Between The Pages - Wolf of the Nordic Seas

Wolf of the Nordic Seas 

Jennifer Ivy Walker 

April 2025

Named after the Norse God of the Sea, Njörd grew up sailing, swimming, and fishing the fjords of Norway. Endowed with extraordinary senses, speed, and strength, he became known as Wolf of the Nordic Seas, leading lucrative Viking raids from the Baltic shores to the Black and Caspian Seas. When a Viking völva foretells his future through a seidr vision, Njörd learns that his fate and his mate—the siren with the sea goddess eyes—lie on the alabaster coast of Normandy in the distant Land of the White Chalk Cliffs. 

Elfi Thorfinnsdóttir is a skilled shieldmaiden who seeks vengeance against the ruthless Frankish count who killed her brother and abducted her father in an attempt to seize her clifftop castle. But rather that submit to the count’s relentless demand for her hand in marriage, Elfi allies with Richard the Fearless—the Viking Duke of Normandy— and the Danish Jarl of Ribe known as the Wolf of the Nordic Seas.

As Elfi and Njörd discover startling secrets about their respective pasts, they find that the three Norns have entwined the threads of their fates not just as political allies, but as mates destined to fulfill a divine prophecy. 

Between The Pages 

This Viking romance, set in tenth-century Normandy, is book two in the Valiant Viking series. Like the first book, the author has a master voice in placing the reader into the setting and holding your attention in the riveting storyline. The authenticity of the setting, characters, clothing, food, and language was achieved masterfully. Again, like the first book, there was repetitive text repeated many times throughout the story, but the characters in this book had me overlooking that distraction. Elfi and Njord were wonderful leading characters. Their romance was electric and sweet. The author included an enjoyable cast of elves, shape-shifting wolves, mermaids, and volvas/sorceresses. These characters enhance the storyline and drive its interest. The ending wasn’t tied up in a happy bow but left with a looming battle, making the reader anxious for book three, Falcon of the Faroe Islands. 

Rating

5 Stars

Between The Pages - Dragon of Denmark

Dragon of Denmark 

Jennifer Ivy Walker 

October 2024 

Skårde the Scourge, bastard son of the Danish king Harald Bluetooth, is a fierce Viking warlord who earned the prestigious title Dragon of Denmark through victorious battles and lucrative Viking raids. When his royal father announces that Skårde will forge a Viking alliance through an arranged marriage to the daughter of Richard the Fearless, the Dragon of Denmark considers the voyage to Normandy an infuriating banishment.

Illegitimate daughter of Richard the Fearless, the Viking Duke of Normandy, Ylva is a Druid priestess and Celtic healer with the otherworldly gift of sight. She learns that she must leave her Breton village behind and travel to Normandy, where she will marry the Viking brute that she has foreseen in a terrifying vision. 

When the Frankish king, determined to drive the Vikings from Normandy, attacks and seizes Richard’s clifftop fortress, the Dragon of Denmark must ally with Ljósálfar Light Elves, a Viking völva with powerful seiðr magic, and a vitki-- a shapeshifting sorcerer who can assume the form of a falcon--to reclaim the ducal palace. 

Between The Pages 

This Viking romance is set in tenth-century Normandy. The author captures the reader’s attention with her expert voice in the setting of this historical period with vivid descriptions and unique characters. An arranged marriage unites Skarde and Ylva but they soon discover an undeniable attraction and similar family rejection. This story has strong values on family, forgiveness, and second chances. The secondary cast of characters was equally enjoyable. The main story was interesting and moved along at a steady pace, but a lot of repetitive information distracted the read and caused paragraphs of text to be skipped. Looking forward to the next book in the Valiant Vikings series. 

Rating 

4 Stars

Between The Pages - A Celtic Yuletide Carol

A Celtic Yuletide Carol

Jennifer Ivy Walker 

November 2024 

Once a royal Breton knight, Sir Cardin is now infamously known as Basati, the Basque Wolf. Savage and sullen, he drowns his guilt in raucous taverns, accruing enormous debt and acquiring vengeful enemies. 

Ulla, widowed daughter of a Viking chieftain, is a skilled archer who lives as a recluse in a secluded woodland cottage. Rendered mute by trauma, she avoids humans, preferring the company of her wild wolf and falcon as she hunts in the Forest of Brocéliande. 

When his mother’s dying wish calls Basati home, he finally meets the son he abandoned at birth and Ulla, the enigmatic priestess who is teaching the boy to hunt. As the holidays approach, Basati finds himself smitten with the beguiling beauty as he bonds with his once forsaken child. But past enemies plot against him, and Basati is ensnared in darkness. Can music lure the savage wolf into the light of love? 

Between The Pages 

This medieval historical romance was a charming holiday read. Told from multiple points of view, the author provided a well-plotted story with an interesting cast of characters. Cardin was a rogue on the outside but soft-hearted on the inside, and Ulla was a compelling heroine who without words spoke from her heart. Cardin’s son, Lukaz stole the story, as did Ulla’s wolf, Vill. The setting emersed the reader within the drama. Some dialogue was repetitive through different characters, stalling the read with duplicated information. Overall, this book was a heartwarming story about loss and healing, and family and friendship with unbreakable bonds. 

Rating 

4.5 Stars