Iron Canuck Reviews & More: Review Tour: Beautiful Evil Winter (Fifty Shades of Mystery, Moxie, and Suspense #1) by Kelly K. Lavender with an excerpt, a giveaway, and my review

BEAUTIFUL EVIL WINTER

by Kelly K. Lavender

GENRE: Suspense

BLURB:

Can a novel about an American couple's quest to adopt a Russian baby be called a Multi-Award-Winning Suspense Thriller? Yes.

"...The book is difficult to put down, enticing you to read a few more chapters before bed. In the end, the book leaves the reader satisfied, but the story never fully leaves your mind." The US Review of Books

In the late 1990s, a time in Moscow reminiscent of the unforgiving gun-slinging days of the frontier west, mild-mannered Ethan and hot-blooded Sophia board a Russian bound plane. Armed only with a homespun plan, the desperate American couple hopes to to adopt a baby boy.

What can go wrong? Maybe, an innocent ill-fated encounter with the Mafia or maybe, being marked as a target for mob revenge. Perhaps, having to rely on a first-time adoption coordinator to complete the process and shelter them from harm. Honestly, what won’t go wrong?

Crippled by circumstances - confined and monitored in a Moscow apartment, no language skills, no cell phone, no clue, no landline, no gun, no nearby family and a baby to protect, they have to find a way to out. Everything and anything can go wrong. How can they prevail?

EXCERPT:

Will it happen this time? The ban announced last night—will it ruin everything? Dad says Russian law takes effect the moment it’s ratified. I’m so worried, Ethan.” I rub my eyes and lean my head back while the American jet engines roar in the background. My head throbs and my hands sweat as we try to begin our thirteen- hour journey. We’ve been sitting on the tarmac for two hours due to a mechanical problem.

Ethan grabs my hand and squeezes it softly, then leans over to plant a kiss on my forehead. I gaze at his face, bags frame his red eyes. I look out the window to distract myself. It’s a sunny, cold day, the sky clear of clouds and full of promise for flight.

“One step at a time, Sophia. We’re closer than we’ve ever been. Remember that,” he says soothingly. Turning back to him, my body becomes rigid as anger spills over me like hot molten lava.

“You’re thinking the same thing I am! We should be overjoyed at the prospect of meeting our son! This is a time for celebration, a time for effervescent bottles of uncorked champagne! But this do- it-yourself adoption is a nightmare! How much longer can we handle disappointment after disappointment? The closer we think we are...the farther away we are,” I vent.

The conversation with Natasha on the phone last night burns in my brain.

“Adoption very risky in Russia now. The ban make Mafia watch money very close.”

How could she say that on the eve of our trip?

I play back what Natasha said.

“This trip big gamble for you. I work to keep adoption away from Mafia. If I do not, police arrest you for human trafficking or Mafia take you. Better to go to prison. My name not appear anywhere, only yours. Phone will be disconnected. And I never know you.”

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kelly’s fascination with fiction began in middle school when she entered a book-reading contest and won. As an ardent fan of the resonating narrative and the cliffhanger, she decided to dedicate herself to becoming a skilled writer. When college professors spotlighted her writing in the classroom, it anchored her interest in becoming a novelist.

After earning a business degree, she continued to pursue her education at UCLA, via the UCLA Writers' Extension Program, where her work earned praise from an award-winning author. A rickety project trip to Russia, to adopt a baby boy, provided the inspiration for her debut novel, Beautiful Evil Winter.

Social Media:

Website: https://kellyklavenderauthor.com/about/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KellyKLavender.AmericanAuthor/

X: https://x.com/KellyKLavender

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellyklavender/

Buy Links: https://kellyklavenderauthor.com/beautiful-evil-winter-book/

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GIVEAWAY

The author will be awarding a $15 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/28e4345f5044/

My Review - 4 of 5 stars -

This was a dark thriller with possible triggers for some people. Sophia and Ethan traveled to Russia to adopt a child. There were plenty of secrets, double dealings, violence, and more. Sophia tried to be strong throughout her struggles, her love for her husband was strong, and the love she felt for her adopted son gave her more determination to keep going. Ethan was shown to be a little weak of will, but he showed strength in his fight to stay alive for his family. I felt that the story was a bit drawn out, definitely showing the dark side of Russia with corruption and violence, but overall, the happy ending made up for it.