About Me

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hi, I am a 40+ year old who loves jewellery and all things sparkly. I also enjoy trying out and reviewing new makeup products, finding stylish walking sticks, reading and writing book reviews. I will review anything from bird tables/ hedgehog houses to the latest fashion! My Instagram account is @sparkling_magpie

Friday 11 October 2024

#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 It’s great that the styrofoam inserts have gone and been replaced by cardboard which is recyclable, but there is now a huge elastic band holding the protective box together (rather than sellotape that held the styrofoam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!!!  


Friday 27 September 2024

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.  




Saturday 31 August 2024

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.






Wednesday 21 August 2024

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.

Tuesday 20 August 2024

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. 


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