Month: May 2023

Blog Tour ~ Claimed by the Viking Chief by Sarah Rodi

On By TracyIn Ancient Britain, Blog Tour, Middle Ages / Medieval (476-1454), Part of a Series, Tracy's Reviews, VikingLeave a comment

Claimed by the Viking Chief

She can be his lover

…but never his wife!

Forced into servitude, Wren is quietly miserable…until Jarl Knud arrives at her settlement, seeking an alliance through marriage. Despite their initial sizzling attraction, Wren despises everything the Jarl represents—and he needs a high-status bride to save his people, not a servant like her. As Wren uncovers the man beneath the fierce Viking chief she’s tempted to claim one forbidden night of passion…but will it ever be enough?

Purchase Links :

UK ~ US

Author Bio:

Sarah Rodi has always been a hopeless romantic. She grew up watching old, romantic movies recommended by her grandad, or devouring love stories from the local library. Sarah lives in the village of Cookham in Berkshire, where she enjoys walking along the River Thames with her husband, her two daughters and their dog.

She has been a magazine journalist for over 20 years, but it has been her lifelong dream to write romance for Harlequin/Mills & Boon. New for 2023, she is the New Writers Scheme Coordinator for the Romantic Novelists’ Association.

Sarah believes everyone deserves to find their happy ever after.

Social Media Links:

Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Instagram ~ BookBub

Tracy’s Review:

Claimed by the Viking ChiefClaimed by the Viking Chief by Sarah Rodi

Tracy’s rating: 4 of 5 stars

Series: N/A

Release Date: May 23, 2023

When she was just five years old, Wren was ripped from her family during a raid and taken captive by the Chief of Boer. When he returned to his home the chief gave Wren to his daughter Ingrid as her personal slave and companion. Over the years Wren has settled into her life and gives Ingrid her complete loyalty when Ingrid becomes the Earl, secretly hoping that Ingrid will free her from slavery. But with the real threat of attacks from the Earl of Forsa, the leader of a neighboring tribe, and the impending arrival of Jarl Knud who is intent on marriage to unite their tribes against Forsa, it is clear that freeing Wren is the last thing on Earl Ingrid’s mind. Wren doesn’t trust the Danes and worries that once Ingrid marries her new husband will never free her. But despite her initial dislike of Knud, she can’t deny the attraction she feels and knows that as a thrall, she could never be anything more than a lover to him, but that doesn’t stop her from wanting to explore the passion simmering between them.

Knud is tempted by the lovely and feisty Wren, but she stirs feelings that he doesn’t want to feel. His people have suffered enough thanks to his emotions and it is important that he doesn’t fail them again. He doesn’t want to hurt Wren, but he can’t risk falling in love with her, so he will marry Ingrid to protect both tribes from the Earl of Forsa and protect his heart from breaking. But a surprising twist will change everything, and with Wren’s life hanging in the balance, he will finally accept that he is in love with her, but is it too late?

This was a great read, well-written and nicely paced, albeit heavy on angst. Wren has suffered, but she is a kind soul and loyal to a fault, even after incredible betrayal. Knud has also suffered although in a completely different way, and he wears his pain like armor. He feels such guilt over his past actions and is willing to sacrifice his happiness to try and make up for his past mistakes. This story is filled with a lot of emotion; a lot of sorrow, pain, and angst, so it is not a light read, but neither is it depressing or dark. There will be many things keeping our lovers apart, but ultimately, love will win the day and Knud and Wren will find their HEA! This book is loosely connected to the previous book and those characters play a role in this story, but it can easily be read as a standalone title. I liked this story, but it was a bit heavier than I had anticipated, so be warned, this is not a light, fluffy read, but I would recommend it.

*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an eARC that I requested and was provided to me by the publisher. All opinions in this review are my own.*

A Lesson for All Time by Shannon Gilmore

On By BarbaraIn Barb's Reviews, Part of a Series, Regency Era (1811-1820)Leave a comment

A Lesson for All Time: Ruined Rakes Book Three (Ruined Rakes Series 3)Barbara’s rating: 5 out of 5 Stars
Series: Ruined Rakes #3
Publication Date: 5/23/23
Period: Regency
Number of Pages: 322

This book was a delight all the way through – from the ‘meet cute’ until the HEA, you couldn’t have found two people who were more perfectly suited to each other. He thinks she is a spoiled rotten, privileged product of the ton – and she is, but she is so much more. She thinks he is a stable master at the Duke of Foxwood’s country estate. How will very prim and proper Lady Constance manage to totally defeat Mr. Derek? Well, it certainly won’t be with demure patience because she has none. It will be with a full-on frontal assault – and he can run, but he can’t hide. The book was delightfully witty, humorous, and populated with characters who were very likable and relatable.

Lady Constance Whitmore, the only daughter of the Earl of Buckthorn, is definitely a product of the ton. She is proper, doesn’t misbehave, follows appropriate protocols and rules, and she’s learned how to make that work so she almost always gets what she wants. She usually tells the truth, but perhaps not all of it, or perhaps it is a tad stretched, or maybe she just totally misunderstands – but she doesn’t lie. Telling the flat-out, unvarnished truth – complete with inappropriate words – has gotten her into trouble and banned to Foxwood, the country estate of a family friend. OOPS! Perhaps, though, being banished isn’t necessarily a bad thing. She’s got freedoms she never has in London – and there is that very intriguing stable master who could give her some lessons . . .

Julian Derek Montgomery, son of a Marquess, grandson of a Duke, and carrying the courtesy title Earl of Westforde wants absolutely nothing to do with the ton. He avoids the ton like it was the plague, yet, here he is, being tempted by a female who is everything he despises about the ton. She is a tempting little morsel though, and he is a gentleman. But . . .

I loved it when we got to the obligatory big scene where they have the big breakup. While that scene in most books seems very contrived to get it into the story, It was very realistic and believable in this one.

I definitely recommend this book as an excellent read. For me though, I REALLY wanted there to be an epilogue – but we didn’t even get a wedding. Somehow, I never feel the story is complete until we get the wedding – for me, that makes the HEA believable. At any rate, it was an excellent story with wonderful characters and I just know you’ll love it. I sure did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

View all my reviews