Marina

"German voices to the south, moving closer. Tears burned her eyes. She clung to the tree and hung her head. She wouldn't stay here to be murdered. Putting a hand over her womb, she gulped in a deep breath and edged away from the trunk, gathering her legs under her. A flock of birds betrayed her. Gunfire chipped bark from the trees. Marina clamped down her scream and pumped her legs. Another shot, then another. Heat seared her, wrapping around her ribs and pitching her to her knees. The ground crumbled beneath her. Falling. She felt free, separated, as if she'd departed from herself. Dmitri. She hit water with a numbing slap. The last things she felt was the water's cool blanket filling her ears, her nose, covering her body as she sank below the envelope of Velikaya River." --Excerpt from Marina More on the romantic side, yet certainly not lacking in high spirited action, Marina is the story of a young girl's struggle against the Nazi invasion of her homeland Russia and the tide of bitterness and anger that threatens to engulf her. As she buries her young husband, a casualty of the meager struggle to protect the Ukraine, those she holds dearest to her are murdered before her eyes. All she has left is the hope of life in her womb, but will that be taken from her as well? Still reeling from the merciless execution of his love, Katrina, Edward Neumann enters Marina's life as her protector. An ace sniper, Marina shoots down her enemies with a cold heart and all the while feels the tug of God pulling her toward forgiveness. Marina has changed her name to "Mara" for all the bitterness she holds. Can Edward allow himself to love again, and can Mara learn to change from being an embittered woman to become "Magda", a tower of strength? Susan K. Downs and Susan May Warren fill this book with unexpected twists and teach the reader to understand and appreciate old Russia and its culture. Russia is mostly forgotten when World War II is thought of. However, the authors do an excellent job of portraying the horrors that the impoverished Russians endured through the course of the war. Marina is an exciting book to read as well as one that warms the hearts with its tender moments. I highly recommend it.

"Marina", the third novel in the "Heirs of Anton" series about four generations of women and their adventures in Russia, is set in the middle of World War 2. This book has more of a romantic element, and less of the mystery of the first two books, which is nice for a change of pace, but at the same time, is a bit disappointing. The action-packed momentum of the first two books in the series seems to slow down in "Marina"; however, much of the intrigue of the first two books points to the interaction between Edward and Marina, so this novel is certainly central to the whole series. I found the writing quality to be a bit lacking in this book - a bit too sensationalistic for my taste, too overly dramatic. All the same, i enjoyed this novel, and greatly enjoyed the first two in the series, so I am looking forward to reading the final book of the series next! Grade: B

WOW! What a punch this novel has in its own place of the three (so far! another one OKSANA comes out in August 2005) Heirs of Anton Series! I laughed and smiled and cried. You will too! Romance at its best as well as history and life's spiritual meaning from days gone by as well as drawing you into the Christian viewpoints which these authors hold most dear to them! It is so obvious and delightful! A GREAT read! I recommend them all. #1 EKATERINA, #2 NADIA, and now #3 MARINA. I have to wait for #4 OKSANA in August 2005!!

Marina is the third book of the Heirs of Anton Series. Each one of these books is outstanding--filled with intrigue and romance, and set in Russia. Marina is the book that answers a lot of questions from book #1, Ekaterina. I highly recommend this whole series. I found each one of the books fantastic!