Friday, October 9, 2020

October 2020 Empties!

 


Ah, it's October! The greatest month of the year -- there is candy, scary movies/books, costumes, glitter, pumpkins, cool weather, and did I mention CANDY? Hypothetically I should be clearing out my shelves for the holiday sales but, I been definitely dragging my feet of late. 

I finished a few more masks from Factory and Biobelle. My favorite mask was still the Biobelle. The other masks I didn't really notice much of a difference. My skin is hydrated afterwards but, I still need to follow up with moisturizer to lock in the hydration. I did like the 23 Years Old mask because my felt like it was drowning in hydration. This is mask is perfect for the dry and cold weather. 

This was my first time trying the coffee scrub and my god....that thing created a huge mess in my bathroom! However, it did leave my skin very hydrated but, I could have done without the cleanup. This is my first time using the Ouai treatment masque and I love how great it smells. It is amazing! I am definitely going to keep my eyes out for more of their products.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think of them?

Wonjin Effect 3 Step Mask
Frudia Natural Hydration Maintains Moisture Blueberry Hydrating Mask
23 Years Old Hyaltox Petit Mask
Soo'ae Panda Eye Brightening Mask
Dove Refresh+Care Volume & Fullness Dry Shampoo
Farsali Liquid Glass Radiance Make Skin Serum
Foxybae Replenihsing Hair Mask
Blow Pro Weather Girl Pure Anti-Frizz Serum
The Coffee Scrub
MediHeal I.P.I LightMax Ampoule Mask
Midflower Rosa Damascena Flower Water Brightening Mask
BioBelle #Rise&Shine Energizes & Illuminates with Pineapple Extact & Glycolic Acid
Sur.Medic Bright Glutathione Mask
Dr. Timepeel A1 Normalizer Mask
CeraVe Healing Ointment
Ouai Treament Masque
Biggs & Featherbelle Body Scrub
Tarte Big Ego Mascara

Wednesday, October 7, 2020

Book Review - The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins

 

 

Jane just moved to Birmingham, Alabama to work as a dog walker in Thornfield Estates. Jane is broke and she is surrounded by wealthy people. However, Jane starts to notice that her client are careless with their expensive items and they don't notice when they go missing. They don't even bother to ask if Jane is her real name.

When Jane meets Eddie Rochester, she feels like her luck has finally changed. Eddie is recently widowed and mysterious. He doesn't interact with the other residents at Thornfield Estates.  His late wife, Bea drowned in a boating accident with her best friend, Blanche. Their bodies has been presumed to be buried in the deep. Jane sees a chance of starting fresh with Eddie. He is handsome, rich, and provides a comfort that she has yearned her entire life for.

As Jane and Eddie try to begin their new life together, Jane becomes haunted by Bea. She feels that she can never compare to her. She has a feeling that Eddie might still be in love with Bea. Will Jane be able to get her happy ending?

I thought the novel was an interesting read. It was a bit predictable in my opinion. I enjoyed the female relationships and bonds between the characters. I can't say I was fond of any of the characters personally as I thought they were all self-serving people. I liked that the novel was told from alternating point of views of Jane and Bea. I am looking forward to reading other books from 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.**

 

Monday, October 5, 2020

Book Review - Dragonflies at Night by Anne Marie Bennett + Giveaway

 

 


Savannah is the owner of a party planning business called Life Celebrations. Even though Savannah has lost both of her parents as a teenager, she tries to create and foster a positive life for herself. She surrounds herself with friends and coworkers that she treats like family. While Savannah is happy with her life, she yearns to have a family of her own. However, she is afraid of getting sick and leaving her kids without a mother.

Savannah's mom, Deirdre Rose continues to watch over Savannah. Deirdre leaves "gifts" of dragonflies to let her Savannah know she is being watched over.

Ben is a good looking talented recording artist that is looking for more in life. He is famous but, he constantly feels lonely. He fears trusting people because very few people want to know the real him. He feels that most people just want something from him. 

However, when Savannah and Ben cross paths at a yoga retreat, they feel drawn to each other. They feel a bond that they never felt before. Savannah wants to know the real him and Ben appreciates and understands Savannah's past. But, when their retreat is over, what will become of their relationship?

I thought the novel had an interesting concept of a mother/aunt looking over their child. However, I felt like the novel was moving very slowly. The characters were interesting but, I couldn't stay interested in the novel. If you like cozy romance with elements of magical realism, then this is the book for you.

 

**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.**

 

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Dragonflies at Night:
More Than a Love Story
By Anne Marie Bennett
Women's Fiction, Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 365 Pages
September 22, 2020 by KaleidoSoul Media

A dragonfly brings a mother’s love to a grieving daughter.

Meet Savannah, the thirty-something owner of Life Celebrations, a party planning business. Despite losing both parents as a teenager, Savannah is creating a positive life for herself, surrounded by friends and co-workers who are now her family. But she also has a secret—as much as she wants to settle down and have children, she is afraid to, for fear of getting cancer and having to leave them without their mother, as she herself was left behind years ago.

Meet Deirdre Rose, Savannah’s mother. She continues to watch over Savannah, who feels deeply connected to her mother whenever she sees a dragonfly.

Now meet Ben, a thirty-something recording artist who is good-looking, talented, and a household name. Despite his fame, Ben is lonely. He trusts few people because it seems everyone wants something from him instead of getting to know who he really is.

Savannah and Ben cross paths when they meet at a yoga retreat in the Massachusetts Berkshires. They are drawn to each other’s creativity and outlook on life. She sees beyond his celebrity and he admires her strength in what she’s had to overcome.

What happens when the retreat ends and they go their separate ways? Will they be able to make a long distance relationship work? Can Savannah put aside her fears, and will Ben allow himself to be truly vulnerable?

Above all . . . what message do Deirdre Rose and Dragonfly have for both of them?

(Affiliate link included.)

About the Author


Anne Marie Bennett was touched by a dragonfly once and has never forgotten its message. She has published books about her cancer journeys and the process of SoulCollage®. This is her first women’s novel.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive an ebook of All You Need is Love and Lilacs, a dragonfly suncatcher, and a $25 Amazon eGift Card (dragonfly suncatcher to US winner only, international winner will receive ebook and gift card only)

Ends October 14, 2020



Saturday, October 3, 2020

October 2020 Haul!

 

 


Wow! I can't believe that is almost October already.  It feels like the year went by so quickly and I did absolutely nothing. 

I got a few more face masks as that's seem to be the only thing I actually use. I got a new sleep mask from Oh K! that I am excited to try. I bought some more masks from Facetory that I am excited about. I love the I am sorry for my Skin, Dr. Althea, and 23 Years old masks.

I keep buying more lipsticks like a lunatic but, admitting my addiction is the first step. I got a few MAC lipsticks that I am excited to wear - Red Rock and Sweet Sakura is my two favorite. I got two Milk Kush lip balms that I am constantly eyeballing. I heard so many great things about it. One is a regular balm and other has color (Plushberry). I also bought a Charlotte Tillsbury lipstick (Very Victoria), Illamasqua lip polish, and Ciate Watermelon Burst Hydrating Lip Oil that looks so amazing.

I found a new brand - Earth Harbor and I bought a few products from them. I like their minimal packaging and it reminds me of the Herbivore packaging (I also bought their Jasmine body oil to try out). I bought their Mermaid Milk moisturizer, the Glow Juice enzyme mask,  and three of their ampoule (Marina, Aurora, and Helios).

Oh boy, I have so many good goodies this month! I got a few K-beauty items such that I am excited to try. I got natural soap from Pure Foret and a beautiful bottle of body lotion. It's the item that shaped like an abstract work of art. Oh, I got a new container of moisturizer from Glam Glow. I find some of their products to be aggressive and drying but, I read so many good things about this moisturizer. I hope it works for me. 

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Book Review - All This Time by Mikki Daughtry + Giveaway

 

Kyle and Kimberly were the perfect couple in high school. He is on the football team and she is a cheerleader. However, when Kimberly breaks up with him on the night of their graduation party, Kyle's life changes forever. Their car crashes and Kyle suffers a brain injury. He finds out that Kimberly is dead. He is unable to cope with his grief and hopes to find someone who can understand his pain.

When he meets Marley, he finds someone who understands him. Marley is dealing with her grief from losing her twin sister. She thinks it's her fault that her sister died. When Marley and Kyle hang out, Kyle feels that he found a kindred spirit.

Together they work to heal each other's pain. They realize that they falling in love with each other. However, Kyle can't help feel that he is heading towards another disaster after he finally got his life back together.

I had mixed feelings about this novel. I found it to be an emotional read but, I was conflicted about some parts of the novel. I felt like Kyle left one "bad" relationship and traded it for another. I felt like he did learn and grow himself but, Marley wasn't able to do that herself. I felt like their relationship was co-dependent on each other for their happiness. I can't say I liked Marley and some of Kyle's behavior. I found that parts of the novel were over-the-top and not believable. I am on the fence on reading other books by the author.

**Disclosure - I received a free unedited 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.**

 

About The Book:

Title: ALL THIS TIME

Authors: Mikki Daughtry & Rachael Lippincott

Pub. Date: September 29, 2020

Publisher: Simon Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 336

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, AudibleB&N Exclusive Edition, iBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

 

From the team behind #1 New York Times bestseller Five Feet Apart comes a gripping new romance that asks: Can you find true love after losing everything?

 

Kyle and Kimberly have been the perfect couple all through high school, but when Kimberly breaks up with him on the night of their graduation party, Kyle’s entire world upends—literally. Their car crashes and when he awakes, he has a brain injury. Kimberly is dead. And no one in his life could possibly understand.

Until Marley. Marley is suffering from her own loss, a loss she thinks was her fault. And when their paths cross, Kyle sees in her all the unspoken things he’s feeling.

As Kyle and Marley work to heal each other’s wounds, their feelings for each other grow stronger. But Kyle can’t shake the sense that he’s headed for another crashing moment that will blow up his life as soon as he’s started to put it back together.

And he’s right.

 


 

About Mikki Daughtry:

 

Mikki Daughtry graduated from Brenau University, where she studied theatre arts. She is a screenwriter and novelist living in Los Angeles and is one of the authors of the New York Times #1 bestseller Five Feet Apart. When she’s not writing, she is watching old black and white movies, listening to Doris Day on repeat, or reading ancient Greek plays. The classics. Always.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 


 

About Rachael Lippincott:

 

Rachael Lippincott was born in Philadelphia and raised in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. She holds a BA in English writing from the University of Pittsburgh. She currently resides in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, splitting her time between writing and running a food truck with her partner.

 

Her debut novel, FIVE FEET APART, is a #1 NYT Bestseller.

 

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

 


Giveaway Details:

3 lucky winners will win a finished copy of ALL THIS TIME, US Only.

 

Giveaway Link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/e2389ba21145/?

 

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

9/7/2020

Kait Plus Books

Spotlight

9/7/2020

Two Chicks on Books

Spotlight

9/8/2020

Jazzy Book Reviews

Spotlight

9/8/2020

BookHounds Ya

Spotlight

9/9/2020

YA Books Central

Spotlight

9/9/2020

Lifestyle of Me

Review

9/10/2020

Abellafairytale

Review

9/10/2020

Infinite Lives, Infinite Stories

Review

9/11/2020

Do You Dog-ear?

Review

9/11/2020

The Desert Bibliophile

Review

 

Week Two:

9/14/2020

Pages and Pugs

Spotlight

9/14/2020

The Bookwyrm's Den

Review

9/15/2020

notinjersey

Review

9/15/2020

The Pages In-Between

Review

9/16/2020

Book Briefs

Review

9/16/2020

Rajiv's Reviews

Review

9/17/2020

The Book View

Review

9/17/2020

Jotted by Jena

Spotlight

9/18/2020

Fangirl Fury

Review

9/18/2020

What A Nerd Girl Says

Review

 

Week Three:

9/21/2020

Emelie's Books

Review

9/21/2020

dwantstoread

Review

9/22/2020

Popthebutterfly Reads

Review

9/22/2020

The Clever Reader

Review

9/23/2020

Gimme The Scoop Reviews

Review

9/23/2020

Zainey Laney

Spotlight

9/24/2020

BookishConnoisseur

Review

9/24/2020

Reese's Reviews

Review

9/25/2020

Momfluenster

Review

9/25/2020

Jaime's World

Spotlight

 

Week Four:

9/28/2020

Sometimes Leelynn Reads

Review

9/28/2020

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review

9/29/2020

stuck.in.the.stacks

Review

9/29/2020

Book-Keeping

Review

9/30/2020

The Mind of a Book Dragon

Review

9/30/2020

A Gingerly Review

Review

10/1/2020

Smada's Book Smack

Review

10/1/2020

Eli to the nth

Review

10/2/2020

Becky on Books

Review

10/2/2020

two points of interest

Review