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.

Klorane Smoothing and Relaxing Patches with Soothing Cornflower Eye Contour

The hydrogel eye patch is enriched with cornflower water, arnica, and chamomile extracts. It promises to reduce fatigue and under-eye puffiness while diminishing the appearance of fine lines and dark circles. I love using face masks but, some days I rather use an eye mask for days when I haven't been sleeping well. I don't notice a significant change of appearance when using the mask but, I like the relaxing and hydration benefits it provides. Also, this mask has a soft fabric topping that makes it ideal to use when applying makeup as it catches lose eyeshadow dust that would normally fall on my face.

Sundays Nail Polish - No. 18

I love trying new nail polish brands and since I am home more often, I have more "time" to paint my nails. Out of my ten fingers, only one nail currently has polish and it's chipped. I heard good things about this brand and they recently opened a salon near my job (right before the pandemic).

I figured what better time than now to try this brand. The 10 free nail polish is vegan, cruelty-free, and non-toxic. The shade is listed as a deep plum berry color. I have a similar color in different brands as this is one of my favorite shades for the fall. However, the nail polish didn't apply smoothly and it didn't provide a full and even coverage. I am hoping its just a bad formula for this particular color as I bought a few colors to take advantage of their free shipping promotion.

Ahhh...oops

So, you might notice that some of the photos I uploaded recently and in the past was deleted. Apparently, I was coming up against my limit for my blog and didn't realize that the photos that were in "archive" was tied to my 15Gbs limit. Going forward I will be posting fewer photos as this blog is mostly for fun and I make zero money off it. It financially doesn't make sense to pay a $200 upgrade charge just to store the photos. I am debating just moving my blog to a book review only site. Let me know your thoughts!

Book Review - The Archer at Dawn by Swati Teerdhala + Giveaway

Photo Credit - Amazon

Kunal and Esha are working together as rebels on a rescue mission to take back what's theirs. They attend the upcoming Sun Mela to infiltrate Vardaan's court. Kunal pretends to be a dedicated soldier to protect the king. Esha becomes an adviser to Prince Harun and uses her cover to seek allies for their cause. Together Esha and Kunal will try to rescue the lost princess Reha. However, as the Sun Mela begins, secrets and a dangerous force are waiting for them. It causes them to doubt their loyalties to each other and their cause. Will Esha and Kunal be able to succeed in their mission?

I enjoyed reading the second novel as we get a more in-depth view of each character. We see Kunal struggle between his loyalties to the rebels, his solider friends, and to the family, he never knew he had. We see Esha as a complicated woman who wants to avenge her family but, she is sacrificing herself to her old promise. In this book, Kunal and Esha's romantic relationship isn't on display as much as the first book. This book mostly focused on the other characters which I enjoyed. I felt like this book did move a bit slow because I couldn't wait to see what happens but, the ending made it worth it. I can't wait to read the final book!

**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.**

 

 

Series: Tiger at Midnight (Book 2)
Hardcover: 464 pages
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books (May 26, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062869248
ISBN-13: 978-0062869241

Praise for THE TIGER AT MIDNIGHT

“Thrilling, entertaining, and beautifully written, this is one adventure YA fans won’t want to miss.” —Buzzfeed

“[A] vibrantly imagined South Indian–inspired trilogy opener...Teerdhala adds plenty of surprises to her finely limned characters to produce a lush fantasy.” —Publishers Weekly

“Teerdhala’s debut, immersed in Indian fantasy, features two compelling protagonists who must question their loyalties and decide what they’re willing to sacrifice for the chance at a new future. Fast-paced action and a budding romance between emotionally layered characters make this a promising start to a gripping new series.” —ALA Booklist

“[A] lush blend of folklore, fantasy, and romance.” —Kirkus Reviews

“Set in a fantastical South Asia, this combination of romance, action, and magic will appeal to fans of Sabaa Tahir and Renée Ahdieh. A strong choice for YA fantasy shelves.” —School Library Journal

“Cat-and-mouse maneuvering between assassin Esha and reluctant soldier Kunal will hold you in tantalizing suspense in this searing debut exploring love, loss, and destiny. The Tiger at Midnight is as alluring and fearless as its characters.” —Stacey Lee, award-winning author of Outrun the Moon

“A deliciously twisty cat-and-mouse story that had me racing through the pages. I love stories that challenge their protagonists’ beliefs, and both Esha and Kunal face complex, heart-breaking decisions in their journey to discover both themselves and each other.” —Natasha Ngan, New York Times bestselling author of Girls of Paper and Fire

“Follow Esha and Kunal on a dangerous journey through lush jungles and bustling cities, where the stakes are life and death, and victory comes at a terrible price. Teerdhala has written a masterful debut full of breathless twists and turns and a romance to ignite the senses.” —Axie Oh, author of Rebel Seoul

Romantic intrigue and electric action fill the gripping sequel to The Tiger at Midnight, a world inspired by ancient Indian history and Hindu mythology. Perfect for fans of Sabaa Tahir and Victoria Aveyard.

A stolen throne. A lost princess. A rescue mission to take back what’s theirs.

For Kunal and Esha, finally working together as rebels, the upcoming Sun Mela provides the perfect guise for infiltrating King Vardaan’s vicious court. Kunal returns to his role as dedicated soldier, while Esha uses her new role as adviser to Prince Harun to seek allies for their rebel cause. A radical plan is underfoot to rescue Jansa’s long-lost Princess Reha—the key to the throne.

But amidst the Mela games and glittering festivities, much more dangerous forces lie in wait. With the rebel’s entry into Vardaan’s court, a match has been lit, and long-held secrets will force Kunal and Esha to reconsider their loyalties—to their countries and to each other.

Getting into the palace was the easy task; coming out together will be a battle for their lives. In book two of Swati Teerdhala’s epic fantasy trilogy, a kingdom will fall, a new ruler will rise, and all will burn.

You can purchase The Archer at Dawn at the following Retailers:

        

Photo Content from Swati Teerdhala

Swati Teerdhala is the author of The Tiger at Midnight series, which has appeared on both Barnes and Noble and Book Riot’s Most Anticipated Novels lists.

After graduating from the University of Virginia with a BS in finance and BA in history, she tumbled into the marketing side of the technology industry. She’s passionate about many things, including how the right ratio of curd-to-crust in a lemon tart. She currently lives in New York City.

        

WEEK ONE - REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS

MAY 25th MONDAY Wishful Endings INTERVIEW

MAY 26th TUESDAY BookHounds YA INTERVIEW

MAY 26th TUESDAY Kait Plus Books INTERVIEW

MAY 27th WEDNESDAY JeanBookNerd INTERVIEW 

MAY 28th THURSDAY Nay's Pink Bookshelf REVIEW

MAY 28th THURSDAY Bookish Dream REVIEW 

MAY 29th FRIDAY J.R.'s Book Reviews REVIEW

MAY 29th FRIDAY Two Points of Interest REVIEW 

WEEK TWO - REVIEWS AND INTERVIEWS

JUNE 1st MONDAY A Dream Within A Dream REVIEW

JUNE 2nd TUESDAY Bookishaestha REVIEW 

JUNE 3rd WEDNESDAY Gwendalyn's Books REVIEW 

JUNE 3rd WEDNESDAY Port Jericho REVIEW 

JUNE 4th THURSDAY Reading Adventures of a Book Dragon REVIEW

JUNE 4th THURSDAY The Bookwyrm's Den REVIEW 

JUNE 5th FRIDAY Casia's Corner REVIEW 

JUNE 5th FRIDAY FANFIADDICT REVIEW

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Book Review - The Shadows by Alex North

Photo Credit - Amazon

In the small town of Gritten Park, there lives an unstable teenager named Charlie Crabtree. Every town has at least one kid who has a dark imagination, a sinister smile and is an outcast. People always suspect that they are capable of doing something awful and it was only a matter of when.

Twenty-five years ago, Charlie committed a heinous murder. It was a murder so shocking that it has attracted a fanbase on the darkest corner of the internet. The murder has inspired more than one copycat with countless others following the case closely.

Paul Adams remembers the murder and moved away in hopes of forgetting the murder. Charlie and the victim were Paul's friends. After moving away, Paul has finally gotten his life together. When his mother suffers a fall and takes a turn for the worse, Paul decides to move back home. Paul doesn't want to return home but, he feels duty-bound to his mother to see her.

Shortly after Paul returns home, things start going wrong. Paul learns that there is a copycat murder in the nearby town. His senile mother is getting distressed and mentions that something is in the house. Paul realizes that someone is following him and he is worried that it might be Charlie who hasn't been seen since the day of the murder.

I haven't read the first novel by the author but, this novel can be read as a standalone. I felt like there were a few references made to the previous book that I didn't quite understand. I thought the book was a thrilling and engaging read. The book will keep you up at night wondering if there is something out there in the shadows. I look 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.**