Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara

The Better Than Sex mascara is a cult favorite. I can easily see why hordes of people love this mascara. The hourglass-shaped wand reaches every inch. The formula is enriched with Acacia Senegal Tree Extract and peptides. The vegan-friendly formula provided length and volume. A few coats of the jet black mascara made my lashes look like I am wearing falsies. I did notice that I got a few smudges on my cheeks and lids. But, overall it's still one of my favorites mascaras.

Book Review - Watch Hollow by Gregory Funaro + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

In the town of Watch Hollow lies an enchanted woods that surround a now neglected Blackford House. The once-grand house holds many secrets, including magical ones such as, a giant cuckoo clock that powers the entire house. However, when the clock's gears stop turning, an evil presence from the woods starts to emerge and descends on the house.

Lucy and Oliver Tinker arrive with their father to help fix the broken clock. A stranger with a bundle of gold coins made an offer to their father that he couldn't refuse. Mr. Tinker will need to fix the clock at Blackford House and he will be able to keep the gold coins. It didn't take long before Lucy and Oliver to realize there is more to the Blackford House than meets the eye. Together with a few magical animals, the siblings must join forces to defeat the evil presence.

The novel was a fun and engaging read. I love how the author spun a tale of magical creatures and devotion to family. I enjoyed the smooth writing style that kept me hooked and wanted me to read more about the siblings. The magical story about the house had enough details to make the readers interested but, still wanting to know more. I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Series: Watch Hollow (Book 2)
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (February 18, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062643487
ISBN-13: 978-0062643483

Praise for WATCH HOLLOW Series

“Filled with clever, magical, and instantly likable characters, Funaro’s excellent, fast-paced, and twisty mystery—packed with suspense, facts, magic, and an incredible, deeply thought-out world—will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next chapter.” ―Booklist (starred review)

“A well-wound tale of good versus evil.” ―Kirkus Reviews

“The magically sentient house, creeping woods, and resident monster establish the story’s shivery Gothic feel, which will more than satisfy readers in search of a pleasantly scary read.” ―Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

“There is magic, there is good and evil, and there is love all woven into a suspenseful and entertaining mystery. A well-crafted story that should be a hit with readers who enjoy a a good scare.” ―School Library Journal (starred review)

New York Times bestselling author Gregory Funaro brings us the second installment of the thrilling Watch Hollow series, where magic exists, monsters roam, and wooden animals come to life.

Having defeated the Garr, a vicious tree monster who lived within the enchanted woods of Watch Hollow, Lucy and Oliver Tinker now have the home they’ve always dreamed of: Blackford House. Powered by a magical clock and full of curious rooms and improbable knickknacks, Blackford House brims with the promise of new adventures.

 
Yet when a strange governess arrives from England—bringing with her the Kojima twins, Agatha and Algernon—the Tinker children’s once bright future quickly begins to dim. The Kojimas claim to be the rightful heirs to Blackford House, and soon after their arrival, a great evil enters the Tinkers’ new home, cursing it and turning it into an ever-changing labyrinth.

As a result, Lucy and Oliver, along with their clock animal friends, must now join forces with the twins to escape this labyrinth and save Blackford House, all while a new monster lurks around the corner.

You can purchase Watch Hollow: The Alchemist's Shadow at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Gregory Funaro

Gregory Funaro grew up in Cranston, Rhode Island, and wrote his first story, The Ghost in the Window, in the fourth grade. He considers this to be his finest work, but unfortunately it has been lost to time. His first book for Disney-Hyperion, ALISTAIR GRIM'S ODDITORIUM (2015), was a New York Times best seller and an Amazon Best Book of the Month. His other works for children have received starred reviews from Kirkus, School Library Journal, and ALA Booklist. Check out WATCH HOLLOW, the first book in his series for HarperCollins, as well as its sequel, THE ALCHEMIST'S SHADOW, coming in 2020. Greg also teaches drama at East Carolina University, and is busy working on his next novel.

        

WEEK ONE
FEBRUARY 17th MONDAY JeanBookNerd PODCAST
FEBRUARY 18th TUESDAY Twirling Book Princess EXCERPT
FEBRUARY 19th WEDNESDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW
FEBRUARY 20th THURSDAY Casia's Corner EXCERPT
FEBRUARY 21st FRIDAY J.R's Book Reviews REVIEW

WEEK TWO
FEBRUARY 24th MONDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW
FEBRUARY 25th TUESDAY The Writerly Way REVIEW
FEBRUARY 25th TUESDAY Two Point of Interest REVIEW
FEBRUARY 26th WEDNESDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW
FEBRUARY 27th THURSDAY At Home With a Book REVIEW
FEBRUARY 28th FRIDAY BookHounds YA GUEST POST 

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Olay Daily Facials Daily Hydrating Clean

I usually try to wash my face every time I wear makeup. Some days, I am just too tired and use a cleansing wipe. However, sometimes those wipes don't clean off all traces of the makeup especially,  with mascara. I like that these wipes are convenient and had soapy cleanser on them. The cleanser is enriched with grapeseed extract and glycerin to nourish and replenish skin. The wipes had a bit of texture that provided a nice relaxing feeling. It left my skin feeling cleaned and refreshed. I think these wipes are perfect for a weekend trip especially when space might be limited to carry a big bottle of cleanser.

Julep Boost Your Radiance Reparative Rosehip Seed Oil

 

I love using facial oils especially after using a clay mask. I have been using Julep products for a while and some of them I love and others I hate. When I saw this facial oil, I thought I would give it a try since it was only $28 and I seen more expensive facial oils.

The facial oil is packed with vitamin E, rosehip seed oil, and bergamot oil. The silky oil had a pleasant scent and absorbed quickly. My skin felt smoother, softer and more hydrated. I felt like facial oil was a good value for the quality.

Book Review - Bridge 108 by Anne Charnock + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

In the late twenty-first century, drought and wildfires ravage southern Europe causing residents to flee. When twelve-year-old Caleb and his mother make the journey north, he becomes separated from her and falls victim to human traffickers. He becomes enslaved in an enclave outside Manchester but, he uses the opportunity to improve his situation. Even when his situation looks dire, Caleb never loses hope.

Caleb meets another victim of trafficking and together they look for better opportunities. He hides in the woods and searches for a new place to call home. As Caleb searches for his path, he realizes he can't trust anyone because he might end up in a perilous situation. 

I enjoyed reading this novel as the writing flowed smoothly. The book grabbed my attention and kept it until the end. I enjoyed reading about Caleb and his adventures in finding a place to belong. I liked that the author included different points of view in the book but, I felt like some characters should have been included. I would have liked to have read about his friend in the enclave roof next door and her motivations. The book was fast-paced but, lacked a bit of world-building. The author mentioned a few things in passing but, I wanted to know more about the tech or the political landscape. I felt like this book would be a great introductory novel into an awesome series about a new "world".

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Print Length: 195 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1542006082
Publisher: 47North (February 18, 2020)
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07PLHGMQN

Praise for BRIDGE 108

“Readers who enjoy coming-of-age stories with hopeful messages will be gratified by this topical tale of human resourcefulness in the face of climate disaster.” —Publishers Weekly

A dystopian novel set in the climate-ravaged Europe of A Calculated Life. Told through multiple voices against the backdrop of a haunting and frighteningly believable future, Bridge 108 charts the passage of a young boy into adulthood amid oppressive circumstances that are increasingly relevant to our present day.

From the Arthur C. Clarke Award–winning author, a dystopian novel of oppression set in the climate-ravaged Europe of A Calculated Life, a finalist for the Kitschies award and Philip K. Dick Award.

Late in the twenty-first century, drought and wildfires prompt an exodus from southern Europe. When twelve-year-old Caleb is separated from his mother during their trek north, he soon falls prey to traffickers. Enslaved in an enclave outside Manchester, the resourceful and determined Caleb never loses hope of bettering himself.

After Caleb is befriended by a fellow victim of trafficking, another road opens. Hiding in the woodlands by day, guided by the stars at night, he begins a new journey—to escape to a better life, to meet someone he can trust, and to find his family. For Caleb, only one thing is certain: making his way in the world will be far more difficult than his mother imagined.

Told through multiple voices and set against the backdrop of a haunting and frighteningly believable future, Bridge 108 charts the passage of a young boy into adulthood amid oppressive circumstances that are increasingly relevant to our present day.

You can purchase Bridge 108 at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Anne Charnock

Anne Charnock's latest novel, DREAMS BEFORE THE START OF TIME, is the winner of the 2018 Arthur C. Clarke Award, and was shortlisted for the BSFA 2017 Best Novel Award. Her novella THE ENCLAVE has won the BSFA 2017 Best Short Fiction Award. This novella is written in the same world as her debut novel, A CALCULATED LIFE, which was a finalist for the 2013 Philip K. Dick and The Kitschies Golden Tentacle Awards.

SLEEPING EMBERS OF AN ORDINARY MIND, her second novel, was named by The Guardian as one of the Best Science Fiction and Fantasy Books of 2015

Anne Charnock's journalism has appeared in New Scientist, The Guardian, Financial Times, International Herald Tribune and Geographical. She was educated at the University of East Anglia, where she studied Environmental Sciences, and at The Manchester School of Art, England where she gained a Masters in Fine Art.

As a foreign correspondent, she travelled widely in Africa, the Middle East and India and spent a year overlanding through Egypt, Sudan and Kenya.

        

FEBRUARY 17th MONDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

FEBRUARY 18th TUESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books REVIEW

FEBRUARY 19th WEDNESDAY Ya It's Lit REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 20th THURSDAY Crossroad Reviews REVIEW

FEBRUARY 20th THURSDAY A Dream Within A Dream EXCERPT

FEBRUARY 21st FRIDAY Insane About Books REVIEW 

FEBRUARY 22nd SATURDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW
FEBRUARY 22nd SATURDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

FEBRUARY 23rd SUNDAY BookHounds EXCERPT

*JBN is not responsible for Lost or Damaged Books in your Nerdy Mail Box*

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Grace and Stella Dead Sea Mud Mask

I love putting on a mask and taking a nice relaxing bath. This creamy mud mask is enriched with Dead Sea mud, kaolin, shea butter, sunflower oil, aloe vera juice, jojoba oil, hickory bark extract, and calendula oil. The clay mask went on smoothly and didn't leave my skin feeling tight. The mask dried quickly without causing that cracked mud look on the skin.

Book Review - Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Photo Credit - Amazon

When America entered World War II, the small town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama grew overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in the factories. Dolly Chandler's family is going through a hard time and decides to turn her family home into a boardinghouse to accommodate the worker boom. Each one of Dolly's boarders is bringing a bit of the past with them along with their hopes for the future.

A couple from the Midwest who is going through a tough time in their marriage, a pair of married unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, and a young veteran who is struggling to heal from the war. They each are hoping that they can heal at Dolly's house and find their back in the real world.  However, the house has a past that it's waiting to reveal to the boarders.

When an accident occurs and threatens Dolly's livelihood, she has to rely on her band of friends for help. Will the group of friends be able to solve the mystery of the missing young bride and pirate?

I thought the novel was a fun read. The novel was told from two different perspectives of a young woman in a failing marriage and a veteran returning from the war.  I found the middle of the novel to move a bit slow but, I did enjoy all the characters. I found the ending bittersweet and it felt like I was saying goodbye to a good friend when I finished reading the book. I am looking forward to reading more books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest opinion. This post may contain affiliate links which means I earn advertising and/or referral fees if you purchase an item through my link. Please note, there will be no extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**