Friday, November 20, 2015

Thankful For You Blog Hop


Welcome to the Thankful for You Blog Hop!  This week we're letting everyone know just what we're thankful for.  And that includes...YOU!  There's a new giveaway at every single stop so be sure to hop around and visit your favorite blogs and find a few new ones to follow too!   

Like many writers, it took me quite a few years and several manuscripts to land my first traditional publishing contract.  While pursuing publication, I often imagined how awesome it would be to "get the call", or to get a fantastic review from RT Book Reviews, or to hit the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller lists.  What I didn't imagine was how thrilling it would be to hear from readers who are enjoying the books I write.  

I've received letters, emails, messages, and comments that shocked me (in a good way), made me laugh, and sometimes touched me so deeply I cried.  I'm not sure readers realize—when they write to thank me because this book or that one helped them through a particularly stressful week at work, or provided the distraction they needed to get through the loss of a loved one, or made them laugh at time when they didn't think they could—that their letters and messages and comments do exactly the same thing for me.  

I'm so thankful for all of the readers who have lured smiles, big grins, or even laughs from me on dark days or made good days even better by simply mentioning looking forward to my next book.  I'm thankful for every reader who has picked up a book by this new-to-her/him author and given it a try.  And I'm thankful for the support, encouragement, and—yes—laughs you continue to deliver.  I hope you know just how much I appreciate you.  :-)


My giveaway for the hop will be signed paperback copies of two of my latest releases:  A Sorceress of His Own and Shadows Strike + swag.  


The Gifted Ones Book 1

Since the day Lord Dillon earned his spurs, rumors of his savagery on the battlefield have preceded him into every room, stilling tongues and sparking fear. Weary of battle, he wishes only to find a woman he can wed who will approach him not with fear, but with the tenderness that has been absent from his life for so long. Yet only the wisewoman seems invariably at ease in his presence. Perhaps because she garners the same fear in others that he does himself.

For seven years, Alyssa has been by Lord Dillon's side, counseling him from the shadows, healing him with her hands, and staving off the worst of his loneliness while his fearsome reputation keeps others at bay. Blessed—or cursed—with gifts that label her a sorceress, she is forced to conceal her youth and the love she harbors for him beneath umbral robes that lead Dillon and his people to believe she is the same aged wisewoman who served his father.  All is revealed, however, and passions flare when an enemy threatens Dillon's life and Alyssa sacrifices everything to save him. 


Immortal Guardians Book 6
(Can be read as a stand-alone novel
for those who are new to the series.)

U.S. law enforcement agent Heather Lane can read minds. But not the future. The dream of battle and blood that recurs every night must be a fluke, some obscure terror from her own mind. What its significance might be, she can't guess: an attack from seven psychotic vampires at once, only separated from nightmare by an eighth very different immortal. A handsome, brave man fighting at her side, a man she misses when she wakes.

Then the dream comes true. Heather is flung into a war between predators and protectors of humanity, the man from her dreams beside her again. Except now that she's awake, she isn't sure she can trust Ethan, or the shadow organization he represents. The U.S. military doesn't trust either of them. But against an onslaught of evil like the one that's coming, it will take everything they have just to survive...


Details


The Thankful for You Blog Hop runs from November 20, 2015, 12:00am EST through November 27, 2015, 11:59pm EST.  My giveaway is open internationally to those who can legally enter.  No purchase necessary.

Mandatory entry
Leave a comment on this post during the hop (please include your email address) and tell me something you're thankful for—big or small.  :-)  Also mention extra entries.

Extra entries
I'd love to connect with you online.  So 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.  (I like to thank readers with frequent giveaways on Facebook, too, so if you like my Facebook page you might want to also tell Facebook to show my posts in your feed in the "Liked" menu to ensure you won't miss any.)

+1  Follow me on Twitter.

+1  Follow me on Pinterest.


+1  Follow me on Amazon.

Selecting a Winner


I will use random.org to choose my prize winner after verifying all entries and will announce it here by December 1st.  If the winner's email address is included in her/his comment, I will email her/him, too.  The winner will have one week to contact me.

Have Fun on the Hop!



Friday, November 13, 2015

Favorite Quote Friday

Happy Friday!  I've been having fun, working on Robert's story—Rendezvous With Yesterday, The Gifted Ones Book 2.  (I can't wait to share it with you!)




I also had such a nice surprise.  Cocktails and Books is having a great month-long event celebrating Indie Authors that includes lots of fun posts and giveaways.  One such post is by Elizabeth from E-Reading After Midnight, who named me one of her Top 5 Indie Authors.  Woohoo!!  This is what she had to say about my Immortal Guardians:

"The sheer imaginative power behind the Immortal Guardians series absolutely blows me away.  Ms. Duvall has created an entire world that blends the paranormal and romance with a twist I've not seen before."

Drop by to see who the other authors in her Top 5 are and enter to win an e-book!  You can find her post HERE.


A USA Today Bestseller
Kindle  Audible  Nook  iTunes  Kobo

Just a reminder:  Night Unbound, Immortal Guardians Book 5, is on sale for just $1.99 in ebook format for a limited time.  That's 75% off!  If this is your first time hearing about the series, don't worry.  All of my books can be read as stand-alones.  You'll just be more familiar with the secondary characters if you read the series in order.  :-) 

— Join me on Facebook —

I also thought I would remind you to pop over to my Facebook page and join the fun.  This week we chatted about everything from Orlando Bloom as Robert in my The Gifted Ones Dream Cast to "Dali Atomicus" and cat surfing to hilarious ways dogs can invade your personal space.  So you never know what topic we'll tackle next.  :-)


AND I have a giveaway almost every week.  If you do join us, be sure to "Like" my page and—in the "Liked" menu—tell Facebook to notify you of my posts under "Get Notifications" or to see them in your feed under "Posts in News Feed," otherwise there's a good chance Facebook's algorithm will keep you from seeing them.  And I don't want you to miss out on any giveaways.  ;-)

A USA Today Bestseller
Amazon  Audible  iBooks  Kobo  Nook

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  I heard the best things from readers this week about A Sorceress of His Own, The Gifted Ones Book 1.  Hearing that readers enjoyed it (it even made one reader's Top 5 Books Ever list) and that they're looking forward to Robert's story means so much to me.  I'm SO excited about Robert's story and can't wait to start posting sneak peeks and quotes from it.  

Until then, here is a quote from A Sorceress of His Own that features Lord Dillon and Alyssa—the hero and heroine:
“Good journey, love.” 
Her gaze roaming his face, Alyssa pulled her hood forward once more and left to retrieve her things.  Soon after, she joined Simon and the others assigned to protect her.   
The thunder of hooves accompanied their departure as mud splattered in their wake. 
Left behind in the crowded bailey, Dillon had never felt so alone.
Have a wonderful, wonderful weekend!                                                              
Dianne                                                                                                             

Friday, November 6, 2015

Good News, a Great Sale, & Favorite Quote Friday

Happy Friday!  Can you believe it's already November?  :-)





I have good news to share.  A Sorceress of His Own has been selected as Book of the Month over at Long and Short Reviews.  Thanks so much, everyone who voted for it when it was nominated.  Voting only lasted a couple of days, so I appreciated your zipping over to cast your votes.  :-)  

Long and Short Reviews also gave A Sorceress of His Own a wonderful review.  Here's a snippet:


You can read the full review HERE.


~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~


Kindle  Audible  Nook  iTunes  Kobo

The good news doesn't stop there.  Night Unbound, Immortal Guardians Book 5, is on sale in ebook format for just $1.99.  That's 75% off!  If you're new to the series, Night Unbound can be read as a stand alone novel.  You'll just be more familiar with the secondary characters if you read the books in order.  ;-)



USA Today Bestseller
Amazon • Audible • Nook  iTunes  Kobo
BAM!  Walmart • Amazon UK • Amazon Canada

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Fantastic reviews continue to roll in for Shadows Strike, my latest Immortal Guardians book.  I'm so glad readers are enjoying it!  :-)  For today's selection, I thought I would give you a snippet of Shadows Strike that features the hero and heroine, Ethan and Heather, and includes Zach and Lisette (hero and heroine of Night Unbound).  I'll preface it by mentioning that Zach is the tallest character in the series.  He's also a telepath.  :-)
Zach removed Lisette’s hand from his mouth and pressed a kiss to her palm instead of bending over to reach her lips.   
Heather glanced up at Ethan and thought him the perfect height for her.  He was tall, but not tall enough that he would have to pick her up to kiss her properly. 
“Ahh,” Zach said, “but picking Lisette up always puts her right where I want her—pressed up against me with her legs wrapped around my waist.” 
Lisette’s mouth dropped open.  “Zach!” 
Heather didn’t know whether to laugh or to complain about Zach’s having read her thoughts. 
Ethan settled a hand on her lower back.  “I’m not even going to ask.”

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne