Angels Dawn by Komali de Silva Book Review

 

Angels Dawn
          by Komali de Silva
I was given this book to review by the author and Mackable Book Reviews for my honest opinion.

Angels Dawn by Komali da Silva is the first book in a series I can't wait to finish.

What first seems to be a story of young love and suspense quickly becomes a paranormal intrigue I couldn't put down.

Good girl Cheerleader Dawn's life is blown apart by a trauma too scary for a 16yr old girl to have to deal with. She has strong family who loves her. She has the support and love of her boyfriend, Nate she's counted on since they were little kids. But is any of that enough to keep her safe and ignite her passion?

I loved that Dawn is smart real young women, who thinks for herself. She wants to do what's right and protect her loved ones. Da Silva doesn't write her cheerleaders off as silly mean girl characters and I loved it.

Nate, the perfect boyfriend is just what every girl wants and then lets go, because he's too good. Too nice. Too bad it's not that easy for Dawn, because Nate is her best friend and confidant. She can't loose that now when she needs him most.

Swagger and charm are not the only thing that is drawing Dawn to Angelo but something dark complicates her choice to be with him. She knows there is something powerful between them, but does she really know all his secrets?

The author did an amazing job introducing us to these characters, and then turning our picture of them upside down, when violence, desperation, and love morph them into someone or something else.

I highly recommend Angels Dawn. Its not just a romance, not just paranormal. It's a great read and I look forward the next book in the series due to be released this year. I will be on the look out for other work by Komali da Silva in the future.

Happy Valentine's Day Book Lovers,

Jenni

A personal note: I was supposed to be reading another book for my first review, when I got this one in my email. I was having a hard time getting threw the other and decided to open this one for a rest and I couldn't put it down. I am so glad I got to break the ice with such a great story.Thank you Komali!

*I wanted to link to Amazon, so someone interested could buy it, and I found it is available for $.99 for your kindle. You can't beat that! The  book is also available from Barns and Noble.


 

Review and Interview of Indie Brand Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer maker

 Meet the Maker

The word "Indie" means an independently owned business/brand.  In the world of nail lacquer these brands are mostly developed, produced and marketed by an individual or small group of friends or family.  Other brands are still called Indie but are owned and operated by one person, but the polishes are made in a lab. Usually because they have become more successful a business then can be maintained in a basement, garage or extra bedroom. They are not mass marketed, mass produced outside of their founders control and design.

This week, my first of many I hope, I would like to spotlight a truly Independent Nail Lacquer brand/maker Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer.

Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer is owned and produced by 25 year old Cherish Furr, and named for her late mother. Cherish is supported in her passion by her Fiance with techie and marketing help and from her brother who she may call on to help develop names for polish and the like. Starting with name and creating the polish from there, Cherish produces her polish as an outlet for her creativity. While working a full time job and working to complete her business degree she has sold almost 300 bottle of polish in the first 11 months of Shirley Ann Polish. That's right an Anniversary is around the corner.

With School, Work, Dominick (a Queensland Heeler) and Molly Mae (a black Lab) underfoot and a least one new polish released each month this Small patch Indie nail polish maker was kind enough to take a moment and answer a few questions for me.......Not mention let me get a few early bottles of her New Valentines Day Duo, released TODAY, so that I can do an interview and review the day of it's release. XOXO

Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer started with it's first color Alaskan Tree Frog and currently has 25 nail lacquer colors and glitters available on Etsy at shirleyannnails, including Cherish's own favorite, Sea Glass.

It takes a lot of drive and desire to start, not just your own business, but your own business producing and selling your own creations. Like other artists Indie Polish makers are craftsmen who pour their heart and soul into each bottle the make. I am excited to try and review Shirley Ann Nail Lacquers and work with a quality hand made product. I definitely share in her ideals of supporting peoples dreams and not spending my money on million dollar corporations if I can help it.

                                                                                                                                        Sea Glass

ShirleyAnn Nail Lacquer's Valentine's Day Duo lacquer review

Shirley Ann Nail Lacquer released their 2014 Valentine's Day Nail Lacquer Duo TODAY, and I received a couple of sets in time to try them out on myself.  I swatched them alone and together.

                Forever Yours                                                                Icing on my Heart

 

Forever yours is a glitter topper with white, red, and pink tones of large glitter pieces, fine pink over all and a less common pink bow. There is really good coverage with the fine pink glitter even with one coat. Being that glitter polishes that need 3-4 coats for more then a few pieces of glitter is a pet peeve of mine, I was a happy girl.  The larger pieces were plentiful and easy to find a strategically place where I wanted.  It's a really pretty combination of colors shapes. I really liked this glitter.

Icing on my Heart is noted as a white with Red shift. I would describe it to the layman as ever very lightly opaque white with a pink and gold shimmer. It's not the all to common opal white everyone has, and it's beautiful. Which is just another reason to check out Indie brands like Shirley Ann. I swatched it alone with 2 coats and it still had a bit of sheer to it.

Together these to lacquers helped me create the perfect Valentine's Day manicure.
I used 3 coats of Icing on my Heart as the base which really made a solid white shimmer I loved. I topped it with the Forever Yours glitter for a clean fresh and delicately romantic look.  I didn't get a good picture but my Valentines' Day Duo came with a good amount of extra pink bow glitter that I used to perfectly place bows on the tips of my thumb nails.

The polish went of beautifully and was so glad to see they use a flat brush. I was very impressed with all aspects of these polishes. I am not a glitter fan for the most part and don't use many but even the glitter was impressive. I wish I could have had more of the larger pieces but honestly, usually I am the one saying they are too chunky.

I am just getting to know the Indie polish market and it's brand but I am already won over by Shirley Ann's Nail Lacquer. I highly recommend trying the colors and glitters. I plan to try more of her polish in the very near future for my own use.

In addition to the Valentine's Day Duo I  got to review for this post I also got myself another set to GIVEAWAY to one of my lucky readers!!! Keep a look out for the Giveaway to include the polish and a $20 paypal credit to shop Shirley Ann if you'd like.

 

Besides the Etsy Shop, you can find Shirley Ann Nail lacquer info on her Facebook page and Instagram @shirleyannnaillacquer. Follow hers and my Instagram @inloveandlacquer and  my Facebook pages for updates and my Shirley Ann Valentine's Day Duo/PayPal Giveaway!

Thank you so much, Cherish, for all your help and time given for this post to support my interest in Indie polish.

 This interview, review and future giveaway was self-sponsored  by In Love and Lacquer and in no way did I receive any payment or product to facilitate it. I did a little research, picked an Indie brand from that and recommendations purchased the product and discussed the brand and product with owner of my own choosing.

Gel polish and Acrylics care tips and a mini OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers Review

Do you wear gel polish like Shellac, OPI Gel Polish, Gelish? Acrylic or gel nails?  Do you ever have problems with your gel polish peeling off early, or the acrylic or gel lifting (when your extension product starts to separate from your nail be)?

The problem might be how your caring for your hands and prepping for your services, not with the product or your nail tech.

The first culprit to look at is your hand & body lotions.  Products that contain mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based ingredients can cause lifting.  It's a fact, that has been know by the industry for years and why companies like OPI, CND and Tammy Taylor all developed and manufacture their own hand and body lotions that don't contain those ingredients.  It's such an old discovery it isn't talked about much anymore because it's a given.  Mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based ingredients soak into your skin and then can work back out threw your nail and skin, since they are not permanently absorbed by our body.  They are used just to seal in the moisture so it can soak in.  That stuff gets between the product and your nail and separate the two.

 

Your nail tech may never have told you because they may assume if you've worn overlays then you have been told by your old nail techs. As a practice I tell all my first time overlay clients and they can tell me they already know. I don't want to take any chances and want my clients to love their nails from the moment I am finished until they walk back in for a fill or reapplication in two weeks.

 

You can still use you normal body lotions, just be sure wash your hands well immediately afterward so it doesn't soak in and use a nail service safe product like OPI's Avojuice, or CND's Scentations on your hands. They a quick to absorb and contain mostly moisture and don't leave a slick or greasy feeling from the mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based ingredients. I know they don't feel as covered or rich.....but that isn't moisture like other brands want you to believe , it's a coating.  Even Lubriderm and Eucerin have those, but that is really what they are for. They are more to protect and seal then moisturize.

The other big factor can be what you do in the hour before your nail service appointment.  For acrylic, gel polish, and any overlay service besides standard polish you shouldn't be getting your nails soaked.  That should only be done for non gel manicures and pedicures.  You should come to your appointment having washed hands and scrubbed nails in creases and under nail with a nail brush and giving them ample time to thoroughly dry out your nail.  Do not put on lotion or oils after washing.  Your nail tech should sell brushes for less then $2 or if not you can by buy at any beauty store or even target and Walmart have so sort of nail brush in their health and beauty sections.

You just want your nails as clean and oil free as they can be before we apply your gel polish or acrylic.

Hopefully, you can use these tips and your acrylic and gel applications will be more beautiful longer and your nail tech will be that mush happier to see you when you come back in.  Well maintained services are easier and quicker to fill or maintain by her.

If your going to go find a nail safe lotion, I highly recommend OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers.  They come in a huge variety of scents, so good, I often call them flavors.  They have a few scents they keep year round but always have new ones to try.  Avojuice is a great fresh feeling moisture that doesn't have a lot of fillers and mineral oil, lanolin and petroleum-based products that can wreak havoc on a beautiful nail job.

OPI Avojuice Skin Quenchers are pretty reasonable for a professional product you can buy for home. It can be found at all quality beauty supplies stores like Beauty Brands and should be available from your local Nail Tech.

If you need more protection on your cuticles and fingertips, don't go for that thick greasy lotion. Apply a light application of OPI Avoplex or CND Solar Oil.Both amazingly protective and softening but also a natural protectant.