A betrayal can never be overcome, right?

Synopsis

In close quarters… With the Viking she’d loved and lost

A Shieldmaiden Sisters story—with her family fallen on hard times, Valda’s forced to join the crew on Halfdan Ulfsson’smerchant ship as he sets sail on the treacherous silk route. But this handsome jarl’s son is the man she’d planned to wed, until his bitter betrayal. Knowing she can never trust him, she must focus on saving her sisters…and not the intense connection that still burns between them!

Passion erupts when these bold, spirited Vikings are reunited!

My review

Valda has always been proud of being a shieldmaiden. But after having her heart broken, again, she is finding it difficult now that her position has changed, and also her and her family’s situation. There isn’t a thing she wouldn’t do to save her sisters and mother, even if that means joining the crew on Halfdan Ulfsson’s merchant ship. No big deal, if it weren’t that Halfdan was who broke Valda’s heart for the first time by betraying her on the worst way.
But as her choices are limited, they set of on the journey, not realizing that the intense connection they once had is still present. Valda is determined to keep her distance, also because Halfdan has his own motives to undertake this journey.
And he is still as unreachable and unavailable as before, so why is the attraction between them only growing? 

I have a weak spot for Vikings, as they are always fierce, strong yet with a kind heart (at least in the stories I read and the Viking is the main character).
So obviously I had to read this story, and add the fact that I have read previous books of this author and now the main character Valda is a familiar face, well, how could I resist? 

But Halfdan is not the only fierce one. Because Valda is a force to reckon with! And that made me like her immediately.
Valda knows her worth as a shieldmaiden, and doesn’t let her being a woman hold her back. She is a feminist before there was even a talk about feminism.
However not only is Valda a fierce and literally strong woman, she is also a loving woman. She hasn’t had it always easy, but for love of her mother and sisters, she would do anything. 

And her loving character also burnt her in the past. She has truly loved twice, and twice did she get her heart broken… That shows how vulnerable she also is, and added an extra feeling of sorry from my side.
The more we know about her first heartbreak, the more we understand Valda and the more we sympathize with her.
So yes, I wasn’t a fan of Halfdan because of that past, but I was seeing why Valda went along on being part of his crew, because there weren’t many other options. 

While I might me prejudiced what concerns Halfdan, his case was again a clear case of don’t judge before you know all the aspects.
Also here I admired the things he would do for those he cares about. Even if that means getting married to someone just to give his brother his freedom back.
But don’t get me wrong, Halfdan is not a softie, not at all! He knows how to take matters in his own hands, and foresee what might be the backlash and act beforehand. 

Obviously, when Valda and Halfdan meet again, they have oppsite feelings. Valda doesn’t want to do with him in any way, while Halfdan sees this as a new opportunity to get closer.
Being on the waters, you cannot avoid each other for a long time, so it’s not a big surprise that Valda and Halfdan grow closer again.
But it’s not a case of just getting back together and then ‘the end’.  Valda remains true to herself, and doesn’t want to be just a ‘conquest’ of Halfdan.
Even when she gives in the physical attraction, she knows that nothing more can come from it, as Halfdan is going to marry someone else. 

And in that aspect I would have liked that Halfdan did just something *more*. Yes, we know he doesn’t want to marry the unknown woman, and he still has deep feelings for Valda. But for the biggest part of the story, he doesn’t give Valda any actual prospect. While that is exactly what Valda needs to be able to give her heart away… 

Naturally, there is a big issue to overcome, but even while the happy end seems far away and just impossible to reach, again the loving characters of both Valda and Halfdan are shown as the happiness of their loved ones comes before their own.  

I truly enjoyed reading this story, getting to know Valda, Halfdan and their search for happiness and love.
I loved the strength of Valda’s family, and how different each sister is, and found myself getting eager for having the other sisters their own tale asap!
This was an easy book to read, in the sense that I found myself quickly submerged in the tale of second chances at love, strength and remaining true to yourself!