What do you think?
Rate this book
Viking #2
The Viking's Woman
Her wild spirit made him crave her . . .
Her firebrand—hair blazed as glorious as a sunrise. Her long limbs promised the sweet mysteries of the night. Rhiannon, King Alfred’s favorite niece, was enraged when her uncle sealed an alliance of war by pledging her to Eric, the towering golden-haired prince whose blue eyes penetrated her with a glacial stare. But the more she fought the marriage . . . the man . . . the more she became inflamed by the fire that lay beneath his Viking ice.
His passion pierced her heart . . .
His broad shoulders as hard as the steel of his sword, Eric bowed to no man. The only battle he feared losing was with Rhiannon. For she had reached into the savage recesses of his heart. No campaign on the field, no treason from within, would he fight as fiercely—or with such desire . . . as the war he waged to possess what was his.
Her firebrand—hair blazed as glorious as a sunrise. Her long limbs promised the sweet mysteries of the night. Rhiannon, King Alfred’s favorite niece, was enraged when her uncle sealed an alliance of war by pledging her to Eric, the towering golden-haired prince whose blue eyes penetrated her with a glacial stare. But the more she fought the marriage . . . the man . . . the more she became inflamed by the fire that lay beneath his Viking ice.
His passion pierced her heart . . .
His broad shoulders as hard as the steel of his sword, Eric bowed to no man. The only battle he feared losing was with Rhiannon. For she had reached into the savage recesses of his heart. No campaign on the field, no treason from within, would he fight as fiercely—or with such desire . . . as the war he waged to possess what was his.
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published July 1, 1990
210 people are currently reading
1560 people want to read
About the author
Heather Graham
583 books6,907 followersAlso published as Heather Graham Pozzessere and Shannon Drake.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
New York Times and USA Today best-selling author Heather Graham majored in theater arts at the University of South Florida. After a stint of several years in dinner theater, back-up vocals, and bartending, she stayed home after the birth of her third child and began to write, working on short horror stories and romances. After some trial and error, she sold her first book, WHEN NEXT WE LOVE, in 1982 and since then, she has written over one hundred novels and novellas including category, romantic suspense, historical romance, vampire fiction, time travel, occult, and Christmas holiday fare. She wrote the launch books for the Dell's Ecstasy Supreme line, Silhouette's Shadows, and for Harlequin's mainstream fiction imprint, Mira Books.
Heather was a founding member of the Florida Romance Writers chapter of RWA and, since 1999, has hosted the Romantic Times Vampire Ball, with all revenues going directly to children's charity.
She is pleased to have been published in approximately twenty languages, and to have been honored with awards frorn Waldenbooks. B. Dalton, Georgia Romance Writers, Affaire de Coeur, Romantic Times, and more. She has had books selected for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild, and has been quoted, interviewed, or featured in such publications as The Nation, Redbook, People, and USA Today and appeared on many newscasts including local television and Entertainment Tonight.
Heather loves travel and anything have to do with the water, and is a certitified scuba diver. Married since high school graduation and the mother of five, her greatest love in life remains her family, but she also believes her career has been an incredible gift, and she is grateful every day to be doing something that she loves so very much for a living.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
September 22, 2020
Una novela realmente fascinante. Me ha tenido completamente atrapada de principio a fin y no la he podido soltar hasta terminarla. La intensidad del relato no decae en ningún momento, principalmente por la fuerza de sus personajes, pero también por cada una de las situaciones, intrigas y traiciones que se van desarrollando.
La forma en que evoluciona la relación de los dos personajes principales es realmente exquisita, marcada por un odio prejuicioso contra otras culturas, pero a su vez impregnada de una pasión que no saben cómo enfrentar ni se atreven a reconocer. Todo lo anterior enmarcado en las costumbres y acontecimientos históricos de la Inglaterra medieval y su lucha contra las invasiones vikingas.
Recomendadísimo para quienes gusten de las historias ambientadas en esta época.
La forma en que evoluciona la relación de los dos personajes principales es realmente exquisita, marcada por un odio prejuicioso contra otras culturas, pero a su vez impregnada de una pasión que no saben cómo enfrentar ni se atreven a reconocer. Todo lo anterior enmarcado en las costumbres y acontecimientos históricos de la Inglaterra medieval y su lucha contra las invasiones vikingas.
Recomendadísimo para quienes gusten de las historias ambientadas en esta época.
August 3, 2020
Claro ejemplo de «no eres tú, soy yo»
OJO QUE PUEDE CONTENER SPOILERS
No puedo con este tipo de novelas, por eso este subgénero casi no lo leo y si no fuera para un reto tampoco me hubiera animado con este.
He leído una serie de esta misma autora, emplazada en la guerra de secesión americana y me gustó mucho, seguramente, esta novela está igual de bien ambientada que aquella, pero no puedo con este tipo de protagonistas.
No falta nada y, me vais a perdonar las amantes de estas novelas, pero a mí me parecen todas iguales.
- Protagonista guapísima, bella como pocas de la que están enamorados varios de los sujetos de la novela
- Protagonista guapísimo, altísimo, musculadísimo y bruto como pocos
- La protagonista es valiente, independiente y, encima, aventajada en los artes de la guerra
- El se enamora de ella porque es valiente y guapísima
- Ella se enamora de él ¿? Pues no sé, ¿porque es un buen amante? No sé, enemigo que invade tus tierras, te roba la casa, te obligan a casarte con él, consuma pese a que te opones (eso tiene un nombre), te insulta, te violenta , te trata mal… No sé para mí siempre ha sido una total incógnita
- Unas cuantas batallas, unas cuantas peleas y el romance está servido
- Encima, ellas tienen un comportamiento tan valiente-insensato que, para colmo de los colmos, la autora justifica que el protagonista la trate como la trata. Encima la culpa es de ella, es que me pongo hasta mala.
Siempre me he preguntado qué tienen estas novelas de románticas. No me malinterpretéis, algunas lo son y son preciosas. Pero no con estas relaciones en las que se pasan todo el rato insultándose, hay violación pero ella (no sabemos cómo) termina teniendo un orgasmo.
YA NO PUEDO CON ESTAS HISTORIAS
Me alegro mucho por las que disfrutáis de ellas, porque yo, cuando empecé a leer romántica, también lo hacía, pero hace mucho tiempo que dejaron de gustarme
OJO QUE PUEDE CONTENER SPOILERS
No puedo con este tipo de novelas, por eso este subgénero casi no lo leo y si no fuera para un reto tampoco me hubiera animado con este.
He leído una serie de esta misma autora, emplazada en la guerra de secesión americana y me gustó mucho, seguramente, esta novela está igual de bien ambientada que aquella, pero no puedo con este tipo de protagonistas.
No falta nada y, me vais a perdonar las amantes de estas novelas, pero a mí me parecen todas iguales.
- Protagonista guapísima, bella como pocas de la que están enamorados varios de los sujetos de la novela
- Protagonista guapísimo, altísimo, musculadísimo y bruto como pocos
- La protagonista es valiente, independiente y, encima, aventajada en los artes de la guerra
- El se enamora de ella porque es valiente y guapísima
- Ella se enamora de él ¿? Pues no sé, ¿porque es un buen amante? No sé, enemigo que invade tus tierras, te roba la casa, te obligan a casarte con él, consuma pese a que te opones (eso tiene un nombre), te insulta, te violenta , te trata mal… No sé para mí siempre ha sido una total incógnita
- Unas cuantas batallas, unas cuantas peleas y el romance está servido
- Encima, ellas tienen un comportamiento tan valiente-insensato que, para colmo de los colmos, la autora justifica que el protagonista la trate como la trata. Encima la culpa es de ella, es que me pongo hasta mala.
Siempre me he preguntado qué tienen estas novelas de románticas. No me malinterpretéis, algunas lo son y son preciosas. Pero no con estas relaciones en las que se pasan todo el rato insultándose, hay violación pero ella (no sabemos cómo) termina teniendo un orgasmo.
YA NO PUEDO CON ESTAS HISTORIAS
Me alegro mucho por las que disfrutáis de ellas, porque yo, cuando empecé a leer romántica, también lo hacía, pero hace mucho tiempo que dejaron de gustarme
August 6, 2018
Una historia que te atrapa desde el inicio, tiene intriga, celos, amor y traición, ambientada en la Inglaterra medieval, que nos muestra como era la lucha contra la invasión de los vikingos, con dos protagonistas de carácter fuerte, me gustó mucho que ella no fuera sumisa y que tenga carácter y supiera luchar, sobre todo para la época en que está ambientada, aunque hubieron momentos que la protagonista se puso un poco cansina, igual la disfrute y me gustó, una historia más del #RitaGraham #RetoRita2
November 7, 2011
I hated this book. I literally hated this book to the point where i couldn't finish it.
I realize that it was published in 1990, but submissive woman ideals in this book were ridiculous. A historical author is supposed to weed out things in history that would be unappealing to the readers (such as downplaying how bad the higene was).
I loved the heroine. She was strong, and smart, and a leader. But the hero abosolutely disgusted me. I wanted him gone from the book. I couldn't stand him at all.
It is very hard to make a hero an alpha male, but not accidently cross the line into a domineering and over controling man. That was exactly what Erik was. He was dominant, abusive, a rapist, and utterly unappealing.
The author tried to make their 1st 'love' scene seem gentle and sweet, but it was horrible.
Throughout several times in the book, he'd pull her hair or grab her arms viciously. I felt horrified for her. And i stopped reading at page 200.
I couldn't stand for another 300 pages of that.
I realize that it was published in 1990, but submissive woman ideals in this book were ridiculous. A historical author is supposed to weed out things in history that would be unappealing to the readers (such as downplaying how bad the higene was).
I loved the heroine. She was strong, and smart, and a leader. But the hero abosolutely disgusted me. I wanted him gone from the book. I couldn't stand him at all.
It is very hard to make a hero an alpha male, but not accidently cross the line into a domineering and over controling man. That was exactly what Erik was. He was dominant, abusive, a rapist, and utterly unappealing.
The author tried to make their 1st 'love' scene seem gentle and sweet, but it was horrible.
Throughout several times in the book, he'd pull her hair or grab her arms viciously. I felt horrified for her. And i stopped reading at page 200.
I couldn't stand for another 300 pages of that.
August 7, 2018
3,5/5
Este ha estado mucho mejor que los dos que me leí antes de contemporánea.
Los dos personajes principales tienen su carácter y Eric me parece jgfduikhfñ. Bastante entretenido
Este ha estado mucho mejor que los dos que me leí antes de contemporánea.
Los dos personajes principales tienen su carácter y Eric me parece jgfduikhfñ. Bastante entretenido
April 28, 2021
It was ok. I like Viking stories and I enjoyed the first, I guess I just get a little wore down with all the antagonism a little of that goes a long way with me. I am heavily weighing on whether I will read the next one or not because all the reviews say it’s much worse and the h is super immature through the whole book 😥😥😥
If you like Viking books and need a read you will enjoy it enough, probably to be worth it. Plot 7(1-10) steaminess 8(1-10)
If you like Viking books and need a read you will enjoy it enough, probably to be worth it. Plot 7(1-10) steaminess 8(1-10)
July 2, 2022
Heather Graham is truly one amazing author.
How she constructs such eloquent and deeply entertaining plots, I have no idea. Her imagination and creativity is beyond comprehension.
I absolutely enjoyed this story; the tension and the angst between the couple were so palpable.
It kept the book so alive and riveting - I had to finish the book in no time at all.
The flow of how the Hero and heroine first met was 'somewhat' similar to the previous book but no less compelling. I simply simply adored this!
The only thing I didn't really like about this book ... was the heroine. She was somewhat annoying; behaving so childishly and selfishly I couldn't help but wanting to knock her head a bit.
She kept going against the Hero and challenging him to the point that she humiliated herself.
However, she did redeemed herself towards the end.
I loved this Viking installments by the author.
How she constructs such eloquent and deeply entertaining plots, I have no idea. Her imagination and creativity is beyond comprehension.
I absolutely enjoyed this story; the tension and the angst between the couple were so palpable.
It kept the book so alive and riveting - I had to finish the book in no time at all.
The flow of how the Hero and heroine first met was 'somewhat' similar to the previous book but no less compelling. I simply simply adored this!
The only thing I didn't really like about this book ... was the heroine. She was somewhat annoying; behaving so childishly and selfishly I couldn't help but wanting to knock her head a bit.
She kept going against the Hero and challenging him to the point that she humiliated herself.
However, she did redeemed herself towards the end.
I loved this Viking installments by the author.
March 13, 2022
Hace décadas, se llevaban las románticas de vikingos, generalmente en plan «civilizada doncella inglesa que doma al bárbaro del norte». Esta no es una excepción: la damisela se llama Rhiannon y el hombre del norte, el príncipe Eric.
Lo del vikingo y la inglesa tienen una dinámica de enemigos a amantes que suele funcionar. Pero aquí no. Es demasiado cansino: peleas continuas sin la menor chispa. El único sitio en el que se llevan medio bien es en la cama, aunque bueno, como era en los noventa, olvidemos eso de que «no es no»: en la romántica de aquella época «no» significa «tira p’adelante, que ya le gustará». No en vano lo llamaban «seducción forzada». En fin, allá tú. Pero luego no digas que no lo he advertido.
Crítica más extensa, cuando cumplió 30 años, en mi blog.
Lo del vikingo y la inglesa tienen una dinámica de enemigos a amantes que suele funcionar. Pero aquí no. Es demasiado cansino: peleas continuas sin la menor chispa. El único sitio en el que se llevan medio bien es en la cama, aunque bueno, como era en los noventa, olvidemos eso de que «no es no»: en la romántica de aquella época «no» significa «tira p’adelante, que ya le gustará». No en vano lo llamaban «seducción forzada». En fin, allá tú. Pero luego no digas que no lo he advertido.
Crítica más extensa, cuando cumplió 30 años, en mi blog.
August 18, 2010
I love this book and Lord of the Wolves! I makes you wish you could have been a part of such a unique and amazing era.
February 1, 2019
Le doy 3.5/5 ⭐
Me gustó mucho más que el primer libro. Creo que los tiempo en los que se desarrolla la trama amorosa están muy bien distribuidos. Pero también me llego a cansar ese amor/odio que hay entre los personajes principales. Tanto que se me hacia repetitivo todo.
Me gustó mucho más que el primer libro. Creo que los tiempo en los que se desarrolla la trama amorosa están muy bien distribuidos. Pero también me llego a cansar ese amor/odio que hay entre los personajes principales. Tanto que se me hacia repetitivo todo.
December 4, 2024
This is a study in misogyny. I can’t fault Rhiannon for acting the way she did. Eric is a cruel person. He’s nothing like his sire who he’s supposed to take after. Also, the king who’s supposed to look after her treated her abominably. This book is disappointing to say the least. 😒
November 29, 2021
I can’t stand this girl for MANY reasons: she goes to war causing lots of people to die, including a lot of her loyal people she has known for years, without proper information, she shoots and injured his horse, shoots and injures him in the leg, she is found naked and engaging in a tryst with a lover after she is ordered by the king to marry another, she sings and dances an embarrassing tale about his Norwegian barbarian people in front of everyone AFTER all the terrible things I’ve listed above without any retaliation from him at a banquet, and then she physically slaps him while all he does is give her idle threats that NEVER come to fruition. This woman never apologizes for all her treachery and feels vindicated in her outrageous actions - she’s too annoying for me. What’s more is this dumb little girl and her unrelenting baseless hate for the hero and his people even though she helped fight in battles, knew there were winners and losers, and after he says he never kills or harms any women in his battles makes her so Ridiculous, hypocritical, and HIGHLY unlikeable!!
January 4, 2014
Un libro de época, primero que nada hay que entender como el hombre trataba antes a la mujer y con eso comenzar a "desmenuzar" el contenido. Yo personalmente lo leí con muchos ánimos, lo leí una noche y la mitad del día siguiente, simplemente te atrapa. Hace reír, llorar y querer matar a todos los personajes y cuando digo a todos es porque ¡son todos!
Tengo que decir que me gustan los hombres a bárbaros, me gusta que tengan esa chispa "machista" pero no la mujer lo somete y bueno, sabemos que termina ganando el amor y la sabiduría. El personaje de Rhiannon es fuerte, decidido y muy pero muy estresante. Eric, mi vikingo. Lo adoré, ame su brutalidad y su pequeño gran corazón, debajo de cada hombre "bárbaro" existe un corazón esperando por la mujer indicada, y si... él encontró la horma de su zapato.
¡Vale totalmente leerlo!
Tengo que decir que me gustan los hombres a bárbaros, me gusta que tengan esa chispa "machista" pero no la mujer lo somete y bueno, sabemos que termina ganando el amor y la sabiduría. El personaje de Rhiannon es fuerte, decidido y muy pero muy estresante. Eric, mi vikingo. Lo adoré, ame su brutalidad y su pequeño gran corazón, debajo de cada hombre "bárbaro" existe un corazón esperando por la mujer indicada, y si... él encontró la horma de su zapato.
¡Vale totalmente leerlo!
August 13, 2010
Hmmm. An easy, summer read. Not sure how I felt about Rhiannon. I enjoyed the historical context .. interesting to compare how women were viewed as property, to be used to seal treaties and form alliances. I could feel her contempt but at the same time felt she wasn't true to herself ... I felt she should have voiced her feelings sooner.
June 29, 2015
I loved this book! I really wanted to hit the MMC thought, and how women didn't have any rights. Not fair. Wish I could've stuck him in the modern world, he would hate it! MWAHAHAHAHA! But I was glad that they finally admitted their feelings :) I kinda read the first chapter a long time ago, I think, it was familiar, and then I put it away, and then I read it again. I liked it :)
May 3, 2015
It was a good read but I felt like I was reading Golden Surrender all over again (which I did love, but was hoping for something different in this sequel). I really enjoyed Eric and learning of Erin and Olaf's life after GS.
September 16, 2013
One of my favourite historical romance novels EVER! If you love Vikings, a spirited woman and comedy (I know, but it's true) then you'll love this book!
Want to read
November 25, 2018NTS: Obnoxious, domineering Alpha a-hole, yum; possibly a bodice ripper
*Check to see if author “neuters” her eBooks.
*Check to see if author “neuters” her eBooks.
September 26, 2008
historical, sweet, passion, romance, aww
May 25, 2017
My last book in 2015.
January 7, 2024
1 Star - DNF @ 45%
Yeah, no. I'm gonna just save my sanity by not finishing this one. 😳🥴
There was one point where the heroine Rhiannon snuck out the day of her wedding to the hero Eric to meet with her beloved twue lurve Rowan. By this point she had (finally) come to terms with the fact she could not run or escape without causing bloodshed. However, she still stupidly met with her twue lurve to have one last moment with him. This as expected was so incredibly dangerous and dumb. Rowan thinks they're gonna run away, she tells him no they have to do as the king says. Both act desperate and exclaim mightly over each thing they say to one another. They kiss and it progresses to the point of them actually getting naked. The whole time Rhiannon thinks what harm is there to lay here and share but one final moment with her twue lurve. Even with them both naked. God, the lack of intelligence in this authors heroines astounds me. Naturally she tells him no, they cannot go further. That this must happen, she must marry the Irish Prince and all while they exclaim more about their sadness and lurve for one another.. neither realizing her betrothed Eric is just across the river where he slept the night before watching their telenovela saga play out. Although not realizing the young lovers included his betrothed at first it doesn't take him long to catch on. And naturally the dude is livid at the sight before him.
Disaster proceeds, of course. The kings men come chasing after them to which Rowan sends her off to run and protect herself while he'll also run. They cannot be found together! And unironically does Rhiannon find herself in just her mantle, naked and shivering at the feet of her betrothed begging for mercy and safe passage as she's about to be forced into marriage with a viperous viking! And dun dun! She looks up only to realize the man she begged for help was the one she attacked at the beginning of the book. She flails, she shouts, she calls him more childish names. Blah blah blah. He also gets to inform her he is in fact the prince she's to marry and not the princes trusted man. She's shocked, she's afraid, she's broken hearted over this news. No, no, no! It cannot be! Oh but it is! 😂
Then while having the nerve to continue to fight him and call him names despite the fact he technically could/is saving her bacon and could protect her if she had but handled herself calmly. Instead, he takes her back to her clothes to dress but then she has the audacity to be angry with him for not giving her the courtesy of turning his back so she can dress. Bitch you are standing before him naked as a jay bird in only your mantle and you're shouting at your would be husband about how he refuses you privacy to clothe yourself when he literally just caught you naked in the arms of your twue lurve?!?!?! 🫣🤣 She then yells at him "How dare you!" When he denies her request. Tbh I laughed ridiculously hard at this because Rihannon was such a prideful fool. So much so it was to her own detriment. She was simply so stupid! She honestly expected him to give her every courtesy due a proper lady because she requested it? Puhleasssse. I'm shocked he didn't whip her for the disrespect.
And this was just the first 28% of the book. By this point I was so exhausted. Annoyed. Disappointed. Rhiannon was acting just as recklessly prideful and moronic as the heroine (Eric's mother) in book one. She was stubborn and childish and lacked any intelligence to clearly handle any situation with an ounce of logic and rationale. All her hatred was based on biased ignorance and fueled by being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn. She was nearly the mirror image of Erin with but a few tweaks to her character. I couldn't stand her.
And Eric! Already he acted exactly as his father did to his mother in book one. And more so, his backstory was so unoriginal. The author literally gave him a similar history as his father's by the fact he had fallen in love with a woman below his rank who died years before. So naturally he doesn't believe in love and sees it as a weakness now. And ofc the dead love was so amazing and sweet and everything a woman should be because she essentially worshipped him blah blah blah.
I held out till past the wedding but I can't read it any longer. Even overlooking the hero so casually talking about raping or beating her on their wedding night... my God this was absolutely awful. So repetitive! For pages upon pages of inner dialogue and thoughts we get NOTHING of worth for the reader or to move the plot along. Absolutely nothing.
I had hoped this book would be better than book one but I shouldn't have bothered. This was SO similar to the previous book that it was absurd. I managed to read one book that had nothing to do with romance and all about two people forced to marry who fought and battled one another their entire book. So, I'm done.
Yeah, no. I'm gonna just save my sanity by not finishing this one. 😳🥴
There was one point where the heroine Rhiannon snuck out the day of her wedding to the hero Eric to meet with her beloved twue lurve Rowan. By this point she had (finally) come to terms with the fact she could not run or escape without causing bloodshed. However, she still stupidly met with her twue lurve to have one last moment with him. This as expected was so incredibly dangerous and dumb. Rowan thinks they're gonna run away, she tells him no they have to do as the king says. Both act desperate and exclaim mightly over each thing they say to one another. They kiss and it progresses to the point of them actually getting naked. The whole time Rhiannon thinks what harm is there to lay here and share but one final moment with her twue lurve. Even with them both naked. God, the lack of intelligence in this authors heroines astounds me. Naturally she tells him no, they cannot go further. That this must happen, she must marry the Irish Prince and all while they exclaim more about their sadness and lurve for one another.. neither realizing her betrothed Eric is just across the river where he slept the night before watching their telenovela saga play out. Although not realizing the young lovers included his betrothed at first it doesn't take him long to catch on. And naturally the dude is livid at the sight before him.
Disaster proceeds, of course. The kings men come chasing after them to which Rowan sends her off to run and protect herself while he'll also run. They cannot be found together! And unironically does Rhiannon find herself in just her mantle, naked and shivering at the feet of her betrothed begging for mercy and safe passage as she's about to be forced into marriage with a viperous viking! And dun dun! She looks up only to realize the man she begged for help was the one she attacked at the beginning of the book. She flails, she shouts, she calls him more childish names. Blah blah blah. He also gets to inform her he is in fact the prince she's to marry and not the princes trusted man. She's shocked, she's afraid, she's broken hearted over this news. No, no, no! It cannot be! Oh but it is! 😂
Then while having the nerve to continue to fight him and call him names despite the fact he technically could/is saving her bacon and could protect her if she had but handled herself calmly. Instead, he takes her back to her clothes to dress but then she has the audacity to be angry with him for not giving her the courtesy of turning his back so she can dress. Bitch you are standing before him naked as a jay bird in only your mantle and you're shouting at your would be husband about how he refuses you privacy to clothe yourself when he literally just caught you naked in the arms of your twue lurve?!?!?! 🫣🤣 She then yells at him "How dare you!" When he denies her request. Tbh I laughed ridiculously hard at this because Rihannon was such a prideful fool. So much so it was to her own detriment. She was simply so stupid! She honestly expected him to give her every courtesy due a proper lady because she requested it? Puhleasssse. I'm shocked he didn't whip her for the disrespect.
And this was just the first 28% of the book. By this point I was so exhausted. Annoyed. Disappointed. Rhiannon was acting just as recklessly prideful and moronic as the heroine (Eric's mother) in book one. She was stubborn and childish and lacked any intelligence to clearly handle any situation with an ounce of logic and rationale. All her hatred was based on biased ignorance and fueled by being stubborn for the sake of being stubborn. She was nearly the mirror image of Erin with but a few tweaks to her character. I couldn't stand her.
And Eric! Already he acted exactly as his father did to his mother in book one. And more so, his backstory was so unoriginal. The author literally gave him a similar history as his father's by the fact he had fallen in love with a woman below his rank who died years before. So naturally he doesn't believe in love and sees it as a weakness now. And ofc the dead love was so amazing and sweet and everything a woman should be because she essentially worshipped him blah blah blah.
I held out till past the wedding but I can't read it any longer. Even overlooking the hero so casually talking about raping or beating her on their wedding night... my God this was absolutely awful. So repetitive! For pages upon pages of inner dialogue and thoughts we get NOTHING of worth for the reader or to move the plot along. Absolutely nothing.
I had hoped this book would be better than book one but I shouldn't have bothered. This was SO similar to the previous book that it was absurd. I managed to read one book that had nothing to do with romance and all about two people forced to marry who fought and battled one another their entire book. So, I'm done.
April 7, 2024
This is book two in Graham’s Viking series and I’m very frustrated. Although the writing is very good, the plots for books one and two were very similar and very angsty. Big, gorgeous Viking comes to town. Beautiful local maiden given in marriage to him by her parent or guardian against her will. Most of the book is her hating him, him reacting to that, and their misunderstanding each other. Somehow, by the end they have fallen in love. But most of the book is angst.
Will read book three because I like to finish a series. Hope it doesn’t follow this pattern, but I suspect it does.
Will read book three because I like to finish a series. Hope it doesn’t follow this pattern, but I suspect it does.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 4, 2021
this was so boring
November 23, 2023
I really liked the initial antagonistic relationship between both main characters. It felt different from what I normally read in romance, and added a lot of tension to the relationship. I found it very intriguing.
However, the antagonism went on a little bit too long. I would have loved to see them start connecting little by little, but it really all just happened in a rush at the end.
However, the antagonism went on a little bit too long. I would have loved to see them start connecting little by little, but it really all just happened in a rush at the end.
June 28, 2011
This was the first book by Heather Graham that I've read and I really liked her writing style. There were a couple of plot twists that kept you guessing as to wich way the story would go.
Rhiannon (h) had no idea that when she saw dragon prows coming ashore that they were there on by invitation of the king, Alfred. Thinking they were under attack, she orders a counter attack.
Eric (H) cant believe that they are under attack. He was asked to be here by King Alfred himself. Thinking it was a set up or trap he fights back and gains control of the fortress.
Alfred has no idea who betrayed him but the only way he can think to salvage this situation is to offer Eric Rhiannon as a wife and all the lands she holds to be his. He needs Eric and his people to help fight against the Danes, without the help all he has worked for is lost.
I loved reading how Rhiannon felt about being given to the "enemy". I thought that Heather Graham did a good job making that realistic as possiable, neither of them falling in love right away or trusting each other too quickly. There was a pretty good "who done it" without it being the main focuse of the whole story. I could have done without the old man who had the gift of sight ( I hate that theme in any book), but in the end I ended up likeing Mergwin's character.
Rhiannon (h) had no idea that when she saw dragon prows coming ashore that they were there on by invitation of the king, Alfred. Thinking they were under attack, she orders a counter attack.
Eric (H) cant believe that they are under attack. He was asked to be here by King Alfred himself. Thinking it was a set up or trap he fights back and gains control of the fortress.
Alfred has no idea who betrayed him but the only way he can think to salvage this situation is to offer Eric Rhiannon as a wife and all the lands she holds to be his. He needs Eric and his people to help fight against the Danes, without the help all he has worked for is lost.
I loved reading how Rhiannon felt about being given to the "enemy". I thought that Heather Graham did a good job making that realistic as possiable, neither of them falling in love right away or trusting each other too quickly. There was a pretty good "who done it" without it being the main focuse of the whole story. I could have done without the old man who had the gift of sight ( I hate that theme in any book), but in the end I ended up likeing Mergwin's character.
June 7, 2020
I WONDER HOW I ENJOYED THE FIRST BOOK, BUT THIS ONE WAS JUST AVERAGE AND I BARELY FELT THE LOVE? THIS IS LIKE A BODICE RIPPER WITHOUT THE RIPPING BUT WITH THE ANNOYING CHARACTERS INTACT WHERE THEY FIGHT INSTEAD OF MAKE LOVE ALL THE TIME.
OKAY, THERE WAS SEX. BUT SEX WON'T SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IN A RELATIONSHIP.
ERIC is the son of Olaf and Erin, and all grown up now he's made his way a-Viking, ending up somewhere on English land, where he then marries the beautiful Rhiannon. It's almost silly to see the way they both are always fighting and I think that got in the way of them coming to know each other as a PERSON, and growing as a couple. RHIANNON herself is against their marriage, her hand given by her guardian without her consent. Rhiannon plans to wed another man, so you can imagine her devastation and for awhile she's allowed her tantrums and what not, but soon it becomes annoying when she barely tries but only sabotages her marriage by being childish, spewing nonsense without filtering through her brain first. The plot itself didn't reel me in either...I just pretty much skimmed through the 19 chapters.
OKAY, THERE WAS SEX. BUT SEX WON'T SOLVE EVERY PROBLEM IN A RELATIONSHIP.
ERIC is the son of Olaf and Erin, and all grown up now he's made his way a-Viking, ending up somewhere on English land, where he then marries the beautiful Rhiannon. It's almost silly to see the way they both are always fighting and I think that got in the way of them coming to know each other as a PERSON, and growing as a couple. RHIANNON herself is against their marriage, her hand given by her guardian without her consent. Rhiannon plans to wed another man, so you can imagine her devastation and for awhile she's allowed her tantrums and what not, but soon it becomes annoying when she barely tries but only sabotages her marriage by being childish, spewing nonsense without filtering through her brain first. The plot itself didn't reel me in either...I just pretty much skimmed through the 19 chapters.
January 28, 2014
Not sure to be honest what I thought about this book. The first page had me drawn in and I think I was expecting more from it to be honest, having said that I didn't not enjoy it.
The story follows the tale of Eric, half viking, half Irish who is born to the earth to do great things. When arriving to help fight along side the King, he is attacked by Rhiannon the Kings Niece. Totally embarrassed by her attack the king grants permission for Eric to marry Rhiannon against her will and when she is already in love with another.
A historic romance, full of mystery and myth. My favorite character has to be the Druid, he always appears when he is needed without being asked and for tells the future of them both.
The story follows the tale of Eric, half viking, half Irish who is born to the earth to do great things. When arriving to help fight along side the King, he is attacked by Rhiannon the Kings Niece. Totally embarrassed by her attack the king grants permission for Eric to marry Rhiannon against her will and when she is already in love with another.
A historic romance, full of mystery and myth. My favorite character has to be the Druid, he always appears when he is needed without being asked and for tells the future of them both.
October 30, 2021
If you have a lust for Vikings read this trilogy, which begins with "Golden Surrender" and ends with "Lord of the Wolves." All revolve around a Viking marrying a woman who hates Vikings. In this book, a relative of Alfred the Great is married to the Irish/Norwegian Viking who is an ally of Alfred, but the heroine doesn't know it. When Alfred insists they marry, it is a Viking "Taming of the Shrew." Graham produces great characters, strong plot lines, and creative sex scenes.
March 14, 2015
Historia que difiere poco de la mayoría de las escritas en este tipo de género. Pero el mayor "problema" que le he encontrado es que la autora, en su afán por hacer hincapie en la fortaleza e independencia de Rhiannon, a ratos la retrata como una mujer bastante insufrible que provoca a Eric por el simple hecho de hacerlo.
January 8, 2022
excellent old school historical romance. i thought there was the right amount of tension between the two and it didn't feel stupid/pointless - they actually both had reason to deeply mistrust and dislike each other. i also thought them eventually falling in love was believable and well executed. love all the action!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews