Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Fireworks at Midnight by Tara Quan, A Witch's Night Out

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 hol'iday 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]


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

Sweets wrinkled her nose. “God, you sound so...sensible. It’s great you’re moving here, but I don’t think we’ll get along. I’m an irresponsible loser. Sitting in this car with you is destroying my cred.”

Mikal pinched her cheek. “Says Little Ms. Small Business Owner who doesn’t splurge on Starbucks. While we’re on the subject, why won’t you let me spot you more than a hundred dollars so you can, I don’t know, afford a deadbolt?”

As if keeping the five twenty-dollar bills he’d handed her earlier wasn’t bad enough. “I’m a witch who can see the future. Your sister sets off explosions without even trying. I’d love to see a burglar break in.”

“And if I gift you and Shelley a Nespresso machine as a belated Christmas present....”

“The pods cost almost a buck each. Do I look like I’m swimming in cash?” […]

He groaned. “Live a little, will you?”[…]

“So the guy who tutored me through calculus is telling me to be less responsible?”

With a melodramatic sigh, he polished off the last of his drink and held his hand out for her empty cup. Lowering the window with the push of a button, he aimed the cardboard cylinders at a trash can a few feet away. After he tossed them both in the air, they landed in the metal mesh confines with the aid of a few gusts of wind.

Closing the window, he pulled his seat belt across his chest. “I need to be somewhere at nine, but I’ll be back. Got any plans tonight? I can come over, cook dinner, and weasel my way back into Shelley’s good graces with some chocolate cake.”

She would have said yes if he’d pitched this to her ten minutes ago. After that little pheromone-filled vision, she wouldn’t let him near her any time after sunset. “You might want to give Shells a few more days to cool down, and New Year’s Eve is the best time to hawk jewelry.” When he opened his mouth, she lifted a finger. “I would invite you over later, but I sort of have a date.” […]

 “I didn’t know you had a boyfriend. What’s he like?”

Even the threat of a ruined friendship couldn’t make her tell him an outright lie. “No idea. I’ve never met him before. Someone else set it up.”

Something about the way his forehead wrinkled suggested he didn’t approve. “Don’t forget to load up your phone. Give me a call if he gets frisky.”

She burst out laughing. Thank God he still treated her like a naughty little sister “Dude—if the guy so much as looks at me the wrong way, I’ll put him on the floor myself. I’ve buffed up since you left, and this whole foresight business gives me a half-second advantage. I don’t want to brag, but I’ve been kicking ass and taking names. Go find some poor defenseless victim to hover over.” 






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

Don't forget the Rafflecopter where someone will win $15.

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