Let the "Dangerous Favor" party begin!

Happy Valentine's Day! (Or almost-Valentine's Day, if you're here on Monday.) And welcome to my online book launch of  Dangerous Favor ! I couldn't think of a better time to share my newest sweet medieval romance with you. I'm giving away prizes, of course, and gifts to everyone who visits (think chocolate!). But first, a little bit about Dangerous Favor :


Here is the back cover blurb:


Mathilde needs a champion.
Her father has been accused of stealing from the king, an allegation that has reduced her family to poverty. She has one chance to find and marry a man who can help her prove her father's innocence. Lord Therri, heir to a rich barony, has the wealth and connections Mathilde needs to delve into the mysteries of her father's past. Furthermore, Therri embodies all her romantic dreams. 
Etienne, the younger son of a disgraced family, has neither wealth nor connections, but is smitten with Mathilde at a glance. She finds the knight intriguing, but believes he is only out to seduce her. While she seeks for a way to win Therri's attention, Etienne tricks her into granting him her favor, an embroidered white ribbon, for a tournament, setting in motion a dangerous chain reaction of events. Can Etienne save Mathilde from a nightmare from her past and prove himself the true hero of her dreams?




And of course, I can't let Valentine's Day go by without sharing a sweet, romantic excerpt with you. (Okay, so I snipped just a couple of words out so as not to give away a tiny bit of the plot, but this scene reads true without them.)
It occurred toMathilde that Etienne might interpret her remark as evidence of herown lack of skill in the kitchen.


She addedhastily, "I am not in the habit of burning something as simple as gruel. Sincemy father was forced to let our cook go, I have been responsible for all ourmeals. Father teases me that if he had known he had such a talented cook for adaughter, he would have turned Gilles off years earlier."

"You cook?" Aflicker of surprise animated his drowsy gaze. With an effort, he drew his rightelbow under him to prop himself up. "Nay, your fragile fingers never wielded aflesh-hook or turned the weight of a boar on a spit."
"Father drafteda scullery boy from the fields to help me lift the heavier pots and to dressgame as large as boars. And my fingers are not fragile!"
"They are soslight I wonder their delicate bones have not shattered 'ere now. Such etherealextremities were intended only for the gentle drawing of an embroidery needleor the sweet plucking of a harp's strings."
"I play theflute, not the harp. And I will prove to you that my fingers are quite strong!"
She crossed thetent, set the bundle of bread and cheese on the stool next to the cot, thengrabbed Etienne's hand and squeezed.
"Mercy, mylady!" he cried.
But his greeneyes twinkled as they had that first night she had met him in Grantamur's hall.Her squeeze had as much effect on his strong, broad palm as she imagined itwould have had on a stone. She flushed with embarrassment at her boast—and withconfusion at the disturbing tremor she felt as his long brown fingers wrappedthemselves about her own.
"Let me go," shewhispered.
"Afraid Therri willsee me holding [your] hand?" he said, echoing her earlier warning. "I supposethat would give him a bit of a jolt."
He laughedsoftly, an utterly disarming sound that caused a catch in her breath.
"I'm not holdingthem tightly, you know," he said after a moment of flustered silence on herpart.
"What?"
"Your fingers. Idon't want to break them. I am only holding them lightly—see?" He lifted herhand, bouncing it slightly as though weighing it in his.He was right. Hecradled her fingers as gently as a mother might cradle her cherished babe.'Twas not by force of strength that he held her trapped, though quiet poweremanated from his touch. If her fingers continued to nestle in his, 'twasbecause she willedthem to.
Somewhere insome far corner of her mind the word seducer whispered. But 'twas more than hismysterious charm that held her now. She did not know why she thought suddenlyof the grey-haired knight and his menacing gaze. But with her hand inEtienne's, the threat of that memory seemed to ebb, replaced with a warmpromise of safety.
To celebrate the release of Dangerous Favor (available now on Amazon), I'm giving away not one, not two, but THREE prize packages!
(1) A Dangerous Favor tote bag containing a Dangerous Favor mug, a Dangerous Favor mouse pad, and a copy of Dangerous Favor (print version), a box of candy, and some swag.

(2) A  Loyalty's Web  tote bag containing a  Loyalty's Web  mug, a  Loyalty's Web  notebook, a copy of  Loyalty's Web  (winner's choice of print or Kindle version), a box of candy, and some swag
(3) An  Illuminations of the Heart  tote bag containing an  Illuminations of the Heart  mug, an  Illuminations of the Heart  notebook, a copy of  Illuminations of the Heart  (winner's choice of print or Kindle version), a box of candy, and some swag
And EVERYONE who enters will receive a 2 oz box of chocolate and some swag (bookmarks, magnets, pen, and a special Dangerous Favor white ribbon).




(**If you already own a copy of Loyalty's Web or Illuminations of the Heart , you may still enter for the other prizes in the package. Just leave a comment with your entry letting me know you already have the book.)
All you have to do to enter is leave a comment on this post.To get your box of chocolate and swag, you must also email me your mailingaddress to jdipastena@yahoo.com, because obviously I can't send you your candyif I don't know where to send it. J (Addresses will not bekept and you will not be added to any mailing lists)
Deadlines for entries is February 14, 7:00 PM MST.



OFFICIAL RULES:NO PURCHASE NECESSARYUSA entries onlyEntrants must be 18 years or olderGiveaway opens February 13, 2012 and runs through February 14, 2012Winners will be selected on February 14. Winners have 48 hours to respond to an email notifying them of their win.Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be reawardedSponsor name and contact info: Joyce DiPastena, jdipastena@yahoo.com or PO Box 673, Kearny, AZ 85137Legal venue: Arizona (no, this doesn't mean you have to be from Arizona to enter!)VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW