The Breath of Dawn by Kristen Heitzman

Book Description: Morgan Spencer has had just about all he can take of life. Following the tragic death of his wife, Jill, he retreats to his brother's Rocky Mountain ranch to heal and focus on the care of his infant daughter, Olivia. Two years later, Morgan begins to make plans to return to his home in Santa Barbara to pick up the pieces of his life and career.Quinn Riley has been avoiding her past for four years. Standing up for the truth has forced her into a life of fear and isolation. After a "chance" first meeting and a Thanksgiving snowstorm, Quinn is drawn into the Spencer family's warm and loving world, and she begins to believe she might find freedom in their friendship.The man Quinn helped put behind bars has recently been released, however, and she fears her past will endanger the entire Spencer family. As the danger heightens, she determines to leave town for the sake of the people who have come to mean so much to her. Fixing problems is what Morgan Spencer does best, and he is not willing to let Quinn run away, possibly into the clutches of a man bent on revenge. But Morgan's solution sends him and Quinn on an unexpected path, with repercussions neither could have anticipated.

My Thoughts:  When I need an exciting book and just don't care to sleep I seek out a Kristen Heitzmann book!  Kristen writes with a flair for danger!

The Breath of Dawn has much more than just a flair for danger...this book is about two people whose lives seem more than fixable and both people are in more danger than the average cockroach.  There are "bad" people who would love nothing more than to stamp the life out of Morgan Spencer and Quinn Reilly.

Quinn's testimony put a man behind bars four years ago and now he's getting out.  Quinn meets Morgan Spencer when she is cleaning out a friends house since said friend has already moved out and is living elsewhere.  Morgan wants to buy the house and well Quinn is drawn to this man, "...One moment those indigo eyes probed and teased, the next they caved in like bad ice, leaving fathomless black water." (p. 29).

Quinn is a likable character with a sweet deposition and a strong sense of morals.  Morgan is tough and insists on being the "fixer" of all problems.  But sometimes one must let go and let God be the "fixer."  

A story mixed with romance, a flair of danger and a bagful of suspense!  Not your ordinary read!  Christian suspense at its best!

*This book was provided for review  by Bethany House Publishers*

• Paperback: 448 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (November 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764210424
• ISBN-13: 978-0764210426
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.3 x 8.5 inches

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Chocolate Muffins

Sometimes I just need something chocolate! 

 And this is one of the best chocolate muffin recipes I found on Pinterest!

*of course, I didn't have some of the ingredients so changed it up a bit =)

Ingredients:

• 1 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup coconut oil, warmed (No coconut oil so used canola =)
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 2 cups white whole wheat flour (I just used regular flour, turned out fine)
• 1/2 cup rolled oats
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 cup cocoa powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3/4 cup coarsely chopped dark chocolate ( I didn't have dark chocolate so used chocolate chips =)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. and spray a muffin pan with cooking spray.
2. In the bowl of a stand-up mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine juice, oil, and brown sugar. Blend on medium-low until mixture is well-combined.
3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, oats, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa powder, and cinnamon.
4. Add flour mixture to oil mixture and blend on low to combine. Scrape down bowl and blend again until moistened. Stir in chocolate.
5. Divide batter into muffin cups and bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until muffins spring back when touched.
6. Place the muffin pan on a wire rack to cool for 10 minutes. Invert muffins onto the wire rack to continue cooling or serve them ooey gooey warm

Just Like Jesus Devotional: A Thirty-Day Walk with the Savior by Max Lucado

Book Description: God wants to give you a heart just like Jesus.

Jesus felt no guilt; God wants you to feel no guilt.

Jesus had no bad habits; God wants to do away with yours.

Jesus had no fears; God wants the same for you.

Jesus had no anxiety about death; you needn't either.

God's desire, his plan, his ultimate goal is to make you into the image of Christ.

This is your invitation to spend thirty intimate days with the Savior learning how to become more like Jesus. Can you think of a better offer?

My Thoughts:  Max Lucado is a favorite author who gently and lovingly tells us about the love of the Father.  When I saw this devotional, Just Like Jesus Devotional:  A Thirty Day Walk with the Savior and since I began the Daniel Fast I wanted a devotional that would draw me closer to Jesus.  The whole purpose of this devotional is not to draw the reader to anything or anyone but to walk with the Savior.

I love the way Max Lucado brings Jesus and the Word to life.  Max Lucado  bring she heart of Jesus, with no fears and no guilt and brings only His love.

As I began reading this devotional I realized that I read it as a "love letter."  The heart of Jesus to the heart of the reader.  Okay, I read it as a book, it is that good!  And I intend to reread it again.  I want to read it one day at a time for thirty days right before Easter.  

If you want to grow closer to the Savior then this is the devotional for you!  This is a great gift book for Valentine's Day.  What better "love gift" than to learn to walk in His love!

This book brings that "OH, to have a heart like His!" type of read!  

*This book was provided by BookSneeze/Thomas Nelson*

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (January 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849948509
• ISBN-13: 978-0849948503

{Kregel Book Tour} Candle BIBLE for Kids~Toddler Edition

Book Description:  The successful Candle Bible for Kids with the distinctive art style of Jo Parry, is now available in a version specially written for younger readers. The Candle Bible for Kids, Toddler Edition features simplified text by Juliet David, as well as a smaller size and fewer stories, which makes it an ideal introduction for younger readers. Sure to be a family favorite.

My Thoughts:  This delightful, soft bound [not paperback or hardback]  is just right for little hands to hold.

The toddlers in our church nursery are always wanting to hold a book for themselves so when the teacher reads from the "grown up" lesson book many of the tots want to hold her book, too.  But the lesson book is just cumbersome for small ones so she was delighted with this Bible that the tots can hold while she tells the bible story.

The tots also love the bright colorful pictures and enjoy "telling" the story to you or others.  Now the pages are paper but don't tear very easily.  As with all books tots should be made aware or how to hold and treat a book.

The "lessons" in this Bible are simply put for little ones attention spans; for example, the first lesson is "In the beginning God made the heaven and earth.  But everywhere it was dark and empty." (p. 8).  The lessons begin with Creation and end with Jesus coming back again.

A great gift book for the little one in your life!

*This book was provided for review by Kregel Publications*

•    Meet the Author:

  
  

  Juliet David has written many children's stories and Bible activity books. Her other interests include painting, music, and travel to Israel and other Bible lands. This experienced author lives in London with her family.

  
  

  
  

  
  

  Jo Parry trained at Bournemouth Arts Institute before becoming a full-time artist. She illustrates mainly greetings cards, fine art and children's books, adapting her fun, colourful style to each of these genres. She creates her characteristic style using an Apple Mac, and is fulfilling a life-long dream working as an illustrator. Jo lives in Bournemouth, on England's south coast.
• Hardcover: 160 pages
• Publisher: Candle Books; Toddler ed edition (November 1, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1859859399
• ISBN-13: 978-1859859391

{Zondervan Blog Tour and Giving Away TWO books!) Praying Circles around your Children by Mark Batterson

{Giveaway at the end of this post!)

Book Description:  Mark Batterson shares a perfect blend of biblical yet practical advice that will revolutionize your prayer life by giving you a new vocabulary and a new methodology. You'll see how prayer is your secret weapon. Through stories of parents just like you, Batterson shares five prayer circles that will not only help you pray for your kids, but also pray through your kids. Batterson teaches about how to create prayer lists unique to your family, claim God-inspired promises for your children, turn your family circle into a prayer circle, and discover your child's life themes. And he not only tells you how, he illustrates why. As Batterson says, 'I realize that not everyone inherited a prayer legacy like I did, but you can leave a legacy for generations to come. Your prayers have the power to shape the destiny of your children and your children's children. It's time to start circling.'

My Thoughts:  Mark Batterson is one of my favorite nonfiction authors.  He writes with a passion for people and a realism that grips one's heart.  Having read some of his other books I was quite interested to read Praying Circles around your Children.

I love my child and want him to have the spiritual heritage that I have.  Even as he was forming in my womb my husband and I began praying for our son.  God has a plan and purpose for each one of us.  Mark Batterson brings this out on page 12, "That one decision can change your destiny, so can one prayer.  If you were a map to your spiritual history, you would find countless answers to prayer at key intersections along the way."  We all love our children and want the best for them.  Prayer is a parent's secret weapon.  God listens and answers prayer...hearts are changed and lives are saved.  

This is probably one of the best books I've read on giving a spiritual/prayer heritage to our children.  As Mark Batterson states, "You'll never be a perfect parent, but you can be a praying parent!" (back of book)

This small book packs a powerful, prayerful wallop!  A great read for grandparents too!

If you want to pray circles around your children and/or grandchildren then this is a must read for you! 

*This book was provided for review by Zondervan Publishing*

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
• Paperback: 112 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (July 24, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310325501
• ISBN-13: 978-0310325505

Giveaway!

Zondervan has provided TWO copies of 

Praying Circles Around Your Children 

for TWO readers!

Please leave a comment with your email address, so in case you win I can mail you the book =)

Giveaway ends January 24! 

Echoes by Robin Jones Gunn

Book Description:  Will Lauren risk losing her heart...to a man she's never met? 

Lauren Phillips tries to keep busy while recovering from a broken engagement. Then one day, through her home computer, Lauren accidentally connects on the Internet with a mysterious man she knows only as K.C. Lauren's e-mail relationship with K.C. quickly becomes the thing she loves most in life..and the source of dreams she cannot bear to relinquish. After a year of corresponding, the opportunity appears for them to meet. Lauren faces a tough choice: Is she willing to risk everything...including another broken heart?

My Review:  Having read all the Sisterchick books by Robin Jones Gunn I, somehow, missed reading this book from the Glenbrook series.  I love the way this book reads.  Of course, Robin Jones Gunn has a way with words and they just seem to flow like a well oiled machine.

Lauren is a likable young lady and has a heart of gold.  She does seem to wind up in a "tight" spot every now and then.  "Things" just happen when Lauren is around.

After a much needed break up with her current boyfriend her brother gets her a computer and teaches her to use the web.  She begins, quite by accident, to compute with an unknown man, KC (Robin does emphatically write to the reader in the back of the book not to take up talking with unknowns on the internet).

The story has a lot of "realisms" and the reader can relate  to Lauren (mainly because a lot of us are like Lauren).

This definitely chick lit at its best!  

Great read for a wintry day!

*This book was provided by Waterbrook/Multnomah Publishing*

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Multnomah Books (May 14, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590521935
• ISBN-13: 978-1590521939

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Baked Apples

After Christmas and ALL that fine eating I begin to tone down with more fruits and veggies.  I found this quick and easy recipe for one of my all time favorites~Baked Apples!

Apples in a Bag

Ingredients

• 1 small apple (Golden Delicious or Granny Smith are my favorite)
• 1 packet of sweetener (Splenda is my favorite), or a spoonful of sugar
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon water
• Small handful of raisins, optional

Instructions

1. Peel or don’t peel apple, core and slice or dice. Place in freezer-quality plastic zippered bag along with remaining ingredients. Seal bag and shake well to mix ingredients.
2. Reopen bag just a touch to vent. Microwave on High for 2 minutes– longer if you use a big apple.
3. Carefully (it will be HOT and steamy) open bag and pour over plain or cinnamon-sugar pita chips, flour tortilla chips, oatmeal or ice cream.