Beauty Edit ~ My Bourjois Collection Update

 

Since I last posted about my Bourjois collection 5 months ago, I have bought a few more products to add to it. 

Firstly, I bought two more Colour Boost Lipsticks which I still really love. They are hydrating, that have good colour pay off and pigmentation, they are smooth to put on, it doesn't feel like you are wearing anything on you lips at all and their range of colours is also really good. Even better, they have a very low price for their quality.

Bourjois Colour Boost in Red Sunrise

Bourjois Colour Boost in Proudly Naked

Bourjois City Radiance Foundation

 I also added my first Bourjois foundation 'City Radiance'. Follow the link for the full review.

Bourjois Intense Smoky in Rose Twiste

 The Intense Smoky Eye shadow palette contains 2 complimentary eyeshadows in pretty pinky/brown shades as well as a brown eyeliner and a dual ended applicator. The eyeshadows aren't the most pigmented ones I've ever used, however they are nicely build-able and make a pretty, natural smoky eye look. The liner is pigmented and goes on smoothly.

Bourjois Stylo Eyeliner in Brun

The Stylo eyeliner is pigmented and the mechanical packaging makes using it easier. The colour is a really natural brown and the product glides on easily without pulling. I will definitely repurchase this. I like to use it to line my waterline when doing a smoky eye using the Intense Smoky eyeshadows.

Please comment suggestions on how I could improve my reviews or which products I should review next xXx

A Sisters Shame ~ Carol Rivers

They'd give up everything to dance on stage, but could they lose each other?

London's East End, 1934. Eighteen-year-old twins Marie and Vesta Haskins work at the local shoe factory to bring in a few pennies for the family, but they've never given up on their dream of treading the boards in the West End. When a brand new East End club opens its doors, the girls audition for the show and are over the moon to land two nights a week with their cabaret act. But little do they realise that the villainous Scoresby brothers are using the club as a front for a very different line of business.

Seeing what is going on behind the smoke and lights of the stage, sensible Marie vows to leave her job at the club before it is too late, but headstrong Vesta has fallen for the Scoresby's handsome right-hand man, Teddy, and unwittingly leads her whole family into the Scoresby's clutches. Will Marie be able to save her family from disaster? Or will Vesta's determination to become a star tear the Haskins family apart?

A Sisters Shame is all about how the bonds of family can not easily be broken by love or disaster. Carol Rivers' world building brought life in London's East Ends relate-able and the lives of Marie and Vesta to life.
     The characters also had a lot of depth to them s I felt like I knew them on a personal level. The dark, mischievous lives of the Scoresby brothers contrasted greatly to the more comfortable but equally as ambitious lives of Marie and Vesta and I felt really connected to them and their supportive family. To me, this book warns that although ambition is a really good thing to have in times of need, it can also be the end of what you once had, as Marie and Vesta find out. The references to the twins' father Hector Haskins' career pointed out that once you reach the top, the only way to go is down which, although a very grim message, is one that is transferable to life now.


A dual narrative is one of my favourite parts of many of the books I have read, and this one is no different. Not only is the story told from Marie's point of view, we also hear about the pressures on Teddy, the desires and thoughts of Vesta, and the eagerness to help from Bing and Whippet and his monkey Kaiser.

This book is entertaining to read, fast-paced and so gripping you won't want to put it down. When it finally comes to an end, you'll be calling for an encore!



Please comment suggestions on how I could improve my reviews or which books I should review next. xXx The delayed 'Beauty Edit' originally for Tuesday should be up by tomorrow x

Beauty Edit ~ Barry M 'Natural Glow' Eyeshadow and Blush Palette

Natural is my favourite type of make up because it gives you the confidence to be yourself by enhancing your natural beauty. This palette has six beautiful eye shadow shades to create a variety of natural looks, as well as a gorgeous coral/pink blush.

All the eye shadow shades are very pigmented and there is a nice assortment of shimmery and matte.
The blush isn't too pigmented but it is build-able which makes application easier since it is more difficult to over do it. It is a really pretty pink in a shade which will suit many skin tones.

I really enjoy using this palette and think it is a must for all make up collections, whether you are just starting out or have already developed a collection.

Please comment suggestions on how I could improve my reviews or which products I should review next xXx

Mind Games (Demon Trappers Series, Book 5) ~ Jana Oliver

Firstly, sorry, not sorry that I'm posting two reviews on two books by the same author in two weeks, but I did promise a review on 'Mind Games' would be up swiftly.

Secondly, this book most definitely lived up to my very high expectations! As always, Oliver's writing style, world building and characters drew me in straight away. Even the first chapter had me hooked. The storyline was fast-paced and it was made of loads of different threads, bound together to create a thrilling plot. I especially enjoyed how we got more of a glimpse into the magical realms of the witches and necromancers as well as following Riley help Simon in his new job.
    As always, the connection between Riley and Beck gave me butterflies and we now have a wedding date, which I'm hoping means a new book.

However, a thing which did slightly disappoint me is that this book seems to have 'grown up' compared to the previous four books. This may be because of Riley's new struggles in her life or the Church's expectations of her, but she rarely sought solace in the Grounds Zero Coffee Shop and her friends Peter and Simi were only mentioned once (I'd thought they would have had a slightly bigger role due to Peter's help with the holy water scam). Riley was definitely still Riley, but just slightly different.Even the title seems to be in a different thread to the others- Forsaken, Forbidden, Forgiven, Foretold.
    One more teeny-tiny little bug bear I had was how frequently the events in Edinburgh were referenced (for those who don't know, there is a short book 4.5 in which Riley visits Beck in Scotland). I haven't yet read the novella, and it just annoyed me because a few things mentioned need the events in Scotland to explain, such as *SPOILER* Riley learning to use magic to defend herself.* I just felt like I was missing something -which I was- and so the story felt incomplete.

Overall though, this 'Mind Games' was a fantastic read and I can't wait for the next book.

As usual, please comment suggestions on how I could improve my reviews or which books I should review next xXx

Beauty Edit ~ Milani Baked Blushers

Luminoso

Berry Amore

Red Vino

Judging from the packaging only, I'd always assumed Milani was an expensive brand. However (in case you didn't know) it's not. Also, you may not have known it is available in the UK on Amazon.

I really loved the marbled veining of the shimmer through these blushers and they are all really pigmented, but blendable. They don't have a fragrance which is a benefit for those with sensitive skin, and they come with a large mirror and a brush so are good to take on the go. The packaging is a beautiful gold colour and it seems to be quite sturdy which, again, is another benefit for travel. if you haven't already tried these, I would. They were only £4.49 on Amazon and there is a large range of colours.

As usual, please comment suggestions on how I could improve my reviews or which products I should review next xXx

Sojourn (Time Rovers) Jana Oliver

I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. I had started it once before, I got confused by all the jargon, I felt as though I was missing a huge part of the story and so I put the book down, not thinking I would be picking it up again a few years later. I don't know what I was thinking. This time, I was enthralled by Oliver's world building from page one. It made sense and was explained well so there was no confusion for me. I really enjoyed the story and have already bought the next two books in the series.

Jacynda Lassiter reminded me of Riley Blackthorne from the 'Demon Trappers' series (although Lassiter came first). She is feisty, strong headed and kind. Her job involves taking 'tourists' back in time to explore a time period of their choosing (how amazing would that be?) but one assignment leaves her with severe time lag, a dead lover, a madman and the infamous 'Whitechapel murderer' in 1888 London. Mix time travel, Jack the Ripper and shape shifters, you get a fantastic story!
   I really liked the characters of Keats and Dr. Montrose and I'm secretly hoping 'Cynda will stay in 1888 with them instead of returning to 2057. The story is fast paced, characters are well developed and hints of their backstories are dropped -I hope they become more developed in the next book. On top of this, the murder mysteries are gripping and I enjoyed the plot thread about the transitives and how that really adds to the mystery and suspense in the novel - you can't trust anyone.

As with most of the books I read, I would recommend this simply because of the amazing way in which Jana Oliver can handle so many plot threads and weave them into one amazing novel.

As usual, please comment suggestions on how I could improve my reviews or which books I should review next xXx

P.S.
Have you heard that the newest book in Oliver's Demon Trappers series is out? 'Mind Games' sounds so good. I have already read the first few chapters from her blog and just bought the kindle edition for £2.99. A review will be up very shortly. I'm sooo excited to read the rest. I wasn't sure that there would be another book but I'm so glad that there is!

Beauty Edit ~ Bourjois City Radiance Foundation

02: Vanilla

Bourjois is hands down my favourite drugstore brand, if not my favourite brand full stop. This new foundation is absolutely no exception. I feel like it definitely says it does, my skin looked radiant and dewy, but not great, even without powdering. It has light to medium coverage which I like because it is nice to wear. The packaging itself is a pretty pearly pink and is slim so would be perfect for travelling. I highly rate this product and would recommend it xXx

Please comment your suggestions on how I could improve my posts/ reviews or which products I should review next xXx