The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch by Kurt Brouwer Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch

Author: Kurt Brouwer

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release Date: June 15, 2023

He was the Beloved Disciple…
…and he would be the last.
The burden to tell the whole story now rests on his shoulders.

He was the Beloved Disciple, chosen by Jesus and destined to be the last to carry the divine message. Devastated by the loss of his adopted mother Mary, John has no time to mourn. The streets of Jerusalem teem with danger, as Roman rulers engage in fierce conflict with Jewish rebels, all vying for control.

While his allegiance lies with his people, John is at odds with the rebels’ passion for earthly power. His quest is to preserve and share the legacy of Jesus.

Will he succeed in spreading the gospel?

Or has he waited too long?

As Jerusalem descends into chaos, John escapes to Antioch. He finds rest, renewal, and purpose among the devoted Christians there and begins sharing his account of the life and teachings of Christ.

Yet even within this refuge, the old conflicts descend on Antioch too, and the dangers ignited in Jerusalem draw near.

Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch is the second novel in a series woven from the Bible and Christian history.

Join John as he embarks on an extraordinary journey, discovering the true essence of faith, love, and divine purpose.

Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Brouwer has done a good job fleshing out an era not recorded in the Bible. He focuses on John and we travel with him when he feels called to Antioch. Brouwer excels in description and we get a good idea of what a journey by ship at the time would be like, for example. We read about rebels and the trouble leading up to the attack on Jerusalem in AD 70.

Woven into the fictional story are historical events, such as the death of Paul. It was interesting to see how John and others responded to it. For me, the most fascinating part of the novel was how the copying of the gospels and the letters from Paul and Peter developed. Imagine! A woman doing it! I liked how John and others made sure the copies were accurate.

This is a good novel exploring the possible actions of John and others in a time not recorded in the Bible.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

This is the second book in a series and you can read my review of the first one, The Last Disciple: Christ in Jerusalem.

 

About the Author

Kurt Brouwer is a Christian and a member of a vibrant Christian church in Hawaii. He also loves to write.

A few years back, Kurt did a study at his church on the Apostle John. If you’ve ever been obsessed by anything, you’ll understand that Kurt couldn’t stop researching, digging, diving into the life of John and other first century Christians. The result is a series of Christian historical novels.

The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem was published on Amazon in November 2022. It has been in the top five for Inspirational Religious Fiction and Religious Historical Fiction in 2023.

More from Kurt

Right now I’m living in two worlds: writing and researching the first century world of the early Christians while also tackling the technical demands of self-publishing and online book promotion in the 21st century.

Living In Two Different Worlds

Writing a book and publishing it have become almost polar opposites, at least for me. Research and writing require a focus on history, places, people, and then the work of creating a written narrative that brings all these to life. With my books, I focus on the first century Biblical world of John, the disciple of Christ. So I have to study, imagine, and then describe the life of first century Christians like John, Timothy, Priscilla and many more.

But publishing has to be done in the modern world of software, online apps, book cover graphic design, and navigating sites like Amazon.com. I actually enjoy this, but I definitely find it frustrating too.

Graphic Design For Book Two

For example, I had my book cover designer create a graphic I wanted to use as a part of the book detail page on Amazon. But when I go through the step-by-step instructions on Amazon, I get an error message. Eventually, I’ll figure it out, but there’s a steep learning curve in the publishing and promotion side of writing. Here is the design. It may not be on Amazon yet, but you can see it now.

This is the description for book two:

He was the Beloved Disciple…
…and he would be the last.
The burden to tell the whole story now rests on his shoulders.

He was the Beloved Disciple, chosen by Jesus and destined to be the last to carry the divine message. Devastated by the loss of his adopted mother Mary, John has no time to mourn. The streets of Jerusalem teem with danger, as Roman rulers engage in fierce conflict with Jewish rebels, all vying for control.

While his allegiance lies with his people, John is at odds with the rebels’ passion for earthly power. His quest is to preserve and share the legacy of Jesus.

Will he succeed in spreading the gospel?

Or has he waited too long?

As Jerusalem descends into chaos, John escapes to Antioch. He finds rest, renewal, and purpose among the devoted Christians there and begins sharing his account of the life and teachings of Christ.

Yet even within this refuge, the old conflicts descend on Antioch too, and the dangers ignited in Jerusalem draw near.

Set against a backdrop of actual events, The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch is the second novel in a series woven from the Bible and Christian history.

Join John as he embarks on an extraordinary journey, discovering the true essence of faith, love, and divine purpose.

Your heart will embrace The Last Disciple: Escape to Antioch because John’s story is the story of our hope and promise.

But now I’m heading back to what I really love, writing and research. I’m about half way through with the first draft of book three in the series. The title will be, The Last Disciple: Exile to Ephesus.

Yours in Christ, Kurt

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, September 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 23

Christina’s Corner, September 24

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 25

Texas Book-aholic, September 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 27

The Lit Lady, September 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 28

Lights in a Dark World, September 29

Cover Lover Book Review, September 30

Lily’s Book Reviews, October 1

Artistic Nobody, October 2 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 2

Connie’s History Classroom, October 3

The Book Club Network, October 4

She Lives To Read, October 5

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Kurt is giving away the grand prize of a $50 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/27fb8/the-last-disciple-escape-to-antioch-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Get it Together by Puja Rios Book Review

About the Book:

As a woman and dynamic leader in sales―and the C-Suite―Puja Bhola Rios has developed a proven, results-oriented program and mindset for success. However, success starts with personal development, and Puja has mentored countless people in how to “Get It Together.”

You may not be lucky enough to work for Puja, but now you get to learn from her. If you want to push past your current goals, want to truly excel, want focus and inspiration, Get It Together: A Winning Formula for Success from the Boss You Need is the one transformational book that can get you where you want to be. No matter where you are in your career and life, she has the energy and insights to make sure you go after―and achieve―what you aspire to.

Born into an immigrant family, she was raised on the ethics of hard work and ambition. But she also has the keen insights of being a woman in the C-Suite. Strong, warm, funny―Puja’s advice will bring results―but also build your self-belief, until you are capable of accomplishing anything!

This book will help you:

• Achieve your goals―not just make a list of New Year’s Resolutions that fall flat by the third week of January
• Learn how to shut out distractions and “swipe left”
• Create “reach” goals―and learn how to actually measure and move toward them
• Fight back from setbacks
• Learn how to “critically think” and figure out the big picture
• Get off the hamster wheel―and really make progress in your career and personal goals

Puja operates without limits. She has unlocked the truth: to have it “all,” you need to learn to laser-focus on the goals you really desire―and tune out all the other noise. A coach, a mentor, a leader, and a fierce believer in building opportunities for women and all who aspire to greatness, Puja is the boss we all need (and wish we had).

 

My Review:

Rios is very encouraging. That she has accomplished so much with her chronic illnesses is amazing. And that is the strength of this book, her own story of overcoming illness and setbacks to become the success she is today.

Rios has many great ideas, such as writing goals and doing regular assessments. She encourages readers to be persistent and disciplined. What the book lacks is a practical strategy to work out the suggestions Rios makes. While she encourages goals, she does not help us create them (such as SMART). She gives no practical strategy to be persistent and disciplined. Also, Rios does not clarify some things for readers in other sectors. She assigned her staff a QBR, for example. I have no idea what that is.

This book is good for women or those in the realm of sales. It is best suited for those who already know the techniques of making goals and creating assessments and are self disciplined but just need an encouraging boost to get back on track.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author:

Puja Bhola Rios is the Chief Revenue Officer at Frame.io, an Adobe Company.  Frame is a cloud-based video collaboration platform.  Previous to Frame.io, Puja spent seven years at Xerox and thirteen years at CareerBuilder as their SVP of Enterprise Sales and Customer Success.

As a first-generation American from a hardworking, educated, driven Indian family, Puja Rios has been hardwired to achieve since day one. By the time she was 13, she had started her first entrepreneurial business and began the career trajectory that landed her as Chief Revenue Officer of a Fortune 500 company.

Combining upbringing, instincts, and a knack for numbers, Puja has created a real formula for success. Built on data and reinforced by her talent in managing individuals and teams, her new book, Get It Together: A Winning Formula for Success From the Boss You Need spells out her formula, guiding readers through what it takes to achieve the results they want.

Forbes Books, 174 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Jacob's Well by Urcelia Teixeira Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: Jacob’s Well

Author: Urcelia Teixeira

Genre: Christian Mystery & Suspense

Release Date: April 28, 2023

“A mother knows. At least, that’s what everyone told her. That she’d know when something was wrong. Feel it. Deep inside as if there was an invisible cord that had stayed behind the day she brought her son into this life.

Well, they were wrong. Dead wrong.

She didn’t know her son at all. But then, he didn’t know her either.”

©Urcelia Teixeira – Excerpt Jacob’s Well. All rights reserved.

Dark secrets swirl around the small coastal town of Weyport as Mary-Jean Foley discovers just how far she would go to protect her son.

Even with a new sheriff in town. Even when her husband doesn’t agree. Even when she thinks God isn’t looking.

But how far is too far and at what cost?

—

As newly appointed small-town Sheriff Angus Reid settles into Weyport, it doesn’t take him long to discover just how corrupt his new town is. With a desk full of suspicious open cases and too much to prove, he is determined to rid his town of crime and win the hearts of his people.

But when two teenagers suddenly go missing, it lays bare sinister secrets and emotional ties that threaten to derail his investigation.

And as the case untangles, the secrets buried deep within the coastal borders of the tight-knit community slowly bubble to the surface.

Determined to find justice for the missing boys and their families, he races against the clock to find them. Unbeknownst of the dark forces that rage against him.

Then he gets a call that a body has been found…

If you enjoy suspenseful, twisty secrets and lies mystery novels that are rooted in faith and leave your heart in your throat, you will have a hard time putting down this page-turning Christian mystery and suspense novel.

Get ready to be taken on an emotional journey through a town where it seems everyone has a secret.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

I liked this entertaining and thought provoking novel. Teixeira explores several issues in it. Marital stress while a son is missing is a big one. Keeping up appearances is another one. This is an ironic topic. The husband frequently comments about appearances and what the church people will think of what is happening. The wife criticizes him yet she hides evidence that might incriminate her son to keep up the appearance of his innocence. Perhaps the most serious issue is what it really means to have a relationship with Jesus, not just make it look like it when people are watching.

Teixeira's writing style is a pleasure to read. The plot includes a good deal of relationship drama as well as some suspense. While the end of this book does wrap up one aspect of the plot, full resolution will not come until the next novel. I'll be looking for it.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

As the author of a dozen plus Christian suspense thrillers, Urcelia Teixeira writes to first and foremost, bring glory to God. Then, to delight, entertain, and encourage her readers by creating pulse-pounding stories that are infused with inspiration and biblical truths.

Readers have said her books are “addictive and impossible to put down!”

They describe her work as being “prolific and well written stories that keep you in suspense,” and love her “imagery and attention to detail” that swoop them into the minds of her characters ” as if watching a blockbuster movie!”

Many of her readers appreciate the clean action scenes and love that her “faith shines through in her writing as she stays true to herself, giving pause to contemplate.”

More from Urcelia

Many years ago God gave me a prophetic scripture through which He named me Hephzibah (meaning ‘My delight is in her’). Some time after that, life happened and for a long while I felt unworthy of that name.  But, God showed me grace in this area for the nearly ten years that followed and, although I never aspired to be a writer, I wrote my first ever book on a bucket list whim in December 2017. Somehow it evolved into a series, but, while writing the fifth book in my Alex Hunt adventure thriller series, I felt the Holy Spirit nudging and directing me into using my God-given talent for enhancing His Kingdom instead.  I obeyed and wrote the final book in that series, The Caiaphas Code, as my statement of faith before switching to writing Christian mystery and suspense instead.  Two days later, the idea for Every Good Gift was born and the day I finished writing the last sentence of this book, I heard the Lord whisper in my ear, Hephzibah, Hephzibah, over and over.  That has been the most noteworthy highlight of my short career so far: knowing that I have pleased God.

My heart and soul went into writing Jacob’s Well. I have three teenage sons, and raising them in a world filled with all kinds of temptation is not easy. They have to cope with so much more than we had to as kids: social media bullying, peer pressure to fit into a pretentious world that seems to intensify overnight, the lure of riches through online gaming or videos instead of education, to name but a few. But through the years, the pull of narcotics has remained the primary evil that threatens to destroy our children. I am blessed to have boys who aren’t scared to share their struggles with us and upon hearing a few of the stories about kids in their schools and our town, one of the main characters in Jacob’s Well was born. On the flip side, I have a mother’s heart and imagining what it would be like to watch your child go down the wrong path added in an entirely different element to the story, especially if that mother was a Christian. The spiritual and emotional battles that would rage within, the helplessness and desperation that come with wanting to do whatever it takes to save your son, the pride within your church community––these are all human responses. And that is how Mary-Jean Foley’s character was born.

Throw in a lawman and a villain in a coastal town where everyone has a secret and Jacob’s Well spilled out onto the pages!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, September 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 24

For Him and My Family, September 24

Texas Book-aholic, September 25

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 26

Girls in White Dresses, September 27

Betti Mace, September 28

Pause for Tales, September 28

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 29

The Book Club Network, September 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 1

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 2 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, October 2

Cover Lover Book Review, October 3

The Sacred Line, October 4

Blogging With Carol, October 5

Lily’s Book Reveiws, October 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Urcelia is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback 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/27fb9/jacob-s-well-celebration-tour-giveaway

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Mindset Make Over by Mimika Cooney Book Review

About the Book:

Do you feel worried, afraid, anxious, doubtful, angry, depressed, confused? Do you know God is calling you to greatness but you feel far from great? Are your relationships a hot mess and the daily drama drains you? Do you feel out of control but you crave peace? Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Are you stuck thinking of the worst case scenario for everything? Do you feel far from God yet you crave intimacy?

If you are ready to ditch the excuses and take back your authority as a child of God then this book is for you! This book is for you if...

- You want to recognize damaging thoughts and stop them from influencing your life.
- You want to fulfill your desire to walk in God's authority so you're not swayed by daily stress.
- You're determined to gain control over your mind to find freedom, peace and clarity.
- You're looking for strategies so you can become immovable when dealing with life's challenges.
- You want to take hold of God's promises for your life.
- You want to feel confident and carefree.
- You're determined to take action to make-over your mind!

With several quotes and short stories about overcoming fear, this Christian book for women will offer inspiration to overcome anxiety with confidence.

My Review:

This is a short yet good introduction to changing one's mindset, breaking free from mental bondage. She shares her own battle with self-worth and feelings of rejection so we know she has dealt with issues like ours.

Cooney says right up front that transformation requires a definitive decision that we do, in fact, want to change. I like her pointing out that we are three part beings. While our spirit becomes new, our soul is not instantly made new. It needs to be renewed. Habits and thought patterns need to be changed. She helps us identify root causes to bad thinking and how to renew our minds to who we are in Christ.

That is just some of the teaching in this book. It is a good introduction to spiritual transformation for Christians. I look forward to reading her other books on this topic.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Mimika Cooney is a leading faith-based Mindset Author and Speaker known as the "Personal Trainer for your Mind". She empowers ambitious Christians to rewire their brain by combining neuroscience, positive psychology, and a Christian faith-based approach.

Mimika teaches you how to unstick your mind, develop emotional resilience, and unlock high performance by becoming the boss of your brain! She is the creator of the “Unstick Your Mind“ mindset mastery method, a transformative program that equips Christians with the tools to achieve their breakthroughs.

As a leading voice in resetting your brain, she loves to empower purpose-driven individuals to transform their lives by shifting their mindset habits and patterns, as they pursue growth to achieve extraordinary results with God.

Mimika Media, 67 pages.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

I Cry in Corners by Chari Orozco Book Review

About the Book:

In this inspiring book, Pastor Chari Orozco explores how Jesus handled emotions during his time on earth and encourages readers to treat their feelings as a gift—an invitation from God to grow in spiritual maturity.

Our emotions drive so much of what we do, say, and think, even if we don’t realize it. Our response to our feelings—denying they exist, letting them lead our actions unchecked, distracting ourselves to avoid feeling them—can greatly impact our lives and those around us. Emotions are essential for everyday life, but how we navigate them in the storms of life will make or break us.

 
In I Cry in Corners, charismatic up-and-coming pastor Chari Orozco takes the readers through the life of Jesus, examining the powerful emotional tests he faced and how he responded, from his terror in the Garden of Gethsemane to his righteous anger in the temple to his disappointment when those he loved best betrayed him.

In each chapter, Chari gives readers both practical and spiritual wisdom to help them respond to emotions like Jesus did. How do we steward our emotions when those closest people fail us? We turn around and wash the feet of the ones we love. How do we face temptation? We refuse to get hangry, resist the devil, and remember that our value lies not in what we have but how we love. How do we steward our emotions with maturity when the hurt we’ve suffered comes from those who claim to know and love Jesus? We do what Jesus did: choose our words wisely, keep our eyes on the joy set before us, and, if necessary, flip over some tables. Our feelings are a gift from God, and through the life and struggles of Jesus, we find a blueprint for honoring your feelings without getting lost in them.
 
Written with a wry, straight-talking, irreverent but always faithful tone, Chari effortlessly weaves together stories of the New Testament with her own insightful, humorous, and refreshingly candid anecdotes. The resulting book is an affirmation of feeling all the feels while encouraging readers to use their emotions as a catalyst for deep spiritual growth.

You can read an excerpt here.

My Review:

I like that Orozco calls us to navigate our emotions the way Jesus navigated his. When lonely, for example, Jesus went to solitude. But he was not alone. His solitude was recharging in the presence of the Father.

My favorite emotion Orozco teaches about is feeling overwhelmed. She reflects on Jesus in the garden and notes he told his trusted friends what he was feeling. Then he got honest with God and finally let go, submitting to God's will. What a good example to follow.

I also like her pointing out Jesus' identity and confidence was not based on his heritage, education, location or accomplishments but rather in the truth of what Scripture said about Him and his relationship to the Father.

Rather than being a typical Christian self help book, Orozco really looks to Jesus for insights on navigating our emotions. I appreciate this teaching from Jesus' life example and his teaching. Orozco shares many experiences from her own life too. This book is a good resource for Christians.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Chari Orozco is an author of books, teacher of the Bible, and podcaster focused on all the feels. She is passionate about sharing the love of Jesus and using her gifts of speaking, writing, and design to impact the lives of those around her. When Chari is not writing or teaching she can be found traveling, designing and producing shows like Women of the Bible, Outside the Walls, and Coffee with Andi. She serves with her husband as lead pastors of Hope St. Pete in St. Petersburg, Florida.

FaithWords, 240 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)