Opal Trailer Reveal

Oh my gosh! OH. MY. GOSH!!!!

Opal 

(The third book in the Lux Series)

Available in both print and digital version on December 18, 2012 (Due to Superstorm Sandy, the date was pushed back from Dec. 11th to the 18th.)
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Official Opal Book Trailer 

Watch. Now! Enjoy!

Check out Jennifer L. Armentrout on the following sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Official Website

The Epic Giving Thanks Scavenger Hunt

Hello friends! Welcome to my stop for...

We give thanks for many things. Here in America we have a single day (come the third Thursday in November) when we celebrate all that we are thankful for; in which we watch a parade on television, and we eat until our bellies are full and all our bodies can do is sit on the couch and watch football for the rest of the day. As book lovers, Thanksgiving is also a time for us to get in some extra reading! And what better way to start off your holiday reading than with a plethora of prizes we would like to GIVE to YOU!

I am Day SEVEN for this Scavenger Hunt. The list of all of the participating blogs is just right below. Make sure to stop by each day for your word clue to fill in on the Rafflecopter.

Nov 12 - Book Brats
Nov 13 – Making The Grade
Nov 14 – Writing My Own Fairytale
Nov 15 – Book Addicts Guide
Nov 16 – Bumbles and Fairy-Tales
Nov 17 – Beauty and the Bookshelf AND JC Emery
Nov 18 – Dizneeee’s World of Books 
Nov 19 – Book Babes AND Gypsy Book Reviews
Nov 20 – Starting the Next Chapter
Nov 21 – I Love Books Club
Nov 22 – WRAP UP!
Nov 25 – Contest Ends, Twitter Party

I bet you want to know how you are going to find the code words in all this, the proverbial needle in a haystack. Well, we crazy bloggers are going to be crafty about hiding our word (or words) in assorted fun ways.

You will do this each day until the 25th. In the final few days, you will have the chance to combine all the words together to make a secret phrase worth 25 entries! And as a special thank you to our readers, we’re giving you other ways to enter by following our awesome bloggers. On the 25th, we’ll be having an epic Twitter Party where we’ll be giving away swag, books, and other goodies. And of course we’ll be having a grand ole time just hanging out and chatting about books! So be sure you stick around for that. I hope you enjoy the Hunt!

Now, for my part and my thanks:

I want to say thank you to those authors, bloggers, Twitter friends, and books that make my reading experiences and conversations so much fun! This has been a fantastic community to have found and been a part of for almost a year now.
I am also so thankful, and grateful, for those of you who follow my blog and/or on Twitter. It's lovely knowing you! 

Yeah, my clue was in the part just above. It's kind of...umm..underlined!!! :) Go ahead and fill that in on the Rafflecopter and be ready for tomorrow's post from Book Babes! 

If you missed the previous stops for the daily word clues and entries, you may still enter those!

Day 1: Book Brats (Look for big and bold.)

Day 2: Making the Grade (Look for the red text.)

Day 3: Writing My Own Fairytale (Look for bold, red text.)

Day 4: Book Addicts Guide (Look for the GREEN text.)

Day 5: Bumbles and Fairy-Tales (Look for the pink text.)

Day 6: Beauty and the Bookshelf (look for the phrase written backwards) AND JC Emery (look for the red,  underlined text)

Day 7: This is where you are now! (Look for the underlined text...in the pink box!)

Hey, I'm an elementary school teacher. I'm used to giving out helpful clues! Hahaha! <3

Remember to catch the next 3 days worth of clues at Book Babes, Gypsy Book Reviews, Starting the Next Chapter, and I Love Books Club so you can piece together the whole phrase! (That's an extra 25 entries!!!!)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review: Deity

Title: Deity

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Source: Purchased

Goodreads Summary & Cover:

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "

Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden. 

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome. 

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed. 

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

My Thoughts:
The only bad thing about this book is the wait until the 4th novel, APOLLYON!

DEITY is the third book in the Covenant Series. This book continues right where the last, PURE, left us. It's amazing how much has happened now in just three books! While reading this one, Jennifer reminds us that it's only been 10 months since Alex has returned to Deity Island, the Covenant in North Carolina.

Alex and Seth have had to spend a lot of time together since they will "be one" after she Awakens. Alex flip-flops back and forth each time she gets a new apollyon mark. She thinks Seth keeps forcing them to appear before time, but he assures her he's not.

In comes Lucian, gross stepfather of the century. He takes Seth with him to New York for council business, so Alex is left alone. Kind of. Due to the incidents that happened in New York and concern for her overall safety, she has been assigned guards. Guess who one of the lucky guards iiiiis! Aiden! Swoony "I don't love you" Aiden.

While Seth is away, we get to spend time with Aiden. Yay, Aiden!!! We find out more about Leon. (Holy crap! I did NOT see THAT coming!) We also find out about a traitor and secret group.

Page 213, my heart stopped. Or flopped. I'm not sure. So...so...so many feelings!

Near the end of this book, we meet some of the gods. Just so you know, they are paying attention! If you read PURE, you knew this anyway when the Furies showing up in New York.

At the end of the book is Alex's birthday. Apollyon Awakening time! And dang, no more pages!

I typically do not hurry time, but I am in desperate need of April to get here. Now. Or better yet, 5 minutes ago!

PS...I KNEW it about Aiden's necklace he started wearing in the last book. My gut just told me it just HAD to be! Super awwww!

My Rating:

5 "oh my gods" Mickeys!

The Covenant Series is definitely my version of Aether. I can't get enough!

Review: Cursed

Title: Cursed

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Source: Purchased

Goodreads Summary and Cover:

Dying sucks-- and high school senior Ember McWilliams knows firsthand. After a fatal car accident, her gifted little sister brought her back. Now anything Ember touches dies. And that, well, really blows.
Ember operates on a no-touch policy with all living things--including boys. When Hayden Cromwell shows up, quoting Oscar Wilde and claiming her curse is a gift, she thinks he's a crazed cutie. But when he tells her he can help control it, she's more than interested. There's just one catch: Ember has to trust Hayden's adopted father, a man she's sure has sinister reasons for collecting children whose abilities even weird her out. 
However, she's willing to do anything to hold her sister's hand again. And hell, she'd also like to be able to kiss Hayden. Who wouldn't? But when Ember learns the accident that turned her into a freak may not have been an accident at all, she's not sure who to trust. Someone wanted her dead, and the closer she gets to the truth, the closer she is to losing not only her heart, but her life. For real this time.

My Thoughts: 
Oh. boy. To be honest, I haven't been able to really collect my thoughts about this book completely. Please note that I love Jennifer and will continue to read anything she publishes.

I have loved Jennifer's two series so far and I was dying to get my hands on this one. I anticipated it to be an amazing read. I was really kind of let down.

Ember, our main character, never seemed to amount to much. She was not a kick-butt heroine, a sympathetic character, nothing, nada, zilch. She just came off as a whiny teenager.

Hayden sounded like a Hottie McHotstuff, but also a creeper. He was "fascinated" by Ember and her strong qualities, but the way that they finally connected...argh! She decided to trust him because he was hot.

I was also very disappointed in the way that Ember just pretty much ignored her sister once they were at the house. Her sister was happy, so Ember was miserable? Whiny teenager...

The twist was a woohoo moment for me, though! The ick stuff in her locker. Finding out who it was and why. Then finding out the true villain and why. Yes!!! I think if the book was less of Ember killing plants and constantly moaning and groaning, I could have enjoyed this book a bit more.

Sooo, with that said...

My Rating:

Just 3 Mickeys. CURSED was just an OK read for me. I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it.

CURSED also satisfies part of the StandAlone Reading Challenge

YALLFest Schedule

So, a few days ago, I posted about Y'ALLFest! (here, in case you missed)

Yesterday, the schedule was posted. (*thud*) I gave it a look over once and had to step away. STEP. AWAY! How...HOW am I supposed to choose what to do? Last year was not this complicated. There are 3 panels each hour this year.

Help me! I know what I'm doing the 10 and 6 o'clock hours, but after that, I just do not know where to go. This is a good problem to have, but too much for my brain to comprehend right now!

Oh, and I'm sure if I tried to follow John Corey Whaley around all day, the Charleston police may get involved. 

So, there's that...

So, dear friends, tell me! What would you choose for each hour?

Here is the schedule that is posted on the Y'ALLFest Tumblr.

YALLFEST 2012 PANEL SCHEDULE — Subject to change

Stages:

CMH = Charleston Music Hall, 37 John St. (Amazon.com Mainstage)

BALLROOM = American Theater Ballroom, 446 King St. (Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Stage). 

CINEMA = American Theater Cinema, 446 King St. (Authro Stage)

All venues are within a one block radius of Blue Bicycle Books, 420 King St., site of book sales, book signings, literary bazaar, and more (i.e. pie sales!).

***

Friday, Nov. 9, 2012 

Special event: Charleston County Public Library, Main Branch, 68 Calhoun Street, upstairs in the YA Lounge. Featuring: Pseudonymous Bosch, Kami Garcia, Margaret Stohl, Gitty Daneshvari, Carrie Ryan, and Michelle Hodkin. Space is limited, to reserve a spot call 805-6903.

Note: Michelle Hodkin’s books will be sold and she will personalize them. This is her only signing of the weekend. 

***

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012

***

10 am KEYNOTE: LITERARY FRIENDSHIPS — CMH

Presented by Justine Magazine

Cassandra Clare (City of Bones) and Holly Black (Spiderwick Chronicles)

Keynote tickets are $5 and are available online until Friday, Nov. 9, at Blue Bicycle Books, and at the door.

***

11 am BOSCH VS. BENEDICT: IT ENDS NOW – CMH

Presented by the Charleston City Paper

Pseudonymous Bosch (The Name of This Book Is Secret) & Trenton Lee Stewart (The Mysterious Benedict Society)

Moderator: Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark and Grimm)

11 am YA GIRL BAND: BETWEEN TWEEN & TEEN – BALLROOM

Presented by Omnific Publishing

Alyson Noel (Immortals series), Elizabeth Eulberg (The Lonely Hearts Club), Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss), Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry), Jenny Han (The Summer I Turned Pretty), Kathryn Williams (The Lost Summer).

Moderator: Andria Amaral

11 am  YA BOY BAND: BOYS WRITING GIRLS (& BOYS) — CINEMA

David Levithan (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), Eliot Schrefer (Glamorous Disasters), David Macinnis Gill (Soul Enchilada), Kwame Alexander (Crush), Brendan Reichs (Virals)

Moderator: John Corey Whaley (Where Things Come Back)

***

12 pm  PUBLISH OR PERISH (Industry Panel) – CMH

Presented by Authro

Sarah Burnes (The Gernert Agency), Sally Willcox (CAA), Emily Meehan (Hyperion), Julie Scheina (Little, Brown), Richard Abate (3Arts), David Levithan (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist)

Moderator: Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods)

12 pm  THE YA COFFEESHOP COLLECTIVE: BROOKLYN B*TCHEZ —BALLROOM

Gayle Forman (If I Stay), Tonya Hurley (Ghostgirl), Robin Wasserman (Seven Deadly Sins series), Michele Jaffe (Rosebush), Natalie Standiford (How to Say Goodbye in Robot), Adele Griffin (Picture the Dead).

Moderator: Eliot Schrefer (Geek Fantasy Novel)

12 pm  FAIRYTALES & FEARYTALES — CINEMA

Holly Black (Spiderwick Chronicles), Adam Gidwitz (A Tale Dark and Grimm), Gitty Daneshvari (School of Fear)

Moderator: Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth)

***

1 pm  GOOD GIRLZ & BAD BOYZ – CMH

Presented by Tumblr

Ellen Hopkins (Crank), Gayle Forman (If I Stay), Simone Elkeles (Perfect Chemistry), Stephanie Perkins (Anna and the French Kiss), Cate Tiernan (Sweep), Kiera Cass (The Selection)

Moderator: Kami Garcia

1 pm  HISTORY & MYSTERY — BALLROOM

Deb Harkness (A Discovery of Witches), Robin Wasserman (Seven Deadly Sins), Sarah Rees Brennan (Demon’s Lexicon), Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures), John Corey Whaley (When Things Come Back), Diana Peterfreund (Rampant).

Moderator: Andrea Cremer (Nightshade)

1 pm  YA SERIES: NO REST FOR THE WICKED — CINEMA

Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods), Cinda Chima (Seven Realms), Caitlin Kittredge (The Iron Thorn), Kim Derting (The Body Finder), Siobhan Vivian andJenny Han (Burn for Burn)

Moderator: Beth Revis (Across the Universe)

***

2 pm  WHO’S READING WHO(M): THE CROSSOVER AUTHOR – CMH

Presented by CreateSpace

Deborah Harkness (A Discovery of Witches), Melissa de la Cruz (Blue Bloods), Kathy & Brendan Reichs(Virals),  David Levithan (Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist), Ellen Hopkins (Crank)

Moderator: Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures)

2 pm  DARK HEARTS — BALLROOM

Sarah Rees Brennan (Demon’s Lexicon), Michele Jaffe (Rosebush), Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures), Michelle Hodkin (The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer), Holly Black (Spiderwick Chronicles), Caitlin Kittredge (The Iron Thorn)

Moderator: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

2 pm  CAROLINA’S OWN – CINEMA

Presented by the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau

Jess Rothenberg (The Catastrophic History of You and Me), Kiera Cass (The Selection), Grady Hendrix (The Magnolia League), Kami Kinard (The Boy Project), John Thompson (The Girl From Felony Bay)

Moderator: Shelli Johannes

***

3 pm NOT YOUR NORMAL PARANORMAL — CMH

Presented by Pressque Publishing

Andrea Cremer (Nightshade), Tonya Hurley (Ghostgirl), Alyson Noel (Immortals series), Cinda Chima (Seven Realms series), Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth), Cate Tiernan (The Iron Thorn)

Moderator: Caitlin Kittredge (The Iron Thorn)

3 pm  THE FUTURE OF SCI FI/FANTASY — BALLROOM

Beth Revis (Across the Universe), Kathy Reichs (Virals), Dave Macinnis Gill (Soul Enchilada), Jennifer Lynn Barnes (Raised by Wolves), Kimberly Derting (The Body Finder), Diana Peterfreund (Rampant)

Moderator: Rose Brock

3 pm  CHOCOLATES & SECRETS (BUT NO MAYONNAISE!) — CINEMA

Wendy Mass (A Mango-Shaped Space), Pseudonymous Bosch (The Name of This Book Is Secret), Natalie Standiford (How to Say Goodbye in Robot)

Moderator: Trenton Lee Stewart (Mysterious Benedict Society)

***

4 pm  IN PRODUCTION: 2013 – CMH

Presented by Amazon.com

Margaret Stohl (Beautiful Creatures), Kami Garcia (Beautiful Creatures), Cassandra Clare (City of Bones)

Moderator: Robin Wasserman (Seven Deadly Sins series)

4 pm  WRITING THE REAL — BALLROOM

Kathryn Williams (The Lost Summer), Gayle Forman (If I Stay), Adele Griffin (Picture the Dead), Siobhan Vivian (Not That Kind of Girl), Alex Morel (Survive)

Moderator: Marjory Wentworth

4 pm   ARE YOU SERIES-OUS? — CINEMA

Carrie Ryan (The Forest of Hands and Teeth), Gitty Daneshvari (School of Fear), Trenton Lee Stewart (Mysterious Benedict Society)

Moderator: Pseudonymous Bosch

***

5 PM BREAK — Last book signings

***

6 PM – YA SMACKDOWN – CMH

Presented by Charleston County Public Library YA Services

Judge: Sarah Rees Brennan  MC: Rose Brock

Smackdown tickets are $6 and are available online until Friday, Nov. 9, at Blue Bicycle Books, and at the door.