Kal-Elle Fandom Monthly Subscription Box – May 2016

Kal-Elle Fandom Monthly provides you with 4 – 7 fandom-inspired designs worth over $40, all matching the month’s chosen fandom. In addition to jewelry, you may also receive other items such as magnets, artwork, lanyards, hair accessories, etc.

Kal-Elle Fandom Monthly
Cost: $19.00 USD
Shipping Costs: $3.50 shipping within the US or worldwide for $13.50 ($5 cheaper now!)
Payment Method: Credit Card.
Mailed Out: Towards the end of the month.
Note: subscriptions auto-renew on the 1st of each month.

ARC Review – The House At The End Of The Street by Stephanie Kusiak

Title: The House At The End Of The Street
Author: Stephanie Kusiak

Genre: Romance, LGBTQIA
Expected Date of Publication: August 1, 2016
Page Count: 201 pages (paperback)
Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

Natalie Hargrove, a previously accomplished artist, and Caitlin Cassidy should never have met. After all, Caitlin was only a twelve-year-old girl when Natalie was already dead and gone. But they did meet, and it was that dramatic encounter in the house at the end of the street that changed their lives forever. The moment was so powerful, so important, that it drew Caitlin, now a renowned novelist, back to her hometown twenty years later to seek out Natalie’s ghost. Taking up refuge in the dark, broken house, Caitlin believes that getting back to her roots and to the bottom of her experience with the ghost will somehow help heal the wounds her life has brought her.

Against the backdrop of a Victorian mansion, a story unlike any other unfolds between Caitlin and Natalie, and leaves them with one lingering question: even if love is enough to bridge the gap between life and death, is it enough to keep a ghost from passing on?

I was incredibly excited to begin reading this for a number of reasons – first, I’m super invested in stories about women, especially when there are LGBT+ characters involved. Second, I love a good ghost story! That usually tends to take the form of a vengeful ghost seeking to inflict pain and torture on others, which is good and well, I enjoy those, but it’s fantastic to come across the rarer type featuring a benevolent ghost! And third, I’ve been craving a palate cleanser after a solid block of horror novels, so a romance was just what the doctor prescribed! 🙂

Poptaria Jr Girls Pop Culture Mystery Box – June 2016

Poptaria is a pop culture box for geeks and gamers that also offers a monthly junior themed box with similar items as the adult version but catering to a younger audience instead. As you can see on their Past Boxes page, each box tends to contain between 4 – 7 items which may include pop vinyls, keychains, cute accessories, books, candy and more.

The Cruelty-Free Shop Vegan Mystery Box – June 2016

The Cruelty-Free Shop Vegan Mystery Box is a subscription box that promises 8 – 10 cruelty-free items valued at $34.95 minimum. The contents of the box are entirely vegan and range from snacks and sweet treats to more substantial food or pantry staples.

Cruelty-Free Shop Vegan Mystery Box
Cost: $34.95
Shipping Costs: $9.95 within Australia only.
Payment Method: Credit Card.
Mailed Out: First Wednesday of each month
**Note: subscriptions auto-renew on the 2nd of each month**

2 ARC Reviews – ‘The Binding’ & ‘Crimson Souls’

I’ve been productive today and finished off reviews for not one, but TWO of the ARCs I had on my reading list! Finally some decent progress through my pile, so I don’t feel too guilty. 😀 Only five more to go now…

Both of the following are horror reads – I’ve become a tad obsessed with this genre lately, but sadly it seems that I peaked with the first couple novels I picked up, and it’s been a struggle recapturing the same highs I felt with, for eg. The Girl From The Well. But anyway, onward to the reviews!

Retreat Yourself – Winter 2016

Retreat Yourself is a quarterly Australian health & wellness box that provides 10-15 sample and full sized products that vary from edible health foods & supplements to bath, body & beauty products. These are sourced mainly from natural, organic local brands.

Retreat Yourself

Cost: $49.95 AUD every 3 months (single purchase is $59.95)
Shipping Costs: additional $9.95 throughout Australia.
Payment Method: Paypal or Credit Card.
Mailed Out: the first day of each season (ie. Autumn – March 1st, Winter – June 1st, Spring – September 1st, Summer – December 1st)
**Note: this subscription auto-renews and you are billed the month before the next box is due to ship, ie. the Spring box is shipped September 1st, so payment for the Spring Box is August 1st**

ARC Review – Heroine Complex by Sarah Kuhn

Title: Heroine Complex
Author: Sarah Kuhn
Expected Date of Publication: July 5th 2016
Page Count: 368 pages (paperback)
Synopsis: (taken from Goodreads)

Evie Tanaka is the put-upon personal assistant to Aveda Jupiter, her childhood best friend and San Francisco’s most beloved superheroine. She’s great at her job—blending into the background, handling her boss’s epic diva tantrums, and getting demon blood out of leather pants.

Unfortunately, she’s not nearly as together when it comes to running her own life, standing up for herself, or raising her tempestuous teenage sister, Bea.

But everything changes when Evie’s forced to pose as her glamorous boss for one night, and her darkest secret comes out: she has powers, too. Now it’s up to her to contend with murderous cupcakes, nosy gossip bloggers, and supernatural karaoke battles—all while juggling unexpected romance and Aveda’s increasingly outrageous demands. And when a larger threat emerges, Evie must finally take charge and become a superheroine in her own right… or see her city fall to a full-on demonic invasion.

Short Overview

I’m so impressed with this book – LOVE that there are several important female characters and that two main characters are Asian-American. Love the humor and wacky hijinx along with character development and thoughtful inclusion of how their cultural heritage has impacted their upbringing and informed their (distinctly different) personalities. This is everything I’ve ever wanted in a book! ❤