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Vikings Underground #4
Deep, Dark & Dangerous
A star in a world of wealth and privilege....
Fed up with Hollywood backstabbing, famous movie actress Madalyn Simon decided to escape the spotlight. Her new back-to-basics existence in an Alaskan cabin did take getting used to, but at least she was in control of her own destiny -- or so she thought. While snowmobiling on the frigid coast with her sister, the pair is taken hostage by a band of rough men who want them -- for reasons beyond imagining.
A captive in a world of inescapable seductions....
They are neo-Vikings from a hidden underworld, in search of women Outsiders to breed for the New Sweden clan. Their sexy leader, Otar, wants only one woman: Madalyn. Overpowered by his masculine strength and unmasked desire, Madalyn must become Otar's wife or face the marriage auction block. Now, in a world beyond dreams and as real as the hot flesh of her enticing warrior-husband, Madalyn discovers the power of an all-consuming passion -- as the fires of revolution threaten all she has come to love....
265 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2006
23 people are currently reading
527 people want to read
About the author
Jaid Black
101 books747 followersJaid Black is the pseudonym of Tina Marie Engler—the founder/owner of the former Ellora's Cave Publishing. Engler has been featured in every major news outlet such as Forbes, Publisher's Weekly, Salon, and Time Magazine. Ms. Engler was officially recognized by Romantic Times Magazine with their first ever Trail Blazer award for being the mastermind of adult (erotic) romance as you know and love it today, as well as for the pivotal role she played in popularizing the e-book.
Writing as Jaid Black, her books have received numerous distinctions, including a nomination for the Henry Miller award for the best literary sex scene written in the English language. Most of her novels and novellas are a hybrid of sci-fi and adult romance. She is a proud member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA.)
Also writing as Jasmine LeVeaux
Writing as Jaid Black, her books have received numerous distinctions, including a nomination for the Henry Miller award for the best literary sex scene written in the English language. Most of her novels and novellas are a hybrid of sci-fi and adult romance. She is a proud member of the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA.)
Also writing as Jasmine LeVeaux
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 63 reviews
September 13, 2009
This is a light-hearted romp built around a what-if. Namely, what if modern day Vikings lived in carved-out mountains in the Alaskan wilderness? The author takes this premise and has fun with it. This is not sci-fi or paranormal. If you want serious world-building and/or geeky explanations of why they have elevators but few light bulbs, then you'll have to go elsewhere.
The characters make this story. What's not to love about a strong, muscular Viking hero who's loving and patient with his heroine? Otar fell in love with Madalyn from her movies (especially the ones with topless scenes!). He longs for her love but secretly feels unworthy of her because of his low caste in his society. Madalyn is a good heroine, smart, wry and self-aware, fighting her feelings but drawn to her captor. Thankfully there are no TSTL or I hate you/now screw me blind moments.
Drake might be my favorite character. Paranoid, anti-government, alien-consipracy spouting, she gets most of the funny lines and scenes. Gutsily she manages to escape - her reaction to being captured again is priceless. I predict a happy marriage for her and her Alien Butthead.
The plot includes a revolution against the tyrannical jarl/king. Don't worry, there are no bloody scenes. The focus stays on the women as they worry about their men and struggle to earn money to buy food. Their unorthodox solution, a burlesque show for the jaded upper class, is as ridiculous as it is funny.
The sex is explicit and steamy, as befits an erotic romance. Otar is dominant as well as loving. Hot! There's no cheating, forced seduction, or menage scenes to worry about here. I recommend reading this when you're in the mood for or need something cheerful. Have fun :-)
The characters make this story. What's not to love about a strong, muscular Viking hero who's loving and patient with his heroine? Otar fell in love with Madalyn from her movies (especially the ones with topless scenes!). He longs for her love but secretly feels unworthy of her because of his low caste in his society. Madalyn is a good heroine, smart, wry and self-aware, fighting her feelings but drawn to her captor. Thankfully there are no TSTL or I hate you/now screw me blind moments.
Drake might be my favorite character. Paranoid, anti-government, alien-consipracy spouting, she gets most of the funny lines and scenes. Gutsily she manages to escape - her reaction to being captured again is priceless. I predict a happy marriage for her and her Alien Butthead.
The plot includes a revolution against the tyrannical jarl/king. Don't worry, there are no bloody scenes. The focus stays on the women as they worry about their men and struggle to earn money to buy food. Their unorthodox solution, a burlesque show for the jaded upper class, is as ridiculous as it is funny.
The sex is explicit and steamy, as befits an erotic romance. Otar is dominant as well as loving. Hot! There's no cheating, forced seduction, or menage scenes to worry about here. I recommend reading this when you're in the mood for or need something cheerful. Have fun :-)
November 12, 2008
This was a fun little book. The premise isn't very believable but if you can suspend belief about the setting, the characters are fun.
Madelyn is an actress who gets sick of the Hollywood lifestyle and moves to a remote cabin in Alaska to get away for awhile. She rediscovers herself after a few weeks just in time for a visit from her paranoid anti-government sister Drake. While on a snowmowbile ride to look at some whales, they catch sight of three men.
Those three men are actually Vikings who are part of a Viking community who live underground in Alaska. They have an entire society that has lived free from the outside world for centuries due to a prophesy by the Viking gods that the women of earth would die out one day. The only time the men go to the outside world is to keep their Underground world safe - and to steal Outsider women. (See this is where the suspension of belief comes in).
Otar has been in love with Madelyn (and her breasts) for years as he watched her in movies (somehow smuggled into the Underground). He can't believe his luck in finding the woman of his dreams, so he quickly steals her away into Lokitown (the place he lives underground). His friend steals Drake as well. This was necessary because any Outsiders who see the Vikings must either be killed or taken below to keep their existence unknown.
Madelyn has no choice but to marry Otar, who only had the choice of marrying her himself or giving her up for a bride auction. After they marry, Otar gives her time to get to know him and they both start to fall in love. But there is a war coming that will take Otar away into a dangerous fight to help his cousin regain his rightful crown.
I enjoyed this kind of silly but funny story. Madelyn's sister Drake was hilarious, she called her husband Alien Butthead most of the book because she was sure these men were aliens. Most of the background was unbelievable but the characters were fun. Otar was pretty hot and a nice guy who deserved the woman of his dreams - Madelyn.
Madelyn is an actress who gets sick of the Hollywood lifestyle and moves to a remote cabin in Alaska to get away for awhile. She rediscovers herself after a few weeks just in time for a visit from her paranoid anti-government sister Drake. While on a snowmowbile ride to look at some whales, they catch sight of three men.
Those three men are actually Vikings who are part of a Viking community who live underground in Alaska. They have an entire society that has lived free from the outside world for centuries due to a prophesy by the Viking gods that the women of earth would die out one day. The only time the men go to the outside world is to keep their Underground world safe - and to steal Outsider women. (See this is where the suspension of belief comes in).
Otar has been in love with Madelyn (and her breasts) for years as he watched her in movies (somehow smuggled into the Underground). He can't believe his luck in finding the woman of his dreams, so he quickly steals her away into Lokitown (the place he lives underground). His friend steals Drake as well. This was necessary because any Outsiders who see the Vikings must either be killed or taken below to keep their existence unknown.
Madelyn has no choice but to marry Otar, who only had the choice of marrying her himself or giving her up for a bride auction. After they marry, Otar gives her time to get to know him and they both start to fall in love. But there is a war coming that will take Otar away into a dangerous fight to help his cousin regain his rightful crown.
I enjoyed this kind of silly but funny story. Madelyn's sister Drake was hilarious, she called her husband Alien Butthead most of the book because she was sure these men were aliens. Most of the background was unbelievable but the characters were fun. Otar was pretty hot and a nice guy who deserved the woman of his dreams - Madelyn.
August 17, 2011
It's campy, fun, erotic, different, and wild. There were some humorous lines. I enjoy this strange Viking underworld.
STORY BRIEF:
This is the fourth story in a series about an underground Viking culture. They kidnap modern women to be sold to the men as wives. They have a shortage of women. Otar used to be wealthy but the corrupt current ruler Toki took away his property. He, his mother, and his sister now live in Shanty Row – the poorest part of the city. They live in a hut made of twigs and mud. He plans to fight in the rebellion to oust Toki in the near future. The Vikings have videos of Hollywood movies. For many years Otar has loved the movie star Madalyn.
Madalyn is unhappy with her Hollywood life. She sells everything and moves to rural Alaska to live in a cabin. She buys supplies in the nearby Eskimo village. Her sister Drake is a survivalist nut who believes Big Brother government and/or aliens are behind everything. Drake visits Madalyn. Drake is taking pictures of whales and accidentally takes a picture of Otar, Iiro, and Luukas – three Vikings. To protect their secret existence the Vikings chase and capture Drake and Madalyn. Otar claims Madalyn as his. Iiro claims Drake. The men take the women down into their underground civilization. Drake and Madalyn are horrified to learn they can never leave and that they are property of the men. They are forced to wear see through dresses.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was fun, in a campy fairy tale way. It is the only full length novel in the series. I liked it but it wasn’t at the 5 star level the way two of the short stories were. In the short stories it was all about relationship development which is the best part. This book has a lot more story – so it’s harder to be great. I’d recommend the two short stories first. If you like them and want more of this world, then get this. The part I like best about these Viking stories is the way the men are patient, kind, and soooo in love with their wives. They truly want their wives to be happy. The language is campy-fun. The men call females wenches. They say aye and nay instead of yes and no, anon instead of immediately. You don’t need to read these stories in order. Each one can stand-alone. The last two stories occur at the same time because two Vikings (Otar and Nikolas) briefly mention they are dealing with their new wives.
It’s touching the way Otar is ashamed to have so little to offer Madalyn, yet she is happy in his hut. She tells him that it reminds her of a south sea island vacation getaway. Drake offers fun distraction - accusing the Vikings of being aliens and threatening to cut off Iiro’s man parts. There is a lot more sex in this book than in the short stories. The sex scenes were pretty good.
Minor problem (due to the publisher): The cover picture is all wrong – ignore it. It shows a man standing in a lake. The Vikings’ clothes and hair are very different, and there is no lake in the story.
UNDERGROUND VIKING SERIES:
Each one can be read as a stand-alone.
3 stars. Besieged (in the anthology The Hunted)
5 stars. Hunter's Oath (in the anthology Playing Easy To Get)
5 stars. Hunter's Right (in the anthology Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down)
4 stars. Deep, Dark & Dangerous
DATA:
Story length: 265 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 9. Total number of sex scene pages: 19. Setting: current day rural Alaska. Copyright: 2006. Genre: erotic fantasy romance.
STORY BRIEF:
This is the fourth story in a series about an underground Viking culture. They kidnap modern women to be sold to the men as wives. They have a shortage of women. Otar used to be wealthy but the corrupt current ruler Toki took away his property. He, his mother, and his sister now live in Shanty Row – the poorest part of the city. They live in a hut made of twigs and mud. He plans to fight in the rebellion to oust Toki in the near future. The Vikings have videos of Hollywood movies. For many years Otar has loved the movie star Madalyn.
Madalyn is unhappy with her Hollywood life. She sells everything and moves to rural Alaska to live in a cabin. She buys supplies in the nearby Eskimo village. Her sister Drake is a survivalist nut who believes Big Brother government and/or aliens are behind everything. Drake visits Madalyn. Drake is taking pictures of whales and accidentally takes a picture of Otar, Iiro, and Luukas – three Vikings. To protect their secret existence the Vikings chase and capture Drake and Madalyn. Otar claims Madalyn as his. Iiro claims Drake. The men take the women down into their underground civilization. Drake and Madalyn are horrified to learn they can never leave and that they are property of the men. They are forced to wear see through dresses.
REVIEWER’S OPINION:
This was fun, in a campy fairy tale way. It is the only full length novel in the series. I liked it but it wasn’t at the 5 star level the way two of the short stories were. In the short stories it was all about relationship development which is the best part. This book has a lot more story – so it’s harder to be great. I’d recommend the two short stories first. If you like them and want more of this world, then get this. The part I like best about these Viking stories is the way the men are patient, kind, and soooo in love with their wives. They truly want their wives to be happy. The language is campy-fun. The men call females wenches. They say aye and nay instead of yes and no, anon instead of immediately. You don’t need to read these stories in order. Each one can stand-alone. The last two stories occur at the same time because two Vikings (Otar and Nikolas) briefly mention they are dealing with their new wives.
It’s touching the way Otar is ashamed to have so little to offer Madalyn, yet she is happy in his hut. She tells him that it reminds her of a south sea island vacation getaway. Drake offers fun distraction - accusing the Vikings of being aliens and threatening to cut off Iiro’s man parts. There is a lot more sex in this book than in the short stories. The sex scenes were pretty good.
Minor problem (due to the publisher): The cover picture is all wrong – ignore it. It shows a man standing in a lake. The Vikings’ clothes and hair are very different, and there is no lake in the story.
UNDERGROUND VIKING SERIES:
Each one can be read as a stand-alone.
3 stars. Besieged (in the anthology The Hunted)
5 stars. Hunter's Oath (in the anthology Playing Easy To Get)
5 stars. Hunter's Right (in the anthology Tie Me Up, Tie Me Down)
4 stars. Deep, Dark & Dangerous
DATA:
Story length: 265 pages. Swearing language: strong, including religious swear words. Sexual language: strong/erotic. Number of sex scenes: 9. Total number of sex scene pages: 19. Setting: current day rural Alaska. Copyright: 2006. Genre: erotic fantasy romance.
March 28, 2010
Through out this book I laughed and kept saying the repeated phrase of "OH MY GOD!" and yes for all the right reasons. This book had cute bantering between characters and sweet love making. It almost makes me want to take a venture out to Alaska!
Jaid Black has a very good series some of which are in anthologies. I haven't found one of them yet at my local bookstore or in my library. But If I have to I will be ordering it.
The story takes place in adventurous Alaska for the most part and it is rich with a great dialogue some of which seems a bit dull and not important at first but then it gets you somewhere. I have given it a five star rating cause it was funny and I saw the humor in the battle of the sexes and the fight for someone to love. It was nice to see men desperate for a change.
But I learned one thing that whether you are from the outside looking in or this has happened to you. Notice that if a man wants a woman or you in particular and you are not quite sure; you can usually sense it or feel it in the way he moves around you. I mean they are usually planning for you at all times with everything they have to win you over whether in small or big ways. just something I've noticed men do in their desperate attempts to win a woman all to themselves.
Jaid Black has a very good series some of which are in anthologies. I haven't found one of them yet at my local bookstore or in my library. But If I have to I will be ordering it.
The story takes place in adventurous Alaska for the most part and it is rich with a great dialogue some of which seems a bit dull and not important at first but then it gets you somewhere. I have given it a five star rating cause it was funny and I saw the humor in the battle of the sexes and the fight for someone to love. It was nice to see men desperate for a change.
But I learned one thing that whether you are from the outside looking in or this has happened to you. Notice that if a man wants a woman or you in particular and you are not quite sure; you can usually sense it or feel it in the way he moves around you. I mean they are usually planning for you at all times with everything they have to win you over whether in small or big ways. just something I've noticed men do in their desperate attempts to win a woman all to themselves.
November 28, 2010
Vikings have never been my fantasy - but that was before I discovered those Vikings Underground!
I read Hunters Oath in Playing Easy To Get and absolutely loved it. When I heard about Deep, Dark and Dangerous I just HAD to get it and I'm glad I did because I loved it too.
It was sweet and sexy, just as I had hoped it would be. How could a girl resist those big gorgeous vikings that are dying to find a woman to love and treasure and of course make mad passionate love to at every given opportunity. Plus there is something about a man wearing jewel encrusted bicep rings that just makes my knees weak!
I adore the idea of these noble men that are incredibly manly and virile and yet so sweet in the way that they don't rush their 'captive brides' into physical relations, even though it pains them.
It was great to hear more about the society of New Sweden and for this strange world to be fleshed out a bit. I enjoyed the mixture of olde world society mixed with modern contraptions such as elevators. This does beg the question of where they get their electricity, but I don't want to ruin a sweet love story by being too realistic. Perhaps the setting does stretch the realms of the believable, but quite frankly I don't care because Jaid Black tells sexy and romantic stories really well and I don't need it to be Lord of the Rings in terms of world building.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it - go on...give it a go.
I read Hunters Oath in Playing Easy To Get and absolutely loved it. When I heard about Deep, Dark and Dangerous I just HAD to get it and I'm glad I did because I loved it too.
It was sweet and sexy, just as I had hoped it would be. How could a girl resist those big gorgeous vikings that are dying to find a woman to love and treasure and of course make mad passionate love to at every given opportunity. Plus there is something about a man wearing jewel encrusted bicep rings that just makes my knees weak!
I adore the idea of these noble men that are incredibly manly and virile and yet so sweet in the way that they don't rush their 'captive brides' into physical relations, even though it pains them.
It was great to hear more about the society of New Sweden and for this strange world to be fleshed out a bit. I enjoyed the mixture of olde world society mixed with modern contraptions such as elevators. This does beg the question of where they get their electricity, but I don't want to ruin a sweet love story by being too realistic. Perhaps the setting does stretch the realms of the believable, but quite frankly I don't care because Jaid Black tells sexy and romantic stories really well and I don't need it to be Lord of the Rings in terms of world building.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it - go on...give it a go.
May 4, 2011
I mean, I finished it, but couldn't get into it. I was willing to suspend my disbelief, but it was too preposterous. From the impossibility of growing food without sunlight, to the notion that someone could fall in love with not just their captor, but the person who stole them from pizza delivery, antibiotics and anything approaching gender parity, within a week, was too much for me to swallow.
May 15, 2008
I can't believe this is the same Jaid Black that wrote "One Dark Night", which I enjoyed. This book was not well done at all! Very immature writing, implausible plot (not the paranormal aspect; present day - two women just disappear from the face of the earth and no one notices?!? men are sent out from "underground" because of a threat from the army and ... guess what ... no army, but a former drop dead gorgeous actress living in isolation in Alaska?!? Oh, and the men had seen all her movies and one was already in love with her?). Sorry, but others do this supernatural thing SO much better. The hero was quite endearing, but I really couldn't like the heroine much, and I hated the sister. I won't give up on Jaid yet - the score's tied at present, so the next book will determine whether or not she'll stay on my list!
May 10, 2012
Silly premise. Vikings have lived UNDERGROUND for centuries to keep faith with their dogma. Under a mountain in Alaska. Undetected. A movie star is tired of all the Hollywood hoopla so she moves to a extremely remote area of Alaska to live by herself with a goat. And her $27,000 bed. Has to take a snowmobile ride for an hour to get to an inuit village. Come on. Really? She and her visiting sister (how did she even get there?) are kidnapped by these vikings, who watch movies in their underground city, but wear chains and untanned leather. So improbable. I had not read Jaid Black before, and probably won't again. She has some writing skills but plots aren't one of them.
June 25, 2010
I love this whole series. I just love the way the men love their wives. It's really well done.
July 14, 2014
DNF. Dumb. Too over-the-top
October 9, 2019
This book came included in a lot from e-bay with several others I especially wanted. It didn't really seem like something I would like but I didn't want to just get rid of it after paying good money for it either so I shelved it until I could decide what to do. Then I was looking for something different or funky to read that I could put down and take up later if need be, lug around in a bag to appointments and not worry about if it got damaged, and that was wildly different from the other book I was reading. This fit the bill perfectly.
Boy was I surprised...I loved the book! It kept me up reading at night...made me late to work...and was done too quickly. I fell in love with Otar and Madalyn...they had me alternately laughing out loud and shaking my head at their antics, or smiling with pleasure at their burgeoning relationship. Their story moved along in a realistic and honest manner with real emotions and without the insta-love in so many books nowadays. I surprised myself by even liking the bizarre alternate reality storyline of Vikings still existing underneath our world, maintaining their way of life through a meshing of old traditions and beliefs and new technologies. It was amazingly believable, described in vivid detail and with likeable and unique characters. I was sorry to see the book end but loved the ending.
Highly recommend this book!
Boy was I surprised...I loved the book! It kept me up reading at night...made me late to work...and was done too quickly. I fell in love with Otar and Madalyn...they had me alternately laughing out loud and shaking my head at their antics, or smiling with pleasure at their burgeoning relationship. Their story moved along in a realistic and honest manner with real emotions and without the insta-love in so many books nowadays. I surprised myself by even liking the bizarre alternate reality storyline of Vikings still existing underneath our world, maintaining their way of life through a meshing of old traditions and beliefs and new technologies. It was amazingly believable, described in vivid detail and with likeable and unique characters. I was sorry to see the book end but loved the ending.
Highly recommend this book!
June 1, 2017
I love the moments of escapism reading these books,
The four Vikings Underground books released so far are a great way of escaping the normal everyday books of chick-lit
Its a great & original idea too. I can hardly wait til the 5 the book is released! But til then.... I'll keep reading & re-reading on my long nights of insomnia! Well done Miss Black, hurry up and write more of these books, PLEASE!
The four Vikings Underground books released so far are a great way of escaping the normal everyday books of chick-lit
Its a great & original idea too. I can hardly wait til the 5 the book is released! But til then.... I'll keep reading & re-reading on my long nights of insomnia! Well done Miss Black, hurry up and write more of these books, PLEASE!
April 7, 2020
Great underground world of Vikings. What a way of life to encounter. Great romance story. I was truly immersed in how this relationship was going to turn out. I enjoyed the entire story. I would love there to be more in this series. The other 3 prior to this one were all short stories, this one was a complete book.
April 21, 2018
I love this story it made me laugh out loud in some chapters. Love the main characters. If you looking for a summer fun read this book is it!!! One thing is for sure you will be amused. A fast read!!
July 5, 2018
A very cute and silly tale - underground Viking village, genetics lab .... a prophecy warning of danger to women "above ground"
August 1, 2018
Amazingly beautiful book! Sexy, sweet, heartbreaking this book has it all!
February 27, 2021
This is another re-read from years ago. Just thought it was ok now. No clue why I kept it on my shelf but I'm donating it.
December 15, 2023
I love this entire series.
August 11, 2024
The chemistry between Otar and Madalyn wasn't deep. The conversations felt stilted and the sisters seem to stick together in the beginning but drifted apart when it seems convenient. Too many inconsistencies over all!
September 3, 2014
So juvenile and shallow that, if it weren’t for the sex, the audience would clearly be young teens.
She’s a beautiful movie star tired of the shallow Hollywood scene who moves to rural Alaska to live incognito. He’s a Nordic warrior from an ancient civilization, New Sweden, living underground and he captures her when out reconnoitering. He had seen her movies and had already been fixated on her, primarily because of her large, perky breasts. After capturing her, that quickly expands to, in effect, a fixation on owning her although he labels it loving her. She resists him for a short time but she is so taken with his large, muscled body, his handsome looks and his treating her as his own that she decides she loves him too.
What can I say good about this novel? Not a lot. The heroine’s sister is wacky and that was something rather interesting. The writing and dialogue are amateurish. The characters are shallow and cartoon-like. There is a lot of titillation with all women having to wear see-through gowns. (Although it made no sense to me that the married women would have to dress like this, too. Most sexist males don’t want other men looking at their women.) This titillation extends to the fact that men are allowed to fondle the bodies of unmarried women.
It’s hard for me to fathom that readers (at least readers over age 16) really find any satisfaction in the portrayal that sexy bodies and sexual attraction is pretty much all it takes to quickly fall in love. I mean, the couple barely converse so they don’t even know each other. Or the portrayal that, for the hero, “falling in love” is based on seeing her breasts in a movie. And how can you like a heroine who is so needy and love-starved she immediately falls for her kidnapper and captor, primarily because he tries to be a little nice to her, his new sex toy.
Frankly, this story gave me the creeps. I couldn’t get more than 1/3 of the way through. The forced sexual contact behaviors in the auction and the bar were repulsive to me but were treated rather casually, maybe even as titillating. And, I was put off by the shallow, needy heroine with Stockholm syndrome. Eeuw!
She’s a beautiful movie star tired of the shallow Hollywood scene who moves to rural Alaska to live incognito. He’s a Nordic warrior from an ancient civilization, New Sweden, living underground and he captures her when out reconnoitering. He had seen her movies and had already been fixated on her, primarily because of her large, perky breasts. After capturing her, that quickly expands to, in effect, a fixation on owning her although he labels it loving her. She resists him for a short time but she is so taken with his large, muscled body, his handsome looks and his treating her as his own that she decides she loves him too.
What can I say good about this novel? Not a lot. The heroine’s sister is wacky and that was something rather interesting. The writing and dialogue are amateurish. The characters are shallow and cartoon-like. There is a lot of titillation with all women having to wear see-through gowns. (Although it made no sense to me that the married women would have to dress like this, too. Most sexist males don’t want other men looking at their women.) This titillation extends to the fact that men are allowed to fondle the bodies of unmarried women.
It’s hard for me to fathom that readers (at least readers over age 16) really find any satisfaction in the portrayal that sexy bodies and sexual attraction is pretty much all it takes to quickly fall in love. I mean, the couple barely converse so they don’t even know each other. Or the portrayal that, for the hero, “falling in love” is based on seeing her breasts in a movie. And how can you like a heroine who is so needy and love-starved she immediately falls for her kidnapper and captor, primarily because he tries to be a little nice to her, his new sex toy.
Frankly, this story gave me the creeps. I couldn’t get more than 1/3 of the way through. The forced sexual contact behaviors in the auction and the bar were repulsive to me but were treated rather casually, maybe even as titillating. And, I was put off by the shallow, needy heroine with Stockholm syndrome. Eeuw!
March 26, 2008
Deep, Dark & Dangerous by Jaid Black is an unusual book. Light and fluffy, barbaric, erotically sensual makes this novel a really quick read. I found the beginning of the story to be a bit rough around the edges as if it were a new author with their first book but it did pick up and get better.
Madalyn is a burnt out actress looking for life in all the wrong places. Leaving Hollywood behind and in a stir as to her whereabouts, Madalyn goes to the opposite extreme by moving to the Arctic Wilderness. Reality rears its ugly head and she is at wits end as to how to live this new life she has plunged herself into. Unfortunately for Madalyn, this part of her life is just an appetizer compared to what she is about to experience. Stalking, kidnapping, possible slavery are only a few of the new problems to be delt with. The hardest part of this is the man in question is more man than any one women could possibly fantasize about. Tall, dark and handsome doesn't begin to describe this lucious Viking.
Otar is a nobleman tossed into the pits of hell to live a squatters life. Extremely muscular from hard labor he is every bit warrior as he is noble. Truthful, trustworthy and loyal he is the perfect speciman to make any woman happy to have as husband. A sexual appetite the size of the Grand Canyon it would seem impossible to keep him satisfied but yet he is gentle as a lamb.
The story takes us from one known world to another unknown world. It's amazing to see this unknown world is literally right beneath their feet. I found the story a bit barbaric but it does fit the time period of the Vikings. This culture is devout to their Gods which provides the perfect backdrop for war, slavery and a deeply spiritual belief that their lives are much better than those of the known world.
Overall, I liked the storyline. It's something new and fresh, not the usual run of the mill paranormal romance. It gives you some actual history of what might have possibly been at one point in the past. It will be interesting to see what the next book in the series holds for us.
Madalyn is a burnt out actress looking for life in all the wrong places. Leaving Hollywood behind and in a stir as to her whereabouts, Madalyn goes to the opposite extreme by moving to the Arctic Wilderness. Reality rears its ugly head and she is at wits end as to how to live this new life she has plunged herself into. Unfortunately for Madalyn, this part of her life is just an appetizer compared to what she is about to experience. Stalking, kidnapping, possible slavery are only a few of the new problems to be delt with. The hardest part of this is the man in question is more man than any one women could possibly fantasize about. Tall, dark and handsome doesn't begin to describe this lucious Viking.
Otar is a nobleman tossed into the pits of hell to live a squatters life. Extremely muscular from hard labor he is every bit warrior as he is noble. Truthful, trustworthy and loyal he is the perfect speciman to make any woman happy to have as husband. A sexual appetite the size of the Grand Canyon it would seem impossible to keep him satisfied but yet he is gentle as a lamb.
The story takes us from one known world to another unknown world. It's amazing to see this unknown world is literally right beneath their feet. I found the story a bit barbaric but it does fit the time period of the Vikings. This culture is devout to their Gods which provides the perfect backdrop for war, slavery and a deeply spiritual belief that their lives are much better than those of the known world.
Overall, I liked the storyline. It's something new and fresh, not the usual run of the mill paranormal romance. It gives you some actual history of what might have possibly been at one point in the past. It will be interesting to see what the next book in the series holds for us.
March 7, 2013
First of all--I LOVE the idea for the setting of this book. Vikings still exist, living hidden underground in the Arctic, kidnapping the occassional woman to help keep their people from becoming too inbred (altho that is not their reasoning.) Long ago, when Vikings still ruled the seas and were feared all over Europe, the clan that spawned our hero had a seer who foresaw the coming "end of days" and that the clan COULD survive it--if they moved underground and kept themselves hidden from the outside world. And this they have done for the past--um, what 1000 or so years.
In this particular story of the Clan, our hero has fallen in love with an actress he sees in a movie. (While the Clan doesn't believe in mixing with the rest of the world, they ARE aware of what goes on in it.) One day, he finds that his heart-throb has moved out of Hollywood and is now with-in his reach. So he kidnaps her and claims her. Various hijinks occur before the HEA can happen.
In this particular story of the Clan, our hero has fallen in love with an actress he sees in a movie. (While the Clan doesn't believe in mixing with the rest of the world, they ARE aware of what goes on in it.) One day, he finds that his heart-throb has moved out of Hollywood and is now with-in his reach. So he kidnaps her and claims her. Various hijinks occur before the HEA can happen.
April 19, 2016
Ok I was so disappointed by this book and another short story of the series that I have read so far. The first short story I read about this series was so good and sucked me in with the intrigue that it created. And so far this is the first actual book from the series that I have been able to find anywhere.
The overall plot idea for this series, I think is great. But so far I feel as if the author is not pushing it as far as she could and just bein overly simple and bland with it.
If she re-amped up the series going bigger and darker with it. It would be the greatest in the world, or just super good.
The characters and the slow boring plot were draining to read to me. I was just hoping the book would end soon or maybe get better. But sadly no, that was not the case. Although I do think if I can find the other books in this series I would get them and read them to see if they are all the same or if some do have that beautiful book goodness to them.
The overall plot idea for this series, I think is great. But so far I feel as if the author is not pushing it as far as she could and just bein overly simple and bland with it.
If she re-amped up the series going bigger and darker with it. It would be the greatest in the world, or just super good.
The characters and the slow boring plot were draining to read to me. I was just hoping the book would end soon or maybe get better. But sadly no, that was not the case. Although I do think if I can find the other books in this series I would get them and read them to see if they are all the same or if some do have that beautiful book goodness to them.
July 13, 2013
This is the fourth book of Vikings Underground story. This simultaneously happens with book two. This is about Maddie, an actress who wants to have a new life, and Drake, her anti-government sister. The guys are Otar and Iiro, who will besieged the current kingdom and win their rights.
This story is longer than the three, which I appreciated. The events are now hurried on, and I can enjoy more the plot, sex scenes and the climax. This story also hints that what the guy's gods prophesied may come true. There are many funny moments and scenes, I also wish that Drake and Iiro have more chapter than what is include. Gonna wait for the next book!
This story is longer than the three, which I appreciated. The events are now hurried on, and I can enjoy more the plot, sex scenes and the climax. This story also hints that what the guy's gods prophesied may come true. There are many funny moments and scenes, I also wish that Drake and Iiro have more chapter than what is include. Gonna wait for the next book!
April 28, 2009
I would actually give it 3.5 stars. It's been awhile since I have read a non-paranormal erotica book, but this was fun. The Vikings story is fun and those are real men's men, that's for sure. The characters were very likable and the sister Drake was hilarious.
That being said, I could have used more sex (can't we all), and I would have liked to know more about Drake's story with her man. It was breezed over since the book wasn't really about that, but I think the book should have been about them both!
That being said, I could have used more sex (can't we all), and I would have liked to know more about Drake's story with her man. It was breezed over since the book wasn't really about that, but I think the book should have been about them both!
November 24, 2009
I was so so SO disappointed with this book :( I had hoped that hot Viking warriors who lived underground near the Arctic coast and kidnapped 2 sisters as war brides would have a better plot than it did, and I was equally unimpressed with Jaid Black's writing style.
I liked the characters, and cared for the heroine, but there was no immediate intense attraction, for her, and no showing of the gradual love she came to feel. It was so blah that I won't even recommend it. It wasn't awful, it was blah. It had some great sex scenes, and some not so great sex scenes. It was really just blah
I liked the characters, and cared for the heroine, but there was no immediate intense attraction, for her, and no showing of the gradual love she came to feel. It was so blah that I won't even recommend it. It wasn't awful, it was blah. It had some great sex scenes, and some not so great sex scenes. It was really just blah
June 6, 2016
This book was not as good as.the Trek Mi Q'an series. I'm not sure that I will read anymore in this series. The sexy scenes were just ok, but I've read better with Rhiannon Byrd and Evangeline Anderson. Was a bit of a disappointment, but I'm glad I just borrowed the paperback from my local library.
I read the paperback version and want to say that even though it was 265 pages it was a really fast read (though I must have my Kindle settings set to small fonts since I tend to only read on my Kindle).
I read the paperback version and want to say that even though it was 265 pages it was a really fast read (though I must have my Kindle settings set to small fonts since I tend to only read on my Kindle).
April 12, 2012
Laughable and reasonably dirty. I'm not saying that's good or bad but I sure didn't expect it based on the title/cover/summary. Super fast read and campy enough that it's acceptable to roll eyes one second and then appreciate some of the naughty things in the next. I haven't read Jaid Black before and since my libraries don't carry her books I guess I might not. I'd like to give her writing another chance as I'm sure other stories will surpass this one.
2.5/3 stars
2.5/3 stars
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June 17, 2010I didn't get that far in this book. It had a slightly 'not much story, lets get to fast sex' feel to it. To quote myself (Cause' I'm awesome that way) I like a lot of smut in my story, but I like a little story in my smut" There was not enough story before too much smut. I may give her another go later.
May 10, 2010
So the sex scenes were pretty hot in a "Me Tarzan, you Jane" type of way, much more explicit than what I was expecting as I haven't read anything else by this author but it takes a lot of effort to ignore the unbelieveably inane plot. Not really a book to be read for the story but light and amusing in its way.
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