Chosen Vessels

~ About the Book Peter Driscoll, an underground investigator to the wealthy, has never met anyone like Lily Temple. The beautiful silent-film actress spins fairy tales and plays frivolous roles in front of the cine-camera, but beneath the costumes and stage makeup is a woman with a quick wit--and a murky past. Peter has been tasked with locating the legendary Briarwood Teardrop, an exquisite sapphire, which Lily wears beneath her gown. In order to stay close to her and hopefully unravel the mystery of her story--and the sapphire--Peter employs Lily's help on a case, which leads to a useful partnership. But as they are investigating together, Peter is also investigating Lily. The closer he gets to the truth, the more danger they face. And the closer he gets to Lily, the clearer it is that he needs her even more than she needs him. Award-winning author Joanna Davidson Politano whisks you away to Edwardian England in 1903 for a whimsical and layered tale that treads the crooked line b...

Happy Saturday, readers! As a special treat today, I bring to you a Sisters in Christ chat. This month's guest is Kassie from Soldier Girl Stories . Kick back and enjoy—this gal's a treat! Welcome to the blog, Kassie! Go ahead and introduce yourself. :D Well, I’m an almost-18-year-old homeschooled Army girl, the oldest sister of three younger brothers, and of course a writer! I have a tabby rescue cat and a therapy-dog-in-training. We’ve lived all over with the Army, but Texas is definitely home! So since you're fairly new to the blogging community... What inspired you to start a blog? My mom, really. As my book continued to make its way around and I started interacting a lot more with other indie authors, my mom thought a blog would be a good platform for me. Believe it or not, I actually feel really vulnerable whenever I share my writing, so I didn’t want to at first, but I eventually gave in and I’m so glad I did!! I'm glad you did too! ^_^ Did you...

|| Description Three boys. One choice. No turning back. Peyton is a rising star in the church who is well on the way to reaching his biggest dreams. Levi is a pastor's son struggling to live up to his faith under pressure from all sides. DaVonte is a kid from the wrong side of town who would be content if he and his friends were just left alone. When an act of violence presents a sudden decision, each boy's answer will shake the community to its core and shape its future forever. Love and truth face off against fear and pride in this modern extension of one of Jesus' best-known parables. || Rating 4 stars || Review A spectacular retelling of the parable of the Good Samaritan—a story concept I never would've considered! Other than a short story awhile back (which I also enjoyed!), this was my first read by Angie Thompson and I dearly loved the tale. <3 My favorite character was undoubtedly DaVonte, followed by Brett. Levi was great too, but I had ...

Description Two souls don’t find each other by simple accident.  ~ Jorge Luis Borges Levi thought he was making this journey alone. But when he meets an eight-year-old girl at the train station, that plan is turned on its head. Casey is running away and finds out that Levi is too. They decide to journey together and their lives are suddenly bound together in a journey they will not soon forget. Both children come from abusive situations and are running from the dangers of their previous life. Levi is confident he can handle this on his own, but when Casey is injured on the journey, he must seek help from the first person that comes into his path, or rather people. Mr. and Mrs. Bellworth are simple farm folk with a heart for kids and a passion for serving God. When their unconditional love and gentle care surrounds Levi and Casey, the troubles of their previous lives melt away and they start to flourish. But when Casey is dragged back into the abusive world she came from,...

Description In her first year as a missionary to a small group of native women in the Ecuadorian jungle, Elisabeth Elliot faced physical and spiritual trials. In Made for the Journey , Elliot captures the mysteries and stark realities surrounding the colorful and primitive world in which she ministered. More than just a recounting of her early days, this is a beautifully crafted and deeply personal reflection on the important questions of life and a remarkable testimony to authentic Christian obedience to God. Rating 5 stars Review Although this is only my second Elisabeth Elliot book, I'm fairly certain I couldn't dislike something she has written. I chose Made for the Journey (formerly published under  These Strange Ashes ) from the review program because, even though memoirs are rarely my thing, I wanted to learn more of Elisabeth Elliot's life story. And I was not disappointed in the least. The author vulnerably opens up about the struggles and trials ...

~ Description  Imagine a Victorian England village in the Cotswolds where very little out of the ordinary ever happens . . . except at Christmas time. This year, Edward Haddington, a lowly candle maker, is visited by a mysterious angel. That angel silently imparts a precious gift—a gift that’s bungled and subsequently lost. The candle maker and his wife, Bea, struggle to find the gift. And when they do, they have to make a difficult choice. Who among their community is most in need of a Christmas miracle? Join inspirational author Max Lucado and experience anew the joy of Christmas. ~ My Review  A dear story, full of charming settings, memorable characters (honestly, who doesn't love the Haddingtons?), and a theme that spells Christmas.  I read this book after watching the movie and—quite honestly—I liked the movie better. The book had it's own perks, though, giving a bit more background to some of the characters. Emily was a more likable gal in t...