Beauty Edit ~ Maybelline Color Tattoo 24Hr

Maybelline 24Hr Color Eye Tattoo in 35- On and on Bronze. 65- Pink Gold and 05- Eternal Gold

 The Maybelline Color Tattoos are Gel-Cream eyeshadows with and excellent pigmentation and colour pay-off. They look so pretty on and can be worn on their own (swiped over the lid), as a base or as a pop of colour or accent on the lid which makes them a really useful, versatile product. I have found them to crease slightly as the day goes on but this is quickly remedied by swiping over the colour again with your finger or a brush or, alternatively, by dusting a powder eyeshadow of the same or similar colour over the top to set it into place. I love these products, I've found them really useful and easy to use and I will definitely buy more and repurchase my existing collection. The next colour on my wish list is 70- Metallic Pomegranate which I think will make the perfect autumn eye look when pared with a gold shimmer accenting the inner corner and under the eye.

As always, please leave comments suggesting how I can improve my reviews or which products I should try next
Next book post coming Saturday xXx

Fallen Grace ~ Mary Hooper

Grace Parkes has just had to do a terrible thing. Having given birth to an illegitimate child, she has travelled to the famed Brookwood Cemetery to place her small infant's body in a rich lady's coffin. Distraught and weeping, Grace meets two people at the cemetery: Mrs Emmeline Unwin and Mr James Solent. These two characters will have a profound affect upon Grace's life. But Grace doesn't know that yet. For now, she has to suppress her grief and get on with the business of living: scraping together enough pennies selling watercress for rent and food; looking after her older sister, who is incapable of caring for herself; thwarting the manipulative and conscience-free Unwin family. Grace races to unravel the fraud about to be perpetrated against her and her sister.

Love, love, LOVE this book since the first time I read it. It only took me a few hours to finish, I was so wrapped up in the plot. I had read may books by Mary Hooper before; At the House of the Magician, At the Sign of the Sugared Plum, Velvet and many more and, as with the others, this didn't disappoint. Hooper has expertly woven in the facts with fiction to create an absolutely wonderful book which had me hooked right to the end.  I liked the character of Grace, how grounded and practical and strong she was, and as a girl of only 15 (I think) she is wise beyond her years as well as being determined yet vulnerable. These characteristics make you root for her from the start and you really want to see her get all that she deserves and more. I highly recommend this book and I hope you love it as much as I did.

As always, please leave comments suggesting how I could improve my reviews or which books I should read next xXx

Just letting you know, I will try, but might not be able to post until next Thursday because I am going away over the holidays and won't have access to a computer. So if not before, see you again Thursday for either a Beauty Edit or a book review xXx

Beauty Edit ~ Rimmel London Oh My Gloss!

Rimmel London Oh My Gloss! in 530 GO GLOSS OR GO HOME

 This is among my top three lip products so far this yeah which I have bought, which admittedly is only about 5 or 6, but it is the only lip gloss. I really, really love the colour of this. I feel that coral is just such a natural and wearable colour and that it makes your lips look really healthy. This isn't one of those really horribly sticky lip glosses either which is great because with longhair, one of the biggest annoyances is getting it stuck in your hair... This product has a lovely shimmer running through it which works to make your lips look fuller as well as complimenting the colour and I must say that one of my favourite things about this product is the want; a flat, tapered paddle shape which makes application really easy and quick. All in all, I just really, really like this and I will go and buy more at some point. Hopefully for Christmas, for which, by the way, I'm really excited about and I am planning two interchangeable looks for the autumny/wintery/christmasy time which I am looking forward to showing you.
It has also got the most gorgeous smell which just makes this product that much better. I really rate this product highly and recommend you try it if you haven't already xx

As always, please leave comments suggesting how I can improve my reviews or which products I should try next
Next book post coming Thursday xXx

The Prison of Oblivion ~ Izi Vsileva

My mum saw this book come up on a free eBooks site and thought I would like it so she sent me the link. I have to be honest, at first glance, I wasn't convinced. Even after reading the first few chapters I wasn't sure. I was confused, I didn't understand the plot and it annoyed me how many grammatical mistakes there were (although that may have come from its translation into ebook). It just didn't seem worth continuing, but I just hate to stop books part way through, so I carried on. And now, I have to say I' glad I didn't stop.Having not yet finished the book, I can't give a full opinion on it but Vasileva has written a strong protaganist, and once I had gotten part the murky start, I feel the plot has developed into a good novel.

I'm not yet sure whether I would recommend this book, but I will keep reading and keep you posted...

As always, please leave comments suggesting how I can improve my reviews or which books I should review next. Don't forget, 'Beauty Edit' coming Tuesday xXx

Mortal Remains ~ Kathy Reichs

I picked up this book when I was in the library the other day. I knew the author because I absolutely love her Virals series so I thought this would be a good read. My nan has also read many of her books and found them to be really good so I was really looking forward to reading this. However, I was only a few chapters in when I began to get bored. I know it may appeal to some people, but I found that there was just too much said about historical events which I didn't find added to the story. I also became really confused about Temperance Brennan herself; is she in a relationship, is she not, does she fancy her co-worker and who on Earth is Birdie?? A dog, human, pet? On the other hand, I enjoyed that Reichs gave details about her work in forensic anthropology so you do learn a lot whilst you read.
I haven't finished the book yet and I'm not too sure I want to, so I haven't entirely decided what my opinion on it is, but I will let you know if and when I finish the book. I tried so had to try and like this book and I will give it another go, but I just don't know. I do want to try some of her other books though...

As always, please leave comment suggesting how I could improve my reviews or which books to review next. Next book review coming Saturday. Don't miss it xXx

Beauty Edit ~ My Bourjois collection so far...

One of my absolute favourite drugstore brands has got to be Bourjois just because it is so typically French. I love how pretty the packaging is and the variety of products on sale. I have started a small collection which I hope will continue to grow and blossom into something amazing. So far, I have something for the eyes, cheeks and lips and next on my wish list are the Rouge Velvet lipsticks, the chocolate bronzer and one of their liquid blushes as well as a mascara or eyeshadow. So let's begin with the blushers...

Left-Right ~ Little Round Pot Blush in 34 ROE D'OR, Cream Blush in 02 HEALTHY GLOW

 My very first blush was one of the Little Round Pot blushers in the colour Rode d'or (Golden Rose) which I chose for its perfect pink shade with a hint of golden shimmer marbled through out and I have to say I am very happy with it. Although I have found it to be slightly hard to pick up, depending on the brush I use,it is fabulously pigmented and really buildable so you can get the perfect flush.

 The Cream Blush is the absolute perfect colour and delivers a lovely healthy glow to your cheeks, just as it says on the tin. With this one, I tend to just swirl my finger through it and then sweep that across my cheeks, making sure it is well blended so I'm left with no harsh lines. If I want to make doubly sure, I will then brush over that with a blush brush once it has converted to powder form. Which, by the way, I have found really useful because as a cream blush, it is very easy to apply and blend but when it turns into a powder, it also mattifys as well as adding colour, so it doesn't slide off you face. I highly rate both of these blushes and I will definitely be buying more :)

Now, moving on to lips, the bourjios Color Boost Glossy Finish Lipsticks claim a lot. They say they will:

• Give comfort and hydration for 10 hours
• They are waerproof
• Have SPF 15
• Give a bare lip sensation   

But, I have to agree, they do exactly as they claim! They have a good colour pay off and are really creamy and hydrating so I don't feel like I need to wear a lip balm underneath. There isn't really much more I can say about them other that I love them and will definitely purchase more.i decided to buy these when Zoella mentioned them in one of her make up haul videos and I honestly don't regret it.

Left-right ~ Colour Boost Lipsticks in 04 PEACH ON THE BEACH and 03 ORANGE PUNCH

ColorBand Eyeshadow and Liner Crayon in 04 ROSE FAUVISTE

Finally, the last product, eyes. This is the Bourjois ColorBand Eyeshadow and Liner Crayon. This is a holy grail product if you are a fan of swiping over the eyelid, blending and go eye look like I am. It is good if you are in a hurry and still want a colour on your lids, or can be used in the inner corner or to accentuate on the lid. It had a long lasting (24 hour) colour, it's waterproof and it is also smudge proof. My only query with it is how am I supposed to sharpen it?? I haven't got a pencil sharpener that big and it certainly isn't a twist up like the lipsticks.



As always, pleace comment suggestion on how I can improve my revies and also on which products/books I should review next xXx

Next book post on Thursday. Don't miss it xXx

My Top Ten Favourite Books

As you may be aware, I read. A lot. I always feel relaxed when I get into a good book. And a book, any book, can transport you to another place, another time or another like, and all you need to do is turn the page in front of you. So I am going to make a list for you (I love a good list) of all my favourites which I would recommend you read xXx

(Not in any order)

1. The Other Countess ~ Eve Edwards (series)
2. Halo ~ Alexandra Adornetto
3. Runaway ~ Marie-Louise Jenson
4. Dusk ~ Mary Hooper
5. At the House of the Magician ~ Mary Hooper (series)
6. Changeling ~ Phillipa Gregory (series)
7. The Demon Trappers ~ Jana Oliver (series)
8. Harry Potter ~ J.K Rowling (series)
9. Geek Girl ~ Holly Smale (series)
10. Cinder and Ella ~ Kelly Oram

And just as an added extra, because you are all my faves...  The Virals ~ Kathy Reichs (series)

As always, please comment suggestions on how I could improve my post or which books/ products I should review next.

'Beauty Edit' coming Tuesday xXx

Poppy ~ Mary Hooper

Poppy is young, beautiful and clever - and working as a parlourmaid in the de Vere family's country house. Society, it seems, has already carved out her destiny.
But Poppy's life is about to be thrown dramatically off course. The first reason is love - with someone forbidden, who could never, ever marry a girl like her. The second reason is war.
As the lists of the dead and wounded grow longer, Poppy must do whatever she can to help the injured soldiers, knowing all the while that her own soldier may never return home . . .

Having previously read many of Mary Hooper's books (I will be reviewing more soon) I bought this one as soon as I saw it and I knew it would be good. It is set during the First World War in England which I loved as I am currently learning about this time period in my GCSE History. It is also one of my favourite time periods to read about. 'Poppy' gives insight into the life of a parlourmaid turned VAD in the middle of the war and she is a very relatable and likeable protagonist. There is so much historical detail in this book, you really feel immersed in the time. I loved Hooper's portrayal of the 'Tommies' and I just found this to be an utterly enjoyable read. Have already recommended it to friends.

As always, please leave comments suggesting how I could improve my reviews and suggesting which books to review next xXx

Next post on Saturday, don't miss it xXx

Beauty Edit ~ Maybelline Dream BB Creams

 I think that everyone I know has, or has used one ,if not both, of the Maybelline Dream BB Creams and, like me, has really enjoyed them!

 The Dream Fresh BB Cream, says that it gives an instant fresh-faced glow without looking all made up, and that their formula enhances skin with 8 benefits in 1:

• Creates a natural glow
• Compliments skin tone
• SPF30 UV protection
• Hydrates all day
• Blurs Imperfections
• Oil free, non-greasy
• Looks visibly smooth
• Feels Fresh

And to most of these, I have to say it lives up to expectations. I love that it is a face product which gives SPF protection because I'm one of those people who can't stand the feel of sun cream on my skin, especially on my face. This product gives me protection without that added layer of yuck. I have also found the Dream Fresh BB Cream to be really good at blurring imperfections unless they are red or bigger than usual, for which I would recommend a concealer instead of a BB cream. However, I have combination/ oily skin so I've found that even though it is non-greasy, it still leaves me shiny faced. I understand that by leaving a natural glow, the finish is more likely to be dewy rather than matt, but I have found it to become slightly oily within an hour of application.
This product comes in 3 different colours; light, medium or dark.

The Dream Pure BB Cream boasts most of the same benefits as the Dream Fresh:

• Conceals imperfections
• Helps protect against the appearance of blemishes
• Oil-free, non-greasy
• Minimises the appearance of pores
• Clarifies skins look
• Conceals redness
• Hydrates and smoothes
• Compliments skin tone

I have found this product to be really good at concealing almost anything on my face with the added benefit of the 2% salicylic acid it contains fighting the spots. It is also designed for oily skin so is much more mattifying. As well as this, I also enjoy that it fights any redness on my skin, I get a lot of that, and that it clarifies my skin whilst I wear it. I think it is more of a concealing BB Cream than the Dream Fresh and has the consistency of a foundation so is slightly heavier, but still as though you're wearing nothing at all. However, this BB Cream only comes in the shades light and medium and also only contains an SPF of 15 so gives less protection against UV.
             All in all, I rate both of these products very highly and have recommended them to others, and I will continue to do so.

As always, please leave comments suggesting how I can improve my reviews or which products I should review next xXx
    Next post coming Thursday, don't miss it! x

This really should be a thing...

  Just thought I'd share this xXx :D

Don't forget, 'Beauty Edit' coming tomorrow!!

First Love ~ James Patterson and Emily Raymond

When Axi Moore decides to take a road trip across the US, the only person she wants to go with her is her best friend Robinson - who she also happens to be secretly in love with. She's planned it all out, and all he has to do is say yes.Axi has had a tough life: her little sister died young, her mother walked out and her father turned to the bottle for comfort. Her parents escaped their grief in their own ways; this trip will be hers.But life doesn't always work out as you plan it, and there are some things you just can't run away from.

 "That if I had to choose between dying tomorrow or spending the rest of my life without him, I would seriously consider picking imminent death..."

I don't normally cry easily, but by the end of this book I was seriously weeping. I admit that I have only watched 'The Fault in our Stars' but I enjoyed 'First Love' infinitely more. It really wasn't what I had expected. I never normally read this style of book and I only really picked it up because I knew the authors name and thought I would try it. From reading the description, I'd assumed it would just be another one of those 'needs to leave but doesn't quite make it' books and I admit I didn't have high hopes. However, I was hooked by the end of chapter one and so by the end, I felt like I had lost a really close friend as well. The morale I interpreted from this novel: Carpe diem Seize the day.
I love that the book is written as the memoirs from Axi because I could really empathize with her and it just made each event much more powerful. 'First Love' is all about making sure you live each day to the fullest  as though it may be your last, because one day, it will be. It is a remarkably moving tale, very personal to James Patterson's own past and I would recommend it to anyone!

As always. please leave comments suggesting how I can improve my reviews or which books to read/review next xXx
'Beauty Edit' coming Tuesday! 

The Book that Started it All

Cinder and Ella~ Kelly Oram

 
It’s been almost a year since eighteen-year-old Ella Rodriguez was in a car accident that left her crippled, scarred, and without a mother. After a very difficult recovery, she’s been uprooted across the country and forced into the custody of a father that abandoned her when she was a young child. If Ella wants to escape her father’s home and her awful new stepfamily, she must convince her doctors that she’s capable, both physically and emotionally, of living on her own. The problem is, she’s not ready yet. The only way she can think of to start healing is by reconnecting with the one person left in the world who’s ever meant anything to her—her anonymous Internet best friend, Cinder. 


 I fell in love with this book from the very first page! It has a fantastic story line, one which will tug on everyone's heartstrings, and it really lets you connect with the characters. I particularly enjoyed the fact that is is written from two points of view, that of Ella and of Brian Oliver (Cinder). It really helped me understand the story better and just fall in love with the characters more. The internet relationship between Cinder and Ella adds a 21st century twist to the classic Cinderella story and also, to my mind, makes it more relatable. It is the first book I have read by Kelly Oram and has convinced me to try more!


As always, please leave comments suggesting improvements I could make or books I should review xXx