Christmas In Transylvania
Deadly Angels (4.5)
Sandra Hill
Avon Books
E Book
Published October 28 2014
96 Pages
Holiday Romance
ISBN: 9780062117557 Authors Website
Synopsis For the first time ever,
the leader of the Viking Vampire Angels, Vikar Sigurdsson, has been
talked into celebrating a traditional Christmas! The tree has been
decorated, the gifts have been wrapped, and the stockings have been
hung. And that's mistletoe, not cobwebs, hanging from the ceiling of the
creepy castle full of vangels … really!
The icing on the vampire
cookie comes when vangel Karl Mortensen rescues Faith Larson, a
battered young waitress, from her abusive boyfriend and hides her in the
castle amidst the Christmas chaos. But what Karl thought was a frail
young teenager is actually a very tempting woman. And she thinks his
fangs are sexy!
But a strange "Christmas visitor" at the castle
and demon vampires up to their old tricks could threaten the budding
romance between Karl and Faith. It's an impossible match—a human and a
vangel—but Christmas is a time for magic.
The Norse King's Daughter
Viking I (10)
Sandra Hill
Avon
Mass Market Paperback
Published October 2011
349 Pages
Viking Historical Romance
ISBN: 978-0-06-167351-1 Author's Website
Hell Hath No Fury Like a Princess Scorned!
Princess
Drifa can certainly see whySidroc Guntersson is a living legend--on
battlefield and in bedchamber both.But the King of Stoneheim's willful
daughter pitches a royal fit when she learns of the true reason for the
virile Viking's passionate attentions.A third-born son with no hope of
inheriting the family jarldom, scheming Sidroc must marry and is
interested in Drifa only for her father's land and money. The barbarian
is lucky she just crack shim on his fool head with a pottery pitcher!
Five
years later, Drifa needs Sidroc's protection--in Byzantium, no
less!--though revenge holds more appeal for this man she left for
dead.'Tis a pity two such perfect enemies match each other so well,
passion for passion.So much so that the bold Viking berserkeris soon
thinking marriage again . . .only this time it will be on his terms!
My Review
I have always had such a fun time reading this author, especially when it involves her time travel books, so I was a bit surprised to find that this one didn't have one ounce of time travel. A historical set in the Dark Ages. I will warn you that the viking slang does take some getting used to, and is probably the reason I had a trying time getting into it at first, but once I fully adjusted I started to really enjoy it, and it was hard to put down at times. There was such a chemistry between Drifa and Sidroc, and even though they are almost at each others throats quite a bit, there is also much more to their relationship.
Sidroc Guntersson has recently lost his wife, and so his baby daughter needs him. Sidroc is very insistent that she survive. His father would like nothing better than to toss her out on the doorstep, but Sidroc knows that he will need to remarry in order to gain wealth he needs and a mother for his child. So when he hears that King of Stoneheim still has one daughter unmarried, he decides to try to court her and marry her. Princess Drifa at first is enamored with Sidroc, he is handsome and charming, and makes her warm all over, so she decides to accept his suit, until she learns that all he needs her for is for his daughter and for the money he would attain if he were to marry her. So she swings a pitcher across his head, and it ends up doing quite a bit of damage and he is unconscious for six weeks. He wakes to find Drifa gone with her sisters on a trip so he ends up leaving to go after his daughter only to find her gone so he leaves to build a new life for himself. Drifa is enraged when she hears of Sidroc's plot, but when she hears of his infant daughter, she decides to go after her and bring her back to Sidroc. When she returns she learns he is gone, and endeavors to find him. Now its been five years, and when she heads down to Byzantium, and is shocked to find him again. Now their mutual passion for each other has risen, and despite danger surrounding them at every turn, it will taking fully trust to defeat those that would tear them apart.
Sidroc is your typical viking, arrogant, confident, too good looking for his own good, and loves a beautiful woman in his bed. I found him to be very believable and fully authentic and so HOT you will need a fan to cool yourself down. Drifa I found to be a very endearing heroine, and I liked her immediately, and she has such courage and tenacity that is very admirable. She doesn't back down from Sidroc and I enjoyed seeing the chemistry build between the two characters.
I found this one to be a fun and adventurous tale that takes you back to the Viking Era, and shows a more sensual side to that time. I enjoyed the in depth characters, and the fun humor that keeps you laughing from beginning to end. I will warn you that the slang can be a bit much but if you give it time, you adjust to it, and it becomes a entertaining and enough intense conflict with the plot to keep you on edge at times. SATISFYINGLY ENJOYABLE!!!
First Line
Toss the babe in the Fjord. Or leave it on the cliff. Either way, the whelp will be dead afore morn. "
Favorite Quote
"Sidroc, you are a beast in bed, and you make me do bad things and I like them, and insult me way too often, and your teasing tongue is not amusing by half, but you are a good man,"
My Grade
4 Blossoms
Heat Rating
Steamy
Other Books In Series The Reluctant Viking The Outlaw Viking The Tarnished Lady The Bewitched Viking The Blue Viking My Fair Viking Tale of Two Vikings Viking In Love The Viking Takes A Knight
Lord Of Hawkfell Isalnd
Viking Series
Catherine Coulter
Jove, 389 Pages
Published Nov 1993
Viking
ISBN: 9780515112306
Synopsis
Rorik is a Viking warrior, as fierce and savage as the North Sea during the winter solstice. Mirana is a Viking woman who loves birds, is more ingenious than most men, and loyal down to her toes. Her life changes utterly one fateful day when Rorik and his men come to Clontarf, a Viking fortress on the eastern coast of Ireland, to kill her half-brother. But she is the one taken as a hostage to use as a pawn against him...Rorik is the Lord of Hawkfell, an island off the east coast of Britain. The moment he brings his captive home, it seems that everything begins to fly out of his control. The women are out to teach the men a lesson with the result that the food is rank, Rorik's family is out for Miranda's blood, a murderer is on the loose, and a huge mongrel, Kerzog, dotes not only on his master but also on his master's captive....
BOOK REVIEW
Summary:
Rorik, a Viking Warrior, seeks revenge against Einar, who brutally killed most of his people. So when he comes to kill him, he decides to take Einar's sister Mirana. So he takes her to his home, Hawkfell Island. Mirana, after tending to Rorik's injury, finds herself kidnapped by the very devil himself. Now she has been taken to his home on a island. Mirana, a viking woman herself,has lived under her half brother's reign, whom she knows deep inside how crazy he can get, and as she starts to spend time on Hawkfell Island, she starts to realize who her step brother truly is, and the desire that she feels with Rorik, flares up through her stay on the Island. But just when things start to come into sync, Rorik's family arrives, and even want her gone from Rorik's life, no matter the means by which it is done. So despite the love that Rorik and Mirana have built, it is threatened by forces all around them. Now will what they have shared, and the love they have built be enough to stand through the coming storm of opposition.
The Hero
Rorik, after losing his wife, children, and many of his people in a raid led by Miran's brother, has bitterness in his heart. So even though Mirana has helped heal him when he attacked her home, takes her as his captive on Hawkfell Isaldn. But her sweet spirit and the passion between them starts to slowly break through the hardness of his heart, and he finds himself in love once again. However upon the return of his family, all the bitterness and hatred come flying back.
The Heroine
Mirana, is very loyal, lover animals- especially birds, and is a healer. After Rorik attacks her home, intent on killing her step brother Einar, she ends up being the one to start healing him up. However, then he kidnaps her and takes her captive to his Island. At first she is enraged and bent on escaping his hold on her, but then his passionate embraces starts to weaken her resolve in exquisite pleasure. And she doesn't know where her resistance has gone, especially when she is welcomed so warmly by those around her, especially the women. When she starts to fall in love with Rorik, and feel that they have a chance at a future together, his family arrives, and she feel more like a outsider than ever before, and her life is threatened, as well as the love she has built with Rorik.
My Thoughts:
Lord Of Hawkfell Island, is the Second in the Viking Series by Catherine Coulter. This begins as a story of revenge and hatred, then slowly turns into the exact opposite of passion and love that is built between two people that in the beginning despised one another. Throughout this story, these characters come alive for the reader, and each page filled with passion, danger and excitement, and a tender love story. I love the journey that Coulter takes the reader on, filled with excitement and adventure on every page, and a story that will become such a page turner that you will have a hard time putting this one down on the table. Definitely a historical romance you don't want to miss out on!!
My Grade On This Book
4 Blossoms
Other Books In The Series
Season In The Sun
Lord of Raven's Peak
Lord of Falcon's Ridge
Golden Surrender
Viking Saga
Heather Graham
Dell,
398 Pages
Published March 1989
Medieval/Viking
ISBN: 0-440-12973-7
Synopsis:
TWO BOLD WARRIORS, TWO PROUD LANDS, UNITED BY PASSION—AND REVENGE. . . .
PRINCE OLAF OF NORWAY—Lord of the Wolves, the golden Viking warrior who came in his dragon ship to forge a great kingdom in the Emerald Isle.
PRINCESS ERIN—Daughter of the Irish High King, the ebony-haired beauty who swore bitter vengeance on the legendary Norseman who had brought death and destruction to her beloved homeland.
Yet, in the great Norse and Irish alliance against the invading Danes, it was her own father who gave her in marriage to her most hated enemy. Bewitched by Olaf's massive strength, seduced by his power, still Erin vowed that neither the wrath of his sword nor the fire of his kiss would sway the allegiance of her proud and passionate heart.
MY REVIEW Summary
Erin Mac Aed, daughter of the Irish king. Erin, is the one of the few of her siblings that has remained unmarried. Erin is also a favorite of her father, who has spoiled her throughout the years. Erin has learned how to fight with swords and the like from her brothers, whom she loves dearly. When the Lord of Wolves invades Ireland, she encounters him and her hatred for the man deepens, for all those on her side that have been killed, a couple that were dear to her and she blames Olaf for it. Now a year later, her father demands that she marry Olaf of Norway, so they can have a powerful alliance against the Danes. However Erin hates having to join with her enemy, but the passion the Olaf ingnites in Erin weakens her resolve and steals into her heart.
The Hero
Olaf, Prince of Norway also known as the Lord of the Wolves, is a great warrior and leader of his people. After fighting so many battles, and losing a woman he has loved for years on the battlefield, he desires a alliance with the Irish. Olaf then agrees to a alliance with the daughter of the King of Ireland however he knows that their life especially at first will no be a easy one. So he endeavors to show her his other side of himself, and show her the passion that exists within her but he only needs to bring it out in her.
The Heroine
Erin Mac Aed, the daughter and princess of the King of the Irish. Erin is the most spoiled of all of her father's children, and most loved, however when she is forced into this alliance against her will, she feels betrayed by the one person that means the world to her. Now she must go and live in another land, strange to her and unknown, feeling more alone than ever. Not knowing what to expect from the man she refers to as the "barbarian". She has much hatred for the Wolf, however he also awakens a desire in her, that she can't deny especially to herself, and where finds that her alligience is weakening to her husband.
My Thoughts
Golden Surrender is the first installment in the Viking Saga written by Heather Graham. I have read only historicals from this author, and I love them, and Golden Surrender is my favorite so far from her books that she has written. I have read Golden Surrender before but it has been a while, and since I saw this on the library shelf, I decided to pick it up since I was in the mood for this type of story. Its a powerfully written love story, back in the medieval age around 900 A.D. I find that there aren't that many books that are written in this era, and so I love to read every one that I can get my hands on, because I find it so fascinating, especially the Viking people. Throughout this story, we learn what kind of people they were, even though they could very well be barbarians, they had a passion for life and for their beliefs.There was only one problem I had with the story, was Erin, her character, it just seemed to me that she was too strong, and had so much hatred within her and treated Olaf pretty horribly, but as the story progressed I loved seeing the change within her. Both of these characters are stubborn, loyal and strong personalities, so they definitely clash especially at the beginning of the story. But as the love between them depends, so does this passionate love story. Golden Surrender is on my list of favorite romances, and one well worth reading for any romance lover.
My Grade On This Book
4.5 Blossoms
Other Books in The Story
The Viking's Woman
Lord of the Wolves
Season Of The Sun
Viking Series
Catherine Coulter
Signet, 378 Pages
Published April 1999
Viking
ISBN: 978-0-451-20648-0
Synopsis: Zarabeth, with hair as red as an Irish sunset, is chosen by Magnus Haraldsson, a Viking on a trading visit to York, to be his wife. She is both stunned and fascinated by his bluntness, but is soon won over by this man who makes her laugh, brings her desire, and ultimately makes her trust him with her future and that of her little sister, Lotti. But her stepfather, Olav the Vain, has no intention of setting a bride price on Zarabeth. Zarabeth does eventually return with Magnus to his farmstead in Norway, but as his slave, not as his wife. She wears the slave collar around her neck for all to see, but bears his distrust of her and her own pain deep within her. It is the season of the sun in Norway, the clear midnight light of summer. It is a season of growth and flowering, of treachery and malice, of love and learning.
Summary:
Zarabeth, lives in York with her step father and her step brother and younger sister. Zarabeth has yet to find a spouse, due to the fact that her step father chases most of her suitors away, until a warrior viking comes into town and starts courting her and wanting to marry her. At first Zarabeth is shocked at Magnus at his bluntness at wanting her for his wife and lover, but is intrigued and knows that she wants him as well, because he stirs up her senses like none other has ever done before. But when her step father finds out her true feelings for Magnus, he forces her to betray him threatening to hurt someone she cares for, so she does it, not knowing another way out. But then he comes back and takes her back to Norway as his slave, instead of his wife as he had once planned, however things never seem to go as planned. And Magnus despite her betrayal of him, can't deny the desire that she rises within him, more so than any other woman ever has. However things at home only get more hectic once he brings her to his home, and things between the two defnitely get heated, which could only end up in love. The Hero
Magnus Haraldsson, goes to York for a trading visit searching for a wife. Magnus has a son, and lost his wife when his son was two years old, and now is looking for someone to share his bed, and have children with. Then he see's a red haired beauty that charms him, and he starts to have tender feelings toward her until she betrays him, even though it doesn't seem right, but what else can he believe when she isn't honest with him. However after he takes her for his slave, he starts to feel once more for this stunning woman, and wonders if he could ever let her go. The Heroine
Zarabeth, is a red haired beauty who has recently had suitors, but her step father chases them away and has yet to be married, and unsuspecting of her step father's plans for her. She is very protective of her younger sister Lotti, who lost her hearing at two years of age. Then a handsome and breathtaking viking comes into York, claiming that she will become his wife, and he makes her life and feel alive as she has never felt before, and knows she could fall in love with Magnus. However then her step father's evil plans step in and she is forced to betray him, even though she desperately wishes there was another way to let him know the truth. Now she ends up his slave and taken to his home in Norway. But things are about to get even more dicey but Zarabeth is a strong willed heroine and up for any challenge.
My Thoughts
I truly enjoyed Season of the Sun, although I never know when I read Coulter's book if I am going to be able to really enjoy them and immerse myself into the stories, but with this one, I had it read it just a few hours. Crazy I know, but when I like a book, I truly immerse myself and before I know it, its at "The End" part and I look at the time, and its just crazy how fast I can read once I get into a story. I just love Viking romances and this is at the top of my list. Although I thought that throughout the story that there was some things missing from the book. I don't want to spoil the book too much so I wont however share any details, but I thought that there seemed to be a few things in the relationship between these two that I had issues with. However overall it was a great romance read, well written, with vivid characters and a intriguing plot, so defnitely if you like Viking Historical Romances you definitely don't want to miss out on this one or this series!!
My Grade On This Book
4 Blossoms
Other Books In The Series
Season Of the Sun
Lord of Hawkfell Island
Lord of Raven's Peak
Lord of Falcon's Ridge
