“What was love, really? Flowers, chocolate, and poetry? Or was it something else? Was it being able to finish someone's jokes? Was it having absolute faith that someone was there at your back? Was i...”

“She was right about something else too," Dimitri said after a long pause. My back was to him, but there was a strange quality to his voice that made me turn around."What's that?" I asked."That I do...”

“I'm backing down now. I really do love you. That's why I'm doing this.”

“Life, unfortunately, doesn't seem to care what we want.”

“From behind Lissa, I heard Christian say, "Worst. Timing. Ever." Adrian studied Lissa and then looked at Christain sprawling on the bed on the far side of the suite. "Huh," Adrian said, letting him...”

“Abe held my gaze a bit longer and then broke into an easy smile. Of course, of course. This is a family gathering. A celebration. And look: heres our newest member. Dimitri had joined us and wore b...”

“Blake smiled radiantly. May I call you Vasilisa?You can call me Lissa.You can also, added Christian, let go of her hand now.”

“Iʹve seen you too. Ozera. Crispin, right?ʺʺChristian,ʺ corrected Lissa.ʺRight.ʺ....ʺSo what brings you and Christopher here?ʺ asked Blake. He finished a glass of something amber colored and set it ...”

“Blake smiled radiantly. ʺMay I call you Vasilisa?ʺʺYou can call me Lissa.ʺʺYou can also,ʺ added Christian, ʺlet go of her hand now.”

“The Christian shoemaker does his duty not by putting little crosses on the shoes, but by making good shoes, because God is interested in good craftsmanship.”

“And while I may get hurt, disappointed, or frustrated [], my foundation doesnt have to change.”

“Its important to take Gods love personally, though it may not be an easy thing to do. Sure, God loves the world, but he also loves each one of us individually.”