She gets a free ebook of her choice and goes into the Grand Prize round for a chance to win a netbook computer. Read the ones below and vote in the right hand panel for your favorite. The winner of this round gets a free ebook of his or her choice and goes into the Grand Prize round for a chance to win a netbook computer!

Jennifer
It has taught me all kinds of new positions and interesting bedroom games and tricks!


Ian
It has really helped me get past a few insecurities. I have progressed to the extent now where I can really go balls to the wall. Thanks again and thanks for the contest.

Abbe
This is somewhat roundabout, but Ellora's Cave books improved my sex life by being well written. They aren't embarrassing to read like I had always imagined romance novels to be. I wasn't worried about the sex (Ok, a little. How my hippie parents raised a prude, I will never know) but reading "fluff" has always had a stigma to it. The characters were one-dimensional girl-women without personalities that the reader could insert herself on to. The relationships that came to mind when I saw book covers were always "oh, rescue me" or dysfunctional.

So when I actually did take a chance (aka, ran out of "good" books to read) and borrowed from a friend's bookcase, imagine my surprise when dysfunctional turned out to be a good thing. Sometimes being rescued is interesting! I wasn't expecting originality, a story that I got emotionally invested in, and scenes hot enough that I'd blush and hope nobody saw. The story might change, the heroine may do the rescuing but each novel I read took away more of the "fluff" shame.

I'm still a newbie of the genre but one of the big differences is that by introducing me to a literary genre that I had shunned, EC also helped me accept fantasies that I had thought were silly or embarrassing as well...sexy, and that's definitely an improvement to my sex life.

Anne
Ellora's Cave provides a wonderful spectrum of different romantic stories, ranging from the mildest to the hottest. I do not really have a traditional "sex life" to speak of, and it is kind of unbelievable that a 25-year-old female in this day and age is still a virgin. It is not due to any personal hard-held beliefs, but simply due to how life circumstances have played out for me. I have had my share of longing crushes from afar, but have yet to go on a date or even experience a first kiss. Throughout it all, I have enjoyed the world of romance, more specifically Romantica®. I truly believe that it is these stories that have allowed me to last so long. I have always been a romantic at heart, and therefore am a complete fan of romance.

I discovered Ellora's Cave several years ago through an advertisement in Romantic Times. At the time I was still somewhat conservative about sex and was shy about exploring other stories that were much darker than vanilla. So at first I only looked at the Ellora's Cave stories that seemed "traditional" and "missionary." As time went on I discovered that my curiosity about different types of sex was growing, albeit slowly. New positions were being exposed to me, and I found that I began to enjoy delving into the stories that were steamier and steamier. Ultimately Ellora's Cave developed my imagination and opened my mind to other aspects of sex.

So slowly, but surely, I began to explore the stories on BDSM and spanking. Honestly, at one time I would never think about reading those kinds of stories. But Ellora's Cave introduced classy stories that did not appall me, and it also educated me on BDSM by completely blowing my preconceived notions out of the water. It showed me that there are special relationships between these partners that add a new dimension to the romance. If anything feeling that intimacy makes the romance more engaging and really touches my heart (among other things ;-)).

My sexual exploration and education continue to grow every day. I have begun reading some multiple-partner stories, but mostly M/M/F. Although the majority of my stories are still traditional M/F stories, I am much more open about looking at the different novels offered. And now my imagination is wilder, and my expectations are possibly higher. Even though I do not have a man to share my fantasies with, I can hold on to them and continue to hope that I will meet that special someone to share them with. Ellora’s Cave continues to give me hope that I have every possibility to meet that special person, and in the meantime I can continue to enjoy reading and opening my mind to other sexual possibilities. I look at it this way: When I do meet the one for me I will have a library of fantasies to keep us busy, courtesy of Ellora’s Cave. Thank you, Ellora’s Cave, for educating me and providing a world that has supported me as well as entertained. Thank you, Ellora’s Cave, for helping me develop my fantasies as a sexual woman, and I look forward to more wonderful stories to come.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Vote In Round #3

Scroll down below the RomantiCon 2010 story to see the entries in Round #3 of our 10th anniversary contest, "How has Ellora's Cave improved your sex life?" then vote for your favorite entry in the right-hand panel!

Top 10 Reasons to Come to RomantiCon 2010


1. It is literally the Party of the Decade in Romantica publishing. The woman who started it all is throwing a bash to celebrate the 10th anniversary of her first book and the birth of her publishing company. And, sister, the Queen of Steam is doing it up! Saturday night’s party will whisk you away to Trek Mi Q’an, the setting of Jaid Black’s irresistibly sexy, funny and romantic book: The Empress’ New Clothes, which took the internet by storm and launched a publishing revolution. Fierce, gorgeous Trek warriors and beautiful slave girls made of sand will perform for your pleasure. You will dine like royalty and dance the night away in a distant galaxy of wild imagination.

2. You deserve it. You work hard and you should treat yourself like an Empress once in a while. If you don’t, who will?

3. Did we say Party of the Decade? We meant Parties of the Decade. The opening act for the Saturday night Trek Birthday Bash is Friday night’s Roaring Twenties costume ball. Dust off your glad rags, break out the beads and boas, and brush up your Charleston, dollies, we’re gonna party likes it’s 1926! Fun is the password to get you into the EC speakeasy, where you can, drink a little bootleg brew, enjoy a floorshow from the EC Cavemen, take your chances with a one-armed bandit, and cut a rug to your favorite songs.

4. It’s a great value. Registration price and accommodations cost a fraction of other conferences, and we have a special rate for guests and spouses to attend just the parties and dinners. Set in a lovely semi-rural area of Ohio at the height of the brilliant autumn color season, the hotel has great food, service and rooms, and yet is extremely inexpensive compared with the luxury resort hotel prices you’ll pay at other conventions. Plus, there are plenty of inexpensive things nearby for guests and spouses to do, if you choose to bring them.

5. It’s a fun, safe, get-away-from-it-all vacation with loads of things to do and time to hang out with people who share your interests. (And tax-deductible for authors!)

6. Cavemen. Some of our hunkiest and most popular Cavemen cover models will be on-hand all weekend to perform, autograph books and calendars, pose for pictures, and hang out at parties. Need we say more?

7. You’ll meet readers, authors, models, reviewers, editors and other industry professionals in an informal setting and in workshops and focus groups designed to illuminate, entertain, and give you input into the future of our books.

8. You deserve it. You know you do. Think about all the things you do for other people. Now think about the last thing you did for yourself. See?

9. Big Prizes!

10. The Goldilocks Factor. Some conventions are just too big. With so many authors and readers, the lines for everything from food to books are long, and there is little opportunity for the twain to meet. Some conventions are just too small. With too few authors, readers and events, there is not much reason to travel so far and not much excitement when you arrive. RomantiCon is just right. With just the right mix of authors and readers, events and downtime, everyone has the chance to meet everyone else in quiet, conversational settings and raucous parties.

Time is running out to sign up, so if you’ve been on the fence, go ahead and make the leap. Because, most of all, you deserve it. So seize the day and come celebrate with us. to sign up: https://www.jasminejade.com/romanticon/registration.html

Monday, August 16, 2010

10th Anniversary Contest Round Three


Congratulations to Toi for winning Round Two in our 10th anniversary contest "How Has Ellora's Cave Improved Your Sex Life?" She will receive a free ebook of her choice and her entry will go into the final round for a chance at the Grand Prize, a netbook computer!

Here are the Round Three Entries. Be sure to vote for your favorite!

Susan
Reading your hot books makes me very warm all over and puts me in the mood.

G K
It's much more frequent!

Sharon
Dreams are what I love. Hot erotic pleasures, soft sensual fantasies, out of this world rendezvous…

Ellora’s Cave incites that dream. On a cold, lonely day a full-length story of a dark, mysterious stranger holding me close is what I need. On a tiresome, stressful day a Quickie solves the problem. On a day when all seem to be against me, a sexy, bold, dangerous vampire can make me relax.

Many fantasies that I have can never be fulfilled in reality but Ellora’s Cave makes it reality for me. It’s not taboo to dream of aliens in my bed, a knight who happens to have a penchant for blood, or a younger lover who likes the mature curves of my frame. Sometimes I can dream of a new planet altogether. A world where clouds are red, skies are green and my life mate has eyes only for me--ready to take me to pleasures unknown.

These dreams however sometimes make their way into my sex life. How? Often times after reading an Ellora’s Cave erotic novel my breath may shorten, my eyes dilate, my palms sweat, my heart beats faster and my skin feels tingly…Ooooh! The only cure for this is a night in my lover’s arms wrapped tight! These novels lower my inhibitions like fine wine after a nice meal. I can do anything, be anyone that I want. There are no boundaries in my way. What a wonderful feeling!!

Ellora’s Cave gives me dreams. Dreams that make it easier for me to believe in love and happily-ever-afters!!

Laura
Ellora's Cave opened up a brand new world for me, and one which I want to live in forever. When you are 56 and have been married for 39 years you tend to get in a rut. I married my high school sweetheart and hate to admit it, but he was the first man I slept with (on my wedding night) as well as the only man I slept with in my life! He is the most wonderful man in the world, my best friend and still the sexiest man I have ever seen. Throughout the years and five children, we pretty much fell into a comfortable routine. I grew up while we were married and as I became older (although probably not wiser), I began to have these fantasies about him. He was in the military for 25 years and when he was deployed I would take out my books (which I kind of hid in a box in the closet) and enter the land of exotic fantasy. I think I actually almost devoured them! Since my husband knew I had only been with him, I could not figure out how to tell him about some of my fantasies without having him wonder where in the heck I had come up with them.

I decided to bring my books out of the closet and place them on my bedside table. The first time he saw them he glanced at them but did not say anything. I, in turn, probably turned about 20 shades of red. I waited for a few nights and then I mumbled to him about how some of these sex scenes did not seem possible. He mumbled back something like "it seems like it might be possible." It was only a few days later that he suggested (this time he had the red face) that just to "appease" my curiosity, we could try a few of the scenes I was talking about. That's all I needed and I was off!! It did not take long before we both felt like two kids in a candy store and how sweet it all was! Ellora's Cave gave me the courage and ideas about how to make our marriage so much fun and so very, very exciting!!

Monday, August 9, 2010

10th Anniversary Contest Round Two

We received so many wonderful responses to our 10th anniversary contest "How Has Ellora's Cave Improved Your Sex Life?" that we have to run them in batches for voting. So for the next few weeks, we'll post a few at a time and you can vote for the winner in each batch. Then we'll re-run each winner as a semi-finalist for a final voting round. The winner of each round will win a free ebook of her (or his) choice. The grand prize winner will receive a netbook computer!

Congratulations to Linda, who won the first round Readers' Poll with her short and sweet gettin' busy on the pool table entry. She wins a free ebook of her choice and goes on to the finalist round, where she is eligible to win the grand prize, a netbook computer!
Here are the Round Two Entries:

Barbara

I am a stay-at-home mother to two young children, aged 5 & 3. I help run our family business from our home while caring for the children and running the household. My husband works 12-hour days--my time and attention are constantly in demand. The only time I get to myself is a few nights a week when I can take a long soak in the tub and read. I love Romantica®--it helps me to relax and transports me to another place and time, while giving me ideas on how to spend alone time with my husband :) Right now, I am reading The Breeds series by Lora Leigh. The intense attractions, steamy sex scenes and overwhelming love are just what I need at the end of a long day to put me in a relaxed state of mind and give my marriage the attention it deserves.

My attraction to my husband has grown, intensifying our lovemaking and bringing us more pleasure. Being able to relax and think sexy thoughts has improved not only my sex life, but my married life as well.

Erika

My man wants to try everything we read!! Yeah!!

Toi

For you to understand the scope of the change in my life I'll give you a little of my background.

I was raised in a VERY strict, VERY catholic household. You could say that I've had my inhibitions drummed into my head from birth. It was only reinforced when I attended school. Puberty hit me early (10yrs old) and I was blessed with large breasts. Unfortunately the nuns didn't think so, and I was forced to tie them down daily (Ace bandage). It got to the point that as I got older I thought there had to be something wrong with me. I was a bookworm and really a geek (but with a body that could kill, I'm told) but I was ultra shy. That shyness stuck with me. I eventually married and was a virgin until then.

He was very conservative and our sex life was almost obligatory for me. I didn't enjoy sex, and didn't have a clue what an orgasm was but I was sure it was only for the "naughty girls." We divorced after nine years of marriage and by that time I figured the BIG O was a myth. I used books as my escape from everyday life. I already enjoyed romance novels but after my divorce I was really disillusioned with them. So the next time I was in Borders I checked out the other selections. The Ellora's Cave cover picture caught my eye. So I said "what the hell" and picked it up. I didn't even read the back of the book as was my wont (truly adventurous for me).

I got home that night and followed my regular routine; helped my children with homework, prepared supper, bathed kids, prayers and then tucked them in. I even did a couple loads of laundry and cleaned up around the house. I finally settled down, made a pot of tea, turned on some classical music and sat down with my book Double Trouble by A. James.

Wow!!!!!!

That book was like foreplay! For the first time in my life I was aroused and by a book. I'd been married and had three children but I had never felt like I did after reading just a portion of that book. I was an eye-opening experience. I went to work the next day and it was like a veil had been lifted from my eyes and my inhibitions! My imagination was working overtime on a couple of my coworkers who flirted with me constantly. I'd been putting them off, but now the thoughts in my head were anything but off putting...lol. I decided that the book wasn't bad, and decided to go get another one. (I'm a fast reader, 916 words a minute.)

I picked up two that time, with the same results. I thought if they can do it why not me? I was tired of being the "nice" girl, I was lonely and I finally realized that I'm entitled to a life too! So I decided to take a chance and I invited the gentlemen from work to my house for dinner...both of them. My plan was to seduce them. Mind you...I had NO idea what I was doing but with my newfound confidence I was doing it anyway!

I'd sent the kids to their aunt's house for the weekend so that wasn't a concern. I was as ready as I was going to get. I'd prepared dinner. I wore a silky blouse with ample cleavage and it was light enough you couldn't fail to see my nipples, especially as excited and scared as I was. I also wore silk pants that were easy to remove. Like I said, I was going to be naughty if it killed me.

When my doorbell rang, I almost passed out I was so nervous. But surprisingly the evening went well. I thought I'd be uncomfortable but the guys put me at ease...sort of. The constant casual touches were anything but casual. I was on fire. They asked me what brought on the change in attitude? I went to the book shelf and pulled out my Ellora's Cave collection. Ironically, they picked Double Trouble to skim through. By this time I squirming in my chair, my panties were soaked and I was panting. They decided that since that book caused my "transformation" then they were going to act out the sex scenes in the book for me. OH MY GOD!!! (Both men were built like Greek gods!!)

That night turned into an ENTIRE weekend of glorious sex!!!! I finally had my first orgasm, (they took care of that immediately) I have so much more confidence in myself and my abilities. I realize that there was nothing wrong with me to begin with. I just need the right stimulus and boy did I find it...times two! I'll forever be an Ellora fan!

Melody

Well it has helped me to open up to the passion inside me. I never knew that I have a passionate side until I started reading romance and erotic books. I am the mother of four and a wife of 24 years. But I feel like I just woke up to myself, the real me. I explore the passionate side of me and I enjoy sex (therefore so does my husband). We have enjoyed our sex life more in the last year than ever in my life. If I was a young 20-something, and single, wooooo I could get into all kinds of trouble. See, I told you I am loving it.

Monday, August 2, 2010

10th Anniversary Contest Round One

We received so many wonderful responses to our 10th anniversary contest "How Has Ellora's Cave Improved Your Sex Life?" that we have to run them in batches for voting. So for the next few weeks, we'll post a few at a time and you can vote for the winner in each batch. Then we'll re-run each winner as a semi-finalist for a final voting round. The winner of each round will win a free ebook of her (or his) choice. The grand prize winner will receive a netbook computer!

Here are the Round One Entries:

Linda

Reading EC books has given me several ways to get busy on the pool table! Once we were so busy that we did not take the cover off. Now we got a heavy-duty cover! Lol!


Lisa

Hi! I want to give you a little background information before I tell you how Ellora's Cave has had a tremendous effect on my love life. I have a very hectic, "mommy-can-we-can you-can-they-sleepover" life. My husband retired from the Marine Corps after 20 years, (we have been married for 21 years), we have three active boys…everything from baseball, football games/practice to track practice/events. I work as a teacher's aide at my son's high-school. I spend a lot of my time, sitting around waiting for practice to end, or start. Taxiing my family around from one event to the next, yet I seem to never have time for myself. Confusing isn't it?

I've always loved to read. Anything really but my mother, yes…my mother and I kinda stumbled into reading erotic/romance-type stories when she started chemo last summer. We could sit and talk or read about our favorite characters and who did what to whom. It's great!

I am in an interracial marriage, so of course I wanted to read books that represent my life, my preference if you will. However, I could not find a great variety in popular brick and mortar type book stores in my area. Which led me to the Internet. I stumbled on to Ellora's Cave and I have to say I am hooked! I started reading, "Make It Last" and then "Love Out Loud", and my life has never been the same. I don't just read the Interracial romance books, but it's important to me to have the option. I read the Shape shifter books, and everything in between! My books I must say embarrass my boys when they see them lying around the house, in the van, etc. because of the hot covers. I even hide my books when I have an opportunity to read them at work. LOL My husband likes how the books have kicked up our sex life, and he doesn't want me to stop reading the stories from Ellora's Cave so he purchased my first e-reader. Now I read my Ellora's Cave books everywhere! When someone asks, "What are you reading?" I just say, "Oh it's a romance-type book I got from this site on the Internet." If they are persistent, then I throw out Ellora's Cave. That way, if they really want to know what I'm reading, then they can check out the site for themselves. Who knows, maybe it'll kick up their sex lives a notch, I work with a few women who desperately need it. LOL

I turned 40 last year and it was very hard for me, but the stories from Ellora's Cave, make me feel sexy. Erotic, passionate stories that portray the passion and eroticism that I crave, (and miss) represents us, my husband and I. I know it may sound strange but I dress sexier, added a little sway in my walk, and even my husband reaps the benefits of how these stories make me feel. The stories have given me the courage to visit, and over a period of time given me the nerve to make my first purchase in an adult store. No matter what they say, curiosity did not in any way kill the cat. LOL

I love the ease and eye-catching appeal of the site, I go in, look around, read the excerpts, and make my purchase. Thank you for giving me, and every other woman who needs to escape from the everyday hum-drum life of hurry up and wait, the resources and selection of visually hot sex in black n white. You've made this woman feel special.


Sara

Well there is a lot of room for improvement, let's get that said up front. However in the past I had the most widely varied & wild sex life imaginable, however I ruined that when I got married a dozen years ago! Now in the process of divorcing the son-of-a-beeyuch who screwed everything in cracktown but never his own wife (thank God, really--think of the disease exposure! I don't think they make full-body condoms, do they?) however if it weren't for my imagination, I would not have had sex at all for the last 10 years or so, and in all actuality haven't. Hopefully there is a market out there for bitter, deprived, overweight 40+ women who need companionship, let's say. However, to get back to the topic, EC has given me countless fantasies, from Lora Leigh's breeds & threesomes, to Jaid Black's aliens, etc., to every writer you guys publish! All I can say is, if it weren't for my own imagination & the fuel for it that EC has provided over the last long while, I wouldn't have had a sex life at all!! So thank you from the bottom of my heart, EC!!!!


Rebecca

Elloras Cave erotic romance has improved my sex life by giving me the freedom to relax release all my inhibitions and to try anything and everything with my husband. We have been together for over 24 years and married for 21 years. We are still going strong and our sex life just gets better and better. I was brought up by my parents advising that sex before marriage was a taboo and that sex was for the bedroom only. Sex was not a subject to be talked about with anyone, it was a hidden subject.

People should realize it is ok to have sex before marriage as long as all sexual partners are consensual. Ellora’s Cave has changed my and my husband’s sex life for the better. We are not averse to using toys and our motto now is “If it feels good do it!”

Thanks to Ellora’s Cave and to your wonderful authors.