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Emptied Vessels by Gina Renee Freitag Review

 Happy Monday Friends :)

I pray today finds you all doing well, and I want to thank you for joining me for another book review here on The Preppy Book Princess.

At the start of last year, I had the immense pleasure of reading and reviewing the first book in Gina Renee Freitag's Vessels series. It was her debut novel, and I was completely blown away by what an emotional, powerful, faith filled story it was.

Last fall I got to read the second book in the series, and I loved it just as much.

To say this series has become a new favorite would be an extreme understatement, and today I can't wait to share with you all my review of the upcoming third book in the series.

If you'd like to check out my reviews of the first two books, use the links below:

Painted Vessels

Fractured Vessels


Keep reading below for my full review


Emptied Vessels by Gina Renee Freitag:



Source: Complimentary Copy Provided by the Author in Exchange for an Honest Review

Publication Date: October 26th, 2021

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction

Series: Vessels


Synopsis:


The story continues in the third book of the Vessels Series…

Unknown to Eli, his recent search for Jake’s father has a ripple effect that touches more lives than he could have imagined. During those last crucial days in Longport, events happening behind the scenes come to the foreground.

Darius convinces Victor to shift his focus, and a murderous plot with far-reaching significance unfolds.

Joe contemplates an emotional reunion with his son, but doubt uncovers the persistent layers of his guilt and pain. With Rudy by his side, he once again faces God’s refinement as he searches for the inner strength he will need.

As Jake settles into his new life with Ira’s family, his friendship with Sarah grows. He attempts to seek balance between his past and present, yet his distrust remains. Soon his own integrity is questioned by others.

Distracted by his concern for Jake, Eli agrees to help find Lena’s mother despite struggling with his own personal connection to her locket. But can he navigate through the fog of his past without losing sight of the blessings in front of him?

The tranquil life of a small town seems to slip away as old mysteries resurface and suspicions arise. A dark game is unleashed in the town of East Haven, and all those involved will be forced to consider what it takes to forgive and whether or not they can empty themselves enough to do so.

(synopsis from goodreads)


My Review:

I've been a little disheartened lately at how many books are being published within the Christian fiction genre that aren't truly "Christian." I'm so happy to state that this is not the case with Gina Renee Freitag's newest release. She's an extremely talented author who knows how to give readers an emotional, well thought out storyline that's all entwined with the powerful message of Christ and the cross, and every single time I read one of her stories, I always find that my faith is given a much needed boost.

I have to say that I think Emptied Vessels is my favorite yet of the series. While I've absolutely loved all three books, this one really stood out to me in just how beautifully heart wrenching the story is told, and a lot of the story in this one is told from fourteen year old Jake's POV, and I truly adored his character. He's been through so much, and the reader clearly sees the struggle he goes through in feeling that something's not right, but not wanting to base all his judgements off of biases he's cared with him from his past. Readers need not be worried though, there's also plenty of segments told from the viewpoints of many of the other beloved characters, and I continue to be in awe of how Gina is effortlessly able to weave together so many different POV's, without ever leaving the reader confused in the process.

Emptied Vessels is beautiful, heartbreaking, emotional, powerful, suspenseful, and wraps up in ways the reader could never have seen coming. It was truly everything I ever could have wanted, and I already know I'm going to be rereading it in the very near future. This is exactly the type of book that the Christian fiction market so desperately needs, and I can't possibly recommend it enough.

That being said, I don't recommend reading this one without reading books one and two first, as you definitely are going to want the whole story. Also, because of the graphic content being dealt with within these stories, I don't recommend them for really young readers, but I love the way she uses all the terrible situations the characters have been through to point to the power of Christ, and how His truth reigns supreme over even the more darkest of occurrences. 

Final Rating: 5/5.

Thanks so much to Gina Renee Freitag for allowing me to advance read and review this!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your day :)



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