July Book Club Selection

“Whenever you’re ready,” I say, then press the On button to film.

The small woman, a nun in a traditional Orthodox black habit who has been talking to the girl in a quiet voice, looks at the camera. She straightens her habit, flashes a broad smile, and give me a nod, as if to say, “Okay, proceed.” Like Mother Teresa making a cameo. I laugh in spite of the context and the reason I’ve come back to this monastery in the dense Kostroma woods.

The young woman seated on a spare, sturdy chair before me is dressed in black jeans and a white blouse, ironed and crisp. Her hair, once long and light, is dark and cropped short. Behind her stands a marble-topped table, an altar, and a broad white wall covered with a large intricate tapestry decorated with icons, saints revered by the Russian faithful for centuries. She looks out of place in the frame, like a sleek modern figure painted into a baroque scene.

“How did you get here?” I ask. I measure my words and tone, like I would if I were trying to talk a woman down from the top ledge of a high-rise.

Her eyes seem to flash with light, but her face is hard, like pale stone. “I was tricked by people who considered me the trash of society. I was lied to by men and women who thought only of their own gain. Once, I thought I was free-”

“When was that?” I’m used to standing behind the lens, not asking the questions.

“When I met a priest, an Orthodox priest from my own country.” She pauses and looks off into the distance, as if paralyzed by the memory.

I let her think for a moment, then ask, “What happened?”

Still looking off into the distance, she says, “Instead of showing me freedom, this priest took me to hell.” Her slender hand, red and scarred, shakes as she pulls her arm to smooth her hair. The only sounds are the low hum of the camera and her breathing.

She closes her eyes, drinks in a deep breath, and then slowly pivots toward me, her steel blue eyes square with the lens.

“My name is Marina. Marina Smolchenko. And this is my story.”

So begins this month’s featured book club selection, Priceless, by Tom Davis. Priceless is the second release in a series that explores real-world issues through the eyes, and lens, of an international photojournalist. Stuart Daniels has found purpose in life. After suffering the fallout of a tragic assignment, Daniels rediscovered faith and hope after a chance encounter with an extraordinary African orphan. Now his photo work also carries a personal mission: to educate people on the devastating effects of AIDS around the world. But when Daniels receives his next assignment to Russia, he unwittingly finds himself a key player in rescuing young girls caught in the tragic sex-slave trade. Equal parts suspense and drama, Priceless is a provocative thriller that opens readers’ eyes to what’s happening in the world today.

You can read the complete first chapter here.

If your book club would like to discuss Priceless with Tom, click here.

As usual, we are giving away a number of prizes, including two pounds of Saints Coffee along with their signature mug, a Godiva chocolate gift basket, and a hand-made purse crafted by a young woman rescued from the sex trade. Each of those prizes will come with a copy of Priceless. All three winners will be chosen randomly from the comments on this post. Leave a comment and you’re entered to win. It’s that easy.

Tom Davis currently serves as CEO of Children’s HopeChest, a global orphan care ministry headquartered in Colorado Springs. A tireless advocate for fatherless children, Davis has spent most of his adult life calling U.S. believers to become the hands and feet of Jesus Christ to the 143 million orphans living around the world. Through those connections, thousands of orphans now have the bright and hopeful future–one that is filled with opportunities and the love of the one true Father. Davis speaks hundreds of times each year at churches and conferences, mobilizing the church to action on behalf of the poor. Davis also currently teaches courses as adjunct professor at George Fox University in Newberg, OR. When not traveling the globe, Davis resides in the mountains of Colorado in the small community of Palmer Lake. He and his wife Emily have seven children, including two adopted daughters from Russia.