Review: Norse Jewel
Rating: 4 out of 5
Date: 07 1, 2013
If you've read any of my reviews before, you may know I'm not the biggest fan of romance. I usually skip novels that are solely romance, but NORSE JEWEL caught my eye because it was about Vikings. VIKINGS!Captured by the Danes, Helena desperately wants to regain her freedom and return to her homeland and her betrothed. She can't believe that she is now a thrall -- a slave. But when Hakan, a Norse chieftain looks over the thralls for sale, she senses that he is her best chance, and she almost begs him to buy her. That combination of strong, gutsy, yet vulnerable heroine endeared me to Helena.Hakan is a great character, too. He's proud, an alpha male to the core, but he also has a generous and sensitive side. Despite owning Helena, he treats her amazingly well, putting her above the other thralls and giving her a lot of freedom. Part of the reason for Helena's good treatment, I'm sure, is because Hakan wanted her to willingly come to him... he's too honorable to just take what's his.Aside from the slowly developing relationship between thrall and master, there was much more plot in NORSE JEWEL than I expected. The romance was a nice, slow burn, which I personally like much more than the main characters falling into bed every other chapter. For me, it adds to the believability, and also gives more opportunities for romance. There were lots of nice sweet gestures between Helena and Hakan, gestures which even fit into the historical period. As for the plot -- Hakan has an ex-wife (I liked finding out about Viking divorce customs) and a son, and he also has a close relationship with the king, which tugs him in different directions.NORSE JEWEL was a quick read for me, well-written and engaging, sprinkled with historical details. Helena and Hakan's relationship wasn't a sure thing -- there was some angst and conflict with Helena's desire to be free -- but as I've said, I like that. There IS a happily ever after ending, after a very steamy scene. I did have some unanswered questions, mostly plot-related, but I think they'll be wrapped up in the next book, NORSE FIRE.Overall, I enjoyed NORSE JEWEL. As I don't typically read romance, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked it. I think it was due to the strong characters of Helena and Hakan, the details of daily Norse life, and the sweet romance.Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.