Month: May 2017

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Lenni Reviews: “Higurashi: When They Cry” vol 3 by Ryukishi07 and Karin Suzuragi

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Yes, I know it’s the Cotton Drifting arc number one but I’m doing the overarching series numbers because it’s easier for me to keep track.

Keiichi is back and him and the girls decide they’re gonna play their penalty game and wear some embarrassing costumes. Seeing the costume Keiichi ends up wearing, his dad takes him to a themed restaurant and see his friend Mion works there. At least he thinks it’s her but it turns out to be Mion’s twin sister; Shion. Shion is the polar opposite of Mion; a sweet, girly girl who loves to cook. Keiichi is convinced it’s Mion pretending to be girly so she wouldn’t be embarrassed but nope, Sion is shaping herself to be a rival against Mion for Keiichi’s affections. As the Cotton Drifting Festival approaches, the Oyashiro-sama Curse threatens to take another live.

This volume is much more silly than the previous ones. The tone was so different, I had trouble getting invested. If I didn’t already know it will get all fucked up again in the next volume, I might not have bothered to continue reading. And that’s all from the expectation of this being a horror manga and getting a lot of slap-stick shenanigans. 2.5 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Bonfire” (Hours of the Night #1.5) by Irene Preston and Liv Rancourt

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated 18+

Thaddeus – a vampire – and his assistant/boyfriend, Sarasija live together in the bayou. While Thaddeus begrudgingly indulges Sarasija’s enthusiasm for Chirstmas decorations, strange lights are seen in the darkness which lure people away. To avoid being scapegoated as the cause Thaddeus goes to investigate while trying to keep Sarasija safe.

I found it very difficult to get into this and the blame can be squarely put on the fact I haven’t read any other books in this series. Bonfire is one of those in-between books that’s more of a side story for fans. You get the most from it if you are already familiar with the characters and the world they live in. As a result, how Thaddeus and Sarasija spend their holidays means nothing to me.

That being said, the mystery of the swamp lights did keep me reading to the end. The POV shifts from time to time, Thaddeus can be overly guilt-ridden to the point of being tiresome, and without the books I had trouble feeling the connection to the couple of the towns people around them. Still an interesting enough diversion. 3 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Fenced-In Felix” by Cheyenne Blue

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*This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review and is rated for 18+

*This review is cross-posted to Otakus and Geeks.

Felix Jameson has been working on turning her family’s land into a hospitality business including cabins, campgrounds, and trail rides with her own horses. As she’s doing errands and distributing some promotional materials around her small Australian town, she meets Josie, a drifter currently bar tending at the local watering hole. Felix tries to avoid getting involved but Josie also needs a place to board her horse; Flame. But Flame looks eerily like a recently stolen racehorse, leading Felix to wonder what this woman she has fallen for may be involved in.

This book is in a series called “Girl Meets Girl” but it functions perfectly fine as a standalone story.

I got a real good sense of the Australian outback and Felix and Josie as characters. I love how the mystery surrounding the horses moves their relationship and while that initial event brings them together; it follows along with them in a very real way. As the mystery deepens, so does Felix and Josie’s connection. It’s also comforting for everything to be wrapped up in a realistic way so we avoid an unrealistically neat ending.

If I were to nitpick, I would say that the ending needed an epilogue for some of the unanswered questions as to the fate of the horse after the investigation (I am trying to avoid spoilers). Also, it kinda bugged me in the beginning when Felix kept saying Josie wasn’t beautiful. And I don’t mean “she wasn’t beautiful; she was – insert descriptive term like ‘compelling’-“. It it was just eh, not pretty. Ok then, what are you attracted to? Just her butt? I got over it but it raised my eyebrow… Overall? 4 out of 5. A very sweet and saucy lesbian romance.

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May Birchbox

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It figures I’d get a wave spray when I start flat ironing my hair again. :p

The perfume is nice, I am happy with the primer and mascara but I am most excited about the firming cream. If you’ve been following my running, you’ll know I’ve been working out pretty hard and regularly. My body has been changing in a LOT of ways which include more muscle burning away the fat on my body. This has left me with some sagging skin. Not on Skin Tight levels, just enough for me to think “Huh, that wasn’t there before.” I’m not morphing into an overly vain person but I wouldn’t mind it not being there. I plan to give this a try and see how it works. I’ve used the Fat Girl Slim products and found them kinda meh but at that time, I wasn’t working out to the degree I am now. And yes, floppy skin is a concern from a health standpoint mostly; not just aesthetics.

I will review that in particular since it’s the product I have the most interest in and use for right now. Look out for that in the future.

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Loot Crate: J. K. Rowling’s Wizarding World

  • Percival Graves shirt
  • Professor Umbridge collectible plates
  • Azkaban pencil pouch
  • Chamber of Secrets wax seal set
  • Tom Riddle diary pin

Omg, those plates… XD Those are just the funniest random item.

Fantastic Beasts is the only Potter movie I haven’t seen from the series. And THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for stationary sets. I mean, this is Harry Potter. They use parchment paper and quills; a geeky writer’s dream. This paired with the pencil case made this box for me.

One day when I’m not poor anymore and I can fix up my kitchen, I am hanging those plates. That’s not even a question. The pin? To be honest, it makes me a little nervous. Any dangly things make me nervous. I always think it will catch on something when I wear it or use it and it will break. Does it look cool? Yes. Would I break it like a klutz so I will likely keep it in a case so it’s safe? Yup.

I certainly hope more journals and stationary are in future boxes. When I went to Universal’s Harry Potter world, they had beautiful journals so it would be awesome to get some sort of exclusive journal or pens not seen in the park or in stores. Like an ACTUAL Tom Riddle diary. How amazing would that be!?

But that’s not a drawback or a criticism, just some ideas on what I’d like to see in the future. 🙂

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A huge thank you!

The gods must be shining on me because the same day I end up needing to take my car in for repair, I get a notification from Patreon that a pledge has gone up. Thank you so much, Natalie. You have no idea how much I needed good news today but you are amazing! Thank you!! 😀

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Kal-Elle Fandom Monthly Special Edition Box: Stranger Things

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  • Sreangwe Stranger Things charm necklace
  • Stranger Things charm bracelet
  • Waffle earrings
  • Drawstring bag
  • Stranger Things 16oz coffee mug
  • Camera scarf
  • Demogorgon magnet
  • Eleven art print
  • Stranger Things art print

All of this is cool. The end.

Ok, for real. This box as some really creative items in it and I was fangirling all over it. I know I get a lot of these cards and prints but I post them all over my desk. I am convinced I have the geekiest desk at work…

I think overall, this box was well worth the cost and I’m glad I got it. It’s always a treat to get geeky and nerdy things I can wear to work and still look professional (since I shouldn’t be wearing t-shirts at work). And I can change up my look (since I do tend to wear the same jewelry every day). This is one of my favorite boxes right now.

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Third 5k!

Yesterday, I ran the Super Mom 5k from the Virtual Pace Series (a site I have been haunting, obviously). I decided to run it Friday instead of on Mother’s Day because it’s supposed to be raining all weekend here. It was a beautiful day out! Way too nice not to take advantage of it for a good run.

I used the Zombies, Run! app to track my distance and pace and I think this was my fastest time completing 5k since I started running last September! My pace is absolutely faster outside than on a treadmill and while the treadmill gives me the luxury of catching up on my TV shows while I run, I do plan to make it a point to run outside more often.

After I got home, my knees HURT. This run was rough and it is my own fault for making it so because I was trying to beat my old times. As a result, my knees ache and my entire body feels wrecked. How to people run these ultra marathons!?

Well, they’re experienced runners, Lenni. Duh…

I don’t see myself doing ultra marathons in the future. Right now, my only goal is to get my 5k time under 30 minutes. My progress has been pretty damn good so far; especially since I’m coming from “I hate running and without the threat of death, I won’t do it” I think what I’ve done so far is impressive.

It’s a strange journey I’ve undertaken but I’m glad I didn’t stick with the mentality of “I’ll do it when I lose weight” or “I’m too fat to do this.” Doing this has reminded me what my body can do and it feels awesome!

Since this would be not only my third 5k but my second one this month, I’m taking a break! From racing, at least. I will continue training but my next race won’t be until July; the End Human Trafficking 10k Challenge. It’s 1k a day for ten days so, no; I haven’t gone crazy and suddenly launched into 10k races. After that is the Totally 80’s Virtual Race, which isn’t till September 23rd.

These are so much fun. I will try not to go overboard… XD

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Lenni Reviews: “Yona of the Dawn” vol 5 by Mizuho Kusanagi

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Now traveling with the White and Blue Dragon, Yona and company are on the move to a port town in search of the Green Dragon. The Green Dragon is Jaeha; a pirate who values his freedom more than anything else and thus doesn’t want to give up his life for Yona’s quest.

Have to take a moment to give major props to Captain Gi-Gan. She is just badass and I can’t wait to see more of her.

There had to be at least one of these fabled dragons who wouldn’t be on board with the “Let’s go serve our master without question” thing and Jaeha, who will obviously have a change of heart later, is such a swarthy darling, it’s hard to hold it against him. He’s not being lazy, he has his own crusade to focus on: trying to stop the influx of drugs and human trafficking to his town. Not exactly the kind of thing a jerk would make his personal mission.

But we all know he’ll join up. Probably in the same volume.

Here, we also have Yona learning what he father’s subjects really thought about their king and how corrupt things got in the outlying towns. Being faced with the fact her father wasn’t the good and kind man she idolized is shown very well and it’s good to see her face the reality that if you are a ruler, you can’t make everyone happy all the time. Yona has a long way to go to grow up. 4 out of 5.

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Lenni Reviews: “Higurashi: When They Cry” vol 2 by Ryukishi07 and Karin Suzuragi

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With the help of detective Oishi Kurado, Keiichi continues to delve into the creepy happenings in Hinamizawa. Knowing he can trust no one, Keiichi now fears the Oyashiro-sama’s curse will lead to his friends killing him and is determined to avoid that fate.

I gotta give it to Keiichi for doing the sensible thing; arming himself and telling the demon girls to stay the hell away from him. It doesn’t work, of course, and we’re left wondering if the town is crazy or just Keiichi is crazy. I’m leaning towards the town but there’s definitely something bigger than just a couple of crazy girls with sharp objects. The only way to find out is to keep going. 3.7 out of 5.

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