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Immortal Vikings #1
First to Burn
A soldier with secrets.
Immortal Viking Wulf Wardsen once battled alongside Beowulf, and now serves in Afghanistan. He's trusted the mortal men on his elite special operations team to protect his secret, until an explosion lands Wulf in a place more dangerous to him than a a medevac helicopter.
A doctor with questions.
Army captain Theresa Chiesa follows the rules and expects the same from others, even special forces hotshots like Sergeant Wardsen. She's determined to discover the secret behind his supernaturally fast healing, and she won't allow his sexy smile to distract her.
An enemy with nothing to lose.
Even as Theresa's investigation threatens to expose him, Wulf is stirred by her passion. Dreaming of love and a normal life, he wants nothing more than to build a future with her. But the lost Viking relic needed to reverse his immortality is being hunted by another—an ancient enemy who won't hesitate to hurt Theresa to strike back at Wulf.
Book one of the Immortal Vikings series.
118,000 words
Immortal Viking Wulf Wardsen once battled alongside Beowulf, and now serves in Afghanistan. He's trusted the mortal men on his elite special operations team to protect his secret, until an explosion lands Wulf in a place more dangerous to him than a a medevac helicopter.
A doctor with questions.
Army captain Theresa Chiesa follows the rules and expects the same from others, even special forces hotshots like Sergeant Wardsen. She's determined to discover the secret behind his supernaturally fast healing, and she won't allow his sexy smile to distract her.
An enemy with nothing to lose.
Even as Theresa's investigation threatens to expose him, Wulf is stirred by her passion. Dreaming of love and a normal life, he wants nothing more than to build a future with her. But the lost Viking relic needed to reverse his immortality is being hunted by another—an ancient enemy who won't hesitate to hurt Theresa to strike back at Wulf.
Book one of the Immortal Vikings series.
118,000 words
297 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2013
About the author
Anna Richland
3 books202 followersAnna lives with her quietly funny Canadian husband and two less quiet children in a century-old house in Seattle. She writes paranormal romantic suspense and award-winning military romance in the spaces left after dealing with kids, laundry, crazy volunteer commitments and internet distractions.
Her lifelong passion for new places (and a need to pay tuition) led her to become an army officer en route to visiting four continents and twenty-two countries. Now the places she goes are more likely to be field trips than trips to the field, but it's still fun.
Her lifelong passion for new places (and a need to pay tuition) led her to become an army officer en route to visiting four continents and twenty-two countries. Now the places she goes are more likely to be field trips than trips to the field, but it's still fun.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 100 reviews
January 22, 2015
You had me at "immortal Viking"...
I have a weakness for Vikings, hunky blond guys, the whole works.
Nonetheless I was sceptical that a contemporary military romance with an immortal viking would work. It sounded kind of like a joke.
It wasn't.
It was a very well written romance, which didn't pull its punches. Meaning: life is throwing stuff at those two people (the immortal Viking and the lady doctor) without any miraculous solutions for the HEA.
I liked that a lot.
I loved Wulf. He was yummy and vulnerable and mysterious and great. Dr. Chiesa I couldn't really understand. She was a little too constructed.
I have a weakness for Vikings, hunky blond guys, the whole works.
Nonetheless I was sceptical that a contemporary military romance with an immortal viking would work. It sounded kind of like a joke.
It wasn't.
It was a very well written romance, which didn't pull its punches. Meaning: life is throwing stuff at those two people (the immortal Viking and the lady doctor) without any miraculous solutions for the HEA.
I liked that a lot.
I loved Wulf. He was yummy and vulnerable and mysterious and great. Dr. Chiesa I couldn't really understand. She was a little too constructed.
April 30, 2019
When I started this book I had no idea what I was in for! LOL I guess the series title might've given me a hint but I didn't pay attention, so when I read that Sergeant Wulf Wardsen had suffered a terrible injury that he should've died from but instead he healed extremely quickly and miraculously I was very curious.
Captain Theresa Chiesa was just as curious as I was because she's a doctor and she can't fathom how he was healed so quickly. What she doesn't know is that he is an immortal viking (thus the title of the series...duh lol) and he has secrets that he doesn't want anyone to know.
Theresa is a strong female character that other women can look up to and be proud of. She had major family issues so she put herself through school and became a doctor. She could've become an ER doctor or a private doctor, but she wanted to serve our country (the United States), and she took offense when asked why she was serving rather than doing something perhaps easier such as being an ER doctor. As she said, no one asks why Wulf is serving his country.
As one would expect, they do have sexual desire and there is sexual tension between them, but their jobs specifically demand that they do not/cannot have anything physical between them. She has an easier time accepting that than he does, but it's not truly easy for either of them. Personally, I loved that she respected her job enough to not just jump in bed with him.
There isn't only war torn countries they are in because they also end up in the romantic country of Italy. That's all I'm going to say.
This book was the author's debut and I think it's very well-written and I'm surprised it's her first book because it's done so well.
Captain Theresa Chiesa was just as curious as I was because she's a doctor and she can't fathom how he was healed so quickly. What she doesn't know is that he is an immortal viking (thus the title of the series...duh lol) and he has secrets that he doesn't want anyone to know.
Theresa is a strong female character that other women can look up to and be proud of. She had major family issues so she put herself through school and became a doctor. She could've become an ER doctor or a private doctor, but she wanted to serve our country (the United States), and she took offense when asked why she was serving rather than doing something perhaps easier such as being an ER doctor. As she said, no one asks why Wulf is serving his country.
As one would expect, they do have sexual desire and there is sexual tension between them, but their jobs specifically demand that they do not/cannot have anything physical between them. She has an easier time accepting that than he does, but it's not truly easy for either of them. Personally, I loved that she respected her job enough to not just jump in bed with him.
There isn't only war torn countries they are in because they also end up in the romantic country of Italy. That's all I'm going to say.
This book was the author's debut and I think it's very well-written and I'm surprised it's her first book because it's done so well.
March 22, 2014
Favorite Lines “When you go for it, you don’t mess around. And a sergeant.”
“Please. Theresa. Please. Pull me back. Pull.”
“Men who were superstitious about goodbye found ways to speak without words.”
“Course not, Doc, you’re too polite. But you’ve got more balls than Miss Christy here.”
“Life with Wulf would never be normal, but who cared? She’d have a Viking to love her for eternity.”
Yummy yummy! I knew this book would be fabulous! Imagine this a mob bosses daughter who is joined the army and became a doctor and a OMG hot as sin immortal Viking berserker warrior who is part if a kick ass squad for the army! Yep epic! I've never read anything quite like this. I will admit the army jargon had me re-reading a line but I loved every word! This author has no problem sucking you in and keeping you there to the very last page! I'm really hoping this is a series because I really want to know more about these yummy Viking berserkers! Wulf is a OMG hotness that I could dream about for days! (Probably will too) loved loved this book! It's a paranormal lovers dream!!
I was given this book by author in exchange for an honest review
FIVE VIKING FAIRIES
“Please. Theresa. Please. Pull me back. Pull.”
“Men who were superstitious about goodbye found ways to speak without words.”
“Course not, Doc, you’re too polite. But you’ve got more balls than Miss Christy here.”
“Life with Wulf would never be normal, but who cared? She’d have a Viking to love her for eternity.”
Yummy yummy! I knew this book would be fabulous! Imagine this a mob bosses daughter who is joined the army and became a doctor and a OMG hot as sin immortal Viking berserker warrior who is part if a kick ass squad for the army! Yep epic! I've never read anything quite like this. I will admit the army jargon had me re-reading a line but I loved every word! This author has no problem sucking you in and keeping you there to the very last page! I'm really hoping this is a series because I really want to know more about these yummy Viking berserkers! Wulf is a OMG hotness that I could dream about for days! (Probably will too) loved loved this book! It's a paranormal lovers dream!!
I was given this book by author in exchange for an honest review
FIVE VIKING FAIRIES
August 12, 2014
This joint review was originally published at The Book Pushers
1. Thoughts on the Hero
E: If ever a hero had earned his PTSD Wulf had. An immortal warrior fighting in just about every single war since Beowulf faced Grendel and his mother. In fact, Wulf helped fight against them and in the process gained immortality. I liked how he showed immortality really wasn’t all it seemed to be. Any situation, sound, smell, could and did throw him back to an unpleasant memory usually involving the death of someone he cared about or his own gruesome injuries. Not to mention all of the secrets he had to keep. I liked his drive to protect, right wrongs, and his loyalty towards those he was working for/with but he also had problems grasping that his healing abilities and his past might harm those same people he was trying to protect.
As a romance hero, Wulf had some work to do. Yes, he had been around long enough to develop an extensive skill set when it came to seducing and pleasing a woman, but he never really learned how to be emotionally close to one. Nor did he seem to grasp for a while that his sexual appeal wasn’t enough to out-weigh Theresa’s deep seated need to heal. He was also not a fan of following the rules so he disregarded Theresa’s cautions and fears because of his vast experience and knowledge about the world.
Marlene: Yes, Wulf definitely needed some work to become a romantic hero. I think if this had been a more straightforward military story Wulf might have made more sense. He’s have made a great hero for and espionage or thriller tale. He’s had centuries of experience as a warrior, and while that makes his reflexes trigger sharp and nearly always right, it does give him a wealth of triggers for PTSD, and that’s not something anyone needs a wealth of.
While I can understand why getting close enough to someone to reveal his true nature is very, very risky, that he keeps joining military units and telling his crew what he is while not being able to find a romantic relationship where he gives that same trust just feels wrong. More about having loved and lost, which would definitely happen, would make his reluctance make more sense.
Has: I totally agree with you both about Wulf was not really a typical romantic hero, but he was definitely a soldier through and through. He was brave and heroic on the battlefield as well as being loyal to his friends and team-mates and the experience he gained over the centuries gave him better insights and skills in surviving. I really liked how Anna Richland broached his immortality which made him more real, with the long years he had lived despite the flashbacks he suffered.
I also agree about his reluctance and was wondering why he would entrust his team about his secret. But I think there was a plot point that didn’t get covered in the book, because it seemed that Wulf and others like him was an open secret in some Government circles. Although I disagree on his reluctance to tell Theresa about his immortality. I think deep down she was different to other women he had met and he didn’t want to get too deep again with another woman and being immortal it has to be hard to see the woman you love aging while he remains a young man. I think this was hinted on a previous relationship that he mentioned but it was never fully explored and I wished it was, because it felt very glossed over.
2. Thoughts on the Heroine
E: Theresa had just as many secrets as Wulf. She had a drive for healing but she also had to keep her family connections secret and basically live two lives. Her rejection of the family business meant she had a very strong independent streak and a deep seated need to know ALL the reasons before deviating from the established rule-book by even the slightest degree. This meant when she was around Wulf he drove her crazy with his casual disregard of good order and discipline and she drove him crazy with her constant questions. Theresa almost seemed like she was two people. One, the dedicated by the book healer, the other a warrior willing to use whatever she could to make things happen. And while I can understand that a certain action/moment could cause the transition, the different facets of her character did not appear to be blended together into a coherent whole. I did enjoy how she was willing to do what she needed to do I just wish the flow was a bit smoother.
Marlene: Theresa was definitely “secret city”. Everything she thinks and then backs off of about her current step father is bizarre. Also, a step father who is very “connected” seemed over the top for all of the other plot threads running amok through the story.
Has: I really liked Theresa, I found her warm and likable and she didn’t panic or made stupid decisions when she was in sticky situations. I kind of agree about her family being in the mob which on top of everything else in the book, it felt too much. However, I liked that she wanted to avoid those links even though she loved her family and they loved her which is a nice change and didn’t create a forced conflict. I also liked that she wanted to become a doctor without financial help from her family and forging her own path which helped to shape the person she became.
I was also shocked with an event later in the plot which didn’t have an easy way out and held major repercussions for Theresa. But I wished this was once again covered more, because I felt it was glossed over in a lot of ways and this was a huge life-changing moment for Theresa that affected her life and career. I do agree with E about the way Theresa felt like two different people in some ways, but I do think she is the type of character who likes order and rules but on her own terms. I think this drives Wulf nuts because he can understand rules but not when she switches things around and goes by her own. I like that she kept him on edge and made her unpredictable. He really needs that especially since he lived a long life being with someone who challenges you makes life interesting!
3. Favorite Scene
E: My favorite scene is one that shows how Wulf was able to gain and keep the loyalty of those around him despite his many secrets and his ability to heal. Wulf called his teammates to ask for a volunteer or two to help him retrieve a certain artifact and ended up with the entire team at the meeting location. This wasn’t the only incident in the story showing how his teammates closed ranks around him, but this particular one said more to be because of the circumstances leading up to his request.
Marlene: Anything that showed the way that Wulf had bonded with his teammates was good and it showed how he managed to survive. He inspires loyalty, I think even more than he expects. His team will always back him up, and at the same time they want what’s best for him.
Has: I loved the scenes with his team-mates, the chemistry between them was great and I loved the snarky dialogue and camaraderie. I think the author captured army life authentically real. However, I do think my favorite scene is when he comes to get Theresa at her family’s house and reacts like a typical viking with her family’s blessing. It was a fun scene when he throws her over his shoulder to persuade her to give him another chance.
4. Dislike about book
E: There was just TOO much. Between Wulf’s secrets, Theresa’s secrets, the overall villain, the other immortals, the drug connection, and several other things not to mention the long passage of time for this book I found my attention scattered. It was extremely difficult to develop and maintain my attachment to Wulf and Theresa because I was trying to understand the hints about secrets and what role they played in the overall storyline. Richland also mentioned other immortals, but only one of Wulf’s former warrior band members actually appeared into the story. There were other instances of characters who seemed to be throwaway characters or even ones that had a prominent role in the first half but completely vanished from all mention in the second half. For me I wanted more tightness on the threads and if that meant eliminating a few sub-plots I would have probably enjoyed this story more.
Marlene: Pile on the plot threads! Wulf is an immortal Viking warrior. His fellow immortals are after him. The woman he falls in love with is connected to the mob. And she’s an Army doctor who wants to discover his secrets. And they chase all over the place together in a suspense plot that felt a big “Jason Bourne/James Bond-ish”. And there’s drug smuggling. And they are posted to Afghanistan. And, and, and. My interest in Wulf and Theresa’s romance kept getting lost in the shuffle.
Has: I definitely agree about too much going on with the plot! Although the first half was great, until the action goes back to the US in the book. But with all the subsequent plot-lines involving Wulf’s brother and other immortals and Theresa’s injury along with her family. So much got glossed over and that was a shame because Anna Richland has a great voice, and I loved how she set up the legend of Beowolf and tying it into immortality and vikings! But I think subsequently the aftermath and repercussions of what happened to several characters were brushed aside and I also felt the romance between Theresa and Wulf suffered because so much was happening.
5. Final thoughts
E: I do have to give Richland credit for managing to make her addition of paranormal distinct enough from a contemporary romantic suspense so I could divorce reality from my reading. However, I think she included too many elements and as a result I was unable to stay immersed in the world she created because I kept mentally trying to connect all of the threads or dots and some just plain vanished or appeared out of nowhere. I liked the basic premise and I am interested in taking a peek at her next installment with hopes that since the world is mostly established she can focus on characterizations and plot threads. Although, I am not sure what she is going to do about a new primary villain.
I give First to Burn a C/C-
Marlene: I think there are three (or possibly four) really good stories in this. Unfortunately it would have made a better book if the author had saved a couple of her plot bunnies for the next book in the series! I totally agree with my “book twin” E, the basic premise was great, but got lost in the huge plot thread knot.
I give First to Burn a C.
Has: I am also interested in checking out the next book, because I liked the mythology and the author had a great voice. Although I hope the plot points won’t be as busy and there is more time in focusing on the characters as well as the romance because despite the flaws, this was an engaging read and the authentic tone on military life and suspense was a good set up.
I give First to Burn a C/C+
1. Thoughts on the Hero
E: If ever a hero had earned his PTSD Wulf had. An immortal warrior fighting in just about every single war since Beowulf faced Grendel and his mother. In fact, Wulf helped fight against them and in the process gained immortality. I liked how he showed immortality really wasn’t all it seemed to be. Any situation, sound, smell, could and did throw him back to an unpleasant memory usually involving the death of someone he cared about or his own gruesome injuries. Not to mention all of the secrets he had to keep. I liked his drive to protect, right wrongs, and his loyalty towards those he was working for/with but he also had problems grasping that his healing abilities and his past might harm those same people he was trying to protect.
As a romance hero, Wulf had some work to do. Yes, he had been around long enough to develop an extensive skill set when it came to seducing and pleasing a woman, but he never really learned how to be emotionally close to one. Nor did he seem to grasp for a while that his sexual appeal wasn’t enough to out-weigh Theresa’s deep seated need to heal. He was also not a fan of following the rules so he disregarded Theresa’s cautions and fears because of his vast experience and knowledge about the world.
Marlene: Yes, Wulf definitely needed some work to become a romantic hero. I think if this had been a more straightforward military story Wulf might have made more sense. He’s have made a great hero for and espionage or thriller tale. He’s had centuries of experience as a warrior, and while that makes his reflexes trigger sharp and nearly always right, it does give him a wealth of triggers for PTSD, and that’s not something anyone needs a wealth of.
While I can understand why getting close enough to someone to reveal his true nature is very, very risky, that he keeps joining military units and telling his crew what he is while not being able to find a romantic relationship where he gives that same trust just feels wrong. More about having loved and lost, which would definitely happen, would make his reluctance make more sense.
Has: I totally agree with you both about Wulf was not really a typical romantic hero, but he was definitely a soldier through and through. He was brave and heroic on the battlefield as well as being loyal to his friends and team-mates and the experience he gained over the centuries gave him better insights and skills in surviving. I really liked how Anna Richland broached his immortality which made him more real, with the long years he had lived despite the flashbacks he suffered.
I also agree about his reluctance and was wondering why he would entrust his team about his secret. But I think there was a plot point that didn’t get covered in the book, because it seemed that Wulf and others like him was an open secret in some Government circles. Although I disagree on his reluctance to tell Theresa about his immortality. I think deep down she was different to other women he had met and he didn’t want to get too deep again with another woman and being immortal it has to be hard to see the woman you love aging while he remains a young man. I think this was hinted on a previous relationship that he mentioned but it was never fully explored and I wished it was, because it felt very glossed over.
2. Thoughts on the Heroine
E: Theresa had just as many secrets as Wulf. She had a drive for healing but she also had to keep her family connections secret and basically live two lives. Her rejection of the family business meant she had a very strong independent streak and a deep seated need to know ALL the reasons before deviating from the established rule-book by even the slightest degree. This meant when she was around Wulf he drove her crazy with his casual disregard of good order and discipline and she drove him crazy with her constant questions. Theresa almost seemed like she was two people. One, the dedicated by the book healer, the other a warrior willing to use whatever she could to make things happen. And while I can understand that a certain action/moment could cause the transition, the different facets of her character did not appear to be blended together into a coherent whole. I did enjoy how she was willing to do what she needed to do I just wish the flow was a bit smoother.
Marlene: Theresa was definitely “secret city”. Everything she thinks and then backs off of about her current step father is bizarre. Also, a step father who is very “connected” seemed over the top for all of the other plot threads running amok through the story.
Has: I really liked Theresa, I found her warm and likable and she didn’t panic or made stupid decisions when she was in sticky situations. I kind of agree about her family being in the mob which on top of everything else in the book, it felt too much. However, I liked that she wanted to avoid those links even though she loved her family and they loved her which is a nice change and didn’t create a forced conflict. I also liked that she wanted to become a doctor without financial help from her family and forging her own path which helped to shape the person she became.
I was also shocked with an event later in the plot which didn’t have an easy way out and held major repercussions for Theresa. But I wished this was once again covered more, because I felt it was glossed over in a lot of ways and this was a huge life-changing moment for Theresa that affected her life and career. I do agree with E about the way Theresa felt like two different people in some ways, but I do think she is the type of character who likes order and rules but on her own terms. I think this drives Wulf nuts because he can understand rules but not when she switches things around and goes by her own. I like that she kept him on edge and made her unpredictable. He really needs that especially since he lived a long life being with someone who challenges you makes life interesting!
3. Favorite Scene
E: My favorite scene is one that shows how Wulf was able to gain and keep the loyalty of those around him despite his many secrets and his ability to heal. Wulf called his teammates to ask for a volunteer or two to help him retrieve a certain artifact and ended up with the entire team at the meeting location. This wasn’t the only incident in the story showing how his teammates closed ranks around him, but this particular one said more to be because of the circumstances leading up to his request.
Marlene: Anything that showed the way that Wulf had bonded with his teammates was good and it showed how he managed to survive. He inspires loyalty, I think even more than he expects. His team will always back him up, and at the same time they want what’s best for him.
Has: I loved the scenes with his team-mates, the chemistry between them was great and I loved the snarky dialogue and camaraderie. I think the author captured army life authentically real. However, I do think my favorite scene is when he comes to get Theresa at her family’s house and reacts like a typical viking with her family’s blessing. It was a fun scene when he throws her over his shoulder to persuade her to give him another chance.
4. Dislike about book
E: There was just TOO much. Between Wulf’s secrets, Theresa’s secrets, the overall villain, the other immortals, the drug connection, and several other things not to mention the long passage of time for this book I found my attention scattered. It was extremely difficult to develop and maintain my attachment to Wulf and Theresa because I was trying to understand the hints about secrets and what role they played in the overall storyline. Richland also mentioned other immortals, but only one of Wulf’s former warrior band members actually appeared into the story. There were other instances of characters who seemed to be throwaway characters or even ones that had a prominent role in the first half but completely vanished from all mention in the second half. For me I wanted more tightness on the threads and if that meant eliminating a few sub-plots I would have probably enjoyed this story more.
Marlene: Pile on the plot threads! Wulf is an immortal Viking warrior. His fellow immortals are after him. The woman he falls in love with is connected to the mob. And she’s an Army doctor who wants to discover his secrets. And they chase all over the place together in a suspense plot that felt a big “Jason Bourne/James Bond-ish”. And there’s drug smuggling. And they are posted to Afghanistan. And, and, and. My interest in Wulf and Theresa’s romance kept getting lost in the shuffle.
Has: I definitely agree about too much going on with the plot! Although the first half was great, until the action goes back to the US in the book. But with all the subsequent plot-lines involving Wulf’s brother and other immortals and Theresa’s injury along with her family. So much got glossed over and that was a shame because Anna Richland has a great voice, and I loved how she set up the legend of Beowolf and tying it into immortality and vikings! But I think subsequently the aftermath and repercussions of what happened to several characters were brushed aside and I also felt the romance between Theresa and Wulf suffered because so much was happening.
5. Final thoughts
E: I do have to give Richland credit for managing to make her addition of paranormal distinct enough from a contemporary romantic suspense so I could divorce reality from my reading. However, I think she included too many elements and as a result I was unable to stay immersed in the world she created because I kept mentally trying to connect all of the threads or dots and some just plain vanished or appeared out of nowhere. I liked the basic premise and I am interested in taking a peek at her next installment with hopes that since the world is mostly established she can focus on characterizations and plot threads. Although, I am not sure what she is going to do about a new primary villain.
I give First to Burn a C/C-
Marlene: I think there are three (or possibly four) really good stories in this. Unfortunately it would have made a better book if the author had saved a couple of her plot bunnies for the next book in the series! I totally agree with my “book twin” E, the basic premise was great, but got lost in the huge plot thread knot.
I give First to Burn a C.
Has: I am also interested in checking out the next book, because I liked the mythology and the author had a great voice. Although I hope the plot points won’t be as busy and there is more time in focusing on the characters as well as the romance because despite the flaws, this was an engaging read and the authentic tone on military life and suspense was a good set up.
I give First to Burn a C/C+
March 1, 2020
Pretty good for what it is. But what it is is a bit of fluff. I enjoyed the banter between the main characters and the humor of the Special Forces men. I liked that the heroine was a soldier herself and came back strong after a fairly traumatic injury. I liked that the hero wasn't an alpha A-hole and was really responsive to any 'no' she uttered, without any guilting or attempted manipulation.
I did think the narrative had too much going on, the whole immortality schtick wasn't well enough developed to actually be needed, and the villain was defeated too easily. Also, the little bit of light, kinky play as therapy irritated me. Despite all that, I'd read more of the series and certainly more by this author.
I did think the narrative had too much going on, the whole immortality schtick wasn't well enough developed to actually be needed, and the villain was defeated too easily. Also, the little bit of light, kinky play as therapy irritated me. Despite all that, I'd read more of the series and certainly more by this author.
March 12, 2014
I received this book in exchange for an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal, LoP).
Impressive well written debut novel with characters who, for the most part, are easy to relate to. As a military veteran who has done her share of deployments, I think the author did an incredible job with the first few chapters that showcase and explain about the way of life military members experience when downrange or in theater (which can be craptastic at best); especially the scenes that describe the chow hall (I've been out of the military since 2008, but can still remember the smells and pictures those damn trays being heated by sterno lol).
The beginning seemed to drag on a bit long, but I liked the interaction between the characters when Theresa was asked to visit the village and check on one of the village elders young wife and her pregnancy. Theresa did her best to main the officer/enlisted relationship between herself and Wulf, but fraternization (whether it's sharing drinks, or hitting the sheets) between officers and enlisted does seem to happen quite a bit in the military. Again, impressive with how much well the author showcased how cohesive Wulf's unit is and how they came together to keep his secret, cause those Green Berets are extremely tight-lipped. (Sidenote, if you meet someone who brags about being a Green Beret and what all they did while a GB, chances are they weren't really a GB).
The story really began to pick up speed once Theresa and Wulf were in Italy, and was pretty much action-packed from that point on. I liked how Wulf's story wasn't shoved in our faces from the beginning, but rather told slowly. Although from reading the book blurb the reader already knows going in that he's immortal, but it was cool to see how the story developed for Theresa. It was interesting to learn Wulf's story, to this day I remember reading Beowulf in my senior English class, and it's one of the few stories I remember from high school. I hope we get to read Ivar's story next, this is a series I would recommend.
Impressive well written debut novel with characters who, for the most part, are easy to relate to. As a military veteran who has done her share of deployments, I think the author did an incredible job with the first few chapters that showcase and explain about the way of life military members experience when downrange or in theater (which can be craptastic at best); especially the scenes that describe the chow hall (I've been out of the military since 2008, but can still remember the smells and pictures those damn trays being heated by sterno lol).
The beginning seemed to drag on a bit long, but I liked the interaction between the characters when Theresa was asked to visit the village and check on one of the village elders young wife and her pregnancy. Theresa did her best to main the officer/enlisted relationship between herself and Wulf, but fraternization (whether it's sharing drinks, or hitting the sheets) between officers and enlisted does seem to happen quite a bit in the military. Again, impressive with how much well the author showcased how cohesive Wulf's unit is and how they came together to keep his secret, cause those Green Berets are extremely tight-lipped. (Sidenote, if you meet someone who brags about being a Green Beret and what all they did while a GB, chances are they weren't really a GB).
The story really began to pick up speed once Theresa and Wulf were in Italy, and was pretty much action-packed from that point on. I liked how Wulf's story wasn't shoved in our faces from the beginning, but rather told slowly. Although from reading the book blurb the reader already knows going in that he's immortal, but it was cool to see how the story developed for Theresa. It was interesting to learn Wulf's story, to this day I remember reading Beowulf in my senior English class, and it's one of the few stories I remember from high school. I hope we get to read Ivar's story next, this is a series I would recommend.
March 5, 2016
As some first novels do, this has everything but the kitchen sink in it. Afghani feasting, special ops forces, sightseeing in Rome, the New Jersey mob, explosions, sewers, fancy lingerie, veterans hospitals, castles, Danish museums, velvet-lined bedding with golden swags, torture, some more explosions, sex, saunas, bondage, the CIA, faithful Oxford-educated retainers, field surgery, twins, the international drug trade, assassinations, starfish DNA, great banter, guns and more than one burning building. Oh, and there actually is a kitchen sink scene as well!
Oh, and a dozen assorted immortals.
I read this because the author's award winning novella about one of the secondary characters here was so darn good. You can see the seeds of that quality here. It just needs a whole lot of editing - carving down. And it doesn't actually need the immortals at all, although they nominally drive the plot.
The author is good enough to not have to rely on so much relentless action plus hokey immortality. She nails the lives of regular soldiers, as well as medical personnel and women in the military. I think we need more books about those things, in particular from a woman's perspective.
We don't need more action suspense or paranormal stuff. Not when she can bring so much more to the field.
Oh, and a dozen assorted immortals.
I read this because the author's award winning novella about one of the secondary characters here was so darn good. You can see the seeds of that quality here. It just needs a whole lot of editing - carving down. And it doesn't actually need the immortals at all, although they nominally drive the plot.
The author is good enough to not have to rely on so much relentless action plus hokey immortality. She nails the lives of regular soldiers, as well as medical personnel and women in the military. I think we need more books about those things, in particular from a woman's perspective.
We don't need more action suspense or paranormal stuff. Not when she can bring so much more to the field.
February 21, 2014
I was reading this on the airplane, and my teenage son was so interested in it he kept peeking over my shoulder to read. You won't believe this is a debut, because it's so accomplished, especially the writing and the authenticity of the voices and settings.
It's a real genre bender, essentially a paranormal because the hero is an immortal viking living in the present day, but it's also military themed, since both he and the heroine are in the military (serving in Afghanistan), and there are suspense elements as the story progresses.
The author is a former army officer, and it shows, because the military parts of the book feel absolutely genuine, especially the slang and culture, which I found fascinating (and sometimes humorous).
Equally genuine is the sexual tension between the hero and heroine, who are attracted to each other from the start but cannot act on it--at least not right away--because of his secrets and her taking seriously the army's rules about fraternization. This is not a light and fluffy story, but if you like a more emotional, adventurous romance with a strong sense of culture and place, this one's for you.
It's a real genre bender, essentially a paranormal because the hero is an immortal viking living in the present day, but it's also military themed, since both he and the heroine are in the military (serving in Afghanistan), and there are suspense elements as the story progresses.
The author is a former army officer, and it shows, because the military parts of the book feel absolutely genuine, especially the slang and culture, which I found fascinating (and sometimes humorous).
Equally genuine is the sexual tension between the hero and heroine, who are attracted to each other from the start but cannot act on it--at least not right away--because of his secrets and her taking seriously the army's rules about fraternization. This is not a light and fluffy story, but if you like a more emotional, adventurous romance with a strong sense of culture and place, this one's for you.
August 16, 2014
Overall Rating: 4.5 Rockin’ ★★★★☆
Hide in plain sight has been Wulf Wardsen’s motto since he fought alone side Beowulf a thousand years ago. Wulf is an immortal Viking that cannot die and heals wounds without any assistance or damage. He has finally found a group of men that accept him, have made him part of their family and protect his secret. A military group called the Operational Detachment Alpha-5131, 5th Special Forces Group and he is known as Sergeant Wulf Wardsen a member of that team. Even though he knows that eventually he will have to move on to another life right now he has family. Everything is going great until he finds himself on a Medevac on his way to a hospital, the last thing he needs as an immortal.
Captain Theresa Chiesa has worked hard to reach the point in her life where she is self-sufficient and has nothing to do with her shady family. She put herself through school without any assistance from them and now is serving in the armed services as a doctor in a war torn area. Enters a soldier that was reported as severely injured by the medics, but he walks out of the hospital on his own with only a Band-Aid covering a small cut. He leaves without any paper trail stating that he was ever there. Theresa is a stickler for following the rules, so she begins a search for the mysterious soldier’s records. What she finds causes her to question who and what he is and where he came from. When she is finally face to face with him nothing has prepared her for the reaction she feels.
Wulf cannot stop himself from thinking about Captain Chiesa. He knows that it is a dead in street for him to become involved with anyone but there is an ache in his soul for someone to belong too and the Captain maybe that person. It was so long ago when he lost his wife in childbirth and also the two small twin boys that will live forever in his heart and haunt him. During a regular run their chopper is attacked and Theresa sees the real man and his immortal abilities to heal. Where will the future take them? When Wulf’s past comes back to haunt him will he be able to protect Theresa and himself from his old enemy? This is a book that must be read to find the answers!
Hero –Wulf Wardsen: 4.5 stars
Heroine –Theresa Chiesa: 4.5 stars
Steam: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: No
Would I recommend this book: Yes! This is a book that addresses the concept of living forever and the aloneness that would be a result of longevity. Wanting a normal life our immortal hunts for a way to be mortal again and finds love on his way!
Would I read other books by this author: Yes! This is Ms. Richland’s first book and it is amazing! I can’t wait to read her next book that will be released in October.
***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***
First to Burn
Anna Richland
Hide in plain sight has been Wulf Wardsen’s motto since he fought alone side Beowulf a thousand years ago. Wulf is an immortal Viking that cannot die and heals wounds without any assistance or damage. He has finally found a group of men that accept him, have made him part of their family and protect his secret. A military group called the Operational Detachment Alpha-5131, 5th Special Forces Group and he is known as Sergeant Wulf Wardsen a member of that team. Even though he knows that eventually he will have to move on to another life right now he has family. Everything is going great until he finds himself on a Medevac on his way to a hospital, the last thing he needs as an immortal.
Captain Theresa Chiesa has worked hard to reach the point in her life where she is self-sufficient and has nothing to do with her shady family. She put herself through school without any assistance from them and now is serving in the armed services as a doctor in a war torn area. Enters a soldier that was reported as severely injured by the medics, but he walks out of the hospital on his own with only a Band-Aid covering a small cut. He leaves without any paper trail stating that he was ever there. Theresa is a stickler for following the rules, so she begins a search for the mysterious soldier’s records. What she finds causes her to question who and what he is and where he came from. When she is finally face to face with him nothing has prepared her for the reaction she feels.
Wulf cannot stop himself from thinking about Captain Chiesa. He knows that it is a dead in street for him to become involved with anyone but there is an ache in his soul for someone to belong too and the Captain maybe that person. It was so long ago when he lost his wife in childbirth and also the two small twin boys that will live forever in his heart and haunt him. During a regular run their chopper is attacked and Theresa sees the real man and his immortal abilities to heal. Where will the future take them? When Wulf’s past comes back to haunt him will he be able to protect Theresa and himself from his old enemy? This is a book that must be read to find the answers!
Hero –Wulf Wardsen: 4.5 stars
Heroine –Theresa Chiesa: 4.5 stars
Steam: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4.5 stars
Cliffhanger: No
Would I recommend this book: Yes! This is a book that addresses the concept of living forever and the aloneness that would be a result of longevity. Wanting a normal life our immortal hunts for a way to be mortal again and finds love on his way!
Would I read other books by this author: Yes! This is Ms. Richland’s first book and it is amazing! I can’t wait to read her next book that will be released in October.
***Received an ARC of this book from the Author in exchange for an honest review***
First to Burn
Anna Richland
January 27, 2014
My first book by this author and I think it's probably her debut as an author and it's a very accomplished piece. A strong mixture of action, adventure, romance , paranormal and even Viking mythology! There is so much happening in this book that it's hard to know quite where to start! Although once you start to read this story you will be well and truly hooked!
This story is centred around Theresa a serving captain and doctor with the military forces serving in Afghanistan. She's a strong woman who refuses to just coast through life and makes her own decisions. Theresa is beyond intrigued by reports of a soldier who was apparently almost mortally wounded and yet now is healthy. She sets out to track him down but what Theresa encounters is a special forces Sergeant who wakes up her libido!
Sergeant Wolf Wardsen has a secret and he's not about to reveal it to anyone least of all a doctor who might want to use him in experiments but circumstances keep throwing Wolf and Theresa together. When Theresa accompanies Wolfs squad she sees first hand that Wolf is definitely no ordinary soldier as there's no way he can easily explain his remarkable healing ability.
Theresa has leave due to her and travels to Rome to relax and try to puzzle out what she saw but Wolf can't allow Theresa to betray his secret. The last thing Theresa expects is to look up and see the enigmatic sergeant in Rome but there he is! Wolf may have followed Theresa but he's not the only one capable of subterfuge . Corruption is rife and danger is following in Wolfs wake. Not only is Wolf a Viking who has been alive for more than fifteen centuries but he's also part of a military unit that takes it's role seriously and now it looks as if no one is safe. Can Wolf convince Theresa that he' wants nothing more than to protect her or will she slip through his fingers? Wolfs past is about to catch up with him and he's not the only one in the firing line!
So much is happening in this book that it's quite a challenge to review it. Clearly the author has done her homework and knows quite a lot about military operations and procedures and this truly shows. It's a very fast moving plot and a definite page turner.
As for the romance well who wouldn't want a Viking warrior of their own? No fated mates or sloppy love stories here. Just a fantastic adventure with a twist and more to come from these very demanding Vikings ! My only real criticism would be the easy acceptance of Vikings and immortality by the heroine and also the special operations guys but this is a fantasy and not reality so I can let that go.
A very detailed story and bound to be a hit with fans of military or paranormal romance who are looking for something a little different.
A solid four and a half from me and I look forward to the follow up book
This story is centred around Theresa a serving captain and doctor with the military forces serving in Afghanistan. She's a strong woman who refuses to just coast through life and makes her own decisions. Theresa is beyond intrigued by reports of a soldier who was apparently almost mortally wounded and yet now is healthy. She sets out to track him down but what Theresa encounters is a special forces Sergeant who wakes up her libido!
Sergeant Wolf Wardsen has a secret and he's not about to reveal it to anyone least of all a doctor who might want to use him in experiments but circumstances keep throwing Wolf and Theresa together. When Theresa accompanies Wolfs squad she sees first hand that Wolf is definitely no ordinary soldier as there's no way he can easily explain his remarkable healing ability.
Theresa has leave due to her and travels to Rome to relax and try to puzzle out what she saw but Wolf can't allow Theresa to betray his secret. The last thing Theresa expects is to look up and see the enigmatic sergeant in Rome but there he is! Wolf may have followed Theresa but he's not the only one capable of subterfuge . Corruption is rife and danger is following in Wolfs wake. Not only is Wolf a Viking who has been alive for more than fifteen centuries but he's also part of a military unit that takes it's role seriously and now it looks as if no one is safe. Can Wolf convince Theresa that he' wants nothing more than to protect her or will she slip through his fingers? Wolfs past is about to catch up with him and he's not the only one in the firing line!
So much is happening in this book that it's quite a challenge to review it. Clearly the author has done her homework and knows quite a lot about military operations and procedures and this truly shows. It's a very fast moving plot and a definite page turner.
As for the romance well who wouldn't want a Viking warrior of their own? No fated mates or sloppy love stories here. Just a fantastic adventure with a twist and more to come from these very demanding Vikings ! My only real criticism would be the easy acceptance of Vikings and immortality by the heroine and also the special operations guys but this is a fantasy and not reality so I can let that go.
A very detailed story and bound to be a hit with fans of military or paranormal romance who are looking for something a little different.
A solid four and a half from me and I look forward to the follow up book
October 9, 2016
First to Burn is basically the Bourne movies with some romance thrown in to it. You have the super powered Viking dude who can't die going around from action scene to action scene as he works on taking down the other overpowered bad guy. During said scenes, he's working on protecting the girl who takes a bit of time to believe everything that's happening / going on.
I very much enjoyed the premise and the way the author portrayed the immortality in today's world. Furthermore, it's very clear that the author has spent a considerable amount of time researching both about Beowulf and the life of people at war (both soldiers and the medical staff). There are quite a fair share of unpleasant scenes that somewhat show the horrors of war (although toned down a little bit since this is a romance book after all) - but that may not be a bad thing for some people.
That being said, I did have a few issues with the book. First off, I really don't like it when authors do the whole guy being like "you so want me" and the girl being like "no I don't" and then the guy being like "ya you totally do - let me kiss you" and the girl being like "oh ok I guess." While it wasn't to the same creepy level that I've seen in some romance books - it definitely felt like there was too much of that going on through the first half of the book. It just feels a bit "ick" to read about a guy convincing a girl to do stuff by doing various things with his body.
The second half of the book dropped much of that - but then turned into too much of action thriller for me without much plot. It felt like there were too many things going on simultaneously. I wish there was more character development / fun interactions and less "let's kill everyone rawr." To make matters worse, the conclusion felt rushed and didn't really tie together everything as much as I'd like (although I rarely enjoy the endings of romance books as most of them feel like that to me).
Overall, I'd say the book was decent. The writing was great, the world was fascinating, and the characters were unique. It's too bad the core romance and plot were a bit lacking, though...
If you don't mind a simplistic plot and are fine with your romance being a bit dark (lots of death / people being tortured / permanently injured) then you should check this book out. If you're like me, though, and prefer romance books to be a bit happier in nature - you may want to look elsewhere :)
I very much enjoyed the premise and the way the author portrayed the immortality in today's world. Furthermore, it's very clear that the author has spent a considerable amount of time researching both about Beowulf and the life of people at war (both soldiers and the medical staff). There are quite a fair share of unpleasant scenes that somewhat show the horrors of war (although toned down a little bit since this is a romance book after all) - but that may not be a bad thing for some people.
That being said, I did have a few issues with the book. First off, I really don't like it when authors do the whole guy being like "you so want me" and the girl being like "no I don't" and then the guy being like "ya you totally do - let me kiss you" and the girl being like "oh ok I guess." While it wasn't to the same creepy level that I've seen in some romance books - it definitely felt like there was too much of that going on through the first half of the book. It just feels a bit "ick" to read about a guy convincing a girl to do stuff by doing various things with his body.
The second half of the book dropped much of that - but then turned into too much of action thriller for me without much plot. It felt like there were too many things going on simultaneously. I wish there was more character development / fun interactions and less "let's kill everyone rawr." To make matters worse, the conclusion felt rushed and didn't really tie together everything as much as I'd like (although I rarely enjoy the endings of romance books as most of them feel like that to me).
Overall, I'd say the book was decent. The writing was great, the world was fascinating, and the characters were unique. It's too bad the core romance and plot were a bit lacking, though...
If you don't mind a simplistic plot and are fine with your romance being a bit dark (lots of death / people being tortured / permanently injured) then you should check this book out. If you're like me, though, and prefer romance books to be a bit happier in nature - you may want to look elsewhere :)
January 21, 2014
I gave this a B- on AAR, so 3.5 stars. With First to Burn, military romance plus a foray into the paranormal proves to be a winner for the most part. Anna Richland takes her immortal warriors and blends the Beowulf legend with modern-day military conflict for a story that certainly caught my attention. Even with the dreaded sagging middle, it's still strong enough for me to recommend giving it a try.
As the story opens, we are confronted with the mystery of Sgt. Wulf Wardsen. Seriously injured in Afghanistan, he somehow heals miraculously en route to the hospital. The discrepancy between the report from the field and Wardsen's condition upon arrival catches the attention of Army doctor Capt. Theresa Chiesa, and she is determined to investigate. Theresa is no idiot, so her investigation and ability to piece together parts of Wardsen's history that just don't add up threatens to expose him. He takes action by seeking out Theresa directly and Wulf's attempts to cover himself lead to flirtation, and it's obvious that there is an attraction there.
And that's just the point where this book gets difficult to evaluate. Wulf is enlisted and Theresa is an officer, and thankfully they don't just breeze by the fraternization rules as I have seen in other military romances. The issue is a real one for them, and it's something they need to grapple with. Unfortunately, it also greatly slows down the development of the romance so one must wade through a lot of mutual lusting before there's ever the hope of them getting together. On the plus side, there is a lot more going on in this book and some of it gets very interesting. The characters must deal with an unstable situation in Afghanistan and it also becomes apparent that the immortal Wulf has an enemy from his past to uncover and confront. So, even if the romance develops slowly, the action certainly doesn't.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
As the story opens, we are confronted with the mystery of Sgt. Wulf Wardsen. Seriously injured in Afghanistan, he somehow heals miraculously en route to the hospital. The discrepancy between the report from the field and Wardsen's condition upon arrival catches the attention of Army doctor Capt. Theresa Chiesa, and she is determined to investigate. Theresa is no idiot, so her investigation and ability to piece together parts of Wardsen's history that just don't add up threatens to expose him. He takes action by seeking out Theresa directly and Wulf's attempts to cover himself lead to flirtation, and it's obvious that there is an attraction there.
And that's just the point where this book gets difficult to evaluate. Wulf is enlisted and Theresa is an officer, and thankfully they don't just breeze by the fraternization rules as I have seen in other military romances. The issue is a real one for them, and it's something they need to grapple with. Unfortunately, it also greatly slows down the development of the romance so one must wade through a lot of mutual lusting before there's ever the hope of them getting together. On the plus side, there is a lot more going on in this book and some of it gets very interesting. The characters must deal with an unstable situation in Afghanistan and it also becomes apparent that the immortal Wulf has an enemy from his past to uncover and confront. So, even if the romance develops slowly, the action certainly doesn't.
This is a partial review. You can find the complete text at All About Romance: http://www.likesbooks.com/cgi-bin/boo...
May 25, 2015
*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review from the author through the LoP*
I love a good Viking hero and when I read the synopsis for this book I knew that it would be one that I wanted to give a try. This is not in any way a typical paranormal story. There is an immortal Viking, but he is very much a modern soldier. Despite being able to heal even the worst of wounds sustained in battle. Wulf fits in with his group of Special Forces brothers and has earned and received respect from his fellow soldiers. Our heroine, Theresa, is a confident and competent military doctor who figures out what makes Wulf so different from all of the other soldiers.
The first part of First to Burn mostly focuses on how Theresa figures out what is different about Wulf and there is lots of military action. There is some tension between Wulf and Theresa and as they are on different sides of the fraternization line they are not allowed to pursue a relationship. I am not sure why there was a disconnect for me with these characters because the book is well written. Richland has provided an immortal alpha hero who is strong, capable, committed to his friends, and who has not lost touch with his ability to care for other people. Theresa is a strong lead female who faces a challenge that would make many people falter and give up, but it does not keep her from moving forward.
The story line all makes sense, flows together and leaves enough questions both answered and unanswered so that the story may continue without leaving too much open at the end. So why didn't I fall in love with this story and the characters? I'm not really sure. When I think of this book I can't point to any one thing and say that it is why I didn't get sucked in the way that I wanted to, it just didn't happen for me. There are many good reviews for this book so I figure maybe I am just the anomaly on this one and I somehow missed the boat.
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
I love a good Viking hero and when I read the synopsis for this book I knew that it would be one that I wanted to give a try. This is not in any way a typical paranormal story. There is an immortal Viking, but he is very much a modern soldier. Despite being able to heal even the worst of wounds sustained in battle. Wulf fits in with his group of Special Forces brothers and has earned and received respect from his fellow soldiers. Our heroine, Theresa, is a confident and competent military doctor who figures out what makes Wulf so different from all of the other soldiers.
The first part of First to Burn mostly focuses on how Theresa figures out what is different about Wulf and there is lots of military action. There is some tension between Wulf and Theresa and as they are on different sides of the fraternization line they are not allowed to pursue a relationship. I am not sure why there was a disconnect for me with these characters because the book is well written. Richland has provided an immortal alpha hero who is strong, capable, committed to his friends, and who has not lost touch with his ability to care for other people. Theresa is a strong lead female who faces a challenge that would make many people falter and give up, but it does not keep her from moving forward.
The story line all makes sense, flows together and leaves enough questions both answered and unanswered so that the story may continue without leaving too much open at the end. So why didn't I fall in love with this story and the characters? I'm not really sure. When I think of this book I can't point to any one thing and say that it is why I didn't get sucked in the way that I wanted to, it just didn't happen for me. There are many good reviews for this book so I figure maybe I am just the anomaly on this one and I somehow missed the boat.
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
March 5, 2014
3.5 rating...
This is a very well written story with very likable characters. I loved Wulf and his relationship with his Special Ops team. And, Theresa is a mature, intelligent and strong female lead. She is an officer and he is enlisted so there is a forbidden love issue for them at first. I was especially touched by the scenes in the beginning when they flew out to assist the young Afghan girl with her pregnancy. These are characters that quickly earned my respect and had me hoping for their HEA.
Wulf is immortal and the burdens that come with immortality is something that weighs heavy on his mind and he has to be very careful to make sure that knowledge of his immortality isn't exposed. He is weary of Theresa because she is a doctor and her curiosity about his unnatural ability to heal. But, his attraction to Theresa is strong and hard to resist.
There is a lot going on in this book and you can tell that the author really did her homework on the military lingo etc... In fact, that's the only reason why this is rated a bit lower than I would have liked. I struggled a little with the military lingo and found myself needing to stop and re-read sections to kind of wrap my head around what was going on. This interrupted the flow of the story for me. I imagine this won't be an issue for everyone... I'm not always the brightest bulb in the kitchen and can get easily confused when it's not something I'm familiar with.
This is heavy on the military romance and light on the paranormal... but, it is a series I would recommend. Very well done for a debut novel.
I received a copy of this book via the Lovers of Paranormal Group in exchange for an honest review!
www.ktbookreviews.com
This is a very well written story with very likable characters. I loved Wulf and his relationship with his Special Ops team. And, Theresa is a mature, intelligent and strong female lead. She is an officer and he is enlisted so there is a forbidden love issue for them at first. I was especially touched by the scenes in the beginning when they flew out to assist the young Afghan girl with her pregnancy. These are characters that quickly earned my respect and had me hoping for their HEA.
Wulf is immortal and the burdens that come with immortality is something that weighs heavy on his mind and he has to be very careful to make sure that knowledge of his immortality isn't exposed. He is weary of Theresa because she is a doctor and her curiosity about his unnatural ability to heal. But, his attraction to Theresa is strong and hard to resist.
There is a lot going on in this book and you can tell that the author really did her homework on the military lingo etc... In fact, that's the only reason why this is rated a bit lower than I would have liked. I struggled a little with the military lingo and found myself needing to stop and re-read sections to kind of wrap my head around what was going on. This interrupted the flow of the story for me. I imagine this won't be an issue for everyone... I'm not always the brightest bulb in the kitchen and can get easily confused when it's not something I'm familiar with.
This is heavy on the military romance and light on the paranormal... but, it is a series I would recommend. Very well done for a debut novel.
I received a copy of this book via the Lovers of Paranormal Group in exchange for an honest review!
www.ktbookreviews.com
May 13, 2017
This was a pleasant surprise! Teresa is a military nurse stationed in Afghanistan and is faced with a mystery when one of her patients arrives with no evidence of the severe injuries noted in triage. Wulf is an immortal, a berserker, and if his secret is exposed he'll be forced to leave the military and the team he considers family. He should avoid Teresa like the plague, but he's drawn to her strength and confidence as duty forces them to spend more time together. Then a mission makes Wolfe a target of opium dealers...and Teresa is pulled into the danger.
I loved the suspense in this book and all the action that came with it. The relationship that develops between the couple is passionate and intense. They had several obstacles to overcome, but I was pulling for them from the beginning. The secondary characters were well written and the camaraderie between Wulf and his men was entertaining and realistic. This was so close to a five star read and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance or romantic suspense. The only reason I bumped it down to four stars was the length, especially of the sex scenes. I get bored fast when sex scenes are so long they interrupt the flow. On the up side, I felt like I got my money's worth when it came to the plot as this story could've easily been split into two books. An excellent start to a new series. I'll be reading the next book.
I loved the suspense in this book and all the action that came with it. The relationship that develops between the couple is passionate and intense. They had several obstacles to overcome, but I was pulling for them from the beginning. The secondary characters were well written and the camaraderie between Wulf and his men was entertaining and realistic. This was so close to a five star read and I recommend it for anyone who enjoys paranormal romance or romantic suspense. The only reason I bumped it down to four stars was the length, especially of the sex scenes. I get bored fast when sex scenes are so long they interrupt the flow. On the up side, I felt like I got my money's worth when it came to the plot as this story could've easily been split into two books. An excellent start to a new series. I'll be reading the next book.
March 20, 2014
I was given this book in exchange for an honest review (Lovers of Paranormal r2r)
You had me at Immortal Viking...
To be honest this is the first 'military' book that I've read, and I found myself enjoying it. A lot. The mash up of military meets paranormal proved to be very enjoyable, and the romance thrown in also? -> Cha-Ching!
To say that this is her first book, makes me extremely excited. No pressure to Richland, but to say how well thought out, written, and presented this was...I'm expecting the next one will be even better. But like I said, no pressure! =P
Thanks for the introduction into this world you have created. I look forward to diving in again.
Favourite back and forth between Theresa and Wulf.
"Technically, these are called restraints, not handcuffs."
"Technically, these are called Santa's-making-up-for-my-crappy-Christmas. And now I also believe in the Easter Bunny, since he's in the other box."
Oh my, did I laugh at that.
You had me at Immortal Viking...
To be honest this is the first 'military' book that I've read, and I found myself enjoying it. A lot. The mash up of military meets paranormal proved to be very enjoyable, and the romance thrown in also? -> Cha-Ching!
To say that this is her first book, makes me extremely excited. No pressure to Richland, but to say how well thought out, written, and presented this was...I'm expecting the next one will be even better. But like I said, no pressure! =P
Thanks for the introduction into this world you have created. I look forward to diving in again.
Favourite back and forth between Theresa and Wulf.
"Technically, these are called restraints, not handcuffs."
"Technically, these are called Santa's-making-up-for-my-crappy-Christmas. And now I also believe in the Easter Bunny, since he's in the other box."
Oh my, did I laugh at that.
February 3, 2014
I thought I was going to love this book, I wanted to love it but I just liked it..... I like the idea behind 'the Immortal Viking' & how it came about. There was lots of action and life threatening situations interspersed with some hot moments between the two MCs but I struggled with the first 50%.... I suppose it was focussed too much on the military aspect whereas I was in it for the supernatural element. I did enjoy the latter part of the book, the change of scenery helped and the amping up of the threat where a definite bad guy came about and of course some answers. I loved where it went towards the end, what it promises has me intrigued and the introduction of more Immortal Vikings and because of that I would read the sequel because now, I'm interested.
July 11, 2017
First Viking read and I deliberately chose a book that placed the Viking in the 21st Century - yeah, these Vikings are immortal. So I was surprised when it opened in Afganistan with the US Army, and the heroine was a doctor and captain - her character was wonderfully active and complex even if it didn't greatly change. The Viking himself was surprisingly civilised, but I suppose one would civilise alongside civilisation.
The action and plot were detailed but the pacing was out of joint, moving too fast in the action scenes and over inflating others. It definitely left too many threads loose at the end, as the story seemed to bolt to an anticlimactic finale. I also had difficulty following the army lingo and rushed dialogue, adding greater confusion to the pacing. If the second book picked up straight after the events in Copenhagen then I think I might be interested in continuing the series.
The action and plot were detailed but the pacing was out of joint, moving too fast in the action scenes and over inflating others. It definitely left too many threads loose at the end, as the story seemed to bolt to an anticlimactic finale. I also had difficulty following the army lingo and rushed dialogue, adding greater confusion to the pacing. If the second book picked up straight after the events in Copenhagen then I think I might be interested in continuing the series.
July 25, 2024
Military, paranormal suspense with slow burn romance.
As a Doctor in the US army in Afganistan, Theresa encounters a soldier who repeatedly recovers from injuries without any assistance. Wulf is an immortal viking and while disrupting the opium trade in Afganistan, he discovers more of the immortals are involved than he thought. Theresa and Wulf join a race to find the relic that may stop the curse to the immortals.
The plot and character were interesting, particularly Theresa both as a doctor and then as someone who was medically discharged. Wulf and Theresa also had great chemistry. The ending was disappointing and to open ended with where the series is heading.
Fav Quote:
“Theresa.” His voice rumbled up the six steps that separated them. She shouldn’t allow him to use her first name but—sayonara, self-preservation—she wanted to hear it again. “After our last discussion, I won’t believe you need a checkup.”
As a Doctor in the US army in Afganistan, Theresa encounters a soldier who repeatedly recovers from injuries without any assistance. Wulf is an immortal viking and while disrupting the opium trade in Afganistan, he discovers more of the immortals are involved than he thought. Theresa and Wulf join a race to find the relic that may stop the curse to the immortals.
The plot and character were interesting, particularly Theresa both as a doctor and then as someone who was medically discharged. Wulf and Theresa also had great chemistry. The ending was disappointing and to open ended with where the series is heading.
Fav Quote:
“Theresa.” His voice rumbled up the six steps that separated them. She shouldn’t allow him to use her first name but—sayonara, self-preservation—she wanted to hear it again. “After our last discussion, I won’t believe you need a checkup.”
February 13, 2019
Wow as a descriptive doesn't do this novel justice. Fantastic and intense storyline. Completing this novel spanned two days of physically reading or listening to it. Every spare moment I had went into not just reading First to Burn but I found myself looking up words and references in the novel. This lead me to wonder and research what grade level books are written because Anna Richland is not your average writer. (Interested? See https://contently.com/2015/01/28/this...).
Immortal Vikings 2 is whispering my name and I cannot resist.
Cheers
Note to self
Save for references at the end of the novel.
Immortal Vikings 2 is whispering my name and I cannot resist.
Cheers
Note to self
Save for references at the end of the novel.
August 22, 2017
Characters: army doctor, special forces soldier/immortal viking
World Building: world cities, army base, medical
Plot: uncover plots within plots, mayhem
Sex: euphemistic, largely off page
Read another: Yes, because I'm vaguely interested in Beowulf, and I'd like to know where the medical research will lead.
This read more as romantic suspense than paranormal. I felt like the paranormal bit was an excuse to make the guy bullet proof, but it didn't really drive the story. Toward the end, it became more important, so I assume that the series will use that more.
World Building: world cities, army base, medical
Plot: uncover plots within plots, mayhem
Sex: euphemistic, largely off page
Read another: Yes, because I'm vaguely interested in Beowulf, and I'd like to know where the medical research will lead.
This read more as romantic suspense than paranormal. I felt like the paranormal bit was an excuse to make the guy bullet proof, but it didn't really drive the story. Toward the end, it became more important, so I assume that the series will use that more.
March 17, 2014
A Viking Immortal...and yeah, that was all I needed to read before I was sold on reading this one. Okay, yes, I noticed that he is now a Special Forces warrior fighting in Afghanistan while he tries to duck the persistent lady doctor who notices his healing abilities and wants answers. But there is also the hidden enemies that hunt them both making this not just an interesting paranormal romance, but a thriller too. It's passionate, brutal and exciting and leaves me eager for more from this author and this series.
Wulf Wardsen, Viking warrior who fought alongside the legendary Beowulf, now hides his identity doing what he does best. He has made a family of the guys in his unit and they protect his secret, but all that goes on the line when by the book Captain Theresa Chiesa refuses to give up on finding answers about him. At the same time, the both of them fight an attraction toward each other. Theresa has a life plan that doesn't involve getting in trouble fraternizing with the enlisteds and Wulf knows not to get close to anyone because he always loses them when he lives on after they die.
Eventually, Theresa stumbles across irrefutable proof that his body heals mortal wounds and he has to figure out how to keep her from running with this information at the same time his unit is tagged for a mission to figure out what is being smuggled through army transportation and who is doing it. An old enemy arises when Wulf gets too close to answers putting him and Theresa on the run and the danger just keep pursuing them hard taking all Wulf's skill just to keep them alive.
This story felt almost like it was two stories. There is the first half when the setting is the base and army operations in Afghanistan and the thriller stuff in Italy that all has more a contemporary feel then there is the latter half when the paranormal Immortal Viking stuff comes into play along with more thriller stuff. I enjoyed both halves of the plot, but it also made the story stretch out long. This is not a bad thing necessarily, but I admit there were a couple of times when I thought it was wrapping up and then another curve was thrown and then another extending the story each time. I'm struggling to explain. I didn't hate the plot at all or feel like it dragged so maybe it could have been two books? I don't know. Let's just say the reader will definitely get a lot of bang for their buck.
As to background, I give kudos for the authentic feel to the military and medical aspect and the author did some good research into the Beowulf saga to bring that into play. I loved the refreshing offering this one is to the paranormal genre. There was definitely room for more to come out and be introduced with further stories in the series. The hunt for the Viking artifacts, other Viking Immortals and the test labs definitely leave room for more.
The characters were well written. Wulf was a nice job of imagining what a Viking would be like if he survived all those centuries and existed in the modern age. I could totally see him as a Special Forces guy who was lonely for human companionship, but afraid to reach out to it because of his secret and because everyone around him is mortal. It was nice to see that he hadn't lost the feel of what it was to be mortal because he still wants to be among people and do what he can to help them. His longing for Theresa even though she acted like a prickly pear much of the time was almost cute and funny. Only a former Viking would see that woman as adorable.
Theresa was a hard gal for me to accept and not because she was independent and tough. She's a dedicated doctor and won't take her rich step-dad's handouts. Those things I admired in her actually. It was her constant need to argue and lash out at the dumbest moments that got my eyes rolling and my foot twitching to boot her in the rump. Here, she has a special forces guy beside her and a bunch of unsavory types on their tail and she has to jump in and stop them for a bit of arguing. After a while her argumentative nature and need to prove herself just got old. She lashes out at Wulf about lying when she had her own pretty big secrets. She doesn't tend to give the poor guy the benefit of the doubt even though he saves her butt several times. And I know that in a way, it was probably all supposed to be funny and it is a little. She was definitely strong-willed enough to grab the attention of a Viking and keep him from steamrolling her with his forceful personality. I'll definitely give her that. Her quirks are only part of who she is and there are the admirable traits too.
Their romance took a while to develop mostly because their situation didn't allow for much fraternization time, but the build up of tension and removal of barriers had me as impatient as Wulf and Theresa for them to get their chance. Loved that final scene in the book that had me smiling from ear to ear. After all they had gone through and knowing their personalities, it was perfect.
In the end, I was left impressed with this big opener to a new series and the creative new paranormal world the author wrote. If Immortal Vikings, military heroes, strong heroines, thrilling chases, passionate love scenes and evil villains do it for you then you should grab this one up.
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review thoughts.
Wulf Wardsen, Viking warrior who fought alongside the legendary Beowulf, now hides his identity doing what he does best. He has made a family of the guys in his unit and they protect his secret, but all that goes on the line when by the book Captain Theresa Chiesa refuses to give up on finding answers about him. At the same time, the both of them fight an attraction toward each other. Theresa has a life plan that doesn't involve getting in trouble fraternizing with the enlisteds and Wulf knows not to get close to anyone because he always loses them when he lives on after they die.
Eventually, Theresa stumbles across irrefutable proof that his body heals mortal wounds and he has to figure out how to keep her from running with this information at the same time his unit is tagged for a mission to figure out what is being smuggled through army transportation and who is doing it. An old enemy arises when Wulf gets too close to answers putting him and Theresa on the run and the danger just keep pursuing them hard taking all Wulf's skill just to keep them alive.
This story felt almost like it was two stories. There is the first half when the setting is the base and army operations in Afghanistan and the thriller stuff in Italy that all has more a contemporary feel then there is the latter half when the paranormal Immortal Viking stuff comes into play along with more thriller stuff. I enjoyed both halves of the plot, but it also made the story stretch out long. This is not a bad thing necessarily, but I admit there were a couple of times when I thought it was wrapping up and then another curve was thrown and then another extending the story each time. I'm struggling to explain. I didn't hate the plot at all or feel like it dragged so maybe it could have been two books? I don't know. Let's just say the reader will definitely get a lot of bang for their buck.
As to background, I give kudos for the authentic feel to the military and medical aspect and the author did some good research into the Beowulf saga to bring that into play. I loved the refreshing offering this one is to the paranormal genre. There was definitely room for more to come out and be introduced with further stories in the series. The hunt for the Viking artifacts, other Viking Immortals and the test labs definitely leave room for more.
The characters were well written. Wulf was a nice job of imagining what a Viking would be like if he survived all those centuries and existed in the modern age. I could totally see him as a Special Forces guy who was lonely for human companionship, but afraid to reach out to it because of his secret and because everyone around him is mortal. It was nice to see that he hadn't lost the feel of what it was to be mortal because he still wants to be among people and do what he can to help them. His longing for Theresa even though she acted like a prickly pear much of the time was almost cute and funny. Only a former Viking would see that woman as adorable.
Theresa was a hard gal for me to accept and not because she was independent and tough. She's a dedicated doctor and won't take her rich step-dad's handouts. Those things I admired in her actually. It was her constant need to argue and lash out at the dumbest moments that got my eyes rolling and my foot twitching to boot her in the rump. Here, she has a special forces guy beside her and a bunch of unsavory types on their tail and she has to jump in and stop them for a bit of arguing. After a while her argumentative nature and need to prove herself just got old. She lashes out at Wulf about lying when she had her own pretty big secrets. She doesn't tend to give the poor guy the benefit of the doubt even though he saves her butt several times. And I know that in a way, it was probably all supposed to be funny and it is a little. She was definitely strong-willed enough to grab the attention of a Viking and keep him from steamrolling her with his forceful personality. I'll definitely give her that. Her quirks are only part of who she is and there are the admirable traits too.
Their romance took a while to develop mostly because their situation didn't allow for much fraternization time, but the build up of tension and removal of barriers had me as impatient as Wulf and Theresa for them to get their chance. Loved that final scene in the book that had me smiling from ear to ear. After all they had gone through and knowing their personalities, it was perfect.
In the end, I was left impressed with this big opener to a new series and the creative new paranormal world the author wrote. If Immortal Vikings, military heroes, strong heroines, thrilling chases, passionate love scenes and evil villains do it for you then you should grab this one up.
My thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review thoughts.
May 28, 2018
Who would have thought that hunting with Beowulf would cause a person to become immortal? But it happened to Wulf and it has been a hard life for a warrior. Now he is in Afghanistan, his unit knows his secret, But the doctor who treats him for wounds doesn't and is astonished at the way he heals.
Would read the second in the series.
Would read the second in the series.
February 11, 2022
I really liked this book. Yes there was a lot going on but her whole take on the immortality thing and tying it to Beowulf was genius. I loved her voice and the main characters. I think she portrayed the military well and as a reader you could tell she knew her subject matter. Overall, I really enjoyed it and can't wait to read more.
May 5, 2018
This was so good! I loved all the military detail--it made everything feel very real. And the MCs were complex and interesting, the conflict solid and compelling. I hope Richland writes more in this series than the two entries currently published.
October 29, 2018
Suffers a little from that form of first-novel-itis where everything, from the locations to the medical jargon, has been excruciatingly well-researched; but over all very original and highly readable. Looking forward to the sequels.
February 15, 2014
This was an interesting read for me. I wish I could give the various sections each a rating of their own - or that I could turn my brain into a brain that loves paranormals, because then I would give this book a much higher rating.
Premise: Wulf is a Special Forces sergeant in Afghanistan. Theresa is an Army doctor in Afghanistan. They find each other cute, but of course fraternization is not okay, and then there's the minor detail of how Wulf is an immortal Viking. Also, people are trying to kill them.
First of all, I found the writing here to be excellent. So many things I really liked, from the totally accurate feel of the military setting in the first section, to the charming interior thoughts of the main characters, etc. Good prose is something I so appreciate in contemporary romances and wish I found more of.
Second: while (unfortunately for me) the military-romance segment of this book was not that long, about a quarter of the book, I looooooved it. I often find military romances to be extremely eyeroll-inducing, full of dudes who are like underwear models/playboys/club rats who inexplicably found a uniform and a gun somewhere and are playacting. The feel of the military setting is often wildly wrong. Also, for some reason, so many military romances contain insane segments where the SEALs (or SF operators, etc.) overshare with their teammates about what kind of boning they and their wives from the previous books get up to. I dislike the sex oversharing so much, there are no words, it's pretty much an instant DNF-worthy offense for me - in part because it's just so unrealistic for men with those types of jobs. Really, you're telling your fellow high-speed independent operator with a rigid moral code all about the sexual acrobatics you and your pregnant wife got up to last night? I always assume this kind of thing is intended to provoke feelings in the reader about how hot it would be if this super hot warrior dude bragged about how hot you were to his equally hot warrior buddies, but I find it profoundly squicky.
Ahem - I have strong feelings about that, apparently. ANYWAY, this book does not do that. In fact, in the first segment in Afghanistan, it has the best and most accurate team interactions: people from their respective teams tease Wulf and Theresa about each other a bit, but there is definitely a line of privacy and professional behavior. Also, I really appreciated that military rules about fraternization and the impact on your career actually exist and are acknowledged in this book. In part because realism, and in part because, um, I secretly love forbidden workplace romances.
So why only three stars? Because I loved the military romance in the first 25% so. much. and I wanted more of it, I wanted it to all just be about the young military doctor who's trying her best to be professional and keep her career together, and who is derailed by the hot SF sergeant who's wooing her. (Man, it was awesome. The scene where they watch Cinderella and are ultra-aware of each other's knees and elbows, and he eventually brushes her fingers across his lips? Good lord, it's hotter than most sex scenes.) And I found the parts about the paranormal immortality much less compelling, to be frank. Of course, that is just me, and I think people who are into paranormals would not find that to be a problem.
However, once our heroes leave Afghanistan for Rome and the sexual relationship and the thriller part of the plot starts, I have to admit that my delight really dropped off. I found the actual sex scenes between the characters, in comparison to the initial slow burn, fairly uncompelling. I mean, the segments in Afghanistan are very intense, with the sexual tension. There's a scene where they're on a troop helicopter next to each other, and it's a bumpy ride, and their shoulders keep bumping, and it's making her terribly flustered, and then she tries to get some leverage to move an inch away from him, but she accidentally puts her hand on his thigh, and then is very flustered by that. I loved the descriptions of how flustered she was by his physical proximity and masculinity, and I wanted the eventual sex scenes to really pay that off, and I didn't feel that they did.
I was also just not super into the suspense plot (which, like the paranormal thing, isn't saying much, as romance suspense is not really my thing.)
A final thing I found worth noting is that the heroine (SPOILER!!!!)
*
*
*
*
*
loses a limb in an IED attack, and the book doesn't shy away from the fact that she's now an amputee who has to deal with mourning the wholeness of her body, and learn to use a prosthesis, etc. I found this, and the physical and emotional realism of this, SO amazingly well-done and startling to find in a romance that I hardly even know what to say about it.
So overall, I continue to be a person who is not necessarily a fan of paranormals, but I found the writing here really excellent, and if you do enjoy paranormals, I would absolutely give this a try, and I will definitely be trying future titles from this author.
Premise: Wulf is a Special Forces sergeant in Afghanistan. Theresa is an Army doctor in Afghanistan. They find each other cute, but of course fraternization is not okay, and then there's the minor detail of how Wulf is an immortal Viking. Also, people are trying to kill them.
First of all, I found the writing here to be excellent. So many things I really liked, from the totally accurate feel of the military setting in the first section, to the charming interior thoughts of the main characters, etc. Good prose is something I so appreciate in contemporary romances and wish I found more of.
Second: while (unfortunately for me) the military-romance segment of this book was not that long, about a quarter of the book, I looooooved it. I often find military romances to be extremely eyeroll-inducing, full of dudes who are like underwear models/playboys/club rats who inexplicably found a uniform and a gun somewhere and are playacting. The feel of the military setting is often wildly wrong. Also, for some reason, so many military romances contain insane segments where the SEALs (or SF operators, etc.) overshare with their teammates about what kind of boning they and their wives from the previous books get up to. I dislike the sex oversharing so much, there are no words, it's pretty much an instant DNF-worthy offense for me - in part because it's just so unrealistic for men with those types of jobs. Really, you're telling your fellow high-speed independent operator with a rigid moral code all about the sexual acrobatics you and your pregnant wife got up to last night? I always assume this kind of thing is intended to provoke feelings in the reader about how hot it would be if this super hot warrior dude bragged about how hot you were to his equally hot warrior buddies, but I find it profoundly squicky.
Ahem - I have strong feelings about that, apparently. ANYWAY, this book does not do that. In fact, in the first segment in Afghanistan, it has the best and most accurate team interactions: people from their respective teams tease Wulf and Theresa about each other a bit, but there is definitely a line of privacy and professional behavior. Also, I really appreciated that military rules about fraternization and the impact on your career actually exist and are acknowledged in this book. In part because realism, and in part because, um, I secretly love forbidden workplace romances.
So why only three stars? Because I loved the military romance in the first 25% so. much. and I wanted more of it, I wanted it to all just be about the young military doctor who's trying her best to be professional and keep her career together, and who is derailed by the hot SF sergeant who's wooing her. (Man, it was awesome. The scene where they watch Cinderella and are ultra-aware of each other's knees and elbows, and he eventually brushes her fingers across his lips? Good lord, it's hotter than most sex scenes.) And I found the parts about the paranormal immortality much less compelling, to be frank. Of course, that is just me, and I think people who are into paranormals would not find that to be a problem.
However, once our heroes leave Afghanistan for Rome and the sexual relationship and the thriller part of the plot starts, I have to admit that my delight really dropped off. I found the actual sex scenes between the characters, in comparison to the initial slow burn, fairly uncompelling. I mean, the segments in Afghanistan are very intense, with the sexual tension. There's a scene where they're on a troop helicopter next to each other, and it's a bumpy ride, and their shoulders keep bumping, and it's making her terribly flustered, and then she tries to get some leverage to move an inch away from him, but she accidentally puts her hand on his thigh, and then is very flustered by that. I loved the descriptions of how flustered she was by his physical proximity and masculinity, and I wanted the eventual sex scenes to really pay that off, and I didn't feel that they did.
I was also just not super into the suspense plot (which, like the paranormal thing, isn't saying much, as romance suspense is not really my thing.)
A final thing I found worth noting is that the heroine (SPOILER!!!!)
*
*
*
*
*
loses a limb in an IED attack, and the book doesn't shy away from the fact that she's now an amputee who has to deal with mourning the wholeness of her body, and learn to use a prosthesis, etc. I found this, and the physical and emotional realism of this, SO amazingly well-done and startling to find in a romance that I hardly even know what to say about it.
So overall, I continue to be a person who is not necessarily a fan of paranormals, but I found the writing here really excellent, and if you do enjoy paranormals, I would absolutely give this a try, and I will definitely be trying future titles from this author.
January 3, 2018
I couldn't finish this book, the whole - "I'm a nurse in the military" but "a softer sex" thing just didn't settle with me.
July 5, 2017
This is Anna Richland's first published novel and I think it shows. I'm glad I discovered her by reading His Road Home, because it's a much stronger book.
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