I have never really tried a hair mask before and never even thought about it. That’s another one of the wonderful things about reviewing products and having various things sent to us to review. We get to try out products we might be considering, never have considered, or didn’t even know about until we open the box after bringing it in from the mail. Then we can let you know all about it including our thoughts and experiences.
NEW FRUCTIS TREATS 1 MINUTE HAIR MASKS
What do we have today to review? The Fructis Treats 1-minute hair mask. As mentioned in previous blogs we usually get one-use or one-serving samples. There are times we get full-size or family-size servings for us to try. Since we review a variety of things we get a variety of sizes sent to us. Today is a one-time-use sample, but it was enough to tell if I would like it or not. Generally speaking, when it comes to certain products using overall time will really tell you if you like the outcome though. I think this might be one of them. But, once showed good results.
It is a cream and you apply it on wet hair following washing your hair. You leave the mask on for a minute then rinse it out. You can also use it as a leave-in hair mask. You would put it on damp hair as a way to “control frizz”. Use it as a conditioner too, if you wish. The product benefits are listed as smoothening and nourishing. I felt my hair was smoother after one use and feel using it more than once you might see more of the benefits. However, I have always considered a hair mask as just part of a hair care routine. It is not something to do often, but as a treat and it is in the name — Garnier Fructis Treats. I figure it is once or so a month, depending on your need, perhaps twice a month. I am obviously not a beauty expert or into such things and this is only my opinion.
The hair mask treat I tried has coconut extract and has “98 percent naturally derived ingredients.” It has no artificial colorants, no silicones, and no parabens.
There are other options in the Fructis Treats 1-minute hair mask line as well. I loved this one and would use it again. It felt great, smelled good and I liked the overall results. The fact it doesn’t take long to do is an added bonus. It is a great deep conditioner leaving your hair soft and smells delightful. I recommend it or any of the others, which I haven’t tried yet, but wouldn’t mind trying. They have banana extract, avocado extract and Goji Extract and Boost Collagen for some examples which focus on other things such as strengthening hair.
Find this product in stores and on Amazon.com for $10, which is a 13.5 Fl Oz., which should last a while especially if you only use it a few times a month to once a month depending on what you want or need. Keep in mind the other options are different prices.
Happy almost St. Patrick’s Day everyone and if you are on Spring Break or will be soon I wish you a wonderful time.
We have a perfect book for today’s blog. It is a good one too. It is Looking for a Leprechaun by Richard Lopez. I say add it to the yearly reading for this time of year. It is a keeper.
BOOK DETAILS
Book Title:Looking for a Leprechaun by Richard Lopez Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 30 pages Genre: Children’s Picture Book Publisher: Three Little Birds Publishing Content Rating: G. Suitable for everyone.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
Looking for a Leprechaun is the story of a boy named Rich who lives in a magical world, but everywhere he turns he hears people saying he doesn’t belong. When a fairy tells him if he finds a Leprechaun it will help him find where he belongs, Rich sets out on an adventure. The search for a leprechaun is difficult. Close to giving up, Rich hears some words of wisdom. Will he be able to find what he is searching for? What if it’s been inside him all along?
Young children and their parents will be amazed by the positive story and exquisite illustrations of this Mom’s Choice Awards Gold recipient. Looking for a Leprechaun has been named among the best in family-friendly media, products and services.
A wonderfully creative story with delightfully vivid illustrations. This Mom’s Choice Award winner truly is a winner. It is an excellent book for youth. A great story for families, teachers, the library, and anyone wanting a cute story for St. Patrick’s Day storytime.
This is an interesting message in this book. Readers don’t even have to see it to get it, which is wonderful. Rich is searching for a Leprechaun while also being a relatable story for youth. It is a magical story that helps the main character learn more about himself and being yourself.
Youth will enjoy this story, and even older readers will get something from the message, the theme and the story. It shows self-esteem and belonging while having a St. Patrick’s Day atmosphere. It is a good read. I thought I’d like the story, but I didn’t realize it would give such a lesson within it as well, which is worth the read.
MEET THE AUTHOR
Richard Lopez is an award-winning children’s author originally from Hialeah, FL. He has a high school diploma and has worked in healthcare information technology for the past 15 years. He started to focus on writing in 2003 when he went back to school and completed a certification for Sound Engineering at S.A.E. He had a few poems published in books by the International Library of Poetry. The Best Poems and Poets of 2003, Invoking the Muse, and The Best Poems and Poets of 2005. He currently resides in St. Petersburg, FL and enjoys going to see live music, and being outdoors. He started Three Little Birds Publishing for his work on children’s books. Looking for a Leprechaun is his first children’s book.
Enter to win a signed copy of Looking for a Leprechaun (one winner/USA only). Click here to enter the giveaway. Good luck and let me know if you win!
NOTE: This blog was written with and provided by media kit information from the iREAD BOOK TOURS Host team. The book was provided allowing me to post an honest review.
Getting To Yes by Tim Hunniecutt is described as a “Sweet, tender, and nostalgic … ode to young love and commitment.” This statement is true of his debut coming-of-age romance story. It is a story of love from a young man’s perspective and we see even in failure you can find success through the journey to find love. You feel the heart of the man writing it and feel it is written by a man as well as being great for Nicholas Sparks and Debbie Macomber fans. If you enjoy their books and stories from these writers you may find yourself enjoying Getting to Yes as well.
STORY DETAILS
Florida, 1978. Nineteen-year-old Chris is inexperienced in the world of love, but that’s soon to change. In the summer between his high school graduation and his admittance into college, he delves into his first foray with love—and comes out the other side burned. Yet he presses on, meeting Quentin…and Cathy…and Anna Lina…
But it’s not until one night when he locks eyes with Chloe, that his world stops.
Things are immediately easy with Chloe, and they fall into each other’s arms and each other’s lives. But where Chris is immediately smitten with tender love for Chloe, she guards her emotions, holding herself back from saying “yes” to his love. As time and distance separate the two, Chris must determine if Chloe is worth pursuing, and if he’ll ever get her “yes.”
Getting to Yes
REVIEW
This is a story of love’s journey as Chris falls in love with Chloe. You will see love’s journey from his side. He is a romantic who meets other girls and women before he finds his true yes in Chloe.
You see him learn about love and himself. You see him fail and see what works with love and what does not. Readers feel the strength of love when it isn’t right. We journey with Chris as he grows and learns about himself as well as how to love.
The writer does well with character development and description. He allows the reader to be in the story with the characters. It is a well-written story. I don’t read many stories in this genre, but the author is talented and keeps it engaging for the reader.
It is for readers looking for a romance that is also heartwarming. Yet, it is also written well and easy to read. This is for an older audience perhaps college age and above due to some of the scenes.
MORE ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tim Hunniecutt’s earliest memories include a love of words which he expressed by writing poems and stories for family and friends.
Tim attended Florida State University, where he studied psychology and English. Home for the summer after his first year, he met a girl and fell in love. The love she gave him inspired this story.
Tim lives with that same girl, now his wife, in Lithia, Florida. He loves traveling, playing escape games, spending time with his grandchildren, and ballroom dancing with her.
Introducing the book Six Moons Seven Gods by Robert A. Walker. Learn all about it in today’s blog.
Synopsis (from Amazon):
“One must be careful practicing deception. The easiest to deceive will always be one’s self.”
The skilled thieves of the Takers Guild plot to overthrow the kingdoms of Baelon, but when their plans are thwarted by a prescient woman and her brooding daughter, they must turn to the League of Assassins for assistance. Meanwhile, retired royal guard Rolft Aerns returns to the palace of King Axil with an old score to settle. When they all cross paths–and swords–in the dark shadows of Fostead’s south end, nothing is as it seems and the murder count rises quickly.
The long fingers of the Guild reach everywhere, and one overly ambitious thief is all it takes to spark a chain of events that will haunt the world of Baelon for many years to come.
Six Moons, Seven Gods is book one in The Legends of Baelon.
AUTHOR
Award-winning autho rRobert A. Walker grew up in Northwestern Massachusetts. After graduating college, he packed his scant belongings in a car with rusted-out floorboards and headed west. He’s lived in California ever since, and now resides along the Pacific Ocean with his wife and dogs. When not fabricating stories, he can be found roaming local tennis courts or working on a never-ending list of DIY house projects.
“A fascinatingly detailed and murder-fueled adventure in a violent fantasy setting.”
— Kirkus Reviews
“In Robert A. Walker’s Six Moons, Seven Gods, loyalty and treachery entwine, friendships are tested, and dangerous secrets are held close to the heart… a brilliant, compelling narrative that hooks the reader from start to finish.”
— Literary Titan 5-star Review
“…an exceptionally rewarding fantasy. There are twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat, unable to stop reading.”
— Ronél Steyn for Readers’ Favorite, 5 stars
SIX MOONS, SEVEN GODS EXCERPT
Sibil sat on a bed in a servant’s quarters, her head spinning. Had it not been for previous visits to the palace with Princess Lewen, she would not have known where she was. The steward had escorted her briskly to the room some time ago, leaving her to entertain herself.
There seemed no end to the mystery surrounding her mother. Supposed premonitions of death had been unnerving enough, but now… an audience with the king? At his request! It was surreal, and Sibil’s wildest conjectures did not begin to explain it.
Her attempt to seize control of her own life seemed waylaid once again. She was imagining herself a bit of flotsam from a shipwreck, at the mercy of the ocean’s currents, when the steward returned, shutting the door angrily behind himself.
“Where is my mother?” she asked as he approached.
“With the king.” Without warning, the steward sat so close to her their thighs touched.
“I should like to see her.” Sibil started to rise.
“In due time.” The steward caught her arm and pulled her back to the bed.
“What are you doing?”
“If your mother were more forthcoming, you would not be so inconvenienced.”
“How do you mean?” Sibil’s eyes darted toward the door.
“The woman’s hiding something. Perhaps you’d like to tell me what that is.”
“My mother has nothing to hide from the king!”
“I could be convinced of that, I suppose.” The steward loosened his hold and placed a palm against Sibil’s cheek. “There are many ways for you to prove your loyalty to the throne.” His hand brushed her breast as he withdrew it. “Are you prepared to do so?” Before Sibil could respond, he leaned in, his lips seeking hers.
Sibil pushed him away, struggling to stand. “How dare you!”
“Need I remind you where you are?” The steward rose, positioning himself between her and the door. “Or who you’re talking to?”
“I mean no disrespect, m’lord, but if you—“
“Take off your blouse.”
“What?!”
“Like mother, like daughter. Take off your blouse and let us see what you are hiding there.”
“I’ll do no such thing,” said Sibil breathlessly. “And if you lay another hand on me—“
The steward grasped her sleeve. Sibil twisted violently away, her blouse ripping at the shoulder seam.
The steward grinned. “You see? One way or the other!” He started to laugh, sobering quickly at the sight of the dagger Sibil produced. “Put that away before you hurt yourself.”
“Take me to my mother!” Sibil waved the dagger at him.
“Did I not warn you about making demands?” The steward lashed out, recoiling as Sibil’s blade pricked his arm. He swore loudly as he inspected the spot of crimson staining his white blouse. “You’ll not soon forget what I’m going to do to you.”
“Touch me and I’ll kill you!” Sibil lurched past the steward and onto the bed, clambering quickly over it, but he intercepted her before she could reach the door. He kicked a stool separating them toward her. Sibil grabbed it and flung it back at him. The stool sailed past the steward’s head and crashed against the door.
“Make all the noise you want,” the steward said. “No one cares!”
QUESTION and ANSWER
On writing
Which was the hardest character to write? The easiest?
The most difficult character to write was Sibil…there was so much going on inside her head and heart, and she was such a central figure, that getting all that right was critical to the overall story’s success. The easiest to write were Reynard and Spiro… their crazy relationship, and the banter between them, came quickly and naturally.
There are many fantasy books out there….What makes yours different?
I’ll let blogger Liliyana Shadowlyn (The Faerie Review) answer this one: “Walker has pulled off an epic fantasy, the likes of which I can’t say I’ve ever read. If you had told me that there could be this many points of views in a story, and it would be an amazing read, and not the least bit confusing, I wouldn’t have believed you. The story is tightly woven, and being able to see the story from various POVs, some shorter than others, helps keep the story moving, and helps you understand everything that’s happening at once. The characters are as rich and varied as the world they inhabit, and the story itself captures you from page one, and makes it difficult to stop reading.”
Do you have another profession besides writing?
I was in public service for over thirty years. Though that required loads of writing and editing, it’s only since retirement that I have found sufficient time to write for pleasure.
How long have you been writing?
Since grade school. I still remember my second-grade teacher, Mrs. Smith, reading my first short story to the entire class. I loved her so much I bought her marble bookends with my allowance savings.
Do you ever get writer’s block? What helps you overcome it?
Absolutely. Exercise and music help a lot, but I can go days before the spirit moves me. If the blockage is due to plot complexities, I find my best solutions come while lying on my back in the dark!
What is your next project?
I’m currently working on the sequel to Six Moons, Seven Gods, and having a lot of fun with that.
What genre do you write and why?
I write fantasy with tinges of romance and grim dark. I want to create stories that immerse people in make-believe worlds that feel real, and that stimulate a variety of emotions in the reader.
What is the last great book you’ve read?
The last GREAT book I read was Scott Lynch’s The Republic of Thieves. Ahem, Scott, if you are out there listening, my son and I are still waiting for the fourth book in your series. Pleeease!
What is a favorite compliment you have received on your writing?
When Six Moons, Seven Gods won Chick Lit Café’s Book Excellence Award for Best Medieval Fiction, they called it “one of the most sophisticated works of fantasy and romance that we’ve ever seen.” I still haven’t gotten over that!
What were the biggest rewards and challenges with writing your book?
The biggest challenge was learning the ins and outs of traditional vs independent publishing, all of which was far more complicated and involved than I had imagined it to be.
In one sentence, what was the road to publishing like?
A tortuous country road, full of unexpected twists, turns and potholes, but also with glorious views and the promise of a gratifying destination.
Which authors inspired you to write?
J.R.R. Tolkien, Frank Herbert, Zane Grey, Ian Fleming, and Scott Lynch
On rituals:
Do you snack while writing? Favorite snack?
All too often. Just a hint of writer’s block can send me to a jar of cashews. And one or two chocolate raisins added to the mix can’t hurt, right?
Where do you write?
Most often, I am in our family room. It’s a comfy place with a small view of the Pacific Ocean, which I find quite relaxing.
Do you write every day?
No. I wish I could, and I try to write at least a sentence or two each day—because there’s a sense of satisfaction in making even the smallest progress toward a book’s ending. There are definitely days where I do not meet that objective, but I try to keep them to a minimum.
Is there a specific ritualistic thing you do during your writing time?
Not really, but in general I find that I write best while listening to music, specifically sad ballads. I’m not sure why.
In today’s tech savvy world, most writers use a computer or laptop. Have you ever written parts of your book on paper?
Yes, I’ve often had snippets of dialogue or plot come to me at unusual times, when I don’t have access to technology. When those moments arrive, the closest pen or pencil will do. In fact, there have been several times when I have had to memorize a particular line or two that I know I want to use—just until I can find a place to write them down.
GUEST POST
Fun stuff:
Favorite travel spot?
When the kids were young, it was Disneyland. Now that they’re older, Kihei, Hawaii.
Favorite dessert?
Hands down, a hot fudge sundae. (With real hot fudge, not that thin chocolate sauce!)
Any hobbies? or Name a quirky thing you like to do.
Tennis is my favorite pastime, but I’m a better cook. Desserts are my specialty. My wife would tell you it’s hard to beat my strawberry shortcake, chocolate cake or chocolate chip cookies.
If there is one thing you want readers to remember about you, what would it be?
I love feedback. There’s nothing better than hearing from a reader, especially if they’ve been entertained by my work.
What is your favorite thing to do in winter?
On the west coast, there isn’t as great a distinction between the seasons. So regardless of the time of year, if I’m not writing or working on a home improvement project, I can probably be found in the gym or on the tennis courts.
What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Gotta love a traditional Thanksgiving meal with family and friends. I generally do most of the cooking, and my stuffing would have pleased even the gods of Baelon.
What song is currently playing on a loop in your head?
“Kaleidoscope” by Chappell Roan… hauntingly beautiful.
What is something that made you laugh recently?
Reruns of Everybody Loves Raymond… too funny!
What is your go-to breakfast item?
A bowl of Alpen or Raisin Bran with no-fat milk—which my kids call “Old Man Wheaties”
Tell us about your longest friendship.
I’ve known my closest friends since elementary school. One grew up next door to me; the other a mile down the road. Both still live in Massachusetts, where I spent the first twenty years of my life.
What advice would you give budding writers?
Three pieces of advice: first, writing’s a journey. Don’t look too far ahead. Focus on your passion and the here and now. Write, write, write, and enjoy the travelling, one step at a time. Had I known early on what it would take to be published, and all the work involved in getting one’s book into the hands of readers, I might never have finished my first novel, let alone started it. I was so naïve to think that–you know–if you write something worthwhile, someone’s going to want to publish it and people will then read it. Simple, right? The truth, of course, is so much more complex and challenging, regardless of whether you are trying to secure the representation of a traditional publishing firm, or you have decided to self-publish. Unless your intended audience is limited to friends and family, finishing your novel (quite the accomplishment in and of itself) is only half the battle. So my advice is to take it slowly and enjoy the journey—don’t peek too soon or too closely behind the publishing world’s thick curtain lest thatcause you to turn back. Tackled one issue at a time, none of it as overwhelming or intimidating as the big picture first appears; there’s lots of support out there, and if you persevere, all those little challenges just make reaching your destination that much more rewarding. Carry on!
My second piece of advice is to listen to your heart while you are writing. Mine will generally tell me when I’m on the right track, and when I’ve gotten lost. The characters and scenes that I have been most engaged with during the creative process typically turn out to be those the reader also finds most entertaining. So now, when I find myself slogging through some piece that I don’t find particularly exciting or enjoyable to write, I ask myself: why is that? Am I asking the reader to suffer with me? Is there not something I can do to the storyline or character to make writing this more entertaining?
Lastly, I strongly suggest that you read your work aloud and slowly, either to yourself or to an interested listener. You’ll be surprised at the number of errors and opportunities that expose themselves. This advice was given me by my father, a professional editor by trade, and I have benefited from it ever since.
NOTE: This blog was written with and provided by media kit information from the Author Marketing Experts.
Chit Chat with Charity 