Book Review - The Mapmaker's Children by Sarah McCoy

Photo Source - Amazon.com

** May Contain Spoilers **

A brilliant tale woven with historical themes gives readers a glimpse into the mysterious life of Sarah Brown. Sarah Brown, the daughter of abolitionist John Brown, hopes to have a purpose in her life. After fighting dysentery, she is left barren. With no hopes of procreating, she decides to to continue in the steps of her father. She takes up the torch of her father to help end slavery. Utilizing her artistic talents she becomes one of the Underground Railroad's lead mapmakers using slave code quilts  along with hiding maps in her paintings and dolls. The civil war threatens to rip the country into two and leaves Sarah scrambling to protect all she loves. Can she find a way to leave a mark in history?

A common thread beautifully links modern woman, Eden with Sarah. Eden is desperate to have children with her husband, Jack. Even with multiple rounds of IVF, she is unable to bare children and it strains her marriage. They decide to move into an old house to start fresh. Eden discovers a strange porcelain doll head hidden in a root cellar with a mysterious past. Can this discovery help bring Eden and Jack together?

The novel alternates between Sarah and Eden narration along with including telegrams, love letters and newspaper clippings. Each chapter is filled with emotion and shows how each of the women struggle with love, finding a place where they belong and leaving their mark on the world. It was an enticing read and very hard to put down. Each of the characters are frail creatures who decide to rise above their "weakness" and thrive. 

** Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion** 

Ricky Home Banker Husband Soap on a Rope

The soap was released in 2013 as a part of Ricky’s Home collection for the holidays. The collection had 5 fragrances such as  Walk of Shame, Banker Husband, Taco Tuesday, Street Meat and Drunk Brunch to showcase the spirit of NYers.  I found this soap at the discount section at my local Ricky’s along with bottles of mist in the same scent. The soap has notes of Sparkling Lemon, Orange Crush, Watery Jasmine, Linden Blossom, Lily of the Valley, Sheer Musk, and White Woods and vegetable oil based. The soap is heavy weight bar and is hung with a white heavy cord. The soap provided a decent lather but the first couple of uses my skin felt waxy. The soap originally retail for $7 a bar which feels a bit overpriced.

Dr. Teals pure Epsom salt soothe and sleep with lavender

Ahhh, soaking in a bath is probably one of life’s purest joys. The epsom salt is scented with lavender essential oils; even without opening the bag one can get a good whiff of the lavender.  Lavender is known for it’s calming, soothing and aiding sleep benefits. Soaking 20 minutes in warm water with 2 cups of this salt solution will have your body at perfect ease. I took a bag of this salt on my recent trip and I was so relaxed and fell asleep almost instantly.

Book Review - The Secret of Hummingbird Cake By Celeste Fletcher McHale

Photo Credit - Amazon

**May Contain Spoilers**

A Southern tale about three friends' journey through life, love, happiness, and sadness. The lifelong trio have been friends since childhood.  In their small town, everyone knows everything. There is no secret that can go without someone knowing.  The three friends has been living in their "perfect" bubble until life gave them something more than they can handle. Will they be able to survive the event? Will it bring them together or pull them apart?

A sweet and endearing tale about the friendship between three friends. They are willing to do anything for each other -- even if it means putting the others before themselves. A beautiful tale intertwining elements of love, grief, betrayal, joy, and friendship. A refreshing tale of friendship and be warned, read with tissues nearby. The perfect treat for a rainy day because you never know when you might get into the mood for baking!

**Disclosure - I received a copy of  the book for my honest opinion --- this had no impact on my review and feedback**

Book Review - Vinegar Girl by Anne Tyler

Photo Source - Amazon

**May Contain Spoilers**

I have always been a fan of Shakespeare's "Taming of a Shrew", so when I was offered the chance to read the Advance Reader's Edition of this book, I couldn't bite quick enough. In Anne Tyler's modern retelling of the classic, independent Katherine finds herself in a quite the odd predicament. She feels stuck in her everyday life, from being the primary caretaker for her father and her sister along with constantly getting in trouble at work for her lack of social awareness. Her father, Dr. Battista has made a breakthrough in his research, but his beloved lab assistant, Pyotr is about to be deported. Together, Dr. Battista and Pyotr cook up a plan to keep him here but requires the help of Katherine. Will Katherine be able to let go of her stubborn ways to help?

Personally, I am a bit stuck in the middle on my opinion on this book. The book was a quick and easy read but it was quite boring at times. It was hard to love the characters in the book. Especially, the main character -- her personality was beyond unbearable. Instead of rooting for her, I found myself hoping she ended miserable for the rest of her life (yes, I can be a bit cruel - I had such high hopes for this book!) But, the end of the book -- it made me think of the underlying elements such as acceptance, forgiveness and putting others before yourself. The book had great elements but I wish the delivery was a bit better. A die hard fan of Shakespeare's "Taming of a Shrew", might love this book and appreciate the story but for everyone else I would recommend skipping it.

**Disclosure - I received a copy of an uncorrected book for my honest opinion --- this had no impact on my review and feedback**

Nars Audacious Mascara - 3871 Black Moon

The all in one mascara promises to separate, lengthen and amplify lashes. The lash catching brush has over 200 bristles that equally spreads out the buildable formula.  The tapered tip can be used for the inner and outer lashes along with the smaller lower lashes. The voluminous formula is lightweight and long wearing. The mascara went on easy and gave me a false eye look.  The formula didn't smudge or cause flakes but if you blink to quickly the formula ended up all over my eyelids. A definite new favorite mascara.

Book Review - The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig

Photo Credit - Amazon

**May Contain Spoilers*

Nix Song is like every other girl in the world -- she wishes for something more and love/attention from her father. She is a girl with an mysterious past and an uncertain future.  She is the navigator on her father's pirate ship and she is also a time traveller.  

The band of misfit pirates whose past collide but each of their future is full of uncertainty travels together to find the next piece of the puzzle; unsure of what is waiting for them. Nix follows her father, Slate around the world and through time in hopes of winning his love and affection but also because she feels trapped. Slate is interested in a very specific time and place; when Nix's mother was alive but Nix wasn't.  Nix helps her father find his lost love because she is sure it won't work but every time she comes across a new map, her heart skips a beat. Nix is unsure why her father is willing to risk everything for the sake of love. Until of course, she falls in love and see how losing the one you love can be the most painful experience in your life.

The book is an interesting read and goes by quickly -- but some parts it was rather slow and boring. It has themes of mythology and time traveling. However, I feel like the book was trying to hard; almost like it was trying to be the next Harry Potter series. Being quite the simpleton, the whole time traveling business left me with more questions and confusion than anything else. It was an interesting read but it just wasn't for me. I did like the little section in the back that went into detail about new stories, mythology and tidbits that inspired the story.

**Disclosure - I received a copy of an uncorrected ebook for my honest opinion --- this had no impact on my review and feedback**

Book Review - The Best and Lightest: 150 Healthy Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner by Editors of Food Network Magazine

Photo Source - Amazon

Food Lovers Rejoice! No longer do you have to sacrifice taste when cooking healthy. As a longtime fan of Food Network, I couldn't wait to get my grubby (hopefully, I can lose some of my baby fat -- you know the fat I had for 30 years now :}) hands on this cookbook.

If you read the Food Network magazine, the cookbook has a similar layout. The book is divide by categories such as sandwiches, poultry, meat, seafood, eggs, pasta, side sides, sweets, and etc. Each of 150 recipes is accompanied by full color photos along with nutritional facts. In between each chapter is little mini recipes for quick snacks like eggplant chips, pesto-tomato crostini,  corn-bacon guacamole, and etc.

**Disclosure - I received an copy of this book in exchange for honest opinion.**

BBW Aromatherapy Sensual Black Currant Vanilla Body Lotion

The creamy black currant and vanilla absolute scented body lotion soothes and  moisturizes skin. The nourishing lotion goes on easily and is absorbed quickly without a greasy feeling. The black currant and vanilla soothes the senses and leaves a slight fragrance trail on the skin. I mostly use this lotion for the scent and not for the moisturizing as it’s mediocre at keeping skin moisturized but leaves skin scented.

Book Review - The Palest Ink by Kay Bratt

**May Contain Spoilers** 

In 1966 in Shanghai, a young boy has a promising future ahead of him. He is a promising violinist from a prominent intellectual family. In addition, he has an arranged marriage with a woman from an equally wealthy upbringing. However, his best friend Pony Boy is less fortunate. Pony Boy is from a lower class family destined for a life of poverty.

As many people know, faith and the future can be unpredictable. In the midst of the China's Cultural Revolution -- life is about to be turned upside down. Families turn against each other, neighbors spy on one and another and teachers are beaten to death by their own students. In hopes, to expose Chairman Mao's Red Guard they concoct a way to document some of the worst behaviors in human history. Through Benfu and Pony Boy's struggle, they come across dark moments of human weakness while trying to find a way to be compassionate and bring light into their dark world. As the prequel to the Tales of Scavenger's Daughter series, the book is filled with hope, love, understanding, friendship, sadness, family, courage, and compassion.

I never read any of books from the Tales of Scavenger's Daughter series but the book would serve as a good introduction to the author's writing and to the series.  The story leaves you rooting for the main characters (and their friendship) and in hopes they are able to make out of the struggle better people.  The book was easy and a good read; it left me wanting to read more from the author.

**Disclosure - I received a copy of an uncorrected ebook for my honest opinion --- this had no impact on my review and feedback**

NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream - Copenhagen

The matte lip cream is a mix of lipstick and a lip gloss. It goes on silky smooth but dries to a matte finish. It also provides a moisturizing like a lip balm. The Copenhagen color is a dark burgundy color and goes on smoothly. It does shows flakes on my skin so I used a lip balm and an exfoliant prior to using. The color lasted but it didn't hold up after a meal. It is very well priced, so I will definitely get again.