Lillian on Life: A Novel by Alison Jean Lester

Lillian on Life: A Novel by Alison Jean Lester
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lillian, a single, well-travelled woman of a certain age, wakes up next to her married lover and looks back at her life. It's not at all the life she expected.

Walking the unpaved road between traditional and modern options for women, Lillian has grappled with parental disappointment, society's expectations and the vagaries of love and sex. As a narrator she's bold and witty, and her reflections - from 'On Getting to Sex' to 'On the Importance of Big Pockets' or 'On Leaving in Order to Stay' - reverberate originally and unpredictably.

In Lillian on Life, Alison Jean Lester has created a brutally honest portrait of a woman living through the post-war decades of change in Munich, Paris, London and New York. Her story resonates with the glamour and energy of those cities. Charming, sometimes heartbreaking, never a stereotype, Lillian is completely herself; her view of the world is unique. You won't soon forget her.


I would like to thank my mum for reading and reviewing this.

This reads a bit like an autobiography or a memoir in that it does not fall easily into one of the typical genres. Loved Lillian, a sassy, highly likeable strong woman who has been through many challenges in her fifty seven years and who is finally taking stock of her life. We encounter Lillian as she looks back over her life but never in a self absorbed way, she doesn't feel sorry for herself rather more regretful about decisions made in her youth that with the hindsight of experience she may have done differently.

This is a woman with a great sense of humour who at times looks back with melancholy and a degree of sadness but you still get a feeling of determination and hope for the future. We see her vulnerability, her unashamed love of sex and her honesty about her relationships whose failure seem to be connected to her disjointed affections with her parents.

Having had a string of relationships and lovers one stands out as probably being the love of her life, Ted. He is married and she meets him when she takes up a temporary post as his secretary/assistant, they embark on an affair. She is very honest about the relationship and like most mistresses doesn't expect anything permanent but deep inside hopes for more. So touching and sad, a woman with so much to give who has had some happy times in her life and who needs to take stock and move on to the next chapter.

I read this in a few hours, it was easy to connect with Lillian as she was so 'real' as I said it almost reads like an autobiography. I felt sad at her failed relationships but hopeful that at the end of the book it was really like a new beginning for her, I hope so, maybe we will have a sequel.

Good 5 stars for originality, good writing and instant connection with the character.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk

Wolf Hollow by Lauren Wolk
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Annabelle has lived in Wolf Hollow all her life: a quiet place, still scarred by two world wars. But when cruel, manipulative Betty arrives in town, Annabelle's calm world is shattered, along with everything she's ever known about right and wrong.

When Betty disappears, suspicion falls on strange, gentle loner Toby. As Wolf Hollow turns against him, and tensions quickly mount, Annabelle must do everything in her power to protect Toby - and to find Betty, before it is too late.

Powerful, poignant and lyrical, Wolf Hollow is an unforgettable story.

I think this would be more suited to adult readers maybe to read with children as I'm sure the trauma of war on a veteran would need explaining. Well written it's set during WW11 and covers a period of awakening for Annabelle when her idyllic life and friendship with Toby the war veteran is tested by a rather nasty bully (Betty) who moves into Wolf Hollow.

Once Betty arrives in town she makes her presence known and quickly establishes herself as the school bully with Annabelle her main target. When Betty bullies Annabelle outside school Toby sees what is going on and warns her off. Betty then targets Toby and accuses him of a terrible crime. Toby is mistrusted because he is a loner and chooses to live in the woods hardly ever having contact with anyone but Annabelle knows he wouldn't have done what he is accused of and makes it her mission to find out the truth.

We don't get to understand why Betty behaves the way she does and I felt that this should have been covered, similarly with the character of Toby. Of course like all bullies Betty does pay a high price for her bullying and sadly the ending was bittersweet.

I liked Annabelle and how she changed over the course of the book having to grow up, face her fears and make choices that she knew were right.

If Lauren Wolk had just given more depth to the characters with some understanding of why they behaved the way they did I feel I could have given this a 4.5 star but without these 'missing' pieces of the puzzle I felt 3.5 was the best I could give it. It has been rounded up for Goodreads and Amazon.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Ruby Oliver 2: The Boy Book by E. Lockhart

Ruby Oliver 2: The Boy Book by E. Lockhart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A Study of Boy Habits and Behaviours from me, Ruby Oliver

From E. Lockhart, author of the best-seller We Were Liars, and the highly-acclaimed The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks, comes this hilarious and heart-warming series.

Here is how things stand at the beginning of newly-licensed driver Ruby Oliver's junior year at Tate Prep:

Kim: Not speaking. But far away in Tokyo.
Cricket: Not speaking.
Nora: Speaking--sort of. Chatted a couple times this summer when they bumped into each other outside of school--once shopping in the U District, and once in the Elliot Bay Bookstore. But she hadn't called Ruby, or anything.
Noel: Didn't care what anyone thinks.
Meghan: Didn't have any other friends.
Dr. Z: Speaking.
And Jackson. The big one. Not speaking.

But with a new job, an unlikely but satisfying friend combo, additional entries to "The Boy Book" and many difficult decisions help Ruby to see that there is, indeed, life outside the Tate Universe.


I took this book away with me on holiday for some light reading. I enjoyed the first book in the series and I was looking forward to jumping into Ruby's world again.

This book is very quick and easy to read, the characters from the first book feature in this and it is a continuation from the previous. I would say you should read the first in order to have a good understanding of what is going on in this book.

This book features more on Ruby's friendships rather than the boys, they do still play an important part in the novel, however we see Ruby trying to deal with the fall out of her friends, how she feels isolated at times and trying to make amends. This covers all aspects of high school life and how raw feelings are. Things feel like the end of the world when you are Ruby's age and Lockhart has portrayed this well. You feel the rawness of the fallouts and really can connect to Ruby's feelings. You go through the journey with Ruby to try and not be a leaper anymore and patch up friendships. This is a true journey of growing up and having to deal with things life throw at you as a teenager.

I really enjoyed this instalment, I think better than the first book, the characters already being developed allowed the reader to just enjoy the story. It is short and I ended up reading it in one sitting on the plane during a 2 and a half hour journey. I would recommend you to start this if you are looking for an easy to read series.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan

Eden Summer by Liz Flanagan
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Shy, gothy Jess and stunning and popular Eden are best friends. They've supported each other through some of the hardest things you can go through – death, bullying, love, heartbreak. They know everything about each other.

But then Eden goes missing and Jess knows she has to find her, and fast, because the longer someone is missing, the more likely it is they won't be found. So Jess starts exploring her memories, things Eden said and did in the last few months and she starts to realise that maybe they don't know each other as well as she thought.

Set in the beautifully described stunning countryside of West Yorkshire, an incredibly pacy page turner as the clock runs down on the likelihood of finding Eden alive.


I really wanted to love this book, after picking up a sample of the first chapter I was hooked and couldn't want to continue the story.

This has everything needed for a great mystery/thriller, Eden has had a lot go on over the last few months and is finding it hard to cope with the loss of her sister. Jess and Eden's boyfriend Liam are there to support her through this time. One day when Jess arrives at school she finds out Eden is not there and she never went home last night.

I began racing through this book as I was eager to find out what had happened to Eden, I really enjoyed the chapters, where we learnt more about Eden through Jess' memories and thoughts. I did have issues with this book though. I thought at times the pace wasn't good, I started to switch off a bit in the middle as I felt it was just a bit repetitive and slow. It was slow compared the the pace before, it did pick up a bit towards the end again.

I also thought that Flanagan could have done so much more with the story line, I thought the final was a little flat. It felt like we had been building up to finding out exactly what had happened and the reader was left with an anticlimax. I was disappointed with this as I thought it could have been so much better, it could be down to the title being a young adult book and perhaps the content needed to be a bit 'milder', however I have read other thrillers in this genre with more punch and Eden Summer just didn't give me this.

Jess' relationship with Liam was a little predictable, but it was still enjoyable. I did think at times in the story Jess came across a little desperate, a bit of a cling on and that trait in her personality was not likable. She needed to develop into her own person and not believe that she is nothing without Eden. This annoyed me about her.

Overall this is a good YA, I really like that this is set in the U.K and it British. There is not enough UKYA and this is a great addition to the genre. I would like to read future work by Flanagan as I think she could be big in the YA genre. I would give this 3.5* due to my issues with this book.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Apologies for the general email, but I desperately need your help.

My goddaughter, Coco Jackson, disappeared from her family's holiday home in Bournemouth on the night of Sunday/Monday August 29/30th, the bank holiday weekend just gone. Coco is three years old.

When identical twin Coco goes missing during a family celebration, there is a media frenzy. Her parents are rich and influential, as are the friends they were with at their holiday home by the sea.

But what really happened to Coco?

Over two intense weekends - the first when Coco goes missing and the second twelve years later at the funeral of her father - the darkest of secrets will gradually be revealed...


I really enjoyed this intriguing dark novel with a quite frankly unlikeable dysfunctional family and their damaged friends whose flawed personalities proved to be very absorbing and fascinating. The subject matter of a child who goes missing is distressing and riveting for the reader who desperately wants to know what has happened to this 3 year old child. Coco is an identical twin to Ruby her sister and she seemingly disappears on her fathers' 50th birthday party weekend away.


The story is told in the past and in the present so we get to know about that birthday weekend, learn about the characters who are really not a nice bunch and more importantly what Alex Marwood wants you to believe happened. The present is told by Milly one of Sean the fathers' daughters from a previous marriage. Sean has been married 4 times and the twins Coco and Ruby are the youngest and the product of his 3rd marriage to Claire.


The tragedy of what happened to Coco binds the family and friends together while they each keep secrets and lies from each other that culminates in the truth coming out after Sean the father dies suddenly.


I liked Milly (Mila) and her half sister Ruby and in the end I also felt immense empathy and sorrow for Rubys' mother Claire. I also liked the way the releationship built between the two girls as they got to know each other bound together by the death of their father. The other characters were so self absorbed, selfish and manipulative that it wasn't possible to like them but my goodness they were addictive and I had to read on to the end. The pace was just right for this type of novel, slowly building, tying up all loose ends and just when you think all has been revealed in comes the curve ball - great twist and end to this novel. Completely unexpected and a great way to finish.


This is what I look for in a thriller where nothing is as it seems and the writer plays with emotions and guides the reader up the garden path until she is ready to let you know everything - clever and well written. Clever plot lines make this an addictive read and such a tangled spiders web of family insecurities, misplaced loyalties and innocents that get caught up in this sticky web make this a gripping read.


Really unexpected ending and a great way to end the novel - brilliant. Has to be a 5 star rating from me as it ticks all the boxes; highly recommended.

I would like to thank the publisher for sending this in exchange for an honest review.

MelodySusie Mini Portable Handy Nail Dryer Review

MelodySusie® Nail Dryer Portable Mini Fan Nail Lamp - Handy and Compact for Drying Regular Nail Polish (Silver)

MelodySusie - Bring Your Beauty Salon Home 


Product Highlights: 
1.Fan installed, ideal for drying nail polish and Acrylic nail
2.Mini-sized with dimension: approx. 12cmW x 12.4cmL X 8cmD, portable
3.Perfect for home use and travel 
4.Battery operated or DC adaptor (not included in the package) 
5.Color: Silver 



Notice：
1. Before you use this nail dryer, please kindly make sure the nail polish is suitable for this nail dryer. This is a fan nail dryer, it works for all general nail polish.
2. The dry time will be different according to the thickness of the nail polish you applied. We recommend thin polish with multi-times.


Operation：
Step 1: Put 2 "AA" batteries into the battery slot (Battery is not included) or connect the 3V DC Adaptor (not included).
Step 2: Put your hand on the Easy-switch until the nail polish is dried.


Package Includes: 
1 * MelodySusie Mini Nail Dryer 
1 * User Manual

My Review:

This nail dryer came wrapped in bubble wrap and in a sturdy box. There is also instructions in there and a feedback card in case you want to get in touch with the company.

On first impressions I was very impressed with the product. It is small enough to fit into a bag for travelling and looks very sturdy. Once I looked at the product I realised that I would need 2 AA batteries, these are not included so make sure if you purchase this and want to use it straight away you have these to hand. I also noticed on the back of it there is a small electrical hole, I believe this is for you to be able to plug it in, however no cable is included. In the user manual it does state which adapter you would need in case you wanted to use that feature.

I began by painting my nails and having a go at using it. To make the fan work you just need to press the base of the unit down as you put your fingers in it. The dryer is only big enough to fit 4 fingers in at a time, so I dried my thumb nail after. I have also used the dryer for my toes, my foot fit in perfectly to dry it. After I had dried my nails I inspected them and I could see no smudges at all, so was rather impressed.

The negative I have with this product is the noise the fan makes, I did expect it to make a noise but it is so loud, please see my video and you will hear it. I also am unsure at how long the batteries last for as I have only used it the once at the moment.

Overall this is a really nifty gadget, it is perfect for travelling and great for children, who love to paint their nails but don't have the patience to wait for them to dry! (I remember this from my own childhood!) At £9 you really can't go wrong, I would recommend this product to others as I have had a successful experience with it.

I hope my review has been helpful to you.

I would like to thank the company for sending this in exchange for an honest review. I was provided with a sample product at a complimentary or discounted rate in exchange for a fair, unbiased, and honest review.

SIXPLUS 12PCS Shining Handle Soft Horse Synthetic Hair Eye Makeup Brush Set With Case(Black & Blue) (blue)

SIXPLUS 12PCS Shining Handle Soft Horse Synthetic Hair Eye Makeup Brush Set With Case(Black & Blue) (blue)

£35.99 from amazon.co.uk

Description taken from amazon.co.uk

• The High Quality:all the brushes are handmade;the bristles are made of horsehair and synthetic hair, they are soft silky and resilient,easier to pick up powder
• Special Design: Shining handle+royal golden ferrule +a multifunctional makeup bag ;wherein 3pcs eyeshadow brushes bristles are horsehair,other brushes are using high quality synthetic hair, also equipped with portable travel lip brush
• Professional Makeup Brush Set:this brushes set pay attention to eye makeup;include powder, foundation, blush, highlight,eyeshadow,eyebrow, eyeliner brushes, satisfied for daily makeup, in the same time make your eye more beautiful;SIXPLUS focus on provide professional makeup brushes to makeup beauty easier
• Multipurpose Makeup Bag: use high quality smooth leather, all brushes are in this bag,convenient to carry them to anywhere, satisfied for daily use;also it has large space can use a travel makeup bag,can storage many other tools, such as foundation, mascara ,lipsticks even your phone , it isn't only a brush pouch, also can manage your daily life
• Our lifetime guarantee: your satisfaction is our greatest honor, if you are unsatisfied with our brushes after get it within 30 days, we will provide unconditional 100% refund for you

My Review:

The first thing I noticed about this set was that it comes in a high quality case, perfect for travelling. I travel a lot and I struggle to take my brushes with me as I don't want to damage them or carry them in a giant set, so this is perfect. 

Once I opened the case I was presented with a beautiful set of 12 brushes. These are all very strong and study, the handles are in an unique blue with Sixplus written on them, they have a rose gold head holding the bristles. 

I have really pulled at the hairs in the brushes and not one has fallen out of place. They are extremely soft to touch and when make up is applied to them there is not a lot of waste of product, they only absorb what you need. On applying make up the application was good and I got a full coverage, better than I have achieved with a sponge such as The Beauty Blender. 

I couldn't believe the range of brushes in this set there is:

A powder brush

A liquid foundation brush

Angled brush for blusher

Highlighting brush

Small highlighting brush

2 eye shadow brushes

Blending brush

Small eye shadow brush

Eyebrow brush

Eyeliner brush

Lip brush

This is a great face make up set as it includes everything you could want from a set. There is only one downside to this brush set and I am being a bit picky now... On the back of the box there are the instructions to which brush is which, there is also the information about which brush is used for. I would have liked to have seen this as a small leaflet included inside the set, I would find that really useful but obviously I won't be keeping the packaging. I would have also loved a few brush guards included to make sure the brushes stay nice. Like I said though these are minor personal things that I feel could have improved this product further. 

Overall these brushes are excellent, gone are the days of boring coloured brushes! These really brighten up my make up bag and are going to be a firm favourite for travelling. I would recommend these brushes to everyone, they would be a perfect addition to your make up brush collection, I think these are priced well for the level of quality. 

I received these free in exchange for an honest review.