Viper Spaulding
Time to surrender your heart! What's a girl to do when her brothers are four of the most fearsome protectors ever to walk this earth? Hannah is near desperate to escape from her brothers' overbearing care and is willing to take nearly any risk necessary to pursue the Viking trader who is visiting the Sinclair castle. Erik may look like a traveling trader, but he and his men have a secret mission, one that is laser-focused on the Sinclair daughter. Once Erik meets Hannah, his mission is both easier to accomplish and so much harder to complete. I loved getting to know Hannah, her forthright confidence, and her fearless determination to take her destiny into her own hands. Erik is more than the hero she needs, even when it appears he's just the opposite. The unspoken connection between these two was palpable, especially when they're on opposite sides of the field of battle. The intricate plot beautifully knits together a fascinating story of royal intrigue, political allies, betrayal and the profound evidence of when trusting becomes inevitable. The only thing that didn't quite sit right with me was the part of their HEA where Erik, after having been a high-ranking leader of men, is reduced to living with his wife's family, which is already filled with a surplus of warrior leaders, with seemingly no position left available for him to make use of his legendary skills. Not once throughout the book, even toward the peacemaking end, did Erik give even a hint of the impression that he'd be willing to be subject to the authority of one of Hannah's brothers. So the romance has a very solid HEA, but I wonder what their future looks like in the long run. Still, the writing is absolutely perfect, instantly captivating, completely engulfing my heart and imagination. If you've read any of the early Sinclair books, you can't miss this one. If you haven't read them yet, you owe it to yourself to start at the beginning and treat yourself to one of the best Highlander series ever written. I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book.