The Sigurdsson family legacy continues… A woman who prayed for a hero… Orphaned at a young age, Rachelle Fiennes prayed for a hero to rescue her from her tragic life in England. When her only kinsman goes missing after the Battle of Stamford Bridge, Rachelle braves the aftermath of the battlefield to find him. A man who lost everything… Damned by the gods for surviving the bloodiest defeat in Norse history, Jarl Tyr Sigurdsson is still determined to get home. Hiding until nightfall so he can escape to his ship, his dangerous endeavor is disrupted when he’s accidently discovered by a beautiful Saxon. Brought together by war, Rachelle and Tyr face many obstacles. Can sworn enemies find peace through love, or will fate tear them apart? My thoughts ~ This is the second book in the Sigurdsson family series.  Rachelle Fiennes is searching the battlefield for her uncle after the Battle of Stamford Bridge when she encounters Jarl Tyr Sigurdsson.  Is their meeting Tyr’s punishment by Odin for surviving or God’s answer to Rachelle’s prayers all those years ago when her parents were killed?  You’ll have to read BLIND MERCY to discover which, if either, it is. There were many aspects of BLIND MERCY I really enjoyed.  There was a definite sense of déjà vu occasionally that reminded me of the historicals from the ‘70’s.  Those were the start of my love affair with the genre. The history and settings were wonderful.  From York to Norway the settings and times were so descriptive it was easy to imagine yourself there with Tyr and Rachelle. Well developed characters that were easy to relate to.  Onetooth was my favorite.  He was Tyr’s champion but rather than intimidating he came across as a teddy bear, at least with the fairer sex.  He was a good friend to Tyr. BLIND MERCY sports a properly reprehensible villain in Tyr’s cousin, Aaron.  Jealousy and greed are the roots of his evil.  He’s not alone in his efforts.  The old adage, “hell hath no fury like a woman scorned” is certainly applicable when it comes to Aaron’s accomplice.  This pairing is part of what reminded me of my past reads because the treachery was usually very close to the hero or heroine in those earlier tales. Good flow and pacing allowing for quick smooth reading. My issues were with the relationship between Tyr and Rachelle, its development, and on occasion, Rachelle.  I had a hard time believing, given the situation and times, she’d leave the battlefield with the enemy simply giving up the search for her uncle.  I read it several times wondering if I was missing something couldn’t find it if I was. Rachelle was educated and intelligent but there were times I doubted both of those attributes.  In a nutshell, Rachelle was alright for the most part but she caused a lot of her own problems and there were times I’d have gladly throttled her. For Tyr, the physical seemed to be the predominant force.  Most of Tyr’s time with Rachelle was spent trying to seduce her.  Personally speaking, more time spent developing a mental and emotional connection that at least kept pace with the physical.  I do admit though that when Tyr finally let his emotions fly it was all you could hope for.    However, these aren’t make or break issues for most. The wonderful history and writing combined with that reminiscent quality make BLIND MERCY worth reading. 3.5 stars

Cursed witch. Things were much easier in Norway. Without giving it another thought, Tyr lowered his weapon, then grabbed a fistful of his captive’s hair. He’d give in to her dimwitted request to pacify her, but not without satisfying his own need for revenge. “Horse. Food,” he demanded. “I’d rather die than betray my country—” the criminal started. In response, Tyr thumped his head. He sank down, shaking and whining. Sick with rage, Tyr stared at Rachelle. “This situation is ripe for trouble.” His only concern should be for his own survival. She addressed her countryman. “If you refuse him, he’ll cut your heart out.” For a noblewoman, she had a way with words. Tyr nearly laughed out loud at the absurdity of what came out of her mouth. He’d learned something important about her though. Either she’d experienced more violence than any woman should or she was as frigid as an ice shelf. Regardless, her warning changed the Saxon’s mind. The man pointed at his camp. “There are horses and food over there.” With a twist of an earlobe, Tyr forced him to his feet. Tyr harbored a special hatred for rapists. If he couldn’t disembowel the bastard, he’d find another way to make him suffer. It didn’t take long. A grin spread across Tyr’s face as he framed the man’s punishment in his mind. Tyr would tie a noose around his neck, loop the rope over a high branch, and make him sit astride a horse with his hands tied behind his back. If the drukkin moved, he’d hang himself.

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