Tara Thomas

Hey there! I'm Tara Thomas, and I write dark, sultry romantic suspense that'll keep you up way past your bedtime. (My characters aren't the only ones with questionable life choices – I've lost count of how many times I've said "just one more chapter" at 3 AM.)

Born and raised in the South, I grew up breathing in the heavy Charleston air and soaking up stories of old money families with even older secrets. There's something about those grand historic homes and cobblestone streets that just screams "someone's hiding a body in the garden," don't you think? Maybe that's just my twisted writer brain talking.

I never actually planned to write romantic suspense. I started out thinking I'd write sweet contemporary romance, but my characters had other ideas. They kept getting themselves into dangerous situations, uncovering family secrets, and falling for people they definitely shouldn't trust. Eventually I gave up fighting it and leaned into the darkness. (Though my mama still hopes I'll write a nice, gentle story about a small-town baker someday. Sorry, Mama!)

My debut novel "Darkest Night" introduces the Benedict family – a powerful Charleston dynasty ruled by brothers who definitely put the "dangerous" in tall, dark, and dangerous. Think old money, older secrets, and the kind of men who'll do absolutely anything to protect what's theirs. The Benedict brothers aren't your typical romance heroes. They live in that delicious gray area between right and wrong, and they're not apologizing for it.

When I'm writing, I love exploring the push-pull between danger and desire. There's something intoxicating about watching characters fall for someone who might be their salvation... or their destruction. I'm fascinated by family dynamics, buried secrets, and the lengths people will go to protect the ones they love. And yes, there will be steam. (What's the point of a dangerous man if he can't make your toes curl?)

My writing den is basically a cave of coffee mugs, Post-it notes with cryptic plot points, and a very judgmental cat who thinks I should be paying more attention to her instead of my laptop. She might have a point – I've definitely missed more than a few meals while lost in writing intense scenes. Thank goodness for delivery apps and a very patient husband!

What can you expect from my books? Edge-of-your-seat suspense, complex family dynamics, steamy romance that'll fog up your e-reader, and twists that'll keep you guessing until the very end. Fair warning: I don't always play nice with my characters. They have to earn their happily ever afters, and sometimes the path there is pretty dark. But I promise the journey is worth it!

I love connecting with readers, so you can find me on Instagram where I share writing updates, behind-the-scenes peeks at my process, and probably too many pictures of my cat judging my life choices. I'm also known to stress-bake while plotting particularly twisted scenes, so there might be some stress-cookie photos in there too.

When I'm not writing, you can find me exploring Charleston's historic district (research, I swear!), binging true crime documentaries (also research... mostly), or trying to convince my cat that my keyboard is not her personal lounging spot. I'm also slightly obsessed with collecting vintage typewriters, though I actually write on a laptop like a normal person. The typewriters just make my office look cooler.

To all my readers: thank you for joining me in this dark and twisty journey. Your messages about staying up all night to finish my books make my day (even if I do feel a little guilty about your lack of sleep). Here's to many more sleepless nights together!

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some characters to torture – I mean, guide toward their happy ending. 😈

XOXO, Tara