Sheer Indulgence...

Advantages: A great plot that keeps you guessing
Disadvantages: Character development was a bit poor and sometimes didn't ring true

...a complete about-face and turns in to a woman who just adores being a housewife and spending money on clothes and doesn't care about her job. Even for a short while when Jocasta does this, it just didn't ring true and I felt that Vincenzi had turned her without any warning in to a completely different character. On the whole I enjoyed this book - I always find sheer indulgence in reading about these fictional gorgeous successful women and it certainly makes a change from fluffy no-brain 'chick-lit' and their often-dumb witted protagonists. A lot less sex than the usual "glam" writing from the likes of the Bagshawe sisters but with lots of wit, a great storyline that keeps you guessing for most of the book and interesting and likeable characters....

burtybookworm 21.05.2009 · Read review
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Review of Sheer Abandon - Penny Vincenzi

Elegantly Wasted

Advantages: fashion tips for the lay-deeez
Disadvantages: slow introduction to the main character

...Louise Canova is an American living in London. She's 32, childless and already feels as if her marriage has reached crisis point. The last thing she feels is 'elegant'. By chance she discovers a gem of a book in a second hand bookshop. It's entitled 'Elegance' and is an A-Z of style written by Madame Antoine Dariaux, a French fashion expert. This book is the beginning of a new Louise as she reads Madame's advice on everything from ideal wardrobes to husbands. She decides it's time for a life change. * What I thought * To start off, this was a little cliched. Louise is frumpy - so naturellement her mother in law is an ex-model. Her hubby is more interested in gardening than noticing what Louise is wearing. As soon as Louise starts reading 'Elegance' she gives herself the Trinny and Susannah treatment and throws out...

kirstymack80 03.01.2005 · Read review
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Review of Elegance - Kathleen Tessaro

Elegant and Enigmatic

Advantages: Beautiful photos, revealing, informative, sensitive
Disadvantages: None

...I am very interested in film stars of the 1950s and 1960s. One of these is Audrey Hepburn, who I loved when I watched My Fair Lady on TV as a child. I was looking for a biography to buy about her, so looked through Amazon and Ebay for something suitable, as I wanted to learn more about her life. When I saw the front cover of this book, I knew I had to buy it. The picture is stunning ? a young Audrey with short hair and a pink blouse, looking back towards the camera. Then I saw it was written by her son and I was even more intrigued. I bought Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit by Sean Hepburn Ferrer from Ebay for £5.99 (£9.49 with postage), but it is also available from Amazon for £9.12. Sean has also written a second book on his mother called The Audrey Hepburn Treasures, which I hope to buy soon. I read An Elegant Spirit...

KarenUK 24.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of Audrey Hepburn, An Elegant Spirit - Sean Hepburn Ferrer

Babyliss for (Slightly) More Elegant Hair

Advantages: Reliable, sturdy hair dryer with a good length guarantee
Disadvantages: Mine's about to pass its guarantee

...Yesterday morning my hair dryer made a funny noise causing me momentary panic. Taking the time (for once) to remove the back and de-lint my dryer and shaking it once or twice was about all I could think to do. Upon reflection I've had the hair dryer for about three years and if memory serves the guarantee (if I had a clue where that was, may need to go through some files) was for three years. These evening I went to use my hair dryer again (yes, I over dry my hair) and was pleased to find that everything seemed to be back to normal. Having had all sorts of issues with hair dryers straighteners in the past I've become quite fond of my sturdy Bablyiss Elegance hair dryer. I apologise for being slightly light on details of the packaging of the hair dryer. I bought it upon my arrival in England about three years ago. It was in a box...

Mountainlilly 02.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of Babyliss Elegance

A little bit of Parisian elegance

Advantages: Enjoyable, leisurely and well written
Disadvantages: A sudden ending

...I picked up this book in Waterstones a couple of months ago. I had chosen two other books in their 3 for 2 section, and was browsing for another one when this title caught my eye. Of course I had to pick it up and read the blurb on the back, and luckily, in addition to the fantastic title, it sounded like an interesting read. The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery tells the story of Renee, a concierge in a fancy Parisian apartment block, and Paloma, a 12 year old girl who lives in that apartment block. On the surface, Renee appears to be a typical concierge, who is simple, uncultured and eats bland and funny smelling food. However, she is very intelligent, much more so than most of the inhabitants, but hides it as a concierge should not be cleverer than her rich employers. Paloma is also incredibly intelligent, but, in order...

eilidhcatriona 13.07.2009 · Read review
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Review of The Elegance of the Hedgehog - Muriel Barbery

Elegant on the cover, ugly inside

Advantages: Good cover, interesting excerpts from another book
Disadvantages: Not funny, unsympathetic main character and lots of stereotypes

...What is true elegance? We can all think of people who are elegant ? Audrey Hepburn perhaps? Definitely Grace Kelly. But certainly not the main character of this book, Louise Canova. >> WHAT IS THE BOOK ABOUT? << At the beginning of the book, Louise?s marriage is on the rocks, her confidence is shattered and her idea of an elegant outfit is her favourite grey bobbly dress (which let?s be honest was fashionable five years ago) paired with practical, flat Mary Janes with Velcro fastenings. But help is on hand in the shape of an old book buried deep in the bookshelves of Louise?s favourite second-hand bookshop. The book is called ?Elegance? and is written by Genevieve Antoine Dariaux, a Parisian socialite and fashion expert. It is an A-Z of style, giving women simple tips on ?how to be elegant?. Louise picks the book up...

Maia 17.04.2004 · Read review
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Review of Elegance - Kathleen Tessaro

Pro Elegance - Pretty but not the best

Advantages: Does straighten hair pretty well
Disadvantages: Cheap feel, heat functions dodgy, quite pricey for what you get!!

...I was bought these straighteners after my last pair literally blew up!! I have naturally curly hair so life without straighteners is just unimaginable!! They look very stylish and the colour makes them look just like the description Pro Elegance, but they feel very plastic like when you pick them up and they are very light (one feature that is useful when you have to spend an hour with your hands above your head so to speak). They come complete with a heat protective mat, case and hair clips again all in the bronze colour, these are useful tools. They have three different heat settings but the dots rubbed off after a few uses so I now have no idea which is which so I often end up burning my hair as I accidently put it on the wrong setting, mmm whats that smell!!!! They have a reasonable cable length which most don...

Shar412 06.06.2008 · Read review
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Review of BaByliss 2088 U PRO 230 Elegance

Sheer brilliance.

Advantages: Glossy finish, moisturises lips.
Disadvantages: Price maybe.

...I have two of these lipsticks and love them! In total there are five shades. 01 Pink. This is a Barbie pink shade. 02 Guava. This is a deep pink almost purple when you look at it in its packaging. 05 Ruby. Yes you guessed it this is red. 06 Blush. A deep pink, without the purple tendency. 07 Caramel. This is a taupe colour. Yes, I am sure you noticed and think that I cannot count but you are wrong, I can 03 and 04 are missing from the list, they must have been discontinued at some point. As all the shades are very sheer do not think of them as being solid but a wash of colour so even though Guava actually sounds like it is not wearable and scary but it really isn't. I own Guava and it gives a great sheer pink to the lips and is in no way over the top once on, it doesn't show up much at all.. I also own Blush and this is...

nursie_nursie 20.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of The Body Shop Sheer Lip Colour

Not So Elegant

Advantages: Good range of sizes, easy to apply, look nice and slightly natural. They are a good length
Disadvantages: They are pe glued and fall off in the first hour of application and need to be glued down

...together and they don?t last as long. I have tried lots of different False Nails bought from High Street stores, some have been really good ones which looked good and lasted a good length of time before they started falling off and others have been a complete waste of money and time applying them as they seemed to fall off really quickly and they looked awful. As I have previously mentioned there are lots of different nails on the market to choose from, many from different manufacturers with prices ranging from a small £4 right up to over £10 per pack. The most popular type of false nail in my opinion has to be the French Tip style which looks clean, classy and elegant but there are a lot of different other types which aren?t as plain looking for those who prefer a more glitzy look there are nails which are coloured and have designs...

just.bcoz 19.03.2009 · Read review
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Review of Elegant Touch Pre-Glued Nails

easy elegance

Advantages: romantic, pleasent, easy read
Disadvantages: no real plot, not involving

...Again, I recieved this book in the post for my birthday, the synopsis sounded quite good, i was intrigued so I quickly began the book. The main character has become bored with her life, she is stuck in a rut and in a loveless marriage. She finds an old book in a second hand book store and becomes inspired to change. She becomes obsessed by following the advice of the A - Z of elegance and her life starts to radically change. She leaves her husband and you follow her to a new job and some new men. Eventually she finds a good guy and falls in love. This book is a nice, pleasent easy read. It's fairly romantic and I did find myself wanting her to get together with the guy at the end. The snipits from the old book she finds are amusing at first but become a little boring and I found myself skipping through them. If you want something...

mussonanna 19.02.2006 · Read review
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Review of Elegance - Kathleen Tessaro