Customer Reviews

The Sovereign's Daughter (originally Oksana) (Truly Yours Romance Club #18)

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

 

 

Like the previous ones, this book is amazing. It is hard to put down, a must for anywone who likes her previous books, and anyone else who likes history and has ever wondered... what if?

THE SOVEREIGN'S DAUGHTER is a richly textured love story set in war-torn Russia. The Mennonite, Anton, only meant to lead a quiet, unassuming life, but his character is tried and tested when he is entrusted to protect Tsar Nikolai's chambermaid. The conflicts and trials these characters endure touched my heart and kept me turning pages. And in my journey through this story, I learned so much about the Bolshevik revolution. The two authors, Susan May Warren and Susan K. Downs, both lived in Russia. Every scene is authentic and compelling. Highly recommended reading.

The Sovereign's Daughter is a beautiful story, full of rich settings and deep characters. It drew me instantly, within the first two pages, into a world and a revolution I'd only studied previously as facts and figures. The setting became very real to me through these true-to-life characters and I could not put the book down. I was transported to an intriguing time and place I didn't want to leave. The book has many unexpected twists and turns, and is thoroughly enjoyable from beginning to end. You'll find yourself cheering, laughing and then crying - tears of joy and of sadness. Excellent book.

In 1917 in Alexander Palace just south of Petrograd, Tsar Nikolai Romanov gives state secrets to his faithful twenty something chambermaid Oksana Terekhova. Though he trusts God will protect her, the Russian ruler assumes she has a better chance of survival than he and his royal family from overzealous revolutionaries especially the Bolsheviks, but still fears for her life. As such to keep Oksana and the secrets safe, he asks visiting Mennonite Anton Klassen to escort her to a safe haven; although dangerous the young Mennonite accepts the assignment that will bring honor to him and his family. Anton decides to hide Oksana inside his family on a South Russian farm.

As the Mennonite and the servant travel together, they begin to fall in love. However, dangerous adversaries seem to know that Oksana carries state secrets and make efforts to capture her so they can torture the information out of her. As the peril grows Anton begins to realize the state secrets he assumes his companion possesses is not what is the enemy wants; it is the woman that he vowed to his sovereign he will protect with his life who their adversaries vigorously pursue.

Using the Bolshevik Revolution as the impetus to this superb inspirational historical tale Susan May Warren and Susan K. Downs provide an interesting look at the turmoil of 1917 Russia. The key couple makes for a fascinating story as they flee for their lives heading from royalty to a Mennonite farm while revolutionaries pursue them. Each learns the hard way how difficult it truly is to trust God when you don't understand why bad things are happening to good people. Historical and inspirational fans will fully appreciate this fine saga and seek more collaborative works by the two Susans (see Heirs of Anton trilogy).

Harriet Klausner

This book is all that I love about historical fiction. It takes actual events and inserts into them a "could have happened." I can only imagine the amount of research it took to write it. With a stirring plot that kept me guessing to wonderful characters, who I grew to love, it sets a tone for an era many don't think about and draws the reader into a world of intrigue and fear. Yet amongst that it highlights the hope given by the love of God and the love between a man and a woman despite class barriers. I found one mistake in identification where one female character's name should have been another, but otherwise the grammar was superb. I found the use of Russian terms to be appropriate. However, I did wish for a glossary at the end of the book or a simple explanation of the terms. Also, though the character's names were correct for the setting of the book, they made it a bit difficult for me to repeatedly read. This is a wonderful book which for any historical fiction fan, I highly recommend.

It's 1917, on the eve of the Russian Revolution and Nicholas Romanov II has abdicated from the throne and is under arrest. He is desperate to saves the lives of his family, so when he encounters Anton Klassen, a Russian-German Mennonite, his hope is renewed. As a Mennonite, Anton is a pacifist and was pardoned from fighting, but wishes he could serve the Motherland in some manner. The former Tsar convinces Anton to protect Oksana, a maid who is important to the Romanov family. The young man agrees and heads to Petrograd. At the Alexander Palace, Olga and her maid Yulia are packing. According to her father's instructions, she and Yulia must escape before it's too late. Olga is reluctant to go at all and abandon her family but she obeys her father's wishes. Olga and Yulia sneak out, while Oksana the maid takes the place as the oldest grand duchess. Apparently Oksana is identical to Olga and has doubled for her in the past. She is more than willing to serve the royal family, no matter what the cost. The moment Olga meets Anton, she treats him as her inferior but soon remedies her behavior. She must be careful or she'll blow her cover. Both she and Yulia are successful in leading Anton to believe that she is Oksana, a close and personal servant of the Romanov family. Despite the many slip-ups, Anton is none the wiser. For a time, with the help of a monk, they are able to hide in Petrograd until Gleb, a Romanov cousin, discovers where they are hiding and violates Yulia. It is determined that it is no longer safe for them to stay in Russia, so they plan to runaway to Anton's father's home. First Anton converts to the Russian Orthodox Church, then they marry in order to travel together, but it is only a marriage of convenience. Of course like most books where the hero and the heroine marry out of convenience, they fall in love and Olga ends up pregnant. When Olga's life is threatened again, they disguise themselves as a monk and a nun and hide away in a church. Olga reveals her true identity and Anton briefly distances himself from her, but it doesn't last long. While Anton and Olga are out on a picnic, Gleb ambushes them and the grand duchess' life is threatened until Gleb is rendered unconscious. Olga goes into labor and after the baby is delivered, she is led to believe that her baby daughter died and that during the fight between Anton and Gleb, Anton was killed. She is devastated but agrees to flee the country before it is too late.
As a hopeless romantic, "The Sovereign's Daughter" entertained me for an entire afternoon until I finished it. The authors know their Russian history and the characters of Anton and Olga are endearing. Yet as an avid Romanov fanatic, I am a little disappointed. When I reserved this book I had no idea that this was about a missing Russian grand duchess; I assumed it was about a dedicated servant of the royal family. Obviously this book is outdated. We all hoped that maybe one of the Romanov children made it out alive, but as of August 2007, all seven bodies of the royal family have been accounted for.
[...]