Amid the violent last days of the glittering Russian monarchy, a
princess on the run finds her heart where she least expects it.
1917, Petrograd. Fleeing the murderous flames of the Russian
Revolution, Princess Svetlana Dalsky hopes to find safety in Paris with
her mother and sister. But the city is buckling under the weight of the
Great War, and the Bolsheviks will not rest until they have erased every
Russian aristocrat from memory. Svetlana and her family are forced into
hiding in Paris's underbelly, with little to their name but the jewels
they sewed into their corsets before their terrifying escape.
Born the second son of a Scottish duke, the only title Wynn MacCallan
cares for is that of surgeon. Putting his talents with a scalpel to good
use in the hospitals in Paris, Wynn pushes the boundaries of medical
science to give his patients the best care possible. After treating
Svetlana for a minor injury, he is pulled into a world of decaying
imperial glitter. Intrigued by this mysterious, cold, and beautiful
woman, Wynn follows Svetlana to an underground Russian club where drink,
dance, and questionable dealings collide on bubbles of vodka.
Out of money and options, Svetlana agrees to a marriage of convenience
with the handsome and brilliant Wynn, who will protect her and pay off
her family's debts. It's the right thing for a good man to do, but Wynn
cannot help hoping the marriage will turn into one of true affection.
When Wynn's life takes an unexpected turn, so does Svetlana's--and soon
Paris becomes as dangerous as Petrograd. And as the Bolsheviks chase
them to Scotland, Wynn and Svetlana begin to wonder if they will ever be
able to outrun the love they are beginning to feel for one another.
"The Ice Swan is a ray of light in the middle of a Europe that was
sinking into darkness. Ciesielski's talent for storytelling from the
heart is a feast for the readers' eyes." --Mario Escobar, international
bestselling author of Remember Me and Children of the Stars
- Adventurous World War I historical romance
- For fans of Kate Quinn, Beatriz Williams, and Aimie K. Runyan
- Full-length, stand-alone novel (approx. 120,000 words)
- Includes discussion questions for book clubs
