title: The Cruel Romance: A Novel of Love and War
author:  Marina Osipova 
description: <span>"Marina Osipova'sThe Cruel Romance is an entrancing novel of historical fiction thatsuccessfully fuses romance and war-time drama with an honest study of thepsyches of four very different personalities. Within the artisticallyconstructed narrative, the author has achieved something special in sospectacularly conveying the inner neuroses of her characters, despite tellingthe story from the third-person perspective. Additionally, Osipova demonstratesextraordinary skill in her development of characters who, at the outset, thoughold enough to go to war, begin as little more than children who must face theharsh realities of a dangerous world inherited from their parents. Through thenovel they then grow into the adults who can, for better or worse, change theworld themselves. Osipova easily draws the reader into the setting with vividimagery, and readily injects the story with the dynamics of the socio-politicalsystem that infected both countries for much of the twentieth century. Awell-researched, highly-detailed novel, The Cruel Romance will keep lovers ofserious historical fiction spellbound throughout." - <b>Thomas A. Peters for Readers' Favorite</b>.</span><br /><span></span><br /><span>"In thisheart-rending novel readers experience life through the eyes of a young girlwhose fierce determination helps bring her through the darkest of hours. Arevealing glimpse into a way of life, and a culture predicted uponspirituality, moral convictions and above all, pride, The Cruel Romance is awork of historical fiction which will resonate with readers long after the lastpage is turned." - <b>LiteraryClassics </b></span><br /><span></span><br /><span>"A deftly-woventapestry that spans the volatile 1940s and 1950s in Russia, this novel followsprotagonist Serafima as her life intersects with three men and, eventually, aboy. Despite the generic title, the writing is dynamic and bursting with nimbleturns of phrase, and the layers of family secrets and European history arehandled with authority." - <b>BookLife</b></span><br /><span></span><br /><span>"Osipova did awonderful job with telling Serafima's story, backing it with accuratehistorical information about the war and the daily lives of ordinarypeople.</span><br /><span>One of the things I mostloved about this novel was the fact that Osipova began with a foreword toexplain the mechanics and importance of Russian names. ... explanation of hownames and nicknames work in Russian made it so much easier for me to understandwhich character was being addressed ...</span><br /><span>... I thought the bookwas wonderful. The ending was a surprise since I wasn't expecting it to happenthat particular way, and I was brought to tears at how Osipova wrapped upSerafima's story. Therefore, I have to give The Cruel Romance a 4 out of 4stars. From beginning to end, I was mesmerized by Serafima and her strugglesduring the war, and I loathed to put the book down!</span><br /><span>... if you are a fan ofhistorical fiction, and you are looking for a novel that is well-researched andcenters around World War Two and the aftermath, then you will enjoy thisbook." - <b>Helpme71 forOnlineBookClub</b></span>
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  Under his Mercy
  
  
  A Dark High School Bully Romance
  
  
  Jolie Damman
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Under his Mercy Copyright © 2020 by Jolie Damman. All Rights Reserved.  
    
  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by
  any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval
  systems, without permission in writing from the author. The only exception is
  by a reviewer, who may quote short excerpts in a review.  
    
  Cover designed by Jolie Damman  
    
    
    
  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents
  either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any
  resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely
  coincidental.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  “Love doesn’t hurt. Expectations do.”
  
  
  
  
  
  — PUSHKARAJ SHIRKE
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  CONTENTS
  
  
  [Free Book: The Yakuza’s Captive](part0000_split_004.html#_Toc53674342)
  
  
  [Chapter 1](part0000_split_005.html#_Toc53674