What I've Been Reading: March 2018.

I'm finally back in my reading groove. I read 8 books in March, there were some I liked, one I loved and a few that left me underwhelmed.

Their Friend Scarlet

Victoria Kahler
Current Kindle price: 99p

"Mina and Elissa Bello have endured high school at snobby San Marino Academy with the help of their best friend, Scarlet Price. Now, Elissa and Scarlet are going off to college, leaving Mina to deal with her senior year alone.
Mina is sure it's going to be a long, lonely year, biding her time until she too graduates from high school. Soon, though, she finds herself sparring with the new kid, Diego, who seems to somehow know her every move and her every insecurity. He also seems obsessed with the identity of her secret crush, Adam Price, the town's star basketball player and Scarlet's brother.
Meanwhile, Elissa tries to adjust to college with Scarlet as her roommate. Their dorm room is a mess and so is Elissa's class schedule! And, she'd like some advice concerning her enigmatic coworker, Cy, but Scarlet is too bust launching into the university's social life.
The Bello sisters have always been close, but now they're miles apart. They wonder if they can keep hold of their bond to each other and the fragile connection to their friend Scarlet."

This was an easy read but it didn't blow me away or was it particularly exciting. It took me four days to finish this as it couldn't hold my attention for long. It's not bad but I wouldn't recommend it.

Back To You
Priscilla Glenn

Current Kindle price: £2.41

"When Lauren Monroe first laid eyes on Michael Delaney back in high school, she had every reason to stay away from him; within minutes of their first encounter, his volatile actions confirmed his notorious reputation. But Lauren saw something in him that caused her to question his bad-boy persona, and against her better judgement, she took a chance. She had no way of knowing that the unlikely friendship they formed would become so important to her.
Or that it would end so painfully.
Eight years later, when Lauren begins her new job at Learn and Grow Day Care, Michael is the last person she expects to see. Refusing to revisit the hurt and confusion of their past, Lauren vows to keep her distance from him. But staying away from Michael proves to be more difficult than she thought, despite her lingering grief and her instincts for self-preservation.
As Lauren and Michael recall the friendship that changed them forever and the events that tore them apart, will they finally be able to heal? Or will the ghosts of Michael's past prove to be too much to overcome?"

I really didn't enjoy this. The main characters aren't particularly likable and the story is predictable in places. Then there's all the different character point of views, past and present. It was just work to actually make it to the end.

Never Never, part 1.
Colleen Hoover & Tarryn Fisher
Current Kindle Price: Not available, the complete series is available for £2.22 though.

"Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen. Complete strangers since this morning. He'll do anything to remember. She'll do anything to forget."

I only bought the first part of this series and since then, the full series is available as one. If I'd bought that I probably would have carried on but this first part failed to grip me enough to pay for the final two parts. It's an interesting story but I had a look at reviews for parts 2 & 3, saw spoilers and decided it wasn't worth my time. This is second time I've read something by Colleen Hoover and thought it was just okay. Didn't hate it, didn't love it.

Thizz Series
Nicole Loufas

Current Kindle Price: £1.99 for Thizz, 99p for The Illusion of Ecstasy.

"The past year hasn't been kind to Dani, which is why she is reluctant to make any real connections in her last few months of high school. The only hitch in her plan is that she has fallen in love. But where is that love best directed? Is it with her friend Matt, her new boyfriend Nick or the Ecstasy (Thizz) she takes to make life bearable? When an enemy from her past reappears, Dani must shake off her dependencies, both emotional and chemical, and fight for her life."

I really enjoyed this series, though I preferred the second book. It took me 3 days to finish both books, which shows how quickly I sped through them. There are so many different characters in these but it was easy to keep up with who was who. This series was a great read, a definite recommend.

Summer Nights

J. M. Sevilla
Current Kindle price: £2.11

"Hannah Malone grew up in an extremely conservative, faith-based household. Everything she wore and did was dictated for her. Though she was the perfect obedient child, inside she wanted more, with a hunger for life that had yet to be satisfied.
Daniel Shepard drank too much, smoked, slept around, swore like it's a language all on its own, and fought whenever the feeling struck him.
Despite their vastly different lives, the two find each other and share a connection they both try to ignore. Until the day comes that they can't fight it anymore...
Summer Nights is a forbidden love story about a girl who has never been allowed what she wants, until she makes a bold move and takes it; but with every decision, there are repercussions. Is Hannah willing to make the sacrifice? Some answers aren't that simple; some answers have you choosing between the man you love and the family who will never allow the life you see with him."

I finished this in a couple of days and I really enjoyed Hannah and Daniel's story. I hadn't read anything by this author before so this was a good introduction. The ending was a touch anti-climatic and I found my self getting confused between all the different boys in Daniel's group of friends but apart from that, it was a really good read.

Stephanie: One. Life. Lived.
Melissa Service

Current Kindle Price: £1.99

"Music... Drugs... Redemption.
Josh Jacobs...
I've heard it said that life can change in a second, but I disagree. From my experience, life changes in milliseconds, and every single moment of the day is about change. Sometimes the change is for the better, and sometimes for the worse.
Stephanie Carlisle...
I scowled at the reflection and took a long drag from the joint that had made its way to the front seat, blowing smoke in the girl's face and wishing she would take her perky smile and perfectly lined teeth somewhere else. I also wondered if her parents knew where she was and what she, or rather, I, was about to do.

Stephanie Carlisle is a musically gifted, but troubled teen. After being delivered from a life of drugs and alcohol, she becomes an inspiration to a subculture that most of society would like to forget. When she befriends the equally talented, but troubled Josh Jacobs, she learns that not every story has a happy ending."

This book was not for me. It was way too religion heavy for the sake of it and if I'd known that, I wouldn't have bought it in the first place.

Silent Victim
Caroline Mitchell
Current Kindle price: £3.98

"Emma's darkest secrets are buried in the past. But the truth can't stay hidden for long.

Emma is a loving wife, a devoted mother... and an involuntary killer. For years she's been hiding the dead body of the teacher who seduced her as a teen.
It's a secret that might have stayed buried if only her life had been less perfect. A promotion for Emma's husband, Alex, means they can finally move to a bigger home with their young son. But with a buyer lined up for their old house, Emma can't leave without destroying every last trace of her final revenge...
Returning to the shallow grave in the garden, she finds it empty. The body is gone.
Panicked, Emma confesses to her husband. But this is only the beginning. Soon, Alex will discover things about her he'll wish he'd learned sooner. And other he'll long to forget."

No contest, favourite book of the month! This was great, kept me guessing throughout and had a satisfying ending that tied everything up nicely.

What were you reading in March?
Danni
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Glossybox VS Birchbox, March 2018.

After being less than impressed with February's Birchbox, I was looking forward to receiving March's box. The sneak peek for it was a new product that's only recently launched.

Birchbox costs £10 on a month to month basis, plus £2.95 postage but if you buy a three month, six month or yearly subscription, the overall price per box works out cheaper. I'm currently have 9 months left of a years subscription thanks to a new year Groupon deal.

But what was in the box?
Benefit BADgal Bang! Volumising Mascara (Travel Size)
Let's start with that sneak peek! Everyone subscriber received a travel size of the new Benefit mascara. I was really excited to try this as it hasn't been on the market long but there's such a big hype around it already. I'm on the fence with it though. It didn't live up to my expectations but it's not a horrible mascara either. I have long, straight lashes that can barely hold a curl and this looked nice when I first applied it, I don't mind a bit of clumpiness, but my lashes looked messy after a couple of hours wear.

Blaq Peel Off Mask
This was the product we got to choose this month. Either this or a set of eye masks. I choose the peel off mask, just because peeling it off and inspecting the mask afterwards is disgustingly satisfying. I haven't tried it yet but if it does a good job, the full size tube will be something I'll be investing in.

Glamglow Supermud Clearing Mask Treatment
Two charcoal masks in the same box? It's a little bit overkill, I would have preferred something else for a little variety but I'll still use this.

Amika Bombshell Blowout Spray
I prefer to not receive hair products in beauty boxes but this is just a small sample. If I don't like it I can just pass it on. It does have heat protection though which I'll always say yes to.

Rituals The Ritual of Sakura Foaming Shower Gel (Full travel size RRP £4.50)
This smells gorgeous! I'm really pleased with this addition to the box. I haven't tried any Rituals products before so this is a great introduction.

Glossybox costs £10 on a month to month basis, plus £3.25 postage. The overall size and value of the products inside tend to be greater than the products inside Birchbox, with Glossy box having three full size products that total around the £65 mark.

Mudmasky Sleep Repair Renewal Nourishing Mask
Another face mask, but this time it's an overnight mask. I really like the sound of this, it's one of products I'm most excited about. The card even says  it helps to enduce a more restful sleep after a long day. Yes please!

Oryza Beauty Warm Nude Lipstick (Full Size RRP £15.95)
I'm not a fan of this, I'm going to pass it on to my mum. It feels very drying and the colour washes me out. I saw someone's comment on Instagram that they thought it smelt like tarmac, and having sniffed it since, it doesn't have the most pleasant scent.

Figs & Rouge Soft Focus Pore Perfect HD+ (Full Size £35)
A full sized primer than costs £35? Good job, Glossybox. This is the star of the box for me, I love trying new primers and this seems to be a very new launch so it's amazing to find this in the March box!

Decleor Aromessence Neroli Hydrating Oil Serum
I've tried the night balm of this before and hated it, but I'll ignore my previous thoughts on that while trying this out. It's only a small sample so even if I end up not liking it, it isn't that much of a waste.

Makeup Drop Silicone Sponge (Full Size RRP £14.50)
I'm not a massive fan of silicone beauty tools, but the only ones i've tried have been cheap ones from Primark. This has a hefty pricetag in comparison so maybe I'll get on better with this. Beauty tools in beauty boxes will always be a yes for me!

So, for similarly priced boxes, Glossybox has the highest overall value with more full sized products. The variety was better in Glossybox than Birchbox. For the second month in a row, Glossybox is my winner!

But what about next month? I'm more excited about Birchbox's sneak peek.

I used to live in eyeliner but I barely reach for it anymore so Glossybox's sneak peek of the Eyeko Fat Liquid Eyeliner doesn't excite me but it will be a handy product to have in my collection as a just-in-case. Birchbox, on the other hand, excites me greatly! Being a pale girl, I'll be choosing the Frose shade of the Model Co Baked Highlighter. It looks stunning!

What do you think of this month's boxes? Which contents do you prefer?

Danni
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What I've Been Reading: February 2018.

I should not have set myself a reading challenge for 2018! I'm reading less books a month since the new year, so I'm calling it now, I'm not going to reach my 96 target by the end of 2018.

Far From The Tree
Robin Benway
Current Kindle price: £4.99

"When 16-year-old Grace gives up her baby for adoption, she decides that the time has come to find out more about her own biological mother. Although her biological mum proves elusive, her search leads her to two half-siblings she never knew existed.
Maya, 15, has been adopted by wealthy parents and seems to have the picture-perfect family- that is, if you look past her alcoholic mother and the fact that Maya stands out like a sore thumb.
Older brother Joaquin hasn't been so lucky. At 18, he's shuffled between foster home after foster home, always careful never to get attached to anyone or anything, because it always gets taken away.
When these three siblings come together, they find in themselves the place they can belong, while the secrets they guard threaten to explode."

I really enjoyed this, I hadn't read anything by Robin Benway before so this was a nice introduction. Grace was my favourite of the three siblings and I loved their journey together. The point of view switches between Grace, Maya and Joaquin, which works really well. A definite recommend.

Torn Away

Jennifer Brown
Current kindle price: 99p

"Jersey Cameron has always loved a good storm. Watching the clouds roll in and the wind pick up. Smelling the electricity in the air. Dancing barefoot in the rain. She lives in the midwest, after all, where the weather is sure to keep you guessing. Jersey knows what to do when the tornado sirens sound. But she never could have been prepared for this. 
When her town is devastated by a tornado, Jersey loses everything. As she struggles to overcome her grief, she's sent to live with relatives she hardly knows- family who might as well be strangers. In an unfamiliar place, can Jersey discover that even on the darkest of days, there are some things no tornado can destroy?"

This is the second novel by Jennifer Brown I've read, and the second one I've loved. And for 99p, this is a brilliant read! This and Hate List, the other novel I've read, have such powerful storylines, it's impossible not to get worked up into an emotional wreck! There were characters in this I hated with a passion, if there was an award for most dead beat dad, then I think this book has the winner. I definitely want to read some more books by Jennifer Brown.

When It's Real
Erin Watt

Current kindle price: £2.99

"Under ordinary circumstances, Oakley Ford and Vaughn Bennett would never even cross paths.
There's nothing ordinary about Oakley. This bad-boy popstar's got grammy awards, millions of fangirls and a reputation as a restless, too-charming troublemaker. But with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley needs to show the world he's settling down- and who better to help than Vaughn, a part-time waitress trying to help her family get by? The very definition of ordinary.
Posing as his girlfriend, Vaughn will overhaul Oakley's image from troublemaker to serious artist. In return for enough money to put her brothers through college, she can endure outlandish Hollywood parties and carefully orchestrated Twitter exchanges. She'll fool the paparazzi and the groupies. She might even start fooling herself a little.
Because when ordinary rules no longer apply, there's no telling what your heart will do."

This was a cute read, but it didn't blow me away. You know what you're getting with a book like this. The story was a little predictable but it was well written.

The Foster Child
Jenny Blackhurst
Current kindle price: £1.99

"When child psychologist Imogen Reid takes on the case of 11-year-old Ellie Atkinson, she refuses to listen to the warnings that the girl is dangerous. Ellie was the only survivor of a fire that killed her family. Imogen is convinced that she's just a sad and angry child struggling to cope with her loss. But Ellie's foster parents and teachers are starting to fear her. When she gets upset, bad things seem to happen. And as Imogen gets closer to Ellie, she may be putting herself in danger..."

This was one of my favourites this month. I couldn't figure out where this story was going and I'm really glad it kept me guessing. This is probably one of the most original thrillers I've read in a while, which is quite a feat considering how many pop up in my amazon recommendations.

The Last Mrs. Parrish
Liv Constantine
Current kindle price: 99p

"Amber Patterson is fed up. She's tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more- a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed Daphne Parrish takes for granted. To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne and her husband, Jackson- the beautiful philanthropist and real estate mogul- are a golden couple straight out of a fairytale, blessed with two lovely young daughters. Amber's envy could eat her alive- if she didn't have a plan. Amber uses Daphne's compassion and caring yo insinuate herself into the family's life, the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne's closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the family, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces."

If I had to only recommend one book I read this month, it would be this one. I can't say too much without giving anything away but oh, this was such a ride! It's split into three parts, the first from Amber's point of view, the second from Daphne's and the third is shared between the two. The ending was completely satisfying and tied everything up nicely. It wouldn't come as a surprise if someone picked up the rights to this soon, especially with Reese Witherspoon having this as one of the picks of her book club. I'd be first in line to see this on the big screen, someone please make it happen!

What have you been reading the past month? Have you read any of these before?
You can check out previous month's of What I've Been Reading by clicking here.

Danni
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Glossybox VS. Birchbox, February 2018.

Another month, another lot of beauty boxes. I was really impressed with my first ever Birchbox last month, so much that I preferred the contents over January's Glossybox. So how do February's offerings compare?

I love both box designs this month. Birchbox offered a choice of 3 designs. I went for the '80s design over the '70s and '90s, however the choice of box doesn't affect the choice of products inside. Glossybox have a special Galentines Day design rather than the usual pastel pink box. I'm going to be keeping both to use as extra makeup storage.

Birchbox products are supposed to be tailored to the beauty profile to fill in when joining, so I have a few niggles this month. I received a couple of hair products for the complete opposite of my hair type! What is the point of the profile if I'm going to get products I won't use? I did tweet Birchbox to voice my concerns and they've said this is something they'll look into I won't have the same outcome next month.

The Beauty Crop Eyeshadow Trio in Love You So Latte (Full Size RRP £7)This will definitely be a handy trio for travelling and the shadows themselves are pretty pigmented. This is a birchbox exclusive but I'm not exactly blown away by it (especially compared to the eyeshadow in Glossybox but we'll get to that later!)

Model Co Green Concealer (Full Size £14)This is a product that actually targets one of my skin concerns as I did mark on my profile that I suffer from redness. I'll give this a go but I have a green liquid concealer and I much prefer that over cream products.

Percy & Reed Quite Frankly Flawless Finishing PolishI'm going to be giving this product a miss. This was included in everyone's box so I knew I was getting this but it just isn't something I'll use.

Luseta Coconut Milk Hair MaskMy hair gets oily quite quickly and I go through dry shampoo like noone's business so I really don't want to be adding more moisture to my hair! Hard pass and the product that lead to me tweeting Birchbox.

Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm in Pixi Pink (Full Size RRP £8)I'll always use any lip balm that come my way, my lips need all the help they can get in this weather.

Pixi Lip Balm, Model Co Green Concealer & The Beauty Crop Eyeshadow Trio.

Glossybox's lineup is much more makeup heavy, which is my favourite kind of box! The card has changed slightly, so instead of showing exactly what's inside your box, you'll receive 5 selected products of the 8 mentioned on the card. I'm not sure how they work out who gets what but I'm very happy with what I got.

Ciate Paint Pot in Goal Digger (Mini Size RRP £6)
This shade is described as a metallic rose-gold topped with a silver shimmery finish. Yes, yes to everything about this shade! There are various shades in this month's Glossybox but I don't think I could of gotten a better shade than this. Very happy.

Studio10 Beauty Makeup Mist Glow-Plexion (Travel Size £14)
I have high hopes for this little thing, just based on the price alone. There's 15ml of product with an RRP of £14, yet Urban Decay's travel size of All Nighter Setting Spray is £9 for 30ml. It'll be interesting to see how the two compare. This can also be used as a primer spray, so a good multitasker for a travel makeup bag.

Steve Laurant Nude Pop Lip Tint (Full Size RRP £17)
I'm going to say this is a tinted lip balm, though the box it comes in says it's a lip gloss?! I'm much more excited about this than the lip balm in Birchbox. It's a subtle peachy colour and comes in a glass pot with a rose gold lid. As lip balms go, the packaging is very luxurious. This is the second Steve Laurant product over 3 months with Glossybox and I'm a big fan of what I've tried so far.

Icona Milano Emotion Allowed Waterproof Mascara (Full Size RRP £15)
I'm very picky with mascaras as my lashes are utter crap. Getting mascaras in beauty boxes means I don't have to spend money on them to find out it doesn't work for me at all. If I find one I like this way, I can always repurchase it and if I don't like it, I haven't spent a lot for nothing! I'm a big fan of waterproof mascaras as my lashes tend to hold a curl for longer so I'm looking forward to giving this a try.

Sleek Makeup i-Divine Eyeshadow Palette in Storm (Full Size RRP £8.99)
Those colours! This palette puts the little trio in Birchbox to shame. Sleek is one of my favourite brands but I've never tried any of their eyeshadows before. Now I'm kicking myself for not trying them sooner. These shadows are very pigmented without being chalky and the shimmers are absolutely stunning.

So which box is the best this month?
Well, it has to be Glossybox. Considering both boxes cost £10, Glossybox gives you more bang for your buck and I'm just overall more impressed with their lineup this month. If I was subscribed to Birchbox on a month to month basis, I'd be considering cancelling but I got a Groupon deal for a years subscription so I'm hoping they up their game for March.

There's no sneak peek for March on the Glossybox card but I'm intrigued by Birchbox's. Subscribers will be getting a choice between a Blaq Hydrogel Eye Mask or a Blaq Peel Off Mask. I'll be going for the mask!

What do you think to February's boxes? Are you subscribed to either of these?

Don't forget you can follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with new posts.

Danni

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Kat Von D Saint & Sinner Eyeshadow Palette.

I've been meaning to do a post about this palette since christmas, as this was one of my presents. I was going to buy this myself using Debenhams vouchers I'd had for my birthday but they'd already sold out by that time. Lucky for me, my boyfriend ordered it from America as he knew I wanted it!

In the lead up to christmas day, he actually kept dropping hints about how well he'd done this year and how much I would love it. When I asked if it was the Saint & Sinner palette, his poker face didn't slip at all! When he started filming on his phone when I was unwrapping it, my immediate thought was that it was some elaborate proposal! It obviously wasn't but theres always next year...

It's such a beautiful palette that I just wanted to keep it pristine a while longer before getting swatch happy for a blog post. I've seen online a few people have been depotting the shadows so they can arrange them in an order that makes more sense to them but I would never want to do that as the packaging is gorgeous.

I'm really impressed with the quality of the shadows. These are the first eyeshadows I've tried by Kat Von D and they're probably some of the most pigmented shadows I've ever used.

I definitely prefer the right side of the palette, I'm all about the bright colours recently.

L-R: Amen, Sacred Heart, Chalice, Immaculate, Worship, Absolution.

L-R: Baptism, Rosary, Cathedral, Crucifix, Heaven, Sanctuary.

L-R: Revelation, Devil, Martyr, Ashes, Sabbath, Rapture.

L-R: Stigmata, Relic, Exorcism, Exodus, Ministry, Vestment.

Those last 6 shades though! How stunning are those shimmer shades?
I love Kat Von D as a brand, I've been impressed with everything I've tried so far and I definitely need some more KVD in my life!

Have you tried any KVD eyeshadow palettes?

Don't forget you can follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with new posts.
Danni

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What I've Been Reading: January 2018.

This year is the first time ever that I'll be participating in Goodread's reading challenge. I've set myself a goal of reading 96 books over the course of 2018. Last year, I read about 6 books average per month so I'll have to make it 8 per month this year to reach my goal. Did I read 8 this month? No. I'm still on my usual 6 so not the best start to my challenge! I'm gunna start with the books I liked least and end with my favourites of the month.

"Nolan Lennox had things figured out. Named after a baseball legend, she enjoyed being the tomboy, her closet filled with her brother's hand-me-downs, cut-off jeans and socccer shorts. But when her first trip to high school results in a broken heart from the first boy to ever make her heart flutter and cruel words from an older girl she once thought a family friend, Nolan starts to question the very person she thought she was and wonders if her humble upbringing can compete with the afforded luxuries of her privileged peers. Throughout the next four years, Nolan struggles to maintain herself throughout her path of discovery, learning just how cruel teenagers can be through the pressures of underage drinking, sexuality and class. And despite how life seems to continue to work against her, she still manages to listen to her heart, falling  deeper and deeper for the guy the entire town adores, even if her only sees her as a friend. Can Nolan strike a compromise between her own integrity and the boy she loves? And can she make him notice her before it's too late? Reed Johnson came to Coolidge High School with a lot of fanfare. The son of a hometown football legend and the brother of a local football hero, Reed wore all the pressures of carrying a town without hope into the spotlight. Thankfully, he had the talent to back it up. But when he meets a girl who makes him think twice about exactly what being a hero means, he starts to wonder if following in his brother's footsteps might be all wrong. Nolan Lennox was everything that was the opposite of expected. She didn't flirt, she didn't drink and she didn't sleep around. Nothing about her was easy, but something about her made Reed want to try harder. Though she didn't look the part, she seemed to be spending a lot of time in Reed's thoughts, and he wondered if she could be the one who made it all worthwhile. But could Reed handle letting her down? And would breaking her heart break him beyond repair?"

I was not a fan of this at all. The writing itself wasn't bad but the story dragged on and on. I loved the first book in the Harper Boys series by Ginger Scott but the other books by the same author just don't cut it with me, this one included. It's set over four years, four years worth of young adult by numbers. All pretty predictable and the characters themselves aren't even that likable. Hard pass.

"Della's over the moon when she kisses her long-standing crush at a party- but the she discovers her diary has disappeared... When scans of embarrassing pages are sent to her mobile and appear on Facebook, Della's distraught- how can she enjoy her first proper romance when someone, somewhere, knows all her deepest, darkest secrets?"

This was a quick, easy read that in all honestly, I'm probably a little too old for. I really like Keris Stainton as an author, Counting Stars was one of my favourite books of last year so I'd recommend skipping Della Says OMG and going straight for Counting Stars!

"When Jena Leigh is in a near fatal car crash, she wakes to find her younger brother close to death. Jena soon realises that the crash was no accident but a deliberate attempt to kill her and her brother. But why would a complete stranger want Jena dead? Seeking answers from a mysterious young man named Cary, Jena finds herself on a terrifying journey in search of the truth while trying to avoid those who chase life."

I really liked this. The idea behind it is very original but that isn't surprising considering the author. Lynda O'rourke is also the author behind the Kassidy Bell series, which is a series I love! I definitely prefer that series over this one but I'll be continuing the Chasing Life series when the next book is released.

"For popular high school senior Samantha Kingston, February 12- "Cupid Day"- should be one big party, a day of valentines and roses and the privileges that come with being at the top of the social pyramid. And it is... until she dies in a terrible accident that night. However, she still wakes up the next morning. In fact, Sam lives the last day of her life seven times, until she realizes that by making even the slightest changes, she may hold more power than she ever imagined. "

I really thought this was going to be my favourite book of the month as I devoured this pretty quickly. Unfortunately there were 2 other books this month that I read after that also blew me away. I watched the movie on Netflix after finishing this and honestly, the film was good but the book is better! There are slight changes in the movies that I didn't like so if you do want to watch the film, read the book first. I'm shocked that this is a debut novel as it's amazing. A book you should definitely read!

"Bo Luxton has it all- a loving family, a beautiful home in the Lake District, and a clutch of bestselling books to her name. Enter Alice Dark, an aspiring writer who is drifting through life, with a series of dead-end jobs and a freeloading boyfriend. When they meet at a writers' retreat, the chemistry is instant, and a sinister relationship develops. Or does it? Breathlessly pacey, taut and terrifying, Exquisite is a startlingly original and unbalancing psychological thriller that will keep you guessing until the very last page."

Wow. I'd never heard of Sarah Stovell before but this popped up in my recommendations.  I'm really glad it did! It kept me guessing and the ending was satisfying to read. There's a reason the book description is so vague, with no idea where this book was going to go, I couldn't put it down. Also, how gorgeous is that cover?!

"Natasha's sure that her friends love her. But does that mean they didn't tryto killer her? Natasha is the most popular girl in school. So why was she pulled out of a freezing river after being dead for thirteen minutes? She doesn't remember how she ended up in the icy water that night, but she does know this- it wasn't an accident, and she wasn't suicidal. Now Natasha's two closest friends, who are usually her loyal sidekicks, are acting strangely. Natasha turns to Becca, the best friends she dumped years before, to help her figure out the mystery. At first Becca isn't sure that she even wants to help Natasha. But as she is drawn back into Natasha's orbit, Becca starts putting the pieces together. As an outsider, Becca believes she may be the only one who can uncover the truth... which is far more twisted than she ever imagined."

Hands down, the best book I read in January! In fact, Netflix have already bought the rights to this. The creator's behind CW's Gossip Girl are on board to write the adaption and produce it. I'm a little disappointed the film adaption will be made by an American company as the setting of the book is something I loved. Brit authors really are smashing it right now! It's a shame the BBC or ITV didn't pick up the rights to this but I'm still excited to see the Netflix movie whenever it does come out. As usual, I'm sure the book will still be better!
There are so many twists and turns in this, I was definitely put through the wringer. I thought the book was winding down, tying up the loose ends, reaching it's conclusion when I noticed the time left in book at the bottom of my Kindle told me I was only halfway through. What?! Just when I thought one thing, this massive curveball comes along and shatters everything I thought I knew. If you take anything away from this blog post, please let it be that you need to read this book! I promise you won't regret it.

What have you been reading over the past month? Have you read any of these?

If you wantt to see previous posts of What I've Been Reading, just click here.
Don't forget, you can also follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with new posts.

Danni

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Product Empties #7

I haven't done an empties post for 10 months, which means this is gunna be a long one so get comfy! I've already repurchased some of these and I still need to get replacements for others as a lot of these empties are favourites of mine.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in Coconut & Exotic Tropical
I mean, I don't think it's obvious what my favourite Batiste scent is... I go through dry shampoo like it's going out of fashion. I suffer from oily hair so I always have to have a can ready. I've tried different dry shampoos over the years but Batiste is my holy grail.

Soap & Glory The Rushover Scent-Sational Dry Shampoo
Speaking of trying other dry shampoos! When this launched, I knew I had to try it. This is the Signature Pink scent which I love but it didn't even come close to overtaking Batiste.

Pantene 2 in 1 Shampoo & Conditioner Classic Clean
I'm sure I've read somewhere that you should always use shampoo and conditioners seperately instead of of 2in1s but if I can laze out with my shower ritual, I will.

Alberto Balsam Coconut & Lychee Nourishing Shampoo
If it isn't obvious by now, I really love the smell of coconut. I definitely want to repurchase this just for the scent alone.

Lush Think Pink Bath Bomb
This was the old version of the Think Pink Bath Bomb. I'm gunna miss those confetti hearts. One of my favourites but I'm yet to try the new version.

Soap & Glory Clean On Me Shower Jelly
Another S&G product in my favourite scent of theirs. I really enjoyed using this but I do prefer the Clean on Me creamy shower gel over this.

Sanex Zero% Shower Gel
Over the past few months, my skin has been a lot drier than usual so I tried this out as it is designed especially for dry skin. It definitely made it feel better and I would pick it up again.

Lush Snow Fairy Shower Gel
Snow Fairy is my favourite Lush scent so I'm sad to see this used up. I do have the body conditioner to keep me sweetly scented for a while yet.

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes
I tend to only use wipes when travelling as their just easier to pack than a bottle of micellar water but if I am going to use them, Simple is my brand of choice.

Simple Smoothing Facial Scrub
My favourite face scrub, I desperately need to pick up another! 

Garnier Micellar Cleansing Water
I'm already halfway through the even bigger bottle of this. I really like this but I'm a big fan of L'oreal's too. 

Nivea Pearl & Beauty Anti-Perspirant
Nivea Sensitive & Pure Anti-Perspirant
I don't have a deodourant I stick to, I tend to just buy whatever is on offer at the time!

Makeup Revolution Pro Prime Aqua Priming Base

I'm a big fan of this spray primer just because it's so quick and easy to use. I won't be rushing out to buy as I've got so many other primers to work my way through.

Makeup Academy Undress Your Skin Illumination Foundation
This foundation has been discontinued so that should give you a vague idea about how long I've had this! I had this in the lightest shade and it looked quite orange on me but I used it when I stayed at my boyfriend's just because the packaging was ideal for fitting in a makeup bag.

Rimmel Wake Me Up Anti-Fatigue Foundation

I wasn't overly impressed with this foundation. It was okay but I don't think it lives up to the anti-fatigue claims. Won't be buying again.
PS Pro Longwear Mineralized FoundationI love this foundation. I'm already making my way through a new bottle, but I'm going to use it sparingly as Primark have now discontinued this and I am GUTTED.

Nyx HD Finishing Powder
I'm definitely more into loose powders than pressed powders these days and this Nyx one is really good.

Rimmel Match Perfection 2 in 1 Skintone Adapting Concealer & HighlighterThis is my go to everyday concealer  but I wouldn't say I love it. I should probably explain? I've had allergic reactions to concealers in the past, the skin under my eyes goes dry & itchy and the day after it'll be hella puffy and swollen. Not the best look. Rimmel is a brand I trust as I've used their concealers religiously with no reactions. The coverage on this isn't great but the shade is spot on. But now, this has been discontinued?! I need to get my hands on the Last Finish Breathable Concealer as I haven't tried that yet. It seems like the best replacement for me as I hate the Wake Me Up Concealer.

Eyeko Black Magic Mascara 
I'm really fussy with mascaras so if I try one and don't like it, I just get rid of it. So any Mascaras featured in these posts are gunna be ones that worked for my lashes. This was just a sample size but I'd buy the full size of this.

No 7 Exceptional Definition Mascara
I really like the wand of this mascara. It gave my lashes length and volume without being too much for an everyday mascara.

Benefit Goof Proof Brow PencilI really like this but I don't think I'd repurchase as I'm enoying using powders and pomades at the moment.

Benefit Gimme Brow
The same goes for this!

Taylor Swift Wonderstruck Eau De Parfum"Top notes: Raspberry, Dewberry, Green Tea, Freesia, Apple Blossom

Heart notes: Vanilla, Honeysuckle, White Hibiscus
Base notes: Golden Amber, Musk, Sandalwood, Peach." 
This isn't actually empty but the spray tube thing (you know the part I mean, what is it actually called?!) doesn't reach the bottom of the bottle. I'm not impressed. This isn't one of my favourite scents so it could be worse!

Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Eau De Toilette
"Top notes: Grapefruit, Raspberry, Pear
Heart notes: Jasmine, Rose, Violet, Litchi 
Base notes: Musk, Cedar, Plum."

This was my go to everyday scent for ages. It's quite a different scent for me as I don't gravitate to fresh scents often. I much prefer sweeter scents usually. That being said, I probably won't repurchase this as it isn't one of my faves.

Guerlain Insolence Eau De Parfum
"Top notes: Red berries
Heart notes: Violet, Iris
Base notes: Sandalwood, Tonka Bean."

This is my all time favourite perfume and the one which is my signature scent as I wear it the most. I just love it! If you've never smelt it before, give it a sniff next time you're at a perfume counter. Already halfway through another bottle.

Anna Sui Forbidden Affair Eau De Toilette

"Top notes: Lemon, Blackcurrant, Redcurrant
Heart notes: Raspberry, Rose, Pomegranate
Base notes: Violet, Musk, Cedar."

Another one of my faves, you can get this at quite a discounted price! It's a fragrance not many people have heard which is a shame as it smells gorgeous. I'm definitely going to look online to see where I can get the biggest bottle for the best price.

One Direction Between Us Eau De Parfum
"Top notes: Mandarin Essence, Italian Nutmeg, Apricot
Heart notes: Freesia, Gardenia, Solar Jasmine
Base notes: Indonesian Patchouli, Madagascan Vanilla, Golden Amber Accord."

This is the perfume I get complimented on most, everyone always comments how nice it is and are usually pretty shock when I tell them it's a One Direction perfume! It's much more of a grown up scent than their previous perfumes. Another one to give a sniff if you haven't smell it before!

One Direction Our Moment Eau De Parfum
"Top notes: Pink Grapefruit, Forest Fruits, Redcurrant
Heart notes: Freesia, Jasmine, Frangipani 
Base notes: Woodsy Notes, Patchouli, Musk."

The other One Direction scent I love, though not as much as Between Us. I'm not a big fan of the other two scents; That Moment and You &I, but these two are always repurchases.

Have you used any of these products before?

Don't forget you can follow me on Bloglovin to stay up to date with new posts.
Danni
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