“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.
About Ariel Lawhon
Ariel Lawhon is the co-founder of She Reads, novelist, blogger, and life-long reader. She lives in Texas with her husband and four young sons (aka The Wild Rumpus). Ariel believes that Story is the shortest distance to the human heart.
This sounds like an incredible moving book. One where you hate to say it is good because of the content, but one that brings the events of the world to our own lives. May we all find a way to make a difference in the life of someone who needs a hand up, not just a handout! We are all priceless to God….looking forward to reading this book … thank you
The book sounds interesting. Would love to read it.
This book sounds like it could really open my eyes to suffering I don’t really think about happening in everyday life.
I am constantly shocked and appalled that the issue of slavery still exists in 2010, even more shocked when it revolves around children. “Priceless” sounds like like a book that will not only be an interesting read, but one that should convict people into action.
Fantastic opening! I look forward to reading the rest.
Thank you for exploring and letting us in the sad world of sex trade. I would be interested in reading it and letting God move me. Who knows but by the grace of God any of us might be there. Thank you again.
I am always looking for a good read……this one sounds interesting.. much better then some of the fluff I have read recently.
Amazing that this still happens. Even more amazing, we as Americans allow it to happen and are the biggest consumers?????
Looks like a great read.
Amazing that this still happens. Even more amazing, we as Americans allow it to happen and are the biggest consumers?
Looks like a great read.
Thank you for posting information about the book Priceless. After seeing the teaser I would like to read this book.
What a great book topic to bring to light. Something I wouldn’t have thought was still so prominent
Will read this one for sure!
This subject has always been something that stirs emotions in me that I can not put into words. Just reading this little bit here has really grabbed my attention this morning.
I am new to your site…so glad I found it. I am an avid reader and look forward to reading this book. Thanks for what you do!
I have been reading of so many efforts to combat modern day slavery, whatever the facet of it. Here’s another great avenue to get the word out. Thank you for letting us know about it. Sometimes these issues seem too overwhelming to tackle or know how to help. I pray that God can show all of us how we can play our part in many of these big social issues.
The slavery of these young women is so sad to me. I pray that God will somehow
show them the way of “escape”. I would love to read this book and thank -you for all you do.
Can’t wait to read this and be able to effectively pray for these girls.
I am so glad that God worked through you to bring awareness to one of the horrible things going on in our world that are simply ignored by most. I would love to read your book!
This book sounds good. I hope that it shed a lot of light on problems that are still present in our world and how precious each soul is.
The world is failing because they don’t know where to turn. We so often refuse to see what’s out there whether it’t disease or as this book discusses the sex trade. This not only happpens there but right here in out on neighborhoods. We must pray and ask God to lead us in finding ways to rescue those imprisoned.
I have been hearing more and more about the sex trade lately. Just thinking about this brings tears to my eyes. I would love to read this book.
I think this would be a very powerful read to inspire me to pray more for the victims of this awful business! I thank God HopeChest Ministry was close by for Masha to escape to and find refuge. Looking forward to reading this book and learning of her story.
Looking forward to reading this book and learning more about the topic. As I read the Old Testament and learn of the culture and the atrocities that so angered God in their days, I unfortunately see how “there is nothing new under the sun” . We are no better in this day and age, how wonderful and terrifying to know that God will exact justice in His timing.
This book sounds like one we all should read to be reminded of the suffering that some of God’s children endure. Just the intro reminds me of the many blessings I have already received.
This is hard to believe but we can’t stick our heads in the sand. God bless Tom Davis and others like him who become the rescuer.
How this topic saddens my heart – I can’t imagine anyone having to suffer through this. May God be with the victims of this terrible crime, and may He open the eyes of those who are involved in committing such atrocities. My prayer is for healing and a complete turning to Our Lord.
Wow! Sounds like a awesome story… an awesome story of the redeemed. My husband & I work with youth and I’m going to share with them these stories. We need to be more aware of this and how God is using His people to bring them to Himself. Lord, be with them all!
What a neat giveaway. I love Proverbs 31 and She Reads.
Would absolutely love to read this book!
Heartbreaking, but the opening lines are masterfully captivating…what a tragic story set in a spellbinding way.
The sex trade is very prevalent in the US. Even the child welfare departments are being given instructions on how to spot a child or woman being held for this purpose and how to report it.
Any way that the word can get out more into the main stream, the more people can recognize the importance of recognizing and doing something about this issue.
Wow…looking forward to reading this book. God has been leading me to care about ministries such as this.
I was a missionary sent to Russia by Children’s Hope Chest. My husband and I lived in Kostroma (where the CHC center is) for 18 months, and I can personally vouch for the truth of what Tom writes about. Sadly, many of the kids sent to “trade schools” opt for suicide rather than face the life ahead of them. We had the blessing of God to take 3 orphan girls into our home on weekends, holidays, and the two summers we were there, and we stay in touch with them still. If not for my health issues, you couldn’t have dragged me away.
I read the first chapter and am on the edge of my seat, anxious to read the rest. What happens to those twins?! It is appalling to think that things like this truly go on in this world TODAY! We go about our busy days, occasionally stressing and complaining over the many duties we have, and choices we need to make in our normal every day lives. This subject hits you like a blow to the gut when you realize that there are so many that have no choices at all. Theirs are forced upon them in such a brutal and horrific life. THAT becomes their norm…
Can’t wait to read this. So excited to see people not only hear about the stories but do something for those involved and bring them to know the One who will never forsake them.
I have been hearing so much about human sex trade lately and my heart is broken. We all need to hear this truth that is destroying people that our lord suffered and died for. I pray we will all be stirred in our spirit to help these precious ones who I know must feel lost and forgotten.
WOW! That is my first response when I see the book trailer. I would love to read this book. Although, I must admit, it may not be an easy read for me. This is an issue that yes, I hear about, but I guess I close my eyes and ears too because it is so horrible. Yet, these dear ones are God’s children too and are loved by Him.
Thank you for dealing with “hard” stuff in your books. Thank you for opening our eyes to ways we can get involved as well.
I can’t wait to read it.
I’m looking forward to reading this book.
Sounds like an interesting book. Would love to read it. I work with emotionally distraught teenage girls and totally understand how they could be tricked into the sex trade life. My first job was working with girls who had been involved in prostitution and getting them off the streets. They all have their own sad story of how they ended up there.
Our daughter lives, works, & serves the Lord in Russia. This makes me see how BLESSED we are. We worry about her living there & this reminds me of how SAD & hard it is for so many young girls. We must pray for these sweet gifts of God.
I had heard that things like this take place in the US but never even realized that it was possible. We as Christians need to stand up but some times I think we just don’t know how or what we as one person can do. If we only knew what a difference we could make.
I love this site. It give so much to us and informs us on so many issues as well as makes us aware of books we would never know about. I pray God will continue to use this site for his honor and glory. Thanks for allowing us to enter these contest. Jean
This hurts me to my core and would really like to learn how I can help these young ladies escape this horrible life. I can’t wait to read this book! God has a plan for these girls and it’s not to harm them, but to give them a future! I will continue to pray for these young ladies!
I never knew this website was offered. It very much caught my attention. I have often heard about the sex trade of the young girls in other countries. As stated in the devotional I read …Jesus must cry…His heart must break to witness the evil things such as this happening to His creation.
Thank you so much for a website that promotes Christian books and author’s! I am an avid reader and always looking for something new to try. I am looking forward to reading not only Priceless but other books featured here in the future!
This sounds like a scary fascinating book. It highlights what a sheltered life I lead in a small town in the Midwest. You begin to think that everyone only faces our same day to day problems. A book like this is eye opening and a good start for prayer.
It is hard to believe that people are still used as commodities in our “enlightened” world today….and worse yet that the people that run these sex trades think it is ok to use and abuse these precious girls and children.
I will look forward to reading the book and seeing how God will lead me in ministering to these children of His.
This book sounds interesting…looking forward to reading it.
I would like to read this book…..I think.(I get too emotional at times.) Sounds like it is a good eye opener to the really bad things going on around us.
I can only pray that Americans become more aware of the slavery that we support on a day to day basis. Our apathy, partnered with young women being sold into the sex trade is completely heartbreaking.
I thank God for people like Tom Davis. I will continue to keep his organization and these young women in my prayers. I can’t wait to read the book.
I just finished reading the P31 devotion, “Priceless in His Sight,” and had to click over to the She Reads page to find out more about Tom Davis, his book and his work. I am saddened by the plight of these young women and also strengthened by the knowledge that God is sovereign and at work in all circumstances. Thanks be to God for daily warriors like Tom and those who work for Childrens’ Hope Chest. I am definitely going to read this book and will be in daily prayer for these victims and for those like Tom, fighting this horrible problem. Thank you for all you do in the name of Christ.
I want to read the story to see how God uses such tragic circumstances for His glory. The whole situation is gut wrenching. I have three beautiful girls and an amazing boy. It make me weep to think of ANY child being bought and sold like a gallon of milk. And…. It makes me want to punch someone in the nose.