Vikings: Taken (The Great Heathen Army series Book 1) by Ceri Bladen

Vikings get a bad rap and initially I wasn't happy with how brutish they were made out to be. Some reading was required and I'm shocked to admit that the Vikings probably did deserve their reputation. One of their main incentives was to 'Harvest' slaves and especially women! So the fact that our young Heroine is carted off back to Denmark as a thrall (the Nordic word for slave) was very likely.
If you're interested here is an article on National Geographic about it:
Vikings, slaves, thralls and archaeology

Viking: Taken by Ceri Bladen on Amazon.com

It must have been a terrifying sight to medieval Britons to see the Viking longboats appear on their shores. News of their raids must have spread and the local population could only hope that they would have some property and their lives left at the end of the day. This is what a twelve year old Rosfrith has to endure at the start of this book. These were brutal times for the ancient Britons, when tribes from Scandinavia saw their lands as easy pickings. Ceri Bladen describes this well and we feel the fear and hardship this girl suffers after her father has abandoned her in an attempt to safe his own skin. I always appreciate when a writer does her research and uses the political wrangling of the time to give their story an extra dimension.

Amongst all this chaos, Rosfrith finds an unlikely protector. Ubba, a chieftain in his own right but here on his brothers command, notices the spirited girl and after his clairvoyant brother tells him their destinies are linked he keeps an eye on her. As the spoils are divided, Rosfrith is claimed by Ubba and is taken to their lands as a thrall (a slave). Years pass, but as Rosfrith blossoms into an attractive woman, Ubba’s eye is once again caught. Love can be ignited under the most difficult of circumstances, but will it flourish? Glad there is a second part in the writing so I we can find out.

Persona by Ceri Bladen

This was a very quick read so you're getting another review from me. Romance is not my preferred genre, but as a reviewer I have to be objective and just judge if other people would like it. I gave this 4 stars. I've contacted the writer about some editing issues, but again this did not influence my rating. Nothing a few beta readers can't sort.

Persona by Ceri Bladen

Daniel Spittle is the film star that seems to have it all, fame, money and a different gorgeous girlfriend on his arm each week. But the public doesn’t get to see the real Daniel who is hiding behind this womanising exterior. His agent decides that a journalist should follow him around for a few weeks, to introduce the real Daniel to the public and so Ella enters his life. This book was a light read and I finished it in a few days. I have to admit that I’m not a huge fan of romantic novels and got a little impatient with the story line as the characters wrestled with their feelings for each other. I shouted a few times at my kindle “kiss her already you fool, her boyfriend is a twat that doesn’t appreciate her!” I liked the storyline with the stalker and could have done with a bit more of her. I would recommend this if you like your romantic fiction.