Movie Review and Giveaway: Unsung Hero

Moms, celebrate your priceless role in your family by going to see

the powerful film, Unsung Hero, in theaters starting April 26th!

If you love the band FOR KING + COUNTRY, you have to see their new film in theaters soon!

Buy tickets today to see Unsung Hero in theaters starting April 26th!

Synopsis: 

When David Smallbone's successful music company collapses, he moves his family from Australia to the United States in search of a brighter future. With nothing more than their six children, their suitcases, and their love of music, David (for KING + COUNTRY's Joel Smallbone) and his pregnant wife Helen (Daisy Betts) set out to rebuild their lives from the ground up. Based on a remarkable true story, a mum's faith stands against all odds; and inspires her husband and children to hold onto theirs.

Links:  

Trailer

Interview w/ Luke Smallbone

Website

Buy Tickets

My Review:

Unsung Hero is the true story of the Smallbone family, who leaves their home in Australia to the United States. The family endures a few struggles while they try to live in their new country. It was beautiful and inspiring to see the faith, hope, and determination to continue to fight for their musical dream. It was inspiring to see how the parents were there for each other and their children. I loved how they refused to give up. 

I am giving Unsung Hero a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for viewers who enjoy watching clean movies that offers, faith, hope, inspiration, and based on true events. So many viewers will find the movie to be relatable. 

I received an early screener link to watch Unsung Hero from Kingdom Faith Marketing Services, LLC, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.    

Disclosure:

Many thanks to Kingdom Faith Marketing Services, LLC for providing a sample of the product for this review. Opinions are 100% my own.

Giveaway: 

$10 Amazon Gift Card

Leave a more than two word completed sentence telling me who you will be watching Unsung Hero with. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you if you win. Winner’s name will be drawn on April 22, 2024.


Giveaway Rules:   

Giveaway is limited to US winners only.        

Two word comments will be deleted and will not be entered into the giveaway.

Chosen winner/s will be contacted by email to verify information needed to give to the appropriate channels to get the prize to you. 

Winner/s MUST reply to this email within 24 hours. 

If no response, a new winner’s name will be drawn and you forfeit the prize.

Locks, Hooks and Books is NOT responsible for lack of response from the chosen winner. 

Winners from previous Momentum campaigns within 90 days will be disqualified. 

Please note: Locks, Hooks and Books is NOT responsible in sending the prize.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Emma's Hero by Carrie Walker

About the Book

Book: Emma’s Hero

Author: Carrie Walker

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release Date: April 5, 2024

“God won’t give me more than I can handle? I’m pretty sure He just did.”

After a year of loss and bad choices distance Emma Reynolds from her lifelong beliefs, she finds herself pregnant and alone at a twenty-week ultrasound, hearing the words “incompatible with life.” When her son, Theo, survives birth, she fights to give him the best care possible. As each day passes, Emma’s love for Theo grows—along with her fear of losing him. She can’t understand why God allows her son to suffer.

Seventeen-year-old blogger, Mason Hughes, feels lonely and worthless after his father left their family years ago. When he ignores his mother’s push to “contribute to society,” she volunteers him to help Emma each week. Wishing he’d applied for any other job, Mason has no choice but to grocery shop and practice his rusty social skills with a mother and son he doesn’t know.

Paramedic Ben Sullivan has earned himself the title of “most eligible” bachelor among his friends as they continually set him up on blind dates. While he’d love to avoid the uncomfortable events, his heart can’t help but seek the one thing missing in his life—a marriage like his parents have. If only he could find the woman himself.

As Theo’s tiny life connects them to each other, their loneliness breaks under the love of community, and they will never be the same.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Carrie Walker lives in Michigan with her husband and seven children. From her ten years serving as a high school youth minister, adventures around the globe, and raising a family, many stories have been knit within her heart.

As an avid reader she pens what she loves to read: contemporary stories that bring hope to a hurting world. Weaving romance among storylines of characters in struggle, she aims to show God working in all situations. When she’s not playing board games with her husband, shuttling kids in the Walker bus, or wishing for snow, Carrie can be found at the keyboard bringing those stories to life.

A member of ACFW, ACFW-GL and FHLCW, Carrie’s writing has been recognized in many contests and her debut novel, Emma’s Hero, won the 2020 ACFW First Impressions Contest for Contemporary.

To learn more about Carrie and her writing or to connect with her, follow her on social media! She’d love to hear from you.

More from Carrie

A number of years ago, I walked into a hospital room to visit a young woman I knew whose daughter with semi-lobar holoproscencephaly had been admitted. When I laid my eyes on the beautiful, tiny baby I knew that sweet girl had touched many lives, probably without her mother even knowing. The seed for a story was planted. I’d never written a book before so I ignored it for a long time, but then I witnessed an isolated teen in the school my children went to and that seed of an idea blossomed. Soon, the idea of a baby changing the life of a troubled teen would not leave me alone. And because I believe every book is better with romance, that baby might just have to touch a few other lives 😉 I took writing classes and penned this story over and over until it was right. And now I hand baby Theo to you, and pray he touches your life as well.

Blog Stops

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 18

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 20

Inspired by fiction, April 21

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 22 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, April 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 24

For the Love of Literature, April 25 (Author Interview)

The Lofty Pages, April 25

Batya’s Bits, April 26

Splashes of Joy, April 27

Artistic Nobody, April 28 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 29

Back Porch Reads, April 30 (Author Interview)

Simply Sarah, April 30

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, May 1

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Carrie is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book (Winner’s choice of eBook or paperback)!!

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/2afa8/emma-s-hero-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

I found Emma's Hero to be a wonderful debut from Carrie Walker. I thought it was a beautiful story of grief, loss, faith, love, grace and hope. I admired Emma's strength as she tries to navigate life with her son's health. The author perfectly captures the realistic emotions of her life. I loved her connection with Ben, as well. This was such an uplifting, sometimes emotional, and heart felt book to read. I loved so much and know many others will find it to be relatable.

I am giving Emma's Hero a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading clean fiction. I would love to get my hands on more releases from Carrie Walker in the near future. 

I received a copy of Carrie Walker's Emma's Hero from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blurb Blitz and Giveaway: City of Lies by January Bain

 CITY OF LIES

January Bain

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GENRE:  hard-boiled crime mystery

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BLURB:

A Gripping Tale of Identity, Crime, and Survival… Claire Preston, a script reader for a Hollywood movie studio, has recently lost her mother. Discovering she was adopted as a baby, she goes on a perilous quest for her true identity.

Assisted by her mentor, the seasoned private investigator, Jake Sterling, Claire delves deeper into her past, only to unearth a labyrinth of secrets more daunting than she ever envisioned. Soon, she finds herself in the crosshairs of a ruthless serial killer—an ex-Nazi fugitive evading justice for decades.

As Claire confronts her heritage, grapples with danger, and races against time to evade the clutches of a deadly predator, she finds herself wondering: Is uncovering the truth in a city of lies even possible?

Experience the chilling twists and turns of a tale where identity, mystery, and survival converge in the heart of 1968 Los Angeles.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

EXCERPT

The Sounds of Silence

The streets were dark with something more than night.

~Raymond Chandler

Hollywood, April 1968

“Of all the dirty rotten maggoty things to do. That’s my twist. You stole my ending,” Claire Preston hissed at the movie screen.

The story about a woman going missing and the authorities arresting her abusive husband for murder had seemed familiar from the opening credits. His going to prison for life and swearing his innocence, with no one—not even his lawyer—believing him anything but guilty. Then the dramatic twist. Her showing up on screen alive at the end, twenty-five years later, in the visiting room at the prison and driving the knife home. The motive and name of the movie: Retribution. The woman had lost her unborn baby from the ongoing abuse and could never have another, more than enough motive to do the nasty. And all Claire’s idea.

A plot she’d skimmed as a script reader from the seemingly endless slush pile over at New Pictures Studio. Someone had used her notes to save the lame script from the dustbin.

“Is there a problem here?” The usher shone a flashlight directly in her face, giving her a new target.

You bet your sweet ass there’s a problem. “No problem. I was just leaving.” It wasn’t fair to take out her ire on the pimply-faced attendant in his ill-fitting burgundy jacket.

She fumed all the way down the red carpeted aisle to the street exit before shoving the cold metal door open with more force than strictly necessary, more upset with herself for letting it get to her, than by what she’d just witnessed.

The door clanked closed behind her, and the cool, moist air instantly enveloped her like a heavy embrace. An unusual turn of weather for LA in the fall, but welcomed. Maybe it would head off the usual rash of fires? She tugged the collar of her coat closed and yanked the belt tight around her waist. No credit for the idea, okay, she could live with that. But they could have at least said thank you or done something—taken her out for a drink or a decent meal or sent her flowers. Instead, they’re pretending it never happened.

Not cool.

She got into her white Ford Fairlane in front of the Starlight Theatre at the headwaters of the Los Angeles River and headed west toward the Sunset Strip and her small apartment on Sycamore Avenue. Why had she bothered to stop and see the movie her friend Serena had insisted she’d like? Now she had to live with knowing what the studio was capable of. But then again, knowledge was power.

She pulled out a Salem cigarette, slipped it between her lips, then punched in the knob for the electric heater on the dash. When it was ready, she applied the red-hot wire to the tip while drawing the soothing heat deep into her lungs, feeling the head rush, before letting it escape into a series of satisfying smoke rings.

The sun was dying a slow death, making her squint in self-defense. The glare kept her from seeing what needed to be seen, a black dog streaking out in front of her car on the bridge. She braked hard, catching sight of it at the last second, slamming her left foot right down to the floorboards, the cigarette flying out of her mouth.

Her body slammed forward, the seat belt cutting painfully into her chest. The vehicle lurched sideways and into the path of another vehicle, eastbound. The blacktop vanished. Unable to comprehend the speed at which her world had imploded, Claire was helpless, the vehicle air born. Something wet dripped into her eyes, stinging, and making her blink rapidly in efforts to see clearly.

“Oh my god!” The words burst from numb lips, her hands clutching at the steering wheel in horror.

The car slammed into the water a few seconds later, a river swollen and angry from a torrential rainstorm earlier in the day. Terrified, she watched the water rising around her. She struggled to undo her seat belt, but her hands shook so badly it seemed an impossible challenge.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

January Bain firmly believes that stories unite us, that good stories help us to discover the commonality of the human experience by supporting values, empathy and understanding. January writes with her heart, mind, and soul, hoping that her novels will touch your life, giving you moments of freedom as you fly with her to other worlds.

The award-winning author has had the pleasure of select novels being turned into games, while her work is also available in different languages.

January and her husband live in rural Canada on peaceful acreage where a variety of wildlife comes to visit regularly and expects to be fed and paid attention to.

Blog Address - http://januarybainjourney.blogspot.ca/ 

Twitter Name – https://twitter.com/JanuaryBain 

Facebook Page – https://www.facebook.com/january.bain 

Any other social media -  

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6437282.January_Bain

http://www.instagram.com/@january.bain) 

Buy link for City of Lies: amazon.com/City-Lies-Hardboiled-January-Bain-ebook/dp/B0CW1G1SKG/ref=sr_1_1

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY:

January Bain will award a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner.

Please use the following code on your post:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Lost and Found by Jennifer Carr

About the Book

Book: The Lost and Found

Author: Jennifer Carr

Genre: Christian Suspense

Release Date: June 1, 2023

In the small quiet town of Owenston, Kentucky, former FBI agent Mark Collins has found a new purpose as the county Sheriff. Married and enjoying the prospect of becoming a father for a second time, Mark’s life seems picture-perfect. But when a series of petty thefts turns into a murder investigation, Mark’s peaceful life takes an unexpected turn.

With his steadfast resolve and unwavering faith, Mark embarks on a race against time to catch a killer, but as he digs deeper, he realizes that the case is more complex than he ever imagined, and danger hits closer to home than he could have anticipated.

The Lost and Found is a Christian suspense novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat, blending thrilling intrigue with heartwarming moments. Mark’s unwavering commitment to justice, his ever-expanding family, and his unwavering faith in God make for a gripping tale of redemption, hope, and love. Can Mark untangle the web of secrets and find a way to heal the wounds of the past? Discover the truth in this captivating story of courage, compassion, and the power of love.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

A wife, mom, author, marriage and family counselor, a former AP Psychology teacher, and a podcaster, Jennifer draws from her life experiences and imagination to connect with her readers and listeners through the written and spoken word.

Married to her childhood best friend and the mom of a creative daughter, Jennifer enjoys a quiet life on their farm in Alabama.
When she’s not wearing one of her many hats, you’ll find her tucked away with a book and what’s likely her third coffee of the day.

 

 

 

More from Jennifer

The Lost and Found is the second book of the No Matter What series but can be read as a standalone. I needed to make sure my characters were happy and healthy after their adventures in the book one so the day I sent No Matter What to my editor, I started writing The Lost and Found.

I love to bake and when I was pregnant with our daughter, I craved all things sweet. One of the characters in the book has a similar craving so I created a recipe for her to enjoy. I’d love to share it with you.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZUJhegaRSkQtwlG1Rk0UU-iYxTSJIPHg/view?usp=sharing

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, April 18 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 18

Texas Book-aholic, April 19

Lakesidelivingsite, April 20

Artistic Nobody, April 21 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 22

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 23

Cover Lover Book Review, April 24

Beauty in the Binding, April 25 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 26

Blogging With Carol, April 27

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, April 28 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, April 28

For Him and My Family, April 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away the grand prize package of a Six Month Subscription to Kindle Unlimited ($60 value) and a 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/2afa4/the-lost-and-found-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

The Lost and Found is the second installment from the No Matter What series by Jennifer Carr. I enjoyed the first book and enjoyed this one so much more. It was full of intrique, action, adventure, mystery, and suspense. I could not put it down. I loved the inclusion of faith within the pages that showed lessons to be learned, as well. I thought it was a great way to spend a rainy day.

I am giving The Lost and Found five stars. I highly reecommend it readers who love to read clean and Christian Suspense. I am hoping for a third addition from the No Matter What series to be released soon. I believe this one should not be missed. 

I received a paperback copy of Jennifer Carr's The Lost and Found from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Treasured Keepsakes by Rachel Skatvold

About the Book

Book: Treasured Keepsakes

Author: Rachel Skatvold

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Release date: March 26, 2024

It doesn’t always end with a happily ever after.

Feeling unappreciated by her husband and burnt out at her job, Leah Kamuela needs to clear her head. Traveling to Laumua Island, she stays with her cousin, Sabrina, for a fresh start and to finally heal old wounds she’s covered up for years.

Jayson Kamuela has spent his life climbing the corporate ladder and his upcoming promotion will give him the life of his dreams, but at what cost? His wife has left him. He’s hit rock bottom. Maybe it’s time for him to change.

When Jayson is forced to go on sabbatical, he goes to search for his wife. Leah, however, after seeing Sabrina’s business success, believes she could also have a successful business on the Suamalie Islands.

With Leah needing to start on a new path and Jayson finally seeing the errors in his ways, how will the two of them work it out to finally have a happily ever after?

Take a trip to the Suamalie Islands where palm trees sway, the sand and sea pulse with life, and the people will steal your heart.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Rachel Skatvold is a Christian author and stay-at-home mom from the Midwest. She enjoys writing Christian romance and devotionals. She has published over a dozen novels, including books in the Hart Ranch and Whispers in Wyoming Series. Other than writing, some of her hobbies include singing, reading and camping in the great outdoors with her husband and two young sons.

 

 

 

More from Rachel

Have you ever lost something you treasured?

A few years ago, I had an unexpected surgery and had to take off my wedding rings before the procedure. Everything went fine, but after I came home, my fingers were swollen, so I could not put my rings back on right away. I put them away for safe keeping, but several weeks later, when I started feeling better, I went looking for my rings and couldn’t find them. I panicked at first. Could I have forgotten them in the hospital and just thought I brought them home? All kinds of scenarios ran though my head.

Have you ever done this? Put something treasured away for “safe keeping” and then forgotten where the safe place was? I have to admit, I do this a lot.

To make a long story short, after some searching, I finally found my rings in a jewelry box in the bottom of my sock drawer. I was so relieved. While my rings are a material possession, the meaning behind them is what was most troubling when I thought they were lost. They symbolize the special relationship my husband and our promise to each other. My engagement ring is also a family heirloom from my husband’s side of the family, so it really was a treasured keepsake for me.

In my new book, Treasured Keepsakes, Jayson Kamuela doesn’t realize what he’s lost until it’s almost too late. He has been too busy climbing the corporate ladder to reach his dream job to realize his marriage has slipped through the cracks.

Leah still loves her husband, but through the years, they have become more like strangers. When she comes to her breaking point and realizes Jayson has no intention of changing, she feels trapped. Leah escapes to the only refuge she can think of— her cousin’s home on Suamalie. Will this couple be able to recover the treasure of their marriage before it is lost forever?

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, April 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 21

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 22

Back Porch Reads, April 23 (Author Interview)

Sylvan Musings, April 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 25

Simple Harvest Reads, April 26 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

For Him and My Family, April 27

Holly’s Book Corner, April 28

An Author’s Take, April 29

The Lofty Pages, April 30

Karen Baney Reviews, April 30

She Lives to Read, May 1

Stories By Gina, May 2 (Author Interview)

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, May 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a 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/2afaa/treasured-keepsakes-celebration-tour-giveaway

My Review

Rachel Skatvold's Treasured Keepsakes is the eleventh installment from the multi author series, Suamalie Islands. It was a pleasure spending my day among the palm trees and sea with Leah and Jayson. Their story is one of faith, love, power of forgiveness, healing, and letting go of the past. I enjoyed it and wanted to see what direction the duo would take in their lives. It was easy to finish this tale in one sitting. One of my favorite books from this series. 

I am giving Treasured Keepsakes five stars. I believe fans of clean romantic fiction will enjoy it as much as me. I am looking forward to continuing the Suamalie Islands series with Chautona Havig's Trust Fall.

I received a digital copy of Rachel Skatvold's Treasured Keepsakes from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion. 

Book Tour and Giveaway: Peace Tigers by Dave Martelon

 

Book Details:

​Book Title:  Peace Tigers by Dave Martelon
Category:  Adult Fiction (18+),  436 pages
Genre: Coming-of-Age Fantasy
Publisher: Peace Tigers, LLC
Release date:  October 2023
Content Rating:  PG-13 for one f-word, mild romance, and battle scenes.

Book Description:

IS REALITY REALLY WHAT WE THINK? A BLEND OF SCIENCE AND THE SUPERNATURAL MAY HOLD THE KEY.

Reality, as we understand it, is about to be redefined. Malcolm Tilden, a former DC native and reluctant initiate in a Tibetan monastery, embarks on a journey to meet his fate. In the wake of a global catastrophe, Malcolm and his best friend, Aimi Ueshiba, must face of against the sinister Music Man and his reptilian army to fulfill a prophecy as old as civilization. It isn't as glamorous as it sounds, and the conflict isn't over.

Fortunately, they have some quirky but powerful mentors. To succeed and live to train the next generation of initiates, they have to embrace a blend of ancient and modern mysteries, joining their heads and their hearts in a shared destiny to bring peace back to their neighborhood--and the world beyond.

Peace Tigers is an engaging blend of science fiction and spiritual exploration, challenging us to the true nature of our purpose. Come discover these enigmatic secrets one lesson at a time.

BUY THE BOOK:
Amazon ~ B&N

​add to goodreads

Below is an IngramSpark 30-day link for an additional 10% off!

https://shop.ingramspark.com/b/084?dTKl3aW1g1Lhoy9RQkdcYJxjXVzD5xyAF7Q2HnYr3CT

Meet the Author:

Dave Martelon is the author of Peace Tigers. A technology executive by trade, Dave never aspired to write a novel. Nevertheless, in witnessing the trend of separation in society, he was compelled to the pen. Inspired by three lifelong interests--the Japanese martial art form Aikido, quantum physics, and world peace--Peace Tigers is a call to action to solve what ails us, a call for more Peace Tigers.

Connect with the author:   Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook ~ Instagram ~ Goodreads 

Enter the Giveaway:

PEACE TIGERS Book Tour Giveaway

My Review: 

Peace Tigers is a great debut for Dave Martelon. It took me a few chapters to get used to the writing style. Once I got used to the unique and different style than what I am used to, I quickly was able to immerse myself in the story. There are a variety of cultures and characters to be discovered all throughout. I was intrigued from scene to scene to see what has unfolded. I loved learning about some important life lessons along the way. There were a few times that I felt my heart warm and made me put a smile on my face. It was an honor to go on this journey with the characters and getting to know them. I found this book to be a perfect example why I should go outside my comfort zone and read something from a genre I would not normally go to. I thought it was an overall great novel. 

I am giving Peace Tigers four and a half stars. I believe readers who enjoy reading a mix of fantasy fiction, as well as, science fiction, will not want to miss out on picking this one up. I would be curious to see what other releases and stories Dave Martelon has in store for his fans in the future.

I received a paperback copy of Dave Martelon's Peace Tigers from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.