Review: The Power of Love!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 1, 2014
I spent months waiting for volume two of Sergei and Bianca's story. I trolled blog sites, peeked onto the author's website, and was ready to light a candle and kill a goat when the email alert arrived that the book was live on Amazon. I couldn't get there fast enough - and I wasn't disappointed!When we left Sergei and Bianca in volume 1, Bianca had survived a vicious attack, bought Sergei's freedom from the Russian mob, and they settling in together as a couple and awaiting the birth of their unplanned, but most wanted child. Whew!Volume two is equally as "busy" with family issues, more attacks and kidnappings, and Sergei's efforts to keep his prior life from tainting his new life with Bianca.However, this time around, I don't feel it's WHAT they go through (which was life and death serious), but the fact that they went through it together, determined that nothing would ever come between them. There seems to be nothing these two will not do for each other. Despite their rocky beginning and Bianca's determination not to get involved with "someone like Sergei", their love has a depth and strength to it that I feel surpasses the other couples.Sergei and Bianca have stood up to their mothers in defense of each other. Mona Bradshaw came around easy enough. While admitting Sergei was not her pick for her daughter, all she wanted was for Bianca to be happy. Galina Sakharovna was another story. She had obvious respect for Bianca's design talents and business acumen, and was most grateful for her helping Sergei get out of the Russian mob, but racial prejudice still led her to not want Sergei with Bianca. I don't fault Galina or judge her too harshly for that. It was all she knew - the way she had lived her entire life. However, when Sergei put his foot down and let her know that under no circumstances would he ever walk away from Bianca and they were going to stay together and raise a family, Galina knew she had to make a decision. Not only did she continue to treat Bianca with respect, she slowly made overtures and reached out to her. We see who Galina really is though when she helps Bianca in her time of need. Keeping a cool head, she gets her to the hospital, finds Sergei and sits with Bianca until he arrives. Let's face it, a different kind of person would have been indifferent and not lifted a finger to help. When we later see Galina looking at the sonogram printout of her grandchildren with tears in her eyes, we know this family can and will overcome anything.The addition of the recently released from prison Ten gave us another Russian male with issues to watch. He flirted with Bianca and didn't hide his interest. He was also very direct in telling her what she could be up against meeting Sergei's mother. Even Sergei had not done that. Ten was just as quick to tell her how best to handle the situation to resolve it in Bianca's favor. Some may have thought Ten would have made a good "third party" for a Sergei/Bianca obstacle to overcome. Personally, I don't feel it would have gone anywhere or been believable. Sergei and Bianca aren't some average couple who met and decided to date. Risks were taken, lives put on the line, sacrifices made. You don't risk their kind of love for a wandering eye. Besides, Sergei is aware that Ten also has an affinity for women "like Bianca" and would never let it happen. There is no love lost between the two men, but there is a grudging respect, and Ten could turn out to be a valuable ally in the future. And with him flirting with Bianca's cousins at the wedding reception, he could end up with his own storyline. Hint, hint! LOL!The kidnapping may have been well planned, but it wasn't smart or well thought out. No matter what your issue is with Nikolai and his people, somewhere along the line, folks should have learned by now to not mess with their women. But, Maksim and Romero are probably not done stirring up trouble. We're sure to hear about/from them again.I truly love Roxie Rivera's "Her Russian Protector" series, and look forward to continuing the journey with the other couples, and finding out what's going on with Kostya, Alexei, Danila, and Vasya. And I'm always ready for another Sergei/Bianca adventure!Kudos!