Review: House of Alyssa Smith, Coronation Crown Necklace

I received this Alyssa Smith sterling silver Coronation Crown necklace as a freebie during Coronation month. From April to May everyone who spent £35 or more received a Crown pendant and chain, there were 2 designs, I do really like the intricate detailing and the chain design, but I’m not a Royalist and it deserves to go to someone who will wear and love it.  

I purchased this item myself and the views expressed in this blog are my own. The competition is not affiliated to Alyssa Smith in any way.

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

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: House of Alyssa Smith, Beautiful Silver Bluebell Drop Earrings.

 House of Alyssa Smith is a jewellery brand established in late 2009. The Tweetie bird was her first break out piece of jewellery, worn on celebrities such as Dawn Porter and Kate Moss. Gradually her jewellery empire has expanded and she has not only the licences to create motorsport, Honda and football collections to name but a few but has also diversified into creating lifestyle ranges. She also creates jewellery which gives a percentage back, supporting a wide variety of charities from, for example, the Dogs Trust, The Royal British Legion to The Miscarriage Association.

I have followed The House of Alyssa Smith  on Instagram for years but finally took the plunge and purchased a pair of earrings during the Coronation weekend as there was an offer of a free crown pendant and chain with purchased over a certain amount (I shall be running a giveaway for the pendant later this month). I purchased the Beautiful Silver Bluebell Drop Earrings  (£36). The earrings are also available in gold plated silver (£36) and there are matching necklaces (£45 and £46). 

The earrings came in a cardboard gift box embossed with her logo and wrapped in the sustainable gift wrap (see below). The earrings are sterling silver, 3D and very light. There are two tiny bluebells on each earring and the curve hook has been cleverly incorporated so it looks like a stalk. The earring measures 3cm.  Once they were on I forgot I was wearing them. They move as you do or in the breeze and catch the light so prettily. 

 They are tactile and easy to put in as they are curve hook style there is no need for butterfly backs they just slide into place. I would note, however, that if you have sensory issues you might not like pulling them into place. I have neuropathic pain and it wasn’t a painful feeling putting them in just odd. I would prefer it if the points that went through the ear were a bit pointier as I don’t wear earrings all the time so the hook was hard to initially get through. The bluebells aren’t a twee iteration but actually look like the flower, even the inside has been crafted to resemble the inside of a bluebell.  

 

I purchased  the gift wrapping for £6.95. This is a grey gift wrap satin pouch which is reusable. The ribbon has Alyssa’s logo embossed on it. It’s a nice touch for a special birthday or occasion but not something I would repurchase unless I was only a few ££ off minimum shipping or a free gift offer. 

The customer service wasn’t great. It took 3 weeks to receive my items. I only found out there would be a delay as they were making another batch when I emailed to find out where they were. One email would have taken CS from meh to great. I do appreciate that they are handmade but it would be annoying if they were a last minute gift. I do like the card and sweet which was included. They make you feel like a valued customer. 

I love my earrings and will save up for the matching necklace. The meh CS hasn’t put me off repurchasing as I have ordered one of their mystery boxes, I would, however, be wary of timescales if I was purchasing a gift for someone else and email to check if it was in stock. 

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

Croci Kennel For Dogs

I’m finally back for good (I hope). I am not going into where I’ve been or what was wrong but I will say/ write if you feel your mental health deteriorating please don’t ignore it until it becomes a big issue and don’t let Drs fob you off. I will be sending out outstanding prizes with extras during the next week or so, 

So my first purchase when I got back was a Croci dog kennel.  Last year I adopted an ex feral cat, Zeus, via the RSPCA who sadly died when I had just had him a year (this was what tipped me over the edge). I don’t know why he died so suddenly but I decided never to have another one. A few weeks ago a large white and black huge stray cat who looked like a skeleton with a head arrived in my garden and started eating my hedgehog food (kitten biscuits). I have been feeding him proper cat food left over from Zeusy, and as Hercules looked so tired and grubby I decided to get him a cat house to live in until I can tempt him in with me. There are lots of cat “houses” available on Amazon, Etsy etc but most are not suitable. They are too small, not enough ventilation, poorly made, designed for cutesy aesthetic value rather than durability and animal safety. 

The Croci Villa for Dogs is £49.99 on Amazon UK (it may be cheaper on other sites). It is made from recycled plastic and measures 50Dx60Wx41H cm externally and 40x30x35cm internally.  The villa does need putting together, so you will need a screwdriver to put the roof in place. The surround to the door just snapped in place. The vents were more tricky to snap in and it took a lot of force and two people forcing them in to place. 

I like the villa. The roof even has little drain holes for the rain water to run off through. As it is plastic it will be easy to wash and keep clean. I will put a brick in it in winter as I don’t want it to fly off like the farm house in the Wizard of Oz! I also appreciate the vents, I like that the designers considered the need for air to circulate as I also put cat food in there which can smell rather pungent and attract flies. I do wish it was slightly bigger as Hercules is a very tall cat. There is a medium villa  (£71.79) and a larger sized Dog Villa which is over double the size of mine but as it is £142, Hercules will have to like what he has (which he does) and hopefully he will realise not all humans are cruel. 

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

Book Review: Seducing Her Scarred Boss by Natalie Anderson

 

Seducing Her scarred Boss is the second novel in Natalie Anderson’s Billionaire Bosses, Forbidden Flings. All the books in the series have a link to New Zealand, which is where she is from/ lives. This novel was originally a Mills and Boon Harlequin Presents Extra, Maverick Millionaires series but she now owns the copyright and has republished it so it can be downloaded on Kindle etc. 

Seducing Her Scarred Boss reintroduces and gives Lorenzo Hall, who is a secondary character in the first novel, the chance for his own romance/HEA.   Lorenzo is originally from the wrong side of the tracks, now a billionaire wine merchant, loner who avoids relationships, doesn’t show emotion or lose control and is the archetypal bad boy. For the first time he starts to lose control around Sophy and show his emotions. 

Sophy Brathwaite is a law school dropout who runs round after her high flying legal family. She is a people pleaser who is desperate to become a jewellery designer. She agrees to volunteer at the Whistle Fund Foundation after her sister, Cara, goes into labour early. When she gets to the Foundation she discovers it to be in disarray.  She finds Lorenzo and realises he is sick. She organises his medical care which he is not thrilled about. There is definitely chemistry between the pair. After a period of neither one making the first move despite a sizzling attraction, they agree to one night together where the sparks really fly. Her plans for the future now include Lorenzo but will he let her into his heart?

I found it difficult to relate to and like Lorenzo and Sophy which is a shame as I liked him in the first book. Even when taking into account his appalling childhood he doesn’t come across very well to the reader, sneering and acting like a bully. Sophy comes across as a snivelling wimp so not a great combination of characters. The novel does show how their characters improve but I think I prefer Tempting Her Forbidden Boss as it has aged better (both were originally published in 2010). 

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange a honest review.

Book Review: Tempting Her Forbidden Boss by Natalie Anderson

Tempting her Forbidden Boss was originally published in 2010 as a Harlequin/ Mills and Boon Modern Heat novel entitled “Caught on Camera”. No longer under their copyright, it has been republished and renamed  as the first of Natalie Anderson’s Billionaire Bosses, Forbidden Flings series. 

Alex Carlisle is the CEO of Carlisle Finance Corporation. Due to a tumultuous childhood and discovering his biological father a few years ago he doesn’t do relationships, commitment or families. 

Dani Russo is on a mission to fulfil a deathbed promise to her mother and to find her brother who was adopted 8 years before she was born. She has travelled to New Zealand from Australia to find him and is living in a backpacking hostel and working for Alex’s firm whilst she searches for him. She also had a very tough childhood which continues to affect her as an adult. Once her amorous encounter with Alex, however, is plastered across YouTube, Dani is fired and essentially destitute. Alex feels guilty and gives her a room in his house and finds her a job in a charity that he runs with his best friend, Lorenzo (more about him in book 2). Normally this is a volunteer position but he pays her out of his own pocket. He also offers to pay for a private investigator to find her brother. 

Originally part of the Heat series, there is lots of chemistry and sex, but both the main characters are complex, not always likeable and need to come to terms with their pasts before they can move forward. Will it all fall apart when Dani finds out the truth about her brother and Alex tells her he doesn’t do long term or will Lorenzo persuade Alex to go after her?

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout in exchange a honest review.

Book Review: The Boss’s Stolen Bride by Natalie Anderson

The Boss’s Stolen Bride is written by Natalie Anderson and published by Mills & Boon Modern.

Darcie, Zara and Zack had grown up in a group care home and created a family type unit. When they left the care system Zara had a baby. She worked nights and Darcie days to ensure that the baby, Lily , was care for. Sadly Zara died and Lily went into the care system. Darcie has kept in touch with Lily, as she is her goddaughter, and want to foster/adopt her, to do so she needs to get married.  She tries persuade Zack to marry her by paying him. Unfortunately he vanishes with the money. For the past 2 years Darcie has worked for billionaire Elias Grayson but handed in her notice as she wants to concentrate on adopting Lily. Elias needs Darcie to help him complete a business deal and after they row first at his office, then at the registry office after Zack backs out of marrying her, he decides they can get married in Las Vegas. 

Now Darcie has her groom and he has his irreplaceable assistant but will they function as a family?

I enjoyed this book and read it in one sitting. It seemed like the author really enjoyed writing this book. Elias and Darcie are both likeable characters. Darcie seems more determined and foreword thinking than the formulaic M&B heroine whilst Elias does have most of the normal hero pointers of a M&B character he does sometimes come across as being unsure and unconfident. It was interesting that although this as M&B Modern romance there were 2 main storylines, obviously the romance but also Lily’s adoption. The storyline didn’t focus on describing fancy, expensive places but the instead the characters themselves, how they developed, bickered and grew as individuals and a couple. 

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