The blog Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy posted their review last Friday and it’s a total thumbs up.

Here is a bit of what reviewer, Lisa, had to say:

Shadow Visions is the second book in the Shadow Warriors series by Gabriella Hewitt. It is a wonderful original story that is refreshing to read. Ixa is spunky and funny, while Manuel is sexy and stern. A nice easy read that wraps up the story flawlessly. If you are looking for a book that has a story unlike any you have read but still gives you the happily ever after that we all want and love, this is the book for you.

You can read the entire review here.

If you haven’t checked out my Shadow Warrior series yet, jump on over to my Bookshelf page. Out of the Shadows kicks off the series. Shadow Visions takes you just that bit deeper into the world of Aztec mythology.

Enjoy.

Here is a sweet dish that is sure to put a smile on your face and make you feel like a kitchen goddess!

So go ahead

Share ‘em with your family (or indulge by yourself), then wait for the “all clear” that the kitchen is clean.

LAYERED STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE BOWL (courtesy KRaft News)

What You Need
3 cups sliced fresh strawberries
3 Tbsp. sugar2pkg.
(8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, softened
1-1/2cups cold milk1pkg.
(3.4 oz.) JELL-O Vanilla Flavor Instant Pudding
2 cups thawed COOL WHIP LITE Whipped Topping, divided
2 cups frozen pound cake cubes (1 inch)

COMBINE berries and sugar. Refrigerate until ready to use. Beat Neufchatel in large bowl with mixer until creamy. Gradually beat in milk. Add dry pudding mix; mix well. Blend in 1-1/2 cups COOL WHIP; spoon half into 2-1/2-qt. bowl.

TOP with cake, berries and remaining Neufchatel mixture. Refrigerate 4 hours.

MELT chocolate; drizzle over trifle. Top with remaining COOL WHIP.
1 square BAKER’S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

Check out the video for tutorial help

Want more recipes? Sign-up for the Kraft Newsletter

There is something about him and his witty talk and brillant smile with that cute dimple.

Rocking tattoo and bulging biceps are a nice touch, too.

Not only can the man pull off a pair of tight speedos complemented with a big gold belt

but he also looks fabulous in a tutu;)

There is no doubt he will be absoloutely adorable and gorgeous in his latest venture, Journey 2: The Mysterious Island.

This month I will be traveling to places unknown and dropping by to say hi!

I hooked up with IO Innovative Tours to lead the way on this merry adventure.

I hope you will join me on this trip. I would love to take some old friends with me and make some new ones too.

I can’t wait to talk about my new book Shadow Visions and the Shadow Warrior series.

It should be lots of fun.

Want to know where we are going?

Click here for the links.

May 6th I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!

May 7th A Soul Unsung

May 8th Killer Fiction

May 10th Ramblings of an Amateur Writer

May 11th Simply Ali

May 16th Bodice Rippers, Femme Fatales and Fantasy

May 18th Tea and Book Guest Blog

May 21st I Just Wanna Site Here and Read

May 25th Books Reviewed by Bunny

May 25th Sapphyria’s Steamy Book Reviews

May 29th Wonderland Reviews

May 29th Reviews by Molly

May 31st Adventures of a Frugal Mom

May 31st Good Choice Reading

JUNE

June 5th Journey with Words

June 5th Understanding Shae’s Story

June 7th Ramblings from this Chick

June 7th Reviews by Molly Guest Blog

June 11th Storm Goddess Book Reviews

June 11th Wickedly Bookish

June 13th Miraculous

June 13th Fictional Candy

June 13th Adventures of a Frugal Mom

June 16th A Soul Unsung

June 16th Indie Writers Review

June 16th Wickedly Bookish

But my friend mentioned that the girl in Kick Ass is appearing in the new Johnny Depp film. She had only just seen some ads up in the Tokyo Subway. It was the first for me to hear he has a new film coming out and can we say SQUEEEEE!

Okay, I’m not a super-crazed fan like my other girlfriend, who waited outside a theater in Roppongi to see him arrive for the premiere of one of his films. I think one year she actually went to Narita Airport to see him arrive on Japanese soil. Now that is taking fandom to a level I just can’t go.

But got to love the guy.

So who else is waiting for Tim Burton’s movie Dark Shadows, starring Johnny Depp to hit the screens? Honestly, with the Tim Burton-Johnny Depp connection, I’m expecting it to be a blockbuster hit.

For me, it has all the elements of a rocking-fun film. A cursed vampire transported to the 1970s that combines darkness with humor, plus some very awesome special effects. It cracks me up to see how the 1970s have become cool again. And to think we used to make fun of the era. Then again to be transported back to all that plaid, vinyl green furniture or orange decor kind of makes me shudder. LOL!

Even so, I’m psyched for another Johnny Depp film. He almost always takes on quirky characters, really digs into them, and then makes them so real that they become icons themselves. Think Jack Sparrow or Edward Scissorhands. ‘Nuff said. Depp is a supremely talented actor and it doesn’t hurt that he’s downright sexy, though the roles he plays don’t rely on his sex appeal at all.

If you haven’t seen the official trailer, here it is. If you have, maybe you want to see it again. I know I haven’t gotten tired of it.

The best part is getting to watch the cutie, hottie main characther, Nick Burkhardt, played by David C. Giuntoli.
It’s got those not-so-adorable shape-shifting fairytale characters like wolves, pigs, etc. Yes, this is the darker side of GRIMM tales which is more true to the darkness of the original stories.

David C. Giuntoli was born June 18, 1980 and grew up in St. Louis, Missouri. This adorable American actor has only starred in a few tv shows mostly as extra or bit parts. GRIMM is his first lead role but I have a feeling we will be seeing more of him.

Never seen GRIMM or missed a few episodes? Check out the streaming video on HULU.com.

And did I mention that my son, Byron, is afraid of all animals?
Flash forward to the present – sadly, not only are people acquainted with the disorder, they usually have a family member or are friends with someone who’s been touched with an autism diagnosis in their own families. It’s even reached such epidemic proportions that autism research was mentioned in the last presidential debates.

Amazing!

Wonderful avenues have opened up over the years for persons with autism and their families: Ground-breaking therapies, public awareness and educational advancements. And along with the good, there have been well-meaning people who have loaded unwarranted guilt upon parents: the celebrities who proclaim cures with special diets, authors who assert that 24/7 therapy (insert the au jour treatment of the day) will obliterate all signs of autism and make someone ‘normal.’

To which I say . . . hogwash. That’s not to say you can’t experiment with different avenues, if it’s not harmful for your loved one. But there is no one answer or miracle cure. There is a wonderful resource for parents now that addresses this very issue. http://www.autism-island.com/2012/03/50-things-you-should-not-say-to-autism.html

And just as autism and its symptoms are different for each individual, so also are the appropriate, alternative kinds of therapy. There is a whole smorgasbord to choose from: water, dance, music, art, nutritional, occupational, massage and . . . pet therapy.

Full disclosure: as I mentioned earlier my son, Byron, is scared to death of animals. To my knowledge, he’s never been bitten, scratched or harmed in any way by an animal. Up until he was about ten years old, whenever we came within fifty yards of a dog, Byron would literally climb onto my hips and hold on for dear life, whimpering and trembling. Didn’t matter if the dog was a loving puppy or a full-grown Golden Retriever, a breed that I find particularly gentle and kind. (Writer Anne Lamott describes them as the adorable ‘koala bears’ of the canine world.)

Being more of a cat person myself, our family has had cats since Byron was very young. Up until last year Byron would scream in terror if one of them came too close. “Get!” he would shout in ear-splitting decibels. No amount of encouragement or demonstration of how to pet a cat worked.

The cats learned to give him a wide berth.

As an animal-lover, I wanted Byron to form a special connection with a pet. With all his social impairments with other people, I had hoped he could experience the joy animals hold for us. Why couldn’t he form this kind of special bond?

A wise teacher stepped in. “Think about it, Debbie. Cats and dogs are unpredictable. They’ll jump on you for no reason, make all kind of strange noises and do other weird stuff.”

Aha. Byron is enamored with routine and order. If I look at the situation from his point of view, this makes its own kind of sense.

For other parents, pet therapy may be a viable option. Perhaps it is just the thing that will provide their child with comfort and happiness. Even in my rural area, there are a myriad of opportunities to explore, a whole world that includes more than dogs and cats. (See list at the end of this article.)

I visited our local humane center and spoke to the director. She’s matched hundreds of special-needs persons with animals over the years. What she tells every family is not much different from what she encourages everyone to do: come into the shelter with an open mind and spend time with the animals. Sit with their energy. Observe them at play. See which one chooses you. Yes, there are certain breeds known for being more suitable because of their temperament, but just as everyone person, challenged or not, is different — so every animal has their own personality. She also said it is perfectly acceptable, even encouraged, for a family to try-out an animal for a period of time in their own home to make sure there is a correct fit. If it doesn’t work out, an animal may be returned and adopted by someone else.

So . . . it never hurts to provide your child with new experiences. They may just find their new best friend! I’ve heard and read lots of stories about special bonds formed between persons with autism and pets. Besides the usual connections with domestic, common animals like cats and dogs, there is horseback riding and swimming with the dolphins (doesn’t that sound wonderful and incredible?). I even read a recent Guideposts Magazine article about a person with autism forming a special connection with a chimpanzee at his local zoo.

Pets may not be Byron’s ‘thing’ – he’s personally into water and swims like a fish – but at least he has grown more tolerant of them. We have a four year-old orange tabby, Grendel, who’s doing his best to win Byron over. Grendel respects Byron’s boundaries and doesn’t jump on him or get too close, but he will sit a few feet away from Byron and observe him, as if trying to figure him out.

And I’ve noted another curious thing. Over time, Grendel has gradually inched closer to Byron, closing the physical distance between them. I’ve caught the two of them staring at each other intently with mutual, bemused curiosity. Who knows where this might lead one day? Grendel might decide to never inch any closer, or Byron may rebuff him.

But . . . I’ve got my money on Grendel.

Resources:
Your local humane center!

Dogs on Call program with Easter Seals. http://alabama.easterseals.com/site/PageServer?pagename=ALDR_DOGS_ON_CALL

Mane Stream – equine program for the special-needs population. http://www.shhrc.org/

Petfinder – adopt the perfect pet from any pet shelter. (But still visit in-person, if possible.) http://www.petfinder.com/index.html

Dolphin therapy – Actually, I was surprised to read this is now considered controversial. Research well and make an informed decision. http://www.autisable.com/719397011/autism-therapy–dolphin-therapy/

General information on pet therapy and autism: http://www.everydayhealth.com/autism/how-pet-therapy-can-help.aspx

All my life I have had difficulty with spelling and math and graphs, largely in part due to my dyslexia and dysgraphia. But I don’t use my learning disabuility (LD) as a crutch to getting away with not doing the work. I have always been a hard worker trying my best, sometimes succeeding and sometimes failing, but always giving 100%.

I guess in a way I am proud of my parents for being happy with me getting B & C grades knowing how hard it was for me to keep up in school. I was in remedial classes all my life, never honors or special ed (this did not exist when I was in school — that was for the severely retarded kids with handicap issues — and yes, I said retarded, wchich means slow and that was the correct term used during my school years.) If you were considered slow or not up to full potential, you were considered a dumb kid, stuck in a classroom with kids with behavioral problems or with immigrant kids that barely spoke English. I remember being in a special wing set aside just for us in elementary school. It was a rough 2 years and we knew we were different and kept apart form the rest of the school. The other class in the wing had kids in wheel chairs and with extra aides. I graduated but wasn’t nearly as close to my full potential as I should have been.

My parents wanted better for my sister and I. We went to Catholic school, I suffered terribly at first because I could not keep up academically, but a nun diagnosed me properly and I received extra tutoring after shcool. I went on to be a better person, granted high school was not that great, I was expected to pass tests just like everyone else and when I failed I got dropped to remedial classes and by Senior year I was in non-testing classes and did not graduate with a regents degree, which is the high standard test in HS. I have a basic diploma equavalent of a GED. Still I went on to earn full scholarships to four years of college. I graduated with a 3.0 average and went on to become a Manager in fancy hotels and restaurants, then went back for my Masters in Eduaction and graduated top of my class with a 3.8 GPA.

I think when we label children, we forget that they have great potential to become great leaders, and we expect less of them and treat them that way. I do not. I see all children and adults as intelligent beings and when we treat them as smart and give them the tools and self-esteem to do great they will live up to it and succeed.

As an educator, I see this time and time again. Kids that hold a real place in my heart are the ones that are told they are bad or dumb and then I raise my expectations for them, they hate me, fight me and then I make them go for the golden bar. And guess what? They rise to it. Kids live for praise and want discipline and they want to shine. They want to be doctors and nurses and politicians; you have to tell them that they are intelligent and that they have a special skill. My actual threat is if they want to be treated special, I will treat them special and they know this to mean I will be on top of them expecting more from them.

I don’t go around bragging that I am dyslexic or dysgraphic or that I may need 2-3 methods to accomplish what some learn in one shot. I just shut up and get it done. I only tell parents who think their kids can’t succeed and then I let them know my story. It really makes them wake up. Some people find it remarkable. Honestly, it is not remarkable. It is just who I am. More importantly it goes to show how much their own child can achieve and more in life.

Two of my favorite series that feature characters with learning disabilities, who show strength and courage, who are pitted against the odds and triumph are Hank Zipzer and Percy Jackson. I love how these authors never use their LD as a crutch for them to give up, instead it only motivates them to try harder, work harder and do the best they can with what they got. A true inspiration, even if they are fictional characters.

I think a reviewer summed it up the best “What I like about Hank is how realistic he is and how almost all of us have a lil’ bit of Hank in us (some, like me, moreso than others). Hank isn’t a bad kid; he’s not mean or a jerk (that’s a job for Nick “The Tick” McKelty), but he’s so easily distracted and scatterbrained that it’s easy for his imagination and impulses to get completely away from him. Anyone who has learning challenges or has had difficulty concentrating in school or in meetings can certainly identify with Hank.”

I am focusing on Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki, the super hot brothers of Supernatural, Sam and Dean Winchester!!!!

Now we could talk about their acting skills and the great scripting for one of the coolest shows on CW but I would rather focus on their dimples and abs…

Sam is the sweet tourtured soul with tainted blood running through his veins…I love this image from DemonHunt.net. The angel wings are brillant!

This one is a fav. Have to say the outline on the towel gives me chills. Such a tease!

Dean is the older, big brother who watches his little brothers back and will do anything to keep him safe and far from danger and the devil. He is also super sexy and a total bad ass!

Glamour magazine voted Jensen one of the hottest men of 2009. I can totally agree.

Fans of Supernatrual will love this article with the show’s Producer Sera Gamble spilling the beans on what’s next to come with the Winchester boys!

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/03/21/supernatural-jensen-ackles-jared-padalecki_n_1368415.html

In addition to their distinctive coloring, torties also have a reputation for unique personalities, sometimes referred to as “tortitude.” They tend to be strong-willed, a bit hot-tempered, and they can be very possessive of their human. Other words used to describe torties are fiercely independent, feisty and unpredictable. They’re usually very talkative and make their presence and needs known with anything from a hiss to a meow to a strong purr.

Zoie redefined feisty. She was the only cat I’ve ever owned who would argue back. And she could cop an attitude with the best of ‘em. Especially after we would return from vacation. Without fail, upon our return, Zoie would give us the cold shoulder for at least an hour before bestowing forgiveness.

She was also the most curious cat I’ve ever known. Nothing got by her. Everything and everyone that came into our tiny apartment had to be inspected. And she wasn’t content to simply rub against your legs or jump up on your lap. Zoie would sit on the arm of the couch and peer into your face. Once she once narrowly missed catching her whiskers on fire by trying to sniff a candle’s burning flame.

2. A Kindness is Never Forgotten:

Crystal: was the second Persian we adopted: a Silver-point female who was retiring from show life (at almost 2 years old). We got her as a companion for Zoie, who we thought might be lonely after we observed her talking to our Catz screen-saver program.

Crystal was quite stand-offish with us, despite being described as having a sweet, loving personality. In fact, the cattery owner told us, “If it doesn’t work out, I want Chrissy back, because she’s such a sweetheart.”

One of the first things we had to agree to do is have Chrissy spayed. This is a standard agreement/procedure when Champions are retired to family homes. I worried over how the operation would affect our relationship with Chrissy. We hadn’t connected with her prior to the surgery~would the operation ruin any chances to bond?

Chrissy returned from surgery and immediately hid under our bed. She wouldn’t come out at all and seemed uninterested in any food or drink that I offered her. After a day or so, I grew concerned and called our vet. He though Chrissy might be experiencing discomfort following her surgery and prescribed medicine for pain.

Somehow I coaxed her from under the bed and gave her the medicine. It did the trick. To our relief, her appetite returned and she stopped hiding.

Another, unexpected thing happened: we, in general, but I in particular, gained a devoted friend. Suddenly, Chrissy couldn’t wait to rub against me, sit on my lap, or follow me around. I mentioned the relationship change to one of my co-workers at the time, and after a minute of thought surmised, “You took away her pain.”

3. True Friends are Forever:

Red Fox and Sherwood: These two boys were best friends, and our next acquisitions. The cattery owner often told us how these two spent their days together, hanging out on the cat trees. Red was a Red-Tabby and Sherwood was all black. They were both pretty easy-going, although Red was a quiet thinker, and Sherwood was a playful cuddler.

Red, unfortunately, was also the first cat we lost.

Autosomal Polycystic Kidney Disease (PKD) is a progressive, inherited condition which causes multiple fluid filled cysts on the kidneys of Persians/Exotic cats & breeds with Persians/Exotics in their lines.

Cysts are present from birth, but start out small, slowly increasing in size. Cysts can range from very small to several centimetres in diameter. The increasing size of the cysts damage the normal kidney tissue, eventually causing kidney failure.

The number of cysts & the speed & size in which they grow varies from cat to cat. The average age of kidney failure in cats with PKD is 7 years, but some cats will suffer from kidney failure at an earlier age & some cats much later, and in fact succumb to something other than PKD. (taken from www.cat-world.com.au/ )

When he was seven years old, PKD started shutting Red’s kidneys down. But Red was such a trooper that we never realized anything was wrong until it was too late. By the time we got him tested, his creatinine level (a marker of kidney function) was 14.6, one of the highest ever seen.
After Red’s death, Sherwood spent days searching the house for his friend. When his searches proved fruitless, he would sit alone on the couch with the saddest expression on his face. I honestly don’t think he ever recovered from the loss, as his thick, pitch black hair started thinning and turning gray.

4. The Heart Plays by its Own Rules:

Pablo and Zsa-Zsa: These two came to us at different times, arriving about a year or so apart. Pablo was our first Exotic (e.g. shorthaired) Persian. He came to us from what I understand to be quite a distinguished line of European Champions. Born in Sweden, we were told his sire’s name was Gianni Versace. While living in Sweden, he was reportedly fed only cooked fish. The American cattery owner had to gradually switch him over to cat food once he got here. Two of my frequent gripes about Pablo are “he thinks he owns everything”, and “he thinks he’s the king”.

You get the picture. Mr. Entitled.

Zsa-Zsa is a very friendly American girl who loves attention. And when Pablo saw her, it was love at first sight. At least once or twice a day he seeks her out for either a quick game of chase or some mutual bathing. Sometimes he tries to parlay the bathing into a bit of play, and depending on her mood, Zsa-Zsa will either go along or rebuff him with a few quick swats. When she needs to, she can put him in his place.

She is the only one that he will yield to when it comes to his favorite places to sit or his favorite “treat” foods (such as tuna fish). All other cats he will shove out of the way or rudely practically sit upon until he gets things his way. The “special treatment” is only for the love of his life.

5. Attitude is Everything:

Avita: Avita is another Exotic. She arrived as a package deal with Zsa-Zsa. While Pablo and Zsa-Zsa’s fur is silky-slick, Avita’s feels like cotton. Quiet and unassuming, she’s always been pleasant and playful.

In August of 2010, we took a week’s vacation to visit family in Florida. Upon return, we noticed something different about Avita when we picked her up. A lump near her “arm pit”. A trip to the vet confirmed our worst fear: the sizeable lump was more than likely breast cancer.

Surgery was scheduled to occur 9 days later. In the time between the consultation and the surgery, the tumor seemed to grow. Two tumors were removed and sent for biopsy. The results were a prognosis that was extremely poor.

Avita refused food while at the vet’s. It just wasn’t looking good.

Yet when we went to pick her up, as soon as she heard our voices she began rolling onto her back in greeting—in spite of the large bandage wrapped around her middle. Our vet couldn’t get over how our arrival made Avita so happy.

When we got home, the first thing she did was run to her food bowl and eat.
That’s when I decided that for whatever time she had left, we were going to be her cheering section. Every day we would pet her, play with her, and praise her. Every day she would hear that she was beautiful, special, and loved.

And every day she would follow us around the house, with her eyes bright and her tail up, clearly loving it.

Days passed. Then weeks. Then months.

At the end of 2011, she had blood work and two thyroid tests done. All test results came back within normal limits. The breast tumors have not recurred.

As of this writing, Avita sits with me on my computer chair.

Whether prayer, or fate, or attitude, or a combination of all three are the reason, I do not know.

She has more than beaten the odds.

She lives.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Roni Lynne is the aspiring author of an upper YA paranormal tentatively titled Moonstones: Eighteen year-old Johnna’s sophomore year at a small, rural university brings with it not only the friendships she has longed for, but also faeries, shape-shifters, and the battle for control of an ancient Atlantis power crystal.
~Roni Lynne
YA Adventures in the Paranormal…and Beyond!
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