in

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Feature and Giveaway: Phantom Shadows by Dianne Duvall



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 . . .

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository |



Click for more info. 

Dianne Duvall earned a BA in English from the University of St. Thomas and has won multiple awards as a romance writer. Her debut paranormal romance novel Darkness Dawns was awarded 4 1/2 stars by RT Book Reviews, received 5-star reviews and was declared a Top Pick by The Romance Reviews and a Best Book by Long and Short Reviews, and received 5-star reviews from Bitten by Paranormal Romance, Reading Between the Wines, Books and Things and Paranormal Romance Addict. It also won first place in the Romance Writers of America Indiana Golden Opportunity contest, then was chosen as Best of the Best. It is the first book in her Immortal Guardians series.

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

Places to find Dianne:
| Site | Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads |


Don’t miss Dianne’s big kindle contest! In addition to the giveaway here at Ramblings From This Chick, she’s giving away THREE Kindles (or Kindle Gift Cards if you already have one) to celebrate the release of PHANTOM SHADOWS. See her website for details.


Want to win some goodies? Check out what's up for grabs.


Up for grabs:

To Enter:
  • Please leave a comment answering the following question: What are some of your favorite elements in paranormal romance? 
  • Please fill out each Rafflecopter form

Good Luck =)
a Rafflecopter giveaway

95 comments :

  1. Some favorite elements of mine in a paranormal romance would be a good introduction with the right pacing of events, witty dialogue between the characters (whether main or supporting), thrilling and believable action/fight scenes, and vivid display of emotions that make me feel like I'm that character in the book.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Witty dialogue can make such a difference. I particularly like it when the secondary characters entertain me as much as the primary characters.

      Delete
  2. I like the world-building, the fight scenes, the different powers the characters have along with the different shifters, vampires, zombies, etc in the stories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. One of the reasons I love paranormal romance as a writer is the greater freedom it allows me when it comes to world-building. Anything goes. :-)

      Delete
  3. I love how a normal person reacts and then finds a way to deal with situations that are well out of their experience. Be it vamps, or shifters the story is going to be a great read.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Another favorite aspect of paranormal romance for me. I love to see how ordinary men and women react to the extraordinary. :-)

      Delete
  4. I love finding a new twist on an old stereotype, or something that's unique and clever that makes me wish I thought of it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, I hope my series will catch your interest, then. :-) I really tried to approach the traditional vampire romance genre from a new direction.

      Delete
  5. I love watching how the paranormal and normal world can coexist. Why not? I also love the variety of paranormal beings - shifters, vampires, fae, angels, merpeople...(list is only limited by the imagination!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's what I love about paranormal. The list really is unlimited. :-)

      Delete
  6. Hi

    I love PNR and some of my favorite elements are the powers that most have, I like when a heroine does not realize she has powers, I like the history and mythology that most use in their world building.

    Thanks for the chance and congrats on this newest release.

    Pam
    tpibrew@msn.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Pam! Great answer! Finding a way to incorporate actual history into my Immortal Guardians' mythology was a lot of fun. And researching the possible origins of traditional vampire mythology is what sparked the idea to have vampirism caused by a virus in my series.

      Delete
  7. I love the powers of the characters, the fight seens and the sexiness of paranormal romances!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It didn't occur to me until I watched the movie The Avengers that the heroes and heroines in paranormal romances often can technically be considered superheroes. They have awesome powers. Many of them use those powers to do good and to help people. You just usually don't seen them wearing tights and a cape. ;-)

      Delete
  8. I tend to like that the characters in paranormal stories are often unpredictable, adds an element of surprise to the stories.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm the same way. I like unpredictability and love it when something in a book catches me off guard.

      Delete
  9. I love paranormal romance. I love alpha characters and love all the different personalities. I love how they mix the paranormal world with regular world. I also like when they add two or more paranormal creature, like vamps and wolves.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's another thing I like about paranormal romance. It's constantly changing and evolving. At first, it was either vampires or werewolves or ghosts. Now anything and everything goes. You never know who or what you might encounter.

      Delete
  10. Thanks for the great post and congrats to Dianne on the new release! I love all elements of PNR :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Erin! Me, too. I can't think of anything I DON'T like about paranormal romance.

      Delete
  11. I like the world-building and the special powers the characters have.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me, too, as both a writer and a reader. I love to be able to pick up a paranormal romance, open it, and step into another reality.

      Delete
  12. I love how authors make paranormal and the real world exist together. I love vampires or shifters in my PNR books as well.

    susanmplatt AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's fun to imagine how it might work, paranormal beings living alongside ordinary humans. Or how it wouldn't. ;-)

      Delete
  13. I like my paranormals like all my other books with a great connection between the characters. However I expect paranormals to have some otherworldly elements that let me know they are far from real world.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me, too. I like to see a couple meet, get to know each other, and fall in love the way couples normally do while all kinds of crazy paranormal things are happening around them.

      Delete
  14. I love the creative world building, the freedom of giving the characters 'powers' that we don't have, the more intense life/death struggles and all that on top of a great romance.

    Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There really are some awesome life and death struggles in paranormal romance. :-)

      Delete
  15. I love the special abilities the paranormal characters have. I also love the snarkiness! LOL

    Thanks,
    Tracey D
    booklover0226 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. And there are SO many different special abilities they can have. :-)

      Delete
  16. I love that in the paranormal world that anything is possable. Thanks Carin
    mawmom at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do, too, Carin, both as a reader and as a writer. :-)

      Delete
  17. I love the fact that in PNR novels anything can happen and that the stories take me out of my normal day. I am a huge fan of the series and can't wait to read Phantom Shadows! Thanks for the awesome giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Barb! I'm so glad you're enjoying it! I hope you'll like Bastien and Melanie's story! You named the top two reasons I love paranormal romance.

      Delete
  18. I love all the different paranormal beings and the settings. Thanks for the chance to win!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do, too. Paranormals can take readers anywhere and introduce them to a limitless variety of beings. :-) Good luck!

      Delete
  19. other than my usual requirements - romance with an HEA - I like an unusual skill or power for the primary characters.

    sallans d at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  20. The different types of characters

    ReplyDelete
  21. I love the unknown elements that us as readers get to discover as the book goes along. There is nothing typical in a paranormal romance. The books sound really, thanks for sharing with us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks! I hope you'll like them! I, too, like all of the discoveries made in paranormals. You just never know what will come next. :-)

      Delete
  22. I like a lot of twists and turns with a great villan and lots of emotion and some kind of hardship the hero has to overcome before he can have his HEA.
    luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I like all of the above, too. :-) I think Bastien was a great villain before he became a hero. I hope you'll like him!

      Delete
  23. Some of my favorite elements in paranormal romance are definitely the villains and unlimited possibilities in the plot, setting, characters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As a writer, I love the lack of limits in paranormal. I can take my stories and characters anywhere. :-)

      Delete
  24. The freedom to do anything and have a character be anything imaginable.

    ReplyDelete
  25. I love the imaginative worlds, the variety of unusual supernatural beings and the great action found in paranormal romance.

    ReplyDelete
  26. I love that they are a total escape from reality, and I love to imagine living in a world where paranormals exist (although I prefer it if there weren't any zombies or demons around LOL).

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LOL. An absence of demons and zombies would be good. I, too, love the escape from reality, both as a reader and a writer. :-)

      Delete
  27. I like how the paranormal elements are mixed with everyday normal stuff and how this created a whole new different reality for us readers.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love the mixture of ordinary and extraordinary, too. Oddly, I think the touches of normality make the paranormal seem more realistic. :-)

      Delete
  28. the "what if" factor, the magic/mystic/power that is often in them as well as the world building as well as the legend/history creation of the author's world

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. World-building in paranormals is so much fun! There are no limits. Anything goes. :-)

      Delete
  29. I like that there are different beings in paranormals with powers that we can only dream about. Sure lends an extra dimension to a story!

    thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always like to see how characters use their powers. For good? For evil? Solely for the pursuit of their own pleasure?

      Delete
  30. I like the fact that there is a realm of possibilities. The rules shift & new worlds come into play.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I think the endless possibilities is what drew me to paranormals as a writer. Far fewer rules to follow. :-)

      Delete
  31. i loved the special powers that we can only imagine, wish i have one :)

    rosalinarusli at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love to have some of the gifts my immortals have. :-)

      Delete
  32. i love magic in paranormal romance..
    there is no such magic on real life so i can find in paranormal romance books...cool !! :)

    ReplyDelete
  33. I like to see vampires and weres in stories. I like to see the way they mix in with the rest of the world, and how they let their loves/mates know what they really are.

    ReplyDelete
  34. PS: I forgot to leave my email.

    kscathy at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I like to see how the para-norm and the human overcome their prejudices and fears of each other.

    vsloboda(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  36. Love this series. Is there gonna be more after 'Phantom Shadows'? Leann leamei1981@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I love this series!! Bastien all the way!!
    Janice..
    jeighty8@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I love anything in paranormal romance with fur, fangs, and wings! Thanks for the chance to win! I love this series and can't wait to read Phantom Shadows!
    ehaney578 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. The world-building and the characters are some of my favorite elements.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I love that no matter what they look like on the outside, how different they are from normal people, they are still governed by the normal human emotions.

    ReplyDelete
  41. i love paranormal romance especially a vampire story..
    thanks for the chance..btw i love the phantom shadow cover..^^

    icha09 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. I love that authors can create their own worlds. Nothing is impossible. The author can choose what sorts of creatures to include, what "rules/traditions" to follow or disregard, what reason they want to explain the vampirism, shifter ablility, etc.
    Each paranormal or paranormal series can be unique and so it does not get old to readers.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I enjoy how a strong female and a stubborn male butt heads but fall in love. I enjoy how the author puts them in impossible situations that puts them closer together that they fight for one another. Thanks for the giveaway.

    luranker@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. I would say world building, letting the reader know what quirks the different paranormal creatures have.

    ReplyDelete
  45. I love a author that can put shifters and other paranormal beings in a story that is close to everyday things.

    ReplyDelete
  46. i love anything paranormal.i read alot.whould so love anything new to read :)

    ReplyDelete
  47. The differences yet similarities between worlds and how we all adjust.

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love paranormal because it is always unpredictable. You never know what to expect and it always keep you guessing.

    ReplyDelete
  49. i love PNR series because everything can happen in paranormal worlds, i luv shifters,vampires, demons, warriors and angels. thanks for the chance to win ^^

    sunshine_pinkystar(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I love PNR because I want to have their power but ofcourse it'll not happen :D

    ReplyDelete
  51. I enjoy the special abilities or powers in the story.
    Damaris (Maris)

    ReplyDelete
  52. I like when people take traditional paranormals and add an interesting twist - either to their powers or to their generic character traits.

    ReplyDelete
  53. I love the variety of paranormal characters and their various abilities. I also love learning about the history or mythology of the beings!

    angel_bear_ks@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  54. I love that they can do stuff that "humans" cant and there is always good sexual tension.

    blinkysthebest at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  55. I enjoy the world building, the character building, the often life-or-death conflict (and the personal H/H conflict) and, in most of my favorites, having the normal and paranormal worlds existing side by side.

    ReplyDelete
  56. i especially like it if the person is like human and new to the world of paranormal. that way stuff can be slowly revealed and there is a newness to it

    parisfan_ca@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I love that alpha are allowed to be uber alphas with skills and strengths beyond the normal. Also, more than other genres, you find strong-minded and strong willed heroines - they can kick a** in many different ways!

    ReplyDelete
  58. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I like all this stuff: wolves, bites, magic, wings, fire :)
    Thanks for the giveaway!

    ReplyDelete
  60. I like stuff like fight power, magic and fur.
    Thanks for giveaway :)

    ReplyDelete
  61. My favorite thing about the genre is the freedom to build your world wherever you want. In so much Fantasy these days the worldbuilding seems confined to Earth=present day that it's refreshing to find a genre where you can move to another realm or another planet if you like. :) Good luck with the books, Dianne. They look interesting!

    ReplyDelete
  62. I like the different worlds and most of them are series so I love the range of characters you get to know.

    ReplyDelete
  63. Not just paranormal romance, but in all of the genres I read, I really enjoy when at least one character has a sarcastic sense of humor.

    ReplyDelete
  64. I haven't read too much PNR (I lean more towards paranormal and UF), so in the couple series I have read, I prefer a bit more emphasis on the paranormal and I love good, strong secondary character that make me hope there'll be future books about them (have to admit there are a few in the only book by Ms. Duvall I've read, Night Reigns that fit that description). I agree with others that snark and humor are also up there.

    ReplyDelete