"Rahab’s Courage" by Naomi Craig -- Epic Book Launch

About the Book

Book:  Rahab’s Courage

Author: Naomi Craig

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Release date: August 17, 2021

A scarlet cord tethers one ruined woman to the salvation of mankind.

Harboring two fugitives in a city slated for destruction, Rahab has one small chance of

escape. In exchange for their safety, she bargains for her own. Their agreement rewards

her courage, and she flees Jericho and a life of prostitution for a new life among the

people of Israel. Never again will she have to depend on anyone—especially men.

Except Salmah won’t take the hint.

High ranking soldier and leader of the tribe of Judah, Salmah is determined not to

repeat his parents’ mistakes. He will keep the Lord’s commandments. Rahab’s growing

faith fits right in with phase one of his plans: find a wife who loves the Lord and settle

down in the new land.

Rahab finds shelter and meaning in the Lord’s ways until her past comes back to haunt

her. As her new faith is put to test, she finds herself alone. Isn’t that what she’d always

wanted?

With her courage waning, only the Lord can turn Rahab’s life around again, but will He

do it before she loses everyone and everything that really matters to her—to her heart?

BOOK EXCERPT

Rahab’s Courage Excerpt One

A few paces more. 

The afternoon shadows of Jericho lengthened, the mighty fortress looming above Salmah and Nathan. Yahweh’s favor had kept their approach undetected all day as they had meandered parallel to each other through Jericho’s outlying fields. Now, as they converged on the same path, the most critical moment had arrived. If they were noticed now, their planning, stealth and the whole mission to spy out Jericho would be in vain. Fresh off defeating the Midianites and the plague that wiped out twenty-four thousand of their own people, resolve strengthened Salmah’s mind— disobedience wasn’t an option. This mission had to succeed.

All day, a steady bustle of activity had flowed in and out of the massive arch. Now, the gates alone stood as silent sentinels to a clear passageway into the pagan city.

Salmah glanced at Nathan. The older man gave a slight nod. Adrenaline pumped through Salmah’s veins. They stepped together through the outer gate into Jericho.

A shadow shifted under the arch. Someone’s foot gritted the sand. 

Nathan lunged toward the sound. Salmah drew his sword. A muffled gasp and Nathan emerged from the shadow dragging a woman, his hand clamped over her mouth. He jerked his head in the direction of the city.

MISSED ANY EXCERPTS, GO HERE:

Excerpt One: https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/2021/07/rahabs-courage-by-naomi-craig-epic-book.html

Excerpt Two: https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2021/07/epic-book-launch-rehabs-courage-by.html

Excerpt Three: https://storiesbygina.wordpress.com/2021/07/29/rahabs-courage-epic-book-launch/

Excerpt Four: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/epic-book-launch-rahabs-courage-by-naomi-craig

Excerpt Five: https://www.artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/rahabs-courage-book-excerpt/

Excerpt Six: https://englishmysteriesblog.blogspot.com/2021/07/rahabs-courage-spotlight-book-tour.html?m=1

Excerpt Seven: https://musingsbymaureen.blogspot.com/2021/07/celebrate-lit-presents-rahabs-courage.html

Purchase Link:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Naomi writes Historical Fiction set in Bible times.

She lives in a small town in the south-eastern mountains of Arizona

She is an avid reader, Pastor’s wife, and homeschool mom.

"Bridge of Gold" by Kimberley Woodhouse -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book:  Bridge of Gold

Author: Kimberley Woodhouse

Genre: Christian Historical

Release date: June 2021

Repairs on the Golden Gate Bridge Uncover a Century-Old Murder

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure.

Underwater archaeologist Kayla Richardson is called to the Golden Gate Bridge where repairs to one of the towers uncovers two human remains from the late 1800s and the 1930s. The head of the bridge restoration is Steven Michaels, who dives with Kayla, and a friendship develops between them. But as the investigation heats up and gold is found that dates back to the gold rush, more complications come into play that threaten them both. Could clues leading to a Gold Rush era mystery that was first discovered during the building of the bridge still ignite an obsession worth killing for?

My Thoughts

I haven't read very many dual timeline stories, but I've really enjoyed the ones that I've read. There is just something about reading about things as they unfold in the two time lines that just draws you in. I thoroughly enjoyed reading "Bridge of Gold" and held my breath in several spots until I knew what was going to happen. There were twists I did not expect and I did not guess who was behind the sabotage. There were several facets to the storyline besides the dives to the ship. There was a nice biblical faith element which I was glad for. I look forward to reading more books by Kimberley Woodhouse.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books. A popular speaker and teacher, she’s shared her theme of “Joy Through Trials” with more than half a million people across the country at more than 2,000 events. Kim and her incredible husband of twenty-five-plus years have two adult children. She’s passionate about music and Bible study and loves the gift of story.
You can connect with Kimberley at: www.kimberleywoodhouse.com and www.facebook.com/KimberleyWoodhouseAuthor

 

More from Kimberley

BRIDGE OF GOLD was a blast for me to write. Not only do I love writing dual-timeline stories, but the present-day hero and heroine are named after my daughter and her husband. Steven and Kayla in the book are fictitious, but there are a few things in the book that do mimic their real-life namesakes.

One of them is food.

My son-in-law Steven in real life is six-foot-four and active military. The man can eat. It’s amazing to me how many calories it takes just for him to survive! Then there’s my daughter, Kayla. She was an elite swimmer for many years along with her brother. I could never keep them fed when they were at the height of their swimming careers. In fact, I joked that all I did was cook and load the dishwasher during those years.

To celebrate the release of BRIDGE OF GOLD, I’m going to give out a recipe that I created almost thirty years ago. It went through many revisions the first few months as I perfected it and now you get a special treat because I do not give this recipe out. In fact, one of my dearest friends begged for it when our kids were little. I gave in but made her promise to close her eyes while she made it (LOL) and to never, ever give it to anyone else.

Enjoy! And thanks for joining us on the tour for BRIDGE OF GOLD. I hope you love it.

Kim’s Chocolate Chunk Cookies – recipe by Kimberley Woodhouse

2 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour

½ tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. kosher salt

¾ cup melted/browned butter (this is important! Don’t skip this step)

2 Tb. Hot chocolate mix

1 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar

½ cup white sugar

1 large egg plus 1 egg yolk

1 – 12 ounce package mega morsels (I use Ghirardelli milk chocolate chips)

Directions: combine the first three dry ingredients and mix well. In a small saucepan on the stove, melt and brown the butter. Medium heat is recommended but you’ve got to watch it so it doesn’t burn. You want a beautiful caramel color. Set aside and allow to cool to around 100 degrees F before continuing. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Once the browned butter is cool, add the hot chocolate mix to it. Transfer to a stand mixer and blend the butter mixture with the sugar. Whip it until well combined and frothy about 2 mins. Gradually add eggs and flour mixture, beating on low just until blended. Stir in chocolate chips. Using a cookie scoop, drop heaping TB scoops 2 inches apart on parchment paper lined cookie sheets. Bake at 325 degrees for 12-14 minutes, watching carefully. Allow to cool on cookie sheets for 5 minutes and then transfer to cooling racks. Enjoy!

For other fun tidbits about BRIDGE OF GOLD make sure you check out my blog at – kimberleywoodhouse.com

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 24

The Sacred Line, June 24

The Write Escape, June 24

lakesidelivingsite, June 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 25

HappyWhenReading, June 25

Reflections From My Bookshelves, June 25

Through the Fire Blogs, June 25

Texas Book-aholic, June 26

Bigreadersite, June 26

Pause for Tales, June 26

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, June 26 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, June 27

Christian Bookaholic , June 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 27

For the Love of Literature, June 28

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, June 28

All-of-a-kind Mom, June 28

Where Faith and Books Meet, June 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 29

Bliss Books and Jewels, June 29

Lis Loves Reading, June 29

For Him and My Family, June 29

deb’s Book Review, June 30

Simple Harvest Reads, June 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Livin’ Lit, June 30

Remembrancy, June 30

Older & Smarter?, July 1

Lighthouse-Academy, July 1

Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 1

Genesis 5020, July 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 2

Betti Mace, July 2

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 3

Inspiration Clothesline, July 3

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, July 3

Live.Love.Read., July 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 4

Mamma Loves Books, July 4

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, July 4

Mary Hake, July 4

Blossoms and Blessings, July 5

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 5

Blogging With Carol, July 5

Connie’s History Classroom, July 6

Life of Literature, July 6

A Baker’s Perspective, July 6

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 7

To Everything There Is A Season , July 7

KarenSueHadley, July 7

Splashes of Joy, July 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kimberley is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10e03/bridge-of-gold-celebration-tour-giveaway

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review. 

"Pint of No Return" by Dana Mentink-- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Book:  Pint of No Return

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Release date: May 25, 2021

The first in new dessert cozy mystery series! A murder in town is bound to shake things up…

After her divorce from her thrice-married embezzler husband, Trinidad Jones is finally ready for a fresh start. So when she’s left one of ex’s businesses in Upper Sprocket, Oregon, she decides to pack up her dog, cash in her settlement, and open her dream business: the Shimmy and Shake Shop, introducing the world to her monster milkshakes. And even with a couple sticky situations underway, namely that the other two ex-wives also call Sprocket home, Trinidad’s life seems to be churning along smoothly.

That is, until she discovers her neighbor, the Popcorn King, head down in his giant popcorn kettle. When one of Trinidad’s fellow ex-wives is accused of the murder and Upper Sprocket descends into mayhem, it’s going to take a supersized scoop of courage to flush out the killer.

My Thoughts

I've read some of Dana Mentink's suspense books, but this cozy mystery was a new genre of hers. I found it to be well written and I had fun spending time with Trinidad as she tried to navigate in a town living in Sprocket with the two other ex-wives of her ex-husband. The book did a good job of bringing up a cast of possible suspects so you never knew for sure who might have actually done it. I look forward to reading more books by Dana Mentink. 

Click here to get your copy!

 About the Author

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

 

More from Dana

Freakshakes. The name says it all, right? Allow me to explain. A freakshake is a milkshake festooned with so many extras (sprinkles, cookies, candy, donuts, cake, slabs of pie) that it is hardly liftable. It is the stuff my sugar fantasy dreams are made of! Now picture a freakshake shop called the Shimmy and Shake in the quaint and quirky town of Upper Sprocket in Eastern Oregon. Known as the “Swiss Alps” of Oregon, this fictional place is the new home to a woman named Trinidad Jones, a lady starting out on the second phase of her life after her husband’s betrayal. Sprinkle in a dose of Papa Luis, her darling Cuban grandfather (inspired by my own Cuban grandfather) who drives a classic Buick, and a devoted service dog flunk out named Noodles. You know what’s missing? A murder, of course! That happens shortly after Trinidad opens her new shop, and from there on out it’s a sticky, spine tingling, sweet and satisfying and slightly funny adventure in mystery land. I had an absolute blast writing the first installment in this series, and I’m knee deep in the second as I write this. Thank you for coming along on the adventure and I hope it’s as satisfying as a monster milkshake!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 25

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 25

The Avid Reader, June 25

The Write Escape, June 26

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 26

Texas Book-aholic, June 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, June 27

Blogging With Carol, June 27

Inklings and notions, June 28

Genesis 5020, June 28

Among the Reads, June 29

Daysong Reflections, June 29

Bigreadersite, June 29

For Him and My Family, June 30

Betti Mace, June 30

Worthy2Read, July 1

deb’s Book Review, July 1

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 2

Through the Fire blogs, July 2

EmpowerMoms, July 2

Blossoms and Blessings, July 3

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, July 3

Lighthouse-Academy, July 4

Labor Not in Vain, July 4

Tell Tale Book Reviews, July 5

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, July 5

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, July 6

Vicky Sluiter, July 6

Simple Harvest Reads, July 6 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

She Lives To Read, July 7

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, July 7

KarenSueHadley, July 8

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 8

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a a signed copy of Pint of No Return, an ice cream bowl and spoon set, and a $30 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/10e05/pint-of-no-return-celebration-tour-giveaway

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review. 

"Once Upon a Summer" by Andrea Boyd, Toni Shiloh, Teresa Tysinger, & Jaycee Weaver -- Book Review

About the Book

Embrace the enchantment of summer with these contemporary twists on timeless tales.

A New Beginning — Who is she? Acacia Martin raised by an impostor mom serving a prison sentence for her sins, or Jasmine Callahan abducted at birth from a family she’s yet to meet? Luckily, she has Drake to help her untangle the mess that is her life. Will he ensnare her heart in the process?

An Ever After Summer — The employees of In a Bind are terrified of Jean-Luc Thibodeaux, so Bellamy Larson hops on a plane to France to deal with the beastly client. Yet once she arrives, she's convinced he merely needs a friend. Then her heart begins to want ever after, not just one summer.

Gwen and the Three Dates — Life isn't a romantic movie, but Gwen Lochs is determined to find her leading man. When she joins a cheesy dating site, Gwen agrees to just three dates. Can Ben Smith watch his best friend and soulmate find someone else? A romantic comedy about searching for that just-right love.

Unkissable — Reality diva Charlotte Lavigne's on-camera meltdown reminds former teen-TV prince Jaime Reyes exactly why he left Hollywood ten years ago. A chance encounter leads to a bargain that transforms them both. When it’s time to face her past, will their rediscovered love be strong enough to build a future together?

Let these four sweet contemporary Christian romances take you away this summer.

My Thoughts


"A New Beginning" by Andrea Boyd: I liked this take on a modern Rapunzel story. The feelings that Cacie were experiencing seemed real and genuine. I liked Drake and his care for Cacie. The romance happened fast, but didn't really feel rushed. I liked getting the follow up with the epilogue.

 

"An Ever After Summer" by Toni Shiloh: I enjoyed reading this Beauty and the Beast retelling. I liked how Bellamy could see the tender heart of Jean-Luc inside his gruffness and worked on helping him open up again. I wished I could visit the chateau and look around the gardens and library. 

"Gwen and The Three Dates" by Teresa Tysinger: This book was very loosely based on Goldilocks and the Three Bears. With the dating app and friends to look vers troupe, it also had a little of a You've Got Mail feel, too. I liked Ben and his love for Gwen even though she was clueless and how he worked to get her to notice she had true love already. I have not read any books by Teresa Tysinger before and I look forward to reading more books by her.

"Unkissable" by Jaycee Weaver: I really wasn't sure what fairy tale this story was supposed to be based on. By the end, I decided it was the Princess and the Frog because Jaime kept calling Lottie 'princess' and his stage name meant frog. It didn't seem to have the same close ties to the fairy tale that the other stories had. There was a connection to Jaycee Weaver's story in the Once Upon a Christmas collection with Jaime's brother Derek. I liked the story and it had a great biblical faith element with the gospel presented. It was nice to see the change in Charlotte through the story.

"Once Upon a Summer" is available in paperback:

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0957J9Y7M
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published (May 17, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 396 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8502613378
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.48 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.99 x 9 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B08YQXJQT3
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 25, 2021
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2153 KB