#bournemouthblogger

[rosemaryhelenxo]

The Body Shop - Christmas Collection - Wild Pine Body Lotion-to-Oil

I was really impressed with the Body Shop's Christmas Collection this year. The Wild Pine limited edition scent is a blend of pine, mint and sandalwood. It encapsulates a Nordic winter wonderland with a fresh and comforting scent. #thebodyshop #lotion

The Body Shop have released their Christmas Collection. This includes a variety of body butters, balms, shower gels, soaps, and hand creams, as well as their two limited edition winter-inspired scents Wild Pine and Spiced Orange. You can find my review of The Body Shop’s Spiced Orange scent here. Currently with the code ‘BLACKFRIDAY’ you can get 25% off everything site-wide! I was really…

[bookramblings]

The Bear and the Nightingale

Author: Katherine Arden

Published by: Penguin Random House UK

Pages: 456

Format: Paperback

My Rating ★★★1/2

Beware the evil in the woods…

In a village at the edge of the wilderness of northern Russia, where the winds blow cold and the snow falls many months of the year, an elderly servant tells stories of sorcery, folklore and the Winter King to the children of the family, tales of old magic frowned upon by the church.

But for the young, wild Vasya these are far more than just stories. She alone can see the house spirits that guard her home, and sense the growing forces of dark magic in the woods…

My thoughts:

The Bear and the Nightingale is a wonderfully atmospheric book with a mixture of history, religion and Russian folklore at the heart of the story.

It transports the reader back to medieval Russia, to a place thick with forests and deep crisp glistening snow.

This story focuses on a young woman named Vasya who takes her first breaths of life as her mother takes her last. Vasya holds the ability to see spirits surrounding her small town, and is a really fascinating character. As a young woman, Vasya is free to do as she pleases most of the time. Over time she develops a bond with the horses, speaking to them and whispering until they grow to trust her enough to come to her willingly. As friendly as Vasya can be, she is a force of nature, filled with determination, strength and aptitude, while also holding a strong family bond. The loss of her mother has inevitably weakened her place in the family, and at times she feels alone in the world, but this does not stop the young heroine from showing that she is truly willing to do whatever is necessary to protect them.

There was certainly something magical about having this novel set in the dead of winter with the old gods circling the dimly lit sleepy cottage, and despite being a little slow in places, I enjoyed the writing style. Arden uses absolutely beautiful imagery throughout, leaving you feeling completely transported to a new world of complex characters and interesting plots.

The imagery and vivid description is just wonderful; the characters leap off the page, and the storyline is layered and complex. However, I must admit I did find the pacing sometimes just a bit too sluggish. This is definitely a book that should be read slowly and with patience in order to really make the most of it. I struggled here and there with identifying the tricky names of the characters, and because of this I found it slightly difficult to keep track of who each person was, and began to kind of lose interest in what was going on. Of course, this is no fault of the author’s, I think it just partly diminished my overall enjoyment of the book.

As a result, I feel I can only fairly give this one a rating of three and a half stars.

Overall, The Bear and the Nightingale absolutely is a magical and atmospheric read, and I enjoyed it for the most part. I can see why this book has proved so popular with many readers. Unfortunately, it just didn’t quite hold my interest as much as I was hoping it might.

Overall reaction:

[kirstydeeshares-blog]

Another beautiful day. There is something about being able to walk around in flip flops and a little dress that makes me happy. It's always the little things 💙 #itsthelittlethings #beautifulday #bournemouthblogger #flipflopsanddresses #portraitphotography #spiritjunkie #typicalpisces #lovegettingoutdoors #happy

[wedoethicalliving]

#Repost @coolconscience ・・・ Join us 'Pon De Roof Top' in the most exclusive, premium Air Festival location on the coast line! The Box Sky Garden Brunch - Bournemouth Air Festival TV CLOSING PARTY! 🎉 Sunday 3rd September, 2 - 10pm, Bournemouth Beach East Cliff Top. PIMMS cocktails on arrival • FREE BAR 🍻🥂 beer & wine until 5pm • Meet @jackeyers Mr England & @missdorset2017 • Enjoy a @yeahmancaribbeankitchen BBQ • International & local DJ’s @karmelody & Michael French 🎶 PLUS! Miroslav Lucan @lucanart Live Artist is capturing the crowd with ink on paper, Amazing Prizes & Goody Bags from the new @beatonebar Bournemouth ...Oh and the glitter squad will be on hand to give you lot's more sparkle! ✨✨✨ Tickets start from just £35 & we only have a few VIP tables left available. Very Limited availability. DON'T MISS OUT! Book now: www.coolconscience.com/EVENTS.php #bmthairfest #bournemouth #skygarden #brunch #party #bournemouthevents #bournemouthbeach #ecoblogger #bournemouthblogger #bbq #reggae #yeahmancaribbeankitchen #beatonebar #glittersquad #bournemouthfood #cocktails #bournemouthnightlife #beachlover #sustainability #eco #ethicalliving #beachlife #lifesabeach #sunday #neverstopexploring #funday #redarrows #summerparty (at Bournemouth Beach)

[beauxoxo]

A huge thank you to @bournemouthbloggers for having me as part of your bloggers meet up! So lovely to see such a thriving blogging scene and to meet lots of new faces. And a huge thank you for these gorgeous photos @lizcarey92 @zoshafaith and @evenangelsfallblog 💕 . . . . #Beauxoxo #lookbook #photoshoot #photography #hairaccessory #hairaccessories #pastel #pretty #pimpmyice #etsylove #summer #spring #flowercrowns #festival #handmade #etsyseller #makersmovement #handsandhustle #handmadeaccessory #ethicalfashion #ss18 (at The Kings Arms, Christchurch)

[wildsocialphoto-blog]

Had such an amazing night with the loveliest gang of @bournemouthbloggers last night 🙌🏻 isn’t this view amazing? The @Christchurch.harbourhotel is just something else 😍😍😍 (at Christchurch Harbour and Spa Hotel)

[rosemaryhelenxo]

The Body Shop - Christmas Collection - Spiced Orange Shower Gel

The Body Shop have released their Christmas Collection, consisting of a range of festive stocking fillers and delightful gift sets . This includes their two limited edition winter-inspired scents Wild Pine and Spiced Orange! #thebodyshop #spicedorange

The Body Shop have released their Christmas Collection, consisting of a range of festive stocking fillers and delightful gift sets . This includes a variety of body butters, balms, shower gels, soaps, and hand creams, as well as their two limited edition winter-inspired scents Wild Pine and Spiced Orange. I was really impressed with the Body Shop’s Christmas Collection this year. There were a…

[bookramblings]

Freshwater

Author: Akwaeke Emezi

Published by: Faber & Faber

Pages: 230

Format: Hardback

My Rating ��★★★

I have lived many lives inside this body.

I lived many lives before they put me in this body.

I will live many lives when they take me out of this body.

Ada was born with one foot on the other side. Having prayed her into existence, her parents Saul and Saachi struggle to deal with the volatile and contradictory spirits peopling their troubled girl.

When Ada comes of age and heads to college, the entities within her grow in power and agency. An assault leads to crystallization of her selves: Asughara and Saint Vincent. As Ada fades into the background of her own mind and these selves – now protective, now hedonistic – seize control of her, Ada’s life spirals in a dark and dangerous direction.

Narrated from the perspectives of the various selves within Ada, and based in the author’s realities, Freshwater explores the metaphysics of identity and being. Feeling explodes through the language of this scalding novel, heralding the arrival of a fierce new literary voice.

My thoughts:

Freshwater tells the story of Ada, a complicated young Nigerian woman with a multiple personalities, due to the gods who have mistakenly entered and taken ahold of her body and mind. It is an extremely powerful novel portraying the darkest thoughts within us. It is a novel that portrays the psychological effects of such darkness and emotional violence.

The scattered storyline follows Ada as she endures a dysfunctional upbringing in Nigeria. She then moves away to study in America, and quickly comes into close contact with a series of violent men. The story is told from the perspective of a host of spirits called ‘ogbanje’, who occupy the protagonist's body and apply forceful control over her actions.

An ‘ogbanje’ is “a spirit that’s born into a human body, a kind of malevolent trickster, whose goal is to torment the human mother by dying unexpectedly only to return in the next child and do it all over again.”

Freshwater follows Ada as she comes of age while contending with these multiple personalities and prolonged trauma. The narrative leaps back and forth in time with new personalities and overlapping stories being told from different perspectives. I must admit it took me a little while to initially grasp the feel of this book, and to really understand what was going on, but I actually really loved the unusual writing style and nonlinear plot structure. Once things clicked, I was totally hooked. 

The novel is undeniably absorbing, and I soon found myself unable to put it down. It contains so much symbolism and emotion, allowing readers to interpret it in a very personal way, as we delve into Ada’s very talented but troubled mind. I loved how each of the spirits had their own unique personalities, with things getting extremely dark as they began to develop their agendas in manipulating almost every aspect of Ada’s life. It was fascinating to delve into her mind and think about all those tiny little voices we all have inside our heads, guiding us through life and helping us to make key decisions along the way.

The author takes many risks with the storytelling, and pulls you in every step of the way. The ending is beautiful, and I honestly found this to be an extremely thoughtful and moving read from beginning to end.

Freshwater is an incredibly imaginative dark fairytale quite unlike anything I have ever read. It is spiritual, wise, highly thought provoking and completely unique. A remarkable work of fiction from Akwaeke Emezi.

Overall reaction:

[rosemaryhelenxo]

I see it, I like it, I want it, I got it. 💁🏼‍♀️💗 This is the amazing bag that I bought from the @staryeyed_homeandlifestyle showcase! 🌟 ———————————————— New blog posts and reviews on my website! Link in Bio! ☝🏻🤗💕 ———————————————— #lifestyle #lifestylegoals #summerlaunch #showcase #southampton #bournemouth #makeupartist #makeup #makeupoftheday #beautyblog #slay #bournemouthblogger #beautycommunity #bbloggeruk #bags #clutches #staryeyed #harbaron6th #girlswhobrunch #bloggingevents #soton #harbourhotelsouthampton https://www.instagram.com/p/BxF_-WSpi4L/?igshid=7hc9xntqh346

[rosemaryhelenxo]

{AD - Gifted Event} My favourite theme at @mrmulligansbournemouth has got to be the Apocalypse one! May have something to do with it also being the round that I won... 🙈 ———————————————— Full review will be on my blog soon! For a sneak peak at our antics, SWIPE to see more pictures! 👉🏻 👩🏼‍💻 ———————————————— New blog posts and reviews on my website! Link in Bio! ☝🏻🤗💕 ———————————————— #lifestyle #lifestylegoals #summerlaunch #showcase #bh2 #bournemouth #makeupartist #makeup #makeupoftheday #beautyblog #slay #bournemouthblogger #beautycommunity #bbloggeruk #bags #minigolfing #bh2leisure #bournemouthdaysout #girlswhobrunch #bloggingevents #daysoutwithfriends #daysoutwithkids https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzV1xOJ7wz/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1iqzmmo3yd88c

[rosemaryhelenxo]

{AD - Gifted Event} I had such a fun time at @mrmulligansbournemouth with @lizzyjmarshall and @stuntedk ! 🌟 ———————————————— Full review will be on my blog soon! For a sneak peak at our antics, SWIPE to see more pictures! 👉🏻 👩🏼‍💻 ———————————————— New blog posts and reviews on my website! Link in Bio! ☝🏻🤗💕 ———————————————— #lifestyle #lifestylegoals #summerlaunch #showcase #bh2 #bournemouth #makeupartist #makeup #makeupoftheday #beautyblog #slay #bournemouthblogger #beautycommunity #bbloggeruk #bags #minigolfing #bh2leisure #bournemouthdaysout #girlswhobrunch #bloggingevents #daysoutwithfriends #daysoutwithkids https://www.instagram.com/p/BvzVsK9JWhs/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=12crst9j97fvx

[rosemaryhelenxo]

{AD - Showcase Event} How stunning are these pieces from today’s @staryeyed_homeandlifestyle showcase! 🌟 I ended up buying the pink bag as you guys know I’m a sucker for that colour! 😍💗😭 ———————————————— Full review will be on my blog soon! 👩🏼‍💻 ———————————————— New blog posts and reviews on my website! Link in Bio! ☝🏻🤗💕 ———————————————— #lifestyle #lifestylegoals #summerlaunch #showcase #southampton #bournemouth #makeupartist #makeup #makeupoftheday #beautyblog #slay #bournemouthblogger #beautycommunity #bbloggeruk #bags #clutches #staryeyed #harbaron6th #girlswhobrunch #bloggingevents #soton #harbourhotelsouthampton (at Harbar on 6th) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvXISh2JnL3/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=mias8w7sfzv1

[rosemaryhelenxo]

{AD - Showcase Event} I had such an amazing time with the @bournemouthbloggers at the @staryeyed_homeandlifestyle showcase! 🌟 So many beautiful jewellery pieces and accessories for your home! 😍 ———————————————— Full review will be on my blog soon! 👩🏼‍💻 ———————————————— New blog posts and reviews on my website! Link in Bio! ☝🏻🤗💕 ———————————————— #lifestyle #lifestylegoals #summerlaunch #showcase #southampton #bournemouth #makeupartist #makeup #makeupoftheday #beautyblog #slay #bournemouthblogger #beautycommunity #bbloggeruk #bags #clutches #staryeyed #harbaron6th #girlswhobrunch #bloggingevents #soton #harbourhotelsouthampton (at Harbar on 6th) https://www.instagram.com/p/BvXIObAptja/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1sy0svd8osimz

[rosemaryhelenxo]

{AD - Press Event} I had such an amazing time with the @bournemouthbloggers at the @realeatingco x @lunchd collaboration! You can find the Lunchd menu on Tuesdays & Wednesday’s, launching on the 5th March! 😋🍲 ———————————————— Full review will be in my blog soon! 👩🏼‍💻 ———————————————— New blog posts and reviews on my website! Link in Bio! ☝🏻🤗💕 ———————————————— #food #foodporn #foodlaunch #realeatingcompany #realeatingco #bournemouth #makeupartist #makeup #makeupoftheday #beautyblog #slay #bournemouthblogger #beautycommunity #bbloggeruk #aquaponics #garnish #anastasiabeverlyhills #lunchd #lunchdate #girlswhobrunch #greek #greekingredients #greekfood #dolunchout #dontlunchout #lunchd #lunchbox https://www.instagram.com/p/BuhHnJWBSns/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1n4vmi7u6i8s0

[rosemaryhelenxo]

{AD - Press Event} I had such an amazing time with the @bournemouthbloggers at the @realeatingco x @lunchd collaboration! • SWIPE TO OPEN THE HOTBOX! 👉🏻 You can find the Lunchd menu on Tuesdays & Wednesday’s, launching on the 5th March! 😋🍲 ———————————————— Full review will be in my blog soon! 👩🏼‍💻 ———————————————— New blog posts and reviews on my website! Link in Bio! ☝🏻🤗💕 ———————————————— #food #foodporn #foodlaunch #realeatingcompany #realeatingco #bournemouth #makeupartist #makeup #makeupoftheday #beautyblog #slay #bournemouthblogger #beautycommunity #bbloggeruk #aquaponics #garnish #anastasiabeverlyhills #lunchd #lunchdate #girlswhobrunch #greek #greekingredients #greekfood #dolunchout #dontlunchout #lunchd #lunchbox https://www.instagram.com/p/BuhHhiUB7hK/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=7pljyx9ou9q6

[bookramblings]

The Boneless Mercies

Author: April Genevieve Tucholke

Published by: Simon & Schuster

Pages: 341

Format: Paperback

My Rating ★★★★

This is a story of Mercies and witches, of reeds and thorns, of women and giants.

Frey, Ovie, Juniper, and Runa are Boneless Mercies – death-traders, hired to kill quickly, quietly and mercifully. It is a job for women, and women only. Men will not do this sad, dark work.

Frey has no family, no home, no fortune, and yet her blood sings a song of glory.

So when she hears of a monster slaughtering men, women and children in a northern jarldom, she decides this is the Mercies’ one chance to change their fate.

But glory comes at a price…

My thoughts:

The Boneless Mercies is the story of four women looking for a future in a world in which they're forced to wander as outcasts.

I felt this book was beautifully written and atmospheric. It has the kind of writing that really draws you in and allows you to feel the wind on your face and the snow under your feet within this this wonderful magical world. Tucholke does a really good job in setting up this fantasy world, and giving it enough depth to really come to life on the page.

Whilst reading, it is easy to feel as though you're getting lost in the marshes too, wandering in the mist with the main characters as they journey onwards to seek a fresh start.

The premise kept me gripped, but truly it was probably the characters that stood out to me most. It was refreshing to read a fantasy like this that really focused on friendships. Typically in YA fiction, a predictable romance almost always ends up overshadowing the friendships, but here it simply wasn’t needed. The friendships felt believable and I liked how loyal the Mercies were to one another, even in the hardest situations. The characters  shared a clear bond and demonstrated their affection in subtle actions and through kindness. This portrayal of friendship felt very understated and realistic, which made for a much more absorbing read.

The Boneless Mercies is not a story about defeating a beast and falling in love in the process. It’s a story about looking for your place in a cruel, changing world, and surviving through the uncertainty of it all. I really enjoyed all of the fantasy elements within the story, and felt the backstories of the Sea witches and the Cut-Queen were particularly intriguing and fun to read about. I’d recommend this one highly to fans of fantasy writers such as Leigh Bardugo, Alexandra Christo and Holly Black. A lively and enjoyable fiction to kick off my reading for 2019!

Overall reaction: