Monday, December 12, 2022

Empties for November and December 2022!

Ah, it's almost the end of the year! I can't believe it. While it may look like I finished a few things, it's actually a bunch of stuff that I finished over two months and not nearly enough stuff as I bought. There were a few noteworthy items and a few duds. 

Kopari's Tahitian Vanilla hydrating body milk smelled amazing and it was lightweight. It was perfect for the warmer months as it was hydrating but, not heavy and greasy. And the scent was so alluring and stayed on all day. This was my favorite body milk ever and I would definitely buy it again.

Araceli's  Ojos Perfectos liquid eyeliner in  Night is so dark and so easy to apply. It takes a few seconds to try and it doesn't smudge or move. I was literally using this eyeliner everyday and it lasted for months!

Lasncome Absolue Creme Riche cream made my skin feel like the softest of buttery skin. The cream itself was like butter when I smoothed it on. My skin literally drank up every ounce of moisture this cream provided. The cream is very thick and rich. It's too bad this cream costs more than I make in three days otherwise I would get it back in a heartbeat. 

Tropic Labs's Washed Up all in one shower oil was an interesting concept but, a muddled execution. The shower oil supposedly helps cleans and hydrates. Except, it had no foam and it left a residue behind. When I used this product, it didn't feel like I was using anything and that I was just rinsing off my skin with water. I feel like this was more of an in shower hydrator than a cleansing product.

Blesswell Lathering Body Wash in Island Breeze is a product by DJ Khaled. I actually didn't realize it was a men's body wash nor that it was created by DJ Khaled. Overall, the product was pretty mediocre for the cost.  It smells nice but, even though it says "lathering" it had the poorest lather I ever seen for a body wash. I have seen dollar store body washes produce better results than this body wash.


Saturday, December 10, 2022

Book Review - The Getaway by Lamar Giles

 


Karloff Country is a well known world class resort. Jay is living within the property with his family and friends. Jay loves Karloff Country and he likes working his after school job at the park. Life isn't great for other people outside of the Karloff Country so, when people come to the theme park, they want to leave it all behind.

Jay's life takes a tailspin when trouble arrives at Karloff. His friend, Connie and her entire family disappears in the middle of the night and no one knows where they went and why. Then a new set of wealthy and powerful families start arriving but, they do not leave after the park closes. Karloff Country has been offering a sanctuary to the wealthy and offered them the best of the best service and lifestyle. To ensure the guest spends the end of days in comfort, the staff will be available at the wealthy clientele's beck and call, whether they like it or not.
 
I thought the book was an interesting read. The book had nonstop twists and gruesome secrets. The characters were well fleshed out and fun to read their interactions with each other. I thought the book was going to be a horror book but, it was more like a thriller and mystery with some "scary" twists. A few times, I didn't know where the book was heading but, it kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time.

Thursday, December 8, 2022

Book Review - Burntcoat by Sarah Hall

 

In a British city, a virus is spreading through the city and a renowned sculptor Edith Harkness decides to isolate with her boyfriend, Halit, in her immense studio, Burntcoat. As Edith learns more about Halit and herself, the outside world is changing. Together Halit and Edith comes to term with their new norm.

I thought this would have been an interesting read especially, with COVID still ongoing. However, I wasn't fond of the writing style. The narrator switched back and forth from present to past on whim. The prose was interesting but, not worth the effort it took to get through. I read more quite a few pages (around 75ish) and I failed to see the point and plot of the story. If you like artsy books, perhaps you will enjoy this book more than I did.



Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Book Review - The Perfect Mother by Aimee Molloy

 

A group of new moms whose babies were born in the same month decide to form a group called the May Mothers. They meet twice a week in Prospect Park to connect. One day, they decide to meet for drinks at a neighborhood bar for a break. It starts off as a fun night until, one of the babies is taken from his crib while his mother is at the bar.

Winnie is a single mom and she was reluctant to leave her six week old son, Midas, with a babysitter.  But, the other May Mothers were insistent that Winnie join them for a fun night out. They hired a babysitter for Winnie to enjoy herself and told her that everything will be okay. Except now, Midas is missing and there are no leads.

The book started off strong then slowly trudged along at a more confusing and slower pace. I felt that the author moved back and forth between the May Mothers' point of views too many times that it got confusing. I had hard time keep tracking of each person and their own backstory and secrets. I felt like the ending was a jumbled mess. It unraveled so quickly that it didn't seem realistic. The person behind the kidnapping was shown one way and then when they were confronted, madness just took over. I am on the fence on whether or not that was completely believable.  The author did sprinkle some evidence pointing to this person but, it was minor details that was easy to gloss over.



Sunday, December 4, 2022

Book Review - Closer Than You Know by Brad Parks

 

Melanie Barrick has grown up in the constant upheaval as a child in foster care. As an adult, Melanie has a loving husband, a steady job, and a beautiful baby, Alex. She thought she left her past behind her.

One Tuesday evening, Melanie goes to pick up Alex from childcare only to be told that he was removed by Social Services. Melanie is terrified and she is unable to get any answers. The situation is upsetting but for Melanie it's bringing back back memories of the horror of Social Services. When Melanie arrives home, she finds out that the sheriff has raided her house and found enough cocaine to send Melanie to prison away for years. An overwhelming amount of evidence is against her and if Melanie can't prove her innocence, she will lose her son.

Assistant commonwealth’s attorney Amy Kaye has been assigned to Melanie's case. She is working on a cold case that her boss wants her to keep quiet to avoid public scrutiny.  There is a serial rapist who wears a mask and whispers to his victims. He has victimized dozens of women and has avoided detection by the police for years.

I thought the book was an okay read. The book had a few twists and turns that I didn't expect or see coming. I felt like some of the plot and the twists were a bit far-fetched. The police took the word of a tip and without even having proof of Melanie committing a crime. When the drugs were found in the couple's home, only Melanie got in trouble  for the drugs and for  the social services case. It The novel was an okay read but, nothing really kept me interested in it.

Friday, December 2, 2022

Book Review - Anything But Plain by Suzanne Woods Fisher

 

Lydie Stoltzfus doesn't have it easy being the bishop's daughter. Unfortunately, she isn't like other Amish girls as much as she tries to be. The only thing Lydie is known for is disappointing others and causing trouble. She feels the only way to make things better is to leave the church and her family.

When Lydie gets let go from her last job, her aunt asks her to fill in at the front desk as a receptionist for a few months for her. Lydie feels that taking the job would give her enough time to say goodbye to her friends and family, especially her neighbor, Nathan Yoder. Nathan claims that he's in love with her but, Lydie is afraid that she isn't good enough for him. And if she ever forgets, Nathan's father constantly reminds her.

I thought the book was an interesting read. This was my first time reading an Amish story where a person had a neurodevelopmental disorder. The characters were believable and relatable. I liked reading about Lydie's drawings and how she manages different relationships. I didn't like the ending though, I felt like it ended abruptly. I am not sure if the author plans on writing more books to continue the story but, I wish the story ended better.

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

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

Book Review - A Deadly Affair by Agatha Christie

 

 

 


The book is a collection of Agatha's short stories focusing on the theme of love. This was my first time reading one of her works. I can see why many of her characters and stories are beloved by fans. A few of the stories stumped me but, I was able to guess the culprit behind a few of the stories. Even though the stories were short, they were well fleshed out. There were a few stories that I found the text a bit hard to follow along with because of the dated terms and language the characters used. Overall, it was a clever collection for new fans and old.


 

Monday, November 28, 2022

Book Review - The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean

 


Out by the Yorkshire Moors, there lives a secret group of people that consume books for food. The book eaters can retain all of the book's content after eating it. Devon is a part of The Family, who are a long line of old and reclusive book eaters. Devon grew up eating stories about princesses and fairy tales while, her brother eats stories of action and glory. Devon learns the hard way that life isn't always so easy or comes with happy endings when her son is born with a gruesome hunger for human minds.

I was conflicting on liking and loving the novel. I thought the book had a lot of interesting parallels along with interesting topics such as love, loyalty, family, and what it means to be a monster. I thought the book told an interesting tale that was woven with unique world building experience. Be wary though, some readers might love this book so much they might consume it in one reading....

Saturday, November 26, 2022

Book Review - Next Door to Happy by Allison Weiser Strout

 

Violet Crane feels isolated and lonely because she has no siblings and her father has recently moved out and her mother is struggling with anxiety. Then a family moves next door with five kids. Violet wishes that she was a part of that family as they seem so normal compared to hers.

However, all that changes when Violet overhears a conversation between Reggie and his mother. Reggie's mother tells Reggie that Violet isn't an appropriate friend. Violet is hurt and devastated and feels even more alone.

I thought this book was an okay read. It was interesting to read the challenges Violet was facing with her family and friends and how she overcame them. The author did a good job showing different types of family and friends. I didn't love or hate the book but, I felt the story was missing something.

Thursday, November 24, 2022

Book Review - Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls

 

 

Charlie Lewis is the type of person you would forget about it. He is the average type of person. He doesn't do well in school and he spends most of his day looking after his dad. He spends most of his time thinking that there is nothing in his future.

Then Charlie crosses paths with Fran Fisher and he begins to hope for something better.  However, if Charlie wants to spend time with Fran, he will need to join an acting troupe. He feels that he will lose the respect from his friends and joining the acting theater is akin to joining a cult.

I thought this was going to be an interesting read but, instead it was super boring. I read more than half of the book and I can could sum up the entire thing in less than 4 sentences.The book goes into pages of unwanted details and then has a tendency of switching from the past and the future all willy nilly. I am still trying to understand what the point of the book was. I will say this, if you suffer from insomnia this book will have you yawning in no time flat.

 

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Book Spotlight - The Do-Over by Lynn Painter + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: THE DO-OVER

Author: Lynn Painter

Pub. Date: November 15, 2022

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 304

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, Audible, B&NiBooks, KoboTBD, Bookshop.org

In this riotous young adult romp for fans of Recommended for You and A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, a teen girl has the worst Valentine’s Day ever—only to relive it over and over again.

After living through a dumpster fire of a Valentine’s Day, Emilie Hornby escapes to her grandmother’s house for some comfort and a consolation pint of Ben & Jerry’s. She passes out on the couch, but when she wakes up, she’s back home in her own bed—and it’s Valentine’s Day all over again. And the next day? Another nightmare V-Day.

Emilie is stuck in some sort of time loop nightmare that she can’t wake up from as she re-watches her boyfriend, Josh, cheat on her day after day. In addition to Josh’s recurring infidelity, Emilie can’t get away from the enigmatic Nick, who she keeps running into—sometimes literally—in unfortunate ways.

How many days can one girl passively watch her life go up in flames? And when something good starts to come out of these terrible days, what happens when the universe stops doling out do-overs?

Reviews:

"Painter plucks readers’ every heartstring, from writing a sweet love story between two teens with very different views on romance to honestly depicting how Emilie’s parents’ messy divorce has impacted her feelings of self-worth. Italicized confessions at the beginnings of various chapters prove there is a playful side to Emilie that is further brought out by Nick, whose constant teasing leads to flirty banter...unequivocally hilarious and delightful." -- Kirkus Reviews

"Throughout, Emilie struggles to navigate her parents’ acrimonious divorce, and the resulting financial precarity and blow to her self-worth. By combining these personal trials with a lighthearted love story, Painter delivers a thoughtfully elevated romantic jaunt." -- Publishers Weekly

 

About Lynn Painter:

Lynn Painter is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author who writes romantic comedies for both teens and adults. She lives in Nebraska with her husband and pack of wild children, and when she isn't reading or writing, odds are good she’s guzzling energy drinks and watching rom-coms. 

Subscribe to Lynn’s Newsletter!

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

 




Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of THE DO-OVER, US Only.

Ends December 6th, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

11/7/2022

YA Books Central

Excerpt

11/8/2022

Kait Plus Books

Excerpt

11/9/2022

A Dream Within A Dream

Excerpt

11/10/2022

Mindyourshelf

IG Review

11/11/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

11/12/2022

@booksrn_rashi

IG Review

Week Two:

11/13/2022

My.Bookish.Mind

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/14/2022

travelersguidetobooks

IG Review

11/15/2022

@jennareadstuff

TikTok Review/IG Post

11/16/2022

A Court of Coffee and Books

Review/IG Post

11/17/2022

The Page Ladies @jacleomik33

IG Review

11/18/2022

OneMoreExclamation

Review/IG Post

11/19/2022

onemused

IG Review

Week Three:

11/20/2022

Nerdophiles

Review

11/21/2022

Books With A Chance of Traveling

Review/IG Post

11/22/2022

@planwithemm

IG Review

11/23/2022

@just_another_mother_with_books

IG Review

11/24/2022

The Book View

Review/IG Post

11/25/2022

A Blue Box Full of Books

IG Review/LFL Drop Pic

11/26/2022

Lisa Loves Literature

Review/IG Post

Week Four:

11/27/2022

Two Points of Interest

Review

11/28/2022

The Real World According To Sam

Review/IG Post

11/29/2022

@thechattybookworm

TikTok Review/IG Post

11/30/2022

Confessions of a YA Reader

Review

12/1/2022

@lexijava

Review/IG Post

12/2/2022

Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers

Review/IG Post


Sunday, November 20, 2022

Book Review - Wrassle Castle Book 2: Riders on the Storm by Paul Tobin

 

In the second book in the series, Lydia is moving up in the ranks in the tournament. She feels that victory is in her reach until a villain threatens to ruin her chances. Her best friend is captured and Lydia must decide if she will go or stay.

I though this book was a bit lackluster. I feel like they used the word "wrassle" way too much. It got annoying and I was wondering if the author knew other words. At first, I thought the background bubble noise was funny but, after a few bubbles it was annoying filler that didn't add to the story.  Like the previous book, the scenes can randomly back and forth with no indication. It made the story feel choppy at times. I feel like this second book was a completely unnecessary and the story could have been completed in two book instead of three.

Friday, November 18, 2022

Book Review - Wrassle Castle Book 1: Learning the Ropes by Paul Tobin

 

Lydia Riverthane loves wrassling and wants to be a professional wrassler like her brother. A wrassler is known to be the greatest fighter in all of the kingdoms. As Lydia tries to accomplish her goal, her beloved brother is accused of treason. She is determined to prove her brother's innocence. She realizes the only way she can prove his innocence is enter the tournament.

I thought this was an okay graphic novel. I found that the story was a bit confusing as there wasn't always a break before the story changed focus. However, I did find the book to be entertaining and I am interested in finding out if Lydia is able to rescue her brother.

Thursday, November 17, 2022

Book Spotlight - Son of the Salt Chaser by A. S. Thornton + Giveaway

 

About The Book:

Title: SON OF THE SALT CHASER (Salt Chasers #2)

Author: A.S. Thornton

Pub. Date: (November 1, 2022

Publisher: CamCat Books

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook, Audiobook

Pages: 436

Find it: GoodreadsAmazon, Kindle, Audible, B&NiBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

The gift of magic may be a curse.

After her desert-transforming wish, Emel follows Saalim to Madinat Almulihi to reclaim all she has lost. But the seaside city is not what she expected. When she is tasked with assisting the palace healer, she is faced daily with the reminder that Saalim―focused only on seeking the revenge of those who killed his family―does not remember her at all.

Cursing the magic that destroyed her love and brought her to an unwelcoming city, Emel regrets her decision to leave her settlement. That is, until she meets Kas. Though inscrutable, he is the first person to help her forget her past, and the pull of finding happiness with him tempts her from the life she wished for with Saalim.

But darkness waits in the desert, and not all people in Madinat Almulihi are what they seem. When Emel understands she is entangled in the fate of the city―and of Saalim―she is faced with the realization that magic may be the most powerful card in her hand. It might be the only way to save all that she loves, but if she plays her hand wrong, it could destroy everything.

 

Grab book 1, DAUGHTER OF THE SALT KING now!

 

About A.S. Thornton:

A. S. Thornton has evolved from book blogger to author with a particular fondness for writing forbidden love in ancient deserts. She lives in Northern California, where she works as a veterinarian. Learn more about her on IG @as_thornton and visit her website asthornton.com.

Subscribe to A.S.'s newsletter

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

 


Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a finished copy of SON OF THE SALT CHASER, US Only.

Ends November 22nd, midnight EST.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

10/24/2022

Books and Kats

Guest Post

10/25/2022

A Dream Within A Dream

Guest Post

10/26/2022

Wottaread

Review

10/27/2022

Two Chicks on Books

Guest Post/IG Post

10/28/2022

Nagma | TakeALookAtMyBookshelf

IG Review

10/29/2022

@jennareadstuff

IG Review/TikTok Post

Week Two:

10/30/2022

Sadie's Spotlight

Excerpt

10/31/2022

Jenguerdy

IG Spotlight

11/1/2022

Wanderingwitchreads

TikTok Review/IG Post

11/2/2022

Karen Dee's Book Reviews

IG Review

11/3/2022

Rajiv's Reviews

Review/IG Post

11/4/2022

Books a Plenty Book Reviews

Review

11/5/2022

Fire and Ice

Review

Week Three:

11/6/2022

@booksrn_rashi

IG Review

11/7/2022

The.bibliophile.michelle

IG Review

11/8/2022

Book-Keeping

Review/IG Post

11/9/2022

Wonder Struck

Review/IG Post

11/10/2022

GryffindorBookishNerd

Review/IG Post

11/11/2022

@simplybeccamee

IG Review

11/12/2022

The Momma Spot

Review/IG Post

Week Four:

11/13/2022

The Page Ladies @jacleomik33

IG Review

11/14/2022

Lifestyle of Me

Review

11/15/2022

Brandi Danielle Davis

IG Review/TikTok Post

11/16/2022

@thechattybookworm

TikTok Review/IG Post

11/17/2022

bookbriefs

Review/IG Post

11/18/2022

two points of interest

Review/IG Post