To Sin with a Viking (Forbidden Vikings Series #1) by Michelle Willingham

Historical Romance

What Goodreads says:

"Playing With Fire!  

Caragh Ó Brannon defended herself bravely when the enemy landed—only, now she finds herself alone with one very angry Viking… 

Styr Hardrata sailed to Ireland intending to trade, never expecting to find himself held captive in chains by a beautiful Irish maiden. 

The fiercely handsome warrior both terrifies and allures Caragh, but he is forbidden territory. He is the enemy…and he is married. Yet Styr harbors a secret that just might set them both free… 

Forbidden Vikings 

Resist them if you can!'

I received an eARC of To Sin with a Viking from Netgalley.  To Sin with a Viking is a Harlequin Historical and it has a great cover.  In fact that was what first caught my attention.  Stories do not always live up to covers but this one does.

Characters:  Caragh O’ Brannon and Styr Hardrata are the main characters.  Caragh is a strong woman.  She has three brothers and while she takes care of all of them she does not take anything from the men around her.  Styr is the Viking.  He is a very rough and ready male who has know little love or tenderness in his life.  When Caragh captures Styr and hold him prisoner the sparks start to fly.  Both Caragh and Styr come alive in the story.  There are other important side characters that help in the story development.

History:  This story takes place in Ireland around 875. There were quite a few Viking settlements in Ireland during that time.  We tend to think of the Vikings as the aggressors but during this time period it was the Dane’s who were the worst raiders. Willingham does a good job developing the world Caragh and Styr occupy.  There is just enough historical development to keep the story moving and time period believeable.

Plot:  This is a romance and as we all know it is not the destination, it is the journey.  The big problem between Caragh and Styr is not that one is Irish and one is a Viking.  It is that Styr is in an arranged marriage that has failed.  As the story starts his wife has been captured and Styr is trying to find and rescue her.  That is the external tension in the story.  He is attracted to Caragh but is honor bound to his wife.  That causes the internal tension in the story.  Both are at the heart of the plot and lead to a very interesting journey.

Writing:  To Sin with a Viking is very well written.  The story never slows down.  It moves from scene to scene smoothly.  The tension builds, the action fits the situation, the characters develop as the story progresses and the plot is well defined with a great ending.

To Sin with a Viking is a very enjoyable book.  It deals with a time period that has not been used as often as others and that adds extra spice to the story. 

Harlequin Historical published ToSin With a Viking by Michelle Willingham in 2013.