Book Review: A Most Intriguing Lady, by Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York

Her Heart for a Compass was the first best selling novel written by the Duchess of York and coauthored by Marguerite Kaye, telling the story of Lady Margaret. This is the second. A Most intriguing Lady is set in Victorian Scotland with a backdrop of castles and aristocratic society, Lady Mary Montagu Douglas Scott is constantly overlooked and underestimated by the rest of her peers, family and high society acquaintances. Beneath a shy exterior lies a fierce intelligence and talent of observation, both excellent qualities when solving crimes, especially when the aristocratic victims reputations are at risk. Mary meets Colonel Walter Trefusis in her parent’s castle when she sneaks out of the formal dining room. After an incident during a grouse shoot an alliance is formed between the pair as they set out to solve these crimes. A friendship and romance slowly develops Tre realises that Mary is not a wallflower, but full of surprises. 

I enjoyed the intertwining of historical facts and fiction, so well researched and put together in a way that the reader could imagine being there. The descriptions of the castle,  grounds, food and fashion are described in great detail. The novel illustrates how restricted women were, controlled first by their fathers, then either by their husbands or senior males in the household. The status of both men and women also restricted their lives: societal expectations influenced sex lives,  who they could be friends with etc. The characters are likeable and honest- they are unsure if they want to give up their lives to be together. Lady Margaret, the heroine of the first book and Mary’s sister makes cameos throughout the novel, as does their mother Lady Buccleuch showing how she has become more understanding and sympathetic towards her daughters. which is interesting as so many series authors fail to make use of this as a way to maintain the reader’s interest, the book can be read as part of a series or as a stand alone novel. The novel is clearly signposted and methodologically set out, enjoyable to read combining both a love story and the solving of crimes. 

An enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more in this series. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

Book Review: Carrying Her Boss’s Christmas Baby by Natalie Anderson

 

An enjoyable, heart warming Christmassy read. Nothing particular groundbreaking about the storyline. Particularly enjoyed how they first met on Halloween and he was wearing huge gold Angel wings. Violet is young and feisty, the perfect  foil for the aloof, emotionally unavailable businessman. Both have backgrounds that prevent them moving forward until they address these issues. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

Book Review: Stranded With My Forbidden Billionaire by Lucy King

 

Amelia has just had a huge lottery win and nearly lost half on a scam to purchase a non existent private island! Realising she needs expert financial advice, Seb, her brother, puts her in touch with Nick who is now a self made billionaire. Times have changed since they all want to an elite expensive boarding school. Nick was on a scholarship; now he is worth millions whilst Amelia and Sebs’ father lost their family fortune trying to win back their mother after she had an affair.

Amelia travels to see Nick then to a resort in Zanzibar. Unfortunately someone lets slip to the press that she is a lottery winner. Nick comes to rescue her and they fall into bed together. Despite Nick admitting that he has always loved her Millie refuses to commit as she blames herself for her parent’s marital strife. She goes back to London then realised that she has made a mistake, but will Nick take her back?

An interesting read. Nothing much happens. There is no angst or drama. The pivotal and most interesting part of the novel is when Nick admits that he has loved her for 18 years and has helped her in the hope she will fall in love with him. A well thought out story line which could have been condensed into a shorter read or put into a busier storyline. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

Book Review: Miracle Twins For The Midwife (Mills & Boon Medical)

Miracle Twins for the Midwife is a Mills & Boon Medical romance written by Louisa Heaton.  Natalie a midwife  has escaped her past in rural Montana to try to heal her broken heart and come to terms with the fact that due to a terrible accident she may never be able to carry her own child. She has a new job in a busy NYC hospital and goes out on New Years Eve and has a one night stand.

Her one night stand only happens to be Dr Henry who as she she discovers the very next day works in the same dept. He too has his own demons. His daughter was still born and he is now divorced.

After their past experiences both individuals have deep reasons to guard their hearts. Will Natalie’s surprise twin pregnancy thaw Henry’s frozen heart or will Natalie  take her broken heart back to Montana and bring the babies up alone?

An enjoyable read. Well written, characters are engaging, likeable and catch the reader’s attention. Nothing ground breaking but a comfortable easy read.

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted

Book Review: The Spanish Love Deception by Elena Armas

The Spanish Deception is a slow burn enemies to lovers chic lit romance written by Elena Armas. The book/ film went viral thanks to TikTok but does the book live up to all the hype surrounding it? 

I thoroughly enjoyed the first half of the novel, there was lots of humour and snappy ripostes between the two main characters. Ironically  the  humour and chemistry started to fade away as they arrived in Spain for the wedding and moved from enemies/ work place acquaintances to lovers. The storyline became more formulaic and the reader could anticipate what came next. 

Disney Store Zero Light Up Hanging Ornament

Disney Store have released their 2022 Halloween collection. There are several spookily cute hanging ornaments which feature characters from The Nighmare Before Christmas. 

My favourite is the light up Zero hanging ornament (£20). This ornament features Zero sitting on a light up pump and a sign for Halloween Town. The ornament measures 7x6.5x9cm. The pumpkin can be switched on by a switch on the base. It is made from resin and stone powder and can be either free standing or hung from a ribbon. 

The packaging has been revamped so no polystyrene- the inside box feels and looks rather like an egg box - so less mess! 

I am not particularly a fan of Halloween or The Nightmare Before Christmas but I do think that this is a really cute hanging ornament and would make a great addition to any spooky Disney collection. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own. 

Disney Store The Lion King Hanging Ornament

The Disneystore/ ShopDisney have started to release the 2022 hanging ornament collection. There are some lovely items but not many animal themed ones. The one that caught my eye is the Lion King hanging ornament (£16) which features Simba, Pumbaa and Timon marching across a log, looking as though they are going to burst into song. This ornament is similar to ethe 2019 Hallmark  version which does burst in to song and light up. This version is more detailed, cheaper and I love the artwork on the back of the ornament.  

The ornament can either hang from a ribbon or be free standing. It measures 12x5 cm and is hand painted and made from resin. 

The packaging has been changed. No longer the stupid polystyrene inserts which crumble as you pack/ unpack the ornament which is great for the environment and pets. The name of the item is also printed on the box which is great if you have a lot to post or pack away.  

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own. 

Book Review: The Guilty Die Twice by Don Hartshorn

 I was asked if I would like to review this book and I agreed as the synopsis sounded very interesting. The Guilty Die Twice is a mystery thriller written by Don Hartshorn.

Set in America the main two characters are brothers - Jake and Travis Lynch. Both brothers are attorneys. The eldest, Jake,  is the DA for Texas whist Travis runs a mostly pro bono practice. 10 years ago the family was split in two by a capital murder case. The author uses flash backs to explain this case, Travis hid vital evidence to stop Sutton, the accused, from being executed. His brother finds out and Jake resigns from his job at the DA’s office. They haven’t spoken since then.

This new case features three victims: two teenage boys shot dead in a car whilst the third has life changing injuries. A drug deal gone horribly wrong there were were three shooters.  As the DA Jake is prosecuting this case whilst Travis is trying to prevent his young client, Sam, from being charged with the death penalty. The two brothers attempt to figure out who pulled the trigger whilst a secondary storyline is woven in which is full of political intrigue and backstabbing as elections for both the DA and Governor are imminent. 

This book is beautifully thought out. The flashbacks and different storylines are cleverly woven together. Travis is a likeable character, Jake is not. The secondary characters, the wives, Claire etc do not hinder but add to the storyline. The book is not sanctimonious when expressing Travis’s opposition to the death penalty merely presenting thoughtful and considered arguments. I enjoyed this debut novel and would thoroughly recommend it.  

Publisher website link:
https://www.tckpublishing.com/

author’s website:
https://donhartshorn.com/

I was #gifted this novel from TCK Publishing but this does not influence the views expressed in this blog post. 

Book Review: The Night The King Claimed Her by Natalie Anderson

The Night The King Claimed Her is a Harlequin/ Mills & Boon Modern novel written by Natalie Anderson. 

Elsie Wynter is a mandolin player who was working in a small coffee shop in Silvabon. She was befriended by the King’s step sister Amelia and they bonded over the love of music. When King Felipe found out he wanted to meet Elsie as he was suspicious of her motives for befriending someone much younger than herself. 

When the two meet there is a strong attraction which culminates in a 24 hour love affair and Elsie leaving the country. Several months later Elsie is travelling to Spain and the plane makes an emergency landing in Silvabon just before Felipe’s coronation. Elise’s name is recognised on the flight manifest and his security team remove her from the flight and she is brought before him. All the past misunderstandings are cleared up but will they get their HEA? 

I enjoyed this book. I especially liked the detailed description of the medieval castle, it was so realistic. I have mixed thoughts about the flash backs. As a writing device flashbacks can add to the storyline help set the scene.  I enjoyed some of them but some seemed slightly unnecessary and confusing.  The characters seemed realistic - the heroine wasn’t sickly sweet but forthright and rightly bitter about what had happened to her. Felipe was the caring brother who wanted what was best for his step sister. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

This novel was #gifted to me by Natalie Anderson via BookFunnel. This has not affected the views expressed in this review. 

Review: Honest 2 Nature Insect Eco Suet Pellets

Unipet, the makers of my wild birds’ beloved berry pellets, have created a new eco brand and version of he insect pellets and block. Their new brand is Honest 2 Nature and their first products are the Insect Eco Suet Pellets and Blocks with compostable packaging. The pellets are available in three sizes - 1kg (£5.99), 12.55kg (£29.99) and 25.1kg (£53.99). The suet cake/blocks are available as single blocks or in a pack of 10 (£14.50). I was gifted two packs of the pellets for my garden birds to test. 

Unipet have invested 2 years and £750,000 building a new plant and technology to create this new eco range. which is completely plastic free and sustainable. The packaging is compostable and was tested for 18 months to ensure it is OPRL approved and suitable for composting/ recycling. 

The pellets themselves are made from non beef suet. The beef suet has been replaced with pure insect fat and insect protein. The new insect eco pellets contain wheat flour, fats, oils, wheat starch, and dried insects. 98% of the ingredients are sourced from within the U.K. and the insect element is provided by Protix in the Netherlands. This reduces the carbon footprint of the product. 

My wild birds have eaten 87 boxes of the berry recipe Suet To Go pellets over the last few years and have turned their beaks up at any other pellet. When I put the insect eco pellets out in their seed feeders and mesh tray one of the blackbirds was the first to come and check it out. He was happy to tuck in as were a few of the younger starlings. I noticed that although they ate the pellets they didn’t go down as quickly as the berry recipe pellets. 

The pellets didn’t have the same bright colour and smell to initially attract the birds. I also think my wild birds have got used to the taste of the berry version and have the bird equivalent of a human’s sweet tooth, in their case a sweet beak. The younger birds tucked in straight way it was the older ones who still wanted the berry pellets. When I mixed the two and they could eat both together they tucked in. The eco pellets did feel slightly tougher to the touch and I noticed that when I left both pellets out overnight in the ground feeder trays in the rain the eco version maintained its shape and was edible whilst the berry version went slightly sticky and mushy and had to be thrown away. 

I love the ethos of the new company. Unipet already create high quality suet products and their next step has been to improve sustainability and look at how their product impacts the environment. By removing the plastic packaging and their carbon imprint they have taken innovative steps with these new products and although my birds with their sweet beaks still prefer the berry pellets they will now be mixed in with the eco pellets so my little garden family can do their bit for the environment. 

 Update: I purchased a 12.55kg bag of Eco pellets from garden wildlife direct as the two male blackbirds seem to prefer them. The sparrows, female blackbirds, blue tits and robins still gravitate towards the berry recipe but will eat the eco ones if mixed together with the eco insect. 

I was gifted the eco insect pellets by Unipet but this did not affect my review. 

Review: Suet To Go Wild Bird Suet Pellets Berry Recipe

 I set up my first bird feeder station in June 2018. Sine then I have purchased 87 x 12.75kg Suet To Go Wild Bird Pellets in Berry Recipe. When I first started off I had 4 straggly starlings that visited. I now have 2 blackbird and blue tit families, 4 families of robins, lots of house sparrows and 1 gold finch family. My starlings have expanded from 4 to over 30. As I am disabled and spend a lot of time in bed I get lots of enjoyment watching them enjoy their food and grow into healthy adults from my window.

 I moved on to buying the Suet To Go Berry recipe after purchasing a cheaper version via Amazon which I found to be dry and crumbly, so there was lots of waste as the birds wouldn’t eat it. The Suet To Go version is more expensive but it doesn’t melt in the sun or crumble. It is high in energy - all the birds that visit are healthy and full of life. The pellets are easy to handle I just use a scoop and pour into a feeder or on to their feeding tray. I certainly have noticed an increase in the amount and variety of birds in my garden since I started using the pellets. The pellets contain human grade ingredients - beef suet, wheat, starch, peanuts, additives are berry flavour and red colouring. The pellets are a very bright pinky red which definitely catches the bird’s attention. The pellets also have a berryish sweet scent. They are a great nutritious complimentary food for wild birds all the year round. 

 The birds are also given peanuts and sunflower hearts as well as the pellets but the pellets are always the first to go! I always have a back up box so I don’t run out especially in Winter and Spring when food isn’t as plentiful. I put the pellets in a ground feeder mesh tray which is on a picnic table as the blackbirds and dove pigeons prefer this and heavy seed feeders that are hung from the station. I did try using suet pellet feeder but they turned their beaks up at that and wouldn’t use them. They always have access to fresh water and a bird bath. Spring/ Summer is a great time to start using a bird feeder station as the fledglings are being cared for by their parents so they bring their babies to the feeders and show them what to do and then they are looking for new homes, so a freshly stocked feeder is bound to attract some young birds. 

I purchased the item myself and the views expressed are my own. 

Book Review: The Devil’s Whispers by Lucas Hault

I very rarely read/ review gothic horror novels but I was intrigued by this book - The Devil’s Whispers. Written by Lucas Hault and published by TCK publishing.

the novel is set in a creepy Welsh castle. The main character, Gerald Woodward is a British (English) solicitor who is brought to said castle to write the last will and testament of  Lord Ferdinand Elvin Mathers who is dying. When Woodward is not with him he is locked in his room in the castle with the butler, Jared, at his service. Helena, Lord Mathers’ daughter, is greatly concerned for her father but she also has a striking resemblance to the woman Woodward sees as he travels to the castle. Despite being taken ill whilst at the castle Woodward discovers how eerie and scary the place can be. He is supposed to be locked in his room but manages to find a way out to explore the labyrinth of corridors and dungeons. Lack of sleep leads to terrifying nightmares that said his strength. He is further concerned to see Mathers at death’s door one day and full of health the next. The answer to this, as Woodwards discovers, is to be found in the dungeons. 

Raelyn Atherton, Woodward’s fiancée, has remained in London. She has her own terrifying storyline to tell of children disappearing and animals being mutilated which is interlinked with her fiancé. I found it interesting that although this is a historical gothic horror novel there aren’t any swooning heroines. Raelyn is a physician who does not want a male escort to assist her. 

Father Malcom Issac Simpson is not only a Christian but a supernatural investigator who assists Woodward in his increasingly complicated games as he tries to draw out Xana, a supernatural individual who presents herself as a beautiful young woman in order to draw her prey into her net.

The premise, devices and ideas behind the storyline are intriguing and add a new dimension to catch the readers’ attention. I enjoyed that the storyline was based around journal entries and letters between the main characters.  There are several narrators whose voices add to the growing sense of horror and fear as the storyline progresses. This device, however, could also a double edged sword because if the reader loses concentration it is possible to forget who is narrating that particular journal entry. The pacing of the book needed some work. The first few chapters dragged as Woodward is taken to the castle. I know the author has to set the scene but this, I feel, could have been achieved much more succinctly and would then evoked and created the atmosphere needed for a successful gothic horror novel much more quickly and realistically. Once I got through the first few chapters the pace sped up and the storyline grabbed my attention. The fear of Woodward trapped in the castle seemed so much more palpable and realistic. One small pedantic issue - Woodward would be an English lawyer not British. 

I enjoyed parts of this novel. It isn’t perfect for the reasons outlined above. I would like to read more of Hault’s work in the future to see how his writing style develops as the ideas are there and whilst they capture the readers’ attention the execution could be refined.  

I was #gifted this novel by TCK Publishing but this has not influenced the views expressed in this review. 

TCK Publishing 

Book Review: Out of her League by Natalie Anderson

Natalie Anderson had just published the first of her four part mini series, Millionaires and Makeovers. Out of her League is a contemporary romance which starts with a fake date and a one night stand which then blossoms in to much more. Bella Cotton is her familiy’s let down. She wants to be a respected actor but at the moment she is a child’s party fairy/pirate and also a baristas. Own Hughes has the perfect life as a multi millionaire tech entrepreneur. They meet at her sister’s wedding. She sees herself as the dumpy one whilst he just wants to make her laugh. They have a fake date and a one night stand and Owen leaves. 

He can’t contact her as she has given him the wrong number. He meets her again in Wellington at a grocery store and helps her out when her car breaks down and flat catches fire. Slowly a relationship develops. She is the first person who hasn’t been interested in his money but will he be able to overcome his antipathy to HEA and give Bella what she wants?

I enjoyed this novel. Both characters are relatable and they work well together. Bella and Owen have issues they have to address before they can build a relationship together and it is interesting to see their characters develop as the storyline progresses. 

I was gifted this book by BookFunnel and Natalie Anderson but this does not effect the views in my blog post, 

Beak & Claws: Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipstick in La Raffinee (34)

                   

I have used up several of these  Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet Lipsticks in La Raffinee 34 and it is my favourite go to matte lipstick. The Chanel Rouge Allure Lipsticks retail for £31 and there are 14 dazzling and luminous matte shades to choose from.

The Rouge Allure Lipsticks give a luminous matte lip colour which is non-drying and comfortable on the lips. The colour payoff is a soft velvet matte finish.  A combination of ultra thin pearlescent  particles  and soft focus microspheres creates the luminousi matte, second skin like finish. A combination of silicone beads and jojoba oil moisturises and smoothes the lips.

I found the lipstick very comfortable to wear and easy to appply. No dryness or patchiness. One swipe gave me a vibrant lip colour that looked natural. The lipstick felt weightless to wear and left my lips looking and feeling velvety and soft. The combination of mattness with luminosity makes the lipstick look more natural and makes it a great alternative to satin lipsticks as this formulation is between the two finishes. 

The lipstick case itself is very luxurious.  The case is black lacquer with gold accents. One click of the base of case releases the lipstick which then can be twisted up and applies. The iconic immediately identifiable CC lettering is embossed on the gold base of the lipstick. 

I purchased this item myself and it is available at all Chanel stockists. All views expressed in this blog are my own.

Review: Debbie Sykes Animal Art Sea Glass Picture

 I was lucky enough to win a beautiful piece of sea glass art from Debbie Sykes Animal Art  in the same competition I won my sea glass pendant. Debbie Sykes is also an Etsy seller and she specialises in sea glass art using Cornish sea glass that has been found on local beaches and animal portraits. Each piece is unique and beautifully made. She can also be followed on Instagram. 

I  won the Blue Lace picture. It is very whimsical and the tiny pieces of stone appear to gleam and sway in the sun bringing the flowers to life. The frame can be either hung or free standing. The whole aesthetic of the piece is minimalistic but with that little bit extra. I love it but am not sure where to put it as it deserves a beautiful setting - which my house lacks! My picture came beautifully wrapped  with a little hedgehog charm attached. This is now an extra add on if you purchase an item but I would recommend it as then you don’t have to wrap the item yourself and the wrapping itself is gorgeous and can be reused. 

I will purchase from this store in the future. There are some beautiful handmade sea glass hedgehog cards (£4.95) that are calling my name and my blue lace picture is perfection. 

I won this item in a competition but this did not affect the views expressed in my blog 

#WIN Rolling Waves Cornwall Sterling Silver Cornish Sea Glass Pendant

This month’s competition prize is a Rolling Waves Cornwall Sea Glass Sterling Silver Pendant. The stone is piece of Cornish sea glass in a lemon ish colour and the sterling silver necklace length is 18”. The item is handmade. 

Enter here>>> a Rafflecopter giveaway

Competition Rules:

Competition is open worldwide;

Entrants must fulfil the mandatory Rafflecopter opinion - follow this blog. 

Competition closes on 01 June 11.59pm GMT 2022;

I purchased this item myself so any questions  please email me. 

Review: Rolling Waves Cornwall Sterling Silver Cornish Sea Glass Pendant

I was lucky enough to win a Rollingwavescornwall sterling blue sea glass pendant in her Instagram competition. I have always been fascinated with sea glass when I’ve seen it on the beach. Each piece is unique, shaped by the waves and sea. Rolling Waves Cornwall is an Etsy seller who specialises in hand making Cornish Sea Glass Jewellery.  You can also follow her on Instagram. 

My stone is a light blue which almost glows in the sunlight. The setting compliments ad enhances the stone by being minimalist. The piece would be suitable for all occasions and seasons. I have purchased a similar piece with a yellow stone for this month’s blog competition and it cost £40 which I think is very reasonable for a handmade piece of jewellery. The pendant is boxed in a Rolling Waves Cornwall embossed gift box. 

I would and have purchase more items in the future. Each piece is unique and exquisitely made. 

I won this piece of jewellery in a competition but this has not affected the opinion expressed in this blog post. 

Review:Gemeshou Earring Stand

 I noticed that the earring stand I was using as a blog/ photo prop was looking rather wonky and scuffed so I went and searched on Amazon U.K. to find a reasonably priced replacement. I found the Gemshou earring stand (£13.99). This is available in black, silver, rose gold and gold and in 2 heights 11 and 13 cm. The stands can also be purchased in sets. 

 The stand arrived in three pieces that were very easily screwed together. The stand can be used to display both hoop and stud post earrings. It is compact and can be taken apart and stored flat when not in use. 

I would purchase this stand in other colour ways. Looking at the stores’ a other listings the stands are available with different shaped bases and there are also matching cone/ ring stands which would be great for jewellers/ Etsy jewellers to display their items on for photos etc. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Little Silver Hedgehog Sterling Silver Hedgehog

I have bought and reviewed several pieces of Little Silver Hedgehog’s hedgehog jewellery (she does create other nature and wildlife animal themed jewellery). I enjoy wearing my pieces because not only are all the pieces handmade in her workshop but a portion of her profits goes towards supporting her hedgehog rescue. The sterling silver hedgehog earrings (£40) caught my eye because they are summery and eye catching.  

 I have not tried the earrings on as they are earmarked as a Twitter competition prize. They are beautiful sterling silver earrings each embossed with a hedgehog. The circular charms are attached to hook fastening. They done feel particularly heavy / I hate earrings that pull my earlobes down.  Each earring measures 1.6cm in diameter. 

The packaging is lovely - the earrings are safely packed ina Little Silver Hedgehog embossed gift bow along with a photo of a hedgehog and leaflets about how to care for them, the whole package would make a great gift for yourself or someone else! 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Review: Lords & Labradors plus Purina One Kitten/Junior Food Chicken and Whole Grain 3KG

I have several hedgehog houses (with residents) in my back garden and I have cared for them for several years, putting fresh water and food out, taking them for treatment when needed and providing shelter: I and they were disappointed when Tesco stopped making their Kitten chicken dry food and replaced it with a new and supposedly improved variant where cereals rather than chicken is the main ingredient- no good for hedgies or kittens. Several hedgehog rescues suggested Purina Kitten Chicken dry food as a great alternative which Horace and co love. The pieces are small and fit in their weirdly shaped mouths and the bowls are always clean.  It is, however, relatively expensive compared to the 79p boxes of Tesco food. A 800g Purina bag costs around £5 and a 3kg bag between £13-15. My hedgies get through 2 of the 3 kg bags a month so I am always looking for special offers.

Lords & Labradors is a website that sells dog, cat and wild bird related items including food. They sell the 3kg bags for £9.99 plus postage £5.47 with DHL who I find provide a great service. My kitten food was delivered within a week and the packaging was great ( I have already used the cardboard box as storage for Christmas decorations). The website is easy to navigate, I didn’t get swamped with choices, their selections are pared  down  and easy to scroll through and the loyalty points scheme looks great value. I shall definitely keep using them for my kitten/ hedgehog food and I do fancy getting the Peckish Secret Garden Dual Feeder for my birds. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own. 

#Win Couture Kingdom White Gold Plate Perdita and Pongo 101 Dalmations Pendant and Earrings

Win these #couturekingdomuk white gold plate Perdita & Pongo kissing dogs pendant and earrings in this month’s Rafflecopter competition. 

Enter here: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:

Competition closes a Rafflecopter giveaway 1 April 11.59pm GMT.

Entrants must fulfil the mandatory requirement in  Rafflecopter (follow this blog)

Competition is open worldwide 

Competition is not affiliated with Couture Kingdom #disney #disneyclassics #disneyblogger #disneybloggeruk #disneyjewelry #disneyjewellery

Review: Edinburgh Jewellery Tiny Lucky Frog Charm

Edinburgh Jewellery  is a popular Etsy jewellery seller that sells quirky yet affordable jewellery and accessories such as the tiny frog charm (£3.90).  I purchased the charm as part of a cheering up gift for someone I don’t know particularly well so I didn’t want an over the top flowery card, just something to show I was thinking of her and her family which would make her smile. 

 The card features a tiny metal smiling frog face which can be removed from the card. He measures 7mmx7mm. The card’s verse isn’t flowery or over the top which is great as it is perfect for many different occasions. The envelope costs an extra 50p which is worth it as the card would be too small for most card envelopes. I also got a frog card included with the charm which is cute and an unexpected bonus. 

The customer service was great and my item arrived within 3 days of ordering. I would recommend this company and will use them again in the future.

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own 

Book Review: Revealing Her Nine-Month Secret by Natalie Anderson

Revealing Her Nine Month Secret is written by Natalie Anderson and is part of the Jet Set Billionaires Mills & Boon Modern mini series. 

Carrie Barrett and Massimo Donati-Wells enjoy one night in Auckland after she is stood up on a blond date. She realises her period is late and face times Massimo to tell him. The day after this she thinks she has miscarried the baby, so leaves a message for him not realising he is on a plane coming to see her and travels to Fiji to start her dream job. Several months later she sees Massimo in a market in Fiji, collapses and goes into labour. He takes her to hospital where she stays for the next three weeks. He only finds out he is a father/ there is a baby when a receptionist tells him that they are both stable. 

He whisks Carrie and baby Ana to his private Fijian island and they negotiate a contract marriage so Carrie can get Australian residency. Carrie is rather shocked as she didn’t know she was expecting a bay and Massimo is rather sceptical of this claim. Both Carrie and Massimo have been shaped by their childhood problems. Will they be able to overcome the lasting barriers created by these influences and create a forever family?

I enjoyed this novel. The backdrop of both Auckland and Fiji were both described in detail and provided a nice change from the traditional Venice/London/New York etc M&B location. It is also interesting to see the childhood factors that have shaped their adulthood choices: Carrie’s need to please due to feeling and being treated as inferior to the rest of her sporty family whilst Massimo’s aversion to a family is down to to his father abandoning him when he discovers he is not biologically his child. 

I would recommend this book and others by this author as they are all enjoyable to read. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I was sent an advance copy by Natalie Anderson but this does not affect my review. 

Review: Wetbrush Charcoal Infused Paddle Detangler

I saw the WetBrush Charcoal Infused Paddle Detangler (£11.99), when ordering a new WetBrush Pro Paddle detangler. I decided to try it out as the charcoal infused bristles are supposed to  remove impurities, balance oil and increase the hair’s shine and smoothness. Excess sebum is removed whilst the hair shaft is deeply cleansed in order to let the hair strands breathe. The TPE strips are an eco friendly material which reduce static and frizz. The hairbrush is suitable for oily hair (me) as it brushes, detangles, refreshes and styles. The Intelliflex bristles prevent strands breaking, less tugging and pain when detangling and hair is quickly detangled. 

 This hairbrush is perfect for me - my hair does break easily and I did notice less breakage when using this WetBrush. I didn’t notice less pain - I normally use the WetBrush Pro range and I thought that the bristles on the charcoal version felt brisker on my scalp, leaving a cleaner more massaged feel to it. My hair didn’t seem to be de frizzed but did seem less oily, looked shinier and healthier. The brush isn’t particularly heavy and the handle is comfortable to hold - this is important if you have long hair and brushing can take quite a long time! 

I liked using the Charcoal infused WetBrush and I will use it in rotation with my Pro Paddle brush when I want a brisker brush and my scalp feels like it needs a cleanse. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own. 

Review: Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal SnapMask Stick

The Yes To Tomatoes Detoxifying Charcoal Stick retails at £11.99 for 56g.  It is a cleansing and detoxifying mask stick, free from parabens, SLS and silicons. Leaping Bunny Certified the mask is suitable for all skin types and made from 96% natural ingredients. Enriched with a powerful combination of tomato extract, charcoal and salicylic acid, it is a 5 minute mask which claims to fight the toxins, impurities and excess oil which trigger spots. After use skin will be clear, refreshed, oils balanced resulting in health skin. 

My skin is greasy and stressed due to long term illnesses and medication. I am always willing to try new products which are reasonably priced to see if they can help my skin. I purchased my stick via Amazon when it was on offer for £7.99. 

 I like that I don’t have to touch the mask. I can just swipe it on. I would like the stick to be slightly smaller so it would fit in my nose areas more easily. It feels nice on the skin and I could feel it tightening as it dried. The smell is very faint tand it is a clean smell. The mask washed off very easily and looked slightly red for a few minutes. When the redness had gone my skin didn’t look as stressed and shiny but slightly healthier and glowing. It had drawn some impurities to the surface of the skin so I wouldn’t use it just before going out but I do recommend it and have continued to use and have seen fewer and fewer breakouts over the last few weeks. 

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in my blog are my own: 

Book Review: The Sultan’s Wife by Jane Johnson

Set in 17 Century Morocco, the main characters are: Nus-Nus the African eunuch  is who is the Sultan’s scribe; Mouley Ismael the cruel and feared Sultan who has a mercurial temper, Alys Swan a Dutch-English lady who is one of his many wives. She was kidnapped on the way to meet her fiancé and given the choice of either going the Sultan’s harem or dying a painful death. Zidana is the Sultan’s main wife who is feared by everyone in the harem.

The novel is written from the viewpoint of Alys and Nus-Nus. It is beautifully descriptive and historically accurate, revealing how dangerous and fraught life in the Royal Court could be. The novel is full of murder, mystery and intrigue. There is a hint of romance between Nus-Nus and Alys but the main storyline focuses on depicting Nus-Nus life, the abuse that led him to becoming a eunuch and his life as a scribe negotiating both the Sultan’s rage and the backstabbing in the Harem. The Royal Court travels to visit Charles I in England and encounters the plague which adds to the historical interest in the novel. 

I was gifted this novel by Netgalley and House of Zeus in return for a honest review

Book Review: Meet Me in Tahiti by Georgia Toffolo

 

This is the third book in the 'Meet Me In...' series by Georgia Toffolo. they can be read as stand a lone novels.

Zoe is a travel reporter who travels the world. After an accident when she was 18 years old, Zoe is confined to a wheelchair.  Her disability/ wheelchair have not prevented  her from doing what she wants and becoming a very successful travel writer. Her parents are, however, helicopter parents and do tend to smother her. When Zoe arrives in a new resort in Tahiti, she comes face to face with her past, as her ex Finn owns the resort and they must deal with feelings that go back a long way before they can move forward with their lives. 

I enjoyed the plot line, the writing style and the fact the the storyline didn’t focus on Zoe’s disability. 

I was gifted this book by Mills & Boon in exchange for a honest review #millsandbooninsider

Book Review: A Blues Singer to Redeem Him by Elle Jackson

Set in the 1920s this debut novel by Elle Jackson is a step away from the traditional Mills & Boon Historical novel in terms of storyline and era. 

Evelyn is still struggling to recover from losing her parents in a terrible act of violence whilst she still pursues her dream of becoming a blues singer and also supporting her beloved grandmother. Lorenzo is the one and only heir of the deLuca family. His family is intrinsically linked to the Mafia mob and all its violence. Lorenzo wants to move away from this influence but his father doesn’t. Lorenzo has made many enemies but now he has met someone he has fallen in love with and wants to protect whilst also removing the mob links from his family but can he have and do both?

This is a fascinating story that doesn’t sugarcoat or romanticise the mafia and the violence in the 1920s club scene. It’s not the traditional backdrop or setting for a historical romance but it definitely works. The main story is between the developing relationship between Lorenzo and Evelyn whilst the secondary storylines of violence and the mafia take the storyline to the next level. 

I love Mills & Boon UK and I think you will too! Click my personal referral link to get a discount on your first purchase http://rwrd.io/f4yjeqp?c 

I received this book via Netgalley and Mills and Boon in exchange for a honest review. I am a #MillsAndBoonInsider #netgalley #gifted