Blade of Darkness Excerpt, News & Reviews

Happy Friday!  It's been another exciting week!

Thank you!  Thank you!  Thank you for making Blade of Darkness a USA Today Bestseller!!!  I know this wasn't my first indie release, but it was my first Immortal Guardians indie release.  So seeing Aidan and Dana's story hit the list even higher than the previous books was both a thrill and a relief.  You've all been so supportive of my switch from traditional publishing to indie publishing.  That means the world to me!   

And thank you for your comments on Facebook, on the Blog Tour stops, and in your emails!  I'm very happy that you liked Aidan and Dana together so much!  I love that the story made you laugh.  I'm also weirdly pleased that it made some of you tear up.  😀  With every book I write, I always have about half a dozen favorite scenes.  And I see many of you mentioning the same scenes and the same characters' actions.  Zach.  Roland.  Dana with a tranq gun.  😀

Thank you, too, for the absolutely fabulous reviews you've been posting on Amazon!  I've never received so many so quickly before!  I love that some of you mentioned liking Dana so much that she was someone you could see yourself being friends with.  That's one of the best things a writer can hear.  And reviews are important to writers.  They encourage Amazon to recommend the book to other readers.  They help new readers choose to give the series a try.  And, of course, they make writing worthwhile by simply letting authors know the story entertained you.  😊

I also learned that Blade of Darkness was Tantor Audio's #1 New Release last week.  So a huge thank you goes out to audiobook fans of the series!  I just finished listening to the audiobook myself, and Kirsten Potter did yet another amazing job narrating it. 

Fantastic reviews continue to roll in on blogs as well.  Here are some of the latest:

Lucy Dosch wrote a wonderful feature on Blade of Darkness for Heroes and Heartbreakers. 

Again, I love that Aidan and Dana's story made so many of you laugh!  Thank you, Book Born, for a great review!

Shameless Book Club gave Blade of Darkness a great review, too, and mentioned some favorite quotes. 

Jeris Book Attic gave Aidan and Dana's book a fabulous review as well.  Her favorite quote in the book also happened to be one of my own. 😀

A USA Today Bestseller
Available in ebook, paperback and audiobook

Audible • Kindle • Kobo • Nook • iBooks • Amazon CA

Amazon UK • Amazon DE • Amazon AU • Amazon FR

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  For those who haven't picked up the book yet, I thought I'd give you a brief excerpt (18+) of Blade of Darkness that features the hero and heroine:

_______________________________________

Smiling, she motioned to the bed. “You recognize this place?”

He nodded, his eyes acquiring an amber glow. “This is where we made love in your vision.”

Her pulse picked up. “So it is.” What the hell was wrong with her? She had just had the scare of a lifetime—two actually—but suddenly could think of nothing but the feel of Aidan’s hands on her, tugging her shirt over her head so he could touch bare skin, teasing her nipples and tantalizing her with his tongue.

Heat flashed through her.

“Shall I tell Heather we’d like another room?” he asked.

Dana shook her head.

He took a step toward her. “Do you want me to sleep on the floor?”

Again she wagged her head from side to side, staggered by the desire that suddenly coursed through her.

Aidan slowly approached her. “What do you want?” he asked softly.

“Honestly?”

“Honestly.”

“I want you,” she stated boldly. “Naked. I want to feel your bare body against mine.”

His eyes brightened with amber light. “Dana,” he whispered, his voice deepening as he drew close enough to touch.

“I think,” she said breathlessly as she tilted her head back to look up at him, “that I’m doing that thing where—after narrowly escaping death—you feel a sudden, driving need to reaffirm life.”

He settled his hands on her hips and squeezed as though he wanted desperately to let those hands go exploring and was barely keeping them in check. “Don’t tempt me, sweetheart.”

Easing forward, she leaned her body into his. “I’ll tempt you and more,” she promised, sucking in a breath when he slid his large hands around and down to cup her ass.

Both moaned when she rose onto her toes and arched against the hard length behind his fly.

_______________________________________

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Blade of Darkness—Excerpt, Giveaway & Reviews

Happy Friday! As you've probably guessed, it's been a very exciting week. :-) 

Thank you for making Blade of Darkness a #1 Amazon Bestseller both here and in Canada!  You're the best! You really are. :-)  And thank you for your comments on Facebook!  I can't believe how fast some of you read it, and have been grinning big since Tuesday.  I'm so glad you enjoyed it!  I write because it's something I truly love to do.  But I want so badly to entertain you and give you a good read at the same time.  I just can't say enough how thrilled I am that you're enjoying Aidan and Dana's story so much.  I hoped you would.  And if you haven't had a chance to read it yet, I hope you'll like it when you do.  :-)

That goes for audiobook lovers, too.  Thanks to you, Blade of Darkness has rocketed up Audible's bestseller list.  I had to snap a pic of this, because I've been a fan of Christine Feehan for years, so seeing my audiobook on the bestseller list beside hers was a special treat.  I've downloaded the audiobook myself and began listening to it last night.  As usual, Kirsten Potter is doing a fantastic job narrating.  If you haven't had a chance to listen yet, I hope you'll enjoy it!  :-)

More fantastic reviews have rolled in for Blade of Darkness.  Thank you, everyone who has left a review on Amazon and Goodreads.  I appreciate every one of them, because they're so important for helping other readers find my books.  I plan to start sharing snippets of those here on my blog and on social media soon.  More than anything, I love to hear that I made you laugh.  Your tales of drawing odd looks or getting into trouble at work because you laughed so hard at this or that made me laugh, too.

Here are a few more reviews that have been popping up on some of my favorite blogs:

I think I may have said this on Tuesday, but I'm always happy to hear that readers who are new to the series have no difficulty jumping in without getting lost.  :-)

Read the Full Review Here.

Read the Full Review Here.

Read the Full Review Here.

Read the Full Review Here.

Remember when I mentioned I'd launch a giveaway to celebrate the big release over on Facebook?  Well, there's still time to enter to win signed copy of Shadows Strike, a Blade of Darkness mug and a cool Blade of Darkness pillow.  But the giveaway ends tonight, so hop over to My Facebook Page and enter soon.

And don't forget to join me on my Blog Tour, where you can enter to win a $50 Amazon Gift Card, a $25 Amazon Gift Card, or an Immortal Guardians Swag Pack.  Here are some more stops you may have missed:

From the TBR Pile

Excerpt

Ramblings From This Chick

Author Post

Top 5 Must-Have Ingredients for a Great Romance

Books and Things

Excerpt

Book Born – Author Post

Top 5 Reasons Immortal Guardians Make the Best Book Boyfriends

Lynn’s Romance Enthusiasm

Excerpt

Reading in Pajamas

Author Post

Top 5 Reasons I Write Paranormal Romance

Ever After Book Reviews

Excerpt

Thank you, everyone who pre-ordered Blade of Darkness!!  The winners of my Pre-Order Giveaway are . . .

Karri Fisher — $50 Amazon Gift Card

Ashley Workman — $50 Amazon Gift Card

Christine Connolly — Immortal Guardians Prize Pack

Congratulations!!! 

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Paperback

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Audiobook
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It's time for Favorite Quote Friday!  Instead of a quote, I thought I would share an excerpt of Blade of Darkness with you that features the hero and heroine—Aidan and Dana.  Just a note:  This one is for those aged 18+.  :-)

_____________________________

Dana’s shower didn’t last long.

Aidan waited in the hallway, so concerned about her that he didn’t even ponder how alluring she must look, smoothing soapsuds all over her delectable body.

The bathroom door opened. Balmy, humid air wafted out and embraced him.

Dana stopped short when she saw him. Dark, wet hair bracketed a pretty face free of makeup. Her smooth, pale skin glistened with a hint of moisture, much of it exposed by the fluffy white towel she had wrapped around herself sarong style. The end was tucked between her breasts, drawing his gaze to her tempting cleavage. Most of her shapely legs were left bare by the towel, which barely covered her bottom.

Even as tired and anxious as he was, Aidan felt his body harden, which meant—

“Your eyes are glowing,” she mentioned, voice hushed.

Damn it. Bending, he grabbed the handles of his duffel bag. “I’ll only be a minute.”

Nodding, she stepped aside.

Aidan felt her gaze as he entered the bathroom but didn’t look at her again before he closed the door. Disrobing at preternatural speeds, he showered equally fast, then donned the black T-shirt, boxers, and cargo pants he found in the duffel bag. His feet he opted to leave bare for now. After taking a moment to drag his hands through his wet hair, he tucked all his bloodstained clothes in the duffel, zipped it, grabbed his boots and opened the bathroom door.

Dana swore softly, out of sight. A rustle of clothing ensued.

When Aidan entered the bedroom, Dana stood with her back to him, naked save for a pair of lavender-and-black plaid shorts.

Aidan’s hand clenched around the duffel bag’s handles as he stared at her back. Smooth and soft he knew from the times he had slipped his hands beneath her shirt, it tapered down from her shoulders to a narrow waist, the sides of her full breasts visible when she raised her arms and hastily tugged a lavender tank top over her head.

Pulling the hem down to meet the shorts, she turned to face him. “Wow. When you said you’d only be a minute, you weren’t exaggerating.”

Dana usually dressed conservatively compared to the young women Aidan saw on television and on college campuses who wore pants cut so low you could see their butt cracks, and shirts with necklines that dipped so low he was surprised their nipples didn’t show.

To see Dana now in shorts so short they barely covered her lovely bottom and a tank top that clung to her form and revealed more cleavage than usual thoroughly scattered his thoughts.

“What?” he asked belatedly.

She pulled her damp hair out of the front of her tank top and flipped it around to settle against her back. “I said that was fast. It literally only took you a minute.”

Wet splotches darkened her tank top in places. The hard beads of her nipples pressed against the light fabric. Sooooo tempting.

He forced his gaze up to her face. “I’m sorry, what?”

She grinned. “Thank you.”

He raised his brows. “For what?”

“For making me feel normal again. For making this—you and me—feel normal again.”

He lifted one shoulder in a shrug and sent her a rueful smile. “I can’t help it. You take my breath away.”

“I could say the same thing,” she responded.

He glanced down, then up again. “I’m fully clothed, except for my bare feet.”

“And even fully clothed, you take my breath away,” she admitted with a smile.

_____________________________

Just a reminder:  If you haven't picked up a copy of the ebook, this is the last week you can save $1.  Sunday it will return to the regular price.  

Thank you all so much for making this another fantastic release week!!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

It's Release Day for Blade of Darkness!

Blade of Darkness is LIVE!  That's right—Aidan and Dana's story is now available in paperback, eBook and audiobook! Woohoo!! 

ebook

Kindle • Nook • Kobo • iBooks • Amazon CA
Amazon UK • Amazon DE • Amazon AU • Amazon FR

Paperback

Amazon

Audiobook
Audible • Amazon

Return to the “utterly addictive” (RT Book Reviews) world of New York Times bestselling author Dianne Duvall’s Immortal Guardians.

Dana Pembroke has been able to glimpse the future of those she touches for as long as she can remember. But she never saw Aidan coming. When the tall, dark Celt with the charming grin yet world-weary eyes walks through her door, the future she sees for him is one full of violence, danger, deception… and passion. Because amidst the terrifying battles that unfold in her visions, she also sees herself in Aidan’s arms and in his bed. Dana knows she should keep her distance, but the tender moments and laughter they share entice her even as she finds herself thrust into a world of vampires, immortals, and other preternatural beings.

Immortal Guardian Aidan O’Byrne has been hunting and slaying psychotic vampires for nearly three thousand years, so visions of bloody battles don’t trouble him. The battles Dana foresees, however, show Aidan’s brethren turning against him, so he can’t help but feel alarmed. While he spends as much time as he can with Dana, struggling to decipher her dire predictions, Aidan finds himself utterly smitten. Hope rises that he has finally found a woman who can banish the darkness and loneliness that plague him. But when vampires begin targeting Dana and a powerful enemy spawns chaos, will fate grant them time to find happiness together?

The first reviews are beginning to roll in and I couldn't be more thrilled!

Thank you, Linda, for the wonderful review at Reading Between the Wines Book Club!

“Aidan is one hot, funny, strong and loyal Scot. Dana is amazing. She’s powerfully gifted, level-headed and single. Ooh la la! Their chemistry is sizzling from the get-go . . . I alternately laughed, swooned and fretted with them as forces interfered with Aidan’s wooing efforts by wreaking deathly havoc."

Thank you, Kari, for the fantastic review at The TBR Pile!

“Dana is the perfect match for [Aidan]. I loved them together . . . all these books are amazing.”

Thank you, Buffy, for fabulous review at Buffy's Ramblings! I'm so glad you liked it!

“Dana is just plain amazing. She is very strong willed and practically fearless . . . My VERY favorite part of this book is the "Aidan test". I laughed so hard out loud that my husband not only looked at me weird, but actually asked about it. SO GOOD!"

Thank you, Vanessa, for the great review at The Jeep Diva!

“Dana sees plenty when it comes to Aidan. She sees him fighting feverishly with swords and other men who fight back just as zealously. She sees herself with him in moments of passion. Most importantly Dana sees the charming man he truly is."

Dana’s eyes flew open.

Aidan’s big warm body still spooned around hers, his front glued to her back. The arm he had wrapped around her was heavy and relaxed. His muscled chest rose and fell with deep, even breaths.

She frowned. What had woken her?

The faint illumination that filtered in from the streetlight out front didn’t allow her to see much farther than the bedside table.

Easing Aidan’s arm off her, she sat up and reached for the cell phone she usually kept by the bed at night but didn’t find it.

She must have left it downstairs.

Opening the top drawer in the table, she felt around until her fingers closed around her iPod. Pressing the power button, she slid her thumb across the screen to unlock it.

Pastel wallpaper lit up the screen, along with the time: 3:57.

Looked like they’d slept for several hours.

She glanced at the battery indicator. Red instead of white. Seven percent battery power left. That should be enough to help her fetch her cell phone.

Rising, she tiptoed out of the bedroom and into the hallway.

The house seemed to slumber, too, encapsulating her in quiet. Even the air conditioner made no sound.

Moving toward the stairs, she turned on the iPod’s bright flashlight.

Much better. She hadn’t wanted to turn it on in the bedroom and risk waking Aidan.

Descending the staircase, she passed the door she had forgotten to close earlier and entered her shop. All seemed quiet there, too.

Padding forward, toes curling against the cold wood floor, she found her cell phone where she had left it on the counter before all hell had broken loose.

No new calls or texts had come in.

Hmm. So what had awakened her? She was usually a pretty sound sleeper and had assumed her phone had chimed.

Perhaps Aidan had shifted and inadvertently nudged her awake?

Could be. She hadn’t slept with anyone in quite a long time, so she wasn’t used to having a big warm body in bed with her.

Glancing up, she froze.

Faces peered at her through the bay window.

Sneering, blood-splattered faces that housed long, sharp fangs and glowing eyes.

Oh, crap. Vampires. A lot of them.

They smiled in unison.

Spinning around, Dana raced for the stairwell. “Aidan!” she screamed.

Glass shattered behind her.

To celebrate the big release, I'll probably launch a giveaway (in addition to my Blade of Darkness Blog Tour giveaway) over on My Facebook Page. Facebook has changed its algorithms again and has decreased all pages' reach so much that I don't think even 1% of the lovely readers who have liked my page see my posts now. So pop over every once in a while this week to make sure you don't miss it. :-)

Thank you so much, everyone who pre-ordered Blade of Darkness. I'll post the winners of my Pre-Order Giveaway on Friday.  Until then, I hope you will all enjoy Dana and Aidan's story!  I can't wait to hear what you think of it.

Dianne