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Viking Warrior
When a beautiful Danish maiden is captured by Norse warriors and sold into slavery, she never guesses that she will soon become the willing thrall of a golden-haired Viking who holds captive her heart.He Would Never Forgive …After a brutal attack on his farmstead, Wulfric the Ruthless had sworn vengeance on the Danish raiders for killing his young wife. But when he laid eyes on Reyna the Dane, all he could see was a woman of extraordinary beauty, with flowing hair the color of moonlight and a body any Valkyrie would envy. She was his thrall, gifted to him by his brother. Could the beautiful healer also ease the fire burning in his heart?She Would Never Forget …Stolen from her home by wild Norseman, Reyna would always remember the face of the barbarian who’d destroyed her life. When she first caught sight of her new master, she thought he was the very man she’d vowed to hate forever. But Wulf’s seductive kisses awoke very different feeling within her. As one deliciously long Northern night blended into another, she realized he was no longer her enemy but her beloved.
321 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 28, 2008
23 people are currently reading
524 people want to read
About the author
Connie Mason
140 books534 followersConnie Mason or Cara Miles is the best-selling author of more than fifty historical romances and novellas. Her tales of passion and adventure are set in exotic as well as American locales. Connie was named Story Teller of the Year in 1990 by Romantic Times and was awarded Career Achievement award in the Western category by Romantic Times in 1994. Connie makes her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida with her husband Jerry.
Prior to her first published work in 1984, Connie was a full time homemaker. Always an avid reader, writing was one of Connie's dreams.
In 1995 Connie was featured on a segment of the CBS news show 48 Hours, a television production that devoted an entire program to the romance novel industry. Connie was also featured in an article published by National Inquirer.
In addition to writing and traveling, Connie enjoys telling anyone who will listen about her three children and nine grandchildren, and sharing memories of her years living abroad in Europe and Asia as the wife of a career serviceman. In her spare time Connie enjoys reading, dancing, playing bridge and freshwater fishing with her husband.
Prior to her first published work in 1984, Connie was a full time homemaker. Always an avid reader, writing was one of Connie's dreams.
In 1995 Connie was featured on a segment of the CBS news show 48 Hours, a television production that devoted an entire program to the romance novel industry. Connie was also featured in an article published by National Inquirer.
In addition to writing and traveling, Connie enjoys telling anyone who will listen about her three children and nine grandchildren, and sharing memories of her years living abroad in Europe and Asia as the wife of a career serviceman. In her spare time Connie enjoys reading, dancing, playing bridge and freshwater fishing with her husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
December 20, 2021
2.5 to 3 stars Bodice Ripper written in 2008. Reyna and Wulfric. Trigger warning: The heroine is raped by his raiding battle soldier, the heroine is almost raped by another raider who took her be ransomed and attempted rape, and the hero is not patient with her during some of their sex scenes when she is saying no to sex. The story is heavily around on the "rape" and that she is just a thrall so since he owns her have the right to her body. The hero has also sold her in the past and Reyna comes back into his life because his brother bought her to be his thrall/potential sex slave. So therefore my trigger warning.
I am not sure this is a story that I will want to read again. Aside from the above, the hero who is tormented because he lost his wife and unborn child to raiders gets his revenge by going on raiding escapades in revenge. It takes too long for him to fall in love with Reyna. I had a hard time with Wulf who had experienced love before not being able to recognize love again (albeit perhaps a different type of love) but so willing to do the sexy time the heroine. Selfish.
Then the heroine, she is supposed to be a strong warrior, but for me she was whiney. Especially because she would internally be saying I won't have sex with Wulfric unless his marries me then gets carried away and has sex with him. A lot. (Sometimes she would even be saying no to him verbally but during those sexual encounters I blame the hero for those encounters.)
Another weird thing is what kind of hero lets his sister marry the guy who has raped the person you are now having sex with and will potentially be your wife? The guy who raped Reyna was going to be in the family. They excused his raping of Reyna of just being bloodlust. He even wanted to marry the sister and have Reyna as his sex slave at one point. Zoinks!
An quirk that was actually interesting or unknown to me was that--divorce was easy in this book for women. The time period is set in 860 AD but apparently for all the raping, selling of woman to get divorce all the wife had to so was to walk out of the household and say she was divorced and go back to her family.
I settled on 2.5 to 3 stars because I guess when it is a Viking story the authors basing the story around raping and raiding are true to the time period? So I am trying to be fair about the trope and so much of the story about rape. I have enjoyed some other Viking stories (Johanna Lindsey's Viking stories come to mind) when I feel that the hero and heroine are connecting better. Kwim?
I am not sure this is a story that I will want to read again. Aside from the above, the hero who is tormented because he lost his wife and unborn child to raiders gets his revenge by going on raiding escapades in revenge. It takes too long for him to fall in love with Reyna. I had a hard time with Wulf who had experienced love before not being able to recognize love again (albeit perhaps a different type of love) but so willing to do the sexy time the heroine. Selfish.
Then the heroine, she is supposed to be a strong warrior, but for me she was whiney. Especially because she would internally be saying I won't have sex with Wulfric unless his marries me then gets carried away and has sex with him. A lot. (Sometimes she would even be saying no to him verbally but during those sexual encounters I blame the hero for those encounters.)
Another weird thing is what kind of hero lets his sister marry the guy who has raped the person you are now having sex with and will potentially be your wife? The guy who raped Reyna was going to be in the family. They excused his raping of Reyna of just being bloodlust. He even wanted to marry the sister and have Reyna as his sex slave at one point. Zoinks!
An quirk that was actually interesting or unknown to me was that--divorce was easy in this book for women. The time period is set in 860 AD but apparently for all the raping, selling of woman to get divorce all the wife had to so was to walk out of the household and say she was divorced and go back to her family.
I settled on 2.5 to 3 stars because I guess when it is a Viking story the authors basing the story around raping and raiding are true to the time period? So I am trying to be fair about the trope and so much of the story about rape. I have enjoyed some other Viking stories (Johanna Lindsey's Viking stories come to mind) when I feel that the hero and heroine are connecting better. Kwim?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 3, 2016
When a brutal attack on Wulf the Ruthless's land, killing his wife and unborn child, vowing vengence on the Danes. However when his brother brings a woman Reyna the Dane, he is mystified by her beauty, but also recognizes her as a woman during a raid he found raped and sold her, but Reyna has never forgotten that horrific day where every good in her life was taken away. After being brutally raped and then sold to a sultan, but then given to Wulf as his slave, she never has forgotten what he did to her. Assuming that Wulf the Ruthless was the one that raped her, she knows she can never give in to the delicious sensations she feels from his kisses and his heated gaze. Both of these souls have been hurt but through each other they can find the healing balm for their hearts. But will their hatred make them blind to a beautiful love that is right beneath their noses, or will they choose to fully embrace it and find the most valued love that will last forever?
Viking Warrior is another win for Connie Mason in my mind. This was such a exquisite romance, that I could never put this one down! I have enjoyed reading from this author, but since this is a newly book acquired from the library, I knew I had to read it, especially since I love any story involving Vikings!!! We have Reyna, who on one brutal day was raped and sold, never to hear from her family that she loved dearly, but still have a hope that they are still alive. When she see's Wulf the man she thinks rapes and sells her, she has such a bitter hatred for him. But when she realizes the truth and that he never did, she starts to fall under his seductive kisses and give in to the desire that pulls at her. Wulf, after losing his wife and unborn child to the Danes, has a difficult time with a Dane slave in his household. But her beauty and healing talents cause him to waver that all Danes are bad. As passions escalate between Wulf and Reyna, they both without realizing it start to heal their battle wounds and embrace the more current feelings they share for each other, feelings that can only strengthen them and not burden them. This was a remarkable story taken back through time to the age of the Vikings, and will whirl you away into adventure, romance, and remarkable characters that will blow you away with delight!
Viking Warrior is another win for Connie Mason in my mind. This was such a exquisite romance, that I could never put this one down! I have enjoyed reading from this author, but since this is a newly book acquired from the library, I knew I had to read it, especially since I love any story involving Vikings!!! We have Reyna, who on one brutal day was raped and sold, never to hear from her family that she loved dearly, but still have a hope that they are still alive. When she see's Wulf the man she thinks rapes and sells her, she has such a bitter hatred for him. But when she realizes the truth and that he never did, she starts to fall under his seductive kisses and give in to the desire that pulls at her. Wulf, after losing his wife and unborn child to the Danes, has a difficult time with a Dane slave in his household. But her beauty and healing talents cause him to waver that all Danes are bad. As passions escalate between Wulf and Reyna, they both without realizing it start to heal their battle wounds and embrace the more current feelings they share for each other, feelings that can only strengthen them and not burden them. This was a remarkable story taken back through time to the age of the Vikings, and will whirl you away into adventure, romance, and remarkable characters that will blow you away with delight!
March 25, 2011
AUTHOR
Connie Mason has a simplistic style of writting. She reves it up on the passion and lust.
SYNOPSIS
Set in the days of the Vikings where countries that we know today as Norwegian countries plundered for booty and slaves and raids were often.
A woman's village is raided and she is sold into slavery. After her owner is unable to control her, he puts her back up for auction. She is then purchased by the brother of the same Viking that originally raided her village. The brother presents her as a gift for his Viking brother. Oh baby, the heat is own.
FAVORITE PART: The first time they were in the heated water
LEAST FAVORITE PART: When she was captured a third time
SEX SCALE: Of the following five options: 1) NOT very descriptive and requires imagination' 2) WILL make you wiggle a little) 3) WISH it was me; 4) OH boy, do not have to use my imagination at all; 5) EROTICA and well over the top
******THIS BOOK GETS A FOUR for "OH BOY" rating because I love how he is constantly turned on to her******
YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: How a strong muscled Viking cannot live without lusting after his slave. How she refuses be lusted after.
FOUR STARS because I liked the story well enough to keep reading and I loved the passion
Connie Mason has a simplistic style of writting. She reves it up on the passion and lust.
SYNOPSIS
Set in the days of the Vikings where countries that we know today as Norwegian countries plundered for booty and slaves and raids were often.
A woman's village is raided and she is sold into slavery. After her owner is unable to control her, he puts her back up for auction. She is then purchased by the brother of the same Viking that originally raided her village. The brother presents her as a gift for his Viking brother. Oh baby, the heat is own.
FAVORITE PART: The first time they were in the heated water
LEAST FAVORITE PART: When she was captured a third time
SEX SCALE: Of the following five options: 1) NOT very descriptive and requires imagination' 2) WILL make you wiggle a little) 3) WISH it was me; 4) OH boy, do not have to use my imagination at all; 5) EROTICA and well over the top
******THIS BOOK GETS A FOUR for "OH BOY" rating because I love how he is constantly turned on to her******
YOU WILL LIKE THIS BOOK IF YOU LIKE: How a strong muscled Viking cannot live without lusting after his slave. How she refuses be lusted after.
FOUR STARS because I liked the story well enough to keep reading and I loved the passion
March 11, 2015
It was alright.
Unlike other readers I didn't find it that "rapey". True she says no then gives in because she finds him attractive, but for me there wasn't a rape because she did actually want it. (obviously the rape by Olgas brother was a rape but is just referred to in past tense and doesn't actually take place in the story)
However that bit aside...
It was just missing something and I think the part that lacked for me was the dialogue between Wulf and "her" (cant remember her name, duh!) It wasn't particularly witty or exciting. The story had a whole lot of action but not a huge amount of substance to the depths of the characters.
I like a good book with emotions I can feel and connect with, this just didn't engage. I think perhaps Ms Mason stuffed it so full of "scenarios" that it just became emotionally numbing and an OK read. It was almost comically bad that she says (not direct quote) "I wish our situations were reversed and you my slave" to Wulf... next chapter their situations get reversed, I mean COME-ON REALLY?!. Just the whole; she saves his life, she saves his brothers life, he saves her families lives etc etc shes enslaveD, hes enslaved, shes captured by someone else. OMG just stop, I had to leave the book and go to work, came back and couldn't remember which "abduction" had happened or how it had happened (by that time I had got to the third) ... good novel goes bad!
In writing this review my opinion of the story dropped from a 3/5.. to a 2/5. When I think about it I wont be reading it again although I will give Ms Mason another chance.
Unlike other readers I didn't find it that "rapey". True she says no then gives in because she finds him attractive, but for me there wasn't a rape because she did actually want it. (obviously the rape by Olgas brother was a rape but is just referred to in past tense and doesn't actually take place in the story)
However that bit aside...
It was just missing something and I think the part that lacked for me was the dialogue between Wulf and "her" (cant remember her name, duh!) It wasn't particularly witty or exciting. The story had a whole lot of action but not a huge amount of substance to the depths of the characters.
I like a good book with emotions I can feel and connect with, this just didn't engage. I think perhaps Ms Mason stuffed it so full of "scenarios" that it just became emotionally numbing and an OK read. It was almost comically bad that she says (not direct quote) "I wish our situations were reversed and you my slave" to Wulf... next chapter their situations get reversed, I mean COME-ON REALLY?!. Just the whole; she saves his life, she saves his brothers life, he saves her families lives etc etc shes enslaveD, hes enslaved, shes captured by someone else. OMG just stop, I had to leave the book and go to work, came back and couldn't remember which "abduction" had happened or how it had happened (by that time I had got to the third) ... good novel goes bad!
In writing this review my opinion of the story dropped from a 3/5.. to a 2/5. When I think about it I wont be reading it again although I will give Ms Mason another chance.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 26, 2013
Wulfric the Ruthless is gifted with Reyna the Dane as a thrall following the death of his wife in a raid by violent Danes. His brother bought her from a slave trader in Byzantium on a trading voyage there because she could not be tamed. Unknown to Wulfric's brother, it was Wulfric who carried a weeping and ravaged Reyna to Byzantium to sell but Reyna thinks he's the one who raped her. Reyna is a skilled healer, something Wulfric's clan needs desperately. However, will the flames dancing between the two of them be enough to overcome their hostility to each other?
I loved this book. There was a lot of detail and the early Middle Ages (860 AD) really come alive. You feel as if you are there in the story with the main characters and living their lives. The excellent cover only adds to the enjoyment of the story. This is one of my favorite authors.
I loved this book. There was a lot of detail and the early Middle Ages (860 AD) really come alive. You feel as if you are there in the story with the main characters and living their lives. The excellent cover only adds to the enjoyment of the story. This is one of my favorite authors.
August 7, 2010
I liked this viking story about a Dane captive eventually bought as thrall for Norse warrior who had raided her village a couple years earlier but the tables turned. The action moved at a good pace and there was LOTS of sex but that viking sure was stubborn and pig-headed ... my rating 3.5*
January 11, 2009
My cat could write a better story.
April 18, 2012
I’m not gonna lie—I’ve read a few rape-y bodice-rippers in my time. However, as I’ve grown older, my tastes have changed, and I now find that style of "romance" in a novel involving forced seduction to be incredibly offensive. When the girl is completely unwilling, says "no," and yet the hero continues on as if she'd said, "YEAH, BABY, GIVE IT TO ME", I am not amused. As I have previously noted.
Unlike ADORA, I felt no compunction to finish this novel. See, when I originally purchased it, as silly as it may sound, I was hoping it was a different Viking-finds-love-with-slave-girl novel. There was a very well done book I read in the 90’s that I’ve been on-and-off searching for over the years. Someone mentioned this one on a romance review website, and I was hoping that maybe I'd finally lucked out and found the book I've been looking for.
As you may have already gathered, this was not the story I read in the 90's. (Probably would have saved myself some grief if I'd checked the publication date of VIKING WARRIOR--which turned out to be circa 2008 with Dorchester--before I spent money on it. C'est la vie.)
Since it was already in my hands, I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a shot. After all, I bought the damned thing, might as well get my money's worth out of it.
Alas, once I got started, I was already disinclined to like it when I discovered within the first few pages that the primary source of wangst was going to be the heroine believing the hero was the one who raped her back when her village was sacked and she was originally taken as a slave.
So, does the hero tell her he wasn't the one who played hide the sausage with her way back in the day?
OF COURSE HE DOESN'T.
The hero wants to avoid some drama llama within his own family since the guy who actually boinked her was related to him somehow. The sister-in-law's brother or something. I dunno, I wasn't paying close enough attention. Anyway, Wulf thinks it would be best to avoid telling his new thrall that, while he was the one who carted her off and sold her into slavery, it was some other Viking who gave her the slip of his love muscle (sorry, Romance Man, I couldn’t resist using that one) and desecrated her virgin sanctum of honeyed warmth. Or whatever.
So. Moving right along. His brother sees her on the auction block somewhere and brings her home to give her as a gift to the “hero”, Wulf. Said "hero" previously decided that, because Danes killed his wife/unborn child, all Danes are evil--including this woman who (quite strangely, of course) makes something dance in his pants. Therefore he must get rid of her as soon as possible. Or fuck her brains out. One of the two. The dialogue was so stiff and the characters so cardboard, it was a mite hard to tell.
Regardless, I pushed on (I needed to make the most of the $2.50 I spent on this, damn it), and made it all the way to page 62. Then the trainwreck ground to a shrieking halt.
She. Said. STOP. She. Said. NO. She. Said. DON’T TOUCH ME.
Warning: Quotation ahead (excerpt from pages 61-62 of the mmpb) is graphic and will more than likely hit some hot buttons.
I quote:
_________
…But for some reason, Wulf’s caress wasn’t as repulsive as she had thought it would be. It actually felt rather soothing.
But when Wulf turned her around and spread the soap over her breasts, she made a valiant attempt to evade him.
“Hold still. Why are you so skittish?”
Deliberately, she glanced down to where his hands rested on her breasts.
“Your hands are on me.”
Though his hands were gentle, Reyna didn’t trust him. No man was trustworthy. She had to admit, however, that his touch sent subtle shock waves through her body. She felt…strange; her nerve endings tingled and her skin felt tight. When Wulf’s hands continued their downward path, gliding over her stomach to settle between her legs, anxiety and fear made her stiffen.
“Do not touch me there!”
When his fingers slid into the folds of her sex, panic seized her. Then she realized what Wulf was doing to her now was nothing like the first time he had assaulted her. His shockingly intimate foray into her private parts made her hot and shivery.
“I have done nothing yet.”
She raised her hands to his chest in an age-old gesture of protest and felt downy hair curl between her fingers. She jerked her hands away as if scalded. The feel of his hair-roughened skin was too raw, too intimate. Then she felt his finger slide inside her and shock pierced through her.
“Stop that!”
He rested his head against her forehead. “Now I’m doing something. Do you like it?”
“No, I do not. Nor do I like you.”
He wedged another finger in beside the first.
_________
And I’m done.
"Do not touch me" is not slang in Romancelandia (or anywhere else) for “oh, yes, sir, PLEASE FONDLE MY NAUGHTY BITS SOME MORE”. Also, this is a rape victim he's getting handsy with.
Let me repeat. A RAPE VICTIM.
I think you can gather what killed this one for me. I’m done.
0/5 - DNF
Originally posted: http://jesshaines.com/blog/2012/04/18...
Unlike ADORA, I felt no compunction to finish this novel. See, when I originally purchased it, as silly as it may sound, I was hoping it was a different Viking-finds-love-with-slave-girl novel. There was a very well done book I read in the 90’s that I’ve been on-and-off searching for over the years. Someone mentioned this one on a romance review website, and I was hoping that maybe I'd finally lucked out and found the book I've been looking for.
As you may have already gathered, this was not the story I read in the 90's. (Probably would have saved myself some grief if I'd checked the publication date of VIKING WARRIOR--which turned out to be circa 2008 with Dorchester--before I spent money on it. C'est la vie.)
Since it was already in my hands, I figured it couldn't hurt to give it a shot. After all, I bought the damned thing, might as well get my money's worth out of it.
Alas, once I got started, I was already disinclined to like it when I discovered within the first few pages that the primary source of wangst was going to be the heroine believing the hero was the one who raped her back when her village was sacked and she was originally taken as a slave.
So, does the hero tell her he wasn't the one who played hide the sausage with her way back in the day?
OF COURSE HE DOESN'T.
The hero wants to avoid some drama llama within his own family since the guy who actually boinked her was related to him somehow. The sister-in-law's brother or something. I dunno, I wasn't paying close enough attention. Anyway, Wulf thinks it would be best to avoid telling his new thrall that, while he was the one who carted her off and sold her into slavery, it was some other Viking who gave her the slip of his love muscle (sorry, Romance Man, I couldn’t resist using that one) and desecrated her virgin sanctum of honeyed warmth. Or whatever.
So. Moving right along. His brother sees her on the auction block somewhere and brings her home to give her as a gift to the “hero”, Wulf. Said "hero" previously decided that, because Danes killed his wife/unborn child, all Danes are evil--including this woman who (quite strangely, of course) makes something dance in his pants. Therefore he must get rid of her as soon as possible. Or fuck her brains out. One of the two. The dialogue was so stiff and the characters so cardboard, it was a mite hard to tell.
Regardless, I pushed on (I needed to make the most of the $2.50 I spent on this, damn it), and made it all the way to page 62. Then the trainwreck ground to a shrieking halt.
She. Said. STOP. She. Said. NO. She. Said. DON’T TOUCH ME.
Warning: Quotation ahead (excerpt from pages 61-62 of the mmpb) is graphic and will more than likely hit some hot buttons.
I quote:
_________
…But for some reason, Wulf’s caress wasn’t as repulsive as she had thought it would be. It actually felt rather soothing.
But when Wulf turned her around and spread the soap over her breasts, she made a valiant attempt to evade him.
“Hold still. Why are you so skittish?”
Deliberately, she glanced down to where his hands rested on her breasts.
“Your hands are on me.”
Though his hands were gentle, Reyna didn’t trust him. No man was trustworthy. She had to admit, however, that his touch sent subtle shock waves through her body. She felt…strange; her nerve endings tingled and her skin felt tight. When Wulf’s hands continued their downward path, gliding over her stomach to settle between her legs, anxiety and fear made her stiffen.
“Do not touch me there!”
When his fingers slid into the folds of her sex, panic seized her. Then she realized what Wulf was doing to her now was nothing like the first time he had assaulted her. His shockingly intimate foray into her private parts made her hot and shivery.
“I have done nothing yet.”
She raised her hands to his chest in an age-old gesture of protest and felt downy hair curl between her fingers. She jerked her hands away as if scalded. The feel of his hair-roughened skin was too raw, too intimate. Then she felt his finger slide inside her and shock pierced through her.
“Stop that!”
He rested his head against her forehead. “Now I’m doing something. Do you like it?”
“No, I do not. Nor do I like you.”
He wedged another finger in beside the first.
_________
And I’m done.
"Do not touch me" is not slang in Romancelandia (or anywhere else) for “oh, yes, sir, PLEASE FONDLE MY NAUGHTY BITS SOME MORE”. Also, this is a rape victim he's getting handsy with.
Let me repeat. A RAPE VICTIM.
I think you can gather what killed this one for me. I’m done.
0/5 - DNF
Originally posted: http://jesshaines.com/blog/2012/04/18...
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2014
This is a romance by a best-seller worthy of her title. Not only does this book deliver in lust, but also in history, scene, and adventure. The journey the characters make through a world that turns against them easily is believable, tragic, and at times triumphant. Never once did I think about the possible predictability, since the adventure of the story kept me on my toes. I did think of the males' roles, but for the time in history in which the story is set, I believe the author was possibly generous in women's roles/stature in society. With great balance, this novel is exciting and entertaining. I highly recommend if you enjoy the historical romance genre, as this book is sure not to disappoint.
August 7, 2014
I feel like, when it comes to reading these types of books, it is very important to remember what they actually are. This is a Romance novel. It is all about sexy time and hotness. Viking lords and strong, but delicate in womanly fashion, warrior women. I read this book, for the first time, years ago, and picked it up again this morning while cleaning out my room. I ended up putting everything else aside and rereading this book because it is enjoyable. It is not meant to be a thought provoking paradox about the current state of class structure, it is a ROMANCE NOVEL.
Enjoy it for what it is!
Enjoy it for what it is!
November 20, 2010
I am a big fan of Connie Mason, that being said this wasn't one of my favorite books. Not sure why it didn't grab me like her others . It had a good plot and the characters were well written just it lacked something.
Maybe it was just me because I haven't read Historical Romance in awhile or have been spoiled with some awesome books as of late.
But I do say it was still it was a good read and if you love Vikings and are a fan of Connie Mason I do recommend this book.
I had a hard time rating this because it was better than a three but not sure quite a four stars.
Maybe it was just me because I haven't read Historical Romance in awhile or have been spoiled with some awesome books as of late.
But I do say it was still it was a good read and if you love Vikings and are a fan of Connie Mason I do recommend this book.
I had a hard time rating this because it was better than a three but not sure quite a four stars.
Read
December 22, 2008A historical romance about a Viking named Wulfric who is taking revenge about the Danes. His brother goes abroad and brings him back a Dane woman as a slave. They fall in love but Wulfric has trouble with her being a Dane.
December 25, 2008
I always love Connie's books. This wasn't her best, but I still enjoyed it. It's better than some of the other books I've read lately. Connie's writing skills outshine other authors in that she "shows" more than "tells" her story.
June 25, 2012
"I can't believe I read the whole thing"!!
October 7, 2012
THROWBACK ROMANCE WEEK!!
February 25, 2021
I used to adore Connie Mason. My shelves are filled with her books since she's such a prolific writer. This is the first one of her books I've read in quite some time...and I hate to admit that I was not over-the-moon about this book...
To begin, I felt like we came into the book after a lot of things had already happened which would have helped further the characterization. Don't get me wrong; I fully understand that a great deal DID happen before this book began. What I mean is I always felt like something was missing -- as if we lacked some information or set up to fully comprehend motivations or personality quirks. I don't know how else to explain it other than I felt like something was not there and I felt like it should have been; like we were expected to understand certain things about the characters, but couldn't because the book had just begun. The characters did develop and we learned more as the story went on, of course, but they were more so developed on the surface rather than with deeply-individual personality traits. There wasn't all that much that was special about them. Wulf was a stereotypical viking. Reyna was a free woman-turned-slave at the hands of the man who had helped overrun her village in a blind act of rage and vengeance. Her one unique trait was her healing knowledge. We didn't learn much more about their characters: they had no likes or dislikes, no defining characteristics which would set them apart in my mind from any other characters in a romance novel set in this time and place. I longed for more! I wanted to love them. I wanted to be enthralled with their chemistry and their spark. I just wasn't. There was so little beyond their physical attraction (which felt extremely abrupt on Wulf's part, in my opinion) that it felt lacking. Sure, each character had some admirable characteristics, but nothing above and beyond what one would expect in order to make a character simply "likable." There was little to endear them to me.
I looked forward to a great deal of character development. How would Reyna overcome her fear of males after her abuse and her hatred of the man whom she viewed as the cause of all her pain? How would Wulf balance his attraction to Reyna as his thrall and the knowledge that she was still, above all, a Dane -- the breed he'd sworn to hate after the vicious attack and murder of his wife and unborn child? It would seem that physical attraction can override a lot of deep, terrible emotions... Granted, Wulf helped to clear up some misunderstandings with Reyna, but I didn't see why his sins should be absolved so cleanly. I think all of this goes back to the lack of character development. I believe it may have been sacrificed for sheer quantity of intimate scenes. There were so many that I started to lose interest ("Oh, there they go again..."). Not to mention, they all became rather repetitive -- so much so that I was practically begging Wulf to show of some different moves! (That last one is probably a really petty observation from my own personal tastes, but it is what it is.)
Perhaps one of the biggest issues I took wit this book was the language. The use of modern turns of phrase and slang were numerous and jarring. They truly ripped me out of losing myself in the book and caused me to struggle with suspending my belief. Using "'tis" over and over again is all fine and well until you try juxtapose it to something like "adding spice to your life," or some other such phrase.
The book had a great deal of potential and I went into it with such high hopes. All of my past reviews of Connie Mason were simply glowing (other than my observation that she seems to have found a good formula for a romance novel and tends to use it over and over again). I was so hoping this one would be counted amongst one of the better ones. Alas, it was not to be. I found the characters flat and the plot a bit drawn out. I thought some of the setting descriptions were well done and transported me into the scenes quite well. Other than that, I do not believe I will be rereading this one again and it has already been stacked on my "to be donated" pile.
To begin, I felt like we came into the book after a lot of things had already happened which would have helped further the characterization. Don't get me wrong; I fully understand that a great deal DID happen before this book began. What I mean is I always felt like something was missing -- as if we lacked some information or set up to fully comprehend motivations or personality quirks. I don't know how else to explain it other than I felt like something was not there and I felt like it should have been; like we were expected to understand certain things about the characters, but couldn't because the book had just begun. The characters did develop and we learned more as the story went on, of course, but they were more so developed on the surface rather than with deeply-individual personality traits. There wasn't all that much that was special about them. Wulf was a stereotypical viking. Reyna was a free woman-turned-slave at the hands of the man who had helped overrun her village in a blind act of rage and vengeance. Her one unique trait was her healing knowledge. We didn't learn much more about their characters: they had no likes or dislikes, no defining characteristics which would set them apart in my mind from any other characters in a romance novel set in this time and place. I longed for more! I wanted to love them. I wanted to be enthralled with their chemistry and their spark. I just wasn't. There was so little beyond their physical attraction (which felt extremely abrupt on Wulf's part, in my opinion) that it felt lacking. Sure, each character had some admirable characteristics, but nothing above and beyond what one would expect in order to make a character simply "likable." There was little to endear them to me.
I looked forward to a great deal of character development. How would Reyna overcome her fear of males after her abuse and her hatred of the man whom she viewed as the cause of all her pain? How would Wulf balance his attraction to Reyna as his thrall and the knowledge that she was still, above all, a Dane -- the breed he'd sworn to hate after the vicious attack and murder of his wife and unborn child? It would seem that physical attraction can override a lot of deep, terrible emotions... Granted, Wulf helped to clear up some misunderstandings with Reyna, but I didn't see why his sins should be absolved so cleanly. I think all of this goes back to the lack of character development. I believe it may have been sacrificed for sheer quantity of intimate scenes. There were so many that I started to lose interest ("Oh, there they go again..."). Not to mention, they all became rather repetitive -- so much so that I was practically begging Wulf to show of some different moves! (That last one is probably a really petty observation from my own personal tastes, but it is what it is.)
Perhaps one of the biggest issues I took wit this book was the language. The use of modern turns of phrase and slang were numerous and jarring. They truly ripped me out of losing myself in the book and caused me to struggle with suspending my belief. Using "'tis" over and over again is all fine and well until you try juxtapose it to something like "adding spice to your life," or some other such phrase.
The book had a great deal of potential and I went into it with such high hopes. All of my past reviews of Connie Mason were simply glowing (other than my observation that she seems to have found a good formula for a romance novel and tends to use it over and over again). I was so hoping this one would be counted amongst one of the better ones. Alas, it was not to be. I found the characters flat and the plot a bit drawn out. I thought some of the setting descriptions were well done and transported me into the scenes quite well. Other than that, I do not believe I will be rereading this one again and it has already been stacked on my "to be donated" pile.
May 10, 2020
A SOLID 4.5 STARS!
THIS WAS A DIFFERENT VARIATION BY CONNIE MASON, AND WHILE IT RETAINS CERTAIN ELEMENTS THAT SHE'S FAMOUS FOR, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THIS ONE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE SAME OL' FORMULA SHE ALWAYS APPLIES TO HER PLOTS.
WULFRIC - Years ago, he grieved for his dead wife and unborn child, blaming the Danes for the attack upon his clan and went a-viking for revenge. During his raid, he stumbled upon Reyna's village and pillaged it. Unfortunately our heroine got raped by his own man but, Wulfric was the one who picked her up and sold her in a slave market. Thus, he's responsible for her demise and estrangement from her family. Wulfric can be an ignorant male, and I can only say it's wonderfully gratifying to see him make up for the mistakes of his past. Anger wrecks havoc, and it always has consequences. Present Day - Wulfric's brother gifts him with a thrall, and it's no other than the woman whose village he pilfered and plundered in the midst of rage. How is it possible he's never noticed her beauty and spirit? Wulfric becomes captivated by his thrall easily, entranced by not just beauty, but her healer's touch for his people. It's obvious that Reyna never succumbed to being a thrall, despite certain situations because unlike the others, she's given her own sleeping bed and earned their trust by saving his life, and his people's. Wulfric is stubborn when he refuses to let go of his past marriage, rejecting to wed Reyna on the basis that she's a Dane, and her race is the one who killed his love. It was also gratifying when Reyna's brothers came to rescue her, putting Wulfric and Reyna's positions are reverse, thrusting Wulfric into the role of thrall instead.
REYNA's life is ruined when the Vikings raided her village and one stole her innocence. Unlike C.M's other heroines, I rather like Reyna the best. She's suffered from rape and it's understandable how she doesn't want a man's touch and I loved how skittish she was around Wulfric. The man's got to learn that his actions has consequences, and he can't just have any woman he wants, especially not one damaged indirectly by his hand. Reyna may have been sold as a slave, and lived in a harem for awhile but she's only grown stronger and defiant. When Hagar presents her to Wulfric, she can't believe she'll meet the man she believed to have raped her - Wulfric. Later, she'll learn the truth and also...well...I won't say she HEALED from her trauma but with Wulfric's persistence, she manages to overcome her fear of sex and enjoys it with him.
OVERALL I highly recommend this for historical romance lovers. Truly, this one is in a different class of Connie Mason on her own. I honestly thought it would be like all her other stories, and while the jealous angst and passionate qualities are still there, the setting and ways her characters interact this time is different in a good way.
THIS WAS A DIFFERENT VARIATION BY CONNIE MASON, AND WHILE IT RETAINS CERTAIN ELEMENTS THAT SHE'S FAMOUS FOR, I'M HAPPY TO SAY THIS ONE DIDN'T FOLLOW THE SAME OL' FORMULA SHE ALWAYS APPLIES TO HER PLOTS.
WULFRIC - Years ago, he grieved for his dead wife and unborn child, blaming the Danes for the attack upon his clan and went a-viking for revenge. During his raid, he stumbled upon Reyna's village and pillaged it. Unfortunately our heroine got raped by his own man but, Wulfric was the one who picked her up and sold her in a slave market. Thus, he's responsible for her demise and estrangement from her family. Wulfric can be an ignorant male, and I can only say it's wonderfully gratifying to see him make up for the mistakes of his past. Anger wrecks havoc, and it always has consequences. Present Day - Wulfric's brother gifts him with a thrall, and it's no other than the woman whose village he pilfered and plundered in the midst of rage. How is it possible he's never noticed her beauty and spirit? Wulfric becomes captivated by his thrall easily, entranced by not just beauty, but her healer's touch for his people. It's obvious that Reyna never succumbed to being a thrall, despite certain situations because unlike the others, she's given her own sleeping bed and earned their trust by saving his life, and his people's. Wulfric is stubborn when he refuses to let go of his past marriage, rejecting to wed Reyna on the basis that she's a Dane, and her race is the one who killed his love. It was also gratifying when Reyna's brothers came to rescue her, putting Wulfric and Reyna's positions are reverse, thrusting Wulfric into the role of thrall instead.
REYNA's life is ruined when the Vikings raided her village and one stole her innocence. Unlike C.M's other heroines, I rather like Reyna the best. She's suffered from rape and it's understandable how she doesn't want a man's touch and I loved how skittish she was around Wulfric. The man's got to learn that his actions has consequences, and he can't just have any woman he wants, especially not one damaged indirectly by his hand. Reyna may have been sold as a slave, and lived in a harem for awhile but she's only grown stronger and defiant. When Hagar presents her to Wulfric, she can't believe she'll meet the man she believed to have raped her - Wulfric. Later, she'll learn the truth and also...well...I won't say she HEALED from her trauma but with Wulfric's persistence, she manages to overcome her fear of sex and enjoys it with him.
OVERALL I highly recommend this for historical romance lovers. Truly, this one is in a different class of Connie Mason on her own. I honestly thought it would be like all her other stories, and while the jealous angst and passionate qualities are still there, the setting and ways her characters interact this time is different in a good way.
June 29, 2017
Oh dear, this book had so much potential. I was looking forward to reading a good Viking romance and this appeared to have some good reviews, but I just could not get on with it and almost put it down after about ten pages, I persisted but basically skim-read the rest, I wasn't offended by any of it, there was just nothing to hold my attention. The storyline is alright but the dialogue in particular is just awful; utterly flat, so simplistic and unbelievable, yet again, an author that uses modern language peppered with a few 'tis' and 'mayhap's, with a few Norse culture name-drops that feel forced and clunky. There isn't much, if any, evocative description of place or rich historical detail, in fact, take out the sexy parts and it could be a child's book. Really disappointed, I probably won't try any more of this authors books as there are so many more that are better in my opinion. If you're looking for a really good Viking read with romance and substance, aimed at adults, I cannot recommend Edin's Embrace by Nadine Crenshaw enough.
September 16, 2020
2.5
That was quite a thing though. Their relationship was so complicated. It started with the death of an ex-wife and an unborn child, then revenge, and then another revenge, and yeah, basically that was how the hero met the heroine.
A kind of enemy to lover relationship that will make you scream a lot at the characters for being so stubborn and opaque. Although the ending was nearly excellent, it still dissatisfied me.
I would say it cliché for few chapters. Oh man, the hero and the heroine literally over drama things in every situation. They fought in other's people hall in the middle of the night about their private problems. Like, what the hell? They have their own hall for f sake. Even though it seems right, but come on dude, u could bring ur problem outside, but not other's house.
That was quite a thing though. Their relationship was so complicated. It started with the death of an ex-wife and an unborn child, then revenge, and then another revenge, and yeah, basically that was how the hero met the heroine.
A kind of enemy to lover relationship that will make you scream a lot at the characters for being so stubborn and opaque. Although the ending was nearly excellent, it still dissatisfied me.
I would say it cliché for few chapters. Oh man, the hero and the heroine literally over drama things in every situation. They fought in other's people hall in the middle of the night about their private problems. Like, what the hell? They have their own hall for f sake. Even though it seems right, but come on dude, u could bring ur problem outside, but not other's house.
February 4, 2022
This book was disappointing...
The heroine.. stubborn.. courageous...and Stupid...
The hero is arrogant... strong... stubborn and careless... If not for heroine, he would have died..so not a good warrior..
The refusal to accept his feelings by hero, took too long and got boring..
And the heroine was always busy with healing...
The story started well, but got annoying by mid, and irritating by end...
So not really good for me..
The heroine.. stubborn.. courageous...and Stupid...
The hero is arrogant... strong... stubborn and careless... If not for heroine, he would have died..so not a good warrior..
The refusal to accept his feelings by hero, took too long and got boring..
And the heroine was always busy with healing...
The story started well, but got annoying by mid, and irritating by end...
So not really good for me..
June 14, 2017
It's basically what you'd expect. I was definitely entertained.
Read
September 4, 2019Connie has been part of my literature life for decades. This is the last book I have of hers. I believe she retired and all I can say is..she will be missed.
July 7, 2022
I liked Wulf and Reyna but I did think it SUPER far fetched (even for a cheesy romance novel) for Reyna to “wish” he was her slave instead and then in the next chapter that’s exactly what happened.
January 31, 2024
All in all this book was a fun read. I was a little repetitive, but still was silly to read and I enjoyed it a lot.
August 18, 2024
It’s a good book for what it is. I love old stories like this!
December 13, 2008
The story was interesting enough, but I found it very predictable. After having read some excellent romance books lately, this one left me wanting. It was a quick read with no thinking involved. The characters where pretty standard, He's a Viking who's wife and unborn child have been murdered, she's a slave who's been captured in the raid to avenge the murder.
I would be willing to give Connie Mason another chance to see if it was the actual story or just her writing style that did not wow me.
I would be willing to give Connie Mason another chance to see if it was the actual story or just her writing style that did not wow me.
February 26, 2024
How sad and romantic at the same time. A young woman is stuck in the middle of a war between her clan and another and ends up being taken as a slave by the man she suspects assaulted her. This causes problems. Her new "owner" finds her attractive but her people killed his first wife and he's never forgiven them for it. The attraction between them is undeniable but they are still stuck in the middle of the war between their clans. how can this work out for everyone? That's the question but somehow love works out in the end. This was perhaps the ost tricky situation I've read in any book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 8, 2016
I started this book last night and thank god today was saturday. I laid in bed all morning until I finish it. Another strong historical romance from Connie Mason. I've read 4 of her books and thoroughly enjoyed them all. I have only read a handful of viking romances but I think this was the best. It is a quick read with very steamy love scenes.
I especially liked that Reyna was such a strong and intelligent woman. She is a capable healer, a survivor, and a compassionate person.
I especially liked that Reyna was such a strong and intelligent woman. She is a capable healer, a survivor, and a compassionate person.
November 2, 2011
This one had all the makings for a keeper for me. Viking hero, captive heroine, but one who doesn't take crap from anyone, lots of ugly history to keep them hating each other until the HEA. Bad guys of several flavors and bitchy villainesses. It came SOO close to being a keeper for me that it just might be for someone else.
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