Review: Kate Somerville EradiKate Acne Mark Fading Gel

Leave a comment

What It Is: An acne fading gel.

What It Does: Fades any acne scars or dark spots caused by acne or other skin conditions.

Active Ingredients: Salicyclic Acid and Niacinamide.

Best For: Oily, combination, or acne-prone skins.

Verdict: I recently had a mini breakout caused by a cluster of tiny acne spots all in one area, once the blemishes were gone, I was plagued by dark spots. This has been the norm I’ve noticed when it comes to dealing with acne as an adult. I never saw this happening to my skin when I had zits as a teen. Anyway, I tried this gel and I was very impressed! Within the first two days of using it, the dark spots completely vanished! And this is a big deal as usually the dark spots last about a week or two post zit for me, so this was a complete game changer. Now, I don’t know if you should continue using this as an every day skincare routine or if you can use this only post acne. I say this because the price point on this is kinda hefty, but it does work so I can’t complain too much.

Price: $68

Where To Buy It: Sephora and https://www.katesomerville.com/

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Spotlight: The Summer Swap by Sarah Morgan

Leave a comment

A recent widow’s plan to spend the summer in Cape Cod hiding from her interfering family is upended when she discovers her beach house has an unexpected guest, and the secret she’s been keeping about her marriage threatens to be exposed. Perfect beach reading for fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid and Emily Henry.

70 year old widow Cecilia Lapthorne can’t bear the prospect of a family party to celebrate her birthday and the memory of her husband, famous artist Cameron Lapthorne. They had a toxic marriage but stayed together for the children, and bound by a big secret. She runs away to the Cape Cod seashore cottage she owned with Cameron–it’s where they first fell in love–but she hasn’t returned since she discovered him cheating on her there (for the first time). No one in her family knows about it, so she will be perfectly, delightfully alone for the summer.

Except struggling artist Lily has been secretly crashing on the sofa of the seashore cottage for the last couple of weeks. Unable to make rent after dropping out of medical school to pursue her dreams of becoming an artist and working as a housekeeper in Cecilia’s Cape Cod enclave, she’s been illicitly camping at the cottage. Which isn’t a problem as it’s been unoccupied for years…until Cecilia unexpectedly shows up.

After the drama of discovering she has an unexpected house-guest has faded, Cecilia decides she’ll get along just fine with Lily for the summer. They form a tentative and powerful bond, based on shared love of art, but also the vulnerabilities they both share with each other. And when Todd, Cecilia’s beloved grandson (and the man who broke Lily’s heart in college) tracks her to the cottage, the three of them settle in for a summer of self-discovery, self-belief and second chances.

PURCHASE BOOK HERE

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Review: Joanna Vargas Magic Serum

Leave a comment

What It Is: A hydrating serum.

What It Does: Soothes and strengthens skin.

Active Ingredients: Centella Asiatica, Panthenol, and Shea Butter

Verdict: I wasn’t a big fan of the consistency of this serum. I was expecting more of a gel-like cream, instead it was more on the creamy side. It felt more like a moisturizing cream rather than a serum, and despite the price point on this, I don’t know if I noticed much a difference in my skin from using this. It’s not a bad product, but I don’t think the benefits are enough for the price point. Not to mention that the serum didn’t quickly absorb in the skin, so layering this with another cream afterwards can get kind of messy.

Price: $85

Where To Buy It: https://joannavargas.com/

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Book Review: The Reformatory by Tananarive Due

Leave a comment

For the first time, she understood the liberation of having nothing left to lose.

PLOT SUMMARY

Gracetown, Florida

June 1950

Twelve-year-old Robbie Stephens, Jr., is sentenced to six months at the Gracetown School for Boys, a reformatory, for kicking the son of the largest landowner in town in defense of his older sister, Gloria. So begins Robbie’s journey further into the terrors of the Jim Crow South and the very real horror of the school they call The Reformatory.

Robbie has a talent for seeing ghosts, or haints. But what was once a comfort to him after the loss of his mother has become a window to the truth of what happens at the reformatory. Boys forced to work to remediate their so-called crimes have gone missing, but the haints Robbie sees hint at worse things. Through his friends Redbone and Blue, Robbie is learning not just the rules but how to survive. Meanwhile, Gloria is rallying every family member and connection in Florida to find a way to get Robbie out before it’s too late.

GRADE: A+

REVIEW

This book has been receiving a lot of hype and positive reviews and whenever that is the case for a book, I try to take it in stride – however, this novel is worthy of all the hype and then some! I was so thoroughly captivated by Robbie’s dilemma and trying to find out if his sister Gloria could truly help him get out of the Reformatory that I read it in two days (and this isn’t a short novel!). Despite learning about Jim Crow in my history classes, this book made the reality of that time period very real and honestly, this should be read in literature classes at school so that students get a better idea of what Jim Crow South truly entailed and meant.

Now, the horror aspect of this book was fascinating (who doesn’t like a good ghost story?). I found it very fascinating and although I guessed the plot twist before it actually happened it didn’t lessen my enjoyment of this book. This book is brutal, and will get you in the feels in a way not many books will be able to. It’s a haunting story of survival and coming of age, weaved into a historical setting that aims to shed some light on what actually occurred in these schools for young boys and how many didn’t live to ever make it back out.

This was my first read from Tananarive Due and I can certainly assure you that it won’t be my last – I actually look forward to checking out all of her previously published books.

If you’re going to read only one book this year, make sure it’s this one, it’s an incredible, haunting read that you won’t forget very easily after reading it. The hype is real and I truly hope this book wins all the awards it’s been nominated for.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Saga Press for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Poetry: The Swan by Mary Oliver

Leave a comment
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Across the wide waters
   something comes
      floating–a slim
         and delicate

ship, filled
   with white flowers–
      and it moves
         on its miraculous muscles

as though time didn’t exist
   as though bringing such gifts
      to the dry shore
         was a happiness

almost beyond bearing.
   And now it turns its dark eyes,
      it rearranges
         the clouds of its wings,

it trails
   an elaborate webbed foot,
      the color of charcoal.
         Soon it will be here.

Oh, what shall I do
   when that poppy-colored beak
      rests in my hand?
         Said Mrs. Blake of the poet:

I miss my husband’s company–
   he is so often
      in paradise.
         Of course! the path to heaven

doesn’t lie down in flat miles.
   It’s in the imagination
      with which you perceive
         this world,

and the gestures
   with which you honor it.
      Oh, what will I do, what will I say, when those white wings
         touch the shore?

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Book Review: What Feasts At Night by T. Kingfisher

Leave a comment

Tomorrow, in my experience, is only worth worrying about when there’s something you can do about it.

PLOT SUMMARY:

After their terrifying ordeal at the Usher manor, Alex Easton feels as if they just survived another war. All they crave is rest, routine, and sunshine, but instead, as a favor to Angus and Miss Potter, they find themself heading to their family hunting lodge, deep in the cold, damp forests of their home country, Gallacia.

In theory, one can find relaxation in even the coldest and dampest of Gallacian autumns, but when Easton arrives, they find the caretaker dead, the lodge in disarray, and the grounds troubled by a strange, uncanny silence. The villagers whisper that a breath-stealing monster from folklore has taken up residence in Easton’s home. Easton knows better than to put too much stock in local superstitions, but they can tell that something is not quite right in their home. . . or in their dreams.

GRADE: B+

REVIEW:

This is a sequel to What Moves The Dead and we follow soldier Alex Easton back to his home where he finds that something strange is going on. People are being plagued by a succubus of sorts, that kills men after several nights. Eugenia Potts is back, coming to visit Easton, and if you really loved these characters in the first book you’re going to continue loving them in the sequel too. There are very light hearted and hilarious moments in this novella, as well as some very dark and creepy moments. I don’t want to give much of the plot away as the novella is short – but rest assured that this is an excellent and fun read, and personally I can’t wait to embark on another adventure with Easton and Potts!

This can be read as a stand alone – although there are some references to book one, it’s not vital to have read it to enjoy this book. I recommend this book to those that like horror with a side of hilarity. But if you enjoyed book one, then you will like this one too, although the mystery isn’t as intricate as in the previous book.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Tor Nightfire for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Book Review: Clever Creatures of the Night by Samantha Mabry

Leave a comment

Where is Drea?

PLOT SUMMARY:

Something bad happened here.

When Case arrives at a run-down, ivy-covered house tucked deep in the West Texas woods, an ashy haze lingers in the air and the sky is tissue-paper pink. Her best friend Drea has been living here with a few classmates Case has never met, and Drea asked her to visit in a letter dated two weeks ago.

But now Drea is nowhere to be found.

Drea’s roommates can’t—or won’t—answer questions, leaving Case to search alone. She finds bits of Drea’s journal hidden in the tiles of the bathroom wall, in a beat-up cooler by the muddy river, wedged into the frame of her closet door. As Case pieces together Drea’s life in this strange house, the roommates’ behavior puts her increasingly on edge—and she’s not the only one. The animals nearby are lashing out, attacking each other, threatening the humans.

Something bad happened in this house. Something that must be connected to Drea’s disappearance. And if she gets too close to the truth, Case just might be next.

GRADE: C

REVIEW:

I was truly anticipating reading this book because I absolutely adored Tigers, Not Daughters so much. Unfortunately, my reading experience with Clever Creatures of the Night wasn’t that good. It did start off promising – Case goes to visit her friend Drea only to find out that she’s not there. Did she go missing? Are her roommates responsible for her absence? The issue is that the book takes place during the course of one day. There’s only so much Case can do to find her friend in a place where they’re located in the middle of nowhere and there’s no cell signal. Initially, the mystery of what happened to her friend had me really invested. The problem is that this book has so much promise and truly could’ve been something amazing, instead we get a really underwhelming reason as to why Drea’s not around. The writing is beautiful, but for a book that was very short (around two hundred pages) it felt impossibly long.

The supporting characters needed to be more interesting to keep this book going for how long it did. Instead, they were rather dull and one-dimensional. This was such a letdown after reading Tigers, Not Daughters.

This book is good for readers who like slow-burn mysteries and literary thrillers. I wouldn’t even call this horror.

*Thank you so much to NetGalley and Algonquin Young Readers for the digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Review: Earth Harbor Azure Regenerative Neck Cream

Leave a comment

What It Is: Hydrating neck cream

What It Does: Helps with fine lines, firmness, hyperpigmentation, dryness, and dull skin

Active Ingredients: Seaweed Amino Acids and Copper Peptides

Verdict: I’m a fan of plant based skincare, and more so when it comes to skincare that uses seaweed. I love how this cream feels hydrating but also isn’t sticky. It quickly absorbs into the skin leaving the neck feeling soft and smooth. I’ve always been kinda obsessed with taking care of my neck and eye area as those are the two places where skin is the thinnest and the first place that shows any signs of aging. This female owned company is really excellent at targeting this skin concern. The price point is doable, and since you’re only using this cream for the neck area, it will last for a long time. I recommend this if you’re looking for a neck cream, although Earth Harbor has a lot of other amazing skincare you might want to check out!

Price: $48

Where To Buy It: https://earthharbor.com/

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Poetry: Exiled by Edna St. Vincent Millay

2 Comments
Photo by Ricky Esquivel on Pexels.com

Searching my heart for its true sorrow,
This is the thing I find to be:
That I am weary of words and people,
Sick of the city, wanting the sea;

Wanting the sticky, salty sweetness
Of the strong wind and shattered spray;
Wanting the loud sound and the soft sound
Of the big surf that breaks all day.

Always before about my dooryard,
Marking the reach of the winter sea,
Rooted in sand and dragging drift-wood,
Straggled the purple wild sweet-pea;

Always I climbed the wave at morning,
Shook the sand from my shoes at night,
That now am caught beneath great buildings,
Stricken with noise, confused with light.

If I could hear the green piles groaning
Under the windy wooden piers,
See once again the bobbing barrels,
And the black sticks that fence the weirs,

If I could see the weedy mussels
Crusting the wrecked and rotting hulls,
Hear once again the hungry crying
Overhead, of the wheeling gulls,

Feel once again the shanty straining
Under the turning of the tide,
Fear once again the rising freshet,
Dread the bell in the fog outside,– 

I should be happy,–that was happy
All day long on the coast of Maine!
I have a need to hold and handle
Shells and anchors and ships again!

I should be happy, that am happy
Never at all since I came here.
I am too long away from water.
I have a need of water near.

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!

Review: Goldfaden Md. Plant Profusion Supreme Serum

Leave a comment

What It Is: A hydrating serum

What It Does: Makes skin smoother, glowier, and evens out skin tone.

Active Ingredients: Raspberry Stem Cells, Comfrey Stem Cells, Swiss Cress Sprouts, and Japonica Flower Extract

Verdict: If you’re into vegan skincare then I would absolutely recommend this serum (but it’s also great for those that just want an effective serum). What I love about this serum is that it feels incredible and leaves your skin feeling amazing. It absorbs into the skin right away, allowing moisturized to be layered without feeling like you have too much on. I did notice that my skin looks more glowy since using this serum. I think the only con of this serum is the price point. $235 is kind of on the pricier side (although you do only use a few drops so it’s possible that it’ll last for awhile).

Price: $235

Where To Buy It: https://goldfadenmd.com/

DID YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU JUST READ? IF YES, THEN SUBSCRIBE TO THE BLOG, GIVE THE POST A LIKE, OR LEAVE A COMMENT! NEW POSTS ARE UP EVERY TUESDAY & THURSDAY!