Read Online Hearts Aflame Haardrad Family Johanna Lindsey 9780380899821 Books

Product details Series Haardrad Family (Book 2) Mass Market Paperback 368 pages Publisher Avon (June 1, 1987) Language English ISBN-10 9780380899821 ISBN-13 978-0380899821 ASIN 0380899825

Hearts Aflame Haardrad Family Johanna Lindsey 9780380899821 Books Reviews

• HEARTS AFLAME is the second book in Johanna Lindsey's "Haardrad Family" trilogy, and is one of her older stories which was originally published in 1987. The heroine, Kristen, is the daughter of Brenna and Garrick, the couple from "Fires of Winter" which is the first book in the series. Its set in the Early Middle Ages, specifically 873 A.D. and is a truly and thoroughly captivating story about a strong Viking woman and a powerful Saxon Lord...
  
  Kristen was just a delightful character who was funny, sweet, brave, and immensely lovable. Royce was a somewhat hard and cold man, a fact of which life has made him. He hates all Viking people, and with very sound reason. Royce fights his desire for Kristen throughout most of the story, but it's impossible not to love her. There's a strong attraction, great chemistry, and exquisite passion between them. Although Kristen becomes his slave, I thought Royce treated her well for her new and lowly status. He was not cruel or overly harsh toward her, and I loved them both as a couple and as individuals.
  
  Overall I thought this was an engaging, adventuresome, and wonderfully romantic love story. While I don't always like Viking romances because of the slave aspect, Kristen does not bemoan or fight her fate and made this story not only inoffensive, but a lot of fun. I totally loved it and was completely engrossed form beginning to end. I would absolutely recommend it and look forward to "Surrender My Love" next, which is the final book in this amazing and unforgettable series!
• This is the second in the Viking Hardraad family trilogy and features Kristen, Garrick and Brenna's only daughter. She is of marriageable age and is kindasorta promised to the son of Garrick's friend, but she loves Sheldon like a brother. She wants to go with her brother and his friends when they go on a trading voyage and hopefully find a husband. So she sneaks aboard their ship and hides in the cargo hold and isn't discovered for two days.
  
  When Selig discovers her, he is furious because they actually are going RAIDING not trading. They plan to raid a Saxon monastery, to which Kristen really objects because she has adopted her mother's Christian faith.
  
  Anyway, the raiding doesn't go as planned either. They are ambushed by an armed force of Saxons and taken captive. Selig is nowhere to be seen and is presumed dead. The men try to hide Kristen's gender to keep her from being raped, but when the Saxon lord begins to whip her to force the men to tell him who she is, Royce sees she is female.
  
  Royce's first fiancée was murdered by Danish Viking's so he has good reason to hate. Vikings. But he soon learns that in spot of himself, he cannot hate Kristen. In fact, he wants her desperately. Kristen likes his looks too and definitely lusts for him; even though she hates being a slave, she can't help falling in love with Royce.
  
  The book starts off a bit slow, but Kristen is such a fabulous heroine that I will overlook that slight downfall. Royce isn't as fully fleshed out as Kristen, but I adore him simply because he was so torn by his growing affection for Kristen. What I liked even more was after Kristen told him that she doesn't like his fiancée, he goes and breaks his engagement without any assurance that Kristen will marry him.
  
  As this is an OSRB, at first their physical relationship is perhaps a little bit forced seduction, although the reader knows full well that Kristen is attracted to Royce. Honestly the spanking bothered me more than the "forced" sex scenes. Kristen is only "forced" when she wants to be forced.
  
  Still a mesmerizing book after all these years!
• I have been looking for a good book with a strong heroine in the story. One that didn't cry constantly or whine at every page. I was tired of reading about these weak women who wouldn't stand up for themselves. And if I had to read about a woman "sobbing uncontrollably" one more time....
  I finally found that book. I couldn't stop reading it. Kristian is the exact heroine I imagined I would write about if I had any writing skills. She was brave, bold, and no one was able to humiliate her without her giving some back. She could even kick some a!@#.
  The sex scenes.... o.m.g. if I could combust like these characters can... oh my. He never took what she didn't want to already give which I loved. But I loved that she made him work for It!
  Can't express my feelings enough about this book!
• I especially like most all I've read have exceptionally strong women. Hooray for our side. Was a bit flustered when finished book 1 (Brenna and Garricks story) Then found 2&3. This is favorite so far, bits and pieces of history of 800's add to great characters and story line. Sure we know the basics and if you read 1 and how stubborn both are we know will be the usual happy ever after but a fun trip getting there. Lindsey always includes just enough steamy without going over the top. Just a great fun read. On to Seligs story!!!