Fires of Winter (Viking Haardrad Family Book 1)

I'm sure I read this many years ago - when I graduated high school, I worked at a bank where all the ladies read HR. I'm pretty sure I read all of Johanna Lindsey's early books. But forgetfulness is one of the few joys of aging in that it allows one to reread a book for the first time.This one is about Brenna, a Celt from Wales. She is promised to a Viking in an attempt to save her people from their raiding and killing. But Anselm, the Viking who promised his son to her, had no intention of allowing his son to marry a Celt. And so he attacks Brenna's home just after Brenna's father has been buried, kills all the men and takes Brenna, her aunt and her stepsister as captives.Brenna's father raised her as the son he never had, so she is skilled in riding, hunting and swordplay, and knows little about traditional women's work such as sewing and weaving.When the Viking ship reached Norway, Anselm gives Brenna to his son, Garrick, as a slave - he who she thought would have been her husband. Garrick distrusts all women because the Viking woman he wanted to marry had married a wealthy trader. Garrick has himself now become a wealthy trader.Because she was raised more as a male, Brenna has a fierce pride that will not allow her to accept her new condition as a slave. Nevertheless, she can't help noticing how attractive Garrick is.This is definitely an old-school book. Brenna isn't really unwilling to bed Garrick and she is certainly attracted to him, but on one occasion, he does take her very roughly in anger when she refuses him, Also, Brenna's aunt and stepsister are very blasé about being slaves. They do point out that they are not ill-treated and their lives are no worse than when they were free Celts.Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable story - it is fiction after all.

I enjoyed reading this book. 4.5 stars. Brenna is a strong heroine who’s skilled in hunting and fighting. After her people were killed and some taken as slaves, she is to belong to Garrick. She’s very prideful and can be thrown to tantrums at times. Garrick doesn’t trust women but had treated her nicely from the start with occasional times where he let his temper get to him. My only problem with this book is that they spent most of the book mad at each other with sweet tender moments spaced in between.The plot of her assimilating to her new home as a slave is interesting, including the side characters and the treachery of some.

This is the first in a series of three Viking romances that tell of the Haardrad family of Norway. I read the second one, Hearts Aflame, first not realizing it was part of a series. I so enjoyed Hearts Aflame I decided to read all three. This one, that tells the story of Kristen's parents, Garrick Haardrad, a young Viking merchant and son of a Viking chieftain, and Brenna, the daughter of a wealthy Celtic lord. Garrick is bitter about women because his first love deserted him for a wealthy man. Now wealthy himself because of his trading, he is gone when his father and older brother betray the Celtic family that had thought Garrick was betrothed to their only daughter, Brenna, and raid their town killing all the men and capturing a handful of women (including Brenna), who they take as slaves. Brenna is "given" to Garrick by his father when he returns from his trading but she will be no man's slave. Raised to be like a son to her father, she is fearless, knowledgeable in all weapons and speaks the Viking language. Garrick decides to tame her but it will not be an easy road for him as she is willful and defiant. Though well written and an absorbing story, I gave it 4 stars because of the things that bothered me: In the beginning, Brenna would not have voluntarily crawled into bed with a Viking of the family who killed her people when she could have slept on the floor; she would never have ignored the easy access to the knife as Garrick slept that first night; Garrick raped her three times by my count and yet from the first one, she seems to just accept it (sorry, not buying that one); and though she never lies to him, Garrick never believes her. I had trouble liking Garrick and his "turnaround" at the end seemed a bit sudden to me. He treated his dog better.

I was surprised that I really enjoyed reading this. Yes, rape was mentioned a lot (Vikings), but thankfully not graphically described. Not happy with her being forced to have sex, but it was part of the storyline, as she was a slave. Did find that the others in her family accepted slavery very easily, but it was a at a time when women were owned by their fathers or husbands, so not as surprising I guess. Not a bad story.

Great book excellent read, very true to form I imagine historical speaking unpleasant fact about a women lot in those times, but didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story definitely recommend

I do love Johanna Lindsey and her characters relationships are always rivetingly turbulent and gripping. However I've got to say I could cope with the initial rape scenes but it got a bit too much when they're relationship starts to develop and the rape scenes continue. We want love and passion not rape rape and more rape. Despite this, the story is moving and Garrick is actually likeable . I don't regret reading this book, it just wasn't exactly what I was expecting.

I bought this book yesterday morning and could not put it down. Even whilst on the phone to my other half I found myself leaning over to continue reading. I see a lot of myself in the character Brenna and even found myself crying at some of the hardships she had to endure. This is the first book I have read from Johanna Lindsey and I'm glad to say that I will be reading more of her fantastic books! I definitely recommend!

I love and have all johanna lindseys books this set of 3 book about the Haardrad family are some of her best books you will not be dissapointed. Johanna lindsey is One of my very favourite authors.