August 2022 Empties Part 2!

 

I think it has been a while since I did an empty post but, I managed to finish a few things this month. Most of the stuff I finished though were okay but, a few things I did like and I  would buy back on sale.

I bought a set of soaps from Ilya and they were creamy and left my skin feeling soft. The bars were a bit smaller than my normal bars of soap. I believe the soaps are made in Turkey and they are hand made. I got these off Amazon and I am surprised by the quality since a few no name branded items were sketchy in quality and performance. 

I got a body scrub from Olivia in Coco Champagne. The scrub smelled nice and rubbed in easily. It left my skin soft and hydrated but, it was on the oily side and made my tub a danger zone after washing off the scrub.

Corpus shower gel in Vert smells so good and lathered so well. A small squirt lasted so long and the scent stayed on my skin. It smelled like I was wearing perfume even if I wasn't. The  only downside is that the shower gel wasn't very moisturizing and I wasn't sure if it was because of the extreme heat  but, I noticed product would bubble up towards the top of the dispenser.

I bought two different shampoos from the brand Otaci Labs from Amazon. I have their conditioner that I am still currently using but, most of the shampoo and conditioners have this luxurious herbal scent that reminds me of the spa. Although, compared to traditional drugstore brands these were more expensive and I had to use more product to get similar results. I would still re-purchase them though if they were on sale again.

Year round I get itchy and scratchy skin. I have used Boscia products before so, I was excited to try their Cica Soothing Universal Cream. The cream can be used both on the body and the face. I have tons of face products so, I thought I would use it on body mostly. The cream had a pleasant scent and it had a gel cream texture. It applied easily but made my skin feel a bit tacky which I didn't care for. 

Is there anything you finished this month that you enjoyed?

Book Review - Just One Look by Lindsay Cameron

 

Cassie Woodson feels like her life is adrift after a mistake causes her to lose her prestige job at a law firm.She has to take a temporary job to help her pay her bills at another law firm. As she reviews the correspondence in a fraud suit, she realizes that her life is lacking stability, love, and friends. Her new job leaves her with time on her hands which  she spends ruminating on how she ended up in her current position.

While doing her daily mindless task of reviewing emails, something catches her eye and heart. She reads a tender and intimate exchange between a partner at the law firm, Forest Watts, and his wife, Annabelle. Cassie knows that she should be ignoring the message but, she can't help looking and finding herself entranced with their lives.

Everyday, Cassie looks forward to reading more emails between Forest and Annabelle. As Cassie falls deeper into their world, she finds a renewed purpose and happiness. She follows their lives with a fine tooth comb and decides to greedily follow their lifestyles. Cassie feels that she knows everything about Forest and Cassie.

Her admiration of the couple turns into a full blown obsession.  She wants to have their lives and she believes if continues to follow them, that it will turn into a reality. When Cassie tries to meet Forest in person, she realizes that Forest and Annabelle's marriage might be in trouble. Cassie is devastated to learn her fantasy is shattering. She decides that she will take Annabelle's place.

The book was boring and had almost no twists. I didn't care for any of the characters. The story slowly moved around and had too many eye roll moments for it to be enjoyable for me to read. The book had too much filler before it got to the main point of the story.

Book Spotlight - How to Speak Animal by Aubre Andrus + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: HOW TO SPEAK ANIMAL

Author: Aubre Andrus & Gabby Wild

Pub. Date: August 16, 2022

Publisher: National Geographic Kids

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 176

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

Learn about the secret language of wild animals in this exciting and informative guide from the experts who brought you How to Speak Cat and How to Speak Dog.

We know animals can’t speak and express themselves in the same way as humans … but even the smallest and quietest animals have incredible ways of communicating with each other. With wildlife veterinarian expert Dr. Gabby Wild as a guide, How to Speak Animal helps kids understand how animals communicate through sound, body language, and behavior. It’s full of expert insights and real-life stories of humans exploring ways to “talk” to animals, from teaching great apes sign language to speaking “dolphin.” Packed with super-engaging animal photography that helps illustrate key concepts, this fascinating bookprofiles more than 60 different creatures―from birds to mammals to reptiles and more―and their amazing ways of communicating with each other.

If you’ve ever wondered why gorillas beat their chests and make hooting noises, what it means when chameleons change color, or why some elephants twist their trunks together, this is the book for you!

About Aubre Andrus:

AUBRE ANDRUS is an award-winning children's book author with dozens of books published by National Geographic, Lonely Planet, American Girl, Disney, Scholastic, and more. She has also ghostwritten books for young YouTube stars. She currently lives in Los Angeles with her family. Visit her website and portfolio at www.aubreandrus.com.

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

About Gabby Wild:

DR. GABBY WILD earned her bachelor of science and doctor of veterinary medicine (DVM) degrees at Cornell University. She completed her veterinary internship training at Metropolitan Veterinary Hospital in Akron, Ohio, and received her master’s of public health (MPH) from the University of Minnesota. She is a published genetics researcher and uses her research background to screen zoonotic disease transmission among wildlife, domestic animals, and people. To help maintain a healthy planet, she monitors herd and individual health for rising epidemics. Dr. Wild balances her Western medicine practices with traditional Chinese medicine in an effort to blend both methodologies. Acclaimed for her role as “the veterinarian” on Animal Jam, the world’s largest online “playground,” with 54 million players, she creates educational videos and teaches children internationally about wildlife conservation and medicine. When not in the wild, Gabby works as a Wildlife Health Program veterinarian for the Wildlife Conservation Society at the Bronx Zoo and is a training veterinary surgeon at the Veterinary Medical Center of Long Island. She lives in New York City. 

Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube | Goodreads

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of HOW TO SPEAK ANIMAL, US Only.

Ends September 6^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/1/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt/IG Post
8/2/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
8/3/2022	@allyluvsbooksalatte	IG Post
8/4/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
8/5/2022	Lisa-Queen of Random	Excerpt/IG Post
8/6/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt

Week Two:

8/7/2022	100 Pages A Day	Review
8/8/2022	Little Red Reads	Review
8/9/2022	@jaimerockstarbooktours	IG Post
8/10/2022	Girls in white dresses	Review
8/11/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	IG Review
8/12/2022	Feed Your Fiction Addiction	Review/IG Post
8/13/2022	Bea's Book Nook	Review

Week Three:

8/14/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
8/15/2022	hauntedbybooks	Review/IG Post
8/16/2022	Do You Dog-ear?	Review/IG Post
8/17/2022	One More Exclamation	Review/IG Post
8/18/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt
8/19/2022	Nerdophiles	Review/IG Post
8/20/2022	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt/IG Post

Week Four:

8/21/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
8/22/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
8/23/2022	pickagoodbook	Review/IG Post
8/24/2022	Momfluenster	IG Review/FB Post
8/25/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post
8/26/2022	@jypsylynn	IG Review
8/27/2022	froggyreadteach	IG Review/Read Part of Book Out Loud

Week Five:

8/28/2022	@enjoyingbooksagain	IG Review
8/29/2022	@crystal.z.lee	IG Review
8/30/2022	@just_another_mother_with_books	IG Review
8/31/2022	A Backwards Story	Review/IG Post

Book Review - Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia

 

Mexico City is filled with vampires and drug lords who are all fighting for piece of the drug trade. Domingo is a teenager who is living on the streets collecting trash and trying to survive the heavily policed streets. When Domingo meets Alt, an Aztec vampire, he becomes mesmerized by her.

Atl is on the run from another enemy vampire clan who is relentless in their pursuit of her. She is desperate to find a way to escape and has no interest in Domingo who is intent on follow her. Against her better judgment, she finds herself warming up to Domingo. As bodies start to pile up, does Atl and Domingo stand a chance?

The book was filled with lush details and the author did a great job at world building in the novel. However, the story line fell flat. At times, I felt there was barely any story and it was very boring until the very end. I can't say that I really cared for Atl and Domingo and had a hard time connecting with them. I enjoyed reading about the different types of vampires and the excellent world building but, everything else was poorly executed. 

Book Review - Bloody Fool for Love by William Ritter + Giveaway

 

Spike and his family has returned to London and he wants to bask in his newfound glory. He is well known to be a slayer killer. However, things don't go exactly to plan. His new home is a dank basement and one of his fellow family members, Angellus, has abandoned them. Drusilla, Spike's love, is heartbroken and spends her time reading her tarot cards. She is planning for the next family dinner where they will all be reunited.

Spike is desperate for Dru to realize that his love for her should be enough. He decides to steal a powerful relic to snap her out of her melancholy. He had the perfect plan until a monster named Gunnar, the leader of the demon underworld, steals the item first. Spike decides to join up with a few other underworld creatures to steal back the relic. Will Spike be able to get the relic?

I have heard of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" but, I had no interaction with the franchise. However, it didn't seem that not knowing the show would prevent you from enjoying the book. I did feel like there were some characters nuances I might have missed but, the book was enjoyable overall. Spike was fun and charismatic character. I loved his witty jokes and his style. I feel like I would enjoy reading more of Spike's adventures. If you are a fan of "Buffy", then you will enjoy this book.

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

About the Book

Title: BLOODY FOOL FOR LOVE: A Spike Novel

Author: William Ritter

Pub. Date: August 2, 2022

Publisher: Disney Publishing Group

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 256

Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

Bloody Fool for Love from New York Times best-selling author William Ritter marks the beginning of an all-new series that explores prequel stories about fan-favorite Buffy characters. 

A verified villain. A slayer killer. A god among vampires. And most of all? A hopeless romantic...

Spike just wants to enjoy the spoils of his new badass reputation. He’s now a legendary slayer killer, and he’s returning to London—the greatest city in the world. Unfortunately, his new abode is far from ideal (a dank basement), and the rest of his strange little “family” is reeling from the fact that their patriarch, Angellus, abandoned them. Spike’s love, Drusilla, seems especially heartbroken and spends her time lost in her tarot cards and planning their next gruesome family dinner when they all can be reunited. 

Desperate to break Dru out of her melancholy, Spike vows to steal a powerful relic that will help her focus on their dark future together. It’s the perfect plan—that is until a monster named Gunnar, leader of the demon underworld of London, steals the relic first. Forced to form his own ragtag group of underworld denizens, Spike plans an epic heist against a ruthless gang of undead criminals. As he navigates paranormal plots, royal black ops, and breaks for teatime (they may be abominations, but they’re British abominations, thank you very much), Spike soon realizes that his homecoming is about to get bloody. 

This rompy, action-packed novel inspired by one of Buffy’s most infamous bad boys is part Bonnie and Clyde, part Sherlock and Watson, with just a bit more bloodsucking. 

Reviews:
"Ritter introduces several charismatic new side characters and nails the fan favorites’ voices, from Spike’s wisecracks to Dru’s hilariously bizarre musings. The tone―a mashup of funny, dark, and thrilling―fits perfectly with the show...This entertaining story will please Buffy fans and is easily accessible to newcomers who appreciate charming paranormal baddies...A diverting Buffyverse tale."―Kirkus Reviews

 

About William Ritter:

William Ritter is an author of YA and MG fantasy who made his debut in 2014 with the New York Times best-selling Jackaby series. He is also an Oregon educator and a proud father of two.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

 

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of BLOODY FOOL FOR LOVE, US Only.

Ends September 6^th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

8/1/2022	Lisa Loves Literature	Review/IG Post
8/2/2022	Lisa-Queen of Random	Excerpt/IG Post
8/3/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt/IG Post
8/4/2022	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
8/5/2022	Ya Books Central	Excerpt/IG Post
8/6/2022	GryffindorBookishNerd	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

8/7/2022	@jacleomik33	IG Review
8/8/2022	A Dream Within A Dream	Review/IG Post
8/9/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt/IG Post
8/10/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
8/11/2022	Book & Coffee Addict	Review/IG Post
8/12/2022	hauntedbybooks	Review/IG Post
8/13/2022	My.Bookish.Mind	IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Three:

8/14/2022	@jypsylynn	IG Review
8/15/2022	The Book Nut	Review/IG Post
8/16/2022	Beers Books Boos	Review/IG Post
8/17/2022	@amysbooknook8	IG Review
8/18/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review
8/19/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review/IG Post
8/20/2022	Wanderingwitchreads	TikTok Review/IG Post

Week Four:

8/21/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
8/22/2022	pluvioreads	Review/TikTok Post
8/23/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
8/24/2022	BookBriefs	Review/IG Post
8/25/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post
8/26/2022	PopTheButterfly Reads	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
8/27/2022	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review/IG Post

Week Five:

8/28/2022	Confessions of a YA Reader	Review
8/29/2022	The Clever Reader	Review/IG Post
8/30/2022	laura's bookish corner	Review/IG Post
8/31/2022	onemused	IG Post

Book Review - The Secret Mother by Shalini Boland

 

Tessa Markham returns to her home to find a child in her kitchen. The boy thinks that Tessa is his mother. However, doesn't have any children, at least not anymore.

Tessa contacts the police because she doesn't know the boy or how he got inside her home. However, because of her past, Tessa becomes a suspect to the kidnapping of the child. Tessa doesn't know who to believe when her husband reveals a secret of his own. Will Tessa be able to confront her painful past?

I thought the book was an okay read. I was able to guess the ending from a mile away. I felt like all the characters felt predictable and fit into their roles i.e. her boss being a source of comfort while her husband didn't believe a word she said. I also didn't really care for Tessa as a character as she was naive. There was a few times where I rolled my eyes by her actions. I definitely expected more from this book and it didn't deliver.

Book Review - When the Reckoning Comes by LaTanya McQueen

 

Mira has left her small, segregated hometown in the south more than a decade ago to forget her past. She tried to distance herself from her past and her best friends, Celine and Jessie. Celine was teased because she was the only white girl who had black friends. Her old neighborhood was known for being a poor black area and most people try to avoid it.

Years ago, she and Jessie, her secret crush, decide to visit the creepy Woodsman plantation together. The plantation has been rumored to be haunted by the spirits of slaves. While they were exploring, Mira comes across a ghost and the day goes wrong when a body is found on the plantation. Jesse is accused of murder and Mira is afraid to admit to what she saw that day.

Years later, Mira has returned to Kipsen to attend Celine's wedding at the plantation. The plantation has been remodeled into a vacation resort. Mira was hesitant to come because of her past but, she still hopes to reconnect with her friends.

Even though the Woodsman mansion went through millions of dollars of renovation, it still remains a monument to its racist history. They serve antebellum drinks, have horrifying reenactments and most of the service staff is black. The darkest parts of the plantation's past has been erased; the ones that fuel the rumor mills that the mansion is haunted. The rumor is that many of the slaves were horrendously tortured and then killed. Their ghosts haunt the land and seek vengeance on the descendants of those who hurt them.

I thought the novel started off okay but, then towards the middle of the book it got really slow and boring. I was expecting more from this ghost story. The ending felt rushed and out of place. It left me wanting more but, by then I was already over the book. I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters as some didn't feel very fleshed out.