The Rover Bold

Title:  The Rover Bold

Author:  Anna Markland

Publisher:  Amazon Digital Services

Publisher URL:  http://www.amazon.com

ISBN/BIN:  N/A

Genre:  {M/F}  Medieval 

Rating:  4 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph

Vikings are warriors who claim what they want with little mercy.  Bryk Gardbruker is proud to be a Viking, but he’s grown tired of plundering and raiding.  He knows force is not the best answer, but most of his countrymen disagree with him.  Once Bryk was viewed as a hero among his people and now they think he’s a coward.  Leaving Norway in search of a better life across the waters has Bryk conflicted.  He trades painful memories for uncertainty.

Life has not been kind to Cathryn from the moment she was born.  After being left as an infant at the doorstep of a convent, Cathryn has spent her entire life there.  Cathryn has no family and no hope of having one.  An opportunity for Cathryn quickly turns into danger that changes everything.

Bryk had no intentions of taking Cathryn with him, but that was the only way to keep her safe.  Something about Cathryn called to Bryk and he couldn’t resist her.  Cathryn was afraid of the giant man, but something about him made her fears disappear.  She took a leap of faith and discovered how gentle and caring the Viking was.  Cathryn was having lustful feelings she never though possible and Bryk seemed to return them.  Communicating verbally was hard, but the language of love and lust wasn’t a problem for the couple.

Bryk’s Viking brothers are willingly following his lead in the new land and things are working to their advantage.  He is being viewed in a more honorable light and he’s found happiness that he thought would never return after the death of his family.  Cathryn experiences adventures and finds love that she never thought existed with Bryk.  Danger returns but in the end, it brings unexpected family for Cathryn and Bryk and a wonderful life that has been waiting in the wings for them.

The Rover Bold is the first of the series Viking Roots 1 and what a great beginning it is.  How can you not fall hard for a sensitive but menacing man?  It is impossible!  Bryk made me feel safe, as if I were in the story myself.  He was such an honorable man, and I loved the fact that he stuck to his principles about not destroying towns and killing just for the fun of it.  He was still able to maintain that Viking swag and make me believe it.  Cathryn was one lucky woman to meet this gentle giant.  It was cute when they tried communicating and how they relied on feelings sometimes more than words.  There were so many memorable characters and historical information on top of this romance.  The author will grab readers by the collar with this book and leave them panting for more.

The Craftsman

Title:  The Craftsman

Author:  Georgia Fox

Publisher:  Evernight Publishing

Publisher URL:  http://www.evernightpublishing.com

ISBN/BIN:  978-1-926950-88-4

Genre:  {M/F/M} Erotic Medieval

Rating:  3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph 

Fifteen years ago he was Raedwulf, a disappointment to his noble father.  Now that he’s newly released from prison, Wulf is a carpenter who likes being left alone.  He’s happy with his life.  That happiness ends when Wulf is told he has to marry a total stranger.  Though he has no choice in the marriage, Wulf decides he will simply ignore his new wife.   

Emma is a widow who never expected to get married again.  Now that she was being forced into marriage, Emma tried to be hopeful about going to a secure home.  That would be enough for her.  She’d loved a man once and didn’t expect to do so again.  When she meets the quiet man who’s rough around the edges, Emma decides to make the best of her situation. 

Emma tingles when she imagines Wulf using his rough hands on her.  She’d never experienced this kind of excitement with her husband.  Wulf reconsiders his virgin status when lustful thoughts continue to flood his mind when Emma is near.  The couple enter a sexual relationship that’s better than either could imagine. They were definitely not shy when it came to making love.   It was hard to believe that Wulf had been a virgin up until this point because he definitely had skills in the bedroom.  Once he started having sex, it seems as if he was making up for lost time.   

The couple’s happiness is interrupted by another woman, who could possibly give Wulf things that Emma can’t.  Emma leaves Wulf to give him the chance at a life she thinks he deserves.  It hurts Emma, because she’s fallen in love with her husband.  Wulf doesn’t seem to return her feelings because he lets her leave.  I was disappointed with Wulf at this moment because I thought he was a better man.  I couldn’t understand why he wasn’t more visibly upset, and I was afraid Emma’s situation might be the reason.  I loved the scene when Wulf goes to fetch Emma.  I especially enjoyed seeing him take a stand and being passionate about something other than sex.  No woman can resist a man who’ll fight for her.  Sometimes we think a quiet, passive man would not make a good Alpha, but in this case that is wrong.  Wulf was quiet with others, but he is certainly no push over.

The Craftsman is book three in The Conquerors series, and can be read as a stand-alone story with no problem.  Emma and Wulf’s story is a very sexual one, and they pretty much cover all the bases.  For a widow and a virgin, they both seemed very open to exploring.  The couple even went so far as to have another man join in on their romps.  I saw more growth in Wulf, and I think he needed it more.  Their happy ending was pleasing and hopeful, while leaving an opening for a story of another character I think.  Readers will enjoy this story about unexpected love, just as I did.

The Wagered Wench

Title:  The Wagered Wench
Author:  Georgia Fox

Publisher:  Evernight Publishing

Publisher URL:  http://www.evernightpublishing.com

ISBN:   978-1-927368-48-0

Genre:  {M/F/M} Erotic Medieval

Rating:  3.5 Nymphs

Literary Nymphs Reviewer:  Amethyst Nymph 

Elsinora Gudderthsdottir has a lot of responsibility on her shoulders.  As the only child, who just happens to be female, Elsinora must make certain that the family lands are run properly.  But, no man will fight for lands run by a woman, and her father constantly reminds Elsinora of this.  The only solution is for Elsinora to get married.  Just when she thinks she’s convinced her father that she won’t marry,  Elsinora is thrown for a loop and finds herself married to a complete stranger. 

Dominic Coeur-du-Loup is a Norman soldier with morals, even though Elsinora considers him a monster.   He didn’t intend to really take the land or the daughter he’d won in a tavern game until he witnessed the sad state of the land and the spirit in Elsinora’s eyes.  Dominic knew that if he didn’t follow through with marrying Elsinora, she could wind up with a worse option than him.  She needed him and he was quickly growing to want Elsinora.   

Elsinora unhappily agrees to marriage and promises Dominic that he will never have a moment of peace with her.  Even though her new husband has the manners of a pig and orders her around like a child, Elsinora can’t stop the attraction she feels for Dominic.  As much as he wants to ignore the fact, Dominic is loosing his heart to Elsinora.  He is concerned about the attentions of an old suitor of Elsinora’s.  If push comes to shove, Dominic is willing to give up the family manor, but he will never give up Elsinora.   

Unfinished business between Elsinora and her old suitor causes problems with her marriage to Dominic.  The tables turn and now Elsinora is granted the power to choose her future.  She takes her sweet time in reaching a decision after making some unconventional requests along the way.  Dominic and Elsinora’s old suitor compete for her affections but in the end, Dominic is the one who wins her heart. 

The Wagered Wench is the fifth book of The Conquerors series, but readers don’t need to read the series in order to easily grasp and enjoy this story.  Elsinora is a spunky girl and that is what I liked about her most.  She accepted her fate and married Dominic after putting up quite a fight.  Their fights were equally as stimulating as their love scenes, and I know readers will be shocked by some of them.  There were a few scenes with sexual activity that caught me off guard and left me feeling confused. I’m also left with questions about Elsinora’s old suitor.  All in all, this story has a happy ending that gave me closure and made me curious about the other books in the series.  If you have never read Georgia Fox story, this one would be great as a start.

The Consort

Title: The Consort
Author: Misty Malone
Publisher: Phaze Books
Publisher URL: http://www.phaze.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60659-560-2
Genre: {M/M} Historical, Arthurian, Medieval, Bondage
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Scandalous Minx

Prince Accolon’s father deems him useless until the day his brother was killed during battle. Accolon immerses himself in his faith in hopes of gaining the love his father has failed to give him. His status changes from spare to heir to the throne, removing any hopes he had of devoting his life to the church. Accolon loses one dream but another deeply rooted desire falls into his lap, thanks to Rhys.

Rhys understands Accolon’s family situation all too well. A passionate encounter with a stable boy leaves Rhys battered and scrambling to save his life. His father has given him a task he believes too difficult for Rhys to accomplish. The price of failure is death.

When the two meet, Rhys sees Accolon as a means to an end. Over time, Accolon’s compassion, love, and fervor leave Rhys hoping for a future filled with happiness. Will Accolon become the king of his heart?

The Consort is a fast-paced story, which takes place in Medieval Wales. Misty Malone does a remarkable job of transporting us into the period. From the description of the attire to the castle setting, her attention to detail makes this book come alive. I was actually happy that she didn’t dwell on using an abundance of the phrases and dialect of the time period. Ms. Malone created a wonderful read thanks to a mixture of sensual erotic moments, an intriguing plot, suspense and action scenes that explode off the pages.

Accolon and Rhys’ emotions rolled off the pages in waves. They both have a chasm of emotional depth that seems to break free and overflow when the circumstances made it impossible to ignore. Accolon’s painful relationship with his father damaged his ability to see his strength. He hid in the shadows until his brother’s death no longer allowed that to be an option. The damage done to his psyche didn’t surprise me. Rhys predicament was even worse. The more his past was revealed, the more I understood his lack of trust in people. Together, they healed and built a love that would stand the test of time. This is a fantastic story and I recommend it to those who enjoy the genre.

Her Laird, Her Lover

Title: Her Laird, Her Lover
Author: Sable Grey
Publisher: Breathless Press
Publisher URL: http://www.breathlesspress.com/
ISBN: 978-1-926771-70-0
Genre: {M/F} Erotic Medieval Historical, Paranormal
Rating: 4.5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Amethyst Nymph

Affection for the woman she now called Mother and boredom was what launched Katie Stewart into a life of swindling men out of their money. As a woman stuck in medieval times, she really didn’t have a lot of options. However, it would be not only Katie’s choice but her pleasure to offer herself to the tall, dark stranger who discovered her deception.

Robert Shelley, Laird of Dunham, was seeking Katie for advice on defeating his enemy. The sharp tongued beauty was more than he expected and ignited feelings Robert couldn’t ignore. Even during battle, Robert knew he would return to Katie and make her his forever.

Her Laird, Her Lover is the first story in the Scattered series and I have to say that Sable Grey kicked things off with a bang. I love a woman who can outsmart a man while remaining the seductress and Katie is that woman. Getting stuck in the past might have been a breaking point for most, but not Katie. The firecracker in her helped Katie deal with the backwards thinking and poor hygiene of the men of this era and still keep herself amused while doing so. When finally faced with a man worthy of matching her, it’s no wonder Katie falls for Robert in the blink of an eye. Regardless of his complaints, Robert is turned on by Katie’s boldness. He never misses an opportunity to get her riled up, sometimes accidentally; sometimes intentionally. Robert’s jealousy created some torrid love scenes that made me almost pray for an argument between the couple. The witty comebacks and innuendos from Katie and Robert had me reading the scenes again like an instant replay. However, it was the unspoken words between the couple that really moved me. An understanding was forged after their first night together, even though neither could admit it out loud.

Moments of pain and ardor enveloped me like a blanket on a cold night and reinforced what I already knew. Sable Grey is a master at drawing readers into her stories from the very first page and this one will make you a fan of her work, if you aren’t already.

A Silver Mirror

Title: A Silver Mirror
Author: Roberta Gellis
Publisher: Cerridwen Press
Publisher URL: http://www.jasminejade.com/
ISBN: 9781419921766
Genre: {M/F} Historical (Medieval)
Rating: 4 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Goddess Minx

Alphonse d’Aix is half brother to Raymond and living among the court life of the French. He makes his living from doing tourneys and he has made quite a few friends and some deadly enemies. He has known Barbara since she was a child of thirteen, and kept his love for her hidden from everyone except himself. When he finds himself being the rational voice during continuous plots by the English, he tries to stay neutral. His need to know that she loves him becomes a quest of determination.

Barbara knows that she will never love but one man and that is Alphonse. She carries a silver mirror he gave her everywhere she goes and have kept it hidden from prying eyes. When it becomes necessary for her to flee England, to escape a grasping lordling and to keep her father from murdering said lordling, she finds herself in Alphonse’s company. Now that she has accepted his offer of marriage, she wants to receive approval from her father, and becomes embroiled with the players who want to control the king of England.

A Silver Mirror is the fifth book in the Royal Dynasty series and just as intriguing as the first four books. This story centers on Alphonse and Barbara, who have loved each other for years without knowing what the other really felt. From time to time, I found myself frustrated with the decisions made by of some of the characters. The secondary characters added to the well plotted storyline and I admired a couple of the characters for sticking with their loyalties, even when it forced them to choose sides.

During the time I was reading this story, there seemed to be a lot of anger and hiding of feelings between Alphonse and Barbara. It seems they were bent on destroying their relationship/marriage very early on and they never were able to be alone to really speak their minds about how they felt. But one thing that was a plus for this couple is the hot sex they engaged in wherever they could and I expected Barbara to announce she was with child before long.

Ms. Gellis has done a realistic job of storytelling of the time of King Henry, and his son Edward. There was a few times I thought that harm would come to both of them, and found myself cheering them on with their determination to overcome all obstacle that confronted them. The scenes that she described were so believable, I found myself wanting to be there with the characters. Well done Ms. Gellis, and I am hoping there will be more of the Royal Dynasty series.

Healing Hands

Title: Healing Hands
Author: Kris Norris
Publisher: Total-E-Bound
Publisher URL: http://www.total-e-bound.com/
ISBN: 978-0-85715-007-3
Genre: {M/F} Fantasy/Historical (Medieval)
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Satyr Vael

In a kingdom full of warrior witches, Mira, a healer, is an outcast. Daughter of Queen Vestna, she knows how much her mother despises her, so it’s no surprise when Vestna sends a prisoner to Mira for the beginning of a Ritual. Mira must lose her virginity within five days or die. Vestna is counting on Keegan to fail at the task. What no one counts on is the love that brews strong and sudden between Keegan and Mira.

Keegan, like other Garinthian men, can only perform with the woman who is his true mate. So imagine his surprise when his body and soul respond to Mira’s magical touch. But Vestna won’t give up easily. Fortunately, neither will Keegan.

Healing Hands is the first book in the Enchanted Lovers series, and what a start it is! I devoured it—from page one to the end. While some of the language might seem a bit modern, it doesn’t detract from the story at all, given the fantasy elements. The love scenes are beyond hot. More like incendiary! Keegan is the epitome of what a hero should be. Mira is strong and courageous and when she sets her mind to something, there’s absolutely no stopping her.

This is my first book from Kris Norris, but it certainly won’t be the last. I can’t wait for the next one!

The Mercenary Bride

Title: The Mercenary Bride
Author: Jamaica Layne
Publisher: Ravenous Romance
Publisher URL: http://www.ravenousromance.com/
ISBN: 978-1-60777-293-0
Genre: {M/F} Historical
Rating: 5 Nymphs
Literary Nymphs Reviewer: Satyr Vael

Lady Sabina, the eldest daughter of Duke of Angwyld a Saxon nobleman, has fled her beloved home. Running from a marriage she fears, she intends to join a convent. Then she runs into Robert de Tyre, a Norman mercenary hired to take her to her future husband, Lord Reginald de Guillaume.

Robert fully intends to follow through on his job, but Lady Sabina captures him in a way he hadn’t expected. Now he must find a way to keep her safe…while making her his own.

The Mercenary Bride is one of the most enchanting, beautifully written romances I’ve ever read. From the very first sentence, it’s clear how masterful the author is in drawing the reader into the past. Beginning to end, I was hooked.

Robert de Tyre is a gentleman, yet still a man. He does his best not to give into his desires, which is quite admirable, yet when he finally does, it’s breathtaking. Lady Sabina, while having been sheltered all her life, isn’t a wilting flower. She’s strong and determined, and although she meets Robert as a virgin, she knows what she wants.

If you enjoy historical romances—especially medieval—then you will absolutely love The Mercenary Bride. I sincerely hope Ms. Layne writes more in this time period.