Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: This book deserves five stars for its sense of place and one for characterization. The setting is 1941 Leningrad, where the two Metanov sisters live in a communal apartment with their parents, grandparents, and brother. Paullina Simons creates a vivid and believable portrait of Soviet life during World War II, which is what kept me going throughout the length of the book.The two sisters fall for the same guy, army officer Alexander. Alexander meets Dasha first, but the younger Tania is the one he loves. Tania begs Alexander not to tell Dasha about their relationship because she does not want to hurt the sister she adores. This could make for a pretty interesting plot, especially with these gripping war scenes that keep the tension high. Unfortunately, Dasha is such a charmless whinger that Tania's devotion to her is not credible, nor is Alexander's attraction to her in the first place. Then there's Alexander's evil friend Dimitri, and Alexander's secret, and the siege of Leningrad . . . it all turns into much of a muchness pretty fast. This is too bad because the first part of the book is very nicely done, full of fine detail and excellent descriptions of the small pleasures of life in the pre-war Soviet Union. Throughout, the writing on the suffering of civilians during the war and especially during the siege is quite moving. But then the melodrama gets in the way and yanks "The Bronze Horseman" off its pedestal.
Rating: 
Summary: A Note From the Editor
Review: HarperCollins was thrilled when Paullina decided to change publishers and we were the lucky house she chose. What a thrill to publish THE BRONZE HORSEMAN, which really is the book that Paullina was born to write. Russia is in her blood, it's where her family comes from--the country they were forced to leave behind--and Paullina has captured it in all it's sad, disappearing glory. And what a love story! Many readers have compared this to Dr. Zhivago and everyone who meets Tatiana and Alexander falls in love with them. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to get lost in another world and feel like characters in a book are real people who've come to life.
Rating:
Summary: UNFORGETTABLE
Review: I was pulled into the story in the first few pages. The painful, yet sweet, romance between Alexander and Tatiana is beautiful, and breathtaking. I couldn't put the book down. In fact, my husband was a little irritated because he was being sometimes ignored while my nose was in this book. More importantly, it describes in great detail the horrors that the Russian people faced during WWII. I could picture exactly what Paullina Simons was describing in many of her scenes because I've been to Russia. I highly recommend this book - especially if you love to learn about other cultures. I'm eagerly awaiting the sequel.
Rating:
Summary: Stunning!
Review: I couldn't think about anything else but Tania & Shura while reading this book. I'll never be able to think of St. Petersburg or hear anything about that city without recalling their breathtaking story. My heart soared and then nearly stopped so many times I lost count. At Amazon.co.uk I found what you'll be aching to know when you've finished. - The Bridge to Holy Cross by Paullina Simons to be released (argh) April of 2003!
Rating:
Summary: EXCELLENT !!!
Review: This is the first book I've ever been motivated enough to write a comment on. "The Bronze Horseman" is a beautiful lovestory that also gives us history of the inside of a country I know little about. I AM PRAYING FOR A SEQUEL!!! It's a book you just want to continue reading forever!!! Don't let the story end here, please !!! Paullina Simons is a very gifted, talented, writer and I look immensly forward to her future books. This is the first book of hers I've read but you can bet I'm going to go back and see what I missed in her past books.
Rating:
Summary: The Bronze Horseman
Review: "Bronze Horseman" combines romance and an eye-opening look at a country at war, proving to be a story that was irresistible and a book impossible to put down. Paullina Simons painted such a vivid picture of Russia and the city of Leningrad at war with Germany during WWII that I felt as though I was personally involved in every scene. The heroine of "The Bronze Horseman" is a woman of indomitable love, courage, and strength---a Russian with deep, abiding passions that get her through life no matter what the odds. It's a massive book, a huge story, and worth every penny you will spend on it.
Rating:
Summary: one of the great love stories of fiction
Review: I finished reading this book on Sunday afternoon. On Sunday night I began re-reading this book, savoring every page. There were times that I had to literally stop reading to catch my breath (from the moving scenes of wartorn Leningrad to the descriptions of the sexual tensions between Alexander and Tatiana). This story ranks up there with Scarlett and Rhett, Catherine and Heathcliff, Romeo and Juliet, Francesca and Robert. I could not stop reading this book. It has been ages since I stayed up to 1:00 and 2:00 am reading. READ THIS BOOK!
Rating:
Summary: I Loved this Book
Review: In fact when I reached the end, I went straight back to the beginning to read it again. The book combines a very moving love story with riveting scenes from the history of World War II. Based on the true experiences of the author's grandparents, it brings to life the awful horror of the siege of Leningrad, when millions of the city's inhabitants starved to death due to military action by Nazi Germany. The will to survive and the compelling love of the two main characters is the main focus of the book, but along the way you learn what happened when the food stores were burnt down, how families stuck together, how people simply collapsed and died as they walked along the street. This is gripping stuff, and anyone who loves a good historical novel will want to read it. You can learn so much about the past when you immerse yourself in the lives of these characters.
Rating:
Summary: EXTRAORDINARY LOVESTORY*****10 stars******
Review: All I can say is: read this book!!!! Alexander and Tania will stand out in your memory just like Jamie and Claire Fraser from Diana Gabaldon's Outlander series. This book has just about everything, history, passion, political intrigue, adventure, betrayal, secrets, and a tortured hero that you will come to love with all of your heart. I took many things away with me from reading wonderful, wonderful book: to appreciate my family and love & live life to the absolute fullest. Tania and Alexander make this book worthwhile to read over and over and over again. A 600+ page book that took me three days and nights to read. Plenty of reread moments in this book. Believe me, you will not be able to put this book down. Thank You Paullina Simons. For you have written a beautiful story that soars. I await the sequel. This book is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Story!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: I absolutly agree with all the previous reviews. This wonderful book stayed with me for days after i finished it. I did not want it to end, although i think my husband and children were glad to have mommy back. I was even a little sad after finishing it. It was hard letting go of Tatiana & Shura. I even think this book has "MOTION PICTURE" written all over it. But only after the sequel!!!!
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