Love Lula: August Accredited Blogger Picks

*sent to me very generously free of charge as a Love Lula Accredited Blogger. Last month I started a new series showing my picks, followed by reviews where necessary. See my July picks HERE. This month I selected: a brand new product, one which had been on my wishlist and three sample sizes (which are available to buy with a £10+ spend (up to five). And so, for a closer look:

My first pick was Awake Organics brand new Natural Vegan Shampoo 55g (£12.99)* which comes in powder form. Mix to a paste before massaging onto your roots, lathering then rinse. It smells great (lemongrass+rosemary). Expect a full review when I get the chance to try it out properly (I love the aluminium packaging too!) It's good for weak, thinning and colour treated hair (tried it once so far, it's fantastic!)

Madara's Time Miracle Hydra Firm Hyaluron Concentrate Jelly (£30 - 75ml)* has been on the wishlist a while. It feels amazing on the skin, deeply hydrating yet very lightweight. I'm so looking forward to testing it out. Expect a review very shortly.

I love trying products before buying full size so samples are a great idea (5 can be bought with a £10+ spend). See the selection currently available HERE. I selected:

The Organic Pharmacy Peppermint Facial Wash Trial Size (£6.50 - 20ml)* is a great try-me size or for holidays. The minty wash is unisex and ideal for teens too. Again, expect a review for this one.

Rounding up my picks this month are two sachet samples from JOIK Organic, their Quick Absorbing Hand Lotion* (I got three uses from the sachet) and Softening & Deodorising Foot Lotion* (one small use). I loved both of these - they smell great and feel quite effective (yes, you've guessed it, I want them full size!) These samples cost 25p each.

From time to time Love Lula offer bloggers extras if they can commit to reviewing that month. I was lucky enough to be selected to try ZOJO Beauty Elixirs new Magic Cocoa 150g (£29)*.

As soon as I opened the lid I was drooling! It smells of rich and dark decadent chocolate. The blend can be enjoyed in hot water or warm milk and will revive your energy and senses throughout the day. Expect a full review shortly.

Have you tried any of these products? If so, what are your thoughts?

Blog Tour: The Silence by Susan Allott

Today I'm on the Blog Tour for The Silence by Susan Allott. I bought the book myself via my May My Chronicle Book Box.

It is 1997, and in a basement flat in Hackney, Isla Green is awakened by a call in the middle of the night: her father phoning from Sydney. Thirty years ago, in the suffocating heat of summer 1967, the Green's next-door neighbor Mandy disappeared. At the time, it was thought she fled a broken marriage and gone to start a new life; but now Mandy's family is trying to reconnect, and there is no trace of her. Isla's father Joe was allegedly the last person to see her alive, and now he's under suspicion of murder.

Isla unwillingly plans to go back to Australia for the first time in a decade to support her father. The return to Sydney will plunge Isla deep into the past, to a quiet street by the sea where two couples live side by side. Isla's parents, Louisa and Joe, have recently emigrated from England - a move that has left Louisa miserably homesick while Joe embraces his new life. Next door, Steve and Mandy are equally troubled. Mandy doesn't want a baby, even though Steve - a cop trying to hold it together under the pressures of the job - is desperate to become a father.

The more Isla asks about the past, the more she learns: about both young couples and the secrets each marriage bore. Could her father be capable of doing something terrible? How much does her mother know? What will happen to their family if Isla's worst fears are realized? And is there another secret in this community, one which goes deeper into Australia's colonial past, which has held them in a conspiracy of silence?

About the Author:

Susan Allott is from the UK but spent part of her twenties in Australia, desperately homesick but trying to make Sydney her home. In 2016 she completed the Faber Academy course, during which she started writing this novel. She now lives in south London with her two children and her very Australian husband.

My thoughts? 

Isla receives a late at night phone call from her father asking her to go back to Australia as a case of murder has been reopened following an inheritance claim. Their neighbour, Mandy went missing 30 years before and her father, Joe is in the frame although he vehemently denies any wrong doing.

She's not keen to go back but knows her father will get no support from her mother or brother so makes the long journey home. It stirs up childhood memories, not all of them good. Her mother seems distant and her father is barely holding it together.

Isla vaguely remembers Mandy being kind to her and taking her to the beach. Her mother and Mandy were fairly friendly and she knew her deepest secrets. We also learn about Mandy and Steve's home life. Her husband is desperate for a family to take him away from his heartbreaking job of removing Aboriginal children from their families. 

As the story unravels we read about real life history, addictions, family life, marriage, unhappiness and friendships. The story keeps you on the edge of your seat as I had no real clue what was coming! A brilliant debut which I'd highly recommend.

Pick up your copy HERE.

Bramley Products: The Pig Hotel Toiletries

I first tried beautiful Bramley during our first visit to The Pig at Brockenhurst, in the New Forest way back in 2016. I was so excited to try such a lovely range. I've since received the product(s) in a Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box and in a Perfume Society box and so, it was nice to revisit the range once again, including the new Hand Sanitiser Gel at our recent visit back to Brockenhust in July (the bottles are fully recyclable or re-usable).

The range was originally created by Chloë for the guest bathrooms of the Beckford Arms in Wiltshire in 2009 (they now can be found in over 500 hotels, pubs, restaurants and shops). Of course, we can buy too in the online shop, plus you can find a list of stockists HERE.

Formulated using their unique apple seed oil and organic apple extract with 100% natural botanicals and essential oils. The range is fantastic - beautifully scented and lovely to use. Check it out HERE. The Pig Hotel very generously supplies a whole range of minis for your enjoyment (including a mini of the newish Hand Sanitiser Gel) - there are also plentiful large sizes dotted around the hotel for you to help yourself to - to keep yourself safe, and other guests.

The 50ml products all cost an affordable £4 each making them an ideal treat or easy to pack for holidays. Award Winning (Beauty Shortlist Mama & Baby Awards - Editor's Choice 2019) Body Wash with Grapefruit, Lavender & Sweet Orange Essential Oils is a delight (it also appeared in the Skin Organics Clean Beauty Box). It smells glorious and instantly calms and relaxes. Use it in your morning shower to enliven both the body and mind or in evening to calm and relax.  Their Shampoo with Lemon, Mandarin & Rosemary Essential Oils is also a Mama & Baby Award Winner 2019 which gently cleanses all hair types (that scent!) Follow with the Conditioner which is scented with the same luxe essential oils. It'll nourish and smooth (you can leave it on for 10 minutes or so, for a more intensive pampering treat).  The Body Lotion is scented with Juniper, Sweet Orange & Bergamot Essential Oils and absorbs instantly onto warm skin leaving it beautifully scented and nourished. 

Talk about #bathroomgoals I had a lovely deep bath with bubbles courtesy of Bubble Bath scented with Geranium, Lavender & Sweet Orange Essential Oils. And relax!

The latest product in the range is their effective and beautifully scented Hand Sanitiser Gel which also starts at £4 for 50ml. There was one of the minis awaiting in the bedroom for guest's personal use. The sanitiser is formulated with 60% alcohol with aromatic Rosemary, Spearmint and Peppermint Essential Oils and is gentle on the skin (it's one of the nicest ones I've used so far!)

What are your favourites from Bramley?

*Blog Tour: Just Like the Other Girls by Claire Douglas

*I received an ARC free of charge in order to take part in the Blog Tour. Today I'm on the blog tour for the fantastic Just Like the Other Girls by Claire Douglas.

CARER/COMPANION WANTED FOR ELDERLY LADY

* YOUNG FEMALE PREFERRED * COMPETITIVE SALARY *

* ROOM AND BOARD INCLUDED *

Una Richardson's heart is broken after the death of her mother. Seeking a place to heal, she responds to an advertisement and steps into the rich, comforting world of Elspeth McKenzie.

But Elspeth's home is not as safe as it seems.

Kathryn, her cold and bitter daughter, resents Una's presence. But more disturbing is the realization that two girls had lived here before. Two girls who ended up dead.

Why won't the McKenzies talk about them? What other secrets are locked inside this house? As the walls close in around her, Una starts to fear that she will end up just like the other girls . . .

My thoughts?

WOW, once I picked this book up I couldn't let it go until I turned the very last page. It totally gripped me throughout and is a fantastic read.

Una’s mum has just passed away, she’s split with her boyfriend and she is feeling a bit lost when she applies to be carer to wealthy Mrs Elspeth Mackenzie who lives in a large house in affluent Bristol overlooking the famous, Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Mrs Mackenzie lives a cossetted life with a cook, cleaner and a handsome gardener to look after her needs as well as her prickly and secretive daughter, Kathryn. Una feels she is too young to need a carer but the money’s good and she has a beautiful suite of rooms to stay in, so who is she to complain. In fact, it almost seems too good to be true...

Her best friend Courtney feels she should grab this great opportunity with both hands even though she’ll miss her back at their small rented flat but, as she says, it’ll be money when they go travelling later in the year.

Una discovers that the last two girls who worked for Mrs Mackenzie ended up dead with one of them being killed by a supposedly random hit-and-run and the other had just vanished. They also looked uncannily similar to herself.. Elspeth’s daughter is also a right misery guts finding fault with everything she does as well as feeling threatened for some reason... Una wonders if it really is the job of her dreams…and decides to find out what happened to the other girls...

When she’s out and about on her days off she feels she’s being followed but there’s nobody there when she turns around to confront them which gives the story a real sense of unease. The story is tense and fast paced, laced with secrets as well as family history and there are so many twists and turns. I also really liked the surprising and unexpected character who appears later in the book, a free thinking and confident girl called Willow and of course, I kept changing my mind as to who the murderer was... I also just never saw that ending coming! So highly recommend.

Pick up your copy HERE

Feel Unique: My Beauty Kit

I'm a huge fan of Feel Unique's My Beauty Kit (and Pick & Mix). My Beauty Kit costs £12.95 plus p&p (the p&p is redeemable) and you get to choose proper trial sizes, which give several uses. Here's what I picked this month:

WOW!

And for a closer look..

I'm a huge fan of lixirskin and was beyond thrilled to see their Electrogel Cleanser 30ml as a pick (worth £11). I reviewed it HERE.

This is my 2nd pick of Vichy's Mineral 89 Fortifying & Plumping Daily Booster 10ml which my skin has been loving in summertime. It's the perfect try-me size and great for travel.

A 15ml pot (like the size you get in GWP) of Clinique's superdefense SPF40 fatigue+1st signs of age multi-correcting gel. I was swayed by the SPF plus a new to me product. This little pot is worth £12.60 based on ml of the full size. It's a great try-me.

I adore Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide on Eye Pencil (my fav shade is Demolition). The one in the kit is Zero (black) in a mini size. I was just needing a new eye pencil!

My final pick is a mini of Moroccanoil's Body Souffle (20ml - worth £4.80). I used to love their haircare and didn't realise they did bodycare. This is lush and creamy and melts instantly onto warm skin. It's got a lovely creamy vanilla scent. Nice to try but unlikely to buy full size.

Have you picked up a My Beauty Kit recently?

*Typology Natural Eaux de Parfum Perfume Discovery Sets

*pr samples Way back in May I was very kindly gifted some skin specific products from Typology. See my review HERE. I've played about with the Perfume Discovery Sets (£8.80 each, each have 3 x 2ml vials) since then and here are my thoughts. The little sets are great try-mes and are perfect for layering. Try the samples then buy the Layering Collection. The perfumes can be worn alone too if preferred.

I loved all the scents in this collection - Pamplemousse Petitgrain - Jasmin Neroli - Cedre Vetiver. The perfumes can all be layered together to create a delicate floral scent or to create a sweet citrus layer Pamplemousse Petitgrain with Jasmin Neroli. The scents aren't very long lasting but I've enjoyed using them. Full size bottles come in at £32.80 for 30ml.

Pamplemousse Petitgrain is a very fruity, bright and sweet scent with a note of bitterness from the petitgrain. Jasmin Neroli has rich and opulent citrus floral notes. Cedre Vetiver is woody and warm with green aromatic notes.

The second discovery set contains Yuzu Mandarine - Sauge Romarin - Cypress Genevrier. I adored Yuzu Mandarine but found the other two more of an acquired taste. Yuzu Mandarine is wild green mandarin with Ichang lemon and is very citrus, Sauge Romarin is aromatic and herbal while Cyprès Genévrier is woody, fresh, peppery and aromatic.

To create a sweet aromatic perfume layer the trio of scents or create an invigorating perfume with Sauge Romarin and Yuzu Mandarine.

I've really enjoyed trying the perfumes in the range in an affordable way. Of course, now I "need" "want" full size bottles of Jasmin Neroli, Yuzu Mandarine and Pamplemousse Petitgrain! Have you tried any of the Eaux de Parfum from Typology?

*EVOLVE Organic Beauty: 360 Smoothing Body Contour

*gifted/pr I've had the real pleasure of trying one of EVOLVE Organic Beauty's latest launches - their fabulous 360 Smoothing Body Contour (180ml - £30) which is truly sublime. As ever, the simple but stylish packaging is recyclable (and the jar re-usable).

The cream itself is rich and aromatic and melts easily onto warm skin. Suitable for all skin types it's formulated with innovative ingredients which help to improve the skin's firmness and elasticity, hydrating and smoothing.

Their "360 ageing smarter concept is taking care of the skin naturally at every stage of life, working proactively with the body to support graceful ageing tackling loss of firmness, smoothness, soothing and hydration".

With key ingredients of Natural AHAs which help to shed dead skin cells leaving the skin feeling smooth and soft while Peruvian Maca stimulates cell renewal and improves firmness. Pink Salt Lake Bioactive targets keratosis pilaris and post waxing redness, soothing and softening. Galactoarabinan acts as an AHA booster while Low Molecular Weight Hyaluronic Acid deeply hydrates.

To use: massage onto areas which need more care such as upper arms, abdomen, bottom, hips and thighs. Use AM and PM for best results.

I've found the cream to be an absolute delight - it's rich and creamy with a delectable almost edible scent (mandarin, orange, lemon, vanilla), it absorbs quickly and the skin is left feeling deeply cared for. It's one of my favourite products this year.

Have you tried it? Pick yours up HERE.

Latest Buys: Noble Isle, Poapoa, The Ghost Family Flame, Feel Unique, Mrs Mac, Smells Good Scents

Here are my latest buys:

On return from my mini staycation I treated myself to Noble Isle's luxury hard soap bars in Orchard & Hedgerows (£16) which had been on the groaning wishlist. Inside the box is 3 x 50g Perry Pear soaps and 2 x 30g Summer Rising soaps. The set is exquisitely wrapped and comes with a gift bag. With every order you choose 30ml mini free plus for an extra fiver you can choose a 75ml product. Tea Rose won the day for me! Review of the soap set to follow but I can tell you it's lush!

I picked up this super cute coconut shell soap dish from Love Lula from brand Poapoa, who up-cycle the coconuts after using what's inside for their products! It's really lovely and very eco friendly.

Having signed up to the Ghost Family Flame Subscription Box earlier in July I decided to pick up a selection of collection boxes (a couple of which are below) as subscribers get 30% off other buys (the site is down until 7th August but I definitely recommend a look when they're back with new goodies and scents). You can see my earlier post about my purchases HERE. I've lots of lovely new-to-me wax melts to try!

 Growing Halloween Box

I picked up a Feel Unique pick 'n' mix sample box which costs £3.95 (redeemable) which contains some treats I'm looking forward to testing out.

I also picked up some wax melts which come with a little wooden stirrer from Mrs Mac. The melts are high strength, have cute little thistles in the design and are brightly coloured. I chose Spiced Pumpkin, White Sage & Sea Salt, Blackberry & Bay and Rhubarb & White Lilac.

My final recent buy is from a totally new to me wax vendor - Smells Good Scents. I picked their sample box which contains the whole of their current range. They're highly scented on cold sniff so I'm looking forward to trying them.

What have you been buying lately?

Naturisimo - Conscious Beauty Discovery Box

As you know, I can never resist a Naturisimo Discovery box! The latest one (still available, at time of writing) is Conscious Beauty Discovery Box and nestled inside are 5 items which are worth £92! Pick up the box for £18.95.

WOW, what a nice selection! And so, for a closer look..

I'm loving discovering more from French Absolution in these discovery boxes. Inside is their La Cure Peau Calme Anti-Redness Treatment (15 x 1ml) which is worth a whopping £47! They'll soothe redness, sensitivities, tightness and irritation immediately. My cheeks are sometimes a bit red and tight, so I'm looking forward to testing these out - expect a review soon.

From Rahua is a handy travel size of their Shower Gel 22ml which is the ideal try me size or for holidays. It's scented with lavender, eucalyptus and vanilla. I'm looking forward to trying it as it smells lush.

From Nourish is their Argan Anti-Aging Peptide Serum 15ml (£16) which is a great try me. I haven't actually reviewed this one before, although it's been in my stash! Looking forward to re-visiting.

Jane Iredale's Just Kissed Lip & Cheek Stain in Forever Pink 1.3g is an old favourite and I'm delighted to have a new one. It works with your skin's chemistry and mood so it can be any shade of pale pink to deep red!

Rounding up the collection is Juice Beauty's Illuminating Primer - Luminous 15ml (worth £19) which adds radiance to the complexion blurring lines and wrinkles. I've tried this once so far and it's fab!

A great box, what are your thoughts?

July Book Round-Up

Here's what I've been reading in July. Books marked * I've generously received from the publisher either directly or via Netgalley.

The Silence by Susan Allott - I'm taking part in the blog tour later this month so I'll share my review then. I received the book in my May - My Chronicle Book Box (link).

Snegurochka by Judith Heneghan - the story is set in Kiev in 1992, not long after the Ukraine gained independence from Russia and the Chernobyl disaster. Rachel and baby, Ivan join husband Lucas on his first foreign posting with the BBC. The flat he's chosen gives her the creeps as it's on the 13th floor and from the balcony you can see the whole city. She's nervy and terrified that Ivan will fall to his death from the balcony and vows to keep her baby safe from harm. 

Rachel does what she would back home - straps Ivan into his pram and walks the city, much to the alarm of the locals. They don't understand why she'd bring her baby here, to a place where there is so much unrest. She finds it difficult to source fresh vegetables and fruit as blackmarketeers sell overpriced produce from contaminated areas.

Lucas's colleagues while friendly enough don't have much in common with her and she struggles with loneliness and sense of self. A shady businessman befriends her and gives her a gift, she begins a tentative friendship with Zoya who's her husband's fixer, Stepan a teenage boy who lives in the block seems fascinated by her and the caretaker, Elena Vasilyevna a prickly woman with secrets becomes a friend of sorts.

The story is beautifully drawn giving you a real sense of time and place. I was truly captivated by it.

*The Secret of Creek Cottage by Tina M Edwards - I loved this book! I took part in the blog tour. See my review HERE.

*What Red Was by Rosie Price - isn't published until later in August, so I'll share my review in my August book round-up. 

*Just like the Other Girls by Claire Douglas - I'm taking part in the blog tour next week so I'll share my review then. A cracking read.

*Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart - This Booker longlisted novel is not an easy read. It's gripping, gritty and I was totally thrown into the world of Shuggie Bain and his family. The story is set in 80s and 90s Glasgow, a world of poverty, unemployment, low paid jobs, alcoholism, abuse and addictions. 

Shuggie's mother longs for one thing - her own front door. She find living with her parents and her three kids hard. She escapes it all by drinking, smoking and loving Big Shug Bain, her taxi driver husband although she knows he's never faithful and doesn't treat her well.

They move to a mining town on the outskirts of the city and while having her own front door life is hard. Big Shug leaves her, returning to goad her or for sexual favours and so, gentle Shuggie becomes his mother's carer making sure she's okay after a heavy session. Agnes always likes to look good - well dressed with her face made up and a tidy house.  

Catherine, their sister married young and moved away. Leek, Shuggie's brother tries to keep it all on the straight and narrow, saving money from his mother's benefits to feed them and teaching Shuggie how to be a man. Shuggie doesn't like football or playing with the boys, he'd rather dream about being a hairdresser or playing with dolls. He's fussy about things, knows he's different but most importantly of all wants to keep his beloved mother safe from harm. 

I found the book a difficult read which took me into an unknown world. I loved the characters of Shuggie and Agnes and can only highly recommend the book as a must read.

*Stolen Lives by Louise Hulland - this hard hitting and carefully researched book isn't out until September so I'll share my review nearer the time. It really opened my eyes to the world of Human Trafficking and is a must-read.

From earlier:

I read *The Strange Book of Jacob Boyce by Tom Gillespie earlier in the year but was sworn to secrecy until I took part in the blog tour. See my review for this amazing read HERE.

What have you been reading in July?