First impression: True Reflection EDP by Kim Kardashian...

I'll admit that TRUE REFLECTION is 'nice' and a huge step up from the other Kim Kardashian fragrance releases that I've tried...

Album review - Teenage Dream: The Complete Confection by Katy Perry

TEENAGE DREAM: THE COMPLETE CONFECTION is the re-release of Katy Perry's third studio album [Teenage Dream followed One Of The Boys and Katy Hudson]. The executive producers for the album are Max Martin and Dr Luke. Other individual track producers include Ammo, Benny Blanco, Tricky Stewart, Stargate, Sandy Vee and Greg Wells.
Katy penned every song on the album and her regular co-writers include; Bonnie McKee, Dr. Luke, Max Martin, Benny Blanco, Ester Dean, Stargate, Sandy Vee, Tricky Stewart, Monte Neuble, Greg Wells and Calvin Broadus.

☻☻☻/☻☻☻☻☻

I personally find Katy Perry's "I will never grow up" attitude irritating and think that her vocals, while powerful, lack control; however I still thoroughly enjoyed the Teenage Dream album and gave that a solid four stars.

But as much as I like the original album, there are a few weaker so-so tracks on it, so I was looking forward to TEENAGE DREAM: THE COMPLETE CONFECTION, as I expected the weak points in the album to be bolstered by the new tracks.

What prompted me to write a review for the re-release is that fact that out of the seven 'new' tracks, three have already been available to buy as MP3s for months now, AND they are just alternate versions of original album tracks. Considering that this release isn't just a case of the record label slapping a 'special edition' sticker on the album, instead getting new singles and a costly promotional tour, I was very disappointed with the wasted space filled up with multiple remixes of existing tracks that fans could have gone out and bought beforehand anyway.

And then there's the 'new' tracks; only one [Wide Awake] is possibly a new track - the other two [Part Of Me and Dressin' Up] were left of the original Teenage Dream as they weren't deemed good enough. I'm not sure if Wide Awake is actually new, so we're possibly only getting a megamix 'fresh' and leftovers for our money. So, considering that she wanted a new edition of Teenage Dream as she "had fresh things she needed to say", she has just added three tracks that were already downloadable singles, two or three songs that were actually recorded over two years ago and one cheesy megamix.

So TEENAGE DREAM: THE COMPLETE CONFECTION isn't about sharing new experiences or feelings via song, it's purely an excuse to milk more money out of her fans. At the end of the day, if you already own Teenage Dream then there is no need to go out and buy TEENAGE DREAM: THE COMPLETE CONFECTION. I pre-ordered my copy before the final track list was confirmed and forgot about it, so I'm now kicking myself over the wasted money.


Owners of the original album, only really need to spend 79p on the MP3 of Wide Awake, as that's the only substantial new track to be found on the new edition of the album. Everything else 'new' is padding, which only highlights the original album's weak spots.

If you don't already own Teenage Dream, then yes, TEENAGE DREAM: THE COMPLETE CONFECTION is something to consider buying. But be aware that most of the tracks are more radio-friendly and bubblegum, then the songs on Katy's first album Katy Hudson, and even then in her One Of The Boys album.

Book review: Last Rites [Lucy Hart #1] by Mercy Walker

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★★★★/★★★★★

The basic premise for LAST RITES is that Lucy - privileged princess turned poor and unpopular after her attorney father is jailed for tax evasion and immigrant slave trafficking - lines herself up for an arranged marriage into a wealthy family, in exchange for a car and a credit card, plus a cash payout in the future.

Unfortunately, things soon take a turn for the worse. Her fake fiancee Gabriel is a werewolf and the reason that he needs Lucy to pose as his wife in the first place is because his real lover is a 600 year old vampire, and the two races are forbidden to mate. This would be the point that most girls would run away, but Lucy sees her opportunity and just asks for more money to continue with the scheme.

However; spending time with the handsome, charming and rich Gabriel, unsurprisingly leads to Lucy falling for him. But which woman does Gabriel want and how will his real girlfriend react when she finds out that Lucy might not be faking her feelings for her future husband?


So we now have one guy + two girls = at least one of our players is going to end up getting their heart ripped out. You know that this isn't going to end well...

No Safe Words Here: A ongoing erotic tale...

I feel like the only person who hasn't read - or at least attempted to read - 50 Shades of Grey. The whole it-began-as-Twilight-fan-fiction thing put me off immediately [I couldn't force myself to read past the first third of the first Twilight book], so the huge surge in the popularity of erotic fiction has passed me by. Until now.
No Safe Words Here is a first draft erotic novel [so adults only], by indie author Mercy Walker.

I've read a few of her books [I'll get my Last Rites review up soon], so decided to give the first chapter of this a go and have become hooked, so I just wanted to pass the info along.


Mercy discusses No Safe Words Here, err, here.

A sun-kissed glow for ghosts...

So it's (finally) summer and I want some colour, but as I have the same skintone as Casper bronzer tends to look muddy and fake tan? No. I've had some horrible experiences and don't care for a repeat. 

After many, many years I've found the perfect bronzer for us paler ladies; TooFaced's Peach Leopard bronzer. I'm a big fan of TooFaced's Pink Leopard brightening highlighter and when the brand released the peach version I was keen to get my hands on it..