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Blind #2

Blind Mercy

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The Sigurdsson family legacy continues...

A woman who prayed for a hero...

Orphaned at a young age, Rachelle Fiennes prayed for a hero to rescue her from her tragic life in England. When her only kinsman goes missing after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Rachelle braves the aftermath of the battlefield to find him.

A man who lost everything...

Damned by the gods for surviving the bloodiest defeat in Norse history, Jarl Tyr Sigurdsson is still determined to get home. Hiding until nightfall so he can escape to his ship, his dangerous endeavor is disrupted when he’s accidentally discovered by a beautiful Saxon.

Brought together by war, Rachelle and Tyr face many obstacles. Can sworn enemies find peace through love, or will fate tear them apart?

150 pages, ebook

First published February 11, 2014

226 people are currently reading
278 people want to read

About the author

Violetta Rand

46 books284 followers
Raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, Violetta Rand spent her childhood reading, writing, and playing soccer. After meeting her husband in New England, they moved to Alaska where she studied environmental science. Violetta spent a decade working as a scientist before quitting her day job to pursue her dream as a full time writer.

Violetta still lives in Anchorage, Alaska, and spends her days writing evocative contemporary and historical romance. When she’s not reading, writing, or editing, she enjoys time with her husband, pets, and friends.

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5 stars
127 (39%)
4 stars
102 (31%)
3 stars
69 (21%)
2 stars
16 (5%)
1 star
6 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
Profile Image for Carol Cork *Young at Heart Oldie*.
430 reviews242 followers
July 20, 2016


This is the second book in Violetta Rand’s Blind series and, once more, I found myself swept back to the Viking era…to a story of adventure and romance.

Tyr is everything I would expect of a Viking warrior…arrogant, proud, strong and courageous but vulnerable in ways that make him very human. It shows in the guilt he feels over his brother’s death and tenderness and compassion he shows when he prepares his brother’s funeral and in the scene in the woods when he talks about the significance of Odin’s Altar.

It was easy to visualise Tyr in my imagination particularly in the scene on the ship where he strips off his wet clothes in front of Rachelle and exposes his tattooed body and indulged in some male preening.

Tyr gave an exaggerated stretch, accentuating the rippling muscles that formed his perfect body.

I was relieved when Tyr didn’t succumb to the wiles of his former mistress, Frida, because I lose respect for a hero who sleeps with another woman after he has fallen for the heroine.

Strong-willed, determined, passionate and stubborn, Rachelle is the perfect heroine for this Viking warrior. I can sympathise with her feelings of loss after the death of her parents and the fear that she has lost her Uncle Henry who took her in and loved her like a daughter.

Vikings and Saxons were as incompatible as fire and water.

The enemies-to-lover’s trope is a favourite of mine and I loved Tyr and Rachelle’s heated sparring, the delicious sexual tension and the sensual love scenes.

I enjoyed the fast-paced plot with all its twists and turns…the greed, the jealousy, the betrayal and the political mascinations. Once again, Ms Rand provides a fascinating and well-researched insight into the Viking world.

I’m intrigued by Aaron who is willing to betray his cousin, Tyr. He deserves the punishment meted out to him but I can’t wait to see how Ms Rand will redeem him in the next book, Blind Redemption.

I must be bloodthirsty, but I was glad the ‘priest’ and all those who dealt so cruelly with Rachelle met a suitable sticky end.

I enjoyed the reunion between Rachelle and Uncle Henry who I grew very fond of. I also enjoyed the surprise wedding present …a lovely touch.

A passionate and sensual love story, memorable characters and an exciting plot made BLIND MERCY an enjoyable read.

REVIEW RATING: 4/5 STARS

The Blind series so far (click on the cover for more details):

Blind Allegiance by Violetta Rand Blind Mercy by Violetta Rand

I would like to thank Violetta Rand for kindly providing me with a copy of this book in return for an honest review.

This review is also posted on my blog:

http://rakesandrascals.wordpress.com/...
Profile Image for Regan Walker.
Author 31 books822 followers
August 31, 2016
Another Fast-Paced Viking Tale from Rand!

This is Rand’s second novel and book 2 in the Blind series. The story begins in York in 1058, as Rachelle Fiennes’s parents are killed and her uncle Sir Henry Fiennes becomes her guardian. Years later, in the aftermath of the Battle at Stamford Bridge in 1066, where King Harold defeated the forces of the King of Norway, Rachelle searches the battlefield for her uncle, worried he may be dead, and stumbles over a Norwegian warrior, Tyr Sigurdsson.

Tyr, a powerful half-English jarl, wants to recoup his losses from the failed invasion and so takes Rachelle back to Norway thinking to ransom her, but his passion for the English girl leads him in another direction. Tyr has his enemies, however, and soon the bastard son of the fallen Norwegian king decides to claim Rachelle as his own. All of which leads to an exciting finish.

This is a novel that takes you to the very end of the Viking Era. Rand writes very well and the story is quite entertaining. As with Rand’s first novel, BLIND ALLEGIANCE, at times the story seems a bit modern in the choice of some words and phrases and the behavior of the heroine. And, of course, they didn’t use surnames in the 11th century. But the story will hold your interest. And if you ever wondered what happened to the Vikings, this will answer that question!
Profile Image for Victoria Vane.
Author 54 books541 followers
January 30, 2014
4.5 Stars

Having suffered a humiliating defeat at the Battle of Stamford Bridge and the death of his king, Tyr Sigurdsson only wishes to return home and do what he can to help his fractured country. Hiding amongst the dead, he’s accidently discovered by a beautiful Saxon. Thinking to hold her ransom, Tyr is surprised to find his captive is not as reluctant as he would have expected.

Orphaned at a young age and taken in by her Uncle, Rachelle Fiennes now fears she has no one. With nothing to lose, she accompanies Tyr, trusting him without even understanding why, but the fierce Norseman fascinates her like no other man.

This is a story of reluctant enemies. In Rachelle, Tyr sees courage and spirit. In Tyr, Rachelle sees a hero and protector. Although knowing they should hate one another, they instead discover a growing respect and admiration, as well as a burgeoning passion.

I found the heroine of the story very likeable and sympathetic and Tyr was a fantastic hero, well-developed, complex, and everything a Viking warrior should be. Their developing romance felt very real and I was thoroughly engaged in this well-written Viking romance.

Profile Image for Cassia.
114 reviews
March 11, 2014
Hurray, for a worthy medieval romance writer!

Violetta has the power to entertain the reader with interesting characters and excellent dialogues. It’s easy to forgive her (few) indulgences to contemporary language (“He’d have to realign his priorities” is not very appropriate for a Viking jarl ;-).

Mercy is definitely the pillar of the story: “Grant me courage to be merciful! The greatest value her parents had impressed upon her was a charitable spirit”. This is Rachelle, the Saxon heroine. “Mercy….Please, God, have mercy on my family”, she prays, desperate to be reunited to her family.

There’s a lot of violence in England, in times of the Norman conquering. Tyr is a different kind of Viking warrior, learned, just, caring. “He exuded confidence and exercised mercy”, thinks Rachelle of him. “Wisdom was more valuable than gold”, is Tyr’s philosophy.

Rachelle fears Vikings when she is forced to live among them: “Vikings appeared as untamed as their lands”. In time of war she is frightened by Vikings predisposition to war; in time of peace, she is scared by their lewd behaviour.

There’s a powerful, unusual starting in this romance. Tyr and Rochelle meet on a battlefield, among corpses. They both mourn someone they lost in the massacre. Attraction is immediate, palpable, but attraction doesn’t work for women if trust lacks. Rachelle will give herself to Tyr only when she can trust him, while Tyr’ll conquer her heart only when he shows his true feelings.

The beginning of the story on the battle-field and the voyage to Norway are the best parts of the story. The prosecution is not particularly original, but the writer masters the art of retelling stories already known: betrayal, kidnapping, rescue, falling in love. Everything is told in an irresistible and utterly pleasureable style. Difficult not to read this story, but in one solution.
Profile Image for C.D. Hersh.
Author 8 books35 followers
February 12, 2014
Violetta Rand has created a very enjoyable, interesting, fast paced and sizzling story. In most cases, Rachelle and Tyr seem to be real people as you get to know them, and their actions seem to be authentic. The story really carries them along. I especially liked the starting premise of how they got together as it is different from others where the Viking kidnaps the English lady.

Their journey from being enemies to lovers is one that many will want to read. The descriptions of the battle aftermath put you there, as did the descriptions of Tyr’s home and homeland.

Tyr seemed throughout the book to be a very strong individual with his own demons to deal with as he came to grips with his background and realized that Rachelle was the only woman for him. Rachelle’s journey was even more twisted as she grew up with many false notions of what Vikings wanted as well as dealing with loss of family and no real stability in her life. Running away with Tyr sure showed her strength as she stepped out of her comfort zone. Many other characters intertwine in the story and furnish the rich color to the cloth that Violetta Rand has woven for a story.

I was provided an advance copy to read for an honest review.
Profile Image for Nessa.
3,924 reviews71 followers
March 7, 2016
I'll say where did the love even take place in this story?
It certainly caught me off guard, because there was instant attraction between the characters and suddenly the hero has fallen in love....

I feel like the heroine was scared of him most of the time to even understand the hero. We didn't even truly understood both their backgrounds.

Indeed a fast paced read to pass the time.
338 reviews6 followers
January 22, 2019
Compassionate, Passionate Love 💘

I loved this story. It fired my imagination! Even when I wasn't reading, I was thinking about the storyline. The story was original and walked a fine line between between clean and sweet and passionate soft,(or adult ),soft porn. Unlike so many romances, this left just the right amount of sex to your imagination. In no way "Prudish" . I would highly recommend this book to all ages of adults.
Profile Image for HEA Junkie.
204 reviews3 followers
October 15, 2017
Giving this a 4 even though I didn't overly enjoy it. I used to love the historic genre, but can't get into it anymore. I struggle with the limited choices Our heroine feels she has. Her constant battle of I want him, but can't have him because it's not proper drove me a little batty. Nonetheless, the story was well written.
Profile Image for Vicki.
1,704 reviews
March 2, 2019
He came with the Normans to invade England. She was a Saxon walking the battlefield looking for her Uncle. She found the Viking bloody and under a dead body. She tries to help him They have a lot of problems to solve besides she is the defeated enemy and a Saxon. Really good book. I've already put #3 & #4 on my KU.
18 reviews
June 20, 2017
Great

What a wonderful story. With great characters. I couldn't put this book down. The story line was great and kept my interest threw out the book. I truly recommend this book to everyone. I promise you will enjoy it.
Profile Image for shirlene brown.
326 reviews1 follower
February 1, 2019
Finding love and trust

A very interesting story about a woman who find a man in a death of his men and also of his enemy, she help him. He takes her to his home and they full in love with each other. I give this story a four star rating because of how good it is.
9 reviews1 follower
June 11, 2017
Excellent story!

This book was so good I finished in one day. Wonderful story, well develop characters in that line. Hard to put this book down and loved the ending.
156 reviews10 followers
July 26, 2017
Blind Mercy

This was a fun book to read quickly, they both are afraid of commitment, and manage to have many problems together.
I'm sure you will find this book very entertaining.
Profile Image for Angelsheild Angelsheild.
Author 5 books
January 22, 2019
Beutiful

I love that she didn't give up her virginity until she was married. It was really gory at first, but it changes as you get into the book.
Profile Image for JackEllena.
430 reviews
January 25, 2019
A very good story, and the characters were wonderful. A book that once started was very hard to put down. Thank you
555 reviews4 followers
January 27, 2019
Blind Mercy

I love your books they are so romantic and have
Lot's of adventure,excitement,drama,and the characters are so amazing.Thank r f2f or this wonderful read.
230 reviews
May 24, 2019
Blind Mercy

A wonderful wonderful story about fueds war and romance. Its really refreshing to read and enjoy. Must read it .
Profile Image for Jody.
2,089 reviews60 followers
February 28, 2014
In this second book in the Blind series the journey towards HEA for enemies to lovers Rachelle and Tyr is a rocky one due to outside forces of jealousy and greed along with betrayal from within. These two start out as enemies but their shared grief binds them together in an emotional coupling full of sexual tension and ultimately steamy encounters.

Rachelle is an admirable heroine who lost her parents at an early age and was then raised by her Uncle, who took care of her just like a father. After a bloody battle, while searching for her Uncle, she comes across Tyr and is immediately taken to his homeland where he plans to ransom her. Things soon change though and what follows is a compelling romance between two strong-willed individuals. Throughout her losses Rachelle has survived and accepts her change in circumstances with bravery. She's no shrinking violet in standing up for herself and I was rooting for her every step of the way in her dealings with Tyr's petty mistress Frida and her continuing hope in being reunited with her Uncle.

Tyr is the son of the protagonists in the previous installment and is the quintessential Viking in looks, words, and deeds. He's strong-willed, confident, and loyal with a surprisingly kindhearted side as witnessed by his reactions to his brother's death. There was great depth to him that was brought out most clearly in Rachelle's presence and made him an admirable hero.

The author depicted this bloody and harsh Viking world in a vivid manner showing her great care in research. From the compelling characters, to the dramatic twists and turns, to the villains coming from every corner, this read quickly immerses you in the action from the very first page. I'm excited that there's another book to come and am intrigued to see how the author will redeem the character of Aaron as he takes center stage in the next release. Fans of the historical genre should definitely read this as the Viking era isn't one seen very often in romance and Ms. Rand does an admirable job in depicting it.
525 reviews128 followers
December 13, 2020
Rachelle Fiennes is desperate to find her uncle, the only relative she has left, in the aftermath of the Battle of Stamford Bridge.  Instead, she finds a defeated Viking hiding among the corpses.  With no one to turn to and nowhere else to go, she accompanies the intriguing Tyr, praying he's the protector she needs now that she's all alone, and joins him back in his homeland, among the very people she's always thought were the enemy.

Wow.  This book is everything I love about historical romance -- and so much more!  Rand brilliantly lays out detail in a way that plays out scenes in full color without losing any of the pace.

Tyr is the ultimate romance hero.  He's proud and arrogant, fearless and strong.  Yet he's portrayed with passion and vulnerability that make him utterly flawed and human.  And the way he's described... Well, the pages heat up long before his romance with Rachelle fully blooms.  The conflict, of course, is the bitterness between his people and Rachelle's, and there were so many times I probably should have been furious with him for the mistakes he makes in his treatment of her.  But even at his worst, he's impossible to hate, which just goes to show how fully his character is written.

Rachelle is everything I hoped she would be.  She's particularly vulnerable, and yet she has incredible strength.  She holds onto her beliefs and withstands almost complete isolation, and it's that fortitude that makes her irresistible to Tyr, even if it takes him a while to fully realize that.

This book has it all -- romance, danger, drama, and of course, two characters at odds who can't help but fall in love with each other.  If you're looking for characters you can fall in love with, wrapped up in a fascinating story and intriguing plot twists, this is exactly what you should be reading!

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Jonel.
1,717 reviews311 followers
March 23, 2014
Rand is back and she thrusts us right back into the world of drool worthy Norse warriors, and English maidens with more than their fair share of spunk. This novel is much more intense and suspenseful than the first in the series, but just as enjoyable. Rand`s fantastic storytelling draws you deeply into this world, allowing you to shut out modernity for a while, living vicariously through her characters.

The main characters in this novel definitely made me giggle. They stuck to their beliefs to the point that they were blockheaded. Acted the way they felt they should while wanting to do the opposite. They It was completely charming. Having her characters speak in their native tongues makes them seem just that much more real. I quite enjoyed seeing the main characters come beyond seeing stereotypes to seeing the person within.

As a whole this was a very enjoyable novel. I read the whole thing in a single sitting and can`t wait to see what Rand comes up with next in this phenomenal new series.

Please note that I received a complimentary copy of this work in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amanda Shelley-Masters.
436 reviews21 followers
April 2, 2014
Beautifully done! I love Violetta Rand's use of Vikings and their customs and practices. I don't get to read books like this very often so I very much enjoyed it. She is a brilliant writer and I was drawn in to the story right from the beginning and couldn't put the book down, the characters are compelling and the story is dangerous, thrilling and romantic.

Rachelle Fiennes was a orphan and wanted nothing more than a hero to rescue her from her life. When her only kinsman goes missing after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Rachelle braves the aftermath of the battlefield to find him hoping against hope that it will not be to late.

Jarl Tyr Sigurdsson wants nothing more than to go home. When the beautiful Saxon Woman Rachelle is thrown into his path he knows he must take he with him. Unfortunately the longer they are together the harder it is for him to resist her charms.

Thrown together by fate or the Gods themselves, they must work together or kill each other trying.

Profile Image for Collette Cameron.
Author 139 books1,598 followers
September 10, 2016
Another winning Viking read from Violetta Rand!

Blind Mercy, the second book in The Blind Series, snatches the reader’s attention from the first page to the last. Searching for her uncle after a bloody battle between the Vikings and the English, Rachelle’s chance encounter with Tyr forever alters her life.

Tyr and Rachelle, as different as night is from day, are irresistibly drawn together, though they both know their attraction is impractical and foolhardy. Amidst violence and turmoil, this well-written historical draws the reader into the characters’ emotions and will have you rooting for them until the end.

Ms. Rand’s attention to historical detail, and her ability to skillfully weave the lives of Tyr and Rachelle together, makes for one romping good romance.

I look forward to reading the rest of the series!
Profile Image for Else.
8 reviews
January 25, 2015
As a Norwegian myself, I really appreciated all the Norwegian phrases (although all the grammatical errors made my heart weep, and it was modern Norwegian and not the actual language that the Vikings spoke).

Why only 3 stars? Because the book was so short, everything felt so rushed! Especially at the end. The feelings between Tyr and Rachelle never really surfaced and most of the time I didn't even understand what Rachelle was feeling or thinking. It was a lot of back and forth.

(And I must admit that I was also really disappointed that the only "real" love scene was at 98%)
Profile Image for Diana.
848 reviews26 followers
April 4, 2014
This was a kick-ass book! I loved the heroine! I think that woman characters like the one that Violetta Rand portray are an asset to a woman's character! Tyre and Rachel were such great characters! Individually and as a couple they had the perfect chemistry! I loved the way they worked together and fought together as well. There was a lot of heart and action to this fantastic story! Enjoyed and recommend!
Profile Image for Cynthia Gail.
Author 7 books125 followers
February 12, 2014
If you liked Blind Allegiance, you'll love Blind Mercy. The Viking series continues as Randvior and Noelle's son, Tyr Sigurdsson, tries to balance his support for his King, commitment to his god, and leadership of his people. A chance encounter with the beautiful Saxon named Rachelle, on the foreign battle field of his enemy, kicks off this love story that's infused with emotion from beginning to end. Can't wait for the next in this series!
Profile Image for Sam Spencer.
450 reviews3 followers
May 18, 2015
I had some confusion when Tyr claimed he hadn't seen her in three days but thought of their last interaction as having been that night.
Apart from some tense issues and of course the referring to people as that instead of who I found the story quite captivating. I honestly could not wrap my head around Tyr's intense dislike for Christians when his mother, whom he claimed to adore WAS a Christian however.
Profile Image for April.
1,850 reviews72 followers
June 5, 2015
An awesome read!

Viking warriors and Saxon lasses, what more can you want in a Historical romance.? #2 in "A Viking Romance", but be read as a stand alone.
Fast paced with mystery, suspense, romance, determination, lust, passion and love makes for an absolutely fantastic read. Loved it from the first page to the last. Looking forward to the next installment. An enjoyable and satisfying read!

*Personal Buy*

Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Hot
Reviewed by: AprilR
Profile Image for Maria .
2,485 reviews23 followers
March 7, 2015
Just O.K.

Tyr and Rachelles story was just o.k. for me. Book one was exceptional for me. This one did not measure up for me unfortunately. I will still move on to read book three in the hopes that the next book will redeem this one for me.

I am a very honest reviewer, so I know authors appreciate your true feelings of their work.
Profile Image for B.J. Scott.
Author 20 books90 followers
September 21, 2014
Another great Viking adventure

Ms. Rand does it again with yet another heart-stopping Viking novel. A page-turned from the start, this installment of Ms. Rand's Blind series is filled with intrigue, adventure and romance.

Pick up your copy. You'll be glad you did.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews

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