Book Review - Driftwood Bay (Hope Harbor, #5) by Irene Hannon

Photo Credit - Amazon

Jeanette Mason moves to a small seaside town named Hope Harbor in hopes to live an isolated life. Jeanette is afraid of letting people in after a tragedy causes her to lose people she loved. She decides to avoid emotional attachments and focus on her lavender farm and tea room. However, Jeanette's life gets upends again when her new neighbor moves in. Dr. Logan West becomes an unexpected guardian of his niece after his mother's death. Logan gets a dog in hopes to help bond with Molly but, the dog is intent on damaging Jeanette's lavender beds. Jeanette and Logan find themselves gravitating towards each other when a refugee family from Syria moves to their town. Will Logan and Jeanette be able to open their heart to each other?

I thought the novel was an enjoyable read but, I had a hard time connecting with Jeanette. She closes herself off and didn't want to make the effort of connecting but, was annoyed that other people didn't make the effort. She felt that her neighbor should have connected with her first and made the effort. She wanted and made Logan make the first move and didn't respond well to his suggestive behaviors but, she would get sad when he didn't invite her to the beach. I found this incredibly annoying. At times, I felt like the Molly character talked to Jeanette as if she was an adult and not a five-year-old. Her conversations with Jeanette towards the end of the book didn't feel like something a child would say to an adult. Perhaps, this is how a child speaks once they go through grief but, it felt weird to me. I enjoyed reading about the Shabos' family, Logan trying to bond with Molly, Jeanette trying to find her way, and Molly and Elisa's budding friendship. I look forward to reading the other books in 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 - Olive the Lionheart: Lost Love, Imperial Spies, and One Woman's Journey into the Heart of Africa by Brad Ricca

Photo Credit - Amazon

Olive MacLeod is a thirty-year-old Scottish aristocrat. In 1910, she received word that her fiancé, the famous explorer Boyd Alexander, went missing in Africa. Olive decides to Africa determined to find out what happened. Olive and her two travel companions, the Talbots, traverse across the diverse landscape of Africa to find the truth. They cross paths with dangerous animals, native chiefs, politicians, a haunted forest, and a murderous leopard cult. As Olive and the Talbots travel across Africa, they uncover secrets that might hold the key to her fiancé's whereabouts.

The book is based on true events and gleams highlights from Olive's own diaries and letters. The author wrote the book in the same writing style and language if Olive was writing the book. I thought it was a great idea until I found myself rereading things over and over to understand it. I was excited to read about a female explorer taking the world by the horns. However, I felt quite disconnected from Olive. I had a hard time understanding some of her motives and her reactions. For example, Mr. Talbot was showing her how to de-feather a bird. She volunteered for the job but, purposely wasn't following his instructions. I felt like she took the job to provide that she was an asset to the journey and her not following the instructions was counter-intuitive. Unfortunately, I found the novel boring and moved slowly that halfway through the novel I just abandoned the book.

**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.**

June 2020 Haul

I realize I have a habit of mass buying things when I like it. I go through phases where I would buy all the niche nail polish, different lipsticks, tons of Lush products, and my latest addiction - sheet mask. I definitely have a tendency of stocking piling things before I can even finish using them. Thankfully now that majority of us are home all day, I made a promise to myself that I can still shop but, I have to use up my stuff more. I have been trying to use at least 25 sheet masks a month. I am giving myself some leeway for days where all I want to do is sleep or don't want to move. So far, last month I managed to finish around 37 sheet masks! I am definitely proud of myself. 

I decided to replenish my stock from Facetory since I am "running low". Facetory is becoming my new "Memebox". Memebox has its own private labels such as I Dew Care, Nooni, and Kaja.  I have tried a few masks from both Memebox's  I Dew Care and Facetory and found them both to be affordable and work well. I am also excited to try the seaweed mask (the last line on the bottom) and the 3 steps masks from Wonjin Effect. Thankfully, since I been remaining indoors and doing a lot of self-care my skin hasn't been acting up too much but, usually during the season changes my skin likes to revolt. 

Check back in a few weeks and let's see what I finished! Also, please let me know your thoughts on the new format. I  must say I really do miss writing reviews at times but, other times it was really a big-time suck.....and now I get more time to just play with all the things I bought. (Also, I think if you are new to Facetory, existing users can send you a discount for your first purchase. Hit me up if you need that! I have tons of points from my recent haul to spare)

Book Review - The Half Sister by Sandie Jones

Photo Credit - Amazon

Kate and Lauren are sisters who were never really close. They meet for lunch every Sunday at their parents' home. Since, their father passing, their family gathering never really felt the same. However, their lives get turned upside down one day when there is a knock at their door. A young woman named, Jess tells Kate and Lauren that she is their half-sister. She even has the DNA test to prove it. As Kate starts digging into Jess's story, she realizes that they are all hiding secrets.

I have all of the author's novels and have enjoyed them. However, I am stuck between liking this novel and it being "meh". Towards the end of the novel, it seems like one of the characters just breaks and spirals out of control when she seems to have planned things out. The novel was a quick and thrilling read but, I didn't find myself really connecting to any of the characters. The majority of the book was predictable but, it was an entertaining read.

**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 Mushroom by Jennifer L. Holm

Photo Credit - Amazon

Ellie's grandpa Melvin is a world-renowned scientist with two PhDs who is stuck in the body of a fourteen-year-old boy. Ellie is happy to have her grandfather around even if he eats all the food in the fridge. Melvin doesn't exactly fit in middle school but, Ellie is excited for them to team up together in the county science fair. No one could expect how groundbreaking their experiment turns out to be when they may have discovered the formula for eternal youth. However, when Ellie's cat, Jonas Salk, becomes sick, the stakes become higher. Is the key to happiness eternal life?

This is the second novel in the series, but, I only read this book. It seems that each book can be read as a standalone. However, I would recommend reading the books in order because I felt like I was missing something. I can't say that I liked any of the main characters. I thought Melvin was quite abrasive at times.  I didn't really feel connected to any of the characters and didn't really care for them. I did think the novel teaches some good lessons about life and I appreciate the science infused portion of the book.

**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.**

May 2020 Empties!

I definitely have met my goal of finishing 37 mask sheets this month. This includes a few lip masks too! I definitely amassed more than 10,000 face masks because they are such a fun and affordable treat. I have been trying to avoid the siren call of sales lately and trying to use up my ever-growing stash. I noticed that I buy more makeup but, I end up going through the skincare more quickly. Hmmm...maybe I should alter my buying habits and then I go off and buy 40 lipsticks that I can't even wear. I am one of those people that if I am going to make the effort and put on makeup, I want someone to see it other than my useless self.

I added a list of everything I finished but, some noteworthy products I used this month were some of the Facetory masks. On sale, these masks are around $2 a pop and deliver results. I like that the instructions are in English so, I don't make any mistakes. I used a brand that's popular on Birchbox called "StarSkin" I wasn't crazy over their masks. I don't think they are worth the price tag. The hand glove felt nice with frequent hand washing though. I think I need to be more hands-on with putting on lotion more frequently. Dr. Jart was also a mainstay. I have used a few of their products and enjoy them but, because of the price tag they are more "Special Occasion" or my skin needs some extra care. I was surprised how fragranced the Vagasil bath bombs were. To be honest, I am not sure if I would buy it again because the name is off-putting.

A few disappointments were the Stila liquid eyeshadow. The eyeshadow was so pretty but, it just dried up soo quickly! I barely got to use it. The Sesha Skin mask said "hydro" I would assume it was a blast of hydration for my skin but, the mask itself felt so dry. The Aveeno crack skin relief balm was nice but, it felt too greasy. Like it took a while to absorb into the skin.  The Lush body conditioner smelled like heaven aka cotton candy but, it was such as a small container for the price. And they don't accept these containers for return. Booo.

Let me know if you tried any of the items I finished!

111Skin Harley St. London Celestial Black Diamond Eye Mask

Starskin VIP The Gold Mask Revitalizing Luxury Bio-Cellulouse Face Mask

Bonvivant Botanical Mask Pack Collagen + Olive

Sesha Skin Therapy Botanical Hydro Mask

Facetory Everday Olive Squalane Skin Balancing Mask

Dr. Nobori Firming Repair Eye Mask

Patchology Flashpatch Rejuvenating Eye Patch

Healing Bird Botanical Face Mask Ultra Moisture Coconut Sheet Mask

Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches

Bonvivant Botanical Mask Pack Sodium Hyaluronate + Lotus

Starskin VIP The Gold Mask Revitalizing Luxury Bio-Cellulouse Face Mask

Nature Republic Acai Berry Mask Sheet

Spa Life Red Jasmine Rice Handmade Soap

Spa Life Face Wraps Cucumber & Aloe

Aprilskin Mummy Mud Mask

Dr. Jart+ Vital Hydra Solution Deep Hydration Sheet Mask

Facetory Ace that Face Collagen Mask

Leaders Insolution Balancing Recovery Mask

Betterskin Premium Volcanic Ash & Botanical Fermentation Detoxing Sheet Mask

23 Years Premium Home Care Cocoon Gold Silky Mask Self Homespa

Facetory Perfectly You Steaming Hair Mask

Grace and Stella Collagen Facial Sheet Masks

Feel Brilliant Bamboo Charcoal Facial Sheet Mask

Facetory Everyday Lemon Brightening Mask

Facetory Moon Velvet Moisturizing Cream Mask

Facetory Everyday Jasmine Moisturizing Mask

Bonvivant Botanical Mask Pack Mint + Tea Tree

Ariul Juice Cleanse Mask Wheat and Celery

Ariul 7 Days Mask Lemon

Lapcos Hyaluronic Moisturizing Mask

Vagisil Scentsitive Scents White Jasmine Bath Bomb

GlamGlow Superserum 6-Acid Refining Treatment

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Smoothing Anti-Frizz Dry Oil Mist

This Works Deep Sleep Bath Soak

NSpa Exotically Creamy Coconut Rich Body Butter

Biggs & Featherbelle Little Bigg Bar Buttermilk & Lavender Soap

The cottage Greenhouse Rosemary Mint Rescue Foot Cream

Aveeno Cracked Skin Relief CICA Balm

Primera Alpine Berry Water Cream

Huxley Secret of Sahara Scrub Mask: Sweet Therapy

Glo Therapeutics Gentle Cream Cleanser

Lush Body Conditioner - Snow Fairy

MS Skincare Kapha Body Oil

Nick Chavez Plump N' Thick Thickening Shampoo

Origins Originial Skin Retexturizing Mask with Rose Clay

Elemis Peptide 4 Adaptive Day Cream

Korres Wild Rose Facial Oil

Mamonde Red Energy Recovery Serum

Dr. Brandt Pore No More Vacuum Cleaner Pore Purifying Mask

Stila Glitter and Glow Liquid Eye Shadow - Kitten Karma

Book Review - The Return (Amish Beginnings #3) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Photo Credit - Amazon

Besty Zook never questioned her family's strict rules or the affections of her beau, Hans. She never had a reason to question her life until she is taken captive during an Indian raid.  During her captivity, Besty endures brutality and hardship but, she also experiences unexpected kindness and kinship. She befriends a native named Caleb, who encourages her to find God during her time of need.  Betsy finds herself torn between her loyalty to her family and Caleb.

Hans is distraught that the love of his life, Besty has been captured. He turns to Tessa Bauer for comfort and friendship. Tessa has been in love with Hans for many years and eagerly accepts his companionship as a sign of love. Tessa is over the moon with her feelings for Hans that she ignores the warning signs that Hans's might be out for revenge. 

The novel is inspired by true events and it was an emotional read. It gave readers a glimpse of the hardships faced during the early years. At first, I was torn between Tessa as a character. I felt like she was a very complex character and different from other characters I normally read in Amish novels. She seemed naive but, also had a streak of maliciousness that isn't normally shown in Amish literature (at least the ones I have read). I felt like the author did a good job of showing things are not always black and white. I have not read the other books in the series but, I didn't feel like I was missing anything. I was, however, a bit dismayed by the ending. I felt like it was left off on a cliffhanger and this was the final book in 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.**

Thoughts?

So, I decided still to keep my blog going but, taking a step back on the makeup reviews. I will still try to post the occasional makeup review and try to keep the file size down in hopes to keep the financial constraints down. However, I will still try to post at least 2 - 3 a week book reviews (these have a very very small photo file size) along with semi-monthly overviews of my empties and hauls. Hopefully, since this would be only be one or two photos per each post, I will be able to keep an archive for everything. As always, I welcome your thoughts!

Urban Decay Vice 4 Palette

I am a bit late for this review but, I been using the Vice 4 palette for a few years and realized I never posted the photos. This palette has 20 limited edition of new colors. The colors are mostly micro glitter and have some fallout during application. The eyeshadows can be used without a primer but, I would recommend using one. I usually love UD's bright eye shadow but, I saw and own some recent ones that are not safe for application near the eye. I feel like an eyeshadow palette should be safe to use near the eye and they should provide reasons for not being safe. At the rate I am going, please expect the new palette to be reviewed in 2036.

Nick Chavez Plump n' Thick Shampoo

The volumizing shampoo promises to wash away dirt and excess oil while revitalizing fullness and lifeless locks. The shampoo is enriched with collagen, wheat protein, vitamin A, C, and E, retinol, keratin, panthenol, and amino acids. The shampoo provided a generous lather and washed out cleanly. My hair felt thicker and more luxurious than before. It is a little pricer than my normal everyday shampoo but, it has great results that I reserve it for special occasions.

Lush Rose Jam Bubbleroon

Ah, how I love taking baths and using Lush products. I am sad that the weather is warming up where it's becoming a bit easier and better (for me at least) to take a cool shower.  However, occasionally I will take a bath here and there. I love Lush's bath bombs and my new favorites are their bubbleroon. Their bubbleroon is essentially a bubble bar that you crumble under running water to create a luscious foam. The Rose Jam scent is enriched with rose absolute extract and lemon oil that smells dreamy. It has organic fair-trade cocoa butter to leave skin silky smooth and soft.  You can split this bubbleroon in two for twice as much fun!

Hank and Henry Stick With It - Blickity Black Eyeliner

I have heard many good things about this brand but, this was my first Hank and Henry product. I was very excited to try the eyeliner because it was a very hyped up product. I was sadly disappointed at the quality of both the product and the packaging. The eyeliner came out very watery and bleed. And usually, the product would start pooling by the tip. And no matter how gently and how I stored the eyeliner, the top would fray the brush making it look dingy after just two uses. For $20, I expected better.

Make Up For Ever Artist Creme Lipstick - 404 Passion Red

Ahh, how I love lip products and I really love bold lip colors. I am so sad that the only place I can really wear lipstick is at home. The cool-toned red lipstick has a satin finish. It goes on like butter and feels pleasant on the lips. It provided full coverage with one swipe and lasted a few hours even with drinking. The lipstick felt light on the lips and didn't bleed or feather. I probably should hold off on getting more lipsticks but, who are we kidding? I am placing an order while posting this review.