New Release: Fireworks at Midnight by Tara Quan

Tara Quan is back with another new release – she’s on a role!  Fireworks at Midnight is the third installment in her Witches Night Out series.  The first two I thoroughly enjoyed, so I can’t wait to dive into this one.

 

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New Year’s Eve is a night filled with bright colorful lights, rambunctious outings, and a good amount of mischief. It also marks the passage of time, bringing to mind our hopes for the future, the exhilaration that comes with change, and fond memories of days past. Part of Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand line, my paranormal romantic comedy Fireworks at Midnight features a struggling college graduate who is just coming to terms with the thrills and perils of newfound independence. When her best friend’s older brother rolls back into town, this intrepid young witch is faced with help she doesn’t want, protection she doesn’t need, and the reality that this warlock cop no longer thinks of her as a “troublesome little sister.”

 

Add a pinch of magic, supernatural mayhem, and Madame Eve’s renowned matchmaking service, and we’ve got the beginnings of a stormy love story. Those who’ve read my Christmas release Frosty Relations will already know Dulcina “Sweets” Gato, this tale’s smartass heroine. In keeping with the holiday spirit I’m giving away a $15 gift card. To enter, leave a comment here and drop your details in the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom of this post. [or at my website: TaraQuan.com/FireworksAtMidnight]

 

 

Blurb: Fireworks at Midnight (A Witch’s Night Out, 3)

 

Recent college graduate and part-time cat familiar Dulcina “Sweets” Gato is having the worst New Year’s Eve in living memory. End of year expenses trigger serious cash flow problems, and her microwave just went up in smoke. To make matters worse, her best friend’s overprotective big brother is back in town, and his return threatens to put a huge crimper on her nocturnal activities. The only thing she can look forward to is Madame Eve’s 1-Night Stand service. After all, she’s sick and tired of being a 21-year-old virgin.

 

Enforcement Agent Mikal Knight is a warlock on a mission. Having finally scored a transfer to Washington, D.C., he’s now at liberty to pursue the object of his desires—his baby sister’s best friend. But first, he has a vigilante to track down and a mysterious matchmaking service to investigate. Sent on an undercover operation, he resigns himself to a pointless 1-Night Stand on New Year’s Eve. As luck would have it, his mystery date’s identity might let him kill several birds with one stone.  

 

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy, Interracial/Multicultural

 

Buy Links: Amazon | Amazon UK | ARe | B&N | Decadent | Kobo | GoodReads

 

 

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About Tara Quan:

 

Globetrotter, lover of languages, and romance author, Tara Quan has an addiction for crafting tales with a pinch of spice and a smidgen of kink. Inspired by her travels, Tara enjoys tossing her kick-ass heroines and alpha males into exotic contemporary locales, paranormal worlds, and post-apocalyptic futures. Her characters, armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, are guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their own happily ever after. Learn more at www.taraquan.com

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Goodreads | Pinterest | Amazon

 

 

Excerpt

 

His gaze drifted to her chest. A gust of wind sliced over it, tearing off the top- most button. She jumped in her seat. “What the hell?”

 

“Welcome to Strip Interrogation. The rules are simple.” Her toes curled at the playful yet predatory gleam in his stormy eyes. Yup, he got her invitation loud and clear. “Whenever you give me a crap answer, I take away a stitch. Any questions?”

 

She licked her lips. “Is this how Enforcement trained you to question helpless witches?”

 

He crossed his arms and put on a mockery of a stern expression. “[…] The gloves come off when there’s a badass in the car.”

 

Her cheeks warmed at the backhanded compliment. Placing her hands primly on her lap, she squeezed her upper arms together to better showcase what little boobage she had. When she heard his warning growl, she batted her eyelashes. “What’s your question, Detective?”

 

He bared his teeth at her, but his breath had turned shallow. […] In a quicksilver move, he lunged forward and captured her nape with one hand. Holding her shoulder in place, he looped his free arm around her waist, splayed his fingers against her lower back, and yanked her toward him. The motion tipped her off balance. With a yelp, she placed her hands on the seat and straightened her arms. The position arched her back, lifting her breasts like an offering. […]

 

He settled his thumb between her collarbones. “I warned you about the skirt.”

 

The hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. Damn, was that menacing tone sexy. “Any chance we can work this out? I’m running low on winter clothes.”

 

With his free hand, he explored her abs, his fingers lingering on each groove long enough to send a tingle down her spine. His hungry expression more than paid for the hours she’d spent doing crunches. “What do you have in mind?”

 

Having devoured plenty of inspiring reading material, she had a long list of things she wanted to try. “I’m all stocked up on underwear.

 

1-2-3 Author Q&A with V.S. Morgan, Author of Sam's Temptation

 

Today V.S. Morgan is playing 1-2-3 Author Q& A!  She’s celebrating the new release of her new release, Sam’s Temptation with a giveaway, too – so stick around!

 

 

On Writing

 

When did you start to write?

 

I wrote and illustrated little adventure stories for my little brother when I was in grade school. Most of my writing as a kid was school related. I wrote a choose-your-own-fate romance that had an Alias vibe (pre-Alias) in junior high. That was a blast.

 

While in college I looked into what it took to publish with Harlequin and found the whole process daunting. I put aside the dream of writing romance for ‘practical’ jobs. However, I had a creative streak that wasn’t being supportive by those jobs.

 

A number of years later I discovered fan fiction and wrote that for a few years. It was a great way to stretch my writing muscles and get a thicker skin, but I wanted to write works that were entirely my own. So I took online writing classes to hone my skills and took the leap. I’ve been a published author for two years.

 

 

The Writer

 

What is your favorite movie?

 

I love movies! I’d have to say my favorite is The Princess Bride. It was so quirky and fun. I’m one of those people who can quote the whole movie.

 

 

The Book

 

Sam’s Temptation is a foodie romance, what kind of yummy dishes are being served?

 

Since the book takes place in Montana, I have a few Montana style meals such as buffalo chili. Gabriela specializes in Argentine cuisine which has a wonderful mix of native, Spanish, German, and Italian influences. As Gabi says, they love meat! She’s also great with desserts – she serves alfores, chocolate cheese cake, and empanadas. The reason Gabi is at the ranch is to assist with a quinceañera, a Latina’s fifteenth birthday party, so she makes a traditional quinceañera meal, as well.

 

 

Blurb:

 

On a working vacation in Montana, Chef Gabi Inez’s schedule allows her to enjoy planned activities and hangout with her cousin and his new family. She’s not looking for love, but spending time with a hunky cowboy sounds perfect. Gabi works hard, but every girl needs some fun. What if flirting leads to something more?

 

Sam Malone is the brains behind Blackbird, a guest and working ranch. Since his parents’ death, his sole purpose has been family and the ranch’s survival. Burned by love in the past, he avoids the distraction that comes with beautiful women. But what’s a cowboy to do when a sweet and sassy chef gets under his skin, only to be told by her overprotective cousin she’s off limits?

 

 

Excerpt:

He retreated a step, raising his hands in a nonthreatening manner. “Sorry, I want to make sure you aren’t hurt. I was going to save you from that creep, but you beat me to it.”

She tossed her head and dark curls bounced around her face. “This is New York, cowboy. We girls save ourselves.”

Her tone was sassy, but her hands trembled as she set the glass on the counter. The music changed to something soft and slow, and he gave her a reassuring smile. When you fall off your horse, you need to get back on. “You certainly did. If I promise to behave myself, will you dance with me?”

He held out his hand, fully prepared for her to tell him to go to hell.

She hesitated and finally shrugged. “Sure.”

When she placed her small hand in his, his pulse raced.

He led the way to the dance floor and loosely held her, fighting the urge to pull the beautiful woman close and bury his face in her long hair; its unique scent combined with a hint of vanilla and jasmine was intoxicating. His body flamed at each slight touch of their bodies. He’d never experienced an attraction so instantaneous, so urgent. Not even with his ex, Veronica.

“Do you have a name, cowboy?” she asked, her soft voice causing his dick to harden.

It’d been a while, but where was his control, damn it?

“Samuel Malone, brother of the groom.”

She must have really shorted out his brain for him to give his full first name, which he never used. He was Sam, plain and simple.

“Ah, I see the family resemblance. I’m Gabriela Inez, cousin to the other groom.”

This beautiful lady was related to Rafael? Why hadn’t he ever mentioned her? They continued to dance, and sparks flared when she relaxed into him. She was a little thing, even in her sexy stilettos. He hunched to rest his jaw against the top of her head. Perfect. He didn’t pause as the song transitioned to another. No way was one song enough. He eased back and gazed down, taking in her beauty and finally focusing on her full, luscious lips. Suddenly nothing was more important than kissing her….

 

 

Buy Links:

 

Decadent Publishing

iBooks

Amazon

Kobo

 

ARe

 

Barnes and Noble

 

 

Author Bio:

 

V.S. Morgan has lived all over the US but calls Minnesota her home now. Her family includes her hubby, son, and a menagerie of pets.

She's been writing stories since she could hold a pencil and dreams of happily ever afters - even for two hot men - because love knows no boundaries. V.S. writes MC/IR contemporary, paranormal, and suspense m/f and m/m with heart. 

 

V.S. is a GLBT ally and a lifetime contributor of The Trevor Project.

 

 

Author Links:

 

Website: http://www.vsmorgan.com

 

Facebook and Goodreads: V.S. Morgan

 

Tsu- https://www.tsu.co/VSMorganAuthor

 

Twitter: @vsmorgan1

 

 

$20 Amazon Giftcard Giveaway

 

 

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Don't Call Me Iron Man Holiday Special

I’m pleased to welcome N.D. Wylders to the blog today.  She has a couple of super special treats to share with us today – including a giveaway!

 

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Hello, I’m ND and I’m here to not only promote, but celebrate both the release of my first ever Beyond Fairytales story and the Christmas Holiday. I’m even giving away a $20 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!

 When I got to thinking about a blog tour, I decided I wanted to go with something that celebrates the holiday but isn’t strictly about promo. So here’s what I come up with…over the next six days, you - my dear readers, will get a glimpse of what a good old fashioned Christmas is like to a grown up cybernetic man who’s never experienced it.  So pull up a chair, a glass of your favorite holiday drink – whether that be eggnog or apple cider, and enjoy a little holiday fun as Ivan introduces his master and lover to everything that we humans take for granted during the holiday season…

 

Paddy McFees and Rings

 

“Yo, Iron Man. You finally made it!”  Dante called out from across the bar. 

After spending an enjoyable hour ringing a bell and collecting money for the needy, Lucero was still buzzed. Especially when he found out that the organization – this Salivation Army was in dire need of volunteers, even after Christmas – and that Ivan, who knew someone within the organization – could set up an appointment for Lucero to go and talk about helping out.   The thoughtfulness of his lover and mate never ceased to astound him.

Even understanding Ivan’s reasoning why he couldn’t hold a job as  a medic – after all the first time he scanned a patient or whipped up some miracle drug to cure something like the common cold, it would tip off any hospital or doctor he worked for.  It would have made Lucero feel useless in his new world, if it hadn’t been for Ivan’s constant reassurance that they would find something Lucero would enjoy as much as caring for his patients.  

And he delivered.  

As he rung that little silver bell, he finally felt needed again.  By standing in the dreaded cold and listening to the tinkle cry, he had known that his presence made a difference.  He’d lost track of how many people had thanked him for being there.  But ultimately it was knowing that the silver coins would add up to a hot meal or toy for a child that had kept him warm. 

“I’m not Iron Man, Dante!”  Ivan shouted across the noisy bar. 

A smile tugged at Lucero’s lips.  The ongoing friendly feud between Ivan and his friend was enough to make him chuckle.  If only the man knew the truth…about who was the true iron man in his and Ivan’s relationship.  And speaking of relationship…

Lucero fingered the silver rings in his pocket.  It had taken some stealth on his part and some serious saving but he’d gotten the wedding bands. While he’d enjoyed his mate’s efforts to make sure that he enjoyed his first ever Christmas, he wanted to give him something in return.  Something Ivan wouldn’t expect.

Following Ivan through the festive crowd, he soon found himself in a corner booth with Ivan, Dante and Dante’s husband, Ronan.   In front of them was a veritable feast.  Smoked ham, scalloped potatoes, cranberry sauce and deviled eggs just to name a few.  

As he dug into the food, he watched with pleasure as Ivan ate, joked and basically enjoyed his friends and the holiday meal.  It wasn’t until the end of the meal that he began to sweat.  He hadn’t even felt this nervous when he’d claimed his mate on Sisera.  Perhaps it was because by doing this, he was showing his lover his willingness to adapt some of Ivan’s customs. 

As Ivan sipped his eggnog, then laughed at something Ronan had said, his nerves eased. This was his Ivan, his amans. 

He placed his hand on Ivan’s thigh and squeezed.  Of course, his lover was so in tune with him, he glanced at Lucero and covered Lucero’s hand.  “Need something, babe?”  

“Yes, to give your gift.” 

Around the table, their friends fell silent.  Ronan, who had helped him pick out the rings, of course knew what the gift was. 

“A gift?” Ivan cocked his head.  “Just having you is enough.”

He licked his lips.  “I was hoping you’d say that.”  Then he tugged out the matching silver bands. The ones which most reminded him of the metal piercing that claimed his ownership of Ivan and placed them on the table, next to Ivan’s plate.  “Will you marry me?”

Ivan’s eyes widened and for a second Lucero thought he might cry.  Had he done something wrong? Perhaps Ivan didn’t want to complete his human’s mating custom?

“You’d wear a ring for me?”  Ivan’s voice cracked as he knew that in Lucero’s world, it was the master who owned the submissive – not the submissive who owned the master.

Lucero nodded. “Of course. I went through hell to get back to you.  You own me heart and soul. I love you, Ivan and would be honored to wear your ring.”

Ivan took a ragged breath and picked up the smaller of the two rings, then slipped it on Lucero’s left hand.   “Yes.”  He looked up, tears in his eyes. “I’ll marry you, Sir.”

 

Stay tuned for the announcement tomorrow of who won the grand prize. I want to thank all of the wonderful hosts who have donated time and space on their blogs.   And don’t forget to tell me what the favorite part of your holidays are...in the Rafflecopter form (or link) below…you’ll be entered to win a twenty dollar gift card from Amazon and a free copy of Don’t Call Me Iron Man. I’ll be drawing the winner on Dec 21^st and announcing the winner on my BLOG.

 

 

Blurb:

Once upon a time...there was this guy. A man who had an IQ out of this world and was arrogant enough to give the legendary Tony Stark a run for his money. He had everything he could ever want—a good job, more money than he knew what to do with, and all the sex he wanted—no strings attached. But that all changed on one fateful night... 

The last thing Ivan Chugunov expects when he drop by his favorite haunt for a few brews is to be entertained by a mysterious storyteller. But as he listens to the man's tale of a prince and an oddity that went by the name of Iron John, he finds himself lost in the story...only to awaken in another realm—one with a quest—for him. Repair the purifier vital to all those who lived and retrieve a medical unit. Seems simple enough and a small price to pay to return to his own time. 

Well, until he finds out that said 'LT-1789 unit' is actually a reclusive cybernetic man. One who will demand his own price of Ivan—three nights of unbridled sexual bliss...with Ivan at his mercy. Only then will he return to the royal clutch.

Can Ivan, a man who relishes control above all else, submit to a man who may be more machine than human? 

 

 

Buy Links:

Amazon   ARe    B&N    Bookstrand   Decadent Publishing

 

Find out about Ivan and Lucero’s other holiday experiences…

Dec 15^th – TL Reeve

Dec 16^th – Kate Richards

Dec 17^th – Layla Tarar

Dec 18^th – Louisa Bacio

Dec 19^th – Kerry Adrienne

Dec 20^th – Tara Andrews

 

 

 

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