Review: Vikings :)
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 08 13, 2013
I don't normally read historical romances that go back so far in history, but I have a soft spot for Vikings as there is much talk about my heritage being linked to vikings.Helena is a Frank captured by the Danes when they raid her small village. He betrothed ran the other way instead of trying to help her get away. When one of the raiders tried to take the pouch around her neck she fought him and in the process she got a huge cut on the side of her face.Now Helena is in a cage waiting for someone to buy her as a slave, but she is worried that the one who marred her might come back and finish her off. So when she sees Hakan she sees it as her chance to get out of the place with her life. Not that she want's to be a Nor'man's thrall but she doesn't want to die either.Helena thinks that she can gain her freedom and go right back to homeland and everything will be just fine. She doesn't realize that she is a slave and slaves don't have much say. Though Hakan treats her nicer than she would probably had with anyone else who have bought her.Everyone thinks that all Nor'man's are vile beast, but Hakan is a kind man. He use to go a-viking at one time but now he just wants to settle down and be a farmer. He was betrayed by the woman he married and has vowed never to marry again. He just wants his son Erik as by Norse laws the boy is to live with his father as soon as he is old enough. Astrid, refuses to give him up to Hakan.Hakan is taken by his Frankish thrall and he allows her to run his farmstead with a lot more lenience than he would any other thrall. He even buys another thrall to do the cooking because she isn't very good at it and it allows her more time to work on her weaving. He hauls water for her and a lot of other heavy things. He treats her better than just a thrall. All those around him can see how taken he is by this woman.He grew up with the idea that Nor'man's don't ever marry their thralls and he vows not to marry any one any way but he wants Helena. Helena wants her freedom and she conducts as skim to win her freedom if this Nor'man will keep his word. Helena would stay if Hakan would marry her but since he refuses she is determined to go back to her homeland but it's been a while and not all will be as she thinks.I really enjoyed this Norse tale, but I had a problem with some of the storyline. Svea the place where Hakan lives is under attack by someone who is wanting to overthrow the Old King. King Olof is Hakan's friend and person who raised him since he was young. He would do almost anything for him...but then there is some betrayals...and somethings just don't get resolved in the book about this stuff and well you just can't put it in there and then have the couple live happily ever after..I want to know what happens..will Hakan go and fight, etc. :(  So that is why it got 3.5 instead of 4.