Sigh....Vikings....sigh! What a great story - loved watching the romance develop between these two, strong characters who should be together even while so much keeps them apart! Gyda and Thorstein have both suffered and both deserve happiness -- and I loved their Happily-Ever-After. A wonderful, sexy, emotional debut from Lucy Morris!

Book: The Viking Chief’s Marriage Alliance
By Lucy Morris

Publisher: Harlequin

Release Date: May 25, 2021


Baldor villain North Sea, Coast of Northumbria
880 AD

Thorstein Bergson also called Thorstein the Burned, who previously had been nameless and lived in poverty. This was until he saved his Overlord’s life, where he was tortured and their enemy burned a crucifix of their Christian faith on his handsome face. He finds out his Overlord, Sven of Jorvik, was a man of his word. As Thorstein was now a Chieftain to a settlement and in the near future would be honored with an alliance and a wife that his Overlord also promised. Now he was checking for survivors of this shipwreck he discovered. Although he truly questioned his sanity, wondering why he was checking on people he didn’t even know as it was risking the lives of his own men. This is when he saw the beautiful noblewoman Gyra Ynglingdóttir who he knew was the wife of a wealthy jarl from the jewels she wore.

Thorstein immediately develops a bad attitude toward the beautiful woman due to the failure of his marriage from his first wife that ended in divorce. So he immediately felt she was spoiled, lady with her nose in the air, plus too good for everybody. He definitely had an attitude to the rich and titled. As his ex-wife left him for a wealthy Jarl as nothing he did was ever good enough for his first wife. Except he had noticed Gyda didn’t react to the crucifix scar on his face. She didn’t seem to feel pity or shame or just be revolted by his scar! As that is how most reacted to his facial scar.

Thorstein had no idea of Gyda’s struggles who didn’t want to be ruled by a man. As she had been horribly abused previously by her husband plus hers was a political marriage and a man thirty years her senior. It was so her younger sisters could all marry for love and pick the men and marry love matches, She was the sacrificial lamb of her family and helping them financially. Now she needed to save her trunk full of silver which would soon sink too. She didn’t realize her life had been peril or was in denial . Yet Thorstein wasn’t going to listen to this mad woman who would rather die trying to save her trunk. So he threw her over his shoulder and she was so furious about loosing her silver, not realizing Thorstein just saved her precious life!

Gyda doesn’t trust men and has never been comfortable around good looking men. Now she is the widow from a husband who had bad treated her horribly. Unfortunately due to the shipwreck she lost her trunk filled with silver and tapestries and anyway to support herself. So even though Thorstein had saved her life she was devestasted she lost her trunk and would have to ask her dead twin sister’s Astrid’s husband for help. Except they find out Gyda’s brother-in-law and Thorstein’s Overlord is the same person Sven of Jorvik. However Sven can’t have Gyda under his roof,especially since he had been married to her identical twin so he pretty much orders them to marry! Though Sven can see and feel the attraction between these two, but will this marriage work? Gyda realizes she has no other choice and make Thorstein an offer. Will he accept this offer can a titled noblewoman become a farmer? Will Thorstein ever trust women again and will Gyda ever trust men again? As both have a lot of scars and turbulence in their past will these two ever open their hearts and let both of them discover trust, faith and love? Or will this marriage also end in divorce? Read and discover what the future holds for Thorstein and Gyda.


This is the first book from this Harlequin multi-talented author, as the book was absolutely exhilarating . I was absolutely so impressed with the breathtaking setting, brilliant dialogue, unforgettable characters and detailed plot lines filled with so many twists and turns! Plus having both the hero and heroine with so many struggles who both had to learn to trust and open their hearts and love again. An independent heroine who knows how to hide her feelings and the swoon worthy hero who wore all his feelings open on his sleeve. I was totally swept away by this phenomenal story from start to finish!

The Viking Chief’s Marriage Alliance is a book I highly recommend! I can’t wait to see with what is next from this fabulous author Lucy Morris!

Disclaimer: I received an advance reader’s copy from Harlequin Publishing. I voluntarily agreed to do an honest, fair review and blog through Netgalley. All thoughts, ideas and words are my own.

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Currently posted on Goodreads:

TW: killing of animals

TROPES: widow, scarred characters, viking romance, historical romance, damaged hero, different social classes, hate to love, marriage of convenience, tall heroine, caretaking scene, married couple romance

This is definitely my favorite Viking romance! I have read a handful of Viking romances, but I have never been able to give the previous ones over a 3-star rating. This one was so good!! I feel like the author did a lot of research about this time period and the Viking culture because it read really organically.

These two characters meet when the hero saves the heroine from a shipwreck. She is the widow to an abusive Jarl and he is a Viking chief who has been hurt by love in the past. The two of them despise one another right from the beginning. But by some circumstances, they end up getting married to one another.

I will say that I do not think that the hero groveled enough. He said some pretty hurtful things to the heroine, and I honestly don't think that he apologized enough for judgemental he was. I also thought that the "villain" of the book kind of came out of nowhere. I just wasn't the biggest fan of the villain plot.

I overall love this story. I specifically loved how these two characters grew to love one another, even though they were quite reluctant to do so.

p.s. the hair brushing scene in this one was just *SWOON*

I was sent this book early by the publisher for an honest review.

What a sweet second chance romance. I loved the reality of the situation. Trusts broken, and learning to trust again. I enjoyed the setting, and the feeling of starting over that this book gives.
Essentially, this book was everything I wanted it to be, and I can't wait to read something like it again soon.

I really liked the Viking Chief. I appreciated so much that the author showed her struggles and also showed that she handled them in a way that protected her privacy. I liked watching them both grow into themselves and into each other. This was a fun read that took us from beginning to real love with two characters that did not want to love each other. I enjoyed Gyda's work towards fitting in and how she showed him her strengths and how good she was for him and their community. I would definitely come back for more from Lucy Morris.

This book is just want I needed.

A strong willed Viking princess escaping her stepson ( she was married to a man 30 years her senior) with all she has in her name.

She looses everything she had to start over - reluctantly rescued by a chieftain.

Of course these two fight their sexual urges, budding love, and trust of each other the entire book.

I was here for it!

I highly recommend you pick this up!!

Thank you Harlequin and Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book, I stay up until 2am to finish this one 🤎🤎

In her first full-length novel, Morris creates a rich world in which readers can immerse themselves. I’m a history buff and even took a study archaeology class about Medieval England, so I loved the details Morris wrote into this romance.

Gyda has recently been widowed and travels to Jorvik (the Norse capital of Early Middle Ages England) to seek aid from her late sister’s husband, Sven. When her boat crashes off the coast of Northumbria, she is saved by Thorstein. While he is immediately attracted to Gyda, Thorstein also assumes she is too soft and pampered to be comfortable in the farming settlement he leads. Gyda is recovering from the abuse and belittlement from her first husband. She craves a safe and loving marriage where she will be respected.

Thorstein escorts her to Jorvik and Jarl Sven who is actually Thorstein’s Overlord. Sven decrees that Thorstein and Gyda should marry so that she can be cared for by an honorable man, and Thorstein will officially become part of Sven’s family as his son’s uncle. I love an arranged marriage trope and this doesn’t disappoint. Gyda and Thorstein must both overcome their past pain to be open to love again. While Thorstein is a bit thick headed when it comes to Gyda, he eventually comes to his senses.

This isn’t the steamiest read but it is very romantic. You get to see several happy couples besides our MCs and I love a little meddling from supporting characters. I hope to see more writing from Morris.

Thank you to Harlequin and NetGalley for providing a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Series: Harlequin Historical
Tropes: Historical Romance - 880 AD England, Class Differences, Viking-Norsemen, Second Chance Romance, Arranged Marriage, Scarred Hero
Content Warning: Near drowning, Animal sacrifices, Limited options due to gender, Forced marriage, Death during or after childbirth, Kidnapping, Sex under false pretenses, Miscommunication in marriage

I honestly didn't know about historical Viking romances until this book, and now I am wanting more Viking romances.

A fun 5 star read, I just couldn't put down. The push and pull relationship between Thorstein and Gyda made great chemistry. I enjoyed that Gyda had a lot of depth, and backbone, which is a hit or miss sometimes in romances. I loved the world building, even though this is a short book, Ms. Morris was able to bring the world to life. I found that both characters have a good backstory that is weaved throughout the book and slowly comes to light which works well.

If you are looking for a wonderful beach/ vacation read this book won't let you down.

Although full of drama, this romance novel somehow didn't fully satisfy me, there wasn't that much chemistry between the two characters and Thorstein was really unbearable.

Per quanto pieno di dramma, questo romanzo d'amore in qualche modo non mi ha soddisfatto appieno, non c'era poi molta chimica tra i due personaggi e Thorstein era veramente insopportabile.

I received a complimentary digital copy from the publisher in exchange for a honest review.