Follow You Home | Book Review

It's probably about time for a book review and today I bring you a brand new psychological thriller from bestselling British author, Mark Edwards. I'd previously read Because She Loves Me (review HERE) and although I enjoyed that book (I actually struggled to put it down), I had been slightly disappointed by the ending so I was looking forward to seeing how I'd get on with Follow You Home. 

The story begins with a young couple, Daniel and Laura, who are on one last final hurrah; a trip of a lifetime before they settle down and start a family. They find themselves on a night train to Romania, where catastrophically their tickets and passports are stolen and end up thrown off the train in the middle of nowhere. From there, they must walk to the nearest town through the very creepy countryside and it is there that their lives are irrevocably changed.

The book then fast forwards three months and we're in London. Daniel and Laura's lives are in absolute tatters; their friends are concerned for them but they refuse to speak of the trauma they experienced while in Romania and instead continue to suffer from nightmares, insomnia and paranoia. Or is it paranoia? Strange events start to occur that all seem to be connected- it seems like every time Daniel goes to speak to someone about what happened to them, something terrible befalls someone he knows. 

It becomes more and more obvious that something bad has followed them home and really it's just a matter of sticking with the characters until they figure this out too. 

That element of the book was slightly frustrating but the suspense was carefully and slowly built so by the time it's finally revealed just what happened that night, I was on absolute tenterhooks. 

That reveal is about half way through the book but somehow the author keeps producing more little shocks and surprises from then on, which only really end on the last page. 

Their Romanian secret is very dark and very unpleasant but given how broken the main characters are, that is not particularly surprising. 

There are several different threads in this book and like his previous work, Edwards skilfully weaves them together to create a spine chilling thriller that has definitely stayed with me since. There are plenty of dodgy characters and red herrings thrown in and I defy anyone to be able to figure out the mystery themselves. 

If you're looking for a gripping read with a haunting atmosphere, this is the book for you.

I was provided with an advanced copy of Follow You Home to review but I was so taken by this novel that I've since bought Edward's first book, The Magpies on Kindle to read next.

Have you read anything from Mark Edwards? Any other thrillers you'd recommend?

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Protect Yo'Self! Sun Lotions from Bioderma, Soltan, Chanel & Calypso.

The sun has finally decided to show its face in Ireland (sorry, Leaving Cert-ers) which means many of us are now liberally lashing on the sun lotion. I wear facial SPF all year around but I must admit I can be lax with everywhere else, especially in the cold Winter months. I do make a concerted effort during the Summer however and so I bring you these sun lotions, which I'm currently trying out. 

Calypso is an Australian brand that my husband picked up in our local chemists. He's always raving about Australian sun care as he thinks they know best. Fair enough. This fella is a factor 50, smells like coconuts (mmmm) and provides a good level of protection. It blends in rather like sun lotions of yore, i.e it takes a bit more massaging in but that's only a slight bugbear. I don't know exactly how much this is but I think it's around a tenner. 

Soltan* is a Boots own brand that produces both protection and self tanning products. These are both Factor 30 which I generally think is a bit low but I wear them for less super sunny days. These are a really lovely formula- it's a new lighter version so it sinks in immediately, making application really easy. They have the highest UVA rating and are waterproof, so it's perfect if you're going in for a dip. I included the mini one (€6.50) there as it's only 50mls so you can bring it in your carry on. Yay! The larger version is €8.50 for 200mls. 

Next up, my beloved Chanel UV Essential facial sun screen with SPF 50. Himself bought this for me when I started getting serious about my sun protection and I've loved it ever since. It sinks in really well, is non-greasy and smells INCREDIBLE. It's also light enough that you can apply make up over it without a bother and the bottle is dinky enough that you can throw it in your bag for top ups if needed. This'll set you back about 50 squids…so yeah, maybe leave that one to the generous people in your life?!

I mentioned French pharmacy brand Bioderma in another blog post this week (read about that HERE) and another product I'm loving from them is Photoderm Bronze* with SPF 50. This is a dry oil mist that provides very high sun protection while promoting natural tanning. This is ideal then for those who tan naturally but obviously don't want to get burnt. It's beneficial for very fair skinned peeps, it's non-greasy, non-sticky and can be applied on wet or dry skin. This is certainly pricier at around €22 for 200mls but I think it's a pretty unique and hard working product. 

That's my lot! What's your ultimate sun screen? Is there any product out there that ticks all your sun care needs or do you have to use more than one at a time? To the comments!

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*Indicates a press sample. All opinions my own, as always.

New Skincare Additions!

I really am a total skincare fiend and am always trying out something new. Theses are the latest products to successfully make it to my bathroom shelf:

First up is what is now a cult product from French brand, Bioderma. Bioderma have just launched in pharmacies across Ireland and so I have their famous Micellar Solution* to try out. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and I really like it. I've tried other micellar waters but they don't really compare to this one for me. I tend to have sensitive skin and this causes zero irritation, redness or eye stinging and removes all my make up as simply as wiping a cotton wool pad across my face. There's no messy cleanser, no need to even wash your face after using it (I still do though cause I'm old school), really it's exactly like cleaning your face with just plain old water except that this will actually remove your make up. Genius!

I have however been trying out the benefits of double cleansing lately too. After using the Bioderma I then apply the Botanics Hot Cloth Cleansing Balm*, massage it in and remove with a muslin cloth soaked in warm water. This ensures every last trace of make up, dirt etc is gone and my face is left squeaky clean. I don't always do that as I'm mostly varying between using the two and it generally depends on how tired I am. Either way, this is a really lovely cleanser and an absolute bargain as well. I wrote about it recently in more detail, HERE.

Lastly then we have the Nip & Fab Glycolic Fix pads. I've been meaning to get into chemical exfoliants for a while now and so jumped at the chance when I saw these fellas, which again are pretty reasonable at around €12 for 60 pads. These are soaked in Glycolic acid to retexture and resurface (what your traditional "gritty" exfoliators do but more gently), Hyaluronic acid to moisturise and refresh and Blue Daisy to soothe and calm. I've definitely noticed an improvement in my skin since I started using these; they're gentle enough that my skin feels soft and smooth afterwards, no tightness or sensitivity and I find my make up is applying more easily now too. Recommended use is twice a day- morning and night but I find I don't need to use them so frequently and I actually avoid using them in the morning as your skin is left more sensitive to sun damage post chemical exfoliants. Obviously you should wear SPF anyway but I just skip the glycolic pads in the morning altogether. 

And that's the lot. Are you trying any fancy new skincare products that I should know about?

Do you also have a bling lip-balm-filled rubber duck on your bathroom shelves? No? Unlucky.

XX

*Indicates a press sample. All opinions my own, as always!

SoSu Nail Polish- Put To The Test!

You might remember my blog post from a couple of weeks ago about the launch of Irish super blogger Suzanne Jackson's line of gel nail polishes; SOSU by Suzanne Jackson. I was given the shade, Blue My Mind to try out, here's how I got on:

Firstly the positives; this particular shade of polish is STUNNING. I've always been a fan of darker shades that have a glorious shine to them, as this one does. It's a deep navy blue with a kind of metallic finish and oddly, small silver glitter pieces. These all sink to the bottom of the bottle so you have to give it a good shake when applying. On the nail I don't think they really add anything- the polish is beautiful enough on it's own so for me it's just gilding the lily.

The brush isn't particularly wide but the application is still easy peasy. I have to say that it does not apply like a gel polish however. Gel polishes are all the rage at the minute with high street brands like Barry M, Sally Hansen and Max Factor bringing out their own versions so it's not surprising this was marketed that way too. I think though that it would have been better if this was sold as just a regular polish as it was disappointing to find that neither the application nor the finish were that of a gel. 

Longevity wise, I wore a good base and top coat (OPI, not from the SoSu range) but only got to day three before noticeable chips appeared. I had maybe one or two on the second day. I left the polish on 'til day five for blog research purposes but by then all bar two of my nails were badly chipped and I was itching to take it off. I was disappointed that it didn't last longer but as I'd already figured out that it wasn't a gel polish, I didn't really expect otherwise. Day three is standard for me with most good polishes- the poor quality ones are gone before then so I don't actually think this is that bad (for a regular, non-gel polish that is).

Day 3 on my left hand, my right hand was worse again. My ring finger and baby finger on my left hand stayed pretty much perfect though!

Priced at €7.99, these are on the higher end of the scale for a polish like this but there's a really good range of colours (the pastels in particular look fab) and there's some fun glitters too. These are already a big success, having sold out in some stores so obviously there's a big market for them. The bottom line for me here is if you buy these knowing they won't wear like a gel polish then work away and God speed! Otherwise you'll risk disappointment.

I think it's wonderful to see a fellow blogger doing so well and I wish Suzanne much continued success but I was hoping this polish would last longer than it did. Hopefully it's an issue that can be addressed for future additions to the range.

Have you tried any of the SOSU range? What did you think?

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Chupi Irish Farthing Coin Necklace

I've had a bit of a thing for coin necklaces for a while but wanted something unique and uniquely Irish at that.
Lo and behold, I found this beauty from Irish jewellery designer, Chupi. 

The story behind it makes it even more special:

"Cast from an original Irish farthing coin from the 1940’s that Chupi found in her grandmother’s sewing box, this is a little reminder you are worth your weight in gold.

In the early 1920’s the first Irish coins were designed by a committee headed by the legendary poet W.B. Yeats. Renowned artist Percy Metcalfe was commissioned to design a series of beautiful coins inspired by Irish wildlife. When Chupi was little she loved coins, particularly the beautiful old Irish coins with their illustrations of the birds, deer and salmon."

The bird on the coin is a Woodcock, apparently one of the most commonly found birds in the West of Ireland.

Mermaid shirts for the win.

Himself bought it for me as a gift for completing my Midwifery Higher Diploma and it hasn't left my neck since. I'm obsessed.

Mine is rose gold although it's also available in gold and silver and you can request a longer chain. Personally I was happier with the shorter length as it means I can layer my necklaces, which I regularly do as I think it looks great for Summer.

I love that it's as Gaeilge and how beautiful the design is. I often find myself turning the word "feoirling" around in my mouth- like most Irish words it has a wonderfully soft, comforting sound. 

And even though I didn't grow up using that particular coin (we had the horse, deer, salmon coins etc), I nevertheless feel an odd sense of nostalgia and an attachment to it. 

It's such a beautiful piece with a strong reminder of our heritage and our disposition towards nature and the beauty that can be found therein. 

LOVE that harp on the back with the date (my own little bit of vintage with that 1946). 

You can read more about this beauty HERE on the Chupi website.

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