In the wreckage of a friend's death, Countess Katria Markova finds her perfectly ordered life, irrevocably altered. Russian politics proves more dangerous than the front lines of war, and when her fiancé’s future is threatened by rumors of treason, their cat-and-mouse game ends. In its place, a political game, where their very lives are at stake, begins.

Count Nikolai Orlov will do anything to clear his brother’s name. Anything except put Katria in harm’s way. Attracted to her from the moment they met, he’s spent their time together breaking the wall that surrounds her heart. He wants the passionate woman beneath, wants to shatter her cool exterior.

With her life in danger, Nikolai’s only course of action is to exact revenge. From the snowy streets of St. Petersburg to the River Neva’s icy depths, they search for the answers to clear Nikolai. But in their search, will they lose each other?

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Reviews:

4 Cups of Coffee from Coffee Time Romance:
Excerpt: This remarkable story paints a vivid picture of life in the Russian court with all its intrigues and dangers. The characters are well written and their emotions are brought to life. The action is fast paced and believable. You will enjoy this story. Read the whole review here.

4 Books from LASR:
Excerpt: It is a world of Tsars, and the aristocratic jockeying for status and position that goes on around any throne becomes the tapestry behind the tale. The life and love of Katia is the heart and soul of the story. She is a young woman determined to get some control of her own fate. We understand her doubts about her current probable fate, yet cannot help but feel that fortune has landed her in a better situation than she realizes.
Try something a little different; Kiss of Scandal is well-worth reading. Read the whole review here.

Excerpt:

“Are the vipers biting today or just snapping?” Her wry comment caused Anatoli’s grin to widen.

She’d referred to the courtiers as vipers since she was a child; it was an apt description ofmore than half of them. But they were not the reason she wished to hurry to the rooms. Nor was the tempting array of food and drink, nor even the chance to interact with the tsar.

“I expect venom to spew forth momentarily,” a deep voice rumbled from behind her.

She could feel his hot breath tickling her shoulder, skin tingling with awareness. His lips brushed the base of her neck, there and gone in a heartbeat. Scandalous in so public a setting. Heart racing, she forced herself to turn slowly, arching an eyebrow as Count Nikolai Andreiovitch Orlov joined her and Anatoli in front of the Jordan Staircase.

Her need to rush up to the state rooms vanished.