Carved in Ebony ~ Blog Blitz with Excerpt

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for Carved in Ebony 

by Jasmine L. Holmes, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Carved in Ebony
Author: Jasmine L. Holmes
Publisher: Bethany House Publishers
Release Date: November 2, 2021
Genre: Christian History / Biography

Through the lives of Elizabeth Freeman, Nannie Helen Burroughs, Amanda Berry Smith, Mamie Till, and others, author and speaker Jasmine Holmes shares the significant role that Black women have played in the formation of our faith--and are playing in our formation as modern-day women of faith. 

As these historical figures take the stage with Holmes, you will be inspired by what the stories of these women can teach us about education, birth, privilege, and so much more. Carved in Ebony will take you past the predominately white, male contributions that seemingly dominate history books to discover how Black women have been some of the main figures in defining the landscape of American history and faith. 

Come along on Jasmine's journey and be encouraged by the powerful and persuasive Black women of our past so that you can help inspire a better, more inclusive future.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Jasmine L. Holmes has written for The Gospel Coalition, Desiring God, Fathom Mag, Christianity Today, and The Witness. Jasmine is the author of Mother to Son: Letters to a Black Boy on Identity and Hope, and contributor for Identity Theft: Reclaiming the Truth of Our Identity in Christ, and His Testimony, My Heritage: Women of Color on the Word of God. She teaches humanities in a classical Christian school in Jackson, Mississippi, where she and her husband, Phillip, are parenting three young sons.

CONNECT WITH JASMINE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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EXCERPT

Chapter 8 – “A Refined Negro Woman: Lucy Craft Laney” from Carved in Ebony by Jasmine Holmes, pp. 135–136, 237 words (edited)

From the age of fourteen, Lucy Craft Laney knew what she wanted to be: a teacher. And she spent her entire life in dogged pursuit of this goal. Her focus was on the uplift of the Black youth of Augusta, Georgia, and she threw herself so completely into that focus that she lived on the campus where she taught. She operated within her small corner of the world with a faithfulness that we would do well to emulate, even if our different corners seem further reaching than hers.

Lucy is a testament to what it looks like to faithfully stick to a task. Although she was involved in activism as well as education, the bulk of her time was spent in the classroom and in facilitating the classroom experiences of other teachers. She does not have a host of speeches that I can pull from to illustrate her faith in Christ, but perhaps more than any other woman in this book, she has the testimony of the people who knew her and saw her service up close. 

What an incredible testimony of God’s faithfulness this woman was. From enslaved parentage to a thorough education lived out in quiet, humble intellect and service to others.

What a legacy she left, not only for her students, but for every person who picks up her story.

What a legacy she has left me.

What a legacy she has left you.

Excerpt from Carved in Ebony by Jasmine L. Holmes provided by Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. Copyright Oct. 12, 2021. Used by permission.

http://www.bakerpublishinggroup.com

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a copy of The Happy Crab by Layla & Kevin Palmer, Prepare Him Room by Susie Larson, and Make Their Day by Karen Ehman.

 

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 27, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 3, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Drive ~ Review

Drive: 9 Lessons to Win in Business and in Life
By Kelley Earnhardt Miller
With Beth Clark

Forward by Dale Earnhardt JR.

First, off I'll admit it I'm not a NASCAR fan. I've seen it in passing but my dad was a fan - not diehard but if a race was on and he was off for the day he'd watch it. But whether or not you are into NASCAR this book has a lot to offer. Glimpses of what life behind the scenes is like for those who are in it and the personal perspective of the family behind the racer.

Kelley Earnhardt Miller offers a glimpse into her life as the daughter of Dale Earnhardt and as a NASCAR driver and as a businesswoman. She offers valuable insights on how to succeed in life and in business while drawing on her own experiences and overcoming obstacles along the way.

I really think the following quote is an excellent summation of what this book is all about. "Our early days don't have to dictate the rest of our lives, but they do influence and determine much about the way we think and feel, the way we relate to others, the way we approach and solve problems, our work ethic, our likes and dislikes, and our priorities." Your past has shaped your present but you can determine how your future will play out. It is up to you to define who you are with what you have been given. 

I received a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About Drive: 9 Lessons to Win in Business and in Life

Paperback: 224 Pages

Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 9, 2021)

Successful businesswoman and daughter of NASCAR legend Dale Earnhardt Sr. shares her story of growing up in the world of auto racing and the lessons she learned along the way.

Just like a racecar as it takes to the track, each of us needs a certain amount of fine-tuning for our journey through life. In Drive, Kelley Earnhardt Miller, daughter of Dale Earnhardt Sr. and sister to Dale Jr., opens up about growing up in the world of NASCAR, sharing the lessons she learned about being a successful business leader and what she discovered, often the hard way, about winning in life.

Kelley never felt she was winning at anything until she began to deal with the thoughts and feelings that were driving her decisions and taking her in the wrong direction. Her journey of transformation is what empowered her to run the family business in an entirely different way than she had previously and to lead people not only with her head but also with her heart.

Drive offers nine important lessons learned about winning in business and in life, given not as a formula for greatness but as insight from a fellow traveler on a journey that is sometimes difficult, painful, unexpected, or confusing—and sometimes exhilarating and joyful:

• Be Authentic and Approachable
• Know How to Make Decisions
• Position for Success
• Let Go to Move Forward
• Customize Your Communication
• Aim for the Win-Win
• Manage Your Emotions
• Balance Your Work With Your Life
• Lead from the Heart

Become a stronger person and a more effective leader by facing the truth about your own life in a healthy way, and then drive to the win!

Purchase Links

Thomas Nelson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Kelley Earnhardt Miller

Kelley Earnhardt Miller is part owner and general manager of JR Motorsports and is considered one of the most prominent businesswomen in NASCAR today. She oversees the company’s race team, management team, and business ventures for her brother, Dale Earnhardt Jr. The daughter of seven-time NASCAR champion Dale Earnhardt, Earnhardt Miller graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with a BA in business administration. A multiple-award recipient, she was named in 2015 as one of SportsBusiness Journal’s Game Changers/Women in Sports Business for her impact on the motorsports industry. Kelley is married to L.W. Miller and is mom to Karsyn, Kennedy, and Wyatt.

Connect with Kelley

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Out of the Depths ~ Review

Out of the Depths
By Edgar Harrell, USMC
 with David Harrell

An unforgettable WWII story 
      of survival, courage, and the sinking of
                                        The USS Indianapolis

Out of the Depths is a true story.  This is one man's recollection of the events surrounding the sinking of the USS Indianapolis in July 1945.

This was a time of war, but the USS Indianapolis was assured the waters were safe and so was sailing the South Pacific unescorted.  But assurances were of little value when your ship comes under attack by a Japanese submarine.

As Edgar Harrell put it he was face-to-face with my mortality (pg 67) and he prayed because there was no one to help him, no one but the Savior of his soul.  And as the security of the ship slipped away he turned to God.  So began a 5 day struggle as he and his fellow shipmates struggle to survive the dangers of both the ocean and the elements

This is one story that will leave an impact on your life.  There are pictures from the time of the book throughout adding to the reality the author portrays with his words.  And there remarks and remembrances from other survivors every few pages.  This book will move you to tears at places it is that powerful.

Sometimes it is hard to comprehend the truth of despair those who survive might have felt, but this book helps one grasp some of these feelings.  It is amazing how many said this time of trial made them cry out to God in prayer for deliverance.

This would be an excellent addition to any library.  It would also make for an interesting Book Club discussion title.

I was provided a copy of this book by Bethany House in exchange for my honest review.

About

The Inspiring Story of a World War II Hero's Miraculous Survival at Sea
July 30, 1945--The USS Indianapolis and its 1,196-man crew is making its way toward a small island in the South Pacific. The ship is sailing unescorted, assured by headquarters the waters are safe. It is midnight, and Marine Edgar Harrell and several others have sacked out on deck rather than spend the night in their hot and muggy quarters below. Fresh off a top-secret mission to deliver uranium for the atomic bombs that would ultimately end World War II, they are unaware their ship is being watched. Minutes later, six torpedoes are slicing toward the Indy . . . 

For five horrifying days and nights after their ship went down, Harrell and his shipmates had to fend for themselves in the open seas. Plagued by dehydration, exposure, saltwater poisoning, and shark attacks, their numbers were cruelly depleted before they were miraculously rescued. This is one man's story of courage, ingenuity, and faith in God's providence in the midst of the worst naval disaster in U.S. history.