Book Review - Crimson Lake (Crimson Lake, #1) by Candice Fox

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Ted Conkaffey was a prominent detective on the Sydney drug task force, a beloved husband and a soon to be a father. All it took was six minutes in the wrong place at the wrong time to ruin everything Ted holds dear to him.  Ted is accused but, not convicted of a brutal abduction of a young child. He is a free man but, he becomes public enemy number one when he is released. However, he staunchly maintains his innocence and goes up north to lie low.

Upon his arrival to Crimson Lake, Ted's lawyer introduces him to a private investigator Amanda Pharrell. Amanda is an eccentric convicted murderer. However, Ted has a hard time believing that Amanda is a cold-blooded killer. He agrees to help with her investigation of a missing author. While digging into the case, he secretly digs into Amanda's past.

I am torn after reading this book. After reading the positive reviews online and on the book cover, I was actually expecting a bit more from this book. I found Ted to be very "weak" of a character and relies on Amanda for support but, then he questions her innocence. Amanda's character seemed a bit weird that she is oddly outspoken but, refused to talk about her trial or defend herself. I felt if the story wasn't as slow, I would have enjoyed it better.

 **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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center

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Cassie Hanwell strives under pressure, especially during emergencies. As she is one of the only female firefighters in her Texas firehouse, she has dealt with a fair share of them. She can handle other people's tragedies but, any of her own. When Cassie's ailing and estranged mother asks her to move to Boston to help take care of her, Cassie is suddenly thrown into an emergency of her own. 

Cassie finds a new job at an old-school Boston firehouse that is completely different from her old job. The new firehouse lacks proper facilities, equipment, funding, and the crew regularly hazes each other. None of the firemen on staff is happy that their captain hired a lady to be on their shift, even if Cassie comes highly recommended.  

The only person that doesn't mind having Cassie around is the handsome rookie, Owen. Cassie feels drawn to him but, she knows firemen can't date each other and she doesn't believe love is her thing.  However, the more Cassie learns about the rookie, the more she feels her resolve to stay away from him slipping away. Will Cassie open up herself to love even if it means losing the only job she ever loved?

I have read the author's other book, How to Walk Away and enjoyed it. I was excited to read this book as the previous novel was an emotionally captivating book. While, this book delivers a powerful message about forgiveness, love, courage, and vulnerability, I didn't find myself feeling much for the characters. I didn't feel invested in Cassie and had a hard time relating to her. I felt like the story was missing an emotional connection for me like the previous book had. It is a good book if you are a fan of the author but, to me it felt like a giant fluff piece.

 **Disclosure - 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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Secrets of Paper and Ink by Lindsay Harrel

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Sophia Barrett is a trained counselor who helps patients deal with their burdens. After taking time off because of a tragic accident, Sophia returns to work. However, when she meets a patient who has similar troubles as her, Sophia realizes she hasn't dealt with her loss. Deciding she needs some space and time to heal, she heads to Cornwall, England to heal. She moves into an apartment above a charming bookstore where is she surrounded by her favorite thing: books.  Will Sophia be able to heal from her past trauma? 

Ginny Rose is the bookstore owner and she is desperate to save her husband's dream business. She can't even ask her husband for help as he decided to take a break from their marriage. She is trying to keep her husband's dream alive but, she feels that she is missing something in her life. But, with an unexpected friendship emerges between her and Sophia; Ginny is hopeful that together with her brother-in-law, William,  they can save her bookstore. Will Sophia be able to save her bookstore and find herself in the process?

While organizing the bookstore's rare book inventory, Sophia finds a notebook containing journal entry from Emily Fairfax. Emily was a governess who lives in Cornwall more than 150 years ago.  Emily has a secret dream of being an author and she writes about her secret crush on her childhood friend, Edward. However, Edward is above her class and their union would be frowned upon.

Sophia is drawn and feels connected to Emily's story. Curious to learn more about Emily, Sophia enlists William and Ginny to research Emily's past. Together, Ginny realizes that she wants to save the bookstore on her accord and not because she thinks it would save her marriage. Sophia finds a new purpose and a way to heal during her journey with Ginny and William.

I thought the novel had an enjoyable but, predictable story. The author's idea of combining three different points of views of the women added an extra dimension to the story. It allowed the readers to understand and feel for each character. I enjoyed seeing two strong females helping each other heal and move on. However, if you are expecting a novel with secrets, suspense, and thrills, you would be better off reading another book.

 **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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

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Annika Rose is an English major at the University of Illinois. She becomes anxious in social situations and she finds it hard to decipher people's behaviors. She finds comfort in books and playing chess.

When newcomer Jonathan Hoffman joins the chess club, he plays his first match against Annika. After he loses his first match, he finds himself drawn to the beautiful but, shy Annika. Jonathan admires that Annika is able to be true to herself. They are both drawn to each other as they balance each other out. Together, they embark in tender love affair when a tragic accident tears them apart causing them to live separate lives.

A decade has passed and Annika and Jonathan has a fate encounter in Chicago. Annika is living the life as she wanted as a librarian. Jonathan is a recovering from a divorce and is a financial expert. The attraction between the pair is still strong. Together, they decide to rekindle their relationship. However, they quickly realize that their fears, quirks, and anxieties that first drove them apart, is threatening their relationship once again. Will Annika and Jonathan be able to work through their differences.

I found myself torn between thinking this book was "meh" to "I liked it". At first, I didn't quite like Annika because I was reminded of some uneventful childhood experiences. But, after learning more about her, I was able to understand her better. I thought Jonathan loved Annika but, sometimes I feel like he "tolerating" or with her because of how pretty she was. I felt like there was a lot of focus on how beautiful she was or that her beauty was "wasted" because of how she was. I didn't like how people were sometimes unnecessarily cruel to Annika because she couldn't understand the world around her. I think the novel was a tad boring, I wish it had more going on.

 **Disclosure - 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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Beast Rider by Tony Johnston and Marí de Rhoads

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 Manuel is just twelve years old when he leaves his small town in Mexico. He travels across the US border, on a train to join his older brother in Los Angeles. Becoming a "beast rider" is dangerous but, Manuel faces other perils even if he manages to survive the jump on the train. 

The first time he is on the train, he is robbed then beaten and arrested by the Mexican police. Manuel doesn't allow his first defeat to deter him. He is attacked by an infamous Mexican gang and they leave him for dead. When he was about to lose hope, the villagers help restore his spirits and health. He leaves again for his journey and finally arrives in LA to be with his brother. He is excited that he is back but, then realizes he feels something is missing.

I thought the novel was an interesting read. However, I have conflicting feelings about this novel. While I thought it was brave that  Manuel risked everything to be with his brother. But, when he finally is reunited to his brother, he realizes that isn't what the heart wants. It's an interesting premise about what the heart and the mind wants. Although, I feel like Manuel risked and lost a lot before he learned what he really wants. I personally hoped Manuel would have found out what defined him before he lost his innocence.

 **Disclosure - 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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - The Dollhouse by Fiona Davis

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In 1952, Darby McLaughlin decides to leave her home to enroll in secretary school in New York City. She arrives at the Barbizon Hotel and realizes that she is surrounded by beautiful women. While she considers herself to be very plain looking.  Darby becomes homesick and falls prey into her roommates' cruelty. When she befriends Esme, a maid at the hotel, she is exposed to a different side of New York City. Esme takes Darby to downtown jazz clubs, where the music causes Darby to feel things she keeps bottled up.

Half a century later, the Barbizon hotel is converted into condos. However, the infamous incident involving a hotel maid falling to her death still taints the hotel's history. When Darby crosses path with journalist Rose Lewin, Rose becomes obsessed with finding out about Darby's past. Rose welcomes this distraction as her personal life starts to fall apart. As Rose digs deeper into Darby's past her true motives become muddle with her search of the truth. 

I have read "The Address" and enjoyed it. The book was well written and the premise was interesting. However, I thought the plot was a bit dull and found that some of the characters to be very basic.  As a person who went through a recent heartbreak, I couldn't picture myself simply falling for a new person in less than a week. It took time to mourn and even understand what exactly went wrong. While this book was disappointing, I am looking forward to reading other books by the author.

 **Disclosure - 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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Lauren B. Beauty Nail Polish - Love

Apologies, but my camera apparently didn't save the swatch photo. The Love nail polish is part of the Lauren B. Bridal Collection. It is a sheer petal pink that is buildable to give full coverage. The nail polish went on smooth but, a bit streaky. The final result was professional polished looking nails even when doing it yourself. Plus, the generous size bottle will last for several uses.

Covergirl Colorlicious Lipstick - 372 Divine Wine

The creamy shea butter infused lipstick goes on smoothly. It imparts a soft purple almost lilac color. The description notes that the lipstick imparts a rich color but, I feel like it soft color wash instead. I had to put 2-3 coats before I get the results above. Overall, a good lipstick for warmer weather when you don't want anything thick or tacky.

Julep Nail Polish - Julianne

Ah, I am so sad that Julep is closing down their Maven program. I used to be a member for a few years and liked that they offer an affordable option to get two nail polish and a skincare/makeup item for around $25 a month. I liked that you were able to customize and skip a month. If I had known they were going to discontinue the program, I would have definitely stocked up during their sales. Although the store is still open, I feel like the inventory won't last or they won't add new products. Granted I feel $14 normal price is a bit expensive for this nail polish as it has less than a product than it's competitors. I am usually able to get three uses of two coats before the nail polish becomes goopy. And maybe another two uses before the bottle is done while other brands I get at least 10 or more uses. Well enough of my diatribe and on to my review!

The smokey grey creme nail polish goes on smoothly. However, it goes on a bit thick than other colors. One coat does give semi-full coverage with a few opaque spots but, two coats provide full coverage. However, any more than two coats cause the nail polish to become very thick and takes forever to dry. I consider this a neutral (compared to my bright neons and colorful glitter nail polishes) that perfect to wear for work.

Avene eau Thermale Soothing Sheet Mask

The facial sheet mask is enriched with Avene Thermal Spring water to leave skin feeling radiant, vibrant and revitalized. The hypoallergenic mask is free of alcohol and fragrance. The mask fit my face well and upon removing the mask, my skin felt softer and radiant. While I like how my skin felt, I am not sure it is worth the $9 per mask. I felt like I got similar results from masks half the price.

Book Review - Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution by E.E. Charlton-Trujillo + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Angie is miserable and the sophomore year just began. Her girlfriend, KC, recently moved away to spend time with her father in Texas. Her best friend, Jake has been distant and flaky. And Greg, her bully, has become increasingly violent towards Angie. Her sister had an over the top funeral with a statue dedicated to her. Her mother, Connie, placed a symbolic urn on their mantel to mourn her daughter's death. All of this just adds to the sadness Angie is feeling. During her sister's ceremony, a visiting soldier gave Angie a letter from her sister. The letter was a list of places she wanted the two of them to visit together when they got home from the war.

After an incident at school, her mother threatens to send Angie to a treatment center. Angie decides to enlist a childhood friend along with her schoolmates to tackle the list her sister left.  Together they travel across the state to cross off items from her sister's list. Will this list be what Angie needs to finally let her sister go and find herself?

I thought the portions of the book where Angie and her friends travel to different landmarks to be interesting. It was nice to see someone be supportive and caring towards Angie after having to deal with hostility at home and at school. The book was a bit " raw" to me in the sense, that it was very graphic and had violence towards people who didn't fit the "standard mold". However, it was nice seeing some characters getting their chance of redemption.

 **Disclosure - I received a free uneditted 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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Series: Fat Angie
Hardcover: 352 pages
Publisher: Candlewick (March 5, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0763693456
ISBN-13: 978-0763693459

Praise for FAT ANGIE: REBEL GIRL REVOLUTION

Fortunately and refreshingly, the text gives Angie no weight-loss arc...A welcomingly awkward, offbeat journey for a "gay-girl gay" girl with many heartaches. ―Kirkus Reviews

In this companion to the Stonewall Award–winning Fat Angie, Angie’s girlfriend has moved away, Angie is constantly bullied as she starts as a sophomore after repeating her freshman year, her mother still can’t stand her, and her former best friend, Jamboree, is back in town...it’s still good to see Angie, a very human combination of neuroses, fears, truths, and desires, break through some of her defenses and take risks, from singing to loving. ―Publishers Weekly

More trouble at school and at home — and the discovery of a missive from her late soldier sister — send Angie and a long-ago friend on an RV road trip across Ohio.

Sophomore year has just begun, and Angie is miserable. Her girlfriend, KC, has moved away; her good friend, Jake, is keeping his distance; and the resident bully has ramped up an increasingly vicious and targeted campaign to humiliate her. An over-the-top statue dedication planned for her sister, who died in Iraq, is almost too much to bear, and it doesn't help that her mother has placed a symbolic empty urn on their mantel. At the ceremony, a soldier hands Angie a final letter from her sister, including a list of places she wanted the two of them to visit when she got home from the war. With her mother threatening to send Angie to a “treatment center” and the situation at school becoming violent, Angie enlists the help of her estranged childhood friend, Jamboree. Along with a few other outsiders, they pack into an RV and head across the state on the road trip Angie's sister did not live to take. It might be just what Angie needs to find a way to let her sister go, and find herself in the process.

You can purchase Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution at the following Retailers:

        

Deemed a “force of nature” by Kirkus reviews, Mexican American author, filmmaker, playwright and poet e.E. Charlton-Trujillo grew up in small-town Mathis, Texas.

As an author, she is the recipient of the Delacorte Dell Yearling Award for her first novel, Prizefighter En Mi Casa. What followed was: the Parents’ Choice Silver Honor, a Flamingnet Top Choice Award,a National Council for the Social Studies Notable Book and made the NYC PublicLibrary Teenage List. Check out the Reviews on Amazon.com

Her second novel Feels Like Home released to critical praise and award nominations.

It was her third novel, Fat Angie that garnered the American Library Association’s Stonewall Award, was a Lambda Literary Finalist and a Choose to Read Ohio book. Fat Angie was also the foundation for a unique book tour to empower at-risk youth via writing and discussion and the catalyst for the feature documentary At-Risk Summer. From that experience, she co-founded a non-profit to bridge the gap between at-risk youth and artists called Never Counted Out.

Currently, she is completing the feature documentary, A Cultural of Silence for GLSEN Cincinnati, writing two novels and Fat Angie: Rebel Girl Revolution in early 2019.

Click the highlighted links for Meet At Human or The Pirate Tree’s interview about e.

        

PART ONE

MARCH 4th MONDAY A Dream Within A Dream EXCERPT

MARCH 5th TUESDAY A Court of Coffee and Books REVIEW

MARCH 5th TUESDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW

MARCH 6th WEDNESDAY Movies, Shows, & Books EXCERPT

MARCH 7th THURSDAY Bookriot REVIEW 

MARCH 7th THURSDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW

MARCH 8th FRIDAY BookHounds YA INTERVIEW 

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Book Review - Professor Chandra Follows His Bliss by Rajeev Balasubramanyam

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Professor Chandra is an internationally known economist who has been shortlisted for a Nobel Prize. He is a divorced father of three children who he struggles to understand. Recently, Professor Chandra was a victim of a bicycle hit and run. He saw his life's work flash before his eyes before the accident. While recovering from his accident, Chandra decides he will take a break as his doctor recommended. Professor Chandra decides to try and enjoy himself and follow his bliss.

When I first started reading this novel, I wasn't sure what to expect. To be honest, I am actually still contemplating what I reading exactly. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing. I was able to relate to both Professor Chandra and his children. I feel there were times that our culture makes us think something is better for children when it really causes doubt and issues in their lives. For example, when I was younger like Chandra and his children, our parents rarely gave praises instead they would make negative comments. They did this to make us feel motivated and try harder. When in truth, it just made me feel like nothing I ever did was good enough. Overall, while reading this book I was asking myself what is the story or plot behind this book but I found myself introspecting my own life path. Which lead to a lot of different discoveries about myself and I wonder if that was the goal of the novel all along.

 **Disclosure - 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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Book Review - Little Darlings by Melanie Golding

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Lauren Tranter is exhausted and needs rest after giving birth to her twins. She is tired especially with taking care of the needs of the twins, Morgan and Riley, by herself.  Everyone thinks Lauren just needs some rest. However, she knows what she saw that night in her hospital room. A woman covered in rags who tried taking her babies and replacing it with her own.

When the police arrive to investigate the incident, they are unable any clues that someone was there. Her husband and her doctors believe Lauren is imaging things and is stressed. Lauren knows what she says and she is afraid to leave her children alone.

As a month passes by, Lauren takes the babies for a walk in the park. She falls asleep and wakes up to find the babies are gone from her side. A bystander finds the children but, Lauren feels that there is something different about them. They might look like her Riley and Morgan to everyone else but, she knows that they are not hers. Lauren is willing to do anything to bring back her babies even if it means risking her life.

The creepy book was an interesting read. I am not a mother myself but, I can only imagine the level of stress mothers deal with after giving birth. Then to add in the drama of believing that your child(ren) are missing is enough to make anyone go crazy. The suspenseful novel leads readers into a maze of discoveries into deciding whether or not Lauren hallucinating or did Faeries steal her children. Overall, a deliciously ghoulish read that's perfect for a rainy day.

 **Disclosure - I received a free uneditted 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 any extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**