Giveaway: Opalite & Star Necklace

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a gorgeous opalite necklace. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Hop Sign Ups: September New Release Giveaway Hop

You can sign up now for the September New Release Giveaway Hop! This hop will be hosted by me and Shannon from It Starts at Midnight.

Sign up because it's fun to host a giveaway together with other bloggers. You can attract new followers and readers by signing up. This hop is very active and there are plenty of readers who absolutely love it. Hops generate a lot of extra traffic and the people who like your blog will keep following it which means you can increase your audience.

Rules:

This giveaway hop is especially for books that will be released in September 2015.

  1. The prize has to be a book that has been published in September 2015, both ebooks and paperbacks are allowed.

  2. You can also give away additional items like bookmarks, gift cards, etc. as an extra prize.

  3. Don't use too many entries. I won't be really strict, but keep it easy for people to enter.

  4. Please be clear if you will be sending worldwide or not. Put it in the linky, so people will know. As you can send books via the Bookdepository for free, it would be great if you could send worldwide.

  5. Add the linky to your blog post ( I will send all the necessary information to you by email a few days before the start of the hop ).

  6. Please keep this hop family friendly. 

7. Have fun as that's the best part of hops! 

Giveaway: Kawaii Letter Sets, Memo Pads & Sticker Sack

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win this kawaii package with two letter sets, two memo pads and a sticker sack. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Decodelire Butterfly Bag, Wallet & Jewelry, L'Occitane Beauty Set & 3 Books

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a Decodelire butterfly bag filled with books, a butterfly wallet, butterfly jewelry and L'Occitane beauty products. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Red Dreamcatcher Necklace

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a red dreamcatcher necklace. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Book Review: The Extra Ordinary Life of Frank Derrick Aged 81 by J.B Morrison

Amazon USA Amazon UK

Review by Suze

Frank Derrick is 81 years old when a milk float runs over him. His injuries are quite severe, so it isn't easy for Frank to do the things he normally does. His arm is in a cast and he has trouble walking. To make things a bit easier his daughter hires a carer. Before the accident Frank's life used to be pretty simple. His wife has passed away and he's been living on his own ever since. His best friend has MS and he regularly visits him at the home he's living in. He loves to go to the charity shop to buy things he doesn't need and he's passionate about films. He eats tinned spaghetti and always goes to the same stores. He also likes talking to his cat.

Frank's carer, Kelly, is there to help him to take care of himself while his arm is in a cast. Even though she's only there for Frank for a very short time each week she changes his life completely. Frank has found a will to live again, to experience new (and old) things. Unfortunately to keep Kelly his cat has to go. Every week he's preparing for her visit for several days and Kelly helps him to get out of the house as soon as he's able to again. Frank goes out of his way to make her like him and to prove he isn't a sad old man who can't do anything by himself. When he's with her Frank thinks he can conquer the world.

Frank Derrick is a lonely man, he only has one friend, his wife has passed away many years ago and his daughter is living in a different country. She hardly ever comes to visit him, but Frank loves her and he thinks the world of her. Frank is such a sweet man. He's quirky and funny and I really enjoyed reading the descriptions of the way he looked and how he felt. I read this book with a big smile on my face and sometimes a few tears in my eyes. Frank is fantastic and I loved him immediately. He's so endearing. He's also naive and not very smart in some ways, but he's inventive and he tries everything to get what he wants. That doesn't always work out, but it keeps him active and it was such fun reading material. Kelly is cheerful and wonderful to Frank, but caring is also her job. Frank sometimes forgets that, which is quite cute. I liked this book a lot and Frank will always have a special place in my heart.

Giveaway: Decodelire Sidonie Jewelry & Accessories

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win beautiful Decodelire Sidonie jewelry and accessories. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Felt Pink Bunny & Carrot

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a super kawaii felt bunny. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Green Books & Beauty

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a Little Green Bag (George Baker is Dutch, check this Youtube link) containing a L'Occitane bag, 2 books, nice Decodelire stuff and a green Macaron necklace. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Real Flower Leather Wrap Watch & Matching Earrings

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a real flower leather wrap watch and matching earrings made by Villa Sorgenfrei. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Blog tour: Discovering Delilah & book review: Catching Cassidy by Melissa Foster

Amazon US   Amazon UK

Review by Tanya

This book, the first in the Harbourside Nights series, is based around Wyatt (nicknamed Army), his twin sister Delilah and Cassidy who are celebrating their graduation from college. The story starts at a celebration party which Wyatt and Delilah leave early to go and rescue Wyatt’s best friend Cassidy from her house, after her boyfriend left with her key. Things from there suddenly change the future for all three when Delilah and Wyatt get a phone call telling them about a tragic accident.

Both Wyatt and Delilah will have to grow up fast. Wyatt is trying to protect his sister from falling into depression. All three go to Harbourside for the summer. This is where Wyatt’s parents own a bar called the Taproom. Whilst at Harbourside things begin to develop between Wyatt and Cassidy against Wyatt’s better thoughts. After all he has never had a long term relationship and Cassidy is leaving for New York at the end of the summer to start a new job in finances.

I really found myself warming to Wyatt As the book continued. He showed how much he cares about his sister and his friends. He was constantly thinking of others and looking out for them even though he is having such a tough time. At first I was shocked by his sudden attraction to his long time best friend Cassidy, even though she had always had hidden feelings for him. However my attitude changed as I realised how he fought against the feelings and was still trying to do his best for Cassidy. He showed how he cared when he lets her make a decision, without any pressure, about her future job prospects.

I am really looking forward to the second novel in this series called Discovering Delilah, as the characters are really likeable and the bond that the friends all have is great.

 Amazon US  Amazon UK

Write Suze a Get Well Soon Comment & Giveaway!

Suze is not feeling very well at this moment and she is not able to blog as actively as she does usually. She has asked me to look after her blog for the next couple of days. So let's make the best of it! Here's my first ever giveaway. Since I don't understand the Rafflecopter yet, please just write the best ever "Get Well Soon" comment (in the comment area).

cheers, Anton (aka husband)

We will draw a random name from all the names of you who left a positive get well soon comment. The winner will receive this giveaway: Lush Sugar Sugar giftbox. I will draw the winner on September 4th.

Giveaway: Sterling Silver Blister Pearl Pendant

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a sterling silver blister pearl pendant made by Silverrush Style. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Book review: Clockwork Angel by Cassandra Clare

Amazon USA Amazon UK

review by Eline

Tessa Gray expected her life to change in many ways when she moved to London. Finding out she’s not human isn’t one of them. It is the year 1878, and cities are thriving. Carriages, ladies with beautiful gowns, men in handsome suits, and demons feasting on the tightly packed together people. Will and Jem, both Shadowhunters, are following the trail of a strange string of killings. A turn of fate brings them together with Tessa, and by the time they meet the story gets well on its way.

Tessa has a lot on her plate. Accepting she isn’t human, as she always thought she was. Trying to find her brother, who seems to have disappeared. Two handsome boys, for whom she both feels a certain attraction. Automatons, clockwork people, running around town, seemingly forming an army of sorts. And to top it all off, a mysterious figure, the Magister, who wants to marry her for her powers. In a world of mysterious Shadowhunters, glittering warlocks, menacing vampires and confusing boys, Tessa must try to fit in. But most of all she must figure out her powers, because time is running out.

When I started reading this book, I wasn’t expecting too much. Yes, I like the Mortal Instruments series, which I have read the first three books of, but they didn’t blow me away. As a matter of fact, I truly hated the second book, but that may have been because of the terrible Dutch translation and the enormous (unnecessary) spoiler in the movie. City of Glass managed to convince me, though, and then especially the last one hundred pages. They were so incredibly fast paced and exciting, this was what I had been waiting for all along! Hoping this book would be like that, but not really expecting it to happen, I started reading the first installment in the Infernal Devices trilogy. Judging by the fact that I’m writing a review on a positive reviews only blog, I feel like it’s clear that I really enjoyed this one.

Can I just start by saying that this book was so much better than the Mortal Instruments? I haven’t finished that series yet, but compared to what I have read of it so far, I can tell that these books aren’t even in the same league. And the worst part is that I don’t think I’ll even be able to fully explain to you why it is better. The premise is quite similar; girl finds out she’s actually not human, and then things happen. Same goes for characters; incredibly snarky and sassy love interest that seems to have a very dark past, main character who doesn’t know anything about the world. Both books follow these ideas to the letter, and yet Clockwork Angel was everything I was secretly hoping for, and more.

The writing style was really good. I don’t often comment on style, but in this book I just can’t not mention it. Cassandra Clare has mastered a really nice-flowing and natural-feeling style, which makes reading seem like you’re watching the people have a conversation instead of sitting and reading about it. The dialogue felt very genuine and plausible, giving the characters an edge of believability, versus the characters in the Mortal Instruments that felt forced at times. This may just be because this is her fourth book, and she has now gotten the hang of writing.

That brings me to the characters. The characters were so great! Tessa was a heroine that I’d like to see more often. Not the unbelievably strong and badass one, or the “plain and insecure” one. She’s just a girl like me and you (unless you’re a guy, of course), and her actions made sense, for once. Too often, it seems as if writers feel like they need to make their main character really outstanding in order to write a good book. Sometimes it works and makes a book amazing, often it doesn’t and it completely kills the flow of the story. It is hard to make a main character relatable, which is a problem that I face at times with Clary from the Mortal Instruments. Tessa, on the other hand, felt genuine and real, which made me care so much more for what happened to her and how the story played out.

And Will. As most of you are aware, about half the reading world has an undying crush on Will Herondale. He is funny, I must admit, and he’s made me laugh out loud more than the average funny character, but I am going to be brutally honest here and say I don’t quite understand this crush (yet?). This may just be a matter of not knowing the whole story, so I am going to have to read on to find out! Apparently I am going to fall in love with him in the second book? Challenge accepted. Starting Clockwork Prince as soon as possible, update on the Will crush situation to follow!

Giveaway: Real Flower Necklace

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a stunning real flower necklace made by Meeliki Creations. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Lush Rosie Package

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a Lush Rosie package. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Book Review & Giveaway: A Cornish Affair by Liz Fenwick

Amazon USA Amazon UK

Review by Suze

Jude can't marry her good friend John, it's one step too far. She likes him, but she doesn't love him enough to get married. She bolts and leaves him at the altar. Her mother is furious with her, but for Jude it was the right thing to do. Finally she can start thinking about herself for a change. She's thirty years old and she's in desperate need of a life that's her own. She has the chance to go to Cornwall and to work and live at Pengarrock, a beautiful Cornish house. There she's supposed to assist Petroc, a brilliant, but disorganized scholar. She has to help him sort his papers, which is a difficult, but interesting task.

Jude soon falls in love with Pengarrock. She loves the house and can't get enough of the stunning views. She enjoys the company of Petroc and his housekeeper Helen, but unfortunately things can't remain peaceful for long. When Jude meets Petroc's son Tristan she doesn't like him at first. He doesn't seem to share her love for his father's house and the beautiful surroundings. Jude tries to convert him, but will she succeed? John wants to get back together and he's not giving up. Then there's also the interesting family history to keep her occupied. Jude never thought she would find so much in Pengarrock, but can she stay and what is happening with her parents? 

A Cornish Affair is a story about a woman who leaves her life in America to move to England. Jude has to get away from her parents. Something tragic happened in her family and that still plays a big part in Jude's present. She has to get away from it to find herself. Because she runs away from her own wedding the book has an interesting start and the story managed to fascinate me straight away. The story remains interesting until the end and I couldn't put it away. There are quite a few great twists and turns and I was always curious to find out more. I loved reading about the family history, the complicated relationship between parents and children and about a certain myth that Petroc was looking into. 

I loved the descriptions of Pengarrock. Liz Fenwick has created a magical setting for her story. I liked reading about it a lot. A Cornish Affair is such an enjoyable read. It has beautiful and intelligent main characters, a stunning house on a great piece of land, a puzzle that becomes more and more interesting and the story is wonderfully romantic. I think this book is fantastic and it's another story by Liz Fenwick that I highly recommend.

Giveaway

Enter the giveaway to win paperback copies of all of Liz Fenwick's books. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Visit the other blogs on this schedule for more great posts about Liz Fenwick's books. 

Book Review: The Way You Look Tonight by Bella Andre

Amazon USA Amazon UK

Review by Anniek

Rafe has built a succesful business as a private investigator. He is big, gorgeous and very good at what he does. He mainly works for women who are hiring him to prove that their husbands are having affairs. This pays very well but it drains him, he loses all the pleasure he once had in being a PI. He is disappointed in the fact that in every case he takes on the women are right... Because of his parents he has a perfect example of what true love has to look like, but he fears that he will never find it himself. After a traumatic event, which he can't shake, his sister takes him back to a little lake house. It was the lake house that used to be owned by his parents. They had to sell it in the past because of financial problems. He buys the house and decides to spend the summer at the lake. What he isn't expecting is that his neighbor is still there, she never left her own lake house. When he sees Brooke after all of these years he is stunned because of how beautiful she has become.

Brooke has inherited the lake house from her grandparents after they died in a car crash. This is the one place she always felt like she belonged. Ever since she was little she spent every summer there and built a strong bond with the Sullivan family who owned the house next door. She always had a big crush on Rafe. Now she has set up a business in making and selling chocolate truffles. After going for a swim in the lake she hears a motorcycle pull up at the house and when she recognizes Rafe she is over the moon.

The previous people who rented the lake house haven't taken very good care of it. Rafe is furious when he sees the mess they left behind. The house is not ready to be lived in. Luckily Brooke is such a sweetheart and lets Rafe stay with her so that he can fix up his home.

I absolutely loved this story! I have read books from Bella Andre before. These were the stories about the Sullivan brothers of San Francisco. It doesn't matter about which Sullivan branch you read, every single one will warm your heart. The author is very good at writing love stories. You will feel everything she means to tell you. Each book can be read as a standalone, but they will make more sense to you if you read them all. I will certainly read all the ones I haven't read yet. Bella Andre's books are the perfect beach reads. If you take them with you on your holiday make sure you take several of them, if you're like me you will want to read them every single free second.

Giveaway: Ceramic Necklace

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a ceramic necklace. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Unakite Gemstone Necklace

Enter this giveaway to win a beautiful unakite gemstone necklace made by Silverrush Style. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Etsy: Suze Loves PinkTopic & Giveaway!

I love PinkTopic, it's such a fantastic shop.

The felt creations are beautiful.

They have an amazing design and are very well made.

I love the cuteness of this shop.

I can't stop looking at the custom name plates, they are adorable.

This shop is both great for both children and adults.

I love the sweetness of it all.

If you're a kawaii fan you will love these felt items.

I think the quality is great.

I'm very happy with the items I've ordered here.

Check out this amazing Etsy shop.

Enjoy browsing...

And have fun shopping!

One very lucky reader of my blog will receive a fantastic prize:

This blue elephant and pocket Yeti will be for the winner of the giveaway. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Shell Necklace

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a gorgeous shell necklace made by Flor Accessoires. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Pink Gemstone Necklace

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a pink gemstone necklace. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Lush All The Best Gift Box

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a Lush All The Best gift box. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Ceramic Necklace

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a ceramic necklace. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Decodelire, L'Occitane and Rituals

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a Decodelire beauty bag & two pairs of earrings and a L'Occitane & Rituals beauty set. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Giveaway: Green Real Flower Necklace

Enter this giveaway for a chance to win a real flower necklace made by Villa Sorgenfrei. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will contact the winner via e-mail. If I don't get a reply within 60 hours the prize will go to someone else. All of my giveaways are international, you can find the official rules here.

Winners

Sea glass and sea shell necklace - Alayne S

 Japan weekend kawaii owl necklace - Joelle AA

Macaron necklace and earrings - Alba

 Blue leaf necklace - Allyson B

Amethyst bracelet - Amanda

A new release of your choice and one of my choice - Amber M

Kawaii package from Kawaiishopjapan and Modes4u - Angela M

Pink rose necklace - Angela C

L'Occitane verveine bucket and sea themed bracelet - Annaloa H

Two L'Occitane pouches, three books and a summer candy bracelet - Anniek W

Ceramic heart necklace (brown oil diffuser) - Alison O

L'Occitane Verveine pouch and brown macaron keychain - bilqees b

Under The Stars, Quintessentially Yours & amethyst necklace - Darlene C

Rainbow ceramic necklace - Tammy D vS

Kawaii shop Japan package 1 - Amber

2 sea glass necklaces - Judith C

Shell bracelet - Shelly H

3 books, L'Occitane hand cream and body lotion and a lovely ceramic heart necklace - Bube P

4 x Villa Sorgenfrei - Carol

Sea glass in a bottle necklace - Casey W

L'Occitane lip balm and hand cream and macaron in a jar necklace - Charlotte P

2: Books, tea, chocolate, hand cream, cookies and a necklace - Clare A

Mermaids money earrings - Coline t

Explosion of pink - Emma C

Heart shaped onyx pendant - Daphne M

The Little Book of Lost Hearts, Four Sides to Every Story and earrings - Dawn C

L'Occitane, 3 books + sun necklace - Doreen L

Green sea glass necklace with turtle charm - Drina C

Shell necklace - Elizabeth H

Kawaii - elena k

To Catch a Dream - Elin H

Kawaii Package from Kawaii Shop Japan 2 - Elizabeth H

Flor necklace and 3 bracelets - Emma R

Glass bottle shell necklace - Kelly G

Aqua sea glass necklace (round one) - Gabbie

Purple: two necklaces, a mirror, five pairs of earrings, 2 x eye shadow, soap, hand cream, perfume, 2 x lip gloss, lip balm - Rachel G

Green sea glass necklace - Kathryn M

Sterling silver magic topaz pendant - Helen P

Japan Weekend: 2 kawaii rainbow brooches - Jess M W

Blue flower window locket necklace - Bri W

Something nice - Jaina

The rest of my life and roses jewelry - Miki

L'Occitane Bonne Mere Miel - Jennifer D

Set of 2 Druzy Dreams bracelets - Judy T

Green bag, L'Occitane pouch with hand creams and bath cubes - Julia D

Balm Balm - Kate S

Silver heart circle necklace - Katy B

Yellow: 3 books, 2 L'Occitane pouches, 1 L'Occitane suitcase - Kerryn S

Sunflower necklace - Mai T

Round sea glass necklace - Katie S

Green ceramic necklace - Aprille S

Etsy: Mushroom necklace - Lauren H

Beach - ana

The Rest of my life and roses - Giovanna S

Modes4u kawaii Japan Weekend giveaway 1 - Gaby

L'Occitane Bonne Mere Peche - Margaret B M

Shell earrings - Kathleen C

Yellow rose necklace - Emma D

Shell necklace wooden beads - Natalie C

Polymer clay jewelry mix - Lauren S

Surprise gift - Gurdeep A

Beach reads in August hop $15 to spend on beach reads - Carmel L

First Time in Forever and book of choice $12 - Luisa O

Origami necklace  - Kelly P-C

4 books + weekend en provence pouch - guiltlessreader

L'Occitane suitcase - Aloi

Sand dollar necklace and earrings - Dee BD

Purple rose necklace - Karen R

Real flower necklace - Shyanne T

Japanese girl surprise necklace - Crystal C

Stolen journeys + embroidered pouch - Amber T

owl necklace, shell earrings, shell bracelet, sea glass necklace and 2 rose necklaces - Stephanie V

Leon Day surprise gift - Tanya P

Etsy - Kaitlyn

Each & Every One - Emily C

2 bracelets (owl and stars) - Tina C

Agate, onyx and silver necklace (green) - Kerry O

Pink agate slice necklace - Alys J

Frosted glass necklace - Ann L

Filled beauty bag, a book and necklaces - Wendy J

L'Occitane hand cream, body milk & eau de toilette, 3 books & a flower necklace - Sofia T