Friday, September 27, 2013

Favorite Quote Friday #101

Happy Friday!  The countdown has begun!  Only four days left until Darkness Rises is released!!!  


If you haven't pre-ordered your copy yet, here are the various Buy links:

iBooksKoboAudibleWalmart

You can save 40% when you pre-order the paperback at Amazon or Walmart!

Reviews

The reviews have begun to roll in.  I'm so thrilled by the responses Darkness Rises is getting!  Here are a few snippets:


"Duvall does an outstanding job building both a rich world and a compelling cast of characters."
— RT Book Reviews


"Krysta Linz is a kick-butt vampire hunter whose world is taken for a sexy spin when she meets Immortal Guardian Étienne d'Alençon in Duvall's fast-paced and humorous latest paranormal."
— Publishers Weekly 


 "Ms. Duvall brings together a rich world and a wonderful group of characters . . . I hope to see many more books in this series."
— Night Owl Reviews


"The characters are well-developed, and their interactions and banter ring true, shining with humor, camaraderie, and emotion.  Rich description, intriguing story lines, and formidable villains keep the story moving.  Featuring a fascinating take on vampires, Darkness Rises is a thrilling, action-packed, suspenseful, funny, steamy paranormal romance readers won't be able to put down until the last page."
— Affaire de Coeur Magazine




I'll be counting down to the release by posting a Teaser every day on my Facebook page.  I'll also give away an Immortal Guardians swag pack (1 postcard, 4 large bookmarks, 3 smaller bookmarks, 4 trading cards) with each Teaser.  All you have to do to enter is share, like, or comment on the Teaser.  Share one or share them all.  Each is a separate giveaway!  :-) 



My Darkness Rises Blog Tour will begin Monday!  It will include character interviews, author interviews, guest posts, and more.  There will also be a giveaway at every stop!  Here's the first week's schedule:

Monday, September 30th — Reading Between the Wines Book Club
Tuesday, October 1st — Books and Things
Tuesday, October 1st — Australian Romance Readers Association
Wednesday, October 2nd — A Life Bound by Books
Thursday, October 3rd — Kindles and Wine
Friday, October 4th — From the TBR Pile


It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  In anticipation of Release Day (October 1, 2013), here's a quote from Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4:

Krysta looked at her watch.  “We still have a few hours of hunting left and nothing much is happening.  You want to make out a little?”

He laughed in surprised delight.  “You’re a saucy wench, aren’t you?”

“Hey, when I want something, I go for it.”

Thank you all so much for sharing in my excitement!  I hope you'll enjoy Étienne and Krysta's story!  And, if you join me on my blog tour, I hope you'll have fun!

Have a great weekend!  

Dianne

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Latest News

Hi, all!  I just wanted to offer a brief post, letting you know the latest news.


The winner of my contest in the Fall Into Romance Hop is:

Elf2060
Congratulations!


Thank you, everyone who entered!  I hope you had fun on the hop!



As I count down to the release of Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4, on October 1st, I'll be posting a Teaser every day on my Facebook page and will give away an Immortal Guardians swag pack (1 postcard, 4 large bookmarks, 3 smaller bookmarks, 4 trading cards) with each Teaser.  I posted the first Teaser today and will choose a winner tomorrow when I post the next.  I hope I'll see you over there!  :-)

And the reviews are beginning to roll in for Darkness Rises I'm thrilled with the responses it's getting and can't wait to share them with you.  I'll include some snippets in my Favorite Quote Friday post.  

I hope the rest of your week will be a good one!

Dianne

Friday, September 20, 2013

Favorite Quote Friday #100

Happy Friday!  I have so much news to share with you!  And what a perfect day to share it — my 100th Favorite Quote Friday post.  :-)


Tantor Audio revealed the Darkness Rises Audiobook cover!  Woohoo!  What do you think?  He looks like an Étienne to me.  ;-)  It's available for pre-order, and you can listen to an audio sample on Amazon or on Tantor Audio.



Thank you, everyone who joined me for the  Sultry Summer Reads Blog Hop!  The winner of my prizes are:

Vanessa N. — Darkness Rises ARC + swag
Amandan A. — Darkness Rises ARC + swag
Kim C. — Immortal Guardians swag pack

All three winners have been notified, and their packages are in the mail!  A list of all the daily and grand prize winners can be found HERE.



A HUGE thanks to everyone who has taken advantage of the current Darkness Dawns sale and purchased a copy, for yourself or for a friend.  And thank you so much for helping me spread the word!  


Darkness Dawns hit #11 on the Barnes and Noble Top 100 Bestselling NOOK Books list and #38 on the Amazon Top 100 Kindle Bestsellers List!  It also hit #5 on the Kobo Paranormal Romance list.  My author rank rose, too.  :-)


It's been a very exciting week.  :-)



Just a reminder:  The sale is still going on and will continue through September 24th.  Here are the links:
Kindle  •  Nook  •  Kobo


Also, if you're a blogger and are interested in participating in the Darkness Rises Release Day Blitz Author's Taproom is planning for me, you can learn more HERE.


And, finally, it's time for my 100th Favorite Quote Friday!  My mind, of course, has been consumed with the upcoming release of Darkness Rises on October 1st.  Less than two weeks to go!!!  So today I thought I would give you an excerpt that features Étienne (the hero) and Krysta (the heroine):


“You can stay with me,” Étienne suggested.  “You’ll be accompanying me to the meeting tonight anyway, so . . .”

She raised her eyebrows.  “I will?”

He grimaced.  “I’m afraid so.  Seth has asked that you be there.  And no one gainsays Seth.”

“Is he that much more powerful than the rest of you?”

“Absolutely.  I’m a babe compared to him.”

Yes, he was a babe.  A total babe.  But not the way he meant it.

He grinned.

Krysta frowned.  “Damn it!  Stop reading my thoughts!”

Étienne shrugged.  “I was just peeking to see how you were taking all of this.”

“Not well,” she admitted.

“Would you take it better if I told you I think you’re a total babe, too?”

“A little bit.”

He laughed and, wrapping an arm around her, drew her close for a hug.

Krysta looped her arms around his waist, surprised by how natural it felt.

“Every day you amaze me more,” he murmured.  And she could have sworn he brushed a kiss across the top of her head.

“Every day you confuse me more,” she countered.

“It will all become clear soon.”

I hope you'll enjoy reading Étienne and Krysta's story as much as I enjoyed writing it!

Have a fantastic weekend!

Dianne

Thursday, September 12, 2013

Fall Into Romance Hop


Welcome to the Fall Into Romance Hop, hosted by The Romance Reviews!  Join us as we celebrate favorite summer reads, fall releases we're looking forward to, and more.  Hopefully you'll find a nice selection of books to add to your TBR pile and will win lots of prizes as you do.  Did I mention there's a giveaway at every stop?  ;-)

I admit I've had little to no reading time of late.  My own TBR pile now towers near the ceiling, every book I add threatening to topple it.  And I'm sure I'll be adding a few more after this hop.  So, since I've been consumed with preparing for my next book's release (instead of delving into one of the books taunting me from the corner), I thought I would introduce you to it and its characters.

Darkness Rises is the fourth book in my Immortal Guardians series and features Krysta and Étienne.  Étienne d'Alençon is a French immortal, roughly two hundred years old, who spends his nights hunting the psychotic vampires who prey upon humans.  He also has always admired strong women.

Mortal Krysta Linz is as strong as they come.  Once the victim of a vicious vampire attack, she has dedicated her life to slaying every blood-sucking vampire on the planet . . . until a tall, dark, handsome man with glowing amber eyes and fangs joins her in one of her battles and saves her life.  How can she feel so drawn to him?  He's a vampire — the enemy — isn't he?

If he isn't, why does she feel as though she has gone from being the hunter to the hunted?


4.5 stars, HOT
"Duvall does an outstanding job building both a rich world and a compelling cast of characters."
— RT Book Reviews

"Krysta Linz is a kick-butt vampire hunter whose world is taken for a sexy spin when she meets Immortal Guadian Étienne d'Alençon in Duvall's fast-paced and humorous latest paranormal."
— Publishers Weekly

Krysta is used to getting the drop on vampires. Her "special abilities" aren't much, but the plan is simple--she plays helpless pretty young thing to lure them in. Then her shoto swords come out and it's bye-bye, bloodsucker. Until one night she finds herself with an unexpected ally. He's a vampire, all right, but different. Mysterious. Handsome. And more interested in saving her skin than draining it.

Étienne has been an Immortal Guardian for two hundred years--long enough to know that Krysta is special. He can't stop thinking about her long legs, even more than her short swords. Then he discovers the vamps she's exterminating have friends in high places, and the Guardians are in danger too. He'll have to accept Krysta's help to save them. The stakes for a mortal are high. But the cost to his heart might be higher. . .

Excerpt


A low chuckle wafted on the night.

Eyes widening, she drew her second sword and turned in a slow circle.  “Damn it!  Show yourself!”

“Well, since you asked so nicely,” a deep voice laced with a French accent purred behind her.

Gasping, she spun around and swung a shoto.

Once more, he caught her wrist.  “Careful.”  The warning was gentle, carrying neither malice nor anger.

Krysta stared.

His touch sent electricity tickling its way up her arm.  His flesh was warm, his long fingers free of callouses.

Her heart slammed against her ribs as butterflies erupted in her stomach.
She should be furious.  Frightened.  Instead, she felt as excited as she would on a first date.

Crap. 

Stepping back, she withdrew her arm from his grasp.

Dropping his hand, he tilted his head and studied her with those entrancing amber eyes.

Yeah, he was hot all right.

Short midnight hair glinted in the moonlight.  Faint stubble shadowed a strong jaw.  Straight nose.  Broad shoulders.  What was clearly a well-developed, muscular build beneath a black T-shirt that clung to him courtesy of the vampire blood that saturated its front.  Slim waist.  Slim hips.  All revealed by the gap in the long black coat he wore.  

She didn’t let her gaze stray further.  The last thing she wanted to do while facing him was blush like a school girl if he had a nice package.

His tempting lips stretched in a slow smile.


My Prize

An ARC of Darkness Rises (October 1, 2013) + Immortal Guardians swag.

Fall Into Romance Hop Prizes

Amazon Gift Certificates
paperbacks
ebooks
and more!

Details

The Fall Into Romance Hop runs from September 13th, 12:01am  through September 21st, 11:59pm EST.  My giveaway is international.


Mandatory entry for my prize
Leave a comment on this post during the hop, include your email address, and let me know what your favorite summer read was.  :-)  Also mention extra entries.   


Extra entries for my prize
For extra entries you may do any or all of the following, but be sure to mention them in your comment.

+1  Follow my blog. 

+1  Like My Facebook Page.

+1  Follow me on Twitter.

+1  Mention the hop and my giveaway on Twitter.

+1  Share it on Facebook.


Selecting a Winner for my prize
I will use random.org to choose my prize winner after verifying all entries and will announce it here by September 25th.  If the winner's email address is included in her/his comment, I will email her/himhim, too.  The winner will have one week to contact me.

Fall Into Romance Hop prize entry
1 — Register and log in at The Romance Reviews during the hop.  (You can do so by clicking the button below.)  This hop will take you to more than 100 blogs and websites.  The good news is:  no need to get a pencil or open a spreadsheet to list the blogs that you've visited.  When you log in at TRR, TRR takes care of automatically directing you to blogs you haven't visited yet.

2 — Visit participating blogs.  Each blog you visit earns you 5 chances for the prizes (only if you're logged in).

3 — Answer the Q&As listed on The Romance Reviews Fall Into Romance Hop page.  Each correct answer earns you 10 chances for the prizes.

To Keep Hopping, Click on the Button below

The Romance Reviews Hop

Favorite Quote Friday #99

Happy Friday!  What a busy week!



Darkness Dawns,
Book 1 in my Immortal Guardians series, is
On Sale for just 99¢
on Kindle, Nook, and Kobo!

See how the series RT Book Reviews calls "utterly addictive" began!  Or, if you've already read it, introduce a friend to it.  :-)  Nominated for the RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance!  Chosen as a Top Pick by The Romance Reviews and a Best Book by Long and Short Reviews.  Grab a copy today:

Kindle  •  Nook  •  Kobo

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Thank you, thank you, thank you, everyone who has already picked up a copy since the sale began!  Darkness Dawns has hit the Barnes & Noble Top 100 Bestselling NOOK Books list!!!  Woohoo!



I'm participating in the Sultry Summer Reads Blog Hop!  Join the fun and enter to WIN a Kindle Fire HD 7", a $100 Gift Card from Amazon or Barnes and Noble, one of two Darkness Rises ARCs, swag, ebooks, and much, much more!  Multiple prizes are being awarded every day!  You can find my post HERE.


I'm also participating in the Fall Into Romance Hop.  Join the fun and enter to WIN a signed ARC of Darkness Rises + Immortal Guardians swag!  You can find my post HERE.

(October 1, 2013)

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Since both of my Blog Hop posts this week include excerpts of my upcoming release Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4,  I thought I would do something different today.  Instead of posting a favorite quote,  here's a link to an audio sample of the Darkness Rises audiobook, courtesy of Tantor Audio, so you can listen to today's selection:


Kirsten Potter is narrating it.  She narrated the first three audiobooks in the series and has received very good reviews.  :-)  I hope you'll like it!  

Have a wonderful weekend!  And, if you join the blog hop fun, good luck with the contests!

Dianne

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Sultry Summer Reads Blog Hop

(See Safari Heat's website for full rules.)

Welcome to the Sultry Summer Reads Blog Hop, hosted by Safari Heat!  This is a fun-filled hop that lasts from September 11th through September 16th and boasts dozens of prizes in addition to the individual prizes offered at each stop on the hop. 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Grand Prize
a Kindle Fire HD 7"
+ ebooks to go on the new Kindle

Second Prize
a $100 Gift Card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble 

Daily Prizes
The hop Host will randomly pop into blogs and choose several winners each day.  See the "Hop Daily Giveaway Schedule" under Details at the end of this post for a list of the prizes.

My Prize
A signed Darkness Rises ARC + Immortal Guardians swag (1 signed cover flat, 4 large bookmarks, 3 smaller bookmarks, 4 trading cards, and 2 postcards).
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There are so many deliciously sultry reads out there, and my next release — Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4, (October 1, 2013) — is one of them.  :-)  Once the victim of a vampire attack, mortal Krysta Linz has dedicated her life to slaying every blood-sucking, psychotic vampire on planet.  Or, at least, those in her neck of the woods.  She does a fantastic job of it, too, despite the toll the battles take on her, until her vampire hunting activities bring her to the attention of a certain amber-eyed Immortal Guardian named Étienne d’Alençon.  Then sparks begin to fly and the hunter becomes the hunted.

4.5 stars, HOT
"Duvall does an outstanding job building both a rich world and a compelling cast of characters."
— RT Book Reviews

"Krysta Linz is a kick-butt vampire hunter whose world is taken for a sexy spin when she meets Immortal Guadian Étienne d'Alençon in Duvall's fast-paced and humorous latest paranormal."
— Publishers Weekly


Blurb

Krysta is used to getting the drop on vampires. Her "special abilities" aren't much, but the plan is simple--she plays helpless pretty young thing to lure them in. Then her shoto swords come out and it's bye-bye, bloodsucker. Until one night she finds herself with an unexpected ally. He's a vampire, all right, but different. Mysterious. Handsome. And more interested in saving her skin than draining it.

Étienne has been an Immortal Guardian for two hundred years--long enough to know that Krysta is special. He can't stop thinking about her long legs, even more than her short swords. Then he discovers the vamps she's exterminating have friends in high places, and the Guardians are in danger too. He'll have to accept Krysta's help to save them. The stakes for a mortal are high. But the cost to his heart might be higher. . .

Excerpt
(Some might consider this mildly racy.)

For a moment, he looked so hungry for her she thought he might pounce.  

Then a teasing gleam entered his luminous eyes.  “Want to see a neat trick?”

Raising her eyebrows, she smiled.  “Okay.”

He blurred.  She felt a tug.  

In a blink, they were both naked, clothing and weapons scattered around their feet.

He laughed.  “I’ve never seen you so wide-eyed.”

“That is awesome!” she praised.

Grinning, he picked her up and tossed her onto the bed.

Krysta shrieked with delight as he dove after her.

“Shoes on or off?” he asked.

She laughed when she realized they both still wore their boots.  “Off.”

Sitting up, he quickly doffed his own, then turned his attention to hers.

She liked this playful side of him.  Liked the feel of his large, warm hands grasping her calf as he removed first one shoe, then the other.

His gaze roved her body, splayed out before him like a banquet, scorching her and making her squirm with the need to feel all of that hard, muscled flesh against her.

And, just like that, all levity was shoved aside by lust.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Details

The Sultry Summer Reads Blog Hop begins at 12:01 a.m. on September 11, 2013 and will end at 11:59 p.m. on September 16, 2013.

The Grand Prize, Second Prize, and Daily prize drawings are open only to residents of the US and Canada.  

My Prize drawing is open internationally.

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment on this post with the following information:  your name, email, the country in which you reside, and whether you're a reader or an author.  Please mention extra entries as well.  (See example below.)  ***Note:  All of this information must be provided in order for you to be entered into the Grand Prize drawing.***

Extra Entries:
+1 Follow me on Facebook
+1 Follow me on Twitter
+1 Follow my blog

Entry Example:
Name: Carey Abbott
Comment: Great Post
Twitter: Followed
FaceBook: Followed
Blog: Followed
Are You a Reader or Author: Author
Country You Live In: United States

To keep hopping, follow the link below:


Hop Daily Giveaway Schedule

Sept. 11th
Signed Swag Pack: Dianne Duvall
Signed Book: Crush by Alan Jacobson
Signed Book: The Look of Love By Bella Andre
Signed Book: Coming Clean by Sue Margolis
Signed Book: Murder Most Foul by JoAnne Myer
Pre-Made Book Cover: Carey Abbott
Signed Book: Release Me by J. Kenner

Sept. 12th
Signed Rack Card: Bobby Romans
Signed Book: Sleep With The Lights On By Maggie Shayne
Signed Book: Blood Destiny by Tessa Dawn
Signed Book: The Rancher She Loved by Ann Roth
Singed Book: Love’s Prophecy by Brenda Dyer
Signed Book: Billion-Dollar Cowboy by Carolyn Brown
Signed Book: Against the Mark by Kat Martin

Sept. 13th
Five-Dollar Gift Card to Are: Dynese Bridger
Signed Book: Perfect Mate by Mina Carter
Signed Book: Ruthless by Debra Webb
Signed Book: Coming Clean by Sue Margolis
Five-Dollar Gift Card: Carey Abbot/Tabitha Blake
Signed Book: Coming Clean by Sue Margolis

Sept. 14th
Swag Pack: TG Ayer
Signed Book: Darker After Midnight by Lara Adrian
Signed Book: Darkness Rises by Dianne Duvall
Signed Book: Skin Deep T.G. Ayer
Three Bookmarks: Lara Adrian
Pre-Made Book Cover: Carey Abbott
Signed Book: Poems by JoAnne Myers

Sept. 15th
Three Book Marks: Lara Adrian
Signed Book: Sleep With The Lights On By Maggie Shayne
Signed ARC Copy: Born in Blood by Alexandra Ivy
Signed Book: Like Humans Do by Daryn Cross
Pre-Made Book Cover: Carey Abbott
Signed Book: Coming Clean by Sue Margolis

Sept. 16th
Kindle Giveaway Plus E-Books
100.00 Gift Card