The Viking's Captive
(Originally published as My Fair Viking)
Sandra Hill

Avon Books / HarperCollins
December 28, 2010/ ISBN 978-0-06-201908-0
Historical Romance / Northumbria A.D. 962
Amazon

Reviewed by Linda Young

Adam the Healer. He was devastated by the death of his sister, Adela, and the fact that he could not save her. Two years ago after he laid Adela to rest, he locked himself away at Hawkshire experimenting with his herbs and ointments and salves. He no longer used his skills as a healer. He no longer socialized at all. In fact, his assistant, Rashid, has decided that Adam needs a harem. However, Adam has made it very clear that he does not want a harem!

All of a sudden there is a commotion downstairs. As Adam and Rashid make their way down to the great hall, they see what has made such a stir. It is a group of Viking warriors. In the lead of these warriors is the most incredible thing Adam has ever seen: A female viking warrior. And it appears that she is leading this group!

Tyra, Warrior Princess. She has come in search of Adam the Healer. Her father has been severely injured and is in danger of dying. His only hope is for Tyra to find the Healer and take him back to her father's keep and hope that they arrive in time. Her father had no sons. Because she is the oldest and overly large for a woman, her father allowed her to train as a warrior. Now she leads his soldiers and helps to train the new ones.

As she walks into the great hall of the keep, she sees a man walking down the stairs. He is the most handsome man she has ever seen. But she is a warrior princess. She knows that she is not attractive to men. She is too tall, her feet are too big, and she must be as masculine as she can around her men so that they don't think she is too soft and feminine to lead them. Besides, she must hurry and find this healer and get him back to her father.

Once Adam finds out what this warrior princess is doing in his home, he refuses to go with her. He no longer works as a healer and has no intention of going anywhere. But when he tells Tyra that he is not going with her she smacks him in the head with the flat side of her broadsword, hefts him up over her shoulder, and lays him out on the table. She ties his hands and feet, tells Rashid to pack Adam's things for the journey, and orders food and drink for her men.

So begins Adam's kidnapping and journey to the Viking northlands. Adam knows that where he is going will be very near where his uncle Tykir lives with his family at Dragonstead. Tykir is the one who told Tyra about Adam being a healer. Adam was going to kick Tykir in the arse for that deed.

Sandra Hill outdid herself with this one. I couldn't put it down till I was through. I was bustin' out laughing the whole time. I was up till 2:30 in the morning reading. In fact, I probably woke people up a couple times from laughing so hard. Rashid and his harem idea was a constant source of humor throughout the book. Then there is Bolthor with his poems and stories. No matter what your mood is when you start reading this book, it will definitely change once you get into the story.

I never had a chance to read the fist version of this book, My Fair Viking, but I do know that Hill unkilled a few special characters in the revision. The sense tags that she has added enhanced things a lot as well. They just added to the humor. I just can't say anything negative about this book. Anyone who has enjoyed Hill's Viking stories will love this new version. It also appears that she will be doing more revisions like this to some of her other books as well. I can't wait to read them.

Reviewer's Note: Some sexual content