Broken Promises: A Great New Read
Broken Promises by Nick Nichols
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from Strategies PR to review. All opinions are our own.
Some books grab you by the first page, and this is one of them.
Scandal. Ambition. Struggle.
Jack Adams is a lawyer and as disciplined as they come. And at age 35, he has earned the trust of his mentor and boss and been handed a delicate case for the daughter of a major client. If he handles this right, his partnership is all but guaranteed. After he wins a big hearing, Jack sees the finish line in sight. But his career takes an unexpected turn when his client has other plans and Jack succumbs to her charms. Seduced and manipulated, Jack struggles to unravel the truth while he is forced to fight for his job, his law license, and even his freedom.
What I Say:
Broken Promises is a legal thriller that will keep you turning pages late into the night.
The action is fast-paced, and is a first-hand account of what can happen in family law that only a long-time family lawyer can give you.
The book is full of twists and turns, and you are not sure what characters you can trust until the very end.
It is a story about greed, lust and trust.
I highly recommend getting a copy of this book!
This is probably my favourite book that was sent to me by Strategies PR to review, and rates right up there with
The Third Rule of Ten by Gay Hendricks
If you like legal thrillers that are edgy and gripping, then you will love Broken Promises.
To get another opinion, I asked my mom, an avid reader, to give me her thoughts. Here’s what she says:
What My Mom Thinks
This is a quick read.
I felt the main character was too gullible for my liking and I would have liked him better if he had a little more backbone in his character.
The plot moved along and kept my attention. I did guess where it was going but that did not spoil the enjoyment of the read.
Looking for a great read? Pick up Broken Promises by Nick Nichols!
Point Pleasant Park Walking Trails, Halifax
Point Pleasant Park Walking Trails, Halifax
I cannot believe that this was only my second visit to Point Pleasant Park at the South end of Halifax! What a wonderful way to spend time exploring with your family!
Here’s the description
The Trails
Historic and Cultural Parts of the Park
Don’t forget to stop by Blackrock Beach.
How to Get There
We spent about 2 hours exploring the park and walked about 5kms. And, there wasn’t one complaint!
There is so much to do, see, explore and climb at Point Pleasant Park. It makes for such a pleasant afternoon with your family. Do check it out!
FAMILY FUN: Eating with Kids at Acadia
FAMILY FUN: Eating with Kids at Acadia
Acadia University in Wolfville has a lot to offer for families, ranging from great athletic to music programs. But, have you ever thought about taking your children there to eat?
There are two places where you can eat with your children at Acadia.
Continue Reading in my bi-weekly family fun column in the Advertiser Journal...
Tips to Help Families Sleep in a Hotel #StaySmart
Tips to Help Families Sleep in a Hotel
Disclosure: Our family received a free night in a Holiday Inn Express to check out the Snoozapalooza promotion. Who would turn down a great family night out, and a chance to stay in a hotel with a water slide? All opinions are our own.
Our family travels a lot and does quite a few StayCations a year in the Maritimes.
Although we love getting away, it’s not always easy for our family to stay in one room to sleep.
My husband likes to stay up very late. I like to read before I go to sleep.
Thomas falls asleep as soon as his head hits the pillow, and Daniel takes a minimum of 45 minutes to fall asleep. While Daniel is trying to fall asleep, he tosses and turns and makes a lot of noise. This is fine when he’s home in his own room, but when we’re all in one hotel room, it’s very challenging, as he keeps Thomas from falling asleep and me from reading (because he doesn’t like the light).
Over the past 10 years we have developed some tips for falling asleep as a family in a hotel!
- Move the clock. The kids say they sleep better when they can see the time. This way, they know if they can get up, or should try to fall back asleep.
- Bring a flashlight. Every time I pack, I always include a flashlight. When I am reading at night, I don’t have to use the overhead lamps. Before this, there were many times I was sitting, reading in the bathroom! Now, I try to bring my e-reader and adjust the brightness function. However, the light still tends to bother the kids.
- Bring a mask. The hotel might even have one you can have. I always pack eye masks, so the kids can block out the light from our reading, and helps them calm down.
- Bring earplugs. Same with the eye mask. They create a sensory deprivation zone and help the kids calm and block out noise from other family members. These take awhile to get used to, so you might want to try using them ahead of time.
- Have something to keep the kids quiet. Daniel needs an activity to do right before bed to quiet his mind. Also, when he wakes up earlier than everyone, he needs to have something quiet to do so he doesn’t wake everyone else up. For us, it’s a tablet where he can listen to audio stories, music, or play games in the morning.
- Set up the TV. Before parents go to sleep, set up the TV to a kids’ channel and put it on a low volume. That way, when the kids wake up, you can roll over, turn on the TV, and roll back for a few more ZZZzzzsss.
- Sleeping activities and games. We always bring a story to read so the kids can listen calmly. Sometimes we play an audio story to keep them quiet. Other times we resort to… who can go the longest without making any noise? Or in worst case scenarios, we’ll pay you $1 if you can not make a noise for 15 minutes!
Need a few more ideas?
The Holiday Inn Express is featuring a program called Snoozapalooza until December 18.
On the weekends, Holiday Inn Express hotels across Canada, the United States and Mexico will extend the hours of
their Express Start breakfast bar from 7 a.m. – noon, and extend check out hours until noon on Saturdays and Sundays. Guests are encouraged to sleep-in.
Here are 7 more Snoozapalooza Sleep Tips
1. Enjoy a “sleep sanctuary”. We sleep better in a dark environment. Make sure your shades are fully closed for complete darkness. Blue light from TV, mobile phones and laptops can interfere with sleep. Try shutting down all devices an hour before you head to bed.
2. Cool down, and wind down. Most people enjoy a cool night’s sleep. Adjust the temperature to between 15 to 20 degrees to create a cool sleeping environment. Also take some time to stretch after a long day.
In the booklet, there are a few suggestions for some simple yoga stretches.
3. Get comfy. Check out the Holiday Inn Express pillow menu. You can have your choice of Firm or Soft pillows.
4. Release your inner chatter. Some of your best ideas come to you when you lay down for the night. Use a notepad to get them out of your head, on paper, and you back to bed.
5. Find your ideal position. Remember you are not at home, so spread out.
6. Relax before bed. Take time to wind down from the day. A relaxing activity such as the colouring pages in the book can calm you down, or you can read or listen to music.
7. Make sure the noise is right. Check the noise level in your room – maybe stream a white nose sound on your phone.
Visit staysmart.com/sleep for more information.
For more information about Holiday Inn Express hotels or to book reservations, visit www.holidayinnexpress.com. Find us on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/hiexpress or Facebook www.Facebook.com/holidayinnexpress.
The next time you are booking your family night out of town, book with the IHG Group and the Holiday Inn Express.
Have a great night sleep by following the above sleep tips. And if you’re lucky, you might just get to sleep in!
Simply Sensational Chocolate Cake
Simply Sensational Chocolate Cake
Every once in awhile, one of those recipes comes along that is Mind Blowingly AWESOME.
This is it.
I started making this cake back in my university days. I made it every year for my boss (now my friend JL!) for her birthday or for Christmas.
It’s ooey-gooey goodness. Make sure you cook it long enough and that the centre is thoroughly cooked!
- 1 1/2 C Flour
- 3/4 C Sugar
- 1/3 C Cocoa
- 1 1/4 tsp Baking Powder
- 3/4 tsp Baking Soda
- 3/4 C Mayonnaise
- 3/4 C Water
- 1 egg
- 1 1/2 C Chocolate Chips, divided
- Mix all ingredients together, only putting 1/2 C of Chocolate chips into the batter.
- Pour into a greased 8x8 or 9x9 pan.
- Sprinkle with remaining chocolate chips.
- Bake 350 for 35-45 minutes. Make sure the middle is fully cooked!
Family Fun: Create new holiday traditions
Family Fun: Create new holiday traditions
“Christmas is a special time to take a break and connect with others, family and neighbours,” says Ted Reynolds, Kentville. “We never did complicated or expensive things at Christmas growing up. We had time together as a family.”
So much of the pleasure Christmas is the excitement and anticipation leading up to the big day.
“Christmas time,” Josephine Reynolds, seven, says, “is such a magical and amazing time!”
What I try to impress upon people is that family fun need not be expensive or complicated: it’s about being together. Or, as Josephine puts it, “it’s about the yummy snacks and having lots of friends to meet with and have fun with.”
Here are a few ideas to help you create a few new traditions this year.
Continue Reading in my bi-weekly family fun column in the Advertiser Journal...
