Book Review - Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face and the Quest for the Magic Porcupine (Stinkbomb & Ketchup-Face, #2) by John Dougherty

Photo Credit - Amazon

Oh no! The devilishly evil badgers have escaped from prison and plan to unleash chaos on the town's residents. Have no fear, Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face will rescue the day! They head out to find someone who knows about stories to help them find the correct path. Who else would know something about stories other than the fearsome Miss Butterworth, the ninja Librarian. After receiving guidance, the duo set off to find the magical porcupine to help stop the mischievous badgers. Will the kids be able to save the king? What evil deeds is the badgers planning? 

The story was fun to read and engaging, especially to young children. Many of the jokes were clever while a bit silly, but a few jokes were repetitive. However, I feel like that is a common trend in children's books (IE Lemony Snicket). A cute and delightful read for any young reader.

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

AUTHOR - John Dougherty

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

John Dougherty was born in Larne, Northern Ireland. He studied psychology at university and then tried his hand at a number of jobs including YMCA hostel worker, factory machine operator, and unsuccessful singer-songwriter, before becoming a primary school teacher. His books have been shortlisted for a number of prestigious awards - and one was chosen by The London Times as one of the Best Children's Books of the Year 2011 - but, more importantly, they make children giggle.

 

ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR

Sam Ricks is an illustrator and designer with more than ten years' experience. His work has been showcased in numerous publications, including The New York Times. Sam loves creating illustrations of all types, but he is especially fond of children's book work. He lives with his family in Utah. 

Book Review - Phoebe's Light (Nantucket Legacy #1) by Suzanne Woods Fisher + Giveaway

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Phoebe Starbuck always follows her fickle father in his latest get rich scheme. However, on her latest birthday, she decided that she will do what she wants and that is to marry the illustrious Captain Phineas Foulger and to sail away with him on his latest adventure. Her father not trusting the intentions of the Captain gives her daughter a journal from her great grandmother, Mary and companion for her. Phoebe, however, has little use for both at first, but when she realizes the life at the sea is nothing that she expected she comes to rely on the gifts her father gave her. While reading her great grandmother's journal she comes across a secret that affects everyone on the ship. What is the secret that Mary is keeping? Will Phoebe be able to find happiness while living on the ship?

The novel had an interesting premise about a woman who is traveled the sea with her husband in search of majestic whales. While they were some slow parts to the story, I still felt that the story was interesting especially the historical aspects. I appreciated how detailed the author was and for including a dictionary to help with words used during that time frame. A fun read and I can't wait to read the next installation of this series.

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

About the Author

Suzanne Woods Fisher is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than two dozen novels, including Anna’s Crossing, The Newcomer, and The Return in the Amish Beginnings series, The Bishop’s Family series, and The Inn at Eagle Hill series, as well as nonfiction books about the Amish, including Amish Peace and The Heart of the Amish. She lives in California. Learn more at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com and follow Suzanne on Twitter @suzannewfisher.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Suzanne is giving away a grand prize of a Kindle!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c9e0

Book Review - Love by the Numbers by Laura V. Hilton + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

A tragic accident claims the life of Lydia's fiancee and with a secret threatening her home life, Lydia flees to Jamesport, Missouri to help manage her aunt's gift store.  However, Lydia receives math induced headaches, so she is excited to learn that her aunt hired an accountant to help her with the daily accounting. When Caleb Bontrager enters the shop to help with the bookkeeping, both parties are shocked by each other's presence. Caleb is smitten by Lydia's charm and her personality, but he is afraid that her bright personality would lead down the path of temptation. Lydia is attracted to Caleb, but when Caleb asks another girl to become his girl, will Lydia be able to put her feelings for Caleb aside?

I have read a few Amish romances and I felt this one definitely had a bit more sauce to it. In this novel some of the characters live with their Mennonite relatives or have not joined the church so they use cell phones or electricity.  While this book is clean by my standards, there is mention of premarital sex, unwanted sexual advances and talks of temptation. Personally, I enjoyed the book and was emotionally involved with each character having a happy ending.  It was a delightful and refreshing read and I can't wait to read more works by the author.

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

About the Author

Laura V. Hilton is an award-winning, sought-after author with almost twenty Amish, contemporary, and historical romances. When she’s not writing, she reviews books for her blogs, and writes devotionals for blog posts for Seriously Write and Putting on the New.
Laura and her pastor-husband have five children and a hyper dog named Skye. They currently live in Arkansas. One son is in the U.S. Coast Guard. She is a pastor’s wife, and homeschools her two youngest children.
When she’s not writing, Laura enjoys reading, and visiting lighthouses and waterfalls. Her favorite season is winter, her favorite holiday is Christmas.

Giveaway

In honor of the tour, Whitaker House is giving away

Grand Prize Package: Love By the Numbers, Healing Love (Amish of Webster County #1), and The Snow Globe (The Amish of Jamesport #1) by Laura Hilton; “The Angels Cry Holy” scented candle in tin with lid from Abba Jerusalem

1st Place Package: Love By the Numbers, The Snow Globe (The Amish of Jamesport #1) by Laura Hilton, and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book with Colored Pencils

2nd Place Package: Love By the Number by Laura Hilton and Whitaker House/Anchor Coloring Book with Colored Pencils!!!

Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c6ca

Bliss Fabulous Foaming Face Wash

The oil free foaming face wash is enriched with rosehip extract, milk thistle, passionflower, and chamomile. The foaming wash left my skin feeling soft and clean without stripping skin. The wash smells heavenly and was a treat to use.

Book Review - Anatomy of a Scandal by Sarah Vaughan

Photo Credit - Amazon

James is the perfect husband; he's a loving father, caring husband, and has a successful career in the government. However, when he is accused of a heinous crime, Sophie is determined that James is innocent and she will protect her family at any cost. Kate is the lawyer prosecuting the case and she is determined that James is guilty and will stop at nothing to bring him down. Is James innocent or is something larger at play?

When I first came across this book, it reminded me of the TV show, "How to Get Away with Murder". The book was interesting for the first few chapters when we were being introduced to the characters and their backstory. However, the plot seem was a bit predictable and was filled with filler. An interesting story, but I wish more was done with it, but I would be opened to reading more novels by the author.

Book Review - The Man He Never Was: A Modern Reimagining of Jekyll and Hyde by James L. Rubart

Photo Source - Amazon

When Toren Daniels disappeared eight months ago, his family were a bit relieved and started to move on. While he was a supportive and kind father, he had a short temper that he could no longer control. Little things would cause Toren to go into a fit of anger. When Toren shows up out of the blue at their home, they are shocked to see him alive but still angry over the hurt he has caused. Toren tells them that he has changed, but he has done so in the past with little results to show for it.

However,  Toren and the family start to notice little changes in him upon his return. He started to become kind, patient, understanding and fun to be around. He is no longer the angry father and husband his family knew him as. While is he is learning to become a better person, pieces of his old hostile personalities are starting to break through. Will Toren be able to keep his anger in check? How did he manage to control his anger?

I have read the classic "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" and "Frankenstein" while reading another book by the author. The first few chapters I was completely captivated, but then towards the middle of the book, it started getting boring and repetitive. The story became predictable and in some parts, hard to follow. I also had a tough time liking any of the characters. The wife was upset when Toren showed his anger, but she would do things to purposely make him lose his anger. Toren, who grew up in an abusive relationship with his father didn't like what his father was doing to his family, but yet Toren continues to treat his family in the same way. I also found it annoying that they made Toren chose either his family or his chance to play in the NFL. It made it seem that for him to become a better person he only had to focus on his family.

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

Bite Beauty Watercolor Lip Library - 01

I was very excited when I came across this gem in one of my stash boxes (one of many....). Having been a fan of Bite Beauty for awhile, I was ecstatic to tear back the wrapping and have my fill of swatches. Unfortunately, most of the colors were sheer that I tried and very clumpy and tacky. I lost interest roughly three swatches, but I will be sure to post the rest up when I can!

This one was the "first" lip gloss and it had a yellow color but went on sheer. It went on very thick and stayed goopy on my lips. However, my lips did feel hydrated.

Like  all of of Bite Beauty products these glosses were created with natural and food grade ingredients. It doesn't have any parabens, sulfates, petrochemicals, phthalates and are certified gluten-free. It did have a slight citrus scent, but not very noticeable or pungent.

Makeup Forever Aqua Lips Lip Liner - 3C

The waterproof medium neutral beige, which looked like chocolate brown went on smoothly. It felt soft and had a longer wear. It is enriched with vitamin E and jojoba wax which made pliable against the skin. It wasn't my favorite color, but I love the formula and can't wait to try other colors.

Book Review - Words from the Heart by Kathleen Fuller

Photo Credit - Amazon

Ivy Yoder is the oldest daughter in her family and she is still single. She feels like is destined to be alone when she met a charming young Amish man who promised to write her but never did. Stung by his broken promise and her lack of prospects, she is delighted when a quirky older woman asks for Ivy's help. However, the task comes with one eccentric requirement; both she and Cevilla's nephews must do the chore together.

Noah Schlabach is Cevilla's beloved nephew and is dedicated to his family. When, his aunt asks him for help, he doesn't hesitate to agree even with the weird requirement of working with Ivy. He works as an auctioneer and is also excited to see if can unearth any antique items. The duo comes across a pile of mysterious love letters written during the Korean War. They find themselves entranced by the couple even when they both believe they are destined to be alone. Will Ivy and Noah learn to put the past behind them and fall in love? Why did Cevilla ask them to work together? Why were the letters hidden away?

If you are a fan of Kathleen Fuller or Amish romances, you will enjoy this novel. Fans might notice characters from her previous novels. I found the story an engaging and delightful read while eager for the couple to find their path. A definite treat and I can't wait to read her other novels.

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

Book Review - All Things Bright and Strange by James Markert

Photo Credit - Amazon

A small Southern town of Bellhaven, South Carolina there is a trouble brewing in the mysterious chapel hidden deep in the woods. The town inhabitants are drawn to the chapel and its beautiful surroundings. However, they soon realize that can be evil among even the most beautiful things.

The town start turn against each other and pick sides. They depend on their town hero, Ellsworth Newberry for guidance as he always survives even the toughest situations. However, Ellsworth balances his own self worth and mortality when the town seems to need to him the most. Will Ellsworth be able to save himself and his beloved town? What is hidden in the beautiful chapel in the forbidden forest?

I have read "Angel's Share" by James Markert and enjoyed the novel. So, I was very excited to read this new novel, which seems to have a similar premise. However, this novel was a bit weird and a convoluted plot. I had a hard time following the story when a lot of unnecessary details, characters and slow parts. I had high hopes for this novel and was very disappointed.

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

Davines Lovely Smoothing Shampoo

The soft scented shampoo provides a generous lather that gently cleans frizzy hair. It is enriched with minuta olives, Indian fig extract, and phenethyl benzoate to soften and the hair shiny. Personally, I wasn’t crazy over the scent of the shampoo, but my SO liked the scent better. I also hoped it would smooth out my frizzy hair, but it kept it the same frizzy and unmanageable way it is now

Book Review - Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz

Photo Credit - Amazon

Susan Ryeland is the editor of popular bestselling mystery, crime writer, Alan Conway. When she receives his latest novel, she assumes is like his other novels. Conway's famous detective, Atticus Pünd is a fan favorite and Susan has to put up with his odd behavior if she wants to keep her job. His latest novel is about a murder at Pye Hall with an eccentric cast of suspects. However, the more Susan reads the novel, the more she realizes there is an overlap between Alan and Atticus's lives. What is the secret behind the Conway's last novel?

I was intrigued by the cover of this novel and it reminded me of "The Oxford Murders by Guillermo Martínez", which I enjoyed.  (The similarity of having "murders" in the title). The telling of the story is from Susan reading about Atticus and the story about Alan Conway. Both of the stories read like they were written by two different authors and I personally found the Atticus Pünd story more interesting than Susan investigating Alan Conway's death. I found the portion with Susan to be drawn out and tedious to read. The ending was also a bit of a disappointment and one could see happening after all she mentioned it in the beginning before we even began to read the book. 

Lollia Relax Hand Cream - Shea Butter, Lavender and Honey

The sweet scented hand cream is enriched Shea butter and macadamia nut oil. The softly scented lotion has notes of lavender, bee blossom honey, white orchids, violet and Indian Amber. The hand cream absorbed quickly and it left my hands feeling smooth and soft.