Christina CourtenayRecensioni

Read Around the World Sweden

This is a dual-timeline historical romance that moves between contemporary Sweden and the 9th Century viking era. The author was born in England and brought up in Sweden by a Swedish mother.

The contemporary story is about Mia Maddox, a conservator working for the British museum, who returns to Sweden after her grandmother’s death as she has inherited her beloved cottage, Birch Thorpe, on the South shore of Lake Mälaren. She meets archaeologist Haakon Berger who challenges her about the ownership of her ancient snake ring. Together they begin to excavate around the cottage looking for traces of a viking settlement. They come across the story of Ceridwen, captured from a celtic Welsh family in 869 by viking invaders and taken to Sweden by “White Hawk” Haukr Erlendrsson. As the attraction between Ceri and Haukr simmers, Ceridwen faces dangerous consequences from Haukr’s wife Ragnhild.

This book has all my favourite tropes for an easy pleasure-read: historical setting, dual timeline genealogical or archaeological mystery to solve, and celts or vikings (in this case both!). There is of course a degree of predictability and improbability but this was an enjoyable read.

This is a timeslip romance and historical fiction by Swedish English author Christina Courtenay. It is the second in the Runes series but could easily be read as a standalone story. It is set in the 9th century during the Viking era.

Linnea Berger, specialist in Old Norse at the University of York, is working on an archaeological dig with her uncle in Sweden, when she discovers an ancient brooch and finds herself suddenly transported to the 9th century. Here she finds herself captured by viking warrior Hrafn as a thrall, and accompanying him on an international sea voyage to Turkey to be sold in the slave markets. Despite all this she finds herself drawn to Hrafn, and he to her.

I wanted to love this book. In actual fact it is a great story: a rip-snorter adventure yarn with a great setting and well-researched historical details. Oh, but the writing! Don’t get me started on the main character Linnea. How can you be an intelligent university-educated woman, trained in ancient Viking language, and expert in this era and part of the world, and then so determinedly, inanely convinced, despite all logical evidence to the contrary, that this is all a game or a re-enactment? She blunders around wondering why every single person in the settlement speaks fluent Old Norse and not English, why all the women are engaged in medieval crafts, why everyone is wearing authentic viking garb and none of them have any grasp of modern concepts and still doesn’t even begin to consider she is in the 9th century. I don’t think you can play the smart, capable woman card as well as the ditzy dumbo with the same character, it has one or the other. She is also a smart-arse, rude to her captors, and completely oblivious to the danger she is in. It’s actually surprising she survived 24 hours there with her behaviour. And then of course she needs to be not only unfathomably beautiful but a virgin too, because, sigh…who even knows? Because good girls don’t have sex?? Or possibly only when they are being deflowered by uber-manly heroes.

The book has been likened to Outlander but Linnea Berger is definitely no Claire Fraser. In fact it would have been a far better yarn if Claire had gone to Sweden instead of Linnea. There would have actually been a little wit and humour. Sigh! Disappointing. 2.5 stars.½

DNF'ed at 15% - I tried so hard, so many times, to read this over the last few years. It sounds like it would be right up my alley, with everything needed to be a book (and series) I'd enjoy...but I just couldn't get into it.

Purchased from Audible as an audiobook, narrator Julia Franklin does a decent turn, managing to get voices that are different enough, especially for the men, as well as pronouncing (correctly I hope) the Japanese words in the text.

This book is broken up into several parts: the teenage Hannah, brought up in a privileged city atmosphere, head strong but understanding little of the world of men. Attracted by the apparently romantic sea faring men, she is horrified by her parents arranging her betrothal to a man who fondles her during a town party.

The second portion of the book tells of when she escapes on a boat, spending the next 18 months travelling to the newly opened Japan. Having thought the boat she sneaked onto was captained by her brother, she is shocked to find that the captain is some one else, who is less than the romantic ideal she thought he was. She keeps herself hidden in the bowels of the ship, along with the Japanese cook, learning more about Japanese culture and how to speak Japanese.

Trapped in a marriage she didnt want (to protect her reputation), she finds herself in Japan, kidnapped by a man who is fascinated by her thick red hair whose Sensei had predicted her arrival.

The next part of the book is dedicated to their developing relationship as she learns more about Japanese culture and the strength behind a Shogun and his daiymo. Their relationship is threatened on several occasions, particularly by Taro's sister-in-law, who wishes to be Taro's next wife, to the point where she is prepared to kill Hannah to get what she wants.

Finally, the disconnect between the western and eastern worlds comes to a head and both Hannah and Taro need to decide what's important to them.

Ultimately this is a standard romance story, in the standard format. There is the usual "threat to split the couple up" near the end, but the couple are finally reunited with all impediments neatly dealt with to make it easier for the couple to remain together. Once Hannah is on the ship, she spares no thought for her family (apart from her brother who she thinks is on the ship). Her parents and her siblings are never given a second thought, with no concerns as to what her disappearance could mean to the people back in England.There is an assumption that the reader knows the basics about Japanese culture so, for example, tatami mats covering the floors are not explained. The narrative switches between intense detail during a particular scene and "meanwhile, 3 weeks later.....this happens".

Reading back the above implies that I didnt like the book. Whilst I didnt hate it, I didnt adore it either. It was a nice book to listen to, it was a setting different to normal historical romances, and the author didnt treat the reader like a complete idiot. There's some adult situations, but described appropriately, so only the most sensitive will be offended.

Aban³5

Enjoyable novella

Enjoyable novella

Inglaterra, 1611. Hannah Marston envidia la vida aventurera de su hermano, así que se embarca como polizona en el barco de este. Al llegar a Japón, todo su sufrimiento se ve recompensado, pero entonces es raptada por los guerreros de Taro Kumashiro.
En el remoto norte del país, Kumashiro aguarda para ver a la joven sobre la que un vidente lo ha prevenido. Cuando se conocen, hay un choque de culturas y de voluntades, pero además ellos luchan contra la atracción inmediata que sienten el uno por el otro. Con su hermano buscándola y una celosa rival desesperada por matarla, Hannah se enfrenta a la mayor aventura de su vida. Y Kumashiro tendrá que elegir entre el amor y el honor?

Corre el año 1732 en Gotemburgo, Suecia, y Jess Van Sandt sabe muy bien que el suyo es un mundo de hombres. Convencida de que su padrastro le está escamoteando la herencia que es suya por derecho, se decide a impedirlo. Y la solución se presenta en forma de un escocés muy atractivo, Killian Kinross, que ha sido él mismo desheredado por su abuelo. Jess se siente intrigada y enfurecida por el joven a partes iguales. En un intento de recuperar su fortuna, le propone un matrimonio de conveniencia. En ese momento, a Killian le ofrecen la oportunidad de su vida: participar en una expedición de la Compañía Sueca de las Indias Orientales, y está decidido a que nada ni nadie, ni siquiera su nueva novia, se interpongan en su camino.

Excavating a Swedish Viking site, an archaeologist and a conservator develop feelings for each other in a way that echoes the romance between the Viking jarl who lived there and his Welsh hostage.

If you go in believing the subtitle which describes it as a "sweeping epic tale of forbidden love", you will be in for a disappointment. It was OK but I didn't really have any emotional interest in the outcome.

This is the first book in this Vikings paranormal series by Christina Courtenay. Set in the 10th century, it starts with a Viking raid on a welsh village where Ceridwen is stolen and taken back to Sweden where this Viking family lived. The Vikings wife became jealous of the thrall (Slave) Ceridwen and began causing trouble. Eventually the wife divorced her Viking because he refused to keep her in the rich lifestyle that she had been accustomed to living. This naturally leaves the Viking free to marry the young thrall Ceridwen and they live happily ever after. This is also set in the 21st century during an archaeological dig, so you have to really love Archaeology to get through this book. There are so many archaeological details. Since I love both Archaeology and the Vikings, this was a wonderful read for me!!! I could not put this down. It took me around 4 hours to read and when I cannot put a book down, then it gets 5 stars.

This was another great story of time travel between the present day (2017) back to the Viking age. This time the time traveller is Linnea, daughter of Haakon from the first book, Echoes of the Runes.

I really liked the way that this author keeps the continuity going, by using different characters from within the same family as the time travellers.

So Linnea finds herself back in the 9th century Sweden, where she is picked up by a Viking named Hrafn and becomes his thrall (either a slave or a concubine). Despite Linnea's constant whining and complaining of life in the Viking era during the first half of the book, by the second half of the book, she had come pretty much fallen in love with Hrafn, and was slowly accepting the idea that she might stay, if he ever married her.

During this time, Linnea was part of the inventory as thralls to be sold as Hrafn, his brothers Rurik, Gai and Thure, sail from Sweden, through the Baltic lands along the Russian rivers and down the Dnieper to the Black sea, and on to Constantinople.

In Constantinople. Linnea is abducted by Thure and sold to a wealthy man in the city. Hrafn goes after her and "Steals" her back, both of them effectively ackowledging their feelings for each other!! Thure ends up being cheated at a game of dice and is killed.

After selling most of their inventory, Hrafn and his crew begin the long trip back to Sweden. Upon their arrival, now that Hrafn is the Jarl of their community, His elderly aunt begins to make plans for him to marry the daughter of another Jarl. Linnea overhears this news and runs away. Hrafn goes after her and eventually, after a quick trip back to the present, Hrafn and Linnea are married.

Excellent story. Lots of details about Viking life and travelling through Viking Russia!!

In this story, Sara Mattson, finds an old Viking knife in an archaeological dig in northern england and reads the runes on it. After a dizzy spell she finds herself back in the Viking era, with the former knifes owner trying to steal it from her. When Sara tries to tell her that she needs the knife to travel back to her own time, he accepts her story but throws the knife away because he wants her to stay.

The viking owner was named Rurik. His story was that he had left his home in Sweden in order to get away from his new sister in law because he was in love with her and she was no longer available. So he came to England where he was planning to find a job as a silversmith.

When Sara tells him that she too is also a silversmith, (her speciality is making viking jewelry) they decide to travel together to the city of Jorvik (York) in Northern England.

Along the way Sara and Rurik meet up with the Great Heathen Army and their adventures of life as Viking raiders are very well described.

I had no idea that the Vikings who invaded England in the 8th and 9th centuries were referred to as Great Heathen Army as this author calls it. I had assumed that they were always soldiers and armies - not just anyone from the Viking homelands who came to take whatever they wanted. I am aware of the Danelaw - the eastern part of england which became part of the Viking held land in England - but I guess this story is a little too early for the Danelaw.

Eventually the army arrived at Jorvik (York) and we now learn about Viking life in a 9th century city. But by now Sara and Rurik have acquired some enemies. When one of these enemies stabs Rurik in the gut with a knife, Sara has no choice but to bring him to the future in order to use the NHS and get him fixed up.

After his recovery from surgery, Rurik decides to rturn to Sweden with Sara - and when he meets up with Linnea again he is shiocked to discover that he is no longer in love (or lust) with her any more, He is now desperately in love with Sara. They eventually make up and talk things out and get married. Rurik and sara make their home in the town of Birka because that is where rurik was apprenticed as a silversmith, and it would be much easier for Sara to also work with her husband without people asking questions.

So this book follows the same format as the previous book. The women travels from the 21st century back to the Viking era, falls in love with a Viking man, learns how to live in a new era, and then when something happens, bring the man to the 21st century for a short time. After they return to the Viking era, a miscommunication of some kind happens and they have to work this out before the story ends with a Happily ever after.

In the prologue of this book, Linneas's younger sister, Madison, reads Sara's fortune for her from the runes. Madison predicts that Sara will soon be taking a long and difficult journey for which she will need a lot of mental and possibly physical strength.

The reading turned out to be accurate, but not once is this mentioned in the story. I am sure that Sara could have or should have thought of this. What was the point of the reading, if it had no place in the main story.

A good story if you love history and the Vikings, and time travel stories.

I really enjoyed this story. Mostly because it is centred around the city of York in England. I gave it 4 stars, despite the similar story format as the previous one.

Corre el año 1759 y Jamie Kinross ha decidido dejar Suecia e irse lo más lejos posible, a la India, para huir de su pasado. Allí inicia una nueva vida y se establece como comerciante de gemas. Pero los problemas llegan pronto: la familia de su mentor es secuestrada por el crimen organizado y él se pondrá en marcha para ayudarle a recuperarla, viajando hasta Surat y llevando consigo el talismán perdido de un rajá indio. Al llegar a la ciudad conocerá a Zarmina Miller, una viuda bella y rica, sí, pero también arrogante, a la que se conoce como «la viuda de hielo». Todo un reto... Sin embargo, pronto descubrirá que el hijastro de ella está implicado en el secuestro y que Zarmina también tiene un pasado que olvidar.

This is the first time-slip book I’ve read, though I’ve read stories with more than one point-of-view narrator, which is somewhat similar. I was very impressed with the amount of accurate research supporting both the 9th century Viking era and modern archeological methods. And, for the most part, the writing was strong. I did, however, find it disconcerting when the author changed from one point-of-view/time frame to another without any cue to the reader. It spoiled the story flow.

Echoes of the Runes by Christina Courtenay is a charming tale of timeless love remanifested. This is a dual time novel, shifted between the past where Ceri has been kidnapped by Haukr's raiding party and brought back to be ransomed, and the present where Mia and Haakon are excavating property left to Mia by her grandmother. Haakon and Mia are initially drawn together by a pair of ancient snake rings. As they work together on the dig, each begins to get glimmers of the past, whose validity is proven as the excavations continue. Past blurs with future, playing out an eternal love as souls find one another anew.

I found it a bit confusing at the beginning, as the times, and people speaking, shifted back and forth. I found my bearings soon enough, though, and quite enjoyed it. I think I preferred the present, as it had the more interesting timeline. The conflict with Thoresson, and the excavation both appeal to the archaeologist in me. I'm strongly averse to grave robbing and site looting.

Haakon was my favourite character. He's an archaeologist after all! Both he and the archaeology felt real. Made me feel a little nostalgic, truthfully. Ragnhild was my least favourite character. She was just one nasty tempered b'. And what she did to Ceri. Geez. I love how the characters and story of the present mirror that of the past, and how personality traits filter into present generations. I adore the found family forged by the end. My only qualm is how often the main four characters talk about how they weren't sure how someone felt about them, or that such a relationship would be impossible. That could have been toned down a bit. Also, where were the runes! I was looking forward to runes!

Recommended!

***Many thanks to the Netgalley & Headline for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. Reviewed for Love Books Tours.

I want to make it clear that I didn't finish this book. I tried--I really did--but I enacted my 50-page rule and decided to stop reading this book and I'll explain why below.

First, this book is completely a Young Adult novel. It's nowhere close to a New Adult novel so don't let the cover fool you like it did to me. It's tame and high-school soap-opera-y which is why I decided to stop reading it.

If I was about 5 years younger (ie. a teenager) I would have probably enjoyed this book. But after reading so many New Adult novels that deal with mature subject matter (not the sexy stuff, but the pasts filled with tragedy and abuse) this book is just so tame in comparison. The only "thrilling" part was the love triangle but it was just so rudimentary in its delivery I didn't care.

I felt like Rain was a boring character. She comes across as pretentious and because of this I had a hard time connecting or liking her. She isn't a complete badass--again, very tame--and I felt like she fell into every stereotype of a young adult heroine: new girl in a new school; good looking and every boy is attracted to her but she doesn't really know it; etc. I just didn't find anything refreshing in it and the added love triangle didn't do much for me. At least the choice seemed pretty obvious to me based on who Jesse's girlfriend is so I didn't find it overly annoying but it was dull.

I also didn't find Jesse to be that much of a redeemable character. He was a bit of an a**hat from what I read at the start--but I think if I read a little more of the book I might have been more on his side because his story just started to develop a little more when I stopped reading.

I think I would have liked it more if this book was told from a first person POV instead of third person. I'm not sure if it would have improved the connection to the characters or not but it just felt odd to read this type of young adult romance in a third person perspective.

Overall: I probably won't ever finish this book and that is A-OK with me. People under the age of 18 will probably enjoy this light-hearted read. But fans of New Adult novels will find this a little boring and tame.

Check out more spoiler-free book and series reviews on my blog SERIESousBookReviews.com as well as read book series recaps!

The Velvet Cloak of Moonlight is an historical fiction which moves between the present where the heir to Merrick Court, Josh Owens, has arrived and is deciding whether or not to sell the mansion and 1646 with a backdrop of the lead up to the British Civil War.
In 2016 Josh is feeling an unexplained pull not only toward the mansion itself but also toward its current inhabitant, the former Lady Merrick.
In 1646 we are privy to the budding romance between cavalry officer Rhys Cadell and Arabella Dauncey as the downfall of Raglan Castle looms.

The dual narrative, separated by centuries however cleverly connected through paranormal occurrences, slowly unfolds to show parallels in the characters lives.
The language changes realistically as the story moves between the centuries. I was equally intrigued by both stories and one didn’t overpower the other. Both had equal amounts of romance, misunderstandings, danger and suspense.

I’ve discovered a new, to me, author and I’m so pleased she has many more novels I can lose myself in.

With characters to love and truly sinister characters to hate the Velvet Cloak of Moonlight is highly recommended for readers of historical romance.

I received a copy from Choc Lit via Netgalley and chose to write a review.

The past and the present are inextricably entwined in this novel that links a romance from the past to one taking place in the present. Both are tied to Merrick Court, an ancient treasure and paranormal experiences that include seeing ghosts and seeing visions of what happened in the past.

Arabella Dauncy and Rhys Cadell star in the romance of the past and their story is interspersed with that of Tess and Josh who live in the present. A lot happens in this novel with besiegement of a castle in the past, a casino owner in the present pressuring Tess with monetary and other demands and relatives in both eras causing difficulties.

This was an enjoyable read with interesting characters and I would like to thank NetGalley and ChocLit for the ARC of this novel given in exchange for my honest review.

I got interested in this one cos it was set on Sweden, and I thought, a book in English, set in Swedish. I wonder if she knows her stuff ;) Which Courtenay does being half Swedish. It was fun seeing Swedish words used and knowing what they mean for once. Cos when that happens with other languages, it's trickier.

Jess is of Dutch origin and her father started this trading company. Now she lives with her stepdad, whom she hates, and her mum. But she is pretty sure he is scaring away suitors so he does not have to pay her dowry. Among other things. Then there is Killian who is gambling away in Scotland, his grandfather doesn't want him as the next laird and his cousin hates him. So he goes to Gothenburg, where he meets Jess. Together they will figure things out.

Jess was a strong woman, she refused to back down to her stepfather, because she knew he was bad business. She was also stubborn and wanted things done on her terms. While Killian is her opposite, impulsive, a bit of a rogue, but what they have in common is that they both are smart and willing to go that extra mile. A perfect fit, if both just could see it, and be happy.

The story takes places in different places. Sweden of course, fun for me, Scotland (gotta love that), on a ship, and in China. I could sure not have made that journey to China, the time away, so freaking long.

These two doesn't fall at once for each other, now they fight, resist, and make arrangements. You have to love slow real love. There is not only romance, no some kind of action too, as someone hunts Killian. Drama, and adventure, what else to expect from a journey like that.

One thing though, they got really cold when they were in Småland, and, that being much southern than here, well I wish it was that warm. But then we do have more clothes on these days. Other than that, a good, accurate book. Overall a good book.


Final thoughts: A nice era to write about, the 18th century, exploring, new places to trade, and all that.

Yes it is a part of a series and yes you can read it as a stand alone. Book 1 is about his mother, book 2 is about his brother and this being book 3 is about him.

There are evil women, and then there are Evil Women. Jamie was married to one nasty piece. But she died and he left to start a new life. It brings him to India. I can't say I have read a lot of books taking place in India during this time, honestly have I read a single one? Perhaps not about this century. The English are there, the French are there. Raja's rule and it's a melting pot just like today.

Jamie was good, I understand why he did not like women because arghh, she was evil. He works in the gem trade and he has a good eye.

Zarmina I did not like at once. But she is the Ice Queen after all. And the more I got to know her the more I understand that icy exterior. And she will never fit in really either, being mixed blood. I liked her brain, she knew business, and I liked her will to be free. Who needs a husband who will only rule you?

These two are thrown together and fights against the attraction. The plot at large is about a missing jewel and they both get mixed up in some shady business before they can get a happy ending. Because even if this is not straight up romance, I can still promise you that.

A romance set to the backdrop of India in the 1760s. Danger and love promised.

I did know the characters from book 1 but I do say it works perfect as a stand alone.

It's about Maddie (who is friends with the heroine from book 1.) She goes to visit her friend after her parents died. Oh and she found out she was adopted, and her sister is a real piece of work.

What this book then has is a bit of a mystery. Who were her real parents? Why did they give her up for adoption? Why does she have this strange dream?

And then there is the suspense part. Some secrets are better left buried. You never know who will come for you.

But hey do not forget the romance part. Though this is not a romance book. There are looks, thoughts, but no real romantic action. She meets Alex, who has been in jail and wants to turn his life around. They slowly become friends, they slowly want more, but there is a lot going on. Love comes slowly, and makes it feel real. No rushing into things here.

What we instead get is a mystery suspense love story. The danger is constant, but there is a HEA on the horizon :)

I kind of hope a certain new character gets a book of her own...just saying.

I had missed it when I started but soon realized it (yes I do not always pay attention), this is actually a sequel to Trade Winds that was released last years. But you do not need to read that book to read this one. This book is about Brice Kinross, the son of the main couple of Trade Winds.

Brice goes from Sweden to Scotland to take over as Laird. He is nice, a bit heartbroken, and looking for something. Our heroine, Marsaili, is trying her best to be good at her job, and not end up like her mother. Used and abused by men she could not say no to. The attraction is there when they meet, but it takes a while for them to realize it. Because nothing is never easy now is it.

The book is then about him taking over as Laird and dealing with that. Because the man who took care of the land embezzled the money, and Brice is trying to catch him in the act. The bad guy is such a gross creepy man who I just want to knee in the groin, well done on the bad guy. Seton, that bastard! He is going to make things hard for both of them.

The book has its share of danger, excitement, romance and the last 100 pages are truly the best in the book because the danger is always near. My heart is in my throat and I speed my way through them to see if there can be a happy ending for these too.

I would not call this historical romance, and neither fiction, it's a middle thing and it fits it well.

Conclusion:
I have read two books by her before and I must say that this one was my favorite because of those last pages, she sure kept it interesting and it sure was dark there for a while.

At once I knew, this could not end well. Ok so not Melissa, but the other story. If there is a ghost there can't be happiness and I raced to see what had happened.

The book is two stories in one. First we have Melissa, a single mother trying to get by. A history lover (and this made me like her even more) who goes to live with an aunt. And yes in a spooky big house. I should also mention a nice neighbor who is a widower ;)

Then there is the story set in the past. During the War of the Roses a young woman falls in love, but he is not meant for her. I really liked this story even I knew there could not be happiness. But I wanted to know what happened, why the ghost is around. Also the setting for it was nice. Even if I guessed something would happen it was not a sad book, it was just meant to happen and I liked the idea of seeing memories from the past. I always loved that idea ever since I read my first book dealing with it.

The sad and past mingled with each other, and Melissa tried to solve the mystery.

A good lovestory that gives you a bit more than the usual things. It's not romance, it's passion, hope and despair.

I do think this was my favorite Courtenay book so far. It was YA with drama, but the kind of drama I can think. Yes my problem with YA books are that they so often are filled with angst and stupid over dramatic drama. Those books make me wanna smack everyone over the head. While this one, well this one felt more real.

Rain was, angry yes, but then someone had thrown her to the wolves and she was in a new school where she knew no one. And the most interesting guy, the one who talks to her has a preppy girlfriend. Tough luck. Yes Jesse is a good guy, he plays in a rock band, but that irritating girlfriend of his. Not good.

It was fun to see them together. Two teens finding their way. She has issues, he has issues. Sure the end was a bit too picture perfect, but then it was also an ending that should happen. I liked it, and I can say nothing more about it.

The little drama that worked then, well of course it has to do with that he has a girlfriend and that she is annoying ;) That I can handle.

A nice YA book that was sweet and rocked.