by Jo Grafford
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
BLURB:
Branwyn
O’Tyre’s estranged brother summons her for a healing ritual. Fearing he
actually plans to arrest her for witchcraft, she drinks a protection potion
before he arrives.
Eirik, a Viking sea captain
pretending slumber in the tavern corner, witnesses Branwyn’s magic and offers
her safe passage from Exeter if she will reverse a curse that plagues him.
Alas, every woman who touches him falls madly but falsely in love with him.
There’s only one hitch: If she
fails, Branwyn’s heart will fall prey to the same madness...forever!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
EXCERPT
Two
of the knights separated themselves from the group and rushed forward. Alas,
the one on the left slipped on a puddle of ale and crashed into his comrade.
Their helmets collided with a dull clanking sound that made Branwyn wince. Then
they crumpled to the floor.
The
Viking stranger emitted a muffled guffaw and appraised her carefully. “Methinks
I can guess the nature of the potion now. Come, lass. ’Tis getting late. We’d
best be on our way.” The rogue actually crooked an arm at her as if preparing
for a stroll in the park.
Branwyn
could only gape.
With
a sigh of resignation, he reached down to clasp her hand and drew it through
his arm. She gasped as a powerful awareness sizzled through her. ‘Twas sharp
and immediate, stopping just sort of pain. Branwyn’s shocked gaze locked with
the stranger’s. When the clarity of his blue gaze took on a slightly dazed
sheen, she realized he felt it, too.
Lord
help her, but she was instantly drawn to his scent — a mixture of smoke and
salt and mystery — as well as his strength. The pulse of his heart, the hum of
blood through his veins, the aura of power and danger surrounding him. The air
around them fairly crackled with the potency of their contact as skin brushed
over skin.
Alarmed,
Branwyn tried to tug her hand free, but the stranger clamped his arm tighter to
his side, imprisoning her. She nearly cried out from the sensations flooding
her. Light. Heat. Joy.
“Pray
forgive the liberties I take with ye, lass,” he muttered in her ear. His breath
on her lobe brought her just shy of the point of collapsing. “I will explain as
soon as we are clear of this arse.” He steered her towards the door.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Jo writes high stakes
romance. Her favorite books contain layers of intrigue with alpha males and
strong-minded women who are willing to risk it all for love.
From St. Louis, Missouri, Jo
holds an M.B.A. and has served as a banker, college finance instructor, and
high school business teacher. She is a member of Romance Writers of America,
From the Heart Romance Writers RWA Chapter, and the Writers Group of
Ansbach/Katterbach/Illesheim.
******************************
GIVEAWAY
(SO sorry, didn't get this posted with the rest! Jo is very generously offering a giveaway...)
Jo Grafford will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here
*******************************
3.5 out of 5 stars
-->
GIVEAWAY
(SO sorry, didn't get this posted with the rest! Jo is very generously offering a giveaway...)
Jo Grafford will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here
*******************************
3.5 out of 5 stars
Viking For Hire by Jo Grafford is a historical fantasy
romance novella that gives a glimpse of the challenges faced by Branwyn O’Tyre,
who is being persecuted by her brother for the practice of witchcraft and is
rescued by the irresistible Eirik, Jarl of New Dorset. This manly Viking has been
cursed and Branwyn must decide whether she can trust him enough to reveal her
abilities and, more importantly, whether she has enough power to protect him
and his men from all of the dangers that they face.
by Jo Grafford is a historical fantasy
romance novella that gives a glimpse of the challenges faced by Branwyn O’Tyre,
who is being persecuted by her brother for the practice of witchcraft and is
rescued by the irresistible Eirik, Jarl of New Dorset. This manly Viking has been
cursed and Branwyn must decide whether she can trust him enough to reveal her
abilities and, more importantly, whether she has enough power to protect him
and his men from all of the dangers that they face.
There is a nice combination of mythology and magic in this
story that provides a fun read. I’d like
to know a little more about the characters as I wasn’t quite invested in their
struggle and would have liked a little more background but there is an
entertaining mélange of elements that keeps the story moving along. This is a
quick light read that will appeal to lovers of fantasy and Vikings.
