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Matryoshka: Love Is a Weapon
The deadly arts of Soviet special forces have not been lost, they have adapted to the new world order. Eva was once a soldier of the Cold War, trained in seduction and espionage – a Matryoshka (Russian Doll). By the new millennium, she is living in London and working as an art dealer but beneath the outer shell the Matryoshka is still at large.
When an operation goes wrong, Eva is traced by a ghost from her past, Colonel Vasili Dimitriev, her combat instructor from Spetznaz. Dimitriev believes Eva can help him uncover a traitor in Moscow. But the traitor strikes first with an Alpha team – six of the most lethal soldiers in the world – sent to silence them both.
British police and the CIA join the hunt and Eva and Vasili must work together to stay alive and discover the truth. But can the seductress and the spy trust one another in this deadliest of games – where trust is a weakness and love is a weapon?
When an operation goes wrong, Eva is traced by a ghost from her past, Colonel Vasili Dimitriev, her combat instructor from Spetznaz. Dimitriev believes Eva can help him uncover a traitor in Moscow. But the traitor strikes first with an Alpha team – six of the most lethal soldiers in the world – sent to silence them both.
British police and the CIA join the hunt and Eva and Vasili must work together to stay alive and discover the truth. But can the seductress and the spy trust one another in this deadliest of games – where trust is a weakness and love is a weapon?
380 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 27, 2013
About the author
Goran Powell
12 books62 followersGoran is a writer who holds a 5th Dan in Goju Ryu Karate. He lives in London and teaches and trains at Daigaku Karate Kai, one of the UK's strongest clubs. In 2006 his first book Waking Dragons was an instant bestseller on Amazon's martial arts listing and is now in its second edition. In 2008 he co-produced the highly acclaimed Four Shades of Black written by his Sensei Gavin Mulholland.
Goran's first novel 'A Sudden Dawn' tells the story of Bodhidharma (Da Mo / Daruma) who founded Zen and Martial Arts in the Shaolin Temple. His second novel CHOJUN is historical fiction set on Okinawa around the time of WW2 and tells the story of young man training in karate with the renowned master Chojun Miyagi (the 'real' Mr Miyagi).
Goran’s martial arts experience began in 1972 when he took up Judo In 1984 he moved to London and trained in Shotokan karate, Kyokushinkai and Taekwondo before settling on Goju Ryu karate. In 2002 he completed the gruelling 30 Man Kumite, writing up the experience in his bestselling book Waking Dragons.
In 2007 he achieved the rank of 4th Dan after demonstating skill in modern and traditional weaponry. Goran still teaches and trains regularly and is assistant coach to the MMA team DKK Fighters.
Goran's first novel 'A Sudden Dawn' tells the story of Bodhidharma (Da Mo / Daruma) who founded Zen and Martial Arts in the Shaolin Temple. His second novel CHOJUN is historical fiction set on Okinawa around the time of WW2 and tells the story of young man training in karate with the renowned master Chojun Miyagi (the 'real' Mr Miyagi).
Goran’s martial arts experience began in 1972 when he took up Judo In 1984 he moved to London and trained in Shotokan karate, Kyokushinkai and Taekwondo before settling on Goju Ryu karate. In 2002 he completed the gruelling 30 Man Kumite, writing up the experience in his bestselling book Waking Dragons.
In 2007 he achieved the rank of 4th Dan after demonstating skill in modern and traditional weaponry. Goran still teaches and trains regularly and is assistant coach to the MMA team DKK Fighters.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 29, 2021
I'd like to review this Cold War espionage fiction from the romance point of view.
This novel contained a great romance!
The main female character is Eva (she has so many cover names), who is a former Soviet GRU spy. GRU is military intelligence, so she's not KGB.
I actually love reading Cold War spy romance where the male is Russian, and this book delivered. The male love interest is a Spetsnaz-trained GRU Colonel and the heroine's mentor. Their love story is a slow burn one, and I could feel their connection and their chemistry when the heroine was still a trainee.
They are reunited in the 2000s where he kidnaps her to find out why she disappeared after a mission gone wrong in Berlin.
The hero is a complex and fascinating man. He can be a ruthless teacher (the parts where Eva experienced interrogation training under his hands were very intense!). He is a master of martial arts including the Soviet sambo. He's a devout Orthodox Christian, despite being a GRU colonel. He is also charming and protective.
The ending is really satisfying too.
The book has similar themes with Anna 2019 by Luc Besson about a female KGB assassin, so if you like that movie, I think this book will appeal to you. They both have similar themes, like comparing the heroine with the Matryoshka (Russian doll). Inside the doll, there is a woman inside of a woman inside of a woman, and so on.
The important question is what will you find if you go to the very smallest doll?
You can read to find out.
This novel contained a great romance!
The main female character is Eva (she has so many cover names), who is a former Soviet GRU spy. GRU is military intelligence, so she's not KGB.
I actually love reading Cold War spy romance where the male is Russian, and this book delivered. The male love interest is a Spetsnaz-trained GRU Colonel and the heroine's mentor. Their love story is a slow burn one, and I could feel their connection and their chemistry when the heroine was still a trainee.
They are reunited in the 2000s where he kidnaps her to find out why she disappeared after a mission gone wrong in Berlin.
The hero is a complex and fascinating man. He can be a ruthless teacher (the parts where Eva experienced interrogation training under his hands were very intense!). He is a master of martial arts including the Soviet sambo. He's a devout Orthodox Christian, despite being a GRU colonel. He is also charming and protective.
The ending is really satisfying too.
The book has similar themes with Anna 2019 by Luc Besson about a female KGB assassin, so if you like that movie, I think this book will appeal to you. They both have similar themes, like comparing the heroine with the Matryoshka (Russian doll). Inside the doll, there is a woman inside of a woman inside of a woman, and so on.
The important question is what will you find if you go to the very smallest doll?
You can read to find out.
June 7, 2017
I gave this a five star rating mainly because I think Goran Powell is an excellent writer. However, this book was just not to my taste. I'm sure others will like it. I am a big fan of his other book, "A Sudden Dawn."
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews