New Review: Johanna Lindsey’s HEARTS AFLAME – Superb Viking-Saxon Romance—and a Keeper!

This is one of my all time favorite Viking romances. It is the 2nd in a trilogy, stories of a Viking family (FIRES OF WINTER, HEARTS AFLAME and SURRENDER MY LOVE), but it can be enjoyed as a stand-alone. It is quite wonderful--an engaging story and well-told. In a bit of a twist, it’s a Saxon lord capturing a Viking maiden.

Set in the late 9th century when Vikings sailed south to England, Scotland and Ireland to raid, it tells the story of Kristen Haardrad, the independent, strong-willed and much loved daughter of a wealthy Viking merchant (whose story is told in FIRES OF WINTER). Having spurned her many suitors because she can find no spark of love with any of them, she stows away on her brother's ship believing he is headed to the southern coastal towns for trade where she hopes to find a husband. But her brother is not sailing to trade, but rather to raid. And he is not pleased when he discovers his sister is aboard his ship. Still, he proceeds with his plans. It all goes awry when Kristen is captured and made the slave of the Saxon lord, Royce of Wyndhurst, a favored knight of King Alfred.

Royce is a tough but fair leader who is betrothed to a manipulating female he doesn't really want. He fights his attraction to his beautiful Viking slave, but Kristen, who has finally met a man who stirs her passion, has decided he is her "heartmate" and will have no other. Kristen is proud and determined to win his heart and not just his body.

Lindsey keeps you intrigued with rich characters, snappy (and sometimes funny) dialog, great action scenes and wonderfully believable tension between Kristen and Royce. I loved this story and will certainly re-read it. It's the best of the trilogy (in my opinion) and definitely a keeper!