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Heirs of Anton #2

The Spy Who Loved Me

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Epic Romantic Suspense series by a RITA & Christy award-winning author

Nadia “Hope” Moore always feared that being married to her super spy husband, Mickey, would get her – or him, killed. The man simply doesn’t know how to quit when he’s down.

Or, about to be executed. It’s her worst nightmare come true when she is sent stateside, only to leave Mickey behind to be captured and sent to gulag. But she’s not going to let him die, even if he has betrayed her.

The last thing Mickey wants is his beautiful wife to spring him from gulag. Execution is the price of his stupidity, and without the ability to get word to Nadia, she’ll walk right into the same trap. But when his worst nightmares seem to come true, he’ll have to choose between saving the woman he loves, and becoming the traitor his country has branded him.

**formerly published as Nadia

220 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2004

17 people are currently reading
350 people want to read

About the author

Susan K. Downs

29 books21 followers
SUSAN K. DOWNS resides in Canton, Ohio, where her husband serves as a district superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene. This mother of five and grandmother of one traded her career as an international adoption program coordinator for one as a writer and editor, but she still loves to visit Russia. . .if only by way of her imagination.

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5 stars
157 (43%)
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138 (37%)
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54 (14%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for Sara.
203 reviews23 followers
October 24, 2015
The Heirs of Anton is an amazing series!!! I suggest, though, reading the books in reverse order since the story begins at the end and works backward. I had to keep going back to get the characters straight.
Profile Image for Wendy Sparkes.
Author 3 books24 followers
November 16, 2015
#2 Heirs of Anton

The story opens in Moscow 1970, a spy story set during the height of the Cold War.

Captured as a spy in Russia and proclaimed as a traitor to his country by the CIA, Mickey Moore's fate is sealed. Held in a gulag in Russia he endures torture while keeping quiet about his secrets, and with the CIA leaving him to his fate, death is looming.

Even if her husband has betrayed her, Nadia knows full well her husband would not have betrayed his country and fellow agents in Russia. So, for the sake of her marriage, the baby daughter he has never met, and his reputation for his country, Nadia will go back to Russia, spring her husband from the gulag, and prove his innocence.

Only, she doesn't know who betrayed him.

Who can she trust? Aranoff? Lena?

Who is out for revenge?

An interesting and fast-paced, action-filled spy story.

I'm really enjoying this series, and am very glad I wasn't left with an "Oh NO!" moment at the end like I was in Oksana and Marina! I've now started reading Ekaterina.

The authors have done an unusual thing in a series, starting in the modern day, & gradually going back in time down the generations. My sister read them in the published order, then went back & read them in chronological order. She suggested I would probably like to read them in chronological order, which is why I started with #4 instead of #1! I'm enjoying seeing this family through the generations.

A favourite familiar character of this series is Brother Timofea. I've loved him through this series. He has gentle ways, Godly wisdom, and a compassionate heart ~ and does a tremendous work with the underground movement! I wonder if he'll still be alive in Ekaterina? I hope so.

Heirs of Anton

#1 Ekaterina (Heirs of Anton, #1) by Susan K. Downs #2 Nadia (Heirs of Anton, #2) by Susan K. Downs #3 Marina (Heirs of Anton, #3) by Susan K. Downs #4 Oksana (Heirs of Anton, #4) by Susan K. Downs
Profile Image for Ann's Reading Corner.
211 reviews22 followers
February 7, 2025
4.5 stars
This book continues the unraveling mystery of Ekaterina's family. Covered in lies and deceit to save lives, it also hurts and wounds people. This story is a beautiful second chance story of a wife returning to save her husband accused of the worst crimes because she cannot bear to have his death on her conscience and to give him a chance to prove one last time he loves her. Their life in danger and someone they trust is trying to arrest them again. But she can't let that happen. Because she has a baby at home.
I loved stepping back in time and learning about Soviet Russia. Not a fun time to live in ever, but very eye opening and something everyone should study and learn so it is not repeated again. The love Nadia has for Mickey is so touching, even though she has her doubts about him. How she came to the realization that God had always loved her and wanted her even when humanity had failed her. An amazing read and I can't wait to finish this series and find out what is going on!
106 reviews3 followers
June 5, 2015
"Nadia", by Susan May Warren with Susan K. Downs, is the second installment of the Heirs of Anton series. The series covers four generations of a family of Russian background and their faith. Nadia is the immediate prequel to "Ekaterina", and is the story of Kat's parents, Hope Nadezhda (Nadia) Moore and Michael (Mickey/Misha) Moore, who are both spies for the CIA.


The story is set in the USSR, in 1970. Hope has covertly entered Russia with the purpose of freeing her husband, Mickey, who had been imprisoned by the KGB and is scheduled to be executed in a matter of days. She is on her own without support from her father, spymaster Edward Neumann, who, along with the rest of the CIA in the United States, believe Mickey to be a traitor who betrayed two of their sleeper spies who were stationed in Russia. There are also the rumors that Mickey had betrayed their marriage by having an affair with another spy. Hope can't bring herself to believe that Mickey would betray their people, but she has another reason for wanting to get Mickey out of Russia; she needs him to be a father to their infant daughter, Ekaterina, even though she has doubts about his marital faithfulness. Mickey is unaware of the existence of Ekaterina; he has no knowledge of what had happened to Hope after his arrest.


With the help of friend who is a KGB mole, Aranoff Chornov, Hope springs Mickey from prison, but they narrowly escape capture when their escape route out of the country is blocked by KGB agents. Will Hope and Mickey be able to evade capture and make it out of the Soviet Union? Is Mickey a double agent who betrayed his own people? Or was he betrayed and framed by another?


One of the spiritual themes that is prevalent in "Nadia" is the need for both our protagonists to "let go and let God (do as He wills)." They need to surrender their own plans and agendas and trust God for whatever outcomes will result, even though what God has in plan for them may not be entirely clear. Hope is determined to get Mickey safely out of the USSR so that she and Ekaterina can have Mickey play the role of a father at home in the States. However, she runs into the brick wall that is Mickey's desire to make an impact as spy who has served his country well. Can she leave Mickey behind so that he can make his own way with his life and fulfill his career objectives? As for Mickey, can he give up his desire to find significance in making a difference for his country by serving as a spy, or can he settle for a quiet and less exciting life as a father to Ekaterina in the States? In addition to that dilemma, his struggle also involves his desires to exonerate himself and get revenge on whoever betrayed him.


While our heroine and hero work these things out, they continue to encounter danger and intrigue, including the mysterious appearance of Hope's father, Edward Neumann, in the USSR. One of the reasons for Edward's appearance is to support the continuity between the books in the series. There are other hints of information that are mentioned in "Nadia," that are revealed more fully in "Ekaterina", but there are still puzzles and mysteries regarding the Heirs of Anton series that are still unanswered even in this second installment.


I enjoyed the novel for the espionage story that it was. There are enough tidbits provided so that I'm interested enough to find out what happens in the remainder of the series, which includes "Marina" and "Oksana", parts three and four of the Heirs of Anton.




This review also appears on my blog:
http://whatiscbreading.blogspot.ca
Author 1 book69 followers
December 19, 2014
The Book:
The 2nd book in the Heirs of Anton series is Nadia. She is on a mission to free her husband from a Russian gulag prison. She must depend upon God to give her wisdom as she doesn’t know who is a friend or who is an enemy. That included her husband.

The first book in this series is actually the end of the series. It’s like giving the answer and then showing how to get to the solution.
The detail of Russian history and culture were weaved in the details of this book.

My Thoughts:
I love how this series is written. I fell in love with the characters in the Ekaterina, the first book. As a reader, I went back in time not only in Russian culture but with the family of Nadia. I had to piece together the mystery that was buried in the past.


I felt the danger, the darkness and then the light. It was a gripping story of spies and espionage. It showed the importance of the wisdom of God. I look forward to the next book.
Profile Image for Samantha.
136 reviews
December 19, 2008
A Cold War Spy Ring, A Chilling Encounter, and a Powerful Story of Family Love.....
watch the pieces of God's perfect plan come together when one woman begins a quest
for truth. All set in the year of 1970. Former CIA spy Nadia, "Hope" Moore is sneaking behind the Iron Curtain in hopes of springing her husband from a Russian gulag. She desperately wants to prove that he isn't a trader to his own country as well.
This book is fast paced and intense yet fairly enjoyable to read. I didn't care for some of the "romance" in this book as well as few other things yet it held my attention well and was hard to put down.
Profile Image for Dianne Sidebottom.
1,433 reviews15 followers
June 9, 2014
certainly hooked with the series. Happy to have read from Oksana, Marina, Nadia n now onto Ekaterina.
Who is the traitor, n who is Maria?
Edward has spent many years looking for Marina because he doesn't believe she died. This had affected his relationship with Nadia with long absences n with Mickey being in Russian camp for 2 yrs. Hope having gone back to USA pregnant n having her daughter which Mickey as the father may or may not know about. Hope wanted her daughter to have both parents as she knew what it was like not having a mother. So she was going to see about freeing Mickey n bring him home.
Profile Image for Leonie Cornell.
11 reviews
April 20, 2016
This is not my normal read. I tend to read the good feeling romances and stay away from spies and murders. But this series of books is so well written and pays attention to the history of the times, that it grabs your attention. Written as a series going back in time, you already know the characters a bit from the previous book but get to hear their younger stories from their perspective. A good read for all.
Profile Image for Jaclynn.
220 reviews
June 6, 2008
It’s 1970 and former CIA spy Nadia “Hope” Moore is sneaking behind the Iron Curtain to try and free her husband, also a spy, from the enemy. Before they are safely home, much happens including encounters with God and choices to be made and some things dug up from the past. Who is their greatest enemy? And what is Mickey, Nadia’s husband really searching for? This fast pace novel is gripping!
Profile Image for Tanya.
165 reviews1 follower
December 10, 2012
It really doesn't matter what the book is about, because I love the title. Fortunately, the story is good also. Its about a spy, who goes back to Russia to rescue her husband who is also a spy. Its the 2nd in a series, so I kind of wish I and recently read the first, but overall its good as a standalone.
Profile Image for Sharon.
1,226 reviews48 followers
June 19, 2016
This is a really great story but I knocked off a point because the rather poor editing/ proofing was an annoying distraction (after all, a great "reading" experience should be paired with a great story).
Profile Image for Aimee.
57 reviews1 follower
February 7, 2008
My favorite of the series. I think this one had the best story. Sometimes God does just have a plan for us.
Profile Image for Denise.
145 reviews
April 11, 2013
A series I wish I owned.

Years after reading these books, they still stick with me.
596 reviews
January 21, 2016
I did not read the 1st book in the series, but was able to quickly pick up the story. A good read which I enjoyed.
7 reviews1 follower
February 25, 2016
On the edge of my seat

I really enjoyed the story. It has sixpence and action and best of all a good romance. It also has the best of all things biblical quotes and verses.
Profile Image for Nadine Keels.
Author 46 books246 followers
October 11, 2022
Disclaimer: As historical fiction often has a stronger pull on me than contemporary, I'll admit the familiar pull pulled me right past the first (present-day) Heirs of Anton book to read Book Two instead, which takes place in the 1970s. But if I really feel I'm missing something after I've finished the three historical novels in this ChristFic series, I'll go back (but ahead in time in the saga) and read Book One last.

Now! The original cover of Nadia and my strong liking for a few other historical fiction books by Susan May Warren drew me to this novel, which I later realized she originally published in co-authorship with Susan K. Downs. I was hoping to find this Cold War romantic suspense story to be engrossing, and for the most part, I did.

But the read took somewhat longer than I prefer to paint a pretty clear picture of what's going on. (I usually like to be clear about the basis of the characters' situation and why it matters within my first fifteen minutes or so of reading, or it's hard for me to get invested.) I can't say the faith messages were my favorite overall; I found the "hope" theme, while relevant, to be overused/repetitive; and Nadia and Mickey frustrated me by going back and forth mentally and emotionally, changing their minds about being together (or not) over and over again.

Even so, the two of them and their married-couple relationship moved me in other ways too. Good ways. And as the twists of intrigue and danger ramped up, I was all in.

There's certainly plenty of family intrigue open for answers in the following books. And again, if I still have pressing questions after I read them, I'll go back (but forward!) and check out the first book.
Profile Image for Kelly Bridgewater.
1,206 reviews62 followers
July 31, 2018
The Spy Who Loved Me by Susan May Warren is the second book in the Heirs of Anton series. This is the story of Nadia and Mickey, aka Ekaterina's parents. I do find it weird that we started with the present day story and are moving backwards with a generation each novel, but I am sure Downs and Warren had a reason for doing this. Nadia's story is interesting and really doesn't focus a lot on Ekaterina. It is more the rescue and convincing of Mickey to return home to the states and stop doing Russian spy work. The plot does drag some. It is definitely not a fast moving story. There are moments where Nadia and Mickey end up in a situation that they have already been in. I enjoyed reading more about Ekaterina's parents, and there is still more questions left unanswered that I hope will be answered in Marina's and Edward's story. Overall, the story The Spy Who Loved Me didn't have enough fast action for me, but the characters and their story intrigues me. I think fans of spy novels or historical suspense should pick up this novel.
Profile Image for Nancy Holte.
514 reviews1 follower
February 22, 2021
It would help if you didn't plan on sleeping much while reading this book. It's hard to put down. Nadia's husband, Mickey, who happens to be a spy, is being held in a Russian gulag during the Cold War. But Nadia also happens to be a spy - a gutsy one at that, and she is intent on rescuing her husband from his prison. Her daughter deserves to know her dad. Nadia has some contacts in Russia but isn't entirely sure which ones she can trust. The trick will be to get him out of the gulag before he faces the firing squad. This book is the second in "The Heirs of Anton" series. I read the first one several years ago but didn't realize at the time that it was part of a series. I've decided that I like to read series books, one right after another, so I don't get too confused about who the characters are. This series is interesting because each successive book is from an earlier era. So far, I'm loving it!
Profile Image for Linda R.
486 reviews
December 20, 2024
Review of The Sparrow (The Crimson Legacy Book 2)

In this book, the author goes back to 1970 to tell the story of Ekaterina's parents.

Nadia "Hope" Moore left her life as a spy in Russia behind to return to America and give birth to a baby girl. Learning her husband, Michael "Mickey" Moore, a fellow agent, never received her message about leaving but was instead captured and is set to be executed, Nadia returns to Moscow to save him.

Previously published as Nadia and then The Spy Who Loved Me in The Heirs Of Anton, Susan May Warren has republished this series with new covers as The Crimson Legacy. Book 2 is now The Sparrow, the story of Hope and Mickey. I liked how strong this couple's faith and love were. I'm ready for more answers to the family's heritage.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book. I volunteered to read it and write a review.
Profile Image for Amy.
28 reviews3 followers
November 17, 2017
FROM THE COVER:

"It's 1970, and former CIA spy Nadia "Hope" Moore is sneaking behind the Iron Curtain. She's hoping to spring her estranged husband from a Russian gulag and prove to the CIA that Mickey Moore isn't a traitor - at least, not to his country."

"A Cold War spy ring. A chilling encounter. A powerful story of family love. Watch the pieces of God's perfect plan come together when one woman begins a quest for truth."

Profile Image for Allyson Anthony.
1,151 reviews47 followers
November 12, 2024
This spy story set during the Cold War captured my attention and was fast-paced. Nadia "Hope" returns to Russia because her husband Mickey has been sentenced to be executed. Nadia knows that Mickey would never betray his country, but who would set him up? Who can they trust? Even with the tension and conflict between them, they must navigate staying alive and proving Mickey's innocence. Such a great read with faith threads.
Profile Image for Chelsea Garay.
161 reviews13 followers
January 9, 2022
This is the second book in the tetralogy Heirs of Anton. As a whole it was a good storyline. I did feel the book needed more dialogue between characters and less inner dialogue. I found myself dragging through the middle with a lack of actual character conversation. The book ends once again with unanswered questions that I am assuming can be found by reading the next book “Marina”.
513 reviews1 follower
July 21, 2021
Fascinating, thrilling, and endearing

Susan May Warren never disappoints. There was the thrill of espionage; the allure of romance; and the mystery that surrounded it all. It's got me looking forward to the sequel.
Profile Image for TheModestMillennial.
489 reviews14 followers
March 8, 2019
Marriage can be hard, but when you're married to a spy, can you ever learn to trust? This fantastic story set in Cold War Era USSR will have you on the edge of your seat, searching for the truth among the lies and hoping for the impossible.
Profile Image for Janet Merrell.
647 reviews7 followers
December 21, 2020
The second in this series was fast paced, really kept me turning the pages, and guessing until the end. Enjoyed it from cover to cover.
Profile Image for Jessalyn Plant.
398 reviews1 follower
June 24, 2025
Still far too much cheesy romance for my taste, BUT the action and storyline were incredibly engaging. The plot kept me guessing until the last possible second and on the edge of my seat.
89 reviews
August 16, 2025
Suspenseful, intriguing. Couldn’t wait to get to the end to find out who the double agent(s) were.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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