I felt lost throughout most of the story but the gist of the story came through. I enjoyed the byplay of the characters. Alexander MacLean sets out to ruin Caitlyn Hurst because of some past involvement that forced his brother to marry. While he plans to ruin he, he doesn’t plan to fall in love with her.

Without reading the previous stories I didn’t have the character attachment that I should have so I rank this as a mediocre story. I will definitely pick up the previous books in the series and revisit this one later.

Grade: C
Cover: Nah…

Previous Books in the series: How to Abduct a Highland Lord, To Scotland, With Love, To Catch a Highlander, Sleepless in Scotland (The MacLeans).

Future releases by Karen Hawkins: Lois Lane Tells All, due in paperback, March 30, 2010.
Authors website: Karenhawkins.com

Ragnor Magnusson has been morning life lately. He has lost his family – he thinks they are dead but they have traveled to the future (The Very Virile Viking) and he has been left behind with his sister to rule the family homestead. In a fit of boredom he decides to go a-Viking to break his slump. Suddenly facing death by drowing, he finds himself surfacing into a strange land where men called Navy Seals are training. Weirdly enough these men think they know him so he plays along to get his bearings. Things are not as they seem. It seems somehow Ragnor has been plunked down into his long lost brother Torolf’s place.

Lieutenant Alison MacLean is the sister of Ragnor’s “leader”. She is a driven woman who wants to break into the seals and has no time for these horn dog Navy men. That is until she suddenly has feelings for Magnusson whom she never felt anything before….

I enjoyed following Ragnor’s adaptation to his new world. He is baffled but fits right in with the new age warrors. The more men and woman change in history, the more their natures stay the same. Lots of witty fun moments.

Grade: B

Cover: Groan, not another John DeSalvo cover. He is so over used and definitely not Viking material….

Author Future Releases:

• July 28, 2009 – So Into You
• September 1, 2009 – Viking Heat
• December 29, 2009 – Viking in Love

Author’s website:

Dr. Rain Jordan is a dyed in the wool pacifist, she is also the daughter of a 1000 year old Viking dad and modern day time traveling mom (The Reluctant Viking). Rain has never believed the fanciful tales of her mom’s past time travel, but has been plagued with lifelong dreams of a bloody battle scene involving a battlescared, blond Viking. When a bump on the head sends her into a strange land back in time, she is forced to believe her moms tales.

Selik has lost everyone in life, his wife, his son and more friends and followers than he can count. He has one mission in life and it is to destroy every Saxon enemy he can find. He stands for everything that Rain hates.

I enjoyed this battle of the sexes. Selik is a hardened Viking who has been mentally wounded to the point where killing and brutality are his only purpose. Revenge and dying are his only goals. I love strong alpha males (especially when they have a hidden/wounded heart of gold). Rain has been sent by God to save him. I liked Rains spunk. I am not sure who is more stubborn, but their clashes leave a lot of fun dialog and material for Hill to work with. She does this well. The secondary characters of God, Ubbi (an arthritic faithful servant of Selik – who believes Rain is an Angel) Blanche (a young women with a eye on Selik and a will to do what it takes to survive) add to the tale. Rain’s mom Ruby was not actually featured heavily, but the references to her past in the Reluctant Viking have made me want to read it. Ruby sounds really fun.

Grade: B

Cover: Yikes, I will give it break since it is from the 80’s. It brings back great memories of the Mullet’s hayday.

Author Future Releases:

• July 28, 2009 – So Into You
• September 1, 2009 – Viking Heat
• December 29, 2009 – Viking in Love

Author’s website:

America, Sherrie Hamilton is taken captive and on her way to serve in a Haram when she is rescued by a daring young pirate Cullum whom decides to make a deal with her. One month as his mistress, then she can go free. After many months Cullum finally lets her go to save her life. She has come to love him and is hurt when seemingly discards her. As in most romance, nothing is as it appears.

Fast forward 10 years later and Sherrie is in England to accompany her cousins for their season. Sherrie is now a widow and the mother of a very perceptive young daughter.

Jack PenMartn, Earl of PenMartyn is trying to put his life in order and escape his jaded past, image his surprise when he runs smack into his past in the form of Sherrie Hamilton at the ball of a meddling, matchmaking friend. Sherrie and Jack try to avoid each other and their shared bittersweet paste, but Sherrie’s daughter and other well meaning matchmakers have other plans for them.

I enjoyed this one and found myself staying up late to follow them. Both hero and heroine are dealing with the pain they have caused and a love they cannot deny.

My grade: B+
Cover Art: Typical…

I love series and I love the part in the series when you get to the staunch meddling head of family. They always fall the hardest. I did not love this story however. Having read the previous brothers/sisters books I could not wait to get to Sebastians story. I was disappointed because the story was sort of boring and so improbable that it just didn’t fly. I really wanted to like this book too…..

Perhaps I have been reading too many historicals. I will take a break from this genre lest I trash the next few ones I read. I need to find an original story that takes me out of the funk… This ain’t it, sorry.

Grade: D

Cover: Why does these nobleman, whom never see the sun have tan shaved chests?

Related posts:

1. Sin and Sensibility-Suzanne Enoch
2. Sins and Secrets – P.F. Kozak

Part of a new trilogy, this was a decent historical romance. I liked both characters. Lord Stephan Nash is your typical gambling rake who will never get married, Miss Xanthia is a more mature (on the shelf as they say) heroine who runs her families shipping company. Both have troubled backgrounds and strong feelings as well as sensual natures. They are thrown together in intrique and grow to deeply love each other. Of course Xanthia inadvertly betrays Nash’s love and the two of them are left heartsick. Never fear though this is a romance and happy endings abound.

I like Carlyle’s writing. She can add a touch of differences that kept the book from blending in with the slew of historicals out there. The emotional depth is great and worth reading.

Grade: B

Cover: Your typical headless heroine in a blue dress….

Related posts:

1. Lady of Desire-Gaelen Foley

The interesting thing I am finding is that as I mature, my views and tastes are changing. When I put this on my shelf another decade ago I get the feeling I like it for different reasons then I do now. As an old time bodice ripper it has the elements of a captured, forced slave all the rage in its time. That time has long gone, but it still has elements the keep it on my favorite list.

After her home is invaded, her father killed and her mother stripped to the role of slave and on the brink of madness, Aislinn the heroine proves to be strong, practical and accepting of her situation. She does not resort to TSTL behavior. She realizes she is falling in love with the conquering invader Wulfgar and bravely works hard to change her situation in life.

Wulfgar is your typical dominate male who never understood what love was. I love it when a hero slowly realizes that he is falling in love and does not know how to handle it. He is very clear that he will never marry Aislinn and elevate her from her slave status. However his actions and words are contrary to each other.

An old time epic tale that is truly worth reading. Woodiwiss will a staple on my keeper shelf for a long time. I wonder what the romance world would be like now if a talent like Woodiwiss would emerge from the mass of every increasing paranormal drivel that makes up the market today.

Grade: A, Keeper Status

Related posts:

1. Tempest in Eden – Sandra Brown
2. Secrets of a Summer Night-Lisa Kleypas
3. The Man from Stone Creek-Linda Lael Miller