To Tempt a Viking - Michelle Willingham (HH #1173 - Feb 2014)

Series: Forbidden Vikings (Book 2)

SHE'S TESTING HIS RESOLVE!

Warrior Viking Ragnar Olafsson stood by as his best friend claimed the woman he desired the most. There was only one way to quench the deep darkness within him -- become merciless in battle.

When Elena is taken captive, fearless Ragnar risks everything to save her. Now they are stranded with only each other for company. Suddenly every longing, every look, every touch is forbidden. Elena could tempt a saint -- and sinner Ragnar knows he won't be able to hold out for long!

Very good book with several unusual issues for a historical romance - biggest is that not all arranged marriages work out and the way it has affected four people. Also a large part is the effect that child abuse has on the adult's life, infertility, and a child with special needs. I loved the depth of emotion as both Elena and Ragnar have to deal with the twists and turns of their lives. This is the sequel to To Sin With a Viking, in which Elena's husband Styr was captured by an Irish woman and fell in love with her even though he was not free to do so.  Now we get the story of Elena and Ragnar, Styr's best friend and the man who has always loved her.  The first part of the book runs parallel to Sin, as we find out what happened to Ragnar and Elena when they were taken.  Ragnar had promised Styr he would protect Elena, which he would have anyway.  When he found a way for them to escape, he took it, getting injured in the process.  With the two of them alone together the strain on Ragnar's honor is greater than it's ever been before.  

I really liked Ragnar.  He has been in love with Elena since they were young, but always knew that he wasn't good enough for her.  His father was a drunk and abusive and Elena's father is the leader of their band.  He is also Styr's best friend and Styr is the one who marries her.  Over the years of their marriage, Ragnar has always behaved honorably.  He has also continued his friendship with Elena, hurting for her because of her unhappiness in her marriage.  When he is the one to save her after they are captured it puts a terrible strain him.  After they are rescued by Styr, he has to watch as they attempt to save their marriage, even though Styr is in love with another woman.  He is relieved for her sake when Elena and Styr split, but he still feels that he is not good enough for her.  Because of his size, his background and his training he feels that fighting is all he is good for and that he would be dangerous for her to be around.  Even when Elena shows him that she wants him, he thinks its only a reaction to the end of her marriage.  I loved his fierce protectiveness, but I also liked the way that he was always a good friend to her.  He was always happy to listen to anything she wanted to tell him and liked her just as she was.  I loved his support of her when she adopted the young boy (likely autistic).  It took a great deal of effort for Elena to finally break down his walls, but when she does it opens a whole new world for him.

Elena had been friends with Ragnar most of her life.  She was aware of what his home life was like and often tried to help.  She also found it very easy to talk to him and share her hopes and dreams.  She knew she was supposed to marry Styr and that was okay with her, she loved him.  Once they were married things weren't all that great.  She never got any of those feelings that other women talked about and felt that it was something lacking in her.  As the months and years went on, things got more strained between them.  She was sure a baby would help, but that didn't happen either until it got to the point that she didn't even want to try any more.  She felt her marriage falling apart and she didn't know what to do.  She even tried changing her whole personality to try to be what she thought Styr would want.  When she and Ragnar were captured while in Ireland, she feared that Styr was dead but held out hope that he would escape his captors and find them.  I loved her strength when she and Ragnar escaped and she had to take care of him after he was wounded.  She had a great deal of ingenuity that she used to build their shelter and heal him.  She was also quick witted enough to find a way to save them from some raiders - loved the whole curse idea!  While she was worrying about her husband, she also noticed that she was feeling things around Ragnar that she had never felt before.  This disturbed her quite a bit.  When they were found by Styr she was happy because she thought she was finally pregnant, but then found out that he had fallen in love with someone else.  She was hurt but still tried to make their marriage work, even though she could tell he didn't care anymore.  When she realized there was no baby, she cared enough about him to set him free, but that left her with no one.  She wanted to continue her friendship with Ragnar but quickly discovered that even that was changing.  Over the next few weeks she came to realize that she had never felt for Styr was she was now feeling for Ragnar, but she didn't know how to show him that.  I really liked the way that she had always seen the good in him and didn't treat him the way that others had.  I also loved her compassionate nature.  Because she had wanted a child for so long, she noticed the orphaned children in the streets.  Her rescue of the little boy who was probably autistic was just what she needed at that time.  It also brought her and Ragnar a little closer together and did some great things for her own self confidence.  I loved where that confidence took her when she finally decided to go after Ragnar.  Her method of getting him to listen was fantastic!

Harlequin Holiday Collection - Leslie Kelly, Merline Lovelace, Debra Webb, Marta Perry (Harlequin - Dec 2011)

And a Dead Guy in a Pear Tree by Leslie Kelly

A struggling B&B owner scrambles to hide the dead body wrapped in her Christmas tree from a visiting camera crew—and from her still-irresistible reporter ex.

Holly is trying her best to save the family inn from going out of business.  She's arranged to have a tv crew come in to do a story on them in an effort to get some publicity.  When she finds a dead body in her Christmas tree, they have to find a way to hide it before the cameras arrive.  When her ex, Zach, knocks on the door she thinks he's with the tv crew, but he's really an investigative reporter searching for diamond thieves.  What follows is a hilarious case of "where's the body" as Holly and her employees try to keep Zach from finding it and he's determined to protect her.  Terrific sparks between the two as they end up working together.

Seduced by the Season by Merline Lovelace

A waitress and a sexy FBI agent mix business with pleasure while investigating a crime over the holidays.

Sophie is a doctoral candidate in ancient art at Trinity College in Dublin and Clint is an FBI agent searching for an antiquities thief.  They join forces when Clint realizes he doesn't have a clue what he's looking for but Sophie does.  They're also incredibly attracted to each other.  I loved the way that Sophie jumps right in to help Clint.  She also loved showing him around Dublin and exposing him to her world.  I loved the intensity of the takedown, and their reunion was great.

Evidence of Desire by Debra Webb

A crime lab worker finds herself in danger six days before Christmas...and only her off-limits but oh-so-attractive coworker can help.

Olivia is a new lab worker who has moved there from Boston.  She is really attracted to Jacob, who doesn't seem to notice her at all.  When she begins to experience a string of bad luck - computer files missing, emails going astray, car not starting, being followed - she appeals to Jacob for help.  She sort of throws herself at him with her thanks as she works to get to know him.  Jacob is attracted to her, but was hurt romantically in the past and doesn't want to get involved.  I enjoyed the mystery aspect as well as the romance.

Season of Wonder by Marta Perry

And two childhood friends rediscover their sense of wonder—and love—when reunited for the holidays.

My least favorite of the four stories.  Allison has brought her daughter to the island to rest up before a major surgery.  She is also preparing the cottage in order to sell it.  She meets her childhood friend David and he offers to help her with the repairs.  He thinks she'll be moving back to the island and is looking forward to getting to know her again.  I was bothered by her attitude toward him - she seemed to look down on him for what she sees as a lack of ambition.  I liked David a lot.  He was marvelous with Allison's daughter.  I was glad to see him tell Allison what a pill she was being.