Marilyn Martyouze Review and 50% off Coupon

If you like audiobooks, romance, and pampering yourself, Marilyn Martyouze is the perfect subscription box for you! The subscription sends two audiobooks with lots of lovely treats on a bi-monthly basis.

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

Marilyn Martyouze has two different boxes: audiobooks and lingerie. This is a review of the audiobooks box. Boxes ship every other month and contain one or two audiobooks plus two to three bath and body, beauty, accessory, or other whimsical luxury items.

Here are the pricing options:

• Bi-Monthly: $58 for one box every two months
• Four Month Prepay: $116 for two boxes
• Six Month Prepay: $174 for three boxes
• 12 Month Prepay: $348 for six boxes

Shipping is free on six- and 12-month subscriptions and $7 for the bi-monthly option.

Your first box will ship within two weeks of you signing up, and then subsequent boxes will ship bi-monthly. You'll also receive a complimentary magazine subscription when you leave a review on Google and Instagram or Google and Facebook using the #MMRewards hashtag in the review. The info card (pictured below) said on the opposite side that the subscription is for Elle Magazine.

My box theme was "Contemporary" with romance audiobooks. There were a ton of other goodies packed inside, too!

There was also a nice handwritten card saying that my box was packed by Linda and had a retail value of $82.

My box had two audiobooks on CD and six bath and body/beauty items. I also really liked the pink peanut packaging and little hearts made out of red pipe cleaners (see above at the bottom of the box).

The beauty products fit the romance theme really well. Here's what was inside:

• Wellness Blends Hyaluronic Acid Face Serum (~14.99) - This is a scented hyaluronic acid and essential oil blend. I use hyaluronic acid serum daily to help retain moisture, but this one had more of an oil based than I'm used to. It still absorbed quickly into my skin and felt really soft after, though.
• Victoria's Secret Bombshell and Bombshell Paris Eau de Parfum ($18) - This has Bombshell on one end and Bombshell Paris on the other and I love both! They're the perfect mix of sweet and floral.
• Nicole Miller Hand Cream in Rose Gardenia and Lilac and Green Tea (~$8 each) - The packaging on these is so pretty. They both smell lovely and exactly how you'd expect them to smell based on their names, but florals tend to make me sneeze a lot so I'm going to gift these to my mom.
• My Beauty Spot Charcoal Infused Body Wash with Retinol and Rose Hip (~$5 each) - I've never seen a body wash with retinol in it before, but it's a great idea. Retinol (also known as Vitamin A) is great for increasing collagen production and fading dark spots from sun damage. Rose Hip protects skin and increases cell turnover. Both have charcoal, which detoxifies and balances skin.

I'm approximating the retail value of the serum, hand creams, and body washes since I couldn't find exact listings for them online.

Now for the audiobooks! At first I thought that the books would be a digital download, but I actually kind of like having them on CD. Plus, it's easy to save them as MP3s through iTunes if you want to add them to your phone or whatnot.

The first book is Royal Heir by Ruth Cardello ($14.95 on iTunes), with six discs and a run time of seven hours and 47 minutes. I honestly have never listened to an audiobook before, I usually read paper books, but these are great for a road trip or while you're otherwise commuting.

The second book is The Villa by Nora Roberts ($22.95 on iTunes), on 14 discs with a run time of about 15 hours.

• Visit Marilyn Martyouze to subscribe
• Use coupon code Deluxe for 50% off your first box (valid on the bi-monthly audiobook option) - bringing the price to $29!
• Connect with them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter

Bottom Line: The Marilyn Martyouze audiobook subscription is a great way to treat yourself to a little pampering and romantic stories! I calculate the approximate retail value to be $96.89, which is actually $14.89 higher than what was listed on the info card, so maybe my estimations are a little off -- but either way, you're getting your money's worth for this box.

May The Bookworm Box Review

I love finding new subscription boxes, and finding new book boxes is one of my all time favorite things. I love to read and am always looking for new great books. The Bookworm Box is a great subscription that not only sends you signed books and fun merch, they donate 100% of their profits to charity, too!

*Disclaimer: This box was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review.

First, I love the cute little bookworm logo. Second, The Bookworm Box sends two autographed books, a bookworm item, and fun book swag each month for $39.99 per month. They are currently sold out, but new spots open up every month and sell out quickly, so if you're interested in subscribing I recommend following them on social media (links at the end of the post) to see when spots open up.

The Bookworm Box is in the process of obtaining their 501c3 charity status. They accept donations of books to include in the boxes and also purchase them from authors to share with subscribers. 100% of their profits after overhead costs are donated to various charities, and has of December 31, 2016 they've donated approximately $750,000 to charity! You can see a list of all of the charities that they've donated to on their website.

I was super excited to break into The Bookworm Box! I had no idea what to expect, other than the two books of course, and I was pleasantly surprised by all of the goodies inside. I was surprised how heavy the box was, which only added to the intrigue.

Aside from the two autographed books, this month's box had six extra items, all branded with The Bookworm Box's logo. There were also a few inserts that could be used as bookmarks.

I think it's really fun that the books are autographed by their authors! My box had two romance novels, which is not my preferred genre, but I will share these with people who I know will enjoy reading them.

Tapping the Billionaire by Max Monroe: So Max Monroe is actually a pseudonym for a secret duo of romance writers who are New York Times bestsellers under this name. This book is the first in the "Billionaire Bad Boys" series; here's the blurb from Amazon:

Georgia Cummings has zero luck with dating, and the era of the internet is not her friend. No matter how fast she runs, how many corners she turns, she can’t find her way out of this weird, alternate universe where men think d*ck pics are a replacement for small talk and getting to know a girl. One more crotch selfie and she might write men off for good…

But why can’t she stop fantasizing about him?

Kline Brooks is the quintessential billionaire bad boy—dark, styled, short hair, muscles for days, and a panty-dropping smile. Except—he isn’t.

As his employee, he won’t touch her with a ten foot pole. But she won’t touch him either.

Too bad their hormones missed the memo.

Emerge by S. E. Hall: This book is also the first in a series, the "Evolve" series. Here's the blurb:

"You never have to be without me, Laney, never." He lied...my everything I ever knew, trusted, wanted...I am, in fact, without him. On my own and out of my shell, I learn new things about life, friendship and...myself. Like what you've always known may not be what you've always wanted.

Dane Kendrick awakened things within me that I never knew existed, unraveling and uncovering the real Laney Jo Walker. I'm a new adult...so is my story.

Max Monroe autograph

S. E. Hall autograph

This box would be a good value with the two autographed books alone, but The Bookworm Box does a great job of sending extra bookish goodies, too! The bookworm magnet is too cute and is already on my fridge. The pen is nice quality (who doesn't love a good pen?) and the notepad with sticky tabs is an essential for any reader.

There was also a nail kit with The Bookworm Box logo on it which is not something I would expect from a book box but it's a nice item nonetheless. I'm going to take this to work and leave it at my desk for emergency hangnail removal. The pouch is clear and has a long string attached, so I'm assuming you can wear this around your neck and store your phone or other small items inside of it. It's actually a great idea for travel when you want to keep something close to you, maybe under a jacket or something like that.

The last item is a big canvas cloth. I think it's a table cloth? It could definitely be used as one, or as a blanket for a picnic. There is no info card describing the items and I couldn't find it on their website, but that's what I would use it for.

• Visit The Bookworm Box to learn more and subscribe
• Shop their store for autographed books and swag
• Connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram

Bottom Line: I loved the May box from The Bookworm Box! Even though the books weren't quite my style I think it's amazing that they send autographed books and donate their profits to charity. The extra goodies were a lot of fun and high quality, too.

Book Review: How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety by Zachary Auburn

I am a super cat lady and when I saw this book I knew I wanted to review it right away. How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety by Zachary Auburn should be required reading for all cat people!

*Disclaimer: This book was sent to See, Shop, Love! through Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not sure this needs to be said, but just in case, this book is a parody. I think everyone can enjoy this book, regardless of your political affiliations and beliefs, as long as you have a good sense of humor.

The book is 144 pages long, which I point out because I initially thought it was just a pamphlet. It has black and white photos to accompany a variety of topics, including how to talk to your cat about evolution and abstinence. Each chapter is about 10 pages long with accompanying photos, and it's broken down with other inserts of information. I'm not sure I'm describing it that well, but remember how in textbooks they have separate, smaller paragraphs within the main chapters with side topics and more information? It's kind of like that. See the photo below with the inset "Advice From Our Expurrts" for an example.

I think this book is really cute and funny and a great distraction from the more serious things going on in the world. It's written in the style of a serious informative guide, but it is most definitely not a serious book. My favorite thing about this book is the photographs, as you can see from the photo above they're just ridiculous!

Bottom Line: This book is out there for sure, but if you need a good laugh and you love cats I think it's a good read. It's definitely for people with an odd sense of humor, but I fit that description and I thought this was a really fun read!

• Learn more about How to Talk to Your Cat About Gun Safety
• Learn more about author Zachary Auburn

Book Review: Photographs From the Edge by Art Wolfe with Rob Sheppard

I love a good coffee table book. Browsing through big, beautiful photographs is really calming to me because I love immersing myself in the images. Photographs From the Edge by Art Wolfe showcases 40 years of Art's photography and includes plenty of stories behind all of the images.

*Disclaimer: This book was sent to See, Shop, Love! in exchange for an honest review through Blogging for Books.

As soon as I saw the cover image for this book I knew I had to see more. I love nature photography, and Art Wolfe is one of the best nature photographers in the world. He's worked with National Geographic, Smithsonian, BBC Wildlife, and many more. Check out his biography page on the Random House site to learn more.

I couldn't wait to dig in to this book! It's a sturdy hardcover and would look great on any coffee table or bookshelf. The photographs are printed beautifully, but what I really like is how much background is given about each of the photos.

Some of the photographs are printed as two-page spreads, but most are layed out like the pages pictured above. As you can see, there's a full page of text where Art provides the story behind each photo. I loved reading about the places and subjects themselves. Just looking at the photos is a great experience, but knowing how each image was captured provides so much more depth. There's also a photo tip accompanying each image, which is great for any aspiring photographers.

Here's another shot of the text, to give you an idea of what you'll find inside the book. I also like that the technical specs are provided (underneath the title of the image).

The book features a total of 288 pages of photos and text, beginning with Art's work from the 1980s all the way up to 2015. Obviously all of his photos are spectacular, but it was interesting to see the progression of his style and subject matter, which he also talks about in the book's preface.

• Learn more about Photographs From the Edge

Bottom Line: Whether you're into photography as a hobby or just have an affinity for beautiful nature photos, you should definitely check out Photographs From the Edge! I loved browsing through all of the photos and learning the stories behind them made the whole experience even better.

Book Review: The Dim Sum Field Guide by Carolyn Phillips

I love dim sum. I have eaten a lot of it. No matter how much of it I eat, I want more! Even with I'll the dim sum I've eaten, I tend to stick to familiar dishes that I know I like. But now I have The Dim Sum Field Guide by Carolyn Phillips--the perfect little book to help me learn about and appreciate new dim sum!

*Disclaimer: This book was sent to See, Shop, Love! via Blogging for Books.

If you're not familiar with dim sum, it's a Chinese cuisine involving lots of little dishes. It's similar to tapas in Spain. It usually consists of bite-sized portions of things like dumplings, rolls, and steamed buns. There are lots of different dim sum dishes, and as I said before, I'm not familiar with all of them. If you're new to Chinese cuisine it can be intimidating reading the menus, which is where The Dim Sum Field Guide comes in.

This book is so cute! It's small, about 5 x 5", so you could easily slip it into your purse or inconspicuously carry it into a restaurant. It has descriptions and hand-drawn illustrations of more than 70 types of dim sum, and they're categorized by savory and sweet (and broken down further into subcategories like baked, steamed, fried, etc.).

This book is incredibly informative. They hand drawn illustrations are extremely detailed, so even if you don't know the names of what you want, you can easily identify them through these pictures. The pages contain the most common names of each dish, along with other spellings and pronunciations.

When I think of a field guide, I think of a nature book. Take a field guide for birds, for instance. It should have a picture of the bird, the name of the bird, the scientific name, and information on how to identify it. This book has all of that information, but for food. I think the presentation is so creative! As you can see in the photo above, there's an identification section that describes what the dim sum looks like and provides more information about it, plus more information like basic fillings and different types, or "species."

Looking through this book makes me hungry. It not only gives incredibly detailed information on what each dim sum looks like and is made with, but it also gives background on its origin and history. Even if you're not heading out for dim sum, this book is a fun read that's packed with information.

• The Dim Sum Field Guide is available from Penguin Random House

Bottom Line: I love this book and I'm so glad I found it! I'm definitely taking it with me the next time I go out for dim sum, and I already have a bunch of new ones from this book that I want to try!

Book Case Club Review and Coupon

I love to read but I haven't ever subscribed to a book box before because I'm pretty picky about what I read. I was an English major in college and I have to admit that I am a bit of a literary snob. Plus, a lot of the current book subscriptions are a little pricey, and I'm a big fan of getting books for free from the library. That being said, when I discovered Book Case Club I knew I had to give them a try because they're incredibly affordable and allow you to choose what kinds of books you want!

*Disclaimer: This box was purchased by See, Shop, Love!

Book Case Club sends a mystery box of books from the genre of your choice for only $9.99 (plus shipping) per month! That's cheaper than the price of one copy of most books out there. The titles are handpicked by their expert curators and delivered right to your door. Here are the box types:

• Blind Date Case: Paranormal romance subscription
• Strange Worlds Case: Sci-fi/fantasy subscription
• Teenage Dream Case: Young adult subscription
• Thrill Seeker Case: Mystery/thriller subscription
• Booking for Love Case: Romance subscription

I chose the Thrill Seeker box because I love a good thriller. I also used a coupon code (which I've listed at the bottom of this post for you to use as well), so with shipping ($5) this ended up costing me $11.99 total. The books ship via media mail, which can be a little slow, but I actually got my box three days after receiving the shipment notice.

As you can see from the photo above, not only did I receive the promised books, but there was also a nice handwritten welcome note and a surprise extra (a little notebook).

Both books I received are hardcovers, and they're titles I've never heard of before (which is a good thing). The first is Level 26: Dark Origins by Anthony E. Zuiker with Duane Swierczynski. I knew I recognized the name Anthony E. Zuiker, and that's because he is the creator of the CSI: series. Here's a blurb from Amazon about the book:

It is well known among law enforcement personnel that murderers can be categorized on a scale of twenty- five levels of evil, from the naive opportunists starting out at Level 1 to the organized, premeditated torture- murderers who inhabit Level 25.

What almost no one knows—except for the elite unnamed investigations group assigned to hunt down the world’s most dangerous killers, a group of men and women accounted for in no official ledger, headed by the brilliant but reluctant operative Steve Dark—is that a new category of killer is in the process of being defined.

Only one man belongs to this group.
His targets: Anyone
His methods:Unlimited
His alias: Sqweegel
His classification: Level 26

I loooove crime shows and stories, so I think this book is going to be right up my alley!

I also received The 13th Hour by Richard Doetsch. Here's the Amazon blurb:

Nick Quinn is being held in jail, accused of the murder of his wife, Julia. He knows she's dead--he saw her bloody corpse--but he's innocent. A mysterious gentleman gives Nick a talisman that takes him back in time, hour by hour, for a total of twelve hours. With each hour, Nick finds more clues to the identity of the killer, but he also discovers that his actions in the past may have unexpected repercussions in the future. If he doesn't set things right by the thirteenth hour, all will be lost, and his desperate attempts to save Julia's life may lead to a far greater catastrophe than he could have ever imagined.

To be honest, this doesn't grab me as much as the Level 26 synopsis does, but I still think it sounds interesting.

• Visit Book Case Club to learn more and subscribe
• Use coupon code bccjohn for 30% off your first box!

Bottom Line: I am really impressed by this box and I think Book Case Club is a great value for any book lover! I think it's great that you can choose from which genre you'd like to receive titles, and the best part is that the box is so affordable.

Scent of Triumph: A Novel of Perfume and Passion

I love to read and I've always been a fan of historical fiction. When I was contacted by St. Martin's Press about a new novel titled Scent of Triumph: A Novel of Perfume and Passion by Jan Moran I was instantly intrigued because it is set during World War II.

*Disclaimer: A copy of the book was sent to See, Shop, Love! for review purposes.

One of my favorite time periods to read about is World War II, and I've been interested in military history and that era in general since middle school. I was interested in Scent of Triumph because it's set during WWII but the story was unlike any I had ever come across before!

Author Jan Moran

Jan Moran brings her extensive knowledge of perfuming to the forefront with this novel, which follows French perfumer Danielle Betancourt (I was also interested in this book because the protagonist and I share the same first name!) during the war. It begins with a bang, quite literally, but I don't want to give too much of the plot away. From there, Danielle's family is scattered across Europe as the war marches closer and closer to their doorsteps.

Danielle and her family eventually find themselves in Los Angeles during the 1940s, where she sets out to become a successful perfumer and designer to the stars. One of my favorite things about this novel was how well the author interwove the harsh realities of war with the glamour of Old Hollywood!

I found Scent of Triumph to be quite captivating and very interesting. It struck the perfect balance between historical fiction and romance, and I found myself rooting for Danielle as she created a new life for herself and her family.

Bottom Line: If you're looking for a great read, I recommend picking up Scent of Triumph by Jan Moran! I think it appeals to a wide variety of readers, so if you like history mixed with romance and heart, I don't think you will be disappointed by this wonderfully crafted story!

• Learn more about Scent of Triumph at the St. Martin's Press website
• Learn more about Jan Moran at her website

What do you think of Scent of Triumph? Does it sound like something you'd like to read?

Howard B. Wigglebottom Review [CLOSED]

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Mom Blog Society. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

I received a copy of Howard B. Wigglebottom Learns About Sportsmanship: Winning Isn't Everything to review through Mom Blog Society.  Being selected for this review and giveaway made me smile because I've checked out Howard B. Wigglebottom and the We Do Listen foundation previously after learning about them on other blogs, but being able to review a hardcover copy of one of their books was really great!

I shared this book with my cousin, who is 7 years old.  Aside from our mutual love of bunnies, I thought it would be great to share with her because she's active in sports.  I didn't even know this before receiving the book, but the story centers around Howard and his soccer team, and my cousin plays soccer.  I think she really enjoyed the fact that "her" sport was featured in the book.  When I asked her what her favorite part was, she said the ending because Howard and his team worked together to win.

This book introduces children (targeted at ages 4-8) to the concepts of respect, camaraderie, teamwork, and the joy of playing the game.  It was created by the We Do Listen Foundation, which is a non-profit group of writers, artists, educators, parents, caregivers, and teachers who share a vision of a world where life is harmonious for all.  They provide resources such as the Howard B. Wigglebottom books to convey these lessons to the young minds of society.

What I especially like about the We Do Listen Foundation is that they also provide plenty of free resources for parents and children!  The Howard book I received retails for $15, which is a fair price for the excellent quality, but not everyone has extra money around so the free resources on the foundation's website are still great for all types of uses.  Such resources include, but aren't limited to, posters, songs, and animated books.  Currently, the hardcover books are on sale for only $6 (or you can buy all 10 for $50) at the We Do Listen website.

Bottom Line: The Howard B. Wigglebottom series of books and online resources is a dynamic way to empower children to be well-rounded and conscientious people.  The book itself was well-written and beautifully illustrated.  I highly recommend checking out the We Do Listen Foundation and Howard B. Wigglebottom for yourself and your young one(s)!

• Visit the We Do Listen Foundation and browse the whole line of Howard B. Wigglebottom books and online resources
• Connect with them on Facebook and Twitter

If you're interested in winning a copy of one of the Howard B. Wigglebottom books then enter my giveaway after the "read more!"

Blue Honeycreepers: Volume 1 Review

I have a confession to make: I am a total bird nerd!  I love birds and everything about them.  I'm really just a beginner, but that just means there is so much more information out there for me to learn.  My interest in birds began when I was younger and my dad would take my brothers and I out on nature walks.  I feel blessed to have woods in my backyard, which always meant there was plenty of wildlife to observe.

When I stumbled across the Blue Honeycreepers: Volume 1 book by Deborah Carney and Vinny O'Hare, I was interested in learning more because I don't know much at all about Honeycreepers.  This coffee table book is full of gorgeous photographs and information about Red-legged and Yellow-legged Honeycreepers.

I learned that "Blue" Honeycreepers are actualy referred to by the color of their legs, and sometimes known as Sugarbirds.  Deborah titled the book "Blue" because of the brilliant blue plumage that male Honeycreepers possess.  Their scientific names are Cyanerpes cyaneus (Red-legged) and Cyanerpes caeruleus (Yellow-legged).  I also learned that the main reason why I had never heard of them before is because they're indigenous to tropical areas from southern Mexico to Peru, Bolivia, central Brazil, Trinidad and Tobago, and Cuba.  I'm a resident of western New York and have never been outside of the country other than north to Canada, so no Honeycreeper sightings for me!

The photographs in this book really impressed me.  I also enjoy photography and consider myself to be at the intermediate level.  I've shot backyard birds before, and it's no easy feat.  You need to have high-quality equipment and a trained eye to be able to catch birds living out their natural tendencies.  The Honeycreepers remind me a bit of the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds I see frequently because they eat similar foods: nectars, fruits, and insects.

• Learn more about Blue Honeycreepers
• Purchase a copy of the 36 page book for $12.99 on Amazon
• Enter to win a free print copy of Blue Honeycreepers

Bottom Line: I really enjoyed looking through the PDF version of Blue Honeycreepers!  I would love to get my hands on a print copy, because I bet the photographs are even more beautiful up close on the page.  The book is the perfect mix of informative text and lovely pictures.

Sleeper's Run by Henry Mosquera Review

This is the first book review I've ever posted, and (in my opinion), it's a good one.  I just finished reading Sleeper's Run by Henry Mosquera, which is classified in the "political thriller" genre.  I found it to be action-packed, fast-paced throughout most of the story, and really interesting.

I don't want to give away too much of the plot, because I think the book is the most exciting when you don't know what's coming.  It's about a man named Eric Caine, who unbeknownst to him, becomes embedded in a political agenda.  Caine is a former Special Operations airman in the Air Force and IT specialist, and throughout the novel he utilizes his quick wits, intelligence, and combat skills to evade his enemies.

This book was a real page-turner for me.  It started out a bit slow, but after about 30 or so pages the plot really picks up.  The middle chunk has tons of twists and turns, which makes it exciting.  Even though there are a lot of plot twists, I still found that the story was easy to follow.  It started to slow down a bit for me in the last 100 pages, but it was never boring.  I found the ending to be slightly predictable, but it wasn't unsatisfactory.  I was especially interested in Eric Caine's story because I've always been interested in military/political type stories.

The only real gripe I had about this story was that it switched points of view.  The English major in me would have preferred a more fluid story told from only one perspective, instead of jumping from Caine's point of view to an omniscient narrator, and back to Caine again.

• Learn more about Sleeper's Run at the book's website
• Connect on Facebook and Twitter

The novel is 350 pages long, and available for purchase on Amazon.com, Kindle, iBookstore, Nook, Sony Reader, and Kobo.  It costs $9.99 for paperback, $2.99 for ebook.  Below are the ISBNs:

ISBN: 978-0615505442 paperback
978-1-937563-05-9 MOBI
978-1-937563-06-6 EPUB

Bottom Line: I highly suggest reading Sleeper's Run if you're a fan of thrillers.  If you like stories like the Bourne movies, I think you'll really like this.  It's a great read and really intriguing.



Check out the trailer for Sleeper's Run


More about the author...from Henry Mosquera's profile:

I'm a writer and artist born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela. I attended the University of Miami, Florida, where I obtained a double major in Graphic Design and Film. As a writer, I enjoy researching my novels extensively, including gaining first-hand knowledge of some of my characters' skills. I currently reside in Los Angeles with my wife, dog and cat. Sleeper’s Run is my first novel.


*Disclaimer: I received an ebook copy of Sleeper's Run from Henry Mosquera free to facilitate my review. I was selected to review this novel through Business 2 Blogger and will receive a $10 stipend for posting a review on my blog, on Amazon.com, and BarnesAndNoble.com. The honest opinions here are entirely my own.