Her Viking Warrior by Gina Conkle

Her Viking Warrior
Forgotten Sons #2

Gina Conkle
Historical Romance
Published in 2019 [ARC review]

H/h - Bjorn/Ilsa
Setting: AD 930.

Read in August/September, 2019.

My rating:

                                                      [spoiler alert]

I’ve loved Gina Conkle’s books ever since I read her first book back in 2014. She writes well-researched Viking romance that has everything from hot romance, actions and a healthy dose of what you’d call the ancient Viking lifestyle. Book 2 of her newest Viking series Forgotten Sons wasn’t any different. Her Viking Warrior had everything that you can expect in a romance novel.

The series titled Forgotten Sons is based on a band of Viking brothers where they’re mainly connected by circumstances, rather than bloodline. Book 1, Kept by the Viking largely focused on the H and h’s relationship and everything surrounding it, rather than building up a backstory for the heroes of the Forgotten Sons, as they call themselves. Then again, with 6 of them in total, I’m sure the author will reveal their stories one by one in their own books. This, I’d say, works as an element of surprise since right now you don’t know much about the Sons except for the 2 who had already had their stories told. These 6 Viking warriors had known each-other since childhood. They share a very strong bond and would do anything for one another. They’re called Forgotten Sons because of some circumstances or the other has made them leave their own home in search of glory, financial stability and, if possible, a home of their own where they can settle.

In Kept by The Viking, we’re introduced to the leader of the Sons, Rurik and a Frankish slave girl called Safira. They weren’t meant to be together though Safira needed Rurik’s help in getting away from a sh!tty household. In the end it was discovered that Safira was abducted from her wealthy merchant father’s household and sold into slavery. She wanted to get away and return to her family. Little did she know while she was planning that, that a handsome Viking would escort her. She wasn’t expecting much, but got more than what she bargained for. The story had actions and suspense, as Rurik was fighting for a land to settle down, but in a twist of fate he would have to fight someone with whom he shares his bloodline, even though no love was lost between the two. Someone who he’d hated all his life and tried his best to avoid. One of the reasons why he left his home and became a mercenary. Thankfully, with Safira by her side, Rurik would find the strength to claim what he can then rightfully call his own.

Guarding the Countess by Lily Reynard

Guarding the Countess

Lily Reynard
Historical Romance
Published in 2018

H/h - Kit Fitzgeorge/Antonia, Countess of Cranbourne
Setting: England, 1666.

Read in December, 2018.

My rating:

                                                           [spoiler alert]

Guarding the Countess by Lily Reynard was definitely a breath of fresh air. I love me a good medieval romance so I picked this up totally randomly cause I was bored. Then I began reading, and found a gem that hooked me pretty much right from the beginning. I loved the flow of the story, as well as the historical aspects as went so well with it. The book wasn’t a short read by any means but I wasn’t bored once. Needless to say but I’m a new fan!

Guarding the Countess is set around the time of King Charles II (in 1666) with nicely done descriptions of that era. Bonus was the incorporation of historical figures such as Charles II himself and his famous mistress Barbara Palmer. If done well, I really enjoy it in a historical novel because it lends the story a different kind of richness. I’d recommend Morgan O’Neill’s Elizabethan Time Travel series if you’re interested in checking out a few more novels that takes this direction. But, for me, Guarding the Countess—though oftimes pretty dark and intense—romance-wise came off very sweet. Kit and Antonia were simply adorable together. Their journey to HEA was by no means a smooth sailing but they belonged to one another pretty much the moment they met. I give the author a round of applause for her knack for storytelling, her character-building and the way she incorporated those historical characters into this novel.

Antonia, a widowed Countess, have been trying to fend off suitors most of the past year and a half since her husband passed away from small pox. It seemed like though they had a big difference in age, the marriage was a success, in the sense that they had affection for one another and the sex life wasn’t dull either though it didn’t result in any offspring. Antonia is still grieving her husband’s passing but the majority of those suitors didn’t care. It’s mainly because now she’s an extremely wealthy widow and greedy, fortune hunters had no time to wait despite the rumors that Antonia’s beauty was marred by the pox which she contracted while taking care of her husband. Unfortunately, it was no rumor because it did happen. Poor lady’s face was marred, still red from the wounds, though they’re healing and may fade quite a bit in the coming years. But there was no doubt she’s scarred for life.

Lord of Danger by Anne Stuart

Lord of Danger

Anne Stuart
Medieval Romance
Published in 2013 (originally in 1997)

H/h - Simon of Navarre/Lady Alys
Setting: Set around the time of King Henry the III.

Read in October, 2018.

My rating:

                                                   [spoiler alert]

Lord of Danger was another Anne Stuart book that intrigued me when I read the blurb. I dived into it not really reading too many reviews, but I had heard of it before being one of her classic HRs. My first attempt at her big backlist wasn’t very successful. Didn’t like that book much but I was enough ensnared into the magic of her writing that I wanted to read more. And man was I struck surprised by this one! Lord of Danger, simply put, just worked for me. So marvelously that... ah!

I’m a big fan of well-written medieval romances doesn’t matter whether the hero is a big, grumpy oaf in need of some loving or a straight bad boy who likes to hide away his heart of gold because he feels vulnerable to expose that part of him to the world. Our H, Simon of Navarre falls under the latter category. And though I’m not always fond of bad boy rakes, sometimes even I have to give in and admit defeat to his mastery. I can only say that I don’t blame Alys for falling for Simon.

Alys and her younger sister, Claire, had been living with nuns since they were young. Both born on the wrong side of the blanket so their only eldest half-brother, the legit heir to everything Richard the Fair, send them to the convent. Alys was barely a few yrs old when she was tore away from her ill and dying mother’s arms, never to see her again. I don’t really know much about Claire, only that her mother was either a prostitute or a tavern maid who abandoned her after she was born. Well, yep, their father was a piece of work who couldn’t keep it in his pants. Who knows how many of his bastards roamed all over England! Richard has duly, and may I say proudly(?), followed his father’s tradition in that regard. -_- Both Alys and Claire were much younger than him so when his father cocked up his toes, he banished them ASAP not wanting brats underfoot.

The Princess by Elizabeth Elliott

The Princess
Montagues #5

Elizabeth Elliott
Medieval Romance
Published in 2018

H/h - Faulke Segrave/Princess Isabel Plantagenet
Setting: The time of King Edward I.

Read in July, 2018.

My rating:

                                                        [spoiler alert]

After 6 long years, book 5 of Elizabeth Elliott’s the Montagues series, The Princess was finally published in June of this year. I was quite excited because every year I’d check at least once for any news without any luck whatsoever. Then again, the author stopped publishing for a long time before book 4, The Dark Knight (titled The Assassin before publication) was published in 2012. I like her writing a lot but big gaps between installments hinders the enjoyment sometimes. My discovery of her work was rather sudden; I had read the first 3 books already by then and enjoyed them enough to continue on with the series.

Before I get into my review, I want to mention a few things here about the series in case a new reader wants to know: The first 3 books, The Warlord (#1- 1995), Betrothed (#2 - 1996) and Scoundrel (#3 - 1996) were connected to each-other by characters. Set in the medieval era, more precisely around Edward I’s reign, the first 2 books are of the Montague brothers Kenric and Guy. Book 3 is regency set, of a descendant of one of the brothers. I count book 3 as a standalone release. Book 4 is also set around the time of 1 and 2, however, the storyline veered away from the original Montagues. In book 2 we were introduced to Dante Chiavari, who turned out to be the brother of the heroine of book 2, Claudia. He was a minor but a mysterious character and I was totally interested in knowing more about him. In that sense, The Dark Knight and The Princess are more connected than the previous 3 books. In fact, the Montagues were barely mentioned in the new release.

Dante is Italian and had a sad past when his parents were murdered by his greedy uncle. He came to England with his elder brother and only sister Claudia. Elder brother was another greedy bastard that died in book 1 or 2 in a battle with one of the Montague brothers. But Claudia and Guy fell in love and married. Dante, however, couldn’t fall in love with anyone. The darkness of how his parents were murdered, with the urge for brutal vengeance against the man who did so and took away the riches and lands that should’ve been his and Claudia’s, was eating at him for a long time. At a point while growing up, Dante came in contact with one of Kind Edward’s closest advisers, Mordecai. He’s also a mysterious individual with supernatural powers. He can see into the future and people believe in him. He’s also trained in many tactics to bring any enemy of the King down. Assassination was one of the most common deeds and Mordecai had trained people in the past just for that purpose. Dante became one of them. The King’s Assassin that everyone whispered about but no one would directly point a finger towards him cause they were scared. Yet, Dante had dark hair and intense green eyes; a handsome man by all means.

Release Blitz: Misfortune of Time by Christy Nicholas

Today, I'm hosting a promo on Christy Nicholas's latest release, Misfortune of Time (Druid's Brooch #6), as a part of the ongoing release blitz. Also find an excerpt for your enjoyment.

Misfortune of Time

Christy Nicholas

(Druid's Brooch #6)

Published: July 11, 2018 by Tirgearr Publishing

-- Time Doesn't Heal All Wounds --

In 11th century Ireland, Étaín must hide her pagan magic from her pious Christian priest husband, Airtre. She wants to escape his physical abuse, but she must stay to protect their grandson, Maelan. Over many lifetimes, she has learned how to endure her own pain, but Maelan is young and vulnerable.

When Airtre's paranoia and jealousy spiral out of control, Étaín has no choice but to escape in the night with little more than the clothing on her back, leaving a trusted friend to protect Maelan.

This is not the first lifetime Étaín has fled, and she knows how to survive. But when her past comes back to haunt her, she must make decisions that may result in disaster for her, her grandson, and everyone she loves.

Buy Links:
Amazon | KOBO | iTunes | Smashwords

Kept by the Viking by Gina Conkle

Kept by the Viking
Forgotten Sons #1

Gina Conkle
Historical Romance
Published in 2018 [requested review]

H/h - Rurik of Birka/Safira Alzaud
Setting: AD 930.

Read in May/June, 2018.

My rating:

                                                     [spoiler alert]

Gina Conkle is known for her hot and well-written Viking romances. Kept by the Viking, book 1 in a brand new series, is the latest in her growing backlist. Though I had a slow beginning, I really enjoyed the storyline and thought the H and h were absolutely adorable together.

The series titled Forgotten Sons is based on a band of Viking brothers where they’re mainly connected by circumstances, rather than bloodline. But Kept by the Viking largely focuses on the H and h’s relationship and everything surrounding it, rather than building up a backstory for the heroes of the Forgotten Sons, as they call themselves. Then again, there are 6 of them and I’m sure the author will reveal their stories in their own books. All I could gather that they had known each-other since childhood. They share a very strong bond and would do anything for one another. They’re called Forgotten Sons because of some circumstances or the other has made them leave their own home in search of glory, financial stability and, if possible, a home of their own where they can settle.

Kept by the Viking is the story of Rurik, the leader of the Forgotten Sons; a son of Birka, his birthplace. Rurik didn’t have a great childhood, and the aftermaths of that shaped his entire life every way possible. His father, Vlad, was a mean, merciless man whose show of ‘affection’ came with the use of his fist. He had treated Rurik’s mother like the dirt, and at one point, when the young Rurik rebelled against it he was beaten mercilessly. There are more stories of Vlad’s violence, but needless to say, since he left them Rurik or his mother, brother and sisters didn’t shed a single tear for that POS. He hates his father with a passion that rivals his need to possess his own lands.