The Danish hero of Angela Wells’ Harlequin Presents, Viking Magic, is a modern-day golden barbarian—but far more gentle. He doesn’t plunder the heroine’s lands, but he does steal her heart.
Rating:
Published: 1995
Illustrator: Jordi Penalva
Imprint or Line: Harlequin Presents #1681
Book Series: Postcards From Europe #10
Published by: Harlequin, Mills & Boon
Genres: Category Romance, Contemporary Romance
Pages: 188
Format: eBook, Paperback
Buy on: Amazon, AbeBooks
Reviewed by: Introvert Reader
TOTAL SPOILER ALERT ⚠
The Book
Viking Magic by Angela Wells was the entry for Denmark in Harlequin Presents‘ 1995 Postcards from Europe mini-series.
Viking Magic features an honest-to-goodness nice guy hero, and a neurotically insecure heroine (aren’t they all?) united on a quest of sorts.
The Plot
Gina Price is in Copenhagen to find her wayward teenage sister, who’s run off with a young Danish student. She has an address that might be a clue as to her sister’s whereabouts. So she knocks on the door of an apartment.
Who should open the door but a Viking god of a man dressed in nothing but boxers?
The man’s not too keen on seeing Gina, as, #1, she’s interrupted his sleep. And #2, he thinks she’s one of his conniving ex’s friends trying to steal a valuable painting from him.
Things are clarified in short order, and the man, Rune Christenson, has nothing to do with Gina’s sister. However, his missing nephew does.
And so Rune takes Gina on a tour of magical Copenhagen as they search for the missing lovebirds.
There are a couple of sensual scenes that stood out. Rune has Gina drink some aqua vitae with him, and they entwine their arms and look deep into each other’s eyes before saying, “Skoal!” and drinking. Later, Rune surprises her by seductively playing the saxophone for her on stage at a club.
Two People Hurt By Love
Gina’s been hurt by love in the past, and Rune, too, is wary of the other sex after a recent nasty affair. As the two get to know each other, their defenses break down, and they make love.
Gina is a virgin, but Rune isn’t a dominant “Now you’re mine and only mine” type, although he appreciates that he had the honor of being Gina’s first lover.
When Rune’s nephew returns, he tells them Gina’s sister summarily dumped him. So Gina decides it’s time to high-tail it out of there without much of an explanation. I did say she was irrationally insecure, right?
I forget why, but the heroine returns to Copenhagen on a business trip and is invited to one of Rune’s parties.
Of course, she doesn’t show up, but Rune tracks her down and makes his declaration of love, one that if Gina had only stuck around, she would have heard the night they made love.
Warm Postcards From Denmark
I don’t know why the Nordic nations of Europe don’t feature more prominently in HPlandia.
Those heroes are just as exciting as the Greek, Spanish, Italian, and Arab ones. I probably rated this book higher because of my penchant for Nordic heroes, who are rare in the Presents line.
Rune is a modern-minded man; he’s no pillaging Viking. The one love scene between him and Gina is warmly loving. There’s no ravishing of an innocent maiden here!
Final Analysis of Viking Magic
Viking Magic was not an angsty Harlequin Presents at all, but I enjoyed it for what it was: a sweet love story.
Viking Magic by Angela Wells hits some sweet spots for me, so I’ve reread it once or twice. This romance holds up well.
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| Overall: | 3.9 |
Synopsis
Gina Price had gone to Copenhagen on a mission — to find her willful teenage sister. She hadn’t planned on the help of a gorgeous Viking — especially once he accused her of being a thief! But help her he did, because just like his ancestors, Rune Christensen had clearly set out to conquer.
VIKING MAGIC by ANGELA WELLS