$.99 #HolidaySale Frosty Relations @LaylaTarar @DecadentPub #JackFrost #eroticromance

Guest Post by Tara Quan

With the holidays upon us there are troves of books to curl up with by the fireplace. My paranormal romantic comedy goes great with mulled wine and cinnamon cookies. Part of Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand line, Frosty Relations features a young college graduate facing the complicated world of adulthood and confronting the frost mage she’s had a crush on for most of her life. Add some Christmas magic and Madame Eve’s renowned matchmaking service, and we’ve got the beginnings of an icy-hot love story.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, my publisher has discounted the book to $0.99 for a limited time on Amazon and ARe (the sale ends December 14, 1015). I’m also giving away a $10 gift card. To enter, leave a comment here and drop your details in the Rafflecopter widget either at the bottom of this post, or at this landing page on my website: http://www.taraquan.com/frostyrelations

Frosty Relations

Attorney Jack Frost never understood why holidays did weird things to people. His secretary went on vacation, his best friend ditched their annual Aspen trip, and the law firm’s stubborn human resources assistant refuses his clerical support request. What’s a warlock to do on Christmas Eve but go on a 1-Night Stand? But when an oddly familiar empath shows up as his date, this ice mage has a hard time denying the magic of the winter solstice.

Faced with an anemic employment market and financial woes, college graduate and former witch Mina Mao lands an HR assistant job at Frost and Sons. Having spent her day saving Christmas from Frost Junior’s Grinch-like behavior, she accepts the gift of Madame Eve’s service and heads over to the Castillo Capital. When her date turns out to be her childhood crush and workplace nemesis, she braces herself for the sexiest icy ride of her life.  

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy, Interracial/Multicultural

Limited Time Sale – Get it for $0.99 at Amazon or AllRomance

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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 

Jack reached over Mina’s head and tugged out the metal pins. As he placed them on the mantle beside her, one by one, he filled his lungs with the scent of cinnamon and cloves floating off her hair.

She sighed. “You have no idea what I went through for that up-do.”

“I never liked it when you tied your hair.” A few more pulls dislodged the coiled bun. The braid unwound into a long queue that reached her ribcage. Placing one hand above her head on the pillar, he reached around her waist and tugged the elastic free.

She stepped toward him, her head tilting up. Their breaths mingled, her midnight eyes hooded by a dark fan of lowered lashes. “You never seemed to give a damn about how I looked.”

“For an empath, you’re not much good at reading minds. I almost grabbed you by the ponytail one day with every intention of freezing off the godawful scrunchie. Those things went out of style in the nineties.” She remained motionless as he worked his fingers through the silken strands, unraveling the thick mane until it fanned over her back and surrounded her delicate shoulders. He wanted to see her like this, without a single stitch on her. “There. Much better.”

Her brows furrowed. “You never considered kissing me before. What changed?”

Hell if he knew.

Submissive on Display #CarnivoreClub #BDSM New Release from @LaylaTarar @DecadentPub

Guest Post by Tara Quan

It’s been an age since I’ve had a new release. Like my heroine Naomi Price, I’d allowed life to get in the way of what I love, resulting in a significant production gap since Fireworks at Midnight came out last year. Perhaps for that reason, I’ve allowed my naughty side to run amuck in Submissive On Display.

Part of Decadent Publishing’s 1-Night Stand Series, my interracial BDSM romance is set in Las Vegas at the renowned Carnivore Club, a multi-author world first penned by Kate Richards. Despite my best efforts to be dark and kinky, I only succeeded at the latter. A light-hearted play on the reluctant lovers trope, my novella is a romantic comedy, replete with a Dom in distress, a reluctant submissive on a white horse, and an adorable German shepherd determined to unite the two.

To celebrate my return to BDSM romance, 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: http://www.taraquan.com/submissiveondisplay ]

Submissive on Display by Tara Quan

After a disastrous engagement and ensuing public breakup knocks him off this year’s list of Boston’s most eligible bachelors, Luka Petrovich’s confidence in women is at an all-time low. With a psycho ex-fiancé stalking him at every BDSM club, he embraces a prolonged hiatus from his social life. The last thing he expects is to fall into bed with his dog’s sexy sitter. Craving more after the first taste, he can’t wait to handcuff her to his bed. There’s one problem—she’s not a submissive.

Veterinary student Naomi Price is too busy juggling part-time jobs and a full course- load to have a relationship. Though she’s crushed on her client’s gorgeous owner for close to a year, their accidental night together couldn’t have come at a worse moment. With his sexual preferences fodder for countless tabloid blogs, she knows exactly how to keep this Dominant at an arm’s length. So she tells the biggest lie of her life, turns in her notice, and escapes on a vacation to Las Vegas.

At the Carnivore Club, two exhibitionists meet for a one-night stand, unaware their compatibility stretches far beyond a simple limit list. When their identities are revealed, a reluctant sub must face public spanking for her deceit, and accept several delectable wrinkles in her best-laid plans.

Genre: BDSM Romance, Romantic Comedy, Interracial/Multicultural

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

About the Author

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 

Her reflection stared at her, as out of place against the posh background as a mutt at a kennel club. “Why even bother? You don’t belong here.”

She’d toyed with the idea of buying new clothes, but logic and frugality had triumphed over vanity. Instead, she’d spent twenty bucks on a sewing kit, double-sided tape, and craft materials. The sleeveless, square-necked, black dress she always packed for emergency parties laced in the front. It took minimal effort to replace the original ribbon with crimson satin, which lent a punch of sexiness to the otherwise nondescript gown. She’d used the same fabric to add a border along the neckline, and temporarily shortened the hem so it cut off an inch under her butt cheeks.

With a crocheted red belt around her waist, the outfit approximated a corset and miniskirt. Worn with knee-high, leather boots, some might label her DIY fetish wear creative or flattering. But expensive couture, it was not. Even compared to the uniformed hotel staff, she appeared drab. She didn’t want to know what the other female patrons donned inside the club.

Her nose wrinkled as she sniffed her arm and caught the fruity scent of body wash and lotion. No perfume had won over crappy perfume. Wringing her hands, she leaned forward to study her face. The lighting added a coral tinge to her dark skin and gave her tight French braid a nice shine. But she didn’t own any pricey jewelry, and her makeup kit had contained the bare minimum. Drugstore mascara and liner accentuated her eyes, though she could already detect a few smudges. She’d bought her foundation and powder in the summer. While they’d smoothed out her skin tone, the color didn’t quite match her current pallor.

The door opened, the reflected flash of red prompting her to spin around. A short Asian woman who appeared about eighteen strolled in. Like the receptionist, she wore a vest over her white dress shirt, which she’d paired with ankle-length black trousers. Sleek ebony hair formed a bun at her nape. A glittering red band covered her skinny upper arm, displaying the acronym DM.

“You’re the dungeon monitor?” Cute as a button, the petite teenager look-alike stood as good a chance corralling a misbehaving Dom as a Pomeranian puppy did a full-grown Rottweiler.

Flashing two rows of even white teeth, the monitor winked. “I’m tougher than I look. I also carry a Taser. By the way, I’m Kim. You must be Naomi.”

Their reflections aligned as she approached. Next to the newcomer’s elfin silhouette, Naomi appeared as a towering mastiff. Her shaky confidence plummeted. Throwing up her hands, she slumped on a nearby leather bench. “Okay. This seals the deal. I’m done with the place.”

Kim’s eyes widened before she lowered onto the opposite seat, her skinny ass occupying next to no space. “Umm…. What did I miss?”

“Nothing. I’m sorry. I should have figured this out from the website or the lobby or, hell, even the damn transparent elevators. This place isn’t my speed. Not by a long shot.”

“But you haven’t entered the club. All you’ve seen is the reception area and hallway.”

Naomi pointed at an elaborate floral arrangement in the center of the room. The explosion of tropical flowers included fresh orchids and lilies. “That cost more than my weekly paycheck. It’s being used to decorate a bathroom.”

During the month of September, I have a giveaway going on for a $15 gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

$.99 #BeyondFairytales Multi-author Boxed Set @DecadentPub @jsubject @LaylaTarar @Lara_Nance @Eva_Lefoy

These are the red hot fairy tales Granny would have warned you about ... if she hadn't been so distracted by the big bad wolf's seduction. Move beyond the Grimm Brothers and saccharine sweet animation for fairy tales that will make your heart pound and your temperature rise. 

Multi-author boxed set - a $14.95 value - ONLY $.99 for a limited time!
Amazon   All Romance eBooks   Coffee Time Romance   Google Play

Once Upon a Marriage by Sara Daniel 
Before Armina Keer can have the baby she dreams of, she needs her estranged husband Ian to sign their divorce papers. Putting everything on the line for a second chance, Ian must convince her their love is worth saving, and Armina must decide if love is worth sacrificing her dreams. 

“I bought this after a friend recommended it and I owe her huge thanks. I am a sucker for second chance romances and this one was just the perfect length for my afternoon read. Armina is smart and successful but is striving for more than a career. Unfortunately, the Ian she was married too was all about his career with everything else coming in a very, very distant second. It was a super sweet romance with heat and I simply loved the humor brought by the secondary characters. This is my first read from the Beyond Fairytales series, but after reading this one, I know it will not be the last.” ~Delphina 


A Riddle for Love by Lara Nance 
Dr. Avar Elsier has spent the past ten years developing the ideal human-like android for his company. In his spare time, he’s created the perfect persona for his dream woman that only needs the right body to make her real. 

When an emergency forces him to insert his “woman” into a unit designed for a high-paying customer, he falls in love and cannot bear to let her go. Will he find a way to make their love last and escape from Mars before his secret is discovered or worse, the woman he loves is lost forever? 

"A quirky, steamy romance for any star dreamers out there." ~Jennifer Silverwood 


Operation Owl by Tara Quan 
Accused of espionage and treason, Zack Strong needs a forensic accountant to clear his name. Not knowing who he can trust, this white-hat hacker turns to his best friend for help. Wanted by the NSA and unable to shake the memory of a kiss they once shared, Zack and Maya must outwit the US government to find their happily ever after. 

"Zack and Maya are wonderfully true-to-life characters you’ll root for the entire way." -InD'Tale Magazine 

"Maya is a breath of fresh air. Super smart, sassy, independent-- she's everything a reader could ask for in a heroine." - Kimber Leigh Writes 


Darkest Magic by Eva Lefoy 
Nik Epperstein’s alpha lost his mate two years ago and took an evil witch as his new bride. Ever since then, Eli’s leadership has become violent, bordering on insane. When Eli attacks him, Nik’s healing powers mysteriously vanish. He can’t defend himself, nor protect the wolf he secretly loves. Only through the help of a foul-mouthed witch and an overly-dramatic dwarf will he save her – but their assistance comes at a price. 

“This was a great shifter read. Nik has to not only protect the pack, but his mate as well. I became invested in these characters right away. I was rooting for Nik and booing for the Alpha. If you enjoy shifter romances you will love this one. I can't wait to read more about this pack, but most of all about this couple.” ~S.B. Morales 


The Star Princess by Jessica E. Subject 
In one week, Princess Ro’sa will board a spaceship, leaving her home on Minjet to be with her betrothed on Earth. The only problem is, she detests the prince’s selfish and arrogant ways, preferring to spend time with his personal aide, a man who stirs her desires in ways she never imagined possible with his radiant blue eyes and smouldering lips. And oh, the way he touches her. 

“…Magical…a true romance across the stars and a fairy tale happily ever after makes for the perfect quick and enjoyable read that brightened up my day.” ~Evampire 

Amazon   All Romance eBooks   Coffee Time Romance   Google Play

Fireworks at Midnight #1NS #NewYearsEve @LaylaTarar @DecadentPub

Guest Post by Tara Quan

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.

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

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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.”

How about a #onenightstand for Christmas? Frosty Relations by @laylatarar @DecadentPub #pnr

by Tara Quan

With the holidays upon us there are troves of books to curl up with by the fireplace. My paranormal romantic comedy goes great with mulled wine and cinnamon cookies. Part of Decadent Publishing’s 1Night Stand line, Frosty Relations features a young college graduate facing the complicated world of adulthood and confronting the frost mage she’s had a crush on for most of her life. Add some Christmas magic and Madame Eve’s renowned matchmaking service, and we’ve got the beginnings of an icy-hot love story. Those who’ve read my Halloween release Flirting with Fire already know Jack, this tale’s hunk. 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.

Frosty Relations (A Witch’s Night Out, 2)

Attorney Jack Frost never understood why holidays did weird things to people. His secretary went on vacation, his best friend ditched their annual Aspen trip, and the law firm’s stubborn human resources assistant refuses his clerical support request. What’s a warlock to do on Christmas Eve but go on a 1-Night Stand? But when an oddly familiar empath shows up as his date, this ice mage has a hard time denying the magic of the winter solstice.

Faced with an anemic employment market and financial woes, college graduate and former witch Mina Mao lands an HR assistant job at Frost and Sons. Having spent her day saving Christmas from Frost Junior’s Grinch-like behavior, she accepts the gift of Madame Eve’s service and heads over to the Castillo Capital. When her date turns out to be her childhood crush and workplace nemesis, she braces herself for the sexiest icy ride of her life.  

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy, Interracial/Multicultural

Buy Links: Amazon | AllRomance | B&N | Decadent | GoodReads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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:

“So the guy seriously had a boner? That’s so messed up.”

Mina rolled her eyes at their joint reflection. “I know, right? And since I’m an empath, I could sense him getting, you know, all hot and bothered. Whoever he was fantasizing about, she turned him on big time. I don’t know how he could think about sex when he’s on the verge of exploding from too much unused magic. ”

Sweets snorted. “Men—warlocks or human—they care about one thing.” She picked up a handful of Mina’s hair. “Ready?”

Mina swallowed. “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Using the scissors, Sweets pointed at the set of combs and razors peeking out from a battered leather sleeve. “Can’t you feel the mojo rolling off my grandmother’s enchanted tools? These babies are idiot proof.”

Since not even her cousin could squeeze her in after 3:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Mina’s options had been limited enough to make her take a gamble. “But you have done this before?”

Patting her shoulder, Sweets bent at the waist and squinted one eye. “I cut Shelley’s hair all the time. She hates leaving the house, remember? Okay, yours is too long. You need to stand so I don’t get a backache.”

This idea seemed worse by the minute. Rising to her feet, Mina made a pinching motion with her index finger and thumb. “All I need is for you to take off the ends—nothing fancy.”

Her friend’s mock salute didn’t bolster Mina’s confidence. “Your hair is safe with me. Your head is another story.”

Mina closed her eyes. “Very funny. Do it already, will you? The anticipation is killing me.”

She heard a snip, followed by “Oh, wow.”

Her lids snapped up. “What do you mean, ‘Oh, wow’?”

She saw the answer for herself. Scissors and razors slashed around unguided in the air, slicing off huge chunks of her tresses in the process. Her friend stood several steps away, staring at the spectacle as if seeing the phenomenon for the first time. Since moving risked impact with pointy magical objects, Mina glared at the culprit’s reflection in the mirror. “I thought you said you’d done this before.”

Sweets’s expression lacked any hint of guilt. “Okay, I lied. Shelley’s grandmother is the actual owner of these puppies, and she always uses them on herself in the bathroom. Since her hair turns out fine, I figured they’d work on you, too.”

Her hands fisting, Mina hissed, “How do you turn the darn things off?”

Flirting with Fire #pnr #1NS @LaylaTarar @DecadentPub

by Tara Quan

I owe my lovely hostess a huge thank you for having me over today. My paranormal romantic comedy, Flirting with Fire, was just released by Decadent Publishing. It features a clueless fire mage, his fed-up cat familiar, and Madame Eve’s renowned one-night stand service. On All Hallows’ Eve, this witch and warlock iron out the kinks of an outdated employment contract in a spectacularly fiery fashion (and once you read the blurb, my very odd description will make a lot more sense).

In celebration, I’m giving away a $15 gift card. To enter, leave a comment here, and drop your details in the Rafflecopter widget.

Flirting with Fire (A Witch’s Night Out, 1)

Apprentice witch Catalina Gato is prohibited from assuming her human form in front of her new employer without his express permission. Since he doesn’t know he’s a warlock, he can’t give it, leaving her in a familiar’s limbo. To make matters worse, she’s barred from leaving his house, and her attempts to enlighten him of his true nature results in burnt notes, charred walls, and exploding laptops.

On All Hallows’ Eve, she gets one night of freedom. Deciding some no-strings-attached sex might take the edge off the intense attraction she feels for her clueless boss, she signs up for Madame Eve’s service. When she meets her masked mystery date at the Castillo Capital, she realizes she might have gotten much more than she bargained for.

After being gifted a one-night stand from his annoying best friend, attorney Leo Difuoco reluctantly ventures to the Castillo Capital to celebrate Halloween. When he meets his oddly familiar green-eyed date in a Cat Woman costume, flames literally ignite, sparks magically fly, and life as he knows it changes forever.

Genre: Paranormal Romantic Comedy, Interracial/Multicultural

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | AllRomance | Decadent | GoodReads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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. Armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, her characters 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

Her lips pursed, [Cat Woman] stared down at him for a long moment. Then she muttered, “What the hell,” and dropped her very attractive behind onto the opposite seat. “So, this is your idea of an easy place to pick up chicks in costume?”

Not only was the question out of place, it bore an uncanny similarity to something he might have said to his cat. “Well…one in particular, I guess. What’s your name, by the way?”

“Cat.”

She had to be joking. Or she obfuscated on purpose. He decided on the latter. After all, keeping one’s identity hidden made for a great exit strategy. “Mine’s Leo.”

She lifted the leather menu and opened it, blocking his view of her face. “I know.”

Madame Eve must employ a double standard, revealing the identity of men and not women. Another possible theory was Jack had forged the card and kept the woman’s details a secret on purpose. Both explanations seemed plausible. “What else do you know about me?”

She flipped a page. “Everything.”

Talk about unfair. Cat Woman must have received an actual profile, complete with a photo and an option to decline the date. “It might not be all true.”

She tilted the menu forward an inch, revealing the top half of her masked face. “What?”

“The profile you read. Jack has a weird sense of humor. You shouldn’t trust any of it.”

Her eyelids lowered into a slight squint, something the non-human Cat he knew had a habit of doing whenever he forgot to grab his keys. “I don’t follow.”

“It’s obvious you received some basic information about me.” When she shook her head, he waved off the denial. “It’s not a big deal, but I thought I should tell you someone else filled everything out. Since I hadn’t been offered a file on you at all, we should pretend this is a normal date and start over.”

With a shrug and a swift nod, she put the menu down, pulled her gloves off, and reached an arm across the table. The smile she sent him made his stomach do an unsettling flip. “My name is Catalina Gato. I’m a maid, accountant, and shape-shifting witch with a clueless boss and very meddlesome sister.”

What a sense of humor. Considering her costume, cat burglar would have been funnier, but she deserved bonus points for saying it all with a straight face. He took her hand and fought the odd urge to grab her, kiss her silly, and tear her clothes off.

The candle’s flame changed from blue to white. Then the fire shot up in a straight line, six inches high. Another round of nervous clapping followed.

Their palms still touching, he frowned. “Someone here must love Halloween. These special effects are over the top, not to mention dangerous.”

She shook her head and broke contact. Hints of disbelief and resignation laced her bell-like laugh. “Do you think Gomez has recovered enough to send a waiter our way?”

Operation Owl Tour of the Capital @LaylaTarar #BeyondFairytales

Tara Quan’s Operation Owl Tour of the Capital – A (Residence) Inn

by Tara Quan

I owe Sara Daniel a huge thank you for hosting me today. I’m trying something new, which is to chat up my book prior to getting a firm release date. Because of my impending move to Rome, I may soon experience a prolonged Internet blackout and have prescheduled my stops. To the best of my knowledge, my latest multicultural romance from Decadent Publishing comes out some time in July 2014 (so, depending on when you stumble upon this blog, it might be available now).

For updates as well as a chance to win a $25 gift card, drop by my website: TaraQuan.com/Owl

In honor of the place I consider home (what the government terms the National Capital Area), I’m dedicating the posts on this tour to Washington, D.C. and its surrounding suburbs. The romantic comedy I’m very blatantly promoting is set entirely in the US capital. A Beyond Fairytales adaptation of The Owl by Brothers Grimm, Operation Owl features a geeky hacker hero and his bookish best friend. They team up to expose a cyber conspiracy at the heart of the US government and end up indulging in some other equally exciting activities.

Waypoint: A (Residence) Inn

Since Once Upon a Marriage, Sara’s Beyond Fairytales launch story, stars her adaptation of Grimm’s innkeeper, I thought I’d use this opportunity to highlight my preferred place to stay when visiting D.C. My husband’s job occasionally makes us return to the capital for short 2-3 week jaunts (which inevitably includes a visit to the dentist, a stop at the doctor’s office, and some shopping). Whenever this happens, I prefer to stay at the Marriott Courthouse Residence Inn.

Located literally on top of an Orange Line Metro Stop, this hotel is within walking distance to CVS, Walgreens, Whole Foods and Trader Joes. All their rooms include a kitchenette, and it’s a 2-minute walk to a pizza parlor, burger joint, steak house, Thai restaurant, Japanese place, as well as multiple coffee shops and bars. Marriott rewards points are relatively easy to spend internationally, and one can also get a discount with a valid government/military ID.

While not the lap of luxury, this hotel is a more than adequate home away from home. I highly recommend it for any trip to the D.C-metro area.

And thus concludes my Capital Area tip for the day. Follow along at TaraQuan.com/Owl as I continue my tour at the blogs of some awesome romance authors. 

Operation Owl

Five years ago, Maya Jain kissed her best friend only to have him run out of her dorm room and leave the state. When he shows up in Washington, D.C., a wanted fugitive sought after by every branch of the US government, she can’t bring herself to ignore his plight. As their physical relationship picks up where it left off, she decides it’s time to make him see her as more than the bespectacled, bookish girl he once called “Owl.”

After being accused of espionage and treason, Zack Strong needs a forensic accountant to help clear his name. Not knowing who he can trust, this white-hat hacker has no choice but to ask his former best friend and math tutor for help. Together they unravel a cyber conspiracy at the Barn, an NSA facility tasked to intercept electronic communications. But as they traverse the nation’s capital to avoid capture, Maya insists on letting their simmering sexual tension take its natural course. Even though he’s never been able to shake the memory of their one kiss, he refuses to let her give up her life for a man with no future.

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Comedy, Multicultural

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | AllRomance | Decadent | GoodReads

$.99 Sale - Delicious Delay #MulticulturalRomance @LaylaTarar @DecadentPub

Delicious Delay by Tara Quan – 99c SALE!

Thank you for letting me share my multicultural contemporary romance, Delicious Delay. The book is currently on sale for a limited time. You can grab it for only 99c from Amazon, B&N, AllRomance, and Decadent.

After my own not-so-delicious delay in the Middle East, I set out to write something funny, sexy, and set entirely in an airport lounge. It’s a quick summer read meant to make your mouth water (from the food...) and your toes curl. I hope I’ve piqued your interest enough to give one of the links below a click. ~Tara Quan

Delicious Delay

Stranded in a Middle Eastern airport, Michelle Day finds herself the object of interest for an abrasive, but all-too-sexy stranger—a stranger who tempts her with the forbidden in a land where indecency could get her killed. But how does one say no to such a deliciously, relentless pursuit?

Khalid Al Dehri takes one look at the red-headed spitfire in the business class lounge and knew he’d either been transported to heaven—or hell. Her tart response to his surliness intrigues him beyond all propriety and the longer he spends in her company, the more he can’t deny his forbidden attraction. But will she explore the sensuality between them or will society’s rules keep them apart?

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Multicultural

Buy Links: Amazon | B&N | Decadent | AllRomance | GoodReads

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, fantasy worlds, and post-apocalyptic futures. Armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, her characters 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

He grinned. “So I have a proposal.”

She tried to get her breathing under control, without much success. “Why am I sure it’s an indecent one?”

He motioned his head toward the far end of the lounge. Latticed wooden screens gave that particular section more privacy. In an L-shaped room, the tucked-away location prevented a direct line of sight from the dining or reception areas.

He got up and offered her his hand. She hesitated for a long moment before taking it. With faltering footsteps, she followed him. More private or not, limits on how far this could go existed due to them being in an airport lounge. Since her self-control had chosen today to take a vacation, she appreciated the imposed constraint.

He lowered himself onto a plush leather sofa deep inside the cordoned area. With walls on either side and screens strategically angled, the space seemed to have been designed as a spot for people to nap.

On the brink of crossing a dangerous line, she hesitated. “What exactly do you have in mind?”

“I’m just giving you the opportunity to have your way with me,” he offered, his face the picture of innocence.

She hadn’t expected that answer. “I don’t quite follow.”

He kicked one of his legs out and tangled it with hers. She stumbled and instinctively moved her hands forward to brace herself. Her palms flattened over his hard muscled chest when she landed.

She traced the shape of his pectorals. “What do you do all day? Work out?”

He chuckled, the low rumble all male. “I have access to the best personal trainers money can buy. They help keep me honest.”

She shook her head in disbelief as the man preened. “Have you heard of a concept called humility?”

“It’s not one of my virtues,” he admitted. “I’ve never understood the point.”

She sighed. “It’s the polite thing to do.”

He placed his forefinger under her chin and tipped her head up, his expression playful. “So what is a sweet, polite, goody two shoes doing on top of me?”

Character Interview: Kal from Delicious Delay by @LaylaTarar

Tara Quan is my author-sister at Decadent Publishing, and we both have new releases about one night stands, which basically makes us twins. So, while she's scoping out my hero on her blog, I have the hero of her new release, Khalid Al Dehri, all to myself. Let's see what we can get out of him before I have to return him...

1) Kal (you don't mind if I call you Kal, do you?), I understand you're a sheikh. What exactly does a sheikh do?

Hello Sara. Of course you may call me Kal. No one aside from my mother calls me Khalid, and she only does so when she’s angry. Sheikh is a somewhat archaic term denoting specific Arab bloodlines. It gets bandied about now and then when people want to feel important. It doesn’t mean much. There are poor sheikhs and there are rich sheikhs, and there are also people who just name their son “sheikh” for reasons I can’t fathom. My father happens to be a sheikh, so I am one by default.

2) Gosh, you have the Sexiest accent. Where exactly is it from?

I went to boarding school in England. I’m not certain if I speak the Queen’s English, but it should be pretty close.

3) What do you find attractive about the way a woman dresses?

It would depend entirely on the woman. You, for example, would look stunning in a crimson dress. Red is one of my favorite colors.

4) What about favorite foods, if I was, say, thinking of fixing your favorite meal for you?

Honey is one of my many vices. I would travel quite a distance to find the perfect Baklava.

5) If you were stranded in the airport with an attractive woman, what do you think would happen?

An airport would be an extremely inconvenient location for a romantic liaison. There are so many logistical difficulties. If said beauty were to make advances, I would politely suggest we pursue the matter further in a more private place. After all, my family owns property in most of the world’s major cities.

Fascinating... Thanks so much for your time, Kal. I am off to buy and crimson dress. Then I better check in on how Tara is treating my hero, Rob, on her blog...

 Delicious Delay

Stranded in a Middle Eastern airport, Michelle Day finds herself the object of interest for an abrasive, but all-too-sexy stranger—a stranger who tempts her with the forbidden in a land where indecency could get her killed. But how does one say no to such a deliciously, relentless pursuit?

Khalid Al Dehri takes one look at the red-headed spitfire in the business class lounge and knew he’d either been transported to heaven—or hell. Her tart response to his surliness intrigues him beyond all propriety and the longer he spends in her company, the more he can’t deny his forbidden attraction. But will she explore the sensuality between them or will society’s rules keep them apart?

Buy links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | All Romance eBooks | Decadent

About Tara

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, fantasy worlds, and post-apocalyptic futures. Armed with magical powers or conventional weapons, her characters are guaranteed a suspenseful and sensual ride, as well as their own happily ever after. Learn more at www.taraquan.com

Website: http://taraquan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/taraquanauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/laylatarar
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/taraquan
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00B19HWJQ