Book Review - The Reunion by Guillaume Musso

 

Twenty-five years ago while a snowstorm was occurring, Vinca Rockwell, a 19-year-old student ran away with her philosophy teacher. Rumor has it that Vinca was in love with her philosophy teacher and they ran away together. Vinca believes "love is everything or nothing". That was the last time she was ever seen.

Manon, Thomas, and Maxine were best friends but, they stopped talking to each since graduation. Twenty five years earlier, the three of them committed a murder and they buried the body in the gymnasium wall. The wall is now being slated to be demolished to make way for a new building. The three friends have to decide what they will do about their secret before the body is discovered.

I thought the book was an interesting read. I had a hard time following some of the references and I felt like I was missing some nuances. The book did  move a bit slow at times but, I found the ending to be a surprise. I personally didn't care for the main character because he literally wrapped his entire life to a person who didn't really care for him. And several times I was curious how he could trust certain people so blindly. I would be opened to reading more books by the author.

July 2021 Haul!

 

Ah, July is almost half way finished and it can take the hot weather with it! I can't wait for cooler temperatures. On a side note, what happened to Spring? It was like winter one day and then blistering heat the next. 

I got a few products that I am very excited to try. Broo is a shampoo and condition set made with beer. I read somewhere that beer can actually make your hair really shiny. The packaging notes that it has a citrus scent which is good because I do not want to smell like beer.

I have used a few of Wander Beauty products and I love their skincare products and find their beauty items like mascara and eye palettes to be mediocre. I got two new skincare products from them - their Do Not Disturb night concentrate and their Sight C-Er which is a vitamin C concentrate. I have tons of dark spots and I heard vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of dark spots. 

I bought a few products from Aster Raine. I bought a Omni Scrub, the reverse serum. firm & glow serum, and  rejuvenating cream. I am excited to try this organic and simple ingredient brand. 

I bought another Marc Jacobs in Enamored. I love the Fresh brand but, I have a love and hate relationship with their lip balm. I saw they have a new Rose petal soft lip cream and I am excited to try it. I got two bold new colors from Stila in Beso and Mac in Starf*cker. I can't wear to wear these beauties!

I got a new scrubby face wash from HoliFrog that I am excited to try. The packaging is very beautiful. I have a few of the sleep spray and bath salts from ThisWorks and I enjoyed it. I got the Deep Sleep Body Cocoon body cream to promote restful sleeping. 

I heard so many good things about the brand Serumkind and I got their Royal Black Tulip hand cream. I been washing my hands like a crazy and most creams haven't really made an impact on my dry skin. I am really hoping this helps my skin.

Have you gotten anything this month that you are excited to try?

Book Review - Never Miss by Melissa Koslin

 

Kadance Tolle used to be a former CIA sniper and she is known for her special sets of skills. She comes from a long line of assassins. However, she is on the run from her family but, she endangers herself when she saves Lyndon Vaile's life. Kadance knows the danger of exposing herself but, she feels compelled to help Lyndon. Together Kadance and Lyndon will need to work together to figure out who is after Lyndon's research.

I read more than half of the book before I decided this book wasn't for me. I felt like the characters were boring, unrealistic, and wooden. I didn't care for the writing style and felt like it was very monotone. I am disappointed as I was looking forward to reading this novel.

 

Book Review - The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

 

Company spy Ben Calix had a mission go wrong in Rome and when he returns to Paris, he finds his entire world turned upside down. He was targeted in an ambush and a sniper is after him. He tries to get in contact with his agency and was told that they are severing their ties with him and French SWAT is after him.

Ben is desperate for answers and he is trying to avoid a biochemical attack from happening. As he tries to escape, he unwittingly causes another civilian to end up in the Company's cross hairs. He decides to travel across Europe to connect with former team members to help him stop the attack. While Ben is looking for a plan, he will also deal with the fallout from being kicked out of the Company.

I thought the novel was a quick and fast paced read. I can't say that I care for any of the characters or what happened to them because there were a lot of characters involved. I felt that the novel was a bit too predictable and I was able to guess all the twists before they were disclosed. The book was an okay read and I would be open to reading other books by the author.

Book Review - Pretty Little Wife by Darby Kane

 

Lila Ridgefield seems to have the perfect life. She lives in a quaint college town, has a beautiful home, and a doting husband, Aaron. However, not everything is what seems like especially, Lila. 

A young college student vanished a few months ago and then Aaron disappears. The police thinks that the cases are unrelated until it's discovered the missing student case is very similar to other missing people cases. The police are desperate to find a connection.

They find a clue that makes them realize that there might be more to the story. While the town is worried over their beloved high school teacher, Lila isn't. She is confused about him being missing because she was the last person to see him alive.

The novel was an interesting and thrilling read. I enjoyed finding out the next twist and secret being revealed. I found that the novel moved at a fast pace. I didn't care much for some of the characters and thought they weren't unrealistic. Overall, the novel was a good read and I look forward to reading more books by the author.

Book Review - Pretty Things by Janelle Brown

Nina thought once she got her fancy liberal arts degree that life would be different. However, things didn't turn out as expected and she had to resort to stealing from rich kids with her con artist Irish boyfriend, Lachlan. Nina utilizes the skills she has gleamed from her con artist mother who has spent her entire life hustling to provide for them. When Nina's mom get sick, Nina realizes she will need to pull off a major scam to ensure her mom gets the proper treatment.

Vanessa comes from an extremely wealthy family and she dreams of making her mark in the world. She decides to become an Instagram influencer with all the free perks and daily demands. However, underneath her glamorous lifestyle, Vanessa's life is stained by tragedy including a broken engagement. She decides to head to the family estate, Stonehaven to regain her bearings. The mansion contains secrets that causes Vanesa's and Nina's world to merge.

I was initially drawn by the beautiful cover and noticed that the novel was highly rated.  I found that the novel was slow and incredibly boring. I thought that the characters were entitled and their plans of "revenge" were stupid and unfounded. The book was completely predictable even the "twist" in the end. This book was completely drawn out and overrated.

July 2021 Empties!

 

 

Can you believe it? It's already July, I can't believe how fast the year has went by. It feels just the other day that we rung in the New Year and I can't say I really done anything productive this year either...maybe next year since this year is already finished :D

I finished a few things that I enjoyed. I really liked the Eminence Monoi face cream smelled amazing and left my skin feeling super soft and smooth. I liked the Vichy cream because it made my skin feeling smooth almost like porcelain. I used the Ren comforting moisturizer when my skin was acting up because of my constant mask usage. It calmed my skin and made it feel less wonky.

I am really disappointed with the Glow Recipe banana souffle cream. I felt like it barely did anything to my skin. I had to constantly re-applied. I was pleasantly surprised with Verso cream.  It did leave my skin dry but, I felt like my skin looked better though. My skin tolerated it better than other retional.

Did you get anything you are exciting to try?

Here is everything I finished this month -

Eminence Organic Skin Care Monoi Age Corrective Night Cream for Face

Glow Recipe Banana Souffle Moisture Cream

Bonvivant Botanical Mask Pack Chamomile + Tea Tree

Honey Jarret Super Beau'Tea Mask Rose

Likwid Rx Stress Reliever 100% Natural Hair Oil

John Frieda Frizz-Ease Straight Fixation Smoothing Creme

Ren Organic Skincare Evercalm Ultra Comforting Rescue Mask

Pantene Pro-V Foam Conditioner Sheer Volume

Verso Super Facial Serum with Retional 8

Modesa Plumeria Pineapple Scented Body Lotion

Nature Republic Acai Berry Mask

L'Oreal Power Moisture Hydrating Shampoo

Juliette Has a Gun - Vanilla Vibes

FrienVita Perfect Skin Adhesion Firming Gold Glow Mask

Real Chemistry Environmental Rescue Essential Day Cream

Leaders Insolution Illuminating Mask

JeJu:En This is My Sheet Green Tea Calming

Freeman Facial Enyzme Mask Pineapple

Vichy Liftactiv Peptide-C

Philosohpy Purity 3-in1 cleanser

L'Occitane Comforting Light Cream

L'Occitane Dry Skin Hand Cream

Kate Somerville Exfolikate Intensive Exfoliating Treatment

Book Review - Shadow Girl by Gerry Schmitt

 

Leland Odin is rich and has made his fortune off of a home shopping network. However, his money can't help him save his life. Leland is on the donor list for a transplant and he loses all hope when the helicopter carrying his donor heart is shot out of the sky.

The two pilots from the helicopter are dead and many are injured. Afton Tangler is a family liaison officer with the Minneapolis Police Department and has been called on to assist. She and her partner, Max, will investigate family members, business associates of Leland and anyone else who may hold a grudge against him. As the team looks into the clues, someone sneaks into the hospital to finish off Leland. It seems Leland has crossed the wrong person and she will stop at nothing to get her revenge. Will the duo be able to stop her before they get caught in her cross hairs?

This was my first book by the author and it seems like it could be read as a standalone. However, I felt like there were some character and story nuances I may have missed. I found the book to be a boring read. The characters were dull and the story barely held my attention. The book was lackluster and had no excitement or surprise twists.

Book Review - The Okay Witch and the Hungry Shadow by Emma Steinkellner + Giveaway

 

Moth Hush is getting used to her heritage and magical power but, she is still struggling at school. Her best friend, Charlie, doesn't even understand how it feels to be constantly picked on. To make matters worse, her mother decided to date her dorkiest teacher in the school. Moth pockets a mysterious charm from her grandmother as it will unleash a more confident and popular version of herself.

The comic was a funny and interesting read. This was my first time being expose to the characters but, I was able to follow along without any issue. However, the author does give a brief summary in the beginning but, I would recommend reading the first book in the series. I am looking forward to reading Moth's next adventure.

 

 

 

About the Book

Title: THE OKAY WITCH AND THE HUNGRY SHADOW (The Okay Witch #2)

Author: Emma Steinkellner

Pub. Date: July 6, 2019

Publisher: Aladdin

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook

Pages: 256

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

In this hilarious and heartwarming sequel to the bestselling and critically acclaimed graphic novel, The Okay Witch, half-witch Moth Hush uses magic to boost her confidence with disastrous results—perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Molly Ostertag!

Moth Hush is starting to settle into her newfound witch heritage and powers, but life at school continues to be rough. Even her best friend, Charlie, doesn’t entirely understand what it’s like for her to always be the one who gets mocked, and things only get worse when Moth’s mom starts dating one of the dorkiest teachers in the school! Then Moth gets hold of a mysterious charm that can unleash another version of herself—one who is confident, cool, and extremely popular. What could possibly go wrong?

 PRAISE FOR THE OKAY WITCH:

“Lighthearted and cheeky.” – The New York Times

“Steinkellner’s debut graphic novel is a tour de force of middle grade storytelling.” – School Library Journal, starred review

“The Okay Witch is the perfect read for kids who love Hocus Pocus.” – A.V. Club

 GRAB THE OKAY WITCH NOW!

 

About Emma:

Emma Steinkellner is an illustrator, writer, and cartoonist living in Los Angeles, California. She is a graduate of Stanford University and the illustrator of the Eisner-nominated comic Quince. She is the author and illustrator of The Okay Witch graphic novel series.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads | Amazon

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of THE OKAY WITCH AND THE HUNGRY SHADOW, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/28/2021	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
6/28/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
6/29/2021	Kait Plus Books	Interview
6/29/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
6/30/2021	cindysloveofbooks	Review
6/30/2021	laura's bookish corner	Review
7/1/2021	Hurn Publications	Excerpt
7/1/2021	celiamcmahonreads	Review
7/2/2021	@drewsim12	Review
7/2/2021	The Momma Spot	Review

Week Two:

7/5/2021	brittreadsalattebooks	Review
7/5/2021	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt
7/6/2021	Fictitiouswonderland	Review
7/6/2021	Pandora's Books	Review
7/7/2021	hauntedbybooks	Review
7/7/2021	Curlygrannylovestoread	IG Spotlight
7/8/2021	Confessions of a YA Reader	Review
7/8/2021	Nerdophiles	Review
7/9/2021	Eli to the nth	Review
7/9/2021	Simply Daniel Radcliffe	Review

Book Review - The Anatomy of Desire by L.R. Dorn

 

Claire Griffith has it all. She rebranded herself as Cleo Ray and has a thriving influencer business, a successful boyfriend, and glamorous friends. Cleo knew she was meant for more than her super-strict religious parents preached to her. She arrives to Los Angeles and is completely broke. She climbs her way up to being a popular fitness coach and social media influencer. She is on her way to realizing her biggest dreams and getting everything she ever wanted.

Beck Alden and Cleo went on a canoe trip on a serene mountain lake one summer day. An hour later, Beck is found dead in the water Cleo is missing. The police suspect foul play and concentrate on locating Cleo because someone matching her description was found running away from the lake.  The news of Cleo's involvement goes viral and people are feverishly following the case.

I was a bit torn on this book. The format was interesting and I felt like it added a bit of "drama" to the story and that we were reading an actual court transcript. However, I found it annoying to keep track of who was talking at times. Sometimes, that broke the flow for me. I felt like sometimes, the story felt off-kilter because they had Chloe's perspective when they were describing the crime. I felt that there wasn't much of a plot but a constant rehash of the same bits of story.

 

Book Spotlight - Kyle's Little Sister by BonHyung Jeong + Giveaway

 

About the Book:

Title: KYLE'S LITTLE SISTER

Author: BonHyung Jeong

Pub. Date: June 22, 2021

Publisher: JY

Formats: Hardcover, Paperback, eBook

Pages: 240

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

My name is Grace, not "Kyle's little sister!"

Having a good-looking, friendly, outgoing older brother sucks—especially when you're the total opposite, someone who likes staying home and playing video games. Your parents like him better (even if they deny it!), and everyone calls you "Kyle's little sister" while looking disappointed that you're not more like him. I was really hoping I'd get to go to a different middle school, but no such luck. At least I have my friends...until he finds a way to ruin that, too...! Argh! What do I have to do to get out of his shadow?!

 

 

About BonHyung Jeong:

BonHyung Jeong (Bon) studied Cartooning at the School of Visual Arts in New York, and Kyle's Little Sister is her debut graphic novel, made possible with the help of numerous people. She hopes to make connections with others through relatable stories. Currently living in Korea, she's always busy playing console games - exactly like someone in the book!

Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of KYLE'S LITTLE SISTER, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

6/14/2021	Unconventional Quirky Bibliophile	Review
6/15/2021	cindysloveofbooks	Review
6/16/2021	A Dream Within A Dream	Excerpt
6/17/2021	@pagesofyellow	Review
6/18/2021	Rajiv's Reviews	Review
6/19/2021	Jazzy Book Reviews	Excerpt

Week Two:

6/20/2021	Hurn Publications	Guest Post
6/21/2021	Two Points of Interest	Review
6/22/2021	celiamcmahonreads	Review
6/23/2021	Fyrekatz Blog	Review
6/24/2021	@drewsim12	Review
6/25/2021	The Momma Spot	Review
6/26/2021	Lady Hawkeye	Excerpt

Week Three:

6/27/2021	Curlygrannylovestoread	Spotlight
6/28/2021	Nerdophiles	Review
6/29/2021	Simply Daniel Radcliffe	Review
6/30/2021	YA Books Central	Guest Post
7/1/2021	Sandra's Book Club	Excerpt
7/2/2021	amandainpa	Review
7/3/2021	Two Chicks on Books	Guest Post

Week Four:

7/4/2021	TLC Book Nook	Excerpt
7/5/2021	hauntedbybooks	Review
7/6/2021	@bookshelfmomma	Review
7/7/2021	@lexijava_bookish	Excerpt
7/8/2021	The Obsessed Reader	Guest Post
7/9/2021	Brittreadsalattebooks	Review

June 2021 Haul Part 2!

 

 

Oh boy, the heat is on! I just want to stay near an AC and not move. I would like to say that the heat has helped me curb my spending and I been using more things but, that would be a lie. Unfortunately, I haven't finished as many things as I did in the last few weeks....one day..

I got a few new lip products that I am excited to try. I got my first Bobbi Brown lipstick in Brocade. It's such a lovely color. I got another KVD lippie in K-Dub. I feel like I had this color already. I went into this new (to me) organic beauty store and got two new lip products - Tower 28 (I already own stuff from the brand but, a new shade - Chill) and Lip Whip in Peppermint Tinted. I go through lip balm like a crazy person so, I am excited to add a few new ones to my lineup. 

I have a few lip products from Dose of Colors so, I decided to try one of their eyeshadow singles - Nightsky. It's a gorgeous dark green shimmery color -- it would make the perfect smokey eye. I have tried a few of Dennis Gross's products and I am excited to the new Meltaway Cleanser. The name alone makes it sound creamy and it would remove even the toughest makeup looks.

Regardless of the season, I suffer from dry skin. I saw that Mudmasky had a winter leave on mask and I decided to try it. It's supposed to help with super dry skin and I get that year round. I hoping it shows results after one use. I have heard good things about the brand, Bloomeffects that I got their cult favorite product - the Royal Tulip Nectar. The name sounds awesome and it sounds super hydrating.

Is there anything you got new this month that you are excited to try?

Book Review - Never Have I Ever by Joshilyn Jackson

 

Amy Whey is happy with her easy going life and the simple things that come with it. She enjoys teaching people how to dive, helping her best friend, Charlotte, run a local book club, and even baking cookies for her neighbors. She adores her family. She has a husband who is a professor, a fifteen year stepdaughter, and an infant son. She lives near her most trusted and reliable friend, Charlotte. However, Amy's perfect life might unravel when a new neighbor, Angelica Roux, arrives on her doorstep.

Roux has a magnetic charm that cause all the neighbor women to surround her. She plies the woman with wine to lure them into a game of spilling secrets to each other. They all think its a game for fun but Amy knows that Roux is up to something.  Roux seems to know a secret that Amy has kept buried in her past.

Roux has a proposition for Amy. She wants Amy to pay her to keep her mouth shut, otherwise, Roux will make Amy pay for her sins. Amy is desperate to keep her secret safe and she is willing to do anything. She decides that the best thing she can do is to beat Roux at her own game.

This book was recommended by someone in my book club. I was excited to read it but, I quickly realized this may not be the book for me. The book starts off okay but, then quickly dissolved into a hot mess. I didn't really care for any of the characters as some of them felt over the top. I had hard time believing Roux and the plot even felt far-fetched. I felt like a few times Amy could have ended this whole cat and mouse thing sooner. The book did have a few surprise twists but, I am not even sure they were worth it.

Book Review - This House Is Haunted by John Boyne

Its a cold winter day in 1867 and Eliza Caine decides that she is ready for a new challenge. She reads an ad for a governess position at Gaudlin Hall and she decides its the change she needs. When she traveling to her new home, she is shaken by an accident that occurs during her trip. However, she tries to move on from the occurrence when she meets her new wards, Isabella and Eustace. 

Upon her arrival and meeting the children, she realizes that there is no adult present with the children or any sign of her mysterious employer. The children are hesitant to speak about their parents and she is met with an similar experience with the townspeople. Eliza tries to get some sleep and decides to tackle the issue tomorrow but, she feels a foreboding presence in her room. She knows that something is very wrong at Gaudlin Hall.

Eliza tries to discount her experience from the previous night. However, she keeps feeling that something is following her. Eliza realizes that if is she and the children are to survive the violent ghost, that she will need to uncover the history behind the evil presence. Will Eliza be able to uncover the truth before it's too late?

The book was an interesting tale but, was poorly executed. While reading the novel, it reminded me of older Gothic stories I have read and I was surprised that the book was published in 2013. I thought the novel moved a bit slowly for my taste.I felt like details were used to draw out the novel in place of actual story details. Eliza is portrayed as a smart woman but, I felt like she did some questionable things. Perhaps, I should be more understanding as she seems to be grieving and the job seems to be something out of her realm of experience. The ending and "secret" was predictable and I was able to figure it out quickly.

Book Review - The Bone Code (Temperance Brennan, #20) by Kathy Reichs

 

Tempe receives a call from the Charleston coroner about a medical waste container that was tossed ashore.  When the container was opened, they found two decomposed bodies wrapped up in plastic sheeting and bound with electrical wire. Tempe realizes that these details are identical to an unsolved case she handled in Quebec years earlier. She feels that the two cases are connected and she travels to Montreal to gather more evidence.

In South Carolina, the state is chaos because a human flesh-eating contagion is spreading. Tempe is so focused on the container victims that she doesn't register that the murders and the disease may be related. As Tempe continues to investigate the murders, she realizes someone is keeping a dark secret and will is do anything to protect their secret.

I was excited to read this book because my mom loves the TV show. However, this book was a complete and utter bore. I didn't care for the writing style and I felt like the book was dragging along. This is the first book for me in the series, so I am guessing I am missing nuances between the characters but, I don't really have an interest in reading the other books in the series.