Although I consider having read all seven of the books in The Russians series a great accomplishment (and a very enjoyable one) I became so attached to Anna and the other characters that I was actually saddened when I finished this, the final book.

The series has given me a love for historical fiction and knowledge of many details in Russian history. Pella has done a wonderful job and I have never been disappointed by any of her works.

I read the first three books in this series when I was 14 years old. I can't begin to explain the agony the third book put me through. I had compard the first two to a fairytale, and with the last came the reality as the real world crept into view...bringing tragedy and pain.

I find that the author(s) of these stories manage to twist their way into my gut like very few others have been able to do. If you are ready to being what will initially appear as light "pleasure" reading, but what will also stretch you heart to it's boundaries, try the series. And please, read them in order.

I love this book!I have read the first six of the series, "The Russians" and there has not been one dull moment. Judith Pella does an incredible job of describing the characters and their feelings so well that you feel like you know them personally. This book really ties up a lot of loose ends; some sad ends and others are very joyful. But even the sads ones are just perfect because it helps give a realistic image of what live was like at the turn of the century in Russia. I would highly reccomend this to anyone!

Travail and Triumph is the non-stop, action-packed sequel to A House Divided.

Anna's beloved mistress Katrina has finally found the love of her life... now she and her new husband are expecting a baby. But will the little one be born into a home of laughter and joy... or to the wrecked ruinage of a once prosperous family?

Sergei's long anticipated book brings on unexpected criticism... and tragedy. Can the house of Fedorcenko stand against the overwhelming wave of trouble? Will Anna's faith in God bring her and those she loves to an end of triumph?

A must-read for every lover of history and adventure!

Pella and Phillips never seem to disappoint with this series. I recommend all seven books with five stars.

I found this book to be a wonderful continuance of the Russian saga. At first I was upset about Princess Katrina, but it really turns out for the best. Anna and Sergei raise Mariana to have the wonderful blended qualities of them both. Dimitri leaves to find the measure of the man he never would own up to be. And we leave them again, in a humble cottage in Katyk, right where we started.

I Coudn't put this book down, it was so great! You'll love the personalities of Jordana Baldwin and her brother Brenton. If You liked the Ribbons of Steel series you'll love this book. Great Job, Judith Pella and Tracie Peterson!!!

This was a great book! I love the way Judith and Tracie write. Their books keep you going wondering what is going to happen next. I like the way God is written into their books. He is always there but doesn't answer in your time,but his.This is the 4th book in the series,I can't wait to read #5.

This book was awesome. I love the way Tracie and Judith create love stories that are based on Christ being the most important relationship. The love that the characters show towards one another is exactly how we as christians should consider and love others. They truly inspire me. I have read almost all of both Tracie Petersons' and Judith Pellas' books and they are all very good.

This novel is as well-written as the first and the storyline keeps the reader interested. Five stars for each book in the seven-part series.

"The Russians" series is by far the best historical fiction I have ever read. Judith Pella(and Micheal Phillips in the earlier books) weave a wonderful story of life during the Russian Revolution. These books don't portray an idealistic view of life during this time, but,rather, a very realistic view of what people went through in Russia during the revolution. I reccomend this series to anybody who loves Russian history, romance, intrigue, or just a good cry because this series has it all!

The Russian series has been one of the best I've read. These are the kind of books that make learning history exciting! As you read this series, you become so involved in the charcters lives and feelings, it as if you have known them personally. But the authors have done extensive research to make the true history so accurate as the characters walk through life and we view it from their eyes.The struggles and hardships, as well as the joy and happiness, we feel it all. I love the way belief and faith in God,or the search to find it, is protrayed in the lives of each individual.This book is nearing the revolution and you see how family and friends may have had differing opinions and how they dealt with it. The whole series is excellent and keeps you riveted to the end!

. . . but somehow, Judith Pella manages to create fresh, new characters with every book she writes--characters that aren't quite like any of the others she's introduced us to. Shelby and Frank are no exception! Shelby is at once endearing as the book opens with her father's funeral and the reader naturally sympathizes with her. Because of her impulsive nature, I found myself thinking so many times, "I would NEVER do that! " but it didn't make her any less appealing as the misguided heroine of the story. Frank, too, is a well-written character. He has the dark good looks, mysterious past, and serious passion that make him the ideal hero; but at the same time, there are his fun, flippant moods and his vulnerability which make him more than a cardboard stereotype. For a romance especially, the plot moves at near-hyperlight speed (once you get past the first chapter or so), with lots of twists and turns and interesting secondary characters. And as always, with Pella at the pen, the happily-ever-after ending isn't insultingly happy, but bittersweet. Wonderful job all around creating relationships between characters and intertwining lives in the most unlikely ways. Can't wait for her next book!

This was an incredible book. Judith Pella kept you in suspense until the very last pages as she unfolded the story of Shelby and Frank. I encourage you to READ THIS BOOK!

This book was a little bit more exciting than the first, My Father's World. The detail in this book is not overlooked by the authors. The characters show strong Christian values and at the same time show weaknesses, as we all have. It makes the characters seem very real and almost concrete. I recommend this book highly! The authors keep the book going, drawing you into it more and more. It was hard to put down! Enjoy!

Michael Phillips and Judith Pella have worked together well to tell the believable story of a girl and her spiritual growth. This book, which immediately follows MY FATHER'S WORLD is one of a series chronicling the life of Corrie Belle Hollister. The inner thoughts and feelings of this young woman are sensitively expressed. One can easily become absorbed in the adventurous tales involving Corrie and her siblings. I would highly recommend this book as a realistic representation of how, with careful guidance and love, a young person can be lead to a close and mature relationship with God. It truly touched and inspired me.

This series was one of the best I have ever read. I am aslo trying to find my place in a world that does not always seem to want me. This would be a good read for anyone who loves historcal fiction, females mainly. If you have read these you can't miss the next series that follows corrie through maired life- the breastons of miricle springs. A can't miss!

This series is excellent for teen years and up! (Some younger readers also may enjoy, depending on their reading ability.) Interest on the level of women starting to make their mark in the world as a journalist. Great reading. I thoroughly enjoyed this series and have passed it on to many friends to read. I truly believe you will enjoy this series!

Once you finish reading this story of a set of young adults coming of age, you will immediately want to start on book two. You see, this is what happened to me, except I didn't know about books three through seven until I was well into book #2! I finally finished the series earlier this year and consider it to be a major accomplishment (and a very fulfilling one). I must say that after book seven I was disappointed that I will no longer be hearing of Anna Buerenin and the illustrious characters that touched her life.

This series is typically categorized by bookstores as "religious fiction". I will say that there is an underlying message about God (after all religion plays a huge part of Russian history) but it was simply woven into the story subtly and relevantly. I have read other Pella books and found this to be the case with them as well.

This book was the start of my infatuation with historical fiction and I am thankful for it. I do recommend all seven in the series - read them, although it may take a while!

I have always loved Russian history, and I found these books an excelent way to learn more about it. After reading the series, I got the opportunity to visit St.Petersburg, Russia where much of the story takes place, and I was amazed at how accurate the books had been in history and setting. The books are so well written that you feel like you are part of the story. The characters seem like your best friend and you never want to put the books down. I found myself reading in eery spare moment I had and before I read these books, I hated to read. These are great books for teenagers to read because of their clean content. You will not be disappointed.

When I came across this book in my church's library a week ago, I wasn't too thrilled with it. Somehow, I ended up checking it out, but my expectations were not high. I expected either a boring, dry chronicle of Russia's history or a sappy, overdone love story. Well...a week later I can assure you that that is definitely not the case. "The Crown and the Crucible", set in the 1870's, is essentially the story of two families who represent the two basic types of people that were in Russia. There is Anna Burenin, a 17-year-old whose family has always been peasants, and there is 15-year-old Katrina Fedorcenko, whose life has been that of a high-ranking Russian aristocrat. Anna and Katrina's lives become intertwined when Anna goes to the Fedorcenko household to be a kitchen servant, and by a remarkable sequence of events, becomes Katrina's personal maid. But other things are happening as well in this novel. We see how unstable life was in Russia, and read how even Viktor Fedorcenko (Katrina's father) had to guard what he said around the tsar, whom he had known since childhood. Segei Fedorcenko, Katrina's brother, also has problem. It seems that he and Anna are beginning to fall in love...and how could ever be easy since he is an aristocrat and she is a maid? And the brutal war in Turkey over Russian territory only intensify his not-so-loyal thoughts toward the government. "The Crown and the Crucible" is a magnificently written story that expertly blends history with the lives of people. The characters themselves are wonderful, and I loved seeing the changes and growth in all of them...most notably Anna's Christian influence on Katrina. There is no character who you do not like and begin to know "personally" and nothing fake about the characterization. There are few books that are so well-written, historically accurate, and filled with characters you can't forget. I'm certainly glad I came across this book! And, of course, I desperately need the sequel now...

This was A wonderful sequel to Texas Road.Micha Sinclair played a man still furious at his father for Killing his mother.But he found a way to love again.There were many times I grew so angry at him.I mean he almost through the best thing in his life away because she was mexican. Silly boy. But all in all it was a great book.I think I liked Texas Angel better. I also beleive that Texas angel and Heavens Road should be made into a movie.But no adding or removing from the book. And no specifics on Elise Job in Texas Angel. Thanks!

This book is awesome! I beleive that Texas Angel is better but
This book is to great to put down.I love the fact that Judith Pella didn't end the Fued between Micha and his father.Even though we feel sorry for Micha.We also hate his stubborness at times.Especially when almost throws away the best thing in his life because she's mexican but we still love the story. I personally believe that Texas Angel+ Heavens road should be made into a movie. But no adding or removing from the book.And no Unnessary scenes about Elise being a slave Prostuite.
Thanks for a great books Judith Pella!

Again and again, Pella shows her talent for creating flawed characters that have to learn the hard way. Micah is a perfect example of this, as he struggles with hate and anger and must learn both how to accept love and how to return it. Though I was expecting Book Two to be a continuation of Elise's story, I'm now glad that this one focuses instead on Micah, who has matured from a bitter and confused fourteen-year-old (see "Texas Angel") to an angry twenty-two-year-old with an agenda for revenge. Though this novel can be read alone, the depth of Micah's feelings cannot fully be appreciated unless one has read the prequel. I must again salute Ms. Pella's skill as she creates people that "just happen" to meet and are changed forever in 300 pages. As always, secondary characters do not disappoint, and the main plot sweeps us off our feet and carries us to 1830's Texas for an unforgettable tale of hate and love, sorrow and joy, tragic darkness and sweet light.

I have never been able to get my hands on the fourth book in this series, so this one was a bit hard to follow. Especially since I read it before reading number three. I must admit, I found it rather boring. And does the author have something against the Fedorcenkos? It wasn't as sad as the third one, but it was still a tear-jerking book.

The story is shifted away from Anna and toward Marianna in this book, however it is no less interesting. All seven books in the series get five stars from me!

The Russian series has been one of the best I've read. There is so much history out there that I have never really learned much about, and these books make it exciting to expereince history. You become so engrossed in the characters and the story as it goes through the Russian history and learn so much as you view it through the eyes of each character.The author makes you feel as if you are right there and know these people personally. In this book, as the people face another war, you feel the devastation and desperation they felt.I also love how the author interweaves faith and trust in God throughout the story in the characters lives. The books are very hard to put down and you'll want to read the entire series.