January is Vikings month on Historical Romance Review so get
ready for those marauding adventurers and their lady loves! I’m starting with
one of my very favorites. Hearts Aflame
is the second in the Haardrad Viking family trilogy, 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 book #1). Having spurned her many suitors
because she can find no spark of love with any of them, Kristen 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.
All goes awry when Kristen is captured and made the slave of
the Saxon lord, Royce of Wyndhurst, a favored warrior 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 she will have no
other. Royce wants her in his bed, but Kristen is proud and determined to win
his heart.
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. It's definitely a
keeper!
On Amazon
The Haardrad Viking trilogy:
Fires of Winter
Hearts Aflame
Surrender My Love
Viking/Saxon romances are right up my alley in this time period. Vikings were already settling in England, so it was not unheard of that a Saxon and Viking could make a life together. But the differences between them make for a real conflict.
ReplyDeleteI loved this one too!
ReplyDeleteIt's a great story, no doubt about it!
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