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Reclaiming Her Heart
After sneaking out with her brother, Eoghann, one night, Ealasaid discovers Viking ships sailing up the river to sack their home in Northumbria. They attempt to warn their father, but it's too late and the Vikings slaughter or enslave all the inhabitants of Suibhne. In attempt to save her family, Ealasaid stabs a young Viking warrior, but her father is killed, her family scattered, and she's taken to Solstad Hall where she serves as a thrall for the Viking king. Years later, the king's son, Hella, ventures on many raids and to trading sites across Europe, but his desire is to set up a farm in Solstad with Ealasaid as the thrall in charge of his household. He tells her of his plan and they expression their passion for one another. When Hella petitions the king for her freedom, but is turned down and order to the Frankish lands in retaliation for raids on the Viking coastal villages. Ealasaid, aware the king would never free her, tells him that he should look for a brighter future across the sea, away from his father and resigns herself to be his slave for the remainder of her life.Called home to watch his father die, Hella is stunned when his father's final command is that Hella must marry or the throne will go to his adopted brother. Furious with his father's orders and worried about being left without lands or money, Hella looks to the thrall who's always captured his attention—Ealasaid. Ealasaid harbors a secret—the single afternoon she spent in Hella's arms resulted in a son, her treasure, her reason for living.
360 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2015
12 people want to read
About the author
Allison Merritt
43 books168 followersA love of reading inspired Allison Merritt to pursue her dream of becoming an author who writes historical, paranormal, contemporary, and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. It's not unusual to find her lurking in graveyards, wandering historical sites, or listening to ghost stories.
Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.
Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that's gathering dust after it was determined that she's better at writing fluff than hard news.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 9, 2015
I loved this book. It was full of intrigue, danger, and passion. Hella is one skilled Viking... In many many different areas ;). I couldn't put this book down and read it one sitting. If you love a good Viking romance then definitely get this book, you won't be disappointed.
June 1, 2015
I received Quakes from RomanceJunkies.com in exchange for an honest review.
Ealasaid was taken as a slave into the home and bed of Ingvar, chieftain of Solstad, after the Vikings raided her home, killed her father and scattered her family. She had to warm Ingvar’s bed, while his son, Hella, stood by helplessly.
Ealasaid watched as her family were defeated fighting to protect their home from the Vikings. She and her sisters were taken as slaves by Hella, son of Ingvar, the Viking chieftain. Hella was then sent to Rus by his father to fight and amass gold and slaves. He brought back enough gold to build his own longhouse and start a family. Hella wanted to buy Ealasaid from his father, but was refused. His father, Ingvar, had proven time and again that he was a despot, not only to his family, but to the others in his kingdom who depended on him.
No one mourned his death. When Hella ascended to the throne, his first act was to marry Ealasaid, despite her having a 6-year old son, fathered, as he thought, by his own father, Ingvar.
Erik, Ingvar’s adopted son, was sure that Ealasaid was a witch, for how else could Ingvar have lived so long? (no matter that Ingvar's meanness probably kept him going). How else could Ealasaid be taken as wife and queen by Hella?
Hella, now king, was told that two of Ealasaid’s brothers were still alive and that now, fifteen years after the raid that almost destroyed her family, her brothers had raised an army to defeat the Vikings.
Normally I like a story where, if a woman has a child, that she had the child with the person she is meant to be with, but - Ingvar has bedded Ealasaid for six years and never had a child with her, even though he’s fathered children all over his kingdom. Hella has lain with her once and suddenly she was pregnant. Although this won’t be a problem for some readers, for me it was just stretching credibility.
Another sticking point for me – that although most of Hella’s people were sure that Ealasaid was a witch and absolutely disliked her, beyond all reason she decided that his people were her people and that she would stand by his side.
Even though I found a few faults with this story, some people might consider me to be a little too picky. But both sticking points mentioned above are there to contribute to the overall flow of the narrative.
Ealasaid is a lusty character, full of life and fire. Hella, despite Ingvar’s cruel upbringing, has a softer side. Hella can’t bring himself to send Ealasaid’s child away. He loves her and would not hurt her, even though he must fight her brothers. Ealasaid risks her life, freedom and child to try to bring peace between these warring peoples.
If you like the idea of Viking raids, brave warriors, beautiful maidens, revenge and mercy, then this is the book for you.
Ealasaid was taken as a slave into the home and bed of Ingvar, chieftain of Solstad, after the Vikings raided her home, killed her father and scattered her family. She had to warm Ingvar’s bed, while his son, Hella, stood by helplessly.
Ealasaid watched as her family were defeated fighting to protect their home from the Vikings. She and her sisters were taken as slaves by Hella, son of Ingvar, the Viking chieftain. Hella was then sent to Rus by his father to fight and amass gold and slaves. He brought back enough gold to build his own longhouse and start a family. Hella wanted to buy Ealasaid from his father, but was refused. His father, Ingvar, had proven time and again that he was a despot, not only to his family, but to the others in his kingdom who depended on him.
No one mourned his death. When Hella ascended to the throne, his first act was to marry Ealasaid, despite her having a 6-year old son, fathered, as he thought, by his own father, Ingvar.
Erik, Ingvar’s adopted son, was sure that Ealasaid was a witch, for how else could Ingvar have lived so long? (no matter that Ingvar's meanness probably kept him going). How else could Ealasaid be taken as wife and queen by Hella?
Hella, now king, was told that two of Ealasaid’s brothers were still alive and that now, fifteen years after the raid that almost destroyed her family, her brothers had raised an army to defeat the Vikings.
Normally I like a story where, if a woman has a child, that she had the child with the person she is meant to be with, but - Ingvar has bedded Ealasaid for six years and never had a child with her, even though he’s fathered children all over his kingdom. Hella has lain with her once and suddenly she was pregnant. Although this won’t be a problem for some readers, for me it was just stretching credibility.
Another sticking point for me – that although most of Hella’s people were sure that Ealasaid was a witch and absolutely disliked her, beyond all reason she decided that his people were her people and that she would stand by his side.
Even though I found a few faults with this story, some people might consider me to be a little too picky. But both sticking points mentioned above are there to contribute to the overall flow of the narrative.
Ealasaid is a lusty character, full of life and fire. Hella, despite Ingvar’s cruel upbringing, has a softer side. Hella can’t bring himself to send Ealasaid’s child away. He loves her and would not hurt her, even though he must fight her brothers. Ealasaid risks her life, freedom and child to try to bring peace between these warring peoples.
If you like the idea of Viking raids, brave warriors, beautiful maidens, revenge and mercy, then this is the book for you.
July 5, 2015
A Powerful Enemies to Lovers Romance
Her Heart’s Surrender is a powerful and heartrending romance between the Viking Hella and the Saxon Ealasaid. The enemies to lovers trope is one of my favourite in the romance genre and this is expertly executed by Allison Merritt in this novel. Once more the romance is all the more beautiful due to its themes of redemption and forgiveness.
The heroine, Ealsasaid, a Saxon princess, was taken from her home as a child, becoming a thrall to Ingevar, the Viking King responsible for the destruction of her homeland and the slaughter of her kin. She suffers his cruelty and abuse for years, finding solace in Ingevar’s son Hella and their one passionate coupling results in a son, Birgir (a secret that Ealasaid keeps to herself for fear of Ingevar’s wrath). Ingevar refuses his son’s request to free Ealasaid and sends him to raid lands abroad. When Ingevar dies, Ealasaid is stunned when Hella asks her to be his wife and become his queen, yet what of her secret and the effect of years of abuse at the hands of Ingevar? What follows is a truly romantic tale of how Ealasaid finds her true place with the man she was destined to be with, amongst the people who were her enemy. Their HEA is not assured however when the past comes back to haunt them and as their future together comes into question, I could not turn the pages quick enough to find out what happens!
The events in the book and the romance explore a number of different themes; forgiveness, revenge, retribution, honour and family and kinship ties. Given the historical time period, there are many references to acts of violence and cruelty, some against the heroine. This is balanced by the many tender and sensual sense between the hero and heroine, where they explore their growing connection to each other. Indeed, Hella is one Viking warrior I would be happy to call my own!
Ealasaid is a strong woman given all that she has experienced at the hands of Ingevar and she has a sharp wit which I enjoyed. Hella, a strong but fair minded Viking, has always disliked how his father mistreated Ealasaid, but he was not in a position to prevent it. I liked how he sets out to prove his love for her, gaining her trust through his thoughtfulness and kindness. The scenes with his son, whom he believes is Ingevar’s, are particularly touching. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, in particular Erik and Eoghann and Idunna – I very much hope that the author is going to pen their stories some time soon. I recommend this novel to readers of Historical Romance. A copy of this novel was given to me by the author for a fair and honest review.
Her Heart’s Surrender is a powerful and heartrending romance between the Viking Hella and the Saxon Ealasaid. The enemies to lovers trope is one of my favourite in the romance genre and this is expertly executed by Allison Merritt in this novel. Once more the romance is all the more beautiful due to its themes of redemption and forgiveness.
The heroine, Ealsasaid, a Saxon princess, was taken from her home as a child, becoming a thrall to Ingevar, the Viking King responsible for the destruction of her homeland and the slaughter of her kin. She suffers his cruelty and abuse for years, finding solace in Ingevar’s son Hella and their one passionate coupling results in a son, Birgir (a secret that Ealasaid keeps to herself for fear of Ingevar’s wrath). Ingevar refuses his son’s request to free Ealasaid and sends him to raid lands abroad. When Ingevar dies, Ealasaid is stunned when Hella asks her to be his wife and become his queen, yet what of her secret and the effect of years of abuse at the hands of Ingevar? What follows is a truly romantic tale of how Ealasaid finds her true place with the man she was destined to be with, amongst the people who were her enemy. Their HEA is not assured however when the past comes back to haunt them and as their future together comes into question, I could not turn the pages quick enough to find out what happens!
The events in the book and the romance explore a number of different themes; forgiveness, revenge, retribution, honour and family and kinship ties. Given the historical time period, there are many references to acts of violence and cruelty, some against the heroine. This is balanced by the many tender and sensual sense between the hero and heroine, where they explore their growing connection to each other. Indeed, Hella is one Viking warrior I would be happy to call my own!
Ealasaid is a strong woman given all that she has experienced at the hands of Ingevar and she has a sharp wit which I enjoyed. Hella, a strong but fair minded Viking, has always disliked how his father mistreated Ealasaid, but he was not in a position to prevent it. I liked how he sets out to prove his love for her, gaining her trust through his thoughtfulness and kindness. The scenes with his son, whom he believes is Ingevar’s, are particularly touching. I also enjoyed the supporting characters, in particular Erik and Eoghann and Idunna – I very much hope that the author is going to pen their stories some time soon. I recommend this novel to readers of Historical Romance. A copy of this novel was given to me by the author for a fair and honest review.
June 10, 2015
4.5/5.0
Very well done! Even though this is a novella-length story, the author was able to expertly draw much richness and depth while still developing a smooth and flowing storyline.
Read full review in the 2015 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Very well done! Even though this is a novella-length story, the author was able to expertly draw much richness and depth while still developing a smooth and flowing storyline.
Read full review in the 2015 June issue of InD'tale Magazine.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews