New Release Celebrations, Giveaways & Other Fun Stuff

Happy Friday!  What a fantastic week this has been been!

Shadows Strike, Immortal Guardians Book 6, released Tuesday to rave reviews.  Thank you, everyone who pre-ordered it or who has picked up a copy this week.  First week sales are so important to authors, giving them their best chance at hitting the bestseller lists.  I'm pleased to say that Shadows Strike has already hit several of Amazon's Top 100 lists and—even more exciting—has received 28 5-star reviews!  Woohoo!!!  

Another thank you goes out to the wonderful readers who have left reviews.  I'm so thrilled by your responses to it!!  With every book release, I end up chewing my nails until those reviews start rolling in, hoping readers will enjoy it.  So I've been doing happy dances all week.  You're the best!  :-)

The Shadows Strike Audiobook hit Audible's Romance Bestseller List.  Hooray!!  So yet another big thanks goes to all of the audiobook lovers out there who picked up a copy.  Kirsten Potter narrated it.  I can't wait to listen to it.  Release weeks are always so hectic that I've only had time to listen to a few minutes so far.  :-)

I've been celebrating the release with giveaways over on Facebook.  One lucky reader has already won an Amazon Gift Card.  

I have another giveaway currently underway on my My Facebook Page and will choose one winner tonight who will receive the Immortal Guardians Prize Pack pictured above:  signed copies of Night Unbound and Darkness Rises, a tote bag, a keychain flashlight, a cover flat, and lots of bookmarks, trading cards, and postcards.  (I love the new keychains, by the way.)

I may launch another tonight to continue the celebration into the weekend, but haven't decided yet.  Perhaps an Immortal Guardians coffee mug and other goodies?  :-)  

And, of course, my Shadows Strike Blog Tour is still going strong and includes a big giveaway–a $50 Amazon Gift Card, a $20 Amazon Gift Card, or a signed book (winner's choice) from my backlist.  If you haven't joined the fun, you missed some great stops this week.  At Books & Things, I offered up five reasons my Immortal Guardians make the best book boyfriends.  :-)  Then at Books-n-Kisses, I gave readers 5 reasons to love Ethan, the hero of Shadows Strike.  But the fun didn't end there.  You can find a list of the stops HERE.

More wonderful reviews have been popping up on blogs, Goodreads, etc.  Here are snippets from some of my favorites:

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Since I'm sharing all of my exciting Shadows Strike news with you, I thought for today's selection I would give you a brief excerpt of it that features Ethan and Heather (the hero and heroine):

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He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. “Ah, hell. I suck at this.”

“Suck at what?”

“I wasn’t hunting nearby,” he admitted. “I was hunting forty miles away. But I can’t stop thinking about you and wanted to see you again.” Bending, he retrieved what he hoped she would see as a romantic gesture. When he straightened, he held a newspaper in one hand and a stainless steel coffeepot in the other. He offered her a sheepish smile. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”

Heather bit her lip. And he did think he saw a little Aww, how sweet enter her pretty brown eyes.

Stepping closer, he leaned against the door frame opposite her. “I’m afraid I don’t really know how to do this.”

He heard her heartbeat pick up. “Do what?”

“Date. I haven’t tried to court a woman in about a century. I don’t know how to get things going and can’t ask Ed or he’ll never let me live it down.” Damned if he didn’t feel like a teenager with his first crush.

Her throat moved in a swallow. “You want to date me?”

“If dating you means spending lots of time with you, getting to know you, and exploring every inch of your delectable body as soon as you’re ready to take things further, then yes. I really want to date you.” He held up his goodies. “I remembered your neighbor with the newspaper analogy and . . .” He released a rueful chuckle. “As I said, I don’t know what I’m doing. I don’t even like coffee. I just liked the idea of it and wanted to see you again.”

“Oh, Ethan. It’s perfect.”

His heart leapt.

“But I really wish you hadn’t come.” Stepping back, Heather opened the door.

Disappointment struck. “Why?” He had been so sure she’d felt the same spark.

She brought the hand he hadn’t realized she had been hiding behind her back around and raised a Walther PPQ 9mm. “Because I dreamed you would.”

As Ethan gaped down at her, she pulled the trigger.

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Thank you for sharing in my excitement, helping me celebrate, and making this release week a fantastic one!!   

Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!

Dianne