Review: I didn't want to like it
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 20, 2011
Jarl Radulfr is a warrior, the chieftain of his people. It is his duty to protect and fight for them. But duty comes at a price. Radulfr has no one to call his own. When his clan is attacked, he accepts a bride in a peace-pledge to avoid war with a neighboring clan. He doesn't know until he arrives that the bride he has come to claim is a man. His betrothed is not what he expected, but Radulfr has sworn upon his honor to accept the peace-pledge. It doesn't hurt that Ein is pretty damn cute. Radulfr decides to accept things as they are and begins to take Ein home. But there are those that don't want them to reach home--gods, mercenaries, and the man who started the war in the first place. Radulfr and Ein will have to use all of their wits, and the growing bond between them, to keep themselves alive because gifts from the gods come at a price.So I'm not really into Viking stories as a rule - and I delayed buying this one (even though I usually like this author) because I wasn't into the genre.I like paranormal mm romances - especially those with a strong, rough man matched with a more submissive man. Luckily, this story more than fulfilled my wishes.Yes, there were new talents and gifts from the gods that cropped up throughout the story which might have been a little slick - except that they added to the storyline rather than detracted. For example, at one point we meet beserkers which turn out to be shapeshifters and who join up with our heroes on their journeys. I don't think you need to have prior knowledge of Vikings - but it might seem like there are new things being thrown in constantly if you don't.Since I like new worlds and fantasy landscapes, I really liked this book - wish the characters had been a little more fleshed out, but that's often my complaint in these romances. The good news is that there is plenty of plot, not just a few lines thrown in between sex scenes.