What do you think?
Rate this book
Tempted by Her Forbidden Warrior
In a time when alliances mean the difference between life and death, will a Viking’s forbidden relationship with a Celtic warrior threaten her kingdom’s future?
The warrior she shouldn’t want
But can’t resist!
Viking Sibba has traveled to a Scottish island to attend a king’s wedding and maintain the fragile truce between their opposing clans. Not to engage in an impromptu archery contest with his son, Cal, with a kiss at stake if he wins…
The Celtic warrior should remain forbidden, so Sibba’s shocked by how much she wants to kiss him. She ought to stay away, but when the king’s bride is kidnapped, Sibba must join forces with Cal to retrieve her before unrest rages through their kingdoms…and their dangerous desire overwhelms them both!
The warrior she shouldn’t want
But can’t resist!
Viking Sibba has traveled to a Scottish island to attend a king’s wedding and maintain the fragile truce between their opposing clans. Not to engage in an impromptu archery contest with his son, Cal, with a kiss at stake if he wins…
The Celtic warrior should remain forbidden, so Sibba’s shocked by how much she wants to kiss him. She ought to stay away, but when the king’s bride is kidnapped, Sibba must join forces with Cal to retrieve her before unrest rages through their kingdoms…and their dangerous desire overwhelms them both!
272 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Published September 24, 2024
15 people want to read
About the author
Michelle Styles
127 books198 followersBorn and raised near San Francisco Califorinia, Michelle Styles currently lives a few miles south of Hadrian's Wall with her husband, three children and menagerie of pets. An avid reader, she became hooked on historical romance when she discovered Georgette Heyer, Anya Seton and Victoria Holt in her school's library. Michelle enjoys writing stories in a wide range of time periods including Roman, Viking, Regency and early Victorian. Her website can be found at www.michellestyles.co.uk
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 24, 2025
Viking romances are unhinged in the best way. This genre is hard to find today outside of Harlequin Historical, so I’m glad we have this line of books to keep us fed.
Viking captain Sibba travels from her home to a Celtic island for the wedding of her leader’s daughter to a Gaelic king. This union should bring peace and trade to their waterways. But everything is thrown into chaos when the bride and her mother are kidnapped by Sibba’s enemy—the man who murdered her father. Sibba has vowed revenge, and this is the perfect opportunity as she plans the rescue. To infiltrate the keep and find the women, Sibba must ally with the Gaelic king’s son, Cal. He is everything Sibba finds intriguing—attractive, strong, cunning, and clearly a good leader. But Sibba believes she cannot take a partner if she wants to maintain leadership of her felag; the men won’t take her seriously if she has a man to lean on. Meanwhile, Cal, scarred by the loss of his late wife, doesn’t want to open himself up again. Yet he’s drawn to Sibba’s charisma, recognizing a fellow leader, and Sibba can’t stop thinking about kissing Cal.
This book captured everything I love about Viking romances, rolled into one convenient package. I’m a big fan of the politics of the Viking Age. Because people couldn’t travel as far as they can today, rulers held smaller dominions, which opens the genre up to lots of conflict as these petty kings and jarls clash. I also love the gender dynamics, especially between Christian and pagan populations—their differing views on the role of women naturally create conflict.
Sibba is a woman in a man’s role, but in Viking culture it wasn’t unheard of for women to hold power, especially if they’d proven themselves in battle. Sibba challenged and defeated her twin brother for leadership of the felag and earned the loyalty of her men. She’s repeatedly shown herself to be the cooler head and the better leader. Yet at the wedding, the Gaelic priest immediately casts doubt on her leadership, echoed by the other Gaelic council leaders. But once Cal sees Sibba in action, he realizes she’s the real deal and backs her as she steps up to lead the Northmen on their rescue mission. I loved watching Cal change his mind about Sibba and recognize that it’s her northern heritage and beliefs that make her the kind of woman he’d want in his life.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced romance full of political intrigue and gender politics, look no further than Tempted by Her Forbidden Warrior. This is Michelle Styles doing what she does best. ★★★★☆
Viking captain Sibba travels from her home to a Celtic island for the wedding of her leader’s daughter to a Gaelic king. This union should bring peace and trade to their waterways. But everything is thrown into chaos when the bride and her mother are kidnapped by Sibba’s enemy—the man who murdered her father. Sibba has vowed revenge, and this is the perfect opportunity as she plans the rescue. To infiltrate the keep and find the women, Sibba must ally with the Gaelic king’s son, Cal. He is everything Sibba finds intriguing—attractive, strong, cunning, and clearly a good leader. But Sibba believes she cannot take a partner if she wants to maintain leadership of her felag; the men won’t take her seriously if she has a man to lean on. Meanwhile, Cal, scarred by the loss of his late wife, doesn’t want to open himself up again. Yet he’s drawn to Sibba’s charisma, recognizing a fellow leader, and Sibba can’t stop thinking about kissing Cal.
This book captured everything I love about Viking romances, rolled into one convenient package. I’m a big fan of the politics of the Viking Age. Because people couldn’t travel as far as they can today, rulers held smaller dominions, which opens the genre up to lots of conflict as these petty kings and jarls clash. I also love the gender dynamics, especially between Christian and pagan populations—their differing views on the role of women naturally create conflict.
Sibba is a woman in a man’s role, but in Viking culture it wasn’t unheard of for women to hold power, especially if they’d proven themselves in battle. Sibba challenged and defeated her twin brother for leadership of the felag and earned the loyalty of her men. She’s repeatedly shown herself to be the cooler head and the better leader. Yet at the wedding, the Gaelic priest immediately casts doubt on her leadership, echoed by the other Gaelic council leaders. But once Cal sees Sibba in action, he realizes she’s the real deal and backs her as she steps up to lead the Northmen on their rescue mission. I loved watching Cal change his mind about Sibba and recognize that it’s her northern heritage and beliefs that make her the kind of woman he’d want in his life.
If you’re looking for a fast-paced romance full of political intrigue and gender politics, look no further than Tempted by Her Forbidden Warrior. This is Michelle Styles doing what she does best. ★★★★☆
October 8, 2024
From Georgette Heyer onwards I've always enjoyed reading historical romances, which at their best fuse a well observed historical setting with a love story. This did not disappoint. Michelle Styles is a well known historical writer, and her knowledge of the Viking era shines through in this. The Viking woman warrior, Sibba, travels to the Scottish island of Barra for a king's wedding and to safeguard a truce between clans. But then she meets the son of the King, Cal, and the story unfolds. Sibba has to try and keep her emerging and conflicted feelings for Cal hidden as a kidnapping threatens to upend the best laid plans - but can she, and can he?
I really enjoyed this for the setting (not one I know particularly well), but which felt as if it had been meticulously researched and for the love story and beautiful descriptions. I'd love to see Sibba in another story, as I love a sassy feminist main character!
I really enjoyed this for the setting (not one I know particularly well), but which felt as if it had been meticulously researched and for the love story and beautiful descriptions. I'd love to see Sibba in another story, as I love a sassy feminist main character!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews