Nail Your Books is an original feature that I created to show off off some awesome book related nail ideas! It can be anything from a book inspired design to a really cute matching nail polish. This feature combines my love of both books and nail polish. Some people match their nails to their outfit, I match mine to my books!

Hello Lovelies!

This week's edition of Nail Your Books was inspired by My Life In Black and White by Natasha Friend. This book caught my eye with the unique and gorgeous cover. So of course I had to do an amazing mani to match this epic cover!

The Supplies

Seche Clear, Crystal Clear Base Coat
Essie polish in Marshmallow

Konad Stamping Polish in Black
Seche Vite Dry Fast Top Coat

Nail Stamper (any brand will do!)

Konad Nail Stamping Plate #M73

As always you want to make sure you start out with a good clear base coat to protect your nails. Then apply your white polish. I used Essie ( my fave!!!) in Marshmallow. I just purchased this polish, and it wasn't quite as opaque as I was hoping it would be, so I had to use 2 coats of it here. After this dries, the fun begins!

I have been debating about buying a nail stamper for a few months now. And I am so glad I finally bought one! For those of you not sure of what a nail stamper is, or does, let me explain. A nail stamper gives you cute nail designs with no fuss! You simply apply polish to the stamping image plate, scrape off the excess polish, use your stamper to stamp the image. The polish image transfers to the stamper, you then stamp your finger and voila! You are done!

I am no stamper pro, but I have heard Konad is the best stamper on the market. I am a huge fan of MASH products so after reading reviews that it was just as good as Konad at a fraction of the cost, I invested in it. I am so glad I did! At only $4.99 on amazon it was a steal! So back to the mani...

After your coat of white polish dries thoroughly, you can begin to stamp. For this particular mani you will want to use Konad's image plate in M73. You then apply Konad's stamping polish in black to the image, scrape off the excess polish. Stamp the image with your stamper, once the image has transferred to the stamper, stamp your nail. The image should transfer to your nail with no trouble. Finish off with a good top coat and flaunt your new snazzy nails!

This mani turned out beautifully! I love how it perfectly fits in with the story. The main character Lexi, who is gorgeous, get's into a car wreck and her face goes through the windshield. Changing her life forever! I really love how this looks like shatter glass, and it mirrors the black and white shattered images on the cover perfectly! I adored this mani and got quite a few compliments on it. 

So what do you think of my book inspired mani? Will you be trying this one out? I'd love to know! So make sure you leave me some comment love and don't forget to stop back by on Thursday for my review of My Life In Black and White.

Happy Reading!

Blog Tour Review: Cicada

Cicada (Cicada #1) by Belle Whittington
Release Date: September 13, 2011
Publisher: Create Space
Pages: 220

Summertime for Blair Reynolds and her friends had always been carefree and fun... until the summer they happened upon something that was not human. As they band together in a fight for their lives, Blair's true love becomes something more than human. Something unnatural. And their survival depends entirely upon their ability to keep a secret.

You guys know I am a sucker for an amazing cover. So of course I was immediately drawn to Cicada. The cover is stunning and the synopsis was really intruiging. I knew right then and there that I had to check it out!

I am increasingly being drawn to sci-fi books. They are my latest love. And I have always adored alien movies and shows. So I was really excited to try this one out.

I loved that this was a short book, just over 200 pages. Whih made it a really quick read for me. Yay! I am all about a quick read! The beginning was a little slow to me. But by the middle of the story things really heated up and I got sucked into the story.

As far as the character's go these weren't my fave, even though I really enjoyed the story. Blair, the main character, was hard for me to identify with. And there was just something about her that didn't quite appeal to me. Everett was my favorite character in the story. He was a total bug loving nerd and I really liked him. But then again, I'm a huge Hodgin's fan (BONES!!!) so it's of no wonder that Everett was my favorite character.

Overall this was an easy read. It started off a bit slow but it really picked up half way through. I loved the sci-fi feel and the extra terrestrial elements of the story. The last half of the book really picked up and I'm excited to see where the story goes in the next book.

If your a fan of aliens, sci-fi or just need a "different" read, I recommend that you check out Cicada by Belle Whittington!

I am so happy to be a part of the Cicada Blog Tour. I hope you guys will take some time to check out the other blogs participating in the tour.

CICADA Tour Schedule
Click here to see the full participant list...

Make sure you enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win one of 12 ebooks. Open internationally!

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The author is giving away a grand prize of an electronic firefly in a jar in honor of the sequel to Cicada called Firefly. How cool is that! Enter the rafflecopter below for a chance to win the cool prize. US only


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This Week In Books (3)

Hello Everyone and Happy Saturday!

This Week In Book's is a weekly feature from Alea of Pop Culture Junkie in which we share all the awesome bookish related items we got "this week"!

It's been a while since I've done one of these.  I went on vacation for 2 weeks, and came home to all kinds of awesome stuff! I think I seriously ran around the house screaming and clutching books for an hour! haha

No vlog this week because I'm lazy and don't feel like fighting with YouTube to co-operate. I'll try to do one next week if I get anything in. I had a blast on my vacation, and I came home to some amazing things!

I hope you had an awesome week in books as well. Don't forget to leave me a link so I can stop by your blog and visit. And stop back by tomorrow to see some awesome vacation photo's! 

Bought

While on vacation, it is a family tradition to stop at a bookstore and load up on books, magazines, cds and all kinds of fun stuff. As soon as we got to our vacation home, we unpacked and headed straight for B&N. You guys know I am totally addicted to their Leather Bound Classics Editions. And they had a great sale! Buy one get one for $10! Eeek! I couldn't pass that up! With a $5 off coupon and a 20% off coupon I got these for a total steal! I was able to snag The Complete Works of Lewis Carroll and the Complete Works of Hans Christen Anderson to add to my collection. And they look GORGEOUS on my bookshelf next to my Grimm's fairytale book! :)

For Review

Nerve by Jeanna Ryan

I will be participating in the blog tour with Penguin books for Nerve in September. Jeanne sent her book and an awesome postcard note. I already devoured this and it was sooo amazing!!! I can't wait to share my thoughts on it with all of you! 

Swapped/Gifted

One thing I love about the blogging community is how sweet and generous everyone is! I got several books from quite a few bloggers. And I am super excited about ALL of them! 

Shadows by Ilisa J. Bick it's the second book in the Ashes Trilogy

Time Between Us by Tamara Ireland Stone

Over You by Emma McLauglin and Nicola Kraus

Kill Me Softly by Sarah Cross

Wanted by Heidi Ayarbe

A Want So Wicked by Suzanne Young

Velveteen by Daniel Marks

Hourglass by Myra McEntire (signed!!!! Eek!)

Live Through This by Mindi Scott

Secret Letters by Leah Scheier

Thank you to Michelle from Window Pane Memoirs, Lindsay  Cummings, Nikki, and Megan for the signed copy of Hourglass! You girls rock my socks! And also a HUGE thanks to Jeanne you are so sweet!

I hope you guys had a fantastic week in books! This is 2 weeks worth of books for me since I was on vacation. So hopefully next week's edition won't be so long. I hope you guys are having a fantastic weekend with your friends, family and loved ones. I look forward to seeing you again next week!

Happy Reading!

XOXO

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway

Hello Lovelies!

I am back with another epic giveaway! Can you tell I am a little addicted to giveaway hops right now? HA! This one is perfect because my shelf is over flowing and YOU my dear readers, get to benefit from it!

Clear Your Shelf Giveaway is hosted by I Am A Reader Not A Writer. It's a chance for us to clear some space on our bookshelves and give our books a great home!

I will be picking 2 winners, who will each have their choice of ONE of the following arcs

This contest starts at midnight and ends on June 20th. Rafflecopter will randomly select two winners who will have their choice of one of the arcs pictured above. This contest is open to US residents only. Sorry guys! I can't afford to ship internationally at this time. 

Check out the rafflecopter below to enter the contest. And don't forget to stop by and visit some of the other great bloggers participating in the hop!

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Review: Just Flirt

Just Flirt by Laura Bowers
Release Date: June 19, 2012
Publisher:  Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Pages: 325
Buy The Book: Amazon

It’s summer, sweet summer! Self-proclaimed Superflirt Dee Barton can’t wait to spend it practicing her Nine Rules of Flirting on all the cute guys who come to stay at her family’s campground. Why not? Flirting is fun and makes everyone involved feel good—which is pretty much the exact opposite of her relationship with her toxic ex-boyfriend, Blaine.

Sabrina Owens’s summer plans include keeping her over-the-top karaoke DJ mother in check, maintaining her status as the queen of the popular crowd—and being the perfect girlfriend to Blaine. Both girls see each other as the enemy. But when a secret blog embroils them in a frivolous lawsuit, they must team up and embark on a risky, flirt-filled plot to set things right again…and maybe prove they’re not so different after all.

Laura Bowers’s new novel is a heartfelt and hilarious story of friendship, family…and flirting!

This book sounded like a really cute summer read, and that is exactly what it is! It was cute, fun and exactly what I needed to bring me into summer! Bring on bikini's, snow cones, cute boys and let the games (ahem!) I mean flirting, begin!

One of the things I loved most about this book were the fun loving characters. The story takes place on The Barton Family's Campground. Now that Dee's father has passed away, it's up to her and her mother to make things work. There are quite a few quirky characters at the campsite and I adored them!

The main character Dee, was a lovable character. She's a dedicated daughter, friend and superflirt! After a relationship that ended sour, and an embarrassing experience, Dee has vowed to never fall in love again! She becomes an expert at fun, and harmless flirting. But all of Dee's harmless fun may just get her in more trouble than she ever dreamed of!

All in all, I really loved this book! I smiled, I laughed, and I gasped. It was a well written, fun and flirty book that would be a great addition to any girl's beach bag this summer!

Review: My Life Next Door

My Life Next Door by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Release Date: June 14, 2012
Publisher: Dial Books for Young Readers
Pages: 395
Buy The Book: Amazon

A gorgeous debut about family, friendship, first romance, and how to be true to one person you love without betraying another

“One thing my mother never knew, and would disapprove of most of all, was that I watched the Garretts. All the time. ”

The Garretts are everything the Reeds are not. Loud, numerous, messy, affectionate. And every day from her balcony perch, seventeen-year-old Samantha Reed wishes she was one of them . . . until one summer evening, Jase Garrett climbs her terrace and changes everything. As the two fall fiercely in love, Jase's family makes Samantha one of their own. Then in an instant, the bottom drops out of her world and she is suddenly faced with an impossible decision. Which perfect family will save her? Or is it time she saved herself?

A dreamy summer read, full of characters who stay with you long after the story is over.

My Life Next Door was one of the best YA contemporary books I've read to date. In fact, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it is by far, my favorite YA contemporary book EVER! Yep, there it is. I said it! This book was the perfect combination of love, family, friendships and it all felt so real and gripping!

Samantha was a main character that I think a lot of people can identify with. She lives with her up tight single mother, and her older and wilder sister. She lives a comfortable life, including dinners at the country club but everything in her life is about to change. For as long as she can remember, Sam has watched her neighbors the Garrett's. A family of 8, full of life and love, so different from her own life with her up tight Mom. She watches their lives, and imagines what they are like. But everything changes when Jace Garrett, the boy next door, climbs her terrace. Okay first of all, I gotta LOVE Jace for this! What girl totally wouldn't swoon when the hot buy next door climbs up to her window? If you just answered no, you are CRAZY!

Jace *sighs dreamily* if I were 10 years younger I would totally be all up in his koolaid! Jace was such a great character. He was caring, kind, loving and gentle. He had a great sense of humor, he was responsible and balanced,  working, spending time with his loved ones and helping out his rather large family like a pro! On top of that he had crazy good looks that would melt a stick of butter. The only problem is Samantha's mother can't stand his family, or him!

I loved the Garrett's crazy big family. I loved the way they interacted with each other, and helped each other. They were amazing and some of my favorite parts of the story. Especially Jace's little brother George. He totally stole the show!

I liked how there was more to the story than just fluff. There were some real challenges and dilema's that these character's face. All in all this book was incredible! I couldn't put it down and read the entire book straight through. It captivated me and stole my heart.

My Life Next Door is a wonderfully done contemporary that will make you laugh, cry, and smile. This book will capture your heart and leave you wanting more!

Cover Reveal: The Cadet of Tildor

Hello Lovelies!

I am really excited to be participating in the cover reveal for The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell. This YA fantasy novel sounds amazing and I can't to read it! But for now I will have to be content with staring at the cover and imagining the adventures that lie within the pages!

The Cadet of Tildor by Alex Lidell is set to be released on January 10, 2013 by Dial Books for Young Readers (Penguin)

You can find more information about the book at Goodreads . And don't forget to stop by Amazon to preorder your copy of this epic title!

Now on to the fun stuff! There are 2 awesome swag giveaways for this book. One is for Teachers and Educators only. Both contests start on June 15th, and are open to US residents only. Don't forget to scroll down and enter the rafflecopter to win an awesome swag pack!

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