Customer Reviews

In Sheep's Clothing (Mission: Russia #1) (Steeple Hill Women's Fiction #25)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

A missionary in Russia, Gracie Benson is shocked to find her co-workers murdered in their home. Frightened, Gracie makes a run to escape the country, but is kept from leaving by an FSB agent, Vicktor Shubnikov. With The Wolf, a dangerous killer, on the loose and after her, Victor has promised to guard and keep Gracie safe. Despite her own mistrust of him, Gracie also realizes that she will be needed his protection. Together the two work to unravel the mystery surrounding the deaths of her fellow missionaries and stop the killer that pursues her.

In Sheep's Clothing is a fast paced thriller that keeps you involved the whole way through. Author of some of my favorite romantic suspense novels, Susan May Warren proves with each new book that she is the name to watch in this genre.

You will love this book! Susan May Warren writes a great suspense story, zipping you along with powerful word choices and electric, tension-filled dialogue. When her heroine, American missionary Gracie Benson, meets Vicktor Shubnikov, a kind-hearted, down-on-his-luck KGB agent, the story becomes a snowball barreling downhill, grabbing your heart and making you feel like you are in Siberia right along with them, running for your life from a serial killer. It's also a wonderful love story. It's so good you will want to read it again, more slowly the second time!

The previous reviewer did a good job telling about the book. I will tell you to be prepared with some time to read as this is one you will not want to put down! From start to finish the reader is involved in Gracie's story. Vicktor is wonderful hero and you want to get to know his friends more too. Read this book and I promise...you won't be disappointed!

Feeling depressed and like a total failure, missionary Gracie Benson is preparing to leave her assignment in post-Cold War Russia and return to the United States. Though she worked very hard throughout her mission, she did not win any souls and was not even able to lead her best friend to the Lord. Discouraged but not hopeless, Gracie's biggest test is about to begin. However, her departure is anything but smooth as she soon finds herself embroiled in some very political intrigue. She is not only stranded in the middle of Siberia but her friends begin turning up dead, enemies are professing to be friendly, and cherished companions betray her trust.

Enter Vicktor Nickolaiovich Shubnikov, who inadvertently sends sparks flying between them from the moment they meet. Vicktor, formerly with the KGB, is now known as the kinder, gentler FSB agent dedicated to making the Soviet Union a safer member of the world community. He is on a mission of his own, though it has nothing to do with winning souls. It has to do with tracking down an enemy known only as The Wolf, so named for the vicious way he stalks and kills his prey. Vicktor and Gracie cross paths when her supervisors are found murdered, and The Wolf is the primary suspect.

Christy Award finalist Susan May Warren was herself a missionary in Russia, and her unique insights lend a special flavor of authenticity to this exciting tale of mystery, suspense and romance. Once you sort through the myriad of characters introduced early in the story, complete with unpronounceable Russian names and nicknames, the tale moves along quickly to a compelling conclusion. Throughout, the reader is challenged to ask and answer significant questions that face believers and non-believers alike. "How could a loving God allow good people to come to such a horrible end?" "Why is it so difficult for some to accept Jesus?" "How much credit or blame can we take when we 'fail' or 'succeed' in our mission?" In addition, there are study questions provided at the end for further discussion.

IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING is an excellent novel that will keep you guessing until the very end.

--- Reviewed by Maggie Harding, a substance abuse counselor in Phoenix, AZ who wanted to be Brenda Starr before life intervened. [...]

This book kept me up all night (when I should have been studying for mid terms)!!! Gracie is a missionary who felt as though she had done a horrible job. FSB agent Vicktor Shubnikov is like another young Russian man. There is a killer on the loose with motives that date back to the cold war. Gracie is caught in the middle of it all, along with a very handsome Russian agent. As the book goes along secrets from both their past and Gracie's friend's past are uncovered to relieve a sinister plot. But at the same time the Russian agent and Gracie find strength and comfort in each other as they cope with their past. This story also teaches the important lesson of forgivness. When you start this book there is no putting it down. It may sound all mushy- gushy, but heck no! This is definitely a romance/ suspense book.If you pass this book up you're missing out on alot!!!!!

Gracie Benson feels like a failure, after 2 years in Russia she has failed to lead a single soul to the Lord. Just before her scheduled departure she walks into a murder scene and her life will never be the same......in fact it may soon be over.
Enter Vicktor Shubinikov..FSB agent. Is he on Gracie's side or her worst enemy. Why do people keep turning up dead? Who is the Wolf?
In Sheep"s Clothing is a first rate thriller and Susan having lived in Russia adds a realistic view to the story. I highly recomend this book.

Gracie is an American missionary serving in Russia who doesn't think she's very good at her job because she hasn't led anyone to Christ. Only days before her visa expires and she must leave the country, she discovers two friends and fellow missionaries have been murdered. Now she must rely on FSB (formerly known as the KGB) Captain Vicktor to protect her from becoming the next victim of his arch nemesis, The Wolf.

This is a wonderful tale of suspense that is filled with beautiful moments of Christian discovery and growth. Susan May Warren is a wonderful writer who transports her audience into the heart of Russia so skillfully that your senses are nearly overcome.

In Sheep's Clothing is a very good read. I have read many of Susan Warren's books and this one is among the best. It holds one's attention all the way through. I highly recommend it to anyone. Dottie

Missionary Gracie Benson when to Russia seeking redemption, only to find her hopes disappointed. On the eve of her departure, she discovers the brutally murdered bodies of her colleagues. Suddenly thrust into an unfurling web of deception and lies, Gracie finds herself in a fight for her life, with precious few people to trust. Enigmatic FSB agent Viktor Shubnikov emerges as her unlikely ally - but can Gracie look past his FSB background and her own deep-rooted fears and entrust her life to a most unlikely protector? Viktor finds himself instantly attracted to Gracie's fighting spirit and vows to protect her from the killer who shattered his family years before. However, when thing stands in the way of getting as close to Gracie as he'd like - her tenacious faith. He's seen - and done - too much to deserve grace and forgiveness. When events spiral out of his control, Viktor is forced to relinquish control and entrust his future, and Gracie's, to an invisible God's guiding hand.

In Sheep's Clothing is one of my all-time favorite novels, and as such it's long overdue for an "official" review. Gracie and Viktor are classic Warren creations - they leap living and breathing from the page, fully rounded characters brimming with pain, hope, and potential. The inspiration for their story came from events surrounding a KGB plant in the church discovered during Warren's time as a missionary there. The basic issue of trust in a supposedly good God - how He could allow bad things to happen to essentially good people - is at the crux of Viktor and Gracie's respective faith journeys. Despite their divergent backgrounds, Viktor and Gracie both learn that God's forgiveness isn't something that can be earned - it's a gift, freely given. And only when that gift is received, and control is relinquished, can they rest in the knowledge that in time of need, God - Jehovah Jireh - will provide. In Sheep's Clothing delivers non-stop action and riveting romance, along with life-changing, compelling spiritual truths. Warren never "preaches" and never fails to engage the reader on a thrilling, absorbing journey. I highly recommend this book as a starting point if you've never read one of Warren's books before - you couldn't ask for a better introduction.

In Sheep's Clothing is Warren's first book in the Mission: Russia series. It introduces most of the major characters in the series: Gracie Benson, an American missionary, Viktor Shubnikov, an FSB (KGB) agent, Roman, a COBRA agent, and Yanna Andrekev, computer genius FSB agent. Gracie is at the end of two years working as a missionary in Russia and is going home in disappointment over her lack of converts. She hasn't brought anyone to God in her time in Russia, and she's still running from the pain and shame she tried to leave behind in the States. When a missionary couple is murdered, and Gracie discovers their bodies, Viktor is assigned to interrogate her and then later to protect her as Gracie quickly becomes the target of the assassins. Gracie and Viktor are a match made in Heaven (or Russia); they can't fight the chemistry between them even as they struggle to trust each other and ultimately God. The book is a terrific mix of suspense, romance, and faith. Make sure to read the author's notes at the end of the novel; they make the story even more astounding.