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beccajayne

Book Review: “The Rosie Project” by Graeme Simsion

There is no doubt “The Rosie Project” is going to be one of the best feel-good novels of 2013..with it’s humour and quirky characters, it’s going to find a place in your heart…

“The Blurb”
Rosie looked at me and said, ‘You know if you changed your glasses and your haircut, you could be Gregory Peck in To Kill A Mockingbird.’
‘Is that good?’ I asked. I assumed, given the circumstances, that it was, but wanted to hear her confirm it.
‘He was only the sexiest man that ever lived.’
Don Tillman, professor of genetics, has never been on a second date. Then a chance encounter gives him an idea. He will design a questionnaire–a sixteen-page, scientifically researched document–to find the perfect partner. She will most definitely not be a barmaid, a smoker, a drinker or a late-arriver.
Rosie Jarman is all these things. She is strangely beguiling, fiery and intelligent. And she is also on a quest of her own. She’s looking for her biological father, a search that a certain DNA expert might just be able to help her with–even if he does wear quick-dry clothes and eat lobster every single Tuesday night.
 


My thoughts and review..

As soon as I picked up The Rosie Project, I knew it was going to
be a good read. Within the first beginning pages, the endearing tale had already
began to unravel into a plot worthy of my full attention. Don Tillman, a highly
successful Professor of Genetics has a long history of not finding a
suitable relationship that has convinced him that he isn’t doing something
right. Don has a specific type of woman that he wants; a punctual, non-drinking,
non-smoking female who will fit into his own regimented lifestyle with ease,
though every time his friends try and set him up, things end disastrously. So
Don decides to, being an evidence-based person himself, start “The Wife Project”
which consists of designing a questionnaire to help him find the perfect
partner.


When the character Rosie appears, “The Rosie Project” truly
begins, a fast-paced story that made me laugh, root for Don and Rosie to be
together, and never lacked in surprising me with each turn of event. Overall,
The Rosie Project was a story of looking at love in a completely
different way, how even science can’t predict what the outcome will be. Don
and Rosie never failed to entertain me, building to a perfect
ending and amazingly written story. I strongly recommend this book to anyone who
might love the TV show; The Big Bang Theory, as both have the wit and
comedic timing of how Science and Comedy blend together, down
to a tee.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion isn’t out yet, but it’s due to be published on 11th April (2013) by Michael Joseph Ltd an imprint of Penguin Books Ltd. Make sure you pick up a copy online or at your local bookstore. Once again, I would like to thank Lovereading.co.uk for the opportunity to read such an amazing
novel. I really hope you like the review and I can’t wait to be surprised with
even more good reads as recommended by lovereading to share with you all.

happy reading,

xo Becca


P.S. You can also read my review at Lovereading’s website and at Goodreads!

Book Review: “Beautiful Creatures” by Kami Garcia & Margaret Stohl (Caster Chronicles #1)

❤ Witch-y playlists, southern romance, small town picturesque scenes…Gatlin County is my favourite place to read about… ❤


Beautiful Creatures starts out different to all the novels I’ve read previously; with a prologue that first paints a picture of how and why this read would be better than an average witch novel. And it sure was. I’m sure this is the very first novel I’ve read that is a four-part-series by two authors, who’s writing seems to blend together perfectly and without flaw.
Ethan Wate hates Gatlin County, a place where a Starbucks and McDonalds is just a name without meaning. He’s counting the days until he’s out of there for good. But his life seems pretty normal, and unlike most YA novels that explore the feeling of the main character being a loner, or an outcast, Ethan seems to have friends that make Gatlin a little better for him, like Link, who despite making small appearances, brings the comedy to the storyline.
Enter Lena Duchannes, a sight no one in the Southern town has ever seen. Niece of Macon, who doesn’t have the best reputation for witch-strange like behaviour in Gatlin. Ethan recognises her, and is drawn to her, as soon as Lena makes her first appearance. Pun aside, she is actually the girl of his dreams.
A curse that was set by Lena’s ancestor, to bring Ethan’s ancestor, back to life, has bound the two of them to an unbreakable bond. This works out well, as Lena and Ethan soon hit it off and become not just romantic interests to each other, but friends; something Lena finds strange as she seems the ‘alone’ type.
Lena writes numbers, something Ethan notices right away. She is counting down the days until her sixteenth birthday. This brings to light the song that is mentioned countless times, Sixteen Moons, a song Ethan hears and that plays on his iPod, that he can never find once it has played. The lyrics are haunting; Sixteen Moons, Sixteen Years, Sixteen of your deepest fears, Sixteen times you dreamed my tears, Falling, Falling through the years. The storyline was packed with action, and soon enough we meet Lena’s family, and understand more toward the relationship of Ethan; his parents and his housekeeper, Amma. There are moments when you’re rooting for bad, and times when you’re praying the good will win. But what I never expected was the initial outcome. Surprised was an understatement.
I read this novel about a year and a half ago, and can still recount moments and quotes from the novel. My favourite was ; “Mortals. I envy you. You think you can change things. Stop the universe. Undo what was done long before you came along. You are such beautiful creatures.” This quote perfectly sums up the darkness of this novel, the twisting and twining pieces that become whole at the finale.
I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves witch novels, and if you’re a fan of vampires or fallen angels, you might be surprised that you’ll love this book also. This novel is purely YA (young adult), but that never stopped any adult who loves a good read, so if you’re 13+, this is definitely for you.
*And I’m so excited for the movie! I’ll be there quicker than a spell.

xo, Becca

‘The Body Shop’ Haul! + save £’s

fair trade, against animal testing, protecting the planet, defending human rights and activating self esteem…what brand could do better?

The Body Shop sits on the corner of my local shopping centre, probably displaying the prettiest and most inviting products in the windows. To start with, I thought they were just another brand with expensive price tags and products that were average. Clearly, I was a little more than wrong. The Body Shop go to extents to make sure all their products are quite nearly perfect. They’re against animal testing since the early 1990’s, protecting the planet by recycling, using fair trade ingredients, whilst still staying true to the meaning and development of their products.

This was probably my favourite Haul yet. I ordered online, and because the sale was calling too loudly to wait until Monday to get my first glimpse of the gorgeous products, (about a week ago, there was a sale and a massive 30% off all products that qualified). So, here’s my detailed and envious product descriptions and reviews below! Enjoy…

pack of five smell-and-love soaps! these
two are my favourite! 🙂

Let’s start with prettiest looking…
These five mini soaps in scents such as Lime, Lemon, Strawberry, Vanilla and Orange were…amazing. Not only do they look cute, but they smell gorgeous! This pack-of-5 was half price, too–which made an even better bargain! Plus, who could resist animal shaped soaps? Not me.

Is this one of my five a day?
Beautifully Bananas…

I had read about this conditioner for so long before I had bought it, good things, mainly. How it detangled hair and had little real pieces of banana inside. It definitely lived up to my expectations, especially after using more than just the occasional once. My hair is long-long and wavy, so this product was much needed in that department. It’s a lovely change from the usual line of conditioners I use like Aussie or Tresemme, and I’d definitely repurchase if TBS has another sale to knock some £££ off the price tag.

Staying on the subject of clean hair… I absolutely love this product! It’s the “Ice Blue” menthol shampoo that’s supposed to knock all those other shampoo’s that promise super-clean hair out of the water…and it most certainly does! After just one use, my hair felt literally squeaky clean. And a little…goes such a long way. I have hair that just keeps growing longer and longer by the day, and I’m always finding my hair products are rapidly decreasing with my hair growth, but not this shampoo. SAD ALERT: I was walking past a TBS store just after purchasing this online, and saw it was being discontinued. I had already used this shampoo twice and thought…what’s the worse that could happen? And grabbed another bottle… and maybe more…
Clean skin in a couple bottles…
250ml bottles are my enemies. In hair products, they don’t last at all very long. But that’s all changed thanks to these little products, and the many facial products to come. Firstly, “Passion Fruit Cleanser” is up. This was the very first TBS product I used on my skin, and had almost the same reaction as when I tried the hair products…this leaves my skin so clean! I have combination skin, and this kept everything in the “right” balance, though still using twice daily, or as I do, switching from product to product whenever I feel like it. It’s basically your average cleanser with an oomph. That oomph being superpowers, the ability to clean your skin without the need of toner.
NEXT: “Cucumber Cleansing Milk” – this is…indescribable. It’s a formula that you almost moisturise into the skin, then tissue off, not wash. At first, I had doubts because I’d never used a cleansing milk, but I was totally swayed by the fact that this cleanser was the most wonderful thing I’d ever smelt. It also didn’t do a bad job on my skin, either. Even though it had the looks of a moisturiser, it left my skin feeling refreshed and clean.
NEXT: “Refreshing Facial Water” – the first word that came to mind when I first read about this product was…awkward. I had no idea how this would refresh my face, or how the rose water and tea tree oil would make a difference. But Rose Water is known for it’s healing presence on the skin, and tea tree being a big blemish blaster, this water and I have gotten on like a house on fire ever since. yay.
                                                                   
FREE GIFT ALERT!
Yes, it’s true, that (I’m pretty sure it’s all orders right now) The Body Shop give a free gift with online orders! I got the most adorable little Pink Grapefruit Body Wash that’s perfect for travelling and leaving your smelling yummy. It’s a 60ml bottle, like the ones they usually have in gift sets, (I also have the white musk scent), so I was no stranger to the shrinked-size product! 🙂
You can save money with The Body Shop, too…
At the moment, The Body Shop have a promotional offer that can save you up to £25 on items (certain days they also have free standard delivery, otherwise it’s a small £2.99). You can spend £15 and save £5, £25 and save £10, or £50 and save £25! How amazing is that?! All you have to do to be counted into the savings is enter the promo code: SPLASH
Happy savings!
have a great weekend, and stay beautiful!
xo Becca Jayne
what am I listening to at the moment?
Where the Lonely Ones Roam – Digital Daggers (hear it in Pretty Little Liars!)

Lovereading Competition Week! (Closed)

A competition worth entering…have you seen the prizes?

As you may know, lovereading.co.uk have reached 10,000 followers on their Twitter page, and have launched a competition that gives their followers on Twitter and Facebook a chance to win prizes everyday this week when there is a “prize alert”. I’m also such a big fan of their website, and recently got to review a copy of Where’d You Go, Bernadette? for them.

Here’s how you can enter:
When you see the “prize alert” on their Facebook or Twitter, simply “share” with friends on Facebook, or “re-tweet” on Twitter. This will successfully give you an entry into the competition. But don’t wait all day! The “prize alert” is for one hour only!

You could win:
‘The Summer of Secrets’ by Alison Lucy, or ‘Alice Bliss’ by Laura Harrington. Plus, ONE lucky winner will win a copy of both books and a sparkling new Kindle! How amazing is that?!

So, don’t forget to “like” Lovereading’s facebook page, and “follow” their twitter account, and keep your eyes pealed for when the prize alert is taking place!

Wishing you all luck!

xo Becca Jayne

P.S. Join me for my review on Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour VERY soon! 🙂

Join me for my review soon!

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