Tarah Scott's Blog, page 7

October 27, 2012

An Improper Wife in Print





A proper young lady should never attend a Masque...Aphrodite is no lady.
Betrothal to the callous Lord Blackhall painted a future devoid of
love. Upon his death, Lady Caroline Wilmont is promised to the younger
brother. Caroline refuses to allow her first taste of desire to be at
the hands of a man who would rather have any woman but her. This, her
last night of freedom, is to be a memory of lust that she can take with
her throughout her loveless marriage. As Aphrodite, Caroline attends a
masque determined to find a man to initiate her into the intimacies of
erotic love. Taran Robertson, Viscount of Blackhall, makes no secret
that he despises his obligation to marry the Sassenach heiress chosen
for him by his father. As a last foray before his wedding, he attends a
masque. However, the spirited vixen he meets and seduces has
secrets...secrets that just may reveal he’s to have an improper wife.




Welcome to our celebration! An Improper Wife is now available in print at Amazon, and qualifies for Free Super Saver Shipping. On October 29, you will be able to order An Improper Wife directly from Total E-Bound.



Here's where you enter to win the books I'm giving away during my release party.
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Good luck!!









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Published on October 27, 2012 16:00

October 25, 2012

A Haunted Garden Halloween





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Yes, it's the spookiest time of the year. My giveaway isn't all that scary--unless you consider one woman being protected by two men scary. Heh heh. But never fear, I have a short, but haunting, story to give you a shiver.

First, a little about my giveaway.





  One loves her. One wants her. They both protect her.

For your convenience this

is a Rafflecopter giveaway





Now sit back and enjoy a bit of horror.


WHEN THE WIND BLOWS



I never believed in the supernatural, had no need for it, but something was wrong in that room.


I laid my hand palm up on the dilapidated table in front of the Gypsy who sat opposite me. Candlelight flitted in distorted shapes across her filmy blue eyes. 


“Ok,” I said, “tell me my future.”                                       


My amusement was met with a critical eye. I shrugged, but she only slid a palm beneath my hand and dragged it closer. Gooseflesh inched up my arm on the inside of my skin.


“Why did you come?” she asked.


I resisted the urge to glance down at our joined hands and nodded toward Julie. She sat in the far corner of the room, hand cradled in the gnarled fingers of another ancient woman who traced lines on her smooth palm.


The Gypsy’s eyes shifted onto them for an instant, then returned to me. “Always the same,” she muttered.


I frowned. “What?”


“Every fool must walk through my door.”


I stiffened, then pulled to free my hand from hers. She clamped her fingers tight with surprising strength, then let go so unexpectedly my elbow hit the back of the chair.


“You can’t hide,” she said.


I looked up sharply while rubbing the fingers she’d practically mangled. “What?”






She nodded at my hand. “I saw it.”


“Sure you did,” I retorted.


“You cannot change the past.”


My lip curled upward. I didn’t try to hide the disdain. “I bet you’re going to tell me you can make it right.”


To my surprise she shook her head. “No one can stop the wind once it begins to blow.” Her voice now dark and gravelly, reminded me of the witch she resembled. “And it blows strong against your house, Marilyn Sutton.”


“I’ll live in a brick house,” I retorted, ignoring the fact she knew my name when I hadn’t given it.


“Come on, Julie.” I rose. “Let’s go.”


“He waits for you.”     


I snapped my gaze back onto the Gypsy. “Who, the grim reaper?”


She angled her head in a more graceful manner than seemed possible for a relic like her. “That one comes for us all.”


I narrowed my eyes. “You people should be run out of town. Using such scare tactics.” I turned to go.


“But, I speak of him who promises to wait for you.”


The odd note of compassion in her voice burned me to the core like hot ice. I forced my feet forward and continued toward the door.


“He waits for you—” she said.


My hand gripped the doorknob.


“—but burns for her.” 


I jerked my head around to see the Gypsy’s bony finger pointing at Julie. I felt Julie stiffen behind me.


I read in the seer’s expression an understanding for the pain of betrayal I had endured for so long. 


“One must put an end to pain,” the Gypsy murmured.


Julie pushed past me. My gaze followed the seer’s as my best friend disappeared down the narrow stairs.



***


          Autumn leaves covered the deserted shore of the lake. I leaned over the rowboat, my nose nearly breaking the water’s surface as I watched the descending two shapes change from defined human outlines into blurred forms as they drifted deeper onto the murky depths. A sigh settled me back onto the seat. I hadn’t realized how difficult it would be to say goodbye to two such good friends.





 


http://christineelaineblack.blogspot.ca/

http://kyannwaters.blogspot.com/

http://decadentdecisions.wordpress.com/

http://thewildrosepress.blogspot.com/

http://twrphistoricalroseline.blogspot.com/

 


 

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Published on October 25, 2012 20:53

October 23, 2012

Wicked After Dark

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So, Halloween is almost here. The leaves here in New York are turning, the weather is cooler, and there's a snap in the air that says winter is too close. But I must admit, despite knowing that cold weather is on the way, I love this time of year. The days before Halloween are usually the last time I mow the lawn. Then up go the decorations and we wait here at my house for the ghost and goblins that parade about the streets this time of year--some of them more ghostly than others. Heh heh.

For this Halloween I'm giving away a digita copy of Labyrinth. I think my villain in this book is particularly spooky...if you call a serial killer spooky.




Yes, magic exists. Not the backwater voodoo witches practice where Mississippi Deputy Sheriff Margot Saulnier grew up. But the age old black magic a woman weaves around a man to draw him under her spell. The kind Margot’s best friend used to kill her husband…and get away with it.

Margot travels to Scotland to prove her friend guilty of murder. No one will stop her. Not the SAS agent sent to watch her…and not the man legend says must ravish and kill the women who enter his lair until he finds the one willing to give her life in order to free him from his prison in Castle Morrison.

He’s just a legend.

And magick doesn’t exist.



Enter the contest via my  Rafflecopter giveaway
 



CLOSE ENCOUNTERS WITH THE NIGHT KIND

GOOD LUCK!! AND STAY SAFE THIS HOLIDAY









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Published on October 23, 2012 19:21

Alpha Male Blog Hop Winner

Congratulations, Yvette! You're my winner. Yvette won that copy of Hawk and the Cougar.

As always, it was great to see everyone. Stick around, we'll have more fun soon enough.

Take it easy,

Tarah
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Published on October 23, 2012 15:28

October 18, 2012

The Alpha Male Blog



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What
is your favorite thing about Alpha Heroes? Well, we are ready to
share our favorite Alpha Males, our favorite things about them, and
everything sexy and heated about those Alpha Males you can think of.





Of course, each of us are also conducting our own giveaway, and I won't disappoint with a giveaway of my erotic romantic suspense Hawk and the Cougar. Now, talk about alpha males. My hero in Hawk and the Cougar is a pure masculine alpha. Aside from being tall, dark, and handsome, he's a Native American man and professor of archaeology at Arizona State University.  He's in the midst of a drama with a local land baron and when a beautiful woman shows up at the wrong time, he takes her in hand, then protects her against the thugs who are out to kill him. Lord, I love a man who knows how to take care of his woman.









She’s sure he’s too young for her-he knows she’s exactly what he needs. A
case of mistaken identity sends them on a run for their lives through
the Arizona desert, where their need for each other is all they have.




Forty-four
year old Liz Williams intends to put a stop to the affair between her
daughter and her daughter’s archaeology professor.




But she’s
unprepared for the six-foot-three, thirty-two year old Native American
man who turns out to be Professor Thornton Hawkins-and the men who try
to kill him.








But my giveaway isn't all....





We have THREE grand
prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email
address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!






Now what are those prizes?









1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet




2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B&N Gift Card



3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!





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To enter my contest, simply leave a comment on my blog and tell me what you think makes a great alpha male.


I'll be moderating comments, so don't worry if you don't see your comment right away. 




GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!!


NOW HOP OVER TO THE MAIN BLOG FOR MORE GREAT PRIZES!

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Published on October 18, 2012 19:57

October 11, 2012

A Highland tale of love that shines among other Highland novels.



Elise Kingston is a
wanted woman. Nothing, not even Highlander Marcus MacGregor, will stop
her from returning home to ensure that the man responsible for her
daughter’s death hangs.

Until she must choose between his life and her revenge.

As soon as I read the synopsis for the book I knew I had to have it. I
joined the release party on Facebook and with just two excerpts I was
running to the publisher's website with my debit card in hand. I will
admit that the lovely cover may have swayed me first.

This is
the first book I've read by Tarah, and it did not disappoint! I love
this book! My love for Highlander tales is something that is still
pretty new to me. I've only read about a dozen, and with everyone I
read, I fall in love with the genre a little more. There's just
something magical about a well written Scottish Romance and that's
exactly what you get here. It's a large book, but is quite addicting
once you start reading. I read over 350 pages in one day and still
wanted to continue reading late into the night. It's definitely hard to
put down.

The first thing that really drew me into this story is
the ages of the characters. Before this novel I had yet to read a
Highland novel about an older, experienced Hero and Heroine. That part
of the story was very refreshing and instantly earned a thumbs up from
me. The story just got better and better from that point. The ages is
not the only unique thing about this book. Not only is Marcus, our swoon
worthy hero, a Highland Laird, he is also the son of a Duke, making him
a Lord. Part of the story takes place in London, which I thoroughly
enjoyed. I've also never read a novel where the characters are outside
of Scotland for more than a few pages. Elise is a wonderful female
character. She's been through a lot; she's strong, feisty, and doesn't
listen to orders very well.

The story is not only well written,
but flows at just the perfect pace.One of the most important things in
this genre is chemistry between the characters. My Highland Love's
Marcus and Elise will set fire to the pages, or your ereader screen!
It's romantic and sensual with a good dose of suspense and action added
in.

Set in the beautiful Scottish Highlands this tale of love and second chances truly shines among other Highland novels.

If you're looking for the next greatest Highland tale, pick this one up!


Kristina Haecker Reviews


WWW.TARAHSCOTT.COM

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Published on October 11, 2012 08:00

Wicked Pleasures!



Congratulations to Anna, who won the digital copy of My Highland Love.

Thanks for visiting with me, everyone. Can't wait to see you next time!

Tarah


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Published on October 11, 2012 07:44

October 8, 2012

My Highland Love: Boy meets girl.



"Tavis," Elise snapped, finally within hearing range of the boy and his sister, "this time you've gone too far and have endangered your sister by leaving the castle."

His attention remained fixed on the thickening woods at the bottom of the hill and her frustration gave way to concern. They were only minutes from the village—a bare half an hour from the keep and safely on MacGregor land—but the boy had intended to go farther—much farther. He had just turned fourteen, old enough to carry out the resolve to find the men who had murdered his father, and too young to understand the danger.

Bonnie tugged on her cloak and Elise looked down at her. The little girl grinned and pointed to the wildflowers surrounding them. Elise smiled, then shoved back the hood of her cloak. Bonnie squatted to pick the flowers. Elise's heart wrenched. If only their father still lived. He would teach Tavis a lesson. Of course, if Shamus still lived, Tavis wouldn't be hunting for murderers.

Those men were guilty of killing an innocent, yet no effort had been made to bring them to justice. The disquiet that always hovered close to the surface caused a nervous tremor to ripple through her stomach. While Shamus's murderers would likely never go before a judge, if Price found her, his version of justice would be in the form of a noose around her neck for the crime of defending herself against a man who had tried to kill her—twice.

Any doubts about her stepfather's part in Amelia's death had been dispelled a month after arriving at Brahan Seer when she read a recent edition of the London Sunday Times brought by relatives for Michael MacGregor. She found no mention of the Amelia's sinking. Instead, a ten thousand pound reward for information leading to the whereabouts of her body was printed in the announcements section.

Reward? Bounty is what it was.

The advertisement gave the appearance that Price was living up to his obligations as President of Landen Shipping. But she knew he intended she reach Boston dead—and reach Boston she would, for without her body, he would have to wait five years before taking control of her fifty-one percent of Landen Shipping. She intended to slip the noose over his head first.

Elise caught sight of her trembling fingers, and her stomach heaved with the memory of Amelia's body sliding noiselessly from the ship into the ocean. She choked back despair. If she had suspected that Robert had been poisoning her daughter even a few months earlier—

"Flowers!"

Elise jerked at Bonnie's squeal. The girl stood with a handful of flowers extended toward her. Elise brushed her fingers across the white petals of the stitchwort and the lavender butterwort. She was a fool to involve herself with the people here, but when Shamus was murdered she been unable to remain withdrawn.

"Riders," Tavis said.

Elise tensed. "Where?"

"There." Tavis pointed into the trees.

She leaned forward and traced the line of his arm with her gaze. A horse's rump slipped out of sight into the denser forest. Goose bumps raced across her arms.

Elise straightened and yanked Bonnie into her arms "It will be dark soon—" Tavis faced her and she stopped short when his gaze focused on something behind her.

Elise looked over her shoulder. Half a dozen riders emerged from the forest across the meadow. She started. Good Lord, what had possessed her to leave Brahan Seer without a pistol? She was as big a fool as Tavis and without the excuse of youth. She slid Bonnie to the ground as the warriors approached. They halted fifteen feet away. Elise edged Bonnie behind her when one of the men urged his horse closer. Her pulse jumped. Was it possible to become accustomed to the size of these Highland men?

She flushed at the spectacle of his open shirt but couldn't stop her gaze from sliding along the velvety dark hair that trailed downward and tapered off behind a white lawn shirt negligently tucked into his kilt. The large sword strapped to his hip broke the fascination.

How many had perished at the point of that weapon?

The hard muscles of his chest and arms gave evidence—many.

The man directed a clipped sentence in Gaelic to Tavis. The boy started past her, but she caught his arm. The men wore the red and green plaide of her benefactors the MacGregors, but were strangers.

"What do you want?" She cursed the curt demand that had bypassed good sense in favor of a willing tongue.

Except for a flicker of surprise across the man's face, he sat unmoving.

Elise winced inwardly, remembering her American accent, but said in a clear voice, "I asked what you want."

Leather groaned when he leaned forward on his saddle. He shifted the reins to the hand resting in casual indolence on his leg and replied in English, "I asked the boy why he is unarmed outside the castle with two females."

Caught off guard by the deep vibrancy of his soft burr, her heart skipped a beat. "We don't need weapons on MacGregor land." She kept her tone unhurried.

"The MacGregor's reach extends as far as the solitude of this glen?" he asked.

"We are only fifteen minutes from the village," she said. "But his reach is well beyond this place."

"He is great, indeed," the warrior said.

"You know him?"

"I do."

She lifted Bonnie. "Then you know he would wreak vengeance on any who dared harm his own."

"Aye," the man answered. "The MacGregor would hunt them down like dogs. Only," he paused, "how would he know who to hunt?"

She gave him a disgusted look. "I tracked these children. You think he cannot track you?"

"A fine point," he agreed.

"Good." She took a step forward. "Now, we will be getting home."

"Aye, you should be getting home." He urged his horse to intercept. Elise set Bonnie down, shoving her in Tavis's direction. "And," the man went on, "we will take you." The warriors closed in around them. "The lad will ride with Erin. Give the little one to Kyle, and you," his eyes came back hard on Elise, "will ride with me."

The heat in his gaze sent a flush through her, but her ire piqued. "We do not accept favors from strangers."

His gaze unexpectedly deepened.

She stilled. What the devil? Was that amusement on his face?

"We are not strangers," he said. There was no mistaking the laughter in his eyes now. "Are we, Tavis?" His gaze shifted to the boy.

"Nay," he replied with a shy smile. "No' strangers at all, laird."

"You know this man?" Elise asked.

"He is the laird's son."

"Marcus!" Bonnie cried, peeking from behind Elise's skirts.

Elise looked at him. Marcus? This was the son Cameron had spoken of with such affection these past months? It suddenly seemed comical that she had doubted Cameron's stories of his son's exploits on the battlefield. She had believed the aging chief's stories were exaggerations, but the giant of a man before her was clearly capable of every feat with which his father had credited him.

Prodded by the revelation, she discerned the resemblance between father and son. Though grey sprinkled Cameron's hair, the two shared the same unruly, dark hair, the same build… and… "You have his eyes," she said.

He chuckled.

Heat flooded her cheeks. She pulled Bonnie into her arms. "You might have said who you were." She gave him an assessing look. "Only that wouldn't have been half as much fun. Who will take the child?"

His gaze fixed on the hand she had wrapped around Bonnie and the small burn scar that remained as a testament of her folly. His attention broke when a voice from behind her said in a thick brogue, "'Tis me ye be looking for, lass." She turned to a weathered warrior who urged his mount forward.

Elise handed Bonnie up to him. Stepping back, she bumped into the large body of a horse. Before she could move, an arm encircled her from behind, pulling her upward across hard thighs. A tremor shot through her. She hadn't been this close to a man's body since—since those first months of her seven-year marriage.

Panic seized her in a quick, hard rush. The trees blurred as her mind plunged backward in time to the touch of the man who had promised till death do them part. Her husband's gentle hand on their wedding night splintered into his violent grip the night he'd tried to murder her—the movement of thighs beneath her buttocks broke the trance as Marcus MacGregor spurred his horse into motion. His arms tightened around her and she held her breath, praying he couldn't hear her thudding heart.

The ambling movement of the bulky horse lifted her from Marcus's lap. She clutched at his shirt. Her knuckles brushed his bare chest and she jerked back as if singed by hot coals. Her body lifted again with the horse's next step and she instinctively threw her arms around Marcus's forearm. His hold tightened as rich laughter rumbled through his chest.

"Do not worry, lass. Upon pain of death, I swear, you will not slip from my arms until your feet touch down at Brahan Seer."

Elise grimaced, then straightened in an effort to shift from the sword hilt digging into her back.

"What's wrong?" He leaned her back in his arms and gazed down at her.

She stared. Robert had never looked so—she sat upright. "I've simply never ridden a horse in this manner."

"There are many ways to ride a horse, lass," he said softly.

Elise snapped her gaze to his face, then jerked back when her lips nearly brushed his. She felt herself slip and clutched at his free arm even as the arm around her crushed her closer. Her breasts pressed against his chest where his shirt lay open. Heat penetrated her bodice, hardening her nipples. A surprising warmth sparked between her legs. She caught sight of his smile an instant before she dropped her gaze.


WWW.TARAHSCOTT.COM

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Published on October 08, 2012 16:41

October 3, 2012

Scottish Romance My Highland Love



How does a woman tell her betrothed she murdered her first husband?


Elise Kingston is a wanted woman. Nothing, not even Highlander Marcus
MacGregor, will stop her from returning home to ensure that the man
responsible for her daughter's death hangs.

Until she must choose between his life and her revenge.

Now available at Silver Publishing and Amazon
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Published on October 03, 2012 12:15

Winner for Naughty or Nice


Congratulations to Natasha and Kristina Haecker! You have won a digital copy of Labyrinth.

Thanks to everyone who visited with me. See you next time around!

Tarah
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Published on October 03, 2012 12:10