Customer Reviews

Ekaterina (Heirs of Anton Series #1)

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ekaterina 'Kat' Moore has come to Russia from America to unlock the secret of her families past. A key, sent to her by a Russian monk that seems to be a friend of the family, is all she has to help her find what she is looking for.

However, Kat doesn't get far into her journey before she is confronted by her first obstacle. Watching a chance meeting between Kat and a known smuggler from an organization that has been stealing from Russia, FSB Agent Vadeem Spasonov believes that she has a connection with the group and takes her in for questioning. Deciding to use her to distract Vadeem, the smuggling group helps Kat to escape so she can continue to search for her families past. Vadeem chases after her, now sure she is part of the illegal group, and finds Kat just in time to save her from an attempt on her life.

I enjoyed this book so much. It has adventure, mystery, and romance. The whole plot was well written and all the characters were well developed. The romance between Kat and Vadeem was especially great. It wasn't overdone to the point of ridiculously sappy, like some books, but was simply sweet. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in this series, Nadia, which appears to be about Ekaterina's mother.

Eileen Key, Book Reviewer
American born Ekaterina Moore, an adoption coordinator, travels to Russia in search of her own family history after she receives a package from a monk containing a mysterious key. Kat's grandfather reared her following her parents' death, but kept closely guarded secrets. The key unlocks her determination to find out what lies in the past. However, one step through customs embroils Kat in an adventure of intrigue and danger. The Russian FSB agent Captain Vadeem Spasonov believes her to be entangled with a smuggling group. His decision to oust her from the country makes Kat dig her heels in to stay. Only God and His protection keep Kat from jail and possible death.

This novel contains many twists and turns. Once the reader becomes familiar with the Russian character names it is an interesting story. Romance grows quickly because of the heightened danger and the similar needs of the heroine and her hero. Downs and Warren are familiar with Russia and provide a realistic setting. The plot unfolds in a believable manner to give the reader a real sense of satisfaction. Ekaterina is a book that will hook you and you will not want to put down.

Once I started reading Ekaterina, I couldn't put it down! The book is an enticing combination of gripping characters, foreign setting, and an intriguing plot. In short, this book has it all.

Kat Moore, orphan, travels to Russia to search for relatives and uncover the mystery surrounding her heritage. Though raised by her grandfather, Kat has little knowledge of her family history. Whenever the subject came up, the adults in her life became tight-lipped and secretive, telling her she was too young to know or that it was a dangerous subject to discuss.

When a Russian monk she's never even heard of mails her a key with no note of explanation, she decides to visit Russia and search for the answers her family has withheld from her for years. Little does she know that she's become a pawn in an international smuggling operation. From the moment she steps off the plane, she is shadowed by Russian authorities and criminals alike. Only by relying on her faith and her wits can she hope to accomplish her mission and leave Russia alive.

I can't make up my mind as to whether the style of this book should be described as "turgid" or "purple prose." I mean, really:

"Wide, Dark and Menacing entered the room"?!
"The kid had enthusiasm pouring out of his ears"?!
"Her jacket, a glaring red affair that screamed 'tourist!'..."?!

And that's just the first twenty pages. The writing comes off as Damon Runyon, Christian-style.

But the real turn-off is in the details. Very first page: It's not "Sheremetova," it's "Sheremetyevo." The monk's name cannot have been "Timofea" -- that's not any kind of a Russian masculine name. It would have to be "TimofeI." Then there was the monk "Papov" -- first, Russian monks never go by their last names, and second, they can *only* be named for Orthodox saints. Last I checked, there wasn't a "St. Papov" on the calendar. And thirdly -- but this is a really esoteric detail -- they are usually named for the more esoteric Orthodox saints, like Barsanuphius or Joasaph, or Benjamin ("Viniamin," in Russian).

Then there's the "history," such as it is, of Russian Orthodoxy -- it's descended from "Byzantism"?! That's a new one. What's "Byzantism"? You mean, the Greek Orthodox Church?? Then say so! (Which, by the way, did not "break off from" Rome -- Constantinople and Rome mutually excommunicated the other. And Constantinople had the other Orthodox churches on its side.)

Still, it's the little things that make or break a book's authenticity, and this many mistakes combine to give the sense that the author(s) may have spent eight weeks in Russia, not eight years. Please, ladies, get your facts straight!!

I'd have loved to give this book one star, but in fairness, I gave it three. Why? Frankly -- the story line is *great.* The religious aspect doesn't intrude. And I probably will read the other books in the series. I'll just take a strong belt of vodka before I do, to numb the pain of the purple prose.

I love this book. It plunks you down in Moscow and revs your heartbeat as you go through dangerous adventures with thirty-year-old American, Kat Moore. I think this one is even better than the other book I read in this Heirs of Anton series. I can hardly wait to read the other two.

Kat is searching for her heritage, having been an orphan since she was ten. She suspects her parents of carrying secrets to their grave about her real identity. Her mysterious grandfather refuses to tell her anything and warns her not to go to Russia.

Kat ends up battling a terrorist as she and FSB agent Vadeem Spasonov dodge bullets and throat slashers. Vadeem has to overcome his own secret demons after spending most of his childhood in an orphanage. Together they solve a century-old mystery involving an ancient church relic worth four million dollars.

This is a great read, with a sweetly romantic ending and lots of action.

I love the start of this series! I'm a Russian historian and enjoyed this book a lot. The characters are just wonderful!

Wow! What an intriguing and exciting way to spend two or three days of reading without being able to put a book down! (So only read it if you have the time!) Deeply spiritual in a country (Russia) known for its aethistic past these two protagonists meet and wonder if indeed their future might intersect no matter what reality seems to predict for them. "Kat" is searching for her past heritage while trying to stay alive from terrorists trying to rob Mother Russia of her treasures. Vadeem is an FSB agent (modern day KGB) strugging to keep Kat alive while desperately trying NOT to fall under her charms. Both Ms. Downs (an adoption agent who has traveled extensively through the country,) and Ms. Warren (a former missionary for eight years there,) weave an intriguing and romantically suspenseful tale.

Ekaterina is a rare find of a book that expertly covers a myriad of genres; it is part romance, part action and suspense, with a dash of thriller, a pinch of historical, and a heaping helping of sound Christian theology. It is most definitely a book that will hold the attention of many different sorts of readers.

Ekaterina is a well-written and highly intriguing novel, with a fast-paced plot that keeps you turning pages, and filled with rich details of the culture and history of the Russian setting. The Christian aspect of this book is covered so well that I was shocked by the quality of the prose. The spiritual struggles that Kat has, and the way that Vadeem wrestles with God and his past, and then the way Pyotr steps in to shepherd him are all SO true to life, and shining examples of how to write about matters of God and faith without being boring or cliché!
My only complaint about the book is that the romantic interaction between the two main characters feels rushed. Obviously, the entire book takes place over the course of one week, so any romance WOULD be rushed, but it still feels a little false. The characters have great chemistry, and it's not overly sappy, but it still just smacked of unrealistic romance. However, the amount of mystery and intrigue through this book, the authentic Christian element, the attention to detail and the fantastic character development are more than enough to redeem this novel. I greatly look forward to reading the next three books in the series!

Grade: B+