I get along with a whole lot of help from my friends! One of my best book buddies helps me out with guest reviews from time to time. Carrie is a great elementary school teacher who takes reading very seriously. If I had had her in school, she would have been my favorite teacher! She recently read Jarm del Boccio’s MG historical novel, The Heart Changer. Thanks, Carrie, for helping me and my readers today!
Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village?
Miriam is asked to do the impossible: serve the wife of Naaman, commander of the Syrian army. Clinging to treasured memories of home and faith, Miriam faces captivity with worry and bitterness. Little does she know the Heart Changer is wooing and preparing her for a greater mission far beyond what she could imagine.
This middle-grade historical novel reflects the heartache and angst of a young refugee in a foreign land where all hope seems lost.
Jarm Del Boccio (‘J’ pronounced as a ‘Y’) finds her inspiration in everyday life, but in particular, when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. Focusing on lives of characters from the past, Jarm is devoted to breathing new life into the pages of history.
Jarm has a background in elementary and high school education, and served for seven years as a school librarian. Grateful for the opportunity, she taught three missionary kids in an isolated area of Papua New Guinea. She is part of SCBWI and American Christian Fiction Writers, and has published articles in “The Old Schoolhouse” magazine.
The Heart Changer, her debut MG historical/biblical fiction, released with Ambassador International April 26th 2019. Jarm is content with the journey God has placed her on, and lives with her husband and adult son and daughter (when they are not away) in a tree-lined suburb of Chicago.
The Heart Changer is a Biblical fiction book based on an unnamed girl from 2 Kings. Jarm Del Boccio adds names to create a story of the young girl taken from her home and made to serve Naaman’s wife. As she tries to adjust to her new life she struggles with the God she has always served — but has she truly trusted in Him? Through the fears and unknowns in a new land without family and friends to support her, Miriam learns to trust in Jehovah completely and tells of His miracles to her mistress. Through these conversations her faith is renewed and strengthened and she not only learns to trust but helps Naaman in a powerful way, both physically and spiritually.Miriam faces many questions and struggles that people in present times face, not only religion, but dealing with people and helping others, making this book relatable in numerous ways. The Heart Changer will challenge its readers to go back to several Old Testament places to reread stories and see just how powerful our God truly is.
Audience: middle grade readers.
To purchase, click HERE. (It is currently 99 cents on Kindle!)
(Thanks to the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for RES-Q Tyler Stop by June McCrary Jacobs with JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title:RES-Q Tyler Stop Series: Tyler Stop, Book 1 Author: June McCrary Jacobs Publisher: JMJ Story Stitcher Books Release Date: April 22, 2019 Genre: Middle Grade Historical Fiction
It’s the summer of 1968 in Sonoma County, California, and eleven-year-old Weston Gregg and his nine-year-old sister, Wendy, are looking for fun things to do during their summer break from school. When they discover some abandoned rabbits, they hatch an idea to make a positive difference for animals and people in their small town of Tyler Stop.
They decide to form ‘Rescue Each Species-Quickly’, or RES-Q Tyler Stop.
There are challenges to face as they move forward into their new venture, including standing up to someone who is targeting Weston’s friends for being different and a painfully bad decision.
Will Weston have to handle these issues on his own or will he learn to accept the advice and wisdom shared by some important people in his life? Join Weston and his family and friends as they share some adventures and learn and grow together in RES-Q Tyler Stop.
PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:
“Adventure has no end in this tale, where a heart for animals inspires and surprises await around every bend. . . . The characters and the situations they face come across realistic, and the scenes develop naturally. Not only does the author keep a nice paced plot rolling along but adds interesting and practical information about animals and ways to handle certain situations along the way. It makes for a fun mix of fiction and fact.
This appears to be the first book in the series, and I’m eager to see where the RES-Q Tyler Stop adventures will head to next.” ~ Tonja Drecker, Author of Music Boxes
Weston and Wendy took care of the foster rabbits and their own pets for the next two days. The rabbits didn’t overheat again. On the third morning, Weston and Wendy were out weeding the family’s garden when they heard a car turn into the gravel driveway.
“I wonder who they are?” Wendy asked.
Weston shrugged his shoulders and ran over to the car. “Hi. Are you lost?” he asked the driver when the man pulled to a stop.
“Is this the Gregg family property?”
“Yes. Who are you?”
The man opened his car door and stepped out of the car. Weston peeked inside and saw three children in the backseat and a woman in the front seat. None of them looked familiar. The man stepped forward and held out his hand to Weston.
“I’m Preston McIntire. My wife is Delores and my children are Patty, Sally, and Johnny. I heard from Mrs. Fletcher at the fairgrounds that you’ve been taking care of my kids’ rabbits since we were unable to pick them up from the fairgrounds on time.”
Weston shook the man’s hand and smiled. He leaned down and waved at the rest of the family sitting in the car. “I’m Weston. I’m eleven. We’ve been taking really good care of your rabbits for you. They’re doing fine.” Wendy ran over to the car to see what was going on. “This is my little sister, Wendy. She’s nine. She’s been helping with the rabbits, too.”
“Thank you both for all you’ve done. My kids would be devastated if anything happened to their bunnies. We’re ready to take them back home to their hutches. If you’ll show me where they are, we’ll load them in the back of the station wagon and be on our way.”
“Let me get my Dad,” Weston said as he headed toward the house.
In a couple of minutes, Weston emerged with Glen Gregg following close behind.
“Hello, I’m Glen Gregg. Nice to meet you.”
“I’m Preston McIntire. It’s a pleasure to meet you, too. Sounds like you’ve got some fine children here.”
The two men shook hands, and then Mr. McIntire opened the swing gate at the back of the station wagon so they could unload the pet carriers for the trip home. Within fifteen minutes, the rabbits were loaded into their own carriers and were reunited with their family.
The McIntire children jumped up and down with excitement as they counted the rabbits and made sure everyone looked happy and healthy. Johnny stood in front of the carriers and spoke in a quiet voice. “You’re all going to get an extra carrot for a treat when we get home.”
Everyone chuckled, and Mr. McIntire grinned at the Greggs. “We’d like to repay you for your kindness in some way. Mrs. Fletcher told us about your pets, so we brought along some bags of dog, cat, and rabbit food as a token of our appreciation. We know from experience feeding six rabbits is not cheap.”
“Thanks,” Wendy and Weston said in unison.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
‘RES-Q Tyler Stop’ is June McCrary Jacobs‘s first middle-grade book. June is a retired elementary school teacher and literacy mentor who is fond of California history and children’s literature. She especially loves to write, read, and blog about middle-grade fiction and non-fiction on her ‘Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic’ blog.
In addition to writing inspirational romance books and stories for adults {A Holiday Miracle in Apple Blossom, 2013; Robin’s Reward, 2015; Handmade Hearts, 2019}, June’s original sewing, quilting, and stitchery designs have been published in over one hundred books, magazines, and on sewing industry blogs in the past decade.
When she’s not writing, reading, blogging, or sewing, June enjoys cooking, walking, visiting art and history museums, and touring historic homes and gardens.
One of her most memorable and thrilling childhood adventures was her ride in the Goodyear blimp as it floated over Long Beach, California. She can still remember the people on the beach waving to her as she zoomed past them.
Signed Paperback Copy of RES-Q Tyler Stop (US only) or Digital Copy (International)
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight April 22, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm April 29, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
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Can an Israelite captive, wrenched from all she loves, serve the very man who destroyed her village?
Jarm Del Boccio (‘J’ pronounced as a ‘Y’) finds her inspiration in everyday life, but in particular, when she travels the globe, observing the quirky things that happen along the way. Focusing on lives of characters from the past, Jarm is devoted to breathing new life into the pages of history.
Title: RES-Q Tyler Stop
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