March 2022 Empties!

 

 

 Wow, March is almost half over. The year has flown by so quickly! I did manage to finish a few things this month and I am excited to take advantage of new sales!

I finished a few masks that I enjoyed using. I used this sticky Natto mask from VT that was kind of sticky but, super moisturizing. I have used Simply When masks before and I got the illuminate mask. It made my skin feel so soft and glowy. 

I got the April Aromatherapy Mint Eucalyptus Bath Soak from the dollar store and it was pretty decent for the price. The smell did last for a bit and it left my skin hydrated after my bath.  I heard good things about the Summer Fridays CC Me Serum but, I felt that it was mediocre. I didn't really notice a difference using it. I wouldn't buy it again.

Here is everything I finished -

Averelle Acne Cover Patch

Skip the Spa Deep Cleansing Detoxifying Pore Strips Watermelon

Detoskin Lilly Floris Mask

111Skin Rose Gold Illuminating Eye Mask

VT Natto Probiotics Mask

Dermal Charcoal Collagen Essence Mask

Simply When Snow Song Illuminate

Ettang Paper Mulberry

Soap & Glory The Righteous Butter

April Aromatherapy Mint Eucalyptus Bath Soak

Summer Fridays CC Me Serum

Osea Atomshere Protection Cream

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Bath & Shower Gel

GoTo Fancy Face Nourishing Oil Cleanser

Davines Oi All in One Milk

Tula Skincare Protect + Plump

Book Review - The Cave Dwellers by Christina McDowell

 

The Green Book was a diary created by the niece of Edith Roosevelt’s social secretary. It only includes the families that are worthy. These families and their aristocratic bloodlines helped build the fabric of Washington - generation after generation. Their power and privileged is on prominent display in the streets of Georgetown, Kalorama, and Capitol Hill. They only socialize with people of their own rank and social circle and ignore the political merry-go-round unless it serves them.

I thought this novel was going to be a thriller and not a political commentary about the elite. I felt like the murders were introduced as a shock value but, we didn't really learn anything about them. Instead we were treated to a boring and pointless story of how the elite use and abuse their power and treat the people around them. Perhaps, if I had known that the novel would be mostly focused on selfish and spoiled people I wouldn't have wasted my time.

Book Review - The Spark of Love (Mesquite Springs, #3) by Amanda Cabot

 

Heiress Alexandra Tarkington flees New York for Mesquite Springs in Texas Hill Country after a spurned suitor threatens her. She flees to Mesquite Springs where her father is building a hotel. Alexandra was hoping for a happy reunion with her father but, instead her father wants her to return to New York. Alexandra is determined to spend time with her father so, she becomes an art teacher at a local school. In her spare time, she spends time with Gabe Seymour, who she met in a stagecoach.

Two men with their own agenda set off to Mesquite Springs to follow Alexandra. Gabe is an investigator that was hired to prove that her father is a swindler. After a series of accidents threaten Alexandra's life, she will need to team with Gabe to find out the truth.

After reading the book summary, I thought this was going to be an interesting read. However, I found the book to be very boring. I also didn't like that the author introduced way too many characters in the first few pages. It was hard keeping track of who and what role they played in the plot. I lost interest half way through the book because there was nothing story wise that kept me interested in reading more.

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

Book Review - The Lost Village by Camilla Sten

  

Alice Lindstedt is a documentary filmmaker who has been obsessed with finding out the truth behind "The Lost Village". In 1959, all the residents of the old mining town disappeared including, her grandmother's entire family. No one has been able to determine what happened to the residents and so many questions have been left unanswered.

There were only two survivors from the tragedy - a woman who was stoned to death and an abandoned newborn. Alice gathered a small group of friends to visit the remote village and to make a film on what really happened.

When they arrived to camp, they noticed strange things happening. Equipment is destroyed, people go missing, and they keep hearing noises in abandoned buildings. One thing becomes increasingly clear to the team is that they are not alone.

The book was a suspenseful and entertaining read. I felt like I was among the characters waiting for something to happen because it took awhile before anything happen. The book provided a nice scary dark atmosphere but, didn't really deliver on thrills. I am torn on the ending because I am not sure it's plausible. Overall, I did enjoy the book and I would read more books by the author.

Book Review - I Hope This Finds You Well: Poems by Kate Baer

 

Kate Baer receives over thousands of messages on her posts. Like many other writers, especially women, as her online presence grew, so did the negative messages in her inbox. This book is a collection of some the messages Kate has received. Using their negative (and sometimes, praises) Kate creates erasure poems in response to the messages she received. 

I was never really a big fan of poems because I could never really "get them". However, I found this book of poems to be enjoyable and entertaining. A few poems were thought provoking and stayed with me long after I finished reading them. A few were entertaining and garnered a few giggles. Overall,
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and I have a new found respect for poems.

Book Review - The Prince and the Prodigal by Jill Eileen Smith

  

Joseph is the favorite son of his father, Jacob. His older brothers are jealous and resentful over Joseph's status as their father's favorite. So, when the opportunity arises to get rid of him, the brothers take the chance and sell him to slave traders. They told Jacob that Joseph was killed by wild animals. The brothers believe that their troubles are finally over but, for Joseph and his brother, Judah, they are just beginning.

Joseph becomes imprisoned when he is accused of raping his master's wife. Judah tries to escape the guilt of selling his brother into slavery. Decades has passed, when the brothers finally reunite again. Joseph  is in a position of power while Judah begs for mercy. Will the brothers be able to choose forgiveness?

I have read a few books by the author and I liked this book better than the others. I felt like the story flowed more smoothly even though at times, the book felt like it was moving very slowly. There was a lot of sex and scenes of rape that I didn't care for but, I understand that they were needed for certain parts of the story. I like that the story was told from alternating story lines. I like reading about how the brothers were dealing with the past betrayal. While, I know that Joseph is the main character and he  didn't want the preferred treatment of his father, I felt that when he got older he lost some of his humility. Overall, the book will be well received by readers who are  fan of the author's.

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

March 2022 Haul!

 

 

 

Wow, I can't believe March is already here. I feel like it has flew by so quickly! February was over in a blink. Well, on to the goodies!

I got a few bath salts from Bathorium that look exciting. I love taking baths and these look like they would be so soul soothing and hydrating to use. They were a bit more expensive than I would normally buy for a single use sachet though. My friend is obsessed with SunAroma soaps and I usually love trying new soaps so, I decided to pick up an eucalyptus and a lavender soap to try. The soaps smells so fragrant before I even open the packaging. 

I got a new lip butter mask from Seraphine Botanical that I am excited to try. I usually try to use a lip mask before bed otherwise I wake up with dry and cracked lips. Speaking of dry skin, I am excited to try the Josie Maran body cream. I have tried her other products and other than the nail wipes, I found them to be of quality. I also subscribe to Ipsy and recently they introduced their own line of products. One of the items I got from their "refreshment" line is their lavender deodorant. The packaging is cute and it smells nice. I am hoping it works well too!

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

Book Review - Loveless by Alice Oseman + Giveaway

 

Georgia is struggling to understand why she is different from her friends. She doesn't crush on anyone and nor does she have any interest in kissing and making out like her friends do. She feels trapped in the current narrative that dating and sex means that you are in love. 

When she enters college she discovers the A range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum and she starts to understand more about herself. She decides to disrupt the narrative and choose her own path instead of the one decided at birth. As Georgia learns to discover herself, she makes mistakes along the way but, it opens her up to new people and experiences.

I thought this would be a funny and interesting book to read. I did find Georgia to be relatable but, maybe because I been out of college for a few years but, I found the story a bit boring. I found that it just moved slowly along. While I didn't particularly care for the story, I did like that it was different from other romantic novels and had a different point of views. I feel that young readers/adults on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum or have an interest in it, will enjoy this book more than I did.

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

 

About The Book:

Title: LOVELESS

Author: Alice Oseman

Pub. Date: March 1, 2022

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook, audiobook

Pages: 432

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

For fans of Love, Simon and I Wish You All the Best, a funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of a girl who realizes that love can be found in many ways that don't involve sex or romance.

From the marvelous author of Heartstopper comes an exceptional YA novel about discovering that it's okay if you don't have sexual or romantic feelings for anyone . . . since there are plenty of other ways to find love and connection.

This is the funny, honest, messy, completely relatable story of Georgia, who doesn't understand why she can't crush and kiss and make out like her friends do. She's surrounded by the narrative that dating + sex = love. It's not until she gets to college that she discovers the A range of the LGBTQIA+ spectrum -- coming to understand herself as asexual/aromantic. Disrupting the narrative that she's been told since birth isn't easy -- there are many mistakes along the way to inviting people into a newly found articulation of an always-known part of your identity. But Georgia's determined to get her life right, with the help of (and despite the major drama of) her friends. 

 

About Alice Oseman:

Alice Oseman was born in 1994 in Kent, England. She graduated from Durham University and is the author of YA contemporaries Solitaire, Radio Silence, and I Was Born for This. Visit Alice online at aliceoseman.com or on Twitter @AliceOseman.

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

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of LOVELESS, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/28/2022	Nonbinary Knight Reads	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
2/28/2022	BookHounds YA	Excerpt
2/28/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
3/1/2022	@badlandsbooks_	Review
3/1/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
3/1/2022	@booksaremagictoo	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
3/1/2022	Kait Plus Books	Excerpt
3/2/2022	Dana's Book Garden	Review
3/2/2022	Reading Wordsmith	Review/IG Post
3/2/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	Review
3/3/2022	popthebutterfly	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
3/3/2022	Emelie's Books	Review
3/3/2022	patrickfromperks	TikTok Review or Spotlight
3/4/2022	@emmreadsbooks	Review/IG Post
3/4/2022	onemused	Review/IG Post
3/4/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post

Week Two:

3/7/2022	Midnightbooklover	Review
3/7/2022	Eli to the nth	Review
3/7/2022	The Bookwyrm's Den	Review
3/8/2022	YABooksCentral	Excerpt
3/8/2022	Utopia State of Mind	Review/IG Post
3/8/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
3/9/2022	Not In Jersey	Review/IG Post
3/9/2022	More Books Please blog	Review/IG Post
3/9/2022	@drewsim12	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
3/10/2022	Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers	Review/IG Post
3/10/2022	Celia's Reads-blog	Review/IG Post
3/10/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
3/11/2022	Zainey Laney in all 3	Review/IG Post/TikTok Post
3/11/2022	My Fictional Oasis	Review

Book Review - Call Me Elizabeth Lark by Melissa Colasanti

 

Twenty years ago near the Oregon coast, Myra Barkley's daughter has disappeared from the rocky beach near the family inn. For the past twenty years Myra has stayed at the front desk of the inn waiting for her child to come home. One rainy day, Myra's wish comes true. Someone who looks like her daughter, Charlotte,  walks through the door and with a child of her own.

Elizabeth Lark is on the run with her son, Theo, from an abusive husband. She return to her hometown against her better judgment to hide from him. She decides to stop at the Barkley Inn to figure out the next steps. Myra insists that Elizabeth is her long lost child and offers Elizabeth a safety net she desperately needs for her son. Elizabeth knows that she isn't Myra's daughter and she finds herself intertwines with the family.

Elizabeth's return sparks a renewed interest in her disappearance. The new spreads of her return but, someone knows that Charlotte  didn't disappear on her own. Someone is desperate to keep what happened twenty years ago a secret.

I thought this book was an okay read. I had a hard time liking some of the characters and couldn't understand them. For example, Myra was upset that  Charlotte disappeared and kept hoping she would return. I felt like she was devoted to this daughter but, all her other kids it was like she didn't really "care" for.  There was two separate times when her daughters needed her but, she chose her husband but, then she seems to be fighting with him all the time. I found some of the dialogue to be unrealistic and choppy at times. The book was slow in the beginning and the middle and then towards the end everything just happened so fast that it felt unrealistic. The twist at the end was a bit predictable and expected.

Book Review - Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by April Genevieve Tucholke

 The book is a collection of young adult authors who write thrilling and terrifying thrillers. Each of the author draw inspiration from different sources to create a new and unsettling story. I found most of the short stories to be an interesting to read. Three stories I didn't care for and stopped reading before I finished. However, I did enjoy reading most of the stories and trying to find out what the inspiration was for each short story. I would recommend this book for anyone who likes scary short stories.

 

Book Review - Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid

 

Daisy is a young girl coming of age while living in L.A. in the late sixties. She is sneaking into clubs, doing drugs, and sleeping with rock stars. She finds the sex and drugs to be thrilling but, she really wants to sing. When Daisy turns twenty, she gets noticed for her voice along with her untamed beauty that makes people do crazy things.

Around the same time Daisy is getting her big break, a band led by Billy Dunne called The Six, has also started becoming popular. While on their first tour, Billy's girlfriend, Camila, finds out she is pregnant and Billy is unable to deal with the pressures of fatherhood and fame. Billy finds himself struggling and goes off on the deep end.

When Daisy and Billy crosses paths everyone can see that there is charged energy between the two of them. Their producer realizes that together they will achieve success that will help them climb the charts and become rock legends.

I heard many good things about  this novel and I am familiar with the author. I thought the book was an okay read. While the narration told as a documentary style was interesting, it got boring after awhile. I felt like there was barely any story and sometimes, there was too many people to keep track of. I had a hard time relating or caring for any of the characters. I did like the twist at the end but, I am not sure I would read another book if it was done this way again.

Book Spotlight - Midnight Horizon: Star Wars: The High Republic by Daniel José Older, Todd Haberkorn + Giveaway

About The Book:

Title: STAR WARS THE HIGH REPUBLIC: MIDNIGHT HORIZON

Author: Daniel José Older

Pub. Date: February 1, 2022

Publisher: Disney Lucasfilm Press

Formats: Hardcover, eBook

Pages: 496

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

Centuries before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, in the era of the glorious High Republic, the Jedi are the guardians of peace and justice in the galaxy!

After a series of staggering losses, the Republic seems to finally have the villainous Nihil marauders on the run, and it looks like there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Until word comes of a suspected Nihil attack on the industrial cosmopolitan world of Corellia, right in the Galactic Core.

Sent to investigate are Jedi Masters Cohmac Vitus and Kantam Sy, along with Padawans Reath Silas and Ram Jomaram, all fighting their own private battles after months of unrelenting danger. On Corellia, Reath and Ram encounter a brazen young security specialist named Crash, whose friend was one of the victims of the Nihil attack, and they team up with her to infiltrate Corellia’s elite while the Masters pursue more diplomatic avenues. But going undercover with Crash is more dangerous than anyone expected, even as Ram pulls in his friend Zeen to help with an elaborate ruse involving a galactic pop star.

But what they uncover on Corellia turns out to be just one part of a greater plan, one that could lead the Jedi to their most stunning defeat yet….

The New York Times best-selling series continues.... For light and life!

 

About Daniel José Older:

Daniel José Older, a lead story architect for Star Wars: The High Republic, is the New York Times best-selling author of the upcoming Young Adult fantasy novel Ballad & Dagger (book 1 of the Outlaw Saints series), the sci-fi adventure Flood City, the monthly comic series The High Republic Adventures. His other books include the historical fantasy series Dactyl Hill Squad, The Book of Lost Saints, the Bone Street Rumba urban fantasy series, Star Wars: Last Shot, and the Young Adult series the Shadowshaper Cypher, including Shadowshaper, which was named one of the best fantasy books of all time by TIME magazine and one of Esquire’s 80 Books Every Person Should Read. He won the International Latino Book Award and has been nominated for the Kirkus Prize, The World Fantasy Award, the Andre Norton Award, the Locus, and the Mythopoeic Award. He co-wrote the upcoming graphic novel Death’s Day. You can find more info and read about his decade long career as an NYC paramedic at http://danieljoseolder.net/

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

 

Giveaway Details:

3 winners will receive a finished copy of STAR WARS THE HIGH REPUBLIC: MIDNIGHT HORIZON, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Schedule:

Week One:

2/1/2022	Mythical Books	Excerpt/IG Post
2/2/2022	Daily Waffle	Excerpt
2/3/2022	Living in a Bookworld	Excerpt
2/4/2022	Sadie's Spotlight	Excerpt/IG Post
2/5/2022	Writer of Wrongs	Excerpt

Week Two:

2/6/2022	YABooksCentral	Excerpt
2/7/2022	#BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog	Excerpt
2/8/2022	Rajiv's Reviews	Review/IG Post
2/9/2022	Lifestyle of Me	Review
2/10/2022	@lexijava	Review/IG Post
2/11/2022	Wishful Endings	Review/IG Post
2/12/2022	Kait Plus Books	Review/IG Post

Week Three:

2/13/2022	Nerdophiles	Review
2/14/2022	Eli to the nth	Review/IG Post
2/15/2022	The Desert Bibliophile	Review/IG Post
2/16/2022	Dr Roha Tahir	Review/IG Post
2/17/2022	A Bookish Dream	Review/IG Post
2/18/2022	@coffeesipsandreads	Review/IG Post
2/19/2022	BookHounds YA	Review

Week Four:

2/20/2022	Karen Dee's Book Reviews	IG Spotlight
2/21/2022	Two Chicks on Books	Excerpt
2/22/2022	@jypsylynn	Review/IG Post
2/23/2022	@thebookishfoxwitch	Review/IG Post
2/24/2022	The Momma Spot	Review/IG Post
2/25/2022	Eye-Rolling Demigod's Book Blog	Review/IG Post
2/26/2022	@drewsim12	Review/IG Post

Week Five:

2/27/2022	Two Points of Interest	Review
2/28/2022	onemused	IG Spotlight