Jack Daniels Distillery

Jack Daniels Distillery
Lynchburg, TN

On a recent trip to Nashville, TN, the hubby and I decided to drive a little more than 1 hour over to Lynchburg to take the Jack Daniels Distillery tour. Regular tours are free from 9-4:30. They also have a tasting tour which cost a little extra. There is only a certain number of people that that take that tour and it gets full quickly. We were there at 12 and the 2:30 tasting tour (last for the day) was already full.

Since I am not a whiskey fan anyway, it I did not bother me. We signed up to take the regular tour. It was interesting to see the process of creating Jack Daniels. Starting with a few quality ingredients and a unique process that is more than a century old, a delectable liquor is created that is full of flavor.

While on the tour I could not take pictures inside the facility of the cooking and brewing process. So I suggest the next time you are close to Lynchburg you should stop and take the tour. But beware! If the smell of liquor will make you drunk, be prepared to get tipsy.

Compromise and change equals love story?

Sep17

A Compromising Affair (Arabesque) – Gwynne Forester

Scott Galloway is an ambassador who has finished one assignment and wants to find a wife before taking his next assignment. Denise Miller is a philanthropist working for an organization that helps children of immigrants (important later). Since Scott decides that he wants a wife, he begins to direct his attention to Denise (I still do not know how I feel about the man being on the prowl- seems like he is getting married for the wrong reason). They have a mutual attraction, but Denise has a lot of hang ups that prevent her from committing to a serious relationship.

Scott’s interim assignment was heading the immigration division which caused additional problems with their relationship. The organization, that Denise works with, made some statements that differed with the government’s official policy. Someone made the comment that Denise should publically support Scott. I did not agree with that.

Denise should not be forced to change her opinions in order to conform with her boyfriend. To me that was saying that two political figures could not have a successful personal relationship if they support different policies.

Her friends keep telling her to get it together because Scott is everything she wants. Scott wants her to trust him so that their relationship can progress. Knowing what Denise was dealing with emotionally, I did not like the fact that Scott was so pushy. I understand he was on the fast track to get a wife that fit into his career timeline, but I do not think that was fair to Denise.

As the book progressed, so did my frown lines. There is pressure from all directions, but is the relationship that what she really wants? Do they have what it takes as a couple to have a lasting happy marriage?

Maybe I am overreacting but the moral of this story to me seemed to be this: A woman has a job until she meets the man she is going to marry. Then she compromises and changes to do what he wants.

Since I am used to a different type of romance novel where the main characters revel in their differences while giving into to their love for each other, I admit that this may be an overreaction. Check out A Compromising Affair (Arabesque) and let me know what you think.

Thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat

Sep17

All For One – Ryne Douglas Pearson

This is a thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire book.

The story begins in the Prologue with Joey Travers, Elena Markworth, Bryce Hool, Micheal Prentiss, Paula Jean Allenton, and Jeff Bernstein taking a bat to Guy Edmond. It seems that this is a particularly gruesome display of violence. And the premise of the book is that these children create a pact to stick to their story so that none of them will be arrested for Guy’s death.

In the course of the story, we understand why each one would have reason to kill Guy if they did. He was evil and spiteful. Calling him a bully does not fully describe the extent to which he went to terrorize the other children in the school and neighborhood where he lived. He destroyed people’s property, played cruel practical jokes, humiliated, and demoralized others. After his death, he was gone, but the emotional and physical scars haunted those who had suffered by his hand.

Yet it is a police detective’s job to find a killer. No one should be killed because of vigilante justice.

We know it is not right, but it is difficult to want to find the killer of a horrible person whose main delight was in the intimidation of others.

During the reading of the book, I had so many questions.

Did the children kill him?
If so, who will be the one to break and tell the police?
What will happen to them if they are guilty?
If they are not guilty, who really did it?

The author creates a story that engages the reader in such a way, that there is angst and anxiety for the children. These are children that are having to deal with repressed memories of torment and oppression by a devious individual. I sympathized with his victims. I could understand why some of them were celebrating his death and treating the murder suspects with, what some would call, misplaced gratitude.

But does that make their actions justified?

My mind said no, but my heart said maybe. In the end, in All For One Pearson answered all of my questions and provided a somewhat satisfying explanation to all events.

Another hot Westmoreland going after what he wants and The Chase is ON!

Sep10

The Chase Is On (Silhouette Desire) by Brenda Jackson

Chase Westmoreland owns a soul food restaurant and Jessica opens a bakery next door. And since a romance novel is nothing without a little drama, Jessica is the granddaughter of the assumed nemesis of Chase’s grandfather. She is trying to find out what happened to cause the rift between the two men.
Chase’s grandfather told him never to trust any member of Jessica’s family. So it gets complicated. Jessica knows who Chase is hoping she can find out what really happened before Chase finds out whose family she is part of. Jessica’s reasons for leaving that information out of the introductions has a lot to do with the fact that she was hoping to prove and present Chase with the proof that will substantiate her grandfather’s innocence. But she knows that the longer she waits, the harder it will be when the truth comes out.
While Chase turned on the charm as soon as he realized he has a cutie for his business neighbor, Jessica began a losing battle trying not to reciprocate. Once she gives in hesitantly, the immediate attraction seems to be smooth sailing until Chase finds out that she has withheld some pertinent information pertaining to her ancestry. With both of them having relationship issues because of previous experiences (e.g. her father was class A jerk), it is interesting to see how they end up together at all.

The Chase Is On (Silhouette Desire) is entertaining, funny, and a little nail-biting at the same time. As the reader, I had information that Chase did not and as I got to know his personality, I wondered how he was going to react when he found out. This is another must read from Brenda Jackson.

Way out of line was so intense

Sep9

I read Way out of line by Trish Jackson and it was so intense to me that I was motivated to write a couple of reviews about it. Since I write reviews on different websites, I try to vary the wording in case there is some issue. Below is the review I wrote for Goodreads website.

Way Out of Line by Trish Jackson

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Trish Jackson weaved a wonderful plot that was refreshingly different from other romance novels that I have read. Trent and Hal have a deep connection while it seems that every possible external force is working to keep them apart.
The dialogue is well written and the characters are presented in such a way that the reader is drawn into the story immediately. One seemingly innocent little lie snowballs into a series of tragic events and Trent and Hal have to deal with the consequences. I loved the story and the twists and turns the main characters have to take on their journey.
This is a must read for anyone who likes action packed stories.
I would not be surprised if this is turned into a movie one day (that is how great this story is).

View all my reviews