Joey Review, Guest Post and Giveaway!

Posted by abakersp in Contemporary / 11 Comments

Joey celebration tour FB banner copy

 

 

About the Book

 

Title: Joey

Author: Jennifer Marshall Bleakley

Genre: Inspirational, Memoir

Release Date: May 8, 2018

978-1-4964-2174-6The heartwarming true story of a blind horse named Joey.

At the height of his show career, this beautiful Appaloosa’s majestic stature, strength, and willingness to work made him the perfect partner. But when an injury cost Joey his show career, he moved from one owner to the next, ultimately experiencing severe abuse and neglect. A rescue group found Joey nearly dead from starvation—and blind.

Then he came to Hope Reins—a ranch dedicated to helping hurting kids who had been abused, emotionally wounded, or unwanted. By teaching these children to care for rescued animals, the Hope Reins staff were convinced they could reach kids with love and hope and show them that we are never forgotten by God.

But could the financially struggling ranch afford to take care of a blind horse that no one else wanted? Could Joey somehow learn to trust people even though the world had hurt him so badly? And what would happen—to Joey, the kids, and Hope Reins—if they failed?

A true story of friendship destined to become a classic, Joey will touch your heart and reveal the power of finding light in the darkness.

 

Click here to purchase your copy.



 

 

More Information About This Book

 

  • When a blind horse named Joey meets a struggling ranch owner dedicated to helping troubled kids, the result is a story of friendship, faith, and overcoming–and ultimately, a tale of how God always cares for the cast aside and uses them for His glory.
  • Joey is an inspirational memoir-like read that delights readers with a story about finding healing and restoration in the unlikeliest of places.
  • What a blind horse can teach you about overcoming your past and living fully in the life God has called you to have.
  • An unlikely story of God using a blind horse to bring healing and restoration to hurting children.
  • A percentage of the author’s proceeds from her book, Joey, will go to supporting Hope Reins which pairs hurting kids with rescued horses.
  • God said “you’re worthy” when the world said “you’re worthless.” Joey, an inspiriting story of finding healing and restoration in the unlikeliest of places.
  • The Hope Reins ranch set out to save these horses, but in the end, the horses saved them.
  • How the story of Joey saved the ranch… and taught the most valuable lesson.
  • Joey… your family’s next read
  • Let God wake you up to life lessons learned in unexpected places!

 

 

My Perspective

 

Oh this story will capture your heart very early on. This is a powerful story where yes, the main character is technically a horse, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it is some whimsical child’s book. This is a book about hope, never giving up, healing, and moving forward. Yes, Hope Reigns needed Joey, but Joey also needed Hope Reigns.

First of all, I happen to have a place similar to this in my local community. Although it is not a ranch, we do have a horse “farm” that is dedicated to helping people. Mostly they work with disabled children, and they do miracles. It’s not on a large scale – there is two horse trainers and only about three horses, but the work they do is incredible. When I was reading the beginning of this book, and how detailed the author described starting the ranch, it was a real eye opening experience for me. And then to see how Joey adapted, as well as the kids adapting to him, well it was amazing.

I highly recommend this book to all readers. It is a story that will easily uplift your hearts. I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

 

 

About the Author

 

Jennifer BleakleyJennifer Bleakley graduated from Florida Southern College with a degree in biology and was planning to apply for medical school when her best friend’s father died of pancreatic cancer. Walking through that experience with a family she had loved for so long left a permanent mark on her heart, and she soon realized that God was calling her to stand alongside other families facing similar heartbreak and loss. Jennifer earned a master’s degree in counseling from Nova Southeastern University and began working at the local hospice in St. Petersburg, Florida, as a child and family grief counselor. It was a job she loved deeply and one she continued doing until she and her husband started a family.

When her husband’s job required the family to relocate to Raleigh, North Carolina, God began awakening in Jennifer a long-forgotten passion for writing. She began journaling—recording evidences of God’s hand at work in her new season of motherhood. Her journal morphed into a blog, and she still writes regularly about glimpsing God’s grace in her daily life at jenniferbleakley.com.
Jennifer now writes curriculum and devotionals for her local church, is a contributing author for Treasuring Christ curriculum and She Believes online Bible studies, and leads a community women’s Bible study. She loves introducing children at her church and in the community to Jesus, helping them discover his goodness. Even though she once asserted she was much too introverted to be a public speaker, Jennifer has found that God’s grace is big enough even for lifelong introverts, and she now delights in speaking to audiences about his extraordinary grace at work in our ordinary lives.

 

 

Guest Post from Jennifer Bleakley

 

One October evening I stared into the eyes of the most unusual looking horse I had ever seen—his black and white spotted coat resembled that of a Dalmatian; his soft pink lips were chewing at some invisible morsel; and his charcoal eyes seemed to peer into my very soul.

And although I’m not what anyone would describe as a horse person, I was completely captivated by this horse.

I inched closer to him, compelled forward by some unseen force, until only a thin rail separated us. He stared at me. I smiled. Can a horse register a human smile? I had no idea, but I smiled anyway. The founder of the horse ranch was telling our small group about the ministry she had started—a ministry that pairs rescued horses with hurting children to help them find true hope and real healing. I listened to her words, but my eyes never moved from the horse. He looked at me as if he could read my every thought. As if he knew exactly why I was at the ranch that night. That I had been feeling a bit lost, struggling to find myself—my calling—in the midst of a new season of life. That I was on this tour in the hopes that I might find answers here—maybe even a purpose.

He bent his head toward the railing just inches from my resting hand. His eyes now level with my own, the setting sun reflecting brilliant hues in the depths of his eyes.

How beautiful, I whispered as my fingers reached toward him.

“And our Joey here is completely blind…” I heard the woman say. “He was a former champion…injured…sold…abused…abandoned….

The fragmented sentence floated around the picturesque scene, but the words just didn’t make sense. Surely the woman wasn’t talking about this horse? Not the one who could see into my soul. Not the black and white beauty who knew all my secrets with just one look?

The woman handed Joey a carrot. His greedy lips taking the treat from her hand, leaving it free to scratch him behind the ear.

“But Joey was rescued and now he lives here,” she continued, “Where every day his determination and blind faith, point hurting kids to hope. Kids who have also known abuse and abandonment. Kids who see Joey choosing to live, choosing to learn, choosing to trust, and realize that maybe, just maybe they can too.”

Tears flowed down my face as I watched the horse nuzzle the woman’s hand. A blind horse leading people to see hope. The phrase swirled around my mind, before settling in my heart.

I had gone to the ranch that day looking for a purpose. Thinking that I could volunteer—use my long forgotten counseling degree in some way. Thinking that time spent here would ease the transition from full-time mommy to mother of school-age children. However, days after meeting the horse his eyes still haunted me. His story still captivated me. And so in spite of knowing very little about horses, and having never attempted anything like writing a book before, I sat down to write about a horse named Joey. A blind horse who was helping me find my way home….

 

 

Blog Stops

 

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 31

ansel book blog, June 1

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, June 1

Bibliophile Reviews, June 2

Janices book reviews, June 3

Carpe Diem, June 4

A Baker’s Perspective, June 5

Girls in White Dresses, June 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 6

Christian Author, J.E.Grace, June 7

Texas Book-aholic, June 8

Lots of Helpers, June 9

Mary Hake, June 9

proud to be an autism mom, June 10

margaret kazmierczak, June 10 (Interview)

Red Headed Book Lady, June 11

Jeanette’s Thoughts, June 11

Bigreadersite, June 12

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 13

Artistic Nobody, June 13 ( Spotlight)

 

 

Giveaway

 

 

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To celebrate her tour, Jennifer is giving away a grand prize of a beautiful hope necklace!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/cca4

11 responses to “Joey Review, Guest Post and Giveaway!

  1. kim hansen

    New author for me. First book can’t get any better than that. Love the story line.

  2. Amanda

    This book was AWESOME, it made you fall in love with this amazing horse. And the Faith that Kim had was unbelievable. Jennifer Bleakley did an outstanding job on this book.

  3. Kay Garrett

    Thank you for your review on ” Joey” by Jennifer Marshall Bleakley and for being part of the book tour.

    Loved reading about the book including all the extra facts and the guest post by the author. I’ve placed this book on my TBR lis tand would love the opportunity to read it. It sounds amazing!