Winter Solstice Giveaway

In Honor of the Winter Solstice - - 

We wanted to host a celebration giveaway for our Friends/Followers.  Thank you all for your support in our site.  We hope to continue on in the next years only making our site better with more interviews, contests, giveaways, and reviews. 

This is an easy entry contest – Here's the rules: (doing all 3 counts as 1 entry)

1 - You have to be a follower on our blog with Google Friend Connect – www.seducedbybooks.blogspot.com

AND

2 - You have to comment on the post below – tell us “what is your favorite holiday food?” (appetizer, entrée, dessert, etc)

AND

3 - Send your email address – either leave it in your comment or email it to us at seducedbybooks@gmail.com

Jenn: I have to have sausage cornbread stuffing – it’s my mom’s recipe, I’ve had it at every holiday as far back as I remember.  I make it now to share with my kids and it’s become our family tradition. A holiday just isn’t the same without it, and if you invite me over, you can bet I’m bringing it as a side dish for your party too J

Amy:  Cookies are my favorite, actually, Peanut Butter Kiss cookies are my ultimate favorite.  Each holiday, especially in the winter, I make dozens of different types of cookies.

For Extra Entries – (you have to list in your comment what you did/have below)

+1 Follow us on Twitter – give us your twitter account

+1 Like us on Facebook – give us your name on facebook

+1 Share this contest on facebook, twitter, or your own blog and leave the link in your comment below.

+1 add up your entries

Ok, so now you know the rules – here are the prizes J J

There will be 10 winners –

1 lucky random winner will get a $20 Amazon gift card, plus 2 signed bookmarks, 4 non-signed bookmarks. 

9 other lucky random winners will get random author swag – we have some signed bookmarks, regular bookmarks, and some more stuff on the way. 

Our swag is from some of our favorite authors, all in our favorite paranormal genre. 

This is open to international followers as well – if you win the gift card, Amazon has to be able to ship to you, there is not a substitute.


Contest ends Dec 30th, you have to leave your comment by then.  We will announce the winner on Dec 31st - New Years Eve.  

A Scarlet Past by Evanne Lorraine

As World War II heats up, so does the secret battle on the home front. For two touch-starved werewolf warriors, mating is more than pleasure—it’s a matter of survival. Vivian heals the fissures in Fergus’s humanity. Though he saved Vivian’s life, she’s an Alpha bitch unable to meekly submit to any male. Both try to dominate the other, when surrendering to their deepest desires is the only chance of victory. (courtesy of Amazon)


This book is a short - a prequel to the series Treeland Pack by Evanne Lorraine, the first book A Taste of Scarlet is due out January 2011.  


Given that it was a prequel, I expected a quick set up.  Lorraine promises erotic paranormal, and she definitely gives us that. This book has many great provocative sex scenes.  Fergus and Vivian are hot together, two alphas hooking up, you can't beat that.  If you are looking for just that, this short will get you a fix.  


From a story line basis, I get the feeling the next books could go in ANY direction and it makes me want to check it out.  I was a little disappointed in the setting - supposedly in the WWII era, they seemed to have a lot of modern conveniences.  The character set up was simple and led you on their path of forming a relationship, but I didn't have a chance to get attached.  Aside from learning about our characters and beginning their relationship, there wasn't much of an intriguing plot.  Again, I can completely expect this prequel to be more of a long prologue and our first book is going to hit the ground running.  If Lorraine keeps up the heat, I'll at least dive in for a little enjoyment.  

Don't let the cover fool you, this is definitely not sci-fi, it's werewolf paranormal, with sexy nips :) Snag it up for Kindle .99 cents right now at Amazon


2 slices

    

Demon's Fall by Karalynn Lee

She was an angel at the gates of Hell.

When Kenan, an incubus, finds a caged angel for sale in the Hellsgate marketplace, he sees her as a challenge. Certain that his skills in seduction will work as well on a heavenly creature as they do on mortal women, he buys Jahel, intent on having her soul as a novelty in his collection.

Knowing he must gain Jahel's trust if she is to come to his bed willingly, Kenan treats her more as his guest than as his slave. When she reveals what brought her to the mouth of Hell in the first place—retrieving the soul of a young girl she was guarding—he even offers to help her complete her mission.

Though he has promised Jahel freedom, Kenan soon realizes she has captured his heart instead. And as their passion for one another grows, they find themselves caught in a struggle between Heaven and Hell, one that will lead them to the very edge of the apocalypse...(courtesy of Amazon)

Sinfully, sexy story - just the way we like them. I was very impressed with Karalynn Lee's book Demon's Fall.

Lee's taken the best of both worlds and crashed them into one book, then topped it off with some hot, seductive scenes.  Definitely not afraid to give us what we crave and are often too afraid to admit it (well, not Amy and I though.) Angels are cocky, but not prude, a definitely livable representation.  When our beautiful Jahel is captured, she wants only to be free to finish her task.  Lee's set up an innocence in Jahel, to do the right thing, but that doesn't interfere with her desires.  And isn't that how it should be... 

Lee doesn't leave us with just a 'dirty angel', she has also given us the mystery to unfold of who is trying to start the armageddon and what is Jahel's involvement.  Enthralling ride through the story.  Of course, we can't forget Kenan, who I felt was my average next door demon, an incubi just doing what he does best...and it certainly seemed that way.  

While you can't have Angels and Demons with out representation of Heaven and Hell, Lee has taken great efforts to do that right as well.  Perfectly, not over religious, just a wonderful fantasy read; quick, hot and thorough.  

4 slices

Demon's Fall (click here to purchase through Amazon.com)

The Wolven by Deborah LeBlanc

Someone—or something—is systematically murdering the members of Danyon Stone's werewolf pack. As Alpha, he knows that finding and punishing the murderous entity is his responsibility, and he's not about to rest until he sees justice done. But to stop the slayings he has to accept help from the most unlikely source—a wickedly sensual mortal woman.

Mystic-shop owner Shauna MacDonald has a special interest in the recent string of otherworldly deaths. As the Keeper of the werewolves, it's her duty to guard and protect the packs. Working by Danyon's side to stop an unknown killer—and trying to deny the potency of their illicit attraction—poses a threat to her heart unlike any she's ever known, ;and if she becomes the killer's next target, it could be the death of her….(courtesy of Amazon)


Book 3 in this Keepers series, The Wolven, definitely got me back on track.  I was disappointed with book 2, but book 3 really brought it home for me.  All 3 were written by different authors and I thought LeBlanc did the series well. 
LeBlanc took Shauna – our youngest sister of the Keepers – who we were only briefly introduced to, and gave her determination, pride, and strength.  Shauna may be the youngest but she shows her grown up side in this book.  The interesting thing about this book is that it was filled with action, mixed with a little mystery, a side of quick romance, and sexy scenes for dessert.  It’s a 4 course meal for sure. 
I was pleasingly caught off guard when our mystery was solved.  As we are lead through the story you are sure you are on the right track, when you take an interesting and shocking twist.  A thrill ride to be shared.  Danyon, only introduced to us in Book 2, was exactly what he needed to be and when he needed to be it; leaving of course, Shauna to be the leading lady.  I also enjoyed that the other characters were not forgotten, but they did not cloud this book.    
Quick read with great grab - 4 slices

The Shifters by Alexandra Sokoloff

Charged with overseeing the shapeshifters of New Orleans, Caitlin MacDonald has her reasons for being wary of their kind. So when charismatic bounty-hunting shifter Ryder Malloy blows into town claiming to be on the trail of a horde of malevolent entities called Walk-Ins, Caitlin has no reason to trust him—with her city or her heart. But as tourists start dropping dead from supernatural possession, Cait must team with Ryder to navigate his shadowy, ephemeral world…

Fiercely independent, Ryder usually hunts alone—but this case requires an exception. To prevent a supernatural massacre, he needs the beautiful Keeper on his side—and, if possible, even closer. In his world, appearances can be deceiving and deadly. And the only way they'll survive is if this woman who tempts him like no other trusts in him completely….(courtesy of Amazon)


Book 2 in the Keeper series – I have to say I was disappointed with this one.  Caitlyn is definitely full of prejudice we learned in the first book, it was wrong and annoying that she hated vampires so, but in this book, she is evolved to be disgusted with shifters (her charge to protect).  Maybe her character could have become likable if she didn’t act so immature.  Her older sister Fiona was the star in the first book.  She can see potential in Caitlyn.  I thoroughly enjoyed the first book, and probably Fiona’s positive vibe in this story helped me through it.  I plan to read book 3 this week so I wanted to give book 2 the chance. 


Aside from the character, I felt that this plot was a little overdone.  It lacked the mystery and engagement of the first one.  Ryder couldn’t hold my heart either, though I wanted greatly for him to hold a piece of my heart, I just couldn’t get myself wrapped around him.  I wanted a bit more from him.  With only a little heat in the book, I have to give it only 2 slices.  On to book 3, The Wolven, written by Deborah LeBlanc. 


2 Slices

The Keepers by Heather Graham

At the core of New Orleans lie the otherworldly vampires and shape-shifters that hide in plain sight among mankind. As one of the Keepers, an elite group possessing superior skill and strength, Fiona MacDonald's duty is to maintain peace in a place where one vampire's bite could ignite war. When Detective Jagger DeFarge, a vampire, is called in at the discovery of a body drained of blood, both the detective and Fiona must join uneasy forces.

Jagger will stop at nothing to find the murderer— including working with the sensual and suspicious Fiona. As more die, it becomes clear that this isn't the work of an ordinary vampire. No one is safe. So when the killer's attention turns to Fiona, will Jagger risk destroying his own species to protect the woman he so passionately desires?
The Keepers: Three extraordinary sisters, balancing the duties of their birthrights and the yearnings of their hearts…(courtesy of Amazon)

There are 3 Books in this Keepers series – This is book 1 (The Keepers), books 2 and 3 will be reviewed shortly (The Wolven and The Shifters), which are not written by Heather Graham, she teamed up with Deborah LeBlanc and Alexandra Sokoloff. 

This view on the supernatural world in New Orleans is extremely enthralling.  These sisters are unique with interesting and valuable abilities – Fiona is our oldest sister and has hardened herself over the last 2 years.  Graham has written Fiona to be strong willed and yet at the same time I felt vulnerable.  She is blinded by who she blames for the death of her parents. 

We are set to find a serial killer that could either be a vampire or ‘something else’, preying on beautiful blondes.  Working with Detective Jagger puts Fiona on high alert to her feelings for him.  Jagger is one hot vampire, set out to bring justice to this killer, even if it’s one of his own. 

Graham definitely knew when to turn up the heat.  She kept the storyline twisting and turning while giving us the steamy element of the forbidden romance.  Fiona has to come to terms with her feeling of placing blame as it blinds her to be open minded and she is still working hard to align herself as a Keeper.  Jagger is working hard to keep her safe, well and maybe that’s not all. 

The twist at the end was definitely not expected.  Well done!

4 Slices

Last Sacrifice by Richelle Mead

Murder. Love. Jealousy. And the ultimate sacrifice. Now, with Rose on trial for her life and Lissa first in line for the Royal Throne, nothing will ever be the same between them. (courtesy of goodreads)

Let me just say that Vampire Academy is my ALL time favorite Young Adult Read (I feel like it shouldn’t even be classified as Young Adult but I realize that is ages 18-25). 

I LOVE this series. 

Last Sacrifice is an intensely emotional and a wild ride mystery read.  Mead has kept her readers involved and on their toes once again.  As this book ends the series, I can only hold my breath waiting for the spin off series due out sometime in middle/late 2011 because her characters have come to hold such a part of my heart from the very first book (titled Vampire Academy).

In this book, our lead bad girl, Rose, has to fight to prove her innocence, find a missing person linked to save Lissa, protect the ones she loves, and determine who is her true love.  That’s a typical day in the life for Rose.  She has definitely grown in this series and I was ready for her to get her final day/reward.  I will hope to get cameo’s from her in the spin off, but Rose has been battling for everything she has since our first book.  Dimtri is tasked to watch over Rose, where will it lead them?  (I’m not giving spoilers, well trying not to) They have no choice but to fight their way.  Lissa has also grown in the series, and is ready to accept her changes.  Accepting them is one thing, but can she expect to win them?  Lissa is determined to help Rose prove her innocence.  All of Rose’s friends are out to finally come to her aide as she has done for them.  Rose, however, always wants to keep them hidden and safe. 

The story was amazing.  The way the plot unfolds and the suspense Mead leaves you in as you read kept me biting my lip.  I could not put the book down.  Mead closed where we were left from Spirit Bound, solved the mystery, left our characters in a good place where we can see a potential but it’s not finite and laid out.  All but 1, and I can only hope I get that story in the spin off.  We meet new characters here and further develop some “passerbys” from the previous books.  The spin off has so many places it can go.

Bottom line Last Sacrifice definitely gets 6 slices!!!  Mead has written this series in such a way that I feel the passion and thrills as if I was there.