Priceless: A Novel on the Edge of the World [Paperback]

Tom Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 2010

Photojournalist Stuart Daniels has found purpose in life. After suffering the fallout of a tragic assignment, Daniels rediscovered his faith while helping a young African orphan. Now his photo work carries a greater mission: To educate people about social injustice happening around the world.

 

Daniels next assignment carries him back overseas and into the heart of Russia. Once there, Daniels is persuaded by an old friend to help save two girls from a desperate situation. Soon he becomes a key player in a dangerous campaign to rescue helpless women trapped in the sex-slave trade. What Daniels encounters during his journey will shake his faith, test his courage, and even threaten his life. Yet as Daniels gets deeper and the stakes get higher, he will discover that hope can be found in the darkest of places.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Davis is the president and CEO of Children’s HopeChest, a global orphan advocacy group. He has authored four books, including the first in this series, Scared: A Novel on the Edge of the World. Tom and his wife, Emily, have seven children and live in Colorado.

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: David C. Cook; New edition (June 1, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 158919103X
• ISBN-13: 978-1589191037
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #326,791 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I am the President/CEO of CHILDREN'S HOPECHEST (www.hopechest.org), an international child advocacy organization bringing God's hope and love to orphans around the world. Our work is focused in Russia, Uganda, Ethiopia, Swaziland, and South Africa. HopeChest helps churches and corporations around the U.S. adopt an orphanage and make a real difference in the lives of orphans. Before joining CHILDREN'S HOPECHEST, I was a pastor for ten years, serving on the staff of several well-respected churches in Dallas, Texas, including Metroplex Chapel and Hillcrest Church. I have also been a professional trainer in leadership development training Fortune 500 CEO's and their executive staffs. Currently, I've authored four books: Fields of the Fatherless, Red Letters, Confessions of a Good Christian Guy, and Scared - A Novel on the Edge of the world, the first in a three part series. I've been married to my wife, Emily, for 13 years and we have 6 children--including one adopted daughter from Russia. You can keep up with me on my blog: www.cthomasdavis.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful Truth in Priceless, June 16, 2010

By 

Kari Stewart (Loveland, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Priceless: A Novel on the Edge of the World (Paperback)

I finished reading Priceless yesterday and am still processing the truth and call to action that God is speaking to my heart. The details of what transpires in sex trafficking of children boggles my mind. I cannot comprehend such ugly, awful sin. I realized how naive I am. It is hard to look sin in the face and stand up for truth. It is our nature to want to turn away and not look upon things that are hurtful. If we as Christ followers are not willing to stand up for truth - who will? I was struck throughout the book about the need for prayer warriors to pray for the children who are isolated and unprotected in this outrageous sinfulness brought on by man, to pray for those that God has called to step in the line of action and fire to rescue and care for these children. They are God's children - they are priceless indeed!!
Proverbs 3:27 Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.
Thank you Tom for your obedience to write about this topic. It is a beautiful story of God's redemptive love and power. There is much to be done. I am praying for each and every person who reads this book. God will give you the opportunity to respond in action for His children.
:)

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye Opening--Chilling, July 23, 2010

By 

Nora A. Stlaurent "TBCN Founder" (Georgia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Priceless: A Novel on the Edge of the World (Paperback)

I'm thankful to have received a review copy of this captivating, surreal, suspenseful book that could have been ripped out of today's headlines. It was horrific to think the topic of this book is real and happening in current time. Although the story concentrates on the sex-trafficking business in Russia, this unthinkable industry is thriving world wide. Tom Davis states in his book Russian girls are taken and sent out of their country with promises of going to America, to enjoy the good life. Only one catch, they do go to American but end up in some of the booming sex-trafficking places such as Atlanta, Dallas and Seattle.

You might be tempted not to read this book because of the subject matter and the fact that it might make you feel uncomfortable. It's not easy to read about little girls being promised one thing and forced into another. My heart ached for these dear ones as these evil doers promised them the moon, only to get sold into a lifestyle of no return. The only way out was death.

Stuart Daniels returns in this book and is sent on another job. Stuart agrees to go to Russia because he feels this assignment is not as life threatening as the one he went to in Africa (in the last book Scared). After meeting his contacts in Russia, he's whisked into an unthinkable mission - one he can't turn down - not after having his world turned upside down in Africa, after meeting Adanna.

"Adanna may not have meant much to many in this world. But meeting her was the beginning of life for me. It changed the way I saw God. It changed the direction of my life. She taught me that the small things I do matter. My decisions today can save a life tomorrow."

I believe I've been disturbed to the core of my being while reading this book and I hope that you are gloriously disturbed too. Just as bothered as Stuart was when he met Adanna. Troubled in such a way it moves you into action and keeps you from turning your eyes and pretending this isn't happening to innocent children every day. Stuart Daniel's describes Adanna (above), a child he met in Africa who rocked his world, I pray your world is rocked as mine was and you begin to tell others about this novel and its message in hopes of bringing awareness to this global disturbance - a disturbance of epic proportions. Author Tom Davis lists ways we can get involved here in the states and overseas in the back of Priceless. He gives practical ways for us to love our neighbor as ourselves and shine the hope these children desperately need. Be Jesus' hands and feet! I believe Priceless is a must read novel for everyone.

Nora St.Laurent
The Book Club Network [...]

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible book, November 3, 2010

By 

K. Carter "Melissa Carter" (Florence, AL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Priceless: A Novel on the Edge of the World (Paperback)

Tom's first book Scared was good, but his second book Priceless is incredible! Though it is a novel in format the truths he brings forth are so revealing and heart wrenching. You can't read this book and remain unmoved. At times I had to put down the book and let what I had just read sink in. Other times, I had to read out loud to my husband passages that moved me to tears, only to see him moved to tears. Many times, I ended up in sobs, crying for the girls in the story, crying for my girls, whom I adopted as teens from Eastern Europe. This could have been their story. Tom's writings were so descriptive that I felt like I just jumped into the book and was involved myself. I felt as if I were in those scenes with the characters. I think every emotion I own rose up within me as I read this book. I cried with them, felt their pain and spewed angrily at the thugs. I cheered the girls on and rejoiced when they were found or rescued. I gasped, I prayed, I held my breath.
The beauty of redemption, love and sacrifice are wonderfully portrayed in this book.
I think Everyone needs to read this book. I've heard comments,when I've tried to tell others about the book, "I just can't read a book like that". I think everyone HAS to read a book like this. We can no longer ignore evil and let our children die. The Church has to step in and save them. Melissa Carter