Day 25 – A character who you can relate to the most

30 Day Book Meme for December 2012

First, I'd like to wish those of you who celebrate...A Very Merry Christmas! Mine was wonderful! I got almost everything I asked for and then some! I hope you all had a great day with family, friends, food, etc.!

Today's topic is character who you can relate to the most which again is a super hard topic! Then I remembered hubs said I reminded him of a character a while back. So I had to go look in our library but my memory finally kicked in and I remember!!

The character I relate to the most is...

Katy from Jennifer L. Armentrout's Lux Series!

Here are some of the reasons why:

1. She is a book blogger and loves to read. (Uh, hello? What are we doing here in Alli's World?)

2. She is kinda of a smart mouth and doesn't let Daemon get away with much.

3. She likes Daemon Black. And so do I. :-)

OPAL Book Trailer Reveal

Warning! Hotness to follow! I can't read Opal! Daemon's my favorite!

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love. 

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.

Find Jennifer on: Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Opal Cover Reveal

If you have ever been to Alli's World before you will know how obsessed I am with Jennifer L. Armentrout's work. For proof click here, here, or here. I am sooooo flipping excited to be a part of her cover reveal for the next Lux book, Opal. The cover is amazing and I'm sure the book will be out of this world. (Like what I did there, aliens, out of this world?? Hehe.) But anyways...here's the cover. I hope you love it. I know I sure do! I'm really looking forward to this one! Keep scrolling down, you'll find info on the book, the author, and a contest..... 

 
No one is like Daemon Black.
When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love. After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Follow this link to an ~~~ EPIC CONTEST ~~~ Announcement. You will want to bookmark this page!

http://jenniferarmentrout.blogspot.com/p/october-1-2012.html

USA TODAY Bestselling author, Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell, Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.

Find Jennifer on:Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | Website | Blog

Book Trailer: Onyx

In honor of Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout coming out this TODAY, I'm posting the book trailer for your viewing pleasure! I read this book about a month ago and really enjoyed it. Remember this is book two in the Lux series and the follow up to Obsidian. I'd def recommend both, especially if you are into teen angst love stories with a supernatural twist!

Here ya go, Kitten!

Mega Monday: Onyx

Mini Mani Monday:

I'm wearing

Sinful Colors in Winterberry on largest section

Art Deco in Silver Glitter to separated the two main colors

Rimmel in Wild Orchid on on tips

Seche Vite Top Coat (this is the BEST stuff ever)

Amazon book description can be found here.

My thoughts...

***Possible Spoilers to follow. Continue at your own risk.***

I really like the Lux series by Jennifer L. Armentrout. What is unfortunate is that I was sick while trying to read Onyx. I still enjoyed it but my constant coughing and consistent headache made it difficult to read than a couple pages at a time, which really messed with my concentration. BUT even with all that going on, I STILL totally enjoyed this installment. This is book two in the series, the first is Obsidian (see this post for more info). Onyx continues with the characters and exploring the repercussions of actions established in book one. Onyx also introduces some new characters to the mix and of course creates inta-drama that forces the hand of some of our beloved characters! Our herione Katy is trying, not always successfully, to come more into her own.The relationship between her and Daemon is changing. There are some heart wrenching parts and some parts that are just hawt. There is excitement and action. It ends on a super excellent cliff hanger that will have readers begging for the next installment, Opal (which is set to release in December 2012. YaY!!!)

For a bit of creativity: 

Per my usual, I couldn't just leave the story alone once I was done reading. I wanted to have a part with me. I got to thinking about Katy wearing her obsidian necklace Daemon gave her. And I decided I had to have one! After several hours in two different craft stores and a very helpful hubby this is what we came up with based on the description in Obsidian. (p.s. SPOILER ALERT: Katy's still wearing it in Onyx.)

Me wearing my "obsidian necklace"

squinty eyed and all!

*By the way..thanks hubby for being my official photog for this post! 

Isn't he the best? 

And wish hit a happy birthday, it was yesterday!

p.p.s. Sorry about my vanity in this post. I mean two pics featuring me! Geez!

*I was sent a review ARC by the publisher*

Jennifer L. Armentrout: Behind the Scenes and Cursed

This week on of my fav authors is having a big week! 

Last week her Obsidian book trailer was posted. 

Today the behind the scenes special from the filming of Obsidian dropped. I really enjoyed this clip. (Almost as much as the actual trailer!)

For your viewing pleasure:

Annnnd....the book trailer for another one of her upcoming books 

came out earlier this week!

Seems like it will be an excellent read as well!

Here is the book trailer for Cursed:

I'm almost finished with my ARC copy of Onyx. Y'all it's good stuff!! If you haven't read Jennifer L. Armentrout's work....WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!?

Obsidian Book Trailer

And so it seems I am still obsessed with Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout. After you see this, I'm sure you will understand that yes, in fact, my obsession is warranted. I'm super excited to see this because I actually got to meet the author and the models, Pepe and Sztella, when that were on tour in the Atlanta area (see this post for further info). I've been (impatiently) waiting to see this book trailer since I don't know, feels like forever! 

Annnnndddd......HERE IT IS:

Intrigued aren't ya? Wanna know MORE? Here's links to buy Obsidian:

Amazon Paperback

Amazon Kindle

Barnes and Noble

Follow Up: Obsidian Obsession

So, I just want to start by saying I have the BEST mother in the WORLD. She took off work early to go with me to the book signing so I wouldn't have to go alone, even though it really isn't her thing. I love my mommy! Now that I got that out of the way, I'll move on to the event itself.

My Jennifer L. Armentrout Collection

Details: June 8th, FoxTale Book Shoppe, Woodstock, GA 3:00pm. Book signing with author Jennifer L. Armentrout and [book] cover models Pepe Toth and Sztelle Tziotziosz.

Me, Vania (of VLC Productions) & Jennifer (author)

Before the actually signing, there was a questions and answer session, during which people had lots of question for Jennifer and especially the models! There were lots of good questions and a good bit of giggling going on during that time!

Sztella, Me, & Pepe 

(they are the cover models for the Lux series books)

While in Atlanta, Jennifer said that they were filming scenes for the first three Lux books (Obsidian, Onyx, and Opal)  with models, Pepe and Sztella, for the book trailers.  And, if you are familiar with Obsidian, the laptop scene is being filmed! (Whooo-hooo!)

Jennifer answered my question, is there more to come from Daemon's point of view (POV)?

She said, YES!  She has found people tend to only have one perspective from him and that perspective changed after reading scenes from  Daemon's POV. (I know that was true for me!) She doesn't have any plans to re-write the whole book but she has written most of major scenes from his POV. 

This, my friends, is the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of

Onyx!

(This doesn't even come out til Aug!!)

When asked if there was anyone in her life she based the Daemon character off of JLA said that there isn't. But she does like snarky, witty guys with good come backs. She said her editorial notes on this book were to make him more of jerk which she was surprised by. Obsidian's female lead is a book blogger.  JLA says never reviewed books and she learned blogger language from talking to bloggers.

JLA credits her boredom and her overactive imagination as her sources of inspiration. She's putting out so many books so quickly, she's worried she will run out of ideas and is scared she will have to write about zombie were-llamas. (I bet with her writing it, it would still be pretty awesome!) She said she does listen music while writing sometimes but doesn't have to but for fight scenes, she listens to heavy metal band Drowning Pool and rock band Disturbed. And while writing the laptop scene, she listened to  ET (Katy Perry, I assume) over and over, as it seemed appropriate! (Uh, yeah!)

When asked about making Obsidian into a movie, she said it was a long process and she was waiting on Hollywood but given the chance she probably would! 

Upcoming news: JLA is contracted for another novella in the Lux series which will probably come out between books 5 and 6. (The first novella is Shadows and is a prequel to Obsidian, which I haven't read yet, I know shame on me!) She likes novellas that connects the books or moves the plot forward not just a rehash of what has already happened. Her next books, Onyx come out August 14, Opal comes out December 7, and then two more that don't have release date as of yet. In the Fall, she has a book coming out every mouth,in addition to the aforementioned, includes Cursed in September, Deity in November. YAY for not having to wait on a JLA fix!!

Lastly, my nail design was inspired by the awesome cover of Obsidian, so I had to include a pic or two of that too! I used Sally Hanson Insta-Dri in Jumpin' Jade, then painted the top "corner" of my nail black (In Wet n Wild Wild Shine in Black Creme) over the green. Next, I painted a line of silver glitter (kinda like lightening from the cover of the book) between the black and green. I used Art Deco silver glitter polish that has a very thin "striper" brush. I'm pretty happy with the results and I think I captured the essence of the cover. 

I'm sure I've seen some nails similar over the 'net at some point but I don't know who to give credit to for this idea, please know if it was your idea, I wasn't trying to steal it!

Obsidian Obsession

Hey y'all! I want to share a book I recently read. Obsidian is a young adult fiction novel by Jennifer L. Armentrout. (*note: this is the book I'm reading in my profile pic ;)The book is very good and the author is going to be doing a signing this Friday in Woodstock, GA. Here's a link Jennifer's blog explaining about her tour and the #daemoninvasion.


I reallllly wanna go but hubs has to work, as I'm sure most people do. (But he is usually my go to partner in crime.) I really don't want to drive all the way out there by myself but if no one takes pity on me and comes with, I guess I'll be forced to go it alone. :( 


Anyways, enough of my pity party, here is my "review" for Obsidian. I think should you check out Obsidian and obsess with me!


Obsidian is about a teenage girl (Katy) who is new in town and moves in next door to beautiful, exotic, and odd sibling duo (Daemon and Dee). 


I really like that at the end Katy stood up for herself and is an admirable female character. As much as she finds Daemon attractive, she has more self respect. She decides she doesn't want a "good enough" relationship. Katy wants a relationship where she has more things in common than physical attraction. She actually says, "I want someone to care for me like my dad cared for my mom. And you aren't him."  Luckily for Katy, Daemon loves a challenge! I can't wait to see how this plays out in the next installment.

One thing I didn't (but did) like is the hot/cold relationship Katy and Daemon had through out the whole book. Come one kids! Either you do or you don't like each other. I think that helps add a layer of passion, if you will, to their relationship. Love and hate are both strong emotions and often they overlap more than one would hope.

I really loved at the end of the book (at least in my copy) were a couple of chapters from Daemon's perspective. You really find out more about why he acted the way he did. Those chapters really endeared Daemon's character to me. I mean, I got that he was a totally alien hottie but this helped understand his attitude and stand-offishness.

I liked that Katy was a blogger and that she was obsessed with books. That helped me identify with her as a "real person."

Here's a quote from the book, because if you are like me...I didn't know what "obsidian" was before I heard about this book!

"This is obsidian--volcanic glass. The edge is wicked sharp and will cut through anything," he explained quickly. "It's the only thing on this planet, besides us, that can kill the Arum. This is their kryptonite."

I'm so flipping excited about this book and signing I got crafty and created this tee shirt (with help from a very awesome friend!).We used the Cricut to cut out the letters of the word in vinyl. Then stuck the letters to the shirt. Next, I sprayed the tee shirt with bleach from a spray bottle. I over saturated the shirt with the bleach so I had to move on to Plan B. I used spray paint over top were I over bleached so the word would alas show up. (None of my DIY projects ever turn out right the first time I try.) Anyways, I'm still pretty stoked at the way the tee turned out. Lastly I did some cutting on the tee (around the neck, arms and bottom) and I'm calling it finished now.