Series Name: The Shieldmaiden Sisters, #1
“She knew some men would struggle to love a shieldmaiden. They were too independent and fierce for ordinary men. She’d seen it over and over again with her mother.”
Get ready to go on an epic romantic adventure with the first book in Lucy Morris’s new series.
In close quarters…
With the Viking she’d loved and lost
A Shieldmaiden Sisters story—with her family fallen on hard times, Valda’s forced to join the crew on Halfdan Ulfsson’s merchant ship as he sets sail on the treacherous silk route. But this handsome jarl’s son is the man she’d planned to wed, until his bitter betrayal. Knowing she can never trust him, she must focus on saving her sisters…and not the intense connection that still burns between them!
This book really has it all: steamy romance, family drama, action, and betrayal. I am always pleasantly surprised at how much content and detail some Harlequin Historical books can have. They are short and fast reads (usually around 200 pages), but Lord, they have so much to offer their readers. Lucy’s latest book is a prime example of this. Lucy has created this story that is gripping, steamy, and filled with lush and vibrant details. The pacing is smooth, like a river with turbulent rapids placed at just the right moments. I started this book late one night and was so absorbed in the story that I finished it in the wee hours of the morning.
The story follows Valda, who is struggling to find a way to make money so her family can buy their own farm. Halfdan, who is Valda’s first love, offers her a spot on his merchant ship where she can earn the money she so desperately needs. If you are a fan of second chances and forced proximity romances with plenty of steam, you will love the relationship between Valda and Halfdan. They both have such strong and stubborn personalities, which means that the sparks between them and banter are just on fire and oh so delicious. They are both fabulous characters with a lot of depth and layers. I really enjoyed watching as these two got to know each other again.
I loved getting to explore the world of the Vikings and travelling with Halfdan’s crew as they traded goods with different groups of people. It was just so fascinating to see how all these different communities live. Travelling on his merchant ships was exciting and interesting, and you could tell that Lucy had done her research when it came to those vital details that are so important to historical novels.
I cannot wait to read the next installment in this series, which will follow the story of Brynhild and Erik. The excerpt that is included at the end of the book had me wishing I had the second book in my hands now because I want to know what happens next.
The Viking She Would Have Married is an exciting epic tale with plenty of steamy romance.
Thank you, Harlequin Historical, Mills and Boon, and Rachel Random Resources, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
