I don't have enough information to say exactly who Tara Reade is in these stories. She could be an ordinary person with an interesting story, or she might be a public figure in a specific community.
One common theme is the struggle between good and evil. Since Tara is often portrayed as a good character in the Buffyverse and vampires are typically associated with evil, the fanfictions often explore how Tara deals with the vampire elements, whether it's fighting them or trying to understand them.
Since I don't have access to the 'god of the woods novel', I can only make general assumptions. In such a novel, the god of the woods could be an ancient and mysterious figure. Maybe it's a character that has been there since the beginning of the forest's existence. It could have a connection to the spiritual essence of the woods, and perhaps its powers are tied to the natural cycles of the forest, like the changing of the seasons. The god of the woods might also play a role in the lives of the people or creatures living near or within the forest, either as a benevolent protector or a fearsome force to be reckoned with.
One popular Buffy Tara vampire Tara fanfiction is 'The Magic Between Them'. It delves deep into the relationship between Tara and the vampire elements in the Buffy universe. It has great character development and some really interesting plot twists.
Sean's feelings for Tara were complicated. He had cared about Tara and fought with his father to protect her, but he was also the only one in the family who dared to fight against his father. However, he would also abuse Tara when he felt her resistance and hurt her with violence. Even so, he would apologize to Tara and persuade her to fall into a cycle of self-doubt after hurting her. Sean's actions had hurt and frightened Tara, but it had also inspired her tenacity and unyielding character. Therefore, Sean's feelings for Tara were complicated and contradictory.
There's no information given about who Tara is reading the story to. It could be for herself, just for the pleasure of reading. Or she might be reading it to a younger sibling, a child she babysits, or even to a group of students if she's a teacher.
If these 'tara ghost stories' are part of a local folklore, they could be popular within that community. For example, if Tara is a small town, the locals might tell these stories to tourists or around the campfire to create a spooky atmosphere. However, if they haven't been widely spread or promoted, they might not be popular on a larger scale.