I've lately been into Viking books and this one was a nice read about Vikings. I didn't thing I would enjoy it as much when I first read the first chapters but it was quite nice actually. It was on the short size and it did have a odd formatting but overall, really enjoyed it.

I always approach historical romances with trepidation. I love the genre, but as a historian, I often find myself frustrated by all the inaccuracies. I do not expect perfection, and I am aware that in order for some literature to make sense in our modern day world concessions have to be made. Luckily, I am not an expert in the Vikings in France. I am a lot more at home with the Vikings and Anglo Saxons in the UK. So, any glaring inaccuracies to do with the Viking occupation in parts of France were lost on me.

The historical aspects of this book were not the only thing that impressed me. I really liked this book. Gina Conkle's writing is wonderful. This book drew me in and kept me hooked. There was a good mix of history, romance and action.

The romance was marvellous. There was so much chemistry between Safira and Rurik. It was great to read a romance that developed slowly. By the time they got together so many feelings had already built up between them. It made the romance much more intense and relatable.

The problem with this book came in the form of one of the characters, Safira. I really liked Safira, she is strongwilled, intelligent and courageous. The problem is that she is a complete Mary Sue. She is perfect, without flaws. All the characters seem to love her. With exception to jealous women, everyone else is completely smitten. It got under my skin and marred what was otherwise a great romance.

Not what I expected. Not at all. But that is in the most positive way. Timetravel stories are normally much alike each other but this one surprised me. Well written story with a nice storyline and plot. I like that the characters and how they develop. Would have liked the language to be more true to the time period. I failed that sometimes. A passionate and emotional read with twists.
Enjoyable and recommendable.

First let's talk about the cover, I'm so in love with this!Secondly I need how much I love Vikings!The story takes place in a time when Vikings were settling in and around the Frankish kingdom.he setting felt authentic and real, with lots of interesting facts .I found that all characters where well written with each of their own very distinct characters and as I read I was hoping that each would have a story of their own.I have some problem with the main hero,I didn't enjoy all of his actions but this one wasn't a big problem to the whole story.

Review by April Renn.. Used at Book Obsessed Chicks

KEPT BY THE VIKING by Gina Conkle is an awesome Viking Romance. #1 in her new and exciting FORGOTTEN SONS series, and what a beginning!
I absolutely loved Rurik, the Viking leader, who is brave, strong, his word is his bond and Safria, a sultry Parisian thrall, who uses her wits as well as is cunning and full of secrets and surprises.

Fast paced, filled with secrets, intrigue, surprises, romance, danger, and a HEA. The characters are well developed, engaging and a force to be reckoned with. I was captivated by Safria's will to survive and her survival skills. Very impressive young lady! Rurik has strength, has a kind and gentle heart but is also strong, and a definite challenge for Safria, as she is to him. Another fascinating and captivating read by Gina Conkle. This book grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go, lingers long after the last page. I can hardly wait for book 2.

I really enjoyed reading this book. I have a love for Viking stories and this one completely fit the bill! It was such a alpha love story!

Great start to a new series. This is Rurik and Safria’s story. I really liked this steamy, drama filled read. The story really draws you in and the chemistry between the characters is steamy. An enjoyable read.

KEPT BY THE VIKING by Gina Conkle is an awesome Viking Romance. #1 in her new and exciting FORGOTTEN SONS series, and what a beginning!
I absolutely loved Rurik, the Viking leader, who is brave, strong, his word is his bond and Safria, a sultry Parisian thrall, who uses her wits as well as is cunning and full of secrets and surprises.

Fast paced, filled with secrets, intrigue, surprises, romance, danger, and a HEA. The characters are well developed, engaging and a force to be reckoned with. I was captivated by Safria's will to survive and her survival skills. Very impressive young lady! Rurik has strength, has a kind and gentle heart but is also strong, and a definite challenge for Safria, as she is to him. Another fascinating and captivating read by Gina Conkle. This book grabbed me from the first page and didn't let go, lingers long after the last page. I can hardly wait for book 2.
I received a complimentary copy, however, all opinions are my own

Viking romances are a dime a dozen so it must have something to make it stand out. It is evident that Author Gina Conkle did her research when writing about the era and creating her characters. Conkle’s lead Safira stands out as a strong and resourceful heroine even when the odds are stacked against her. She is not only likable, she is relatable.

Filled with historical trivia and authenticity, Kept By a Viking feels as much a historical fiction as it does a romance. That be said, as another reviewer noted perfectly, The Forgotten Sons feel like a MC with horse and swords rather than bikes and guns. The ending also felt rushed, finishing rather than wrapping everything nicely. Certain decisions and plot points lack sense, feeling rushed rather than explained.

Overall, the novel is enjoyable particularly for those looking for a historical Viking romance with substance.

Anyways, first up is Kept By The Viking by Gina Conkle. I was given this book via NetGalley for my honest review .

Well honestly I just couldn’t get into it as I had hoped. I’m not sure what it was about the book or the characters but this book just didn’t do it for me. Maybe it could be that I love Viking and Norse books so I could have higher expectations in regards to their culture. It’s not like it was a bad story or bad writing. It was actually a geat story with well thought out characters and events. I only gave it 3 stars on GoodReads which I think is pretty respectable for this.

One complaint that I do have os that I felt that the ending was quick and yet didnt actually really give me much closure with this book. I don’t understand the jarl’s way of thought and it was never actually told. We also didn’t know much about it which could have contributed to the abrupt and open ending.

Overall it was a great book to read. Not one of my favoritves but I don’t regret reading it at all. It was a good book to start off my April reading.

Until Next Time,

DauntlessReading

I am voluntarily submitting my honest review after receiving an ARC of this ebook via NetGalley.

I have been on a bit of a "Viking kick" lately, and I devoured this book in one sitting. It is very well written, with lots of detail about Viking life and custom, as well as the monumental power shift occurring in France at that time while Vikings were taking over the land and simultaneously fighting among themselves for supremacy, But that richness of detail does not in any way detract from the developing romance or sexual chemistry between Rurik and Safira. Fans of historical fiction, particularly fans of Viking lore, will love this book. I am looking forward to reading more in the Forgotten Sons series.

Will it be the woman or the reward? Safira had no choice but to hide and pretend to be a seeress to survive but now she has found the help of a band of Vikings but what will the cost be? Rurik and the forgotten sons travel to be the best that they can be, they are hard men all with bitter pasts but they are brothers no less. What will Rurik do with this woman, she never keeps quiet and she speaks her mind. But now that she has taken his heart can he let her go? Safira never thought that she would fall for him as she is hebrew and he will never marry her as he has to marry a Viking woman to keep his land and to bear his children. But can he let her go when her father comes for her? Safira knows that she can't stay and that is breaking her in two she knows that she can't bare seeing him with another woman. So when her father comes she goes but what now is that the end for them? A great read of courage, love and new beginnings. I really liked the characters they all bring their own to the story and Safira is a strong woman who wants to live life on her terms and not her parents and she gives her heart freely knowing that she can't ever have the man that she loves. Rurik is a strong leader who will do anything for his men and he knows that he can't keep her as he will never be able to settle in his land and have Viking children. But can he let her go without a fight? I was lucky to receive a copy via Netgalley & the publishing house in exchange for my honest review.

Great story. Lots of research went into this book, you can tell by the story. I found it fascinating. Gina kept me turning pages all the way through. She wrote a rich privileged heroine who grows stronger and finds the opportunity of independence through her kidnapping and rescue. The hero was impossible to resist with his sense of fairness and responsibility to his family of brothers by choice.

Safira is a mystery when Rurik of Birka meets her. She invades his bed at daybreak with a warning that the trader he's about to depart from has cheated him. The price for her information is taking her from the trader's camp where she's a kidnap victim. And so begins the story of Rurik, leader of the Viking Forgotten Sons and Safira, the second daughter of a rich Paris spice dealer. As a woman her maiden-head is up for bid to the best alliance her parents can make for themselves. She know this and sees her kidnapping as a way to re-write her future. Ruric is about to make a deal with Will Longsword for a holding of his own, to keep and defend in north France. He has to make it to Longsword's longhouse in Rouen in 4 more days or the deal's off. He hasn't told his brotherhood yet since they value their roaming ways and figures they won't stay with him. Along the journey and throughout the story Safira's wisdom and diplomatic skills help him with his challenge. She wins over the brotherhood and those of Longsword's keep while she's at it. Will Rurik keep her or bow to Longswords requirement of a Viking wife? You'll have to read the book to find out.

Thank you Harlequin-Carina Press and Gina for the ARC of this book for my honest review. Awesome start to a series.

I received this book as an ARC and having not read any of Ms Conkle’s books, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I really enjoyed this book. I have only given this book 4 stars because I found it a little hard to get into because I hadn’t read the books before it and also Ms Conkle likes to use authentic words, which can be a little hard to understand but after the first chapter, the characters really came to life for me. I found that all characters where well written with each of their own very distinct characters and as I read I was hoping that each would have a story of their own. If you like the tv series the Vikings you will love this.

A solid start to a new historical romance series that is part Vikings TV show (although with less violence) and part star-crossed lovers. The fiery leading lady is Frankish, while the male lead is Viking. Includes actual historical details (events, places, and culture), which is one of the main reasons I read this author, plus a steamy romance. I look forward to the next one. For historical romance fans.

Net Galley Feedback

Rurik and Safira are from different cultures and clash often. A deal is made to see Safira safely to her home but Rurik and his men have no intention of honoring it. An interesting tale of love and sacrifice.

I received an arc via Netgalley and am leaving a review.

A Viking tale that will keep you entertained. Rurik is a Viking leader and is very loyal to his fellow brothers of the Forgotten Sons. But he has been wanting more than just moving from place to place and when offered some land, he is anxious to get to it. Beautiful Safira, the pampered daughter of a spice merchant has asked Rurik for safe passage home and an agreement is struck. But Rurik is anxious to get to his land and not take Safira home, but the more time they spend together he begins to have strong feelings for her. Will he do the right thing and take her where she asked or go claim his land? This is a story filled with adventure, action and a love that can breach the barriers of differences in class. Cannot wait for more in this series!!

❤️❤️❤️❤️ out of 5
Viking romance- YES PLEASE! Not entirely sure what I was expecting, maybe hardcore like the tv show Vikings but with romance? Or maybe something more like medieval romance? I got a less bloody and brutal version than the tv show but enjoyable nonetheless.
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Set in France with a Viking occupation through certain areas, our heroine is kidnapped from her wealthy home in France and manages to talk her kidnappers out of killing her and instead selling her. Enter our Viking hero and his band merry Vikings...... Our heroine makes a deal to escape her “owners” with the hero’s help and to escort her back to France. Unbeknownst to our heroine, our hero has no intention of taking her there but instead to his liege lord to take up ownership of land.
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The heroine is ballsy (which I love) and earns the men’s respect and admiration considering their resolve to not like her. The hero made an interesting move to betray his men for land which you NEVER see in romance novels, all was forgiven of course but there is always a bromance/bro-code in romance books. The books dipped into Viking customs and the struggle really well and although I maybe wanted something a bit gutsy I still really enjoyed it!

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Publisher's Description:

Loyalty to the Brotherhood comes before all. Including women.

Formidable Viking leader Rurik knows the law. His loyalty to the Forgotten Sons is his bond, and no woman will threaten what he’s built from the ground up. But the Sons are a roving band of Vikings, and Rurik is growing restless—so when Normandy’s chieftain offers land, the proposal intrigues him. And the sultry Parisian thrall he finds in his tent intrigues him even more…

Safira is cunning and clever and full of secrets. Rurik’s men have no interest in securing her safe passage home, but, piqued with lust, Rurik views Safira’s wiles as a captivating challenge—one he’s determined to conquer, even if lying with her is as defiant as it is inevitable.

Traveling with Safira has been a fantasy come true—what started as lust is quickly turning to the kind of partnership Rurik could never have dreamed. But their arrival in foreign lands marks a new chapter, one that demands a Viking wife. With impossible decisions to be made, Rurik’s alliances are fraying, and past promises may not be enough to save him from having to betray those he’s sworn loyalty to—including Safira.

My Thoughts:
I had a hard time staying with this book. I usually like this author's writing style, but this was one book I just couldn't get into. It was just OK for a Viking Romance. The tale bogged down about 25% into the book. It did pick back up in pace later but it made this a difficult read.
Safira and Rurik deserved a better tale in this reader's opinion. There was maybe too much violence involved to make this a truly romantic tale although I expect violence from Vikings.
I gave this book 3.25 of 5.0 stars for storyline and characterization and a sensual rating of 3.75 of 5.0 flames. There were decidedly tender moments but Rurik's nature is one of dominance.
I received a complimentary digital ARC of this book from the publisher to read and review. This in no way affected my opinion of this book which I read and reviewed voluntarily.

I just could not really get into this book. I know it was a “romantic” Viking story, but I just couldn’t love it. The Forgotten Sons were like a MC club with horses and swords. There was lots of drama, fighting, politics, and feuding. It just didn’t light my fire. I was really perturbed by the end how it just wrapped up with no real explanation. If the jarl was so dead set on this certain condition, how did he just change his mind. The reason given was very lame.

Oh well ok read. Received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. As you can see my opinions are honest and my own.