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Frame of Reference
One down, two to go.
The prima ballerina with the Grand Kyiv Ballet, Iryna is excited for her American tour—and the chance to reconnect with the brown-eyed American she hasn’t seen since childhood. Her trip is just beginning when tragedy strikes, resulting in a close friend’s mysterious death and a fear that she might be next.
Rick Carter wasn’t looking to fall in love, but the moment he laid eyes on his sister’s childhood friend all grown up, he fell hard. Their courtship, however, is haunted by unsettling threats and near-misses. Is someone hunting him and Iryna? And if so, why?
As their newfound love deepens, so does the danger surrounding them. To survive, they’ll need all their wits but also their faith.
The prima ballerina with the Grand Kyiv Ballet, Iryna is excited for her American tour—and the chance to reconnect with the brown-eyed American she hasn’t seen since childhood. Her trip is just beginning when tragedy strikes, resulting in a close friend’s mysterious death and a fear that she might be next.
Rick Carter wasn’t looking to fall in love, but the moment he laid eyes on his sister’s childhood friend all grown up, he fell hard. Their courtship, however, is haunted by unsettling threats and near-misses. Is someone hunting him and Iryna? And if so, why?
As their newfound love deepens, so does the danger surrounding them. To survive, they’ll need all their wits but also their faith.
245 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 15, 2025
3 people are currently reading
4139 people want to read
About the author
Amber Gabriel
20 books79 followersEver since I was a little girl, I have loved to read. One of the first books I remember reading was a Wonder Book version of Cinderella. It was in the reading station in my kindergarten class, and I loved the illustrations. I would pick that book out every time, so my teacher finally removed it from the shelf to force me to expand my horizons. Now I have my own copy.
Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.
In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.
Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing.
My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do.
Another book that influenced me very early on was Richard Scarry’s Busy, Busy World. It told a story of two creative painters who painted a mural of a large sun inside someone’s house. I thought the idea was genius, so I drew a large sunshine on my wall with crayon. It was scrubbed off, but I continued to have a desire to express myself artistically.
In middle school, I enjoyed writing, and my English teacher told me I would write a book someday. I loved to read, sometimes reading late into the night. When I was not reading, I was making up stories in my head for my own amusement, but I never wrote them down. I was more interested in drawing and painting than writing. I have since painted numerous works of art, including some very large outdoor murals. You can see some of them if you do an internet search of Paint by Amber.
Over the years, I have had a lot of trouble with insomnia. I had heard that if you write down your ideas, it will help you to be able to go to sleep. That didn’t help, but I did end up writing some complete novels. Recently, I was diagnosed with narcolepsy, and understanding my sleep patterns, along with scheduling at least one nap during the day, has greatly improved my quality of life. The line between dreaming and wakefulness for me is sometimes blurred, and some of my ideas come straight from my dreams. Others are worked out while I’m lying in bed unable to sleep. It was fun to type them out, and I am planning to continue writing.
My goal as an author is to write the type of books that I would like to read. My favorite genre is fantasy fiction, and I read and write books that tackle difficult issues but resolve themselves into a happy ending. I hope you enjoy my stories and characters as much as I do.
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
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September 1, 2025I originally started writing Frame of Reference eight years ago, but the situation in Ukraine changed daily, so I set it aside, unsure how to write a contemporary novel involving such an unstable, real-life location. However, the story wanted to be told, and I couldn't stop thinking about it. Finally, because of the constantly changing circumstances in Ukraine, I decided to ground it in a particular year. Therefore, this is a "historical novel" of sorts, set in 2017. I've had the privilege of teaching Russian and Ukrainian students in the US and abroad, and the ongoing war is heartbreaking. Please join me in praying for peace.
April 18, 2025
I beta read this one. It's not my usual genre at all, but it's a quick paced, fun look at a specific time in history. I'm not sure if it counts as historical fiction yet, but it has that vibe a little bit and also some good old school vibes that make it feel a little like an episode of a classic detective show.
June 6, 2025
Sweet and thrilling story!
Great story that keeps you guessing at each turn. Characters are endearing and well developed. The author takes great care in setting up true-to-life scenarios. It’s refreshing to read a Christian novel that has intrigue and romance but is clean and has good moral themes.
Great story that keeps you guessing at each turn. Characters are endearing and well developed. The author takes great care in setting up true-to-life scenarios. It’s refreshing to read a Christian novel that has intrigue and romance but is clean and has good moral themes.
December 3, 2025
Such a great story! There's definitely intrigue, suspense, and romance! I loved reading the story unfold and how it all wrapped up! If you love suspense and romance, I definitely recommend Frame of Reference!
April 23, 2025
A fun, intriguing read!
I was so excited to get this ARC promising intrigue, spy craft, romance, and faith. Iryna is a prima ballerina at the top of her game, excited to tour America and possibly reconnect with a childhood crush. Rick isn't expecting his little sister's friend to take his breath away with a simple hello.
I appreciated that Rick and Iryna's reconnection was simple. They saw each other, felt the attraction, and were pulled into each other's magnetic field. It demonstrated that their characters were mature and knew what they wanted such that they went for it when they saw it.
The mystery of this book was also exciting! I really didn't know where it was going, and the sudden twists left me needing to know what would happen next.
I also appreciated the inclusion of faith, especially as part of Rick's journey, because it clearly affected his ability to get close to Iryna. I would have liked Iryna's own religious motivation background to be even more developed, especially because the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has a deeply rich history, but I thought her simple trust paired well with Rick's deeper questioning.
That being said, I enjoyed this story! I would love to see the author go even further on the religious theme in future books, because I think she's onto something here.
I was so excited to get this ARC promising intrigue, spy craft, romance, and faith. Iryna is a prima ballerina at the top of her game, excited to tour America and possibly reconnect with a childhood crush. Rick isn't expecting his little sister's friend to take his breath away with a simple hello.
I appreciated that Rick and Iryna's reconnection was simple. They saw each other, felt the attraction, and were pulled into each other's magnetic field. It demonstrated that their characters were mature and knew what they wanted such that they went for it when they saw it.
The mystery of this book was also exciting! I really didn't know where it was going, and the sudden twists left me needing to know what would happen next.
I also appreciated the inclusion of faith, especially as part of Rick's journey, because it clearly affected his ability to get close to Iryna. I would have liked Iryna's own religious motivation background to be even more developed, especially because the Ukrainian Orthodox Church has a deeply rich history, but I thought her simple trust paired well with Rick's deeper questioning.
That being said, I enjoyed this story! I would love to see the author go even further on the religious theme in future books, because I think she's onto something here.
July 1, 2025
Amber Gabriel did it again! She delivered a story that has rich characters, an engaging plot, and an enticing conflict that is also mysterious. She is as talented in realistic fiction as she is in fantasy. If you enjoy mysteries, stories where characters are challenged to face whether they truly can trust God or not, and clean romance where the man is honorable and the woman respects herself and the man she is falling in love with, then you NEED to read this book!
February 26, 2025
I loved this book! The faith themes were strong and the romance is adorable. The mystery was intriguing and kept the pages turning.
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March 16, 2025I read an early draft of this one. Though it was still under construction at the time, I already loved the sweetness of the romance, the russian culture and history sprinkled in, and as always, I enjoy it when a book explores deeper themes.
Amber's stories tend to give you plenty of food for thought and self reflection.
Content warnings (during my early draft read)
Coarse language: none
Violence & gore: no gore, and at the time mild violence on screen
Sexual content: some chaste kisses and hand holding only
Amber's stories tend to give you plenty of food for thought and self reflection.
Content warnings (during my early draft read)
Coarse language: none
Violence & gore: no gore, and at the time mild violence on screen
Sexual content: some chaste kisses and hand holding only
July 15, 2025
This was a fun read, with mystery, ballet, and romance--though at times, it did feel a bit disconnected.
The first half of the novel is heavily focused on the growing romance between Rick and Iryna, to the point where I was wondering when the suspense would really start to kick in. After the halfway mark, the novel focused a lot more on the mystery and politics, which was much more interesting to me and really the reason why I finished.
It was a bit weird reading this as "historical fiction". I know it wasn't advertised that way, but I was just surprised that the novel was set in 2017, as many early scenes of the novel made me think sometimes in the 1900s.
As for faith elements, Iryna is an Orthodox Christian (?) and Rick seems to have been brought up evangelical (though now he doesn't believe, though at one point he find an evangelical pastor to seek counseling). Rick grapples with his faith and questions why bad things happen to God people. There were moments/elements that I felt could have been explored more, but everything wrapped up well enough.
The first half of the novel is heavily focused on the growing romance between Rick and Iryna, to the point where I was wondering when the suspense would really start to kick in. After the halfway mark, the novel focused a lot more on the mystery and politics, which was much more interesting to me and really the reason why I finished.
It was a bit weird reading this as "historical fiction". I know it wasn't advertised that way, but I was just surprised that the novel was set in 2017, as many early scenes of the novel made me think sometimes in the 1900s.
As for faith elements, Iryna is an Orthodox Christian (?) and Rick seems to have been brought up evangelical (though now he doesn't believe, though at one point he find an evangelical pastor to seek counseling). Rick grapples with his faith and questions why bad things happen to God people. There were moments/elements that I felt could have been explored more, but everything wrapped up well enough.
January 13, 2026
I have mixed feelings about this book. It started off very slow and the events and time zones were confusing. Halfway through it picked up speed. I loved the suspense and intrigue! I was totally surprised to find out who the perpetrator was. It was extremely interesting to read about ballet. The characters were well written and the faith aspect was subtle. The ending was perfect!!
May 27, 2025
This novel was intriguing, but the romance was just too much. There wasn't enough background on the two characters to make it seem like they loved each other rather than were just infatuated with each other. I did enjoy the political aspect though.
May 21, 2025
Past and present are brought together in this well-written romantic suspense novel. The romantic relationship between Ukranian prima ballerina Iryna Schevchenko and architect Rick Carter, the son of an American diplomat, takes center stage. But the death of Iryna's best friend, a cryptic matchbook message, and several threatening events add tension to the plot and keep you turning pages. Each member of Iryana's ballet troupe becomes a suspect in the threat against Iryan and Rick. The characters are well-developed, and the plot is believable, including the inner workings of a ballet company, international politics, and a sweet love story. Perhaps current events involving Ukraine make this novel even more interesting.
June 19, 2025
Faith in God is Reborn through this murder mystery. If you have ever questioned your faith from the loss of a loved one this book will resonate with you. I enjoy the entertainment of a classic "who did it" murder mystery with heartfelt romance. This book also has fact based historical events that make me want to learn more outside of reading this book. It touches on family dynamics from the death of a child. A quick and easy read with quality and substance. I recommend taking it on your next vacation, holiday, trips to the doctors waiting room, or before bedtime reading. I will be gifting this book to someone who enjoys a murder mystery.
***I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required. Opinions expressed are my own.***
***I received a complimentary copy of the book. No review was required. Opinions expressed are my own.***
April 15, 2025
I enjoyed this sweet love story of an ambassador's son and a Ukrainian ballerina who met as children. The relationships and history are well explained, so it's easy to understand when they meet as adults and their story continues. There is a threat to their relationship as someone is trying to kill them. But why? We are fed little bits of info but are not given the answer ahead of time. I was a little disappointed that Iryna was a fainting lily at times when it seemed she could have been stronger. But then again, I haven't had someone try to kill me. Overall, a very nice story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews