S.J Magnolia's Blog, page 2

Fiction Friday

On today’s edition of Fiction Friday, I will be posting a few reviews of books I’ve read recently. I read extremely fast, so I do have a lot of books I can review, today I’ll start with four and every other Friday when I don’t have interviews with Authors I will do book reviews. You will also be able to find all my reviews in the Review tab at the top of the blog, which I will be filling up shortly. As soon as I get caught up with everything else, lol. I read all sorts of books so there will be a variety of genres shown. Let’s get started.

First up is The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave. I originally picked up this book when it was the book for Reese’s Book Club but didn’t get to it till beginning of this year. It has been made into a show now on Apple Tv, starring Jennifer Garner so I’ll have to check that out later. I give this book 5** because I couldn’t put it down.

The story is about a woman whose husband disappears leaving only a note saying to protect her. Her being his 16-year-old daughter Bailey, who dislikes her very much. It’s a story of a family in whichever way that looks, the lengths someone would go to protect a child, and learning the hard truths about the people closest to you. I read this book in one sitting. It had twists, suspense, heartbreak, and the ending, was not what I thought it would be, and was perfect all at the same time. I definitely recommend.

Tethered by Elayna R. Gallea is up next. This story follows Luna a princess sold into an arranged marriage to a vampire prince horror stories are told about. I read this book in one sitting and was fueled by coffee.

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She thinks she knows what to expect, arranged marriages happen all the time, right? When their binding ceremony goes awry and they find themselves magically tethered to each other it becomes very clear nothing has gone to plan. Or has it? They must learn to rely on each other, find a killer, come to terms with loyalty not deserved, and count on each other in ways neither expected. This is a fantasy romance with murder, forced proximity, vampires, magic and a slow-burn arranged marriage you’ll love. I wrote to Elayna personally and said I would legit grovel if I could be on the ARC team for Book 2 I loved this book. And I want my own Sebastian… just saying.

Next up is Bewitched Shadows by Autumn Blake. This book released at the beginning of April and I was lucky to read it early through Netgalley. This book DID NOT disappoint. Set in New Orleans this book is the first in a series and I’m a huge fan already.

Ember Belle is a witch and a total mess. Her magic is out of control since her parent’s deaths and the new deaths occurring in her hometown force her to make a very stupid and reckless decision. An opportunity to own a magical artifact that Ember thinks will solve all her problems drives her to summon a demon. Killian is the future Lord of Pride in hell and he doesn’t have time to meddle with a witch he’s been seeing in his dreams. They enter into a pact with Ember’s soul on the line and they race against time to find the killers, awaken Ember’s true potential before Samhain or lose everything. This book had everything, witches, vampires, shifters, demons, sex, intrigue and I honestly didn’t know who was guilty till it was revealed. Autumn broke my heart, mended it back together, had me laughing, and left me with a book hangover. I’m highly anticipating the next book.

Last but not least on tonight’s docket is Her Dark Enchantments by Rosalyn Briar. Now this book does not release till April 25th but I had the pleasure of reading this book through Netgalley and here’s my honest review.

The story is a dark retelling of Sleeping Beauty with a side of Rumpelstiltskin. Myravelle Spinner grew up in captivity serving a selfish and greedy king who has her mom hostage in a tower spinning gold to fund his wars on the Fae. Forced to use men whose lives she drains with a dagger to fuel her healing powers she is the only one that can awaken the king’s men from the cursed sleep. When it comes time to find a new canvas she’s matched with a soldier whose not too happy about it. This book takes you on a journey to finding love against all odds, the hardship in death, and heading down paths you can’t come back from. The wicked fairy never asked to become a monster. It was not the ending I hoped for, but I was swept away in the story and I’ve never wanted a “villain” to win so much in my life.

That’s it for this edition of Fiction Friday, it was hard to pick which books to post but fret not I read A LOT so if they don’t show up in my Friday edition you can find them under the Review tab at the top of my home page which I’m slowly working on getting everything up and posted.

Till next time,

Love, a Book Loving Magnolia xx

Truss It Up Thursday

In this edition of Truss it Up Thursday I’m going to be sharing my love for Rare Beauty cosmetics by Selena Gomez. I’m not usually a big endorser of celebrity makeup I don’t jump on the bandwagon just because a celebrity’s name is on it. I will give it a try and form my own opinion if it interests me enough. I love the mission and values her company stands by, and I love that the products are vegan and cruelty-free. I love how I feel wearing the makeup, it’s buildable so going from natural to glam is easy to do when transitioning from day to night wear. I find her honesty about mental health and her journey with Lupus, which I also suffer from, inspiring and shows great integrity.

But enough being a fangirl, let’s talk makeup. I started by getting a free sample of her soft pinch liquid blush and it was a downhill spiral from there, lol. Most of her products can be found in Sephora stores, and rarebeauty.com now ships to Canada so you may purchase from her site as well. I’ll get product photos and list all that I use and why I love them.

To start I use the Always an Optimist Pore diffusing primer to help with my big pores and to soften the bumps I get from the Butterfly rash associated with Lupus that flares up on my face. Side note* I also love the Always An Optimist Illuminating primer as well to give a nice glow to your skin.

For my Foundation I use the Liquid Touch Weightless Foundation when I need a more covered look and for events, etc. I use the Positive Light tinted moisturizer every day for a more natural look.

Tinted Moisturizer

Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer sticks for a glide easy use product that gives you a nice bronzed look and contoured effect. My go-too shades are Power Boost and Happy Sol but you can go with what suits your skin tone and style best.

Next up is the product that started my obsession. The Soft Pinch Liquid Blush. When I say this product is so easy to use, can be used as lipstick and eyeshadow for a matching all-over glow. For a natural everyday look, I only use one dot on each cheek, and for a nighttime look I will use two unless I’m going with a bold color then I will still use one dot as these cover well and you don’t need a lot of product. My absolute favorite is shade, Hope.

All the shades xx

Kind Words Matte Lipstick and matching Lip Liners are beautiful, long-lasting, and look great. I have several shades as well as some of her Gratitude Dewy Lip balms and can’t wait to try the new Soft Pinch tinted Lip Oils.

Kind Words lip Liner

Perfect Strokes Universal Volumizing Mascara finishes off my eyes.

Always an Optimist Soft Radiance Setting Powder and Always An Optimist 4-in-1 Prime and set spray finish off the whole face.

I am not endorsed or paid to push these products, I just want to make that clear. I am just sharing what works for me, my skin and makes me feel the most beautiful in that skin. I have used the brow powder, and I will say that wasn’t my favorite I didn’t like how it looked on me so I will stick with my regular product for that but overall I was pleasantly and happily surprised with how much I loved these products and how easy they are to apply, how good they feel on my skin, and no harsh side effects of any kind.

We all want to feel beautiful in our own skin and for me, Rare Beauty helps me feel that way. It accentuates what’s already there, light-weight and feminine. So venture forward my beautiful queens and maybe give this a try, maybe not but thank you for showing up anyway.

You are Beautiful, you are worthy, you are enough, and you are flawless, don’t let anybody tell you any different.

Till next time,

Love, Magnolia xx

Rocking my Rare Beauty makeup x

DIY Wednesday

I finally get to say I finished this project lol. Hey! Guess what? I finally finished my office/creative space. Only took me three years and I still have my painting space to finish but I now have a space to go, and be creative in any way I choose. It was a labor of love and a learning experience. What did I learn? I have too much shit, so my first thing was to declutter, sell what I could, and donate what I couldn’t.

Before pictures, As you can see I had too many things, lots of clutter, and was always having to move things around to do projects.

When I started this project I knew I wanted something feminine which is a change for me, a bold accent wall which again is something different for me and designated areas throughout the room for each specific task I like to do creatively.

It was also important for me to have a writing space because writing at my kitchen table or sitting on the couch or even in bed wasn’t serving me a purpose. I’d get distracted easily by household chores, kids, dogs, and literally anything other than writing. I even started dusting because I’d gotten up and walked past something to go to the bathroom and got sidelined on the way back because I felt I had to just do that quick. Do you get my point? My time needed to be managed better and I needed to be in my own space to do it.

I took to Pinterest to look for inspiration and to decide what kind of color scheme I was looking for. All I knew was I wanted something out of my comfort zone.

Warm Blush xx

I found a floral peel n stick wallpaper on Amazon that had all the colors I wanted in it, so I ordered that, and from there, I picked my paint and accents to match. Paint is from Lowes, and the color is called Warm blush. I wanted it to look like rose gold on my walls. Very feminine for me and my friends were definitely surprised by my bold wallpaper choice, but I love it.

This is the exact one I ordered. However, I ordered it during Covid and paid half that price for a roll. Take note- measure, measure, measure, because I did not order enough and then had to wait forever to finish.

The next step was emptying the space for me to paint everything, put up the wallpaper, etc. I have 3 big vision boards up on my walls that I did a DIY blog post on if you scroll back to earlier posts. It will give you a step by step guide on how I made them if you’d like a set of your own. I scored a navy blue carpet on the Facebook marketplace and the l-shaped unit from there as well. It was custom made by a lady for her son’s to play Lego on and have storage. I fell in love with it, and it works perfectly in the space. An office chair from there as well and my office accents I scored from Michael’s, the Dollar store, Ikea and used what I had. I mixed real plants and fake ones and ultimately created a space where everything has its spot, I’m in creative heaven, and it suits me.

It’s time for the big reveal. I will have a list at the bottom with links to everything I did buy. I hope you love it as much as I do .

Need plants.My writing spaceA corner look, I’ve added 2 plants since this picture.Scrapbooking & small painting project area.That wallpaper is just so dang Jewelry making stationThe “lego” unit I scored on Facebook.Keeping organized with my monthly schedulesProjects, my books, and my grad dress in the corner xLast but not least,my sewing machine with one of my quilts hung over the chair. X

My little slice of heaven is finished. I have many many other projects to share over the next little while. Again, I will share where I got everything, and if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask. If you’d like to see more of my DIY projects, be sure to sign up with your email to get first look at everything I share.

Lowes- paint Warm Blush

Ikea- gold shelves, pegboard, accessories, white photo shelves, fake plants and pots.

Michaels- Office accents, gold and white file boxes, gold and white photo boxes.

Dollar store- all picture frames, pens, white board, and post-it notes.

Facebook Marketplace- white ikea desks, white corner unit for storage, office chair, keyboard, navy carpet, and jewelry displays.

Amazon- Wallpaper, tabletop timer, notebooks for planners, tabletop ring light and phone holder, mousepad and wrist guard, markers, planner stencils (I’ll go into more detail in another post), and gold/white pot holders.

Indigo- pens, daily planner, cup warmer, notebooks, clipboard.

Till next time,

Love, an excited and motivated Magnolia xx

Trippin Tuesday

Well, we are back for Part Two of my trip to San Diego and HRR. This will be about the retreat itself and what I specifically got up to during my time. There were events I missed and ones I didn’t have a costume too so I won’t have pictures of all of it. Starting with the first full day which was Wednesday, We signed in and were given our name cards, a swag bag full of goodies, a beautiful charm bracelet which I’ll get to in a second and the emporium was open for anyone looking to buy antique period pieces, They had everything from jewelry to corsets, to hats, gloves, crowns, and merchandise. (I may have bought a crown because I needed it lol). That night we gathered on the terrace for light snacks and drinks for an informal meet and greet. I felt seriously underdressed and was floored by the beautiful costumes already being worn. We made some friends, mingled, and then headed to bed.

Our wonderful host of HRR, Renee Bernard.

We received the beautiful charm bracelet and a booklet we used to go on a hunt and match up each charm with the author that provided it. Once we matched them up we had the author sign each spot and at the end of the retreat you handed in your booklet to be entered into a draw for tickets to HRR 2023 and a beautiful crown.

My crown, I saw, needed and bought. Yes, I needed it.

Lori and Robert Lewis. I had the pleasure of meeting them that first night, they look fabulous and were absolutely wonderful human beings that I have and will keep in touch with. x

Thursday morning The Regency Fair took place with games and prizes, we did go in and check it out quickly, however we headed out on an adventure you’ll hear about in Part 3 before heading back for class. During the day on both Thursday and Friday, they hosted classes on a variety of fun topics. Monica and I divided and conquered each going to different classes and sharing what we learned. I attended the Path to Publishing class hosted by Kathryn LeVeque, the owner of Dragonblade Publishing. Although it wasn’t my subgenre of romance I did walk away with a better knowledge of which publishing route I wanted to go on, which up until that point I had been weighing different options and learned a few new things as well. Afternoon tea was served between 4-5pm, I did not attend this part as I was starving and we headed out to eat before coming back and getting ready for the evening’s festivities.

The Whigs and Wenches Party….. was an amazing event. Here’s a snap of me in my wench costume. I couldn’t breathe in this corset but the girls looked fabulous so I just didn’t sit down the entire night.

When you arrived at the event you were given a bag of old coins to use for the gambling games and also to trade in for tickets to enter draws of baskets donated by various authors in attendance. They served drinks made from recipes TJ London acquired from an old American president. I don’t remember which one sorry but they were tasty and strong as hell. I can say I was robbed of all my coins by a thief in our midst, had to acquire more coins, and had a roaring good time.

All Hail the King and Queen. The delightful couple, taxed me for my cleavage lol and handed out punishments throughout the night to all they chose, some poor souls even received a feathering lol.

A good feathering by order of the King and QueenThis dress There are some more pics from a fun night.

Sahara Kelly, ladies and gents. She was absolutely delightful, a wee bit tipsy, and I couldn’t stop laughing.

Found me some high-class wenches…

Friday was another full day full of events I went to a morning class hosted by Tracy Brogan (who I might add is another amazing human) and took her class Taking the Fifth where I learned the history of James V of Scotland. His history was so sordid and intriguing I enjoyed it so much I was disappointed when it ended. I snagged a copy of her book before I left. We took off for a quick lunch before heading back to the afternoon classes. Monica took Hairstyles from Ancient Rome to the Victorian era hosted by Gina Danna and I took Lye Back and think of England hosted by the hilarious Caroline Lee where I learned the historical methods in which humans cleaned their bits.

The Lovely Tracy Brogan

The delightful Caroline Lee. I have to say I don’t think I’ve ever laughed so much during a soap making class.

Friday afternoon there was an Historical Pool party (that I missed oops) and Friday night was the Highland Ceilidh where Monica taught the highland fling, everyone dressed in their tartans and frocks, and music was provided by an amazing live band. I didn’t have a costume for this event but I did get some good pictures of my fearless friend teaching us to dance and a couple of ladies who stole the show in their amazing costumes and the crude humor that followed.

My partner in crime Monica teaching us a Scottish jig

These two just killed me, couldn’t stop laughing, and round of applause for these lady’s costumes.

Group shot x

I’ve decided that I’ll have to extend this into a Four part series because so much happened and Saturday I feel like deserves its own post as this was our last full day and I magically turned into a belle at the ball. Literally a ball. So, I’ll leave you with this first look and lots of pictures, and next week we will do Saturday and the last post will be all about my days as a tourist. I hope you enjoyed this look at this amazing retreat I think everyone should do at least once.

Till next week,

Love, the travelling Magnolia xx

Trippin Tuesday

This one will have to be a 3-part series because it was a phenomenal trip and I just can’t cover it all in one post. Lesson number one I didn’t like getting up at 430 am to get to the airport on time I did however like the quiet on the plane so maybe that is the way to go. Lesson number two, check a bag next time I’ll get back to that later, and lesson number three TSA sucks donkey dicks, it’s just a fact. I followed all guidelines posted on the website and still had to stand there and throw out over 200 dollars worth of cosmetics and skincare. I give you the one-finger salute with bouquets of them to follow. That set aside I was nervous, excited, and willing to set my feelings aside as I waited for my layover.

Guess I should probably tell you where I went lol. I was invited by a dear friend to join her at the Historical Romance Retreat in San Diego, California. She was an attending author and her plus-one had some scheduling issues and couldn’t make it and I was all too glad to go.

I’ve never been to California before, the weather was beautiful very palmy. We couldn’t get on the same flight so I arrived an hour before Monica. Almost had a heart attack when she texted to say TSA was unsure if they were letting her into the states or sending her back home to Canada. That’s a whole other store but for about 30 minutes it was dicey I had no idea what I’d do in San Diego when the hotel and tickets were all in her name. So, lesson number four, have your name added to things in the event your buddy gets carted back and your alone. She arrived and we went in search of a taxi when a delightful old man suggested the bus, when in Rome I guess so we hopped on the bus and he let us know where our stop was conveniently across the street from our hotel and much cheaper than a taxi.

The retreat was being held at The Westgate Hotel in Downtown San Diego and let me tell you it was like stepping back in time. I felt underdressed and in the wrong era. It was stunning. The lobby had beautiful chandeliers, several royal blue velvet sofas, and chairs trimmed in gold.

I probably looked like a nob standing there gawking, I just couldn’t form words. I may have gone overkill with the photos and I do believe I got a video as well. The Art on the walls and the staircase, the staircase could have its own post lol. Straight out of a fairy tale, it made you want to glide down it while your prince was waiting at the bottom looking at you with bated breath. Now if it was me, for example, my entrance would be something gossiped about for weeks after as I would’ve probably tripped on my gown and landed on my ass with a whoosh and curse words not suitable for ladies but I digress.

Stunning, right?

Our room was beautiful with hand-crafted European furniture carried throughout, we had a nice view and I can admit to staying up as we watched workers at a building across the street and made up stuff they were doing or working on. The pool area was on the roof of the third floor and was perfect to soak in after a long day of walking. They had afternoon tea in the lobby with a harp beautifully played along with it. The lounge was great for after-event cocktails and happy hour. I still can’t figure out why happy is limited to an hour but whatever. The food was okay, but I do feel they needed a more extensive menu. My only other criticism would be they need more people working at night in the lounge. I waited for an hour to get food and a drink only to make it to the bar and be told they were no longer serving food. After I had sat at a table for 30 minutes with the menu in my hand waiting. k

View of the pool from our roomBeautiful art in the lobbyMore ArtView from our roomThe managers table in the lobby

I could do a whole gallery of just pictures I took from this hotel, but I want to get to the actual reason I was there, lol. So, my formal review of the hotel.

5* aesthetic, ambiance, and elegance 3* food and bar service simply for the reasons I listed above. 5* room, cleanliness All in all, I would definitely recommend this hotel to anyone traveling to San Diego.

That’s it for this post. Next week’s Trippin Tuesday will be all about HRR, its events, parties,swag,classes, and all the deets I can guarantee would make you want to attend.

Till then,

Love, the adventuring Magnolia xx

Savvy Bookstagram Saturday

On this edition of Savvy Bookstagram Saturday, I get to introduce the Lovely Allister Marie. I found Ally on Tik Tok, and later on Instagram, I’ve been a huge fan ever since. Her smile is contagious, and her story is beautiful and inspiring. I may have a huge girl crush too, sorry honey still love you, lol. Let’s get started.

Allister Marie x

1). I know you love romance, what is your favorite trope?

A).  Fantasy / Why Choose – Both together is perfection!! 

2). How long have you been creating bookish content?

A). –  I created my TikTok in 2019 (I think), and I started posting here & there in 2020, but the end of 2021 was when I started to be consistent. 

3). If your book boyfriend could come to life, what would he look like and what kind of personality would he have?

A). I am all about the tall, dark-haired, beautiful eyed, morally grey, bad boys with tattoos! Love them to be powerful, strong, protective, & possessive. I LOVE when they put their women first & are the most caring, loving, & attentive significant others but I also love them to be smart asses that take no shit & can easily keep up with their badass significant other. 

4). List your top 5 favorite authors?

A). I can’t list 5 I have so many that I love & I would feel bad leaving out others! I recommend so many amazing authors & I love finding new ones too!

5). In the last few months, you’ve been creating more sultry posts and TikTok, Is there a reason behind it, and what advice would you give to anyone wanting to do the same but are scared?

A). I have finally found my self-worth & slowly been starting to get my confidence back. I come from a background of trauma and was a victim of DV & SA. It messed me up & completely screwed with my self-image. I’m also a mom on top of that, so for the longest time, when I looked in the mirror, I didn’t like who I saw or how I felt. It was a combination of everything, including my mental health. I was depressed, defeated, anxious, & unhappy. I am by no means fixed or 100%, but reading books with strong, powerful FMCs paired with good support from family & friends really turned things around for me. I started reading these books & wanting to be the FMC. I wanted to be powerful, strong, confident, & so on. One of the biggest things that inspired me was seeing other women on Book Tok being so vulnerable, open, & honest, & posting spicy content. Seeing them lay themselves bare & open up while dressing sexy was so incredibly empowering. So one day, I woke up & said I’m taking back my self-worth. I went out, bought some lingerie, took photos, and then posted them. It was the sexiest I had ever felt & made me feel incredible, but that wasn’t what really made me happy. It was the 4 messages I got from other women who were not only relating but felt inspired to do the same because of my post. THAT’S why I do it. It’s not just for me. It’s to empower other women & help them see how beautiful & sexy they are. 

6). I have to say I loved the Meg reel as Hercules is one of my favorite Disney movies. How long have you done Cosplay? And because I haven’t done it, how fun is it, and do I need to do it immediately?

Meg

A). I used to cosplay a lot. I am a massive comic book nerd & grew up obsessed with Marvel & DC. I also was super into anime growing up as well. I’ve always loved dressing up & embodying a character I love, so I decided to start doing it again, & have been having so much fun with it! It’s so much fun & I recommend everyone to do it! Go to conventions & meet people as well. Cosplayers are some of the most loving, supportive, creative, & amazing people out there! They make it so much fun & never judge or ridicule! Everyone is doing it to have a good time & they are such great hype people!

Makima- Chainsaw man

7). If you had to describe your creative space i.e…. TikTok or Instagram what would you want people to know?

A). – It’s a safe space. It’s a space for everyone from every aspect of life. I want people to feel welcome, loved, & supported. I also want them to feel like they can reach out & talk to me about anything, not just books.

“You’re welcome, loved, and supported”

8). I heard about your Book Tok cruise, can you tell us all about it? I can’t attend this year but man will I be shaking my ass up the pier next year lol. We will have to have you back on the blog after so we can hear all about it.

A). – I just decided one day I wanted to go on another cruise but I wanted my book friends to come with me! So I booked it & posting a TikTok inviting people to come with me! I’m super excited about it & would love to make it a yearly thing!! 

9). What do you do for a living? And what do you love more, your job or smutty Book Tok?

A). – I work full-time as a dispatcher so it’s a difficult job! I love what I do, but it’s not easy by any means & can be extremely difficult. I love helping people though, so no matter how hard it gets it will always be worth it. If I can help & try to save people’s lives and make some measure of a difference it is always worth it. I love reading my smutty books & it helps to keep my mind out of the dark aspects of my mind, but helping people will always come first.

10). Do you set a reading goal each year? If yes, what is your goal?

A). – nope! I don’t set a goal b/c my life & job make my schedule crazy! Plus I hyper fixate so if I set a goal & don’t meet it, it will drive me insane. I’m super competitive lol

11). Book Tok grew so fast and it’s such an amazing community with so many women celebrating reading, sharing their work, and appreciating others’ work by creating videos in honor of their books, what do you love and what do you hate about it?

A). – Like all things, there will be good & bad. I do my best to focus on the good! The biggest thing I love about BookTok is the amazing creators on there who not only recommend good books & make good content, but educate. Education is HUGE & I think it’s super important to listen to the voices of others. Educating yourself on things is what helps you grow as a person & I have learned SOO much from various people on there. I also love the community & friends I’ve made on there! We have a great support system as well & even have a discord where we all talk/converse all day every day! We don’t just talk about books either. We have support groups, mental health awareness, gym/workout groups, meal prep, recipes, spicy photo appreciation, & so much more! It’s so amazing!

Spicy photo appreciation

12). You have someone come up to you and want a recommendation to (dip their toe in the water so to speak) by delving into romance, what’s the first book you think of? And why?

A). – I can never recommend just one. I ask people questions. What do you like? Do you want magic, mafia, romcom, etc. what kinda movies are your favorite? Etc. I get to know the person & that helps me to recommend the right book. Everyone is different. 

13). Do you snack while you read? and if you do what’s your favorite beverage and snack?

A). Not really. Sometimes I do, but I usually read at night. If I do snacks, I have been trying to eat healthier, so fruits, chicken, etc. when I’m being unhealthy it’s twin snakes, gummies, flaming hot munchies / hot fries, jolly rancher chews, etc. I love food in general so I eat everything

14). Are there any red flags that your favorite book boyfriends have that you think man, that is hot but in real life would run for the hills?

A). There are tons. I had a real-life stalker & that was terrifying, but in books it’s hot. If my man was a serial killer in real life, that would be a massive red flag. If he sent me a pair of hands in the mail from any man who touched me, he probably wouldn’t go over well. So yea! There are so many red flags in fictional characters, but I love it, lol

15). Before we go, Tell me three things about you that I’ll find interesting.

A).

Omg idk where, to begin with this. I train in MMA.

I have many medical issues including Autoimmune disease, multiple surgeries, chronic pain etc. 

I used to be a competitive Latin ballroom dancer. I’ve traveled to a bunch of different countries. I’m an open book! You can ask me anything. I also have lots of crazy stories too! I’ve been through some shit, but it’s all for the plot

If you would like to catch up with Ally and follow her content, learn more about the cruise, which sets sail in April with hopefully a second one next year. Here are all her socials.

Socials are IG : Allistersreads
TikTok: AllisterMarie
Facebook: Allister Marie

Lemon8 & Clapper (if TikTok goes): AllisterMarie

Thank you, Ally, for stopping by and sharing your story and your passion for books, life, and safe space for all with us. I look forward to catching up with you after the cruise and getting all the deets. Till next time, my lovelies.

Love, Magnolia xx

Fan Fiction Friday

I don’t have an author lined up this week, so I’ll let you know about a new page on this site I have just added that will be a fun addition to the Rustic Magnolia fun. We will get back to the regularly scheduled programming next week. We just had some scheduling issues, and the authors are busy, busy people. Back to the matter at hand, when coming to my page now at the very top, above my logo, is four tabs.

*New*

Links- this will be where I put all relevant links to products I love, use and think others will too. If anyone has anything they saw in a post or reel of mine they’d like more info on, head to this tab leave a comment.

My Books- Self-explanatory. This will be where you’ll find out all the info on my books. I will post links to my current book for sale, I’m still trying to figure out how to add the payment widget so you can purchase any of my books or merch from here and it will also have updates, sneak peeks and all the good stuff not found anywhere else.

Reviews – Brand new to this page and where you will find all my book reviews, reading goals, TBR lists, and so on.

Home- last but not least this will let you circle back around to the home page and also let you roam through some of the original posts I made on this blog if you felt like following the journey and how far I’ve come.

I’m excited about the future and building this space into what I dream it could be. This space is safe for everyone with no judgments, criticism, or biases. I hope when you come and read a post you laugh, you learn, you cry ( yes that’s acceptable too) and you feel among friends. Don’t ever hesitate to message me if you have an idea for a post you’d like to see, or a comment about what you did and didn’t like. I’m open and willing to learn. This post is short and sweet but be sure to check back in for all the new features also Savvy Bookstagram Saturday is tomorrow and you won’t want to miss out meeting the wonderful human I got to interview.

Love, always a fan Magnolia xx

Truthful Thursday

Thirsty Thursday will return next week I promise, I just felt this week should be a little truthful. I struggle with consistency in my life, and it’s not from a lack of desire but more from I don’t know how I will feel from day to day. The 2 weeks before this one I felt good and had everything in order and ready, feeling like a rockstar with my shit together.

This week, I’m shitting the bed and I could give a thousand excuses and I’m sure someone would say well Sarah, those are excuses and maybe some of them are but the truth is I’m burnt out. My pain levels this week have been hard to manage, I’m finding it hard to smile and be joyous, and I’m exhausted all day. I’m bitchy and sad and on days like these I’m even mad. Mad I have this disease, mad I’m having trouble doing basic normal things like lifting my arms up to wash my hair, walking to my bed, and so on. I struggle with thoughts so my filter from brain to mouth is gone and I can be sarcastic and hurtful with my words because I’m just plain dang tired of being courteous. It’s a lot but I’m trying to be more present and push to be creative and authentic in my life and my words and my actions, so I thought today I would share some truths about myself.

I love books. I love to read, and I will read just about anything if it has a great story and can hook me. My record is 2.5 pages in a minute, 6 books in one day, and 1365 books in a year. TBF, that was my worst year with my health, lots of hospital stays, and not much to do in between procedures and tests, but read and think.

I published my first book this year, and a dream comes true with plans to release book 2 this fall.

I hate being told No or that I can’t do something. I think it’s partly because of childhood trauma and partly because I find it a challenge then like I will prove I can and not to shove it in your face but to myself that I can do whatever I set my mind to doing.

I love the mountains and being in the trees. My heart and soul feel like their coming home. I would gladly move to the forest, have animals, read books, and sit in my rocking chair on the front porch and die happy. lol

I don’t watch reality tv. I find most of them extremely cringy. I’ll even mute the commercials because I can’t listen to it. I can sit through deadliest catch or gold rush or even home reno shows, but I don’t consider those lumped in with the other ones.

I love to take photographs of old homes, schools, and buildings thinking of the memories made there, lessons learned and conversations lost to history.

I grew up with a pathological liar. You’d figure I’d be good at it, but I’m not. I’m a horrible liar, and I refuse to have people in my life who lie to me. I have walked away from many friendships and relationships due to dishonesty. I won’t have it and I don’t accept it. Anything I say about you when you’re not around, I can say to your face. I am an asshole at times, but I’m an honest asshole.

I love to dance, don’t really care if anyone thinks I’m good at it or not, I will dance around my house because it brings me joy.

I can’t take compliments well, I use sarcasm to deflect, and I hate the words “I’m sorry” when directed at me.

My greatest accomplishments in this life will always be my children.

I don’t like oysters, squids, muscles, or anything slimy in texture. Can’t do it grosses me out. I also won’t eat lamb or veal cutlets simply because they are baby animals.

I love plants and having a garden. Nothing beats putting food on the table that I’ve grown and nurtured. Besides books my other obsession is house plants, I’m determined to have a jungle one day lol.

I hate when people are late or say they’ll do something and don’t. I show up on time, and if I can’t for some reason make it, you are made aware in advance, not right before or after the fact.

I love Tattoos. I have many and each has a story or a memory attached to it. I don’t believe in getting them for the sake of getting them and I love when people ask and I get to share that memory over again.

I used to volunteer to teach business and finance classes to kids at various schools in my area. It was rewarding, challenging, and fun. A student baked me a cake one session with thank you written on it and it was amazing and yes I teared up.

I love road trips. One of my bucket list items is to take a long road trip, camping, hiking, going to antique shops and flea markets. Get lost somewhere on an adventure.

One last I don’t like, and I’ll shut up. I don’t like feeling weak, so I have trouble asking for help. I have been getting better since my diagnosis, but I still tend to overdo things and pay for it later.

There I’ve said a lot today and shared a lot about myself, I even got through most of it without making a self-deprecating joke about myself. I’ll take the win and call it progress. If you liked truthful Thursday let me know in the comments or shoot me a message. Confessions with Magnolia will be starting up shortly where we can share our confessions based on topics voted for by you. As usual please like, share, comment, and sign up with your email so you’ll get the first look at all events and posts that go live. Till next time.

Love, a burnt out yet still kicking, Magnolia xx

Savvy Bookstagram Saturday

Welcome to another edition of Savvy Bookstagram Saturday today we get to meet and talk to the amazingly cute, funny, all things smut- loving Candice and host of What the Smut Book Reviews on YouTube. I need to know all the things so let’s get on with it.

Candice in all her glory x love her.

1). Hey gorgeous first thing first I’m a realist that song just popped into my head lol back on track here for people that don’t know you tell us some things about yourself and your platform.

I had to add it. Lol, it was on rerun in my head

C). First things first, my brain automatically played that song in my head, when you said that.  Lol!  I’ll have to dredge the recesses of my personality to find anything worth knowing lol, but I’ll give it my best shot!  My name is Candice.  According to the calendar, I’m 38 years old, but mentally I’m 16 and physically, I’m 97.  I live in the armpit of the United States, South Carolina.  I’m married and have a 6 year old daughter, who is the spitting image of her father but with my attitude.  God save the world.  Lol.  When I’m not on Bookstagram, I’m working full time from home, chauffeuring my family around, or engaging in one of my many hobbies.  Which I have too many of.  It’s fine, because it lets me complain about how stressed out and stretched thin I am.  Lol!  Some of those hobbies include reading, obviously, but I also have a side business of an Etsy bakery, I paint mediocre art, and most recently, make book inspired paper roses.

2).  I love your brazenness, were you nervous at all when starting how your audience would receive that. How long have you been reviewing books and what’s your favorite part about it?

C). I’ve had moments of regret, where I fear that I’ve come across too bitchy or outspoken.  But for the most part, I just try to be my most authentic self.  I started my YouTube channel a little over 2 years ago, but I’ve been reading for much longer.  I think I picked up my first romance novel when I was around 17?  It was before the days of indie authors or things like dark romance, so naturally, it was a Scottish highlands bodice ripper.  Lol!  I was no stranger to sex, having a very rocky childhood and a very progressive mother, but I loved the way the book made me feel.  Not just during the sex scenes but any time the interactions between the two main characters would become intense and I’d get the buzzing sensation beneath my skin.  I was addicted and needed more.  I’ve been reading ever since.  When I started my channel, it was more as a hobby and something to kill time.  Then I started my Bookstagram and, while I wanted to grow a following and in the background of my mind, entertained the notion that I’d be famous one day and could just review books for a living, lol…at the same time, I didn’t want to just “follow for follow”.  I wanted to interact with people.  Form lasting friendships (something of which I severely lacked growing up), and share my love of books with people, on a personal level.  Because of that, I very rarely worry about my follow count or even seek out other pages to follow.  I’ve been perfectly content to sit and let people find me, knowing they’ve done so because they like my personality and what I have to offer.  Not just as “another Bookstagram to follow”. 

Doing her thing on her you tube channel What the Smut Book Reviews

3). Do you ever receive negative feedback or comments? And if yes, how do you take them for what they are and move on?

C). Yes, I’ve gotten a few.  Some I’ve mistakenly engaged with, in the hopes that I’d be able to get my point across and maybe change the mind of the person that’s swiped at me.  Sometimes I get them and I just delete them and ignore them.  I think I’ve reached an age where I’ve come to the realization that I don’t have the energy to try and change anyone’s mind about things.  Sometimes you try and it works and that’s great.  But most times, it doesn’t and you realize it’s just physically and mentally exhausted you.  So I’m perfectly content to live in my little bubble, where I can control most things and the things I can’t control, I have Xanax for.  Lol.

4). I binge-watched so many of your videos prepping for this interview. I loved the authentic approach you have to all things whether you are reviewing or defending an author in your segments a 5* rant for a 1* review and I’m curious what are some of your biggest pet peeves about people who give 1* reviews besides that you disagree?

C). Omg, first of all, I’m so sorry you had to endure hours of my personality in such a short span of time.  LOL!  I think my biggest pet peeve with 1 star reviews or negative reviews in general, is that they’re rarely informative as to the flaws of the book.  I’ve found that a lot of times, the reviewer ends up personally attacking the author, rather than pointing out the things they didn’t like about the book.  It also makes me rage when I see 1 star reviews that are just based on ignorance.  Prior to creating my Bookstagram, I had absolutely no idea that “indie” authors existed.  I didn’t know you could publish your own books, through Amazon.  And I had no clue that there were as many different types of books or tropes, as there are.  And that for each one, there IS an audience that loves it.  So when I see a 1 star review for something that they believe is SO OUTRAGEOUS that it can’t possibly be liked by anyone…but it is, I get annoyed.  Lol.

Never be sorry for your awesomeness lol

5). How does an author approach you to review their book?

C). Well, when I first started my account, I would’ve given my right arm for authors to ask me if I wanted an ARC for their book.  No matter how big or small the author was.  It felt like such an honor, placed so high up on a pedestal, that to be able to reach that level and feel that sense of worth, was amazing.  The fact that someone actually gave two shits about my opinion, enough to freely give me something they invested hours and hours of their life on…mind blowing.  And I’m still appreciative of each and every person that DMs me, asking me to check out their book.  Whether they’re offering me an ARC or just pointing me towards it in KU.  These days though, unfortunately, I don’t get to take on many ARC requests.  Simply because of time constraints and real life, and my inability to handle any kind of deadline without freaking out lol.  I always make sure to respond to authors that ask though.  Because I understand how disheartening it can be, to message so many people, to try and hype your work up.  And not everyone is nice.

6). What are 3 things people might not know about you?

C). I suffer from chronic head pain.  It impacts everything I do in life.  It’s hard to tell, when I review books on camera, or during Instagram stories, that I have constant pain, there in the background.  If it wasn’t for prescription meds, I don’t know where I’d be.  It’s an unfortunate circumstance that I’m now dependent on medications to get through day to day life.  I try my best to keep a positive attitude most of the time, but sometimes it bleeds through the cracks and my family suffers for it.  And I hate that.

I eat a bowl of frozen strawberries every night.  It’s no longer a want but, I think, a compulsion.  Lol.  

I had gastric bypass in 2018.  At my highest weight, I was 340 pounds.  I’ve always struggled with my weight, but I got to the point where I no longer recognized how unhappy I was.  Because that “unhappy” had just become my “normal”.  I hated myself.  The way I looked, the way I felt, the way I knew/thought others saw me.  Regardless of the issues I’ve had with my digestion since, I don’t regret getting the surgery.  I lost half of myself and most of that was the self conscious parts of my personality.  There are still things I don’t like about the way I look, but I’m much better than I was, and I’m grateful for that.

7). As a lover of all things Smut, do you have a favorite trope?

C). Eeeek!  I had a feeling this would be one of the questions.  Lol.  I love a good age gap.  I’m also a massive sucker for the “he falls first” novels.  They’re my kryptonite.

8). Do you secretly read other genres r do you wave your smut-loving flag freely lol?

C). I am 100% a smut ho.  In my youth, I may have tried picking up a classic or a thriller, but these days, I need a bit of sex with my plot.  Lol.

Reading is sexy

9). What are some of the dos and don’ts an author should know before sliding into your Dm’s?

C). I don’t like authors that bash other authors.  Knowing how much of yourself you put into your books, you should understand how much it took for that other person to put that out there.  It puts an immediate sour taste in my mouth, when an author says something negative about another author.  Other than that, I don’t think I have anything else that would turn me off of an author that sent me a DM.  Just pitch your book, however is most comfortable for you.  If the sound of it grabs me, trust me, I won’t worry about how you approached me.  Just gimme the book.  Lol!

10). I’m looking to start a new book, convince me what to read using a line from the book.

Love seeing these in her stories. Dang devil woman keeps adding and adding to my TBR

C). “When you’re obsessed with something for so long and finally obtain it? It feels like coming home to God. And nobody gives up their fucking spot in Heaven.” -The Maddest Obsession by Danielle Lori

12). First book that comes to mind when someone just starting to read smut asks for a recommendation.

C). Public Secrets by Nora Roberts.  It’s my favorite Nora Roberts standalone and it’s from a generation where you didn’t have full blown sex within the first 2 chapters.  Lol.  It builds and definitely has sex, but it’s not graphic and the plot is perfection.  A seamless blend of angst, suspense, and loooooooove.  Lol.

Thank you, Candice, for some laughs, honesty, and a sprinkling of I was going to say hoe dust but that sounded way wrong . So we will say pixie dust cause I enjoyed the laughs. If any of my readers want to catch up with Candice, you can find her on Instagram @what_the_smut and her YouTube channel what the smut book reviews.

Till next time my smut loving ladies,

Love, smutty Magnolia xx

Fan Fiction Friday

First, I want to say a huge thank you to Willow for joining us today.  This one will be intense and fun and maybe you’ll learn something too. Willow is currently working on her 6th book, and I couldn’t be prouder of her as a writer and a friend. Let’s delve in

Willow McQuerry xx

1). How long have been writing?

W). I’ve been writing since I was a pre-teen. So about 22 years now. But I’ve been publishing for about 2 years

2).What inspired you to get into writing?

W). I’ve always enjoyed writing because it’s been an escape from the real world. For a while I escaped in daydreaming. I found out recently that I’m big into maladaptive daydreaming, which is creating stories in daydreams to get through the day. Since I was a teen, I enjoyed writing these daydreams because I always found them to be great stories.

3). Each story you write is unique but is unified in the same cause to bring awareness to mental illnesses and shine a light on them. Was that intentional?

W).Yes! When I wrote my debut, Realm Walker’s Rising, it was my intention to break the cliche of what I’ve seen in most romance books. I wanted to write characters with mental illnesses because I had never seen that in books I had read. So it became my mission to write those characters with mental illnesses to start the conversation about the stigmas surrounding mental illnesses.

4). In your latest book your female main character has schizophrenia which you yourself are diagnosed with. What are some misconceptions about people with schizophrenia?

W). There are a lot of misconceptions around it. How we are violent, crazy, not all there in the head, heartless, cold, sociopathic, etc. None of that is true. I have done so much research and talked to my doctors who have said that there are exceptions to this mental illness. There are people who do get violent, but there is something else happening there. Having schizophrenia doesn’t make you into this violent murderer. My therapist has said it’s usually a psychotic personality disorder that attributes to someone becoming violent.

5).You’ve amassed a great following on TikTok with your approach to not only promote your work but talk openly and honestly about your mental illnesses and all illnesses and bring humor and humility to it as well. I feel like that has become a driving force for you as well as your writing. Would that be accurate, and why

W). See, I’ve always felt I had a small following but a lot of people have said that I have grown quite a following. I think it’s awesome that I have a group of people who follow me and want to hear what I say. It’s become my niche and brand to talk about mental health. It’s always been my mission to end stigma and start the conversation about mental illnesses and mental health.

6). What does the writing process look like to you?

W). Lots of crying. (This is a safe space, I cry lots too lol) Just kidding! Haha. It’s me trying to rush through the first draft so I can then go back with fresh eyes to clean up the story, characters, and plot. It usually takes me about a month (give or take) to write the first draft. Then about two months to revise and edit. It’s a very stressful thing for me but it’s always rewarding

7). When self-publishing what part of the entire process do you find the most tedious?

W). Writing and marketing. Writing in general is tedious. Especially when it comes to the second and third draft. By then my eyes and fingers are bleeding and I’m just ready to be done with the story. Marketing is hard for me. Especially when dealing with the algorithm of TikTok and how crappy it can be. Every day I question myself if this is the day the TikTok gods reward me with at least 500 views instead of 200. It’s hard. It’s grueling. And it’s so frustrating. But in the end, it’s worth it.

8). Where do you find inspiration for your stories?

W). Songs, movies, shows, sexy memes, people’s stories, etc. But also, my daydreams and literal dreams. There’s a couple that I had dreams about that I’m currently writing. My mind is always going and always coming up with great ideas.

9). Your books are not for the faint-hearted so if you had to summarize your books in five words which words would you use?

W).

DarkSpicyGrittyHorrorRelatable

10). Do you ever deal with imposter syndrome? And if yes do you have any advice for other authors that deal with it?

W). Oh my god, every day. Haha. My advice to other authors is to not listen to that imposter voice. It’s a liar. No one else can tell your stories better than you can. Just remember that there are readers out there who LOVE your books and writing style. You’ll never make everyone happy. So make yourself happy and know that your readers will love your work.

11). Any advice for newbie authors or people wanting to write their first novel? What do you wish you had known starting out that you know now?

W). To the authors who are writing their first novel: Finish writing your book. Don’t worry about needing to perfect it and edit it. Just get done and write “The End” then you can worry about fixing things up.
To the newbies authors: Just remember that you can’t make everyone happy. There will always be someone out there who will hate your book. Just focus on the ones who love your books. Keep writing. Your first few books won’t be the best, but if you keep going and keep writing, you’ll get better.
Something that I wish I had known when I first started: Revising and editing. I unfortunately published my first draft with my debut book. I didn’t take the time to revise and clean everything up. That is a big no-no. I know better now.

12). In closing, is there anything you’d like to add and what’s next for you?

W).Thank you so much for interviewing me. What’s next for me is more dark romance books. I’m currently working on a dark romance that’s a dystopian, portal dark romance. I’m hoping to publish a couple more books this year to get closer to 10 published works. That’s my hope!

With a few of her books….

I can’t even begin to say how much I love this human. She’s compassionate, brilliant, breaking down stigmas and biases and waving her one-finger flag at the negativity surrounding mental illness, and I am here for it. I can’t wait to read what’s next for her, and if you haven’t checked her books out, I will post all her socials below. My only ask is, please read all trigger warnings in the author’s notes. These are dark romance books and not for everybody.

Here is Willow’s link tree to find all her socials and books xx

Submit a form.

Love, Magnolia xx (an advocate for mental health)