Sometimes the road to freedom is a six-thousand-mile-long railroad track. Sometimes the road to love is even longer.
The Former Russian Empire, 1918
Czech soldier Filip Sedlák never wanted to fight for the Austro-Hungarian Empire. So at the first opportunity, he defected to the Russians. Now he and others like him have formed the Czechoslovak Legion. Their goal: leave the chaos of Russia, sail to France, and help the Allies defeat the Central Powers, thereby toppling a hated empire and winning an independent Czechoslovakia.
With the fall of the tsar, Nadia Linskaya’s life is in ruins. Her family is dead, her lands are confiscated, and her aristocratic world is gone forever. But Nadia is determined to elude the Bolshevik agent who destroyed her family and find a way to survive in this changed world.
When Nadia takes refuge with the Czechoslovak Legion, the last thing she expects is an ally. But when Filip proposes a sham marriage to ensure her safe passage across Siberia, she takes it. Neither Filip nor Nadia expect real love, not when the legion has to take over the longest railroad in the world—and then hold it against Bolshevik counterattacks, partisan sabotage, Allied intrigue, and a set of brutal Siberian winters. At risk is the future of Czechoslovakia, the fate of Russia—and their hearts.
Published by Covenant in print, audio, and ebook. Available at Amazon, Audible, Barnes & Noble, Deseret Book, Kobo, and Seagull Book.
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Praise for A Waltz with Traitors
“Sowards knows her stuff, and it’s apparent in this historical novel about the Czechoslovak Legion and their systematic takeover of a large portion of the Trans-Siberian Railway during their time in Russia. In their valiant efforts to claim a new nation for themselves, a free country that was to be named Czechoslovakia, these brave men and their families not only overcame impossible odds but also changed the course of history in the region. We see that through the eyes of a group of men who called the Sixth Regiment home for several years during these dangerous times. A Waltz With Traitors by A. L. Sowards is different from anything I have read so far. I loved meeting these characters and seeing this time in history from a different perspective! I had not heard of the Czechoslovak Legion before reading this book and seeing a bit of their outlook on the events of the war and their journey to independence in this setting was both enlightening and fascinating! I loved Filip and Nadia from the moment they met, but I quickly fell in love with so many of these characters, and from the opening pages I knew I had found something special! This book is an emotional and heart-warming tale that is immensely entertaining and well researched concerning this powerful and revolutionary time in history.”
—Readers’ Favorite
“Once again, A. L. Sowards knocks it out of the park with a wonderful story filled with suspense, amazing research, and unforgettable characters in a fascinating settings. A Waltz with Traitors is un-put-down-able.”
—Jennifer Moore, best selling author of The Blue Orchid Society series
“This historical was beyond thrilling and captivating . . . Seeing these brave individuals not only survive but thrive was beyond satisfying. This isn’t a tale for the faint-hearted, but it is one that should definitely be read. An inspiring read.”
—Charissa Stastny, author of Love Notes and Of Sky and Stone
“A well-researched and moving story about a little known chapter of World War I . . . A beautiful and resilient love story in one of the darkest times.”
—Samantha Hastings, author of Secret of the Sonnet
“A. L. Sowards has become a masterful author of historical fiction. Her talent shines in her new novel, A Waltz with Traitors. She weaves together little-known facts regarding World War I and what happened with those fighting for independence and hoping to create their own country of Czechoslovakia. Strong characters, such as Filip Sedlák and Nadia Linskaya, touch your heart as they struggle to find love during a war. If you want to get lost in a wonderful story, I highly recommend this book.”
—Kathi Oram Peterson, award-winning suspense author
“A. L. Sowards has written a masterpiece in A Waltz With Traitors. This well researched book carries the reader into an overwhelming world of war and chaos after the Russian tsar has fallen. Soward does a brilliant job of keeping the story moving while relating the history of the Czechoslavakian Legion.”
—Laura Rupper, author of Nora and the Sacred Stones and The Sergeant and the Girl Next Door
A. L. Sowards 