Blog Tour Review: The Viking's Stolen Princess by Sarah Rodi

I’m so happy to be part of Rachel’s Random Resources blog tour for The Viking King’s Stolen Princess by Sarah Rodi. This is a great historical romance, and I loved the characters and love story! Let’s check it out.

About the Book:

Title: The Viking’s Stolen Princess

Author: Sarah Rodi

Page Length: 288

Publication Date: Nov. 30, 2021

Publisher: Harlequin Historical

Synopsis: A kidnapped royal…Could be the Viking’s undoing!

After Brand Ivarsson of Kald abducts Anne of Termarth on the eve of her wedding, the Viking’s consumed with only one thing: revenge against her loathsome betrothed. But confronted with the stunning princess, so foreign to his world, Brand’s captivated not only by her beauty, but by her spirit and her kindness. Is Anne his prisoner…or is she the one who’s captured his scarred heart?

Purchase Links:

Amazon UK – https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B096TBKQ7D

Amazon US – https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B096TBKQ7D

Follow Sara Rodi on Twitter – https://twitter.com/sarahrodiedits

My Review:

A swoon-worthy enemies-to-lovers historical romance, The Viking’s Stolen Princess follows Brand Ivarsson of Kald and Anne of Termath as Brand kidnaps Anne to hold her for ransom. Brand seeks vengeance from Anne’s betrothed and is sure this is one way to get it. However, the more he gets to know Anne, the more he realizes that his motives aren’t as clear as he once believed.

Anne is devastated when she is betrothed to a man she does not love, and she hates that she is being used as a pawn in her father’s machinations. However, she’s even more shocked when she’s taken by one of the most notoriously horrible Viking leaders. As the pair grows closer, both must face their feelings and decide if their love is worth the risk and potential war it could instigate.

Anne and Brande are such great protagonists, and I love how they grow and change over the course of the story. Brand and Anne’s love story, unbeknownst to Anne, began when they were children. A horrific event from their youth stayed with both of them and can account for some of Brand’s conflicted feelings toward Anne. Complications, including lies and secrets, as well as Anne’s repugnant father and betrothed, stand in the way of their happiness too. Plus, Brand kidnapped Anne, and even though he treats her well, they still have to deal with the fact that he took her against her will.

The more time Anne spends with Brand and the rest of his people, the more she realizes that everything she’d been told about them is wrong. Brand is not the brutal and vicious man as suggested by rumors, nor are his people, and he shows Anne more about being honorable, kind, and thoughtful than her father or betrothed ever did. I like that Anne didn’t let her prejudice define her. She is a strong, intelligent, and kind woman, which Brand admires, much to Anne’s delight and surprise. Brand is the first man to really show his appreciation, support, and approval, which is so contradictory from what she expects and is used to.

Of course, my favorite part of the story is the romance! Brand and Anne have a romantic story, and their chemistry is off the charts! Both characters fight their growing feelings for different reasons. Anne longs for a marriage built on love and fears she will never have that, especially considering how their relationship began. Brand is afraid to let anyone close because the pain of losing them is too difficult. Both must face their insecurities and fears if they want a future together. Their happily ever after seems impossible, but I love how they both face their conflicting feelings and keep fighting for what they want.

The secondary characters are also unique and compelling, and I enjoyed their roles in the story. Anne befriends many of Brand’s people, and they become a great support system for her. Interestingly, she found more of a family in the arms of her supposed enemies than she ever did with her real family.

I’ve been loving Harlequin Historicals so much, and The Viking’s Stolen Princess is no exception. It’s a wonderful historical romance, and I think readers who enjoy stories with a compelling hero and heroine, a suspenseful plot, and an epic love story will love the book!