Descended by Melissa Koslin is this week’s Reader Friday. Here’s the opening: “Do not embarrass me,” Mr. Lagides said. “This is not a vacation. You are here to work.”
But first the photo and verse. It’s a shot of the South Holston River in Bristol, Tennessee, and taken when I ate at a lovely restaurant there. Our table was on the screened-in deck and had a great view of the river…so serene and peaceful. It made me think of how it will be in heaven, and that made me think of the river in Revelation.
Now for Descended by Melissa Koslin. Here’s the cover and back copy:
Ancient bloodlines, secret societies, an attempt in her life, and a familiar yet enigmatic stranger…
Thousands of miles from home, Isa sees a man who looks intensely familiar. After she thwarts an attempt on her life, she escapes down the mountain with the familiar man, Xander, and he explains about four ancient bloodlines, each with its own unique set of skills: Cicero, Solomon, Sun Tzu, and Lilith. He belongs to a secret society devoted to observing and recording, but never interfering. Until now.
As Isa fights to survive, she grows close to Xander. She learns of her abilities passed down through blood and struggles to uncover the truths of her past. She decides she has to put a stop to the killing of the bloodlines and protect Xander from any further harm…even if it kills her. But will the truth of the killer’s motivations and identity be too much to handle?
My Take:
Descended by Melissa Koslin was a great read! The story drew me in right away with Isa’s character. I wanted to be Isa! She is witty and complex, and the way she handled someone trying to kill her because of her bloodline was amazing. And Xander was swoon worthy–he was a great hero even though he carried such hurt within. I really rooted for Isa and Xander’s romance. I’ll let you read the book to see what happened. You can find buy links here.
Okay Readers, what book are you into this week? Leave the first line or leave a comment, and I’ll enter you in a drawing for one of Steve Hooley’s fine pens! (value $60) Steve’s Hand-crafted pens are made from antique and historic wood dating back to the 1700s, connecting our past and our future. Check out my friend’s pens at his website. (Due to shipping costs, winner must have a US address.)
*I’ll be on the road to Chattanooga today to visit family, (my great-niece is in her school’s play of Annie) so I may be a little late answering comments, but I will!
Now for today’s song, which is a glimpse into my childhood.
This is a song we sang every Sunday in our Sunday School assembly, and while I didn’t live during the Depression, the images in the video are ones my older relatives imprinted in my mind. I hope you enjoy.
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Comments 46
I remember singing Do Lord in Church and Sunday School
Book looks and sounds like a good read really looking forward to reading this book in print format
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I love that song, Crystal. I think you would enjoy Descended.
Such a beautiful crystal clear shot. Don’t you just want to hop in and splash around that water? I do. The verse was perfect.
“Trouble’s coming.” This is the first line in Amanda Cabot’s Tomorrow’s Garden.
That was a good review of Mellissa’s book. I’ve enjoyed many of her books. Here’s another one to check out. Thanks.
Oh, I had to subscribe again in order to comment. Don’t know if anyone else is having this problem or not.
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I’m looking forward to reading Amanda Cabot’s book, Barbara. And the water was sparkling. 🙂
Pat, Amanda’s book is from 2011 (FYI)
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Oh, goodness! Then I may have read it, already. 🙂
I just finished DiAnn Mills Canyon of Deceit this morning. “I smoothed a tattered quilt beneath a live oak about a mile from our home and laid my guitar atop it.”
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Listening to Canyon of Deceit today as I travel to Chattanooga, Delores.
The South Holston River is beautiful. I love “Do Lord”; it’s so peppy and inspirational. Koslin’s book sounds enthralling and unique. I am reading an ARC of How We Love Them by Mary Grace van der Kroef. Pastor Arthur is having a very, very bad day (which makes for a great read, of course).
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It was very beautiful, Priscilla, and How We Love Them sounds like something I’d like!
What a beautiful photo! I love the way the river led you to think of the verse from Revelation, too. It surely fits.
The “Do Lord” song really brought back memories. Thank you.
“Descended” sounds very interesting.
I’m currently reading DiAnne Mills’ “Canyon of Deceit”. The opening line is “The shrill ring of my mobile phone jolted me awake at 2:00 a.m., a haunting prompt that emergencies seldom emerged in daylight.” This is one exciting book! Another winner for DiAnne.
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I’m glad to hear that, Tim since I’ll be listening to it on my way to Chattanooga today. And thank you for letting me know the blog didn’t post. I don’t know what’s going on with my website! It’s crazy, like my life right now. 😉
What? Someone else has a crazy life???
The action is pretty constant. I think you will enjoy it. Safe travels all around.
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🙂
I purchased this book in August and have not started reading it yet. Melissa Koslin is a new author to me. I am currently reading Shadows of Truth by Sharon Mignerey.
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Hi Sharon! I think you’ll really enjoy Descended!
I love that song so much, Pat! Takes me back to my childhood and Sunday school. And growing up on country music, including bluegrass. Thanks for making me smile this morning!
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So glad I made you smile, Kelly! That’s where it took me back to as well. <3
Wow! That is one beautiful picture, Pat, and the perfect verse! I
Like you and others, the song Do Lord takes me back to my childhood.
“What if this was the rest of his life?” Steinbeck by Susan May Warren.
Safe travel and enjoy Chattanooga and your visit with family.
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Thanks, Mary G! It will be a fun trip.
Have fun in Chattanooga
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Thanks, BN! I’m going to watch my g-niece perform in her school’s performance of “Annie”.
Gorgeous picture!
My first line comes from A Songbin the Dark by Kimberley Woodhouse:
The melody inside Chaisley fought with the excited butterflies in he4 stomach. Which would be released first?
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Love that first line, Paula!
I also remember Do Lord from childhood. I am reading A Hidden Hope by Suzanne Woods Fisher. The first line is:
She should’ve known it was too good to be true.
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Gloria, Suzanne Woods Fisher’s book sounds really interesting!
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
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It is, Diana!
My first line comes from Sara Davidson’s Eye of the Mind, which is a part of the Secrets Beneath the Waves anthology – “The primal thump, thump, thump of the bass guitar pulsed through Jules Adler, as unwanted and unnecessary as a second heart-beat.” The heroine has a characteristic I’ve never heard of, and Sara weaves a real thriller using Jules’ condition.
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Oh, wow! I have the anthology and will have to bump it up on my TBR table, Linda.
I’m reading It’s All Relative by Rachel Magee. It’s a fun, light read that I’m really enjoying.
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I’ll have to check Rachel Magee’s book out–I like a light read sometimes–something that will make me laugh.
That verse always gives me hope that we will have waters, whether rivers, oceans, lakes, etc. in Heaven.
I’m currently reading The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts. (Check out the cover!)
“The house on Glenwood Avenue had taken on an air of darkness.”
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Gail, I love the cover and description of the book…it definitely went on my TBR list!
I let Friday slip away and now it’s Saturday morning. I want to know where the name of that restaurant. Occasionally on our way to Pigeon Forge, we have wanted to stop for a meal in Bristol, but all we’ve ever seen are the ones along I-81. That picture makes me want to visit that restaurant. The verse is well-matched to the picture.
We used to sing Do Lord in youth meetings, but we never had the Blue Grass instruments. We either sang acapella or with someone stumbling their way through it on an old piano. We still enjoyed the song. I remember when our daughter was in youth group. Several of the other girls never could get the words right. Instead of “Do remember me,” they always sang “Do you remember me?”
I haven’t started reading this book yet, but I’ll share the first lines from it since I just finished Storm Warning and will be starting Perilous Tides sometime later today. This other one is in the stack I brought home from the library. It’s a novel by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O’Neal titled Vanished. I didn’t realize he had written any fiction until I saw it on display a week or two ago.
June 13, Present Day
Heraklion, Crete
“It’s gotta be here somewhere.”
John Haggerty shifted his perch atop a small, cramped desk in the middle of a small, cramped office at the edge of the small, cramped city of Heraklion on the island of Crete.
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It is the Riverfront Seafood Co in Kingsport, Tennessee, Edward–I got confused on the town.lol I think you’ll enjoy Perilous Tides! I listened to it driving home from East Tennessee. And I didn’t know Dr. David Jeremiah had a fiction book out there, either!
When I was a student at Asbury College in Wilmore, KY, way back in the last century (1970-1973), we drove past that location on US 11W at least a dozen times a year traveling from Wilmore to home and back. That was back before I-81 existed from Bristol to Knoxville. I don’t think I-26 had even been started back then. US 11W from Kingsport to Bean Station is considered one of the deadliest stretches of highway in Tennessee. This infamous route, often referred to as “Bloody 11W,” earned its reputation due to a long history of severe and fatal accidents, including the tragic 1972 Greyhound bus crash near Bean Station that remains the deadliest traffic accident in Tennessee history.
Love the picture and of course, the verse. The song was sang in my Sunday school also. Seeing the pictures with the songs took me back to living with my grandparents for a few years. I remember now that they never took a vacation. How sorry is that? I’m 78 and planning a trip to Knott’s Scary Farms with my daughter to ride roller coasters during Halloween. I’m going to start reading Liar’s Club by Mary Karr. First line. My sharpest memory is of a single instant surrounded by dark. A memoir.
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Oh, goodness, DJ! You go, girl! Although I can no longer ride the roller coasters, but it sounds like fun!
Great song! Love the verse & photo. Thank you!
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Thanks, Lisa!
I really enjoyed Descended by Melissa Koslin! It’s an interesting combination of genres!
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I think it is as well, Natalya!
Pat, Thank you for sharing your thoughts on Descended.
First line: In our family, there was no clear line between religion and fly fishing. A River Runs through It by Norman Maclean.
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I have been meaning to read that book, Sally Jo! Thanks for reminding me. 🙂