Beautifully Broken by Laura Lee BLOG TOUR

Title: Beautifully Broken

Author: Laura Lee | @lauraleebooks

Release Date: November 15^th 2016

Genre: New Adult

Tour Dates: December 19^th – 23^rd | December 26^th – 30^th

http://bit.ly/2gQ0vwY

I KNEW HE WOULD RUIN ME FROM THE MOMENT WE MET. 

Everything about the man screamed confidence. Sensuality. Intelligence. Worldliness. But it was how he saved me that ruined me most.

Through him, I learned to end my path of self-destruction. I no longer needed to numb the pain with mindless one-night-stands and drunken blackouts. He made me feel worthy. Treasured. Optimistic about my future.

Here I stand four years later, in a coffee shop a world away, still broken…but beautifully so. My scars no longer hold me back. Instead, they give me strength and enrich my appreciation for the good things in life. I have hopes and dreams…faith that anything is possible. I am no longer the lost little girl fighting for survival. I have direction. I have courage. I am not without possibility.

I’ll always have Gavin to thank for that—Mr. Cooper, I remind myself. That’s who he is to me now: just a former teacher. I know what you’re thinking, but don’t worry. I was eighteen when we first met. Legally, we did nothing wrong. Morally? Well, I guess that depends on how flexible your morals are.

My name is Kat and this is my story.

Review

I received a free copy of this book in return for an honest review.

It took me no time at all to get completely lost in the pages of this book and I raced through it not wanting to put it down for one second! I love how honest Beautifully Broken is, and how it doesn't over complicate things, leaving your mind free to immerse itself in the story without losing track. I really warmed to Kat and loved her blunt outlook on life, but began to feel more sympathy towards her when details of her past started to emerge. I really enjoyed how the relationship between 'Sparkles' and 'Red' progressed and found the humorous banter shared between them a pleasure to read. This is the story of one womans fight to show the world that she can cut it with the best of them, despite the most difficult of circumstances. Both inspiring and flabbergasting with a good mix of emotion, turmoil, love and above all, the determination to succeed. 

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“Do you want me to turn something on from Netflix?”

“Sure. What’d you have in mind?”

He gets a boyish smile on his face. “Okay…if anyone asks about this, I will deny it until I’m six feet under.”

“And what’s that?”

“I’m going through a Dawson’s Creek binge right now. Wanna watch it with me?”

I can’t help it; I laugh until I’m snorting. “Are you serious?”

Gavin grabs the remote and begins flipping through the menu. “Completely serious. I never joke about The Creek.”

“Wow…I have no words.”

He bumps his shoulder into mine. “C’mon, you’ll love it. Have you ever seen it before?”

“Of course I have!” I reply. “Do you know how many Dawson ugly cry memes there are in existence? I had to know the source.”

“Yeah, I’m definitely Team Pacey all the way. Dawson is way overrated.”

I smirk. “Oh my God, when did you grow a vagina? I could’ve sworn you were a dude.”

His expression changes from jovial to angry in an instant. 

“We both know damn well I’m one-hundred-percent male. Don’t make me prove it to you, Kat.”

And with that, my expression morphs into equal parts stunned and horny. “Uh…”

He clears his throat and pushes a button on the remote. “And on that note…let’s forget I said that and get lost in North Carolina teen angst.”

“Okay, but make sure it’s an episode that has Mitch in it. Dawson’s dad is where it’s at.”

“You like older men, huh? I’ll have to remember that.”

I burrow under the covers and yawn. “I walked right into that one, didn’t I?”

He smirks. “Pretty much.”

_________

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_________

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 Direct Link: http://bit.ly/2gquirW

After working a 9-to-5 gig for many years, she happily traded it for a rewarding career as a self-published author. Laura is the author of the bestselling Karli Lane and Dealing with Love series. She is a proud member of the Romance Writers of America focusing on contemporary, urban fantasy, and paranormal romance.

Laura's passion has always been storytelling. She spent most of her life with her nose in a book thinking of alternate endings or continuations to the story. She won her first writing contest at the ripe old age of nine, earning a trip to the state capital to showcase her manuscript. Thankfully for her, those early works will never see the light of day again!

Laura lives in the Pacific Northwest with her wonderful husband, two beautiful children, and three of the most poorly behaved cats in existence. She likes her fruit smoothies filled with rum, her cupboards stocked with Cadbury's chocolate, and her music turned up loud. When she's not writing or watching HGTV, she's reading anything she can get her hands on. She's a sucker for spicy romances, especially those involving vampires or cowboys! 

Website: www.lauraleebooks.com

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Blog: http://lanfictionlauralee.blogspot.com/

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Email: lauraleebooks@gmail.com

BLOG TOUR: Late Whitsun by Jasper Kent (Giveaway)

I received a copy of this book free of charge, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book in the planned Charlie (Big Bad) Woolf trilogy and having read the blurb, I thought this would be just my cup of tea.
Late Whitsun is set in 1938 and centres around private detective Charlie Woolf - or Big Bad as one former colleague nicknamed him. The handing over of one small package was the only job he was asked to do, easy money he thought, but even nothing ever comes that easy. Upon returning home from doing this 'small' job, he discovers that the man whom he was doing the job for, has been found dead in Charlies flat, and the finger of suspicion points straight to him. Can he manage to clear his name before things get out of hand, or worse, any more murders occur?

This book didn't grab my attention from the get go, but a slight curiosity started forming in my head the further into it I read. Although a little confusing at times (I had to check back through occasionally), the idea of the story is a good one, and there were a few little twists I didn't see coming which kept it interesting. I wouldn't have minded knowing a little more of Charlies background, but hopefully we'll learn more within the pages of the next two books - which I look forward to reading!

Keep reading for your chance to win 1 of 2 signed copies!!

Here are a few questions which were asked of Jasper:
What is the first book you remember reading or having read to you?
Just William, or maybe another of Richmal Crompton's William books, read to me by my dad.
Who is your favourite literary character?
Porfiry Petrovich, the detective in Crime and Punishment.
Which book have you always wanted to get round to reading, but not managed yet?
So many, but top of the list, Catch 22.
If you could only take one book with you on a desert island, what would it be?
War and Peace. If I'm allowed, I'd like it in Russian along with a Russian-English dictionary. That said, quite a bit of it was written in French, so I might struggle without a French-English dictionary too.
What are you currently reading?
Restoration London by Liza Picard - research for my next book.
Who would be at your dream dinner party, alive, dead or fictional?
Alan Turing, Dianna Rigg, Seth MacFarlane, Willow Rosenberg and Graham Greene.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
Get your pet rats sprayed at 3 months - it virtually eliminates mammary tumours in later life.
What's the worst advice you've ever received?
Don't learn the french horn, learn the tuba.
Who is your hero/heroine, real or fiction?
Dr Who
Where are you happiest?
In the pub, with the dog.
Who would you like to star in the film of your life?
Glenda Jackson. I'm off to see her playing Lear soon. If she can do him, I'm sure she could have a good crack at me.
Describe your best ever holiday:
Paris a couple of years ago. Lunch on the Seine, Cav and Pag at the Opera Bastille, dinner at Maceo.
If you could be invisible for a day, what would you do? (easy, tiger!)
Go swimming - it would be an interesting effect.
If I joined you on your perfect day, what would we be doing?
Cooking, then eating with friends.
What do you think is the best thing about social media?
You can turn it off!!
And the worst....?!
The degree to which we perceive our opinions as reinforced and approved.
What is the most important item you require for a quiet night in?
The dog.
Is it best to always tell the truth, or is it sometimes better to tell a little white lie?
I cannot answer that question in a way that would be believed.
What's your signature dish?
Curry
Do you prefer Twitter or Facebook? Why?
Facebook - I'm longwinded.
Which book character do you wish you'd written?
Pinkie Brown
Why did you decide to write a book?
It was on my bucket list
Why did you chose your particular genre?
I started out with horror because that's what I'd been into as a teenager. I'm currently doing crime because you can hang almost anything you like off it.
If you had to write in a different genre, which would it be?
Espionage. Both my horror and my detective stories seem to touch on the world of spying.
What's the worst thing about writing a book?
Selling it.
What's the best thing about writing a book?
Research.
If you could be anyone for just one day, who would it be?
Magnus Carlsen (current World Chess Champion)

Author Spotlight

The Author Spotlight is a slightly different take on the interview style questions, it is a snap shot look at your life AWAY from writing.

Its aim is to allow your readers an insight into other aspects of your life that they may not get from other sources.

If you could tell us a bit about each of the following things, in no more than 10 sentences if possible!

·         Years Ago

 Having lead a pretty stable life for most of my adult years, my thoughts on seeing the title ‘Years Ago’ jump immediately to the last time when things were substantially different for me – and that was at Cambridge, where I read Natural Sciences at Trinity Hall from 1986 to 1989. Natural Sciences is an overarching course that covers all the sciences, allowing for later specialization than more specific science courses would. This was good for me, since at the age of 18 I wasn’t sure whether I preferred Physics or Chemistry, though I ended up specializing in Physics. Not having studied anywhere else I can’t say whether the Cambridge experience is particularly unique, but what I remember most – at an academic level – was not the quality of the lectures or supervisions, excellent though they were. What I recall most is the fact that I was never more than a few paces away from someone who was as fascinated and perplexed by the same questions and problems that I was, or by equally interesting issues in their own field of study. I say ‘at an academic level’, but it turned out that the academic and the social overlapped enormously, so such a conversation was as likely to occur in the bar as in the lecture theatre. I remember being back there a few years ago overhearing a couple of students walking down the street and loudly discussing some aspect of quantum physics that I’d once half-understood. It brought back memories. Mind you, it wasn’t all highbrow: Neighbours started showing in the UK at almost exactly the same time that I first went up to Cambridge, and that was always quite a popular topic of conversation.

·        Family 

I’m from quite a small family. Both my parents are only-children, I have no kids and my sister has two. Somehow we’ve all discovered the trick of getting on very well. There are two secrets to it, the first of which is separation. My parents both grew up – unknown to one another – in Yorkshire and moved to Birmingham, where they met. Thus the idea of moving a nice long way from the family home – in my case, to Brighton – seemed natural. I get back up there five or six time a year, and it does turn out that absence makes the heart grow fonder. The second trick is eating together. It was always pretty strict when we were young that we would sit round the table for the main meal of the day (with the one exception, I recall, of when we were doing something on a Saturday evening which meant dinner clashed with Dr Who, in which case we would move the dining table into the living room so we could watch TV). It carries on today – whenever the whole family is together, things will essentially be arranged around a meal. 

·         Work

After three years of studying, I was a bit fed up with physics and ended up working in software development. I’d done some programming on our VIC-20 at home, but I wasn’t one of those expert self-taught programmers who were around at the time, and I quickly realized the actual ability to write code isn’t what’s most needed in professional software development. More than half the problems you face are down to the difficulties of communication within the development team. Programming on your own is fairly easy, but you can’t produce very much – working in a team means you don’t just have to understand what you’re doing, you have to be able to explain it to others. As a result of that, most of my work nowadays involves training other people in how to develop software, but I still keep my hand in at the code face. Even today it gives a great sense of achievement – quite different from that of writing a novel – to write a program and then to watch it doing what it’s supposed to do, without any further intervention from myself.

·         Hobbies

I suppose my most noticeable hobby is music; I play piano and bass guitar and I used to sing a bit too. For a while I had half an ambition to be a composer, but it turns out I’m more successful at writing squiggles than dots. I also like to cook and I think I do it with a degree of dedication that elevates it from necessity to hobby. I enjoy running too. I’ve done one marathon, about five years ago, which was fun, but the training really takes over your life. In future, I think half-marathons will be the maximum. Some might think I should mention the dog and seven rats here, but if listed anywhere they would be under the heading of ‘Family’.

·         Future

I’m on a bit of a cusp just now. I’ve had five horror novels published, and I’ve just released my first detective story. My plans regarding the next book are for a purely historical novel set in Restoration London. After that I’m really going to have to decide which of those genres is really my niche – or just keep going at all three. And more dogs and rats. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also buy Late Whitsun from Amazon.co.uk and it's available in Kindle and Paperback.

Greggs Sweet Mince Pies

Forgive me but I'm going back there again, yes, Christmas!! Those of you who personally know me (or follow me on social media) will probably know that I'm a bit of a sweet mince pie freak - I wait all year for them to grace our shelve and when they do, I simply can't get enough of them.

I have, over the years tried many brands and varieties ranging from the ridiculously expensive to the cheapest there is to offer and only one comes up trumps year after year satisfying this intense craving I have and that's Greggs.

Greggs sweet mince pies are the ideal combination of sweetness, fruitiness and flavour and are paired with a unique shortcrust pastry which compliments the filling perfectly. They come in a box of 6 and cost £1.50 - definitely worth every penny!

Okay, it doesn't take a genius to work out that there's a few missing out of this box but they're just way too yummy not to eat!

I'm gonna stick my neck on the line here and probably cause a bit of a hoo-haa but these pies are THE BEST SWEET MINCE PIES EVER!! So, if like me you're a lover of these seasonal treats, get yourself into Greggs and give them a try - you won't be disappointed!!

Feel free to pop back and share your opinions, I'd love to hear them! ;)

Quality Portraits by Princessa A S Paradiso

Okay, I know you probably don't want to hear this, but Christmas is only just around the corner and if you're anything like me, then choosing gifts can be a huge problem. Apart from the cost issue, it's always a struggle knowing what to buy, that will be sure to put a smile on the recipients face. I'm also terrible for leaving everything until the last possible minute which is when panic mode sets in!

This year, I was lucky enough to stumble across Princessa A S Paradiso on Facebook and was intrigued to find out more about her unique artwork. Whether it's a family pet or a loved one, she can create a wonderful piece of artwork from just one or two decent photographs. Unfortunately, this proved to be a wee bit of a problem for me as the subject I chose was none other than our pride and joy, Peppa, and would he heck as like stand still and pose!! Out of around 70 photos, only 1 was clear enough to use and here it is .......

Peppa - our Guinea Pig

I simply sent this over via private message on Facebook and Princessa got right to work.

I was really impressed with the way I was kept updated on the progress of my artwork and shown various stages of progress throughout. Princessa has a real knack of using spots to create the end look, but after trying with Peppa, she didn't feel that this worked too well so changed tactic.

Using the spot technique

I can see why she decided to change it but still think it's pretty cool!

Anyway, after this technique didn't quite work out, she started again using mixed media consisting of water, paint, pencil and ink and this was the end result ......

 Apologies for the slight glare but I don't want to remove it from the cellophane wrapper until I can get a frame to display him. She managed to perfectly capture the mischevousness in his eyes and the colouring etc looks amazing.
This portrait was provided to me in A5, and this size generally costs from £35 per portrait. You can also receive your portrait in A4 which costs from £45. You can choose either animal or person although it will cost £10 - £15 extra for each additional head in the portrait. You are also responsible for covering the post and packaging costs. Depending on how busy her schedule is, the portraits usually take between 1 - 2 weeks but you may need to allow a little extra at this time of year.

I was really pleased with the end result of my portrait and the sheer professionalism of Princessa, which is why I wouldn't hesitate to recommend. I find the prices to be reasonable for the time and effort taken to produce such a lovely keepsake, and really appreciated the extra little touch on the packaging .....

Check out Princessa A S Paradiso on Facebook where you can see more of her amazing artwork and simply send her a private message if you're interested in having a portrait done for yourself. She is really fast at responding to queries so you won't have to wait too long for her to get back in touch.

I received this portrait free of charge, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Angel by LJ Ross

Angel: A DCI Ryan Mystery by L.J. Ross
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received a copy of this book free of charge from the author, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Life for DCI Ryan is finally looking up. He's cracked a few high profile cases, found the woman of his dreams and is, for the first time in years, loving life. What could possibly go wrong?

When the body of a woman turns up on the morning of Good Friday in one of Newscastles' largest cemeteries, Ryan is quickly assigned to the case. Could it be that this was yet another ritual killing? The red-haired womans body had been positioned like that of an Angel with her top torn at the sleeves to appear like wings and a 'calling card' was also left at the scene with an absolution of sins written in Latin.
More bodies, more confusion and more danger lies ahead. Can Ryan save the day or is he just too late this time?

This is the fourth book in The DCI Mysteries and the one which left me guessing the most! Ross has a real talent for drawing you in and keeping you on your toes until the very last page. I picked this book up and from the first page, I struggled to put it down again. I love how Ross covers all angles leaving you believing that you have it all sussed and know who the killer is, then making you start your guessing all over again when you realise that you're wrong. This book has it all - humour, fear, grit, action, reality, and it's so fast-paced you'll be wondering where the pages went.
I absolutely loved reading this and each book in the DCI Ryan Mysteries just keeps getting better. I really hope that Ross has pen to paper for book 5 as I am DYING to know what happens next. Angel has the biggest cliff hanger imaginable at the end but I guess I'll just have to continue the guessing games in my head until the next instalment. Please hurry!!



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FNUG Nail Polish from My Pure

I received this product free of charge from My Pure, in return for an honest review. All opinions are based upon my own experience.

Regular readers of my blog will know that I am a HUGE fan of nail colour and love experimenting with different colours etc, so when I found this gorgeous FNUG nail polish I simply couldn't resist - especially since summer is finally putting in an appearance!

I have tried a few different colours from the FNUG range but this is my first try of their Neon colours. The main difference is that the neon dries with a matt finish compared to the nice glossy finish of the other polishes. As with all FNUG polishes, this comes with the perfect brush for application. It's the ideal size to cover most of your nail in one swoop, but not too large that it goes over the edges on smaller nails. It also holds just the right amount of polish so you don't end up with a huge dollop in one spot. I found this really easy to apply and it dried within a couple of minutes which is ideal if you're like me and seem to do everything last minute!
It is taking me a bit of getting used to as I'm not really used to this matt finish and am a little unsure whether it's really for me. I kinda like the high shine glossy look whereas the matt looks slightly underdone. I did apply a second coat which made it slightly shinier but I'm still a little unsure. The colour itself is gorgeous! It's bright, cheery and compliments any skin tone. Although this claims to be chip resistant and long lasting, I did find that it started to fade away from the edge of my nails within a couple of days - maybe I should have been wearing my marigolds or passed the job of dish washer onto my kids! lol If you're lucky enough to own a dishwasher, then you'll probably find that it's quite hard wearing and lasts waaay longer. I generally apply a clear gloss over the top but didn't want to ruin the matt effect without giving it a chance.

Although this matt polish isn't really my cup of tea, I would still recommend it as I have seen it worn by others and thought it looked really cool. I also love that FNUG polishes contain strengthening silica, vitamins A, D, E and B as well as caviar which brings the benefit of the high content of nutritious amino acids and minerals found in the amino acids. The ideal therapy for your nails whilst giving a delightful burst of colour.

FNUG Nail Polish in Front Page is available to buy from MY Pure and costs £12.00 for 8.5ml.

Hotter Shoes - Newcastle Upon Tyne

A few weeks ago I was lucky enough to be invited along to the Hotter Shoes Blogging Event in Newcastle and I have to say that as this was only my second event of this kind, excited was an understatement!

Situated inside Eldon square is a brand spanking new Hotter Shoes store filled with shoes to suit all tastes and ages - I felt like a kid in a sweet shop when we were invited to choose some and have fun trying them on. It was also really nice finally being able to meet a few fellow bloggers from around the North East - such a lovely group of ladies! We were given a little demonstration and provided with drinks and nibbles making it a very enjoyable and relaxed evening.

Hotter Shoes are a British company who have rapidly expanded over the last few years going from just 5 stores in 2010 to over 80 in 2016 - now that is an achievement! They are also the UK's biggest shoe manufacturer and manage to turn out a pair of shoes every 20 seconds. Their call centre is based in Lancashire where experienced staff are waiting to help customers from both the UK and the US so there's always somewhere to turn if you have any problems - which I'm pretty sure you won't!
Ladies shoes are available in sizes 3 to 9 and many come with extra fit options to make them uniquely adapted to the size of your feet. There are also wide fitting shoes available in many of the range for those who struggle with wider feet. some may think that the prices are a little steep, but when you consider the quality, the fit, the excellent service and aftercare as well as the comfort factor, they are definitely worth every penny.

Now, many of you may already be familiar with the Hotter brand but assume that they only produce styles that appeal to the older generation, well, I'm here to tell you that you couldn't be more wrong! Hotter have been working really hard in recent years to be more on trend and cater for you younger folk too, providing a wide range of shoes for both men and women. Here are a few examples of what you can buy.....

As you can see, there are flats, wedges and heels and some of the shoes even have matching handbags to help complete the look. The first pair of shoes I tried were the Antoinette Heels in white and black - and it was whilst trying these on that I experienced my Hotter Moment! I have NEVER felt such comfort. From the second my foot was in the shoe, I could feel the soft cushioning beneath my feet and the shoes simply hugged them making them feel uber comfy and like they belonged. I also tried on the Christie Shoes in red and wow, they felt sublime. Luxuriously soft and very flattering when worn, I really loved these ...but they weren't what I opted for in the end.

I simply couldn't tear myself away from these beauties ......

These are called Sandy Shoes and I fell in love with them the minute I saw them. They were available in 3 colours but I opted for Mauve Shadow/Pink as they're more my style. I actually wore these to come home in after the event, and despite having to walk to the metro station, then walk from the metro to my car, I felt no discomfort whatsoever, and that's a rarity for me when wearing new heels. The heel is just a nice size to add a bit of height but not too big that I was unsteady on my feet, and I know I could wear these for a good few hours without worrying about blisters or rubbing. For me, they were THE most comfortable shoes I have ever had the pleasure to wear and look fab with various outfits, including jeans. I also noticed that the shoes I wore to the event, had me impersonating an ice skater as I attempted to walk through Eldon Square but my new beauties helped me keep my dignity and walk with my head high and no fear of slipping.

Why not pop along to your nearest Hotter Shoes and see what takes your fancy! I have a discount code especially for my readers offering £10 off the total order value of any full priced items in the Hotter range (excluding shoe care products and accessories) plus FREE delivery! Minimum order value is £25 and this offer can not be used in conjunction with any other promotional offer, sale or factory clearance items or gift vouchers, and can only be used on 1st orders only. Simply enter code PPATEN at the checkout.
This offer expires on 30/06/2016

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Flowers from Tesco

I received a money off coupon to purchase any bouquet of flowers, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Although I rarely get them, I absolutely LOVE flowers! They make me smile when I enter a room and although I don't have a very good track record, I really enjoy the 'looking after' process ie watering, getting rid of dead leaves etc.

When I went to my local Tesco to purchase some flowers, I didn't realise just how much choice there was going to be! There were small bunches, huge bunches, brightly coloured flowers and slightly paler coloured ones - something to suit every taste and budget. It probably took me a good hour or so of browsing, picking some up, putting them back, choosing different ones until I finally settled on a gorgeous Easter bunch for £7.

As you can see, the flowers are mainly shades of yellow and purple - sorry but I have no idea exactly what type of flowers they actually are, but if anyone knows, feel free to comment and put me out of my misery lol They came wrapped in yellow tissue paper as well as a sheet of clear plastic to help keep them in tip top shape and there was also some food to add to their water attached to the bottom of the bouquet .....very handy!

Apart from how gorgeous these flowers look, I was amazed at how long the actually lasted. I placed them in a glass vase (I personally believe that using glass helps prolong the life of the flowers although have no proof that this is fact!), and although I had to trim or pick out the odd dead one, they lasted a good 4 - 5 weeks before they all needed to be chucked out. I changed the water daily and used the food they provided and definitely got my moneys worth!

Overall, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Tesco for their gorgeous and extensive range of flowers. Go on, brighten up your day with a lovely bouquet, or if you're feeling generous, why not treat your loved one and see their face light up.

FNUG Nail Polish in Fnuglista from My Pure

I received FNUG Nail Polish free of charge from My Pure, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Firstly, I must apologise for the state of my nails in this pic. For some reason, as soon as I decide to review nail polish, my nails get a mind of their own and start fighting me by splitting or getting dry, hard skin around the cuticles etc - not a very pretty sight but please bear with me!

I'm a massive fan of this brand and how easy it is to apply, as well as the very generously sized brush it comes with. I've tried many of the shades available from FNUG in the past, but this is the first that isn't a solid colour. As Spring was coming in, I opted for this really pretty pinky blue colour called Fnuglista. It's difficult to tell from my pic but it kind of paints on pink, but has a slight bluey hue here and there. It also looks a little sparkly when the light catches it certain ways which I loved.

This went on with ease, as I expected, and dried within a couple of minutes. I only applied one coat but you may wish to add more for a stronger colour result. As my regular readers will know, I often struggle with polishes as they really don't take kindly to any form of housework/dish washing, but FNUG usually manage to withstand these tasks and out perform many other brands. I did however find that this wasn't the case with this shade. Two lots of dish washing and the colour began to fade away from the outer edges of my nails - not what I expected at all! After this, I decided to remove the nail polish from all fingers and reapply but this time using a top coat afterwards to try and maintain the colour. This worked a treat!! Once week later and although there was very slight chipping on certain nails, I still had pretty good coverage ....YAY!!

I personally loved this shade and would definitely buy it again. There are plenty more shades to choose from if this isn't for you so pop over to the My Pure website and have a gander.

FNUG Nail Polish in Fnuglista is available to buy from My Pure and costs £12.00 for an 8.5ml bottle.

Benecos Natural BB Cream from My Pure

I received this Benecos Natural BB Cream free of charge from My Pure, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Those of you who regularly read my blog will know that I'm a huge fan of BB creams, so when I noticed this on the My Pure website, I decided to give it a try! I usually opt for Medium shades but the pics online made this look like it may have been a wee bit too dark for my skin, so I opted for Fair instead.

This particular BB cream is an 8 in 1 and contains Acai Berry, Hyaluronic Acid & Shea Butter which together are said to:
Even Complexion - Light reflective pigments & nourishing oils smooth the skin
Corrected Complexion - Tinted pigments even out the complexion concealing redness
Calming - Pomegranite seed extract soothes sensitive skin
Mattifying - Absorbent powder absorbs superfluous oil
Nourishing - Jojoba oil, shea butter, olive oil and acai oil from certified organic farming nourish the skin
Anti-oxidant - Acai oil and hyaluronic acid provide an anti-oxidant effect, and protects skin from free radicals and ageing
Moisturising - Hyaluronic acid moisturises the skin
Feels pleasant - Acai oil improves the skins elasticity

I have pretty dry skin so tend to exfoliate, then pile on the moisturiser before applying any BB/CC creams or foundation. I often find that this gives me a good base and makes it easier to apply make-up. This didn't work out quite as planned with this product as it didn't seem to want to rub in at all. I tried in vain to get rid of the swirly marks it left on my face but to no avail. I ended up wiping it all off and starting again ...this time without applying moisturiser first! Success!! This seemed to do the trick and I managed to get a decent coverage without any streaks, although my skin did feel quite dry. I got the idea that the BB cream was in some way reacting with my moisturiser making it impossible to apply.
This has a really fresh smell which is pretty overpowering but it's only noticeable for the first few minutes after application, after that it simply fades away.

BB Cream against my skin

All rubbed in

I was definitely right to opt for the Fair shade in this case as it was an almost perfect match for my skin tone as you can see from the pics above. Once applied correctly, the BB cream provided a good base for me to apply eyeshadow etc and gave coverage lasting the whole day - I knew this by the colour of my cleansing wipe when I took it off before bed! It also gives a matt finish which is ideal if you have greasy skin or don't like the shine that often comes with foundation etc.

Overall, I would recommend this for it's excellent coverage and staying power, however if you suffer from dry skin on your face, it may be best avoided.

Benecos Natural BB Cream comes in a 30ml tube and costs £9.95 from My Pure. It is available in Fair or Medium shades.

Forever Living Products

I'm not sure how many of you will be familiar with the Forever Living brand, but they pride themselves on offering natural products made with Aloe Vera, which have known health and beauty benefits.

The range of products they provide include:
Nutritional Health Drinks
Personal Care
Skincare - Beauty & Skin Defence
Supplements
Sports, Performance & Mobility
Weight Management
Animal & Home
Cosmetic & Beauty Products

I was lucky enough to receive a box of goodies to try over a 48 hour period in return for some honest opinions, of course I accepted!

In my sample box was a whole host of beauty goodies including face wash, shampoo/conditioner, face mask, various moisturisers, facial scrub, deodorant and toothpaste. I also received a few books containing information about the products and the prices, as well as a short questionnaire.

Here's a better look at the products......

Firstly, lets talk moisturisers. There were a few to try and as my skin can often feel irritated after bathing, these were the first to be tested. Each of the moisturisers did exactly as they should but as well as give my skin a much needed drink, they also soothed any itching and worked well over the drier areas like my knees, shins and elbows. One of the creams seemed to absorb straight into my skin which left me a bit unsure as to whether it was working, but a couple of hours later and I could feel the silky smoothness of it on my skin. The shampoo and conditioner left my hair super shiny and feeling really soft and clean. It was also tangle free which is always a bonus. The deodorant came in a nice chunky tube and despite my initial hesitation, smelled really nice indeed! The face mask has 2 parts which you mix together then apply to your skin with a brush. It comes out pink and again, smells really lovely. You have to follow the instructions and lie still without disturbance for around 30 mins while it does its thing. Be warned, if you even try to smile whilst this is on your face, you will struggle - it sets pretty rock hard but not uncomfortably so. I did struggle a little getting it all off but once I did, my skin had a new found freshness and felt more youthful. Even my dry skin seemed to diminish ...definitely worth the money for this one! I also loved the facial wash as it lathered up really well and felt nice upon application. It was easily rinsed and left my skin feeling clean as a whistle. Now then, down to the toothpaste. This was the most difficult to try as the thought of tasting Aloe Vera just didn't appeal at all - despite it claiming on the tube to have a minty taste! Eventually though, I relented and used it. Personally, I seriously struggled with the taste. There is a definite mintyness, but I felt that it was overpowered by the Aloe, however, it did do a really good job of cleaning my teeth - they felt squeaky clean afterwards.
All of the products come in really good sized bottles etc compared with similar on the market.

Check out some of the fantastic products available from Forever Living and if you're interested, get buying!!
If you're interested in a business opportunity in selling these products, please get in touch with the very lovely Natalie Swinbank via her Facebook page.

Inika Lip Liner Pencil from My Pure

I received an Inika Lip Liner Pencil free of charge from My Pure, in return for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I don't wear lipstick too often but have been experimenting a bit more with colour etc lately and noticed that with some of the darker shades I tried, I had the classic 'bleeding' effect which I hated. Rather than go back to my clear gloss, I decided to try a lip pencil and see if that made any difference.
I saw this Inika one on the My Pure website and as it had the choice of 4 different colours, I though I'd give it a shot.

The best part about this particular liner is that it comes complete with it's own sharpener so you're guaranteed to never be caught out with a blunt liner ...perfect!

There are 4 colour options available, Sugar Plum, Moroccan Rose, Nude Delight and Safari. I opted for Safari.

This liner has a really gorgeous silky feel and glides over the lips with ease and precision. The colour remained even and I found that it was suitable to use with varying shades of lipstick. It was long lasting and also worked well being used to colour the full lips giving them a nice matt finish - adding a touch of clear gloss will give them a high shine!

As I mentioned earlier, one of the things I loved about this was that it comes complete with a sharpener built into the lid so there's no need to carry anything extra. I would however like to throw a little caution your way. I noticed that I had to be really careful when replacing the lid as one tiny twist started the sharpening process, even when it wasn't needed! For this reason, I decided it was far safer for me to keep it in the box before placing in my make-up bag to ensure I didn't waste any. This however was a minor hiccup and not one which would stop me from buying more in the future.

Overall, I would certainly recommend this and look forward to hopefully seeing more colour choices in the future.

You can purchase any Inika Lip Liner Pencil from My Pure, at a cost of £13.50 each which may seem a little pricey, but you do get value for money as a little goes a really long way!