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Getting used to a new school isn’t easy, especially for someone as paranoid as Buddy Norman. In “A Predicament of Biblical Proportions” he envisions wacky worst-case encounters with townsfolk who seem like mobsters, snoops and fairy-tale tyrants—until he gets to know them. He’s also a little confused about Bring Your Bible to School Day. What’s it about? Should he participate? See Odyssey through Buddy’s eyes in this witty celebration of religious freedom.

Listen to this story through a two-week trial only on the Odyssey Adventure Club.

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

It's that time of the year, again!  Enjoy a new way to love S'Mores!

INGREDIENTS

8

graham cracker squares

2

milk chocolate candy bars (1.55-oz each), each halved

4

large marshmallows

4

long-handled forks

• On each of 4 graham cracker squares, place candy bar half.
• Spear each marshmallow on long-handled fork; toast over campfire coals or over grill with low heat.
• Place 1 toasted marshmallow on top of each chocolate bar. Top each with cracker; press together and hold for a few seconds to melt chocolate.

EXPERT TIPS

Mint S´Mores - Substitute chocolate-covered mint cookies for the crackers.

Peanut Butter S´Mores - Substitute chocolate-covered peanut butter cups for the candy bars.

Rainy Days S´Mores - Substitute marshmallow creme for the toasted marshmallows. Spread marshmallow creme on cracker tops.

Scotchie S´Mores - Substitute chocolate graham crackers for the regular graham crackers. Drizzle butterscotch ice cream topping over the candy bar before adding marshmallow.

Striped S´Mores - Substitute chocolate-striped cookies for the graham crackers.

Keep S'Mores ingredients on hand for upcoming backyard cookouts. At a picnic, put out a variety of chocolate candies so everyone can experiment and discover their favorite combination.

All Is Bright: A Devotional Journey to Color Your Way to Christmas by Nancy Guthrie (Author), Lizzie Preston (Illustrator)

My Thoughts:  I love adult coloring books but All Is Bright is not just a coloring book it's a devotional too!  Win!

When the Christmas season is upon us it's nice to have a devotional book that one can read during the special holiday.

There are enough pages to color for 31 days and to connect with the Christ of Christmas.

The devotionals by Nancy Guthrie are short and on target and then there are intricate holiday designs by Lizzie Preston to color or outline.

This is such a lovely book that once all the coloring is finished it makes a nice keepsake for the next holiday.  It will be illustrated and ready to read!

Our family is each taking pages to color and then at the Christmas holiday we will read the devotionals together.

Then next year we will have a completed All Is Bright book to use for Christmas devotionals.  

This makes a lovely family heirloom and keepsake for year after year.

And don't forget to date each page and have the "colorer" sign the page as a reminder for year to year of who colored each page. 

*This book was provided for review by Tyndale*

• Paperback: 96 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale Momentum; Clr Csm edition (October 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1496418026
• ISBN-13: 978-1496418029

COTT {Clash of the Titles}

Olympia Award 2016: We Have a Champion!

Many deserving competitors entered the fray. One became the victor!

Congratulations Jennifer Uhlarik,  

2016 Olympia Award Champion.

We took a few moments to get to know Jennifer a little better, and now here's your chance to do the same:

Jennifer Uhlarik discovered the western genre as a pre-teen, when she swiped the only “horse” book she found on her older brother’s bookshelf. A new love was born. Across the next ten years, she devoured Louis L’Amour westerns and fell in love with the genre. In college at the University of Tampa, she began penning her own story of the Old West. Armed with a B.A. in writing, she has won five writing competitions and finaled in two other competitions. In addition to writing, she has held jobs as a private business owner, a schoolteacher, a marketing director, and her favorite—a full-time homemaker. Jennifer is active in American Christian Fiction Writers and lifetime member of the Florida Writers Association. She lives near Tampa, Florida, with her husband, teenaged son, and four fur children. 

How did you come up with the idea for this book and what made you want to write this particular story?


While working with a few other authors on some novella collection ideas, I came up with the idea of three adult siblings who reunite after being separated by adoption in their youth. This story and the two that follow it are the result of that idea—three strong siblings devoted to law and justice, each in their own way. 


What does winning the Olympia Award mean to you?


It is such an honor! I love the Olympia since the first round is judged by readers. That is probably the truest group of judges one can have. And I know the competition is always stiff in contests, so just to final is quite humbling. To win is indescribable (and I’m an author, so that says a lot. I’m speechless. LOL)


How can people find you online/contact you?


I can be found in the following places:

Website: www.jenniferuhlarik.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JenniferUhlarikAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JenniferUhlarik
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenuhlarik/

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Chase the Lion: If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, It's Too Small by Mark Batterson

My Thoughts:  Ever since my husband met Mark Batterson a few years ago, we've enjoyed reading his very interesting take on life through a christians's perspective.

I love the way he begins this book...Run TO the Roar.  Most of us are afraid of the roar (the challenge) so we tend to run FROM the roar but Mark Batterson encourages us to wake-up and live with purpose.  Quit being afraid of the life/dream that God has for you. This brings us to the subtitle of this book...If Your Dream Doesn't Scare You, You're Dream Is Too Small.

Also, he encourages us to not be afraid of achieving what we would deem impossible.  Don't we all have an impossible dream that God could/would make possible. And, sometimes, our dream doesn't have to be a multimillion mission, sometimes our dream is just quit our present job and go onto something better.  All dreams are not the same but all dreams do require the faith to carry them out.

I found this to be such an encouraging read!  Encouraging me to take up  my dream and believe that with God all things are possible . . . just believe and be willing for my God given dream.

*This book was provided for review by Waterbrook/Multnomah*

More about the author and his other books:

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah (September 6, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1601428855
• ISBN-13: 978-1601428851

The Loyal Heart (A Lone Star Hero's Love Story) by Shelley Shepard Gray

My Thoughts:  I was excited to see a new read by Shelley Shepard Gray. And, to.top.it.off the setting is in the Lone Star State....Texas! Yay!

Robert Truax is a confederate officer in the Civil War. He travels to Galveston, Texas to see his best friend's widow, Miranda Markham.

But when he arrives in Galveston he finds that poor Miranda can barely keep her head above water with all the name calling and mud slinging that people are doing to her deceased husband's name.

Now, like most men, Robert was going to make a quick trip to Galveston, help Miranda, see if she needs anything and be on his way.

But Robert isn't prepared for the beauty that greets him. His heart is lost.

He knows he must fight for her and her husband's honor. And then Robert is vexed because, well, Robert, isn't the man that Miranda thought he was.

This was quite an interesting story with a lot of Confederate War history and the unlikely romance of two very different people.

A great read!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Not long ago I posted about Sheri Shepherd's book, If You Have a Craving, I Have a Cure?  See book review HERE!
 Today I'm sharing one of her good and healthy recipes...It Works For Me!  

HONEY-BAKED ALMOND BRITTLE
Serves 4

Ingredients:
1/4 cup honey
1 cup almonds
Dash sea salt
{I added a cup of sunflower seeds for added crunchiness!}
Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Heat honey in microwave for 30 seconds.
3. In a bowl, pour honey over almonds (& sunflower seeds) and mix evenly so every almond is coated.
4. Coat sheet with non-stick spray, spreads almonds on cookie sheet, and sprinkle with sea salt.
5. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes, or to desired taste. Let cool, and enjoy!