Wicked Nights Giveaway Hop

Welcome to the Wicked Nights Giveaway Hop, hosted by Herding Cats & Burning Soup!  

We all LOVE those naughty, steamy, oh-so-wicked reads, so we're highlighting our favorite scorching hot books, heroes, and heroines and celebrating them with lots of giveaways, including a Grand Prize Giveaway of an Amazon Gift Card!

RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance

The scorching hot hero and heroine I've chosen to highlight are Étienne and Krysta, from Darkness Rises, Book 4 in my Immortal Guardians series.  If you like powerful immortal warriors and kick-ass heroines, this couple is for you!  :-)  Once the victim of a vicious vampire attack, mortal Krysta Linz has dedicated herself to slaying every blood-sucking vampire she can find.  Immortal Étienne d'Alençon has always admired strong women, so when he sees Krysta take on four vampires with only a couple of shoto swords, he is instantly smitten.  He just has to find some way to convince her that not everyone with fangs and glowing eyes is the enemy.

Here's a wicked excerpt:

_______________________________________

He stopped beside the bed.

Krysta lowered her legs to the floor and stood for a moment, staring up at him, her body tingling and aching for his touch.

"You can change your mind," he murmured, so damned sweet and understanding it only made her want him more.

She shook her head.  "I want this."  Again, she reached up and stroked his face.  "I want you."

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.

He peeled a sock off, kissed her ankle, lowered her foot to one side of him.  Peeling the second sock off, he kissed that ankle and lowered her foot to the other side of him.  He smoothed his hands up her calves, up her thighs, his thumbs coming so close to the heart of her.

Damn, she wanted him.

_______________________________________
The scene gets more wicked, of course, as it continues, but my blog isn't age restricted, so I had to end it here.  :-)

Trailer

View the Trailer on Youtube.

Grand Prize

Entry-Form

My Prize

A signed copy of Darkness Rises + a Night Unbound cover flat and Immortal Guardians swag.

Details

The Wicked Nights Giveaway Hop runs from May 14th, 12:01am EST through May 21st, 11:59pm EST.  My giveaway is international.

Mandatory entry for my prize

Leave a comment on this post during the hop (please include your email address) and let me know who your favorite wicked couple is.  :-)  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 my giveaway on Twitter.

+1  Share it on Facebook.

+1 Pin my Prize image or the Darkness Rises cover flat on Pinterest.

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 May 23rd.  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.

Favorite Quote Friday #129

Happy Friday!  I finally found time to design some Night Unbound swag.  Yay!  Bookmarks, postcards, and trading cards.  I'll post a pic when it all arrives.  :-)

I also took some time to plant some marigolds on my patio.  Hopefully, they will help reduce the mosquito population.  Apparently marigolds contain Pyrethrum, which is commonly used in insect repellents.  So, we'll see if it'll work.  If it doesn't, they're still pretty.  :-)

Night Unbound, Immortal Guardians Book 5, has begun to hit some of Amazon's Bestseller lists!  Woohoo!  Look what awesome company Night Unbound was keeping on Amazon's Top 100 Paranormal Vampire Romance and Top 100 Ghost Romance lists yesterday.  ;-)

A HUGE thank you to everyone who has pre-ordered it!!  :-)  If you haven't and would like to, it will be released in paperback, ebook, and audiobook on September 2nd.  Here are some links:

Amazon • Kindle • Barnes and Noble • Nook • iBooks • BAM!

I'll let you know as more pre-order options become available.

I thought I would celebrate with another flash contest on my Facebook Author Page, so look for one to appear today.  I'll randomly select a winner late Saturday night.  :-) 

RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance Nominee

Amazon • Kindle • Barnes and Noble • Nook

iBooks • Kobo • Audible • Walmart

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Since I'm so excited about Zach and Lisette's story (Night Unbound), I thought I would give you a glimpse of one of their first encounters in the series.  The following excerpt is taken from Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4, and is told from Lisette's point of view:

___________________________________________

Her knees buckled.

Zach caught her before she could hit the ground.  "Easy," he said, his voice soft and deep.  Kneeling, he laid her on the ground with her upper body cradled in his lap.

Moonlight formed a halo around his head as she stared up at him, struggling for breath.

The bullets had done a lot of damage.  She knew that, rather than kill her, excessive damage would send her into a sort of stasis not unlike the hibernation of a water bear.  But she had never done that before and couldn't help but fear the prospect as she felt her heart rate slow.  And slow some more.

He rested a hand on her chest.

At first she thought he was feeling her up and forgot everything else in a few seconds' shock.  Then she realized his thumb rested upon her collar bone and his fingers weren't splayed enough to reach her breasts.

His hand heated, warm and comforting.  A tingling feeling engulfed her, part pleasure and part pain, beginning in her chest and sweeping down her arms to her fingers, down her torso to her thighs, calves, and toes.  Misshapen bullets emerged from her flesh.  Bleeding ceased.  Wounds closed.  Bones shattered by bullets fused themselves back together.  Her collapsed lung reinflated.  Her breathing grew easier.  The pain receded, then vanished entirely.

He removed his hand from her chest, curling it into a loose fist then rubbing his thumb against his fingers as though touching her had made him tingle.

She sat up, but didn't move away.  Just to double check, she pulled the neckline of her sticky shirt away from her body and peered down through it at her bare chest and bra-encased breasts.  No wounds.  Only dried blood.

She let the material fall back against her and stared up at him, too tired to attempt to stand yet.  He had healed her wounds, but severe blood loss still rendered her weak.

A shiver shook her.

He unfurled his beautiful wings and cupped them around her like a tent, keeping the breeze at bay.

"Who are you?" she asked when she could find her voice.

___________________________________________

Thank you again so much!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Darkness Rises Video Contest 2

Happy Friday!  I've had a busy week, but spent most of it with Zach and Lisette, so it was a good one.  ;-)

I've been going over Night Unbound (Immortal Guardians Book 5) proofs and am almost finished.  This is the last step in the editing process. Next up will be a box of beautiful ARCs on my doorstep.  I can't wait!!

I also have something special for you again today:  another visual peek into the pages of Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4.  (If you missed the first one, you can view it HERE.)

RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance Nominee

Amazon • Kindle • Barnes and Noble • Nook • iBooks • Kobo • Audible • Walmart

Can Immortal Guardian Étienne d'Alençon convince mortal vampire hunter Krysta Linz that not everyone with fangs and glowing eyes is the enemy?  :-)

See it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWOn-Uq-To4

I'm holding another contest over on Facebook that begins today and lasts through Monday, April 28th.  Help me get the video out there by sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+,  your blog, or wherever you'd like to share it, then hop over to my Facebook Author page and tell me you did and you'll be entered to WIN a signed copy of Darkness Rises or one of two Immoral Guardians swag packs.   Every place you share it nets you an entry.  :-)

**Note:  If you aren't on Facebook, you can post a comment here instead.

Thank you again, everyone who shared the first one!  You rock!!  I hope you like the videos!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Contests, Winners, and More

Hi, all!

Thank you, everyone who joined me on the Alpha Male Madness Giveaway Hop!  As I feared, my TBR pile has grown yet again.  I love alpha males, and you mentioned several I haven't encountered yet, so I'll be making a trip to the bookstore soon.  :-)

The winners of the contests are:

Grand Prize

a $100 Amazon Gift Card

Margo Bond C

My Prize

A signed copy of Darkness Rises + Immortal Guardians swag

Book Attict

Congratulations!!!

A huge thank you to everyone who has shared my Darkness Rises Video!  The winners of the contest are:

A signed copy of Darkness Rises + Immortal Guardians swag

Diane M Del Vecchio

Leslie Rodriguez

An Immortal Guardians swag pack

Sarah Eisele

Angel Martin

Congratulations!!!

If you didn't win, don't worry.  You have more chances to win in the Easter Blog Hop.  It started on April 21st and will last through the 27th.  I'm giving away another signed copy of Darkness Rises + Immortal Guardians swag.  You can also enter to win the grand prize of a digital romance set plus $50 Amazon gift certificate OR a Kindle HD Fire.  You can find all of the details HERE.

I also thought I would mention that Voting has begun in the Affaire de Coeur Reader/Writer Poll and lasts through Friday, April 25th.  Darkness Rises has been nominated for favorite Women's Paranormal.  Woohoo!!  If you'd like to vote, you can do so HERE.  :-)

I hope you're having a great week!

Dianne

Darkness Rises Video & Contest

Happy Friday!  I have something special for you today—a visual peek into the pages of Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4.

RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance Nominee

Amazon • Kindle • Barnes and Noble • Nook
iBooks • Kobo • Audible • Walmart

If this is your first time hearing of it:  In Darkness Rises, mortal Krysta Linz was once the victim of a vicious vampire attack and has dedicated her life to killing every blood-sucking vampire she can find.  Immortal Guardian Étienne d'Alençon has always admired strong women.  So, when he sees Krysta take on four vampires by herself, he is instantly smitten and vows to convince her that not everyone with fangs and glowing eyes is the enemy.

See it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gE4VaGh8axs

I'm holding a contest over on Facebook that begins today and lasts through Monday.  Help me get the scene out there by sharing it on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+,  your blog, or wherever you'd like to share it, then hop over to my Facebook Author page and tell me you did and you'll be entered to #WIN one of two signed copies of Darkness Rises or one of two Immoral Guardians swag packs.   Every place you share it nets you an entry.  :-)

(If you aren't on Facebook, you can post a comment here instead.)

I hope you like the video!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Favorite Quote Friday #127

Happy Friday!  Can you believe it's April already?  At the rate this year is going, September—and the release of Night Unbound—will be here in a heartbeat.  ;-)

I have contest news for you.

Love paranormal romance that's dark and intense with humor thrown in?  Want to see vampires returned to their evil roots and fall in love with the powerful immortal warriors who hunt them?  Then enter to win a signed copy of Darkness Dawns, the first book in my Immortal Gardians series, + swag in my contest over at Fresh Fiction!  See how the series began with the book Fresh Fiction called "Electrifying, Funny, Lust-Inducing and Inventive."  The contest lasts through April 30th.  You can enter HERE.

I'll also be participating in the Alpha Male Madness Giveaway Hop coming up on April 11th.  Rumor has it there will be a grand prize.  Plus, I'll have my own giveaway here on my blog.  :-)

I'm eager to give away one of the cool Night Unbound cover flats I just received, so I'll launch another flash contest on Facebook today.  The prize:  A cover flat, four bookmarks, four trading cards, and a postcard.  More flash contests will likely follow throughout the month.  :-)  

(I haven't decided what book I'll give away in the Alpha Male Madness Hop, but will include this same swag pack in the prize package so those who aren't on Facebook will have a chance to win.)

RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance Nominee

Amazon • Kindle • Barnes and Noble • Nook

iBooks • Kobo • Audible • Walmart

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  I was thrilled to notice that Darkness Rises (Immortal Guardians Book 4) has just received its 80th 5-star review on Amazon.  Woohoo!  The reviewer called it, "Absolutely one of the best series I've read in a while!"  It was a very nice start to my weekend.  So, for today's selection, I've chosen another quote from Darkness Rises that features the heroine and hero, Krysta and Étienne:

"Technically," Krysta said, "I saved Étienne's ass."
"After I risked it to save you."
"That's true.  I thanked you for that, right?"

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Favorite Quote Friday #123

Happy Friday!  Whew, what a week!  Even the weather was crazy!  The meteorologists forecast a low of 35, and I instead woke up to temps in the 20s and half a dozen dead plants on my patio.  Very frustrating . . . as is the snow many of you keep getting,  I'm sure.  I hope you're staying warm!

I have a few contests going on this month that I thought I'd mention. 

First, I'm giving away an Immortal Guardians swag pack over on my facebook page.  This is a flash contest and will only last until tonight, so hop on over and enter today if you get a chance.  The contest is open to international entries.  :-)

I'm also giving away a signed copy of Phantom Shadows, Immortal Guardians Book 3 + lots of Immortal Guardians swag over at Fresh Fiction.  This contest lasts through March 31st.  (I still can't believe it's already March!  September is going to be here in an instant!)  You can enter HERE.

Finally, I'm participating in The Romance Reviews 3rd Anniversary Party.   I believe, at last count, over 450 prizes are up for grabs, including a signed copy of Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4.  You can learn more HERE.  :-)

RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance Nominee

Amazon • Kindle • Barnes and Noble • Nook

iBooks • Kobo • Audible • Walmart

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  For today's selection, I've chosen a quote from Darkness Rises.   It features Étienne (the hero), who is speaking to Krysta (the heroine):

Shaking his head, he motioned for the door.  “Let’s get out of here before I do something that will embarrass you in front of your brother.”

This actually reminds me of a scene in Night Unbound that makes me laugh every time I read it.   I can't wait to start giving you quotes from that one!  ;-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Favorite Quote Friday #121

Happy Valentine's Day!!!  I am SO ready for this weekend.  :-)  It's been a week full of ups and downs.  And the biggest up was hearing that my editor thought the Night Unbound edits I turned in last week were "perfect."  Woohoo!!

I also found out that Night Unbound (September 2, 2014) is now available for pre-order in paperback at both Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  The ebooks will be available for pre-order closer to the release date.  I'll let you know as soon as I hear something.  :-)

I found some wonderful Immortal Guardians reviews and thought I'd share a few with you.

The Wormhole gave Darkness Dawns a fabulous review.  Here's a snippet:

"Holy Wow!  I truly enjoyed this book.  The characters - all of them - are wonderfully created and the story is excellent . . . I am solidly hooked and can't wait to get started on the next book in the series."

You can read the full review HERE.

The Geeky Blogger's Book Blog gave the Darkness Rises audiobook a lovely review.  Here's a taste:

"I have been WAITING for Darkness Rises for a LONG time! Pretty much the second I finished Phantom Shadows I was chomping at the bit to get a hold of this book. I was not disappointed. . . Krysta and Etienne had an amazing connection!"

You can find the full review HERE.

Tempting Reads gave Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4, a fantastic review, too.  Here's a peak:

"Just when I think I know what’s going on in this series, Duvall shakes things up.  The author has created a unique world with her Guardians; even better she adds new life to the vampire trope, leaving me awed and highly entertained."

You can read see the full review HERE.

To celebrate Valentine's Day, I'll be giving away a signed copy of Darkness Rises + lots of Immortal Guardians swag over on my Facebook Page!  The contest will only last through today and tomorrow.  Drop by and enter for a chance to #WIN!

RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance Nominee

Amazon • Kindle • Barnes and Noble • Nook

iBooks • Kobo • Audible • Walmart

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Since today is Valentine's Day and love is in the air, I thought I'd give you a romantic quote from Darkness Rises.  Here's a little taste of Étienne and Krysta's first kiss:

----------------------------------------
He cupped her face in his large hands, heard her breath catch, her heartbeat pick up its pace just as his own did.  Heat rushed through him at the simple touch.  “You saved my life tonight,” he whispered. 

Reaching up, she curled her small, soft hands around his wrists.

Étienne held his breath, waiting for her to pull his hands away.  When she didn’t . . .

“Thank you,” he said.

As she nodded, he dipped his head and pressed his lips to hers.

* * *

Fire licked its way through Krysta’s veins at the soft contact.  Étienne caressed her cheeks as his silky smooth, surprisingly warm lips brushed hers.

What am I doing?

His tongue stroked her lips, tempting her into parting them.

What the hell am I doing? she repeated just before he deepened the kiss and she stopped thinking.

Her heart pounded in her chest, thudding against her ribs so determinedly she thought Étienne must feel it.

If he didn’t before, he did then as he moved forward, crowding her against the counter and pressing his large, muscular body into hers.
----------------------------------------

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Favorite Quote Friday #119

Happy Friday!  I hope you had a good week and stayed safe and warm in the crazy weather!  I was a little disappointed because we were originally told  to expect up to five inches of snow here and ended up getting bupkis.  But at least the temperatures dropped for a couple of days.  :-)

Look what arrived in the mail!  I received my author copies of Verfluchte Seelen, the German translation of Phantom Shadows, Immortal Guardians Book 3!  Woohoo!

I love the German translations, because the paperbacks are so similar to hardbacks.  They're larger than most paperbacks here in the U.S.  And inside, both the front and back covers open out to reveal a larger image of the cover.

They're also the only books that include my author pic.  ;-)

Even though I hate having my picture taken, it's still nice to have it included.  :-)

There is still a little over a week left to enter my Valentine's Contest over at Fresh Fiction!  The prize is a signed copy of Phantom Shadows + lots of Immortal Guardians swag.  If you like bad boys, then you won't want to miss this one.  :-)  You can enter HERE.

RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance Nominee

Amazon • Kindle • Barnes and Noble • Nook

iBooks • Kobo • Audible • Walmart

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  For today's selection, I've chosen a narrative quote from my latest release, Darkness Rises (Immortal Guardians Book 4) that describes the hero, Étienne, as he battles vampires:

His swords swung like the blades of a propeller, cutting through the vampires as though they were no more than air.

Action scenes are so much fun to write!  :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne