Type of bind: Mass Market Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN num: 9780373389605
ISBN number: 0373389604
Label: Harlequin
Manufacturer: Harlequin
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 256
Printing Date: June 12, 2007
Publishing house: Harlequin
Sale Popularity Level: 475226
Studio: Harlequin
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Courtesy of CK2S Kwips and Kritiques
Marina has already lost her beloved sister to a fatal car accident and is not about to lose her young nephew too. After months of searching the entire welfare system in Russia, she finally manages to track little Stefan down. Unfortunately, it took her so long that he's already been adopted by someone else! And an American man at that!
David Anderson has always dreamed of adopting. Even his marriage falling apart couldn't stop him. He has finally found a young boy to make his own and the fact that young Stefan is so traumatized that he won't speak doesn't discourage David. As a special treat before taking Stefan to the United States, David books them a cruise on the new ship Alexandra's Dream.
When Marina tracks David and Stefan down, even going so far as to book her own trip on the cruise ship, she becomes determined to prove that she's a better guardian for Stefan than David is. Never mind the fact she can't seem to get kind-hearted David out of her mind. But when it becomes apparent that Stefan may know something to prove his parents' deaths were no accident and someone will do whatever it takes to permanently silence the young child, Marina and David must join forces to protect Stefan from a dangerous threat.
Marina is as stubborn as she is talented so when she butts heads with steadfast David, you know sparks are going to fly. The only thing they seem to have in common is their love for Stefan and their determination to see he has the best possible life he can get. The more time they spent together, even if it is a lot of arguing over who would be the better parent, their respect for each other grows steadily, later to turn into love. Even though their entire relationship develops in the space of a week, it feels believable and develops at a natural pace, never feeling rushed.
Though David and Marina are the main characters, the real heart of the story is Stefan. Without him, David and Marina would never have met and never would have found love. My heart cried for Stefan when he lost his parents and I immediately fell for this little lost soul. As he struggles to overcome his grief, and then his terror of the "monster" stalking him, I couldn't help but grow even more attached. When he finally comes to the point where I knew he was going to recover and make it out of the darkness, I cried tears of joy.
From Russia, with Love is a good book with which to begin the Mediterranean Nights continuity series, where every story takes place on or in relation to the cruise ship Alexandra's Dream. Just the title alone puts me in mind of James Bond and tells me this is more than just a typical contemporary romance. While not exactly a thriller even remotely similar to the world's best spy/hero, there is enough suspense and mystery to appeal to fans of the romantic suspense genre. The secondary plot thread about who is after Stefan and why, is understated but no less important to the story. As we learn more about the mystery, we begin to pray more and more that our beloved little family would make it through.
© Kelley A. Hartsell, September 2007. All rights reserved.
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In spite of the break up of his engagement, American schoolteacher David Anderson completes the adoption of Russian orphan Stefan. He knows the reticent child is despondent, but likes ships so to help them get better acquainted, David has booked passage on the Liberty line cruise ship Alexander's Dream for a ten day voyage.
Stefan's Aunt Marina Artamova is outraged that her orphaned nephew fell into the abyss of the inefficient and ineffective except for corruption Russian welfare system. The successful fashion designer wants to raise her blood relation as families should, but her lawyer says she is too late as David is legally Stefan's father. Marina books passage on the Alexander's Dream with the objective to take Stefan home with her. The Cold War is renewed but instead of a third world nation as the objective, it is a little frightened child. As the two enemy combatants fall in love, the monster responsible for the deaths of Stefan's parents also seeks to silent the sole witness to their atrocity as the pathetic Russian welfare system kept the lad safe, but now they know he is on the Alexandra's Dream.
This is a fabulous contemporary tale with the emphasis on a current event issue, American adoptions of Russian children. The lead couple is a conflicted pairing as they fall in love but the rules of engagement make that forbidden although they share in common their need to nurture Stefan. The monster brings late intrigue that is exciting but subtracts from an otherwise superb headline news modern day drama.
Harriet Klausner
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