Book review: False Impression Audible Audiobook by Jeffrey Archer

This book kept on the edge of my seat from start to finish.  The story is about art theft but has events of 911 in incredibly realistic and breathtaking details.  Jeffrey Archer made me feel I was there better than any other account I have read.  The story takes many twists and turns, and I was riding the roller coaster the entire way.  What a great book!

Jeffrey Archer is one of my favorite authors. This book did not disappoint.

I listened to the audiobook and I thought Byron Jennings did an excellent job.  His narration brought the story to life.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★



Kane & Abel
1. Kane & Abel (1979)
2. The Prodigal Daughter (1982)
3. Shall We Tell the President? (1977)


Year of Short Stories
The Grass Is Always Greener (2000)
Cheap at Half the Price (2011)
Christina Rosenthal (2011)
Clean Sweep Ignatius (2011)
The Queen's Birthday Telegram (2011)
In the Eye of the Beholder (2011)
No Room at the Inn (2011)
One Man's Meat (2011)
The Endgame (2017)
The Man Who Robbed His Own Post Office (2018)
Caste-Off (2018)
Too Many Coincidences (2018)
Charity Begins at Home (2018)
High Heels (2018)
Crime Pays (2018)
Don't Drink the Water (2018)
Members Only (2018)
Other Blighters' Efforts (2018)
The Luck of the Irish (2018)

Clifton Chronicles
1. Only Time Will Tell (2011)
2. The Sins of the Father (2012)
3. Best Kept Secret (2013)
4. Be Careful What You Wish For (2014)
5. Mightier Than the Sword (2015)
6. Cometh the Hour (2016)
7. This Was a Man (2016)


William Warwick Chronicle
1. Nothing Ventured (2019)


Novels
Not A Penny More, Not A Penny Less (1976)
First Among Equals (1984)
A Matter of Honour (1986)
As the Crow Flies (1991)
Honour Among Thieves (1993)
The Fourth Estate (1996)
The Eleventh Commandment (1998)
Sons of Fortune (2002)
False Impression (2005)
A Prisoner of Birth (2008)
Paths of Glory (2009)
Heads You Win (2018)

Product review: True Lemon Bulk Dispenser Pack, 100 Count by True Citrus

I love lemon in my tea, but somehow often those lemons turn into a moldy mess before I use the entire lemon.  I have tried lemon juice in a bottle but was never satisfied with the taste.  True Lemon came up as Amazon's recommendation when I purchased something else and given the strong reviews I tried.  Yes, I agree. It tastes very natural. One package is just the right amount for a large cup of tea.

I purchased the Bulk Dispenser. The box has an opening from which the packages can be removed.  Each package is foiled lined.  The expiration date on my package is  2 years in the future.

The list of ingredients on my box shows three things: citric acid, lemon oil, lemon juice.

The package has only the lemon flavor, it is not sweet.  I add sugar to my tea just the same as if squeezed some lemon into it.  The content of the package is small crystals, less than a tablespoon. In the attached photo, I show the content of one package in a teaspoon.

Overall, I am very pleased. Nice natural taste.  I recently made my fourth purchase of the 100 count pack.  Good stuff!

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Book review: Killing England: The Brutal Struggle for American Independence by Bill O'Reilly's

I found this book interesting and educational.  I learned small details I did not know before.  The author does a great job of making history as exciting as a modern-day thriller.  The story follows many of the people who are part of our history (Washington, Hamilton, Franklin, Jefferson, LaFollette, Marion, Arnold...) and I had a hard time putting it down.

I listened to the audio version of the book where the narrating duties are brilliantly shared by Robert Petkof and Bill O'Reily.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: YOOWL Winter convertable Gloves Mittens with Thinsulate Insulation Unisex

I got the black tweed gloves, size small.  They are true to size and fit perfectly.  The gloves have open fingertips that can be covered with a flap to convert them into mittens and keep my hands warm.  The flap stays open by being held down by a Velcro strip to the top of the glove. Inside the glove is Thinsulate thermal insulation, which is soft and pleasant to touch in addition to adding warmth.  Thinsulate is made by 3M. The gloves are knitted out of wool, so they are not waterproof. The palm is covered by pseudo suede material, so the grip is pretty good.

Here are the measurements of the small size gloves:
~ the width of the glove measure just above the thumb on the outside of the glove is 4"
~ the length of the thumb of the glove is 2 3/4"
~ the length of the flap at the center is 4"
~ the cuff is 2" long

So overall, very nice gloves.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: Clinique Even Better Clinical Dark Spot Corrector (USELESS!)

If you are looking for a product to remove dark spots (sunspots), this product does not help. It is pleasant in texture and odor-free. It is absorbed well and does not leave the skin shiny as some other preparations. The skin is left softer after the application. However, it has no effect on dark spots.
After using the serum for many months with no visible results, I saw a dermatologist and asked her if there is any chance that this serum will work. She said no. She said, freezing the skin where the spots are however is very effective. I went ahead and told her to do the freezing. Several weeks later, my spots were totally gone, there is not even a faint mark where they were. It cost me $25 per spot (insurance does not cover it since it is cosmetic). For a week it looked like I had a couple of pimples until the skin totally healed. If any spots appear again, I will do the freezing again. I can't tell where the old spots used to be.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.

Ali Julia review ★☆☆☆☆

Product review: MOSFiATA 8" Chef's Knife with Finger Guard and Knife Sharpener

This is an excellent knife!  The handle has a nice shape I am finding it very comfortable to hold.  It is sharp, cuts well and is easy to handle. It has a nice feel overall, and a good weight; not to heavy and not too light

This knife had been used every day, cooking for almost two weeks. I use it to cut everything: vegetables, meat, fruit. It remained sharp, I do not see any imperfections or dents.  I am quite pleased with it.  In the attached video, you can see it in action.

The knife has a beautiful pattern on the blade. This is because the knife's blade is made out of laminated stainless steel. German stainless steel that resists rust and discoloration. The use of laminated steel improves the strength and rust resistance of the blade (and it looks beautiful).

The package includes a finger, a blade guard, and a blade sharpener.  I never had much luck with blade sharpeners, but I like having a blade guard and plan to learn how to use a finger guard.

A note on the packaging. I don't often comment on packaging unless there is something special about it. This knife comes in a beautiful packaging, the box packing is sculpted to the knives shape and is made out of red velvety material. The presentation of the knife is suited for a gift.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★

Product review: GUM Super Tip Toothbrush, Full Medium Bristles with Bonus Proxabrush Go-Between

My dentist has been recommending and giving Gum toothbrushes for years... until this year.  This year he switched to another brand and I realized how much I love my Gum toothbrushes.  For the first time in many many years, I went out and bought a toothbrush even though he gave me another brand for free.  I like the shape of the brush, the texture of the bristles, and even how the brush's handle feels in my hand.

You can find it on Amazon by following this link.


Ali Julia review ★★★★★