When people lose faith they become hopeless, after hopelessness comes desperation. At this point it seems there is nothing left to lose.  In here, lies the danger.

Jean Marie Stanberry’s new novel “Blood, Sweat and Fears is an action packed thriller that will leave you breathless.  The year is 1980 and tensions are running high in the communist USSR.  Alexander Peterov has a plan to escape his dreary life there and defect to the USA.  He has engineered a plan to seduce a young co worker and marry her in an attempt to get US citizenship.  His elaborate plan backfires when it becomes evident that this young women isn’t as easily manipulated as Alexander has imagined she might be.  As weeks pass and he seems no closer to his goal than ever, Alexander is beginning to get very nervous.   He is not wiling to give up his quest for the perfect life in America.  Before long, his casual attraction has developed into a full fledged obsession and he is becoming more desperate by the moment. 

Jenna Bruce, the object of his affection, seems to be completely unmoved by his attempts to seduce her.  In fact, she files a complaint of sexual harassment against him and despite their close working arrangement, she has been doing everything she can to avoid him.  When another man makes the moves on Jenna at their “Farewell to Paris” celebration, Alexander becomes consumed with jealousy.  As his mental status begins to crumble he finally succumbs to his baser urges and the night ends in a shocking crescendo of violence.

When Alexander finally regains his senses and realizes what he has done he is remorseful.   Unfortunately, he is still not ready to throw in the towel and give up his plans to defect from the USSR.  The deception grows deeper as he weaves an even bigger web of lies to to justify his actions and avoid imprisonment.

Coming to bookstores and all major e-readers on May 1, 2014.  Visit:   jeanstanberry.com or follow her @jeanstanberry