August 2026 Empties!

 

In a few more days, summer will officially be over, and Fall will reign again! I am looking forward to the cooler weather to finally being able to wear mascara again without having to look like a raccoon. 

I finished a few things but not nearly as many things as I bought -.-

I recently have been trying a lot more Native products. I tried one of their deodorants a while ago and liked the scent. I recently saw the cashmere & rain body wash. It had an interesting scent. It was more unisex, and it reminded me of sage. I thought it was a solid body wash. It was hydrating and cleansing enough, plus they constantly release a lot of fun new scents.  

I used to love Perricone MD, but the last few things I have tried have been meh. It is super disappointing because they tend to be pretty expensive. Their acne relief gentle and soothing facial cleanser was a gloopy mess. I loved the huge container, but even with a gentle squeeze, a huge blob would come out. It would also just sit on the skin and plop like jelly in the tub. It seemed like a waste.  

After a recent Ulta order, I got a small sample of Wyn Beauty lip gloss. Unfortunately, didn't have the color or product name. However, it went on like butter, and it felt so nice against the skin. It had a sheer wash of color, and it was not tacky at all. The brand isn't sold in stores and could only be bought on their website for a limited time. I might need to go and stock up on a few colors.  

Instead of eating for a few days, I splurged and got the Lancôme Absolue Longevity MD Intercept The Cream. A small fortune that made my skin feel like butter and silk. A small dab is enough for full coverage, and it leaves skin feeling moisturized with a satin finish. It is on the heavier side but doesn't clog pores. The container looks big, but it is on the smaller side. However, refills are cheaper, but not by much. 

The sleek and sexy Le Rouge Francais Achille lip balm, ah, what an expensive waste. Most of the container was just pretty with a tiny sliver actually dedicated to the product. The product can be used all over, but I preferred to use it as a nighttime lip mask. It leaves lips feeling soft and delectable, but in a blink you are out of  $37 for the sparse lip tin. 

Book Review – The Dying Game by Åsa Avdic

 

  

The Dying Game by Åsa Avdic is about seven people who are brought to a remote island during a storm to compete for a top-secret government position over the course of 48 hours.

In 2037, on the tiny, remote island of Isola, seven people are hand-selected to participate in a 48-hour competition. The winner will be awarded a top-secret intelligence position within the totalitarian Union of Friendship.

Anna Francis is chosen to participate in the competition. She is a workaholic bureaucrat known for her mission work. Although she is the mother of a nine-year-old daughter, she rarely sees her because of her demanding career. Anna is also harboring a secret that seems to haunt her every move.

Anna is surprised to be selected since she doesn’t see herself as the ideal candidate for the position. Still, when her handlers explain the true nature of the test, she agrees to take part. Her assignment is to fake her own death and secretly observe the remaining candidates from hidden spaces within the walls of the house. She must take detailed notes on who takes control, who cracks under pressure, and how the others react to the possibility that a murderer may be among them. However, once a storm knocks out the power, the real game begins as everything quickly spirals out of control.

This novel felt like a complete waste of time to me. It had the potential to be great, but instead it was a drudgery to get through. The book was very difficult to get into, largely because the author provided almost no real-world building. What little worldbuilding there was felt so sparse that it added almost nothing to the story. I also didn’t understand why the novel needed to be set in the future or why it took place in a fictional country. I wish the author had explained more about the social structure, political groups, and the war that kept being referenced.

I also didn’t like how the author constantly hinted at things without ever properly explaining them. I’m not sure how readers were supposed to fully understand what was happening when so little context was provided. I also never really understood what the position actually involved or what the overall point of the game was supposed to be.

The story is told through alternating points of view between Anna and another participant in the game who also happens to be her crush. It was somewhat interesting to see how they viewed each other, but it still wasn’t enough to save the book from feeling lackluster. By the end, I felt like the book wasn’t worth the effort because I was left with far more questions than answers.

 

Book Review – Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner

 

Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner is about a professional Black couple who decide to leave their city life behind for the suburbs.

Dr. Langdon Blaque is an ER doctor who wants to escape city life. He feels burned out and exhausted by the constant drama, death, and despair that come with his job. He dreams of finding a place where he can leave all of that behind and spend quiet time with his wife in peace.

Langdon loves his work but believes a move to the suburbs could help revitalize his spirit. His wife, Josephine, a lawyer, is much more hesitant about leaving the city. She grew up hearing her father’s horror stories about sundown towns and the Jim Crow South, which makes her wary of suburban life. Even so, she eventually agrees to Langdon’s plan with one condition: they will stay for one year, and if they do not love it, they will move back to the city.

The couple relocates to Majestic Hills, a predominantly white neighborhood where the neighbors initially seem welcoming and friendly. However, when a crime occurs close to home and the illusion of safety is shattered, Josephine and Langdon find themselves caught in the middle of the fallout. Neighbors are pitted against one another, exposing deep-rooted prejudices in the community. Will Langdon and Josephine be able to truly make Majestic Hills their home?

I thought the book was an okay read overall, but it felt kind of bland to me. I kept waiting for unexpected twists or turns that never really came. The storyline felt very predictable, and not much happened that kept me fully engaged. The book was marketed as both a mystery and a thriller, but I personally didn’t feel like it had many elements of either genre. I did like Langdon and Josephine as characters and thought they were written well.

Book Review – Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA by Christina Hillsberg

 

Agents of Change: The Women Who Transformed the CIA by Christina Hillsberg is an exploration of the pioneering women who changed the male-dominated world of espionage, as told by a former intelligence operative.

I was looking forward to reading this book because I enjoy reading about strong women. However, I was a bit disappointed because the author teased many of the missions that she and other women participated in but couldn't provide many details since much of the information is still classified. I felt like we only got surface-level descriptions, and that wasn't enough to hold my interest.

I also didn't really care for reading about all of the sexism because, unfortunately, much of it still exists today.

While the author included a glossary of intelligence terms, I found it difficult to remember them all. The pacing also felt uneven, and the writing was somewhat choppy. It was hard for me to stay engaged because so many people were introduced throughout the book, and I struggled to remember who they were and how they related to each chapter. I also felt that because the author couldn't go into detail about many of the missions, the stories became repetitive and began to blur together.

Overall, I thought it was an okay book. It was fairly forgettable, and I barely remember much of it after finishing. However, I'm giving it 3 stars instead of 2 because I liked the subject matter and the effort to highlight the contributions of these pioneering women.

Book Review – Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano

 

 

Milton Makes a Move by Jonathan Graziano is about a newly adopted pug who finds his forever home.

The children's book is a short and easy read. It features fun, colorful illustrations that bring Milton's journey to his forever home to life. The story teaches young readers about being brave, embracing new adventures, and the importance of friendship. It is a heartwarming read that is perfect for fans of Noodle and animal lovers alike.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.

Book Review - A Good Person by Kirsten King

 

A Good Person by Kirsten King is about a woman named Lillian who puts a hex on her ex-boyfriend and then he unexpectedly dies. Lillian and Henry have enjoyed spending time together, especially in bed, during the four months they’ve been dating. Lillian’s best friend, Jamie, insists that what they have is a “situationship,” not a real relationship. Determined to lock Henry down, Lillian decides she will be the best, most accommodating version of herself until he falls in love with her.

But Lillian is blindsided when Henry suddenly breaks up with her. Devastated, she drinks to numb her anger and, while drunk, decides to perform a hex on him. She fully expects Henry to come crawling back once he realizes his mistake. Instead, she learns he has been murdered and she is the prime suspect.

As Lillian tries to process the news, she’s hit with another bombshell: Henry had a long-time girlfriend he never told her about. Desperate to control the narrative and clear her name, Lillian also believes she’s been robbed of her rightful role as Henry’s grieving girlfriend. As she tries to uncover the truth, she spirals into a dangerous tailspin that threatens to destroy everything.

I read the author’s note before starting the book, where she mentions that Lillian may be unlikeable but is, at her core, someone who just wants to be loved. I tried to keep that in mind while reading about Lillian’s shenanigans, but staying neutral was an uphill battle.

Lillian is narcissistic, mean, self-absorbed, and a bully. Despite that, I found the book enjoyable. I liked reading Lillian’s deluded thoughts and watching her dig herself deeper into trouble through her own misguided ideas. The novel was a quick, entertaining read. It felt like watching a car crash in slow motion, and I couldn’t look away. Did I want to see Lillian crash and burn? Maybe just a little. This is the author’s debut novel, and I’d be open to reading more from her in the future.

Book Review – Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry

 

Church of Marvels by Leslie Parry is about a woman, Odile Church, searching for her sister, Belle, after their mother dies in a fire.

Set in 1895 New York, Sylvan Threadgill works as a night soiler, cleaning out the privies near tenement houses. While working one night, he discovers a newborn baby abandoned in the muck. Since Sylvan was once an orphan himself, he takes pity on the child and rescues her. Determined to help, he sets out to find a safe place for the baby.

Odile and Belle Church are twins who were raised in the Church of Marvels, a sideshow act in Coney Island. After a tragic accident, their home burns to the ground with their mother inside. Odile is devastated when she learns that Belle has fled to Manhattan without a trace, and she becomes desperate to find her sister.

Meanwhile, Alphie, a young woman, wakes up across the river in Blackwell’s Lunatic Asylum. At first, she has no idea where she is until she remembers that her husband’s cruel mother had her committed. While trapped in the asylum, she meets another beautiful young woman who refuses to speak to anyone. However, Alphie soon discovers that the mysterious woman has a hidden talent that might help them escape.

I thought the book was an okay read overall. It is told through alternating perspectives, which was a lot to keep track of in the beginning. The book did have a few unexpected twists that I didn’t see coming. However, I also felt like it was slow and boring at times, and the constant narrator changes could feel jarring. I never really connected with or cared much about any of the characters. While we were given some backstory for each of them, I didn’t feel like it was enough to make me truly root for them. Overall, it was an okay book, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to read another book by the author.

Book Review – Windswept Way (Hope Harbor, #9) by Irene Hannon

 

 

Windswept Way (Hope Harbor, #9) by Irene Hannon is about two people, Ashley Scott and Jonathan Gray, who learn to let go of the past and find happiness again.

Ashley Scott never planned on buying a haunted house, but after being presented with an interesting opportunity, she decides to take a chance. She travels across the country to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast to start fresh.

Jonathan Gray isn't quite sure what to make of his attractive new neighbor, but he decides it's none of his business until he is roped into helping her with an ambitious project. As the pair spend more time together, Jonathan finds himself growing attracted to Ashley, but he is hesitant to open his heart to love again.

I thought the book was an okay read. It didn't have any unexpected twists or turns, but I liked that recurring characters from previous books made a reappearance. This is the ninth book in the series, but it can easily be read as a standalone. Fans of the earlier books will likely enjoy revisiting familiar characters and the clean, heartwarming romance.

 

Book Review – The Lure of Wolves and Whispers Amanda Connolly

 

 The Lure of Wolves and Whispers by Amanda Connolly is about a young woman, Maeve, who risks everything to save her gravely injured older sister and protect everyone she loves.

On the Isle of Eireann, magic comes at a deadly price. When Maeve's older sister is gravely injured, Maeve is willing to do anything to save her. She risks everything to obtain forbidden magic that she hopes will heal her sister. However, Maeve is caught and is forced to make a deal, trading her own life for her sister's.

Bound by her promise, Maeve must do the bidding of a cunning and ruthless rebel leader. As part of her task, she is thrown into a deadly competition to become the next queen. Unfortunately, the odds are stacked against her because the competition is notorious for its bloodshed, and the prize is marriage to a prince rumored to be even deadlier and more brutal than his tyrannical father. Will Maeve be able to fulfill her promise, or will it cost her her life?

I was really excited to read this book, but I was so disappointed by it. I stopped reading at around the 60% mark because I found it boring and thought it moved at the pace of molasses. At times, the book is sparse with details about the world, while at other times it overwhelms the reader with so much information that it becomes difficult to process and keep everything straight.

I also couldn't have cared less about Maeve. I found her so boring that a doorknob would have been more interesting to read about. She says she stopped praying to the gods after her mother's death, yet every few paragraphs it's back to "Old Ones." We get it, you've made your point. It became repetitive and didn't add anything new to the story. Unfortunately, the writing, plot, and characters weren't compelling enough for me to continue reading.

 Disclosure: I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and were not influenced by the publisher or author.