Series:
Rise of the Ivarssons (Book 2)
Her tempting enemy
Is a chink in her armor!
Viking shield maiden Svea Ivarsson would far rather face
Saxon warriors than be on the run with the fiercely captivating Lord Ashford
Stanton, protector to the Saxon king. Reaching Ash's family castle, Svea must
swap her chain mail for life as a lady. She can wield a sword like an expert,
but no training has prepared her for craving the touch of her greatest enemy…
Terrific enemies-to-lovers story. Svea is Brand's sister
(
The Viking's Stolen Princess). She is shown as a fierce warrior equal to any
of the men. She plays a large part in the resolution of that story's conflict. But
a thread is left hanging when the Saxon king's right-hand man, Lord Ashford
Stanton, prevents Svea from killing her enemy. This book picks up immediately
after the previous one. Svea attends her brother's wedding and, afterward,
makes her feelings about Ash's actions obvious during the feast. The
next day, Svea accompanies Ash and the king's party as they leave for home,
tasked with guiding them through the marshes. Neither of them expects their
group to be ambushed and to be the only ones who escape capture. Now they must
work together to effect a rescue.
I enjoyed seeing the development of the relationship
between Ash and Svea. Svea is a fierce warrior, driven by her past traumas, and
keeps everyone at a distance, especially men. She is not interested in romance
or relationships and is surprised by her attraction to Ash. She sees him only
as the enemy, a Saxon who got his position because of his birth and is disturbed
by the feelings he stirs in her. At the same time, Ash keeps himself under iron
control. He has a secret in his past that makes him fear what could happen if
he allows the "monster" inside loose. Svea puzzles him with her warrior's
bravado and feminine appearance. He's impressed with her skills but bothered by
his attraction to her.
During their journey to his family's castle, Ash and Svea
discover that they have misjudged each other. They have more in common than
either expected, and I liked the tentative beginning of their friendship. Each
realized that there are good and bad people on both Saxon and Dane sides. I
loved their arrival at Braewood and seeing how they handled the chaos they
found there. As their attraction toward each other grew, Svea had to decide if
she trusted Ash enough to let down her guard, and Ash had to exercise great
control not to rush her. Unfortunately, once they have given in to that
attraction, Ash's protective streak overcomes his confidence in Svea's fighting
abilities, and he makes a boneheaded move. I ached for Svea and her feelings of
betrayal and anger.
The final confrontation at the king's stronghold was
intense. Both Svea and Ash learn important lessons during that battle. I hurt
for Ash, who finally comes to terms with who he is but thinks he is no good for
Svea. Meanwhile, Svea is battling her pride and a broken heart. I loved how
Brand set her straight and made it possible for her to go after her heart's
desire. I loved seeing Ash's reaction to Svea's arrival and seeing their
emotional reunion. All that is left is to find out Ash's fate regarding
Braewood. The epilogue was fantastic. I can't wait to see what is next from
this author.
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