Forced to wed the warrior...
Falling for the man…
Noblewoman Amée Évreux had pledged her life to God, until
her father promised her in marriage to thundering Norseman Jorund Jötunnson.
After escaping her overbearing father, Amée vows never to fall under another
man's thumb, but her resistance to being Jorund's wife turns to desire as she
gets to know her intriguing new husband. For beneath his fierce exterior she's
glimpsed an unexpectedly pure heart. If only she can penetrate the fortress
that surrounds it…
I enjoyed this slightly different take on the classic
Viking romance. Amée entered the nunnery believing that she would finally escape
her father and gain some peace. After witnessing and experiencing her father's
abuse of her mother and her, Amée swore she would never again put herself under
a man's thumb. But as the book opens, a group of Vikings batter down the door
of the nunnery, its leader there to claim Amée's hand in marriage. Amée is furious,
frightened, and unwillingly fascinated.
Jorund was awarded the lands of Évreux by his friend and
overlord Rollo, aka Count Robert, while the count's wife arranged the marriage to
bridge the divide between conquered and conqueror. Jorund looks forward to settling
down with a wife, children, and the prospect of peace.
I liked Amée and Jorund. She may be tiny, but she can be
fierce when defending her people. She has a fighting spirit and refuses to give
up hope of finding a purpose in her life. Jorund was a surprise. He is large
and intimidating but has a kind and honorable heart. Rather than rule by fear,
he leads with insight and perception.
I enjoyed watching the development of the relationship
between Amée and Jorund. He is willing to give Amée time to get to know him and
lets her know it is up to her when to move forward. Amée initially intends to
find a way to return to the nunnery and keeps Jorund at a distance. But the
more time they spend together, the more they like each other. But each has
baggage from their pasts that make it difficult to open up completely to each
other. Jorund's early life as a Viking warrior has left him feeling unworthy of
her and unwilling to tell her why. Amée's experiences with her father make it challenging
to trust Jorund, and her misinterpretation of his relationship with the female
warrior Valda compounds the distrust.
I loved Jorund's patience and protectiveness as he kept a
tight rein on his feelings. It is easy to see how much he wants Amée to be part
of the life he dreams of. Amée's feelings for Jorund grew stronger despite her
misperceptions, and I liked how she went after what she wanted. A visit by
Count Robert and Gisela helps Amée along with that goal. Matters become
complicated when Amée's father shows up for an unexpected visit. I ached for Amée
as she endured her father's attitude and cheered when she realized she no longer
had to accept it. Jorund's protectiveness and suspicions are aroused when Amée
is attacked while they are riding. I loved the scene where he confronts the
person behind it. The icing on the cake is when he discovers what haunts her and
takes steps to end it. I also loved seeing him tell her about his past and how
she showed him how it brings out the good in him. The epilogue was terrific.
One of the things I liked about this book was how
skillfully the author wove in information about the cultural differences
between the characters and the history of the conflict that brought them to
that point. I loved the slow building of trust between the Vikings and the town's
people. It felt realistic in tone and detail. The descriptions of the land and
buildings were vivid enough for me to visualize them easily.
This was my first book by this author, but it won't be
the last.
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