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Mists of Albion #1
Eirik
A young girl steps back in time.
As a child Paige Renner is no stranger to loneliness and sorrow. When her mother dies, she’s left with her grief-stricken father, a man reduced to a shadow of his former self. But Paige discovers the perfect escape.
A hidden and secret place, lost in time - the medieval village of Caistley.
Only Paige can enter the tiny hamlet. There, among the children of the villagers, she finds friendship and affection. As the years pass, she grows into a young woman, and her visits grow fewer. Home from college, Paige decides to return one last time. But instead of finding a peaceful village, she arrives to find it in flames – Vikings are attacking Caistley.
A brutal Viking Berserker leads a raid.
The English town offers Eirik and his men little in the way of booty. A few pigs, a few sacks of grain, some gold and silver. Most of the inhabitants have already fled, but a few remain. One in particular – a woman – catches the warrior's eye. She’s oddly dressed, but comely, and she seems innocent – as if she’s never known a man’s touch. After a little teaching, the chestnut-haired wench should warm his bed nicely.
But the woman is as frightened as a spring lamb. Her panic and terror of Eirik makes bedding her a test of his patience. To coax her into his arms, he’ll have to be gentle with her, take his time, and show her a more tender side of himself. As the days pass, and his heart softens, Eirik vows to win Paige’s love.
A harsh winter keeps Paige trapped with her Viking captor. The nights are long and cold. As the snow deepens, a fragile truce forms between them. With every tender touch, he claims a little more of her heart. But the memories of her old life linger. She worries about her father and her duty to return to modern times for his sake.
An agonizing choice.
When Eirik is wounded, Paige realizes that without modern medicine, her Viking lover will likely die. Does she dare return to the future and risk never making it back to him? Or does she remain by the side of the man she has come to love, as he fades away before her eyes?
Authors Note: Eirik is a 110k time-travel romance novel. It contains adult situations and language and is intended for readers over 18.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 14, 2017
557 people are currently reading
569 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Bell
9 books68 followersHistorical romance author, specializing in Vikings and medieval world-building.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 129 reviews
January 4, 2018
I loved this book. I can get wrapped up in books like most book lovers but this book is one I really felt like I was a part of the book. I stopped reading at one point and had to pull myself back to the real world because I was so wrapped up in the amazing world Joanna Bell created. I can't tell you how excited I am about this series. This book is something special, and a book that will stick with me. If you like/love Kristen Ashley this book has a Golden Dynasty vibe but I don't think this author is trying to be like KA. I will say if you are like me and you loved Golden Dynasty this is a must read. But not just that this book has such an interesting story the world building in this book is spectacular.
This author really takes the time to create this world and these characters making them so real and so dimensional. The back story of our main character Paige makes you so connected to her and is another aspect of why this story is so special. We see Paige grows up and we see her live this fantastic and sad life, and we see her go on the adventure of her life while struggling with what life and world she should pick as well as falling in love with a warrior who may not be her future.
And then there is Eirik, he simply put is a remarkable hero. I dare you to read this book and not fall in love with him. Not sure anyone could do that. Eirik is one of those heroes that are special. Eirik is Jarl and Paige is his everything. Paige and Eirik's romance was so stunning and one I couldn't get enough of. I didn't put this book down unless I had to and when I was sick otherwise I read through this book as much as I could. I can't wait to see who book two is about and how it all turns out and I also can't tell you how much I hope this series lasts for a very long time. After this book I have put this author on my watch list, I see she has another book and yes I will be checking that one out too. Not only was the story and romance something but this authors writing style is so easy to get pulled into.
Since Paige was five she has traveled through time. At five Paige didn't understand and just thought she had friends close by and since this has been her world for so long and since she was so young it took awhile for Paige to realize that this isn't normal and it's also not something that anyone else does. Unfortunately by the time Paige realizes this it's too late and she has been labeled as weird and a witch which helps forms Paiges life. Along with her friends from long ago Paige grows up differently form others. In college Paige finds friends she never thought she would have and Paige makes a mistake and trusts her secrets.
Now back in the past Paige see's the world she love in danger and Paige is taken by Vikings. When the Jarl(King) see's Paige no other will do and her not cowering seals her fate. The Jarl is like no one Paige has ever met both in the past and future, he is a imposing figure who slowly makes Paige fall in love with him. Paige can't stay and soon Paige is at a cross roads till her decision is made for her. But noting is cut and dry when your in love with the Jarl and he in love with you.
I can't recommend this book enough. I wish I could find more books like this. Not just the time travel aspect which I have actually read very few books about. What I am talking about is how special this story is. This is one of those book that you read and finish and think to yourself this is why I love reading. And that is what this book as for me. I can't recommend his book enough, I will be reading every book in this series and checking out all books from this author.
This author really takes the time to create this world and these characters making them so real and so dimensional. The back story of our main character Paige makes you so connected to her and is another aspect of why this story is so special. We see Paige grows up and we see her live this fantastic and sad life, and we see her go on the adventure of her life while struggling with what life and world she should pick as well as falling in love with a warrior who may not be her future.
And then there is Eirik, he simply put is a remarkable hero. I dare you to read this book and not fall in love with him. Not sure anyone could do that. Eirik is one of those heroes that are special. Eirik is Jarl and Paige is his everything. Paige and Eirik's romance was so stunning and one I couldn't get enough of. I didn't put this book down unless I had to and when I was sick otherwise I read through this book as much as I could. I can't wait to see who book two is about and how it all turns out and I also can't tell you how much I hope this series lasts for a very long time. After this book I have put this author on my watch list, I see she has another book and yes I will be checking that one out too. Not only was the story and romance something but this authors writing style is so easy to get pulled into.
Since Paige was five she has traveled through time. At five Paige didn't understand and just thought she had friends close by and since this has been her world for so long and since she was so young it took awhile for Paige to realize that this isn't normal and it's also not something that anyone else does. Unfortunately by the time Paige realizes this it's too late and she has been labeled as weird and a witch which helps forms Paiges life. Along with her friends from long ago Paige grows up differently form others. In college Paige finds friends she never thought she would have and Paige makes a mistake and trusts her secrets.
Now back in the past Paige see's the world she love in danger and Paige is taken by Vikings. When the Jarl(King) see's Paige no other will do and her not cowering seals her fate. The Jarl is like no one Paige has ever met both in the past and future, he is a imposing figure who slowly makes Paige fall in love with him. Paige can't stay and soon Paige is at a cross roads till her decision is made for her. But noting is cut and dry when your in love with the Jarl and he in love with you.
I can't recommend this book enough. I wish I could find more books like this. Not just the time travel aspect which I have actually read very few books about. What I am talking about is how special this story is. This is one of those book that you read and finish and think to yourself this is why I love reading. And that is what this book as for me. I can't recommend his book enough, I will be reading every book in this series and checking out all books from this author.
August 1, 2018
2,5 stars really. First 20% was very good, but then it was a downhill for me...our heroine was the 'too dumb to live' type...and the warrior acted like some kind of hipster, all too sensitive and articulated for a viking . I'm sorry that it didn't work for me, it was promissing
February 20, 2018
3.5 stars
September 29, 2020
Meh, kinda boring. Could have been cut in half. And it was absurd at times.
March 4, 2021
4 1/2 stars ⭐️
Wow, just wow. What a great tale. The only thing I really disliked was the crossing back to the 21st century in the 1st half of the book, from the 8th century. It was okay to begin with, but got tedious once Paige was in high school. Once that part of her life was written, the story really heated up. It is a love story on a grand scale. Paige unknowingly finds herself transported back to the 8th century, when England was not yet England, and Vikings were raiding. At the age of five she did not know any better, and the two “friends” she found playing in the woods behind her home were just that, friends. Several years, and many “visits” occurred before she worked out what was happening. Always feeling like an outsider in 2016, Paige decides to visit home so she can go see her life long friends. But as she “arrives” in the 8th century, the tiny village she has been visiting for years is being attacked by Vikings, and she is abducted and taken north to the Viking’s new settlement. Once there she is chosen by the Jarl, Eirik, as his new woman. Thus begins the love affair. Plenty of action still, as a pregnant Paige ends up trapped back in the 21st century, trying to get back to her true love Eirik. Could not put down, emotionally a tear jerker 🥰
Wow, just wow. What a great tale. The only thing I really disliked was the crossing back to the 21st century in the 1st half of the book, from the 8th century. It was okay to begin with, but got tedious once Paige was in high school. Once that part of her life was written, the story really heated up. It is a love story on a grand scale. Paige unknowingly finds herself transported back to the 8th century, when England was not yet England, and Vikings were raiding. At the age of five she did not know any better, and the two “friends” she found playing in the woods behind her home were just that, friends. Several years, and many “visits” occurred before she worked out what was happening. Always feeling like an outsider in 2016, Paige decides to visit home so she can go see her life long friends. But as she “arrives” in the 8th century, the tiny village she has been visiting for years is being attacked by Vikings, and she is abducted and taken north to the Viking’s new settlement. Once there she is chosen by the Jarl, Eirik, as his new woman. Thus begins the love affair. Plenty of action still, as a pregnant Paige ends up trapped back in the 21st century, trying to get back to her true love Eirik. Could not put down, emotionally a tear jerker 🥰
April 23, 2019
4 💘💘💘💘👏🌈👏🌟🌟🌟🌟s❣️❣️❣️❣️
Beautiful and interesting time travel romance, and the epoch of Vikings held my attention.
There was only the heroine’s pov and I would have loved for the hero’s pov also.
Beautiful and interesting time travel romance, and the epoch of Vikings held my attention.
There was only the heroine’s pov and I would have loved for the hero’s pov also.
March 5, 2021
For bloody sakes, really? Has no one edited this book? Has no one told the author to maybe rewrite a couple of scenes, giving them more logical meaning and more clever reasons to achieve the same outcome but with a bit more brain cells to back it up, to present a really good book, whose basis is already there? No one?
What a waste of good potential.
I really wished for this book, the blurb sounded so very interesting.
Well, I am very disappointed.
It started out so very good.
Of course the leading female showed early on signs of being a submissive, and I am not talking about her sexual preferences. Of course I empathise with her tragic loss and lack of childhood, but I don’t like her naïveté and lack of taking her life into her own hands instead of having a pity party all life long so far.
But I didn’t expect her character to be that “deer in the headlights” frightened and quite stupid as well.
It is this kind of book where you like the story and the plot, but strongly dislike the female character. Because there is nothing that even remotely makes her relatable, believable or likeable.
As soon as she meets the “jarl” her brains completely left the building.
It already started shortly after the capture, the author making me believe she doesn’t comprehend how long she was traveling on the deck of a ship. Hours, could be 1 or two days? How many hours I can believe but not to realise if you are sitting one or two days on a ships deck, when she is able to ascertain they are traveling north up the shore on the basis of the sun, keeping track of the shoreline. That simply makes no sense.
And the author presents many of those illogical reasonings and developments.
Her acting like a starved person, eating like a pig naked in front of a horde of men is simply idiotic and unbelievable, after a few hours of traveling. Even if the travel was a da or two, you would never discard cultural behaviour like that in a blink. To let the stew trip down her chin and naked body. And to tell me that she never ate a hot stew in her 20 years of life is also very illogical and unbelievable. Followed by her falling asleep at the table like a five year old. And that she trusts the jarl with her life although it is illogical and unrealistic, there isn’t even an explanation, she simply does.
A man, that killed, raided the village she knew all her life, is the reason maybe her “siblings” are dead, kidnapped her, paraded her naked around, let her get slapped upside down, decided on a whim to not let her get killed at the moment and now wants to fuck her. But yes she feels she can trust this man.
She is not from that time. That is why this all makes not much sense. This should be more but even be a minimum of a cultural shock to her, despite her spending time in the surroundings of the former village.
What a waste of good potential.
I really wished for this book, the blurb sounded so very interesting.
Well, I am very disappointed.
It started out so very good.
Of course the leading female showed early on signs of being a submissive, and I am not talking about her sexual preferences. Of course I empathise with her tragic loss and lack of childhood, but I don’t like her naïveté and lack of taking her life into her own hands instead of having a pity party all life long so far.
But I didn’t expect her character to be that “deer in the headlights” frightened and quite stupid as well.
It is this kind of book where you like the story and the plot, but strongly dislike the female character. Because there is nothing that even remotely makes her relatable, believable or likeable.
As soon as she meets the “jarl” her brains completely left the building.
It already started shortly after the capture, the author making me believe she doesn’t comprehend how long she was traveling on the deck of a ship. Hours, could be 1 or two days? How many hours I can believe but not to realise if you are sitting one or two days on a ships deck, when she is able to ascertain they are traveling north up the shore on the basis of the sun, keeping track of the shoreline. That simply makes no sense.
And the author presents many of those illogical reasonings and developments.
Her acting like a starved person, eating like a pig naked in front of a horde of men is simply idiotic and unbelievable, after a few hours of traveling. Even if the travel was a da or two, you would never discard cultural behaviour like that in a blink. To let the stew trip down her chin and naked body. And to tell me that she never ate a hot stew in her 20 years of life is also very illogical and unbelievable. Followed by her falling asleep at the table like a five year old. And that she trusts the jarl with her life although it is illogical and unrealistic, there isn’t even an explanation, she simply does.
A man, that killed, raided the village she knew all her life, is the reason maybe her “siblings” are dead, kidnapped her, paraded her naked around, let her get slapped upside down, decided on a whim to not let her get killed at the moment and now wants to fuck her. But yes she feels she can trust this man.
She is not from that time. That is why this all makes not much sense. This should be more but even be a minimum of a cultural shock to her, despite her spending time in the surroundings of the former village.
July 4, 2018
Fantastic time travel romance! There's a lot going on besides the love relationship, which serves as a strong background setting, the context for this magical adventure, and a very good character definition for the heroine. The historical aspect is quite good, nothing was over the top shocking or wrong, besides maybe the language which we are ok with for the sake of the storytelling. I loved Paige's relationship with the past completely independent from the hero, and yet, I would have loved more context on Eirik's story as well. Scorching hot, and not simplistic.
I did not appreciate the excess of media and medical angst at the end, but I was already hooked up with the story.
I will go on with this series, and of course, recommend it !
I did not appreciate the excess of media and medical angst at the end, but I was already hooked up with the story.
I will go on with this series, and of course, recommend it !
November 28, 2017
Omg. I completely loved this book!
I'll admit, I love Outlander and I'm always on the look out for similar-ish books to it, so when I saw this, I was like, time travel!?! Awesome! Throw in some hot Vikings and I'm all over this!
I loved how Paige wasn't a stranger to traveling to Caistley. She's been doing it since she was 5, and even though she was a fish out of water when she was taken by Eirik's men, she wasn't totally confused and out of it, not knowing what's going on.
I did love Eirik. He was a strong alpha but he wasn't cruel. And I loved how he fell for Paige.
I won't give it away, but when she goes back to her time to try and get meds to save Eirik, the events that unfold...well, let's just say that my stomach dropped. I kept wondering how she'd get back to him (and I never had any doubt that she would go back).
It says that this is book 1 in a series and I can't wait to read more!
I'll admit, I love Outlander and I'm always on the look out for similar-ish books to it, so when I saw this, I was like, time travel!?! Awesome! Throw in some hot Vikings and I'm all over this!
I loved how Paige wasn't a stranger to traveling to Caistley. She's been doing it since she was 5, and even though she was a fish out of water when she was taken by Eirik's men, she wasn't totally confused and out of it, not knowing what's going on.
I did love Eirik. He was a strong alpha but he wasn't cruel. And I loved how he fell for Paige.
I won't give it away, but when she goes back to her time to try and get meds to save Eirik, the events that unfold...well, let's just say that my stomach dropped. I kept wondering how she'd get back to him (and I never had any doubt that she would go back).
It says that this is book 1 in a series and I can't wait to read more!
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May 25, 2019🎁 FREE on Amazon today (5/25/2019)! 🎁
July 19, 2018
I was sitting on my couch, just strollin’ through FB feeds when low and behold a picture of a hot Viking resembling Khal Drogo popped up.
Seriously, all I could say was COME AT ME BRO. If you do not know who he is, shame on you. SHAME. ON. YOU.
I’ve never been to jail, but don’t think I wouldn’t go for possible rape charges if I was locked in a room with Khal Drogo. Hell, I think I would look good in orange.
This is a time travel romance set in the 9th and 21st century. Rather intriguing. At the young age of 5, Paige, stumbles upon a tree in her back yard and when she touched the tree, it shits her out in the 9th century. After realizing she is no longer in her back yard she begins to roam the area and comes across a brother and sister. From that point on Paige, Eadgar and Willa became inseparable, well except when Paige had to go home. As time went by and the 3 grew up, their relationship changed, they started seeing each other less and less. Paige eventually left her home and went to college, and Eadgar and Willa continued their life in the 9th century.
Several years passed without Paige visiting Castiley, and after a fight with her 21st century BFF, Paige decides it’s time to return. However, she doesn’t stumble into the same serene place, but a place that has been raided by Vikings.
Eirick, pronounced eye-rick is
Paige is the awkward girl who has no friends. She is looking for someone to fill the holes left behind by her mother’s death and father’s absentness.
Both of them didn’t really know what they were looking for, but somehow found it in each other.
It was a very compelling read, it sucked me right in. There were some areas that I just didn’t care for, as in I had to scheme because it was a bit drawn out. Another thing, Eirick wasn’t as Alpha as I would have a) expected him to be and b) as much as I would have liked him to be. Real life me doesn’t like a man who is domineering and demanding and all but book reader me LOVES IT, devours it and DEMANDS IT. So, if Eirick could have been a bit more Khal Drogo Alpha spectrum this book would have topped the reading charts for me. Also, you could feel his love for her; however, Paige wasn’t as convincing. Either way, I still enjoyed it.
Seriously, all I could say was COME AT ME BRO. If you do not know who he is, shame on you. SHAME. ON. YOU.
I’ve never been to jail, but don’t think I wouldn’t go for possible rape charges if I was locked in a room with Khal Drogo. Hell, I think I would look good in orange.
This is a time travel romance set in the 9th and 21st century. Rather intriguing. At the young age of 5, Paige, stumbles upon a tree in her back yard and when she touched the tree, it shits her out in the 9th century. After realizing she is no longer in her back yard she begins to roam the area and comes across a brother and sister. From that point on Paige, Eadgar and Willa became inseparable, well except when Paige had to go home. As time went by and the 3 grew up, their relationship changed, they started seeing each other less and less. Paige eventually left her home and went to college, and Eadgar and Willa continued their life in the 9th century.
Several years passed without Paige visiting Castiley, and after a fight with her 21st century BFF, Paige decides it’s time to return. However, she doesn’t stumble into the same serene place, but a place that has been raided by Vikings.
Eirick, pronounced eye-rick is
”the kind of man who draws attention to himself the way iron draws a magnet. He doesn't strut or preen, because he doesn't need to. His authority is self-contained, naturally manifested, in need of no outside praise or acknowledgement.”Basically, hot AF. He is the Jarl or King of the Viking tribe that kidnaps Paige.
Paige is the awkward girl who has no friends. She is looking for someone to fill the holes left behind by her mother’s death and father’s absentness.
Both of them didn’t really know what they were looking for, but somehow found it in each other.
It was a very compelling read, it sucked me right in. There were some areas that I just didn’t care for, as in I had to scheme because it was a bit drawn out. Another thing, Eirick wasn’t as Alpha as I would have a) expected him to be and b) as much as I would have liked him to be. Real life me doesn’t like a man who is domineering and demanding and all but book reader me LOVES IT, devours it and DEMANDS IT. So, if Eirick could have been a bit more Khal Drogo Alpha spectrum this book would have topped the reading charts for me. Also, you could feel his love for her; however, Paige wasn’t as convincing. Either way, I still enjoyed it.
February 5, 2018
So beautiful. Sweet. Heartbreaking.
I couldn’t give it five stars because I didn’t like the through back chapters to h’s memories. Also the last chapters were just too much and bitter although I loved the final chapter and the happy ever after.
I fall in love with H.
I couldn’t give it five stars because I didn’t like the through back chapters to h’s memories. Also the last chapters were just too much and bitter although I loved the final chapter and the happy ever after.
I fall in love with H.
December 7, 2021
I really love me a portal fantasy with time travel, romance, and...Vikings!
However, while all of these elements usually tickle my fancy-there were a few key parts of the story that kept this from being a 4 star book read for me.
Mainly, a lot of it had to do with the h. I honestly skimmed through a lot of the 2017 part of the story. Mostly this was due to the fact that Paige was constantly acting like whiney kid. I get she was sheltered and shunned a lot, but she just seemed really naive for a 20 year old. (*Now that just be my personal bias, and if you don't mind those kind of leads then I would suggest the read)
But at the same time...
But despite my irks I will read on to the next books in hopes of better pairings because I do love the concept!
However, while all of these elements usually tickle my fancy-there were a few key parts of the story that kept this from being a 4 star book read for me.
Mainly, a lot of it had to do with the h. I honestly skimmed through a lot of the 2017 part of the story. Mostly this was due to the fact that Paige was constantly acting like whiney kid. I get she was sheltered and shunned a lot, but she just seemed really naive for a 20 year old. (*Now that just be my personal bias, and if you don't mind those kind of leads then I would suggest the read)
But at the same time...
But despite my irks I will read on to the next books in hopes of better pairings because I do love the concept!
April 11, 2018
Prologue got my attention... but then it lagged.. then got really good... then lagged.. then really good! So glad I persevered great Viking time travel romance. I really thought Eirik was awful when first I met him but by the end I so loved his prosaic yet fatalistic outlook and he’s so darn alpha that he will make your glasses steamy! 😏 Starting the next book now!
April 24, 2018
4.5 stars
October 23, 2019
Author sure knows how to romanticize raping and pillaging.
Paige, a time traveler to the 9th century, falls in love with a 'design's Viking warlord, who loves and protects as he pillaged villages and sell slaves. Paige has to return to modern world pregnant, but can't return back because of problems.
Paige, yes I do sympathize with everyone thinking you are crazy but...I don't know why you would be safer to go to the 9th century where a simple cut can kill you was the best way to 'protect'your newborn and elderly father.
I'm disappointed in the author for making the press and a psychiatrist seem so much of a threat that she 'had' to run into the arms of her Viking warlord and leave all the modernity and healthcare behind. Besides what other reason could Paige have but for fear for her 'life' to run to no medicine, no hygiene, no condoms, starvation and slavery as the better option.
I'm sorry to say that even knowing Paige was a time traveler, I do think she needed a mental evaluation and stayed for treatment. She sounded and acted crazy to me lol.
Poor Paige's father who is following her crazy ass lead.
Besides the blatantly historical 'romanticizing' , decent enough raunchy scenes but unrealistic Viking hero (really your pregnant lover is gone for months and you haven't replaced her with all the raping and pillaging these Viking tribes do 😑. But excuse me, they treat them humanely so that's okay.*sigh*) definitely going to read the next book lol.
Paige, a time traveler to the 9th century, falls in love with a 'design's Viking warlord, who loves and protects as he pillaged villages and sell slaves. Paige has to return to modern world pregnant, but can't return back because of problems.
Paige, yes I do sympathize with everyone thinking you are crazy but...I don't know why you would be safer to go to the 9th century where a simple cut can kill you was the best way to 'protect'your newborn and elderly father.
I'm disappointed in the author for making the press and a psychiatrist seem so much of a threat that she 'had' to run into the arms of her Viking warlord and leave all the modernity and healthcare behind. Besides what other reason could Paige have but for fear for her 'life' to run to no medicine, no hygiene, no condoms, starvation and slavery as the better option.
I'm sorry to say that even knowing Paige was a time traveler, I do think she needed a mental evaluation and stayed for treatment. She sounded and acted crazy to me lol.
Poor Paige's father who is following her crazy ass lead.
Besides the blatantly historical 'romanticizing' , decent enough raunchy scenes but unrealistic Viking hero (really your pregnant lover is gone for months and you haven't replaced her with all the raping and pillaging these Viking tribes do 😑. But excuse me, they treat them humanely so that's okay.*sigh*) definitely going to read the next book lol.
April 9, 2021
3 or 2.5 stars
In all honesty, this book was all over the place for me.
I love time travel books and wanted to read a romance with a time travel aspect in it. I love the concept of this one. I love the idea of her falling for the Viking who kidnapped her in the past. Super interesting.
However, there are some things that just bugged me. First, the age a which she first started traveling to the past. 5 years old seems way too young for that. I also just did not care at all about the chapters that took place in the 21st century. I honestly wish all of them just took place in the 9th century, since I was so bored with the chapters that took place in the 21st century. If the book only took place in the 9th century the book would be so much more enjoyable I think.
I also did not believe the romance at all. We were told so much about their relationship, instead of shown it. There was no romance between the two. It seemed like she only started to like him after they slept together. Those were the only "romantic" chapters between the two when they were sleeping together. And those scenes didn't even give us much!
In all honesty, this book was all over the place for me.
I love time travel books and wanted to read a romance with a time travel aspect in it. I love the concept of this one. I love the idea of her falling for the Viking who kidnapped her in the past. Super interesting.
However, there are some things that just bugged me. First, the age a which she first started traveling to the past. 5 years old seems way too young for that. I also just did not care at all about the chapters that took place in the 21st century. I honestly wish all of them just took place in the 9th century, since I was so bored with the chapters that took place in the 21st century. If the book only took place in the 9th century the book would be so much more enjoyable I think.
I also did not believe the romance at all. We were told so much about their relationship, instead of shown it. There was no romance between the two. It seemed like she only started to like him after they slept together. Those were the only "romantic" chapters between the two when they were sleeping together. And those scenes didn't even give us much!
May 1, 2020
It was an immersive and enjoyable read.
I enjoyed the growth of the protagonist and her coming into her own self. The psychological hardships were also well written. As for the love interest of the protagonist, I found him authentic enough, given the nature of the book being a romantic novel.
What I did found lacking, and not in a major way, was the acknowledging the language barrier that surely must have been there. I do not suppose that even if the Northmen have learned the Anglo-Saxon tongue that they would have used it among themselves.
Overall, the book is definitely worth four stars!
I enjoyed the growth of the protagonist and her coming into her own self. The psychological hardships were also well written. As for the love interest of the protagonist, I found him authentic enough, given the nature of the book being a romantic novel.
What I did found lacking, and not in a major way, was the acknowledging the language barrier that surely must have been there. I do not suppose that even if the Northmen have learned the Anglo-Saxon tongue that they would have used it among themselves.
Overall, the book is definitely worth four stars!
January 3, 2020
3.5 stars. Quickie review: This was a really interesting story. I felt like it lacked some depth to make me actually feel the emotions of the story. Paige had some annoying moments, too. I also found the book a little too overdramatic and drawn out. Still, I was drawn into the story, it kept my full attention, and was entertaining. I will continue this series in the future.
January 5, 2019
A little Golden Dynasty meets Karen Marie Monning's Highlanders.... exactly what I love in a Time Travel Romance. Recommend it for fans of this genre. Loved it.
January 11, 2019
This book was surprisingly much better than I expected - the terrible cover doesn’t do it justice at all, nor does the title. It was a steamy romance, sure, but that wasn’t really until nearly the last half of the book. First there was a detailed story about how a young woman, Paige, became the type of person who would fall in love with a viking jarl from the 9th century. You live a heartbreaking life with her and the people in her life for a long time before the romance begins, which is refreshing, and really enriches the story. I enjoyed that about this book - as a fan of the time traveling romance genre, I still find much of it far too contrived. I like that this author cared enough to develop a protagonist worth investing in, with a past full of grief, harsh realities, too-early lessons, and a little bit of the inexplicable, which made her actions later make sense.
Most of the characters are well-rounded, with the exception of the villains, who are lazily written and basically flat mustache-twisters. But I found that forgiveable because they only serve to throw some obstacles in the way of the protagonist, that you know she’s going to overcome anyway. I speed-read through those bits.
The sex is hot, though at times a wee bit more vulgar than I prefer. There are certain words that romance writers could avoid if they’re creative enough - this one doesn’t bother.
The other problem I had with it I blame more on the line editor than the author. There were some grating inconsistencies that pulled me right out of the story. For example, a lot of time is spent describing the surroundings and the people in the land Paige travels to, how different everything is, and it’s all historically accurate - the author obviously did her research. But everyone speaks English, even the Northmen, and it’s never even touched on. If that choice is made, fine, I can buy it but you have to at least devote a sentence or two as to why it makes sense in this World. Then there’s a moment when, after coming back to the present which she notes must be 2017 now, after being away for nearly a year, Paige is being questioned by a psychiatrist who asks her a lot of questions - her name, where she was born, her birthday, who is president... and she answers them each time. How would Paige know who is president? It would be a new one by then, and she hasn’t had access to any information about current events for over a year. It’s a minor detail of course, but it’s sloppy.
Those are my only complaints. Otherwise I found this book to be an enjoyable, thoughtful journey into a harsh past where common starvation makes food taste better, common illness makes good health sweeter, common bitter cold makes sitting by a fire more blissful, and common early death makes relationships more poignant. The story is woven with themes of grief, seclusion, self preservation, acceptance, loyalty, parenthood and of course love, and leaves you feeling like you’ve had a good meal, rather than the nutritionless confection many books of this genre serve you with.
Most of the characters are well-rounded, with the exception of the villains, who are lazily written and basically flat mustache-twisters. But I found that forgiveable because they only serve to throw some obstacles in the way of the protagonist, that you know she’s going to overcome anyway. I speed-read through those bits.
The sex is hot, though at times a wee bit more vulgar than I prefer. There are certain words that romance writers could avoid if they’re creative enough - this one doesn’t bother.
The other problem I had with it I blame more on the line editor than the author. There were some grating inconsistencies that pulled me right out of the story. For example, a lot of time is spent describing the surroundings and the people in the land Paige travels to, how different everything is, and it’s all historically accurate - the author obviously did her research. But everyone speaks English, even the Northmen, and it’s never even touched on. If that choice is made, fine, I can buy it but you have to at least devote a sentence or two as to why it makes sense in this World. Then there’s a moment when, after coming back to the present which she notes must be 2017 now, after being away for nearly a year, Paige is being questioned by a psychiatrist who asks her a lot of questions - her name, where she was born, her birthday, who is president... and she answers them each time. How would Paige know who is president? It would be a new one by then, and she hasn’t had access to any information about current events for over a year. It’s a minor detail of course, but it’s sloppy.
Those are my only complaints. Otherwise I found this book to be an enjoyable, thoughtful journey into a harsh past where common starvation makes food taste better, common illness makes good health sweeter, common bitter cold makes sitting by a fire more blissful, and common early death makes relationships more poignant. The story is woven with themes of grief, seclusion, self preservation, acceptance, loyalty, parenthood and of course love, and leaves you feeling like you’ve had a good meal, rather than the nutritionless confection many books of this genre serve you with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 21, 2018
A Dream come true
Finding peace, war and quiet of a simpler time. A little girl finds friends that don't judge her. Finding the love of her heart and bring a family together. Look forward to the next story of this series.
Finding peace, war and quiet of a simpler time. A little girl finds friends that don't judge her. Finding the love of her heart and bring a family together. Look forward to the next story of this series.
December 17, 2017
Gripping story ... Four and a half stars.
I usually avoid Time Travel romances - Diana Gabaldon has set the bar too high - but this one was a real surprise. The writing style grabs you from the first page, and the story is great.
The heroine, Paige, is one of the book's highlights for me. The story is told entirely from her point of view but I never got tired of being in her head. We don't get to know the hero, Eirik, as well as we do Paige, but he's definitely a great hero: strong, powerful, and ruthless when necessary, but with a deep, kind and chivalrous side.
I loved the setting too. The author brings 9th Century Anglo-Saxon Britain to life brilliantly. The Kingdom of the East Angles and the Viking raids are realistically drawn with just enough description to make the setting seem authentic without going into too much historical detail. Paige's 'portal' between the two worlds - a tree on her father's property - works too. It's simple, but unlike some other time travel romances, I could believe it could exist.
I thought Paige's back-story was beautifully drawn, the loss of her mother, and her father's depression, followed by visits to psychologists. You really want this girl to find happiness!
The only thing that didn't work for me in the book (which is why I've given it 4.5 instead of 5 stars) - was the use of language. In 9th Century Britain, the Angles would have been speaking Old English, and the Vikings, a form of Norse. However, our heroine slips from 2017 North America to the 9th Century without any language difficulties. Maybe I missed it, but she just thinks her new Angle friends speak a little differently to her. Plus, Eirik would not likely have spoken the local tongue either - there would have been two new languages to learn! Outlander works because Claire only goes back a couple of centuries to Jacobean Scotland, where the same language (apart from the local Scottish Gaelic) is used. It's quite a big detail not to get right! If the portal equips travelers with some Tardis-like language device, the reader needs to know that!
However, the story is so strong, the plot so exciting, the writing so vivid, and the characters (even the minor ones) so richly drawn that I will just overlook that issue ...
I highly recommend this novel, and look forward to more in this series.
I usually avoid Time Travel romances - Diana Gabaldon has set the bar too high - but this one was a real surprise. The writing style grabs you from the first page, and the story is great.
The heroine, Paige, is one of the book's highlights for me. The story is told entirely from her point of view but I never got tired of being in her head. We don't get to know the hero, Eirik, as well as we do Paige, but he's definitely a great hero: strong, powerful, and ruthless when necessary, but with a deep, kind and chivalrous side.
I loved the setting too. The author brings 9th Century Anglo-Saxon Britain to life brilliantly. The Kingdom of the East Angles and the Viking raids are realistically drawn with just enough description to make the setting seem authentic without going into too much historical detail. Paige's 'portal' between the two worlds - a tree on her father's property - works too. It's simple, but unlike some other time travel romances, I could believe it could exist.
I thought Paige's back-story was beautifully drawn, the loss of her mother, and her father's depression, followed by visits to psychologists. You really want this girl to find happiness!
The only thing that didn't work for me in the book (which is why I've given it 4.5 instead of 5 stars) - was the use of language. In 9th Century Britain, the Angles would have been speaking Old English, and the Vikings, a form of Norse. However, our heroine slips from 2017 North America to the 9th Century without any language difficulties. Maybe I missed it, but she just thinks her new Angle friends speak a little differently to her. Plus, Eirik would not likely have spoken the local tongue either - there would have been two new languages to learn! Outlander works because Claire only goes back a couple of centuries to Jacobean Scotland, where the same language (apart from the local Scottish Gaelic) is used. It's quite a big detail not to get right! If the portal equips travelers with some Tardis-like language device, the reader needs to know that!
However, the story is so strong, the plot so exciting, the writing so vivid, and the characters (even the minor ones) so richly drawn that I will just overlook that issue ...
I highly recommend this novel, and look forward to more in this series.
October 23, 2019
THIS COULD HAVE GONE ON BETTER. IT WAS A VERY DILUTED VERSION OF WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT FROM KRISTEN ASHLEY'S GOLDEN DYNASTY. WHAT RUBBED ME WRONG WAS HOW THE AUTHOR REFUSED TO THROW THE HERO INTO CONFLICT WITH THE HEROINE.
PLEASE NOTE, THEY NEVER FOUGHT AT ALL. THAT'S NOT HEALTHY IN A RELATIONSHIP.
EIRIK is the Jarl. He will tell you exactly that all women will fall to his feet just because he is the Jarl and while its pure arrogance, it's also the TRUTH. When he comes back from raiding, he is presented with several women to become his bed thrall. Of course, he chooses the pretty and clean Paige who came from the 21st century where medical care and having all our teeth is common. Back in the 9th century? Not so. Eirik was a boring character to me. Why? There's nothing about him that enchants you. Yes, he's the Jarl. But what else? He's always amused by the heroine, and when annoyed he just raises his voice but what struck me odd is that he never fought it out with Paige. It's like the author refused to push her characters into tight spots and see what happens. His character plays it safe. Boring!
PAIGE was just plain naiive and a sad female to me. When she was young, she discovered time travelling and made the mistake of telling it to her friends. Now people think she's odd and a nut case who makes up stories and imaginary friends just to get attention. Sadly, its the truth. Paige grew up without her mom, and her mother's death took a toll on her father who then neglected her. Paige struck me as sad because she finds it difficult to make friends at all. Whether it's here or in the 9th century. At 20, she was captured by Vikings and forced to serve the Jarl which seemed like no hardship at all when he's pleasing to the eye and doesn't beat her or rape her. The only rough patch to the story was her returning to the real world and then making it back to the 9th century to Eirik. At that point, I expected Eirik to be angry that she left him for months, returning to her own time and then daring to return....there was zero conflict.
OVERALL it seriously needed working on between the MC's. The relationship was brittle on the outside. Sure, the author writes and forces you to accept their love but you don't see it blossoming before your eyes. And while I like a good captive story, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M COMPLAINING BUT THE HERO WAS TOO NICE. LOL.
PLEASE NOTE, THEY NEVER FOUGHT AT ALL. THAT'S NOT HEALTHY IN A RELATIONSHIP.
EIRIK is the Jarl. He will tell you exactly that all women will fall to his feet just because he is the Jarl and while its pure arrogance, it's also the TRUTH. When he comes back from raiding, he is presented with several women to become his bed thrall. Of course, he chooses the pretty and clean Paige who came from the 21st century where medical care and having all our teeth is common. Back in the 9th century? Not so. Eirik was a boring character to me. Why? There's nothing about him that enchants you. Yes, he's the Jarl. But what else? He's always amused by the heroine, and when annoyed he just raises his voice but what struck me odd is that he never fought it out with Paige. It's like the author refused to push her characters into tight spots and see what happens. His character plays it safe. Boring!
PAIGE was just plain naiive and a sad female to me. When she was young, she discovered time travelling and made the mistake of telling it to her friends. Now people think she's odd and a nut case who makes up stories and imaginary friends just to get attention. Sadly, its the truth. Paige grew up without her mom, and her mother's death took a toll on her father who then neglected her. Paige struck me as sad because she finds it difficult to make friends at all. Whether it's here or in the 9th century. At 20, she was captured by Vikings and forced to serve the Jarl which seemed like no hardship at all when he's pleasing to the eye and doesn't beat her or rape her. The only rough patch to the story was her returning to the real world and then making it back to the 9th century to Eirik. At that point, I expected Eirik to be angry that she left him for months, returning to her own time and then daring to return....there was zero conflict.
OVERALL it seriously needed working on between the MC's. The relationship was brittle on the outside. Sure, the author writes and forces you to accept their love but you don't see it blossoming before your eyes. And while I like a good captive story, I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M COMPLAINING BUT THE HERO WAS TOO NICE. LOL.
December 30, 2017
Yup this is it!
This story is so amazing! And the length of the Reed is good too I get tired of 200 Page books. Grammatically awesome love story Epic. The main female lead character had me so upset so many times I wanted to throw my Kindle! But then... She puts her big girl panties on! Read this book you will not be disappointed. I wind from this is intriguing to yeah now it's going to get good to where I was cussing at the character to extremely happy and then I fell in love with a story! I went straight to Amazon to find this book to see if there's number two. To my disappointment this book was released November 2017 May the author's fingers fly ever increasingly over the keyboard! Okay now I'm to the book I do not recommend this for teens at all. The adult scenes are extremely Vivid although they are tactful and amazing and they are great timing they're not just half Hazardly thrown in the story. The emotions that the author puts into the stories was amazing and spot-on I felt those emotions! The world that she takes this too makes me want to go find a tree for myself... If you have not read it you'll understand what I mean after you read it. Get this book you will not regret it I do advise that you find somewhere to read where you can go on interrupted I could not put this book down! I pretty much took two vacation days and told my husband please watch after the kids I can't put this book down LOL please please make a book #2!
This story is so amazing! And the length of the Reed is good too I get tired of 200 Page books. Grammatically awesome love story Epic. The main female lead character had me so upset so many times I wanted to throw my Kindle! But then... She puts her big girl panties on! Read this book you will not be disappointed. I wind from this is intriguing to yeah now it's going to get good to where I was cussing at the character to extremely happy and then I fell in love with a story! I went straight to Amazon to find this book to see if there's number two. To my disappointment this book was released November 2017 May the author's fingers fly ever increasingly over the keyboard! Okay now I'm to the book I do not recommend this for teens at all. The adult scenes are extremely Vivid although they are tactful and amazing and they are great timing they're not just half Hazardly thrown in the story. The emotions that the author puts into the stories was amazing and spot-on I felt those emotions! The world that she takes this too makes me want to go find a tree for myself... If you have not read it you'll understand what I mean after you read it. Get this book you will not regret it I do advise that you find somewhere to read where you can go on interrupted I could not put this book down! I pretty much took two vacation days and told my husband please watch after the kids I can't put this book down LOL please please make a book #2!
January 26, 2018
Interesting time travel romance. I did like how the mechanism was never discussed because no one knew how it was done.
The romance was sweet. I don't know how accurate the history part was but it seemed fairly realistic. The way Paige was treated after she came back to the present was about how I thought it would go.
I wasn't sure at first about the alternating way the story was told - present past, current present, present in the past. We get her current events, her memories of being in the past and in the present, and then her events in the past as they happen to her. It made sense but is hard to describe.
The romance was sweet. I don't know how accurate the history part was but it seemed fairly realistic. The way Paige was treated after she came back to the present was about how I thought it would go.
I wasn't sure at first about the alternating way the story was told - present past, current present, present in the past. We get her current events, her memories of being in the past and in the present, and then her events in the past as they happen to her. It made sense but is hard to describe.
November 8, 2023
Time-travelling in the time of the Vikings.
What's different in this story is that the heroine, Paige, was visiting the past all her life and she even had friends there. I liked how she tried to make the lives of her new tribe better due to her knowledge of science and medicine.
I enjoyed the whole series even though I'm reluctant to read the last book because
What's different in this story is that the heroine, Paige, was visiting the past all her life and she even had friends there. I liked how she tried to make the lives of her new tribe better due to her knowledge of science and medicine.
I enjoyed the whole series even though I'm reluctant to read the last book because
March 11, 2019
Holy. Crap.
I don't think I've ever felt so blown away by a book. A Kindle freebie, and I'm shaken. This book was so, so good. I could read 100 more stories about Eirik and Paige and never get bored.
I don't think I've ever felt so blown away by a book. A Kindle freebie, and I'm shaken. This book was so, so good. I could read 100 more stories about Eirik and Paige and never get bored.
November 15, 2022
4.5 wonderful stars
I love Eirik and it felt like I got to time-travel just like Paige.
Some middle parts in the 21st century I wish had gone another way but I was still totally captivated.
I'm so glad this is a series so I can keep going.
I love Eirik and it felt like I got to time-travel just like Paige.
Some middle parts in the 21st century I wish had gone another way but I was still totally captivated.
I'm so glad this is a series so I can keep going.
October 24, 2024
**Most of my reviews contain detailed Content Notes (including CW/TW) sections, which may include spoilers and general tags. I have tried to mark them appropriately, but please use caution.**
2/5
Ebook
* Summary: While time traveling (as she has for many years to escape the misery of her “real” life), Paige is kidnapped by Vikings and taken by the Jarl as his own.
* Stats: HR/Fantasy, M/F, open door, part of a series but stands alone.
* Notes: While the concept was interesting - and I wish there was more early medieval romance generally - this emphatically did not work for me. There’s some historical detail and depth, but a lot of weird people in the past were a different sort of human entirely, which I personally think isn’t likely to have been all that true and I didn’t find the relationship romantic or loving. The MCs might have sexual chemistry, but that’s all I got from them really, and so the ending felt… unsatisfying on top of a rather wild second half… The writing style lacked polish for me, and overall, I wouldn’t recommend.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
2/5
Ebook
* Summary: While time traveling (as she has for many years to escape the misery of her “real” life), Paige is kidnapped by Vikings and taken by the Jarl as his own.
* Stats: HR/Fantasy, M/F, open door, part of a series but stands alone.
* Notes: While the concept was interesting - and I wish there was more early medieval romance generally - this emphatically did not work for me. There’s some historical detail and depth, but a lot of weird people in the past were a different sort of human entirely, which I personally think isn’t likely to have been all that true and I didn’t find the relationship romantic or loving. The MCs might have sexual chemistry, but that’s all I got from them really, and so the ending felt… unsatisfying on top of a rather wild second half… The writing style lacked polish for me, and overall, I wouldn’t recommend.
OTT and Spoilery Content Notes:
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