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My Warrior's Heart
A WARRIOR BRED
She is sensuality incarnate --- a stunning, tawny-eyed goddess with the battle skills of a Valkyrie. But though many lust for her, Aaren can have no man ... unless he first defeats her in combat.
A LOVER UNEQUALED
He is strikingly handsome and massively strong, a man whose love-making prowess is legend. No woman can resist Jorund's soft words and burning caresses ... except for the enchanting warrior-maiden with fire-kissed hair who stirs his manly passions to Viking battle-madness.
MY WARRIOR'S HEART
Sworn to peaceful ways, Jorund's honor forbids him to take up arms against the wild and spirited woman whose breathtaking beauty haunts his dreams. But only by conquering the indomitable Aaren can he win the respect of his people ... and quench the searing flames of desire that ravage his body and soul.
She is sensuality incarnate --- a stunning, tawny-eyed goddess with the battle skills of a Valkyrie. But though many lust for her, Aaren can have no man ... unless he first defeats her in combat.
A LOVER UNEQUALED
He is strikingly handsome and massively strong, a man whose love-making prowess is legend. No woman can resist Jorund's soft words and burning caresses ... except for the enchanting warrior-maiden with fire-kissed hair who stirs his manly passions to Viking battle-madness.
MY WARRIOR'S HEART
Sworn to peaceful ways, Jorund's honor forbids him to take up arms against the wild and spirited woman whose breathtaking beauty haunts his dreams. But only by conquering the indomitable Aaren can he win the respect of his people ... and quench the searing flames of desire that ravage his body and soul.
425 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1992
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
April 5, 2016
The Enchantment was a wonderful example of how a romance should evolve. I rarely read love stories about Vikings or Norsemen because there is just too much that is unknown about this period. But if a love could develop like what occurred between Aaren and Jorund, I would have enjoyed visiting this couple.
The world Aaren Serricksdotter and Jorund Borgenson lived in was both simple and savage. Nothing was taken for granted; food became scarce, disease was deadly, animals killed and fire could destroy a village in moments. Fighting was the norm and relationships could be brutal. For the most part women were treated as inferiors; men enjoyed them as submissive and docile.
Enriched with qualities of courage and honor, our hero and heroine rose above the others.
There was some slow reading. Usually when I list a keeper it is a book I have read in a matter of hours, at the max, two days. THE ENRICHMENT took me a week to finish. I had to find those quiet moments when no one needed me so I could melt into the setting. I would have loved to befriend Aaren who was both naive and strong; no wonder Jorund fell in love with her. And Jorund: desirable but responsible, nurturing yet tenacious; he was the consummate champion.
The story of the White Christ was interesting. Also, the secondary stories about Aaren's sisters and beaus was diverting. You felt what it must have been like to be a woman during that era. Men were given preference but the backbone and indomitability was found among the women.
The difference with Aaren and Jorund was that they complimented each other's strengths and weaknesses. When they first met they thought they knew what they wanted from life. It was enjoyable to sit back and see how their connection developed.
The sexual situations were sensuous and steamy. Too often authors write romantic fiction with insta-lust/sex. Not here. There was a good amount of chemistry; the tension built slowly. Outwardly, Jorund used banter to entice Aaren; you saw her hold off his advances. It was fun to see her finally give in.
I am giving THE ENCHANTMENT four stars because of the slow reading I mentioned. This might become an issue with some readers though I had no problem with it. *Their love story is why I read romances.*
The world Aaren Serricksdotter and Jorund Borgenson lived in was both simple and savage. Nothing was taken for granted; food became scarce, disease was deadly, animals killed and fire could destroy a village in moments. Fighting was the norm and relationships could be brutal. For the most part women were treated as inferiors; men enjoyed them as submissive and docile.
Enriched with qualities of courage and honor, our hero and heroine rose above the others.
There was some slow reading. Usually when I list a keeper it is a book I have read in a matter of hours, at the max, two days. THE ENRICHMENT took me a week to finish. I had to find those quiet moments when no one needed me so I could melt into the setting. I would have loved to befriend Aaren who was both naive and strong; no wonder Jorund fell in love with her. And Jorund: desirable but responsible, nurturing yet tenacious; he was the consummate champion.
The story of the White Christ was interesting. Also, the secondary stories about Aaren's sisters and beaus was diverting. You felt what it must have been like to be a woman during that era. Men were given preference but the backbone and indomitability was found among the women.
The difference with Aaren and Jorund was that they complimented each other's strengths and weaknesses. When they first met they thought they knew what they wanted from life. It was enjoyable to sit back and see how their connection developed.
The sexual situations were sensuous and steamy. Too often authors write romantic fiction with insta-lust/sex. Not here. There was a good amount of chemistry; the tension built slowly. Outwardly, Jorund used banter to entice Aaren; you saw her hold off his advances. It was fun to see her finally give in.
I am giving THE ENCHANTMENT four stars because of the slow reading I mentioned. This might become an issue with some readers though I had no problem with it. *Their love story is why I read romances.*
February 27, 2012
Brilliant Viking romance...
I have come to appreciate Betina Krahn's attention to detail in her well told romances. She spends time with each description, each phrase...it is truly excellence in romance writing. At 400+ pages, you definitely get a well woven tale with this one that spends time with character development, and gives you a feel for the way they looked at the world and the customs of the time. I loved it.
This is a Viking romance that takes you back to the time in the late Viking period when the Swedish Vikings sailed all the way to Byzantium. It was also a time when the old Asa gods were being replaced by Christianity and the "White Christ." Krahn treats this subject with great care, showing us how the old often combined with the new in this story that begins with belief in myths and ends in very real action.
Since she was a young girl, Aaren, daughter of Serrick, understood she was unusually tall and strong, trained to be a warrior, a battle-maiden, and not a woman of the hearth, because her mother was a Valkyr, a daughter of the Viking gods. She is beautiful with a long, lean body, dark red hair, and golden eyes. Aaren had two beautiful sisters, also daughters of Serrick, and born from another, blond Valkyr. Serrick brings his three daughters to the village of Borger, a powerful jarl, and gives them in payment of a tax debt--but with conditions. No man may touch them or wed them until one man can defeat Aaren in sword fighting; then each may be given in marriage. Borger accepts the payment and the conditions with his eldest son, Jorund, in mind. Jorund is a huge, handsome Viking, who two years ago tired of battlelust and the "dew of wounds" (blood). Jorund has no intention of fighting any woman, but after Aaren defeats two of Borger's best warriors, Borger decrees that no man may fight Aaren save Jorund. Aaren wants to end the curse and the condition to her sisters' ability to marry, so she prods and taunts Jorund into fighting her, but he resists.
That's the basic storyline, and except for the myth underlying Aaren and her sisters' introduction to the village, which myth Jorund doesn't accept since he is a follower of the White Christ, the rest of the story is pure historical romance. It's an unusual courtship, to be sure, and there is more than one romance in this one. As Viking romances go, it's unusual, very detailed and well written, I highly recommend it. It's not a fast-paced light read, however. You need a good rain storm, a cup of tea and a fireplace to settle in for this one.
NOTE: THIS WAS FIRST RELEASED AS MY WARRIOR'S HEART.
I have come to appreciate Betina Krahn's attention to detail in her well told romances. She spends time with each description, each phrase...it is truly excellence in romance writing. At 400+ pages, you definitely get a well woven tale with this one that spends time with character development, and gives you a feel for the way they looked at the world and the customs of the time. I loved it.
This is a Viking romance that takes you back to the time in the late Viking period when the Swedish Vikings sailed all the way to Byzantium. It was also a time when the old Asa gods were being replaced by Christianity and the "White Christ." Krahn treats this subject with great care, showing us how the old often combined with the new in this story that begins with belief in myths and ends in very real action.
Since she was a young girl, Aaren, daughter of Serrick, understood she was unusually tall and strong, trained to be a warrior, a battle-maiden, and not a woman of the hearth, because her mother was a Valkyr, a daughter of the Viking gods. She is beautiful with a long, lean body, dark red hair, and golden eyes. Aaren had two beautiful sisters, also daughters of Serrick, and born from another, blond Valkyr. Serrick brings his three daughters to the village of Borger, a powerful jarl, and gives them in payment of a tax debt--but with conditions. No man may touch them or wed them until one man can defeat Aaren in sword fighting; then each may be given in marriage. Borger accepts the payment and the conditions with his eldest son, Jorund, in mind. Jorund is a huge, handsome Viking, who two years ago tired of battlelust and the "dew of wounds" (blood). Jorund has no intention of fighting any woman, but after Aaren defeats two of Borger's best warriors, Borger decrees that no man may fight Aaren save Jorund. Aaren wants to end the curse and the condition to her sisters' ability to marry, so she prods and taunts Jorund into fighting her, but he resists.
That's the basic storyline, and except for the myth underlying Aaren and her sisters' introduction to the village, which myth Jorund doesn't accept since he is a follower of the White Christ, the rest of the story is pure historical romance. It's an unusual courtship, to be sure, and there is more than one romance in this one. As Viking romances go, it's unusual, very detailed and well written, I highly recommend it. It's not a fast-paced light read, however. You need a good rain storm, a cup of tea and a fireplace to settle in for this one.
NOTE: THIS WAS FIRST RELEASED AS MY WARRIOR'S HEART.
February 27, 2011
I guess just not my thing. Viking son of the king who does not like to fight and seems only interested in having all the women in the group in "his furs". Enter amazon-like female warrior who for various reasons must fight him. He intends a conquest but not in battle. I gave it more than the 100 pages test and just had no interest in reading on.
February 14, 2020
The Enchantment was a surprising Viking tale. A nice romance, without Viking raids and raping of innocents. 4/5 stars
October 8, 2010
It was super good. i have re-read it like 20 times.
November 15, 2019
Usually, I would never want to tear and burn a book, but this book probably caught me in a bad time.
I was suspicious from the very beginning, because there was a definite stink of some sort of rape/humiliation kink heavily masked behind 'this is trying to be historically accurate regarding people's attitudes' mask.
But then...the main male character happened.
With his 'I don't give a shit about your beliefs and your life, you should shut up and act like a woman. And I'm going to force sex on you, you will like it, and that's all that matters' and 'because I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks I also don't give shit that my actions will make lives for you and your sisters hell, you should all shut up and act like women—spread your legs for everyone who asks, because that's what women do and they don't complain' attitudes.
I honestly tried and held on for 200something pages, believing that it was probably not as bad as it seemed, they would find some compromise, and he would change his mind (since he did seem to make some sense sometimes). And I completely accept if by the end of the book something similar does happen.
But I just honestly don't care anymore, because the when this book reached the point where he decided he would just humiliate her in every way possible to prove to her that she is a woman and should just give up, let him force himself on her, and like it (and the main female character of course already 'liked it deep down inside'), I realised there could be no developments that could make it worth to continue reading a book that made me feel so disgusted I wanted to tear the pages I was reading into many-many tiny pieces.
I was suspicious from the very beginning, because there was a definite stink of some sort of rape/humiliation kink heavily masked behind 'this is trying to be historically accurate regarding people's attitudes' mask.
But then...the main male character happened.
With his 'I don't give a shit about your beliefs and your life, you should shut up and act like a woman. And I'm going to force sex on you, you will like it, and that's all that matters' and 'because I don't give a shit what anyone else thinks I also don't give shit that my actions will make lives for you and your sisters hell, you should all shut up and act like women—spread your legs for everyone who asks, because that's what women do and they don't complain' attitudes.
I honestly tried and held on for 200something pages, believing that it was probably not as bad as it seemed, they would find some compromise, and he would change his mind (since he did seem to make some sense sometimes). And I completely accept if by the end of the book something similar does happen.
But I just honestly don't care anymore, because the when this book reached the point where he decided he would just humiliate her in every way possible to prove to her that she is a woman and should just give up, let him force himself on her, and like it (and the main female character of course already 'liked it deep down inside'), I realised there could be no developments that could make it worth to continue reading a book that made me feel so disgusted I wanted to tear the pages I was reading into many-many tiny pieces.
June 15, 2023
I enjoyed this book with the exception of the enchantment the title was based on. I think it was unnecessary.
Tall and strong, Aaren is a female warrior, trained from childhood by her father (child abuse anyone?).
She and her smaller, younger twin sisters are left in a village by their father as payment for a tax debt. But his stipulation is that no one can bed any of the women until Aaren is defeated by one of the village warriors. Jarl Borger decides his son, Jorund, will defeat her. But Jorund is a peace loving man who doesn't believe in fighting, especially not a woman!
I feel that Jorund was doing an excellent job winning Aaren over with his words and winning manner. I did not like most of the storyline when they were in Jorund's cabin. The whole "I have to fight you to break the enchantment" was just stupid to me.
I loved how Aaren grew to see herself as both a woman and a warrior, learning to accept her gentler side as well as her brave side. Jorund could have 'defeated' her in that manner alone.
I felt cheated by the brief side-plot of Aaren's sister Marta and Borger's hostage, Leif. That story was only touched upon and I would have much rather had a more detailed description of their love story than read about Aaren's obsession with fighting Jorund. That story would have been great as a co-plot. It had such potential.
I also didn't buy Jorund's out of control behaviour when he was fighting, especially with Aaren. Again that whole plot-line just did not resonate with me. The rest of the book was very enjoyable.
Tall and strong, Aaren is a female warrior, trained from childhood by her father (child abuse anyone?).
She and her smaller, younger twin sisters are left in a village by their father as payment for a tax debt. But his stipulation is that no one can bed any of the women until Aaren is defeated by one of the village warriors. Jarl Borger decides his son, Jorund, will defeat her. But Jorund is a peace loving man who doesn't believe in fighting, especially not a woman!
I feel that Jorund was doing an excellent job winning Aaren over with his words and winning manner. I did not like most of the storyline when they were in Jorund's cabin. The whole "I have to fight you to break the enchantment" was just stupid to me.
I loved how Aaren grew to see herself as both a woman and a warrior, learning to accept her gentler side as well as her brave side. Jorund could have 'defeated' her in that manner alone.
I felt cheated by the brief side-plot of Aaren's sister Marta and Borger's hostage, Leif. That story was only touched upon and I would have much rather had a more detailed description of their love story than read about Aaren's obsession with fighting Jorund. That story would have been great as a co-plot. It had such potential.
I also didn't buy Jorund's out of control behaviour when he was fighting, especially with Aaren. Again that whole plot-line just did not resonate with me. The rest of the book was very enjoyable.
November 27, 2020
De início esse livro é exatamente o que eu esperava: um romance viking entre uma guerreira que deve ser derrotada para poder amar alguém, e um homem que largou as armas e preferiu o caminho da paz. Até aí, a premissa que envolve uma força irreprimível e um objeto imóvel é interessante.
Mas a perspectiva cristã americana que está presente nele do início ao fim estragou o livro pra mim, dando aquele gostinho moralista. A ideia de que o cristianismo seria um caminho pacífico, progressista e até mesmo feminista que salva os personagens de seus destinos violentos guiados por deuses pagãos sanguinários é demais. Acho que a parte erótica do livro teria que ser muito boa para valer a pena ler esse livro, mas também não é lá grandes coisas.
Mas a perspectiva cristã americana que está presente nele do início ao fim estragou o livro pra mim, dando aquele gostinho moralista. A ideia de que o cristianismo seria um caminho pacífico, progressista e até mesmo feminista que salva os personagens de seus destinos violentos guiados por deuses pagãos sanguinários é demais. Acho que a parte erótica do livro teria que ser muito boa para valer a pena ler esse livro, mas também não é lá grandes coisas.
November 30, 2020
Another brilliant take on the ageless man vs. woman theme that Krahn has revisited throughout history. I have to admit, I wasn’t expecting a Viking romance when I picked up a new Krahn novel - I save them for times of extreme need, and I found myself in extreme need - and at first I was a little skeptical because of all the compound nouns. But Krahn is a master, and the plot, characterization, and entire setting and worldview were so perfectly wrought that I was hoping this novel would never end, even at about 450 pages!
September 28, 2022
A very strong 3.8/5
I think this is my favourite viking book, perhaps by faaaaaar. I love love love love the slow burn between the two protagonists, and how everything was developed and written. The author did an AMAZING job!
The only thing that didn’t bump up the scoring to 4/5 was the ending. I felt that it was a little rushed(?) and lacked proper substance. I think it could’ve been done in a much better way.
But otherwise, I HIGHLYYYYYY recommend this book, it was an absolute pleasure to read
I think this is my favourite viking book, perhaps by faaaaaar. I love love love love the slow burn between the two protagonists, and how everything was developed and written. The author did an AMAZING job!
The only thing that didn’t bump up the scoring to 4/5 was the ending. I felt that it was a little rushed(?) and lacked proper substance. I think it could’ve been done in a much better way.
But otherwise, I HIGHLYYYYYY recommend this book, it was an absolute pleasure to read
June 15, 2022
An enchanting love story
Set in Viking times, with a foot in ancient violent ways and another in the new ways of love and mercy, this book brings together the two worlds. The main characters are strong and grow in each scene until we see the fullness love can bring. Another great story from Ms. Krahn!
Set in Viking times, with a foot in ancient violent ways and another in the new ways of love and mercy, this book brings together the two worlds. The main characters are strong and grow in each scene until we see the fullness love can bring. Another great story from Ms. Krahn!
June 2, 2012
NOTE: This is the same book as THE ENCHANTMENT, the re-release under another name.
Simply Wonderful Viking Tale!
I have come to appreciate Betina Krahn's attention to detail in her well told romances. She spends time with each description, each phrase...it's excellence in writing. At 400+ pages, you definitely get a well woven tale that spends time with character development, and gives you a feel for the way they looked at the world, the customs of the time, etc. Here's a Viking romance that takes you back to the time in the late Viking period when the Swedish Vikings sailed all the way to Byzantium. It was also a time when the old Asa gods were being replaced by Christianity and the "White Christ." Krahn treats this subject with great care, showing us how the old often combined with the new in this story that begins with belief in myths and ends in very real action.
Since she was a young girl, Aaren, daughter of Serrick, understood she was unusually tall and strong, trained to be a warrior, a battle-maiden, and not a woman of the hearth, because her mother was a Valkyr, a daughter of the Viking gods. She is beautiful with a long, lean body, dark red hair, and golden eyes. Aaren had two beautiful sisters, also daughters of Serrick, and born from another, blond Valkyr. Serrick brings his three daughters to the village of Borger, a powerful jarl, and gives them in payment of a tax debt--but with conditions. No man may touch them or wed them until one man can defeat Aaren in sword fighting; then each may be given in marriage. Borger accepts the payment and the conditions with his eldest son, Jorund, in mind. Jorund is a huge, handsome Viking, who two years ago tired of battlelust and the "dew of wounds" (blood). Jorund has no intention of fighting any woman, but after Aaren defeats two of Borger's best warriors, Borger decrees that no man may fight Aaren save Jorund. Aaren wants to end the curse and the condition to her sisters' ability to marry, so she prods and taunts Jorund into fighting her, but he resists.
That's the basic storyline, and except for the myth underlying Aaren and her sisters' introduction to the village, which myth Jorund doesn't accept since he is a follower of the White Christ, the rest of the story is purely historical romance. It's an unusual courtship, to be sure, and there is more than one romance in this one. As Viking romances go, it's unusual, detailed, well written and I highly recommend it. It's not a fast-paced light read, however. You need a good rainstorm, a cup of tea and a fireplace to settle in for this one.
Simply Wonderful Viking Tale!
I have come to appreciate Betina Krahn's attention to detail in her well told romances. She spends time with each description, each phrase...it's excellence in writing. At 400+ pages, you definitely get a well woven tale that spends time with character development, and gives you a feel for the way they looked at the world, the customs of the time, etc. Here's a Viking romance that takes you back to the time in the late Viking period when the Swedish Vikings sailed all the way to Byzantium. It was also a time when the old Asa gods were being replaced by Christianity and the "White Christ." Krahn treats this subject with great care, showing us how the old often combined with the new in this story that begins with belief in myths and ends in very real action.
Since she was a young girl, Aaren, daughter of Serrick, understood she was unusually tall and strong, trained to be a warrior, a battle-maiden, and not a woman of the hearth, because her mother was a Valkyr, a daughter of the Viking gods. She is beautiful with a long, lean body, dark red hair, and golden eyes. Aaren had two beautiful sisters, also daughters of Serrick, and born from another, blond Valkyr. Serrick brings his three daughters to the village of Borger, a powerful jarl, and gives them in payment of a tax debt--but with conditions. No man may touch them or wed them until one man can defeat Aaren in sword fighting; then each may be given in marriage. Borger accepts the payment and the conditions with his eldest son, Jorund, in mind. Jorund is a huge, handsome Viking, who two years ago tired of battlelust and the "dew of wounds" (blood). Jorund has no intention of fighting any woman, but after Aaren defeats two of Borger's best warriors, Borger decrees that no man may fight Aaren save Jorund. Aaren wants to end the curse and the condition to her sisters' ability to marry, so she prods and taunts Jorund into fighting her, but he resists.
That's the basic storyline, and except for the myth underlying Aaren and her sisters' introduction to the village, which myth Jorund doesn't accept since he is a follower of the White Christ, the rest of the story is purely historical romance. It's an unusual courtship, to be sure, and there is more than one romance in this one. As Viking romances go, it's unusual, detailed, well written and I highly recommend it. It's not a fast-paced light read, however. You need a good rainstorm, a cup of tea and a fireplace to settle in for this one.
April 9, 2015
The Enchantment is lacking the main thing that draw me to viking romance novels in the first place- a fierce, alpha male who conquers and raids the lands. This was a viking romance with a hero who has sworn off fighting, and has a heavy focus on Christianity. The concept of the hero fighting the heroine is wasted on the pansy who despises his weapon. I understand when some authors can't resist converting their pagan characters. However, conversion does not need to completely change who the person is; from a fierce fighting viking to timid farmer, a wife of the jarl to an old lady with no power, and drunken slobs to helpful, kind men.
Read
January 23, 2009In my TO be read pile
March 20, 2010
Never finished. I lost interest. The writing was good, but I suppose it was just not the style I like.
January 28, 2015
Great book
This is a great love story with other little love stories between. The main characters are so strong and loveable. Awesome!
This is a great love story with other little love stories between. The main characters are so strong and loveable. Awesome!
April 6, 2014
Sweet love story, really different. I enjoyed this one.
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March 27, 2019Comprei por 3 reais no sebo.
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