Win/Review: Little Silver Hedgehog Floral Butterfly sterling Silver Pendant

  I have been reviewing and giving away Little Silver Hedgehog hedgehog jewellery since 2021. Emma does, however, make a lovely range of nature inspired jewellery made from recycled silver. 

 This floral butterfly sterling silver pendant is £55. Each one is handmade. The butterfly measures 2x2.5 cm and it is suspended on an 18” sterling link chain with a lobster clasp. It is packaged in LittleSilverHedgehog branded packaging.  The butterfly is very tactile and intricate. The front has a raised floral design whilst the back is flat so it is comfortable to wear. The chain is nice and chunky, looks great against winter clothes. As always a percentage of all sales goes to Emma’s hedgehog rescue, so not only are you getting a beautiful piece of jewellery but you are helping the hoggies too! 

 Now to how to win this necklace. I am running the competition over on X (formerly Twitter). Just follow me, like the competition post and comment below the post saying how you help the local wildlife during this freezing snowy weather. 

C/d is 1/12 11.59 GMT

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

Book Review: The Anti-Social Season by Adele Buck

 

The Anti-Social Season is written by Adele Buck and published by Mills & Boon as part of their newish contemporary Afterglow series. Thea Martinelli is a burnt out firefighter who is starting a new career as social media officer for the fire service. Simon Osman is a librarian and social media coordinator who has been tasked with showing Thea the ropes and how social media work. Simon had a crush on Thea on school but she doesn’t remember him. Sparks fly between the pair but can they stop living in the past and move on to a future together?

I enjoyed that this novel is contemporary with a reversal of roles. Little was made of this by the author and I feel it would have made the characters more believable if there was a bigger part of the storyline focusing on this, even if it was just Thea rescuing a kitten from a tree! Lots of humour and spicy romantic moments between the pair, and some fun little interludes with Thea’s landlady too. I didn’t enjoy the harping back to the fast. The characters needed to be focusing more on how they were to move forward in their lives. Simon appeared rather wimpy at times as he seemed to be overly upset about Thea ignoring/ not remembering him from school. The festive backdrop is a nice touch to the storyline but doesn’t overwhelm it. As an aside I hate the graphics on the Afterglow series, they make the novels look cheap and dreary. 

I would recommend this book as a quick 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 Woman at My Wedding by L.G. Davis

The Woman At My Wedding is the first part in the a two part series - Broken Vows. This is a psychological thriller with several twists and turns. 

Brynn and Nathan are due to get married. They live in Stoneview Florida in an upscale beach resort. Brynn owns and manages a high end artist gallery whilst Nathan is a criminal lawyer working away from home on a high profile murder case,  The defendant being Amanda Lane, in a case that could make or break his career. Debbie, Brynn’s mother in law from hell, arrives unannounced the month before the wedding is due to take place claiming she help with the wedding preparations.

This is where things start going wrong for Brynn. The only hint the reader has is “The Woman”. First the wedding cake figurines are left broken with a note threatening Brynn.  Her veil is found damaged on the beach, the venue is cancelled, money goes missing and the list goes on. Brynn suspects Debbie is behind it all but has to be careful as she knows all about Brynn’s past and she has worked hard to move away from this. 

The other two suspects are Hannah who is the florist and maid of honour and Elena who has known Nathan for years and is making Brynn’s wedding dress. 

As the wedding draws closer the problems just keep on coming! Will the woman be unmasked and will the wedding actually take place? 

A psychological thriller, full of twists and turns that keeps the reader engrossed in the tale. The main characters seem at first to be mundane and average but as the plot progresses they become more complex and interesting, the book is written using a dual perspective using the voices of Brynn and the unknown woman. This is a clever storytelling device and I enjoyed reading the plot from their perspectives.

An enjoyable read that could have been confusing and dragged but due to the fast paced storyline kept the reader’s attention. I am looking forward to reading the second one in the series. 

I received this book via Netgalley and Bookouture in exchange for a honest review

 

Win Chamilia Disney Sterling Silver Mickey Crystal Pearl Pendant

Anyone remember the Chamilia range by Swarovski. They made grown up style Disney charms and jewellery. I purchased some when Swarovski shut the brand down to use as prizes but then forgot about them! So the first prize will be a Disney Mickey Mouse Sterling Solver and crystal black pearl pendant and chain.   

The Mickey head is sterling silver with a black crystal pearl for his face. It measures 1x1cm. A crystal pearl is a simulated pearl with a crystal in its centre covered in a pearl coating. They are stronger than natural pearls and they are less likely to be damaged by hairspray, perfume etc. They are the highest quality man made pearl. The chain is Sterling Silver, has the Chamilia tag, is 46cm in length with a 5cm extender attached. It comes boxed in a little Chamilia drawer and suedette bag. 

It is very elegant and understated. I have one and regularly wear it: Tgg he ey can still be found on eBay and Vinted for around 2/2 their original retail price. 

Competition Rules:

Must be following my Instagram acount - @sparkling_magpie;

Like and comment on the competition post;

Like and comment on other IG posts for extra entries (especially the glasses post);

C/d 01 Dec 23.59pm GMT ;

Open worldwide.

Win Little Silver Hedgehog Sterling Silver Hedgehog Pendant

 

Win this Little Silver Hedgehog Sterling Silver hedgehog pendant over on my X (formerly Twitter account: @susan1375

This is a recap of my blog post about the pendant/ review: 

Continuing my charity giveaways, this month’s prize can be found on my Twitter account This month I chose a sterling silver hedgehog necklace (£42) from Little Silver Hedgehog an Etsy seller. She designs and makes all her jewellery in her tiny design studio in York. All her jewellery is inspired by nature and wildlife but most importantly of all at least 10% of all profits is donated to helping preserve and save hedgehogs. She also runs a hedgehog rescue. 

The hedgehog population is in decline thanks to humans encroaching on their turf and it is estimated there will be none left in the U.K. within 20 years! It is important to support rescues as a lot of them are self financing and ill hedgehogs or rescued baby hedgehogs are expensive in terms of medication, food and accommodation! 

 

So on to the necklace. Beautifully packaged (and the outer packaging is designed to fit through letterboxes) the pendant measures 1.3 cm in with and the chain is a 16” snake chain. The pendant is very discreet and elegant, perfect to wear all the time.  I’m sure any nature lover or hoggie supporter would love it or any other of her hand made beautiful items. 

She also runs online wildlife/ hedgehog care courses and jewellery courses at her York studio. I’m planning to go and do a 1 day course hopefully next year. If you want to find out more the Twitter, which is the easiest way to access her blog, Etsy, Facebook is Littlesilverhedgehog. 

Rules:

Must follow my Twitter account- @ susan1375;

Retweet and comment on the competition post;

Closing date 25 November 23.59pm GMT;

I purchased the item so any questions please contact me;

This competition isn’t affiliated with either X (formerly Twitter) or Blogger.

Win a Heathergems Higland Coo / Cow Pendant

In the last blog post I reviewed Heathergems Highland Coo (cow) pendant and in this post I am giving one a way, that I purchased myself, just in time for Christmas. Just follow the link below to fulfil the Rafflecopter options and good luck. 

Link >>> a Rafflecopter giveaway

Rules:

Must fulfil the mandatory Rafflecopter options;

Competition is open worldwide;

Opens 06 November closes 30 November 2024;

This couldn’t affiliated with either Blogger or Heathergems, I purchased the item myself so any queries please contact me. 

Good luck!

Review: Heathergems Highland Coo Necklace

I do love a highland cow product (especially jewellery) and my garden is filled with Scottish heather (despite liking in the North West of England). Heathergems, as the name suggests, have created a line of sterling silver jewellery which incorporate ls Scottish heather and the items are made in Scotland. 

The Scottish heather is gathered from the Perthshire hillside, which helps the local wildlife and generate  the local area, cut and clean the heather, dye the heather and compress the stems into resin and compressed under 60 tonnes to create a block which is then cut to size and crafted into wearable pieces of art. Due to this process no two pieces are the same colour, so this little cow is unique! Visit there website for a more detailed explanation and pictures of the process. 

The cow or coo (£36.95) comes in a beautiful gift box. Each piece is handmade and multicoloured and unique to you. The cow measures 32x22mm and hangs on a 18” sterling silver necklace.  The front of the cow is slightly curved giving him more dimension whilst the back is flat so comfortable to wear. It is a beautiful piece and would make a great gift for yourself or someone who likes highland cows. 

I think the whole range is great, it is eco friendly, made in Scotland, you can visit the visitors centre and watch the items being made. There is nothing not to like about Heathergems  The products are reasonably priced especially as they are handmade. 

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

Review: Glasses2U

 

My eyesight has deteriorated quite a lot over the last few years plus I have been diagnosed with glucoma. I have worn glasses since I was 6 or 7 but was determined not to have bifocals after seeing my mum struggle for years with them. I tried to combine reading with long distance glasses for several months (due to the expense of thin, expensive lenses) but struggled when I was out and about to use my stick and safely swap glasses without dropping them! 

I gave in and decided to try varifocal glasses. I was advised by Boots that the lenses by themselves would be over £500! I decided to look online and as glasses2u have got good Trustpilot reviews I went with them. Their prescription glasses start at £19.95 but sadly I knew mine would cost more than that! I chose the Sophia ladies glasses in lilac (also available in silver and gold). They cost £34.99 including prescription lenses but as I was upgrading I went for the Varifocal Alpha Premium Lens: G2Y Platinum Pack which is £116.64. Altogether my glasses cost £144.92.

I really  liked the customer service. I had my prescription from Boots which I sent over but they still wanted a photo of me wearing their glasses - they sent me a pair with plain glass in so they could check the PD was correct which was very efficient. The glasses arrived within a week in letterbox friendly packaging. The box contained glasses, a leaflet giving instructions on how to care for the glasses and and adjust the frames so they fit and a felt glasses case. 

My glasses are really comfortable to wear, don’t look or feel cheap and are really light, my nose dent from the last pair is slowly disappearing! I did get the thinnest lenses available and they still stick out as you can see in the photos but that happens with all my glasses as my eyesight is so poor. The lenses are still quite light and I can’t really tell I’m wearing varifocals. The colour of the glasses is perfect. The lilac has just the right amount of gold, pink in it to give the face definition. I am really pale so sometimes the colour of glasses can really affect the shape and dimensions of your face. I liked that the front of the glasses frame and the arms had texture which stopped the glasses from looking cheap and boring. I am so pleased to have found this company and I intend to buy the silver version of the glasses as my Christmas present to me! I just wish they had been around when my mum was struggling with her glasses as it really affects your life if your eyesight is poor anyway and then the glasses on offer don’t really help. 

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

Review: Labradorite Cut DT Crystal Vogel Wand Point 40-60mm

 I first came across Green Cross Toad when I was searching on Amazon for a labradorite pointer wand to use as a blog accessory. I wanted a very small pointer to use with small pinky and toe rings as the internet is not ready to see my toes! I loved the name of the shop and as the 12 point Vogel wand point was reasonably priced (£3.99 incline postage) I chose this one. 

Green Cross Toad was established in 2007 and now can be found on Amazon , EBay and their own website -greencrosstoad.co.uk. They sell lots of reasonably priced items such as rumbled stones, dowsers, polished and fortune telling crystals, rocks, gems and sterling silver jewellery, 

The wand arrived wrapped safely in foam and I love it. The wands measure between 40-60mm, have 12 points and are high quality labradorite. The blue flash of the labradorite is lovely and almost looks alive as there are vibrant shifts in colour as I move it around. It looks great as a blog prop for tiny rings and I will probably purchase more as they had some unusual coloured wands that I hadn’t seen before.

I would recommend this company and I will certainly be using them again the future. I am guilty of always checking Etsy out before looking for the truly small businesses that are not  either drop shipping or based in China. The name caught my eye but the quality of their products and customer service will ensure I shop there again. 

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

, 

Win: House of Alyssa Smith, Alyssa’s Mystery Box

  I reviewed the House of Alyssa Smith mystery  box in 2023. Due to my various health problems I didn’t put the box up as a competition prize as I felt too ill to even move. I don’t feel much better now but life goes on! This would make a great present for someone building their jewellery collection. There is a wide variety of items in the box (pictures below). My competition can be found on Instagram

Rules:

Competition is open worldwide;

Just follow, like and comment;

Competition opens 17 Oct closes 07 Nov 11.59 pm gmt;

This competition is not affiliated with either Alyssa Smith or Meta.?

Recap of my original review:

The House of Alyssa Smith recently released two limited edition jewellery/ gemstone mystery boxes. There was a medium version which contained 6 items and large which contained 10. I purchased the large (£55) as I thought it would make a great prize as I try to get back into blogging after a recent mental health collapse.

The website did state it could take up to 10 days to arrive and would contain 10 items that cannot be found/ bought individually on her website. Items could include charms, necklaces, gemstone pendants, bracelets and keepsake crystals and each box would contain different items.  My box included a blue crystal stone, 3 bracelets, a heart necklace and earrings. I didn’t open the three items in the envelopes as I couldn’t see how to open then seal them up again without spoiling the wrapping. The items came nicely packaged in little yellow net bags. The selection of jewellery is well thought out and would make a great gift for someone just starting to build their jewellery wardrobe. 

I don’t think I would purchase a box for myself, not because I didn’t like it, I do. I think jewellery mystery boxes are a great concept. I still miss the Astrid and Miyu ones from years ago. I  been so ill and lost so much weight bracelets just fall off me so most of the items would be wasted on me. 

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

Review: Cosy Cabin for Cats and Small Pets

I purchased and reviewed the Croci Kennel  last year. It’s fine but as I thought it is very light and has to be weighted down or will fly away like the house in the Wizard of Oz! The clip on brown filter and surround for the door also ping off every so often, which is annoying. I was looking for a reasonably priced, sturdy, waterproof cat house suitable for outdoors as a neighbour has 27 cats and some are living in my garden and were eating my hedgehog (kitten) food. I have adjusted my food bill to buy extra cat food (one of the 27 had already moved herself in with me) but I needed a house for any that stay over night. After some Googling I found Cosy Cabins,/ Kitty Cabin Outdoor Shelter which range in price from £44.95 to £59.99. 

 

I purchased the deep green £54 version. It measures 39Hx42Wx52Dcm.  It is made from one thick piece of moulded plastic so no chance of water seeping through or the igloo rotting as could happen with wooden structures. It is 100% water proof. 

The igloo is lifted off the floor with strips so the base won’t get cold and uncomfortable for the resident. The structure is easy to clean with a hose and there is a little hole in the base so water can run out. There is quite a lot of room inside the Cabin so an average sized cat or dog can sit comfortably without feeling claustrophobic. The entryway is receded and there is an overhang to prevent rain coming in.

I bought my Cabin a few weeks ago and immediately one of the cats had moved in: I did buy a self heating blanket so she would be more comfy and she seems to approve! 

I would definitely recommend these Cabins. They are waterproof and UV safe. They are suitable for not only cats but also small dogs, rabbits, Guinea pigs, foxes, hedgehogs etc. the The designers certainly understood a cat’s needs and demands when designing the igloos and they are reasonably priced. 

  

 

#Win Stitch Halloween Light-Up Ornament

 

These are the links to win one of the Stitch Halloween Light Up Ornaments (sold out on the ShopDisneyUK website.

Instagram : follow and like the competition post. For extra entries like/ comment on other posts.

Twitter/X: like the post, retweet and comment.

Blog: follow and comment below. Comment on other posts for extra entries. 

Rules:

Competition is open worldwide;

Entrants must complete the mandatory Rafflecopter requirement;

Competition opens on the 12 October  closes on the 22 October 2024 11.59pm GMT.

The competition is not affiliated in any way with either blogger or ShopDisney. I purchased the item myself so please contact me via email if there are any queries;

Review: Stitch Halloween Light-Up Ornament

The Stitch Halloween Light Up Hanging Ornament (£20) flew out of the shopdisney online store like a bat out of hell, but never fear I managed to get 3 on preorder to use as prizes for my Twitter, Instagram and Blog followers. Rules of entry will be on my next blog post. 

Even though I am not a fan of either Stitch or Halloween (since I became the human slave to mini black panther cat I realised how dangerous a time it is for them) the light up Stitch Halloween Hanging Ornament is cute. Stitch is wearing a vampire Halloween costume and he is standing next to a light up Jack O Lantern.  He is part of this year’s Stitch Halloween collection. The ornament can be hanging or free standing as there is a lobster claw clasp that clips a little black satin hanging loop to the back of the ornament. The ornament itself measures H7xW5xD8cm. The light up pumpkin is operated by a little switch on the base. 

The light up pumpkin is cute and when it’s turned on glows eerily. It would make a great night light. The only complaint I have is packaging wise. It’s great that the styrofoam inserts have gone and been replaced by cardboard which is recyclable, but there is now a huge elastic band holding the protective box together (rather than sellotape that held the styrofoam together). If the band pings off and is grabbed by a pet there could be dire consequences so if you buy any hanging ornaments from shopdisney be careful when opening. 

The different competition entry methods are listed on the next blog post and as always I wish you all could win, good luck!!!  

Book Review: Fake Fling with the Billionaire by Rachael Stewart

 

Fake Fling with the Billionaire is written by Rachael Stewart and is part of the Mills & Boon True Love collection. 

Cassie is currently holed up in a Paris hotel, trying to recover emotionally and financially after divorcing Prince Serignone. The Duponts, the royal family seem determined to paint her as the one who caused her marriage to fail when in reality it was her husband’s fault. She first meets Hugo Chevalier, a billionaire teddy bear made of steel,  in rather compromising circumstances when he is locked out of his apartment after sleepwalking naked. They soon become firm friends and he escorts her around Paris so that she can see the sights, they enter into a fake fling so she can do this and slowly their friendship becomes more. Both of them have baggage from the past that could hinder their future together, will they overcome the barriers and have their HEA. 

Despite coming from a rich background and being an ex-princess, Cassie is an intriguing character. She seems to be a determined character who does not let the press intrusion phase her. She seems sad but philosophical about the (lack of a) relationship with her parents and is determined to rebuild her life. Hugo also has problems with his parents, not that they are disinterested but that they are overbearing, especially as they interfere with his love life due to his youthful mistake that nearly destroyed the family business. He comes across as a lovely down to earth character despite being a billionaire as he helps Cassie put her life back together.

I enjoyed this novel, the storyline was interesting and I love reading any novel set in Paris! I would recommend this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Rachael Stewart and Book Funnel but this did not affect my review.  

Review: SKGemsandbeads, Amethyst Wand/ Ring Holder

 I have been looking for an amethyst ring holder for several years, since I started being interested in crystals and semi precious stones. I was browsing Etsy and SKGemsandbeads and I saw a mini amethyst point / wand that measures between 6.1 and 6.7 cm in length. It cost £15.58 including tax and postage.  

When it arrived from India it was packed very securely in bubble wrap and a little plastic container. It measured 6.1 cm (H) and 2.4 cm at its widest point. As the wand is narrow at the top and wider at the bottom it makes the perfect ring holder. I’m a size K-L and lots of larger sizes should also fit on it. The holder itself looks very magical with colours ranging from white at the top  to deep purple at the bottom. It is a six sided wand and the cut makes it seem almost alive as it gleams in the sunlight.The item was bought from a seller in India and took about 9 days to arrive.

 I would recommend this seller as my amethyst wand/crystal tower/ring holder is beautifully made, carefully packed and the customer service great.

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

Review: GemeShou Gold Earring Display Stand

I have reviewed Gemeshou jewellery display products in previous blog posts and I also have several that are waiting to be reviewed. I like their products as they are well made and ready priced. Today I am going to review the earring holder for long earrings (I realised when I received the stand that I had misjudged the height as I don’t wear or own very long earrings!).

The earring stand is very minimalist and elegant, available in black, silver or gold (I got the gold version). They are available in two heights 20 and 28 cm. The horizontal earring bar measures 6cm and can hold stud and hook earrings. The stand comes in 3 pieces and screws together very easily. It is also very compact to store. 

I love the brushed gold colour and the style of the base. I just wish there was a smaller version available! 

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

Book Review:Billion-Dollar Dating Game (Billion-Dollar Bet, Book 1 by Natalie Anderson

 

Billion-Dollar Dating Game by Natalie Anderson is the first in the three part mini series Billion-Dollar Bets. The three main men, Zane, Adam and Cade are best friends and billionaires. All three have a reputation as one date wonders but excellent businessmen. All three, each for their own reason, want to purchase Helberg Holdings as Reed, the owner, died several months ago. Zane puts down a bet that if they can date one women between independence and Labour Day he will take all the shares that they have accumulated and have a free run at taking over Helberg Holdings. All three men agree. 

Zane de Marco and Skylar Bennet grew up on the same estate. Neither had a happy childhood. She lived with her strict father, him with his mother. Zane slowly built his empire and Skylar is now an employee. After a night together he persuades her to have a fake relationship so he can win the bet and take over the business that destroyed his childhood. He/ they didn’t take into account that their fake relationship would develop into a true romance, but will their flaws and stubborn characters prevent their romance from being their HEA? 

Full of passion and pent up emotions that can be traced back to childhood, both characters are clearly flawed but likeable. The reader can root for them and hope they get it together so their relationship survives because they are relatable characters that most readers can empathise with. 

This is an enjoyable read, a bit of a slow start but the rest of the novel is well paced and full of chemistry. I would recommend and I am looking forward to reading the other 2 books in the series. 

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Book Review: Faking It Fast-Track Fiancé (The Fast Track Billionaires' Club) / Billion-Dollar Dating Game (Billion-Dollar Bet) by Amanda Cinelli; Natalie Anderson

 

Faking It is a duo of Mills & Boon Modern novels. Fast Track Fiancé by Amanda Cinelli and Billion - Dating Game by Natalie Anderson combine to make this a sizzling late summer read!!

 I’m not particularly interested in Formula 1 racing but as this provides the back drop and shapes the storyline to Fast Track Fiancé I decided to overlook this. Nina Roux is a heiress and reserve driver for the Falco Roux  Team. She had assumed she was about to be promoted after a disastrous race in Monte Carlo but instead legendary driver Apollo  Accardi arrives back after a six year absence.  So she is still benched from Falco Roux’s F1 driving team. Tristan Falco, the owner/ playboy of the team is caught on camera arguing with her. To try and calm the media storm he agrees that if they maintain a paddock romance for the season and she pretends to be his fiancé she can have a seat in the team. All is fine until the fake feelings become very real!!

An enjoyable read full of chemistry and sparks between the two main characters. I liked that Nina was so determined to get her place on the team and not just stay as the reserve driver. 

 Billion-Dollar Dating Game by Natalie Anderson is the first in the three part mini series Billion-Dollar Bets. The three main men, Zane, Adam and Cade are best friends and billionaires. All three have a reputation as one date wonders but excellent businessmen. All three, each for their own reason, want to purchase Helberg Holdings as Reed, the owner, died several months ago. Zane puts down a bet that if they can date one women between independence and Labour Day he will take all the shares that they have accumulated and have a free run at taking over Helberg Holdings. All three men agree. 

Zane de Marco and Skylar Bennet grew up on the same estate. Neither had a happy childhood. She lived with her strict father, him with his mother. Zane slowly built his empire and Skylar is now an employee. After a night together he persuades her to have a fake relationship so he can win the bet and take over the business that destroyed his childhood. He/ they didn’t take into account that their fake relationship would develop into a true romance, but will their flaws and stubborn characters prevent their romance from being their HEA? 

Full of passion and pent up emotions that can be traced back to childhood, both characters are clearly flawed but likeable. The reader can root for them and hope they get it together so their relationship survives because they are relatable characters that most readers can empathise with. 

An excellent duo and I would recommend this novel as both books are rereadable and full of spice. 

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; Reclaimed With A Ring by Louise Fuller

  

Reclaimed by a Ring is written by Louisr Fuller and is part of the Mills & Boon Modern Diamond Club mini series. 

Trip Winslow has returned to New York and his multi billion dollar empire in New York after experiencing 5 weeks of captivity in Ecuador. He was kidnapped after going there to try to find his father’s mistress. His business advisers tell him that his stock holders have lost faith in him and he needs to bring stability into his life otherwise he won’t regain control of his company. He announced that he is engaged to Lily Dempsey, a senator’s daughter who he was seeing for 2 months before his disastrous trip. Unfortunately they split rather acrimoniously. He gets Lily to agree to a fake engagement/ marriage by kidnapping her. He uses Lucas, her fragile brother, as leverage to blackmail her into cooperating. Slowly the fake engagement feels real but can their relationship survive their insecurities? 

I didn’t enjoy this book as much as I thought I would, I really like the author’s books but this one dragged. There was too much dialogue. It would maybe have been better to publish it as a True Love novel as they seem to focus more on dialogue between the characters.   Trip and Lilys’ background stories seemed too busy and she didn’t build on them. Trip, for example, had ADHD, was very much the younger spare until his much older brother Charlie died. His mother ignored him and he discovered his “perfect” father had been having an affair. Lily had even brought up under the glare of social media as her father was a Senator. Her looks were crucified and she retreated from public life. Her first love had also taken advantage of her insecurities. None of these themes developed through the book but were just touched upon and never mentioned again. It was a book with a potential and if I hadn’t read several of Fuller’s  book I would have though it was great but comparing it to them it was just good but I wouldn’t rush to reread it. 

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: Tempted By Her Greek Island Bodyguard by Michelle Douglas

Tempted by Her Greek Island Bodyguard is written by Michelle Douglas is part of Mills & Boon True Love collection. 

This is my first Michelle Douglas novel and I selected it as I was intrigued by the description. Set in the Greek islands a reality tv show is rebuilding a Greek island resort. Janie has a very overprotective famous musician as a father and actress mother. She, however, prefers working away from the limelight after being dubbed plain Janie by the press. She works with charities and so signed up to the reality show. Her father hired Zach as her bodyguard to protect her. He is grumpy and not thrilled to be on a reality tv show. Slowly the pair fall in love but will their love survive in the real world?

I enjoyed this book. It is well written, a very different storyline, more contemporary and fun. The characters are interesting and catch the readers’ attention and most importantly are relatable. 

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 

Review: House of Alyssa Smith Delightful Sea Turtle Pearly Drop Studs with Shells

Released as part of Alyssa Smith’s 2024 beach’s pop up shop summer collection, the delightful sea turtle Pearly drop studs are £24.95 plus postage. The earrings are sterling silver with imitation pearls - to keep the cost down and to stop the wearer having to worry about getting sunscreen on them etc. 

I found that the earrings are very delicate and light weight so comfortable to wear all day. The studs are elegant and minimalist to be worn as both day and evening jewellery. They are handmade to order so they aren’t a last minute purchase! I upgraded to a deluxe branded box (£2.50) which is a tiny drawer design.  I love the hidden message on the bottom of the drawer. My earrings will live in there as they will be easy to find rather than just scrabbling through my jewellery box hoping to find them. I shall enjoy wearing them. There is a whole collection of sea turtle jewellery which is all reasonably priced and looks to be beautifully designed and made. 

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

Book Review: Forced Vows: Arranged Marriage Enemies to Lovers (Syndicate Rules Book 6 by Lucy Munroe

Forced Vows is part of Lucy Munroe’s Mafia inspired Syndicate Rules series. Set in New York, Roise has agreed to marry Miceli to protect her young cousin and ensure she doesn’t have to. Prior to meeting her husband to be Roise goes out of town for the weekend and loses her virginity to a stranger - who turns out to be Miceli! Roise is determined to finish her education to become an actress even though as a mafia princess she will never be one. She butts heads with Miceli at every turn and this turns into a very spicy novel where it is the man who changes the most in order to ensure they get their HEA. 

I enjoyed this novel the most out of the whole series. The characters are determined individuals, the book is well planned out,  brings in characters from other books with cameo roles (although the book can be read as a standalone novel) and is well written.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Book Review: Revenge in Paradise by Heidi Rice

Revenge in Paradise is written by Heidi Rice and is published under Mills & Boon Modern collection. This is the second in a mini series - both the main characters were introduced briefly during Brandon and Lacey’s novel Revealing Her Best Kept Secret.  Roman Garner was raised on the streets, Unacknowledged by his family he has risen to the status of billionaire but is still bitter about his treatment as a child and young adult. His chance arises when Lacey’s penniless artist sister - Milly Devlin tries to steal Roman’s speed boat in order to escape a party where she has had a huge argument with her sister. Roman’s plan is pretty basic - seduce Milly to get revenge on his elder half brother for ignoring his pleas for help. Once Roman has Milly on his private island, however, he realises that she is nothing like he imagined and their attraction is off the scale. They have an affair which is teetering on a HEA. But will it all come crashing down at Lacey and Brandon’s baby’s christening when unpalatable truths emerge?

This novel has an opulent, billionaire lifestyle backdrop which I enjoyed. I actually liked Brandon’s character, I found Milly’s determination to not accept her sister’s help as she struggled as an artist annoying rather than endearing! It was an enjoyable read but the characters aren’t as relatable as the first novel. 

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 

Review: Alex Monroe Jewellery Overgrown Column Ring with Racing Tortoise in Sterling Silver

 

I purchased  Alex Monroe Jewellery’s Overgrown Column Ring with Racing Tortoise in Sterling Silver (£54 from (£135) in their annual archive summer sale. The overgrown column ring with racing tortoise is part of the collection inspired by Aesop’s Fables. 

 The ring is chunky but not uncomfortable to wear.  The band measures 0.4cm, the tiny tortoise 0.9cm and the leaves 0.6cm. In the product photos the ring is shown with the leaves on the bottom of the ring but I also like to wear it so the leaves are at the top of the ring too. The tortoise is very detailed as are the leaves. The tortoise is 3D and so it isn’t a ring I would wear all the time in case I caught my glasses etc. 

I love the ring and have always enjoyed reading/rereading the fable behind its design. The ring would make a lovely gift for a tortoise fan or anyone who enjoys Aesop’s Fables. The ring is packaged beautifully in a drawer gift box which is where mine will live when it’s not being worn! 

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

 

Review: Fashionzaadi Fluorite Crystal Wand/ Ring Holder

 

I purchased this fluorite crystal wand £14.93) from Amazon. It is made by Fashionzaadi which is a generic brand specialising in lower grade/ priced gemstone items such as wands, trees etc. I didn’t have high hopes for the item as the reviews aren’t that great. I thought I would purchase one as I can always return it. I purchased  this to use as ring holder so just wanted a pretty stone that would hold my rings whilst I photograph them or store them. 

The wand works great as a ring holder as it is just the right size for smaller rings (sizes J - M) and so pretty. The fluorite stone is tumbled, has 6 sides as per a crystal wand and measures 53mm in height. The stones are handcrafted in India and each one is slightly different as they are natural stones each one will have different inclusions etc. They measure between 50-55mm in height. and comes with a guide to stones and a little gauze bag so would make a lovely gift. This is the only fluorite stone wand that I have found that is suitable to use as a ring holder as it is slimmer at the top and slowly splays out, giving the ring somewhere to rest rather than just fall to the bottom of the wand. 

 I will say the quality of the stone isn’t the best, you aren’t getting an AAA stone and it certainly doesn’t look like the Amazon picture, it is more rustic and broken in. I want bothered by this as crystal/ semi precious stone wand style ring holders that will hold my rings are actually quite hard to find. 

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

Book Review: Her Forever Billionaire by Natalie Anderson

Her Forever Billionaire, written by Natalie Anderson, is a quirky fun romance which combines romance, characters’ finally growing up and of course a HEA! Jack Greene is a billionaire who is either always Chasing the next high adrenaline thrill, a woman or both! Kelsi Reid nearly runs him over on her way to a day spa and their relationship goes from there. Jack is only in town for intensive physio therapy before the winter snowboarding season starts then he plans to be off again, he isn’t expecting a one night stand/ surprise pregnancy to throw him a curve ball. Both characters have issues they need to overcome if they are going to get their HEA. Kelsi hides behind her colourful contact lenses and goth clothing to avoid rejection. Her father rejected her when she was a child and this has affected her outlook on life. Jack avoids both love and long term relationships. The unexpected pregnancy means they both need to reassess their lives and learn how to connect and talk to others.

I enjoyed this novel and read it in one sitting. The characters are relatable to the reader and fun. They work well together and the interaction doesn’t seem forced. Their issues are also ones that most people can relate to (apart from being a billionaire!). I would recommend this book, it is well written and has good pacing, the storyline is just the right length to keep the readers’ attention. 

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

Review: Recycled WWF In the Wild Lulu Bag

I first saw the Recycled WWF In the Wild Lulu Bag in jade green (£75) when browsing Instagram to search for ethically made products which support good causes. I used to subscribe  to the WWF many years ago. I had the t-shirt, stuffed panda, magazines etc. I only stopped because I wanted to support more charities on an adhoc basis. I have also been looking for an ethically made vegan leather bag, obviously for ethical principles but also because I tripped over a hedgehog when I was going out in the evening to put the hoggies’ food out. As I can’t look down I felt my foot touch him, lost my balance and flung myself to the side to avoid landing on him and potentially squashing him. He got out of this fiasco unscathed, I did not. I landed on the shoulder which is pinned. The pins are now no longer where they should be. I need to use a lighter bag to avoid putting pressure on my shoulder for the foreseeable future. As I was feeling pretty miserable I decided to buy jade green Recycled WWF In the Wild Lulu Bag.

The WWF x Fenella In The Wild Collection supports the WWF’s Save Our Wild Isles Campaign. The bag is jade green, measures 7.5 D x 16H x24W.7.5  It is made from vegan leather (recycled RPET FABRIC  which is a new type of environmentally friendly recycled fabric. The yarn fabric is made from recycled coke bottles and mineral water bottles, also known as coke bottle fabric).  The bag comes with a beautiful crossbody adjustable strap and a tassel zip. There is a pouch pocket on one side of the main bag compartment and a inner zipped compartment. The bag has complimentary gold hardware and a sturdy zip. The inside of the bag has the same print as as the strap. 

The bag arrived carefully wrapped in Fenella Smith London embossed tissue paper. The bag is incredibly light but does not look cheap or fake as some vegan leather items sometimes do. The “leather” is textured and feels very tactile to the touch. The strap design and the inside of the bag are works of art. The birds and flowers are so detailed and intricate. I love the tassel. As someone who can’t look down and has difficulty gripping small items such as zips the tassel makes it so easy to undo and fasten my bag without me worrying I haven’t pulled the zip all the way and I at risk of getting pickpocketed! 

I love my bag. I can fit quite a lot in it, my wallet, phone and camera plus it supports a great cause. I have used my bag continually since I purchased it and will continue to do so. It is one of the best items I have purchased. I would recommend it for anyone who wants to support an ethical brand and especially to anyone who has hand problems and/or needs a lightweight but smart looking bag. 

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