It’s Halloween and Fashion Flash has come up with a wonderful concept for giveaways that hits two of my favorite things: reading and makeup! How cool is that?
And this week, I’ve been tapped to host a Halloween Beauty and a Book giveaway. Woohoo!
Buried Truth by Jannine Gallant
I’ve been a fan of mysteries and suspense since I was a kid. Nancy Drew got me off and running. I read them all as well as Hardy Boys and others. Since then I moved on to British murder mysteries and then mysteries of all kinds. They are truly my guilty pleasure.
When Deb from No Nonsense Beauty Blog, our Fashion Flash leader, sent me Buried Truth by Jannine Gallant, she introduced me to a new-to-me genre Romance Suspense. Who doesn’t like a little romance with their mystery?
Let me tell you a little bit about the story to whet your appetite for mystery and love!
Recently divorced young teacher from scenic seaside Siren Cove, Oregon, Leah Grayson decides it’s the perfect moment to dig up a time capsule that she and her friends buried 20 years ago when they were in 5th grade. She organizes a reunion and is pleased when her former beau Ryan Alexander, now wealthy outdoorsy creator of a successful social media platform, comes back to town to help care for his mom who broke her arm. Ryan provides the romance in this engrossing novel. We wonder if the pair who Leah thought were too different for a long-term romance when they were in high school will make it as adults. This time, will opposites attract, or will they still drive each other crazy with their differences?
One of the surprise items in the time capsule provides the basis for the mystery. The central crime is introduced and told primarily through conversations among unknown conspirators. The multi-faceted crimes (there are more than one!) unfold over time, and they are both creepy and compelling. A few times while reading the book at night, I checked the locks on my doors, lol! Leah unwittingly becomes involved as both a target and in helping to solve the crimes.
I read this fun, highly readable romance suspense novel in less than a week because it was a page-turner! I was up several nights past 1AM reading it. Buried Truth is the first novel in Jannine Gallant’s new Siren Cove series. Books 2 and 3 in the series are scheduled to come out in 2018. I’m wondering if heroine Leah Grayson will be a continuing character in the series. Guess I’ll have to pick up the next one to find out!
Buried Truth is available on Amazon in both paperback and Kindle edition and at Barnes & Noble.(B&N offered me a 15% off coupon code online).
More About the Author
Jannine Gallant has written several romance suspense series include the Wilde series and the Who’s Watching Now series with titles based on the song by Sting, “Every Move She Makes”.
Now an empty nester as her two daughters are grown, she lives in Lake Tahoe with her husband and dog, Ginger. An avid outdoors person, Jannine can be found hiking and snowshoeing around beautiful Lake Tahoe.
You can learn more about the author Jannine Gallant and her books on her website, on Goodreads & Bookbub. Keep up with what’s new with Jannine and her works via her newsletter.
BH Cosmetics Zodiac Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette
To keep the fun going in this Halloween giveaway, Fashion Flash has introduced me to the stunning BH Cosmetics Zodiac Eyeshadow & Highlighter Palette. The Zodiac always seemed linked to mystery and intrigue IMHO.
I received my own Zodiac palette so I could show you the swatches and fill you in on what it’s like to use it. Well, I’m over the moon about it! The shades are perfection <3 The shadows are baked and highly pigmented. They definitely pack a punch!
The Zodiac Eyeshadow and Highlighter palette comes in a very sturdy cardboard palette with a huge, usable mirror inside. The outside is protected by a cardboard sleeve.
Inside, the 25 shades are arranged in a circle with 12 shimmer shadows paired with 12 matte shades, each pair representing one of the signs of the zodiac. In the center of the circle is a white highlighter with pale gold shimmer that’s perfect for the inner corner of the eye, under the brow or on the face along the cheekbone or wherever you like to highlight.
The shimmers are sensational. They are truly shimmers without any glitter. For me, there is no powder and no fallout from these long wearing beauties!
When I swatched both the shimmers and the mattes to show you, for some reason, I didn’t start at the beginning of the zodiac. Oh well!
The shimmer shades are:
- Gemini: silvery white
- Taurus: pale pink
- Aries: bluish teal
- Pisces: pinkish gold
- Aquarius: gold
- Capricorn: green gold/bronze (my favorite!)
- Sagittarius: green
- Scorpio: copper
- Libra: rosy-purple
- Virgo: rose gold
- Leo: medium pink
- Cancer: blurple
Here are the shimmer swatches in bright sunlight. In ambient light, they look deeper but equally beautiful.
The mattes are amazing. I love how they’re paired with the shimmers, but truth be told, I love mixing and matching them to suit my mood. I passed on the Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina palette because to me, it wasn’t very purpley. If you’re looking for purples, with BH Cosmetics Zodiac Eyeshadow Palette, you’ve come to the right place! I love me these purples! And I adore the matte pink, too. In fact, I love all of these matte shades. The mattes do kick up a bit of powder in the pan, but it happened more when I was swatching than when I put the matte shadows on my brush to use on my eyes. I’ve had no fallout with the mattes either.
Again, I didn’t start with the beginning of the Zodiac or the corresponding shimmer sign, but you get the idea! The matte shades are:
- Highlight: golden white
- Virgo: medium pink
- Leo: reddish-purple
- Cancer: bright purple
- Gemini: lavender
- Taurus: eggplant
- Aries: black
- Pisces: deep reddish-brown
- Aquarius: caramel
- Capricorn: dirt brown
- Sagittarius: reddish-orange
- Scorpio: brick
- Libra: purplish-brown
The swatches are over primer because that’s the way I wear eyeshadow. The shades wear for as long as they’re on my eyes with no creasing or fading.
Here I am looking exceedingly colorful the other night on my way to the theater. I’m wearing both Capricorn shimmer and matte along with Virgo, the matte pink. Not quite sure why I added Virgo, but hey that’s me!
I just love this highly versatile palette, and I know you will too. How absolutely convenient to have mattes along with stunning shimmers! For me, this is a perfect palette. It is gluten-free and cruelty-free.
The Zodiac Eyeshadow and Highlighter Palette is currently on sale on the BH Cosmetics website, but I highly recommend that you enter the giveaway below to try to win it!
And for those of you who prefer an all matte palette, check out this beauty from BH Cosmetics, Creamy Mattes!
Revele Velvet Oval Foundation Brush
Or for you purple lovers, you can’t beat this stunning cool-toned $12 palette!
Last year, I bought myself some oval makeup brushes on Amazon so I could find out if I like this type of brush before spending the money on a pricey Artis makeup brush. Of course, I put the brushes I bought somewhere in my “beauty room”, and I haven’t been able to find them.
So I was delighted when I received the Revele Velvet Oval Foundation Brush to try out as part of the Fashion Flash giveaway. The brush is ergonomically constructed with a curved neck to make foundation application a breeze. The head is made up of velvety soft bristles that blend foundation evenly onto the skin and feel so luxurious to the touch. Revele says that the Foundation Brush can be used to apply just about any type of makeup: foundation, primer, blush, highlighter, or eyeshadow. So far, I’ve only used it to apply foundation but it does a great job. It does apply foundation evenly and it doesn’t suck up a lot of foundation – instead it seems to sit atop the bristles. I am really enjoying using this brush. I think you would too!
Halloween Fashion Flash Beauty and A Book Giveaway!
Fashion Flash and I are giving away the romantic suspense novel, Buried Truth by Jannine Gallant, the BH Cosmetics Zodiac Eyeshadow and Highlighter Palette, and the Revele Velvet Oval Foundation Brush to one lucky reader of Never Say Die Beauty!
The giveaway is limited to U.S. residents, age 18+, where permitted by law. The giveaway will run for about 10 days from today, Wednesday October 24 till Saturday November 3, 2018; the last full day of the giveaway is Friday, November 2.
I’m sure by now you know the drill. You MUST LEAVE A COMMENT, and this time I’ll make it a comment related to fictional characters since we have a book as the anchor of the giveaway. The comment I want you to leave on this blogpost is: who is your favorite fictional couple and why? You can add anything else you want to the comment as long as you answer the question. One entry per household. The comment on this blogpost is mandatory. And you must record that you did it on the Rafflecopter widget below. Extras that you can do to earn more points are a little different from usual. Here’s what you can do to get extra points:
- subscribe to Jannine Gallant’s Newsletter
- tweet a message about the giveaway
- follow Jannine Gallant on Twitter
- follow Jannine Gallant on Bookbub
- follow Jannine Gallant on Instagram
- visit Jannine Gallant on Facebook (and like her page if you want! There are some cool articles to read.)
If you do any of the above extras, you are entitled to more points. But YOU MUST CLICK OFF THOSE OPTIONS on the Rafflecopter widget. Also, I do verify that the winner has done the tasks she/he has checked off on the widget. For a giveaway a couple of months ago, I had to have Rafflecopter choose 6 names till I could find a winner who actually did what they said they did! Don’t let it be you who gets disqualified 🙂
Note: By entering in this contest giveaway, the entrant acknowledges that entrant’s email address might be shared with at least one third party.
The winner will be notified by me via email. You have 48 hours to get back to me, if not a new winner will be selected. The winner will provide me with her/his mailing address, and the folks at Fashion Flash will send your prizes to you as soon as possible. Fashion Flash and I are not responsible for loss or damage in shipping. In other words, if it’s lost or damaged in shipping, we will be sad, but there is no replacement.
Thanks for entering and spreading the word about the giveaway! And have fun on Halloween!
There are so many fictional couples to choose from! Charles and Caroline Ingalls from Little House On The Prairie come to mind, one of my favorites growing up.
Good choice, Lynne! Thank you for entering and good luck 🙂
For today’s entry, I may have pasted the wrong url. Here’s the correct one. Sorry!
10/31
https://twitter.com/1alwaysnyc1/status/1057771971906338817
Thank you, Lynne! You’re the best! Fingers crossed for you in the giveaway!
Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series. They seem to be total opposites and yet they balance each other.
Mary, I have to get caught up on HP because I stopped reading them before Hermione was old enough to be part of a couple! Thank you for entering and good luck 🙂
Sailor Moon and Prince Endymion on Sailor Moon they are so cute and there story line is awesome and in depth
I have to do some research, Angelica, and find out about Sailor Moon! I’m not familiar with it, but it sounds so intriguing. Thank you for entering and good luck!
What a fun giveaway, and that Zodiac palette is so pretty.
Thank you, Helen!
I am into the mystery series of Peter Decker/Rins Lazarus books by Faye Kellerman! Great books. Jonathan Kellerman is her husband and he also writes mysteries.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read either Faye or Jonathan Kellerman but definitely fun reads! And a good not so fictional couple! I’m glad you entered, Sandy! Good luck xo
I love Belle and the Beast. I love that movie. Also Scarlet and Rhett.
Two classic couples! If you like the unusual (B&W with subtitles), you should check out Belle et Bete, the French version of Beauty and the Beast from Cocteau in the 1940s, I believe. Thanks for entering, Audrey, and good luck!
Scarlet and Rhett i mean cant go wrong with them
You’re right, Carol! Thanks for entering the giveaway and good luck!
Mike and Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch, Such positive role models and great parents!
Ah, Mike and Carol Brady – of course!! I think everyone wished they were their parents! Thank you, Tracy, for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
It makes me so mad when I know I have something and cannot find it! When I don’t need it I see it a dozen times a month.
favorite fictional couple and why —
JD Robb’s – Eve Dallas & Rouke They both grew up with a bad childhood,but found each other. Basically a policewoman & a thief who care about people.. GOT to read the death books there are over 40+ with this couple. I just like them and the way they think and feel……..
Gloria, I haven’t read any of the JD Robb books yet, but I’ve seen them everywhere for years! I should pick one up and give it a go. That’s amazing that the two characters are a policeman and a thief – how unusual and how fun! Glad you entered, and good luck! I will try to get your Mane Magic in the mail tomorrow!
Noah Calhoun & Allie Nelson from The Notebook! Fantastic giveaway, 2 of my favorite things too! You have me craving that palette!
Oh yes, the perfect couple! The Zodiac palette is sooooooo good. It is amazing to have such great mattes to go along with such lovely shimmers. I adore it and you would too!
Another vote for Noah Calhoun and Allie Hamilton from The Notebook. I love how spirited & rebellious their relationship started as, yet grew into something that lasted through time… 💕
Noah and Allie are in the lead, now, Kim! Love your reason for choosing them. Thanks for entering the giveaway, and good luck xo
I’ve always like romantic suspense so this book would appeal to me. Just yesterday one of my email buddies told me I need to buy at least one BH palette because I’d be surprised about the quality and now here you are with this great giveaway!
Want my copy? I had never read a romance suspense novel before this unless you count Nancy Drew and Ned Nickerson 😉 This was the first one ever. Your buddy was right about BH. The Zodiac palette is oh so lovely. It is on sale on the BH website for $18, and it is well worth it.
That palette is stunning. The book isn’t my cup of tea but I encourage all reading!
As a Pisces, I cannot tell you how much it irritates me that they went with brick red for my sign. I’m a fish, c’mon!
To answer your question, I’m a Pride and Prejudice fan so Mr Darcy and Miss Bennett are my favorite literary couple.
Jen, I adore this palette, but I am an Aries and I expected a red, not teal. They should have swapped those shades. Thank you for saying Elizabeth and Darcy; I was hoping someone would!
Lucy and Ricky from the I Love Lucy show, because you never know what they’re going to do and they are so funny.
Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy There both so strong willed and quick witted.
I grew up reading Nancy Drew too. This is a great and unique giveaway! Good luck everyone
My all-time favorite couple is probably Claire and Jamie from Diana Gabaldon’s “Outlander” series. The time-traveling nurse is a kick-ass, take-no-prisoners heroine who befriends 18th century Scotsman Jamie Fraser, is pretty much forced into marriage with him, then grows to love him with all her heart. Both of them are highly intelligent, stubborn as hell, compassionate yet practical, and fully committed to their very complicated relationship.
What a perfect combo for a giveaway! That palette looks like so much fun.
Ive always loved Anne and Gilbert from Anne of Green Gables. I just loved how their relationship changed over time.
The zodiac palette is one of my FAVES– such great quality shadows. I just wish they put it in a more travel friendly packaging
I love the swatches you provided! I didnt know BH had such pigmented palettes!
The quality of this BH Cosmetics palette is so good. I’m beyond impressed with it
Hmmm, I love Morticia & Gomez Addams
Me, too. Morticia & Gomez are an excellent choice! Thanks, Meghan, for entering and good luck!
I love Anne and Gilbert!! I love how the great friendship turned it too so much more!! The swatches are gorgeous and the book sounds amazing!! Thank you for the giveaway!!
Rons parents in Harry Potter.
I love how there are mattes in there too!
romeo and Juliet they are so romantic!
thanks! xoxo
Good choice, Courtney! The star-crossed lovers are a good one. Thanks for entering and good luck!
Hmm…Buffy and Angel lol.
Rose and Jack from the Titanic. This was such an inspirational love story and a great movie!
I’m SO glad that Leo isn’t strictly gold like most other leo-themed beauty products!
Rose and jack from titanic
Very romantic, Patty! Thank you for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
My favorites are Ross and Rachel, and Monica and Chandler, Friends!! Such beautiful shades in that palette.
I didn’t finish and somehow hit post. I never watched Friends until a few years ago and caught all the reruns. It was a time I definitely needed the laughter and they gave it to me. Still love those reruns.
That’s great, Christy, that you got to discover Friends in reruns. It was a terrific series that still holds up today! Thank you for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
I absolutely love to read and bring my kindle \current book with me whenever I leave the house. One of my favorite couple’s is Charlotte and Thomas Pitt from Anne Perry’s historical mystery series named after them. The book and the palette both are great prizes. Thanks for hosting the giveaway. I enjoyed reading the comments. 🙂
Thanks, Laura! I love your choice. I haven’t read any Anne Perry but I remember that my mother did. A historical mystery sounds great. Thank you for entering, and good luck xoxo
My favorite fictional couple is Anne Elliot and Captain Frederick Wentworth from Austen’s “Persuasion”. They speak to me more as an adult than they did when I was younger, maybe because they were more relatable once I’d made my share of mistakes!
Great pick, Liz! It was long ago that I read Persuasion, and I need to reread it. But to me, Anne was one of Austen’s most interesting heroines. Thank you for entering and good luck!
My favorite fictional couple are Bella and Zsadist from JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I love all of her books and the couples but B & Z’s story is by far the best. A true love story that overcame more odds than any others.
I haven’t yet read any of the books from the Black Dagger Brotherhood series, but sounds like a great pick! Thank you, Raine, for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
Elizabeth & Mr. Darcy. I love the way they accept each other wholly.
Hard to choose a favorite, there is so many.
November and Asher from Until November! Such a great story!
I don’t know Until November, but I guess I should! I’ve been getting so many recommendation through this questions! Thanks, Deborah, for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
I like Jim and Pam from the Office because they can be so genuine with each other.
I love Jamie and Claire in ‘the outlander’ because their love is so surreal, yet achievable in real life.
there are so miny and its heard to pick just one but well how about Herman muster and lily muster or morticia and Goma’s Addams now there where pretty cool back in the day and still are. as to why i like them ? dont know maybe cause they where so crazy and freaky and lots of fun to see on tv.
Yes, The Munsters and The Addams couples both stood the test of time! Thanks for entering, Jennifer, and good luck!
Herman and Lily Munster, I love their cheekiness and love for each other!
It’s been forever since I’ve seen the Munsters, but Herman and Lily were very cute together! Thank you for entering the giveaway, Kelsey, and good luck!
Princess Belle and the Beast because of how their relationship progresses and also because different traits of each character remind me of my husband and I.
Is your husband the Beast, Luna, lol? I love Belle and the Beast too. Thank you for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
I like Jamie & Claire Fraser, from The Outlander series. They are great together.
I’ve gotta check out The Outlander series because so many women are mentioning it! Thanks for entering, Heather, and good luck!
Wow, so many come to mind! I don’t read a ton at the moment so all of my fave couples are from TV or movies. I love Kate & Toby on This Is Us. And does The Bachelor count as fictional?? It probably should lol. Kevin and Astrid were by far the most real couple on the show, loved them!!
Sorry that you don’t have time to read right now. Definitely can be challenging to fit it in, but so worth it. I’m laughing at your comment about The Bachelor. I’ve never seen it, but I’m sure you’re right about it being fiction, Grace! Thank you for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
My favorite is Nick and Nora Charles. Who could resist their witty repartee while solving mysteries with their faithful doggie Asta? I’ve loved them since I was a child watching the Thin Man movies with my dad.
I think Nick and Norah are a terrific pick, Ellie! I love them too. What a great old movie series! Thank you for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
I love to read romance novels, and romantic suspense is just may taste too. It’s difficult to pick one group, so I’m just going with the Outlander series of books. I love Jamie and Claire.
Kathy, so far you are the only entrant who mentioned that you liked to read romance and romantic suspense novels! Thank you! Several people have mentioned Jamie and Claire and various books from the Outlander series. I am embarrassed to say I have never read them. Clearly, I need to. Thank you for entering the giveaway, and good luck!
Lucy and Ricky Ricardo was always mine! They were just such a funny couple. Pretty Palette!
I would have to go with Mike and Carol Brady from The Brady Bunch. I grew up with them and they were such awesome parents.
Pam and Jim from the Office. Such a sweet couple, and their storyline kept people hooked for several seasons.
My favorite fictional couple would have to be Bob and Linda Belcher from Bob’s Burgers. They are funny and some what relatable.
My favorite couple is beauty and the beast
Lovely! Thanks for entering, Trish, and good luck!
Titanic’s Jack and Rose is my favorite because they fell in love and had fun in their short time together. I love the shiny eyeshadow.
The Zodiac eyeshadow palette is a stunner, Eileen, and the mattes are just as good as the shimmer shades. Good luck!
I also want to say Jack & Rose because I’m drawing a blank. If I won this would be for my daughter and her favorite couple would probably be from her favorite movie..Urban Cowboy. LOL
That’s nice that you’re entering for your daughter, Dorothy! Good luck in the drawing!
I would say my favorite couple is Archie and Edith Bunker from All in the Family. Long time ago but so many laughs!
Archie was so insulting to Edith, but I guess that was the point back in the day. Thanks for entering, Donna, and good luck!
I love Bella and Edward from Twilight.
You’re the first one to mention Bella and Edward, Kayla. Good one! I was surprised they didn’t come up sooner. Thanks for entering and good luck!
Oh good question! I’m going to go with Ron and Hermoine. Super cute growing up together and then in love
Ron and Hermoine, a good choice, Stevie! thanks for entering and good luck in the drawing 🙂
There’s a lot of good couples that I can relate too, but i love Edward and Bella from Twilight!
Edward and Bella – great choice! Thanks for entering, Trisha, and good luck!
Anne and Gilbert – Anne of Green Gables, because their long friendship blossoms.