New Releases, Free & Bargain Books Link-up 27 May 2016

How are you all this week?  It's my birthday tomorrow and I'm hoping for a little something written by Hemsley + Hemsley.

I always find birthdays are a great time for reviewing all those New Year's Resolutions I made (and didn't carry on with).  Mind you, after a large piece of cake and some vino, I usually find I've forgotten all about them until the end of the year.

If one of your resolutions was to find more time for yourself to indulge in a bit of peaceful reading, you'll find plenty to choose from on this week's linky.

Here's the fab books on offer this week.

Sharing the Love of Books
Enjoy our selection of New Releases / Free & Bargain Books this week

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

Authors please feel free to add your own books
Readers please free to add your own finds
(any genre except erotica welcome)

This weekly link up is hosted by Beck Valley Books & these awesome book loving blogs...
Monday
 Life as Leels | IrishdaisylovesRomance | Book Babble | All Romance Reader
Tuesday
It's My Side of Life | Celticlady's Reviews | First Time Mommy Adventures | Bound 2 Escape
Wednesday
Beck Valley Books | A Library of Reviews | Cinnamon Hollow Reviews
Thursday
Miki's Hope | Taking Time for Mommy | Nicki's Nook
Friday
Ebook Addicts | I Love Romance | A Bit Bookish | Mother Distracted | Colorimetry
Saturday
Totally Addicted to Reading | 3 Partners in Shopping | Angie's Angle | I Creat Purty Thangs | Wishful Endings
Sunday
Lynchburg Mama | LibriAmoriMiei | Ali - The Dragon Slayer | Wondermom Wannabe | My Bizzy World |  Deal Sharing Aunt 

For Pre-orders post - PRE-ORDER / genre / title /author

For New Releases post - NEW / genre / title / author

For Free Books post - FREE / genre / title / author / end date 

For Bargain Books post - SALE / price / genre / title / author / end date
(Strictly no Erotica please.  Steamy romance is fine but watch those covers people, incase any underage child is viewing it!)

Click HERE for this week's awesome selection.

And don't forget you can always add some of your own!

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What is Hepatitis A?

A third outbreak of Hepatitis A has been confirmed in a South Wales school this week.

But what exactly is Hepatitis A?

Source:  Jeff Eaton, Flickr

Hepatitis A is a liver infection caused by the Hepatitis A virus (HAV) and it is highly contagious.

It is usually spread when the Hepatitis A virus is taken in by mouth from contact with objects, food, or drinks contaminated by the feces (or stool) of an infected person.

This is more likely to occur in countries where Hepatitis A is common and in areas where there are poor sanitary conditions or poor personal hygiene.

The average time between exposure to the virus and the development of hepatitis symptoms is about 30 days.

One of the first viral hepatitis symptoms is a high temperature and fever along with feeling tired and unwell.

Other symptoms include:-

- joint & muscle pain
- loss of appetite
- pain in the upper right part of your stomach
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes)
- dark urine and pale stools
- itchy skin

Hepatitis A in children is usually asymptomatic while in adolescents and adults the symptoms are easier to spot.

Because Hepatitis A can be a mild infection, particularly in children, some people might not know that they've had it. It can cause prolonged illness for up to 6 months, but usually only causes short-lived, mild illness.

It does not cause chronic liver disease. In milder cases, symptoms may be similar to a stomach virus (with vomiting and diarrhea).

The best way to prevent Hepatitis A is through vaccination with the Hepatitis A vaccine but this is not routinely offered on the NHS.

If you are travelling to a higher risk area, such as Africa, Asia, Central America, Southern and Eastern Europe, you are advised to get yourself vaccinated.

Immune globulin can be given either before exposure to the Hepatitis A virus (such as before travel to a country where Hepatitis A is common) or to prevent infection after exposure to the Hepatitis A virus.

Otherwise the NHS advice on managing Hepatitis A includes staying away from school or work for at least a week after your symptoms appeared, getting lots of rest and being meticulous about your personal hygiene.

Public Health Wales say "We continue to work closely with Environmental Health Officers to investigate this outbreak and to offer advice to parents, school staff and pupils. All information received is treated confidentially.

 

People are advised to contact their own GP or NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47 if they have any concerns about their health or their child’s health."

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Why More People Are Investing In Sterling Silver Jewellery

Sterling silver jewellery is by far the shiniest of all the precious metals. A lot of people choose to adorn themselves with sterling silver pieces over any other metals. In fact, both the popularity and value of silver has risen, making way for even more choices among sterling silver designs.

Here are 5 reasons why people choose to invest in silver jewellery.

1. The Value of Sterling Silver

While it is the most brilliant and whitest metal, sterling silver is also more affordable than platinum or gold. Since it is a fraction of the price of gold, finding a stunning piece of silver jewellery for a modest price makes for more variety and allows customers to feel like they have found something sensational for a good price. You can take a look at the collection of silver jewellery here.

2. Durability of Silver Jewellery

Silver is a harder metal that can stand the test of time. It can be filed down effortlessly and polished to repair a surface that has been damaged or simply worn out with normal wear. Rings can be sized quickly and easily, and repair costs in general for this metal are economical.

3. Artistry and Design

The variety of jewellery designs in silver is abundant. This is mostly because new artists can afford to cast a lot more designs in this metal than in platinum or gold. This means that there are more and more new jewellery designers and new concepts on the market. The Silver by Mail silver jewellery collection has some gorgeous new designs.

4. Different Styles in Silver

Sometimes it is tough keeping up with the latest jewellery trends. But since silver jewellery is more affordable, customers are able to update their wardrobes more frequently and mix and match as they please.

5. Interchangeable

Many customers find that silver jewellery is easily interchangeable with platinum and gold items. They can don stunning silver designs with other items from their jewellery box, which means that a variety of designs can be worn together as unique ensembles.

Many people adore sterling silver for its bright lustre. The marketplace has seen resurgence in sterling silver simply because it is less expensive to produce and buy compared to its platinum and gold counterparts.

Customers love the fact that sterling silver pieces are great value and highly durable. They can keep up to date with the latest designs without having to pay a fortune to procure them.

Today, many high-end designers enjoy casting their unique jewellery designs in sterling silver. It’s not uncommon to see beautiful precious gemstones being set in silver, either.

Jewellery lovers are enjoying this concept and being able to afford new pieces from popular designers.

While sterling silver may require a small amount of special care to retain its simmer, that doesn’t bother today’s customers. They have learned how to look after their precious pieces and find that it is well worth the effort to continue enjoying all the advantages that purchasing sterling silver has to offer.

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Are You In The Greatest British Family? - Show Your Family Selfie & Win £300 With Prestige!

Prestige, makers of some of the nation's best loved kitchenware, are running a fabulous competition to find the Greatest British Family and to reward them with £300 to spend at Prestige.co.uk.

Now all I have to do is get us all in ONE picture!

Prestige has been at the heart of the British home for more than 75 years and I can certainly remember my mum making casseroles in her Prestige dishes and mixing up a Victoria Sandwich or two.  There was also the unfortunate "bran muffin" phase where she created a cake dense enough to create a partition wall but nobody is allowed to talk about that.

This year Prestige have created a new range of kitchenware in patriotic blue or red with their Vintage Kitchen range - just in time for the Queen's Birthday.

Enamel Mixing Bowls & Ramekins From The Prestige Vintage Kitchen Range

Families have changed over the years but one thing remains the same - the importance of spending time together and making memories and Prestige want to celebrate families everywhere.

How To Enter

Simply submit a family selfie or video that shows what makes your family the greatest in Britain and tell Prestige what sets your family apart from the rest.

It could be family baking together, a trip to the zoo or playing footie on a Saturday morning for example.

All you need to do is upload your family selfie via the submission box on the right hand side of the competition page HERE

You must explain why you're the Greatest British Family in the description and if you wish to submit a video, there's a separate link you'll need to follow.

You can join in the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #greatestbritishfamily after you have entered!

The Prizes

One lucky winner will receive £300 to spend at Prestige.co.uk and there are two £100 prizes for a family member of your choice.

All entrants will automatically receive a Prestige discount code to spend on any Prestige products on the Prestige website.

Closing Date

The competition will close on Sunday 31st July. So what are you waiting for?

Get ending those videos and family selfies.

Good luck and here's that link again.

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Fab Free Ebook - Best of British - 101 Ideas For Having Fun With The Kids This Summer As Recommended By Bloggers

What’s better, the warm British summer breeze running through your hair on the beach, or the thrill of adrenaline coursing through your veins after a big roller coaster ride?

Obviously it's the Husband's duty to go on all the scary rides as somebody has to hold on to all the coats and bags since the British summer weather is more unpredictable than Kanye West on a talk show.

Fortunately, whether you’re a beach or thrill fan, summer is only a few weeks away and there is no time like the present to get planning.

If, like me, you’re struggling for ideas of where to take the kids this summer, check out this handy ebook created by over 101 of the Best British Bloggers.

With hundreds of activities, destinations, and just general FUN each of the ideas has been tested by a blogger just like myself and is a personal recommendation straight from the heart.

Source:  Anil Nayar

My suggestion for the book was DYFFRYN GARDENS, SOUTH WALES I wrote…

"Our favourite local National Trust property is Dyffryn Gardens where we spend many happy hours playing hide and seek and admiring the really unique collection of plants they have.

It’s like entering the Secret Garden, peaceful, quiet and plenty of space for the kids to run.

Caitlin & Ieuan Exploring Dyffryn Gardens

We will be heading back to Dyffryn Gardens this summer for more exploring and lots of after-school picnics. We love supporting the National Trust and family membership means free entry to some amazing properties and gardens all over the UK.

Let me know if you have a destination favourite from the ebook!

And let's hope that the long promised "barbecue summer" actually arrives this year.

Update:  The ebook is no longer available but you can find more ideas in these posts:-

http://www.motherdistracted.co.uk/2015/10/what-to-do-with-kids-around-cardiff.html
http://www.motherdistracted.co.uk/2015/09/hide-and-seek-at-cadw-raglan-castle.html
http://www.motherdistracted.co.uk/2015/08/we-packed-our-imagination-and-went-to.html

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Review: Lose Yourself At Octer.co.uk - An Online Shopping Mall You'll Want To Revisit

I was recently introduced to online retail site Octer.co.uk, a new website which not only allows you to search for your favourite items but let's you select your purchases by store as well as item type.

Octer is a start-up company developing mobile-first, e-commerce technology with the goal of making online shopping simple. As you might expect you can shop using Octer via your mobile or tablet too.

The best way to describe it is as an online shopping mall.

I was given the chance to try the Octer shopping experience by selecting a maxi dress.

You select the category - in this instance "Womens" and you can either search by the item category "Dresses & Skirts", shop by brand or shop by store.

If you select "Dresses & Skirts", you are given a further set of options to select from.  I chose "Maxi Dress" and was taken to a page with loads of fabulous dresses to choose from.

These options give you an incredible amount of choice!

Once you have selected a dress, you simply click straight through to the retailer..

Whilst looking for your maxi dress, Octer will suggest loads of similar styles you might like and allow you to check details such as price, size and availability by a one click link through to the relevant store.

Each item clicked on appears in a separate window and everything is under one 'virtual roof' so that you don't have to have keep going to and fro from other websites.

Technically this will speed up shopping.  In reality I found I could spend hours on Octer!  You don't just get one or two alternative suggestions, you get pages of them which you can sort according to low or high price too.

Not only does Octer offer fashion but it also offers beauty, technology, interiors, gifts and sports products.

So what did I choose?

My lovely Jarlo Yara Green Maxi From Asos.Com

I found this lovely green overlay maxi dress from Jarlo Yara Maxi Dress at ASOS.Com.

Octer is well worth exploring if you fancy a full shopping experience without the stress of a crowded shopping mall on Saturday.  And if you've every tried that with kids in tow, you know exactly how stressful that can be!

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Review: Vita Liberata pHenomenal Luxury Tan 2-3 Week Tan Mousse

I recently had the opportunity to test Vita Liberata Luxury Tan 2-3 Week Tan Mousse, courtesy of Fighting Fifty, a website with an engaged audience of women, and increasingly men, approaching and over 50, who are looking for good health, beauty and fitness information and education.

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 Week Tan Mousse is a luxury self tan product which has ingredients that are organic, odourless, non-toxic and very long lasting.

The product claims to give a natural looking tan which fades evenly and is the World's first completely non-toxic tanning range.  There are no parabens, perfume or alcohol and the product is odourless (no yucky "biscuit" smell).

Vita Liberata pHenomenal 2-3 week Tan Mousse is fast drying and claimed to last 4 times longer than regular tans.  Plus, because it contains organic ingredients, it is kinder to your skin.

I have to admit being a complete duffer at self tan application, having previously flirted with numerous spray-on colours, tanning moisturisers and a couple of the well known brands popular with the celebs.

I was sent the Medium Golden Bronze shade and found Vita Liberata to be incredibly easy to apply.

It's a light, frothy mousse which is quickly absorbed and dries instantly - no annoying staining.

You just apply in light circular motions with a tanning mitt (there's a small one supplied in the box with the produdct), making sure you take extra care around knees, elbows, feet and ankles.

You do need to make sure that you exfoliate thoroughly before application as with all self tan products.

Best of all it gives an instant colour so you can quickly apply some to get rid of the pasty glow from your legs before sprinting out on the school run.

The colour develops over 4-8 hours and fades slowly over days - although you are advised to use just water on your self tan patches when you shower.

You can reapply to darken the colour if you choose (or to prolong the tan).

I found the product gave me a lovely natural looking medium bronze colour without streaking after just one application.  You can see my handywork in the photo.

Vita Liberata retails at £37.50 for 125 ml from the Vita Liberata website (also Boots, Space NK and other pharmacies) which makes it slightly more expensive than that well known brand with the French name but this was so easy to use I am extremely tempted to treat myself.

Locally a spray tan costs around £30 so this compares favourably and I haven't yet summoned up the courage to step into the spray tan booth - not least because the idea of all those chemicals puts me off.

If you're thinking of trying a self tan for the first time or just want a reliable, no fuss and organic product, this one is well worth trying.

*I was sent a small sample of Vita Liberata to try in return for an honest review.

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