Book Review: A Heart's Danger (A Journey of the Heart) by Colleen Coble

This is the third installment of the Journey of the Heart series by Christian author Colleen Coble and this is one series that I really like. In part the series appeals to me because the books are short and perfect to take along in the purse when you have to wait for an appointment or simply want to take brief breaks to read. I also like the series because it is a story of a modern woman, Sarah Montgomery, who was born a few decades too early.

Sarah, after the tumultuous events in the previous book. finds herself at Fort Laramie with a fiancee she does not love and who betrayed her. But there is also Rand Campbell, the man she really loves, but who is unfortunately engaged to another woman. Of course, intrigue must happen and it may be up to Sarah to avoid disaster and save Rand.

This is a nice little book and it shows that mean-spirited people existed throughout all ages and while Sarah is modern, she is also still part of the existing culture that has certain expectations of women. Rand, on the other hand, is clearly a product of his time, and it will not be easy for him to leave his fiancee before the wedding, no matter how much she expects him to go through with the wedding.

To throw another angle into the story, the location is Fort Laramie and the Sioux are on the warpath. In addition to the drama inside the fort, our characters are also facing a real threat to their lives from the Sioux surrounding the fort. The reader will definitely not be bored reading this book and for those reader that love Colleen Coble, they will recognize her characteristically strong women in Sarah and the mix of romance and action that never gets old.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book for purposes of an honest review. The opinion expressed in this post is solely my own and has not been influenced by any third parties.

Purex Insider Product Review: Dial Baby Body & Hair Wash and Dial Kids Foaming Hand Wash

As many of you will know, Dial has a special line for kids that encompasses a number of products, including hand soap as well as baby-approved soap for bath-time. I was fortunate to be selected to try out two new products by Dial for baby, a hand soap and a soap for bath-time that can also be used to wash the fine hair of the little ones.

copyright Durhamonthecheap - nice packaging for the Dial kit with coupons and samples

 I received the body and hair wash that is specifically formulated for ages up to 2 years old. This formula was developed between Dial and Pediatric Dermatologists to be sure that baby skin can tolerate the use of the formula. It is of course tear free and hypoallergenic as well as pH balanced. The important thing is that the formula is paraben free and contains no artificial dyes.

Developed with Pediatric Dermatologists, this tear-free formula is pH balanced and hypoallergenic, with no parabens or artificial dyes, for babies’ perfect skin. Gently removes environmental dirt for a head to toe clean! - See more at: http://www.dialsoap.com/products/ages-0-fragrance-free-body-hair-wash#sthash.AmnPOoQ6.dpu

copyright Durhamonthecheap - I love the child friendly form of the handsoap

 The hand soap is for kids, so the formula is a little bit different and this soap smells like watermelon. This is too cute for kids, my little one was excited to get his very own soap that mom and dad are not allowed to use. The soap is generating foam easily, so the kids know that it is working and washing their hands is fun. Like the body wash, this product is also free of artificial dyes, has no parabens and is pH balanced. I am very happy to say that Dial has discovered that kids are a target market and parents sometimes need help to get their kids into the habit of teaching good hygiene. Having their own special hand soap certainly has done the trick in my house. Whether it is a lasting effect (I hope), but my little one has been busy trying out his soap and making sure that the adults do not use HIS soap. If this attitude lasts, I will gladly use my regular soap and leave the Dial for Kids Watery Melon soap to the little one!

copyright Durhamonthecheap - who can say no to packaging that is this cute? My little ones will love a soap just for them.

copyright Durhamonthecheap - and as a mom I certainty appreciate the child friendly hair and body soap

Disclaimer: I received a free product in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed in this blogpost are solely my own and have not been influenced by any third party.

Update: McDonald's on S. Roxboro in Durham - my faith in service is restored & they do care about customers

So I had recently blogged about a disappointing experience at the local McDonalds. This is a fairly new McDonald's, but it is close to my house and stop by regularly for a snack or a quick meal.

Well the reaction to my blogpost as well as my web-submission to McDonald's about the incident was swift. I was called by the manager within 2 days of the incident and he apologized and promised to talk to the staff about the issue. I explained to him that I will return to his location and only felt the need to submit the issue and blog about it because a multitude of things were wrong within one single order. He offered me a free meal the next time I am at his store and followed the phone call up with an email and to me the matter was resolved.

But shortly thereafter I was also contact by the regional office. The first contact was via twitter, then via phone and again, there was an apology. I indicated to the staffmember from the regional office that the manager had already contacted me and I understood that service can be an issue, but if I have a bad experience, chances are that other customers may also have bad experiences. Today, I got a nice handwritten note in the mail with a number of coupons. To me, this matter is resolved and as stated earlier, I will continue to visit this McDonald's. I will inspect my food when I get drive through orders now and most likely will probably pick up my food inside the store to go. But I understand that service can be an issue. To me what matters is that the reaction by McDonald's was quick and included not just a pro-forma email, but handwritten notes and personal phone calls. Even if McDonald's is a fast food chain, people leave good money there in exchange for a service and this follow-up by McDonald's indicates that they take their service and not just their food serious.

copyright Durhamonthecheap - very much appreciate the nice handwritten note to apologize for the earlier mishap

Book Review: The Daring Exploits of a Runaway Heiress by Victoria Alexander

A love story for the true romantic - that is what comes to mind when reading the latest book by Ms. Alexander. Lucy Merryweather has it made, she is an heiress, having inherited her great aunt's fortune and now she can enjoy life. Her path is not only paved by her great aunt's money, but also by a list of unfulfilled wishes that same great aunt left her. Some more traditional than others; some are outright risque for the time. And one will trump them all!


Travel the world
Fly
Solve a mystery
Ride an elephant
Take a lover
Kiss a stranger
Be painted sans clothing
...
Make certain the world remembers my name

So Lucy starts on her journey to check of the bucket list that her great aunt gave her and enjoy life free of parents, free of (financial restrictions) and only followed by a private investigator that is handsome and intelligent at that. Therefore Cameron Effington follows Lucy as a private investigator and no wonder the two get closer. Cameron finds Lucy interesting, not just as a subject of an "investigation", but also as object that deserves more than his interest since his heart is definitely skipping a beat whenever he sees Lucy. As Lucy works downs the list her great aunt left her, she and Cameron realize that the adventures listed by Lucy's aunt may also serve as stepping stones for their real life romance.

This book was written for the true romantics at heart. Ms. Alexander uses the list to let our pair go from adventure to adventure, realizing that most of life's fun is experienced together.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in advance of publication. The opinion expressed in the post is solely my own and has not been influenced by any third party.

Book Review: Against the Tide (The Brodies Of Alaska) by Kat Martin

This is my first book by Kat Martin and I really enjoyed reading this book. It has the right mix between romance and adventure. Ms. Martin was able to write a love story that makes turning the pages of the book easy. The question is not just how people will find together that seem made for each other, but, may be even more crucial, will they survive to find each other.

Liv Chandler fears for her life and is on the run because the police has been proven to be useless in protecting her. Where to run now to? Live finds herself in the remote village of Valdez, Alaska and seemingly at the end of her road, she encounters charter boat captain Rafe Brodie.  The reader may think that anyone who can make a living as a charter boat captain in Alaska must be tough and Rafe is certainly tough. He proves more capable of protecting Liv than the police so far. But soon death keep knocking. The first mate of Rafe's turns up dead and Liv fears for her life, Rafe close by or not.

Are her enemies close? Where can Liv and Rafe turn to in such a remote area as Valdez? Before Ms. Alexander allow the reader as well as Liv and Rafe to relax, there are plenty of twists and turns, danger and threats to overcome, sure to keep the reader on the edge of their seat.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of the book in advance of publication. The opinion expressed in the post is solely my own and has not been influenced by any third party.

McDonalds S. Roxobor in Durham, NC - service review, because they need to pick it up!

I went to the McDonald's on S. Roxoboro in Durham, NC this evening to purchase a quick dinner. I usually go to McDonald's a couple of times of month because it allows me to grab something to eat that can be healthy, such as their side salad. This evening, the experience was subpar and not just missing the point by a little bit, but a total fail that makes me now think twice before selecting McDonald's over the Wendy's, LilCesars, Amante, Subway and the two grocery store delis in the same shopping center.

I purchased a side salad and not only did I not receive any dressing, I was also given a spoon to eat my salad with and then realized that the salad had a best buy data of 4/4/15 1:36PM - well over 6 hours before I purchased it. In a day and age when McDonald's is trying to convince the American public that its offerings are healthy, this is not sending the right message that this chain can be frequented by people who want healthy menu options. No salad that is beyond the best buy date is considered appetizing or maybe even safe for consumption.

I submitted my experience to their website because the Facebook page of the restaurant in S. Durham is not set up to accept comments nor is the main McDonald's Facebook page. So we will see what comes out of this. Lately, my experience with the service at fast food places in S. Durham has been really bad. Couple of days ago, the Dunkin Donuts denied participating in a statewide promotion and before I even could place my order, was told the promotion was only on Mondays, when the sign on their own drive through indicated it was valid for any day in April. So now the McDonald's experience makes me wonder whether the fast food places need to first teach their staff good customer service before trying to present any new menu changes. Because if the staff has already issues to get things right, then menu changes will be a total disaster. Dunkin Donuts to their credit did things right, I called their customer service number and they did follow up with the franchise location to educe the owner about the lapse in server as well as giving me credit for two free drinks.

copyright Durhamonthecheap - I am adult and  good at eating, but I feel lost when I am supposed to eat salad with a spoon

copyright Durhamonthecheap - the final for the Duke game is on TV and the best buy date for the salad was 6 hours earlier!

copyright Durhamonthecheap - McDonalds must definitely try harder to compete against the Wendy's and Lil Cesars

Will I go back to McDonald's? Yes, but less often and I will go inside, check my food diligently and do not care if the staff hates me for it. But a salad that is 6 hours past the sell buy date, lacking the dressing and expected to be eaten with a spoon is a fail that only deserves this.

Product Review: Purex Insiders- Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap

I love being a Purex Insider because I get to try out great new products on a regular basis and one of my favorites has been this great new soap - Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap. It cleans, but it also moisturizes your skin and leaves it nice and soft even after washing your hands multiple times a day.

copyright Durhamonthecheap - my great Purex Insider kit, coupons, full size sample and information booklet

copyright Durhamonthecheap -the Dial Handsoap is smelling great and goes on so soft and smooth on your skin

 This new product by Dial is great because the addition of Marula oil ensures that the skin is deeply hydrated and stays soft and smooth for hours. The Marula oil also protects the skin from free radicals. I am not sure you can tell from the close up above, but the soap is really soft and applies to the skin almost like a lotion. It leaves the skin after a single wash soft and the dirt is also easily removed. I have previously used the bodywash by Dial with Marula oil and it has the same smoothing effect on skin.

copyright Durhamonthecheap - love my new Dial Miracle Oil Hand Soap

Disclaimer: I received a free product and free product coupons from Purex in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this blog are solely my own and have not been influenced by any third party.