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.
