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Her Secret Vows with the Viking

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“The lady is already married.

To me.”

A year ago, Viking Stefan’s clandestine marriage to Saxon maiden Ædwen was torn apart by the shocking discovery that her father murdered his family. Unable to forgive his wife for hiding the truth, Stefan left. Until word reaches him that Ædwen is about to wed again…

Forced to marry at her father’s command, Ædwen’s stunned when Stefan bursts through the church doors and announces that she’s already wed—to him! As the warrior steals her away, passion reignites, but can Ædwen ever trust him again, when Stefan left her alone, devastated—and carrying his baby…!

272 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published August 20, 2024

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Sarah Rodi

45 books22 followers

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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
Profile Image for Bookshortie.
905 reviews62 followers
September 3, 2024
After their marriage Stefan left his bride Ædwen and Ædwen thought she would never see him again. On the day of her wedding arranged by her father Stefan appears declaring that Ædwen is married to him and whisks her away. Can Ædwen and Stefan overcome the past and move forward?

I do love it when a book captures my attention from the beginning and this book certainly did. One of my favourite things about this book was definitely the opening scene where Ædwen is about to get married and Stefan stops the wedding in its tracks by declaring that she's his wife. It was so dramatic and bold and set the scene for what was to come. It was also a brilliant introduction to the two main characters. The storyline was fast-paced with drama, action and romance.

I would describe the two main characters as being in a love/hate relationship. They love each other but because of circumstances they are not together which means that they have grown to dislike each other. Ædwen and Stefan were married for a very short period of time when after their wedding Stefan discovered that it was Ædwen’s father who was behind massacring his family. This caused a rift between the couple and due to this Stefan left Ædwen. What Stefan didn't realise is that when he left Ædwen she was pregnant with his child. One of the things that Ædwen and Stefan have in common is that they have trust issues. For Stefan he believes that Ædwen knew what was going to happen to his family but also that after giving birth to his baby she abandoned their child. For Ædwen, she has never got over Stefan abandoning not only her but also their child and she also has to deal with the fact that her father took her child away from her without her consent. So in some ways both characters are grieving for someone or something that they’ve lost. Stefan is grieving for his family and wife and Ædwen is grieving for the loss of her husband and child. When Stefan takes Ædwen away they struggle to communicate with each other. There is a lot unsaid between them and a lot has happened so they find themselves dancing around certain subjects but when all is revealed it brings them closer together whereas before they were butting heads and clashing. They don’t realise they both have the same goal and that is to be a family.

I loved the chemistry between Ædwen and Stefan because it felt so natural. It was clear that they really cared about each other but were both hurting. There were some spicy scenes in the book but also some really tender moments. The one that stuck out for me was when Ædwen was struggling with being away from their child and Stefan just sits next to her until she is ready to talk providing comfort.
Profile Image for Laura.
786 reviews48 followers
August 29, 2024
"Her Secret Vows with the Viking" is an engaging historical romance that intertwines themes of love, betrayal, and redemption. Set against a richly evoked backdrop of Viking and Saxon culture, Sarah Rodi crafts a tale that pulls the reader into the emotional turmoil of her characters.

The story unfolds a year after the tragic events that shattered the marriage between Viking warrior Stefan and Saxon maiden Ædwen. Rodi adeptly explores the complexity of their relationship, showcasing the devastating impact of Ædwen's father's actions on both her life and Stefan's family. This premise sets the stage for a high-stakes reunion that is equal parts passionate and fraught with tension.

Rodi's portrayal of Ædwen is both resilient and relatable. Forced into a marriage she does not want, her journey toward reclaiming her agency is compelling. Stefan, too, is a well-drawn character; his inner conflict over his feelings for Ædwen and the pain of his past adds depth to his motivations.

As the plot unfolds, the author skillfully balances moments of steamy passion with introspective reflection, allowing readers to feel the weight of their past mistakes and the hope for a brighter future. The question of trust—an essential element in their relationship—permeates the narrative, keeping readers invested in whether Ædwen can truly forgive Stefan for abandoning her.

Overall we have a well-crafted romance that captures the tumultuous nature of love and the power of redemption. With its blend of heart-pounding moments and emotional depth, this book is sure to resonate with readers seeking a tale of passion set against a vivid historical backdrop.
Profile Image for riley ☠︎︎.
562 reviews79 followers
May 17, 2025
4.25 stars✨

This was so good😩 I’m usually never a fan of miscommunication or a lack of it but I don’t careeee! Can’t even blame them tho because it wasn’t small or petty things they were hiding from each other lmao. But they found their way back to each other and I’m obsessed.
Profile Image for Tracy Emro.
2,177 reviews63 followers
August 28, 2024
Lady Ædwen of Eastbury has agreed to marry Lord Werian, the man her father Lord Manvil has chosen for her, in the hopes that her father will keep his word and let her see her daughter. Just over a year ago, Ædwen fell in love with Stefan, a Dane warrior who was injured in battle and left for dead. She nurtured him back to health and learned he had no memories of his life prior to waking up and seeing Ædwen. They grew close and fell in love, exchanging vows in secret and becoming intimate, some of his memories return and he tells her of his life in Demark and the choice his father made to come to England for a better life. But the very next day, he sees her speaking with her father and his lost memories come rushing back, her father killed his father and brothers and tried to kill him. Enraged at what he perceived as deceit by Ædwen he leaves her without a second thought. Never knowing she carried his child. A child her father took from her and a child he used to make her bend to his will. She feels she has no choice and is about to exchange vows when Stefan bursts in the church and declares himself her husband and insisting that she leave with him. She is torn, she doesn’t want to marry Lord Werian, but neither does she want to lose the chance to see her daughter Ellan. In the end the choice is made for her, but Ædwen isn’t willing to reveal all to Stefan, she isn’t sure she can trust him after he abandoned her, but she goes with the hope she will find Ellan, even if there is no chance for them to be happy. Can their love be revived or are they doomed for a life of unhappiness?

Stefan left Ædwen convinced that he had been deceived by yet another woman whom he thought he loved. He makes his way to Wintacaester and proves himself to Canute, the Danish King of England and is named the King’s commander. He is content to in his new life, until he learns he has a child and believes that Ædwen gave up that child and knowingly kept her existence from him. When he further learns she is to remarry, he decides to reclaim her, just to ruin her father’s plans. He hates her, at least he thinks he hates her, but he cannot deny the passion and desire he felt for her is still strong. He tries to get her to confess to him about their child, but it isn’t until they reach the city and she is attacked that she finally admits the truth and her deep shame for having lost their child. He then revealed that he has Ellan and decides that they will be a family. But without trust, happily ever after seems impossible. Is their love gone or can they find their way back to each other?

This might be my favorite Sarah Rodi book to date! It was a very well written, nicely paced story about second chances and forgiveness. The story is very intense, emotional and surprisingly steamy (not complaining!!!) and filled with secrets, past hurts, betrayal, presumptions, shocking revelations, twists and finally forgiveness and love leading to HEA. Ædwen and Stefan make a lot of mistakes on their road to HEA, but they are both likable, relatable characters who are easy to root for. This book was part of a author collaboration duet but could easily be read as a standalone title with no problems. I am happy to recommend this title to medieval romance lovers or anyone who enjoys a touching second-chance love story. 4.5 stars rounded up.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher/author. All opinions in this review are my own. *
Profile Image for Pam.
494 reviews80 followers
April 16, 2025
We open on Ædwen's wedding day during the reign on King Canute in pre-Conquest England. She is a Saxon woman who is desperate to marry a man she can't stand in order to please her father because he is holding her child hostage. If she marries this man to secure a military alliance he promises he will let her see her daughter from her illicit marriage to a Danish man. But as she is about to say her vows her Danish husband, Stefan, storms in to claim her. Stefan disappeared 15 months before after finding out that Ædwen's father was the man who killed his family and wounded him when they came ashore in England. Ædwen nursed him back to health in the monastery but didn't disclose her identity until after they had married and when Stefan found out, he left without a trace. Now he's taken Ædwen back to his home while she is desperate to get away to find her daughter.

Talk about knowing where to start a book. This novel could have gone one of two ways: we could have had a dual timeline or we could just dive in when our main characters are reunited. Normally I am all about a dual timeline for a second chance romance but they're hard to do in a category romance because you don't have the word count to tell both stories. I think Sarah Rodi made the right choice to jump in right as our characters reunite.

I love a good Viking romance. I want all the drama of the conflict between the Saxon kingdoms and the Northmen. I want the push and pull between paganism and Christianity. I want the culture clash. It really works for me. We have all of that here, with a bit of delusion because both Ædwen and Stefan think better of their people than they deserve. The Danes were violent invaders, no matter what Stefan believes of his father's mission and Ædwen's father was willing to sell his own daughter in exchange for more military might. It made for good conflict.

Ædwen's entire purpose in this book is to get her daughter back and create a stable life for her, whether that is with Stefan or on her own. I enjoyed her determination and the fact that she had a singular goal. It gave her character focus in a tight timeline. As a history buff, I also loved her connection with the queen, Emma of Normandy. Emma was a historical badass. She was queen to two different kings and mother to two more, including Edward the Confessor. It was pretty cool to get to see her on page.

I did bump up against the sheer amount of psychology in this book. Both Ædwen and Stefan have abandonment issues and get pretty deep into them, despite the setting of the book. I always find that to be weird in medieval romances, especially early ones. Technically this book is in the high medieval period, but just barely.

If you're a Viking romance person, you'll probably enjoy this one– I know I did!
Profile Image for Keka Mondal.
259 reviews8 followers
August 31, 2024
📚Book Review: "Her Secret Vows with the Viking" by Sarah Rodi
🛡❤Genres: Medieval
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

🛡"Her Secret Vows with the Viking" by Sarah Rodi is a gripping historical romance that immerses you in a world of love, betrayal, and redemption. Set against the tumultuous backdrop of Viking and Saxon conflicts, this novel takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster as secrets from the past threaten to destroy any hope for a future.

🛡Why You’ll Love It:
🛡Epic Viking Romance: If you love historical romances with strong, passionate characters, "Her Secret Vows with the Viking" delivers in spades. Stefan and Ædwen’s love story is as fierce as it is tender, blending the wild intensity of Viking warriors with the emotional depth of a forbidden romance.
💔Second Chances: This isn’t just a love story; it’s a tale of redemption. Both Stefan and Ædwen are flawed and have been hurt by each other, making their journey back to love all the more poignant and real. Their struggle to overcome past betrayals and rebuild trust is beautifully portrayed.
🔥High-Stakes Drama: With the threat of an unwanted marriage, a secret pregnancy, and unresolved heartbreak, this novel is packed with drama that will keep you turning the pages. The tension between duty, honor, and love is palpable, making the stakes feel incredibly high.
⚔Historical Immersion: Sarah Rodi does an excellent job of bringing the Viking era to life, from the cultural clashes to the warrior code that governs Stefan’s actions. The historical setting adds richness and authenticity to the narrative, making it not just a romance, but a vivid historical experience.
❤Passionate Chemistry: The chemistry between Stefan and Ædwen is electric. Their love scenes are intense and full of emotion, reflecting the deep connection they share despite the obstacles between them.

🛡Perfect For:
🛡Fans of Viking and medieval romances.
🛡Readers who enjoy second-chance love stories with strong emotional stakes.
🛡Lovers of historical romance with rich, immersive settings and dynamic characters.
🛡Anyone who appreciates stories of love overcoming betrayal and hardship.

🛡Prepare yourself for a tale of love, loss, and the unbreakable bonds that even time and betrayal can’t sever. This is Viking romance at its finest. 🛡💕

#BookReview #HerSecretVowsWithTheViking #SarahRodi #VikingRomance #BookishLove #ReadersOfInstagram #IGReads #InstaBooks #Bookstagrammer #BookstagramCommunity
Profile Image for RomanceByTheBook.
668 reviews14 followers
September 5, 2024
Her Secret Vows with the Viking is a delicious and lusty forbidden romance.

Sarah Rodi is one of my insta-buy authors. I don’t need to know what the book is about because I know I will love it. I am pleased to say that, once again, Sarah has created an addictive romance that I could not put down. I spent my Thursday night devouring this book and might have had a slight book hangover for work the next day, but it was worth it. The pacing of this book is a bit slower than some of Sarah’s other books, but that’s not a bad thing. The main focus of this story is Stefan and Ædwen’s relationship, which needs to clear up the many miscommunications and misunderstandings between them. If you love your romances filled with forbidden romance, miscommunications, second chances, secret babies, and one-bed situations, then you will love the relationship between Ædwen and Stefan.

The overall story was fabulous. Stefan and Ædwen’s people are warring, and even though there isn’t an enemies-to-lovers feel to their relationship, their people are enemies, which gives their relationship this fabulous forbidden feel to it. The chemistry between these two jumps off the pages, and no matter how much the two MCs might deny it, they still have some strong feelings for one another. There is definitely lots of lusty attraction between them. They may not trust one another and may not like each other, still, they both don’t deny that there is this carnal attraction between them that they just can’t (and don’t) ignore. If you like your romances spicy, then you will enjoy Stefan and Ædwen’s journey to falling back in love with one another. I like the story’s structure. If you are a fan of time-slipping, then you will devour this book. As the story progresses, Sarah weaves in these flashbacks of when Ædwen and Stefan first meet, and we get to see how they fell in love with one another. I’m not always a fan of time-slipping, but it really worked well in this case. It gave the story some depth, and we could see the connection that these two had and why things fell apart for them.

Her Secret Vows with the Viking is another fabulous and addictive story by Sarah Rodi. If you are looking for a forbidden second chance romance to sink into this summer, then definitely add this book to your TBR.

Click on the link to read more of our reviews on our blog: https://romancebythebook.com/book-rev...
Profile Image for Julie.
2,684 reviews43 followers
September 7, 2024
Sarah Rodi blends drama, emotion and sensuality in her captivating new historical romance, Her Secret Vows with the Viking.

A year ago, the scales had fallen from Viking Stefan’s eyes when he made a shocking discovery about his clandestine bride Ædwen: her father had been responsible for murdering his family. Unable to forgive his wife for betraying him in the most unforgivable way possible and for keeping the truth from him, Stefan had been left with no other choice but to turn his back on his wife and his marriage for good. The brooding Viking never imagined that he would come face to face with his wife ever again – until fate intervened in the most surprising ways possible and Ædwen unexpectedly comes back into his life…

With her father forcing her to wed, Ædwen is flabbergasted when Stefan bursts through the church doors and announces to all and sundry that the bride is already wed – to him. The Viking warrior loses no time in whisking her away and thrust in such close proximity together, it doesn’t take long for long-buried passions to reignite. However, dare Ædwen hope of a second chance at love with Stefan? Or will she struggle to trust the man who had abandoned her and left her alone, devastated and carrying his child?

Sarah Rodi’s spellbinding new historical romance is a dazzling tale of forbidden love, dangerous desire and devastating secrets that sweeps readers effortlessly back in time. Full of intrigue, tension and passion, Her Secret Vows with the Viking is an outstanding romance about second chances and illicit attraction with a fabulous heroine and a sexy hero that is guaranteed to keep readers in thrall from start to finish.

Sarah Rodi’s writing sizzles and sparkles with Her Secret Vows with the Viking, a hugely enjoyable historical romance readers simply cannot afford to miss.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Profile Image for LJ (ljwritesandreviews).
892 reviews42 followers
August 27, 2024
This is my first Sarah Rodi book, but after reading this, it won't be my last!

Ædwen is about to enter into a loveless marriage by order of her father when Viking Stefan, her first and only love who broke her heart, bursts into the building and claims they're married. He whisks her away, claiming that he takes his vows seriously and that she is bound to him. The story takes them on a journey to see if they put the pieces back together and reclaim the love they once had.
This is my favourite type of historical romance. We have sweet moments and spicy moments plus some peril/danger along the way for our main characters to overcome.

Ædwen and Stefan were a great pairing with plenty of chemistry. Both had issues trusting one another, and I kept rooting they'd get through it.

There were a few occasions where I got a bit annoyed with both characters refusing to really communicate with each other, but the initial lack of trust between the pair made it understandable.

I'd highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an adventurous romance with some sweetness and spice along the way.
Profile Image for Tyler Marshall.
947 reviews53 followers
August 29, 2024
Historical romance lovers you're in for a treat.

If the cover doesn't catch your attention I know the blurb will, I love me a second chan ce romance, throw in some historical fiction and im sold. This book was written for me because it had all my favourite tropes, surprise baby, OTT/JP mmc and second chance. Ædwen was a strong character that is easy to root for, the more you read about her during this book the more you connect to her as a character. Between the fmc and the mmc this author does some amazing character development that has you unable to put this down for even a second.

Strong plot that flows so well, I was hooked from the start. This is a shorter read but I devoured it within hours wishing there was more because I just didn't want to leave these characters and their lives. The historical aspect was executed perfectly and I felt like I was back in time while reading this novel, the attention to detail was amazing and everything felt realistic. I will now be reading all of Sarah's works cause I immensely enjoyed her writing style and characters.
Profile Image for Kelly.
2,598 reviews121 followers
August 29, 2024
I'm reviewing this as part of a tour with Rachel's Random Resources.

This is a historical romance which takes place during the Viking era. I enjoy historical romances, but I haven't read many that were set during this particular era, so I was quite looking forward to it.

The two main characters were Ædwen and Stefan. Even at the start of the story, it seemed they already had a connection, and I was keen to see it develop further. Stefan was a sexy, charismatic character, and before long, I found myself tingling with anticipation, as I turned the pages. I prefer a historical romance with some spice, and this was satisfyingly spicy, but I didn't feel it was overdone. This was a fun, enjoyable read, and it left me with a smile on my face.

Thank you to Rachel's Random Resources, and to the author and publisher, for the opportunity to read and review this.
Profile Image for Nicola Malloch.
681 reviews10 followers
August 29, 2024
I think the 11th century is one of my favourite time periods in history and historical fiction set at this time in British history. The vikings arriving is such a vibrant part of the formation of the UK and reading about Ædwen and Stefan and their complicated history was great, opening with Stefan storming through the church doors to stop the wedding kept me enthralled and I devoured this book in 2 sittings. Sarah Rodi is one of my favourite authors in this category and I can't wait to see what is to come next.
Profile Image for Jaime.
1,808 reviews310 followers
September 21, 2024
Another heartfelt romance from author Sarah Rodi - can’t get enough of her medieval viking romance that feature a conquering northman who falls in love with a saxon woman … a woman that ultimately conquers the northman’s defenses and rules his heart ❤️

I only wish these stories were longer and interconnected.

4.5 Stars
Profile Image for Nicola “Shortbookthyme”.
2,503 reviews135 followers
August 11, 2024
Thank you Rachel’s Random Resources and Harlequin for my review copy of Her Secret Vows with the Viking. All opinions expressed are my own.

Are you ready for some intriguing secrets and steamy moments? Then you need to read Her Secret Vows with the Viking.
Will happiness be able to be found?
Can past mistakes be overcome?
Can trust be had once again?
A fast-paced and steamy romance that will keep you reading late into the night.
Profile Image for Miriam Smith (A Mother’s Musings).
1,826 reviews315 followers
August 27, 2024
In a world of unrest at the minute it was nice to enjoy a romantic escape to the past, with a ‘Harlequin Historical’ book and this one in particular grabbed my interest.

The storyline was a simple enough plot but with depth and detailed characters to really set the Viking scene. Having learned about King Canute at school it was interesting to read about him in a fictional sense.

The way the story is told and portrayed, you get to alternately experience both the main characters feelings, emotions and thoughts as they occur, which always allows for a build up of story development and with secrets and twists along the way, I certainly had my attention engaged.

This was my first read of a book in this genre, as I was drawn to the historical time line and premise rather than the true romance angle. Although I was expecting a lot of ‘steamy scenes’ there was some explicit intimacy but nothing over the top or too frequent.

If these books are your sort of reads or you’re a ‘Mills & Boon’/‘Harlequin’ fan already, I certainly recommend “Her Secret Vows With The Viking” and the author Sarah Rodi, I’ll be looking up her previous stories and keeping an eye out for future publications!

#HerSecretVowsWithTheViking - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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