Continuing on in the vein of a "modern day love story with a twist", Loose ends really winds up. Brice and Mia are divorced and Mia has married his best friend Christian. Brice has also remarried, a lovely lady who could be Mia's younger sister, Kree. All have relocated and settled down in Atlanta. The focus, after the turmoil that the three friends have faced, is the realization that it is time to reunite the lifelong friendship between Brice and Christian. Can it be done? How will Mia and Kree react to each other? How will Christian take to his friend who treated his wife so horribly? Told from the individual voices of four of the characters, Ms. Parks has added just enough sizzle to keep you hot, enough intrigue to keep you guessing, enough selfishness to make you mad, all backed by excellent story telling. Mia and Christian have an adorable daughter named Lyric and a fulfilling life together. Brice will always be Brice and Kree is the seemingly submissive wife, totally accepting of his behavior but I wouldn't call their relationship happy. Things aren't always as they seem however and Brice has major control issues. Stemming from a hard childhood, these issues have never been explored professionally and the ramifications of his actions moves this story down an unexpected path that had me up all types of day and night to finish.

So why is Disney flat-lining? Well, this is off the book, but if Michael and the gang are listening- in a word it is "Saturation". In Disney's effort to "be everywhere" the magic wears off. Disney stores in the mall, all over radio and TV, and in many ways becoming omnipresent, they are going to pull a "Planet Hollywood". They need to keep a healthy distance- not chasing people everywhere for fear the competition vying for their time and attention will somehow win out. Just keep doing the basics well and let the customers come and find you.

I read a couple of outstanding books by Disney-outsiders ("Built to Last" by Jim Collins and Jerry Porras, and "The Disney Way" by Bill Capodagli and Lynn Jackson) about how and why they were so impressed with Disney. I wanted to read a book about a Disney-insider's perspectives on what Disney does to impress everyone and exceed all expectations. This book showed me the "what" of Disney's practical magic of customer service: a full-time business of shared values, enforced standards, focused work, self-discipline, and attention to detail that is virtually transparent to all Disney guests. I got all that I wanted and more from this outstanding book.

After I finished reading this book, I read through my highlights and realized that the following paragraph from the introduction perfectly previewed the book:

"In this book, we take you behind the scenes to discover Disney best practices and philosophies in action. We provide you with an insider's glimpse of quality service principles in action both at Walt Disney World, as told from the perspectives of cast members [Disney-speak for "employees"], and in other organizations, as told by executives who have participated in Disney Institute programs. Walt Disney's fundamentals for success still ring true. You build the best product you can. You give people effective training to support the delivery of exceptional service. You learn from your experiences. And you celebrate success. You never stop growing. You never stop believing."

Sharing the secrets behind Disney's 'practical magic' in this book is yet another example of Disney's commitment to exceptional guest [Disney-speak for "customer"] service. Read this book and enjoy being Disney's guest.

In "Seasons of My Heart" I share with you love letters written to one another during our dating years. I also share excerpts from our diaries when at times we poured our hearts out to the Lord questionsing the very direction our life was headed.

Christendom tends to put authors, artists, speakers and pastors on a higher plane than reality. They are just like you. They feel the joy in experiencing God's blessings but they also question His dealings, they go through seasons of gloom and dejection and find themselves crying out to the God of the universe only to hear silence echoing back.

"Seasons of My Heart" has been used as a devotional, a gift book, an art book and to my surprise, it has even been used as a reference for sermon material! I've been told it has touched lives and given others a new trust and reliance upon the Lord. If you've experienced spiritual burnout, despondency in not knowng God's will for your life or know what it feels to carry the heavy burdens of depression and despair then I think my book will bring hope and direction to your life in a special, personal way.

If you've enjoyed my husband's novels, "This Present Darkness", "Piercing the Darkness", "Tilly", "Prophet", "The Oath", or "The Visitation" or if you've enjoyed reading his children's books from "The Cooper Family Adventure Series" then I think you'll enjoy getting to know Frank Peretti on a more personal level.

The book has been divided into 40 short, two-page, easy-to-read stories from Frank and my life and each is beautfilly illustrated by my close friend Carrie Stewart Parks. Christians and fine art enthrusiasts alike have enjoyed the book. I call it my own "Cinderella Story." You'll find it to be a love story, a tale of passion, of heartache, of committment and hope.

If through this book I can be of any encouragement to you, then may the Lord Jesus use it! Blessings - Barbara J Peretti

Ride, Resort, and Restaurant reviews are thorough and right on the mark. After reading this, you'll feel like an "insider" and get the most out of your vacation. You'll recover the cost of this book after reading the first 31 pages. By the end of the book, you'll be able to extend your vacation or put much less of a dent in your credit cards.

BTW - The fact that this book is for sale at Universal should be a feather in Universal's cap, not an indictment against this book's accuracy. I wonder if Disney will ever feature the "Unofficial" guide in their stores.

Also, one point to nit-pick, for scientific names of any organism, when spelling the binomial name out, the genus is capitalized and the species is *always* lower case. On page396, "Limenitis lorquini"is what I am referring too, and the editors should be ashamed of themselves, because this is not the author's fault.

The story was enjoyable, the plot moves well, but the family structure was almost a direct parallel to Johnny Quest, including Bandit, I mean Batcat. I kept becoming distracted from the story as I read "Hoggi" instead of Taki etc., and like any good J.Q. story, the villain perishes in their own nefarious trap, leaving the hero's hands clean.

Finally, I enjoyed the little "Microcosm" joke at the end, I'm sure you will too.

Much to my surprise, after I ordered "The Complete Novels of Jane Austen (Modern Library Series)" ISBN 0679600264, only one book arrived. As pictured above, Vol I contains S&S, P&P, and MP.

The other three novels must be in Vol II, you surmise? Wrong! THAT IS ALL YOU GET !

Apparently, "complete" is a relative term, meaning "half of". At best, this listing shows ignorance. At worst, this listing is fraud.

Jane Austen is still where she belongs, between book covers. We know the stories are good, but what isn't immediately obvious is the many recent adaptations is what an impeccable writer of English prose she is - no posturing word-dropper, no purveyer of hoary terminology, but a fine, simple, straightforward narrator.

She is brief but telling, using tilt and tone to make us smile. She doesn't bore with tedious flashbacks or podding descriptions of a new character's background. And she tells us what we wanted to know, just when we want to know it. As I am wondering what became of Mr. Bingley, he turns up; as I am trying to remember what the party is doing in Bath, it becomes clear. She's always ahead, dropping just the right number of crumbs.

Jane's world moved slowly, and reading her takes time. Her cncerns are universal - how to fill the hours of the day, the pairing of single young men and women, the effects of money, household matters. Her ethical domain is dominated by consideration - of others' feelings, needs, requirements. The occasional rebellious spirit is not admired, concepts such as fulfillment and freedom never enter her head. As for "needs" beyond basic physical ones - an idea that would have astonished her - she would have substituted "obligations."

But there is something about all this that keeps us going back, and back and back.

Not having been to North Carolina previously, we are heavilly dependant on research material, of which this book is great.

Another review will be made after testing the book out, but if Asheville is as good as the book, then we should have no worries.