#Review: #ImpressArt Metal Stamping Kit – Basic Uppercase (3MM), Ergo-Angle Hammer, Steel Bench Block, Stamping Blanks

I bought this so I could have something where hammering was creating something and not too destructive. This pack came with the stamps, hammer, and circle metal pieces to write shit on it with.

I saw on one of the craft blogs how people use sharpie to darken the words on the designs. I tried it but I preferred how I was doing it — but I did smash the words into the blanks thick enough that you couldn’t mistake the lettering. So, that did help a lot.

It works well enough. The only thing that was frustrating is on the brass hammer is it a screw on / off. While hammering I have to twist it back on after awhile. While it does get scratched up I didn’t notice it interfering with the ability to hammer the letters. I was surprised at how easy it scratched up — as I don’t slam the hammer too aggressively.

This can stamp metals and wood. I haven’t tried wood yet — but will update if/when I do that. Overall, it’s great for I am using it for — as a stress relieve crafting.

#MidnightOnTheRiverGrey #NetGalley

Title: Midnight on the River Grey
Author: Abigail Wilson
Publish day: July 2, 2019 
Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Description via Netgalley:

She knew the house was keeping secrets. If only the darkness would speak . . .

After her elder brother’s mysterious death, Rebecca Hunter vows to expose the man she believes responsible: Mr. Lewis Browning—known by the locals as the Midnight Devil and by Rebecca as her new guardian.

Summoned to his reclusive country estate to await her London season, Rebecca plans her own secret investigation among the darkened corridors of the mysterious Greybourne Hall. Yet Lewis Browning is not as she once imagined, and his motivation is horribly unclear. Recurrent nightmares and Rebecca’s restless feelings are further complicated by the shadow of her mother’s prior descent into madness and wondering if she, too, will follow the same heartbreaking path.

Even as midnight rides, strange injuries, and further murders lead back to Mr. Browning, Rebecca can’t ignore the subtle turn of her heart. Has she developed feelings for the man she swore to see hanged? And moreover, can she trust him with her uncertain future?

Review:

This is DNF book. I was drawn in by the description and the bookcover. Felt like something that would interest me — I like historical, romances, and murder mystery of sorts.

For me, the dialogue caught me off guard and felt unnatural. Other reviews found this an enjoyable read something that caught them from the start. However, that didn’t happen to me and it felt like a chore to get through.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley — free to read in exchange for an honest review.

#GottaCatchHer #NetGalley

Title: Gotta Catch her
Author: Kelly Haworth & on Twitter
Publish Day: April 29, 2019 -- out now!
Publisher: NineStar Press
Rating: 🥄🥄🥄

Description

The story revolves around Ann, a project manager with a dog and Rachael a store manager (I think?) with a child.
Ann has a crush on Rachael -- after finding one another through Ani-Min -- a game that takes people outside to catch virtual animals.

Ann has to balance work -- which is intense ATM -- and trying to develop a real relationship with Rachael. Can she though?

Review:

What drew me into this was their use of a Pokemon Go game/augmented reality game wrapped into a romance story. That and the love interest is a bisexual woman. The conversations and the real life thrown into the story is there and happens naturally.
While we're seeing Ann in her work environment -- it's often the worse part of the story in my opinion. It talks about things that she's going to have to do..then she has a conversation about what she's going to do. So, we're getting double-dippings of the going ons with her in the job world. I know IRL, that's literally how you have conversations with your co-workers, especially, if you're not interested or close to them.

Her interactions with Rachael and her son are quick glimpses before she's pulled back into her work life. It feels like we're supposed to be reading about the work life and the writing just remembered in spurts that there was also supposed to be romance.

The writing and the interaction with the characters feel more natural and flow better when it's focused on the relationship. Overall, it's a short read -- while the romance is slow to come to the surface and things get moving.. it's good enough read to recommend.


Almost forgot -- Downloaded from Netgalley thanks to the publisher / netgalley -- free eRead in exchange for a truthful review :)