Sold Into Freedom

Planting Faith #1

by Carole Towriss

Taught to hear messages from the goddess from a young age, Elantia’s life is shattered when she is captured from her home in southwest Britannia and sold as a slave in Macedonia. She wants nothing more than to escape and return home—after she kills the man who took the only good thing left in her life.

Tossed aside by the Empire, wounded tribune Quintus Valerius ends up in sleepy Philippi to retire. Manipulated into becoming the prison keeper, he vows to return to Rome as soon as possible to reclaim his reputation and his life. He is intrigued by the quiet Jewish teacher who speaks of truth and peace, but is convinced he can never have either.

When Elantia’s shocking actions shake up the town and her life is threatened, Quintus risks what little he has left to save her—only to put Paulos and his friends in even greater danger.

Genres: Biblical Fiction, Historical Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Ancient, Historical, Christian Historical Fiction

310 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 12, 2018

About the author

Carole Towriss and her husband live just north of Washington, DC. In between making tacos and telling her four children to pick up their shoes for the third time, she writes, watches chick flicks, and waits for summertime to return to the beach.

Reviews

[Amanda Geaney · Rating 5 out of 5]

ATTENTION BIBLICAL FICTION FANS

I have a few exciting things to share about one of my favorite #ChristianFiction genres.

1. This morning I finished listening to Sold Into Freedom by Novelist Carole Towriss. I obtained my copy through my library's Hoopla app. Both the voice performance and the storyline were wonderful. **As you may recall, Mrs. Towriss also contributed to The Psalms Series (Deep Calling Deep) along with Mesu Andrews and Brennan McPherson.

2. Hadassah, Queen Esther of Persia by Diana Wallis Taylor released today. Has anyone read it? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

3. Nora St.Laurent (Bookfun.org) announced that she will be heading up Tessa Afshar street team for Daughter of Rome — releasing next year. For details visit http://bit.ly/bookfun_afshar

4. This month the @AvidChristFicReaders book club will be reading The Heart of a King. Jill Eileen Smith will be doing a Facebook Live chat on July 27th. http://bit.ly/2XiG2C4

5. Revell has created a devotional to partner with The Heart of a King. You can receive seven consecutive days of this devotional by going to https://www.jilleileensmith.com/newsl... and checking the box for the devotional.

6. Join Connilyn Cossette tonight on Facebook for the official Until the Mountains Fall launch party! http://bit.ly/2XFKTS9

7. Get out your bucket lists, and prepare for the trip of a lifetime! Experience "THE BOOK" Tour of #Israel with Mesu Andrews (& hubby Roy): Friday, March 6, 2020 thru Tuesday, March 17, 2020 Optional Petra, Jordan ext: March 17-19, 2020 For Details: http://bit.ly/theBOOKtour

[Breny and Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5/5 This beautiful story has been such an encouragement in my life.
I never thought much about the seer Paul rebuked in Acts, or the soldier that kept watch over the jail that was miraculously opened by God... both are secondary characters that we don’t know much of, and normally we would just praise Paul’s devotion and authority... but What about those “secondary characters”? Without them we couldn’t have had any miracles... what about their lives?
That’s what this story is about.
About a warrior young woman from Britania, stripped from her land and sold into slavery as a seer for the goddess Brigid.
And there is the story of a Roman soldier and his journey in search of meaning and peace. A devout Roman stripped of his status and wealth.
It is then that both their lives are intertwined by the most unexpected ways as they learn that who they were and what they did doesn’t determine their worth. That God, like He did with Jacob, will fight you until you surrender into His loving arms.
And then we have such a colorful array of characters it’s so refreshing!! I love BIG casts of characters and this book was just perfection 🥰

[Yannick Tricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great biblical novel based on the story of a young girl who has a spirit of divination and who was set free when the Apostle Paul prayed for her (ACTS Chapter 16 Verses 16-40).
In the novel Elantia is that young girl, she lost all her family and became a slave in Macedonia ... Quintus Valerius a Tribune has to go to Macedonia to retire after being seriously injured during a battle, this is how he will meet Elantia and became a prison guard....
When Paul arrived in the city teaching the word of God their lives will be overturned, they both will realized that God's hands has been on their lives and he has a purpose for them.
The book is well written, I like both characters, Elantia is a strong girl, very courageous, with the heart of a warrior. Quintus is a loyal, honest man who will give everything for God and the woman he loves.

[Janice Garey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review Title: The Truth About Freedom (review of Sold Into Freedom by Carole Towriss)
Reviewer: Janice S. Garey
***** 5 Stars
For those who love Biblical historical fiction, you will not be disappointed by this excellent work by Carole Towriss. For those who have not read in this genre, this would be a great place to start to whet your appetite for more. The story has immediate appeal as it is told from the point of views of two sideline characters in the true Biblical account. Those who are unfamiliar with the Bible will find an enlightening story to make the times and people come alive. The stories from the book of Acts will feel fresh again to those who have long been engaged with the Bible. Viewing the stories from the point of view of a slave girl and a retired wounded Roman soldier creates compassion in the reader for those in that setting who suffered great loss. Better understanding of differences between religious practices and cultural differences between Jews, Gentiles, Roman citizens, and Christians give much opportunity to feel the stigma and status of each group. Another aspect of the book is that it provides understanding of why the Christians stirred up trouble wherever they went or resided, and therefore how dangerous it could be to follow Jesus and risk everything to help their Brothers and Sisters in Christ.
I won an audio version of this book from a Christian reader's contest. I was under no obligation to read (or listen) and give a favorable review. I have given an honest review and highly recommend this book to others. The audio version has an excellent reader, too. I look forward to the other books in this series.

[Jenelle Hovde · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review to come. I am eagerly hunting more of Carole Towriss's books! Fast-paced biblical with romance and strong female leads and an enduring message of faith. My book club's pick of the month and it was wonderful!

[Robyn Seitzler · Rating 5 out of 5]

In my years of Bible study never once have I considered the life of the servant girl freed by Paul from demons which made her a seer. Never did I stop to ponder the life of the Philippian jailer. Carole Towriss has changed the way I see “minor” characters in Scripture now. Sold into Freedom is a riveting novel that entertained me with a great story full of deep characters, and challenged me to look closer, dig deeper, as I study. I heartily recommend this book!

[Phyllis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elantia sought revenge. After watching the destruction of her village and the murder of her family, and being sold as a slave, she was probably justified in thinking that way. At least by the standards of the world. Being as beautiful as she is, the one thing that protects her from the evil desires of her master is the thought that she needs to remain pure to be able to use her “gift”.

I love the way that author Carole Towriss writes such well-researched Biblical fiction and takes a few chapters and fills in details, making the events come alive. And she weaves so much scripture into the story! Being as this story takes place in Philippi when Paulos is there, he has more than a minor role here, and so much of what he speaks is directly from the letters he wrote.

The events in the story play out differently than what I have pictured, especially regarding the timeline – reading this story had me wanting to open my Bible to re-read the events in Acts 16 to see – could this have taken place over a longer period of time? (And yes, I did do this!) I also appreciated the way so many of the people Paul mentions in his letter show up here.

Though this is the story of a captive, a slave, it is also the story of freedom in Christ. And a story of forgiveness. Not just God’s forgiveness toward us but also our need to forgive others.

While there is some violence in it, it is necessary and not overdone. And not everything gets wrapped up in a nice, neat happy ending. Hmm, kind of like our life here on earth. But to quote Goldilocks, it was “just right”.


Read my full review with a Preview at Among the Reads


I was given a copy of this book for free. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

[Melissa Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. I listened to this story online. The narrator brought the story to life. Great book.

[Brits · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an interesting book about Paul and Silas's time. And a glimpse into what the girl with the evil spirits life could have looked like. A very captivating story that takes you back to the time after Jesus's resurrection. It made me imagine the hope and joy of hearing the salvation story for the first time.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable read about Paul’s time in Philippi. Two characters who are touched upon in scripture are the main characters in this novel-the jailer and the prophetess. Their back stories help bring the story to life. Definitely recommend.

[Deba · Rating 5 out of 5]

Set me free was her cry! The setting of this book is taken from the Book of Acts in the Bible when Paul was in Philippi, accompanied by Silas, and Timothy. Philippi was “a leading city of the district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. Each day in Philippi, while crossing the central agora (the Roman marketplace fringed with pagan temples), Paul is pestered by a slave girl who makes her owners rich by fortune-telling. An evil spirit in her keeps shouting and drawing attention to Paul and his companions. Exasperated by this, Paul casts the evil spirit out of the girl – to the fury of her owners who see their profits disappear. Paul and Silas are dragged before the Roman magistrates to explain their actions, but their voices are drowned by the chanting of the crowds. The magistrates order them to be stripped and flogged, after which they are flung into prison and locked in the ‘inner cell’ (probably an underground dungeon) until the magistrates meet the following morning. Around midnight, however, Paul and Silas are set free by a violent earthquake. The jailer (and all his family) become believers and are baptized. In the morning, Acts 16:16-40. That is just part of the story but it gives you a great idea about the setting.

Reading this book is just like stepping into the middle of the first century A.D or should I say slipping into the verse and laying yourself down between the written words. Because when I finished the book, it was just like stepping out of the era. I never realized that I was there until I finished the book and stepped out of it. Mesmerizing.

This book takes you into a forgotten time and gives you an exciting and gripping ride alongside it. The family, friends and enemies and what life for them really could have been. Adventure, wonder, and biblical history await readers on this riveting journey through their world, leading to an epic confrontation between the Creator’s faithful preacher of righteousness and the delegates of Rome. Although the story is fictional, it is true to what we do know about this time and people from the Bible, and it is a page-turner. Can't wait for another great book from this author. I highly recommend this book to friends and family. I was given this book to read and review. Well done Carole Towriss, another great book. Thank you.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Carole Towriss has done it again! She's taken a short story from the Bible and turned it into a well-written novel. She weaves the Scripture in seamlessly. There is a great romance in the book. The plot has twists and turns and moves along at a good pace. The setting is Philippi, a Roman city in what is now northern Greece. The novel takes place during the time of Paul's missionary journeys. I highly recommend this book. I received an ARC. I chose to write a review and share my opinion of this excellent story.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Faith springs up in the most unlikely places...

Carole Towriss is a name that I kept hearing in Biblical fiction reading circles but up until now I hadn't read any of her books. After reading a recommendation from another Biblical fiction author that I trust, I decided to check her books out. It isn't often that I choose a book based on recommendations, the cover, or title, but Sold Into Freedom turned out to be a 'D: All The Above' type thing.

I only read part of the blurb for this book so I really had no preconceived ideas about what to expect. I was intrigued by the story pretty much right off. Elantia and Quintus are on opposite sides of Rome's battle to subjugate Britannia; she is a chief's daughter taken captive and he is a Roman soldier.

I was quite a ways into the book before some of the story started to seem a little familiar. I loved how Carole Towriss took two obscure and unnamed people in the book of Acts and wove an exciting story around them that was both familiar and different.

If you like Biblical fiction and you are ready for a story of darkness and faith you should check out Sold Into Freedom, the title really says it all...

(I received a copy of this book from the author. All opinions are entirely my own.)

[MJSH · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book by Carole Towriss that I have read and she has gained another fan. The author brings the world of Philippi to life in vivid color as the story, based loosely on the slave woman who becomes freed from an evil spirit and the jailer whose entire household becomes baptized during Paul and Silas’ imprisonment, unfolds with great detail, intricately woven plot, and wonderfully memorable characters. If you enjoy Biblical fiction, you will definitely love this book.

Tia, a Brittania captured by Roman slave traders, has the “gift” of seeing the future. As a trained warrior, she braves the turmoil and torture dealt her but her soft, tender, and loyal heart and spirit are close to being crushed when she encounters Paul. Quin is a wounded Roman soldier forced into early retirement who has been wronged and cheated at every turn. He finds himself as the jailer in Philippi, and, if you are familiar with either one or both of these stories from the Book of Acts, you will be delighted at how they fit into this story. The extrapolation of Paul, Silas, Luke, and Lydia in the book as secondary characters is credible and quite enjoyable. The struggle for both Tia and Quin to embrace the salvation only Jesus offers is real and tangible.

The book also addresses the devastation that follows war and conquest and the darkness of human nature played out in greed and slavery. Yet it also highlights the mysterious grace of God and His Providence in the believers’ lives. I really enjoyed being immersed in the early beginnings of the Philippi church through this book.

I was given a copy of the book by the author and was under no obligation to post a review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

[Mesu · Rating 5 out of 5]

🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 ½

Let me qualify this review: I read Sold Into Freedom (Planting Faith, Bk #1) a year ago, and I’m just now writing the review (only because of my crazy life). However, I liked it well enough that the story stuck with me that long! I’ve recently read Bk #2 in the series, More Than Conquerors, which is equally good (CLICK HERE to see that review). So, if you’re just now starting the series and reading, Sold Into Freedom, prepare yourself for a fantastic Book #2!

Acts 16:16-40 tells the story of Paul and Silas whose missionary journey took them to Philippi. There they met an unnamed female slave, possessed by an unclean spirit. Through that demon’s power, she predicted the future and earned a great deal of money for her owners. The demon also declared the truth about Paul and Silas—through her—telling all of Philippi that Jesus was the only way to be saved. Because Paul and Silas refused to allow the liar demon to proclaim God’s Truth, they cast out the unclean spirit. The girl lost her ability to earn money. The owners lost their “golden goose.” And Paul and Silas were arrested for ruining a profitable business.

But what about the girl?

In Sold Into Freedom, Carole Towriss gives her a name—Elantia. She has a life and a godly group of people who love her. This story has twists and turns, surprises around every corner. Full of emotional ups and downs, this one kept me guessing until the very last page. This may be my very favorite Towriss novel! A must read for all Early Church novel lovers!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of a woman ripped from her home and sold into slavery. She and her brother are taken together as slaves while her parents and other townspeople are murdered.

Tia is sold to Max, a vicious owner who wants to use her to see people's futures and give them as positive a spin as she can give them - must keep the customers happy. At first Tia's brother is with her, but Max sells him.

Quin is in Philippi because his enemies want him away from Rome. He was a soldier hurt quite badly in his last campaign. The magistrate in Philippi is a dishonest man and steals the land that is supposed to be Quin's and he makes Quin the keeper of the jail.

The author has taken two different Bible stories that take place in the same city and combined them - a possibility since we don't know what happened to the slave girl whose demon was cast from her and we don't know what happened to the jailer who gets saved after an earthquake tears the jail apart yet all the prisoners remain. I liked how she combines them and that she stays true to the Biblical story in between the fiction that she fills the unknown parts with. Paulos stays true to who he is as a Christian and I really appreciated that.

This is a clean read!

[Rick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some people find it “inappropriate” to read historical fiction – especially Biblical historical fiction – because they are worried about the danger of conflating imaginary events with historical ones. While this is a fair concern, I find that I still like historical fiction because it helps to humanize dry facts and figures and, in truth, I often do learn factual information about a person or place because the writer has done their homework to bring the story to life. Thus, I selected this book to read. It is light reading because it turned out to be more of a romance than anything. However, I found the author to be Biblically accurate in the foundation of the story’s events and appreciated the interspersing of Paul’s writings and even Old Testament Scripture in a conversational way. I also appreciated their apparent understanding of Roman empire history and Philippian geography which brought realism to the story. Beyond this, the author used her imagination extensively to ponder the experiences of Paul & Silas in Philippi and to wrap everything up in a nice little “happy ending” bow. I found nothing objectionable overall in this book and recommend it if you like the historical Christian romance genre.

[Kaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

ONE FASINATING READ!
WOW! Man, talk about walking a tight rope. A whirlwind of emotions and events really pulls those heartstrings. A remarkable and spiritual tale that takes you back to ground zero. Carole wields her words as skillfully and precise as a surgeon with his scalpel. If you're looking for an action packed, fast paced, nerve racking, heart pounding, pulse racing, page turning wonder that's as riveting as it is captivating. Congrats my friends you've found it. All the drama, pain, suffering, danger and suspense increases steadily while tension spirials as the plot thickens. Twists and turns abound with unexpected circumstances and unpredictable surprises that make for one thrilling experience. Following along on their journey mesmerized as the tale unfolds. You feel everything the characters feel, be it pain, sadness, vengeance, loss and hope. The characters and scenes are written with such realism it really pulls this little jewel together beautifully. Carole did an amazing job bringing this read to life brilliantly. Remarkable job Carole, thanks for sharing this little guy with us.

[Nay Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm giving this a really high 4☆ rating. As a biblically sound novel it's a 5☆ but as a fictional novel that last few chapters felt rushed. This was my first read of Carole Towriss and I was pleasantly happy. I enjoyed the reading experience and definitely want a physical copy of it.

The characters were all amazing. The scriptures quoted were beautifully woven into the story. The political drama and the way God and Christ were told were all done right.

Elantia was a brave girl. Quin was a strong man. Both were warriors with broken pasts. I loved watching their character development. I will say the romance was a bit quick, but considering the era and time back then it was great.

I loved the fact that Paul, Silas, Timothy and Lydia were included in this novel. Paul gave me "grandfather" vibes. He was down to earth, calm and never about being loud. He carried himself with an elegance that I admired. Lydia was just a sweet woman!!

Gallus was a money and power hungry man. Max was just down right twisted. Cassia is plaim dumb. Their characters were annoying but beneficial to the story.

Highly recommend this book!

[Nay Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

Took me almost a month to complete, but I loved it. I'm giving this a really high 4☆ rating. As a biblically sound novel it's a 5☆ but as a fictional novel that last few chapters felt rushed. This was my first read of Carole Towriss and I was pleasantly happy. I enjoyed the reading experience and definitely want a physical copy of it.

The characters were all amazing. The scriptures quoted were beautifully woven into the story. The political drama and the way God and Christ were told were all done right.

Elantia was a brave girl. Quin was a strong man. Both were warriors with broken pasts. I loved watching their character development. I will say the romance was a bit quick, but considering the era and time back then it was great.

I loved the fact that Paul, Silas, Timothy and Lydia were included in this novel. Paul gave me "grandfather" vibes. He was down to earth, calm and never about being loud. He carried himself with an elegance that I admired. Lydia was just a sweet woman!!

Gallus was a money and power hungry man. Max was just down right twisted. Cassia is plaim dumb. Their characters were annoying but beneficial to the story.

Highly recommend this book!

[Nancy Ale · Rating 5 out of 5]

Elantia (Tia) has her life changed drastically when her parents are murdered and she is captured by Roman slave traders. Her ability to “see the future” makes her valuable to her owners. Paul, visiting Philippi, sees her telling fortunes and cast out the evil spirit. This puts Tia’s life in danger as she can no longer earn money for her owners. She runs away and is welcomed into the home of Christians. Tia meets Quin, a retired Roman soldier, and they both learn about our Savior from Paul, Silas, and Lydia. This is a story about developing a relationship with Jesus and about forgiveness.
This is a wonderful book that brings to life some minor characters in the bible and details of what life was like during the first century AD. Carole Towriss continues to write brilliantly and I highly recommend this book!! I can't wait for the next book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book but wasn't required to review. This is my honest and unbiased opinion.

[Emock · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a neat perspective to investigate the prophetic woman Paul encounters in Philippi, as well as the guard who was saved in the jail.
The story started off very solid and I enjoyed glimpses of Roman culture. I appreciated that so often we romanticize the Romans, but that this book also depicts that life back then was also cruel, political, and had plenty of hardship.
I'm a girl for romance, so of course I looked forward to seeing how things would develop. Unfortunately, the romance seemed like the least satisfying part of the story. Something about 'love at first sight' type stories where the characters don't know each other well but have strong feelings just isn't my cup of tea.
I would still recommend this story for the historical and biblical storyline.

[Ana Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is my first time reading a book from this author and I have to say I absolutely loved it!
I thought it was a super interesting story to focus on the seer slave girl that Paul expelled the spirit from. We don’t get to know a lot about her or even what happened to her after she was freed from the spirit so I really liked reading this book because it gives a very possible outcome of what might have happened.
It was also really cool to read about the jailer that almost killed himself when he thought that Paul and Silas had escaped, what his life could have been like before becoming a jailer and then what might have become of him after he was saved by God.
I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew as soon I started reading this that I wasn't going to be disappointed. This is a delightful story of Tia, a slave girl originally from Brittania. She was purchased in Philippi to tell fortunes. One day Paulos and Silas cast the evil spirit out of her. When Tia's owners find out they are infuriated and have Paulos and Silas and cast into jail. Quintus, the jailer is in despair when an earthquake struck and is worried that the prisoners may have escaped which would have cost him his own life. Quintus and Tia learn about Yeshua who brings true peace and freedom to those who follow Him. This book was well researched and I enjoyed it immensely.

[Steve Wegman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Historical novel based on the story of the slave girl who Paul released a demon from and the jailer in Philippi. I love the idea of taking these characters that we know only a little about and building a story around them. I thought the author did a good job of creating the feel of the first century Roman world. But, her writing! The dialogue is strained and unrealistic. Her characters are pure good or pure bad. She tries to write in suspense when we know from the first words what the result will be. Our heroine, the supposedly hardened Brittainy warrior woman, does nothing but wimper and cry.

[Kathryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a unique take on some events that happened in the book of Acts. I love that the characters go on a journey of finding the Lord. In addition to that, the author really brings Roman culture and history to life and what that meant for the early church!
However, I was a little uncomfortable with some parts of the book. (Two characters pray to foreign gods, and some demonic things happen. However, you do see God's power more abundantly in the story.) Overall, I really enjoyed my time with the book. (4.5 stars)

Other Content:
-Physical Abuse (one scene is a little detailed about the victim waking up from being abused)

[BrendaLee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Biblical Fiction and it’s a great one. A very emotional story that will have you on the edge of your seat sometimes. Even though I have read the Bible story, the author makes this story come alive. Heartbreaking in places but the twist and turns of the story will keep you reading late into the night if you start this story in the evening. This is my first book by this author but I definitely want to read more.
I received this book from the author but was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

[Christie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Biblical fiction story set in the New Testiment. I haven't read Acts so I wasn't aware of the mention of a slave girl who was a seer. If I had read it, I don't think I would have thought much of it but this story gives everyone in the Bible thoughts and feelings that I otherwise wouldn't think about. This is what I love about Biblical fication. I learn so much from these types of books. I love that Carole starts each chapter with a verse from the Bible that relates to the story. Really helps to determine what really happened and what is fiction.

[Christine Dillon · Rating 4 out of 5]

First thing - I loved the title! 5 star.
This was an interesting story and I loved the insights into what slavery meant in the day to day. Also enjoyed seeing Paul, Luke, Silas and Timothy on their everyday journeys.
The work/job of the lady who followed Paul around saying 'These men are servants of the Highest god," was well handled.
I felt that the Philippian jailer was stretched a little (being unmarried when scripture fairly clearly suggests he was married with a family) but his struggles to believe were realistic.
For lovers of historical novels.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sold Into Freedom is the first book from Carole Towriss's Planting Faith series. It is, also, my first introduction to her work. I thought the story was well written and really good. I would love to find out what happens next in the series. I give this one four and a half stars.
I received this book from the publisher, but was not required to write a review. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.