Welcome to the Blog Tour and Giveaway for The Heart Changer by Jarm Del Boccio with JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: The Heart Changer
Author: Jarm Del Boccio
Publisher: Ambassador International
Release Date: April 26, 2019
Genre: Middle Grade Biblical Fiction
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.
EXCERPT FROM THE HEART CHANGER
Now
alone, Miriam climbed onto the lumpy bed padded with straw. Her eyes wandered
once more to the high windowsill. She carefully stood on the edge of the bed
and reached up to touch the small figure standing still and straight. Thou
shalt have no other gods before me. The commandment repeated itself in her
mind. But what other gods are there? Will You forsake me in this strange new
land? Will I forsake You?
Suddenly, her foot slipped, knocking
herself and the idol to the floor with a crash. Miriam’s eyes squeezed shut
listening to the swift footsteps heading her way. She held her breath, hoping
it wasn’t —
Rana burst into the room, but stopped
short, staring down in horror at the broken image on the unforgiving stone
floor.
“WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE?“ HER eyes blazed with fire. “How
could you? It was NOT yours to touch. Now we are both in trouble with the
gods.”
Miriam attempted to pull herself off
the cold surface, and up onto her knees. “I am sorry. Truly sorry. I did not
mean to break it. I was curious.”
“Ha! Doesn’t your God forbid other
gods? Isn’t He jealous? Now you are twice in trouble.”
Miriam wondered how she knew so much
about the Hebrew’s Jehovah.
“Last year we had an Israelite slave
boy to serve the master. He didn’t last long.” Rana sneered. “But we got an earful of your strange
ways before he departed. And you? How long will you stay? A week? A month?” She
derided. “We will see what we can do about that.”
“I will fix it. I will try.” Miriam
reached for the jagged pieces.
“Don’t touch it. Don’t you dare.” She
pointed a long, slender finger at Miriam. “I
don’t want your filthy Hebrew hands touching my god.”
No more words were needed. Miriam
flung herself on her bed, with her face to the wall. She listened as Rana
hurriedly picked up all the pieces, and stomped out of the room, talking under
her breath in harsh tones. A tear found its way through Miriam’s eyelids,
squeezed shut from grief. What she wouldn’t give for a hug from her ima, or a
pat on the shoulders from abba. Is there no one to love me? Exhausted
with these thoughts, she fell fast asleep.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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.
AND (1) winner will receive 1 ebook (open internationally except where prohibited by law)
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight May 20, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm May 27, 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.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
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Looks like great book and giveaway.
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