Book Review - A Fragile Hope by Cynthia Ruchti + Giveaway

Photo Credit  - Amazon

Josiah Chamberlain is an expert on repairing other people's marriage, except his own. Karin his once loving wife is growing distant and when an unfortunate accident happens, she is unable to defend herself. Josiah finds that even though he manages relationships for a living,  he is no match for dealing with his own crisis.  Feeling betrayed, he starts to question his faith and hope. Will he able to regain his faith and hope? Will Josiah and Karin be able to work on their marriage?

When I first started reading the novel it was enjoyable but towards the middle it became boring and redundant. It was the same thing over and over. I didn't like how the author focuses mostly on the guilt and betrayal that Josiah felt and left all the other details out. For example, when he finds Karin's phone or how did Karin get injured. I believed that could add more to the story and make Karin's character feel more human instead of just an afterthought. The story felt one sided since it was mostly told from Josiah's perspective. It was an okay read but I might read other novels from the author.

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

Celebrate the release of A Fragile Hope by entering to win Cynthia's Sign of Hope Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of A Fragile Hope
• A metal wall scripture hanging

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on May 3. The winner will be announced May 4 on the Litfuse blog.

Lisa Hoffman Beauty Fine Fragrance Jewelry - French Clary Sage

The blonde wood bracelet is adored with gold beads with gold filigree charm. The gold plated charms houses a chamber where you can put fragrance balls. The stretchy bracelet had scents of French Sage, Yellow Freesia, Cotton and Linen. When the scent is pleasant and the bracelet is beautiful, I found this bracelet to be utter garbage. I couldn't open the clasp and the cheap bracelet broke even before I got a chance to wear it. Definitely cheaply made and not worth it.

Julep Nail Polish - Fleur

I just found this beautiful nail polish in my stash. Julep lists it as "Evening Bloom Glitter", but  I thought more "Starry Night", but I could see this as midnight blooms. Like all of Julep nail polishes, it is 5 free, vegan friendly and made with green coffee extra and Hexanal. After one coat, the nail polish provides a full coverage and goes on a bit chunky. A fun nail polish to treat myself during the week!

Holika Holika Gudotama Lazy and Easy Blush - Grapefruit

Love the oh-so-cute packaging for this blush. The plastic container is like the standard BB/CC container with a strip of bacon sealing the container. The pouf is similar to stiff sponge that helps deposit, blend and disperse the product. The product is a mixture of marshmellowy, spongey, mousse with a bit of a bounce. It has a wet feeling but the product goes on dry and left a chalky finish. It takes a feel swipes of the sponge to get color which goes on sheer but it is buildable. I like that it's sheer and not very bold which is good for people who work in places with strict dress codes.

BBW White Barn Bergamot Waters

I have a weakness for candles. Candles are my downfall. Especially when they are on sale. I have two cabinets of candles but when I saw this in BBW, I NEEDED it in my life. The candle is scented of sugar citrus, sandalwood and blue Bergamot waters. The candle has a burn time of 25 - 45 hours and has even burn thanks to a patented blend of vegetable wax and lead free wicks. A favorite and definite in my rotation.

Bite Beauty Matte Creme Lip Crayon - Aubergine

The creamy lip crayon provided a beautiful deep eggplant color. The lip crayon is packed with orange peel wax and resveratrol. The matte crayon is formulated without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates along with being water resistant. The hydrating lip crayon provided great coverage and last 3 hours before wearing off.

Book Review - Some Small Magic by Billy Coffey

Photo Source - Amazon

Abel always feels invisible among people. He feels that no one ever notices him. He takes up doing magic tricks and hopes some of the magic will spills into his life. He is tired of being bullied because of his weak body. He is tired of being poor and always thinking about his dead father.  One day, Abel finds letters from his father who he thought was dead. He decides to go on an adventure with his friend, Dumb Willie to find his father and bring him back to Mattingly, VA.  The duo is faced with danger once the commence their journey. On board of the train, they meet a mysterious beautiful woman who seems to be hiding something. Will Abel and Willie be able to trust her? Why did his mother keep his father a secret?

When I picked up the novel, I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought it was going to be about a child finding his father and returning home. Instead, it was about friendship, making sacrifices, dealing with consequences and being content with life. The story was primarily told from Abel's POV but it changes. It's an interesting read and the story has many twists but while I enjoyed reading the novel, I wasn't in love. I will definitely read more books from the author though. 

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

Davines Minu Shampoo

The fresh citrus scented shampoo promises to help hair retain its color during washing. The eco-friendly shampoo promises to safely and gently cleanse hair while protecting color so it lasts longer. It is packed with caper blossom extract and a blend of surfactants to leave hair shiny, refreshed and not weighed down. When I got the shampoo I was in love with the scent (I have a few remaining strands of colored hair) but fell out of love with it after a few uses. It was an expensive bottle to throw away, I gave it to my roommate who loved the scent. We didn’t notice any color guarding but they would be purchasing the shampoo again because they loved the scent.