The Colour of Death by Michael Cordy

My first book for review from the Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge is The Colour of Death by Michael Cordy. The second I opened the parcel containing this book I was filled with excitement as I love books with a dark twist and this sounded like it had just that. The cover I also found very appealing as it has an air of mystery to it making me want to open it and venture into its pages.

A group of young girls are rescued from Russian sex trafficers by what they describe as 'their angel'. It was discovered that the 'angel' in question was a young girl herself, who had no recollection of who she was or why she was there...let alone how she knew that the people behind those walls were in danger!
Due to her amnesia, local authorites named her 'Jane Doe' and she was assigned to psychiatrist Dr Nathan Fox after he seemed to be the only one she would connect with.
Nathan discovers that Jane Doe has a rare form of synaethesia and believes that this could hold the key to helping her regain her memory.
Whilst she was under Nathan's care, a couple of murders had taken place in the small town which seemed to be somehow linked to Jane Doe...but how? Who was she and where had she come from and why was someone seemingly out to kill her?
Eventually it's time for Jane to leave the confines of Tranquil Waters and head back to where it appeared she belonged....but things aren't always as they seem!

This book had me gripped from beginning to end and is written in such a way that it draws you into the story and makes you 'feel' for the characters...as though you're taking the journey with them. It also gave me great insight into the beliefs of others and a certain amount of knowledge about 'chakras' and the 'sixth sense'.
This is the first book i've read of Michael Cordy's and I have to say, it certainly won't be the last! Gripping and tense with unexpected twists and turns, this is a definate 'must read'!!

I’m part of the Transworld Book Group!

I am ovet the moon to say that I have just received confirmation to say that I have been included in the Transworld Book Group...as indicated by the new logo over on the right there...pretty isn't it! :)

I first heard about this from my friend Kim after asking her if she had any ideas on what I could review on my blog. She told me about the Transworld Book Group Reading Challenge and pointed me in the direction of her blog Munchy's Place for more info.....I promptly did so. 

I discovered that this was a very interesting challenge. Running from August till October 2011, Transworld send you books in return for reviews on Amazon and your own blog. You get to choose 4 titles from the 15 available (I found this really difficult as they all sound great), they'll send you the first one out, then once you've read and reviewed it, they'll send you the next and so on...easy peasy!

If you'd like to become a part of this group or find out more information, click here. I just commented showing my interest, then sat back and waited. After a few days I received my confirmation email.
Please be patient, i'm sure you can imagine theres quite a bit of interest in this so it may take them time to reply and you must apply by the end of August 2011 to be included.

Good luck and I look forward to reviewing my first book soon :)

Nivea Pure & Natural Moisturising Day Cream

Next up for review is Nivea Pure & Naturals moisturising day cream.


Pure & Naturals is a new range of products intorduced by Nivea where up to 95% of ingredients used are of natural origin and free from parabens, silicones, colourants or mineral oils! It's defiantely a range worth looking out for and trying for yourself.

I've been using this for a couple of weeks now and have really noticed a difference in how my skin looks and feels. The cream itself is just a nice consistency so that when you apply, it smoothes over the skin effortlessly and it only takes a small amount to achieve good coverage of face and neck. Immediately after application, I felt absolutely wonderful! Not only did my skin feel instantly moisturised, but the lovely delicate smell really lifted my spirits.

My skin is usually pretty dry and many creams just seem to irritate it...especially those that are perfumed. This however, soothed my skin after washing (which always makes it feel tight), toned down the redness, moisturised in just the right places and had a non greasy after feel. Ticks all the boxes for me, and best still is that it's gentle enough to used daily, and the longer i've used it, the more luminous my skin has become.

This definately features high on my 'must-have' beauty list as I can't fault it in any way. I look forward to trying many other products in the range too so stay posted :)

I was not requested to do this review and it is based entirely upon my own opinion...it's not to say that yours will be the same so please bare this in mind.

Jergens Ultra Hydrating Intensive Body Moisturiser

I have tried many Jergens Body Moisturisers and would be hard pushed to name my favourite as they all leave my skin feeling luxuriously soft....and they all smell totally fab too!!

I was recently lucky enough to receive this tube of the new Jergens Ultra Hydrating Intensive Body Moisturiser for Extra Dry Skin after applying through their facebook page.

I'm sure you can all guess (if you've read previous posts) what the first thing I did was after receiving it......yep, you got it! I immediately opened it and had a sniff and as i'd expected, it was irrisistably gorgeous.

I decided to have a nice soak in the bath before actually applying the cream - no surprises there either then lol Once I felt clean and refreshed, I dried myself and began to apply the moisturiser. I squirted a small amount into my palm, rubbed my hands together, then began to apply it from my legs upwards (not a necessary way to apply, just my preferred). I have to say that a little stretches a really long way. With most moisturisers, it doesn't take long for them to absorb into my skin, often leaving it feeling dry after just a few hours. Results that last ALL day is what I want, and that's exactly what I got. Immediately after application, my skin felt and looked soft, supple and moisturised....and it smelt bloody gorgeous!! The key ingredients in this moisturiser are Jojoba oil, Avacado and Olive oil, all of which are know for nourishing and rejeuvenating the skin. For me, applying it wasn't a chore at all but an absolute pleasure and even my partner (bless him) noticed how soft my skin looked and felt.....he said it had a 'glow' about it, and although he moans about the smell of most creams I own, he said he actually really liked this one and that I should use it more often....RESULT in more ways than one!!

If you suffer from really dry skin, and long to find a cream that gives lasting moisture whilst not irritating the skin, then look no further. For more info about Jergens check out their website there's something there to suit everyone and all at affordable prices too.

The above review is based upon my own opinion, please bear in mind that you own may differ.

Jamaica Ginger Cake

Mmmm....just hearing the words 'Jamaica Ginger Cake' is enough to make my mouth water, shame that by the time i'm writing this, both the above cakes are erm....gone!! lol

Anyway, this was a VERY lucky win from the Official Jamaica Ginger Cake facebook page....many thanks to them for my prize getting here in one piece, even if it didn't last long!!

From being a small child, my mam has bought ginger cake, and not just any old ginger cake would do, oh no, it had to be Jamaica Ginger Cake. Now that i'm in my adult life with kids of my own, I can totally see why. Although I have tried variations, I always come back to this timeless classic with it's seductivly soft texture and that ginger aroma which hits you the second it's opened....heavenly! As far as I can see, there may be cheap variations out there, but there's no denying who gets it right....EVERY time!

I've passed my love of this fabulous cake down to my kids and they totally agree with me - hence how 1 of the cakes was already gone before I got the pic taken...gotta be quicker next time lol

Well, if you're a fan of ginger and love cake, then this is for you. It's baked to perfection using just the right blend of ingredients and isn't too dry either...go on, treat yourself, you know you want to! ;)

This review is based upon my own opinion and I was not asked to review this product. I reviewed it simply because I love it and wanted to share (my thoughts, not the cake) ;)

Dettol Healthy Touch Hand Hygiene Gel

I was recently lucky enough to receive this after entering a giveaway on the Lemsip facebook page. As you can see, it's a handy 50ml bottle of Healthy Touch Hand Hygiene Gel made by Dettol and as with all Dettol products, it kills 99.9% of bacteria and viruses....great!

I squirted a small amount into my hand (a thumbnail size is recommended) and rubbed it in well. It took less than 20 seconds to completely dry on my hands and the lemony smell was absolutely gorgeous.....clean and fresh. There's no need for water or a towel, just rub in and you're done.

I've now stuck my small bottle in the car as it will come in very handy when i'm out with the kids,
I'd certainly recommend this and will definately be buying more when that bottle runs out, however it may take a while as a little goes such a long way! :)

All opinions written here are my own and you may not necessarily share the same view....please bare this in mind!

Rimmel London Vinyl Max Lip Gloss

This was my latest mission from Rimmel London , and boy, was I excited about this!! Apart from mascara's, lip glosses are my next fave (and must have) beauty item!
WOW...no ordinary lip gloss here m'aam, Rimmel boast that this is ther most 'voluptuous' wand ever for full coverage in just one stroke resulting in a high gloss shine. It also contains a plumping formula with a magnifying complex to volumize and smooth lips whilst reducing fine lines and wrinkles giving your lips that much wanted fuller' plumper lip look.
Here's a pic of the super wand they mention

My pic really doesn't show just how incredibly large the wand is, but it really does take just one swoop over each lip and you're done...with fantastic results too!

Apologies for the slight 'pout' but hey, I felt so good wearing this, I just couldn't help myself! The colour i'm wearing is 211 DESIRE and personally, I think it's absolutely gorgeous!! My lips were instantly transformed looking fuller which in turn, bossted my confidence no end! The high gloss finish really is amazing, and it lasts through a good few cuppas and meals without needing to be constantly reapplied.
As with most Rimmel London products, the Vinyl Max Lip Gloss is available in 6 fantastic shades, each one guaranteed to make you look and feel superb!

This is one of my new beauty essentials...I would shout it from the rooftops how good I think this is without any hesitation at all, however this review, as with all my reviews, is based upon my own personal opinion and your own may differ.

Rimmel London Glam'Eyes Day to Night Mascara

Another mission received from Rimmel London ......and you all know how much I love to review mascara!!

As you can see, I received some Glam'Eyes Day to Night Mascara in Jet Black. It's also available in Brown Black and costs around £5.99 (depending on where you buy).

I have to say that the claims which came with this mascara made it sound so appealing.....I began to wonder why nobody had thought of it before! Two different looks for lashes, in One mascara tube? Surely not. But yes, it is!! The innvoative idea uses a double cap system so you can choose the 'length' cap for ultra lengthened lashes, or the 'volume' cap for that fabulous night time look boosting the fullness of your lashes by up to 15 times!

All sounds good so far....now for the test!

Okay, in this pic, my left eye (your right) was done using the 'length' cap and my right eye (your left), was done using the 'volume' cap. Personally, I found that although I loved the nice, cleancut result of the 'length' cap, I found that when I used the 'volume' cap, the mascara was too thick and it clumped. My eye also felt claggy for a good 10 minutes after application....no good if you're in a hurry!

My other problem was the 'dual' system ie inserting the 'length' cap back into the 'volume' cap. I found this to be a really messy job and ended up covered in mascara...especially so the more times I used it!

The pic above doesn't really show it too well, but hopefully enough to see what I mean!

So, would I buy this?
Well, although Rimmel London are one of my all time fave cosmetics brands, i'd have to say "no". This is the first mascara from them in a long time that i've tried, and not really liked...sorry!
I'm always asked to give honest opinions on here and that's exactly what this is.....MY honest opinion, however as we are all individuals, it doesn't necessarily mean that you'll think the same - you may love it!!