Hearts Aflame

Rating:
Summary: 4 and a half stars - second in the Viking trilogy
Review: This is a great follow up to Fires of Winter, which I really loved.

Beautiful Kristen Haardrad longs for adventure and the chance to find a husband. She steals away on her brother's ship and hides in the cargo only to find her a part of a raid gone wrong, when they were captured by the men of Royce of Wyndhurst, a powerful Saxon lord. When Kristen's disguise was uncovered, Royce orders her to work in his hall. Just like her mother, Kristen refuses to accept that she's a slave, which angers Royce. To add more trouble, both become besotted with each other.

Kristen is one of the strongest heroines you will come across. She is brazen, willful and completely unafraid to go after what she wants. Royce is handsome, hot-tempered and commanding. Once Kristen set her eyes on him, you know that you're in for some pretty spicy romance.

Another plus to the story is the involvement of Kristen's family members and friends. We read a brief recap of Garrick and Brenna's love story and reaffirmation of the continuing passion in their relationship. And we are introduced to a whole lot of sexy Viking men who will make you laugh. I mean, how often do you read about magnificent Vikings with god-like looks who have been captured, chained and what not, and yet still manage to retain their sense of humor? Every scene with them and Kristen's family is guaranteed to entertain you.

The plot has the same "master and slave" theme as its predecessor but this book is funnier, although I am in the minority, as I actually liked Fires of Winter better. Maybe I missed something so I will have to read both books again in the future to see why.



Rating:
Summary: Kristen is one of my favorite heroines!
Review: This is a wonderful novel. It's funny with lots of little secrets you can't wait to see unfold. Kristen is one of my favorite heroines. It is refreshing to see a strong heroine who can save herself. The novel is full of wonderful characters. It's a hard book to put down. I've read it five times already.

Rating:
Summary: wow !
Review: This is definitely J.L.'s BEST. It doesn't rehash and drone on about prior novels the way her more recent tales do. The couple are vibrant and sexy; the character development is well devised; the dialogue is enthralling.

Rating:
Summary: A Must
Review: This is one of Johanna's best. She has many, but in my opinion this stands with Once A Princess, Warriors Women, The Malory Series and of couse Fires Of Winter. It was refreshing to see that Kristen new her own feelings right from the beginning and was going to go for it. I always love a book that makes me what to keep reading no matter what I need to do otherwise. Read this one on a day you plan to just sit back and do nothing else. Beware first chapter not so griping, but keep going. Enjoy!

Rating:
Summary: One of the best Romances that I have ever read!
Review: This is the book that got me hooked on ramnce novels. I loved the story, I loved Royce and Kristen, I liked the fact that her mother taught her to fight, and that she could take care of herself. I also love the fact that despite her being a catured slave, Royce still wanted to be with her. His feelings changed from lust to love really quick.

Rating:
Summary: The Second in a Trilology
Review: This is the second book in a trilology. The first is Fires in Winter and the third is Surrender My Love. I think this one was the best of the three, the characters better drawn and more likeable. It is an exciting book with a storyline that has plenty of action. In all three books Ms. Lindsey plays on the theme of slave/prisoner. She handles it differently each time so the theme does not become boring. This is a book worth reading, though not "her best".

Rating:
Summary: Wonder, wonderful, wonderful!
Review: What a great book! I had read it's predecessor (Fires of Winter) right before this one and though that book was good, this one blew it away!! I loved the whole dynamic between Royce and Kristen. They had such a special relationship going on, and I loved how Royce would always look for Kristen first whenever he entered a room! I mean...how sweet is that? I just can't say too much about how great of a read this was. I have read A LOT or romance novels, and have ended up discarding A LOT of them. This one was definitely a keeper and one I will enjoy reading for years to come. You did a great job with this one Mrs. Lindsey!!!

Rating:
Summary: The Saxon Lord and the Viking Slave -- A Guilty Pleasure!
Review: While I'll admit that "Hearts Aflame" is not great literature, it is a fun romp in the medieval romance style and I stayed up half the night finishing it.

I loved the character of the heroine, Kristen Haardrad, a spirited Viking girl who stows away on her brother's ship and ends up being taken captive by Saxons when the Viking raiding party is ambushed. My favorite part of the book was the beginning when the Vikings are trying to hide the fact that Kristen is a woman from their captors. She is discovered (of course) by the virilely handsome Saxon lord, Royce of Wyndhurst, a man who, unfortunately for Kristen, saw his family murdered and his beloved fiance raped and murdered by Viking raiders five years previously.

Royce is a decent-enough hero (although he has the usual "medieval romance hero" attitude toward women--i.e. women as sex objects to be used at will) and this grates on modern sensibilities. Kristen is definitely a fiesty heroine and not afraid to go after what she wants and I did like her for those things. I was disappointed that she fell so *quickly* for the man who was enslaving her and became his mistress. It seemed a bit out of character for a girl who was so *very* proud and raised in a strong family such as hers. And she is *definitely* not the poster girl for the "No Means No" campaign against coercive sex. (I'll admit, I am not a big fan of that kind of raped-but-still-enjoyed-it sex scene that was so popular in the 1980's.)

The book has alot of action and Kristin is one heck of a tough heroine (I loved the part when she goes after Royce's cousin with a knife!) My book did *not* have Fabio on the cover, but it is certainly a "Fabio-on-the-cover" kind of book, albeit a really fun one!

Recommended for readers who like medieval romance (with warnings to those who are offended by the "woman as love slave" plotline.)

Rating:
Summary: fighting women!
Review: Yes! A book with a woman who has secret fighting skills! Kristen, a female with the ability to fight any male with any weapon and win! She is so good with weapons that everyone is astounded! I thourghly enjoyed this book. So much action and passion. Wow. I just wish i was a viking. Read this book if like women who aren't docile obidient dolls. Because this book contains a woman who can beat anyone in combat. A bit like the girl in the film Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. Believe you me.