TRO by S.T. Bende
(Elsker Saga #3)
September 4, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance
(Clean content)
Source: eARC for Honest review
Synopsis:
Sometimes you just have to believe.
Finding her destiny nearly cost her everything. Kristia knows she can handle whatever The Fates throw at her next—including her long-awaited honeymoon with the God of Winter. But as things heat up between Kristia and Ull, a frost settles over Asgard. An unexpected death marks the beginning of the end, much earlier than anyone expected. Kristia’s barely begun to understand what she’s capable of, and controlling her powers seems completely out of her grasp. With her new family fighting for their lives, and Ull fighting for their future, Kristia has to make a devastating choice: preserve the life she loves, or protect the god she can’t live without?
My Review:
Finally the Honeymoon! I must say, I love Ull and Kristia. They are just so very sweet. And fun. And funny. And sexy in their very adorable way. All the build-up of their relationship was lovely and I caught myself grinning and sighing contentedly often during this book, particularly the first half. Just seeing Ull and Kristia let loose and be completely free with each was the best. I especially loved the new fun side of Ull we got to see. This story gave me all kinds of happy.
Besides the happy honeymooning, we still have the ever impending doom of battle on its way. Elfie himself takes persistent, annoying, crazy, evil guy to a new level. He's not toying around anymore. There are some great battle scenes here and I liked the various perspectives we're able to take on them. I was certainly biting my nails at one point as I flipped through the pages, nerves on high alert. I wanted a bit more, too, but was content with the tension and intensity of the scenes.
I love the Elsker Saga series. The combination of Norse mythology with the modern world, the beauty of finding your true love and soulmate, the sweet tenderness of friendship and romance, the intensity of impending battle and doom. All these things make this series very special and a journey I loved taking. The author even notes there will more to come with a new Norse crew, and I can't wait to see what comes next.
4-1/2 STARS
TRO Excerpt:
“What do you want to know?” Ull lowered his sunglasses lazily and
eyed me with a look that made my insides burn.
“Well.” I paused. “Uh , . . What am I supposed to do if I’m
attacked?”
“You mean if this happened?” Ull launched himself off the chaise,
wrapping one arm around my waist and dragging me across the beach. He cradled
me in his arms and landed in the froth where the ocean met the shore.
“See? I’m totally defenseless.” I gazed up at him, my back pressed
firmly against the wet sand. He hovered, supporting his weight on his forearms.
“I am afraid you are.” Piercing blue eyes locked in on mine.
Between the depth of his stare and the heat from his abs, I forgot everything
else.
“Um . . .” I bit my bottom lip.
Ull tilted his head to one side, a small smile playing on his
mouth. “Now what did you want to know?”
“I—”
A wave washed over us. The warm saltwater lapped up to my waist
then retreated, leaving a film of sand over my legs.
“You were asking me how to defend yourself?” Dangit, it was hard to
focus with Ull’s dripping body pressed against mine. Yes, I wanted whatever it
was I’d asked about. Self-defense. Right. But there was something else I wanted
more.
I bent my knee and twined my calf around Ull’s. I shifted my hips
just an inch and stared into those endless eyes. They sparkled in the sunlight.
My arms were trapped beneath his torso, so I turned my palms upward to touch
the spot where his chest met his shoulders. It was so smooth, so firm, and so
very, very warm.
My eyes never left his as I moved my thumb along the line of his
shoulder, over his bicep, and down to the crook of his arm. I drew a slow
circle inside his elbow and Ull blinked.
“Kristia,” he whispered.
“Yes?” I tried to reach up to stroke the stubble lining his square
chin, but my arms were pinned.
“You are not trying to defend yourself.”
“So?” I raised my head and kissed his jaw. “Maybe I don’t feel like
fighting you off.”
“Mmm.” Ull closed his eyes as I kissed my way up to his ear. “So if
someone came after you, you would just let them do this?”
He swiftly rolled onto his back, forcing me on top of him. He
shoved his fingers in my hair and tugged gently, pulling my head back. He kept
the other hand just above the bottom of my bikini, firmly pressing my hips into
his. I squirmed against the hold, trying to find a way out of his grip. Though
I tactically had the upper hand, I couldn’t move.
“Well, I wouldn’t let just anyone
do this.”
“I should hope not,” he growled softly. He raked his teeth along my
throat and paused at the hollow of my neck. “Because if I ever caught wind of
someone doing this to my girl, it would end very badly for them.” He ran his
tongue along my collarbone. I shivered.
In a lightning-quick move, Ull flipped me onto my back and pinned
my arms above my head with one hand. I gazed adoringly at the fierce assassin
glowering over me. “And this. What would you do if someone did this to you?”
“Uh.” I blinked. If I told Ull what I really wanted to do right
now, I’d turn every possible shade of crimson.
“Focus, Kristia.” Ull stared at me. “What would you do if you were
trapped?”
“I . . . uh . . . I’d . . .” My cheeks felt hotter than a grizzly
in a desert. “You seriously want me to fight you off?
“If you are so bent on going through with this little exercise,
then yes. Give it your best shot. And then, I believe, you promised to pay me
for the lesson.”
“Gladly.” I narrowed my eyes and wrenched my arm as hard as I
could. It didn’t budge. I tried again but it was futile.
“You are outmaneuvered and I am twice your weight. Try something
else,” Ull commanded.
I threw my shoulder into his chest and tried to roll to one side.
“You cannot out-force me. Look at the difference in our masses.
Think tactically, Kristia. What can you do that will debilitate me?”
My eyes widened. “You don’t want me to—”
“I want you to find a way to get me off you. Do what you have to
do.”
I closed my eyes and raised a knee to his groin. Ull groaned and
rolled off me.
“I’m so sorry! You said to—”
He raised a hand and waved at me, turning away.
“I’m sorry,” I repeated.
“That was good.” He rolled back with a grimace. “But if someone is
bent on capturing you, they will come back for more. And quickly. Your next
step should be to run.”
“If you want I can get some ice for—”
“Run, darling.” It was a threat. “Now.”
I jumped to my feet and took off down the beach. I ran just shy of
the shoreline, where I was less likely to be slowed down by soft sand. The
water lapped at my heels as I built up speed, pushing off the balls of my feet.
A warm breeze caressed my bare skin and every cell in my body buzzed as if
someone had turned on a light switch. Movement came so easily now.
Something hot hit me from behind, and I felt Ull’s arms curl
protectively around me as he tackled me. We landed just inside the surf again,
and this time the wave crashed over our heads. I sputtered as the water covered
my face, wishing I’d had time to hold my breath. The saltwater burned my nose.
Ull was on top of me again, and this time he wasn’t hovering. The
full weight of his body pressed me into the sand. His legs were tangled up in
mine, and his hands cradled the back of my head.
“You did not run fast enough, sweetheart.”
Elsker Saga Order:
TUR #0.5
(Free!)
ELSKER #1
ENDRE #2
Meet the Author:
Before finding domestic bliss in suburbia, ST Bende lived in
Manhattan Beach (became overly fond of Peet’s Coffee) and Europe… where she
became overly fond of McVities cookies. Her love of Scandinavian culture and a
very patient Norwegian teacher inspired the books of The Elsker Saga. She hopes
her characters make you smile and that one day, pastries will be considered a
health food.
Find ST on Twitter @stbende, her blog, or send her an e-mail.
While you're at it, introduce yourself to @UllMyhr -- when he's not saving the
cosmos from dark elves, he loves meeting new friends . . . especially the human
kind.
Author Social Media Links:
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