The Queen's Fool ~ Phillipa Gregory

 Into the treacherous Tudor court walks Hannah Green, a bookseller's daughter with a gift to read more than his banned booksEntangled in the schemes of the handsome traitor Roert Dudley, she is sent as a Holy Fool to spy on Princess Mary and finds a complex woman driven by a fatal desire to turn England back to the true faith- while her half-sister Elizabeth waits to take advantage of any mistakes she makes.

Caught in the deadly rivalry between the daughters of Henry VIII, torn between her infatuation with Dudley and duty to her family, Hannah must find a safe way through tremulous times - when he wrong religion is a death sentence, science and magic are one, and true love is a fatal weakness...

 I was really immersed in the world of Hannah Green whilst reading this book by one of my absolute favourite authors. A Jew driven out of Spain with her father because of there religion, no European country is safe for her, when hatred for their religion is rife. She finds herself serving Princess Mary and Gregory's perspective on one of the most famous monarchs in British history was one of a strong, determined woman who had no one on her side.
    I had never considered that Mary was anything but bloody because this is all I had ever heard, but this book delves into her past, how she was forced to admit to being a bastard, how she had to look after the child of the woman who could be seen as responsible for her own mother's death and how even this was taken away from her as she became more neglected by her father. We are with Mary through the happiness of her marriage to King Philip and the miss-carriage of not just one but two children and I really empathised with her as the tide of English favour turned from supporting her against Jane Grey, to shunning her in favour of the Protestant Princess.
   On the other hand, Gregory also manages to wave in the story of Elizabeth and how close she came to death at the start of Mary's reign. The sad life of Amy Dudley also manages to make and appearance and the terror of the Battle of Calais is brought to life under Gregory's skilled hand.

Hannah is a head strong 14 year old at he start of the novel, betrothed to a Jewish man she had never met. She fell in love with Dudley at her very first sight of him and so gets dragged into the schemes of him and Dr Dee. I had so many different feelings whilst reading this book, anger at Hannah's naivety with Dudley, fear for her as she fears the death penalty for her faith like her mother, sympathy for her as she hears the truth about Tom Carpenter's time in Calais without her, happiness when she is happy. I honestly cried reading about Calais, the orphaned child, Elizabeth's fear of not being allowed to live to see the next day and Mary's heartbreak at the loss of her un-born children and the losses of her county and husband to her cunning half-sister Elizabeth, who is only trying to survive.

I really recommend this book to any Tudor fiction lovers as it is truly one of the best I have read in a while.

Please comment suggestions on how I could improve my reviews or which books I should review next xXx
'Beauty Edit' coming tomorrow xXx

Dusk ~ Eve Edwards

Dusk by Eve Edwards is a beautiful love story set against the brutal back drop of WWI.

A love worth fighting for.

When Helen, a young hard-working nurse, meets aristocratic artist Sebastian, she doesn't expect to even like him, let alone fall in love. But against the troubled backdrop of wartime London, an unlikely but intense romance blossoms. And even the bloody trenches of the Somme, where they are both posted, cannot diminish their feelings for each other.

But Helen is concealing a secret and when a terrible crime is committed there are devastating consequences for them both.

When lives are being lost, can true love survive?

Dusk is a really sweet romance between two people from different worlds during the horrors of World War One. Sebastian is so gallant and (in my mind) incredibly handsome. Helen is a great protagonist. She aspires to help others and so becomes a nurse. She has a feisty spirit and a kind heart. I enjoyed how Flora's story was also told along side Helen's as it was quite common during war times for unmarried girls to find them selves pregnant or to get married quickly in case their partner never returned from the war. 

   The details of the medicine at the time, the dual narrative of Helen and Sebastian and the switching between 'current' events and events from Helen's past were really helpful when it came to world building and also it made you feel more immersed in the lives of the characters.

    Although slightly infuriating, the cliff hanger really gripped me and drove me to read the next book 'Dawn' which I also thoroughly enjoyed.

 I read this whilst doing my GCSE History coursework on life on the home front so I found the historical detail really helpful. I would certainly recommend this book to any historical fiction/ romance fans, or those who would like a light, entertaining read whilst learning something new.  

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

Beauty Edit ~ Rimmel Kate Moss Lipstick No.48

For me and my skin tone, this lipstick was the perfect pinky-nude. It was love at first sight. I had already been planning to buy it, but seeing Zoella wearing it in one of last years videos decided it for me. I would buy the lipstick!

I haven't looked back. Its colour pay off is really good, it does stay on for a long time and it feels really comfortable to wear. It was perfect in summer and great with a smoky eye at Christmas. As with all of Rimmel's lipsticks, it also smelt really nicely of vanilla. It is a must have I recommend you to buy.

Please comment suggestions on how I could improve my posts or what I should review next xXx

Virals (Book 1) ~ Kathy Reichs

 Tory Brennan, niece of acclaimed forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan (of the Bones novels and hit TV show), is the leader of a ragtag band of teenage "sci-philes" who live on a secluded island off the coast of South Carolina. When the group rescues a dog caged for medical testing on a nearby island, they are exposed to an experimental strain of canine parvovirus that changes their lives forever.

As the friends discover their heightened senses and animal-quick reflexes, they must combine their scientific curiosity with their new found physical gifts to solve a cold-case murder that has suddenly become very hot if they can stay alive long enough to catch the killer's scent.

Fortunately, they are now more than friends. They're a pack. They are Virals.

This book rapidly became my new obsession! Tory is a 14 year old girl who lives with her newly discovered dad, a marine biologist, on a small island in South Carolina. Her three best friends, Ben Blue, Shelton Devers and Hiram Stolowitski. I loved the character of Tory and how brave, headstrong and caring she is. She was the perfect protagonist in this series. It was her caring nature which brought upon them the virus which would change her pack's lives forever. One of the best things, apart from the heroine, was that the author (Kathy Reichs) brought in a lot of her forensic knowledge, just like in her Temperance Brennan series, but it is more accessible and understandable for the target audience. I learnt a lot from reading this book and the rest in the series. Another thing I liked was how there was no love story in this series which made sense since Tory was only 14. She does have a crush but that make up only a really small part of the story. However, saying this, I felt a definite sense of something romantic brewing under the surface.

The storyline of this book was particularly gripping, throwing you into the midst of a life or death chase involving guns and a dead body. Also, the solution to the mystery wasn't obvious which I put down to being written in the hand of such an experienced mystery writer like Reichs. If you like gripping mysteries mixed with a hint of fantasy and a huge scientific interest then this is the book for you. Even if you don't, I would guarantee you will enjoy this book. I really can't think of any complaints I have with this book and the rest of the series is just as fantastic.

As usual, please comment suggestions on how I could improve my reviews or hat I should review next. Also, have you read this book? What did you think about it? xXx

Halo ~ Alexandra Adornetto

 
Three angels – Gabriel, the warrior; Ivy, the healer; and Bethany, the youngest and most human – are sent by Heaven to bring good to a world falling under the influence of darkness. They work hard to conceal their luminous glow, superhuman powers, and, most dangerous of all, their wings, all the while avoiding all human attachments.

Then Bethany meets Xavier Woods, and neither of them is able to resist the attraction between them. Gabriel and Ivy do everything in their power to intervene, but the bond between Xavier and Bethany seems too strong.

The angel’s mission is urgent, and dark forces are threatening. Will love ruin Bethany or save her?

 I feel as though I have said this about all books, but I really enjoyed this. Bethany is a young angel who has come to Earth with her brother Gabriel and sister Ivy to try and rid their small area (Venus Cove) of evil. Bethany's youth and the fact that she is newly come from heaven make her very naive but at the same time innocent and sweet. As soon as she meets Xavier, she is drawn to him.

“Beth: "You're ridiculous."
Xavier: "I think you mean irresistible."
Beth: "Yes, ridiculously irresistible.”


“A man in love can do extraordinary things, I don’t care if you’re an angel, you’re my angel, and I won’t let you go.”


“That was one of the saddest things about people--their most important thoughts and feelings often went unspoken and barely understood.”

I enjoyed how this book tackles issues of our planet such as violence,
war as well as problems which every girl will at some point face (Prom, the 'S' word, first boyfriends). However, at the same time I felt that some parts of the storyline were dragged out a bit too much or were a bit too soppy between Beth and Xavier, which although I usually don't mind, I felt it distracted from the main plot. I also thought that the book took a bit too long to get to the main 'action' but that when it did finally get there, I was hooked. Recently, I found out that there are two more books in the series and I am looking forward to trying them and shall make sure I tell you what I thought.
           Adornetto had some good world building here, I felt I knew exactly what Bethany's room looked like or the atmosphere in Xavier's house and there was also a lot of witty dialogue between characters which gives the story a slight comical twist as well. The characters are also well built up, but I think that the supporting characters could have had a bit more back story. Overall, I would definitely recommend the book.

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

BeautyEdit ~ W7 'In the Buff' Natural Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

Buff, Camel, Sand, Dust, Chocolate, Topaz, Earth, Storm, Silk, Wave, Thunder, Onyx

As well as a really nice metallic packaging, this palette also contains 12 perfect nude colours which are perfect in any look, day, night, smoky, natural... This product reminds me of the Urban Decay Naked 2 palette. Each eyeshadow has great colour pigmentation and they are a mixture of shimmery and matte colour.In addition, their names are natural sounding and really nice: Onyx, Earth, Storm  ...

I got my palette online but I think you can also get it from Ebay, Amazon and a few other places if you search for them. I think I have also seen them in Next before. And another positive, they are all under £5!

Buff, Camel, Sand

Dust, Chocolate, Topaz

Earth, Storm, Silk

Wave, Thunder, Onyx

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

Marie Antoinette: Serial Killer ~ Katie Alender

Colette Iselin is excited to go to Paris on a class trip. She’ll get to soak up the beauty and culture, and maybe even learn something about her family’s French roots.

But a series of gruesome murders are taking place across the city, putting everyone on edge. And as she tours museums and palaces, Colette keeps seeing a strange vision: a pale woman in a ball gown and powdered wig, who looks suspiciously like Marie Antoinette.

Colette knows her popular, status-obsessed friends won’t believe her, so she seeks out the help of a charming French boy. Together, they uncover a shocking secret involving a dark, hidden history. When Colette realises she herself may hold the key to the mystery, her own life is suddenly in danger . . .

Acclaimed author Katie Alender brings heart-stopping suspense to this story of revenge, betrayal, intrigue — and one killer queen.

I really did enjoy this book. I hadn't been expecting much, but I am no longer sure why. It has a very Parisian feel to it, on of beauty, culture and history. I liked the character of Colette although her Mean Girl wannabe attitude annoyed me at the start. She does realise that Hannah's attitude to others is mean and wrong and I enjoyed how we watch her develop as a person and as a character to stand up and do what she thinks is right, no matter what the consequences.

   My favourite scene in the book is the one involving Jules and his family. It was such a heart-warming read and made me feel very nostalgic about my own family. I could see parallels between mine and his for examples family rituals such as everyone eating together and talking, which were lost when Colette described her own dis-functional family. Hearing about how her dad left, that her mum was suffering financially and that she and Charlie just didnt' get on as I do with my brothers really made e feel for her.

Although the storyline was a bit dubious, why does the ghost wait this long to carry out her revenge, and it wasn't always historically accurate (sorry to break it to you but there was never an Order of the Key, L'ordre de la clé) I found the story gripping and powerful in the way that you understand Marie's grief and anger as well as Colette's fears of being a social outcast and for her friend. I would have liked a bit more from her romance with Jules, for example in the epilogue a suggestion of whether or not they are together or will see each other again, but I still found him dreamy and I loved how much he cared for her, even before they became romantically involved.

I would really recommend this book if you want a light, easy to read story which at the same tine has a good mystery, great world building and hints of the history of Paris and their most famous monarch: Marie Antoinette.