When an outcast goes home and meets a woman seeking justice, hearts will clash… convincing the banished son to take the jarl’s seat. But she has her doubts about the stone-hearted Viking, despite the lust between them. It’s only a matter of time before Bjorn discovers that Ilsa is hiding dangerous secrets, secrets that may jeopardize all they’ve worked for.
When the darkest hour comes, the once-rejected warrior must choose: rescue his men, the Forgotten Sons—or Ilsa, the woman he craves, body and soul.
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I am on the fence about this story. On one hand I loved all of the details of Viking life (I am not an expert but I know Gina spends lots of time researching). On the other hand I do not consider this a romance. Yes, there are some slightly romantic scenes but not enough for me to put it in the romance category. I wanted more time with Bjorn and Ilsa and their romantic relationship. I so loved Bjorn in the last book. I felt like their relationship was boom done at the end. I did like the epilogue. Very nice.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through NetGalley.
Banned from his home as a child, Bjorn is confronted by Ilsa, a young woman from his past who tries to convince him to return to his childhood home, Velleford. When he refuses, even though the father he once loved is dying, Ilsa uses her leverage to force him to go. There is a strong attraction between them, but her secrets may prevent them from being together. It’s a dangerous game she plays.
Twists and turns and an unexpected ending.
A good Viking read.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book.
I thoroughly enjoyed this Viking story, written as only Gina Conkle can! From page one I found myself immersed in the story and could just picture it all in my mind. I’ve always been fascinated with the Viking era and it’s stories like this one that whet my appetite.
Book #2 of the Forgotten Sons series is Bjorn and Ilsa’s story. They had been close as children and then torn apart when Bjorn was banished from their village at 12 years of age. Now, 18 years later, Ilsa goes in search of Bjorn who is now part of the Forgotten Sons warriors and brings him back to the village. His father, the jarl, is dying and the village needs him and his warriors to help them fight the enemy. Filled with bitterness and wanting revenge on his father, Bjorn soon realizes that he must help protect the people, no matter how he feels about his father. Ilsa hardly recognizes this hardened warrior but can’t ignore the attraction she feels for him and it’s a slow burn before they finally get together.
I was given an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
Can two childhood friends can overcome the betrayal and guilt which torn them apart and is now driving a wedge between them.
The beginning was a bit slow but so filled with informations, new words and customs, I felt like I was transported very far away, if not in distance but in time for sure.
I have read a few Vikings romances, but I do not remember them to be so detailed.
But I am glad this one came after or I would have been completely lost, with my basic knowledge, I was able to appreciate this magic tale and even more the awesome and gigantic work Mrs Gina Conkle did with this book.
Bjorn and Ilsa are people of few words, they take action, not the kind to parley.
First introduced is Bjorn, the rejected illegitimate son of a jarl, he made a name for himself, becoming a renowned fighter with his group of warriors, The Lost Sons.
Despite his allegation to not seeking revenge, he still hold with good reason a grudge for his banishment. Why so blinded by his own ire, he is unable to see past it and discern Isla own conflicts.
When Isla appeared, she was portrayed as an ambivalent woman, ready to use woman’s means if necessary or power pressure to make him surrender to her plea.
But as the story unfolds, each new step in the plot enlightens a new aspect of Isla’s personality. She is such a complex woman, she lives with her guilt thinking she has failed her friend Bjorn when he was exiled as a child, then she lived under her family pressure to assure them wealth and rank at the expense of her own happiness then living between rules and lawlessness and its weight.
Isla is the true warrior of this tale as are all the women who fight for their freedom and those under their care. She might be no soldier but she fights with her own weapons, cleverness, devotion and forgiveness.
Her relationship with Bjorn navigated between sizzling chemistry to longing for their lost friendship to defiance or acceptance, it was truly one with bends and holes, so much I wondered how will they be able to mend their road to another.
Once the action has truly started, it was impossible to put it down. This page-turned story had me entranced until its last word.
Why the big fat 5 stars for this thrilling tale.
My only complain is a glossary would have been a great addition, lucky me to have read it as an ebook as I could google some words but not all were findable.
I was granted an advance copy by the Publisher Carina Press for Harlequin through Netgalley and I purchased my own copy. Here is my true and unbiased opinion.
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Or should it be his Viking warrior…
The evening after a battle in Rouen, the Viking warriors were partaking in a feast at their jarl’s, Will Longsword. Bjorn had noticed a beautiful woman in white sitting at his jarl’s table; she was now at his side. Bjorn hadn’t recognised his childhood friend Ilsa, it had been a long time since he had been banished from Vellefold. Ilsa has a proposition for him: Vellefold needs his warrior’s skills for a short while. He is not interested, especially as he would take his orders from her. However, his jarl endorses Ilsa’s idea, and Bjorn is off to Norway with the other Forgotten Sons before he knows what hit him.
Gina Conkle’s research and understanding of the Viking era is absolutely astonishing. From the first page, we are transported to AD 930, from Rouen – a Viking settlement – then sailing away to Norway on a longship. The author’s knowledge extends to the mores and customs, the way of life of warriors, simple villagers, and nobility alike. And the things I learned on ivory, ravens, clothing, and the roles women played in that society. The Viking era atmosphere is so meticulously crafted and sustained that not one word took me out of the story for the duration.
Bjorn and Ilsa are not the most loquacious, they’re doers. They don’t see the return to their native village the same way, but upon witnessing the devastation, Bjorn understands he is needed, and he has an ulterior motive as well. Things were cruising along just fine, lost as I was in mental contemplation of the lyrical descriptions of the vistas, the ship, the sea voyage, the feast, the decimated village, the despondent survivors, then Ilsa reveals a secret to Bjorn that severely complicates matters.
Bjorn is a true Viking warrior, but Ilsa is a heroine for the ages! What can I say other than I think she is perfect. Not in the way that she has no flaws, but that she conquers them. She has goals and she will see them realised, however much it costs her; she is a heroine I believe in and admire. There are many secondary characters, including the other Forgotten Sons, of course, all beautifully defined. And while HER VIKING WARRIOR is book two in the Forgotten Sons series, it stands entirely on its own, Rurik not taking part in the adventure. Bjorn and Ilsa are two very strong people, their relationship is fraught with peril and it is all very realistic. The battle towards the end is a monument of highly descriptive and eloquent writing; it is like being there! Viking romance has found its own skald – poet – in Gina Conkle. Now, about Magnus…
Gina never lets me down – always worthy of reading
Originally posted on Tales to Tide You Over: https://margaretmcgaffeyfisk.com/category/reviews/
I chose this title because I had a craving to return to my roots where reading romances is concerned, but what I’d expected to be a quick, candy-bar read turned out to be much more. The story speaks to the parts of me that are traditional, and those wanting to see growth and change. This is far from the “love blooms in reluctant couples” theme that many historical romances use. Rather, it’s a story of growing respect and understanding during dangerous, tumultuous times.
Ilsa and Bjorn follow a path strewn with hard choices and unwanted losses. Their ways have never been easy, nor have they sat back and let fate make choices for them. This is especially true for Ilsa because she stretches the boundaries of her gender to address the needs of those who depend on her. She has many secrets, some of which she keeps even from the reader for a bit, but the small details add up so when Ilsa reveals the secret to us, it’s not a shock. Before you think this is the modern world crammed into Viking history, however, know the original understanding of Viking life had many flaws. More recent discoveries are changing those assumptions. The author includes a note at the end referencing a historical Viking woman whose life followed a similar pattern.
Bjorn’s concerns are more personal. He fights a craving to reclaim the home that cast him out as a boy of twelve almost as strong as the one to punish those who remain for not stopping his father. It’s a measure of the man he has become that Bjorn can see and learn about the conditions in his old home despite the filters of his anger and confusion. Ilsa offers a different form of distraction and makes keeping to the rules of his brother warrior band harder than Bjorn would have thought possible.
The parallels to modern times in this story are strong. Several themes, while true to the book’s period, echo strongly in the modern world with lessons to teach those willing to listen. Don’t expect a pause to educate, however. The themes are woven tight into the story, and cause trouble for Ilsa and Bjorn whether or not the reader sees a greater significance as I did.
The rules of that time might be different, but the needs and weaknesses of the characters are relatable. They struggle between what is right, the promises they’ve made, and who they want to be. I was completely absorbed…so much so I forgot to make notes for this review a good part of the time. While I knew what I wanted to happen, the characters were just unpredictable enough to leave me startled a time or two, making the book stronger and more complicated.
There is an open-door love scene and the passion burning between the main characters is tangible even before they’re willing to act on it. Passion is not the only strong emotion though. The story is far from simple and has darkness as well as light. The warring is not painted with a heroic sheen nor are the battles waged closer to home glossed over. This could easily have been a banished son returns a conquering hero to save the day. Instead, there’s a multi-layered tale full of challenges about personal and societal beliefs where the characters must face their own demons as well as ones imposed from others. There’s an important theme played out in the background, but the story of two childhood friends torn apart then reunited in the worse circumstances is enough to satisfy the romantic heart.
I enjoyed the sharp and layered banter between two mature protagonists who had seen much of life and stayed strong despite it. Viking words are introduced with a skillful hand so the context makes the meaning clear while the writing itself is evocative. People develop distinct personalities (except for those mostly in the background where similar names sometimes tripped me up), and the Earth itself comes alive in its trees, land, and waters. The wind has a voice, but more than that, the variety of beliefs add another depth where who a person turns to for blessings shows in their outlook.
I cannot say more without spoilers, so I’ll leave you with this: the ending is fascinating. It’s not what I’d come to expect, and yet it is appropriate for this book with all the questions it raises and explores.
P.S. I received this title from the publisher through NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Sorry but this book was not for me, it could have been that it is part of a series but I couldn’t get into it..I couldn’t stand one of the main character (Ilsa) and felt that Bjorn could have done better.
rcvd an ARc at no cost to author..(netgalley) Voluntarily reviewed with my own thoughts and opinions
HER VIKING WARRIOR is the second installment in Gina Conkle’s historical FORGOTTEN SONS Viking romance series. I feel it can be read as a stand alone.
This is Bjorn and Ilsa’s journey to finding their HEA. Set in Velleford.
Well written and well excuted. Steady paced with an interesting cast of characters. Secrets abound, dangerous romance, drama, female thralls, childhood friends, finding acceptance, surprises, twists and turns bring HER VIKING WARRIOR to a dramatic and climactic ending.
Once again, Gina Conkle has written a story that will keep the reader turning pages.
Ilsa is looking for justice for the female thralls in Velleford. Bjorn, a fierce warrior in his own rights is an outcast from Velleford, he’s also looking for acceptance from his father. Will Bjorn and Ilsa find what they are seeking, or lose all?
Ms. Conkle has once again written a Viking Romance that will keep readers turning pages. Fans of Viking Romance, secrets, adventurers, betrayal, with a HEA, will enjoy HER VIKING WARRIOR.
“I voluntarily received a complimentary copy, however, these are my honest opinions. I was in no way required nor compensated to write a review.”
Rating: 4.5
Heat rating: Hot
Reviewer: AprilR
This is the second in the series and as with the first I found that for me there was a little too much information about the time period. For some this is great but for me I prefer the story and interaction with the characters. But as with the first book, once you get into the story it is hard to put down. There is action, mystery, romance and suspense as you would expect in a viking story. Well worth the read for all who love Vikings and enjoyed the tv series Vikings.
3.75 stars–
REVIEW: HER VIKING WARRIOR is the second instalment in Gina Conkle’s historical FORGOTTEN SONS Viking romance series. This is Bjorn and Ilsa’s story line. HER VIKING WARRIOR can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story line is revealed where necessary.
Told from dual third person perspectives (Bjorn and Ilsa) HER VIKING WARRIOR follows Ilsa as she is tasked with bringing help to her village, a village destroyed and terrorized by an enemy from afar. Hoping against hope that her childhood friend Bjorn, bastard son of Vellefold, and his warrior brothers of the Forgotten Sons, will help to defeat the enemy, once they return. Unable to convince Bjorn to help her cause, Ilsa takes drastic measures including ‘buying’ the service of Bjorn and his men. What ensues is the preparation for war, as people of Vellefold, learn to defend against an enemy more powerful and strong.
At the age of twelve Bjorn was ostracised from his family and friends; sent away by the man he loved, but destroyed by the jealousy of his father’s wife, Bjorn struggled to acquiesce to Ilsa’s demands, a struggled that finds our hero sailing for the home he no longer loved. Ilsa is a strong woman with secrets that are about to be exposed; a woman who has never stopped loving our story line hero but Ilsa is on a mission to procure help for her ravished village, at any cost, including the humiliation of Bjorn and his warrior brothers.
The relationship between Bjorn and Ilsa if contemptuous at best. Childhood friends destroyed by one woman’s need for power and control, Ilsa was unable to save her best friend resulting in a fractured relationship that struggles with long forgotten attraction and love. The romance is non-existent; the $ex scenes is mostly implied.
There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including the Forgotten Sons, and their leader Rurik (Kept by the Viking #1), as well as Bjorn’s ailing father, the jarl of Vellefold, and numerous members of the Vellefold village.
HER VIKING WARRIOR is a story of revenge; of poverty and war; of betrayal and justice. The premise is engaging; the characters are colorful and many ; the romance is limited and in this in struggled to feel any palpable attraction or emotional connection between our leading couple.
Her Viking Warrior by Gina Conkle. 4.5 Stars.
I loved the creative and original plot of this series of “The Forgotten Sons”. Bjorn was left and abandoned in another land, to fend for himself at the age of 12 by his father the Jarl. Ilsa traveled far to fill her blood oath to find and return the long lost son of the Jarl and the next in line to become Jarl. Bjorn and Ilsa were once best friends as children and she knew he would not be inclined to offer his and that of his forgotten brothers help to save the settlement from being wiped out.
This historical novel has a lot to recommend it. The story is a bit slow at the beginning with a lot of researched historical facts of the time, setting the stage for this creative and original storyline. The story continues with deep secrets, emotional and physical scars, intrigue, danger, honor, and strained once trusted relationships of old and new. I love the masterful plot twist and turns you won’t see coming especially the ending!!! Another thing I really liked is the author’s historical notes at the end of the book, separating the fact from the fiction.
Note: There’s one hot steamy love scene towards the end that has 4 flame explicit notations.
I can’t wait for the next book! Happy Reading!
While this is the second in a series about the Forgotten Sons, a small band of ferocious Viking warriors, it stands perfectly well alone. Bjorn is the hero of this story, the illegitimate son of a jarl and a thrall, he was banished by his father in an effort to keep from splitting their tribe apart. Finding his own path and a brotherhood he never expected in the Forgotten Sons, when a ghost from his past comes calling, he has no inclination to answer – even if the ghost is a girl grown up into a beautiful woman.
Ilsa isn’t about to take no for an answer, and she has the power to force Bjorn to go with her, returning to his dying father’s side and defending their settlement. And here’s where it gets really interesting, because while Bjorn is rightfully given his due as a ferocious warrior and a competent leader, he’s never sold as invincible. The climactic confrontation didn’t play out AT ALL as I was expecting… it actually played out realistically, and realism is very much the name of the game in Gina Conkle’s writing. She doesn’t shy away from the gritty truths about living in the Dark Ages or the facts of Viking conquest, and we get to see some of the harsh consequences and the aftermath of being on the wrong end of raids. It’s such good writing, with obviously in-depth research behind it, that I feel deeply immersed in the world.
The romance between Ilsa and Bjorn is excellent; Ilsa is a survivor of an abusive relationship (which is be a potential trigger readers should be aware of) and Bjorn a survivor of an abusive family situation. Both of them are determined never to be put in a situation like that again, and equally determined to defend others, something which puts them in direct conflict because Ilsa is hiding a big secret, one which will have serious consequences beyond just herself when it gets out.
This is such a great read, with a genuinely strong heroine and a hero who respects her for it. If you haven’t read any of Gina Conkle’s Viking romances before, I highly recommend them, as this is an author who really knows her stuff and will have you deeply immersed in the story. Five stars.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this book via NetGalley.
Enter the world of the Vikings as master wordsmith Gina Conkle takes you on an unforgettale adventure that does not stop until the last page. Her knowledge from extensive research makes this era come alive to the point you feel you are there and see how they lived and interacted with customs and the battles they fought.
Bjorn and Isla had been childhood friends but years had pasted since they had seen each other when he had been banished from Velleford. In celebration after a battle Bjorn notice a beautiful woman at the table with the Jarl. Isla had come with a proposition for him because the village needed a warrior’s skills. He of course does not want to return but since his leader endorses her request, he takes the other Forgotten Sons and sets out.
But everything is not as Isla represented and he is torn on what to do and even though he is attracted to her. A tale of secrets, deception, betrayal and many twist and turns as these two try to find there happy ending.
I believe this is my first time reading Viking historical romance. I really enjoyed this book and will have to look into reading more Viking historicals.
Bjorn, a member of the Forsaken Son, is charged with returning to his childhood home to defend it against raiders. He is extremely reluctant and grumpy about it because they banished him when he was a child. Ilsa, his childhood friend, brings him back to fight. She has her own hidden agenda though.
I really enjoyed this book. The tension between Bjorn and Ilsa throughout this book just made me want to keep reading. They had so many struggles and secrets to work but it all worked out in the end. Overall, a good book and I look forward to the next book.
*ARC provided by Netgalley for an honest review.*
Her Viking Warrior by Gina Conkle is book Two in the Forgotten Sons Series. This is the story of Ilsa and Bjorn. I have read (and Loved!) the previous book but felt you could make this a standalone book if you wish to do so. Bjorn and Ilsa had grown up being friends but when he was cast out of Vellefold by his father and the people there with only a sword he didn’t see her again. Now in their present day Bjorn has become a great Viking warrior along with his group of men that call themselves the Forgotten Sons. Ilsa stay in Vellefold and has started secretly helping Vellefold’s in their bid for freedom. But Ilsa comes to find Bjorn to try to get him to come back to help as they have been raided several times and his father is dying. Of course Bjorn is shocked to see Ilsa and the women she has grown into but he refuses until he is order to do so.
Bjorn has a lot to over come besides the raids he has to deal with his feelings for being castaway as the bastard son and with its people.
This story is more drama then romance but it is one that kept me turning pages. Enjoyed it!
Illegitimate son of a once powerful jarl, Bjorn has been part of the brotherhood of the Forgotten Sons since his father exiled him from his home in Vellefold. Now because of his jarl’s desire for profitable trade alliances, Bjorn must go home to save his invalid father from a powerful enemy. If Bjorn succeeds, the rich jarldom is his. He’d rather let the place fall as vengeance for the injustice done to him as a boy, but his childhood friend Ilsa is especially good at cracking his icy facade.
Ilsa has always preferred reading her scrolls to warfare, but she can hold her own on a boat. She remembers Bjorn as a boy and knows he is the only hope for her people, but she is unprepared for her reactions to his touch as a man. Bjorn is shocked to discover that he’s been deceived and Vellefold is impoverished and things are much worse than he was told, and when he and his men learn her secret, that she’s been hiding runaway thralls and helping them escape to freedom, things become even more complicated for everyone involved.
Bjorn is hurting from Ilsa’s deceptions and his past rejection by the very people he’s now charged with saving. Now Bjorn is torn between the expectations of Vellefold, the equally conflicting expectations of his brothers in the Forgotten Sons, and his capricious feelings for Ilsa.
Beware, there’s a bit of a rant ahead, some may find it spoilery. I couldn’t stand Ilsa. She manipulated and belittled Bjorn in one breath, while begging his assistance with the next. I found the hypocrisy annoying and it did not endear her to me. Yes, her reasons are relatively noble because she ultimately wants to help her people and free the thralls, but her methods leave something to be desired. She expected respect and cooperation from Bjorn and for her to treat him as an equal after she disrespected him, questioned his honor, and essentially said he was not a good man because he didn’t immediately agree to blindly obey her. She almost immediately expects blind faith from Bjorn but is unwilling to give even an inch in return or think of the difficult position she’s put him in.
All of this strife led to quite a slow pace and very little romance, but despite all this Ilsa did eventually redeem herself a bit by being honest with Bjorn. Bjorn was no peach himself, but he did exhibit a lot of character growth and I felt awful for him in such a situation. I’m never a fan of the “strong” woman portrayed as an unbending harpy who has to assert her authority by demanding respect and belittling everyone around her.
Overall, I kept at this story but was never really drawn in. It hit on a lot of the pet peeve that annoy me in a book. The pacing was a bit off and the ending wasn’t really all that satisfying for me, in fact, it was rather anticlimactic and a bit depressing. I’ve had similar feelings about several of my recent reads so I’m starting to think I may just be a bit hard to please (?). This one wasn’t bad, but I didn’t love it either. The writing was good, however, and I will try other works from this author.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.