C.H. Admirand Hosts Guest Author Tara Nina

Please join me in welcoming today's Guest Author Tara Nina!

Meet Author Tara Nina

Tara Nina creates in a variety of ranges from steamy hot to simmering sweet, which includes paranormals, contemporaries, suspense and sci-fi. She’s a Southerner living in the northern wilds of New Jersey complete with grown children, four dogs, six turtles and a mountain man for a husband.

She loves to hear from readers so feel free to contact her via email tara@taranina.com .

Please don’t get discouraged if it takes a little while before she responds. Unfortunately, she hasn’t hit the lottery yet and has to work to battle the bills of home ownership. Being a full-time writer is on her bucket list and one day, she hopes to achieve that goal.

Join her Clan MacKinnon Fan Club/Newsletter for updates on what’s new and exciting in her world. http://taranina.com/join-the-clan/

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C.H.: What is your favorite romance read?

Tara: It depends on my mood. I love a good paranormal romance that takes me out of this world, a romantic suspense that keeps me on the edge of my seat, or a romantic comedy that makes me laugh so hard I cry.

C.H.: Would you rather watch a Romantic Comedy or a Romantic Drama?

Tara: I’d rather laugh than cry.

C.H.: Do you have a favorite reading spot?

Tara: In the summer, it’s on a float in the pool. The rest of the year, it’s anywhere I can get comfortable and stretch out with a good lamp.

C.H.: Do you curl up with book and a cup of tea or coffee?

Tara: I love a good cup of coffee or a glass of ice water with cucumber and lime.

C.H.: Do you prefer reading an e-book or holding a book in your hands?

Tara: I’m old fashioned. I like to hold a book in my hands.

C.H.: What is the title of the first book you published?

Tara: Curse of the Gargoyle was the first book I sold, but Arian’s Angel actually was published first with Ellora’s Cave. It was part of a series they did which incorporated the astrological signs. Curse of the Gargoyle came out shortly there after.

C.H.: Do you remember where you were when you got the call?

Tara:  Nope. I have trouble remembering yesterday. LOL.

C.H.: Do you have a favorite series that you have written?

Tara: The Cursed MacKinnons series. It’s about 7 brothers who were turned to stone by a curse in 1740 Scotland and are being set free in today’s time by the women of their destinies.  I was lucky enough last year to travel to Scotland and fell in love with this series even more.

C.H.: Any favorite character or characters that still wake you up at night?

Tara: Thor… He’s been stuck in a wheelchair forever. CH understands this since no one else knows his struggle. [C.H.: OMG! Thor has been stuck in this wheelchair for too long. Cannot wait to read his story:)]

C.H.: Do you prefer to plot out your stories, or do you just wing it?

Tara: When I first started creating stories, I was a “pantser”(wing it) letting the characters lead me through their tale. Now, I still listen to the voices but I tend to plot a little bit of it out as I go along. Sometimes this causes arguments between my characters and me. In the end, they always win.

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Blurbs:

Curse of the Gargoyle

A psychotic clansman, seven brothers cursed, and a sister determined to save them. This diary supposedly written in 1740 Scotland read like the script of a bad sci-fi movie.  A trip to Scotland to rescue her eccentric aunt turns that twisted tale into Ericka’s reality. She speaks an ancient verse and unleashes a MacKinnon with a need for vengeance in a world no longer his own.

Entombed in stone for centuries, Gavin MacKinnon is awakened by a woman’s whispered words. His wife, family and clan are long gone. It’s a strange new time. Gavin has much to learn if he’s to find his missing brothers’ statues. Ericka is an auburn-haired beauty that intrigues him and swears her help. Gavin is torn between his duty to his family and his insatiable desire for Ericka. A decent man should morn the loss of his wife not dally with this modern day witch.

They discover the anti-curse has its limitations. Gavin is man by night, stone by day. Talk about being between a rock and a hard place. Together they must find the cure before the evil behind the curse haunts them forever.    

Eyes of Stone

Frozen in stone for over two hundred years, Ian has been freed. Landing in the arms of a strange woman with a fiery temper and a tempting body ignites his dormant lust. The place he wakes is familiar, but the world has changed. A different era and a hot-blooded woman are his to explore. Yet, revenge for the loss of his family burns in his gut.

Izzy spoke the words releasing him from stone. Ian is the same lover who visits her in dreams yet never responds to her touch or kiss. Using the right motivation, can she kick-start Ian’s emotions and make him hers?

Together they must fight the evil set to destroy all who bear the name MacKinnon or lose their chance at love.

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Where to find Author Tara Nina:

Check out her website http://taranina.comShe is also available on the following media outlets:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraNinaAuthor

Twitter: https://twitter.com/taranina

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/taranina/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taranina1

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Curse of the Gargoyle
Cursed MacKinnons Book 1
Excerpt 

Ericka meandered into the garden. Manicured hedges lined the cobblestone walkway. Red and yellow roses were in full bloom. Hints of their fragrance filled the air. Exiting through the rear gate, she paused. The beauty of the land stole her breath. A field of heather stretched for acres, ending as it blended into the woods. A slender path wove its way through the plush surroundings, tempting her to follow its secret trail.

Touching the softness of the purple petals as she walked released more of their vibrant scent. She knelt to gather a bouquet, thinking how wonderful the heather would make her bedroom smell. The creak of the garden gate invaded her silent reverence. A tall, dark-haired man stood, hands on hips, dressed completely in ancient Scottish attire. His stance seemed familiar. Ericka studied him, uncertain if he saw her, as she remained crouched among the long-stemmed flowers.

He was a pure vision of masculinity in a knee-length, red and green plaid kilt, a white tunic tucked at the waist, a sword draped at his side. Her eyebrow arched at the sight of the weapon. Was this man dressed for some sort of re-enactment? Ericka didn’t move. Instead, she scrutinized every inch of him, curious as to why he was here, but not ready to let him know of her presence. From this distance, he appeared to be handsome, but it was difficult to tell exactly what his face looked like other than he had a square jaw, and long hair.

Suddenly, his focus seemed directed on her. A hardened glare from dark eyes met hers from across the field. She wilted lower, but didn’t lose sight of him. He couldn’t have seen her.

A second later, he moved, not heeding the trail, taking deliberate steps as if anger fueled his actions, crushing all in his path. Run! Shot through her brain but she couldn’t. The weight of his intense stare held her frozen in place. She opened her mouth to scream for help. Nothing but a dried, weak rasp escaped. The closer he got, the better she saw his face. He was furious about something. At what? At her? She didn’t know him, but wasn’t about to stick around to find out what infuriated this giant of a man. Seconds before he reached her, she jackrabbited from her hiding spot and hauled ass toward the trees.

Heather slapped against her bare legs. Stones bruised her tender feet. Ericka glanced down for a split second. Why was she barefoot and where in the hell did this nightgown come from? It wasn’t something she would’ve worn to bed and most definitely not outside. Heavy footsteps thundered close behind not giving her the chance to think. Shoes or not, she wasn’t losing this race for her life. She pushed through the muscle spasms of her thighs and overrode the shooting pains from the soles of her feet.

Her lungs struggled for deeper breaths. Perspiration made the bridge of her nose slick causing her glasses to fog and slide forward. She didn’t spare the energy to adjust or clean them. A few more steps and she’d have the cover of the forest to help hide her. Each intake of air burned. Daring a glance over her shoulder, she saw mystery man easily closed the distance between them.

At the trees, Ericka grappled for a last burst of strength. Mid-stride, a strong arm wrapped around her waist and jerked her to a halt. A sweaty hand slapped across her mouth. She dangled several inches from the ground like a worn-out rag doll in his viselike grip. His hot breaths heaved across the top of her head. Ericka drew hard and long from her nostrils trying to catch her breath and calm the panic thrashing through her. Trapped, but not for long. She sank her teeth into his palm, dug her nails into the arm banded around her waist and twisted until her heels connected with his knees.

“Agh!” He stumbled slightly off-balance, relaxing his grip.

Kicking, scratching and biting, Ericka pried free. The instant her feet touched the ground, she managed a few steps before a fist balled tight in her hair and snatched her backward against a solid wall of muscle. This time his one arm banded around her pinning her arms at her waist.

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Eyes of Stone Cursed MacKinnons Book 2 Excerpt

“Wasn’t his intention to burn down the cottage when he went in there last night, Angus.” Ned spoke quietly.

“That I know, my friend,” Angus replied as they poked around through the remains of the cottage. “I had my suspicions about that monk from the moment I met him. Unfortunately, the color of his money outweighed my good sense.”

“Aye, that it can,” Ned stated.

“Are he and the lass all right?”

“You can say they’re better’n all right.” Ned glanced around at the other men, who had gathered to help sift through the cottage remains, then edged closer to Angus and lowered his voice so no one else could hear. “They managed to break the curse. Saw him up and about this morning when I dropped off Margaret.”

“Nay,” Angus sputtered, stopped working and stared at Ned.

“Aye,” Ned replied with a nod of his head.

“How?”

“Can’t say.” Ned shrugged.

After a long silence between the two, Angus spoke, keeping his voice low. “The time has come to abide by the original creed of our monthly gatherings. Wasn’t sure it truly existed until I saw him with my own eyes. We need to bring the society together again. Tonight. My tavern. Nine o’clock. See that the word is spread.”

Ned nodded, then eased away from Angus as if nothing had conveyed between them.

This was news he’d never expected to hear in his lifetime. A MacKinnon was free of the curse. How? A meeting of the society was definitely in order. This news needed to be shared. Two hundred plus years the society had protected the secret of the MacKinnon Clan. Seven brothers cursed. Seven brothers hidden, and their whereabouts kept secret, protected from everyone… Everyone except the society.

The only brother who wasn’t under their jurisdiction was the one who was set free. The MacKinnon brothers’ sister, Akira, had hidden and protected that one. Why now was he released from the curse? What was at stake? More importantly, where did that leave the other brothers?

Angus ran a shaky hand through his hair. He wasn’t even certain he could decipher the riddle to the location where his ancestors had hidden the one they were given to protect. There were six more to find. Six more riddles to unravel. That was if all the direct descendants still had the clues in their possession. After so much time, could they even find the brothers? Apparently, a way to break the curse had surfaced. Could it be used to set them all free?

More importantly, could he risk the others simply because one had found his freedom?

This was a task Angus never expected to have to undertake. He didn’t think the myth handed down through generations held an ounce of truth until living, breathing proof had stood in his bar. It hadn’t occurred to him he’d be the MacDonell male faced with such a difficult decision concerning the MacKinnon brothers’ fate. 

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Buy Links for Curse of the Gargoyle:

Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1365211059

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/curse-of-the-gargoyle-1

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07BS4KM6G

B&N

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1022763735?ean=2940159061133

Books2Read: https://www.books2read.com/u/b5Myx7

Buy Links for Eyes of Stone:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2TnbU6P

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/mKYpj5

Itunes Bookstore: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id1456827612

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/eyes-of-stone-3

Barnes & Noble:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/eyes-of-stone-tara-nina/1025002168?ean=2940161348895

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