A review by rjordan19
Hearts Aflame by Johanna Lindsey

4.0

I am not going to lie, Johanna Lindsey usually doesn’t do it for me. I’ve had way more missed than hits. However this one, I loved Kristen so so much. I think it was probably a 3 star for me but Kristen totally added another star.

Kristen is the daughter of a Viking merchant. She has an exuberant enjoyment of life, but knows her love does not exist in her village. She longs for an adventure that will take her to meet her future husband.

Royce is a Saxon Lord who has lost much in the fighting with the Danes. Kristen turns his life upside down, forcing him to feel again - frustration, passion, jealousy, laughter and love.

The storytelling in this book I thought was really good. I loved reading about the Viking life, Kristens relationship with her family and friends. Loved Kristens interactions and dialogue with basically everyone. This is one bad - *** lady that takes no crap, stands up for herself. She’s strong willed, strong bodied. This is not some weak woman that needs saving. In fact, the numerous times she saves herself are just beautiful. (Especially a scene where she is chained and freed to defend herself - one of my favorites of the book). The hero does not come to the heroines rescue, that is actually reversed at the end of this story and I loved it.

My complaint about this book is the same one I have with most of her books. I feel like she jumps into the sex too fast and the tension isn’t built up enough for me. I also felt like I didn’t get a deep connection with Royce. I could see by his actions what he was feeling, his all consuming obsession with Kristen, his jealousy, his love growing, but at the same
time I wanted more time in his head to really feel those raw emotions.

Lastly I’d like to say I had NO idea how this was all going to work out and I loved the way it all pulled together.