What do you think?
Rate this book
Victorious Vikings #3
Defiant In The Viking's Bed
CONSUMED BY REVENGE – AND DESIRE! Captured by his enemy and chained like a dog, Leif Egilsson has one thought in his mind: revenge. He'll no longer be beguiled by the treacherous beauty of Lady Astrid, and her innocence, which he so craved, will finally be his. On his escape, this fierce, proud Viking is bent on making her pay the price of her betrayal – in his bed! Only Astrid has the heart of a warrior, and she will not be tamed as easily as he believes… Victorious Vikings No man could defeat them. Three women would defy them!
284 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 17, 2013
36 people are currently reading
232 people want to read
About the author
Joanna Fulford
65 books44 followersJoanna Fulford has been a full-time writer for a number of years now. Always an enthusiastic scribbler, she found that the urge to write only became stronger with time. In the end she decided to take a chance and quit the day job to find out if she could achieve success as an author. However, she couldn't have done it without her husband's unstinting support. Fortunately the gamble paid off. It has been a long haul, with plenty of financially lean periods, but it was well worth the effort. There is nothing quite like the buzz that comes with that phone call to say a publisher wants to buy your book.
Along the way She has been fortunate to have the support and encouragement of a strong and successful writers’ group. Not only has she appreciated the friendship of its members, but has also found their critical insight and feedback invaluable. So too is the support of her editor at Harlequin. With endless patience she steered her through the revisions of the first book and saved her from herself on numerous occasions. Being able to see the resulting improvement made the work enjoyable and rewarding.
As Joanna has always had a passion for Literature and History it ihas been no hardship to do the necessary research for her books. Initially her main interests were the Enlightenment and the Regency, but in recent years she have developed a fascination for the early Medieval period as well. Researching these different eras is exciting because there is always something new to be discovered. Invariably though she ends up with far more material than she can use so it's a matter of deciding what must be left out. Historical detail must never hold up the story. Joanna always has a rough plan in her head, a general idea of where the story is going, although the characters invariably take on a life of their own. They have no qualms about departing from the script and taking her down another path. It's fun to go with them and see where it leads. Frequently their way turns out to be better than her own so she’s learned to listen to them now.
When it comes to the historical background for a new story, Joanna always chooses events in which she has a keen interest, and which involve a serious conflict of some kind. The central love story is juxtaposed with this and gives the characters more obstacles to overcome. The Great Viking Invasion was fertile ground, as were the Luddite Rebellion and the Harrying of the North which provided the settings for her second and third books respectively. The Peninsular War is the background for His Counterfeit Condesa, and for its companion novel, The Caged Countess. This conflict was also the background to Redemption of a Fallen Woman which is Joanna’s contribution to the Castonbury Park series.
Along the way She has been fortunate to have the support and encouragement of a strong and successful writers’ group. Not only has she appreciated the friendship of its members, but has also found their critical insight and feedback invaluable. So too is the support of her editor at Harlequin. With endless patience she steered her through the revisions of the first book and saved her from herself on numerous occasions. Being able to see the resulting improvement made the work enjoyable and rewarding.
As Joanna has always had a passion for Literature and History it ihas been no hardship to do the necessary research for her books. Initially her main interests were the Enlightenment and the Regency, but in recent years she have developed a fascination for the early Medieval period as well. Researching these different eras is exciting because there is always something new to be discovered. Invariably though she ends up with far more material than she can use so it's a matter of deciding what must be left out. Historical detail must never hold up the story. Joanna always has a rough plan in her head, a general idea of where the story is going, although the characters invariably take on a life of their own. They have no qualms about departing from the script and taking her down another path. It's fun to go with them and see where it leads. Frequently their way turns out to be better than her own so she’s learned to listen to them now.
When it comes to the historical background for a new story, Joanna always chooses events in which she has a keen interest, and which involve a serious conflict of some kind. The central love story is juxtaposed with this and gives the characters more obstacles to overcome. The Great Viking Invasion was fertile ground, as were the Luddite Rebellion and the Harrying of the North which provided the settings for her second and third books respectively. The Peninsular War is the background for His Counterfeit Condesa, and for its companion novel, The Caged Countess. This conflict was also the background to Redemption of a Fallen Woman which is Joanna’s contribution to the Castonbury Park series.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
September 27, 2024
All due apologies to Ghostbusters, but... I've quit better books than this.
Seriously, is it too much to ask for a Viking romance where the characters don't dialogue like a Regency? And that's not touching the cardboard backdrop, onslaught of names, don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-em battle scenes, or total lack of 'feel' to a Dark Ages story. Just adding swords & naming everyone Erik, Leif, or Halfdan doesn't make a quality Viking tale.
On the plus side, this made me want to rewatch 13th Warrior for the zillionth time. HERGER! <3 Y'all would kick these asses so hard, then laugh about it.
Best thing about this snoozer is the cover.
Seriously, is it too much to ask for a Viking romance where the characters don't dialogue like a Regency? And that's not touching the cardboard backdrop, onslaught of names, don't-blink-or-you'll-miss-em battle scenes, or total lack of 'feel' to a Dark Ages story. Just adding swords & naming everyone Erik, Leif, or Halfdan doesn't make a quality Viking tale.
On the plus side, this made me want to rewatch 13th Warrior for the zillionth time. HERGER! <3 Y'all would kick these asses so hard, then laugh about it.
Best thing about this snoozer is the cover.
February 26, 2025
Es el libro de la saga que más me ha gustado, me ha recordado mucho a los vikingos de Johanna Lindsey y me lo he devorado en un par de días. No tardaré en rematar la saga
November 26, 2013
This book would have been a lot more fun to read had I not kept wondering whether or not the two main characters were on drugs.
Seriously, this shit was all over the place. She's happy, she's sad, she's content, she's crying, she's yelling, she's timid, she's indignant, she's trembling, she's flirty, she's shy, she's smiling, she's disgusted, she's depressed.
I was getting to a point where I felt like I wasn't going to be able to take anymore. I was shocked when I discovered it was only 288 pages, because it felt like reading twice that. One minute Astrid was telling Leif she'd rather he kill her than rape her (and she's more than ready to go through with it), and the next, she's jumping to do his bidding because he's threatening to beat her.
I've learned an important lesson; dying = OK. Being beaten...not so much.
Don't even get me started on Leif. His first wife suffered from postpartum psychosis, so this means he can't ever remarry.
No sex is worth this. And the sex in this book definitely wasn't.
Seriously, this shit was all over the place. She's happy, she's sad, she's content, she's crying, she's yelling, she's timid, she's indignant, she's trembling, she's flirty, she's shy, she's smiling, she's disgusted, she's depressed.
I was getting to a point where I felt like I wasn't going to be able to take anymore. I was shocked when I discovered it was only 288 pages, because it felt like reading twice that. One minute Astrid was telling Leif she'd rather he kill her than rape her (and she's more than ready to go through with it), and the next, she's jumping to do his bidding because he's threatening to beat her.
I've learned an important lesson; dying = OK. Being beaten...not so much.
Don't even get me started on Leif. His first wife suffered from postpartum psychosis, so this means he can't ever remarry.
No sex is worth this. And the sex in this book definitely wasn't.
May 31, 2016
Una historia romántica, sin mayores pretensiones, pero que se lee muy bien ya que la autora, con un estilo muy ágil, logra mantener el interés de principio a fin con diálogos bien elaborados, que permiten caracterizar a fondo los sentimientos y frustraciones de los personajes.
Lamentablemente, tiene un final algo flojo, que no está a la altura del resto de la novela.
Lamentablemente, tiene un final algo flojo, que no está a la altura del resto de la novela.
February 16, 2016
*I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
I suspect what attracted me to this book was its cover, which is beautiful. The synopsis indicates a story full of potential but, sadly, it never really came through...
This is the third book in a series and I got the impression that there is a common story to all the books, relating to the villains and the war, but it's not necessary to read the previous ones.
The story begins with the hero Leif Egilsson rescuing Lady Ragnhild and her maiden Lady Astrid, who had been kidnapped by the villain Hakke who planned to marry the first. But it is King Halfdan the lucky man that makes her his queen and it is during the wedding celebrations that the attraction between Leif and Astrid begins to escalate. But Leif has already been married and the experience made him stop believing in marriage.
Meanwhile, Astrid's uncle and guardian (since she's an orphan) returns to retrieve her because he's arranged for a suitor for her. And what do you know, Astrid's uncle is Leif's neighbor? And since the suitor is none other than the cousin of the villain Hakke, Leif proposes that Astrid runs away with him and becomes his lover because, obviously, he's never going to get married again...
But when Leif goes to get Astrid, it turns out everything was a trap set up by her uncle and Hakke to capture him. He's captured and treated as a slave, complete with a haircut (a serious offense for a Viking), a collar and imprisonment like a dog. The worst part is that Hakke and Astrid's uncle forced her to pretend she voluntarily helped with their plan to capture Leif and, to prevent them to inflict more pain to him, she does. And the marriage with Hakke's cousin is still going to happen...
Luckily Leif's men are able to save him, but Leif won't leave without kidnapping Astrid, whom he believes responsible for everything he went through. They all go to an island so that Hakke and his men lose their track. And that's when the story started going downhill... Because in order to get his revenge from Astrid, Leif decides she will suffer the same punishment and become his slave. Which, curiously, does not entail having her hair cut but announce to her that she'll be his whether she wants to or not. Yes, the “hero” intends to rape the heroine... And the worst part is that the reason why he doesn't go ahead with the rape is not because he realizes the error of his way but because she tells him she's been raped before.
And it just keeps getting worse from here. It takes him forever to realize she's been innocent all along and even after he does, instead of telling her and apologizing, he keeps up the farce because she's beautiful when she's angry *rolls eyes*
And she's no better because she keeps alternating between he's a brute and I'll never want anything with him and poor him, after all he's been through, how could he be any other way? *rolls eyes some more*
In the middle of all this indecision on both parts we get to know what happened during Leif's first marriage and eventually he leaves to get his revenge on the men that enslaved him. And this is when we get the second what the hell? moment of the book: Leif does get his revenge on Astrid's uncle but, instead of going after Hakke, who is the real responsible for what happened to him, he gets his revenge on Hakke’s cousin Gulbrand, who wasn't even there at the time...
Oh well, not all is bad. The characterization of the Vikings' culture and habits is very interesting and it shows the amount of research the author made. It's just a shame that the story isn't on the same level...
I suspect what attracted me to this book was its cover, which is beautiful. The synopsis indicates a story full of potential but, sadly, it never really came through...
This is the third book in a series and I got the impression that there is a common story to all the books, relating to the villains and the war, but it's not necessary to read the previous ones.
The story begins with the hero Leif Egilsson rescuing Lady Ragnhild and her maiden Lady Astrid, who had been kidnapped by the villain Hakke who planned to marry the first. But it is King Halfdan the lucky man that makes her his queen and it is during the wedding celebrations that the attraction between Leif and Astrid begins to escalate. But Leif has already been married and the experience made him stop believing in marriage.
Meanwhile, Astrid's uncle and guardian (since she's an orphan) returns to retrieve her because he's arranged for a suitor for her. And what do you know, Astrid's uncle is Leif's neighbor? And since the suitor is none other than the cousin of the villain Hakke, Leif proposes that Astrid runs away with him and becomes his lover because, obviously, he's never going to get married again...
But when Leif goes to get Astrid, it turns out everything was a trap set up by her uncle and Hakke to capture him. He's captured and treated as a slave, complete with a haircut (a serious offense for a Viking), a collar and imprisonment like a dog. The worst part is that Hakke and Astrid's uncle forced her to pretend she voluntarily helped with their plan to capture Leif and, to prevent them to inflict more pain to him, she does. And the marriage with Hakke's cousin is still going to happen...
Luckily Leif's men are able to save him, but Leif won't leave without kidnapping Astrid, whom he believes responsible for everything he went through. They all go to an island so that Hakke and his men lose their track. And that's when the story started going downhill... Because in order to get his revenge from Astrid, Leif decides she will suffer the same punishment and become his slave. Which, curiously, does not entail having her hair cut but announce to her that she'll be his whether she wants to or not. Yes, the “hero” intends to rape the heroine... And the worst part is that the reason why he doesn't go ahead with the rape is not because he realizes the error of his way but because she tells him she's been raped before.
And it just keeps getting worse from here. It takes him forever to realize she's been innocent all along and even after he does, instead of telling her and apologizing, he keeps up the farce because she's beautiful when she's angry *rolls eyes*
And she's no better because she keeps alternating between he's a brute and I'll never want anything with him and poor him, after all he's been through, how could he be any other way? *rolls eyes some more*
In the middle of all this indecision on both parts we get to know what happened during Leif's first marriage and eventually he leaves to get his revenge on the men that enslaved him. And this is when we get the second what the hell? moment of the book: Leif does get his revenge on Astrid's uncle but, instead of going after Hakke, who is the real responsible for what happened to him, he gets his revenge on Hakke’s cousin Gulbrand, who wasn't even there at the time...
Oh well, not all is bad. The characterization of the Vikings' culture and habits is very interesting and it shows the amount of research the author made. It's just a shame that the story isn't on the same level...
August 9, 2013
When I first saw this book, I was intrigued to find a novel about Vikings or Norse people. Since most romance novels take place in England, this came as a welcome change. Plus, I love the cover.
Astrid (love that name) is high born but her parent's have died and her guardian is her horrible uncle. Leif is a Lord or Jarl, as they are called. He meets Astrid and is instantly drawn to her.
Astrid accepts Leif's offer to become his mistress to avoid a horrible marriage. I cannot blame her for this, which one is truly worse?
But before they leave together, they are found out by her uncle and Leif is taken into slavery. This part of the novel was weird for me. Astrid is threatened to act the part of deceiving Leif into a trap. Anger flares on both sides and when they do escape, Leif turns around and holds Astrid in a sort of prison and slavery.
I was able to get through this part of the novel. But I know there are many out there who are going to have issues with it. The author, in my opinion, pushed the envelope, even for me. I began to disliked Leif and he really changed into another character. Once he got over his rage, he was back to himself and the novel continued on.
Overall, the big reveal was interesting but not hard to figure. The ending was good and very happy. There really wasn't much romance, IMO. I think things could have been better between the hero and heroine. The book was able to hold my interest though and it was interesting to read about a different culture.
Received through Netgalley in return for an honest review.
March 29, 2019
Os livros estão longe de ser perfeitos, mas gosto da escrita de Joanna Fulford. Ela retrata bem a época, seus mocinhos Vikings são cabeças duras, mas amolecem fácil.
October 15, 2013
RATING 2.5 stars
Consumed by revenge—and desire!
Captured by his enemy and chained like a dog, Leif Egilsson has one thought in his mind: revenge. He'll no longer be beguiled by the treacherous beauty of Lady Astrid, and her innocence, which he so craved, will finally be his.
On his escape, this fierce, proud Viking is bent on making her pay the price of her betrayal—in his bed! Only, Astrid has the heart of a warrior, and she will not be tamed as easily as he believes….
What can I say about this book? The cover, the title and the synopsis are quite misleading compared to the content of the book. "Defiant" does not correspond exactly about what I thought about Astrid, indeed I found her far too yielding when his guardian and Leif's enemy have involved her trying to denigrate the poor Viking, I would have expected something more from her for helping him to escape, instead she cowed and obeys like a lapdog to the demands of the men who enslaved the man who had released her previously by a kidnapping.
Leif on his part, once back in freedom ponders revenge even against Astrid, he wants to made her pay, but basically he made just threats, he trusted a bit too easily in the good faith of the woman.
Only at the end there is a hint of rebellion on the part of Astrid, she takes over the reins of her destiny and she challenges Leif and thank goodness I'd say.
The only characters that I found compelling were the enemies of Leif, really with perverse and cruel minds.
Its the third book in the Victorious Vikings series, the story can be read alone, are present as minor characters some of the protagonists of the previous books with references to events that occurred earlier that have triggered a real feud in which are involved with Leif and Astrid.
ThanksNetgalley and Harlequin for the book
Consumato dal desiderio di vendetta... E dal desiderio.
Catturato dal suo nemico e incatenato come un cane, Leif Egilsson ha un solo pensiero nella sua testa: la vendetta. Non è più ammalliato dall'ingannevole bellezza di Lady Astrid e dalla sua apparente innocenza, che lo aveva spinto a desiderarla intensamente.
Dopo la sua fuga l'intenzione di questo orgoglioso e fiero vichingo è di farle agate a caro prezzo il suo tradimento... Nel suo letto. Solo che Astrid possiede il cuore di un guerriero e non si farà domare con la facilità che lui crede.
Che dire di questo libro? Cover, sinossi e titolo sono abbastanza ingannevoli confronto al contenuto del libro. "Defiant" non corrisponde esattamente all'idea che mi sono fatta di Astrid, anzi l'ho trovata fin troppo arrendevole quando il suo tutore e il nemico di Leif l'hanno coinvolta nel tentativo di denigrare il povero vichingo, mi sarei aspettata qualcosa di più da parte di lei per aiutare l'uomo a scappare, invece si lascia intimorire e obbedisce come un cagnolino alle richieste degli uomini che hanno reso schiavo l'uomo che l'aveva liberata in precedenza da un sequestro.
Leif da parte sua, una volta tornato in libertà medita vendetta anche nei confronti di Astrid, vuole restituirle la pariglia, ma in fondo le sue sono solo minacce, si lascia convincere un po' troppo facilmente della buona fede della donna.
Solo nel finale c'è un pizzico di ribellione da parte di Astrid, prende in mano le redini del suo destino e sfida Leif e meno male direi.
Gli unici personaggi che ho trovato convincenti sono stati i nemici di Leif, veramente dotati di menti perverse e crudeli.
Terzo libro della serie Victorious Vikings, la storia si può leggere da sola, sono presenti come personaggi secondari alcuni dei protagonisti dei libri precedenti con dei riferimenti ai fatti avvenuti in precedenza che hanno scatenato una vera e propria faida nella quale si trovano coinvolti Leif e Astrid.
Si ringrazia Netgalley e la Harlequin per il libro
VOTO: 2.5 stelle
Consumed by revenge—and desire!
Captured by his enemy and chained like a dog, Leif Egilsson has one thought in his mind: revenge. He'll no longer be beguiled by the treacherous beauty of Lady Astrid, and her innocence, which he so craved, will finally be his.
On his escape, this fierce, proud Viking is bent on making her pay the price of her betrayal—in his bed! Only, Astrid has the heart of a warrior, and she will not be tamed as easily as he believes….
What can I say about this book? The cover, the title and the synopsis are quite misleading compared to the content of the book. "Defiant" does not correspond exactly about what I thought about Astrid, indeed I found her far too yielding when his guardian and Leif's enemy have involved her trying to denigrate the poor Viking, I would have expected something more from her for helping him to escape, instead she cowed and obeys like a lapdog to the demands of the men who enslaved the man who had released her previously by a kidnapping.
Leif on his part, once back in freedom ponders revenge even against Astrid, he wants to made her pay, but basically he made just threats, he trusted a bit too easily in the good faith of the woman.
Only at the end there is a hint of rebellion on the part of Astrid, she takes over the reins of her destiny and she challenges Leif and thank goodness I'd say.
The only characters that I found compelling were the enemies of Leif, really with perverse and cruel minds.
Its the third book in the Victorious Vikings series, the story can be read alone, are present as minor characters some of the protagonists of the previous books with references to events that occurred earlier that have triggered a real feud in which are involved with Leif and Astrid.
ThanksNetgalley and Harlequin for the book
Consumato dal desiderio di vendetta... E dal desiderio.
Catturato dal suo nemico e incatenato come un cane, Leif Egilsson ha un solo pensiero nella sua testa: la vendetta. Non è più ammalliato dall'ingannevole bellezza di Lady Astrid e dalla sua apparente innocenza, che lo aveva spinto a desiderarla intensamente.
Dopo la sua fuga l'intenzione di questo orgoglioso e fiero vichingo è di farle agate a caro prezzo il suo tradimento... Nel suo letto. Solo che Astrid possiede il cuore di un guerriero e non si farà domare con la facilità che lui crede.
Che dire di questo libro? Cover, sinossi e titolo sono abbastanza ingannevoli confronto al contenuto del libro. "Defiant" non corrisponde esattamente all'idea che mi sono fatta di Astrid, anzi l'ho trovata fin troppo arrendevole quando il suo tutore e il nemico di Leif l'hanno coinvolta nel tentativo di denigrare il povero vichingo, mi sarei aspettata qualcosa di più da parte di lei per aiutare l'uomo a scappare, invece si lascia intimorire e obbedisce come un cagnolino alle richieste degli uomini che hanno reso schiavo l'uomo che l'aveva liberata in precedenza da un sequestro.
Leif da parte sua, una volta tornato in libertà medita vendetta anche nei confronti di Astrid, vuole restituirle la pariglia, ma in fondo le sue sono solo minacce, si lascia convincere un po' troppo facilmente della buona fede della donna.
Solo nel finale c'è un pizzico di ribellione da parte di Astrid, prende in mano le redini del suo destino e sfida Leif e meno male direi.
Gli unici personaggi che ho trovato convincenti sono stati i nemici di Leif, veramente dotati di menti perverse e crudeli.
Terzo libro della serie Victorious Vikings, la storia si può leggere da sola, sono presenti come personaggi secondari alcuni dei protagonisti dei libri precedenti con dei riferimenti ai fatti avvenuti in precedenza che hanno scatenato una vera e propria faida nella quale si trovano coinvolti Leif e Astrid.
Si ringrazia Netgalley e la Harlequin per il libro
VOTO: 2.5 stelle
July 8, 2013
I am loving this new trend of Vikings! There seem to be a lot of Viking books coming out recently and, since I love Viking romances, I'm absolutely over the moon about it. Who can say no to a strong and sexy Viking? That's right, no one! And, despite these high expectations, Defiant in the Viking's Bed doesn't disappoint. It was a wonderful romance, full of thrills, misunderstandings, secrets, and hot Vikings.
Astrid was a great character. She was caught up in the middle of a war that she wanted nothing to do with and somehow ended up being the key pawn in the game. But, she stayed strong. She was smart enough to know when to back down and strong enough to fight when she could. I thought she was a lovely heroine. Likable, strong, and clever.
Leif was just as wonderful. He was a deep character. He had a lot of skeletons in his closet. He was obsessed with getting revenge against the men who chained him up. And, beneath all that, he was a good man. Even when he thought to use Astrid as a tool for revenge, he didn't have it in him to be cruel. He wasn't a warrior you wanted to mess with, but he was also a nice man at heart. He was so sweet and basically a perfect hero.
The romance was lovely. It was a perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Astrid and Leif has some major chemistry between them and it got hot. And, they were also very cute together. They fell for each other despite the very many obstacles in their way and their devotion for each other showed. However, the weak point of the book came up here. Not with the romance itself, but with the characters involved. They seemed to just make obstacles where there weren't any. And their capacity for stubbornness was amazing, especially for something that was totally irrational. This was an issue with both characters and I got a little frustrated. Not enough to really detract from my enjoyment of the book, but enough to merit mentioning. Other than that, I thought the romance was very well done.
The plot was fast paced. There were tons of thrills and secrets that had me hooked. And the ending was brilliant. I can't wait to read Finn's story and Erik's story in the next books.
Defiant in the Viking's Bed was a lovely historical romance. Hot Vikings, steamy romance, and enough secrets and thrills to keep you on the edge of your seat. What's not to like? If you're looking for a great romance, you definitely should give this book a try.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for a copy!
Astrid was a great character. She was caught up in the middle of a war that she wanted nothing to do with and somehow ended up being the key pawn in the game. But, she stayed strong. She was smart enough to know when to back down and strong enough to fight when she could. I thought she was a lovely heroine. Likable, strong, and clever.
Leif was just as wonderful. He was a deep character. He had a lot of skeletons in his closet. He was obsessed with getting revenge against the men who chained him up. And, beneath all that, he was a good man. Even when he thought to use Astrid as a tool for revenge, he didn't have it in him to be cruel. He wasn't a warrior you wanted to mess with, but he was also a nice man at heart. He was so sweet and basically a perfect hero.
The romance was lovely. It was a perfect blend of sweet and spicy. Astrid and Leif has some major chemistry between them and it got hot. And, they were also very cute together. They fell for each other despite the very many obstacles in their way and their devotion for each other showed. However, the weak point of the book came up here. Not with the romance itself, but with the characters involved. They seemed to just make obstacles where there weren't any. And their capacity for stubbornness was amazing, especially for something that was totally irrational. This was an issue with both characters and I got a little frustrated. Not enough to really detract from my enjoyment of the book, but enough to merit mentioning. Other than that, I thought the romance was very well done.
The plot was fast paced. There were tons of thrills and secrets that had me hooked. And the ending was brilliant. I can't wait to read Finn's story and Erik's story in the next books.
Defiant in the Viking's Bed was a lovely historical romance. Hot Vikings, steamy romance, and enough secrets and thrills to keep you on the edge of your seat. What's not to like? If you're looking for a great romance, you definitely should give this book a try.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for a copy!
July 30, 2013
I'm a complete sucker for a Viking, so I snagged this book immediately when I saw it available for review - and I am so pleased that I did! This historical gem is well written and easy to fall in love with. Leif and Astrid are a fantastic couple and I had a great time joining in on their adventure.
I found Astrid a great leading lady. So often in historical romances, the women are demure and shy, but this hellion of a woman gave her Viking a run for his money. She is strong and even-headed, which amazes me with the intense situations that occur in this story. I loved the fact that Astrid wouldn't bow down to Leif, she fought back with everything she had, which gave her the ultimate prize - the respect and love from what seemed like a cold Viking heart.
The characters are so well developed and the scenery is amazing. At times I felt like I was there with them, which is one of my favourite aspects of historical romance. There were times where I was cheering for Astrid, then others where I wanted to bop Leif in the head. It is unbelievably difficult to not get involved with this two headstrong characters.
This is a book for all historical fans, I highly recommend you read it!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book for honest review.
I found Astrid a great leading lady. So often in historical romances, the women are demure and shy, but this hellion of a woman gave her Viking a run for his money. She is strong and even-headed, which amazes me with the intense situations that occur in this story. I loved the fact that Astrid wouldn't bow down to Leif, she fought back with everything she had, which gave her the ultimate prize - the respect and love from what seemed like a cold Viking heart.
The characters are so well developed and the scenery is amazing. At times I felt like I was there with them, which is one of my favourite aspects of historical romance. There were times where I was cheering for Astrid, then others where I wanted to bop Leif in the head. It is unbelievably difficult to not get involved with this two headstrong characters.
This is a book for all historical fans, I highly recommend you read it!
Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book for honest review.
September 8, 2013
3.5 stars...
When I requested this book from Netgalley, I didn't know it was the third in a Victorious Vikings series by Joanna Fulford The great thing is I didn't feel like I was missing anything at all and it's made me curious about the pervious book in the series.
In Defiant in the Viking's Bed we get a sense of Astrid and Leif before everything becomes on betrayal after another. Yes, this is one of those historical romance books where almost to the end the H/h are reluctant to say "I love you". Like most HR there is a happy ending and this is really a fun read. I loved reading about Leif and the other Vikings. The ship descriptions and how the land is described took me to another world (that's why I love HR books). I was taken by Astrid strength and her ability to not waver from what she wanted. I admired that about her. Leif also didn't weaver from his beliefs. It was refreshing to read.
In the end I read Defiant in the Viking's Bed in a day. It's a fun quick escape and I look forward to reading more by this author.
ARC provided by Harlequin via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
When I requested this book from Netgalley, I didn't know it was the third in a Victorious Vikings series by Joanna Fulford The great thing is I didn't feel like I was missing anything at all and it's made me curious about the pervious book in the series.
In Defiant in the Viking's Bed we get a sense of Astrid and Leif before everything becomes on betrayal after another. Yes, this is one of those historical romance books where almost to the end the H/h are reluctant to say "I love you". Like most HR there is a happy ending and this is really a fun read. I loved reading about Leif and the other Vikings. The ship descriptions and how the land is described took me to another world (that's why I love HR books). I was taken by Astrid strength and her ability to not waver from what she wanted. I admired that about her. Leif also didn't weaver from his beliefs. It was refreshing to read.
In the end I read Defiant in the Viking's Bed in a day. It's a fun quick escape and I look forward to reading more by this author.
ARC provided by Harlequin via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 1, 2013
I admit my penchant for the Vikings, but this book didn´t engage me at all because the female protagonist is an idiot, and since I believe that much of a man can be understood knowing the woman he loves ......
Ammetto il mio penchant per i vichinghi, ma questo libro mi ha preso proprio poco perché la protagonista é un'idiota, quindi siccome io credo che molto di un uomo di possa sapere conoscendo la donna che ama......
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HARLEQUIN FOR THE PREVIEW!
Ammetto il mio penchant per i vichinghi, ma questo libro mi ha preso proprio poco perché la protagonista é un'idiota, quindi siccome io credo che molto di un uomo di possa sapere conoscendo la donna che ama......
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND HARLEQUIN FOR THE PREVIEW!
Read
December 29, 2014"Nobody does Vikings as well as Fulford. This marks the start of a new trilogy for her: Victorious Vikings. Book one is an engaging, thrilling and action-packed adventure about a hero chased by inner demons and the feisty heroine willing to fight for his love. Readers will love the clash of temperaments and the quest for justice." RT Book Reviews, rated 4 stars
November 7, 2013
By-the-numbers plot and stilted dialogue.
The historical research and consequent settings were well done.
The historical research and consequent settings were well done.
February 16, 2025
I just loved this Viking read. I haven't read a Viking romance for ages and now I'm wondering why I haven't?!
I think I have been missing these huge alpha males and Leif certainly is one. He's a warrior, loyal and honourable. When he is humiliated by his enemies, he knows he has to take revenge to preserve his honour and standing in Viking society. Heroes in romances from more "Civilised" periods are not able to wreck the type of revenge Leif is able to. Astrid learns to understand this too. I really like how both characters had to compromise and adjust to win their happy ever after.
Will definitely look out for other books by this author.
I think I have been missing these huge alpha males and Leif certainly is one. He's a warrior, loyal and honourable. When he is humiliated by his enemies, he knows he has to take revenge to preserve his honour and standing in Viking society. Heroes in romances from more "Civilised" periods are not able to wreck the type of revenge Leif is able to. Astrid learns to understand this too. I really like how both characters had to compromise and adjust to win their happy ever after.
Will definitely look out for other books by this author.
September 1, 2018
C'était une lecture légère mais pas au point d'en devenir fade ou inintéressant. Plusieurs passages m'ont d'ailleurs vraiment arraché le cœur. Honnêtement j'ai adoré les trois quarts du livre mais la fin m'a malheureusement ennuyée. Ca commençait à devenir un peu répétitif. Mais bon cela reste pour moi une excellente lecture !
April 5, 2023
Such A Good Story!
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters and storyline so much. Astrid and Leif were 2 pig headed people. They fought a lot of odds to have the happiest of endings. On to the last of this series. 🥰💜💜💜💜💜🥰
I absolutely loved this book. I loved the characters and storyline so much. Astrid and Leif were 2 pig headed people. They fought a lot of odds to have the happiest of endings. On to the last of this series. 🥰💜💜💜💜💜🥰
November 9, 2023
Yet another quick viking - romance read. Now onto book #4 in the series...
March 16, 2017
The premise of the book was interesting but the story itself was very flat. I could not finish it.
August 23, 2013
Defiant in the Viking's Bed
by Joanna Fulford
5 stars
Reviewed by:Angels
Format:Kindle
Published:Harlequin
Source: Net Gallery
Gene: Historical Romance
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...
About Book
Consumed by revenge—and desire!
Captured by his enemy and chained like a dog, Leif Egilsson has one thought in his mind: revenge. He'll no longer be beguiled by the treacherous beauty of Lady Astrid, and her innocence, which he so craved, will finally be his.
On his escape, this fierce, proud Viking is bent on making her pay the price of her betrayal—in his bed! Only, Astrid has the heart of a warrior, and she will not be tamed as easily as he believes….
Victorious Vikings
No man could defeat them. Three women would defy them!
Our Thoughts
First time author for me and I really enjoyed this story.I just love reading about those Vikings so I was so looking forward to this story.I found the book to be fast paced and and easy light read for me.
I really enjoyed the main character of this story Lady Astrid and Leif Egilsson. The story is about treachery and deceit from several parties that are getting in the way of a budding romance. Astrid's and Leif's are two completely different people she a gentle born Lady and him a hardened warrior who lives for war and to follow the Whale Road as he so likes to call it.Astrid is looking for marriage and security and he looking for a mate but not in the way of marriage.
Leif has had a checkered past one riddled with enemies and one with a treacherous wife.His past hurts have left him damaged and skittish and very closed minded. He has shut away his heart from any other who might attempt to claim it.If he would just let go of the past he may just find happiness once again if he would only take that chance.We can feel his pain of what he has been through a we understand why he feels the way he does but, he is so stubborn and won't let go of his past that he will lose the happiness he has come to care about so very much.
Thinking Astrid part of a plot to deceived him and imprison him in the role of a slave he takes his revenge and reverses the roles once he is free.I found Astrid to have quite the spunk and a backbone I didn't think would be there for a gentle bred women.She is not taking her captivity lightly and will fight with all her might so that she may be free.I also found her to be a kind and loving person with a huge heart.She seemed to be able to read people really well and got the people around to open up around her without much effort at all.
Astrid will fight for the love and happiness that she knows could be possible for the two of them.She is patient and kind and will do everything in her power to heal the hardened warriors heart so they may find just a little bit of happiness amongst the ruins of war.
I was rooting for this couple from the beginning but, I have to tell you it was not looking good for them for so many reasons but, can the love of one women change the way you see things or will your stubborn pride and closed minded judgment let you lose the best thing that ever walked into your life ?
Light fun read and a recommended read to all.The book was filled with a little bit of romance treachery and deceit and pain and sorrow all wrapped up in one awesome read.Looking forward to reading others books in its series.
by Joanna Fulford
5 stars
Reviewed by:Angels
Format:Kindle
Published:Harlequin
Source: Net Gallery
Gene: Historical Romance
http://angelswithattitudebookreviews-...
About Book
Consumed by revenge—and desire!
Captured by his enemy and chained like a dog, Leif Egilsson has one thought in his mind: revenge. He'll no longer be beguiled by the treacherous beauty of Lady Astrid, and her innocence, which he so craved, will finally be his.
On his escape, this fierce, proud Viking is bent on making her pay the price of her betrayal—in his bed! Only, Astrid has the heart of a warrior, and she will not be tamed as easily as he believes….
Victorious Vikings
No man could defeat them. Three women would defy them!
Our Thoughts
First time author for me and I really enjoyed this story.I just love reading about those Vikings so I was so looking forward to this story.I found the book to be fast paced and and easy light read for me.
I really enjoyed the main character of this story Lady Astrid and Leif Egilsson. The story is about treachery and deceit from several parties that are getting in the way of a budding romance. Astrid's and Leif's are two completely different people she a gentle born Lady and him a hardened warrior who lives for war and to follow the Whale Road as he so likes to call it.Astrid is looking for marriage and security and he looking for a mate but not in the way of marriage.
Leif has had a checkered past one riddled with enemies and one with a treacherous wife.His past hurts have left him damaged and skittish and very closed minded. He has shut away his heart from any other who might attempt to claim it.If he would just let go of the past he may just find happiness once again if he would only take that chance.We can feel his pain of what he has been through a we understand why he feels the way he does but, he is so stubborn and won't let go of his past that he will lose the happiness he has come to care about so very much.
Thinking Astrid part of a plot to deceived him and imprison him in the role of a slave he takes his revenge and reverses the roles once he is free.I found Astrid to have quite the spunk and a backbone I didn't think would be there for a gentle bred women.She is not taking her captivity lightly and will fight with all her might so that she may be free.I also found her to be a kind and loving person with a huge heart.She seemed to be able to read people really well and got the people around to open up around her without much effort at all.
Astrid will fight for the love and happiness that she knows could be possible for the two of them.She is patient and kind and will do everything in her power to heal the hardened warriors heart so they may find just a little bit of happiness amongst the ruins of war.
I was rooting for this couple from the beginning but, I have to tell you it was not looking good for them for so many reasons but, can the love of one women change the way you see things or will your stubborn pride and closed minded judgment let you lose the best thing that ever walked into your life ?
Light fun read and a recommended read to all.The book was filled with a little bit of romance treachery and deceit and pain and sorrow all wrapped up in one awesome read.Looking forward to reading others books in its series.
October 10, 2013
Title: Defiant In The Viking's Bed
Series: Victorious Vikings Book #3
Author: Joanna Fulford
Genre: Historical Romance
Blurb: Consumed by revenge—and desire! Captured by his enemy and chained like a dog, Leif Egilsson has one thought in his mind: revenge. He'll no longer be beguiled by the treacherous beauty of Lady Astrid, and her innocence, which he so craved, will finally be his.
On his escape, this fierce, proud Viking is bent on making her pay the price of her betrayal—in his bed! Only, Astrid has the heart of a warrior, and she will not be tamed as easily as he believes….
Victorious Vikings - No man could defeat them. Three women would defy them!
Thoughts: I'm not usually big on historicals, but occasionally one will catch my eye. Right away, the cover caught my attention - and after reading the blurb I just had to give this one a shot! And I did not regret a single moment of it! The story was beautifully told, and managed to be captivating, heart-wrenching, frustrating, and sweet all at the same time.
Leif and Astrid met prior to Leif's capture, and they were immediately drawn to each other. So much so that Leif decides he wants her as his own! But unfortunately, it has been decided by Astrid's uncle that she is to be married. Against her wishes, she is betrothed - and both her uncle and her betrothed have also set out to capture Leif...and use Astrid as the bait! As more and more circumstances conspire against them, can Leif and Astrid ever get past all the misunderstandings and find each other? Or will episodes from their past to come to haunt them?
Astrid was the perfect mix of the quintessential lady and fiery minx. I enjoyed her character, and how she refused to let anyone get the best of her, while at the same time dealing with her circumstances with eloquence and grace. And Leif made for the perfect Viking hero - strong, with a warrior's heart, yet vulnerable against his past and this one small, petite female. While at times I wanted to smack him for his sheer stubbornness, I also loved sympathized with his history and his vulnerabilities. I couldn't read these pages fast enough in order to see him and Astrid get their happily ever after. In fact, I flew through the pages in a matter of hours.
The only thing that really bothered me ended up happening after I was done reading the novel. Upon researching more about this great author, and searching for more about past titles and release dates for more in this series, I discovered that the author just recently passed away (July of this year). It really hit me with a wave of sadness, and I wanted to send out my condolences to her family and friends - and all of her many fans. I had just discovered her with this book - but if this is an example of her works, the writing community lost a spectacular author! I know that I intend on going back and reading many of her past works myself, and I highly encourage everyone to do the same.
To the memory of Joanna Fulford - you will be dearly missed.
Rate: A
Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Book one of this series is The Vikings Defiant Bride, and is followed by The Viking's Touch
Series: Victorious Vikings Book #3
Author: Joanna Fulford
Genre: Historical Romance
Blurb: Consumed by revenge—and desire! Captured by his enemy and chained like a dog, Leif Egilsson has one thought in his mind: revenge. He'll no longer be beguiled by the treacherous beauty of Lady Astrid, and her innocence, which he so craved, will finally be his.
On his escape, this fierce, proud Viking is bent on making her pay the price of her betrayal—in his bed! Only, Astrid has the heart of a warrior, and she will not be tamed as easily as he believes….
Victorious Vikings - No man could defeat them. Three women would defy them!
Thoughts: I'm not usually big on historicals, but occasionally one will catch my eye. Right away, the cover caught my attention - and after reading the blurb I just had to give this one a shot! And I did not regret a single moment of it! The story was beautifully told, and managed to be captivating, heart-wrenching, frustrating, and sweet all at the same time.
Leif and Astrid met prior to Leif's capture, and they were immediately drawn to each other. So much so that Leif decides he wants her as his own! But unfortunately, it has been decided by Astrid's uncle that she is to be married. Against her wishes, she is betrothed - and both her uncle and her betrothed have also set out to capture Leif...and use Astrid as the bait! As more and more circumstances conspire against them, can Leif and Astrid ever get past all the misunderstandings and find each other? Or will episodes from their past to come to haunt them?
Astrid was the perfect mix of the quintessential lady and fiery minx. I enjoyed her character, and how she refused to let anyone get the best of her, while at the same time dealing with her circumstances with eloquence and grace. And Leif made for the perfect Viking hero - strong, with a warrior's heart, yet vulnerable against his past and this one small, petite female. While at times I wanted to smack him for his sheer stubbornness, I also loved sympathized with his history and his vulnerabilities. I couldn't read these pages fast enough in order to see him and Astrid get their happily ever after. In fact, I flew through the pages in a matter of hours.
The only thing that really bothered me ended up happening after I was done reading the novel. Upon researching more about this great author, and searching for more about past titles and release dates for more in this series, I discovered that the author just recently passed away (July of this year). It really hit me with a wave of sadness, and I wanted to send out my condolences to her family and friends - and all of her many fans. I had just discovered her with this book - but if this is an example of her works, the writing community lost a spectacular author! I know that I intend on going back and reading many of her past works myself, and I highly encourage everyone to do the same.
To the memory of Joanna Fulford - you will be dearly missed.
Rate: A
Review by: Sarah
http://www.thebookreadinggals.com
Book one of this series is The Vikings Defiant Bride, and is followed by The Viking's Touch
December 8, 2013
[warning Spoiler]
The start of this book is a bit hard to read, I really don’t go into violence against women, especially when it is their lover, but I persisted with this book and I am glad I did although the rough treatment of Astrid at first was hard to stomach Leif never did anything to hurt her and his actions are explained in detail later in the book.
Defiant in the Viking’s bed is full of romance and action and extremely entertaining especially with Astrids defiant attitude.
The Plot
Astrid is set to marry a horrible and violent man to further her uncles ambitions, but she meets Jarl Leif and he offers her escape in return for her to become his mistress, Astrid accepts in desperation to escape a horrible marriage but before they are set to leave, Astrid learns that her uncle is intending to burn Leif’s property and kill him and his men so Astrid sends a message to Leif and he has time to leave his property but first he plans to grab Astrid, but unfortunately he is captured by her Uncle and tied up and beaten, believing lies by Astrid’s Uncle that she set him up when he escapes he takes her with him planning to use her in his revenge.
The Romance
The romance between Leif and Astrid is very turbulent, between him believing she betrayed him and treating her like a slave, then later when he has feelings for her but is still not sure on his relationship with her because he had a traumatic past experience with his ex-wife. It really makes for entertaining relationship.
The Good
Hot sexy Vikings….. and I guess an up and down entertaining relationship between Leif and Astrid and plenty of action.
The Bad
A bit hard to stomach at first with Leif’s mistreatment of Astrid as his slave.
The Conclusion
Overall I really enjoyed this book with the exception of the violence towards Astrid, which was necessary for the plot of the novel. I Love the whole strong Viking male and just as strong-willed women they make a great interaction and thoroughly entertaining story line.
Overall
I highly recommend this book, as a fun entertaining read, with of course sexy Vikings and sweet love scenes. I rate this book four hearts and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
The start of this book is a bit hard to read, I really don’t go into violence against women, especially when it is their lover, but I persisted with this book and I am glad I did although the rough treatment of Astrid at first was hard to stomach Leif never did anything to hurt her and his actions are explained in detail later in the book.
Defiant in the Viking’s bed is full of romance and action and extremely entertaining especially with Astrids defiant attitude.
The Plot
Astrid is set to marry a horrible and violent man to further her uncles ambitions, but she meets Jarl Leif and he offers her escape in return for her to become his mistress, Astrid accepts in desperation to escape a horrible marriage but before they are set to leave, Astrid learns that her uncle is intending to burn Leif’s property and kill him and his men so Astrid sends a message to Leif and he has time to leave his property but first he plans to grab Astrid, but unfortunately he is captured by her Uncle and tied up and beaten, believing lies by Astrid’s Uncle that she set him up when he escapes he takes her with him planning to use her in his revenge.
The Romance
The romance between Leif and Astrid is very turbulent, between him believing she betrayed him and treating her like a slave, then later when he has feelings for her but is still not sure on his relationship with her because he had a traumatic past experience with his ex-wife. It really makes for entertaining relationship.
The Good
Hot sexy Vikings….. and I guess an up and down entertaining relationship between Leif and Astrid and plenty of action.
The Bad
A bit hard to stomach at first with Leif’s mistreatment of Astrid as his slave.
The Conclusion
Overall I really enjoyed this book with the exception of the violence towards Astrid, which was necessary for the plot of the novel. I Love the whole strong Viking male and just as strong-willed women they make a great interaction and thoroughly entertaining story line.
Overall
I highly recommend this book, as a fun entertaining read, with of course sexy Vikings and sweet love scenes. I rate this book four hearts and I am looking forward to reading the other books in the series.
September 12, 2015
Ancienne enseignante, la Britannique Joanna Fulford a eu la chance de se consacrer, à partir de 2009, uniquement à sa passion de l’écriture, et tout particulièrement à la romance historique. Malheureusement, elle nous a quittés en 2013, à l’âge de 60 ans, et la romance historique a ainsi perdu une grande dame, au talent plus que prometteur.
Sur le site internet qui lui est dédié, Joanna s’est adressée à ses lecteurs, auxquels elle rappelle Do not put your life on hold : pursue your dreams and DO IT NOW (ne mettez pas votre vie en attente, poursuivez vos rêves et faîtes le maintenant).
A la lumière de ce contexte, les romances de Joanna Fulford sont d’autant plus émouvantes. Dommage que dans l’A propos, les éditions Harlequin ne lui rendent pas hommage. La Vengeance du Viking, (Defiant in the Viking’s Bed en anglais), est en réalité le tome 3 de la série Victorious Vikings. Mais cela ne porte pas à conséquence pour la lecture.
L’histoire se concentre sur Leif Egilsson, vassal du roi Halfdan, et Astrid, dame de compagnie de la reine Ragnhild. Leur relation débute comme une amitié, Leif lui confie assez rapidement qu’il a été marié et qu’il a perdu son fils nouveau-né. Cette épreuve l’a changé, endurci. Astrid de son côté est orpheline, sous la tutelle d’un oncle qui peut se servir d’elle comme moyen de pression dans un mariage. Que cela lui plaise ou non...
Quand Leif se retrouve trahi, il pense que c’est la faute d’Astrid, qui a été piégée elle aussi pourtant. Avili au statut d’esclave de l’oncle de la jeune fille, Leif rumine sa vengeance... qui sera terrible pour Astrid, si elle l’a effectivement trahi. Mais condamnée à un mariage forcée, la jeune femme est aussi prisonnière que Leif. Et quand Leif réussit à s’échapper, c’est Astrid qui se retrouve à la merci de celui-ci...
Astrid est une femme très forte, à la volonté de fer et à l’innocence touchante. D’une grande beauté, elle met en émoi Leif dès qu’il l’aperçoit. Quant au jeune homme, il a du mal à accorder sa confiance, qui a déjà été trahie une première fois par son épouse, dont il a divorcé. Mais Astrid semble faire tomber une à une toutes ses défenses...
Dans cette histoire de tromperie et de trahison, Joanna Fulford met toute sa passion au service de l’amour qui triomphe de tout.
Sur le site internet qui lui est dédié, Joanna s’est adressée à ses lecteurs, auxquels elle rappelle Do not put your life on hold : pursue your dreams and DO IT NOW (ne mettez pas votre vie en attente, poursuivez vos rêves et faîtes le maintenant).
A la lumière de ce contexte, les romances de Joanna Fulford sont d’autant plus émouvantes. Dommage que dans l’A propos, les éditions Harlequin ne lui rendent pas hommage. La Vengeance du Viking, (Defiant in the Viking’s Bed en anglais), est en réalité le tome 3 de la série Victorious Vikings. Mais cela ne porte pas à conséquence pour la lecture.
L’histoire se concentre sur Leif Egilsson, vassal du roi Halfdan, et Astrid, dame de compagnie de la reine Ragnhild. Leur relation débute comme une amitié, Leif lui confie assez rapidement qu’il a été marié et qu’il a perdu son fils nouveau-né. Cette épreuve l’a changé, endurci. Astrid de son côté est orpheline, sous la tutelle d’un oncle qui peut se servir d’elle comme moyen de pression dans un mariage. Que cela lui plaise ou non...
Quand Leif se retrouve trahi, il pense que c’est la faute d’Astrid, qui a été piégée elle aussi pourtant. Avili au statut d’esclave de l’oncle de la jeune fille, Leif rumine sa vengeance... qui sera terrible pour Astrid, si elle l’a effectivement trahi. Mais condamnée à un mariage forcée, la jeune femme est aussi prisonnière que Leif. Et quand Leif réussit à s’échapper, c’est Astrid qui se retrouve à la merci de celui-ci...
Astrid est une femme très forte, à la volonté de fer et à l’innocence touchante. D’une grande beauté, elle met en émoi Leif dès qu’il l’aperçoit. Quant au jeune homme, il a du mal à accorder sa confiance, qui a déjà été trahie une première fois par son épouse, dont il a divorcé. Mais Astrid semble faire tomber une à une toutes ses défenses...
Dans cette histoire de tromperie et de trahison, Joanna Fulford met toute sa passion au service de l’amour qui triomphe de tout.
September 25, 2013
3.25 stars
DEFIANT IN THE VIKING’S BED is the third storyline in Joanna Fulford’s Victorious Vikings historical romance series. Each novel is a stand alone and is not connected with the previous or latest installment.
The story focuses on Leif and Astrid. Their relationship begins as friends but soon turns ugly when Leif believes he has been betrayed. Finding himself a slave on her uncle’s estate he is bent on revenge when it appears that Astrid set him up to take a fall.
Revenge is an ugly word and even uglier is the behavior of which Leif embarks to humiliate Astrid once his men have freed him from his shackles. Reduced to Leif’s slave, Astrid remains defiant until she is broken like a dog and finds herself sleeping on the floor without warmth or comfort. But as the days go by, Leif will come to realize that perhaps he was wrong and misjudged the woman with whom he was falling in love. And no sooner had their relationship become more friendly than they would part ways leaving Lief wondering where everything had all gone wrong.
The storyline and writing are simple. There is very little ‘old dialect’ in the conversations except for a few terms perhaps used by the ancient Vikings. Some readers will question our hero’s behavior towards the woman he has both rescued and enslaved, but it was also a time of war and betrayal runs rampant when one’s life is on the line. As for the historical accuracy of the novel-let’s just say, it is a fictional romance story.
And Astrid was as strong-willed as she was defiant. The storyline is filled with misunderstandings, broken hearts and self-recrimination. This is a story of perceived deceit and betrayal; bitterness and revenge; hope and forgiveness; slavery and freedom. And in the end, love will conquer all.
Copy supplied by Harlequin through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
DEFIANT IN THE VIKING’S BED is the third storyline in Joanna Fulford’s Victorious Vikings historical romance series. Each novel is a stand alone and is not connected with the previous or latest installment.
The story focuses on Leif and Astrid. Their relationship begins as friends but soon turns ugly when Leif believes he has been betrayed. Finding himself a slave on her uncle’s estate he is bent on revenge when it appears that Astrid set him up to take a fall.
Revenge is an ugly word and even uglier is the behavior of which Leif embarks to humiliate Astrid once his men have freed him from his shackles. Reduced to Leif’s slave, Astrid remains defiant until she is broken like a dog and finds herself sleeping on the floor without warmth or comfort. But as the days go by, Leif will come to realize that perhaps he was wrong and misjudged the woman with whom he was falling in love. And no sooner had their relationship become more friendly than they would part ways leaving Lief wondering where everything had all gone wrong.
The storyline and writing are simple. There is very little ‘old dialect’ in the conversations except for a few terms perhaps used by the ancient Vikings. Some readers will question our hero’s behavior towards the woman he has both rescued and enslaved, but it was also a time of war and betrayal runs rampant when one’s life is on the line. As for the historical accuracy of the novel-let’s just say, it is a fictional romance story.
And Astrid was as strong-willed as she was defiant. The storyline is filled with misunderstandings, broken hearts and self-recrimination. This is a story of perceived deceit and betrayal; bitterness and revenge; hope and forgiveness; slavery and freedom. And in the end, love will conquer all.
Copy supplied by Harlequin through Netgalley
www.thereadingcafe.com
November 7, 2013
Defiant in the Vikings Bed by Joanna Fulford is a historical romance scheduled for release on September 17 2013. Leif Egilsson is a warrior that that has been hurt in the past and has serious trust issues. Lady Astrid agrees to run away with Leif as his mistress- but their attempt leads to him taken prisoner and made into a slave. Distrust, escape, and rescue lead to the tables being turned and Astrid becoming Leif's captive. He craves revenge, but Astrid will not back down or accept guilt for something she did not do.
Defiant in the Vikings Bed is a historical romance that did not match the initial blurb. The back cover focused only on the aspects of Lief and Astrid being captives and a a whole lot of revenge seeking. While I was disappointed with Lief's attitude and personality change while he was angry, there is more to the book than that portion. In fact, it takes quite awhile to even get to the point when the action gets moving. Lief and Astrid meet and develop a liking for each other long before anyone is a captive. I found the before section to be the most romantic, but slowest going. Once the anger and rescues start flowing I seriously start to dislike Lief. While I adore a wounded alpha male, he strayed a little to far into the realm of mistreating other to make me happy. On the other hand, I did adore Astrid who saved the book from being something I had to walk away from to something I had to see through just because of her strength and intelligence.
Defiant in the Vikings Bed was not the worst of the genre, but not one I would widely recommend. While Astrid was a wonderful heroine, I just did not connect with Lief of see that much actual romance in the story. However, I cannot say that everyone will agree with me and some viking relate romance fans just might adore this one.
Defiant in the Vikings Bed is a historical romance that did not match the initial blurb. The back cover focused only on the aspects of Lief and Astrid being captives and a a whole lot of revenge seeking. While I was disappointed with Lief's attitude and personality change while he was angry, there is more to the book than that portion. In fact, it takes quite awhile to even get to the point when the action gets moving. Lief and Astrid meet and develop a liking for each other long before anyone is a captive. I found the before section to be the most romantic, but slowest going. Once the anger and rescues start flowing I seriously start to dislike Lief. While I adore a wounded alpha male, he strayed a little to far into the realm of mistreating other to make me happy. On the other hand, I did adore Astrid who saved the book from being something I had to walk away from to something I had to see through just because of her strength and intelligence.
Defiant in the Vikings Bed was not the worst of the genre, but not one I would widely recommend. While Astrid was a wonderful heroine, I just did not connect with Lief of see that much actual romance in the story. However, I cannot say that everyone will agree with me and some viking relate romance fans just might adore this one.
July 21, 2016
J'ai lu le tome 2 avant celui-ci car c'était un SP. Malgré tout, je n'ai pas été perdu pendant ma lecture car Finn le frère de Leif et héro du tome 2 ne fait qu'une apparition. ici nous nous concentrons sur le couple Leif et Astrid. Je l'ai un peu moins apprécié que le tome 2 , mais cela reste une très bonne histoire et joanna fulford reste une de mes auteures chouchous.
J'avoue que pas un seul moment, je n'ai changé de camp, je suis resté fidèle au personnage d'Astrid qui a bien raison de ne pas se laisser faire. Et qui ose soulever des vérités que Leif tente d'oublier et de faire comme si elles n'existaient pas. J'ai aimé les détails sur le paysage et la vie dans les domaines vikings. J'y ai découvert un monde où les esclaves existaient. Ils travaillent comme n'importe quel serviteur, mais n'ont pas la même liberté.
Quand aux personnages, bien sûr, il y a toujours les méchants qui méritent amplement leur sort et Leif... Il aurait mérité d'être secoué un peu plus. Son passé l'a marqué, mais bon sang en dix ans, il aurait pu se bouger un peu plus au lieu de se voiler la face et de faire souffrir inutilement Astrid.
J'ai été ravi de voir l'héroïne lui donner du fil �� retordre et de le confronter à ses peurs.
Pour conclure, j'ai bien aimé ce premier tome même si j'ai une préférence pour le second. C'est une bonne duologie sur les viking.
J'avoue que pas un seul moment, je n'ai changé de camp, je suis resté fidèle au personnage d'Astrid qui a bien raison de ne pas se laisser faire. Et qui ose soulever des vérités que Leif tente d'oublier et de faire comme si elles n'existaient pas. J'ai aimé les détails sur le paysage et la vie dans les domaines vikings. J'y ai découvert un monde où les esclaves existaient. Ils travaillent comme n'importe quel serviteur, mais n'ont pas la même liberté.
Quand aux personnages, bien sûr, il y a toujours les méchants qui méritent amplement leur sort et Leif... Il aurait mérité d'être secoué un peu plus. Son passé l'a marqué, mais bon sang en dix ans, il aurait pu se bouger un peu plus au lieu de se voiler la face et de faire souffrir inutilement Astrid.
J'ai été ravi de voir l'héroïne lui donner du fil �� retordre et de le confronter à ses peurs.
Pour conclure, j'ai bien aimé ce premier tome même si j'ai une préférence pour le second. C'est une bonne duologie sur les viking.
October 13, 2013
This book took me by surprise. I really enjoyed it. I loved the characters and the plot.
Leif was a really deep character with things in his past he couldn't let go of. I was brought to the end of the book on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the relationship with him and Astrid would end. Their relationship changed throughout the story. It was sweet for the most part with some hot and steamy scenes thrown in. I think Astrid was really likable, not just the shy woman falling for the man like in most over romance novels.. She fought for herself when necessary. The pace moved quickly throughout the book. There weren't really any slow parts for me. I read this book in a day which hasn't happened for me in years.
The cover is alright. Not bad but not great.
I feel like Leif looks a bit too submissive in this cover.
Loved the vikings, loved the characters, loved the plot.
Wish there was more to the book! I didn't want it to end.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for a copy! It was great!
Leif was a really deep character with things in his past he couldn't let go of. I was brought to the end of the book on the edge of my seat waiting to see how the relationship with him and Astrid would end. Their relationship changed throughout the story. It was sweet for the most part with some hot and steamy scenes thrown in. I think Astrid was really likable, not just the shy woman falling for the man like in most over romance novels.. She fought for herself when necessary. The pace moved quickly throughout the book. There weren't really any slow parts for me. I read this book in a day which hasn't happened for me in years.
The cover is alright. Not bad but not great.
I feel like Leif looks a bit too submissive in this cover.
Loved the vikings, loved the characters, loved the plot.
Wish there was more to the book! I didn't want it to end.
*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for a copy! It was great!
October 25, 2013
DEFIANT IN THE VIKINGS BED by Joanna Fulford is an interesting Historical Romance set in the Dark Ages. #Victorious Vikings Book #1 Trilogy. This is Leif Egilsson and Lady Astrid's story. Fast paced and filled with deceit, betrayal, treachery,and passion. Sensual tension jumps off the page as you follow these two unlikely people on a journey of passion and trust. A victorious Viking, no man could defeat him, but Lady Astrid would defy him and bring him to his knees or take his heart!! Leif was captured by his enemy,chained like a dog, tormented by a innocent seductress, Lady Astrid, now he is out for revenge, with Lady Astrid in his bed....but all is not what is seems, for Lady Astrid was betrayed as well as Leif. A must read for any historical reader who enjoys reading of Vikings, revenge, passion and the power of love. Received for an honest review from the publisher and Net Galley.
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
RATING: 4
HEAT RATING: MILD
REVIEWED BY: AprilR, courtesy of My Book Addiction and More
November 7, 2013
The first Lady Astrid saw Leif Egilsson was when he came and rescued her princess from Jarl Hakke. Once returned to their homes where Astrid was Ranghild's lady-in-waiting, both Astrid and Leif developed feelings for each other; then Astrid was forcibly returned to her uncle while Leif was away to be married to a brute of a man. When Leif risks all to rescue her, they are caught and he becomes a thrall, the lowest of the low. Astrid's uncle forces her to convince Leif that she wants no part of him so that when he's freed by his men, he captures her and, believing her acting, holds her as his thrall! Taken to first his island home and then his island fortress, Leif holds Astrid as his and his alone. Feelings develop but are denied; a reckoning is also on the horizon with Astrid's uncle and it'll be to the death. Can they admit their feelings for each other in time or perhaps lose each other forever?
If you like Viking lore, you'll like this story!
If you like Viking lore, you'll like this story!
August 11, 2014
Another cracking, action-filled Viking saga from Joanna Fulford. When Leif is captured by an enemy and treated like a dog, he believes he has been betrayed by the beautiful and spirited Astrid. Once he escapes, he extracts his revenge by capturing Astrid in turn and treating her as his slave including bedding her. I know some people view Mills & Boon Historicals as trashy, but I always find them a good read with more at their heart than a love story. This is the first novel in what was meant to be a trilogy about three brothers and that the second one has been published. However, as Joanna died last year, I am uncertain if she managed to write the third novel.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews