With six teenage girls living under one roof, things are bound to get interesting. Mix six teenaged girls and one ’60s fashion icon (retired, of course) in an old Victorian-era boarding home. Add guys and dating, a little high-school angst, and huge personalities … and you’ve got the Carter House Girls. The six Carter house girls plan to join Mrs. Carter in Florida for a “quiet” spring break, but quiet is impossible when all their guy friends stay in a condo nearby. Focused on her newfound faith and sobriety, Taylor is trying to behave, but Eliza has no such intention. In an attempt to win her ex, Harry, back, Eliza continues to push the envelope, and her partying spins out of control. When Eliza goes missing, everyone is left worried and afraid for her safety. Will Eliza wake up and see that her life is built on sinking sand? Or will this quicksand claim her instead? Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books for teens, women, and children. Before publishing, Melody traveled around the world, volunteered in teen ministry, taught preschool, raised two sons, and worked briefly in interior design and later in international adoption. "I think real-life experiences inspire the best fiction," she says. Her wide variety of books seems to prove this theory. Spring Breakdown Carter House Girls By Melody Carlson ZONDERVAN Copyright © 2010 Melody Carlson All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-0-310-74809-0 CHAPTER 1 "I'm sorry, Mother, but I refuse to spend my spring break in some disgustingly dirty third world country." Eliza rolled her eyes dramatically for the benefit of her captive audience at the Carter House breakfast table. "It's just peachy that you and Dad don't mind being inoculated with all those toxic shots just so that you can use filthy outhouses, be devoured by mosquitoes, and sleep in rodent-infested tents, but count me out." Casey giggled and DJ glanced around to see if Grandmother was anywhere nearby. DJ knew Grandmother didn't like for the girls to use their cell phones at the table. But exceptions were sometimes made when it was a parent—especially when it was a parent of wealth or influence, like the Wiltons. Eliza's forehead creased as she listened to whatever was being said on the other end of the phone. "Thanks anyway, Mother, but I'm passing. Honestly, I'd rather stay right here in boring old Crescent Cove than go with you guys to the ends of the planet. Y'all have fun now. " Then she snapped her cell phone shut and used a foul word. "Eliza Wilton!" exclaimed Grandmother as she entered the dining room. "That's no way for a well-bred Kentucky debutante to speak." "I'm sorry, Mrs. Carter." Eliza looked slightly embarrassed. "I'm just so frustrated with my mother!" "Well, please do control yourself." Grandmother frowned as she sat down in her regular place at the head of the table and put her napkin in her lap. "Good morning, ladies." Like well-trained robots, or Stepford teens, they all chirped back "good morning." And then Rhiannon asked the blessing. This was a relatively new development, but something that Rhiannon had volunteered to do and, when both DJ and Taylor had backed her, Grandmother had agreed and later on even acted as if it had been her own idea in the first place. After Rhiannon said "amen," she turned to Eliza. "So ... where is it that your mom wants you to go for spring break anyway? "Nepal." The way Eliza said the name of the country sounded as if she was swearing again. "I've heard Nepal is an interesting place." DJ refilled her coffee cup. "I'd love to go there someday." Eliza made a face. "Great, I'll ask my parents if you can take my place." "The mountains there are beautiful," Kriti said quietly. "If I wanted to see mountains, I'd go to Switzerland," retorted Eliza. "I think a trip to Nepal sounds like a fun adventure." Casey stabbed her fork into a piece of pineapple. "I'd be happy to go too." "Maybe you and DJ should flip a coin." Eliza broke her toast in half. "To see which one of you can go." "Well, DJ would need a passport," said Grandmother wryly. "And with only two weeks before spring break, I don't think it's very likely." "Too bad." Eliza directed her sarcasm toward DJ. "It would've been fun to see you coming home covered in mosquito bites and suffering from some rare form of tropical dysentery and—" "Eliza?" Grandmother's brows arched in warning. "Sorry, Mrs. Carter." She made a sheepish smile. "I was just joking." "Well then ..." said Grandmother. "As it turns out, I've already made plans for DJ and myself anyway." DJ stopped with her spoonful of yogurt in midair. "Plans?" "Yes. The general has graciously given me the use of his Palm Beach home during the week of spring break." "Palm Beach, Florida?" asked Eliza with interest. "Yes, of course." Now DJ wasn't sure whether to be pleased or irritated. On one hand Palm Beach might be somewhat pleasant—sunshine and sand—but on the other hand, why hadn't Grandmother asked her before accepting the i