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

A woman’s mind is a fickle thing - guest blog with Drea Becraft

I'm pleased to welcome Drea Becraft to my blog. She's brought along Sam from her latest release, Forget the Yesterdays. So brew up a cuppa and get settled, because she's also brought along an excerpt!

Drea is published with Secret Cravings Publisher and Rebel Ink Press.

*hands over blog to Drea*

A woman’s mind is a fickle thing.

I would love to introduce you to Samantha Larsh.

Drea: Hello Sam and welcome. How is Sam?

Sam: Loads better now that her shoulder has healed I have to tell you that girl stole about ten years off my life.

Drea: I know how that one goes. So how is life treating you these days?

Sam: GREAT! I have a job I love and am good at, a woman I love and get to snuggle and do other things *wink* with at night, and a boy that lights up my entire world I couldn’t be

happier.

Drea: Describe your perfect woman will you please?

Sam: I am going to be a smart man and say that Sam is the perfect woman.

Drea: How did you and Sam meet?

Sam: By a total chance of fate but I can’t imagine my life without her in it.

Drea: Does the fact that Kaleb is not the biological yours matter too you?

Sam: Not in the least. That boy is the light of my life. He makes me smile when I am feeling down and looks at me with a love that I never want to be without. Whether he’s my blood or not, he is my son. Always will be.

Drea: Are there more children in your future?

Sam: Oh yeah. I hope many more…okay not many, maybe a few, but not for awhile. I am always up to practice runs until we decide to add another to the family.

Drea: Have you finally gotten over the loss of Tina?

Sam: I don’t know if I will ever get over it, but the hurt feeling gets less and less every day now.

I believe a wise woman once told me that the heart can hold much more love then we think it can.

Drea: If you could make one wish for the future what would it be?

Sam: To live a long happy life with my family and friends. I never really realized how much good health meant until recently.

Drea: Do you have anything else to add?

Sam: Nope. I think that about does it, thanks for coming and talking with me now I am off to

pick up Kaleb from Mrs. White and get food on the table.

Forget The Yesterdays

Release Date: September 12, 2011

Word Count: 31,851 | Heat Index

Amazon | B&N | ARe | Bookstrand | Secret Cravings Publishing

Some say the past defines us, others say to forget it and move forward. For Jack McCloud, the past plagues him with what could and should have been. After the death of the only woman he ever truly loved, Jack finds that forgetting the yesterdays is harder then he ever imagined. Impossible, until one woman comes into his life and turns it upside down making him rethink where his future leads, and whether he really wants to

survive it on his own.

Samantha Larsh, a single mother, only wants what is best for her and her newborn son.

So when offered a job at ARC Management, she is elated at the opportunity to provide

the life they both desperately need. One day, one job, and one secret later her life would

be forever changed. Can the future handed to her by fate be enough for her to look

forward to tomorrow, or is she forever doomed to live in the shadow of yesterdays ghost

Excerpt:

His dream began with the sound of the surf reaching his ears, the sunlight gently shining

through his closed eyes.

“Are you just going to lay there?”

Peeking through his lashes, he saw Tina. “I was working on my tan.”

“As if you aren’t already too good looking. The last thing you need is a tan.”

Grabbing her hand, Jack pulled her down on top of him, holding her to his chest. “It’s

been a couple of months. I missed you.”

“You know I have places to go and people to see.”

Reaching up, he tucked a piece of her auburn hair behind her ears. “Too busy to haunt

little old me, huh?”

“Never!” Leaning down, she kissed his mouth, running her tongue along the seam of his

lips, asking silently for entrance.

Jack pulled her tongue into his mouth and sucked on it lightly, at first, then more

forcefully. Running his hands up and down her bikini-clad body, he reveled in the feeling

of her skin beneath his hands.

Pulling away slightly, Jack looked up to her face as the sun shown behind her, giving her

the appearance of having a halo. Tears shown in her eyes, making him wonder why she

was so sad. They were on a beach together, nothing could be better.

Reaching up, he brushed the tear from her cheek. “What’s the matter darlin’?”

“I’m going to miss you so much.”

“What are you talking about? We always have tomorrow.”

“I can’t keep coming to you, Jack. It’s time you move on. I want you to be happy.”

“I won’t be happy without you. I can’t be happy without you.”

“Yes you can and you will. Promise me you will move on.”

Turning his face away from her, he watched as the surf receded into the sea. Feeling her

small hand cupping his cheek, he allowed her to bring his face back to hers.

“Please, Jack, for me.” A tear ran down her cheek, hitting him just below his nose and

running down his lips.

Licking the tear away, he ran his hands up her arms to the back of her head, pulling

her down to meet his hungry lips. Kissing her with every ounce of love in his body, he

couldn’t stop, like a man possessed. Never leaving the kiss, he rolled over on top of her,

her back in the sand.

Pulling away from her mouth had been about the hardest thing he ever had to do, but

he couldn’t resist looking into her hazel eyes. “I can’t promise, because I never want to

break a promise to you T. I will try my best… that I can promise you.”

“That’s all a girl can ask for.”

“I will never stop loving you, never.”

“I’m not asking you to. I believe there is enough love in your heart for more than one

though.”

“I seriously doubt it. No one is you Tina, you’re the one I need and want.”

“I know but sometimes, the heart knows what it can and cannot handle before the brain

catches up. Trust your heart baby, it will never steer you wrong.”

A loud beeping sound seemed to come from the waves, getting louder and louder with

each beep.

“Its time for you to go, I love you. Always have, always will.” Kissing him, she

disappeared in front of his eyes.

Beep! Beep! Beep!

Reaching for the alarm clock, Jack pressed the snooze button and sat up in bed. Blinking

to clear his eyes, he could have sworn he saw Tina standing in the corner of his room,

waving goodbye.

“I love you, always have, and always will.” Jack smiled at her as once again she

disappeared, leaving him to stare at the empty room.

-- (c) Drea Becraft, all rights reserved.

Writing is like really good sex once you get one release under your belt you have to have more and more and more. ~Drea Becraft