Cocktales Pub Crawl with Mari Carr! CONTEST!

Before Mari takes over, I have to tell you guys that Mari is pretty much the reason I started writing erotic romance. Yeah, I know I've told this story before, but bear with me! LOL She was the first erotic romance author that I read when I was trying to see if the genre was for me and her book, Tequila Truth, basically set me off on my path. She's one of my favorite authors and a sweetheart to boot! I can't wait to read SCREWDRIVER tomorrow!

Read on for your opportunity to win a backlist ebook of Mari's (and trust me, you want one, because  I've read just about all her books and they're all incredible!)

Welcome to the eighth stop in the Cocktales Pub Crawl. Newsflash…though I think y’all may already know this…Cari Quinn rocks. Like really rocks. Her books suck you in and grab hold of you and there’s no letting go until you hit the words The End. I’d love to hate her for being so fabulous, but it’s impossible because she’s also so damn nice. I can’t win. LOL. So…today’s drink was selected with my very dear Cari in mind. She’s got a new book coming out in April called Virgin Territory (snicker, she said virgin).

For this eighth round, let’s try a Passionate Virgin. Remember to write down that drink title to be entered in the grand prize drawing. Details about the crawl can be found on my website (www.maricarr.com).

2/3 oz cinnamon schnapps
1/3 oz Tabasco® sauce
1 cherry

Pour 1/3 oz. tabasco sauce into a cordial glass. Add two parts of cinammon schnapps. Pierce a stemmed cherry throughout in order for it to become filled with cinnamon schnapps. Drop it into bottom of glass.

This week’s pub crawl is being held to celebrate the release of Screwdriver on Tuesday, March 20. It’s is available for preorder at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. The Cocktales books are about four friends who own a combination bar/bookstore in Portland called Books and Brew (this is my DREAM business). Each woman runs a different aspect of the business—bartender, bookkeeper/office manager, the marketing/events coordinator, and the bookstore gal.

The theme of friendship is strong throughout these books. I love all my girlfriends. They get me through the long days, the sad days, the PMS days, and all the others in between. What is at the heart of the Cocktales books is these four women who are always there for each other. So today…I thought I’d give you a sneak peek of some of their “girl talk” just for fun.

Stephanie reached beneath the bar for her purse. “I need to run home and grab a swimsuit. You guys in?”

Jayne nodded. “Yeah. The pool sounds like fun. Want to take one car and stop at my place on the way to yours?”

Stephanie pulled her car keys out of her handbag. “Sure. I’ll drive. How about you, Jordan?”

Jordan crinkled her nose. City pools weren’t her thing. “No thanks. I might hang out here for a bit in case Gabriel emails or calls.”

Stephanie gave her a wicked grin. “If he does call, why not be bold for once and ask the guy out?”

Jayne stepped closer. “I agree with Steph. I mean, if you’re destined to be all hot and sticky today, you might as well get there the fun way. With Gabriel.”

Jordan tried to fight back the blush the mere mention of Gabriel’s name inspired, recalling the red-hot fantasy she had played out in her office this morning. It was a lost cause. Her friends loved to tease her about her fruitless crush on their landlord. Gabriel Lawson was richer than Midas, more handsome than Gerard Butler and the ultimate ladies’ man.

He’d also held her heart in his hand since the first day they met. She’d long ago resigned herself to the idea she and Gabriel would never be more than friends. Gabriel had come to count on her as the one woman who would never hit on him. He was oblivious to her true desires. While being just friends was an annoying position, she didn’t intend to give it up anytime soon. Gabriel had a permanent revolving door when it came to girlfriends. The masochistic part of her took some sick pride in the fact that she was the only one still standing.

Besides, she’d seen the beauties on Gabriel’s arm over the years and the old Sesame Street song drifted through her mind. She was definitely the one thing unlike all the others. She didn’t stand a snowball’s chance in hell at capturing his attention, so she maintained her Gabriel worship in secret. Instead of upsetting the norm, she offered him friendly conversation and advice, while casting him as the star in all her masturbation daydreams.

Jordan feigned a yawn. “Oh thank God, you managed to get in your Gabriel dig today. And it’s early. Not even noon. That may be a new record for the two of you.”

Stephanie narrowed her eyes. “Nice dodge, but it doesn’t change the fact that you’re shortchanging the both of you. The guy’s perfect for you. You’re both number freaks. You listen to the same crap jazz music and actually choose to go to art museums during your free time. Think of all the pretty, nerdy babies you could bring into the world.”

“Gabriel is hardly a nerd.” Gabriel was male perfection incarnate, with dark eyes, soft brown hair, chiseled jaw and a toned body that begged to be touched. In addition to that, he was alpha, intelligent, handsome, suave. Jordan had a never-ending list of descriptions for him and “nerd” was nowhere on it.

Jayne, the bookworm of the group, placed her hands on her hips. “It’s a good thing we keep you trapped behind that bar slinging drinks, Steph. You have no culture in your soul. Poor Jared.”

Stephanie was six months into the longest relationship of her life, with the man Jordan truly hoped her friend would eventually marry. Jared, a local police detective, had given Stephanie a ticket for double-parking and, after a few tumultuous dates, the key to his house. “Jared and I see eye to eye on what’s fun. Rock concerts. Check. A day at the beach. Check. Walking around a museum looking at indecipherable paintings for hours on end. No thanks.”

Jordan raised her hand, cutting off the familiar argument. “This entire conversation is pointless. Gabriel doesn’t know I’m interested and I’m not about to ask him out on a date. There’s no way I’d risk our friendship just to be his flavor of the month.”

Stephanie crinkled her nose. “Let’s be serious. With Gabe, it’s more like flavor of the week.”

Jordan tilted her head in annoyance. “Thanks for the distinction.”

Stephanie’s face showed no remorse. “The difference is you wouldn’t be a short-term deal. You have the advantage.”

“What’s that?” Jordan asked.

“You’re pretty and smart, the two of you have tons in common and you’re already friends, which I’ve heard is how you’re supposed to start a relationship.”

Jayne laughed. “I think that may be an old wives’ tale. God knows you and Jared skipped straight to the good part and you’re still going strong.”

Stephanie nodded. “Good point, but I’d say it’s already too late for Jordan to sleep with Gabriel the first night they meet.”

Jordan leaned on the bar. “God. I wish I had your nerve. I miss sex.”

Now how about a little contest? Leave a comment here on Cari’s blog by 6 a.m. (EST tomorrow, March 20) and one winner will receive their choice of an ebook from my backlist. The question is an easy one. Each day we’ve been trying some pretty unusual cocktails on our pub crawl. If you were really going to a pub, what drink would you order?