Book News for Avid Readers - BookGoodies

Published: Thu, 04/15/21

 
Featured Book: The Epic Space Opera Series Begins by Simon Goodson
 


About Featured Book: The Epic Space Opera Series Begins by Simon Goodson

Wanderer's Odyssey – Books 1 to 3, free!

The Empire will kill him for stealing this ship… but they have to catch it first!

To the Empire the Wanderer was just another booby-trapped ship to claim, and Jess was just another worthless slave who could be sacrificed in the process.

Things didn’t go to plan. Jess survived the dangers, and when he sat in the pilot’s chair the ancient ship came to life for the first time in centuries.

Acting on instinct Jess seized the chance, firing up the engines and fleeing the Imperial forces.
Now Jess and the ancient self-aware ship are on the run, their freedom and their very existence on the line.

Buy this collection of the first three books and see why tens of thousands of people have loved following the Wanderer’s journey, leaving comments including “In the end, I was gripping the arms of my chair as I rooted for the heroes.” and “A fast paced, can't-put-it-down Sci-fi.”

This SciFi book is available in these Formats: eBook

Buy Book Here.


»Read More
 
Featured Book: The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins
 


About Featured Book: The Tide Between Us by Olive Collins

1821: Among the thousands of Irish deportees to the Caribbean British Colonies is a 10 year old Irish boy, Art O’Neill. As an Indentured Servant on a sugar plantation in Jamaica, Art gradually acclimatizes to the exotic country and the unfamiliar customs of the African slaves.

When the new heirs to the plantation arrive from Ireland they resurrect the ghosts of brutal injustices against Art. He bides his time and hides his abhorrence from his new master by channeling his energy into his work. During those years he prospers, he acquires land, he sees his colored children freed after emancipation as he takes us on a multi-generational historical saga. Eventually Art is promised seven gold coins for seven decades of service. He doubts his master will part with the coins. The morning Art sets out to claim his gratuity, he ignores his sense of foreboding that he may not return home alive.

Ireland 1991: One hundred years later a skeleton is discovered beneath a fallen tree on the grounds of Lugdale Estate. By its side is a gold coin minted in 1870. Yseult, the owner of the estate, watches as events unfold, fearful of the long-buried truths that may emerge about her family’s past and its links to the slave trade. As the skeleton gives up its secrets, Yseult realizes she too can no longer hide.

Inspired by the real story of 2,000 Irish children deported to Jamaica and the statistics that 25% of Jamaican citizens claim Irish ancestry. The Tide Between Us is a powerful novel documenting true historical events and the resilience of the human spirit.

This Fiction book is available in these Formats: eBook, Print

Buy Book Here.


»Read More
 
Featured Bargain Book 04/15/2021: Bittersweet: A single dad, small town novel by Lyz Kelley
 

Book is Bargain Priced starting 04/15/2021 and ending 04/19/2021. Check the price on the book before you purchase it, prices can change without notice.

About the book:

Leza’s FBI assignment is done, and the Rocky Mountains are calling to her, but returning to the small town will be bittersweet. She’d found peace in the welcoming community. But there is also hurt and loss there. She’s ready to say her goodbyes to the one she loves, but what she’s not ready for is to fall for the newly appointed, super sexy deputy. She swore she’d never let a uniform wearing guy in her life again.

If only he and his willful niece weren’t such a distraction. She must resist Heath because letting down her guard to love again could put all of them in jeopardy.

If you love single dads, cute kids, puppies, two people willing to risk it all for love, then this sensual, small town book is for you. Grab BITTERSWEET and get acquainted with Elkridge ~ the small town that offers everyday heroes a chance at home, healing, and happiness.

Link to get bargain ebook


»Read More
 
Featured Bargain Book 04/15/2021: Fighting to Win by Nicole Flockton
 

Book is Bargain Priced starting 04/15/2021 and ending 04/30/2021. Check the price on the book before you purchase it, prices can change without notice.

About the book:

Julia Ashland walked away from Mitch Osborn when a scandal rocked her life following the diving world championships. Now she’s face to face with him again at the biggest event of her career. Not only must she fight her attraction to him, she has to fight to prove she earned her position on the team.

Mitch Osborn is the darling of the swimming world. Attending one of the season’s most important event, his focus is on increasing his personal gold medal tally not rekindling a relationship with Julia—the woman who publicly humiliated him with another member of the swim team.

Now thrown back together in a high pressure competition, will their competitive natures take hold or will they be fighting to win each other’s hearts once more?

Link to get bargain ebook


»Read More
 
Featured Bargain Book 04/15/2021: Crystal White by David DeLee
 

Book is Bargain Priced starting 04/15/2021 and ending 04/15/2021. Check the price on the book before you purchase it, prices can change without notice.

About the book:

An ex-DEA agent with nothing left to live for returns home to embark on a vengeful journey of revenge against those responsible for the death of his family. He’ll stop at nothing to make them pay—with their lives or his in this first novel in the Nick Lafferty thriller series.

In California, DEA agent Nick Lafferty led the investigation to eradicate a new and deadly form of synthetic crack cocaine called Crystal White. An investigation that took from him everything he cherished, and left Lafferty a broken man. A man with nothing to live for.

Now, the street poison Crystal White again floods the streets, this time in the northern suburbs of New York City.

Aided by his ex-partner, Delmar Harley, an alcoholic cop on the edge and dogged by a beautiful assistant district attorney who believes the DEA agent’s gone rogue, Nick Lafferty relentlessly embarks on a dark and vengeful journey of revenge, mounting a full-on assault against the Crystal White drug cartel. Nick Lafferty will stop at nothing to make them pay…with their lives—or his.

Link to get bargain ebook


»Read More
 
SMART Objective Setting for Managers: A Roadmap by Irial O’Farrell
 

SMART Objective Setting for Managers: A Roadmap by Irial O'Farrell

Objective-Setting season is fast approaching. There’s a knot in the pit of your stomach. As time ticks closer to having to set objectives with your team, you can feel the knot pulsing, getting bigger. It has to be done but what’s the point?

Unfortunately, this is how many managers feel about objective-setting. Often due to lack of training or through their negative experiences with their own manager. It often feels like a box-ticking exercise. It doesn’t have to be this way. Actively developing each team member has huge benefits, of the individual, the team, their manager, the company and clients.

SMART Objective Setting for Managers has been written specifically for managers. It sets out the relationship between job description and objectives. It deconstructs the SMART framework. It then works through practical examples of how to design objectives that will really deliver the desired outcomes. It focuses on both target-driven “what” objectives alongside behavioural “how” objectives. It also takes some time to explore both the employee’s perspective and the manager’s mindset, in relation to performance and their role.

Summaries and prompts, at the end of each chapter, recap on each chapter’s main points and allow you, the reader, to think about the points in relation to your own team. Free template downloads are also available, to help you apply the learning.


Targeted Age Group:: 18+
Heat/Violence Level: Heat Level 1 – G Rated Clean Read

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
Having managed a team for 10+ years and having worked as an executive coach and leadership/management trainer for 20+ years, I have designed and implemented several performance management systems and trained hundreds of managers in how to implement them, including objective setting, giving effective feedback and evaluating performance. As part of this process, the same challenges, concerns and emotions come up, over and over again, regardless of industry.

In particular, managers grapple with how to design behavioural objectives such as, how to improve a person's poor communication skills, increase their self-awareness or develop their stakeholder management skills. These are difficult enough but then they have to be put into a SMART format. As a result of this, I developed a workshop, designed to help managers develop these skills. After a workshop, they could see a path forward.

When the time came to write this book, I knew this was a book that managers need.


Book Sample
CHAPTER 2: THE CATCH WITH SMART

Having looked at the relationship between Job Description and Objectives, as managers, how do we approach the process of setting objectives? Following on from Chapter 1, Jenny has identified three solid objectives for Ray to focus on for the coming period:

– Be responsible for various outputs for EMEA business units [role specific]
– Project manage SAP implementation project for the team [business-aligned]
– Enhance stakeholder management skills [behavioural development]

Jenny feels that succeeding in these three objectives will really boost both Ray’s and the team’s performance in the short-term while enhancing Ray’s career prospects in the longer-term. So, what does Jenny need to do now?

Having identified his objectives, Jenny could just leave it until she meets with Ray and discuss the objectives with him then. However, as we will see, Jenny’s understanding of what each of these objectives means and how they will be evaluated might be the same as Ray’s understanding or, much more likely, could be wildly different. Enter the SMART model, which, as we saw in the Introduction, stands for:

S Specific
M Measurable
A Attainable
R Relevant*
T Timeframe

*Some people use the word Realistic rather than Relevant. As Realistic is very closely aligned with Attainable, I prefer to use Relevant to allow for a link between the objective and why it matters.

Using SMART has long been accepted as the most effective way for setting out objectives. However, many managers dislike SMART, so much so that I usually expect a groan or two when I mention the acronym. What I have noticed is that many managers struggle to use SMART in any useful way, particularly when it comes to behavioural, how objectives. I find that once they’ve gone through my SMART Objective Setting workshop, they are much clearer on how to use it, both with the WHAT and the HOW objectives, and are much more positive about using SMART.

At the start of the workshop, having checked that participants know what SMART stands for, and regardless of my audience, I ask the group if the following objective is SMART:

“I’m going out, can you do the dishes?”

The conversation usually runs something like this:

Them: No, there’s no timeframe.
Me: Okay then, I’ll rephrase: I’m going out; I’ll be back in an hour. Can you have the dishes done?

Them: Yeah, that’s SMART.
Me: Is it?

Them: Eh, yeah, it’s SMART. You have the specific and the measurable and the timeframe. The relevant and attainable are both fine.
Me: So, is it SMART?

Them: Yes.
Me: You’re sure?

Them: Yep, we’re sure.
Me: Okay, so hands up; whose idea of doing the dishes is “washing the dishes and letting them drip-dry on the counter”?

The bigger the group, the more likely you are to get a couple of people putting their hands up.

Me: So, whose idea of doing the dishes is “washing the dishes and drying them”?

Usually, a few hands go up.

Me: Whose idea of doing the dishes is “washing and drying them and putting them away”?

The majority of hands go up for this one, often along with one or two hands from the previous group with “Oh, that’s what I meant” or “Oh, that’s what I thought you meant” type comments.

Me: Whose idea is “washing, drying and putting away the dishes and wiping down the counters”?

Usually, the rest of the hands go up on this one, with everyone else in the room feeling like they’ve been shamed by their lack of cleaning prowess. This one is often accompanied by some knowing laughs, as they now understand why they constantly end up in arguments at home about the dishes being “done”.

In one session, one person didn’t put up their hand so I asked them why, to which they replied, “Oh, my idea of doing the dishes is all of the above and sweeping the floors.” Upon recovering from my chastisement, I added this option into workshops and, yes, occasionally it does get selected.

One of my all-time favourite responses to this exercise was an exclamation of, “Oh, you want the kitchen cleaned.” We all fell around the place laughing at the implied nuanced difference between the phrases “doing the dishes” and “cleaning the kitchen”. To this person, there was clearly a difference. To the rest of us, they were two ways of saying the same thing.

Once the laughing has settled down, I highlight that SMART can be very effective in setting out and framing an objective. However, a natural constraint exists when using SMART between two people. So, care needs to be taken in clearly constructing an objective and ensuring a common understanding between both parties. Otherwise, issues will arise due to differences in expectations. If someone initially selected the second dishes option and then changed it to the third option, I highlight the point that, if the manager isn’t clear on what is expected, how can the employee be clear?

I use this example because, regardless of level, everyone can understand and relate to it and it beautifully highlights that, for such a simple task, there are five or six different ways it can be interpreted while looking like a SMART objective.


Links to Purchase Print Book version – Click links for book samples, reviews and to purchase
Buy SMART Objective Setting for Managers: A Roadmap Print Edition at Amazon
Buy SMART Objective Setting for Managers: A Roadmap at Barnes and Noble

Links to Purchase eBook version – Click links for book samples, reviews and to purchase
Buy this eBook On Amazon
Buy this eBook on Barnes and Noble for Nook
Buy this eBook on iBooks
Buy this eBook on Kobo
Buy this eBook on Smashwords


About the Author

Please join this author’s email list

For joining the author’s email/newsletter list you will get:
Free templates including: Objective Setting Meeting Preparation Template; Performance Issues Driver Analysis Template

Learn more about the author on their website
Follow the author on Amazon

Follow the author on Social Media:
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads
Instagram
LinkedIn
YouTube Channel

All information was provided by the author and not edited by us. This is so you get to know the author better.


»Read More
 
FEATURED BOOK: Faces by Betty May
 

In 2008 a group of women serving life sentences for capital crimes sought to reach out to at-risk youth and warn them of the consequences of bad choices. With the mantra: If we can help just one kid, all this work will be worth it, they produced and performed a play: FACES. The play became a phenomenon and reached hundreds of people—in the prison and at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This is their story. It is also the author’s story. How she went from knowing nothing about the Criminal Justice System to becoming an advocate for these women and an activist for change. The women’s mantra became her own and the basis for this book. One of the women said of FACES, the play: “If I had seen this play when I was a teenager, I probably wouldn’t be here now.” The women and the author want FACES, the book, to reach young adult readers and help them in the same way. You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to have all the answers or always know the right thing to say. You can climb the tallest tree if you want. You can take chances, make miracles or make mistakes. You don’t have to be composed at all hours to be strong. You don’t have to be bad or certain to be brave. You don’t have to have all the answers or even know who you want to be. Just take us with you in your journey, following your heart as we have just done with you. –From the play: FACES
FACES is available in e-book and print versions

Link to buy book

Click to join this author’s email list


»Read More
 
FEATURED BOOK: Payback by Betty May
 

PAYBACK is a prequel to my Young Adult novel, CHANGING CORNERS. Bobbie, a bright, inquisitive, cute, eleven-almost-twelve-year-old annoying pest who never sits still and can’t shut up, is thrilled to be at a Long Island summer camp. Then she meets her roommates: three ultra-sophisticated teenagers who are not at all happy about sharing their room with this creature who bounces around like some kind of zany pixie. Their hostility accelerates from ridicule to merciless bullying.
How can Bobbie fight back when the girls turn the entire camp against her?
And how can she regain her spirit when she feels beaten down and lost?
Both books are available on Amazon as e-books, in print, and on audio. For a free audio download e-mail: [email protected]

Link to buy ebook, print or audiobook

Click to join this author’s email list


»Read More
 
FEATURED BOOK: Changing Corners by Betty May
 

Changing Corners, a YA novel, is a sequel to Payback, an MG novel. Bobbie doesn’t believe the southern attitude toward people of color applies to her northern world. Phillis, her childhood friend, lived in Mississippi and endured the worst effects of racial hatred, generating a mind filled with fear, distrust, and bitterness. The two girls reunite in a late 1950s Long Island high school. Phillis must convince Bobbie to confront the reality of racism even as they fight for the right to be friends.
With humor and drama, Phillis, Bobbie, and a diverse group of teenagers wage battle to change their corner of the world. At first they succeed. They share high school highs and lows and first romances. Their euphoric lives collapse when officials accuse Phillis of arson, a riot ensues, and police arrive, guns drawn. They must expose the true culprits and clear Phillis’s name before she faces undeserved years in prison. Both books are available on Amazon in e-book, print, and audio versions. For a free audio download e-mail: [email protected]

Link to buy ebook, print or audiobook

Click to join this author’s email list


»Read More
 
Beyond The Mirror: Seechers by M.K Williams & Natalie Kavanagh
 

Beneath the surface of a top London university, an ancient society known as The Seechers, operate. They protect the world’s biggest secret. A hidden gateway to the subconscious world.

New philosophy student, Aris Fletcher, stumbles into the unimaginable world of The Seechers; as his bizarre dreams, present disturbing glimpses into the future.

Targeted Age Group:: Teen, Young Adult, Adult

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
The world of the Seechers has been inspired by my life-long fascination with dreams. As a teenager, I used to talk very intensely with my friends about dreams. We tried to control our dreams, have shared dreams, we researched the meaning of dreams and we even had our own dreamers club. I became very interested in hypnogogia, which is a transitional state between being asleep and being awake. Many famous writers, artists and inventors have used this state to retrieve their extraordinary ideas. Thomas Edison is well known for his techniques in trying to tap his subconscious for deeper insights for his inventions. After trying, for a long time, to find my own method to tap my subconscious in this way, for an amazing idea, I began to realise, that the concept of taking something out of the subconscious and into this world, was in itself the start to an idea. That is really what Seechers is about. They are an ancient and secret group of intellects, who have essentially pulled unworldly powers, out from a dream and into the conscious world and there are bad guys who what their power, for themselves.

https://youtu.be/CstNDziXkts

How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
The book is actually based on my award winning short film, that launches on DUST Youtube Channel (2.36M subscribers) on 15th April 2021. So I'd already invented a lot of the characters for the short film. We got so carried away with the story and the characters and the world, we've actually mapped it into a five part book series. 'Beyond The Mirror: Seechers' is the first in the series. You can find out more about the project, at seechers.com.

Book Sample
The large metal doors thrust open before Aris had even reached them. It was as though he’d willed them apart. An unnerving determination glistened in his big blue eyes. His long, mousy-blonde hair brushed off his brow as he hit the outside air. His pace was so quick he barely managed to read the sign that indicated he was now on the roof. Not slowing for an instant, Aris bolted to the edge. Peering over and taking in the long drop, he knew the only way out was to jump. The building was thirteen-stories high. The only chance of survival was to land in the river below.
Panting hard, the cold air gave form to his breath. Aris had risked everything to be in the Curative Analytical building this night. Tightly held in his hand was a small, glass column-shaped hard drive. It glowed with a beautiful blue luminescence and was of a value he could barely
comprehend. Yet he knew he had to escape with it. He had to keep it safe and, eventually, destroy it.
“STOP!” a loud, harsh female voice cut through the frosty air like a sledgehammer through a block of ice. It wasn’t the shrillness of the voice that immobilized Aris, it was the familiarity. He knew exactly who was behind him. Slow and fearful, he twisted to face her. Memories of the recent
dreams he’d had, of this exact moment on the roof, raced through his mind. He knew the dreams had been a glimpse into the future. That, one day, this horrible scene would unfold. He just hadn’t foreseen how quickly it would transpire. Nor had he anticipated that the silhouette of the woman, who now stood in front of him, would become someone he’d grown to love.
The outline became clearer as she stepped into the moonlight. Even in the darkness of night, Aris could still make out her piercing eyes. Maya Green stood tall, glaring towards him. Her long blonde hair wisped in the breeze.
Aris took a large gulp of air before he uttered her name. “Maya.” There was a tremble in his voice. He paused, not sure what else to say.
He tried to remember what he’d said in the dreams. “I can’t believe this is really happening,” Maya said as her voice shredded; her eyes filling with tears. She stood bold as she often did. Except, this time, held at arm’s length was a handgun, that she pointed squarely at Aris.
“The others will be here soon. There’s still time to make this right,”
Aris declared with confidence, though he lied. “Aris, please, you have to give it back. This means more to me than it does to you!” Maya requested as she outstretched her left hand. “I can’t! How many others are going to die if this carries on?! I can’t let this happen. I’m sorry, Maya.” Aris edged back. He could hear distant footsteps race up the stairs he’d not long sprinted up. He raised the glowing hard drive high in the air as the heel of his shoe touched the edge of the roof. He tentatively glanced over his shoulder and down at the river before turning his attention back to Maya.
Tears tumbled down Maya’s face as her hand shook. She shouted loud enough so those rushing up the stairs could hear. “Give me the
hard drive!” Several men armed with guns hurried out of the doorway. She wiped her tears away before any of them reached her side. “I forgive you,” Aris said softly as he looked down again, mustering the courage to jump. Maya was now flanked by security guards and, joining her was Dr
Rivers. A tall man, with a large jaw and pitted skin. “That hard drive’s property of Curative Analytical. You’re trespassing and stealing. I’m not sure what business you have here, or what you think you know about that drive, but if you come away from the edge now, we’ll sit down and talk about it. We won’t press any charges against you. Just come this way.” Dr Rivers urged as he stretched out his hand and took one step closer.
“No!” Aris shouted.
“What are you going to do, boy? Jump?! Don’t be a fool. You’ll never survive that fall. Is this really worth risking your life over?” Dr Rivers reasoned, with a painfully fake smile. A deep fear consumed Aris. This moment had unravelled eerily in exactly the same way he’d seen in his dreams. Except he knew the dreams always became fragmented and unclear from here on in.
“Step away from the edge. You’re putting yourself in great danger, “Dr Rivers shouted. Aris turned and prepared to leap. But before he could, the sound of a gunshot rang out. He stumbled on the spot for a moment as an immense pain blasted through him. A bullet had pierced through his back
and ripped out from his abdomen. He cocked his head towards Maya and saw a plume of smoke empty from the barrel of her gun. Blood quickly saturated his clothes. Security guards galloped towards him. His mind blacked out, and he toppled headlong, plummeting to the river below.

Links to Purchase Print Books
Buy Beyond The Mirror: Seechers Print Edition at Amazon
Buy Beyond The Mirror: Seechers Print book for sale at Waterstones

Listen to a sample of Audiobook – being released May 2021 on the Amazon link below

Links to Purchase eBooks – Click links for book samples and reviews
Buy Beyond The Mirror: Seechers On Amazon
Buy Beyond The Mirror: Seechers on Barnes and Noble/Nook
Buy Beyond The Mirror: Seechers on Smashwords
Buy Beyond The Mirror: Seechers on Kobo
Buy Beyond The Mirror: Seechers eBook at Foyles UK

Have you read this book? Tell us what you thought! All information was provided by the author and not edited by us. This is so you get to know the author better.


»Read More
 
Sewik Adventures in Friendship by Jacqie D’Bach
 

Welcome to Sedwik’s Adventures!
*Ages 9-13
Hilarious mishaps, midnight escapes, and long hot desert trips are just a few of the many adventures besties, Sedwik and Jesus encounter growing up together.
“Sedwik, Adventures In Friendship”
The first in the brand new series from first time author, Jacqie D’Bach. This donkey’s-eye-view of Jesus’s life is a fresh perspective on one of the most recounted stories of all time.

Let’s face it, moving from town to town is tough.

* Will Sedwik and Jesus find friends or enemies in the new neighborhood?
* Are they up for the challenges ahead?
* Is there danger or even romance in Sedwik’s future?

Allow your heart to be captured as you experience the duo’s growing pains along the way. He will plant seeds in your heart that are sure to bloom into the best friend anyone could ever have.
A delightful reading experience for children as well as adults.
FREE EBOOK April 18-20, 2021

Targeted Age Group:: 9-13

What Inspired You to Write Your Book?
I was inspired to write this book for my nephew. He is a gifted reader and loves books. I wanted him to understand how much Jesus loves him in a personal way. The main character, Sedwik, a donkey, grows up with Jesus and they are best friends. I want children and adults to know Jesus in this personal way.

How Did You Come up With Your Characters?
The main character, Sedwik was inspired by my 2 children's struggle with ADHD and their delightful personalities. The character Jesus is based on Jesus from the Bible. The other human characters are based on stories from the Bible as well. All of the other animal characters were inspired from the personalities of my nieces and nephews as well as friends they encountered and experiences they had growing up.

Book Sample
“Oh, boy. I love telling stories,” I said. “I will try to make Mama proud. She was the best storyteller,” I added.
Eve nudged me with her wet nose saying, “Ribbit, ribbit. Go on, tell me the story.” The touch of her wet nose startled me just enough to hop lily pads back to my story.
“Oh, of course,” I said giggling.
I began, “It was a long time ago in a desert land. The children of Israel had been searching for the promised land for a long while now. Adonai instructed Joshua, their leader, to send out two men to spy and find out about the city Jericho.”
“What about Moses?” Eve interrupted. “I thought he led them in the wilderness.” I cleared my throat harshly letting her know I didn’t appreciate the disturbance.
“Yes, Eve. Moses did lead the children of Israel out of Egypt and through the wilderness. This story begins after Moses died and the Lord made Joshua their leader.” I answered.
I continued, “As I was saying, Joshua sent two spies. The keeper who took care of Great-gramps was one of those spies. His name was Salmon.”
“Oh, Sedwik. This is exciting.” Eve said.
“It will be, if you let me finish.” I mumbled under my breath.
Eve spoke up again asking, “Did your Gramps get to go with them?”
“Yes, indeed,” I replied. “I come from a long line of travelers,” I added. This time I nudged her with my wet nose and said, “Now, before I slip on another lily pad–ribbit, ribbit–let’s get back to the story.” We both laughed.
I continued, “Great-gramps traveled all night with the two spies. They knocked on the door of Rahab’s house. She lived on the city wall. She let the two men stay for the night. Gramps slept under the stars outside the city gate. Early the next day, just as the bright orange circle peeked out, the king of Jericho sent some of his men to Rahab’s door. After she heard their knock at the door, she sent the two Israelite spies up to her roof to hide.
“When she answered the door, she said, ‘They were gone before the city gate was closed for the night. Chase after them, quickly.’ The king’s men ran right past Gramps. Mama told me that he hid himself behind some overgrown weeds.”
“What happened to the spies?” Tali asked. “Did they escape?” Perez inquired. Tamar added, “Where is Shelley? He won’t want to miss this.”
Just then Shelley said, “I’m here. I wouldn’t miss it. I love a good story and I sure don’t want to miss the announcement!”
I continued, “Rahab quickly made her way up to the roof. The spies were hiding under some stalks of flax spread out on the floor.”
“Spies! What spies? I love a good mystery.” Shelley interrupted excitedly.
“You missed that part.” Eve answered. “They are spies for the Israelites.”
“Who are the Israelites?” Shelley asked.
“If you will be patient and listen, we can all find out. suggested Tamar, laughing. “Please go ahead, Sedwik.”
Shelley nodded and I continued, “Rahab said, ‘We’ve heard rumors about your people. I know the Lord, your God has given you this land.’ She added, ‘Dread has fallen upon us and we melt in terror.’”
“Dread! Terror!” Shelley interrupted. “This is getting good.”
“Shhhhh!” whispered Eve, Tamar, and Perez loudly.
“Okay, okay.” Shelley agreed.
“Where was I?” I asked. “Oh, yes: Rahab said to the spies, ‘We know all about how the Lord, your God dried up the Red Sea so you could escape from the Egyptians. You have defeated the Amorite people.’ Rahab also said, ‘Our hearts pound with fear because of you. The Lord, your God is God in heaven above and here on earth.’
“Wow,” Tali exclaimed. “I have never heard these stories. “Sedwik, please tell us how the spies escaped–or did they escape?”
“Be patient, Tali,” I scolded as I tried to answer his questions. “Rahab pleaded with the spies, asking, ‘Since I have been faithful to both of you, please swear to me that you will be faithful to me and my father’s house.’ The men bargained with her, ‘Our lives for yours. If you do not report us, then when the Lord gives us the land, we will be faithful and kind to you.’ Remember that Rahab’s house was on the city wall.” I reminded my friends.
Eve spoke up, “Oh yes, I remember.”
The others nodded in agreement.
“Which city?” Shelley asked.
“Jericho!” Everyone answered in unison.
“Well, that kind of shouting will make the walls fall down.” Shelley said.
“You are getting ahead of me, Shelley.” I started in once again, “Rahab lowered the spies down the city wall, by a rope out of her window. She said, ‘Go into the hills and wait three days. The king’s men will have returned by then and it will be safe for you to go home.’
“The Israelite spies warned Rahab, ‘Tie a scarlet rope and hang it out your window. This will be our sign. We must see the rope.’”
“Did the children of Israel come back? Did they save Rahab?” Perez asked.
“Yes, we want to know, Sedwik, tell us.” The others chimed in.
I continued, “Great-gramps led the spies home. When Joshua led the people across the Jordan River to Jericho, they did remember Rahab. They saw the scarlet rope and saved her. Salmon, my Great-gramps’s keeper…”
“Salmon was one of the secret spies, right?” Shelley interrupted.

“Yes, Shelley. As I was saying, Salmon fell in love with Rahab and married her.”
“Ew, I didn’t want to hear a mushy love story, Sedwik.” said Perez.
“Me either!” cried Shelley.
Tamar nudged Perez with her hoof and said, “I think it’s sweet.”
Eve agreed.
“Jesus reminded us last night about Salmon and Rahab’s daughter’s name: Dinah. The meaning of the name Dinah, is ‘God will judge.’ The God of our ancestors judged Rahab faithful and he brought her into his family through the spy, Salmon. He was Great-gramps’s keeper, remember? What do you think, Everyone?”
“I love it. Jesus is a great name giver!” Perez said with a big, toothy smile.
“Dinah is a beautiful name!” Tali chimed in. “It suits her.”
At that very moment Dinah woke up. She knew her name and she was ready for the world.
__________

“Thanks for helping me carry this burden of wheat and barley, Sedwik.” Mary said. “Are those Tamar’s twins running toward us?”
“Baa, baa!” Shouted the twins on their way by.
“Hee-haw!” I bellowed.
“Oh, look, Dinah is right behind them.” Mary observed. “Hi Dinah!” Ever so shy, Dinah’s face turned pomegranate red. She hung her head so low her ears dragged along the ground as she ran. “Be careful, Dinah. Lift up those ears or you’ll trip!” Mary called out.
Before I could hee-haw twice, she tripped and slid right into Mary’s chickens that had gathered to feed on the spilled wheat and barley from my burden. Feathers flew everywhere. When Dinah looked up, she had a face full of chicken feathers. We all laughed, including Dinah.
“The stable is a very busy place lately.” I announced.
“Tamar, your fluffy twin lambs Rachel and Rebekah certainly are ornery little stinkers.” Tali said.
“And Dinah follows them around everywhere.” Perez commented.
“I thought sheep were supposed to be the followers.” Shelley added.
“Come on everyone. You know Dinah is very shy. I’m just glad she has playmates.” Eve replied firmly.
“Yes, dear.” I affirmed.
“It’s unfortunate that your clumsiness has been passed on to Dinah, Sedwik.” Shelley announced.
“That is a difficult combination.” Perez agreed.
“Dinah will grow into herself in His time–in His perfect time.” I sound just like my Mama. I thought proudly.

Links to Purchase Print Books
Buy Sewik Adventures in Friendship by Jacqie D’Bach Print Edition at Amazon

Links to Purchase eBooks – Click links for book samples and reviews
Buy Sewik Adventures in Friendship by Jacqie D’Bach On Amazon

Have you read this book? Tell us what you thought! All information was provided by the author and not edited by us. This is so you get to know the author better.


»Read More
 
 

Come visit us at BookGoodies.com

Authors: Put your book in this newsletter!

Share this newsletter with your friends!

If you'd like to remove your email address from this list, you can click here to unsubscribe.