Showing posts with label Melanie. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Melanie. Show all posts

Friday, December 16, 2016

Favorite Quote Friday—A Blast from the Past

Happy Friday!  I had a great writing week.  Aidan and his leading lady have been making me smile and laugh a lot.  I hope you'll enjoy reading their story as much as I'm enjoying writing it.  :-)




I'll be giving away an Immortal Guardians and The Gifted Ones Swag Pack or two on my Facebook page this weekend.  I hope you'll drop by and join the fun!



Great news.  Rendezvous with Yesterday has been nominated for Favorite Historical Romance in the 2016 GraveTells Readers Choice Awards.  Woohoo!  If you'd like to cast your vote, voting continues through December 19th, 9PM Pacific Time.  :-)  


Speaking of Facebook . . .  I've been hearing from readers who haven't been seeing my posts as often as they used to.  Those of you who have pages of your own know that Facebook is constantly changing its algorithms and letting pages reach fewer and fewer of the people who have liked their pages.  So I thought I'd share direct links to some of my posts from time to time.  :-)  Here are some of this week's:


And an older post that is still getting attention.  :-)




It's time once more for Favorite Quotes Friday!  Bastian played a role in a scene I just wrote, which brought his book to mind.  So today I thought I'd share a mini-excerpt of Phantom Shadows:
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Seth returned his attention to Bastien.  “You have company.”

Bastien looked at Melanie.

“Not her,” Seth said with exasperation.  “A handful of vampires are headed this way.  You’ll hear them momentarily.”  He reached out and touched Tanner’s shoulder.

“Wait!”

“What?”

Bastien stared at him.  “What are you doing?  Aren’t you going to take Dr. Lipton with you?”

“No.  I want her to continue monitoring you.”

“While I’m fighting vampires?” Bastien asked incredulously.

“She’s been trained.”  Seth looked at Melanie, who nodded she was okay with it.

Then Seth and Tanner disappeared.

Bastien couldn’t believe it.  He turned to Melanie.  “What did he mean you’ve been trained?”

She shrugged sheepishly.  “I can kick ass.”

She said it with such reluctance that Bastien felt a rush of amusement.  His lips twitched as he fought a smile.

“What?” she demanded with a frown.  “You think I can’t?”  She crossed her arms in a defensive pose that only drew his attention to her lovely breasts.

“No, it’s just . . .”  Eyes up.  “You looked so chagrined when you said it, like someone admitting they’d just farted or something.”

She laughed and lowered her arms.  “It just felt weird to say it.  I’ve never been comfortable tooting my own horn.”

Something as simple as her smile should not make his heart race and his body react in unsuitable ways.  It really shouldn’t.

But it did.  It also cast a spell that made it impossible for him to avoid smiling back.

This was not good.
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Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Friday, January 17, 2014

Favorite Quote Friday #117

Happy Friday!  I hope you've had a good week.  2014 has gotten off to a weird, hectic start for me.  I haven't had hardly any time online lately and am now trying to play catch-up.


I'm very happy to say Darkness Rises was chosen as one of Kari's Top 10 of 2013 over at From the TBR Pile!  She gave it a great review when it was released in October.  Here's a snippet:

"I'll start out by saying, this series just keeps getting better and better.  I know I say this every time, but I am so sad when I finish one of these books.  They just don't come out fast enough . . ."

You can read the rest of the review HERE.  


Also, Étienne from Darkness Rises made Carmel of Rabid Reads' Top 10 Book Boyfriends of 2013 list!  She, too, gave it a wonderful review in October:

"It’s been a while since I’ve read a book in one sitting but as soon as I opened Darkness Rises there was just no stopping!"

You can read the rest of the review HERE.


I'm also working on updating my website.  If you visit it, you'll find excerpts, trailers, character interviews (in the free stuff section), contests, the latest news, a brief Immortal Guardians handbook, and more.  If there's something you're interested in seeing on the site that isn't there, I'm open to suggestions.  :-)



Amazon  Kindle  Barnes and Noble
Nook  iBooks  Kobo  Walmart  Audible

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Bastien has been on my mind a lot this week, so I thought I would choose a quote from his book, Phantom Shadows (Immortal Guardians Book 3), for today's selection.  This scene takes place early in the novel and features Bastien and Dr. Melanie Lipton, the heroine:


“How do you feel?” she asked.  

“Like someone dropped an anvil on my head.”

Pretty brow furrowed, she touched his wrist to gauge his pulse and glanced over at the clock on the wall.

Her emotions flowed into him, courtesy of the gift with which Bastien had been born.   So much concern.  He wasn’t worth it.  But he devoured the sweetness of it like a piece of German chocolate pie after a long, long fast.

Relief replaced some of her concern.  “Your pulse is strong.”

And running faster than usual thanks to her nearness and her gentle touch.

I really like the role Bastien plays in Night Unbound and hope you will too.  :-)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Friday, June 7, 2013

Favorite Quote Friday #85

Hi, all!  I hope your week was a good one.


I'd like to thanks everyone who bid and participated in Brenda Novak's Annual Online Auction for Diabetes Research!  The auction raised $335,000 this year, enabling them to pass the $2 million mark!
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I also thought I'd mention that I'll be posting again shortly.  I'm participating in the Bad Boys of Romance Giveaway Hop, which begins today.  Bastien is such a great bad boy that I thought I would feature him.  :-)  There's a giveaway at every stop + a grand prize that includes a kindle and many ebooks, including a kindle copy of Darkness Dawns.

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  As many of you know, Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4, will be released on October 1st.  :-)  All of the major players from the first three books — Darkness Dawns, Night Reigns, and Phantom Shadows — and the novella (Predatory) are back.  So, for today's selection, I thought I would give you a glimpse of what Bastien and Melanie (hero and heroine of Phantom Shadows), as well as Roland (hero of Darkness Dawns), are up to in Darkness Rises:

Melanie winked at Bastien. “I get to keep my eye on you.”

He grinned.  “You always do.  My ass, that is.”

“Because your ass is hot.”

“I know.”

Roland sighed loudly.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne



Friday, March 8, 2013

Favorite Quote Friday #72

Happy Friday!  What a fantastic week!

Here it is:  The cover of Darkness Rises, Immortal Guardians Book 4!  I love it and am so excited!  If you haven't heard, Darkness Rises tells Étienne's story.  I can't wait for you the meet his heroine, Krysta!  Étienne once said, "I do so love strong women."  Well, Krysta is as strong as they come.  ;-)

Darkness Rises, will be released on October 1, 2013, and is now available for pre-order at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.


Phantom Shadows, Immortal Guardians Book 3, has been nominated for Best Adult Book 2012 in the #BBTC — Book Blogger Twitter Con 2013, the first Twitter Based Book Blogger Conference!  If you'd like to vote, you can do so HERE.  :-)

Mad Hatter Reads

I also found a wonderful 4.5 star review of Phantom Shadows given by Mad Hatter Reads.  Here's a snippet:

"If you're a fan of Sherrilyn Kenyon's Darkhunters or Kresley Cole's Immortal's After Dark, then you'll love Dianne Duvall's Immortal Guardians. The series has hot romances, tons of action, and lots of humor . . . Phantom Shadows and the rest of the Immortal Guardians should definitely make it on your TBR list!"

It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Today I thought I would offer you a quote from Phantom Shadows that Traci from Mad Hatter Reads mentioned in her review.  It is spoken by Dr. Melanie Lipton, the heroine:

"If someone has a problem with my feelings for Bastien and thinks I shouldn't get involved with him because they don't like him, they can kiss my merry mortal ass."

It takes a lot of strength to stand up to the many enemies Bastien has made in both the immortal and mortal community.  But Melanie knows this black sheep is worth saving.  :-)



Today is the last day of Bloggers Help Paws With a Cause week.  Paws With a Cause custom-trains assistance dogs for people with disabilities.  Help up raise awareness and donations and enter to win a signed Immortal Guardians book and one of FOUR grand prizes (2 $65 gift cards to an online bookstore of you choice and 2 huge book and swag packs).  You can enter HERE.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne


Friday, February 8, 2013

Favorite Quote Friday #68

Happy Friday!  Whew!  What a busy week!  I heard from my editor, who really really liked Darkness Rises, Book 4 (October 1, 2013).  Woohoo!  Darkness Rises tells Étienne's story and was so much fun to write!  I've also been working on Immortal Guardians Book 5 and am very excited about it.  I won't tell you who it's about, though, until I'm farther into it.  :-)


Look what came in the mail!  Love Letter magazine is a German magazine that revolves around romance novels.  They asked me to write an article about the music found in Darkness Dawns and music I think of or associate with it.  I was very excited to receive my copy, even though I can only read some of it.  I need to brush up on my German.  :-)

I also received author copies of the German translation of Darkness Dawns:  Düstere Zeichen.  Yay!  Another reason to brush up on my German.  ;-)



It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  Today's selection is taken from Phantom Shadows, Immortal Guardians Book 3, and is spoken by Melanie (the heroine) to Bastien (the hero):

"I know as a doctor and a researcher I should find a more clinical way to say this, but that is so cool."

Have wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Thursday, January 24, 2013

Favorite Quote Friday #66

Happy Friday!  I hope you all had a good week!



Predatory is now available for pre-order on Kindle!  Woohoo!  Here's the back cover blurb:

Four of today's most exciting paranormal authors take readers into the thrilling realm of vampires, immortals, and other supernatural beings with a thirst for illicit desire...

Out Of Control by Alexandra Ivy

Ph.D student Angela Locke has a crush on her sexy professor, Dr. Nikolo Bartrev. When she learns he's actually a Sentinel with extraordinary powers, she joins forces with him to catch a psychopath. But soon, their hottest pursuit is of each other...

Ties That Bind by Nina Bangs

Cassie Tyler agrees to sub for her friend at the funeral home where she works. But she gets more than she bargained for when a group of men attack her and a vampire comes to her rescue. . .

In Still Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Immortal Richart d'Alençon can't forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he saved her from a trio of vampires. While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist. . .

High Stakes by Hannah Jayne

When vampire fashionista Nina LaShay's design contest rival is found dead, she's the prime suspect. Sexy photographer Pike is number two. He's the kind of man who makes Nina salivate. But will she have to reveal herself to have him--and to save them both? Or does Pike have a secret of his own?

Predatory will be released on May 7, 2013.  I can't wait!


It's time once more for Favorite Quote Friday!  I thought this week I would offer a narrative quote from Phantom Shadows, Immortal Guardians Book 3, that features Bastien and Melanie, the hero and heroine:

Neither she nor Bastien spoke for a long moment as his gaze roved her like a pair of hands.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Friday, December 14, 2012

Favorite Quote Friday #60


Hi, all!  I'm back.  :-)  Thank you, everyone, for the hugs and prayers and condolences and well wishes you sent my way.  It meant so much to me and helped me through a very rough stretch.  I'm ready to start getting back into the swing of things again, slowly but surely, and thought I would begin with my weekly post.

A lot happened while I was gone.
Phantom Shadows, the third book in my Immortal Guardians series, received a wonderful five-star review from Long and Short Reviews and was nominated for Book of the Month.  Here's a short snippet from the review:

"Phantom Shadows is a real page flipper. There is so much drama, suspense and action of various levels in each chapter that it was almost impossible to put down. There is an incredible amount of detail woven throughout the book that brings the whole world that Ms. Duvall has created into vivid focus. It sucks a reader in so effectively, time ceases to exist." 
Phantom Shadows was also declared a Top Pick by Night Owl Reviews and given a great review.  Here's a quote:

"I have not had the opportunity to read any of the other books in this series at this point. I still enjoyed Phantom Shadows and feel the need to go back and read the others I've missed, as well as continue reading the rest of the series as it continues into the future . . . Phantom Shadows is a book worth taking the time to read. Don't miss it!"
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Phantom Shadows Trailer 1 will be included in You Gotta Read Reviews' December 2012 Video Contest.   It will be posted on December 17th, then voting will take place from December 21st -26th.
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I was thrilled to discover that Robin Covington featured Phantom Shadows Trailer 3 on USA Today's Happily Ever After
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Love Affair With an e-Reader gave Night Reigns, Immortal Guardians Book 2, a fantastic review.  Here's a brief glimpse:

"The story is witty and funny and surprisingly tender.  The scene near the end when Marcus surprises Ami is so swoonworthy and romantic.  I felt myself breathing a deep sigh.  The book was worth it if just for that scene alone.

In a Nutshell:  If you are a fan of PNR, this is a must for your TBR list. Even if you are not, this book is well worth a try."
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Darkness Dawns, the first book in the series, received a wonderful review, too, from Rantings of a Closet Vamp Princess.  Here's a quick look:

"Ms. Duvall’s concept of Immortals was unique. I liked how they differed from vampires . . . The book was fast-paced, action-filled, and held my attention. I had difficulty putting it down. I’ve already purchased the second book, Marcus’s, for my Kindle."
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As I said, a lot happened while I was gone.  :-)  I have other news to share, but will do so a little later.  For now, it's time for Favorite Quote Friday.  I just read back through a scene in Book 4 that featured Bastien and Melanie, the hero and heroine of Phantom Shadows, and made me laugh.  Both characters can be intense and kick butt.  So I thought, for today's selection, I would choose a scene from Phantom Shadows that shows their lighter sides:

Ending the call, he dialed again.

"Hello?"

Lowering his voice to a sleazy whisper, he said, "What are you wearing?"

Melanie's laughter danced over the line.  "Chuck Taylors and nothing else."

Bastien smiled.  "I wish."

Thank you again for all your support.  It really meant a lot to me.  I hope you're all enjoying the holiday season and staying safe and well!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Cover Reveal & Kindle Contest Winners

Happy Halloween!  I have some news to share.


Guess what I found in my mailbox yesterday!  Predatory cover flats!


Here's the blurb for my Immortal Guardians novella, In Still Darkness:

Immortal Richart d'Alençon can't forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he saved her from a trio of vampires.  While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist . . .

Predatory will be released on May 7, 2013 and is now available for Pre-Order at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.  :-)

Thank you so much, everyone who entered my Phantom Shadows – 3 Kindle Giveaway!  For those who were concerned your ebook purchase/purchases wouldn't be counted:  Don't worry.  They counted.  :-)  I used random.org to choose the three winners and have notified them via email.  Without further ado, those winners are:

Bridgett O.

Donna S.

&

Jen

Each winner will have her choice of either a new Kindle or a $75 Gift Card.


Todd, a member of the human network that aids Immortal Guardians, is interviewing Bastien and Melanie, the hero and heroine of Phantom Shadows, for Bitten by Paranormal Romance's Characterfest.  Drop by and enter to win a signed Immortal Guardians book of your choice + swag.  :-)

Have a great day!

Dianne

Friday, October 19, 2012

Alpha Male Blog Hop


It's time to celebrate alpha males in The Alpha Male Blog Hop hosted by Carrie Ann Ryan!  The hop begins today and continues through October 22nd.  Over 200 authors and bloggers are participating, offering up a prize at every stop.  But that's not all....

We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win.

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
(International)
2nd Grand Prize: A $130 Amazon or B and N Gift Card
(International)
3rd Grand Prize: The following Swag Pack!
(US Only)


I happen to love alpha males, both as a reader and as a writer.  I like their strength, their determination.  I like their willingness to do anything and sacrifice everyything to protect those they love.  I particularly like alpha males who prefer strong women.  I even like the bad boy alpha males. 

Sebastien Newcombe, the hero in my latest release – Phantom Shadows, Book 3 in my Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series – has been very bad.  So bad, in fact, that he was a villain when my series began.  Bastien once raised an army of psychotic vampires and waged war with the Immortal Guardians, powerful immortal warriors who seek to protect humanity by hunting and destroying vampires.  Then his world turned upside down and Bastien now must fight alongside the immortals.  Needless to say, his entrance into their ranks is not going well.  Neither the immortals, nor the humans who aid them, are willing to let him forget his dark past and dark deeds.  But much is at stake, and Bastien has never backed down from a challenge.  When he refuses to do so now, Dr. Melanie Lipton raises her voice – and her blades – in his defense, fighting by his side and winning the heart he thought had long since died.
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My Prize
(International)

For my prize, I’m offering a signed copy of Phantom Shadows + Immortal Guardians swag.   


I hope you'll enjoy Bastien and Melanie's story!
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Top Pick
"With a deeply emotional love story, two beautiful, complex main characters and a pulse-pounding adventure that won't let up, this book was haunting and addictive and I loved every page."
~ The Romance Reviews

4.5 stars
“Knowing your enemies is a key concern in the newest installment of Duvall's excellent Immortal Guardians series. Vampires, and the virus that drives them insane, have been the primary threats that our heroes have been fighting against, but there is a new player in town. With this excellent entry, rising star Duvall is fast proving to be a major player in paranormal romance!”
RT Book Reviews

Dr. Melanie Lipton is no stranger to the supernatural. She knows immortals better than they know themselves, right down to their stubborn little genes. So although a handsome rogue immortal seems suspicious to her colleagues, Sebastien Newcombe intrigues Melanie. His history is checkered, his scars are impressive, and his ideas are daring. But it's not his ideas that have Melanie fighting off surges of desire. . .

Bastien is used to being the bad guy. In fact, he can't remember the last time he had an ally he could trust. But Melanie is different – and under her calm, professional exterior he senses a passion beyond anything in his centuries of experience. Giving in to temptation is out of the question – he can't put her in danger. But she isn't asking him. . .
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Trailer


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Excerpt

She stared at him in silence for so long he began to feel a bit self-conscious. “You can feel other people’s emotions?” she asked finally.  

“Yes. And Stuart’s told me he was lying to try to save his ass.”

Again she stared at him.

“What?” he asked when the silence stretched.

“You can feel my emotions? Right now?”

“No. I have to touch you to feel them.”

“So . . .”

He could see her considering it, trying to remember every time he had touched her or she had touched him. At the network. In her car. At David’s. Trying to remember what she might have inadvertently revealed.

“You might have mentioned it. Given me a little warning.”

“Such didn’t occur to me.”

More silence.

“What do you feel when you touch me?” she asked.

Bastien’s attention dropped to her full lips as she licked them anxiously. “Sometimes I feel your concern. Sometimes uncertainty. Clinical detachment. Fear the first time we met.”

“Well, our first meeting was rather . . . explosive.”

That was putting it mildly.

“What else?”

He knew what she sought. “Sometimes my gift tells me you feel what I feel myself every time I look at you. Or think of you. Or touch you.”

Her soft, smooth neck moved with a swallow. “You’re attracted to me.”

“Yes.”

“I’m attracted to you.”

“I know.”

“What are we going to do about it?”
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Contest Details

The contest lasts from Today (October 19th) through October 22, 2012.  The Kindle prize, Gift Card, and my own prize (book + swag) are international.  The Swag Pack is US only.   

Mandatory entry
Leave a comment below with your email address and let me know what you like most about alpha heroes.  Or, if you prefer, why you like beta heroes better.  :-)  Also mention any extra entries.

Extra entries
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  Share this post on Twitter.
+1  Share this post on facebook. 

Selecting a Winner
I will use random.org to choose a winner after verifying all entries and will email the winner by October 24th.  The winner will have one week to contact me.  The grand prize winners will be notified by Carrie Ann Ryan.

Good luck!  And have a wonderful weekend!

Dianne Duvall