Princess of Fire

Fire #1

by Shannon Drake

"New York Times" bestselling author Heather Graham, writing as Shannon Drake, offers the smoldering story of a land divided by treachery and a man and woman bound by passion. Although Alaric, a mighty Norman warrior, rescues Fallon from certain death, she tries desperately to resist this seductive enemy who vows to conquer her with a love that will turn her heart to fire.

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Medieval, Historical, Medieval Romance, Enemies To Lovers, Historical Fiction

507 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 1989

About the author

Heather Graham Pozzessere
aka Heather Graham, Shannon Drake

Heather Graham was born on March 15, 1953 and grew up in Dade County, Florida, and attended the University of South Florida at Tampa, majoring in theater arts and touring Europe and parts of Asia and Africa as part of her studies. After college, she acted in dinner theaters, modeled, waitressed, and tended bar. She married Hershey Dennis Possezzere, and after the birth of her third child, she was determined to devote her efforts to her writing: her dream. She sold her first book in 1982.

Today, this author's success is reflected not just by reader response and the over 20 million copies of her books in print, but in many other ways. In addition to being a New York Times bestselling author, Heather has received numerous awards for her novels, including over 20 trade awards from magazines such as Romantic Times and Affaire de Coeur, bestseller awards from B. Dalton, Waldenbooks, and BookRak, and several Reviewers' Choice and People's Choice awards.

Heather has appeared on Entertainment Tonight, Romantically Speaking, a TV talk show that aired nationwide on the Romance Classics cable channel, and CBS Sunday News. She has been quoted in People and USA Today, been profiled in The Nation, and featured in Good Housekeeping. Her books have been selections for the Doubleday Book Club and the Literary Guild. She has been published across the world in more than 15 languages and has published over 70 titles, including anthologies and short stories.

Now, she had five children. Somehow, this prolific author manages to juggle it all - family, career, and marriage - while reaching a level of success to which few can aspire.

Reviews

[Regan Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb, Exciting, Enthralling William the Conqueror Romance!

First published under Heather’s pen name, Shannon Drake, this is one of those historical romances that sweeps you away from the beginning and holds you captive until the last page. I could not put it down. Set in 11th century England and Normandy, it tells the story of William the Conqueror, the bastard duke of Normandy, who would be king of England following Edward the Confessor's death.

The prologue is 33 pages and begins with the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and its immediate aftermath. Alaric, the bastard Count of Anlou, has served William since he was 12. He celebrates with his master as victory is finally theirs. Fallon, the beautiful Saxon princess, daughter of King Harold Godwinson, sees her father and uncles dead, her betrothed lost to her, and her country ravaged by the dreaded Normans. Then Alaric, who takes her from the battlefield where she is wielding a sword with the best of the warriors, claims her innocence and her honor making her his whore.

Fallon has lost everything and, trust me, you will feel the loss along with her. But she and Alaric have a long history, going back to her childhood when he was a young knight. Even then she hated Normans.

After the prologue, the story goes back in time to the original conception of William and first meeting with Alaric. Alaric becomes William's champion and a valiant warrior and commander of William's knights as they take Normandy and then cast their eyes toward England.

Alaric is in and out of Fallon's life as she grows up and each time they meet it is a tempestuous encounter. She is proud and willful and fiercely loyal to her father, her people and England. He is a Norman bastard who will not give an inch, though he is known by all to be an honorable knight. But England will be conquered and the Saxons will be subdued. Alaric is bitter toward women since he was betrayed by his wife. So, while he desires Fallon, he will not love her and he wants no wife again.

Fallon hates Alaric for all he has taken from her, but now she is his prisoner and his woman whether she likes it or not. Though Alaric doesn't love her, he has claimed her and will not let her go. So, escape becomes her passion.

It's another excellent historical tale by Heather Graham with history woven in so well you do not feel you are getting a history lesson but you will come away with a clear feel for what England experienced at the hands of the Conqueror. The tapestry of characters is rich and the characters well developed. The sexual tension is very high (nearly constant) and the action is fast moving. A great bodice ripper and a serious historical.

I highly recommend it; it’s on my keeper shelf.

[Nabilah]

DNF @ 14%.

I remember why I didn't quite enjoy her books. It's the historical details. I like the historical information to be interwoven with the character's story and romance. Not as a centrepiece. I've read two of her American civil war books, and I remember I found them dull and plodding. However, my sister loved her (she used to read one of her books repeatedly until it fell apart), so I thought I should give her books another chance. There are so many characters, and I'm not sure if these characters are essential to the story (should I keep track of them??). The heroine is the type that I wouldn't root for. She is far too stubborn to the point of being too stupid to live. Hey, lady, you've got to pick your battles to win the war. Not put up a fight all the time. Yeesh. She is also beautiful and a warrior too. I guess I've been spoilt by Gwenllian from The King's Man. Now, that is what I call a warrior woman trope done right. You can make her beautiful, but please give her some muscles, for god's sake. Even Gwen can't win with the boys when it comes to strength, but she sure can win because of her speed. The proses are simply too purple for me. I winced whenever I came across them. I really wanted to finish this one, but I thought life is too short for me to suffer through this. So, this one's a DNF. I'm still thinking of trying her other books despite not finishing and enjoying this one. She is such a prolific author. It seems such a damn shame to give her books a pass.

[Lauren · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favorite HG book! A slow, humorous build of romance. Fallon's father is King Harold Goodswin and our H is close friends with William the Conquer. The story starts out 20 years before they turn enemies. Fallon is such an adorable imp who is caught pouring dirt into the wrong shoes. As the years grow so do their friendship and their attraction.

[Marta Cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

Three and a half from me
So I remember several years ago reading a Viking romance trilogy by this author that I loved but had noticed that in recent times she seems to prefer writing more modern suspense stories. So when I heard that some of her earlier historical romance books were being re released I was very keen to catch up with stories I had previously missed which brings me nicely to this particular book.
Set around the infamous battle of Hastings we are introduced to Fallon, daughter of King Harold and Alaric , loyal Norman warrior of William . This starts during the aftermath of the bloody battle that saw Harold slain and right from the outset it's plain that there's a lot of history between the couple. Now the author takes an unusual turn here and turns back time to previous events in which we see how Fallon and Alaric came to be so aware of each other . A lot of this section gives background about how Harold came to be King and just why William went on to , well frankly conquer ! The perception of Fallon is of a spoilt adolescent who clearly feels no love for the Normans and in particular delights in challenging Alaric. We also learn about Alarics earlier life and just why he has sworn to never love or marry .
Fast forward back to where our story started and it's plain that there's an intense attraction between the couple but with Fallons almost obsessive hatred of the Normans it's a difficult journey. Alaric is just so demanding and it clearly sets Fallons teeth on edge but as he calls her his slave I can't really blame her for her reactions and yet at times I did find her difficult to like. The frustration that Alaric clearly feels is palpable but no matter what Fallon does in his mind she is his ! Fallon feels she should do her duty for her country but to Alaric all he sees is her betrayal. Such a tangled web these two immerse themselves in but it gets even harder as they both continue to deny their feelings .
Well a fierce warrior pitched against a hot headed female and you just know there are going to be fireworks and truly there are and yet for me something was missing. I suppose it's almost enemies become lovers that can work beautifully but here perhaps because Fallon was so relentless and childish at times I just couldn't truly buy into it. Yes Alaric is heroic with a good heart but it's not my favourite by this author. The historical information whilst giving an interesting backdrop just felt overused at times and maybe too long? Still if you want an insight into the invasion of 1066 and how people reacted then perhaps you might enjoy this authors romantic slant
This voluntary take is of an advance reader arc

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 4 out of 5]

Единствената причина за последната звезда от рейтинга, е битката при Хейстингс. Всъщност навремето май научих за събитието оттук, което отново затвърждава мнението ми как някои неща могат да се научат от най-невероятни места…

Всичко останало в сюжета е просто безумно, но точно това е запазената марка на лудите бабки от ерата преди политкоректността. Те често се отплесват, и ми е идело да ги плесна през палавите химикалки, но пък не се свенят да показват и нелицеприятни неща на фона на редовната гонка кога нашият човек най-сетне ще докопа момичето.

3,5⭐️

[Lady Whitbrooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Re-read! I LOVE THIS BOOK!
I loved this book. I was hooked from start to Finish. Alaric was well ……..I liked him ha ha the plot was good 8.5 (1-10 steaminess 6(1-10)

[Maria11 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book after I stopped being confused. The first chapters are present time then jumps to the past. I wanted to skip over their history to jump back into the story. I think the story should have just started at the past. Less confusion and the reader would pay more attention and just want to get back to the story

There were points in the story where I wanted to kill both the hero and the heroine. Both were so stubborn and prideful. Fallon really irritated me always yearning for the past and not realizing what was in front of her face was so much better. Alaric was just as bad living in the past and making those in the present suffer for it.

History, action, love and hot sex! Great combination! Great writing! Want to read more!

Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the only reason I know anything at all about William the Conqueror in 1066.

[Padma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! What a heroine!!

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd read still 5 stars.

1st read 5 stars

[Shellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book well written. It’s a little different, after the prologue, which is what was currently happening at the battle at Hastings, the first two parts of the book goes back and gives you background on several of the main characters. The H/h’s initial meeting and how they crossed each other’s paths over the years. It also gives some good history on William the Conqueror and his background and the Godwinson’s, which is quite good. These parts are slower, but still quite good. The 3rd part is back to where are H/h are now. Fallon was a little over the top for me at times with her ability as a warrior and her constant defiance. However, in later parts Shannon Drake managed to turn it around and lessen these aspects about her to where it was believable. During some of the first parts the book was one I could put down, but once into the 3rd part it really grabbed me. So overall avg. begin half to later it’s a 4 maybe 4.5 for me.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fallon, the heroine of this romance and the daughter of King Harold of England, is one of the strongest heroines I have every encountered. She is fiery, stubborn, intelligent, skilled, and beautiful; too much for her own sake in all. She fights her enemy with a passion after her homeland is invaded by Duke Williams forces and her father is killed in battle in a most barbaric way. Her enemy becomes her lover, and still she fights to the very end. The hero is the epitome of the "alpha male." He is no less stubborn and fiery; a perfect match to our lady. The twists and turns of their story keep you riveted until the very end. Their passion burns off the page. The only downfall for some readers may be the amount of historical events/characters woven into this story. For myself, a history fan, it kept me that much more interested because I love learning some tidbits of fact mixed with my fiction. The story starts with a confrontational scene between the hero and heroine, and then proceeds to go back in time explaining events and scenes leading up to the introductory event and then continues from there with their story. Be prepared, for it does take a considerable part of the book to get back to the initial scene. However, it was still very enjoyable.

[Jena]

Well that was the fastest DNF ever- 5%.
H always had feelings for the h. They’ve shared a kiss in the past.

The King, after winning the war, gives the h to the H, and he willy-nilly gives her to his friend to rape or to marry.
Then he’s promptly rolling in bed with a big breasted camp follower, before he is interrupted by a guard, because the h had tried to kill his friend for attempted rape.
His friend is carried out..and this is where I dnf’d but I think H almost rapes her in anger for almost killing his friend.
He was sharing spit with the camp follower not 5 minutes before, gross.


I guess this is not a safe read, he’s certainly not celibate after developing feelings for the h. 🤷🏻‍♀️

- H loved his ex (not the h)
- h, a princess, fights like a warrior, she wears plate armor + wields a big sword. She fights so well that she can keep a group of Viking like men away all by herself, so her men can run away .. omg. SO stupid and contrived.🙄🙄🙄

[Jojoruns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really my all time favorite novel set during the Norman Saxon conflict. I have re-read this book several times and plan to again.

[S · Rating 4 out of 5]

What is it about Shannon Drake's books that simply are so alluring that one could not, absolutely could not stop reading.
They are so good!
While the blurb was not so enticing (I put off reading this book for a few weeks), once I started reading, it captivated me endlessly.
I had to force myself to put the book down - for the next day I had to get up early for work.
The Epilogue was to die for. The chemistry between the Hero and the heroine was so scorching hot that it scalded through the pages. I swear.
And I loved it when authors make heroines drop dead gorgeous; simply beautiful beyond measure. (They don't do that anymore ... at least very rarely).
The Hero? Of course he would be tall, handsome, strong, and sexy.
These two characters had been at odds with each other since the very beginning. It was satisfying reading their encounters - going back to when the heroine was simply a little girl - playing pranks on the Hero because he was a Norman (and she was an English). She hated him with all her might. And yet, they continued to be drawn to each other - albeit in anger.
The whole book was written so flawlessly. The angst was real - as was the emotional interaction between the couple. And could I just say that I loved Harold - the heroine's father? I almost cried when he died. It was simply heartbreaking. And to think that she would get raped on the same day her father died? Oooops ... I had revealed a crucial potential turn off for some of you. Yes, there was rape / bodice ripper, call it whatever you would. For me, it did not bother me so much as it was wartime ... when you read it, you would understand.

The book was a tiny bit too long. I didn't really care for the historical bits - I found them a little bit too tedious (hence the missing 1 star). And towards the last part, I wished the heroine would just 'leave' the Hero for distrusting her. I wished he would grovel more.
I

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first time that I've come across a historical romance book that was set in the 11th century, in the time of the Norman invasion of England. As a fan of medieval history, I had this book added to my reading list before I finished reading the summary on the back cover of the book.

In short, William the Conqueror lead his army across the Channel in the year 1066, in the Norman Conquest. This book tells the story of the enemies to lovers romance between Count Alaric and Princess Fallon, the English King's daughter. Unlike many other historical romance authors, Heather Graham likes to introduce her books with a short teaser of the conflict between the couple as a prelude to the story itself. The actual story spans a multitude of years, from the time when Fallon first meets Alaric in her youth, to the present, when the Norman Conquest is in full force.

The enemies to lovers trope is strong in this book, so if you're someone who loves a lot of angst and drama, you'll love this book. There's a thin line between love and hate, and Heather Graham really knows how to balance it.

[Beth pretends to read everything (i.e. romance) · Rating 2 out of 5]

You know it's a historical when the first almost 10% is prologue. Norman v Saxon setup and the word bastard has been used 13 times already. These are nothing if not predictable. I fear this will be a slog.

I thought I knew what I was getting into with this being from the 80s, but now I'm honestly not sure. Redemption and an actual emotional connection seems slim at best. Went from battlefield to attempted rape to 2nd attempted rape to semi-consensual (so flowery) to immediate regret and finally to mutual hate-spewing. But it's only because they both have such INTENSE feelings and being around each other makes them VOLATILE. Lord save me.

At some point historical fiction changed to be less historical and more fiction. This is squarely in the "history fictionalized" as opposed to the more recent category of "fiction historicalized". Yes I know that none of that is actually english, but I think the intent is clear. This is more history than romance. Certainly not real history, but a lot of time spent on fleshing out real people who existed in a certain place in a certain time and had certain deeds attributed to them. Does history tell you when they bedded dairy maids? Nope - but this book will, because it made it up.

The other reason why this feels more like the former category is because so far the two main characters are not the couple. Instead, they are:
William, Duke of Normandy (bastard)
Alaric (also Norman, also bastard)
And so far the women are objects on which to slake their lust.
I have no doubt that these places and people and events took place and were well researched, not that I am verifying (other than 1066, which my French teacher reminded us at every opportunity how for 100 years england spoke French). I am not in history class any longer, please spare me from naming 100 side characters important to the era.

Finally got to the bits where we are getting backstory on the people this book is supposed to be about. Over the course of 10-15 years, we get to see all the meetings of Alaric and Fallon. Their interaction is. . .odd. She is clearly a child and antagonizes him, until she is suddenly "awakened". At least the author didn't choose for the hero to sexualize her as a child. So thanks for that, at least. After seeing their meetings, it's really hard to understand how he was able to so coldly give her away to another man. Wtf.

And now. .. . more battle history.
And here we arrive back at the beginning.

This part, which was the actual romance part, wasn't overly romantic or emotional. It was maybe clocking in at 3 stars, and definitely still a product of it's time. I grew weary of Fallon's need to continually attempt to rebel when literally everyone in her life (aside from her immature brothers) was telling her to let it go (queue Frozen). Also she was inept at it, so that didn't help matters.

This book would have benefited from having no prologue. It did not in any way endear me to either character. If not completely gone, it should have been shortened.

Parts I and II could have been way shorter, less than 200 pages and it would have been improved. I didn't need to hear about all the thanes and earls and athelings.

Part III left much to be desired and the characters were mulish and brooding (not in a sexy way) and communicated poorly.

2.5 at most. Rounded 👎

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

SD (pseudonym for Heather Graham) is a talented writer. But she really fell short with this novel. Fallon and Alaric are secondary to the story of the Norman conquest of England. And honestly, I am not a fan of main characters knowing each other for years prior to becoming involved. I like when mains meet each other for the first time as adults and the relationship develops from there. Fallon and Alaric should not have had any physical intimate encounter before their relationship (this began with the Battle of Hastings when she was captured) because he was not celibate (even though he was immensely attracted and drawn to her). Really disappointed. But I will give the novel a grudging 3 for the high quality of writing. The sequel Knight of Fire is far superior in my opinion.

[Debra Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ms. Graham certainly knows how to weave an exciting and engaging story. "Princess of Fire" was a battle of wills for Alaric and Fallon for most of their lives. Who would win? Who would submit? However, I did find that the first half of the story was bogged down with way too much historical detail. It was interesting to read about William the Conqueror, but it almost made me stop reading. That's what earned this book 4 stars instead of 5. I wanted to see what happened with our hero and his feisty heroine. It wasn't until I hit the 50% mark that the story began to concentrated on these two. That's when I couldn't put the book down. This book could have been 100 pages less and the story of Alaric and Fallon would have taken center stage throughout the book. All in all, it was a well written and enjoyable book. Fans of historical fiction will like this one.

I received a copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Al *the semi serial series skipper* · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too bloody long

When it comes to a book i enjoy i usually hope it doesn't end , this was not that kind of book. I wish it was hundred pages shorter. It went on and on. I don't usually care for the accuracy of history when i read a HR, i'm usually in it for the romance which this book didn't adequately provide. I now know all i ever wished to know about William the Conqueror than i ever wanted. Fallon was too headstrong it wasn't even cute. It was just fighting and fighting and arguing and that's really not my thing.

If you like historical accuracy in your HR and don't mind getting bogged down by the details then this is the book for you.

[booksofallkinds · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fallon and Alaric have always had a tempestuous relationship ever since the first day they met when they were only children. Against the backdrop of war, power, and death, the heat that flares between them continues to grow even though they are on opposite sides - Fallon a Saxon determined to get revenge for her fellow Englishmen, and Alaric a Norman who will fight to the death to protect those he cares about. As Fallon finds herself as Alaric's prisoner, she constantly defies him for no matter how much she yearns for the man, she can never bend to the enemy. Alaric's past has taught him that women and love can never be trusted, and as Fallon betrays him at every turn, he will do what he must, to protect his heart. But as their fiery relationship develops into more, can they ever really trust each other enough to lay down the weapons between them? With wonderful historical detail and description, PRINCESS OF FIRE by Heather Graham transports you back in time into this hypnotic story of love, passion, and spirit, and I was completely caught up in Fallon and Alaric's lives. With gripping characters, action, danger, passion, and despair, PRINCESS OF FIRE by Heather Graham has it all.

*I voluntarily reviewed this book from Netgalley.com

[Belinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

This one is an oldie but goodie from Shannon Drake/Heather Graham. It takes place during the Norman invasion of England. It was a long read and there was a lot of historical facts which I thought was not really needed. But, I'm in for the romance between the main characters who were definitely
intriguing.
After the battle of Hastings, Alaric one of William the Conqueror's trusted warrior, finds his childhood friend Fallon. She finds out her father, King Harold was killed and she hates all Normans especially Alaric. He in turn, cannot let her go of half cocked on her own, and makes her a prisoner.
Fallon has known Alaric since childhood and their relationship is rocky at best. I found that Fallon's constant hating of Alaric grating on my nerves. She is not getting her way in this story and she was a bit spoiled. Fallon sees the enemy who she once knew, changed from boy to man. He turns her crank but she's afraid of the desire that fulfills her.
If you like a lot of pages in a book, this one is for you. I skipped through a lot, and finally finished it.
I appreciate Net Galley for this ARC title in which I gave an honest review.

[LoveReadingRomance · Rating 3 out of 5]

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Characters
Alaric is a noble warrior and despite the hatred Fallon felt for him, it did not deter him from rescuing her time after time.

Fallon is a hellion and spoiled to a degree. She holds deep animosity towards the Normans because of what has occurred in her family.

Storyline
It is written in the third person through Alaric and Fallon's point of view. It goes back and forth between the present and past. I did appreciate that we saw the reasons why Fallon felt the way she did. However, he did so many things for her yet she held on to that animosity. Also we saw glimpses of her at different stages of her life.

Recommendation
I was slightly disappointed in this book. I love reading historical romance novels but this fell short of my expectations since it involved vikings...

[J.A. Hoyt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I.....am torn. This was clearly well-researched and planned and written.

However, it is an older romance. And as such a lot of the tropes that were common when this was published now...aren't.

Spoiler- there's a semi- almost rape scene between hero and heroine in the first thirty pages...major no no right there. Then some of the things he says to her just...I can't. Also, as a medievalist yes, I know that "that was how things were" etc. But listen, I'm reading a romance. Not historical literature.

So while the writing and research deserve a higher rating, I'm only giving this one a 3/5.

[Alice Ca · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my favorites!

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story begins with what happens when Alaric captures Fallon at the Battle of Hastings. They have known each other for many years. Alaric Count of Anlou is a trusted knight of William of Normandy & he became a friend to Harold in the years prior to Harold becoming king of England
This is quite a long novel & is basically split into three parts.The first part gives the history of Fallon and Alaric. Fallon daughter of Harold is extremely spoiled and prideful. She taunts and does mean things to Alaric like filling his boots with dirt & giving him a cold wet bed. Though, I had to laugh when Alaric gave her a well deserved spanking, I found Fallon hard to like her attitude & demeanour grated on me at times. Alaric is very much an alpha male who had faced several obstacles throughout his life and promised never to marry or fall in love again after he lost his wife. However he always seemed to care for Fallon even though he may not like her at times.
The second part deals with Harold being proclaimed King & William invading England, the Battle of Hastings & Alaric’s capture of Fallon
The third part has Fallon basically being a pain & trying to escape from Alaric, but he always finds her and brings her back. The pair share a deep passion but neither will admit that they love each other. Alaric feels he can’t trust Fallon & she will betray him. Fallon feels she can’t submit to a conquering hero. I enjoyed the historical facts of the book. The pace of the book was on the whole very good but at times did get bogged down in the historical events. Alaric was everything you want a warrior to be, dashing, agile, strong & handsome. Fallon although beautiful was like a terrier with a bone & wouldn’t let go of her imagined perception of a Norman.
If you like a well written historical novel with lots of authentic events & a romance as well then this is the novel for you
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book

[Angel Hatfield · Rating 3 out of 5]

Duke Williams is a Norman and dead. The lft division of the Norman Knights had broken the division. A chaotic and horrible retreat had begun. The Saxon line remained unbroken. But William was was not actually dead and proved it. William’s forces were fewer but his battle plan was superior and his weapons were more advanced and deadly. The Saxons fought with crude slingshots and desperation. The fought for their homeland and KIng. Then it was true Harold the KIng was dead. Alaric felt no joy he had liked and admired Harold- he felt pain. William did not okay rape and murder but he did promise riches for the men who rode with him and that meant plundering. Then one who would not give up ad Alaik finally conquered the person and then found out it was actually a woman. It was Fallon and Alaric told her to give up she was beaten but she still refused. She was Harold’s daughter by his “ Danish marriage”. She had been a thorn in Alaric’s side since the day he had met her. But standing there he knew she had to be subdued if William was ever to rule England. Alaric told Fallon she was done and his prisoner and her father was dead. Fallon had adored her father and didn’t want to believe Harold was dead. Alaric’s feelings for Fallon were all twisted up. Alaric had met Fallon when she was a child. Alaric and Fallon ended up sleeping together as he tried to comfort her over her father’s death. But all Fallon wants to do is escape.
I liked this story. It had a lot of twists and turns and kept my attention. But in some spots there was just too much historical detail but I will say I did like learning more about the time period. I do believe this book could have been shorter. There was some confusion with the jumping around. This story was well written. But the story did drag at times so I had mixed feelings on this story.

[Andra P · Rating 5 out of 5]

I adore the way Shannon Drake writes historical fiction and her books are genuinely educational as well as romantic. Of course they always revolve around conflict between beautiful, strong, feisty women and handsome, powerful, dynamic men so that’s a given. Alaric is an absolutely fantastic creation of all that is masculine, protective and caring and I fell totally in love. He is provoked constantly by Fallon, the daughter of King Harold who is killed during the Battle of Hastings. Harold did not have a daughter by this name so she is fictitious and if she had existed it is unlikely she would have been able to get away with riding to battle and accompanying her father everywhere he went. Fallon’s saving grace is her love for her father, family and England and it is this that makes her unable to reconcile her attraction to Alaric, henchman of William the Conqueror.
So few people are au fait with English history from the medieval period that this book is really instructive in this regard. Kudos to Ms Drake aka Heather Graham Pozzeserre. The book sizzles in places but not enough for my liking. I want to slap Fallon most of the time for failing to appreciate the pointlessness of fighting Alaric but then that wouldn’t be romance fiction would it?
The only book by this author I like better is Blue Heaven Black Knight. Wonderful stuff.

[Jessica Howard · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a ARC from Netgally in return for my honest review

Enemies become lovers in this historical romance set to the backdrop of the Norman invasion of England. The story begins with Alaric, one of William the Conqueror’s closest warriors finding Fallon on the battlefield after the death of her father, King Harold at the Battle of Hastings. Fallon and Alaric have a very complicated past from their childhood, but Alaric promises Fallon’s mother that he will protect her even if it means enslaving her for her own sake.

Fallon is a strong female lead. She is determined, courageous, and faithful to those she loves. She doesn’t simply give up after the death of her father. She is determined to hate the Normans and she is determined to deny her feelings for Alaric as well. The fighting between Fallon and Alaric make for a dramatic and engaging plotline although the first half of the book deals with their younger years and tends to have long spaces between their interaction.

There is also a lot of historical details in the book. I can honestly say that I now know more about William the Conqueror than I learned in any of my history classes or at least from what I remembered of those classes.

[Blenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Alaric and Fallon! Wow! What a ride! Alaric first meets Fallon when she’s 5 years old and he is around 17 (we’re never told exactly how old he is). She’s a pain in the -ss. She hates all Norman’s because she thinks they want to take over England (and she’s right,of course) and she’s very English. So she especially decides she doesn’t like Aleric and puts sand in his boots, etc. But over the years they see each other off and on again and again and as Fallon grows up, whenever Aleric sees her, he begins to realize that the pretty little girl who gave him problems has grown into a beautiful woman, but she continues to hate Norman’s. This begins the sexual attraction, but the fact that they are enemies causes all kinds of problems. I enjoyed the book very much and gave it 5 stars. If anything wrong with the book at all, it’s the tenacity of Fallon continuing to think that her people can still win the war against the Norman’s, so she gets herself into all kinds of trouble because of that. There were times I wished she would just “give it a rest!”