What do you think?
Rate this book
Viking Surrender #6
Thorolf
Ailsa, a woman scarred by the brutality of men, knowing peace only in the depths of the forest. Thorolf, a cunning warrior, as fierce as the wolves Ailsa adores. Enemies bound by marriage, their attraction is undeniable. But can her Viking husband mend Ailsa’s wounded heart?
A horde of battle-hardened, ferocious Nordic warriors.
A Pictish village at the mercy of its enemies.
A harrowing bargain struck for nine fearful and reluctant brides.
Delivered into Viking hands, claimed and conquered, each bride must accept that she belongs to her new master. But, as wedding nights bring surrender to duty, will fierce lovers also surrender their hearts?
The Highland wilderness is savage, life is perilous, and the future uncertain, but each Viking has sworn protection, and there are no lengths to which a man will not go to safeguard the woman he loves.
Begin the journey here...
Enter a world of suspense, seduction and adventure, told against the forbidding backdrop of medieval Scotland.
Journey together with indomitable heroes and intrepid heroines, as they discover that the raging storms of fear and passion can transform into enduring devotion.
'Thorolf' is number six of nine powerfully seductive romances in the 'Viking Surrender' series.
A horde of battle-hardened, ferocious Nordic warriors.
A Pictish village at the mercy of its enemies.
A harrowing bargain struck for nine fearful and reluctant brides.
Delivered into Viking hands, claimed and conquered, each bride must accept that she belongs to her new master. But, as wedding nights bring surrender to duty, will fierce lovers also surrender their hearts?
The Highland wilderness is savage, life is perilous, and the future uncertain, but each Viking has sworn protection, and there are no lengths to which a man will not go to safeguard the woman he loves.
Begin the journey here...
Enter a world of suspense, seduction and adventure, told against the forbidding backdrop of medieval Scotland.
Journey together with indomitable heroes and intrepid heroines, as they discover that the raging storms of fear and passion can transform into enduring devotion.
'Thorolf' is number six of nine powerfully seductive romances in the 'Viking Surrender' series.
- GenresRomanceHistorical
105 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 29, 2019
129 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
About the author
Vanessa Brooks
49 books634 followersVanessa Brooks - penning passion! International best selling author Vanessa, lives in the heart of Sussex, England. She writes strong characters and includes passion and power exchange in all her books.
When not being an author, Vanessa is out and about with her husband, exploring Britain's many castles and stately homes, stopping for scones & tea at every opportunity!
Please, take a moment out of your busy day and leave a review for the books that you enjoy. Thank you.
When not being an author, Vanessa is out and about with her husband, exploring Britain's many castles and stately homes, stopping for scones & tea at every opportunity!
Please, take a moment out of your busy day and leave a review for the books that you enjoy. Thank you.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews
February 11, 2023
Nice short story .
October 29, 2019
Thorolf was one of Brandr's select guards. So when the Norsemen were on their way to the village after agreeing to the pact, Thorolf came upon a woman hiding in the woods. When it came time, he immediately announced his claim on her to his Jarl. Luckily, Ailsa was one of the women that would be given as a bride. Her first husband had not returned from one of the battles with their neighbors. Everyone in the village assumed he was dead and as much as Ailsa wished he was, she wasn't convinced. A Viking tale you won't want to put down until you finish and then just sit and bask in the afterglow.
Merged review:
Thorolf was one of Brandr's select guards. So when the Norsemen were on their way to the village after agreeing to the pact, Thorolf came upon a woman hiding in the woods. When it came time, he immediately announced his claim on her to his Jarl. Luckily, Ailsa was one of the women that would be given as a bride. Her first husband had not returned from one of the battles with their neighbors. Everyone in the village assumed he was dead and as much as Ailsa wished he was, she wasn't convinced. A Viking tale you won't want to put down until you finish and then just sit and bask in the afterglow.
Merged review:
Thorolf was one of Brandr's select guards. So when the Norsemen were on their way to the village after agreeing to the pact, Thorolf came upon a woman hiding in the woods. When it came time, he immediately announced his claim on her to his Jarl. Luckily, Ailsa was one of the women that would be given as a bride. Her first husband had not returned from one of the battles with their neighbors. Everyone in the village assumed he was dead and as much as Ailsa wished he was, she wasn't convinced. A Viking tale you won't want to put down until you finish and then just sit and bask in the afterglow.
November 6, 2019
Book six of the Viking Surrender series a well written story.This is Ailsa's story and what she goes through at the hands of her first husband and how she is treated by Thorolf. She also has Shadow a wolf as her companion. We also get more of this villages lifes and deaths. This has been a very good series by different Authors, and I want to read the rest of this series. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
March 22, 2020
If you like books about Vikings well this is for you, step back into a time when the Vikings rule and be prepared to go on a beautiful journey. Where the Alpha male rules except when it comes to their feisty mate. She doesn't cower, she stands tall. This book is full of suspense, a chemistry off the charts, strong characters and all the while trying to find their HEA?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 21, 2020
Loved the book, the story was well written and the characters were intriguing. Once I started I could not get enough, from the start till the end I was engrossed I was even on the edge of my seat with twists and turns, lust and passion, strength. The short story of eroticism of sensation. Do yourself a favor and buy the book you want be disappointed.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Thank you for allowing me to review your book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 24, 2020
I read this when it was part of Vikings (the set is now sold as separate books). Because not much has changed -- with the exception of an epilogue that this original story did not need (though many of the others did) -- I'm going to leave my original review here.
First, a warning: There is no disclaimer regarding this book's elements of domestic discipline (dd) or corporal punishment of adult women. In this particular case, the dd borders on the vicious (a whipping with switches). If this bothers you, but you're interested in the subject matter, you may want to read Magnus or Ragnar, which have Vikings and no violence against women.
Now onto the actual book. Below is my opinion; take it for what it's worth.
All the books are enemies-to-lovers stories (though Thorolf and Ailsa aren't enemies for long) and have three (as I saw it) overall themes. One is -- as another reviewer very wisely mentioned -- the importance of moving on from loss. The second is the blending of cultures (particularly welcome in today's anti-immigrant, us-vs.-them world) as each Pict and Viking character shares stories or customs from their respective lands; in this case, Thorolf and Ailsa both share a love of and affinity for wolves; thus, wolves act as a vehicle for Thorolf and Ailsa's growing attachment and the . The third is dominance/submission broadly applied to an entire town. That is, the Vikings act as doms (protective providers who rescue the Picts from enemy attacks) and the Picts as submissives (those who swear their obedience in exchange for this protection). Thus, while both the men and women are marrying under duress (rather than just the women), it's the centuries-old marital bargain before the appearance of more modern views of marriage: each partner brings something tangible to the marriage that has nothing do with love or shared interests. In this case, the Vikings bring the brawn to defend the community, and the Picts provide the land. Of course, since this is romance, love does grow between the couples. And, because it's an erotic romance in this particular genre, the sexual acts are described and often akin to those in BDSM and/or dd.
Originally, I read this particular story with trepidation since I usually find this author's male characters too harsh and deeply unpleasant (see, for example, Sir Thomas's Bride). Thorolf, with the exception of the whipping, is, however, a fairly likeable H. I particularly appreciated that he worked to earn his wife's trust (unusual for a genre in which most H's just say: "You have to trust me" without actually doing anything to earn that trust) and that he didn't try to make his wife less than she is: Ailsa was strong and stayed that way (she is an accomplished hunter, a task usually reserved for men). As an animal lover, I enjoyed reading about the characters' devotion to the wolves and Shadow was so well-drawn that, for me, he was an equally important character (thus, it was a real ).
I went back and forth on rating this and decided on 3 1/2 stars. I would have rated it more highly, but I had four concerns. First was the switching. Secondly, Ailsa's character was incoherent: for a woman barely recovered from an abusive marriage, their insta-love took a lot of disbelief (and left the plot with very little tension because of that). Thirdly, Thorolf punished her for contrived reasons: at one point, he says that she should have told him that she was afraid that she was committing bigamy when she married him, but she had; he refused to listen. Finally, the book was pretty poorly written. While I appreciated the period details (I'm not an expert but the ), at times they overwhelmed the book. The prose was also very repetitious -- we read over and over again about Ailsa's fear of the Norsemen -- and I felt that we were in the characters' heads too much since there was hardly any dialogue. Finally, the transitions between scenes were very abrupt and Ms. Brooks should really learn where to place commas, particularly when separating adjectives ("You are a worthless lazy, woman" is only one of the many, many times they're used incorrectly).
3 1/2 stars. Overall, I do recommend this since it was impossible not to care for Ailsa, Thorolf, Shadow, and Mani
Note: I adhere to the ratings system as laid out by Goodreads: 2 stars = it was okay; 3 stars = liked it; 4 stars = really liked it; 5 stars = it was amazing. I gave this book 3 1/2 stars because I liked both MCs and the wolves, even if it did need editing. I do not think that every book I read is "amazing;" further, I think that it cheapens the rating system to always assign 4 or 5 stars. If a book really earns the 4 or 5 stars (and I realize that this is, to some degree, subjective), I'll give them -- but it certainly shouldn't apply to every book. YMMV, and everyone should enjoy/rate these books as they wish.
Additional Note: I did not receive this book as an ARC; I'm not another author who hosts or is hosted by other authors in this genre on our websites; and I'm not friends with the authors IRL, "friends" on this site, or friends on any social media site. It's too bad this author, who consistently leaves 5 star reviews for fellow authors' books WITHOUT self-disclosing that she has hosted them on her website and in turn been hosted on theirs cannot be bothered to do the ethical thing and leave a similar disclaimer on her own reviews.
First, a warning: There is no disclaimer regarding this book's elements of domestic discipline (dd) or corporal punishment of adult women. In this particular case, the dd borders on the vicious (a whipping with switches). If this bothers you, but you're interested in the subject matter, you may want to read Magnus or Ragnar, which have Vikings and no violence against women.
Now onto the actual book. Below is my opinion; take it for what it's worth.
All the books are enemies-to-lovers stories (though Thorolf and Ailsa aren't enemies for long) and have three (as I saw it) overall themes. One is -- as another reviewer very wisely mentioned -- the importance of moving on from loss. The second is the blending of cultures (particularly welcome in today's anti-immigrant, us-vs.-them world) as each Pict and Viking character shares stories or customs from their respective lands; in this case, Thorolf and Ailsa both share a love of and affinity for wolves; thus, wolves act as a vehicle for Thorolf and Ailsa's growing attachment and the . The third is dominance/submission broadly applied to an entire town. That is, the Vikings act as doms (protective providers who rescue the Picts from enemy attacks) and the Picts as submissives (those who swear their obedience in exchange for this protection). Thus, while both the men and women are marrying under duress (rather than just the women), it's the centuries-old marital bargain before the appearance of more modern views of marriage: each partner brings something tangible to the marriage that has nothing do with love or shared interests. In this case, the Vikings bring the brawn to defend the community, and the Picts provide the land. Of course, since this is romance, love does grow between the couples. And, because it's an erotic romance in this particular genre, the sexual acts are described and often akin to those in BDSM and/or dd.
Originally, I read this particular story with trepidation since I usually find this author's male characters too harsh and deeply unpleasant (see, for example, Sir Thomas's Bride). Thorolf, with the exception of the whipping, is, however, a fairly likeable H. I particularly appreciated that he worked to earn his wife's trust (unusual for a genre in which most H's just say: "You have to trust me" without actually doing anything to earn that trust) and that he didn't try to make his wife less than she is: Ailsa was strong and stayed that way (she is an accomplished hunter, a task usually reserved for men). As an animal lover, I enjoyed reading about the characters' devotion to the wolves and Shadow was so well-drawn that, for me, he was an equally important character (thus, it was a real ).
I went back and forth on rating this and decided on 3 1/2 stars. I would have rated it more highly, but I had four concerns. First was the switching. Secondly, Ailsa's character was incoherent: for a woman barely recovered from an abusive marriage, their insta-love took a lot of disbelief (and left the plot with very little tension because of that). Thirdly, Thorolf punished her for contrived reasons: at one point, he says that she should have told him that she was afraid that she was committing bigamy when she married him, but she had; he refused to listen. Finally, the book was pretty poorly written. While I appreciated the period details (I'm not an expert but the ), at times they overwhelmed the book. The prose was also very repetitious -- we read over and over again about Ailsa's fear of the Norsemen -- and I felt that we were in the characters' heads too much since there was hardly any dialogue. Finally, the transitions between scenes were very abrupt and Ms. Brooks should really learn where to place commas, particularly when separating adjectives ("You are a worthless lazy, woman" is only one of the many, many times they're used incorrectly).
3 1/2 stars. Overall, I do recommend this since it was impossible not to care for Ailsa, Thorolf, Shadow, and Mani
Note: I adhere to the ratings system as laid out by Goodreads: 2 stars = it was okay; 3 stars = liked it; 4 stars = really liked it; 5 stars = it was amazing. I gave this book 3 1/2 stars because I liked both MCs and the wolves, even if it did need editing. I do not think that every book I read is "amazing;" further, I think that it cheapens the rating system to always assign 4 or 5 stars. If a book really earns the 4 or 5 stars (and I realize that this is, to some degree, subjective), I'll give them -- but it certainly shouldn't apply to every book. YMMV, and everyone should enjoy/rate these books as they wish.
Additional Note: I did not receive this book as an ARC; I'm not another author who hosts or is hosted by other authors in this genre on our websites; and I'm not friends with the authors IRL, "friends" on this site, or friends on any social media site. It's too bad this author, who consistently leaves 5 star reviews for fellow authors' books WITHOUT self-disclosing that she has hosted them on her website and in turn been hosted on theirs cannot be bothered to do the ethical thing and leave a similar disclaimer on her own reviews.
February 2, 2022
This one was a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, it included a great deal of Viking culture, something mostly missing from the other books so far. Also, it exploited the communication barrier as an element of the struggle for the couple to connect - though it was often unclear whether they were understanding each other in a particular scene, and they seemed to flip-flop between understanding and not, based on the needs of the story rather than experience with the languages. Lastly, on the plus side, the relationship grew at a good pace with ups and downs that made it more interesting and relatable.
On the other hand, the storytelling was often disjointed, the timeline of events didn’t always make sense, and sped up and slowed down unexpectedly, and events were often relayed in a vague manner. Further, while the cultural details often added to the story, they were occasionally crammed in at awkward points. For example, a scene that required urgency suddenly stalled for a paragraph about processing grain for bread.
Still, it was a good story and the steamy bits were enjoyable.
On the other hand, the storytelling was often disjointed, the timeline of events didn’t always make sense, and sped up and slowed down unexpectedly, and events were often relayed in a vague manner. Further, while the cultural details often added to the story, they were occasionally crammed in at awkward points. For example, a scene that required urgency suddenly stalled for a paragraph about processing grain for bread.
Still, it was a good story and the steamy bits were enjoyable.
November 13, 2019
3 stars (maybe 4 stars if you enjoy these authors: Kate Pearce, Jess Michaels).
I’ve read the entire series of books. My review will be the same for all book. Some were more enjoyable to read then others however the series as a whole and each individual book to me is still 3 stars (half I would give 3.5 stars). You can read each book within 1-2 hours; quick reads.
These books/series are worth a read but didn’t really have me excited about interacting with the book where I could not put it down (skimmed through parts of the books). It lacks the excitement and well roundness of my personal markers for a great read throughout the book.
There was a lack of development and interest in main characters in some of the books (which I found irritating). I enjoy secondary characters and there were a few moments in the books, enough info was provided that I read the series.
There were a handful of humorous scenes in most of the books. I do prefer well written humour and this series lacked in that department.
I found the movement of the books ‘choppy at times’ especially around the story telling overall.
The writing /conversation of the book was not the style that gets me engaged and partner with the books characters to enjoy this book past a first read.
There are MAJOR sexual scenes throughout the book (kissing, oral, love making) and SPANKING in all the books.
Read this book/series once and that is enough for me.
I wouldn’t cross a few of the authors out of my potential reads in the future.
My individual star rating for each book
Viking Surrender books 1-10
1. Prologue 3.5
2. Brandr 3.5
3. Ragnar 3.5
4. Graeme 3
5. Magnus 2.5
6. Thorolf 3.5
7. Garth 3
8. Jerrik 3
9. Steinn 2
10. Bjorn 3
I’ve read the entire series of books. My review will be the same for all book. Some were more enjoyable to read then others however the series as a whole and each individual book to me is still 3 stars (half I would give 3.5 stars). You can read each book within 1-2 hours; quick reads.
These books/series are worth a read but didn’t really have me excited about interacting with the book where I could not put it down (skimmed through parts of the books). It lacks the excitement and well roundness of my personal markers for a great read throughout the book.
There was a lack of development and interest in main characters in some of the books (which I found irritating). I enjoy secondary characters and there were a few moments in the books, enough info was provided that I read the series.
There were a handful of humorous scenes in most of the books. I do prefer well written humour and this series lacked in that department.
I found the movement of the books ‘choppy at times’ especially around the story telling overall.
The writing /conversation of the book was not the style that gets me engaged and partner with the books characters to enjoy this book past a first read.
There are MAJOR sexual scenes throughout the book (kissing, oral, love making) and SPANKING in all the books.
Read this book/series once and that is enough for me.
I wouldn’t cross a few of the authors out of my potential reads in the future.
My individual star rating for each book
Viking Surrender books 1-10
1. Prologue 3.5
2. Brandr 3.5
3. Ragnar 3.5
4. Graeme 3
5. Magnus 2.5
6. Thorolf 3.5
7. Garth 3
8. Jerrik 3
9. Steinn 2
10. Bjorn 3
October 29, 2019
Wow, and holy hot Kindle. Vanessa Brooks definitely wrote a winner here.
Ailsa is everywoman in this book. Her first husband is cruel, abusive, and ignorant of how to treat a woman. But Ailsa doesn't know that, he's all she's ever known. For escape, she goes to the forest where live a pack of wolves that she calls friends. Enter the Norsemen and she is wed to Thorolf. And that's where I have to end describing the story, because this truly is a love story you have to read for yourself. It is about love and trust and respect. And it ends with a HEA that is absolutely perfect. In fact, the ending couldn't have been better. Ms. Brooks, I had tears in my eyes, and that's tough to do.
As a warning, if you don't like domestic discipline in stories, this one won't appeal to you, but I do and it did.
This story, which is part of the Viking anthology that was written by some of the most talented women I've read for a long time, is extremely well written and because the characters of Ailsa and Thorolf are so well devised, by the time you reach a quarter of the way through the book, you've fallen in love with the two of them. And the wolves. And the Vikings. And the Picts. But not Irb. We could do without Irb. Well, maybe not, because every book has to have an enemy. He fits the bill. :-)
I highly recommend the anthology, or if you have a liking for just one or two of the authors, you have that choice also. But, for me, I'm going to read them all and yes, review them all as well. As an added hint as a way to enjoy this book? Just imagine Thorolf looking like Aquaman...enough said.
Ailsa is everywoman in this book. Her first husband is cruel, abusive, and ignorant of how to treat a woman. But Ailsa doesn't know that, he's all she's ever known. For escape, she goes to the forest where live a pack of wolves that she calls friends. Enter the Norsemen and she is wed to Thorolf. And that's where I have to end describing the story, because this truly is a love story you have to read for yourself. It is about love and trust and respect. And it ends with a HEA that is absolutely perfect. In fact, the ending couldn't have been better. Ms. Brooks, I had tears in my eyes, and that's tough to do.
As a warning, if you don't like domestic discipline in stories, this one won't appeal to you, but I do and it did.
This story, which is part of the Viking anthology that was written by some of the most talented women I've read for a long time, is extremely well written and because the characters of Ailsa and Thorolf are so well devised, by the time you reach a quarter of the way through the book, you've fallen in love with the two of them. And the wolves. And the Vikings. And the Picts. But not Irb. We could do without Irb. Well, maybe not, because every book has to have an enemy. He fits the bill. :-)
I highly recommend the anthology, or if you have a liking for just one or two of the authors, you have that choice also. But, for me, I'm going to read them all and yes, review them all as well. As an added hint as a way to enjoy this book? Just imagine Thorolf looking like Aquaman...enough said.
October 30, 2019
A wonderful Viking love story, tears at the heart strings….
Ailsa had been left a widow after her husband Irb who had been a bully, lazy and had not been missed when it was believed he had been killed in battle, when the Vikings had come to her homeland she had been prepared to fight to protect herself and the other women when out of the forest a giant of a man with golden skin and eyes like a wolf had kissed her in the forest.
Six of the village women had been given to the Vikings to be taken as their wives and married under the eyes of the church, Ailsa had been chosen by the man she had seen his name was “Thorolf” which translated as Thor’s Wolf and she was his little cat. She had introduced him to her wold Shadow, she had cared for him as a pup and they had become firm friends, he even allowed her to meet his pack and his mate.
When Shadow had been killed her sister a seer had told her that her faith would be tested but even she could not have anticipated the cruelty and the pain her heart would feel but all through it her husband Thorolf supported her and ensured their village was well protected and cared for, so very different to the years previous.
This was a delightful read, the facts and the Viking history and the language that Vanessa used was very factual and a great pleasure to read, I recommend this book to anyone, once you start reading it is impossible to put the book down until I reached the end so I had a very, very late night.
I voluntarily received and review an Advanced Reader Copy
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the great writing.
Ailsa had been left a widow after her husband Irb who had been a bully, lazy and had not been missed when it was believed he had been killed in battle, when the Vikings had come to her homeland she had been prepared to fight to protect herself and the other women when out of the forest a giant of a man with golden skin and eyes like a wolf had kissed her in the forest.
Six of the village women had been given to the Vikings to be taken as their wives and married under the eyes of the church, Ailsa had been chosen by the man she had seen his name was “Thorolf” which translated as Thor’s Wolf and she was his little cat. She had introduced him to her wold Shadow, she had cared for him as a pup and they had become firm friends, he even allowed her to meet his pack and his mate.
When Shadow had been killed her sister a seer had told her that her faith would be tested but even she could not have anticipated the cruelty and the pain her heart would feel but all through it her husband Thorolf supported her and ensured their village was well protected and cared for, so very different to the years previous.
This was a delightful read, the facts and the Viking history and the language that Vanessa used was very factual and a great pleasure to read, I recommend this book to anyone, once you start reading it is impossible to put the book down until I reached the end so I had a very, very late night.
I voluntarily received and review an Advanced Reader Copy
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and look forward to reading any future publications; keep up all the great writing.
March 6, 2022
I enjoyed reading this entertaining viking romance & it is the 6th book in the series “Viking” series. The story-line and plot is interesting, well-paced, & well-written. There is good scene descriptions & world building. The characters are strong-willed with individual personalities & have realistic flaws & expectations although one of them is inclined to be distrustful while the other one is determined to achieve his goals.
There is: a select guard viking warrior (Thorolf) accidentally comes accoss a Saxon woman (Ailsa) & promptly declares his claim to her, his Jarl (Brandr), her MIA abusive husband (Irb), a pet wolf (Shadow), viking warriors/raiders, Pict women, some twists, intrigue, suspense, drama, adventure, action, danger, violence, suspicions, compromises, reluctance, discipline, spankings, memories, discovery, sadness, accusations, distrust, compassion, determination, loyalty, suspicions, unexpected confrontations, protectiveness, apologies, guilt, disobedience, punishment, declaration, surprises, love, contentment, happiness & a wonderful ending.
There is: a select guard viking warrior (Thorolf) accidentally comes accoss a Saxon woman (Ailsa) & promptly declares his claim to her, his Jarl (Brandr), her MIA abusive husband (Irb), a pet wolf (Shadow), viking warriors/raiders, Pict women, some twists, intrigue, suspense, drama, adventure, action, danger, violence, suspicions, compromises, reluctance, discipline, spankings, memories, discovery, sadness, accusations, distrust, compassion, determination, loyalty, suspicions, unexpected confrontations, protectiveness, apologies, guilt, disobedience, punishment, declaration, surprises, love, contentment, happiness & a wonderful ending.
November 7, 2019
A love story that swept me back to the time of the vikings!
by sewsummore
This was a story that swept me back to the time of the vikings, the scenes of village life rich in detail. After a viking raid on her village Aisla and several of the other women whose husband had perished in the raid were to be taken as viking wives. Thorolf had caught her earlier in the woods and he wanted to take her for his wife. Aisla's marriage to her new husband was very differnet from her first marriage, Therolf cared for her and gave her much pleasure at night, he ensured that she no longer had to hunt for food and over time they learnt each others language. He was strict husband who demanded her obedience and she wuillingly gave it after several hard lessons. This was an enjoyable and educational read that has left me wanting more stories about these Vikings.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
by sewsummore
This was a story that swept me back to the time of the vikings, the scenes of village life rich in detail. After a viking raid on her village Aisla and several of the other women whose husband had perished in the raid were to be taken as viking wives. Thorolf had caught her earlier in the woods and he wanted to take her for his wife. Aisla's marriage to her new husband was very differnet from her first marriage, Therolf cared for her and gave her much pleasure at night, he ensured that she no longer had to hunt for food and over time they learnt each others language. He was strict husband who demanded her obedience and she wuillingly gave it after several hard lessons. This was an enjoyable and educational read that has left me wanting more stories about these Vikings.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 10, 2019
This addition to the Vikings Anthology is the heartwarming story of Thorolf (Thor’s Wolf) and Ailsa. Ailsa had been married but her worm of a husband had disappeared during an attack and was presumed dead. Ailsa had an affinity for the wolves in the forest; in particular, a wolf named Shadow. Thorolf, Ailsa and Shadow initially meet in the forest where Shadow shows deference to his brother, Thorolf. While Ailsa is attracted to Thorolf, she worries that her husband is still alive and her marriage to Thorolf invalid. Ailsa continues her trips to the forest and finds herself disciplined. Their relationship is severely tested when tragedy strikes. Will their love grow stronger or will Ailsa’s fears ruin the relationship? This story will make you cry, its steam will melt you and you will be sorry to see it end. The Viking history and beliefs included were an interesting addition to the story. Great job!
November 1, 2019
Hopeful, but uncertain of her abusive husband Irb’s demise, Ailsa reluctantly agrees to wed Thorolf, one of the fierce and fearless Viking arrivals to her tiny village in northern Scotland. Thorolf is enchanted by his new wife, but frustrated at her carelessness with her safety. Can he teach her to abide by his authority or will she continue to suffer his correction to her behaviour? I enjoyed this couple’s bumpy and often problematic journey to their sweet HEA. The story is a quick read that’s well written featuring some action, violence, suspense and drama. There are also several very steamy encounters along with some domestic discipline. While this story stands alone, I recommend reading ‘Vikings: Prologue’ first as it explains how the Vikings came to be married to these Pictish women.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 2, 2019
Loved Thorolf and Ailsa
Ailsa is a women of the forest, with a wolf companion, and.a.weak.gift of sight. She was an outcast as a child, and learned to hunt to feed herself and her mother. Her husband disappeared a year ago and is thought dead by the village, but Ailsa is not so sure. She has been ordered to take one of the Vikings as husband.
Thorolf has laid claim to the women with the wolf he found in the forest. She has to be a gift from Thor, a good omen.
Ailsa life with her abusive former husband, has her on guard with Thorolf. Thorolf is patient. They begin to form a strong bond. Ailsa has trouble trusting in him and brings trouble to herself.
Sweet and steamy romance with spanking as punishment and for pleasure. A bitter sweet epilogue to wrap up their story. Part of a multi author series, it can be read as a stand alone.
Ailsa is a women of the forest, with a wolf companion, and.a.weak.gift of sight. She was an outcast as a child, and learned to hunt to feed herself and her mother. Her husband disappeared a year ago and is thought dead by the village, but Ailsa is not so sure. She has been ordered to take one of the Vikings as husband.
Thorolf has laid claim to the women with the wolf he found in the forest. She has to be a gift from Thor, a good omen.
Ailsa life with her abusive former husband, has her on guard with Thorolf. Thorolf is patient. They begin to form a strong bond. Ailsa has trouble trusting in him and brings trouble to herself.
Sweet and steamy romance with spanking as punishment and for pleasure. A bitter sweet epilogue to wrap up their story. Part of a multi author series, it can be read as a stand alone.
November 3, 2019
This was such a touching story. Ailsa had such a horrible life with her first husband Irb. He abused her, was cruel to her, and treated her like dirt. Her only friend was a wolf that she named Shadow. The Norsemen came and claimed 10 brides from her village and Alisa was the bride that Thorolf picked. He was very good to her and she was enjoying life with him but still worried that Irb would come back and rob her of that life. Thorolf and Ailisa started to make a bond with each other and their love grew with each day. There were spankings, and language difficulties but each was encouraged to learn the others language. I so enjoyed this book by Vanessa Brooks. I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 2, 2019
Ailsa had an abusive husband he went and fought a battle but he didn’t come back so they thought that he was dead, Ytha was hiding in the forest when Thorolf found her and when it was his time to get a bride he wanted Ailsa. It takes awhile for Ailsa to take to Thorolf she thinks that he will hit her because that’s all she knew but Thorolf shows her love and compassion. Wow this is a very emotional story I loved it and bawled my eyes out like a baby but then I also had a chuckle and it also made my heart pound, there was so much going on in this shortish story it was wonderful and I highly recommend this book it’s definitely well worth the read.
November 4, 2019
There is seldom a single wave...
Aisla is a Pict woman with trust issues, and not just when it comes to Viking raiders who suddenly agree to the most unlikely of propositions.
Thorolf is an honorable warrior who we have gotten some sense of in previous stories in this series, but as he moves to center stage we discover a thoughtful man who does not react with his fists and temper, but with his heart and mind.
As this couple faces challenge after challenge, we are reminded what a fragile thing trust can be... how hard it can be to earn... and how truly precious it is when earned and shared.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Aisla is a Pict woman with trust issues, and not just when it comes to Viking raiders who suddenly agree to the most unlikely of propositions.
Thorolf is an honorable warrior who we have gotten some sense of in previous stories in this series, but as he moves to center stage we discover a thoughtful man who does not react with his fists and temper, but with his heart and mind.
As this couple faces challenge after challenge, we are reminded what a fragile thing trust can be... how hard it can be to earn... and how truly precious it is when earned and shared.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 18, 2019
Starring Thorolf and Ailsa.
I read this as part of the big Vikings Anthology.
Omg I don’t like any story were an animal gets hurts.... bawling. But I did enjoy this one. I thought that Ailsa was a little bit defiant for a person who just came out of an abusive relationship... She blatantly taunted Thorolf right off the bat. But I guess it gave Thorolf excuses to deliciously punish her. So it all worked out. Loved this story.
My star system:
4 stars: Book was great... loved the characters... will definitely be re-reading this story... but didn’t make me cry (actually I did, but it was for Shadow).
I read this as part of the big Vikings Anthology.
Omg I don’t like any story were an animal gets hurts.... bawling. But I did enjoy this one. I thought that Ailsa was a little bit defiant for a person who just came out of an abusive relationship... She blatantly taunted Thorolf right off the bat. But I guess it gave Thorolf excuses to deliciously punish her. So it all worked out. Loved this story.
My star system:
4 stars: Book was great... loved the characters... will definitely be re-reading this story... but didn’t make me cry (actually I did, but it was for Shadow).
October 30, 2019
Enjoyed the book. It was well written, entertaining and holds your attention. The main story in this book is the love that Ailsa finds with her new Viking husband Thorolf after having been married to an abusive husband. It took a while for her to feel safe with Thorolf and once this happened their love grew stronger than ever. Discipline is part of the story but never in a demeaning or brutal way. There is a lot happening in this book and it is worth reading. I would highly recommend it.
October 23, 2019
This story touched my heart so many times. Ailsa is a woman from an abusive relationship that has worked hard to overcome it. Her wolf friend was just perfect. Although there is great sorrow there too. This is a story that will pull you in and never let you go until it is done. It will make you smile, yell, cry and laugh. An emotional pull on the senses.
October 29, 2019
Thorolf attacked her village as she was hiding in the woods. Hoping to not be chosen as a bride for one of these brutish men Ailsa hid. Of course she was found and given to him as reward. Would he be as awful as her MIA husband or melt her heart into loving him? Read this tale of Viking Surrender and love it like me!
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
November 17, 2019
I enjoyed this book from beginning to end. It was a great with the having characters that are well developed and engaging and have plenty of chemistry. The flow of the storyline was steady and smooth. Another great book by this author.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 24, 2020
Viking love story
This is another good story in the series. Ailsa was abused by her first husband. Her new Viking husband is much kinder and treats her with tenderness and patience. But Ailsa needs to figure out if her first husband is really dead. Is she a widow with a new husband or an adulterer?
This is another good story in the series. Ailsa was abused by her first husband. Her new Viking husband is much kinder and treats her with tenderness and patience. But Ailsa needs to figure out if her first husband is really dead. Is she a widow with a new husband or an adulterer?
November 5, 2022
Beautiful Story!
This was a very moving story. It made me sad with the wolves and even sadder with Alarik! I loved the characters and storyline. Except for Irb the idiot! I’m glad he was taken care of. Ailsa and Thorolf were very strong characters. Next is Garth and Ytha. 💜💜💜💜💜
This was a very moving story. It made me sad with the wolves and even sadder with Alarik! I loved the characters and storyline. Except for Irb the idiot! I’m glad he was taken care of. Ailsa and Thorolf were very strong characters. Next is Garth and Ytha. 💜💜💜💜💜
December 8, 2019
The wolf and his cat
Thorolf and Ailsa are forced into marriage by the Viking jarl. They find themselves at odds trying to learn each other’s way. I loved the action, drama and emotional upheaval they traverse to a new life.
Thorolf and Ailsa are forced into marriage by the Viking jarl. They find themselves at odds trying to learn each other’s way. I loved the action, drama and emotional upheaval they traverse to a new life.
November 29, 2019
Raw brutal viking love story
The story has it's ups and downs. Allies is independent and constantly crosses her New viking husband Thorolf, who wants complete submission. Linda
The story has it's ups and downs. Allies is independent and constantly crosses her New viking husband Thorolf, who wants complete submission. Linda
December 27, 2019
This was a wonderful book. It didn't seem rushed. This was sweet and steamy, full of romance and passion with great characters that were interesting enough to draw you in.
April 6, 2020
A fabulous story
I absolutely love the characters in the storyline as they learn to clear their past find their future a great story
I absolutely love the characters in the storyline as they learn to clear their past find their future a great story
June 24, 2020
Amazing
This was an amazing book. I think it was the best one yet in this series. I can't wait to read more of this authors work!!!
This was an amazing book. I think it was the best one yet in this series. I can't wait to read more of this authors work!!!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 35 reviews