Thursday, December 29, 2011

Tortured heros and immortal guardians DIANNE DUVALL CONTEST

JoAnne -- I'm super psyched to have the awesome author of one of my favorite vampire series--Immortal Guardians--Dianne Duvall, here on my blog. She's here today to share news of the latest release Night Reigns. Plus...there's a contest to win a signed copy of Night Reigns! WOOT. Just fill in the rafflecopter at the bottom of the post to enter! Also, check the bottom of the post on details on the Night Reigns virtual book tour where there is a chance to win a Kindle. Without rambling on too much, I'll let Dianne take it away with with her tortured heroes and (squeee) and excerpt!

Thank you, JoAnne, for helping me celebrate the release of NIGHT REIGNS, the second book in my Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series!

I am an avid romance reader and admit that I love tortured heroes. Tortured heroines, too. I like the added complexity the suffering they endured and continue to grapple with brings to a romance, the challenges it adds atop the difficulties the couple already faces from outside sources. Some of my all-time favorite romance reads revolved around tortured heroes and heroines, so how could I resist featuring a few in my Immortal Guardians series?

NIGHT REIGNS features a hero who recently lost the woman he has loved for eight hundred years. Grieving, Marcus now only feels alive when he risks all in battle against the hordes of maddened vampires who prey upon humans. Many readers have told me how much they enjoyed the humor Marcus brought to DARKNESS DAWNS (Book 1). In NIGHT REIGNS, they’ll see a darker side of him, one he thought he was successfully hiding until Seth, the leader of the Immortal Guardians, expresses concern and assigns Marcus a Second to help him find his footing once more.

Ami, the heroine of NIGHT REIGNS, had a horrific entry into the Immortal Guardians world in DARKNESS DAWNS. She suffered six months of grueling physical torture before the eldest immortals rescued her. Though the scars left behind aren’t visible, they are no less real, driving her to question her sanity at times as she struggles to overcome the fear instilled in her by the monsters who hurt her. Ami thinks she is far from being the woman she once was and can’t believe it when Seth assigns her to be Marcus’s Second, taking care of business for Marcus during the day when he must shun the sun and back him up, if needed, at night when he hunts vampires.

Marcus’s grief is soon replaced by admiration as Ami’s prowess on the battlefield astounds him, by attraction as her teasing humor infects him, and by desire as the friendship they find deepens into love. Ami succumbs to all of the same and, as the two contend with the new, deadly adversary threatening the Immortal Guardians, finds within herself a well of strength she never thought to experience again.


Night Reigns

Excerpt

Marcus sighed and silently wished this night would just end already. Gritting his teeth against the pain, he eased himself into a more upright position. The broken bone in his leg was beginning to knit itself back together. All bleeding stopped as cuts began to seal themselves.

Would you like some help with your arm?” Ami asked.

Marcus glanced up to see her soft green eyes shift their focus to his dislocated shoulder. “Sure.”

She was beautiful . . . in a fresh-faced, girl-next-door kind of way. Pale, flawless skin free of make-up. Long lashes that complemented her coppery hair. A short pert nose. Lips that were nice and full, but not freaky plastic surgery full. If he had to guess, he would say she was perhaps twenty years old. Clearly a human. As far as he knew, all gifted ones save one had black hair and brown eyes.

Though small, she was surprisingly strong -- she had supported quite a bit of his weight when she had helped him to the sofa -- and slender, with nicely rounded hips and full breasts he couldn’t help but admire as she leaned forward to aid him and her sweater gaped enticingly, exposing shadowy cleavage and the white lace of her bra.

Inhaling deeply, he closed his eyes. She smelled good, too.

One of her small hands carefully grasped his shoulder. The other took his wrist.

Are you ready?” she asked.

He nodded, thinking her voice -- low and warm -- as appealing as the rest of her.

She gave a quick twist. Pain shot up his arm and through his shoulder. “How’s that?”

Perfect,” he gritted.

Stepping back, she retrieved another bag of blood from the cooler and handed it to him.

Thank you.”

She smiled.

She had a pretty smile. The kind it was damned near impossible not to return.

He certainly couldn’t resist it and felt his lips turn up as he bit down into the bag.

He glanced at Seth. Unease again slithered up his spine at the gleam in the elder’s eyes.

Marcus,” Seth drawled, “meet your new Second.”

Lowering the half-empty bag, Marcus followed Seth’s gaze to Ami.

Her face lighting with curiosity, she looked around as though she expected to see someone enter the room behind her. When no one did, she froze, acquiring a rather deer-in-the-headlights expression of panic. Her gaze flew to Seth’s. As did Marcus’s.

Ami,” Seth said kindly, “I would like you to serve as Marcus’s Second.”

Her lips parted. “Me?” she breathed incredulously.

-- (c) Dianne Duvall, all rights reserved. Shared here with permission from the author.


Night Reigns

Blurb

Ami isn't much for trusting strangers. She has a hard time trusting anyone. But she's no coward, and she's no pushover in the protection department either. So when she comes across a mysterious warrior taking on eight deranged vampires on his own, she doesn't hesitate to save his bacon. Of course, that was before she realized what one little rescue would get her into . . .

Marcus Grayden has been an immortal protector of humanity for eight hundred years, and at the moment he's not interested in backup. From the moment Ami arrives in his life, he can't deny that she's strong, smart, and extremely skilled at watching his back. But she's also destroying his protective solitude and stirring desires he can't bear to awaken. After all, whatever her secrets -- how can she defeat death itself?

Available in print and multiple ebook formats

AMAZON.COM | BARNES & NOBLE | AMAZON.CO.UK

Author Bio

Dianne Duvall earned a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of St. Thomas, where she studied fiction writing, playwriting and poetry writing. Darkness Dawns, the first book in her Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series, was released on February 1, 2011 and has been nominated by RT Book Reviews for the 2011 RT Reviewers' Choice Award for Best Vampire Romance. It was also nominated for Best Paranormal Romance -- Vampire by The Romance Reviews, was deemed a Top Pick by The Romance Reviews, and was chosen as a Best Book by Long and Short Reviews. Night Reigns, the second book in the series, was declared a Top Pick by RT Book Reviews. Phantom Shadows, the third book in the series, will be released in October 2012.

When she isn't writing, Dianne is active in the independent film industry and once even appeared onscreen as a machete-wielding maniac not unlike the vampires she loves to create in her novels.

Find Me on the Internet

Dianne's Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter

Thank you so much for joining me! In addition to the giveaway here, I’m giving away TWO Kindles (or $75 Kindle Gift Cards if you already have one). The contest lasts through December 31st, so there’s still time to enter. Details can be found on my website. Dianne





a Rafflecopter giveaway

17 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for guest blogging over at my place, Dianne! It's an absolute honor to have you here *resists fan-girl squeal* I just love your Immortal Guardian series and am just dying to tuck into Night Reigns. Who ever wins this contest will be a lucky reader indeedy!

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  2. I can't wait to get my hands on this series. Reading the excerpts just whets my appetite to get a hold of it that much faster. Praise to you Diane for creating what seems to be a great series to get myself hooked on!!!!

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  3. Loved the excerpt. Sounds like a great book..thanks for sharing!

    staniszeski3824@comcast.net

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  4. I haven't read any of the series yet, but I've been following the blog tour and I'm excited about this book!

    mljfoland AT hotmail DOT com

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  5. Great post! I really enjoyed Darkness Dawns. I think Night Reigns sounds like an awesome addition to the series. Congrats on the new release!

    Geishasmom73 AT yahoo DOT com

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  6. I'm totally excited about this, cannot wait! Thank you so much for the chance at winning!
    Sebrina_Cassity at yahoo dot com

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  8. I really enjoyed Darkness Dawns. I think Night Reigns sounds like an awesome addition to the series.

    lldpod(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

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  10. This sounds so good. I must get this series started :).
    Thank you.

    Happy New Year!

    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

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  11. I read Darkness Dawns and loved it. I can't wait to read Night Reigns.

    Happy New Year to All.

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

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  12. Great story. I haven't read this series yet, but after this excerpt I want to read it soon. Happy New Year

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  13. JoAnne Kenrick: Thank YOU, JoAnne! I really am thrilled to be here! I’m so glad you liked Darkness Dawns and hope you’ll like Night Reigns!

    cherthib: Thanks! I’m glad you liked the excerpt. I hope you’ll like my Immortal Guardians! Good luck with the contest!

    Dawn: I’m glad you liked it! Thanks for joining us! Good luck!

    ML: Thanks for joing me on my tour! I hope you’ll like Night Reigns! Good luck!

    StacieD: Thanks, Stacie! I’m so glad you enjoyed Darkness Dawns! Good luck with the contest!

    Sebrina: Thanks for joining us, Sebrina! I hope you’ll like Night Reigns! Good luck!

    Lisa D: Thanks! I’m glad you liked Darkness Dawns! Good luck with the contest!

    Victoria: Hi, Victoria! Great to see you here! :-) I hope you’ll like Night Reigns! Good luck!

    booklover0226: Hi, Tracy! Thanks so much for dropping by! I hope you’ll like Night Reigns! Good luck! And Happy New Year!


    Tina Rucci: Yay! I’m glad you liked it! I hope you’ll like my immortals! Good luck! And Happy New Year!

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  14. I have Darkness Dawns, but I need to read Night Reigns! CONGRATS on all the success of your books Dianne! Thanks for the awesome giveaway & Happy New Year's Eve!!!

    yadkny@hotmail.com

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  15. *yadkny*: Thanks so much! Good luck with the contest! And have a Happy New Year!

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  16. I loved Darkness Dawns and have been waiting patiently to read Night Reigns. I am looking forward to reading Marcus and Ami's story. And I hope that we get to learn more about Seth and Roland.

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  17. Patricia: I'm so glad you liked Darkness Dawns! I hope you'll enjoy Marcus and Ami's story. Seth and Roland are both very prominent secondary characters in Night Reigns, so you'll get to know them even more :-) Thanks for joining us!

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