A Moment's Madness

by Helen Kirkman

Book Overview

Their passion could not be denied--but could their love transcend all that had gone before? This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0373292694
• ISBN13: 9780373292691
• Release Date: August 2003
• Publisher: Harlequin
• Length: 298 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.4" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

synopsis

Their passion could not be denied -- but could their love transcend all that had gone before? Only a moment...and a decision born out of desperation had sealed Sigrid's fate. With the raiding English army at her heels, the Viking widow had thrown herself on the mercy of a fierce Saxon warrior. Perhaps it was madness that had driven her into the arms of her enemy, but his look had promised shelter from the carnage surrounding them. Liefwin's blue eyes were hot, hot as the blue heart of the flame in the hearth. They burned her, and Sigrid recognized the dangerous force that was in them, the age-old desire of men. Yet the desire in him sought a response from her that was equal in its searing heat. For one instance it was there. With no thought of who he was or what it meant. It was just there, at the most primitive level a woman faces a man. "No..." The raw sound of her own voice brought her back to her senses. She had never wanted a man in her life. She remembered how much reason they had to hate each other. And now she had just done the most dangerous, stupid thing imaginable.

An Amazing Debut Book! ! !

I have had this book from release date, but someone told me it was not a very good book. To my dismay, I listened. What a mistake. Was looking in my library for a book to read, grabbed all of her books to read next, figured I would just get it over with & read them. Well, what a surprise. I couldn't put it down as Sigrid & Liefwin's tale unfolded. She fled through the flames of "Ragnarok, the end of creation, when gods & mortals died. She allowed one desprate glance over her shoulder & then winced as she ran full tilt into a stone wall. At least that was what it felt like, but it moved. A skin of flexible metal, tough as the scales of the World Serpent. It was a man clad in a corselet of chain mail, bloodied sword upraised. She screamed. If she was to die at the hands of a Saxon warrior, let it be quick. Her gaze sought his face, hard & stern under the war helm. She saw his eyes, blue English eyes. They were made of magic. Because the insane thing she did next she could only have done if she had been spellbound. Her pursuers crashed round the corner & slithered to a stop & her body moved of its own accord in a split instant of speed. Her spine straightened and her hands closed round an arm made of solid muscle encased in rings of iron. The words came out of her mouth, without thought, not in her own Danish but in Saxon, so there could be no mistake. "Go away," she said. "I am His" Her moments madness & she had made her choice & would live with it. Ms Kirkman wove a tale of two people getting to know each other with such spellbinding talent that you want to just keep reading to see what will happen next. EXCELLENT book of this time period with the Vikings & Saxons at war.

emotionally satisfying medieval

This is Helen Kirkman's debut novel and is well worth checking out. Kirkman knows her medieval/Dark Ages history (she's an Englishwoman from Chesire) but doesn't make too many allowances for those who might not. It's not that hard to follow what is happening but a quick glimpse at a history of the times might help with the political situation and customs of the day. The book is more a character driven story and to be honest, not a lot really "happens." It's mainly interactions between the hero and heroine as they learn about each other. Most of the conflict is believable and the miscommunications are understandable because of the nature of the times and the characters. As I said, there is a whole lot of thinking and observing at first and if you get impatient with that type of novel, this one might not be for you. But I found the ending to be emotionally satisfying and can see a happy future for Sigrid and Leifwin.

Amazingly Good Debut Novel

Essex, England 917 A.D. - a perilous time when battles were frequent, bloody and man did unspeakable abominations against their fellow men. Hell was the world that burned around her as Sigrid a young Dane woman ran from Saxon pursuers. Abruptly coming to a halt when she ran into a wall of chain mail, madness seemed to overcome her or was it fate that made her cling to his arm and announce to her pursuers that she was his - the chain mailed warrior with steely cold blue eyes. Her husband was dead, that abuse was at an end - what more could be done to her other than pray that this Saxon would grant her a quick death. But her anger and hatred against these Saxon conquerors would soon be tempered by the kindness of her captor, who promised her safety if she stayed with him. Liefwin didn't realize at first that what he needed was Sigrid - that she would be the one that would help him slay his demons and melt his heart. For a debut novel this was amazingly good. To have tackled such an obscure period of very early Saxon history and to have done it so well showed a goodly amount of courage and should be applauded. What I felt to be a small weakness in the beginning of the story for a smoother flow of dialog and feelings was more than rectified towards the last half as the author tied up the romance into a very emotional and moving finale managing to weave a beautiful romance, sensuality and history together. I feel sure that over time this will be an author to watch for to bring lovers of medieval romances quite a thrill. *** Marilyn, Official Reviewer for www.historicalromancewriters.com

Exciting Anglo-Saxon setting

It's hard to believe that this is the first book by this writer, as the story is gripping and the historical setting very evocative. I'd never read anything set in this period before, but the characters are superbly drawn, especially the hero Liefwin. In particular I liked the use of the old English and Danish words used, and felt that they added a rich dimension to the story.Very much looking forward to the next book -'Forbidden'