"A Fantastic Read!"

Ms. Mathis has penned a very strong historical romance with larger than life characters set during a time period that is often overlooked by romance writers and readers alike. The end result...at treat for the reader to be sure.

Isabel is the half sister of a King and as a result of this she must live to a certain standard. Behaving like a hoyden is not actually acceptable and her rash actions are finally going to catch up with her. After a wild forbidden ride on a horse a dark haired, blue-eyed angel will rescue her. Her rescuer though, will soon need her help in order to save his life. Isabel does so and not knowing his name, or his reason for being there she walks away thinking she will never see him again. Two years later her rescuer will return but bring questions and destruction to what she holds dear. Or is he really there to save her again?

Kol is a warlord with a curse sitting over his head. He has come back to gain his revenge for past hurts, and is stunned when he comes face to face with his lady savior. She has grown from pretty girl, to beautiful woman. She is also strong, proud, and loyal...but is she loyal to those that want to hurt her? She is now a mother as well and thinks that Kol is the father of her son. This means a foul deed that he didn't perpetrate. Now he must prove that he is not the defiler she thinks he is and at the same time shielding his heart from Isabel. She softens him as no other can. She represents the one thing he can never have. Love of a good woman. Will he be able to walk away from her when he has seen to his revenge?

I at turns had a love hate relationship with this read. I loved the history, the setting, and the characters. I had problems at times with Isabel's stubborn pride and endless need to lie to our hero. This truly wore thin after awhile. The saving grace though was our hero Kol. He was truly a finally drawn character a worthy hero. Ms. Mathis is a fresh voice in historical romance and her sweet but sensual read was fun to escape into for a short time.

Reviewed by Kristi Ahlers
Posted June 9, 2006

Summary

In this sexy, emotional debut, a beautiful Saxon princess must guard her heart against the formidable Viking who is the enemy of her people...

True love can conquer the fiercest warrior...

Kol Thorleksson, the powerful Viking warrior known as the Sea King, owes his life to the young Saxon woman who risked everything to free him from bondage. Two years later, he has returned to Norsex, this time to wreak vengeance on those who plotted to destroy him. He is shocked to discover that the lovely woman who helped him regain his freedom is the sister of the tyrant who sought to take it away.

Not a day has passed without Princess Isabel of Norsex thinking of the handsome Viking who crossed her path. But when her peaceful world is threatened by barbarians, the last thing she expects is to find Kol at their helm. Now, with danger lurking in every corner of her kingdom, Isabel finds herself torn between her sworn allegiance and her traitorous heart...