Book Review: Catherine: Inisde the Heart and Mind of a Great Monach (The Volga Flows Forever Series Book 1)

 I am reviewing this book for Media Quest.net

About the Book:
 
  Catherine: Inside the Heart and Mind of a Great Monarch…


“You look astonishingly pretty,” admits Johanna when Sophia steps out of her bedroom dressed in Ulrika’s magnificent gown. Sophia is stunned, halting in mid-step. This is rare praise from her cold mother, so she must, indeed, look very good. At Frederick’s side during the elaborate court dinner, Sophia shines and sparkles with youth and wit. The monarch is very pleased with his choice. Indeed, he is so enamored with the girl that he opens his purse to outfit mother and daughter, both woefully deficient in material matters appropriate for court life.
So begins the transformation of Princess Sophia of Anhalt-Zerbst into Catherine the Great of Russia. The personal and professional triumphs and tribulations of this remarkable woman are retold by Sigrid Weidenweber, whose research into the life of Catherine reveals a new perspective on Catherine, from the inside out. Sigrid portrays with heartfeld understanding what it was like to have been such a major European political and military, social and cultural figure during the eighteenth century.

About the Book: 
  I have to admit. I was very intimidated when I saw how many pages this book was. On my Nook it showed over 800 pages. However once I got started reading the book, I couldn't put t down. . The author did a wonderful job making me feel like I was a part of the story. I am a history buff and have always wanted to know more about Catherine certainly satisfied my curiosity. You can tell that Sigrid took a lot of time and thoroughly research for her book. I also like how different stories were woven together to give us a complete look at Catherine's life wrapped in adventure and mystery.
I look forward to reading book two in the Volga Flows forever series. I give this book five stars out of 5! (I love this book!)

About the Author

About Sigrid Weidenweber: Born in Germany in 1941, Sigrid Weidenwber remembers the horrific aftermath of fascism. At the end of the war, she found herself living under communism. After the Berlin Wall was built, she managed to escape the repressive environment with the help of friends and a French passport. To this day she does not speak French.

She holds degrees in medical technology, psychology and an Honorary Doctor of Letters from Concordia University of Portland, Oregon for her trilogy “The Volga Flows Forever.” In her trilogy she brings to life Catherine the Great in her multiple roles as monarch, woman, lover, mother, grandmother and head of the general staff of the army, in Volume one. The following two historical volumes deal with the Volga Germans brought to Russia by Catherine’s edict.

Three years ago she moved to Santa Rosa Valley, California from Portland Oregon. She has passionately embraced California together with her family that also resides here. Visit her website here.