Carved in Ebony ~ Review with Giveaway

Carved in Ebony
By Jasmine L. Holmes
from Bethany House

Their faith shaped their lives and the lives of those around them and we can still learn from their example.

Carved in Ebony takes the reader on a journey through history to examine the lives of ten extraordinary women of faith who also were women of color. See how today we are still seeing the impact that their faith had even though they themselves are not common-tip-of-the-tongue names. 

I will admit I had not previously heard or read about any of these ten women of faith. Women who lived their lives guided by this faith. Women, who were shaped by the world they lived in - a world of slavery and prejudice - but yet they were not stifled or silenced by it. But they took a stand and lived a life worthy of examination and of emulation. The type of life we should all strive for - one of making the world around us better.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.

Purchase Link – https://amzn.to/3lXqt2E #ad

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.

Giveaway – (1) winner will receive a print copy of The Happy Crab, Prepare Him Room, and Make Their Day. (print US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. Instagram is not affiliated with nor responsible for this giveaway. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM EST on November 8, 2021.)

⇒ To Enter, go to Instagram follow @jasminelholmes @bethany_house_nonfiction @justreadtours & Tag 2 friends in the same comment on this post or any other hosted post of this tour. Enter up to 3x per post. 

Tacos for Two ~ Review

Tacos for Two

By Betsy St. Amant

Rory Perez has a problem - she's taken over her late aunt's food truck and she couldn't cook the Mexican fare that Salsa Street is known for to provide her livelihood. Hence her problem - thankfully none of the regulars know that and she has handy help in Grady, who does all of the cooking that is edible. 

Jude Strong has a problem equal to Rory's - he is about to be trapped in the quagmire of his family's law firm, at least if he passes his bar exam. But law just isn't something Jude is passionate about. Rather his heart longs to call a kitchen home. But before he can make a life change and get cut out of Daddy's will and possibly the family forever Jude needs a plan in place. And what could be better than getting actual cooking experience and lessons from his favorite food truck vendor? 

Well, you can imagine how that goes with Rory giving cooking lessons - the blind leading the blind - not quite since Jude actually does know his way around a kitchen. But you now have the perfect setup for a RomCom movie as these two are anonymous dating app texting pals, yeah that is a thing in this book. (Might be something to check out if it actually worked but I'm skeptical.) Anyhow if you combined a Hallmark movie with Ratatouille (yes, the cooking rat cartoon) you just might get Tacos for Two. Overall this is a cute uncomplicated read that is just pure escape reading to get you out of your ordinary. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I give my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Rory Perez, a food truck owner who can't cook, is struggling to keep the business she inherited from her aunt out of the red--and an upcoming contest during Modest's annual food truck festival seems the best way to do it. The prize money could finally give her a solid financial footing and keep her cousin with special needs paid up at her beloved assisted living home. Then maybe Rory will have enough time to meet the man she's been talking to via an anonymous online dating site.

Jude Strong is tired of being a puppet at his manipulative father's law firm, and the food truck festival seems like the perfect opportunity to dive into his passion for cooking and finally call his life his own. But if he loses the contest, he's back at the law firm for good. Failure is not an option.

Complications arise when Rory's chef gets mono and she realizes she has to cook after all. Then Jude discovers that his stiffest competition is the same woman he's been falling for online the past month.

Will these unlikely chefs sacrifice it all for the sake of love? Or will there only ever be tacos for one?

Release Party Tomorrow Night

 

Tomorrow is the day

Mark your calendar 

and get ready to have some bookish fun

Click here

The Gifted Trilogy ~ Spotlight with Excerpts

 

Welcome to the Blog Blitz for The Gifted Trilogy 

by Lisa T. Bergren, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOKS

Title: The Gifted Trilogy 

Author: Lisa T. Bergren 

Publisher: Stonewater Books 

Release Date: 2021 

Genre: Supernatural Suspense / Christian

An ancient, secret letter has long prophesied that the Gifted would gather. One with the ability to heal, another with the gift of wisdom. Others with the ability to see the future, discern truth, uncover evil intent, or exhibit miraculous powers. Together they are a force, born to change the world. But their gathering has drawn the attention of those who wield power…people determined to either control or destroy them.

“[A] classic battle between good and evil. Disregard Da Vinci Code comparisons, and think Lord of the Rings.” —Publishers Weekly

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Lisa T. Bergren is the best-selling, award-winning author of over 60 books in a variety of genres, from children’s picture books to contemporary romance to supernatural suspense novels. She lives in Colorado Springs in a brand-new home she and her husband just finished building and intend to never leave because she’s discovered she loathes moving. 

You can find out more about her at LisaTBergren.com

CONNECT WITH LISA: Website | Facebook | Instagram

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He watched as his master was tied to a stake and a great fire was set. Tears he thought spent rose in his eyes, yet he refused to look away as the flames licked upward, as the heat made him retreat, step by step. The bishop threw his master’s life’s work—the book, carefully wrapped in a burlap sack—into the fire at the priest’s feet. The burlap swiftly burned and curled, revealing the lambskin cover of the priceless book. It too began to burn.

The priest glanced over at the boy, a quiet question in his eyes.

The boy patted his shirt in response, reassuring his master, feeling the sacred pages next to his skin.

Go, child. Go! The boy shook his head in confusion; he could hear the priest, even though the old man’s parched lips moved not.

The boy glanced over at the bishop, his face and grand robe dancing eerily in the heat
waves between them. The bishop’s eyes narrowed, and he beckoned to the boy.

Run! Run, child!

Looking at his master one last time, the boy turned and fled into the night.

--an excerpt from BEGOTTEN, book one of The Gifted, by Lisa T. Bergren

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“Nay,” she said, shaking her head, her eyes blurred with tears. “I shall never serve you. I belong to the light. I belong to the light. I belong to the light...”

He let her go, then, and she turned to face him, sobs wracking her body.

He gazed at her sadly. “You weaken, my love. Mayhap it will take the boy dying, then the artist. Finally the old woman. I will make them suffer every one of their last moments. I shall force you to watch. Or you will agree to my terms.”

“Away from me, Satan. Away from me.”

He smiled at her with a hollow look, sighed heavily, and then left.

Daria turned to the wall and bent her forehead to the cool stone, praying through her sobs. “Oh my God, my God. Come to us. Save us. Save us. Please, Lord Jesus. Please.” She sank to her knees, still weeping. “I beg you. Please Lord. I cannot watch my loved ones suffer. I cannot. Come to us. We are fragmented. We are weak. Fight for us. Free us. We need you. We need you.”

--an excerpt from BETRAYED, book two of The Gifted, by Lisa T. Bergren

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Gianni moved forward and turned in a slow circle to look each of them in the eye. He understood the collective panic among them. “The Lord has seen this day. He has seen it. He knows what is to come, and none of it is a surprise to him. Should he allow it, we shall trust it, always praising his name. We do the greatest damage to our enemy by keeping to this path, always praising our God, no matter what we face—trial, trauma, or even death.”

“Dulcius post tribulations,” Piero said.

“‘Sweeter after difficulty,’” Daria translated.

“Sweeter after difficulty,” Gianni repeated. “The greater the trial, the more our Lord can triumph. No matter what is ahead of us, we shall not abandon our faith.”


--an excerpt from BLESSED, book three of The Gifted, by Lisa T. Bergren

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(3) winners will receive a copy of The Gifted Trilogy and a Gifted candle.

 

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway began at midnight November 1, 2021, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 8, 2021. The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. The US only. (Winners outside the US will receive trilogy ebooks and $20 Amazon gift card) 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.

Texas Christmas Revenge ~ Review

Texas Christmas Revenge

by Connie Queen

Brandi Callahan's life was thrown into a big mess when her father was accused of stealing money and was later found dead. Then her little sister disappeared and was assumed dead. But now Brandi is convinced that Sadie is alive and is in trouble. But she has no one to turn to as the citizens of Mulberry Gap turned against her and her family when she most needed them. But when someone seems intent on ending her life she has no choice but to turn to the one man whose betrayal hurt the most, her ex-fiancé.

Texas Ranger Rhett Kincaid never meant to hurt Brandi, but he had to follow orders. Now the very thing that broke them up has brought them back together Could Brandi's long-missing sister truly be alive? And who is trying to kill Brandi? He'll do everything in his power to keep her safe. Could this threat have anything to do with the accusations leveled against her late father? And if so why did the killer wait so long to act?

Texas Christmas Revenge draws the reader into the action and danger from the opening scene and the suspense grows with each page. Join Brandi as she fights for the truth and tries to keep a little boy safe from the very people who want her dead. If she lives through this danger could she get a second chance at friendship and love? Or has the rift that has divided her from everyone caused too much damage?

If you are looking for clean reading suspense that offers unexpected twists and the promise of a romance look no further than this book. I will admit Brandi is an angry young woman who, though her anger is somewhat justified, seems too intent on holding onto it and her mistrust too tightly. But overall I would recommend this book for a weekend read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense Release Date: October 26, 2021 Genre: Christian romantic suspense

An abandoned little boy is the only clue

to a killer's dangerous holiday plot…

Certain a desperate 911 caller is her presumed-dead sister, emergency dispatcher Brandi Callahan follows the cryptic message to a terrified toddler…and an armed assailant. Now Brandi will do anything to protect the boy—even if it means asking her ex-fiancé, Texas Ranger Rhett Kincaid, for help. But can Brandi and Rhett stop this killer before he exacts his terrible Christmas vengeance?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Find the book online at Goodreads or purchase from Amazon

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.

Hostile Intent ~ Review

Hostile Intent

Danger Never Sleeps #4
by Lynette Eason

Ava Jackson has spent most of her life living a lie - a lie meant to keep her and her family safe. But someone has seen through the lies and now they are coming after her. Worse, whoever is coming after her is killing those who get in his way.  

Special Agent Caden Denning is more than a little surprised his childhood friend is linked to several killings across the country. Determined to keep Ava safe, he never expected to be drawn to her. Can he keep her alive and give himself a chance to be a part of her future? Caden vows to bring the killer to justice.

If you are a fan of Lynette Eason or Romantic Suspense you will love this book, which though the fourth book in the series can be read as a standalone title. So settle into your favorite reading nook and get ready for some intense reading. A word of warning this book may keep you up reading late into the night.                                             

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                                                                ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,;                                                                                                                                                     

About the Book:

Ava Jackson entered the military shortly after high school, but her mother's illness has forced her to request an early discharge. She already lost her father while deployed, and there's no way she's going to let her mother die alone. But after a visit to the nursing facility where her mother lives, Ava is attacked walking back to her car. Fortunately, FBI Special Agent Caden Denning arrives in time to help fight off her attacker.

Caden reveals to Ava that she may hold the key to the murders of three families, and he needs her help before anyone else is harmed. The hits show a pattern, and clearly, the killer has an agenda. But if Caden and Ava can't discover what it is, Ava may be next on the hit list.

Bestselling author Lynette Eason concludes her latest suspense-filled series with a bang as secrets are revealed and the guilty are brought to justice.