Series: Forbidden Vikings #2
Publication Date: 21st January 2014
Pages: 288
Book Source: Harlequin & NetGalley
Synopsis: She’s Testing His Resolve!
Warrior Viking Ragnar Olafsson stood by as his best friend claimed the woman he desired the most. There was only one way to quench the deep darkness within him—become merciless in battle.
When Elena is taken captive, fearless Ragnar risks everything to save her. Now they are stranded with only each other for company. Suddenly every longing, every look, every touch is forbidden. Elena could tempt a saint—and sinner Ragnar knows he won’t be able to hold out for long!
Karen's Thoughts:
Michelle Willingham is a favourite author
of mine and I particularly enjoyed her MacEgan Brothers series. I’m noted for
loving a historical romance set in Scotland but this time we cross the waters
to Ireland.
I will be upfront and disclose that
somehow when I came to read To
Tempt a Viking, I missed reading the first book, To Sin with a Viking. I
realized fairly early on that I was reading a sequel as there were gaps in the
story and I felt like I was missing something. The storyline of To Sin
with a Viking and To Tempt a Viking run parallel to each other. For a
better reading experience I would highly recommend you read book one first.
After finishing the second book, I went back to read the first but
knowing what was going to happen did spoil things a little.
That said I still enjoyed To Tempt a
Viking. Set in Ireland in the year 875, Styr and Elena have left their homeland
of Norway and venture to Ireland planning a new start to hopefully save
their barren marriage. Elena has been unable to conceive a child in their five
year marriage and has slowly withdrawn from Styr.
Things go awry when they come across a
settlement, Styr is captured and Elena kidnapped. Styr’s best friend
Ragnar follows Elena to protect her. All three have been friends since
childhood and Ragnar has always had a secret longing for Elena to be his own.
It was refreshing to read a story that was a little different to the usual arranged marriage storyline. Most of the historical romances involving arranged marriages that I've read, involve the married couple not wanting the arrangement but growing to love each other, where as it was the reverse in To Tempt a Viking.
Guest review by Karen
Connect with Michelle Willingham
I haven't read this author yet but your review made me add this series to my list!
ReplyDeleteMichelle has some great series published if you like historicals Mary. MacKinloch's are set in Scotland and MacEgan's are set in Ireland. Hope you get a chance to pick up some of Michelle's books.
DeleteThanks for a great review on this ... I might have to check this series out!!!!
ReplyDeleteHope you get a chance to Julie.
DeleteWill follow your advice and definitely read this series in order ... I'm a bit anal about that anyway lol. Thanks for another great review Karen :)
ReplyDeleteI am fussy about reading a series in order too Teddyree, no idea who I missed the release of the first book because I love Michelle's books and follow her on FB….must have been all that studying I did last year!
DeleteSo he goes for Elena...what happens with Styr? Oh now I wanna know
ReplyDeleteStyr's story is the first book Blodeuedd, To Sin With A Viking. I think my rating would be higher if I had read the books in order. Usually books are fine as stand alones but as these two books run parallel in time I think its much better to read them in order.
DeleteFelicia S, well worth reading. I love Michelle Willingham's writing and its not enough I get to read historicals in the viking setting so that was a nice change.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip about reading the series out of order, I hate that! This looks like one I'd like.
ReplyDeleteI hope you get to read this series stacybuckeye. Michelle Willingham is one of my favourite authors and whilst this one wasn't my favourite of hers, I still enjoyed reading them….just wish I'd done it in the right order lol!
Delete