Title: Her Heart’s Surrender
Author: Allison Merritt
Published by: Three Worlds Press
Date published: April 9, 2015
Genres: Historical
Book Length: 167 pages
Steam Rating: Steamy
Main Characters: Ealasaid & Hella
“I adored this book. I loved the story line, the historical aspect of things, the romance, the challenges they faced and the ending left me hoping for a second book! (You can’t ask for more than that!)” ~Becca
After sneaking out with her brother, Eoghann, one night, Ealasaid discovers Viking ships sailing up the river to sack their home in Northumbria. They attempt to warn their father, but it’s too late and the Vikings slaughter or enslave all the inhabitants of Suibhne. In attempt to save her family, Ealasaid stabs a young Viking warrior, but her father is killed, her family scattered, and she’s taken to Solstad Hall where she serves as a thrall for the Viking king. Years later, the king’s son, Hella, ventures on many raids and to trading sites across Europe, but his desire is to set up a farm in Solstad with Ealasaid as the thrall in charge of his household. He tells her of his plan and they expression their passion for one another. When Hella petitions the king for her freedom, but is turned down and order to the Frankish lands in retaliation for raids on the Viking coastal villages. Ealasaid, aware the king would never free her, tells him that he should look for a brighter future across the sea, away from his father and resigns herself to be his slave for the remainder of her life.Called home to watch his father die, Hella is stunned when his father’s final command is that Hella must marry or the throne will go to his adopted brother. Furious with his father’s orders and worried about being left without lands or money, Hella looks to the thrall who’s always captured his attention—Ealasaid. Ealasaid harbors a secret—the single afternoon she spent in Hella’s arms resulted in a son, her treasure, her reason for living.
When it comes to Historical romance novels I am always skeptical. I just never know if I’m going to enjoy them or not…okay let me explain…
-I worry that the author will take the language too far and it be to a point where I have to use a glossary just to understand the page to page story. (So not cool…)
-I can’t help but compare the story line to what I know of actual history…
-The balance between time period accuracy and boring explanation is hard.
Those are the basic 3 reasons that I steer away from most historical romances. However, when I was approached about Her Heart’s Surrender something grabbed me and told me that this was a book I wanted to read. I’d like to say that it was the blurb…but while it did initially grab my attention and make me want to read the book, I was rather disappointed to realize that the blurb gives away way too much information about the story line. There aren’t many surprises left. I would rather see the blurb look something like this:
After sneaking out with her brother, Eoghann, one night, Ealasaid discovers Viking ships sailing up the river to sack their home in Northumbria. They attempt to warn their father, but it’s too late! Her father is killed, her family scattered, and she is taken to Solstad Hall where she serves s a thrall for the Viking king.
Years later, the king’s son, Hella, feels it is finally time to obtain that which he desires most; set up a farm in Solstad with Ealasaid as the thrall in charge of his household. After telling her of his plan and their expression of passion for one another things do not go as hoped.
Ealasaid harbors a secret — the single afternoon she spent in Hella’s arms resulted in a son, her treasure, her reason for living. But the king nor Hella must never know of her sons parentage.
Called home to watch his father die, Hella is stunned when his father’s final command is that Hella must marry or the throne will go to his adopted brother. Will his father’s demand lead to the life he has always desired? Or will it lead to disaster?
I’m not a blurb writer or whatever they are called, but I guess I just feel that the current blurb just gives away too much!
Allison’s writing style is unique and works so beautifully for a historical romance. The characters in Her Heart’s Surrender are each very well developed and I was easily able to relate to them even though they live in a different world than the reader. I understood why each decision was made and why things were handled the way that they were (Yep I know…vague..sorry no spoilers from me!), it all just made sense. As I read the book I was taken back in time and felt like I was a part of everything as it developed.
The relationship between Hella and Ealasaid was wonderful. While the beginning was a little lacking (I sort of wish there had been a little more sneaking around and hidden sweet moments…but I also get why there weren’t.), the relationship flowed well and made sense with the time period.
I adored this book. I loved the story line, the historical aspect of things, the romance, the challenges they faced and the ending left me hoping for a second book! (You can’t ask for more than that!)
A life-long love of reading turned Allison Merritt into an indie author who writes historical, paranormal and fantasy romances, often combining the sub-genres. She lives in a small town in the Ozark Mountains with her husband and dogs. When she’s not writing or reading, she hikes in national parks and conservation areas.
Allison graduated from College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri with a B.A. in mass communications that’s gathering dust after it was determined that she’s better at writing fluff than hard news.
She serves as the newsletter editor during the 2013-2014 year for Ozarks Romance Authors in Springfield, Missouri and has been a member since 2009.
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Have you ever read a book and then wished the blurb hadn’t given quite so much away?
