Review: Norse Jewel
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 06 27, 2013
Story Rating ~ 4 StarsHero Rating ~ 4 StarsHeroine Rating ~ 4 StarsRomance Rating ~ 3.5 StarsHeat Level ~ 2 StarsEnd Rating ~ 3 StarsOverall Rating ~ 3.5 StarsI really enjoyed this book! The story was well thought out, interesting, and the author must have done extensive research, because I was quite impressed with her knowledge of Vikings.The hero Hakan, was everything you could want from a hero. He was a handsome hulking Viking chieftain warrior, who was very strong and honorable, but at the same time, caring and tender.Helena, the heroine, was my favorite character of the book. As the story moved along, she listened and learned and she was also brave, kind, caring and very talented at some of the things she did.The book starts off with Helena being held captive and being sold as a thrall. The Danes had raided her village, burning it and taking her captive. Just when the wicked man who caught her was due back, Hakan shows up, and wants to buy an older Frankish woman to take back home to teach him to talk better Frankish. He passes Helena up, because she is too young, but as he is leaving she calls out to him and convinces him to buy her.Once they are settled down in Hakan's house we get a glimpse into the day to day life as a Viking farmer. This is where I feel the author's talent shined through. It was very interesting to learn how they cooked and also how Helena made cloth and candles. As days pass by, you can feel Hakan's attraction growing for Helena and he treats her more like a lady than a thrall. Helena has feelings for Hakan too, but she never wavers from wanting her freedom and to go home.There is also an evil villain by the name of Gorm, and he killed Hakan's mother and father when Hakan was just a boy. Gorm is now running around causing havoc. The king who raised Hakan, after his parents were killed, wants Hakan to go after Gorm and kill him. Before Hakan sets out on his mission, Helena makes a deal with him, if she can get Hakan's son Eric back, he must release her and bring her back home.Hakan leaves and Helena hatches a plan to get Eric back from Hakan's ex-wife. She manages to get his son back, but Hakan doesn't want to let Helena go, however, he holds to his promise. They travel back to Helena's home, and once there Helena finds out that there is nothing left for her to come home too. She finally admits to Hakan that freedom means nothing to her unless he is in her life and that she loves him. Hakan admits he loves her too and he wants to marry her. This is what I was waiting for, the two of them to get together; they are finally going to make love. This scene started out very sensual and then WHAM, it's the next day, and they are getting married. The ending happens shortly after the wedding, leaving Hakan and Helena happy, but leaving me with too many questions unanswered.This book could have easily been a 5 star read for me, if there would have been more heated scenes added between Hakan and Helena. Also, I wished we would have been clued in as to what happened with Gorm. I would have loved to read a scene where Hakan and Gorm battled it out and Hakan winning the day, after all that is what Viking warriors do best.Overall though, an enjoyable read!Update, I have found out that there will be another book in this series called Norse Fire and it will answer the questions that I felt left me wanting at the end of this book :-)