Bomb Cyclone by J.A. Adams features a stunningly imagined tale of international intrigue that follows two elaborately developed characters as they navigate dangerous waters in an unprecedented romance. Mykola has always been intrigued by his father's tales of how a cyclone bomb destroyed his ship that was carrying nuclear weapons and how one of the bombs got missing. Now, working as an assistant professor at an Ohio university, this son of an immigrant is still obsessed with the missing bomb and determined to find it. Meanwhile, Oksana Kovalska's language skills attract the attention of a Russian agent who offers her a scholarship with the promise of finding a position in the Russian diplomatic corps. But she is disappointed to know that her new job involves gathering intelligence. She eventually meets Mykola, by design. Tasked to extract information about the bomb coordinates from him, Oksana’s mission becomes complicated when she falls in love with him. Failure to complete her mission will lead to serious consequences, including death, but can she betray the man she is getting to love passionately every single day?

It is interesting to notice how J.A. Adams melds history and romance in this spellbinding tale, intelligently offering a vivid portrait of the conquest of Crimea while exploring the political atmosphere underpinning the rise of the current Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The author’s gift for characterization shines through the narrative, and Adams succeeds in imagining and creating characters with rich and solid backgrounds, deftly writing motivation into them. The romance creates a twist that readers won’t see coming and it is one of the most powerful plot points that creates the fertile ground for a solidly written conflict. Bomb Cyclone is a resonant tale that contemporary readers will definitely enjoy, a story that deftly and intelligently portrays the Russian role in international politics. This fun, immersive tale hits the spot and the confident writing is a bonus that delivers a delightful reading experience.