Jul. 25, 2008
Other Orlando Activities
 This week, Jennifer wants to know about other activities in the Disney/Orlando area. When we get down there, we are all about Disney, BUT we do occasionally venture out in search of other entertainment.
 It has become a bit of a tradition to stop by Old Town - it's right along the Irlo-Bronson Memorial Highway, which runs through Kissimmee. We stayed in a hotel right across from it on one of our earliest trips.
On our last trip, we spent our first night at the Days Inn right beside Old Town (while waiting to get into our timeshare for the remainder of our vacation). We met up with some friends and had dinner together at Old Town and enjoyed walking around in the carnival-like atmosphere.
 Another place that I had always wanted to visit was Sea World. So, on our last trip to the area, we decided to add Sea World to our week's activities. I must say that, compared to a Disney park, I wasn't impressed with the layout of Sea World. Rather than being laid out in an organized manner as the Disney parks are, Sea World is much more like a maze. I found it hard to navigate and to get from point A to point B in time to see various shows, etc. I would definitely recommend a 2-day pass to this park if you're really wanting to see it all.
The Shamu character is nothing like the characters at Disney either, but he certainly is cuddly and the girls enjoys snuggling up to him for a picture.
One of my favorite pictures from our last Florida trip is this one, to the left. The girls are watching some flamingos and other birds. For once, they had both sat still enough to allow me to braid their hair. That is very unual for Gracie, who never wants anything in her hair! A rare day indeed!
 Gracie is still a bit miffed at me because I actually got to touch a dolphin! If you're interested, they feel very smooth and slippery. One of these days, we'll have to save up enough money to go to Discovery Cove and swim with the dolphins because the girls and I are all very attracted to them!
 Just a word of Sea World warning: if you go to the Whale Show and you do not want to get wet, DO NOT SIT IN THE SOAK ZONE! Even if your husband happens to say "oh, the water will never come up here to these top rows of the soak zone", don't believe him! They wait 'til the very end and bring out the biggest whale of all; and, trust me, the water will come up there and YOU WILL GET WET! (I'm in the middle of this picture, holding Gracie who was screaming! Notice the lady a few rows in front of us in the black hat, turning around staring at us! LOL Photo courtesy of my parents who were intelligent enough to take the signs seriously!)
We haven't tried any of the dinner theaters or other Orlando attractions, but I'm interested in reading what others have to say about them. If you're interested to, be sure to stop by Jennifer's blog and read everyone's posts.
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Jul. 23, 2008
CFBA Featured Book ~ July 23-25
 In this story of sisterhood and unexpected paths, Gaylen Syler-Boatwright flees her unraveling marriage to take refuge in a mountain cottage owned by her deceased aunt. Burdened with looking after her adult sister, Delia, she is shocked to find a trail of family secrets hidden within her aunt’s odd collection of framed, painted dresses. With Delia, who attracts trouble as a daily occupation, Gaylen embarks on a road trip that throws the unlikely pair together on a journey to painful understanding and delightful revelations.
Steeped in Hickman’s trademark humor, her spare writing voice, and the bittersweet pathos of the South, Painted Dresses powerfully captures a woman’s desperate longing to uncover a hidden, broken life and discover the liberty of living authentically, even when the things exposed are shrouded in shame.
If you would like to read the first chapter, go HERE
 Patricia Hickman is an award-winning author of fiction and non-fiction, whose work has been praised by critics and readers alike.
Patricia Hickman began writing many years ago after an invitation to join a writer's critique group. It was headed up by best-selling author Dr. Gilbert Morris, a pioneer in Christian fiction who has written many best selling titles. The group eventually came to be called the "Nubbing Chits". All four members of the original "Chits" have gone on to become award-winning and best selling novelists (good fruit, Gil!).
Patty signed her first multi-book contract with Bethany House Publishers. After she wrote several novels "for the market", she assessed her writer's life and decided she would follow the leanings of her heart. She says, "It had to be God leading me into the next work which wound up being my first break-out book, Katrina's Wings. I had never read a southern mainstream novel, yet I knew that one lived in my head, begging to be brought out and developed." She wanted to create deeper stories that broke away from convention and formula. From her own journey in life, she created a world based upon her hometown in the 70's, including Earthly Vows and Whisper Town from the Millwood Hollow Series.
Patty and her husband, Randy, have planted two churches in North Carolina. Her husband pastors Family Christian Center, located in Huntersville. The Hickmans have three children, two on earth and one in heaven. Their daughter, Jessi, was involved in a fatal automobile accident in 2001. Through her writing and speaking, Patty seeks to offer help, hope and encouragement to those who walk the daily road of loss and grief.
Heidi Says: This was not my favorite book. I'm actually somewhat surprised that it was marketed as Christian Fiction. The were many references to alcohol and promiscuity that I really didn't appreciate in a "Christian book". I was also surprised to see an endorsement on the cover from one of my favorite authors, Liz Curtis Higgs, as this just doesn't seem like her kind of book (nothing like the books she's written, anyway).
All that being said, I did read through the whole book because there was a hint of mystery there that I wanted to get to the bottom of. The underlying message seemed to be a "sins of the fathers" type thing, and how the children were paying for the wrongs that their parents did, or secrets they kept hidden and took to their graves. The book did end on a good note, and God was introduced toward the end. I'd be interested in reading other books by Patricia Hickman, to compare and see if this is her typical writing style.
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Jul. 22, 2008
The Falcon and the Sparrow
It is time to play a Wild Card! Every now and then, a book that I have chosen to read is going to pop up as a FIRST Wild Card Tour. Get dealt into the game! (Just click the button!) Wild Card Tours feature an author and his/her book's FIRST chapter!
You never know when I might play a wild card on you!
Today's Wild Card author is:
and his/her book:
The Falcon and the Sparrow
Barbour Publishing, Inc (August 1, 2008)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
 MaryLu spent her early years in South Florida where she fell in love with the ocean and the warm tropical climate. After moving to California with her husband, she graduated from college and worked as a software engineer for 15 years. Currently, MaryLu writes full time and resides in California with her husband and 6 children.
Visit the author's website.
Product Details:
List Price: $10.97
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc (August 1, 2008)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1602600120
ISBN-13: 978-1602600126
AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:
 Chapter One
Dover, England, March 1803
Dominique Celine Dawson stepped off the teetering plank of the ship and sought the comfort of solid land beneath her feet, knowing that as she did so, she instantly became a traitor to England. Thanking the purser, she released his hand with a forced smile.
He tipped his hat and handed her the small embroidered valise containing all her worldly possessions. “Looks like rain,” he called back over his shoulder as he headed up the gangway.
Black clouds swirled above her, stealing all light from the midmorning sun. A gust of wind clawed at her bonnet. Passengers and sailors unloading cargo collided with her from all directions. She stepped aside, testing her wobbly legs. Although she’d just boarded the ship from Calais, France, to Dover that morning, her legs quivered nearly as much as her heart. She hated sailing. What an embarrassment she must have been to her father, an admiral in the British Royal Navy.
A man dressed in a top hat and wool cape bumped into her and nearly knocked her to the ground.
Stumbling, Dominique clamped her sweaty fingers around her valise, feeling as though it was her heart they squeezed. Did the man know? Did he know what she had been sent here to do?
He shot her an annoyed glance over his shoulder. “Beggin’ your pardon, miss,” he muttered before trotting off, lady on his arm and children in tow.
Blowing out a sigh, Dominique tried to still her frantic breathing. She must focus. She must remain calm. She had committed no crime—yet.
She scanned the bustling port of Dover. Waves of people flowed through the streets, reminding her of the tumultuous sea she had just crossed. Ladies in silk bonnets clung to gentlemen in long-tailed waistcoats and breeches. Beggars, merchants, and tradesmen hustled to and fro as if they didn’t have a minute to lose. Dark-haired Chinamen hauled two-wheeled carts behind them, loaded with passengers or goods. Carriages and horses clomped over the cobblestone streets. The air filled with a thousand voices, shouts and screams and curses and idle chatter accompanied by the incessant tolling of bells and the rhythmic lap of the sea against the docks.
The stench of fish and human sweat stung Dominique’s nose, and she coughed and took a step forward, searching for the carriage that surely must have been sent to convey her to London and to
the Randal estate. But amidst the dizzying crowd, no empty convey-
ance sat waiting; no pair of eyes met hers—at least none belonging to a coachman sent to retrieve her. Other eyes flung their slithering gazes her way, however, like snakes preying on a tiny ship mouse. A lady traveling alone was not a sight often seen.
Lightning split the dark sky in two, and thunder shook it with an ominous boom. For four years she had longed to return to England, the place of her birth, the place filled with many happy childhood memories, but now that she was here, she felt more lost and frightened than ever. Her fears did not completely stem from the fact that she had never traveled alone before, nor been a governess before—although both of those things would have been enough to send her heart into a frenzy. The true reason she’d returned to her homeland frightened her the most.
Rain misted over her, and she brushed aside the damp curls that framed her face, wondering what to do next. Oh Lord, I feel so alone, so frightened. Where are You? She looked up, hoping for an answer, but the bloated clouds exploded in a torrent of rain that pummeled her face and her hopes along with it. Dashing through the crowd, she ducked beneath the porch of a fish market, covering her nose with a handkerchief against the putrid smell.
People crowded in beside her, an old woman pushing an apple cart, a merchantman with a nose the size of a doorknob, and several seaman, one of whom glared at Dominique from beneath bushy brows and hooded lids. He leaned against a post, inserted a black wad into his mouth, and began chewing, never taking his gaze from her. Ignoring him, Dominique glanced through the sheet of rain pouring off the overhang at the muted shapes moving to and fro. Globs of mud splashed from the puddle at her feet onto her muslin gown. She had wanted to make a good impression on Admiral Randal. What was he to think of his new governess when she arrived covered in filth?
Lightning flashed. The seaman sidled up beside her, pushing the old woman out of the way. “Looking for someone, miss?”
Dominique avoided the man’s eyes as thunder shook the tiny building. “No, merci,” she said, instantly cringing at her use of French.
“Mercy?” He jumped back in disgust. “You ain’t no frog, is you?” The man belched. He stared at her as if he would shoot her right there, depending on her answer.
Terror renewed the queasiness in her stomach. “Of course not.”
“You sound like one.” He leaned toward her, squinting his dark eyes in a foreboding challenge.
“You are mistaken, sir.” Dominique held a hand against his advance. “Now if you please.” She brushed past him and plunged into the rain. Better to suffer the deluge than the man’s verbal assault. The French were not welcome here, not since the Revolution and the ensuing hostilities caused by Napoleon’s rise to power. Granted, last year Britain had signed a peace treaty with France, but no one believed it would last.
Dominique jostled her way through those brave souls not intimidated by the rain and scanned the swarm of carriages vying for position along the cobblestone street. If she did not find a ride to London soon, her life would be in danger from the miscreants who slunk around the port. Hunger rumbled in her stomach as her nerves coiled into knots. Lord, I need You.
To her right, she spotted the bright red wheels of a mail coach that had Royal Mail: London to Dover painted on the back panel. Shielding her eyes from the rain, she glanced up at the coachman perched atop the vehicle, water cascading off his tall black hat. “Do you have room for a passenger to London, monsie—sir?”
He gave her a quizzical look then shook his head. “I’m full.”
“I’m willing to pay.” Dominique shuffled through her valise and pulled out a small purse.
The man allowed his gaze to wander freely over her sodden gown. “And what is it ya might be willing to pay?”
She squinted against the rain pooling in her lashes and swallowed. Perhaps a coach would be no safer than the port, after all. “Four guineas,” she replied in a voice much fainter than she intended.
The man spat off to the side. “It’ll cost you five.”
Dominique fingered the coins in her purse. That would leave her only ten shillings, all that remained of what her cousin had given her for the trip, and all that remained of the grand Dawson fortune, so quickly divided among relatives after her parents’ death. But what choice did she have? She counted the coins, handed them to the coachman, then waited for him to assist her into the carriage, but he merely pocketed the money and gestured behind him. Lifting her skirts, heavy with rain, she clambered around packages and parcels and took a seat beside a window, hugging her valise. She shivered and tightened her frock around her neck, fighting the urge to jump off the carriage, dart back to the ship, and sail right back to France.
She couldn’t.
Several minutes later, a young couple with a baby climbed in, shaking the rain from their coats. After quick introductions, they squeezed into the seat beside Dominique.
Through the tiny window, the coachman stared at them and frowned, forming a pock on his lower chin. He muttered under his breath before turning and snapping the reins that sent the mail coach careening down the slick street.
The next four hours only added to Dominique’s nightmare. Though exhausted from traveling half the night, rest was forbidden her by the constant jostling and jerking of the carriage over every small bump and hole in the road and the interminable screaming of the infant in the arms of the poor woman next to her. She thanked God, however, that it appeared the roads had been newly paved or the trip might have taken twice as long. As it was, each hour passed at a snail’s pace and only sufficed to increase both her anxiety and her fear.
Finally, they arrived at the outskirts of the great city capped in a shroud of black from a thousand coal chimneys—a soot that not even the hard rain could clear. After the driver dropped off the couple and their vociferous child on the east side of town, Dominique had to haggle further for him to take her all the way to Hart Street, to which he reluctantly agreed only after Dominique offered him another three precious shillings.
The sights and sounds of London drifted past her window like visions from a time long ago. She had spent several summers here as a child, but through the veil of fear and loneliness, she hardly recognized it. Buildings made from crumbling brick and knotted timber barely held up levels of apartments stacked on top of them. Hovels and shacks lined the dreary alleyways that squeezed between residences and shops in an endless maze. Despite the rain, dwarfs and acrobatic monkeys entertained people passing by, hoping for a coin tossed their way. As the coach rounded one corner, a lavishly dressed man with a booming voice stood in an open booth, proclaiming that his tonic cured every ache and pain known to man.
The stench of horse manure and human waste filled the streets, rising from puddles where both had been deposited for the soil men to clean up at night.
Dominique pressed a hand to her nose and glanced out the other side of the carriage, where the four pointed spires of the Tower of London thrust into the angry sky. Though kings had resided in the castlelike structure, many other people had been imprisoned and tortured within its walls. She trembled at the thought as they proceeded down Thames Street, where she soon saw the massive London Bridge spanning the breadth of the murky river.
Her thoughts veered to Marcel, her only brother—young, impetuous Marcel. Dominique had cared for him after their mother died last year of the fever, and she had never felt equal to the task. Marcel favored their father with his high ideals and visions of heroism, while Dominique was more like their mother, quiet and shy. Marcel needed strong male guidance, not the gentle counsel of an overprotective sister.
So of course Dominique had been thrilled when a distant cousin sought them out and offered to take them both under his care. Monsieur Lucien held the position of ministère de l’intérieur under Napoleon’s rule—a highly respectable and powerful man who would be a good influence on Marcel.
Or so she had thought.
The carriage lurched to the right, away from the stench of the river. Soon the cottages and shabby tenements gave way to grand two- and three-level homes circled by iron fences.
Dominique hugged her valise to her chest, hoping to gain some comfort from holding on to something—anything—but her nerves stiffened even more as she neared her destination. After making several more turns, the coach stopped before a stately white building. With a scowl, the driver poked his open hand through the window, and Dominique handed him her coins, not understanding the man’s foul humor. Did he treat all his patrons this way, or had she failed to conceal the bit of French in her accent?
Climbing from the carriage, she held her bag against her chest and tried to sidestep a puddle the size of a small lake. Without warning, the driver cracked the reins and the carriage jerked forward, spraying Dominique with mud.
Horrified, she watched as the driver sped down the street. He did that on purpose. She’d never been treated with such disrespect in her life. But then, she’d always traveled with her mother, the beautiful Marguerite Jean Denoix, daughter of Edouard, vicomte de Gimois, or her father, Stuart Dawson, a respected admiral in the Royal Navy. Without them by her side, who was she? Naught but an orphan without a penny to her name.
Rain battered her as she stared up at the massive white house, but she no longer cared. Her bonnet draped over her hair like a wet fish, her coiffure had melted into a tangle of saturated strands, and her gown, littered with mud, clung to her like a heavy shroud. She deserved it, she supposed, for what she had come to do.
She wondered if Admiral Randal was anything like his house—cold, imposing, and rigid. Four stories high, it towered above most houses on the street. Two massive white columns stood like sentinels holding up the awning while guarding the front door.
The admiral sat on the Admiralty Board of His Majesty’s Navy, making him a powerful man privy to valuable information such as the size, location, and plans of the British fleet. Would he be anything like her dear father?
Dominique skirted the stairs that led down to the kitchen. Her knees began to quake as she continued toward the front door. The blood rushed from her head. The world began to spin around her. Squeezing her eyes shut, she swallowed. No, she had to do this. For you, Marcel. You’re all I have left in the world.
She opened her eyes and took another step, feeling as though she walked into a grand mausoleum where dead men’s bones lay ensconced behind cold marble.
She halted. Not too late to turn around—not too late to run. But Marcel’s innocent young face, contorted in fear, burned in her memory. And her cousin Lucien’s lanky frame standing beside him, a stranglehold on the boy’s collar. “If you prefer your brother’s head to be attached to his body, you will do as I request.”
A cold fist clamped over Dominique’s heart. She could not lose her brother. She continued up the steps though every muscle, every nerve protested. Why me, Lord? Who am I to perform such a task?
Ducking under the cover of the imposing porch, Dominique raised her hand to knock upon the ornately carved wooden door, knowing that after she did, she could not turn back.
Once she stepped over the threshold of this house, she would no longer be Dominique Dawson, the loyal daughter of a British admiral.
She would be a French spy.
Heidi Says: I'm still working on reading through this book. It seems to be taking me a long time to read and I find myself skimming over alot of the descriptions, etc. and just reading the conversations and thoughts. I'm anxious to get to the end of this one, as I am interested in the conclusion. I just feel that the story itself could have been told in much fewer words.
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Jul. 21, 2008
Beyond the Bomb ~ Review & CONTEST!
I've reviewed a lot of things over the past several years, but this has got to be one of my favorite! I was recently given the opportunity to review some bath products by Beyond the Bomb. I sampled a medium-sized Peace Pleaser Bomb (pound cake scent ) and it was definitely "beyond the bomb"! I have tried a lot of bath products over the years - both inexpensive items and more pricey ones. This bath bomb has got to be one of the best bath products I've ever tried.
I've tried products that look similar to bath bombs in the past, but they just lay there in the water and don't dissolve properly. This bath bomb immediately started fizzing when I placed it in my bath water, and continued to fizz away until it was totally dissolved. The water had a yellow tint (which made me feel like I was bathing in Mountain Dew) and a pleasant aroma. All that is well and good, but the best part is that I got out of the bathtub feeling so nice and soft! And that feeling didn't wear off when I was dried and dressed. A day later, my skin is still as soft as a baby's!
So, needless to say, I'm sold on Beyond the Bomb! I can't wait to try some more of their fantastic bombs. I'm anxious to try the Organic bath bombs - these bombs have various health benefits, such as helping to clear stuffy noses in the winter. I'm definitely going to be trying the Green Tea Organic Bomb.
I know all you homeschool moms could use a nice bubble bath to relax a bit! But, if you don't have the time, these bombs can also be used in the shower. Just throw them on the shower floor and let them fizz away while you're showering!
 
Because Beyond the Bomb is so new, I thought an interview with the founder/owner would be fun......
Trisha~ Thanks so much for joining me here at Reviews by Heidi. I'd love to ask you a few questions about Beyond the Bomb……
Where did you get the idea to start Beyond the Bomb? Beyond The Bomb launced in the Spring of 2008. As a mom myself of 2 young children, and one that hated bath time, I was trying to find a way to make bath time more fun for them besides the traditional toys. I experimented with bath bombs and they loved them! It's magic to them dropping one into the tub and watching it dissolve and fizzle away. So from there I made more child shaped bombs and then started concentrating on myself. As we all know, moms definitely need time to wind down and there is nothing better than a warm bath at the end of the night. A bath bomb makes that bath time a unique and healthy experience.
Why an internet store? Can Beyond the Bomb products be purchased anywhere else? Beyond The Bomb Bath Bombs are not just limited to an eCommerce Store. We are local to the metro Atlanta area and are continuously working with day spas to carry our products. Right now we have our benefit bath bombs in Scarlett's Retreat Day Spa just south of Atlanta GA.
I love the name! How did you come up with it? Beyond The Bomb was actually a name a fellow boutique owner, Bambina Ballerina, came up with. When I heard it I just loved it. I think it fits the theme well as we do not just sell traditional bath bombs. We also carry a Health Benefit Line, a Specialty Line of bath bombs that look good enough to eat, a Child's Line that turns bath time into fun time and a Favors/Gifts Line for those special moments in your life. We hope, in the future, to expand to other bath products as well which would fit perfect with our theme and name of "Beyond The Bomb".
What is your personal favorite bath bomb? I have so many favorites! It really depends on the mood. If I really need to wind down from the day and relax so I can sleep I grab a lavender bomb. If I need to wake up the green tea works best. My favorite everyday kind of bomb would have to be the Body Lovin' Benefit Bomb. It has the perfect mixture of a light aroma that helps relax the muscles and take my stress away. Plus, the benefits are cellulite reduction and tissue toning- and it works!!
Can you tell us about some of the health benefits of using the benefit bombs? The Benefit Bath Bomb line is one of my favorites! These contain a HUGE list of medical conditions and health benefits associated with them. These can range anywhere from helping pregnant women through labor if they chose a water birth helping boost milk supply in breastfeeding moms, cellulite reduction and tissue toning to more serious conditions such as wounds, infections, respiratory problems, colds, allergies and skin rashes such as diaper rash for babies too!
When you're not busy making bath bombs or relaxing in the tub, what are some of your favorite things to do? I don't have much extra time. In addition to my bomb business I also work part-time from home working on the computer. This of course is in addition to being a wife and mother. However, in the little amount of spare time I do get I enjoy blogging at Life of an Internet Mom or my other hobbies include sewing and scrapbooking.
Thanks! Is there anything else you'd like to share with my readers? A big misconception is that bath bombs are only for those who love to take baths or adults. These are incorrect. There are a few benefit bombs that work wonders in a shower! The Woodland Fairy and Green Tea to name a couple are perfect shower mates. These Benefit Bombs once placed on a shower floor fizz away down the drain while letting off the herbal aroma and helping awaken your senses, clear your mind and open your sinuses. Great for stuffiness and common colds as well. The Green Tea Benefit Bomb has personally replaced my morning coffee. One of these on my shower floor is all it takes! Also, I love our kids line! This is, after all how we began. Baths are a big part of most kids lives. Not only are Beyond The Bomb bath bombs safe for a child's sensitive skin but they love them too! It's magic in the tub to watch one fizz and dissolve away and color the bath water! My girls scream for one each night!
 
 Guess what?! Beyond the Bomb has graciously donated a FANTASTIC PRIZE to one of my readers. (Gee, I wonder if I can participate?!) One of you will receive a gift package containing 4 BOMBS ~ 1 large, 1 medium, 1 small, and 1 heart bomb!
(picture to right will give you an idea of what the prize will look like, but may not contain these exact bombs.)
All you have to do is go to Beyond the Bomb and check out the website. Then come back here and tell me which bomb would be your "bomb of choice". I'll do a random drawing and announce the winner on......
(U.S. entries only, please)
Want a second chance to win? Blog about this contest with a link back to this post and a link to the Beyond the Bomb website. Tell me you did so, and I'll give you a second chance to win! (This contest is also being run simultaneously on my group at Christian Women Take Root - so entries will be received at both web locations.)
Winner will be announced this Saturday, the 26th. GOOD LUCK!
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Jul. 21, 2008
CFBA Featured Book ~ July 21-23
This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingTry Darkness(Center Street - July 30, 2008)byJames Scott Bell
 Ty Buchanan is living on the peaceful grounds of St. Monica’s, far away from the glamorous life he led as a rising trial lawyer for a big L.A. firm. Recovering from the death of his fiancée and a false accusation of murder, Buchanan has found his previous ambitions unrewarding. Now he prefers offering legal services to the poor and the underrepresented from his “office” at local coffee bar The Freudian Sip. With his new friends, the philosophizing Father Bob and basketball-playing Sister Mary Veritas, Buchanan has found a new family of sorts.
One of his first clients is a mysterious woman who arrives with her six-year-old daughter. They are being illegally evicted from a downtown transient hotel, an interest that Ty soon discovers is represented by his old law firm and his former best friend, Al Bradshaw. Buchanan won’t back down. He’s going to fight for the woman’s rights.
But then she ends up dead, and the case moves from the courtroom to the streets. Determined to find the killer and protect the little girl, who has no last name and no other family, Buchanan finds he must depend on skills he never needed in the employ of a civil law firm.
The trail leads Buchanan through the sordid underbelly of the city and to the mansions and yachts of the rich and famous. No one is anxious to talk.
But somebody wants Buchanan to shut up. For good.
Now he must use every legal and physical edge he knows to keep himself and the girl alive.
Once again evoking the neo-noir setting of contemporary Los Angeles, Bell delivers another thriller where darkness falls and the suspense never rests.
If you would like to read chapters 1 & 2, go HERE
 JAMES SCOTT BELL is a former trial lawyer who now writes full time. He has also been the fiction columnist for Writers Digest magazine and adjunct professor of writing at Pepperdine University.
The national bestselling author of several novels of suspense, he grew up and still lives in Los Angeles. His first Buchanan thriller, TRY DYING, was released to high critical praise, while sis book on writing, Plot and Structure is one of the most popular writing books available today.
Heidi Says: Unfortunately, I haven't had time to read this one ~ YET! I will, though. Try Dying was a great book, and I'm anxious to read it's sequel. So, I'll be back here to post my thoughts later. In the meantime, if you'd like to read what others have had to say, check these out:
“Bell has created in Buchanan an appealing and series-worthy protagonist, and the tale equally balances action and drama, motion and emotion. Readers who pride themselves on figuring out the answers before an author reveals them are in for a surprise, too: Bell is very good at keeping secrets. Fans of thrillers with lawyers as their central characters—Lescroart and Margolin, especially—will welcome this new addition to their must-read lists.”
—Booklist “Engaging whodunit series kickoff . . . Readers will enjoy Bell's talent for description and character development.”
—Publishers Weekly “James Scott Bell has written himself into a niche that traditionally has been reserved for the likes of Raymond Chandler.”
—Los Angeles Times “A master of suspense.”
—Library Journal “One of the best writers out there, bar none.”
—In the Library Review 0 Thoughts Shared
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Jul. 21, 2008
A homeschool conference at your house!
Does that sound like an oxymoron? I know that, if you're like me, it does. I look forward to going to our state's homeschool convention each spring, and I even post about it on my blog! But, when I heard about the conference that is being hosted by Heart of the Matter, I was intrigued - a homeschool conference right in my own home - no driving (wow~ that'll save on gas) and no getting dressed (no new outfit needed for this conference!). I'm sure you've already heard all about the conference too. But, if not, check this out:
Shhhh! Do you hear that? It is the comfort of your home calling you. PJs, coffee or tea (your flavor), and five fun filled days just for you!
In Heart of the Matter Online's quest to bring you the absolute best home school resource online, they have listened to your requests and are providing you with a fun filled online adventure! On July 30th through August 3rd, they will be hosting Heart of the Matter Online's first annual Virtual Homeschool Conference! They will be providing the attendees with freebies, encouragement, great speakers, timely topics, workshops, and - all ONLINE! Just log on and listen live during that time or log in at your convenience and download the audios. The speakers are guaranteed to inspire, educate, and entertain you! At the end you will even be able to chat with them and ask questions. Please visit theFAQ page to receive answers to all your questions, and view or download a schedule.
This conference will be less like a "seminar" and more like a bunch of close friends in a chat room. Just wait till you see what some of your favorite home school personalities have done to educate and entertain you! At the end you will join in to chat with them, ask questions, and they will answer.
To ensure your spot in the conference room, simply, visit the Heart of the Matter Online Conference site and click the "pay now" button. The price of admission will be just $29.95. The "admission" price includes a positively fabulous goodie bag. Currently, the freebie package is valued at over $80 and growing! It includes a fabulous $30 package from Currclick: curriculum in a click! Currclick (formerly HomeschoolEstore) is the largest one-stop shop for electronic lapbooks, affordable curriculum, and homeschooling resources.
I am giving YOU, my wonderful readers, the opportunity to attend this amazing event for FREE. I have 5 tickets to give away! Your ticket includes the $80 goodie bag! To enter my giveaway, all you need to do is go to the Heart of the Matter Conference site and check it out. Then, come back here and tell me what ONE THING most appeals to you about the conference (maybe it's a certain speaker you've always wanted to hear or a topic that is of interest to you).
I know how much you want to be able to attend this conference! So, for an extra chance to win, post about this contest on your blog with a link back here to this post. Don't forget to leave me a comment and let me know you did this and I'll give you an extra chance to win!
I'll leave this contest open until Monday, the 21st - I'll announce the winners at noon that day! Enter NOW!
And the winner’s are:
1 ~ Ginny
2 ~ Ruth
5 ~ Cynthia
7 ~ Angela
12 ~ Karen
Thanks & CONGRATULATIONS!
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Jul. 18, 2008
Stylin' Clipboard Contest
Gina over at The Clan McLeod is having a fun contest! She's giving away a very stylish clipboard, made by her friend Melissa, who just happens to be a homeschool blogger - Sheltered not Shattered. I'm thinking I'd look pretty cute with one of these great-looking clipboards. You would too! So, go enter the contest - but if you win, can I have your clipboard?! 
Edited 7/18/08 to add: Guess what?! I won!!! Yeah!
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Jul. 17, 2008
Disney with Kids ~ anytime soon?
Yes, I'm becoming quite adept at manuevering the DIS boards! LOL But after that cool stroller swap thing, I can't help myself. Anyway, when we travel, I am always looking for things to keep the kids busy in the car. My mom often does the gift thing - where they have a gift bag filled with little prizes to open at various intervals along the way. That is so nice, but the gift wrap and little prizes tend to quickly clutter up the van and drive me crazy. What I really like it to create a 3-ring binder filled with worksheets for the kids to do along the way - travel games, coloring pages, etc.
Thanks to the DISboards, I found this. It's a Disney Kids Travel Journal filled with so many various pages to print out for your kids to document your trip, day by day. They also have an Adult Travel Journal, but I'd much rather leave this journaling job to Gracie! There are Kids EPCOT Homework Pages - any homeschool mom's dream come true! If you've got a preschooler, you'll want to check out the A,B,C Pages. To get Ashley in on the act, I'm going to give her these Disney Trivia pages to work on.
I got a book-binding kit to review for TOS. I think we'll put it to use in binding the Kids Travel Journal. What a wonderful keepsake. I was considering purchasing this, but creating our own personal journal will be so much more fun and make it totally our own.
Thinking of planning a WDW trip sometime soon? If so, then you might want to check out this planning guide. And, just to keep your kids safe, they've even provided Kids' ID Tags that you can download and print out (also luggage tags).
Sorry to unload all this Disney stuff on you, but this is a Disney lovers/ planner freak's dream! LOL Maybe you'll find something here that YOU can use too.
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Jul. 16, 2008
Rainbow Sheep
Genevieve is a little shepherdess with a big imagination. When she finds a sad, pale rainbow, she tells him funny stories until he cries happy tears and his colors return. Genevieve's sheep are caught in the colorful rain of tears and become the "Rainbow Sheep." Includes 12 Fiber art illustrations and four full pages of Felting for Fun for kids activities, glossary & fiber art activities.
Kim Chatel is a Canadian born author, photographer, and fiber artist. She now lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, daughter (to whom this book is dedicated), and assortment of animals. She is also the author of A Talent for Quiet, by Guardian Angel Publishing, a story book with basic photography education included.
Heidi Says: I was recently asked to review Rainbow Sheep by Kim Chatel. What a sweet little picture book for children. Not only is the story adorable, the I'm very impressed with the illustrations. Author Kim Chatel has created the illustrations using a technique called fiber art - the pictures appeal to be three-dimensional and look soft to the touch.
This book is a homeschool parent's dream, in that it's not "just" a storybook. Included at the back of the book are 4 pages of supplemental materials including information about felting in the form of Q&A, instructions for making felted soap and a needle felted sheep, a felting glossary of terms, and a tips section. This book would be great as a lead-in to craft time and the projects aren't your regular one-of-the-mill crafts that you see everywhere.
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Jul. 16, 2008
Two of a Kind Tag
My dear friend Ginny tagged me for this one! Before I do the tag, I just have to say how amazing it is that you can find yourself feeling so close to someone that you've never personally met! Ginny is such a friend to me! Fortunately, I've recently had the opportunity to at least hear her voice on the phone! Who knows? Maybe someday we'll get to meet! 
Now, on with the tag.....
Two names I go by:
1. Heidi
2. Mom
Two things I'm wearing right now:
1. Navy t-shirt
2. Khaki shorts (this tells you I'm at home, as I never wear shorts outside my house! LOL)
Two of my favorite things today:
1. Talking with my friend Amy on the phone
2. Having an unusually short Marketing Conference Call this afternoon!
Two things I want at the moment:
1. Some rockers for my front porch
2. To have the cleaning fairy drop by my house
Two favorite pets I have had:
1. Mr. Ham (our current hamster~ he's the best)
2. Eddee (the Boston Terrier we borrow on occasion)~ he's not even ours but we love him to pieces!
Two people I hope will fill this out:
1. Charity
2. Ashley
Two things I did last night:
1. Ordered take-out pizza (to benefit one of my SS student's soccer team)
2. Watched a movie with my family (Second Chances~ very good~ I would recommend it)
Two things I ate last night:
1. 1 slice of pizza
2. 1/2 a steak sub
Two people I last talked to:
1. Ashley
2. Gracie
Two things I am doing tomorrow:
1. Working
2. Making my menu and grocery list for Friday
Two farthest trips I have taken in the last 5 years:
1. Disney World
2. Vietnam
Two favorite holidays:
1. Christmas
2. Thanksgiving
Two favorite beverages:
1. Water
2. Iced tea
*If you decide to do this tag, leave me a comment and let me know.
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