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Viking Trilogy #3
The Love Within
Award-winning author Penelope Neri completes her acclaimed Viking trilogy with the spellbinding story of an Irish-Viking prince cursed by a hellish fate—and the aristocratic, British beauty who risks her life to love him.
A chill mist blankets the verdant hills of 9th-century Eire, while in far-off Britain Edana of Kenley waits for the blue-blooded nobleman betrothed to her when they were children. But the fierce, emerald-eyed stranger who gallops up to her castle is not her bridegroom.
A hooded falcon perches on his shoulder. A silver-and-black wolf shadows his every step. He is called Kerrin, the "Dark One," feared by man and beast alike. His mission is to escort Edana to her bridegroom's distant keep. Yet from the moment they meet, Edana is swept away by her passion for this sensual, mysterious warrior who is haunted by a legacy of blood and treachery...even as he hungers for the love that could set him free.
A chill mist blankets the verdant hills of 9th-century Eire, while in far-off Britain Edana of Kenley waits for the blue-blooded nobleman betrothed to her when they were children. But the fierce, emerald-eyed stranger who gallops up to her castle is not her bridegroom.
A hooded falcon perches on his shoulder. A silver-and-black wolf shadows his every step. He is called Kerrin, the "Dark One," feared by man and beast alike. His mission is to escort Edana to her bridegroom's distant keep. Yet from the moment they meet, Edana is swept away by her passion for this sensual, mysterious warrior who is haunted by a legacy of blood and treachery...even as he hungers for the love that could set him free.
319 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 1997
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
August 5, 2025
As a child, the hero received little to no affection. His father, a harsh and demanding man who scorned the idea the hero was even his son and made the hero refer to him as Uncle, instilled in the hero the judgment of women. All women, in his father’s eyes, were liars and whores and most of his radical and unfair assessments of the fairer sex have transferred into the hero. He doesn't trust women and never could he believe one to be faithful. So, when after years of betrothal he finally goes to retrieve his bride, he decides to test her. He goes undercover, posing as his own brother. He plans to seduce his new bride and prove to himself that no woman is to be trusted.
The heroine has waited a very long time to finally meant the man destined to be her husband. She's both longed for and feared this day but now as it's arrived and her husband is nowhere to be found, she is furious. How dare he not have the decency to retrieve her himself? He sends his brother instead, a harsh and brutally handsome man who has no humor or patience. Still, she is determined to make the best of it. This man is to be her brother after all and anyone whom her husband cares for, she will care for in kind. The trek into the wilderness on the way to Ireland begins very badly. The heroine pushes the limits of her new brothers’ patience while at the same time battling to show him that she is no simpering miss but a level headed and dependable woman.
Slowly and day by day, she begins to see a change in him. He can sometimes laugh at her jokes and she at his in return. They begin to become closer and closer, especially after she proves herself handy with a sword as well as emotional comfort when he loses his beloved horse. The hero started this journey determined to fool his new bride but as he begins to see, it's him who has fooled himself. He begins to fall in love with his wife but is tormented by the fact that she believes him to be his brother. When she realizes the truth though, after a moment of anger and betrayal, she is pleased by the fact that the man she's come to love is indeed her husband! But just as life is shinny and new, she is taken prisoner by Norse invaders and enslaved. Many days and weeks pass before the hero is able to save her and once again the believe their future to be happy and bright. Only, now the hero must come to terms with the curse on his family and the fact that he can no longer be tempted by his wife else he succumbs to her bed. Now, the heroine, having fought bandits, Vikings and the hero himself is determined to win him back no matter the risk. She's come too far to lose him now.
I will say I liked this book but I would have liked it a lot better if it had picked a major dilemma and stuck to it instead of bombarding the reader with like 17 different conflicts in the span of one book. There's the hero's distrust and bitterness towards women. There's the crazy Uncle to repeatedly attacks and aims to kill the hero. There's the Vikings who appear out of nowhere and steal the heroine away. Then there's the curse which sees the hero become a werewolf........Wow. The main problem with having these many problems is at one issue which should have been major is instead appearing to have easily solved. I lost the transition where the hero hated women to falling for his wife. I thought the whole curse aspect was horribly out of place in the overall story. I thought the Vikings were like a problem picked from a hat and tossed into the story. I enjoyed this book because of the authors dedicated to the times and the culture but the confusion and the muddled storyline stopped me from Loving it. I loved the heroine though. Strong, reliable and fiercely loyal- she was a hell of a woman and she was to be greatly admired. The hero too was a lovely character, one who learned to trust his heart and to love for the first time in his life. Pity the storyline wasn't better planned out because I could have loved this story.
The heroine has waited a very long time to finally meant the man destined to be her husband. She's both longed for and feared this day but now as it's arrived and her husband is nowhere to be found, she is furious. How dare he not have the decency to retrieve her himself? He sends his brother instead, a harsh and brutally handsome man who has no humor or patience. Still, she is determined to make the best of it. This man is to be her brother after all and anyone whom her husband cares for, she will care for in kind. The trek into the wilderness on the way to Ireland begins very badly. The heroine pushes the limits of her new brothers’ patience while at the same time battling to show him that she is no simpering miss but a level headed and dependable woman.
Slowly and day by day, she begins to see a change in him. He can sometimes laugh at her jokes and she at his in return. They begin to become closer and closer, especially after she proves herself handy with a sword as well as emotional comfort when he loses his beloved horse. The hero started this journey determined to fool his new bride but as he begins to see, it's him who has fooled himself. He begins to fall in love with his wife but is tormented by the fact that she believes him to be his brother. When she realizes the truth though, after a moment of anger and betrayal, she is pleased by the fact that the man she's come to love is indeed her husband! But just as life is shinny and new, she is taken prisoner by Norse invaders and enslaved. Many days and weeks pass before the hero is able to save her and once again the believe their future to be happy and bright. Only, now the hero must come to terms with the curse on his family and the fact that he can no longer be tempted by his wife else he succumbs to her bed. Now, the heroine, having fought bandits, Vikings and the hero himself is determined to win him back no matter the risk. She's come too far to lose him now.
I will say I liked this book but I would have liked it a lot better if it had picked a major dilemma and stuck to it instead of bombarding the reader with like 17 different conflicts in the span of one book. There's the hero's distrust and bitterness towards women. There's the crazy Uncle to repeatedly attacks and aims to kill the hero. There's the Vikings who appear out of nowhere and steal the heroine away. Then there's the curse which sees the hero become a werewolf........Wow. The main problem with having these many problems is at one issue which should have been major is instead appearing to have easily solved. I lost the transition where the hero hated women to falling for his wife. I thought the whole curse aspect was horribly out of place in the overall story. I thought the Vikings were like a problem picked from a hat and tossed into the story. I enjoyed this book because of the authors dedicated to the times and the culture but the confusion and the muddled storyline stopped me from Loving it. I loved the heroine though. Strong, reliable and fiercely loyal- she was a hell of a woman and she was to be greatly admired. The hero too was a lovely character, one who learned to trust his heart and to love for the first time in his life. Pity the storyline wasn't better planned out because I could have loved this story.
January 13, 2019
Sadly missed the mark in every way possible. Don't bother.
October 5, 2023
Review of series:
Destiny Is All!! Penelope Neri’s Viking Trilogy are three books worthy of Uhtred. Set during the same time period as the The Last Kingdom on Netflix they combine heart stopping romance with thrilling adventure.
Sea Jewel (1986) is a true bodice ripper as the heroine Freya, who has been trained as a Viking warrior, on raid to Kent is captured by the Saxon lord, Alaric. He has her stripped, put in chains and paraded naked in the great hall in front of everyone to humiliate her. But no, she’s fiercely proud and vows revenge. He tosses her over his shoulder and 🔥. Best book of the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Has a super Pino masterpiece cover.
Enchanted (1993) is the story of Beorn, son of the MCs in the first book, and Rhiannon, a Cornish healer with a touch of magic. At 600+ pages way too long and meandering but interesting. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Love Within (1997), written 11 years after Sea Jewel feels more modern in plot and scenes. No ripped bodices… an arranged marriage between the daughter of the MCs in Sea Jewel, Edana and an Irish-Viking prince, Kerrin who takes her back to Waterford. He’s cursed and haunted by a legacy of hate and doesn’t want to love her. Great use of shape shifting in this tale! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Amazing Viking stories, can easily be read as standalones, especially as the first and third books are the best. Neri is an exceptional scenic writer, taking you into the setting of the countryside, dwellings, ships, people, weather etc. Very atmospheric! Enjoyable escapist reads.
Destiny Is All!! Penelope Neri’s Viking Trilogy are three books worthy of Uhtred. Set during the same time period as the The Last Kingdom on Netflix they combine heart stopping romance with thrilling adventure.
Sea Jewel (1986) is a true bodice ripper as the heroine Freya, who has been trained as a Viking warrior, on raid to Kent is captured by the Saxon lord, Alaric. He has her stripped, put in chains and paraded naked in the great hall in front of everyone to humiliate her. But no, she’s fiercely proud and vows revenge. He tosses her over his shoulder and 🔥. Best book of the series. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Has a super Pino masterpiece cover.
Enchanted (1993) is the story of Beorn, son of the MCs in the first book, and Rhiannon, a Cornish healer with a touch of magic. At 600+ pages way too long and meandering but interesting. ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Love Within (1997), written 11 years after Sea Jewel feels more modern in plot and scenes. No ripped bodices… an arranged marriage between the daughter of the MCs in Sea Jewel, Edana and an Irish-Viking prince, Kerrin who takes her back to Waterford. He’s cursed and haunted by a legacy of hate and doesn’t want to love her. Great use of shape shifting in this tale! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Amazing Viking stories, can easily be read as standalones, especially as the first and third books are the best. Neri is an exceptional scenic writer, taking you into the setting of the countryside, dwellings, ships, people, weather etc. Very atmospheric! Enjoyable escapist reads.
July 26, 2010
A wonderful gaelic flavor romance. Very nice storyline and decent read. =)
March 10, 2011
Extremely enjoyable read, I would absolutely read it again.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews