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Inside the Russian Revolution of 1917
New Romantic Thriller Raises the Question of “What If”

Uhrichsville, OH—In early 1917, Russian citizens had had enough. Dissatisfied with the way tsar Nikolai Alexandrovich Romanov was running the country, many rebelled, forcing the tsar to abdicate his throne, which ultimately lead to the rise of Vladimir Lenin and the beginnings of the Cold War. The tsar and his family were exiled to Siberia and ultimately executed. But what if one of them had escaped?

Drawing upon their inside knowledge of Russia and its extensive history, Susan K. Downs and Susan May Warren consider this possibility and spin a historical, romantic thriller in Oksana, the fourth and final book in the Heirs of Anton series.

Rumor has it that life is up-for-grabs in the Russian city of Petrograd. Fearing for the family harness business, Anton Klassen is anxious to return to the city from his Mennonite village, hoping to find the gossip to be unfounded. But when his train becomes unexpectedly delayed in the Pskov countryside, he finds himself in a situation like no other when he takes a walk and stumbles upon the leader of Imperial Russia and head of the Orthodox Church—Tsar Romanov—furiously praying in the woods.

Romanov, who abdicated his position due to pressure from the growing rebellion and fearing for his family’s life, charges Anton with a mission—to seek out the monk, Timofea, at a monastery in Pechory, and travel with him to Tsarskow Selo (the tsar’s home) to smuggle Timofea’s sister, Yulia, a servant, and a servant girl named Oksana out of Tsarskow. Anton’s mission is to protect Oksana from the enemy until it is safe for her to return to the family and to protect the crest of St. Basil the Blessed.

Humbled by the mission—but determined to serve the Fatherland—Anton agrees and finds himself in one of the most dangerous situations of his life. But little does Anton know that Oksana is really Grand Duchess Olga Nikolaevna Romanov, the tsar’s eldest daughter—and she is hiding the crown jewels.

As Anton and Timofea move the women throughout Russia, Oksana (aka Olga) and Yulia believe they must separate—to ensure their protection. The foursome devises a plan for Anton and Oksana to marry for protection only and for Anton to hide her in his Mennonite village. But no one planned on falling in love, least of all a commoner and a Grand Duchess. Despite her love for Anton, Oksana remains silent about her true identity, fearing he may leave her if he discovers the truth.

However, someone else has discovered that Oksana isn’t who she claims to be—and despite Anton’s efforts to protect her, it may not be enough.

Susan K. Downs resides in Canton, Ohio, where her husband serves as a district superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene. This mother of five and grandmother of two traded her career as an international adoption program coordinator for one as a writer and editor, but she still loves to visit Russia. . .if only by way of her imagination.

Susan May Warren knows Russia. She and her family developed a deep love for the country, its people, and its rich history while serving as career missionaries in Khabarovsk, Russia, for eight years. Now back in Minnesota with her husband, she balances her time between homeschooling their four children, teaching English, writing books, and editing their ministry’s newsletter.


Available October 2005. . .Heirs of Anton: Oksana, Susan K. Downs and Susan May Warren, Barbour Publishing, 5 3/16” x 8”, softcover, 288 pages, $9.97, ISBN 1-59310-349-2

Related Authors

• Susan K. Downs

• Susan May Warren

Related Books

• Heirs Of Anton: Oksana (Trade Paper)