Lifestyle - Inspired Living SA

Book Reviews, Books, Entertainment, Reviews and Features

The Witness by Nora Roberts

As I may have mentioned previously, I love to read novels filled with as much suspense and drama as possible. Then you can imagine how super excited I was when I was sent a copy of The Witness by Nora Roberts, to review. I have read quite a few of her other books but this is by far my favourite.

The book begins with a young sheltered teenager, Elizabeth Fitch being driven to rebellion, brought about because of her over-protective and controlling mother. Elizabeth has been forced to live her life the way her mother deems fit, with the result she has grown up never knowing the freedom of actually being a “child”. Against the wishes of her mother, Elizabeth steps eagerly into the unknown world of being a “teenager”, into a life of excitement and independence or so she thinks. Her unusually high IQ and ability to forge ID documents, lands her and a friend in an unfamiliar and rather dangerous territory – a world of night clubbing, underage drinking and seductive older men! Unfortunately in her quest for freedom Elizabeth is witness to an event that will change her life forever!

Twelve years later a rather mysterious woman called Abigail Lowery, who lives an isolated and rather reclusive existence, in a small town in the Ozarks, becomes the subject of interest of the towns Police Chief, Brooks Gleason. As a freelance programmer, Abigail designs sophisticated security systems. With both her in-depth security knowledge and her ability to handle a firearm, she has always been able to protect herself. She has up until now been able to keep her past hidden from the local town’s folk but worries that Chief Gleason’s investigations will expose her true identity and once again place her in harm’s way!

What neither Abigail or Brooks count on is the emotional connection that they make. Will this be the undoing of all that Abigail has achieved?

With a quirky, unforgettable heroine and a pulse-pounding plotline, Nora Roberts presents a riveting new read that cements her place as today’s most reliably entertaining thriller author – and will leave people hungering for more.” – Penguin Group

I really enjoyed reading The Witness just the correct amount of suspense and drama! I would highly recommend you give it a read!

{Published by Piatkus Books, RRP R245.00 available at all good book stores}

Source: Penguin Books

Disclaimer: The Witness provided by Penguin Books for review purposes

Kitchen Gadgets & Appliances, Lifestyle

Tips for Picking the Right Dishwasher

Dishwashers can make life so much more convenient. But with so many different models to choose from, making sure you pick the right one for your kitchen can be a difficult job. Follow these tips to ensure that you choose one that perfectly suits your needs.

Size matters

When picking a dishwasher, the most important thing is to make sure that it’s the right size. Take careful measurements of the space you have available to make sure that you don’t end up with one that’s too big or small. If you’re getting a new kitchen fitted and you want to create a streamlined look, opt for a model that’s built into your units. If you’ve only got a small space, a slimline or countertop dishwasher could be an option, bearing in mind that you’ll have less space to prepare food.

Ease of use

If you’ve got a large family, you’ll probably wash at least one load in your dishwasher every day. As a result, it’s important to ensure that the model you choose is convenient to use and has all the necessary components – think a place for cutlery and adequate storage for crockery. You can choose a dishwasher with removable drawers too, so it’s easy to wash larger items.

Economy pays

All new dishwashers, such as the Littlewoods Indesit dishwasher, come with an energy rating. If you want yours to be as cheap to run as possible, choose a model with a low energy rating. The cost of running a dishwasher every day can quickly add up, so choosing one that’s more economical can save you a lot of money in the long run. Once your dishwasher is installed, always use the economy setting. It’s just as effective as a more powerful setting, but will cost you considerably less.

Suit your style

Once you purchase a dishwasher, you expect to keep it for a good few years, so make sure that you like the way it looks. If you don’t want your white goods to look out-of-place in your kitchen, the solution is simple – don’t choose white. These days, there are lots of different dishwashers available in a variety of colours. Pick one that matches your kitchen units or the rest of your décor to avoid that stark white look.

*Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post

Books, Entertainment, FAR Photography, Lifestyle

What's On My Reading List

These are the two books that have been keeping me company the past few nights. Thought I would just share what’s on my reading list and what book reviews you have to look forward to in the next week or two and perhaps even a book giveaway! 🙂 I was also in the mood to take a few pics!

What are you reading at the moment? Do you have a favourite author or category of writing? Are you a fiction or non-fiction gal?

Cape Town Lifestyle, Fashion, Fashion, Lifestyle, Style Inspiration

Zara Cape Town

After much anticipation, Zara Cape Town has finally opened, much to the delight of the eager Fashionistas of Cape Town. This Friday the 17th August, Zara Cape Town opened its doors, in the V&A Waterfront and I was there, with my shopping buddy in tow, to brave the madness.

I have always been a Zara fan and have frequented their stores in the UK when we are there on holiday, so I was really looking forward to them opening right here on home soil. The store did not disappoint, although things were quite chaotic with people pouring in on Friday to get their fashion-fix!

The merchandising was top draw, with different fashion stories wonderfully displayed, giving customers ideas of what fashion ensembles could work together. Gorgeous corals, soft pastels, Chanel style jackets and lace detail were among some of my favourite looks on display – stunning for summer. Trendy animal prints and studded detail on everything from jackets to shoes, were also very popular, along with rather bright floral prints – not my favourite look.

Above are my purchases from Zara on Friday, I have been on the hunt for a blazer like the one above all winter and was delighted to find this one, part of the Zara Basics range. The coral blouse was my favourite purchase, I love the pretty neckline and it looks amazing tucked into a pair of dark denim jeans. The grey top is my first “spring/summer” buy for the season (yes I am wishing winter away); I absolutely love the plunging back! So all in all it was a rather successful shopping expedition!

Someone asked me my thoughts on Zara’s pricing and how it compares to other retail outlets, I think they are on par with local stores such as Country Road and Trennery in Woolworths but have a far more extensive range! They are certainly not cheap but in my mind worth every penny! The V&A store also has a men’s and children’s department, which my hubby and daughters are excited about exploring.

{Navy Blazer R599, Coral Blouse R499, Grey Top R259, Animal Print Scarf R299}

Zara Cape Town is located in the V&A Waterfront, on the ground floor opposite the Levi store, Trading Hours are 9am-9pm.

Design & Decor, Lifestyle

We Heart This

I love nothing more than finding beautiful treasures and filling my closet and home with them. I find that a bit of retail therapy is always good for the soul – maybe not the bank balance but c’est la vie! Making retail therapy even more accessible are the amazing on-line shops that are becoming rather popular in South Africa at the moment.

A recent, on-line discovery of mine, is newcomer, We Heart This. We Heart This is an online treasure trove of beautifully crafted, handmade & locally designed items, selected personally by owners Megan Kenney & Debbie Reabow. Their unsuccessful search for beautiful products available on the web, led them to start their own on-line store, combing South Africa & surrounding areas for unique items that they would love to own themselves.

We hope to create a store that is easy to use and exciting to shop in. ~ We Heart This

All locally inspired, designed and made, We Heart This stocks items from over 30 talented suppliers – their aim being to showcase the best of South African design and gifting. You will find beautifully hand-crafted jewellery, stunning home-ware items and luxurious body treats to name but a few gems available on their site. Your purchases will be packed with love and shipped direct to your door.

So if you need a bit of retail therapy or are in search of the perfect gift, it is all just a click away! Pop over to We Heart This and discover their amazing array of gorgeous goodies.