#AD Book Review: His Shock Marriage In Greece by Jane Porter

His Shock Marriage In Greece is written by Jane Porter and is published by Mills & Boon Modern.  Damon Alexopoulos is a powerful shipping tycoon who has overcome a dark past and wouldn’t let his emotions control any part of his life. His marriage, therefore, was purely business. Unfortunately for him his original bride, Elexis, fled the night before and her sister, Kassiani Dukas, her polar opposite in every way, is forced to be the replacement bride as her family will lose everything if this marriage does not go ahead. Even though Damon realise he has been duped at the church that he has been tricked, he continues with the ceremony. They discover a passionate attraction during their honeymoon around the Greek islands, but due to Damon’s fear of love and commitment can they move beyond just hot sex to a fulfilling marriage? 

This could of been the trite swapping brides at the Altar and they automatically fall in love, but it wasn’t. Damon was expecting the traditional society bride: an exuberant, elegant, confident bride, and on the face of it he got the exact opposite when he was tricked in to marrying her sister. The pair go through a journey of  self discovery as they honeymoon around the Greek islands and it is interesting to see how their characters and relationship slowly changes.

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

#AD Book Review: The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare is the third instalment in her Girl meets Duke mini series.  Lady Penelope Campion, the strong minded and independent heroine lives alone with her menagerie of pets which include a goat, hedgehog and a dog.  Her first season was a disaster, culminating with her hedgehog falling out of pocket during a ball! She is happy to live as an eccentric recluse but her Aunt has warned her that her brother is going to bring her home if she doesn’t get rid of her animals and return to the Ton.

Gabriel Duke owns and is renovating the house next door. He knows he will get a better sale price with an aristocrat living next door so doesn’t want her to leave although he would be quite glad to see the back of the menagerie.  The pair cook up a plan to help her get her name in the society papers and regime her beloved animals. The chemistry between the two is palpable but there is a slight shift in the tone of the book as Penny’s childhood secret is revealed.

I have enjoyed reading the whole of this series. The heroines are unusual in the fact that they know their own noses and are prepared to stand up to the heros rather than just being simpering, virginal waifs in need of a strong man to whisk them away. There is also a send of continuity in the series- characters don’t just disappear once their stories are told but reappear, however briefly, in other novels. There is also humour - the animals, vegetarianism and interaction between the characters is fun and can bring a chuckle from the reader. I am not the greatest fan of historical romance novels but I really enjoy these. 

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

Chantecaille Limited Edition Lip Veil in Pink Lotus

 I enjoy wearing Chantecaille Lip Veils (£40) as they are comfortable on the lips and the opacity and colour range is great. They brought out three LE colours as part of their summer collection and I chose Pink Lotus.

Lip Veils aim to moisturise and colour the lips. Enriched with Fairwild-trade organic baobab oil which leave a wash of  illuminating moisture on the lips. These lipsticks feel light and balmy on the lips, are easy to apply, they just glide on evenly and are not patchy. The colour, I find fades slowly and evenly. 

I love the shade and.packaging of Pink Lotus - the packaging is sturdy, elegant and the embossed elephant on the lid is so cute. This line of lipsticks supports the charity which preserves the migratory path of elephants, so I don’t feel totally guilty spending so much on one lipstick!!

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

Hallmark: Disney Lion King 25th Anniversary Musical Ornament With Light

I saw the Hallmark Lion King 25th Anniversary Ornament when I was looking for items to use as part of a display for my Couture Kingdom Lion King jewellery. As Hallmark don’t sell their Christmas ornaments in the UK I purchased mine via EBay UK for $45 including postage.

  

I love it, but their are a few caveats to this statement.  It plays Hakuna Matata and the back lights up.  The sound, as you can hear in my YouTube clip is perfect, not distorted or muffled even though the speaker is on the bottom of the ornament. Pumba and Simba are perfect replicas of the cartoon version. Now the caveats, the light isn’t as intense as the  picture on the box and Timon is the same colour as Pumba whereas on the box and in the original movie he is a lot lighter in colour. Apart from that it is the perfect item to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the original Lion King movie and looking at it brings back happy memories of going to watch it at the cinema. 

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

Review: Viscata Pubol Espadrille Wedges in Black

I have size UK2/EU35 bony but wide  fitting feet. I also have neuropathic pain all over my body but especially in my feet so I find it extremely painful to break in or to wear footwear that blisters or rubs my feet. I cannot wear high heels (although I am only 4ft 7” so would love to) due to a spinal injury and mobility issues. Due to the size of my feet I also find it difficult to find “grown up” footwear that is reasonbly priced and not designed for narrow feet! Not much to ask is it! 

I was browsing on Google and found Viscata Barcelona, a Spanish company that handcrafts espadrilles and flats in Spain. I found the prices to be slightly cheaper on Amazon UK but there is a wider variety on Viscata’s own website. Prices range from £74 to £110 and designs included espadrille wedges, flats, bridal, platforms and sandals made in a variety of materials. 

I chose the Pubol Espadrille Canvas Wedges  (£69.95 Amazon/ £74.95 Viscata Barcelona)in black - there are 11 colours to choose from. The top is made from canvas, the sole is comfortable and padded and the wedge is 2.5” in height (1.5” wedge/ 1” platform). The sole is rubber and jute and the ankle strap is leather. 

I found these wedges extremely comfortable from the start, the canvas top and leather strap didn’t rub  or blister my feet and I didn’t have to break them in slowly. The 2” wedge gave me some much needed height and the V in the canvas top gives the shoe an elegant grown up vibe. 

These shoes aren’t particularly cheap but they are well made and comfortable to wear and should last me for years, so they are well worth the price point. I would recommend this brand and purchase again from them in the future.

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

#AD Book Review: Wedding Night Reunion In Greece by Annie West

Wedding Night Reunion In Greece is written by Annie West and is the first novel in the passion in paradise mini series. Emma Piper is Christos Karides’, a Greek tycoon, runaway bride. She married him in good faith but immediately after the wedding heard him tell a friend that he had only married her for convienience as his young step niece, Anthea, has just become his wars and he needs a suitable wife and that he finds her sultry cousin more attractive than her. Heartbroken and embarrassed she runs away to her family’s Villa in Corfu. Christos tracks her down and they sign a contract agreeing to remain married for one year. Sparks fly between the pair of them but can Christos convince Emma that he really does love her?

I enjoyed this book but I didn’t love it. I found that the chapters relating to them becoming attracted to one another was dragged out and could have been condensed whilst not losing the focus of the story.  The heroine knows her own mind and is prepared to stand up for herself whilst Christos is more of a 21 century man, willing to take on a young child and care for her. 

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

Available from:

Mills and Boon 

Amazon

Rose Quartz Round Ring Holder

I purchased this rose quartz round ring holder (£12) by XISSJewellery from Not on the High Street.  It is a very pretty stone, measuring 5/6 cm in diameter and 1.5 cm in height. As rose quartz is a natural gemstone  each stone is unique and comes in its own little cotton bag. Rose quartz is supposed to promote love, release stress and bad vibes and promote good energy.  I don’t know how true this is but it is a pretty stone that I will use in my blog photos rather than real life as my cat is a magpie who steals my jewellery if I leave it out!!! 

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