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Viking & Saxon #1
Wikinger meines Herzens
Britannien im 9. Jahrhundert: Die ebenso hübsche wie dickköpfige Lady Cymbra weigert sich beharrlich, von ihrem Bruder, Lord Hawk, als Faustpfand für den Frieden zwischen den Angelsachsen und den Wikingern verschachert zu werden. Doch Wolf Hakonson, der mächtige Anführer der Wikinger, lässt ein Nein zu seinem ehrenvollen Antrag nicht gelten. Kurzerhand entführt er Lady Cymbra in seine Heimat - und wartet voller Ingrimm auf die Rache ihres Bruders. Doch der Vergeltungsschlag verläuft anders als geplant, denn niemand rechnet mit Lady Cymbras charmantem Zauber und ihrer Leidenschaft - am allerwenigsten sie selbst...
412 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
10 people are currently reading
787 people want to read
About the author
Josie Litton
72 books379 followersJosie Litton is the author of several NY Times and USA Today bestselling romances.
Married and living in Connecticut, she is the parent of two grown children. Becoming an empty nester has left her plenty of time to write, think about writing, plan what to write next, and read. When she isn’t doing that, she’s cooking, gardening, and traveling.
Married and living in Connecticut, she is the parent of two grown children. Becoming an empty nester has left her plenty of time to write, think about writing, plan what to write next, and read. When she isn’t doing that, she’s cooking, gardening, and traveling.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
September 12, 2020
All, right, this book ended up being between 4 and 5 stars for me. Closer to 4.25, so I will round to 4, but I was very nearly tempted to round to 5.
I'll get the annoying stuff out of the way first before the good stuff cuz if I end on the annoying stuff I might get mad, but if I end on the good stuff, who knows, I might still round very generously up :P
Annoying:
* the constant switching back and forth of POV. Like NO warning AT ALL. Like every other paragraph, and I am NOT in any way exaggerating. There was one point when suddenly the POV switched from Wolf to Dragon and I was like huh? I had to re-read 2 pages twice to see if I missed something. I do NOT like to disrupt flow of reading to do that. ANNOYED THE HELL OUT OF ME!
* Editing wasn't the greatest. all kinds of mistakes, but not enough to I get TOO annoyed. Didn't get any of my pet peeves
*The trope of the beautiful foreign woman who grabs the barbarian marauder's attention at first sight...blah blah... I'm not a huge fan of historical romance beautiful woman tropes. TOO MANY!!!! TOO UNORIGINAL! It annoys me right off the bat. OK, so if she was hideous, everything wouldn't go like it did even if she was brave and smart and talented? Or if not hideous just plain? Maybe a little fat? Or has stubby legs?? I really hate that trope
That's really about it. OK, 4 stars it is.
Anywho, the good stuff:
*WOLF, MY ALPHA! MY VIKING STUD!! Who's as brave and intelligent and gorgeous as he is fierce and wise and loving and loyal. I mean GAH!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Black hair, 6'4", Silver eyed GAH!!!!!!
*An engaging, sympathetic, capable, strong-willed, caring heroine (despite her beauty thing).
* A well-balanced plot that focuses on the relationship development between the MCs. This may have been instant attraction, but it wasn't insta-love. It took time to develop but not too long. And you see the push and pull in a very comprehensive way. It evolved very naturally.
The final confrontation with the brother toward the end surprised me at places a bit, but not in a bad way. I was just about to be like - oh, that was anticlimatic, until things turned the corner.
My fave scene that made me LOVE WOLF so hard was when after Cymbra pretty much "betrayed" him THREE times, including stabbing him (accidentally), he still forgave her, loved her enough to LET HER GO!! And the tears in his silvery eyes!! OH how my heart reached out to him...
It did end kinda abruptly, tho happily, but I have to take points off for the "dismount" fumble.
I am sooooo tempted to give this book 5 stars just for WOLF. BUT...
It took me until about 40% to really get into it. I'm a fast reader. If I love a book, it's gobbled down in no time at all, screw the real world. This one had to grow on me and there were moments when I thought I'd shelve it. I'm glad I didn't.
Thanks to Val for recommending it!
I'll get the annoying stuff out of the way first before the good stuff cuz if I end on the annoying stuff I might get mad, but if I end on the good stuff, who knows, I might still round very generously up :P
Annoying:
* the constant switching back and forth of POV. Like NO warning AT ALL. Like every other paragraph, and I am NOT in any way exaggerating. There was one point when suddenly the POV switched from Wolf to Dragon and I was like huh? I had to re-read 2 pages twice to see if I missed something. I do NOT like to disrupt flow of reading to do that. ANNOYED THE HELL OUT OF ME!
* Editing wasn't the greatest. all kinds of mistakes, but not enough to I get TOO annoyed. Didn't get any of my pet peeves
*The trope of the beautiful foreign woman who grabs the barbarian marauder's attention at first sight...blah blah... I'm not a huge fan of historical romance beautiful woman tropes. TOO MANY!!!! TOO UNORIGINAL! It annoys me right off the bat. OK, so if she was hideous, everything wouldn't go like it did even if she was brave and smart and talented? Or if not hideous just plain? Maybe a little fat? Or has stubby legs?? I really hate that trope
That's really about it. OK, 4 stars it is.
Anywho, the good stuff:
*WOLF, MY ALPHA! MY VIKING STUD!! Who's as brave and intelligent and gorgeous as he is fierce and wise and loving and loyal. I mean GAH!!!!! 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Black hair, 6'4", Silver eyed GAH!!!!!!
*An engaging, sympathetic, capable, strong-willed, caring heroine (despite her beauty thing).
* A well-balanced plot that focuses on the relationship development between the MCs. This may have been instant attraction, but it wasn't insta-love. It took time to develop but not too long. And you see the push and pull in a very comprehensive way. It evolved very naturally.
The final confrontation with the brother toward the end surprised me at places a bit, but not in a bad way. I was just about to be like - oh, that was anticlimatic, until things turned the corner.
My fave scene that made me LOVE WOLF so hard was when after Cymbra pretty much "betrayed" him THREE times, including stabbing him (accidentally), he still forgave her, loved her enough to LET HER GO!! And the tears in his silvery eyes!! OH how my heart reached out to him...
It did end kinda abruptly, tho happily, but I have to take points off for the "dismount" fumble.
I am sooooo tempted to give this book 5 stars just for WOLF. BUT...
It took me until about 40% to really get into it. I'm a fast reader. If I love a book, it's gobbled down in no time at all, screw the real world. This one had to grow on me and there were moments when I thought I'd shelve it. I'm glad I didn't.
Thanks to Val for recommending it!
October 13, 2019
”He was her wall now, her shelter, her protection. His arms were strong and they would never let her go.”
Characters
Wolf (Lord of Sciringesheal, Viking)
Wolf is the leader of the Vikings and wants to strike a deal with the Saxons to bring peace among the two. Wolf is a strong leader, loved by his people and a valiant warrior.
”He was a proud, strong, even arrogant man bred in a violent world and accustomed to absolute obedience.”
Cymbra (Saxon):
Cymbra has a “special gift” so her brother moved her to a more isolated island. She is a healer but has been somewhat sheltered and is a bit naive. She has a good heart and is compassionate.
”The great healers are like that, my ma always said. They can feel the suffering of others but they have to be able to protect themselves lest they be destroyed by it.”
The Story:
Wolf offered peace and was rudely rejected, so he decides to kidnap Cymbra and he makes sure he marries her quickly.
”She was a gently reared girl, schooled in the duties of a lady. After tonight, she'd make a nice, quiet, docile wife, exactly as he had expected. He was quite confident of that, he told himself groggily. There was no doubt about it. No doubt at all.”
Well, of course she wasn’t a docile wife (what fun would that be 😉).
My Thoughts:
Sometimes Cymbra really annoyed me. Was she capable of following ANY of Wolf’s orders? Ummm, no! 😠 She constantly ignored everything she was asked to do, which just seemed to undermine her husband’s authority and everyone’s perception of Wolf’s ability to lead. Her actions did more harm than good and I got irritated because I didn’t feel like she was a good asset to her husband.
A good portion of the story dragged at times. There were long periods where nothing exciting was going on and the stuff that was happening just wasn’t relevant to the overall plot. I got a bit bored. 😴😴 So, I felt it was a bit of a snooze-fest at times and I skipped pages.
There was nothing unusual or unique about the plot. I have read this in many Viking stories, so I had a hard time staying engaged. I wish the author would have explored Cymbra’s “special gift” a little more. It was introduced like it was a big deal and then glossed over for the rest of the book.
There was a sex scene where it really seemed like Cymbra might have had sex with someone else who pretended to be her husband. It was “dark”, she was “half asleep”, it wasn’t their “usual coupling”, and he “left immediately”and didn’t stay and snuggle with her after. It was very odd and it was told in a way that seemed like something nefarious happened. But....nothing came of it, so why was it even in the book? This drove me CRAZY because I kept waiting for the bomb 💣 to drop. Nothing...Nada. 😒 So what was the point of that?? Argh 😤
Overall this was just ok for me. I liked Wolf but I’m not sure I am invested enough to read the next book in the series.
Quotes
“Wolf lifted his eyes to the ceiling, fighting for control, praying for patience. Women seemed to need to talk under circumstances where any man would have the sense to keep his mouth shut, or find a better use for it.”
“That may be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I'm not sure, maybe it's only the second or third stupidest, but I think it really does have a chance at being first.”
“Perhaps it was impossible to have both Cymbra's unquestioning obedience and her loyalty as well. Perhaps to win her loyalty, he had first to give her his own trust.”
Characters
Wolf (Lord of Sciringesheal, Viking)
Wolf is the leader of the Vikings and wants to strike a deal with the Saxons to bring peace among the two. Wolf is a strong leader, loved by his people and a valiant warrior.
”He was a proud, strong, even arrogant man bred in a violent world and accustomed to absolute obedience.”
Cymbra (Saxon):
Cymbra has a “special gift” so her brother moved her to a more isolated island. She is a healer but has been somewhat sheltered and is a bit naive. She has a good heart and is compassionate.
”The great healers are like that, my ma always said. They can feel the suffering of others but they have to be able to protect themselves lest they be destroyed by it.”
The Story:
Wolf offered peace and was rudely rejected, so he decides to kidnap Cymbra and he makes sure he marries her quickly.
”She was a gently reared girl, schooled in the duties of a lady. After tonight, she'd make a nice, quiet, docile wife, exactly as he had expected. He was quite confident of that, he told himself groggily. There was no doubt about it. No doubt at all.”
Well, of course she wasn’t a docile wife (what fun would that be 😉).
My Thoughts:
Sometimes Cymbra really annoyed me. Was she capable of following ANY of Wolf’s orders? Ummm, no! 😠 She constantly ignored everything she was asked to do, which just seemed to undermine her husband’s authority and everyone’s perception of Wolf’s ability to lead. Her actions did more harm than good and I got irritated because I didn’t feel like she was a good asset to her husband.
A good portion of the story dragged at times. There were long periods where nothing exciting was going on and the stuff that was happening just wasn’t relevant to the overall plot. I got a bit bored. 😴😴 So, I felt it was a bit of a snooze-fest at times and I skipped pages.
There was nothing unusual or unique about the plot. I have read this in many Viking stories, so I had a hard time staying engaged. I wish the author would have explored Cymbra’s “special gift” a little more. It was introduced like it was a big deal and then glossed over for the rest of the book.
There was a sex scene where it really seemed like Cymbra might have had sex with someone else who pretended to be her husband. It was “dark”, she was “half asleep”, it wasn’t their “usual coupling”, and he “left immediately”and didn’t stay and snuggle with her after. It was very odd and it was told in a way that seemed like something nefarious happened. But....nothing came of it, so why was it even in the book? This drove me CRAZY because I kept waiting for the bomb 💣 to drop. Nothing...Nada. 😒 So what was the point of that?? Argh 😤
Overall this was just ok for me. I liked Wolf but I’m not sure I am invested enough to read the next book in the series.
Quotes
“Wolf lifted his eyes to the ceiling, fighting for control, praying for patience. Women seemed to need to talk under circumstances where any man would have the sense to keep his mouth shut, or find a better use for it.”
“That may be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. I'm not sure, maybe it's only the second or third stupidest, but I think it really does have a chance at being first.”
“Perhaps it was impossible to have both Cymbra's unquestioning obedience and her loyalty as well. Perhaps to win her loyalty, he had first to give her his own trust.”
October 5, 2019
.
Wolf is a respected and feared viking Jarl. Only a fool would send him a rude response to his peace overture for the Saxon Lord Hawk's sister's (Cymbra) hand in marriage. Wolf's response, is to kidnap Cymbra.
But instead of treating her poorly, Wolf marries her, planning to tell Hawk about it later. Wolf doesn't realize that Cymbra is not your average woman, and not just because she is one of the most famous beauties in history.
The story is the bumpy road of the early days of their marriage.
I enjoyed it but found myself annoyed with Cymbra's martyrish TSTL moments. I loved the MCs but felt like the author dropped the ball in their reunion.
The question of who sent the fraudulent reply to Wolf that started it all
Safety is fine
Wolf is a respected and feared viking Jarl. Only a fool would send him a rude response to his peace overture for the Saxon Lord Hawk's sister's (Cymbra) hand in marriage. Wolf's response, is to kidnap Cymbra.
But instead of treating her poorly, Wolf marries her, planning to tell Hawk about it later. Wolf doesn't realize that Cymbra is not your average woman, and not just because she is one of the most famous beauties in history.
The story is the bumpy road of the early days of their marriage.
I enjoyed it but found myself annoyed with Cymbra's martyrish TSTL moments. I loved the MCs but felt like the author dropped the ball in their reunion.
The question of who sent the fraudulent reply to Wolf that started it all
Safety is fine
June 9, 2014
The writing style was good and the writer kept me engaged and kept things flowing. What made me merely 'like' this book verses love it, had more to do with personal taste than anything.
****spoilers****
I marked this as 'vengeful hero' since that is how it all started. The H thought the heroine had very rudely rejected his marriage proposal - intended to form an alliance between the Norse and the Saxons. She didn't and from pretty much the first second he saw her he was all googly eyed and revenge was no longer an issue. Personally, I love a good vengeful hero who has to atone later. Really, he didn't have anything to atone for. The guy was nearly perfect.
The h was nearly perfect in many ways as well, but she also made decisions that had me feeling she was borderline tstl. She defied her husband every single time he asked something of her. Sometimes I think she did it just to prove she was a liberated woman (which makes ZERO sense in the context of the times). She ended up causing quite a few problems with her constant defiance (and pouting when she didn't get her way).
How he reacts to her publicly defying him is also unlikely given the times. He is the Viking Jarl for Pete's sake. You'd think he'd have at least followed through on his threat of a good spanking, instead they had a food fight followed by sexy times.
Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of heroes who constantly abuse the heroine. But, I also like to feel immersed in the time period. In this case, I often felt like these were people with modern morals and ideas playing dress-up.
I expect a Viking romance to be a bit grittier and the H to even be a bit of an ass at times (my favorite is Lindsey's Fires of Winter). To me, this was impossibly sweet for the genre. However, I can see how many would enjoy it. I enjoyed it. However, I doubt it will be on my re-read pile.
****spoilers****
I marked this as 'vengeful hero' since that is how it all started. The H thought the heroine had very rudely rejected his marriage proposal - intended to form an alliance between the Norse and the Saxons. She didn't and from pretty much the first second he saw her he was all googly eyed and revenge was no longer an issue. Personally, I love a good vengeful hero who has to atone later. Really, he didn't have anything to atone for. The guy was nearly perfect.
The h was nearly perfect in many ways as well, but she also made decisions that had me feeling she was borderline tstl. She defied her husband every single time he asked something of her. Sometimes I think she did it just to prove she was a liberated woman (which makes ZERO sense in the context of the times). She ended up causing quite a few problems with her constant defiance (and pouting when she didn't get her way).
How he reacts to her publicly defying him is also unlikely given the times. He is the Viking Jarl for Pete's sake. You'd think he'd have at least followed through on his threat of a good spanking, instead they had a food fight followed by sexy times.
Don't get me wrong, I am not a fan of heroes who constantly abuse the heroine. But, I also like to feel immersed in the time period. In this case, I often felt like these were people with modern morals and ideas playing dress-up.
I expect a Viking romance to be a bit grittier and the H to even be a bit of an ass at times (my favorite is Lindsey's Fires of Winter). To me, this was impossibly sweet for the genre. However, I can see how many would enjoy it. I enjoyed it. However, I doubt it will be on my re-read pile.
October 21, 2019
4 1/2 "Love me as I am."Stars!
I loved it! Thinking about going up to 5 stars. Wolf is my newest book boyfriend and I really liked Cymbra. She made some impulsive decisions, but she always had her reason; and I think they were quite reasonable reasons. 😊 The title of this review could also be "Misunderstandings". There were a few. But they didn't annoy me. They made the story. It's very rare that I would say that. But it worked out because there was also a lot of honest communication.
Looking forward to Hawk's and Dragon's stories. Happy reading!
I loved it! Thinking about going up to 5 stars. Wolf is my newest book boyfriend and I really liked Cymbra. She made some impulsive decisions, but she always had her reason; and I think they were quite reasonable reasons. 😊 The title of this review could also be "Misunderstandings". There were a few. But they didn't annoy me. They made the story. It's very rare that I would say that. But it worked out because there was also a lot of honest communication.
Looking forward to Hawk's and Dragon's stories. Happy reading!
August 8, 2017
4.50-5.0 RATING- I'm pretty stingy with my five star ratings. A book has to "hit" me just right or be absolutely amazing. Dream of me rated high because it pulled me in from the very beginning and never let go.
One of my favorite set ups in historical romances feature hero's that kidnap or force the heroine to marry, so this started off great for me. I liked both characters and thought the hero was fabulous. Is there anything sexier than a Viking? Not in my book. I loved him! Dangerous, protective, bossy. Check, check, check! The heroine could have gotten on my nerves because it seemed she was always going against everything the hero said but in her defense, she always had good reasons. I loved the development of the romance between the two characters. It read like a true love story. While not overly sexy the steamy bits were well done and appropriate for the story.
One area I wish the author would have developed more is the heroine's special "gift". While there was action in the story I thought another layer could have been added by adding in more about her capabilities and how she was affected. Also, while the heroine's beauty was important to note especially to explain why the hero made certain decisions I did get sick of hearing about it. Just a small gripe really.
I don't read a lot of historical romances but every once in a while am happy to read a good one. This one was better than good and hit all my sweet spots. When I finished, I couldn't help but compare the book overall to another favorite of mine, Maya Bank's Never Seduce a Scot. Overall, a great romantic story. My only disappointment is that the second and third books in the series haven't rated as high with my fellow readers. It seems a travesty to follow this book up with anything less than a stellar story.
One of my favorite set ups in historical romances feature hero's that kidnap or force the heroine to marry, so this started off great for me. I liked both characters and thought the hero was fabulous. Is there anything sexier than a Viking? Not in my book. I loved him! Dangerous, protective, bossy. Check, check, check! The heroine could have gotten on my nerves because it seemed she was always going against everything the hero said but in her defense, she always had good reasons. I loved the development of the romance between the two characters. It read like a true love story. While not overly sexy the steamy bits were well done and appropriate for the story.
One area I wish the author would have developed more is the heroine's special "gift". While there was action in the story I thought another layer could have been added by adding in more about her capabilities and how she was affected. Also, while the heroine's beauty was important to note especially to explain why the hero made certain decisions I did get sick of hearing about it. Just a small gripe really.
I don't read a lot of historical romances but every once in a while am happy to read a good one. This one was better than good and hit all my sweet spots. When I finished, I couldn't help but compare the book overall to another favorite of mine, Maya Bank's Never Seduce a Scot. Overall, a great romantic story. My only disappointment is that the second and third books in the series haven't rated as high with my fellow readers. It seems a travesty to follow this book up with anything less than a stellar story.
March 10, 2024
RE-READ ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
I VERY a much enjoyed this book. I loved Johanna Lindsey’s Haardrad series but each carried a serious amount of antagonism with each book. Which a little bit of that goes a long way with me. This was all the good parts of that particular Viking series minus the antagonism.
A smooth read excellent plot 8(1-10) steaminess 7(1-10) I adored the H and the h. And I am looking forward to the nest book.
Highly recommend
I VERY a much enjoyed this book. I loved Johanna Lindsey’s Haardrad series but each carried a serious amount of antagonism with each book. Which a little bit of that goes a long way with me. This was all the good parts of that particular Viking series minus the antagonism.
A smooth read excellent plot 8(1-10) steaminess 7(1-10) I adored the H and the h. And I am looking forward to the nest book.
Highly recommend
March 14, 2018
4.25 Stars!
November 29, 2023
5 Stunning Stars
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow! I finally decided to try a Viking book, and man am I glad it was this one! 😍
This story was so different from anything else I’ve read, due to the simple fact that Vikings do things very differently from the Scottish clans etc that I’m more used to reading. So, you have to go into it knowing it’s not going to be the prettiest of lifestyles, however, nor is it so barbaric that it took me out of my feels.
Wolf was awesome. He had a fine line to walk as leader because he could NOT let his love for Cymbra effect how his men saw him as Jarl or it could mean big trouble for him. So I totally understood his dilemma. He balanced it all wonderfully though and all for Cymbra because if not for her, he would still be seeing things in black and white. He allowed her to show him how to be an even more just leader. Because, don’t get me wrong, he was never a horrendous jarl, but she taught him how to loosen the reins a little when it came to his word being law- and especially when it came to her.
I also truly loved how Cymbra also understood all this and was not horrified with the circumstances she was in. She understood Wolf had a role to play and NEVER held it against him.
Their love was just amazing, and all the more so since she started out his captive. This was another thing I was glad she didn’t hold over him or hold a grudge over. It was a misunderstanding that quickly was cleared up, and Cymbra was then able to allow herself to fall in love with not just Wolf, but the whole environment and way of life. Beautiful! 💕
✨Highly recommend!✨
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Wow! I finally decided to try a Viking book, and man am I glad it was this one! 😍
This story was so different from anything else I’ve read, due to the simple fact that Vikings do things very differently from the Scottish clans etc that I’m more used to reading. So, you have to go into it knowing it’s not going to be the prettiest of lifestyles, however, nor is it so barbaric that it took me out of my feels.
Wolf was awesome. He had a fine line to walk as leader because he could NOT let his love for Cymbra effect how his men saw him as Jarl or it could mean big trouble for him. So I totally understood his dilemma. He balanced it all wonderfully though and all for Cymbra because if not for her, he would still be seeing things in black and white. He allowed her to show him how to be an even more just leader. Because, don’t get me wrong, he was never a horrendous jarl, but she taught him how to loosen the reins a little when it came to his word being law- and especially when it came to her.
I also truly loved how Cymbra also understood all this and was not horrified with the circumstances she was in. She understood Wolf had a role to play and NEVER held it against him.
Their love was just amazing, and all the more so since she started out his captive. This was another thing I was glad she didn’t hold over him or hold a grudge over. It was a misunderstanding that quickly was cleared up, and Cymbra was then able to allow herself to fall in love with not just Wolf, but the whole environment and way of life. Beautiful! 💕
✨Highly recommend!✨
May 15, 2012
H/h: Wolf & Cymbra
Other: Dragon, Hawk, Brita
Where: I have to figure that out
Cymbra's brother has kept her at a holding apart from his own for many reason. Because of that she has been very sheltered. When Wolf and his men show up as prisoners at her holding she shows them kindness.
Once again I should say I'm not a reviewer. Others have reviewed this book and you would do well to read them if you want a synopsis. This book is wonderful, it grabs you and holds on. When I was first introduced to historical romance my sister in law gave me a Julie Garwood HR book to read I fell head over heals in love. I quickly read all her HR books and then started looking for books by other authors that would compare. Well it's been several years since that time, I'd decided there wasn't any other author out there that floated my boat in this genera - and now look what I found. This book is a jewel. I'm so excited I found it! If you love "sweet love stories" this is your book. Have fun!
Other: Dragon, Hawk, Brita
Where: I have to figure that out
Cymbra's brother has kept her at a holding apart from his own for many reason. Because of that she has been very sheltered. When Wolf and his men show up as prisoners at her holding she shows them kindness.
Once again I should say I'm not a reviewer. Others have reviewed this book and you would do well to read them if you want a synopsis. This book is wonderful, it grabs you and holds on. When I was first introduced to historical romance my sister in law gave me a Julie Garwood HR book to read I fell head over heals in love. I quickly read all her HR books and then started looking for books by other authors that would compare. Well it's been several years since that time, I'd decided there wasn't any other author out there that floated my boat in this genera - and now look what I found. This book is a jewel. I'm so excited I found it! If you love "sweet love stories" this is your book. Have fun!
December 22, 2019
Love me some vikings!
October 9, 2025
Got to see this as one of high-rated a couple of times. Read it last month. Not my cup of tea. Pity.
August 7, 2017
My first time reading a Josie Litton story. It took me a bit to get used to her writing style, very old-school historical romance prose. It's not that I didn't like it, but those first few chapters kinda dragged a bit for me. I even double checked the publication date to confirm it's publication date (2001) was not from the 80s, LOL. But I kept reading.
Then it bloomed in my reading heart...
And I never looked back.
That first awakening in Wolf's heart that Cymbra was "more" than he thought. More than revenge, more than pride, more than insult...more than chattel. That she had value. That's when the story drew me in.
When Cymbra dug deep to find true strength of character and inner reserves to face her "gift" and a new world of obstacles.
When the author brilliantly described two very different characters of their time, showcasing their very different male and female norms moral codes, their backstories and dreams, did this story come together for me. What I liked best inspite of the conflicts, politics, twists and turns? The author kept of hero and heroine true to their ideals, convicted to their own choices, siblings that were interesting in their own rights, and that their romance always laid just under the simmering surface for me to enjoy.
Then it bloomed in my reading heart...
And I never looked back.
That first awakening in Wolf's heart that Cymbra was "more" than he thought. More than revenge, more than pride, more than insult...more than chattel. That she had value. That's when the story drew me in.
When Cymbra dug deep to find true strength of character and inner reserves to face her "gift" and a new world of obstacles.
When the author brilliantly described two very different characters of their time, showcasing their very different male and female norms moral codes, their backstories and dreams, did this story come together for me. What I liked best inspite of the conflicts, politics, twists and turns? The author kept of hero and heroine true to their ideals, convicted to their own choices, siblings that were interesting in their own rights, and that their romance always laid just under the simmering surface for me to enjoy.
May 16, 2016
I enjoyed this hidden gem immensely!
August 5, 2022
Dream of me starts a Viking Romance trilogy with the marriage of Wolf (Viking) and Cymbra (Saxon). Their road to nuptials starts off with trickery and kidnapping but it ends Happily Ever After so hang in there.
There's no forced seduction here, she pretty much likes him immediately and the feeling is mutual so there's that, but I honestly don't have such much a problem with that trope. I did enjoy their tussles too- like the food fight. :) The thing that bugged me the most in this story is the hinted at magical gift she possessed- talked about but never really seen in action? So yeah, Dream of Me left me with the feeling that it never really reached its potential.
I liked the two main characters- a lot actually. However something about the story telling didn’t keep me engaged. Plus all of the plotting was heavy handed, fairly predictable. I’m okay with predictable if I get the emotional payoff. The problem for me was that I never really did get that. It had themes I liked of the the heroine receiving unjust treatment, her silently taking it, but never saw the reward of seeing her justice, or more accurately feeling like HE saw it. It was there but there were times it felt like it just slipped away before the emotions were engaged. Something of the Hero's response just felt tepid to me.
The setting is in early England- before England was England- and I also love me some Viking/Saxon settings and themes in my Hist-Rom reading. I believe its because of this that Ms Litton's stories worked as well as it did for me.
There's no forced seduction here, she pretty much likes him immediately and the feeling is mutual so there's that, but I honestly don't have such much a problem with that trope. I did enjoy their tussles too- like the food fight. :) The thing that bugged me the most in this story is the hinted at magical gift she possessed- talked about but never really seen in action? So yeah, Dream of Me left me with the feeling that it never really reached its potential.
I liked the two main characters- a lot actually. However something about the story telling didn’t keep me engaged. Plus all of the plotting was heavy handed, fairly predictable. I’m okay with predictable if I get the emotional payoff. The problem for me was that I never really did get that. It had themes I liked of the the heroine receiving unjust treatment, her silently taking it, but never saw the reward of seeing her justice, or more accurately feeling like HE saw it. It was there but there were times it felt like it just slipped away before the emotions were engaged. Something of the Hero's response just felt tepid to me.
The setting is in early England- before England was England- and I also love me some Viking/Saxon settings and themes in my Hist-Rom reading. I believe its because of this that Ms Litton's stories worked as well as it did for me.
May 30, 2022
This is one of the best Viking books I have read in a really long time!!!! So good. I just loved how protective Wolf became of Cymbra. I wanted to savor this but I really enjoyed the plot line, kept me engaged. Now, I can't wait to read the Hawk and hopefully Dragon's story!!! I was really rooting a story to happen for Brita too, but I'm afraid that won't be happening. I highly recommend this series and its a KEEPER on my shelf!
August 14, 2019
Wow, one of the best books I've read recently! 10+ stars!
Narration is perfect, well developed plot as well as the main characters. Action, hot scenes and HEA - great combination for sleepless night! Bravo! A must read book for everyone who liked books A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught and Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood!
Narration is perfect, well developed plot as well as the main characters. Action, hot scenes and HEA - great combination for sleepless night! Bravo! A must read book for everyone who liked books A Kingdom of Dreams by Judith McNaught and Honor's Splendour by Julie Garwood!
March 21, 2020
I just could not care less how this book ends so I’m giving up half way though. It’s just a cheesy romance novel set in Viking times with an underlying woke, strong, independent woman vibe. So stupid.
July 9, 2014
I think this book should be classified as "erotica." This is not my cup of tea. I listened to the audio version and had it not been because I love Josephine Bailey and she is one of my favorite narrators, I would have given this a 1 star. The story lacks substance and it is strong on the sexuality, details, etc. It had some good twists but did not hold very long and then it goes back at the same descriptive steamy scenes... Really people, how much of that can anyone take? Unless I guess that is what you are looking for in a book. Again, since I was not looking for a sexual anatomical super descriptive lesson, I found it a little too much for me. If you are looking for a strong story, profound, interesting, intellectual and enriching book - do not buy this. This is great romance erotica!!!
November 5, 2017
A good 4 stars read for me. Captivating storyline with twists I didn't expect, never boring. I felt connected to both the h and H, felt how their relationship changed. Although I have the 2nd book in the series already on my kindle, I'm not going to read it immediatly.. maybe later on. I truly wanted to know how the story between Wolf and Lady Cymbra developed, but coudn't care less about her brother Hawk... sad but true.
January 25, 2016
I ended up buying Dream of Me/Believe in Me as a package Kindle book. I started with the story of Cymbra and Wolf. Loved it! A bit lusty, but I couldn't put it down. Wolf was wonderful. Delicious Viking. swoon. Can't wait to read Hawk's story (Cymbra's brother).
June 19, 2020
Very good viking book. All three books in series was good.
say-something-i-m-giving-up-on-you
June 19, 2017DNF at 50% maybe.
I must have read a hundred books that promised me something different, and I have been disappointed a hundred times.
Dream of Me belongs that category of books, the one that lures you in with its synopsis and you just think that maybe this time you'll see something new, but you don't. It's a copy and paste of the exact same formula, and oh my god, am I bored. You have your Mary Sue heroine who has unparalleled beauty and the kindest personality (blech). The hero is handsome and harsh to all except his beautiful wife. I was willing to bear with that and their generic antics, but then came the final straw. A character from the Moors was introduced, Kareem Ben Abdul.
It isn't what I hated, but what's with the name? Abdul usually comes with something, for example: Abdul-Aziz or Abdul-Rahman. Abd is a word in Arabic that is literally translated into slave, but it is used to describe a devout follower. The ul that follows it is basically Case for you linguists. Now, does this mean that Abdul is not a name? I think there are a lot of people called Abdul nowadays, but certainly not back then. Although I was annoyed, Litton is not the only author guilty of such inaccuracy (who cares about accuracy when it comes to the East amiright?).
So, let us go back to what I truly hated, which is portraying the East as the Orient. In a matter of a single page, the East and its culture were limited to: no pork or wine, harems, and no women rights, the last being something that our Middle Ages women rights activist Cymbria comments about. To give the author some credit, other characters do offer explanations, but I was already triggered.
In the end, I think Litton has a great writer, but she should utilise her skill in writing about things she has thoroughly studied and perhaps coming up with interesting characters.
I must have read a hundred books that promised me something different, and I have been disappointed a hundred times.
Dream of Me belongs that category of books, the one that lures you in with its synopsis and you just think that maybe this time you'll see something new, but you don't. It's a copy and paste of the exact same formula, and oh my god, am I bored. You have your Mary Sue heroine who has unparalleled beauty and the kindest personality (blech). The hero is handsome and harsh to all except his beautiful wife. I was willing to bear with that and their generic antics, but then came the final straw. A character from the Moors was introduced, Kareem Ben Abdul.
It isn't what I hated, but what's with the name? Abdul usually comes with something, for example: Abdul-Aziz or Abdul-Rahman. Abd is a word in Arabic that is literally translated into slave, but it is used to describe a devout follower. The ul that follows it is basically Case for you linguists. Now, does this mean that Abdul is not a name? I think there are a lot of people called Abdul nowadays, but certainly not back then. Although I was annoyed, Litton is not the only author guilty of such inaccuracy (who cares about accuracy when it comes to the East amiright?).
So, let us go back to what I truly hated, which is portraying the East as the Orient. In a matter of a single page, the East and its culture were limited to: no pork or wine, harems, and no women rights, the last being something that our Middle Ages women rights activist Cymbria comments about. To give the author some credit, other characters do offer explanations, but I was already triggered.
In the end, I think Litton has a great writer, but she should utilise her skill in writing about things she has thoroughly studied and perhaps coming up with interesting characters.
December 24, 2020
By and1515
Wolf was very pleased with himself his plan was working quite well even if the were at the moment sitting in a cell.
Lady Cymbra was determined to make sure the prisoners were well taken care of and she was going to let anyone to get in her way.
Wolf and his men had been surprised by her generosity towards them even though they were considered savages.
They took her by surprise and she knew he was right people would get hurt if she tried to scream.
There journey to his homeland was an adventure she probably could have done without.
She was less impressed with Wolf's declaration that she was now his and if she didn't agree with him then she wouldn't like what he did to her brother if he ever showed up.
She had to admit life was good even with a spiteful woman tried to undermine her authority.
Or maybe the time her stubborn brother-in-law thought he could heal himself to only botch the job so royally that he could have died.
Then the day her brother Hawk arrived.
When Wolf asked why he would deny turning down the deal he'd offered them before he'd stole Cymbra.
she knew her brother was just as confused as she had been when Wolf had told her about it.
She was the a poor pebble stuck between a rock and a very hard place.
Cymbra loved both of them and never wanted either of them to fight one another because she would survive if she lost one or the other but men are if anything as being predictable jackasses.
Wolf couldn't believe she was really gone and his little brother kept trying to encourage him to grow a pair and retrieve his wife.
Wolf was very pleased with himself his plan was working quite well even if the were at the moment sitting in a cell.
Lady Cymbra was determined to make sure the prisoners were well taken care of and she was going to let anyone to get in her way.
Wolf and his men had been surprised by her generosity towards them even though they were considered savages.
They took her by surprise and she knew he was right people would get hurt if she tried to scream.
There journey to his homeland was an adventure she probably could have done without.
She was less impressed with Wolf's declaration that she was now his and if she didn't agree with him then she wouldn't like what he did to her brother if he ever showed up.
She had to admit life was good even with a spiteful woman tried to undermine her authority.
Or maybe the time her stubborn brother-in-law thought he could heal himself to only botch the job so royally that he could have died.
Then the day her brother Hawk arrived.
When Wolf asked why he would deny turning down the deal he'd offered them before he'd stole Cymbra.
she knew her brother was just as confused as she had been when Wolf had told her about it.
She was the a poor pebble stuck between a rock and a very hard place.
Cymbra loved both of them and never wanted either of them to fight one another because she would survive if she lost one or the other but men are if anything as being predictable jackasses.
Wolf couldn't believe she was really gone and his little brother kept trying to encourage him to grow a pair and retrieve his wife.
July 10, 2021
Lady Chambry has lived a very sheltered life in Holywood castle - her brother has hidden her away due to her extreme beauty and her "gift" of feeling other's pain - which helps her as a healer. She ends up being kidnapped by nortorious Norse Viking, Wolf - who is angered because Lady Chambry has rudely turned down his honorable proposal of marriage. He plans to humiliate her - until he sees her. Her had heard she was uncommonly pretty, but he was still unprepared by how gorgeous she really was. Instead of humiliation, Wolf decides marriage is the best idea. And so Lady Chambry marries Wolf and tries to learn Norse culture and how to be a good wife --both things are not easy for her. And then her brother Hawk arrives to "save" his little sister.
September 28, 2022
Extremely solid book, and one that I thoroughly enjoyed. At the beginning of the book, I was considering giving it a 4 stars because of how thoroughly well done the writing and plot was. By the middle and end, the quality slightly slipped, alongside how the plot was developed and written (hence why I’ve settled on a 3 stars, which is closer to 3.5/5). I liked both protagonists, but wasn’t much of a fan of Hawk. His actions came across as rushed, and too emotionally driven for someone who is meant to be a leader. Overall, this was a v good book, but slightly slipped in quality towards the mid and end point.
May 30, 2025
Not for me.
I actually liked this one up to certain point after that it failed to hook me up to the last page. this is because I suppose I didn't find any obstacles that they have to overcome to confess their love which is actually the thing that carryout the whole story in romance novels. I don't mind if that's the case but here what is lacking for me is there is nothing to look forward to, not even the conversations between the MCs which I find very boring. From the beginning after their marriage H tells her not to do something but she refuses and H sees the reason why and they will have sex this repeats till the end. I found it very tiring. I just completed this so i can move on to the next book.
I actually liked this one up to certain point after that it failed to hook me up to the last page. this is because I suppose I didn't find any obstacles that they have to overcome to confess their love which is actually the thing that carryout the whole story in romance novels. I don't mind if that's the case but here what is lacking for me is there is nothing to look forward to, not even the conversations between the MCs which I find very boring. From the beginning after their marriage H tells her not to do something but she refuses and H sees the reason why and they will have sex this repeats till the end. I found it very tiring. I just completed this so i can move on to the next book.
August 31, 2017
Slow plot development. At some points in the story, it was as interesting as watching drops of water trickle down a wall. In my opinion, the story could have been cut in half and still retain everything that was good about it. The mundane details about the day-to-day life of the characters were mind-numbing.
While there was nothing too annoying about the characters or the story, I have read too many historical romance novels with a similar plot to appreciate Dream of Me.
While there was nothing too annoying about the characters or the story, I have read too many historical romance novels with a similar plot to appreciate Dream of Me.
March 20, 2021
This historical romance was enjoyable to read for a few reasons:
The hero, a Viking lord , was unbelievably sweet and fierce.
The heroine was remarkable (smart, capable and beautiful)
The story described beautifully and credibly the simple but harsh life of Vikings in the middle ages (before they also become Christians).
My favorite part of this book was where the heroine dramatically prevented both her brother and her husband from killing each other.
The hero, a Viking lord , was unbelievably sweet and fierce.
The heroine was remarkable (smart, capable and beautiful)
The story described beautifully and credibly the simple but harsh life of Vikings in the middle ages (before they also become Christians).
My favorite part of this book was where the heroine dramatically prevented both her brother and her husband from killing each other.
April 4, 2021
Fluff, cheesy AF and pretty harmless.
Perhaps, except revenge plot at the beginning and the arranged/forced marriage that You can feel a bit iffy about. I acually didn't. Till this point I've read much, much worse. But maybe because of the lack of angst [] I didn't adore it. I simply liked it.
Perhaps, except revenge plot at the beginning and the arranged/forced marriage that You can feel a bit iffy about. I acually didn't. Till this point I've read much, much worse. But maybe because of the lack of angst [] I didn't adore it. I simply liked it.
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