Book Review - A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight

Photo Credit - Amazon

Lizzie Kitsakis is working late when she gets a call from an old friend. Lizzie knows long grueling hours are standard at elite law firms like where she is working, but she has her reasons for wanting to stay late. Until recently, she was working as a federal prosecutor which was her dream job. She had everything she wanted. She had her dream job and her devoted husband, Sam. That was until everything started to fall apart. Maybe the cracks in her life were already there but, Lizzie has been in denial for so long, she doesn't even know what's true anymore.

Lizzie barely keeps afloat with her marital problems and managing her new job.  The last thing she needs is another distraction. She receives a call from Zach Grayson, an old friend who is an inmate at Rikers. He is desperate for her help. His wife, Amanda has been found dead at the bottom of their stairs in their home. Zach is the primary suspect in her murder and he needs all the help he can get. As Lizzie begins to investigate, she realizes everyone is protecting their secrets and nothing is what it seems. Will Lizzie be able to help solve Amanda's murder? Will she be able to save her marriage?

The book is a fast-paced thriller with a few twists. A few of the twists are a bit predictable with enough clues to help you piece it together. The author leaves you wondering, what exactly constitutes a good marriage? We read about several different couples and their different dynamics. I devoured this novel in a few days and it was enjoyable to read. If you are a fan of crime thrillers or courtroom dramas, you will appreciate this book. I can't wait for 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.**

Wonder Haruharu Wonder Honey Green Aqua Bomb Cream

The gel-cream is enriched fermented green tea and honey. The cream promises to hydrate and soothe irritated and red skin. The paraben-free cream has a pleasant smell. The gel goes on smoothly and leaves skin feeling hydrated.

Book Review - Members Only by Sameer Pandya

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Raj Bhatt doesn't know where he belongs. He moved to America from Bombay as a child. He knew very few Indian kids. He is now a middle-aged man living happily married in California. He is mostly happy with life and is teaching at a university. It seems to him that his wife who is white is fitting in better than he does, especially at their tennis club. He loves their tennis club and what it means to be a part of it.

During one week, his life starts unraveling. During a meeting for potential new members, Raj notices that there is an African American couple on the nominee list. He always dreamed of a more diverse tennis club. To fit in, he makes a racist joke and the committee turns on him. He feels betrayed since he has put up years of prejudice. To make matters worse, a group of his students reports him as "anti-Western".

As a person of color and of Indian descent, I have often found myself in Raj's shoes too. I find myself sometimes stump on certain social situations. I can understand how he needs to fit in while honoring his heritage. I thought the book was a fun and engaging read. I couldn't help but, think about my anthropology professor from my college days who was also of Indian descent. I now realize that someone can look put together but, have a host of insecurities and issues that they keep to themselves. The book details events in a week and it was easy to see how one event can lead to a spiral of an unfortunate week. I am looking forward to reading other 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.**

Book Review - The Third Mrs. Durst by Ann Aguirre

Photo Credit - Amazon

Marlena Durst lives and survives her husband's shadow. He controls her every move and every decision she can make. He decides what she will wear, where she can go, who she can talk too, and even what she can eat. If Marlena disobeys his command, she has to pay the dire consequences. In their marriage, he holds all the power.

On the outside, it may look that Michael is a doting husband and Marlena is living the fairy tale life. However, Marlena has traded her freedom and safety for a gilded prison. As the days go by, it seems the only way to escape is by death.

I usually love reading revenge thrillers as they often have a few bombshells. However, this book had almost zero bombshells and most were predictable or barely worth a yawn. I didn't even care for any of the characters. I understood why Marlena did what she did but, I am not sure if I agreed with some of her plans. I did wish we did understand a bit more of Michael as a character. I didn't like that the book seemed to have a lot of violence for just a shock factor. While I am not a fan of this novel, I will still be on the lookout for 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 extra charges to you. Thank you for your support.**

Grande Lips Hydrating Lip Plumper - Clear

I am not a big fan of lip plumpers as they can sometimes be quite painful. I like my beauty products to provide me with a lot of gains and no pain regardless of the saying,  "No Pain, No Gain". The lip plumper is enriched with collagen, hyaluronic acid, and vitamin B3 to moisturize lips, improve firmness while plumping lips. I didn't take a photo of the before and after because the tingly feeling was a bit unpleasant and I didn't notice results in the first use. However, I do regret not taking it because, after multiple uses, I did notice my lips becoming a bit plump. I don't think I will be getting rid of my other lip products but, I won't mind using this here and there.

Library of Flowers Honeycomb Bath Oil

I love getting new bath products! Especially ones with gorgeous packaging like the ones from Margot Elena. This bath oil can be used both as a shower gel and bath oil. I have enough shower gel and fancy bar soaps to last me ages, so I used this a bath oil. I poured a generous amount maybe 1/3 of the bottle to get a generous luxurious lather. The bath oil is enriched with cocoa butter and bee balm to leave the skin soft and nourished. The pleasant scent had an aroma of sugared figs, ambrosia honey, and royal bee blossom. The bath oil is a little pricey at $28 a bottle but, if you use it carefully (unlike myself who has a hard time stopping), it may last you longer than it did me.

Book Review - Ben Braver and the Vortex of Doom by Marcus Emerson

Photo Source - Amazon

Ben Braver is an ordinary kid attending the school for superheroes. He is no match for a group of supervillains who intend to destroy his beloved school and hurt his friends. When a villain appears with the ability to create black holes, is Ben up to the task? He will need to help stop the black hole before it engulfs the world and everyone he loves.

This third book in the series was as fun as the first one. The characters have become more developed and able to find their personalities. The book is packed with fun and heartwarming moments on what it means to be a friend and a team player. I hope the author makes more books for 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.**

Book Review - The Jane Austen Society by Natalie Jenner

Photo Source - Amazon

After World War II ends, a group of people who have one thing in common decides to create a society for likeminded people in Chawton.  The group comes all walks of life -- a worker, a house servant, a young widow, a doctor, a movie star, and a lawyer.

One hundred and fifty years ago, Chawton was the final home of Jane Austen. Austen is one of England's most notable authors. Chawton is now home to a few residents and their crumbling estates. When Austen's legacy is threatened, the group decided to work together to preserve Jane's home and legacy.  Each of the members is struggling with their private struggles but, together they hope to create something that can outlast them.

The book started good but, then slowly towards the end I felt like the book started dragging. I must admit that I  have not read any of her books (but, I have read similar books and have enjoyed them) so, maybe that's why I didn't enjoy the book. I couldn't connect with any of the characters and I didn't like the ending. I didn't like some of the choices the characters made. I didn't understand the motivation behind their choices. I felt like the ending was a bit rushed and everything tied up neatly in a bow. I wish that there was enough "mystery" and "delight" spread throughout the novel. I felt like this cozy read might be perfect for Jane Austen fans but, sadly, it wasn't for me.

**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.**

Facetory Ace That Face Collage Mask

 Sheet masks are one of my favorite things to use. It gives me the perfect excuse to lay down and read a book and just do me especially when I am frazzled. The mask is enriched with hydrolyzed collagen and mushroom extract to nourish and hydrate your skin. I felt like the mask fit my face well and hung on tightly without dripping serum all over me. I am not sure about the plump claim as my face is already chubby, I don't need to get plumper ;) The mask left my face feeling hydrated and revitalized. I can't wait to try the other masks in their line.

Cinnabon Lip Balm

This lip balm is more novelty than a hydrating product. It did smell like my beloved cinnamon bon and did have a pleasant cinnamon taste.  I found this product more fun than with using it to keep my lip soft. A fun product for any lip balm collector!

BioBelle Botanic Fiber Face Mask #Decadence

Facial sheet masks are a mainstay in my weekly routine. I used to use one Sundays before work but, I, unfortunately, bought so much over the years that, I have enough to use one every single day for the next five years and still have some leftovers. And now, I have quite comfortable using facial sheet masks more often. I haven't quite mastered using it every day but, usually at least three times a week.

I have used quite a few brands of sheet masks over different price points and noticed just because a mask is sometimes priced higher doesn't always mean it is good. BioBelle masks are one of those rare unicorns where they are under $5 and you notice results after the first use. I was actually drawn to this mask because I have a huge sweet tooth. The sweet-scented mask is enriched with chocolate and acai berry extracts. This mask really does seem decadent and was a treat to use. My face was left hydrated and revitalized. This is one of my favorite brands of sheet masks and I always reach for it if I know I have a special event coming up.

Pure Radiance by Yankee Candle - Crackling After Dark

I love using candles, especially during the colder months. It just makes my home feel cozier. This candle is a part of the new line of Yankee Candle. It has scents of night air (how does one even distinguish that?), garden herbs, rich woods, and musk. It does have a more masculine scent and could be used for the Halloween season. It has a medium throw and the candle burned evenly. I also like the thicker wick, especially when reading in the late afternoon. I am looking forward to trying the other scents in the line.

Skinfix Ultra Rich Hand Repair Cream

I believe there is two "different" hand creams but, they both have the same tube design. I found both the "rich" and the "regular" hand cream to be the same. I am thinking they might have updated the packaging. 

The dermatologist-recommended hand cream is enriched with shea butter, allantoin, aloe leaf juice, chamomile, calendula, coconut, and sunflower oil to provide hydration and moisture to dry skin. The creamy lotion goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly. It does leave hands slightly greasy but, not unbearably so.

BBW Shower Jelly with Aloe - Fresh Sea Salt Mango

I remembered when I first came across the new "jelly" soap trend and was so excited to try it. I have seen a few where the jelly had a "solid" form and you had to use the whole piece to wash. However, I found the jelly to break off bits and pieces during use.

When I first opened this tub, I was perplexed on how to use this product because it wasn't solid enough to use the entire thing at once. I shortly realized that you scoop out a small amount and apply it to your loofah/washcloth. Once you work the jelly in your shower implement, it provides a generous lather you can use. The jelly does have a nice fresh scent that lingers after you wash off. I didn't find the shower jelly to be very moisturizing and still had to follow up with lotion afterward.

Rituals Himalaya Scrub Sweet Almond Oil & Indian Rose

I love body scrubs and I am a huge fan of Rituals products. Their products can be quite expensive but, during the holidays, I find that they offer generous "gifts with purchase" along with discounts on items.

The body scrub had a delicate sweet rose scent that remained on my skin long after I washed off the body scrub. The salt scrub is enriched with almond oil to leave skin feeling soft without having that stripped skin feeling.

Neutrogena Collagen Kiss Lip Mask

The lip sheet mask is packed with vitamin C, vitamin E, and collagen. The single-use mask promises to leave your lips looking fuller and plumper.  The mask was easy to apply and I had to lie down because it did keep slipping off my face. It did leave my lips soft and hydrated but, I did have to follow up with lip balm. I find that lip masks are more fun and relaxation purposes than anything else. I rarely see any results from them.