Disclaimer: As historical fiction often has a stronger pull on me than contemporary, I'll admit the familiar pull pulled me right past the first (present-day) Heirs of Anton book to read Book Two instead, which takes place in the 1970s. But if I really feel I'm missing something after I've finished the three historical novels in this ChristFic series, I'll go back (but ahead in time in the saga) and read Book One last.

Now! The original cover of Nadia and my strong liking for a few other historical fiction books by Susan May Warren drew me to this novel, which I later realized she originally published in co-authorship with Susan K. Downs. I was hoping to find this Cold War romantic suspense story to be engrossing, and for the most part, I did.

But the read took somewhat longer than I prefer to paint a pretty clear picture of what's going on. (I usually like to be clear about the basis of the characters' situation and why it matters within my first fifteen minutes or so of reading, or it's hard for me to get invested.) I can't say the faith messages were my favorite overall; I found the "hope" theme, while relevant, to be overused/repetitive; and Nadia and Mickey frustrated me by going back and forth mentally and emotionally, changing their minds about being together (or not) over and over again.

Even so, the two of them and their married-couple relationship moved me in other ways too. Good ways. And as the twists of intrigue and danger ramped up, I was all in.

There's certainly plenty of family intrigue open for answers in the following books. And again, if I still have pressing questions after I read them, I'll go back (but forward!) and check out the first book. ( )