The Reluctant Viking
Sandra Hill

Avon Books / HarperCollins
April 26, 2011 / 978-0-06-201910-3
Historical Romance / Current day USA & 925 A.D. Jorvik, Northern England (Viking Age Town of York)
Amazon

Reviewed by Linda Young

Ruby Jordan was at a loss. What was she supposed to do now? Her husband had just walked out the door and left her. She goes and sits down, puts on the headphones, and turns on one of her husband’s motivational tapes. As it talks her into a relaxed state, she begins to hear strange noises. When she opens her eyes, she finds herself lost in a world of Vikings. She is in the town of Jorvik in the tenth century and under the hand of a warrior Viking by the name of Thork. A confusing element is the fact that Thork is the spitting image of Ruby’s husband Jack. Even more interesting is the fact that almost everything about Thork is the same as Jack; everything except that Thork is a fierce Viking, not her mild husband, Jack.

Thork, like her husband Jack, constantly tries to avoid Ruby. She is determined not to lose him twice. Ruby makes up her mind to win not only his trust but his heart as well. Ruby is also in fear for her life. She has been accused of being a spy, and while not meaning to cause more trouble for herself, she also teaches these men-fearing women to think more like a more modern woman. Big mistake. Now the Viking king and the althing (a group of leaders that deal out justice) may want her head.

Another reissue in her Viking group of stories, Sandra Hill never disappoints. Each of these reissues is even better than the first. She puts quirky little sayings at the beginning of each section and the humor is at its best. You will find many of her others books reviewed by me at Myshelf as well. I can’t praise Hill’s books enough. I highly recommend this one as well.