Escaping With Her Saxon Enemy
Synopsis:
Viking shield maiden, Svea Ivarsson, would far
rather face Saxon warriors than be on the run with the fiercely captivating
Lord Ashford Stanton, protector to the Saxon King. Reaching Ash’s family
castle, Svea must swap her chainmail for life as a Lady. She can wield a sword
like an expert, but no training has prepared her for craving the touch of her
greatest enemy…
* I am adding a trigger warning, as this novel does reference rape,
not in detail, but it is mentioned.
The main characters of this book are Ashford - or Ash as we
come to know him - a guard to a Saxon king, and Svea, a Dane and fierce shieldmaiden.
Although they have met before on the battlefield, the two meet properly at a
wedding between the king’s daughter and Svea’s brother, which forges an
alliance between Saxon and Dane. When the king, his soldiers and two Danes are
captured during an ambush the day after the wedding, Ash and Svea are the only
two who manage to escape. Now they must travel to Ash’s nearby ancestral home to get
help.
Whilst Ash and Svea hurry to find help, they realise there
is a growing attraction between them, but they both harbour dark secrets which
make them unable to pursue a relationship. At first it seems that Svea is just prickly and moody, but her character is shaped by a horrible event from her past, which has caused her to distrust men. However, as time goes on she thaws a little once she realises that Ash means her no harm. Once they reach the safety of Ash’s
home, they can no longer deny their feelings. But with an army to raise, men to
save, and secret pasts threatening their relationship before it has even begun,
will they get their happily ever after?
I enjoyed the ‘enemies to lovers’ storyline and the early on sarcastic
exchanges between Ash and Svea. After Svea’s heart-breaking past, it was nice
to see how she gradually realised Ash wasn’t a monster and that she could trust
him. He was very respectful of her and gave her the space and time she needed.
I liked how both characters go on their own separate journeys, as well as a
romantic one together. (Escaping with her Saxon Enemy does include very
explicit sex scenes, so if you don’t like that in a story, then this book might
not be for you.)
Although this is a historical romance, Sarah Rodi did not
romanticise or glamourise the 9th century. It was a dangerous and difficult
time to be alive, and this is highlighted well within the book. The author had also clearly
researched Norse mythology, I really enjoyed these references! There were some
powerful moments of self-acceptance and the reclaiming of one’s own body, which really added to the story. All in all, a highly enjoyable historical romance, with a satisfying
ending that both the main characters deserved.
Author Bio:
Sarah Rodi has always been a hopeless romantic. She grew up watching old,
romantic movies recommended by her grandad, or devouring love stories from the
local library. Sarah lives in the village of Cookham in Berkshire, where she
enjoys walking along the River Thames with her husband, her two daughters and
their dog. She has been a magazine journalist for over 20 years, but it has
been her lifelong dream to write romance for Mills & Boon. Sarah believes
everyone deserves to find their happy ever after. You can contact her via
@sarahrodiedits or sarahrodiedits@gmail.com. Or visit her website at
sarahrodi.com
Purchase Links: Amazon UK Amazon US
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