October is Harry Potter Month!

Hey Everyone!

I wanted to let you know that on my blog ShootingStarsMag, October will be Harry Potter month. If you are not already following me on Twitter, please do, as I'll keep tweeting out links to the various posts and giveaways throughout the month.

I'm sharing here because there are a couple posts that I plan to write about on this blog concerning HP in honor of HP month. I wanted to make sure that you knew MORE will be posted on my other blog though, including all of the giveaways. There will be at LEAST 10 giveaways throughout the month and some are open to Canada and a couple are International, so keep an eye out!

If you would like to write something concerning HP, let me know! I'd be happy to find a spot on my other blog, or if you write it on your own blog, let me know and I'll share it!

Finally, feel free to use the graphic above to spread the word. Just link it back to my ShootingStars blog so people know where to look!

-Lauren

Liebster Blog Award: Get to Know Me!

I was nominated for the Liebster Blog Award by Verushka from pop.edit.lit - you can read her nomination post here.

First, I'll answer the questions that Verushka asked of the people she nominated.

1. What are you reading right now and why did you pick it up?

I'm reading Overexposed by Megan Erickson as an e-book. I picked it up because I loved the first two books in the series and Erickson writes m/m romance SO WELL.

2. What is your fondest library or bookstore memory?

I don't know if I have just one! I remember visiting a local children's bookstore when I was younger and loving it. I used to volunteer with the teens before I began working in libraries, and that was fun because I got to help with all the events!

3. What is your favorite genre to read, but what trope in that genre would you be glad never to read again?

I used to read mostly contemporary, but I do love other things these days. Regardless, I'd still say my favorite is contemporary. One trope that needs to be done a LOT less is the whole "best guy friend is oh-so-secretly in love with the main character." Guys and girls can be friends, and that's it. Make it happen more!

4. What genre just doesn't do it for you?

I like to be open to things, but I'm not interested in anything Western. I don't know if I've read anything under that genre, but it never sounds at all intriguing to me.

5. Is book blogging everything you thought it would be?

Well, I didn't start out as a book blogger, so I can't really say. I think it's a fun community and I find most of the books I want to read these days by looking at other blogger's reviews.

6. Which book or movie character do you wish had a blog you could read?

I love this question! I'd take almost anyone, but I think The Joker could be really cool and I'd love to see what Luna Lovegood from the HP books would write about.

7. Do you always read the book before the movie?

No, but if it's a book I've been wanting to read, then I try and read it beforehand because I'd rather know what's going to happen instead of having it be ruined by the movie.

8. Which movie made you way more excited than the book version?

I don't know if there was one. Normally I love the book and that's why I see the movie. There are a plenty of movies I've seen that are books but I just never read them.

9. What country in the world would you like to find a quiet spot in and read a book?

I was just in London, but I didn't get a chance to just sit in one of their many parks and read. I would have loved that!

10. What is the last book that made you laugh out loud?

Oh gosh, I don't know! Sigh...I'm not at remembering these things unless it was like the last book I read, and it was not. haha

11. If you had one question to ask me, what would it be?

hmm...Would you ever think about co-blogging with someone?

Nominations and Questions:

I nominate the following blogs (if they wish to take part):

Chiara from Books for a Delicate Eternity

Lisa from Lisa Loves Literature

Jaclyn from JC's Book Haven

Lola from Lola's Book Reviews

Karen from KissinBlueKaren

And now here are my 11 questions for these blogs to answer (or anyone - I'd love to get to know you better):

1. How do you feel about book series?

2. Do you remember the first book you ever read on your own?

3. Do you read classic books for fun?

4. How do you feel about translated novels?

5. Do you have any auto-buy authors?

6. Do you buy books as presents? And if you do, are they usually books you've read or not?

7. Do you read graphic novels?

8. What author(s) would you love to meet, dead or alive?

9. What book would you like to see made into a TV show or film?

10. If you could read more books set in a certain country or state, which one would it be and why?

11. Do you want to write a novel? Or are you happy to just read them?

Rules

• Acknowledge the blog that nominated you, link it to your post and display the award.
• Answer 11 questions that the blog gives you.
• Nominate 5-11 blogs you think deserve the Liebster Award.
• Give them 11 questions to answer.
• Write the rules in your Liebster Award blog post.
• Let the blogs know about your post and that you have nominated them.

Author Interview with Heather Rose Jones

I'd like to welcome author Heather Rose Jones to the blog for a quick interview! You can find her blog, the Lesbian Historic Motif archives, and information about all of her publications on her website here. You can also follow her on Twitter!

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1. You have two books in a series out from Bella Books. Who would you recommend read these stories? What are your plans for the rest of the series?

The Alpennia series is for readers who enjoy complex historic fantasy...or fluffy regency romance. People who like a whole cast of strong female protagonists...or people who like their characters to engage in theological debates while fleeing a charge of treason. The books aren’t entirely classifiable. My most avid fans tend to be readers who enjoy classic fantasy adventures but who are hungry for female characters--especially when those female characters might be hungry for each other. But I’ve been pleasantly surprised at what a wide audience I’ve found. Bella Books tends to focus on the lesbian readership, but I’d estimate that half of my readers fall outside that demographic. A friend of mine taught Daughter of Mystery as part of her high school English curriculum and I had burly jocks tell me how much they loved the story.

Currently the main Alpennia series is planned to be about seven books or, as I often joke, “however long it takes to get to the revolution.” I also have planned a more or less stand-alone book set three centuries earlier than the main series, and there are a number of short stories I have planned to fill in some of the nooks and crannies. The third book in the series, Mother of Souls, has been turned in to the publisher and will be released in November 2016. I’m aiming for one book a year, which is tricky given that I have a demanding day-job that I love.

2. How did you come to write LGBT+ fiction?

They always say, “write what you want to read.” I’ve been writing off and on since high school, mostly fantasy (besides all my non-fiction writing), and more and more I started gravitating toward the types of stories I just wasn’t getting in other people’s books. The final straw was when I read a fantasy novel by a well-known author that felt like it was setting things up so finally the two brave, daring heroines would end up in each others’ arms...and then the plot dodged in the other direction at the last minute. And I said to myself, “If you want that story, you’re going to have to write it yourself!”

I’m not sure that I’d characterize what I write as “LGBT+” fiction, though. I focus very strongly on female characters whose primary romantic interests are with women, although a number of them are bi. And I have minor characters who are gay men, and there’s a trans man who’s a significant secondary character. But I can pretty much guarantee that all my protagonists are going to be female. So I wouldn’t want to lay claim to writing the whole spectrum. It bothers me when people use LGBT+ as an advertising buzzword but their actual focus is much narrower.

3. What are some other LGBT+ books or authors you would recommend?

I’m going to stick to fantasy authors, since that’s my primary pleasure-read genre. Some of the authors who have been feeding my soul lately include Beth Bernobich, Catherine Lundoff, Elizabeth Bear (especially the delightful Karen Memory), T. Kingfisher’s The Raven and the Reindeer, which is utterly delightful. Aliette de Bodard’s House of Shattered Wings and its’ associated short fiction includes some same-sex relationships that are enjoyable for simply being background.

4. Along with your writing, you also run the Lesbian Historic Motif Project. Could you explain this more? 

I’m an enthusiastic amateur academic. I only missed being a professional one by the timing of marketplace forces. (Instead I work in biotech.) It’s probably a good thing that I didn’t end up a university professor because my interests are all over the map, but most of them have something to do with history. When I first started thinking about writing historical fiction with lesbian characters, I plunged into trying to find all the historic research I could on the general topic. And what I discovered is that there’s a wealth of information out there, but most people don’t know it exists. And because they don’t know it exists, either they think there were no lesbians before the 20th century, or they write historic stories with modern lesbians stuck into the middle of some other century. I’m something of a cataloger by nature, so I conceived of the idea of putting together a sourcebook for people who wanted to write lesbian historical fiction. I first had that idea back in the ‘80s, but fortunately, I waited until the internet got a bit more ubiquitous before seriously setting to work, because it’s a project much more suited to a blog than a published book.

So what I’m doing is hunting down all that research, reading it, and posting summaries that give the highlights for those who want to dig deeper. A sort of annotated bibliography, if you will. The hardest thing about research is knowing that the information exists to be found. My goal is to do that part of the legwork. And in the process I’ve found inspiration for more historic novels than I could write in a lifetime! So far, I’ve blogged 125 separate publications, including both articles and books, but my database of publications to cover includes nearly 400 entries at this point, and I add to it faster than I can blog them. Because of my own interests, I tend to focus on Europe and the Mediterranean region, and to make my life simpler, I don’t cover the 20th century.

I honestly don’t know if any other writers have found the project useful. Most people writing lesbian historical fiction don’t look back any further than the Victorian era. But I have to have some excuse for buying all those books!

October LGBT+ Releases

I can't believe that September is almost over. I'm ready, though, as I'm excited for October. It's my favorite month of the year, plus it includes Halloween which is my favorite holiday! I thought I'd share a few LGBT+ books that are coming out in October so you can prepare to purchase these when they come out!

Any other LGBT+ titles I should know about?

Look Past by Eric Devine

Book Out: October 4th

Goodreads link: Someone brutally murdered Mary Mathison, daughter of a prominent and very conservative local pastor. Whoever it was is now taunting Avery, a transgender boy, with disturbing messages, claiming that Mary’s murder was revenge for her relationship with Avery. The killer’s demands are simple and horrific: Avery must repent for changing his gender identity, or he will be the next one killed.

Can Avery deny who he is to catch Mary’s killer? Or will sacrificing himself be the ultimate betrayal?

Turn the World Upside Down by Nyrae Dawn

Book Out: October 20th

Goodreads link: Hunter Donovan’s temper never used to be a problem. He lived the perfect life with the perfect family before the dark truth came spilling out. Now his dad’s in prison, and after Hunter explodes at school, accidentally hitting a teacher, his mom has him committed. 

Hunter doesn’t belong at Better Days. He needs to be stronger, not sent to a well-dressed loony bin. If he’d been better, less selfish, he would have realized something was going on under his own roof. No amount of psychoanalyzing and group therapy can change the past.

But among the bullies, fights, and bad cafeteria food, Hunter meets a group of friends: anxiety-ridden Casey, wild and exciting Rosie, recovering bulimic Bethany, and Stray, a self-harmer who doesn’t think he belongs anywhere. Around this group of misfits, Hunter doesn’t feel so alone and angry anymore.

Still, as he’s making friends and falling in love with Stray, the guilt is always there. If Hunter can’t open up and find a way to deal with what happened, he might fall victim to his mental illness—and he won’t be the only casualty.

All Hallows' Eve by Annabelle Jacobs

Book Out: October 7th

Goodreads link: Dominic Ashworth is descended from a long line of witches, although the family practice of witchcraft died out generations ago. Forever connected to a dark history, the house he grew up in remained in the Ashworth family for generations until his estranged father sold it. 

On a mission to check out the new owners, Dominic runs into Caleb Jones and gives the gorgeous man his phone number—but getting a date should be the last thing on Dominic’s agenda.

Caleb and his best friend, Zach Briceworth, are oblivious to the heartache and magic tied to the foundations of their new home. When strange things start to happen, the truth emerges and surprises them both, especially as everything revolves around Caleb’s new love interest.

After a shaky start, Caleb and Dominic settle into an easy relationship, falling faster than either of them expected. But with Halloween approaching, the possibility of danger increases. The past is not always as it seems, and the ripples of a tragic event threaten to put an end to everything between them.

Say It Right by A.M. Arthur

Say It Right by A.M. Arthur

Review by Lauren

source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: After his parents kicked him out for being gay, Marc Villegas lived on the streets before getting a second chance. Now he's giving back by working at a shelter for LGBT teenagers—because helping fight their demons keeps his own at bay. Including his infatuation with the former best friend he's sure is straight.

Anthony Romano hasn't seen Marc since Marc left home eight years ago. In his confidant's absence, Anthony turned to heroin. Now at rock bottom, he has an offer from Marc to help him get clean. Detox is hard and ugly, but not as hard as admitting the truth: he's in love with Marc. Always has been.

Marc swore he'd never date an addict, but he never dreamed the one in question would be the man he's always wanted to be with. As the two explore their feelings for each other, Marc faces a difficult choice. Say yes, and it could cost him his sobriety; say no, and it could cost him his heart.

Review: Say It Right is the second book in the All Saints series, but they are companion novels focusing on a different couple in each one. I do recommend reading Come What May first though, so you get all of the background information needed to fully understand Say It Right. 

I liked Come What May, despite it not being my most favorite. However, I was excited to read Say It Right and I'm so happy that I did because it was even better, in my opinion, than the first book. Say It Right focuses on Marc, who helps run an LGBT Homeless Shelter for Teens, and his childhood friend, Anthony. Marc was kicked out of his home when he was a teenager because he told his parents he was gay. Since that moment, he has not seen or heard from Anthony. When the two are reunited as adults, things have definitely changed in some ways. Marc is still attracted to Anthony, but Anthony has been on drugs off and on for years, not able to stay clean for long.

I don't want to go into too much detail about Marc and Anthony's pasts and experiences, because that makes up a large part of the book. I won't say it's important for these things to be a secret, as suspected a lot of what was to come, but it's still nice to read it instead of me just telling you. Anyway, I really loved both Marc and Anthony. The two of them had been through some rough things in the past, but they were friends who wanted to reconnect...and maybe even become more than friends.

I appreciated the realistic nature of this book. Anthony wants to be clean, but it's not easy. They want to be together, but Marc doesn't know if he can trust Anthony. There is a lot more to deal with than in a normal, everyday relationship and I think that Arthur handled all of this well. When the two made strides forward, it felt real, especially because there were steps backwards too. 

As for more All Saints books, I'd love to have them! I'm not sure if there will be a third or not, but it would be most welcome from me. I also wouldn't say no to more Marc and Anthony!

The Talented Mr. Rivers by HelenKay Dimon

The Talented Mr. Rivers by HelenKay Dimon

Review by Lauren

source: copy from Netgalley; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: As the son of an international crime lord, Will Rivers only inherited one thing after his father died: trouble. The Pentasus organization deals in kidnapping and murder, and Will wants no part of the power grab that’s tearing leadership apart. But the only way he’ll be able to escape is with some help from his former bodyguard, Hunter Cain, whose sculpted body and brooding looks keep Will awake at night. Somehow, Hunter has resisted the tension between them . . . until, suddenly, he gives in.

As a German intelligence officer working deep undercover, Hunter has a very good reason to keep Will in the dark about his identity and his intentions. Although the sex is hot, Hunter’s true feelings are a growing liability. Now the only way to save Will from his old life is to push him deeper into danger. But when two strong men are each determined to protect the other, the heat isn’t just combustible—it’s a firestorm.

Review:

The Talented Mr. Rivers is the second book after Mr. and Mr. Smith, which I loved. I was very excited to be accepted to review Mr. Rivers after highly enjoying the story and relationship in Smith. While this book focuses on a new couple, you still get to see the two men behind Smith, which is always fun in companion novels. As for Mr. Rivers, this book is about Hunter and Will Rivers, who both appear in Smith, though Hunter far more. This book, though, takes place soon after the end of Smith so you definitely should read both to really get to know all the key players and how that leads to the story line in Mr. Rivers. Hunter is part of a German organization who has infiltrated the Rivers family, believing them to be involved in really evil and bloody work. While pretending to a bodyguard, he eventually meets the youngest Rivers sibling, Will, and finds himself immediately attracted. Neither Will nor Hunter act on their feelings until Mr. Rivers and it's definitely steamy. There is plenty of sex scenes and sensual moments between the two men, but there is also much more to the story, which I appreciate. Two people are after Will, and neither care too much if they have to kill him in the end. Hunter is trying to bring down the operation the Rivers family runs, but he's also still immensely attracted to and starting to care for Will, so he wants to keep him safe. The two men have many secrets between them, though Hunter has the most, as he knows more about Will from his job than Will knows about him. For example, Hunter is not his real name. That's a small thing compared to everything else, but it's something the two have to work through, especially in the middle of a serious operation. Again, I don't want to go on too much about the specific details. Just know that this is a sexy, fast-paced, and action-filled novel! Highly recommended!

Back from London + Goodreads Giveaways

Hello everyone! I'm back from London. I was able to visit some of you a couple times last week. I hope to get back into my regular schedule soon. London was a lot of fun though and I'm sure I'll have many posts about the various things that I did and saw, though it might be on my other blog. We'll see!

Anyway, I wanted to link you up to all of the posts from last week in case you missed them. I'd love for you to check them out, whether you comment or not!

How to Rock a Two-Bride Wedding (Featuring Evian Facial Spray)- post

Connection Error by Annabeth Albert - post

Top Ten Tuesday with Author Annabeth Albert - post

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova - post

Second, I want to share some LGBT+ books that are up for giveaway on Goodreads. Best of luck to you all!

1. Of Fire and Stars by Audrey Coulthurst - Ends Oct 5 (U.S. Only)

2. Jess, Chunk, and the Road Trip to Infinity by Kristin Elizabeth Clark - Ends Sep 16 (U.S. Only)

3. Beast by Brie Spangler - Ends Sept 16 (U.S. Only)

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova

Review by Lauren

source: copy from BEA '16; all opinions are my own

Official Summary:

Nothing says Happy Birthday like summoning the spirits of your dead relatives.

Alex is a bruja, the most powerful witch in a generation...and she hates magic. At her Deathday celebration, Alex performs a spell to rid herself of her power. But it backfires. Her whole family vanishes into thin air, leaving her alone with Nova, a brujo boy she can't trust. A boy whose intentions are as dark as the strange marks on his skin.

The only way to get her family back is to travel with Nova to Los Lagos, a land in-between, as dark as Limbo and as strange as Wonderland...

Review:

I loved Labyrinth Lost, which is a bit surprising as I don't normally seek out fantasy novels. Regardless, this one was fantastic and I highly recommend it. I'm actually glad this one is a sequel because I need more. However, I will say now that Labyrinth Lost is a full novel, so despite a few questions at the end that make you want to read the next book, this is a satisfying read all on its own. Now, as for the actual story, I liked the world that Cordova created called Los Lagos, where the main character, Alex has to travel to save her family. She is a bruja, which is a witch of sorts, except the power is something that travels through her family. Everyone in her family loves their magic, but Alex has always tried to run away from hers, hiding something awful about it. Her trip to Los Lagos is actually because she tries to banish her power and something backfires, putting her whole family in danger. Los Lagos is a full imagined world, and I loved the various locations and details that Cordova used to help readers visualize. One of the things that I really loved about the series are the varying characters. Everyone is so interesting and diverse. I LOVED the diversity, whether it was age, ethnicity/race, sexuality. It was all there and done so well! Alex is the main character and she is definitely a layered character that one can easily relate too. She fears and hates her power, but she fiercely loves her family and would do anything for them. Then there is Nova, who Alex doesn't know that well, but he agrees to help her through Los Lagos. Finally, we have Alex's best and only friend, Rishi, who has a much larger part in the book than I first realized. It's easy to see that Alex has a crush on Rishi, though it's not named right away. I loved that it just was though. Nobody, not even Alex, made it into a big deal. Again, this was great and I eagerly wait for the sequel!

Top Ten Tuesday With Author Annabeth Albert

Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Broke and the Bookish

I'm back with another Top Ten Tuesday: Author Edition! Yesterday I reviewed the third book in the #gaymers series, Connection Error, so today I'm happy to introduce you all to author Annabeth Albert. I highly recommend you check her and her books out!

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Top Ten Book Series That should be TV Shows

Thanks so much for having me today! I love TV, especially fall TV as the new shows premiere, but I also love books. I love shows with long-ranging story arcs like Call the Midwife, House of Cards, Gilmore Girls, and more, and I think there are a number of good book series that could lend themselves well to TV.

 Amy Jo Cousins’ Bend or Break series. We need more really well done college TV shows, and what Cousins does particularly well is representing characters across the rainbow spectrum—bi, straight, queer, gay, and more.

Tessa Dare’s Spindle Cove Series. Why should Austen have all the fun for period drama? I’d sacrifice a corset and stage a tea party for a show about the lovely spinsters of Spindle Cove or other Dare series. Her empowered heroines would be perfect for today’s viewers.

 Kris Ripper’s Queers of La Vista series. Like Cousins’ series, this series has a variety of pairings, and a lovely, soap opera feel and California setting that would make a great updated Melrose Place of sorts—but with happy endings for everyone, of course.

ZA Maxfield’s Cowboy series. Can we please have a series about gay cowboys where no one dies? Surely I’m not the only one who would be all over a contemporary western drama with rugged cowboys who love cowboys.

Cara McKenna’s Desert Dog series. With the popularity of motorcycle clubs and anti-heroes, this series would appeal to a wide segment of viewers, and her hunky heroes and spunky heroines provide enough sexual tension for several seasons of drama.

Molly O’Keefe’s Seduced & Tempted. I’m greedy. I don’t just want a contemporary western series. I want a historical western series too, and this series from Molly O’Keefe is just amazing with lyrical prose, unforgettable characters, and great ensemble casts.

AM Arthur’s Belonging series. I love how all her Carina Press series interrelate and I can totally see a great show centered around the coffee shop and friendship group at the heart of this universe.

Keira Andrew’s Forbidden Rumspringa series. I would totally glom a TV show where an Amish teenager struggles with coming out, and this series is just dynamite with the supporting cast as well. I could totally see this as an ensemble drama.

 KJ Charles’s Society of Gentleman series. Why should women get all the historical fun? This series centered around a group of wealthy friends sharing a certain common interest is ridiculously well-done, and would make a superb period drama.

Jenn Burke and Kelly Jensen’s Chaos Station series. This series would make a great space opera for all the Stargate and similar fans.

Thank you so much for letting me visit today! What book series would YOU like to see made into a show? 

Connection Error by Annabeth Albert

Connection Error by Annabeth Albert

Review by Lauren

source: copy for review; all opinions are my own

Official Summary: It's typical of video game programmer Josiah Simmons to be the last one on the plane on the way to the biggest meeting of his career. Though he's (mostly) coping with his ADHD, he can't handle another distraction. But he also can't ignore his rugged seatmate—especially once he learns the military man's a fan of his game.

Ryan Orson refuses to let his severe injuries pause his career as a navy SEAL. He's got hours of grueling physical therapy ahead of him, and no time for anything that might get in the way of his return to active duty. But that doesn't mean he's above a little first-class flirtation with geeky-cute Josiah.

When a delay strands the pair in St. Louis, they agree to share a hotel room and a night of gaming. Neither expects their new connection to move to the next level in the light of day. Opposites may attract, but is this game over before it's even begun?

Review: Another fantastic read by Annabeth Albert. This is the third book in the #gaymers series. You don't necessarily have to read them in order, but I would so you know more about the gaming company that crosses all three books, as well as the other couples who were previously featured and show up in Connection Error.

The first two #gaymers books were more about traveling in a car or RV with someone, but this one was a bit less traveling. The future couple, Josiah and Ryan, meet on a plane and then spend one night together when they have to make a delay in another city. From there, it's a mix of long-distance "getting to know you" with some meetings in between. It worked well though! I like that it had a nice mix of long distance and in person, so it wasn't completely falling in love through a video screen. Though I do understand how people get close on the computer. For a guy like Ryan, talking about himself is often easier to do when he's writing it out and not having to say it face to face, though he learns to be more emotionally open as the book goes on.

Ryan is a bit older than Josiah, though I don't think the exact ages are every mentioned. He's a NAVY Seal but is now in therapy after losing his legs. He wants to get back into the Navy, even if that just means being a teacher. As for Josiah, he works at a gaming company, that is featured in the two previous books too! He's great at his job, but he does have some trouble being the leader at work. The two are able to learn a lot from each other though, and I loved that. It showed that they were equal in the burgeoning relationship.

I don't know if this is the last #gaymers novel or not, but I'd love to see more of these characters or story lines! 

How to Rock a Two Bride Wedding (Featuring Evian Facial Spray)

The New Art of Capturing Love - source

As we head into the fall, you might be thinking that wedding season is over. Hold up! It's just beginning for those couples who believe that fall or winter is the optimal time to exchange vows. For me, I'll be attending weddings in October and December, so I'm happily enjoying anything and everything wedding. While none of my LGBT+ friends are getting married, that doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of weddings that will occur in the coming months where the couple is two grooms or two brides!

Today, I want to focus on the two brides! When people think of weddings, we tend to focus on the bride. It makes sense! They often get the big dress, they plan out most of the small details, and they are generally the one's most excited about the big day. So what happens when you get not one but two brides? The stereotype might have you viewing one girl in a dress and one in a tux or suit, but that's not always the case either! Plenty of same-sex female couples both want to wear the dress and go all out on their wedding!

Enter Evian Facial Spray!

source

With two girls on the scene, it might be a good idea to double up on this excellent facial spray. Lucky for us, you can buy two mini bottles for just $15 on the official website. I was sent one of these 1.7 oz facial sprays to test out and I fell immediately in love. Just spritz a little of this on your person and feel immediately re-hydrated and refreshed!

What makes this a wonderful tool to have on hand for your dual brides is that is helps with different things. Maybe you have two brides that are decked out in makeup, or maybe you just have one, but this spray "helps improve the performance of all color cosmetics" (source). This is the perfect thing to have on hand for the bride with the makeup, but even if one or neither wear it, this spray will also help make skin look more healthy and refreshed and that's something that anyone could use on their wedding day! Whether the wedding is inside or out, the brides are bound to get hot or feel flushed from nerves, and this spray would be the perfect tool to have on hand to help combat this! 

Furthermore, because you can buy these sprays in small bottles, they are easy to stash in someone's purse or bag so they are on hand when needed! Trying this spray myself, it says to spray your skin and let sit for a minute before patting dry. It really did make me feel refreshed and seemed to brighten up how I felt. I would definitely want to have this on hand for a big event, where I was bound to get nervous. This is one spray that I'll carry with me and I do suggest grabbing a bottle if you are going to be in or attending a wedding soon! This would make the perfect gift! 

*I was sent a bottle of the Evian Facial Spray in order to share this sponsored post; all opinions are my own*

In the Past Month (August 2016)

Sorry my posts have been a bit sporadic lately! I'm trying to read ahead as much as I can so I can review and schedule. I have some posts already scheduled, but hopefully I'll get things figured out soon! Thanks for being patient and for continuing to visit and/or comment! I do appreciate it.

Anyway, I thought it might be fun to share a bit about my past month, though, and what I've been up to! If you do one of these End of the Month posts, please let me know and I'll come and stop by!

Read in August:

Party of One: A Memoir in 21 Songs by Dave Holmes: review
Boyfriend Material by K.A. Mitchell: review
Connection Error by Annabeth Albert (review to come)
The Talented Mr. Rivers by HelenKay Dimon (review to come)
Labyrinth Lost by Zoraida Cordova (review to come)
Say It Right by A.M. Arthur (review to come)
Real World by B.A. Tortuga: review

In September:

I feel like a lot of the LGBT+ books that I read in August are actually ARCs for September. You can sort of see this above, since four of the books I read still have reviews to come. I'm one book away from reading everything on Netgalley, which is where most of my LGBT+ books to review come from, so hopefully I can get some books I already own read next month. I'm hoping to read Out of Frame by Megan Erickson, which I bought recently so I'm ready to go for Overexposed which comes out on September 20th. I also need to read the second book between Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell, called Fast Connection.

Any LGBT+ books you're hoping to read in the month of September? Are you interested in any of the books I've mentioned in this post so far?

On My September Wish List:

In Vogue by Lucia Laurent - Goodreads

Do-Gooder by J. Leigh Bailey - Goodreads 

Steady Stroke by A.M. Arthur- Goodreads 

It Looks Like This by Rafi Mittlefehldt- Goodreads

Do you have any other September LGBT+ books I should add to my list? Obviously I'm only including ones I haven't read yet (and I don't own a copy of any of these yet!)

Personal Life:

I'm going to be away in London, England for the beginning of September. When I get back, I'll be starting a new job. So my time on my blogs might be limited a bit for the first half of the month until I get a better schedule figured out. However, I will have my computer with me on vacation so I'm hoping to find a couple nights where I can write people back and check up on things! Besides that, I'm just excited to get away for a bit. I'm going with my mom, sister, and one of my aunts. My aunt and sister have both been, but this is all new for my mom and me, and I've never left the U.S. so the plane ride is one part that makes me a bit nervous. I'm not big on planes in general (though I've been on them) but being in one for so many hours? I HOPE I can fall asleep, but I've yet to sleep on a plane. I'm not good at that sort of thing, but I know I need to catch some shut-eye or it will be awful my first day in London (not that we plan on doing much that day).

Two of the things I'll be doing with my sister is the Harry Potter Studio tour and seeing the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child plays. I'm very excited!

If you have any last minute tips or things I should see/do, leave them in the comments and I'll do my best if I'm interested!

-Lauren