Page 36

Marissa D’Angelo’s Cursed Inn Brings Readers Back to Charles Island

Author’s Summary:

Come stay at an island getaway where you can forget all of your worries. The longer you stay, the harder it will be to leave…

Lady Angeline didn’t seem to follow the path that the other ladies did in her town. In the 1800’s, most would have been married off while Angeline found independence and freedom through working closely with her father at his shop. When the deal of a lifetime seemingly falls into their laps, they are quick to take it and start their own inn on an enchanted island. At first glance, everything was perfectly normal until the truths of the island’s cursed nature is revealed in the night. After repeatedly ignoring the warnings from the land’s natives, she falls in love with someone she would’ve least expected to. As Angeline assists her father in the inn’s grand opening masquerade ball, she struggles to grasp reality and finds that there are very few she can actually trust.

Mystery. Immortals. Secret love. What does that mean? It means that Connecticut based author Marissa D’Angelo is back with yet another historical fiction installment of the Charles Island series.

This time, we follow main character Angeline, a young woman who is ahead of her time. While most of the women are married and pregnant at a young age, she is intellect, curious and a business woman. She writes in her journal in solitude. She tags along with her father to purchase an inn on an mysterious island. However, there is a hidden secret on the mysterious island, and not everything is what it seems. There is a secret that lingers into the air and Angeline is determined to find it.

However, that is not the only thing that is in the air. Angeline is fascinated with local Calian, and the two begin a semi secret romance. But, with George — the person whose family previously owned the inn — acting as if he’s entitled to her, that may be tricky.

Okay so I have some opinions on this installment of the series. This, by far, was my favorite of all D’Angelo’s bibliography. There was a ton of action — between the romance between Angeline and Calian, the altercations between Angeline and George, and the sweet moments between Angeline and her father.

The Cursed Inn has many of the common themes that have appeared in the previous installments of the series. This includes the importance of family, death of a loved one, and of course, curiosity. Angeline was curious about the island’s secret, and what was behind that very curse. What was unique about this particular installment was that the mother was deceased versus the father (something that was common in the rest of them). That said, Angeline and her father were extremely close. She noted that her father “treated her as her equal.” And, you can see the development of that relationship throughout the course of the novel.

Now, let’s talk about the romance. Although it was not the center of the novel — the grand opening of the Inn and the Island’s secrets certainly were — I loved seeing Angeline find love. This is something that she has been searching for for years. In fact, the novel opens with her watching couples get married and looking for a relationship that truly lasts. Angeline was drawn to Calian from afar and the two got closer. Calian even got the approval to marry her from her dad, which was amazing.

That said, there was some other conflict other than the mystery of the island. Many of the inn’s employees — James, Alice, and Mary — seem to have a scary secret behind them. And, as I mentioned, there is George. As I said earlier, George is the stereotype of the spoiled rich kid. You see it in his mannerisms. You see in the way he treats people. There is something that is off about him, and readers quickly grow to hate him. I know I did.

Out of all of the installments of this one is definitely one of my favorite reads. I gave it 5 out of 5 stars. That said, I do want to warn you that this has a trigger warning for rape.

*Please note: I received an ARC (advanced reader’s copy) in exchange for my honest review. That said, all opinions are my own.

What I Wore This Week

Happy Sunday, everyone! We are back with yet another What I Wore This Week. This week has a few different purses that I wore throughout the week. The first is the Coach Jules Hobo Bag, the second is the Marc Jacobs The Tote Bag, and the third is the Coach Gallery Tote Bag. This week’s post only discusses Monday through Friday, so all of these styles are perfect for the office. I also wanted to point out that many of these pieces are pieces that I’ve had for years. Therefore, I am not sure if I am going to be able to link them.

Monday:

Monday was a day of introducing new pieces and playing around with them. I purchases these comfy pants off of Amazon, and I love having a khaki option to mix around with all of my black pieces. Last Sunday, my fiancé and I went to a TJ Maxx, where I picked up this Calvin Klein dress shirt. I also paired it with an off white Madewell cardigan (here’s a similar one here), which has been on my wardrobe for the last few years. And of course, I paired this with a T Jazelle Stack which consisted of the Evil Eye, the Sunflower, the One Step at a Time, and the Moonstone Cancer).

Tuesday:

This outfit is super simple. I am wearing my Birksenstocks and paired it with a fun dress from Banana Republic from a few years back. When all else fails, dresses and cute sandals are my go-to.

Wednesday:

On this day, I had training. So I grabbed a pair of linen pants from Calvin Klein, and the dress shirt from Calvin Klein. As for my sandals, I wore a pair of Steve Madden slides as well. They are on sale at Nordstrom Rack, and I really love how comfortable they are!

Thursday:

Another day, another dress. I wore one of my favorite dresses from Athleta and paired it with the Steve Madden sandals. So easy, so comfy. And of course, I had a stack of T Jazelle Bracelets, which are the onyx lock, the sun and moon, the lightning bolt, and the zodiac.

Friday:

Today I paired a shirt that has been in my closet for literal years with a pair of linen pants. Easy. Furthermore, I also paired the Alex and Ani pull chain Evil Eye bracelet and the moon with two Little Words Project bracelets (use the code Millennial for an extra 15 percent off).

Friday Faves: August 26, 2022

Happy Friday everyone! I am so excited for the weekend, because I have nothing planned. I have so many style favorites that I am sharing, and I am so excited to pass these along to you. So, without further adue, here are this week’s favorites!

Coach Tech Wallet: I have been using the same wallet pretty much since 2020, and have been on the hunt for a wristlet option. I came across the tech wallet at Coach and knew I had to have it. I started out just using it on some days but soon enough began using it daily. I recommend it for errands as it does hold an iPhone 11 Pro, but also just as a daily wallet.

Coach Jules Hobo: I got this using my birthday coupon and at first, I didn’t use it. I decided to break it out once I started using my tech wallet and I am obsessed with it. I love that you can use it as a true hobo or get a crossbody strap for the bag. It also holds a ton and makes a great work bag.

Birkenstocks: I have been wearing these for over three summers and this year, I decided to invest in a black pair. I’ve had them all summer but lately these have been my go tos.

Meant to Be Mine by Hannah Orenstein: I found a new favorite author, folks. I am obsessing over Love at First Like now, and am enjoying that book as well. That said, this book was so good that I was not able to put it down. It is about Edie, a stylist whose grandma “predicted” the day that she would meet the one. On that day, she meets Theo. She quickly falls for him thinking he’s the one. However, the two may not be a good match. Like I said, this book was light and fluffy and everything I needed.

Steve Madden Shoes: Steve Madden’s shoes have been killing it lately. I recently purchased these from Nordstrom Rack and have been loving them. They are comfortable and they are dressier than my Birkenstocks are. I still rotate between the two pairs but I really love these as well.

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jeannette McCurdy: I was a huge fan of iCarly when I was a kid. After hearing the hype, I decided to check the book out for myself. I am loving it so far. It is definitely worth the read for sure.

What I Wore This Past Week

Happy Sunday funday everyone! I know that the last thing that we want to think about is Monday, but I wanted to share some of the outfits that I wore this past week. Many of them are business casual, which is something that I personally struggle with coming up with ideas. However, I did manage to include an outfit for “play” as well. So, here’s what I wore this week. As a note, I did only link what I could find, since some of these items were either purchased a few years back, or on super sale.

Monday:

This past Monday I wore a blouse from the Banana Republic Outlet, and these super comfy pants from Madewell. For shoes, I chose these Steve Madden sandals, and used the Coach Jules Hobo Bag. Since this blouse is older, you can find a similar one here, as well as a similar version of the pants. For accessories, I paired some T Jazelle bracelets, which include the evil eye, the lightning bolt, the dolphin and the paradise.

Tuesday:

On Tuesday, I decided to wear my favorite Athleta Santorini Cinch dress. Since where I work gets really cold, I got my Barefoot Dreams cardigan and my Birkenstock sandals. For accessories, I got my T Jazelle Bracelets (balance, evil eye, self love, and sand dollar) and my Foster Rings (large opal ring, rainbow, and hammered band), as well as my James Avery Ring.

Wednesday:

Wednesday’s outfit is the one that has the least amount of stuff that I can link to you guys. I guess that’s a good thing because these items have been in my closet for a while. I got these Spanx pants from the Nordstrom anniversary sale, and paired it with a tunic shirt from Banana Republic. To dress it up, I added these flats from Amazon and a black blazer. One of my tips to get the most of your wardrobe is to pair pieces that are on the casual side with some that are more on the dressy side.

Thursday:

Thursday’s outfit is a simple one. A dress from LC Lauren Conrad and a cardigan (Barefoot Dreams, thanks Nordstrom Sale). That is my work summer outfit go to. Of course, I am wearing my Birkenstocks, and my favorite James Avery rings (sunflower, twinkling stars ring, feather, key to my heart, lover’s knot, and claddagh). I also have my David Yurman bangles as well!

Friday:

Friday’s outfit is a pair of pants from Wit and Wisdom and a comfy top from Athleta that is no longer sold. I paired it with a pair of woven sandals from Target. I got these pants from the Nordstrom sale, and they are so comfy for dress pants. Furthermore, I also wore some of my go to bracelets, which are the classic silver Tiffany and Co silver beaded bracelets.

Saturday:

On Saturday, I went to the Milford Oyster Festival. Since it was so hot, I needed an outfit that would keep me cool. So, I wore my Birkenstocks, and paired it with a romper from Aerie. As for a bag, I used the Polene Number Dix, which is an amazing bag to bring on the go. Furthermore, I also wore my medium LOLA Hamsa pendent.

Is the Louis Vuitton Agenda Worth It?

After reading the title of this post, you must be thinking: I am an adult. Why would I need a planner if I am not going to classes?

Here’s my answer: some do, others do not. Some people use digital planners, and that works for them. Others use a paper planner to keep track. And, of course, there are some people who can just remember their appointments. I am not one of those people.

One of the most famous planners is the Louis Vuitton agenda. I currently have the Agenda PM and Medium Agenda Cover, and I absolutely love them both. Now, if you do get this planner, I highly recommend getting it on the preloved market. I scored my agenda PM for less than 200 dollars.

The Agenda comes in three sizes: the small, the medium and the large. The agenda PM (small agenda) is the smaller of the two, and is perfect for anyone on the go. I use this agenda with all of my smaller bags. I love it for that reason, and this is the one that I reach for the most. That said, this one has a few drawbacks. This is tiny. I have a hard time fitting in some of the inserts that I got, and sometimes things can get small really quickly. But, this is great just for someone who just wants to keep track of bills and appointments.

However, the agenda MM (medium) is the perfect Goldilocks version. I love it because it fits all of the inserts, and I even have a notes section for me to jot things down when I need to. And, it’s still relatively small in comparison to the larger sizes. There is also plenty of room, so I don’t have to squish my handwriting into it. The only drawback to this one that I can’t fit this in my bags such as the Pochette Métis and the Alma BB.

Now, do I think that this is worth it? Yes. I love it because unlike some of the other planners out there, they can be taken with me on the go without me feeling like I am taking a hardcover notebook with me (which by the way, can get really heavy). And, you can make the planner be whatever you want to be? If you want to have a section for bills, there’s inserts for that. If you want to have a large notes section, you can do it. The options for this piece are endless, and I love it that you can customize it to whatever you may need. As I said earlier, I do recommend that you get them on the preloaded market though. These are some of my most used products from Louis Vuitton, and I recommend them highly. I also think that these are classic and practical items, so they are worth the price tags.

Before we go, I want to talk about inserts. Louis Vuitton offers them for a hefty price tag. Honestly, I highly recommend checking sites like Etsy or Amazon. Not only will you be able to get the pieces made to reflect how you want it to me, but you will be saving a ton of money.

The Farm in Woodbury Is Your Place to Go For The Perfect Late Summer Date

Sunflowers are my favorite flower. I don’t have a why other than they just bring me so much joy. Around this time of year, I drag my fiancé to a sunflower field. Last year, I went to the Lyman Orchard one. This year, we decided to take a trip out to the Farm in Woodbury to look at fields of my favorite flower.

The Sunflower Festival in Woodbury opened their fields on August 4, and currently have over 19 different types of sunflowers. Their fields are absolutely gorgeous. Despite the fact that we went in 100 degree weather, it was really peaceful to walk around. Other than bees, the fields were inhabited with birds and butterflies.

If this posts convinces you to take the drive, I highly recommend checking out their farm stand. They have a ton of sunflower memorabilia, but also have fresh fruits, honey, and other confections. Yum.

Tickets for the sunflower farm can be purchased online here.

Friday Faves: August 12, 2022

TGIF everyone! I am so excited that it is Friday. I have an exciting new beginning that I am not comfortable with sharing on the blog, but am asking for the best vibes. I have so many different favorites to share — some random, others not so much. So, without further a due, here are this week’s favorites.

Angel Number Necklace: I have been seeing the times 11:11 or 1:11 a lot. So, my angel number is 111. According to iPublishing, the angel number 111 means new beginnings or a fresh start. I couldn’t think of anything better for me to use in this stage of my life. I have the silver version, but they also have other metal colors on their website.

Selenite Bowl: This has been on my wishlist for a while, and after looking for some of my crystal bracelets, I learned that some of them have broken during the move. So I got this to make sure that my bracelets (some of them purchased during my trip to San Diego) stay safe. Selenite is also known to cleanse them, which makes this a perfect way to store my jewelry.

Amazonite Bracelet: This bracelet has become one of my new favorites as well. I love the color, which is why I bought it. However, I also loved the meaning, which is to soothe tense situations, and to bring clarity.

Bubly Seltzer: I have been obsessed with drinking cherry seltzer from Bubly. I have the Soda Stream, but this is so much easier. I have not been drinking as much as I should. and this helps me stay hydrated.

Hamsa Necklace from the Ruby Tree: This is not online, but I purchased this necklace from the Ruby Tree during my trip to the sunflower farm last week, and I am obsessed. I have been layering it with my angel number piece, and I am loving the combo.

The Game Show Network: I have been binge watching America Says and Family Feud with my fiancé and his family, and it’s just really addicting. That’s all.

My Top Amazon Jewelry Picks

We all know that I am a jewelry girl. For years, I’ve watched influencers such as Moriah Robinson purchase jewelry from Amazon. However, I was scarred for life from the early days of Amazon when many of the pieces weren’t as great of a quality as they are now. Recently, I started purchasing some pieces that I’ve become obsessed with, and I want to take time to share them with you all. As a side note, all of these pieces are hyperallergenic or sterling silver. I have sensitive skin, and these do not irritate my ears whatsoever.:

Huggie Hoop Earrings: I am obsessed with these earrings. They are so lightweight, but are a funky take of a classic jewelry staple. I love these in my first hole, with another hoop in my second. I’ve taken these on vacation, and they were perfect for night outfits. This was recommended by Moriah, and I can see why. These are such a great gift, and I definitely will be wearing these for years to come.

Pearl Necklace: This was a Prime Day early deal for me, and I am so obsessed. I also took this with me on vacation, and it is such a classic staple at an affordable price. I love this for layering, but you can wear this on its own as well. The regular price is still pretty good for the quality.

Opal Moon and Hamsa Necklaces: I used to have one many years ago but I felt that there was too many bad memories associated with it so I let it go. I love both of these because they are adjustable so I can wear them as short or as long as I want. For the price, the quality is amazing. I really love layering these two together, and I am so amazed for the quality.

Hamsa Bracelet: You can see the theme here — I love opal hamsas. I am obsessed with this bracelet. This has been a wishlist item for several years, and I am so glad I picked this up. I layered this with an evil eye bracelet, but I can see this working in several other bracelet stacks.

Evil Eye Bracelet: I bought both colors of this bracelet and I am obsessed with it. It’s really dainty, but it packs a punch. These are great to stack with, and I am such I’ll be wearing these through the fall season.

Double Hoop Earrings: Last but not least, I want to talk about these hoops because they are so cute. I do have double pierced ears, but these do not go anywhere near my second piercing. The earrings are also really lightweight, because I can’t do heavy earrings. I am sure I’ll be gifting these as well.

The Book That Broke TikTok: Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score

#BookTokMadeMeDoIt

The novel Things We Never Got Over practically has taken over the internet. This novel is the first in the Knockmeout series, and tells the story of Naomi, a runaway bride who comes to the rescue of her twin sister, Tina, who is always in trouble. Naomi finds out that she has a niece that she was not aware of either. She meets bad-boy Knox, a bad-boy entrepreneur who owns several businesses in town. Knox is a pretty straightforward guy who stays away from drama like the plague. However, Naomi is causing him to rethink that. . .

I picked up this book solely because of all of the TikToks that I’ve watched on it. With the promise that the book was going to be addicting and something that lovers of Colleen Hoover would enjoy, I knew that I would enjoy this book as well.

Well, let’s just say I devoured this book in two days and could not put it down until it was complete. Of course, I was on vacation, so there’s that.

This book did in fact live up to the hype. I am going to be honest here — I went in with skeptics. In fact, for the first 100 pages, I was not sure if it was even worth the read. Let’s just be honest here — the book started out slow. However, after a while, the book began to pick it up to the point where I couldn’t put it down.

Now, this book was a long one. Over 500 pages in fact. However, like I said, once you get through that 100 pages, you’re going to be sucked right into it. That said, I wanted to add that so much happens in those pages. In fact, one may argue that there may be too much drama that happens. But, I am okay with that.

What we’re all here for is the romance. This is your standard enemies to lovers romance. Knox is annoyed by Naomi at the start of the novel. Not to give any spoilers here, but that ends by the conclusion of the novel. I loved watching this romance unfold. Naomi’s previous relationship was borderline abusive, and it was amazing to see how he defends her and changes her perspective of relationships. I also loved watching Naomi break down some of Knox’s walls in the effort to give him permission to love. The two suffer ups and downs, but it was amazing to read.

Furthermore, I really enjoyed reading the relationship between Naomi and her niece. At the beginning of the novel, the two are complete and total strangers due to the fact that Naomi doesn’t know that she exists. However, it was heart warming to see how the two misfits learn how to love each other.

So. Did it live up to the hype? Yes. Yes, it did. In fact, I give it five stars.

Friday Faves: July 29, 2022

TGIF! As a disclaimer, this Friday Faves is all about books and coffee. Not all, but quite a few of them are books, because I can’t stop reading. That said, I have quite a few faves that I am loving right now, and can’t wait to share.

Bridgerton Series: Guys, I get the hype. This series has been sitting on my TBR for the last year or so, and I am so glad that I finally picked it up now. It’s about the Bridgerton siblings, which is based on the famous Netflix show. I just completed the Viscount Who Loved Me, and I was so obsessed. I have been taking a break after every one, but I know I am going to breeze through the series.

The Wish by Nicholas Sparks: I read this book in one day. Which is a danger when it comes to Nicholas Sparks novels. This tells the story of Maggie, who is a dying photographer. It follows her summer romance, and it’s addicting. This is the perfect beach read.

Lisa Gozlan Evil Eye Bracelet: I am obsessed with my latest bracelet find, which is this evil eye bracelet from Lisa Gonzlan. I love the evil eye, and I love how this bracelet layers with other pieces. I am also going to be grabbing her happy face bracelet at some point, which I think will pair well with this one.

Hyperchiller: I picked this up during Prime Day, and this was such an amazing Amazon find. Basically, you freeze it, and then put hot coffee into it. And, less than one minute from it, it turns it into iced coffee. I basically used K-Cup coffee, and it tasted so much better than Dunkin’. This makes a great gift as well.

Choices: To the Hills and Back by Audrina Patridge: I am obsessed with the TV show the Hills, so I naturally downloaded this as soon as I heard this existed. So far, I am really enjoying it. It is a quick read, and I am enjoying reading Audrina’s insight on what happened during the show.

Cold Brew Maker: My brother gave me this for my birthday, and this was the best gift to receive. I love this because I can make cold brew that I can actually drink because I can flavor it with dairy free creamer. This is so easy to use, and this too, will make a great gift.