A challenging wife
For a warrior Viking
When Thorstein Bergson rescues a beautiful woman from a storm-tossed longship he little expects to broker a powerful marriage alliance with her. This high-status ice queen is not the comfortable wife this warrior chief is seeking, but maybe the bittersweet pain in Gyda’s eyes hides another woman beneath? The one he tasted that first night, when she kissed him with such pent-up longing…
Purchase Link - http://books2read.com/u/b5kD17
Review
The death of Gyda's much older husband leaves her free to start a new life, but a shipwreck smashes her dreams of a comfortable life against the rocks. Though she is saved by a nearby chief, he takes an obvious dislike to her. Thorstein is surprisingly philosophical about his first wife abandoning him but is certain beautiful women can never be trusted, which of course sets him up to think the worst of Gyda from the very start. Of course, Gyda's brother-in-law Sven happens to be Thorstein's liege, and he sees an opportunity...
I absolutely adored Gyda! Having lost her identical twin, her beauty is a source of grief as well as a shield. Her life has been full of tragedy, compounded by one youthful mistake, but she is determined to make the best of a bad hand. From starting a new life overseas, to facing the loss of her possessions, and her brother-in-law's decision to marry her off, I loved how she made the best of whatever situation in which she found herself and she deserves every happiness.
Thorstein is generally a good guy. He wants the best for his people and isn't afraid to put in the work to get there, but he was rather a jerk to Gyda. It took him a bit longer than I would like to realise that she's more than a spoiled, shallow ice queen, but once he gives his loyalty, it sticks. Even when lies come between them, he doesn't doubt her character, which made the resolution that much sweeter.
Even Sven and his second wife are sympathetic side characters who I wanted to see more of! He was thinking more of practicalities than matchmaking, but he is ultimately responsible for setting the happy ending in motion.
This isn't a historical period with which I am particularly familiar but the author paints a believable, interesting world with protagonists that had me rooting for them to get together. I'm definitely excited to read more from this debut author!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book via Rachel's Random Resources; all opinions are my own.
Author Bio
Lucy Morris lives in Essex, UK, with her husband, two young children and two cats. She has a massively sweet tooth and loves gin, bubbly and Irn-Bru. A member of the UK Romantic Novelists' Association, she was delighted to accept a two-book deal with Harlequin after submitting her story to the Warriors Wanted submission blitz for Viking, Medieval and Highlander romances.
Writing for Harlequin Historical is a dream come true for her and she hopes you enjoy her books!
Social Media Links
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100055849813940
Twitter https://twitter.com/LMorris_Author
Instagram lucymorris.author
No comments:
Post a Comment