Although she is a young Russian countess with the right to live as a socialite, Mariana Remizov chooses to go serve as a nurse on the front lines of war in Manchuria. Her old friend, American reporter Daniel Trent, faces the horrific dangers of war with her—while the dangers of old vendettas against Mariana's family are brewing back in pre-revolutionary Russia in The Dawning of Deliverance by author Judith Pella.

This is my favorite book in The Russians historical ChristFic series so far.

Granted, yes, the style is still pretty old-fashioned with some overdone outbursts from the narrator and characters alike, albeit those moments are brief and fewer than they were earlier in the series.

And, no, I still don't find the romantic aspects to be this saga's strength. In this novel, the romance just has more inevitability than compelling chemistry, and it's twice in this series now that I've found myself preferring a guy who doesn't get the girl more than the guy who does.

Even so, the sense of history and the political climate is still rich and intense. And while I've had issues with some key characters' development in the earlier books, I've been with these folks for so long now, and the overall plot has built so much tension, I actually felt for the characters this time as some crucial events finally came to a head.

Honestly, it was the final fifth or so of the novel that nudged it over into 5-star territory for me, gripping me as a thriller would and wringing my bibliophilic core. I already foresee some of what's coming later, and I'm both nervous and anxious to see exactly how it'll all unfold from here. ( )

This was another good story that took you inside Russia in the early 1900's. You will find Mariana, who is the daughter of a princess and a count, but who was raised as a peasant girl, trying to find her way in life. She trains as a nurse and finds herself on the front lines in Manchuria caring for wounded soldiers. She will renew her "friendship" relationship with American reporter Daniel Trent and together they will discover just how much they mean to each other. Meanwhile, back in St. Petersburg you will see the revolutionary forces still at work, which will eventually lead to bloodshed and heartache. All the people you have come to love and appreciate will be back in this story and some of those you had hoped would never surface again, coming back to get revenge and kill. Through it all though you will find that those who put their hope and trust in the Lord are those who can find love, hope and freedom even amid tragedy. ( )