Kristen Haardrad met the icy fury in her captor’s crystal-green gaze with defiance. She was the prisoner of Royce of Wyndhurst, but his slave she’d never be. This powerful Saxon lord had at last met his match in the Viking beauty – his equal in pride, in strength…and in the fierce, hot hunger of insatiable desire. But Kristen could not know the torment that divided his soul; how he ached to hold her soft, supple body, thirsted for the ringing joy of her laughter – yet hated her for an ancient crime that was not her own.
But her golden loveliness drives him mad with desire, her fiery eyes taunting him, compelling him to claim her. Until, in wordless surrender, they cast aside the shackles of doubt and distrust to unite forever in the searing promise of all-consuming love.
MY REVIEW — 4 STARS
I thought Brenna was the most fierce woman but wait until you meet her daughter, Kristen.
The previous book dealt with bodice-ripping, rape, and slavery, this one is much milder than that book.
This is the story of Kristen Haardrad, daughter to Garrick and Brenna and Lord Royce of Wyndhurst. Kristen wants to go on an adventure to find herself a husband, and when she asks her father if she could go with her brothers and cousins to sea, he refuses. Being left with no choice, Kristen sneaks onto the ship and hides in the lower compartments. But busted quite quickly and when they do find her, it is revealed that the men are going Viking. But things don’t go to plan, and they are quickly defeated and taken as prisoners.
Royce is confused yet intrigued by how the Vikings are treating the smallest of their pack. From what they’ve said, the boy is mute, and they keep him hidden amongst themselves, so when Royce finds out, it is not a he but she, she’s put to work as a slave in the household, but with her temper and his distrust in the woman, he forces her to wear shackles.
Now with another fierce woman put to slavery, it seems history is repeating itself. The difference between Brenna and Kristen, however, was that Kristen wasn’t as stubborn as Brenna. The moment she saw Royce, she knew he was the man for her, and she didn’t ignore those feelings as Brenna had for Garrick.
The side characters in this book, Eda, Meghan, Alden, and the Vikings were terrific. Meghan, Royce’s sister, and Kristen’s relationship were so loving, and I loved the friendship and trust they built.
I don’t know if this is a spoiler, but I’ve put it as spoilers just in case it is. (view spoiler)
This is a must read series if you love historical romance and if this is your first time reading historical fiction, you will not be disappointed.
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