Customer Reviews

The Sea King (Berkley Sensation)

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4 star:		(2)
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The Sea King entertains from the first sentence and continues until the last. The young Saxon heroine, Princess Isabel, is saved from drowning by the Viking, Kol Thorleksson. She is appalled to discover he is thought responsible for her near death, and is being held prisoner by her brother, so she arranges his escape.

Two years later, Kol returns to complete his revenge against the Norsex king who imprisoned him. Kol is shocked to learn the girl who aided his escape is Princess Isabel, sister to the hated king Ranulf.

Isabel has a child, and believes the father to be Kol, for she knows she has never been with a man. Kol knows he isn't the father. The mystery as to who fathered Isabel's child isn't revealed until the end.

Jolie Mathis deftly builds the sexual tension between Isabel and Kol. Amidst the chaos of war, distrust and anger, love slowly and believably blossoms between these two. All questions raised are resolved. I highly recommend The Sea King. The history whispers at you and keeps you back in time while the romance unfolds. It's a keeper, and one you'll want to reread.

Make way, make way! Here is a new and refreshingly clear voice entering the historical romance writers realm with a debut that is pretty darn special!

Isabel, the favored but wild princess of Calldarington was never happier than escaping the confines of the keep where unfettered, she could race her horse across the land. When a sudden storm ripped through the sky she was tossed from her horse's back into the river and nothingness. The coldness of the river was soon replaced by the strength and warmth of the arms that encircled her and upon opening her eyes, the crystal blue eyes of the guardian angel that rescued her. When next she awoke it was to discover that her rescuer had been accused of attacking her, tortured and imprisoned by her half-brother King Ranulf. Creeping from her bed, Isabel descended to the dungeon, found her rescuer, more dead than alive, and helped him to escape.

Two years later, her angel Kol Thorleksson returned at the head of his Viking army to extract vengeance against Ranulf, the king whose `hospitality' had almost killed him. During the battle, Ranulf escaped leaving behind his two sisters one of which Kol would recognize as the young innocent he'd rescued from the river, the one he could not wrest from his mind, the one he thought was a peasant girl - Isabel. To his dismay, gone was that innocence. This Isabel looked upon him with a passion born of hatred and loathing, believing that he had molested her when she was unconscious leaving her ruined and pregnant. Someone fathered her child and Isabel was convinced he did. Kol knew without a doubt he did not. As Isabel's hatred for Kol burned her being, Kol would do all in his power to convince her of his innocence and gain her good graces, even as he planned to use her to draw her brother, his enemy back into his hands.

This is one of those exciting fast paced Viking action tales that the reader will find immensely hard to put aside. The protagonists are both vividly drawn and the tension drawn between the two serves well to ignite the passion each is afraid to reveal to one another. The author elicits powerful emotions throughout with in depth character studies. With a flair for originality this author gifts the reader with a stunning debut that is sure to leave the reader emotionally satisfied with a steamy and exciting romance of a poignant love story that was destiny fulfilled! This is a truly inspiring debut and an author who bears watching!

Marilyn Rondeau, RIO - Reviewers International Organization

Princess Isabel is out playing "hooky", riding her horse Merwyn and dreaming of having a lover that she is to marry. Rushing home before a storm, she is jumping the horse when a clap of thunder causes the animal to toss her into the river. At first, she thinks she is dying, but then a handsome stranger, Kol Thorleksson, rescues her from drowning. Instead of being rewarded for his heroism, Kol is whipped. Isabel's half-brother, King Ranulf, believes Kol attacked her, so commands he be punished. Isobel awakens from being unconscious and finds Kol is being beaten because Ranulf believes he tried to harm his sister. She tries to make them stop, to explain he didn't hurt her, instead saved her, but cannot. Later, she helps Kol to escape.
Kol vows revenge against Ranulf for the whipping. Two years later his chance comes. He lays siege against Ranulf's fortress. Ranulf escapes, but leaves his two sisters behind. Kol's rage over losing Ranulf is nothing compared to the anger he experiences when he discovers Isabel is one of the princess-sisters to Ranulf. His fury grows when he learns Isabel has a two-year-old son and has named Kol as the father of her child. Kol knows he is not the father of Isabel's child and believe she named him as the sire to protect another.

As time goes on Kol realizes Isabel actually appears to believe he is the father of her child. Isabel had no idea who Kol was when she helped him escape, or no idea¯she believes now, that he had made her pregnant. Her people believe she is a traitor to them because Kol was the Danish enemy out to cause Ranulf's people harm, and she helped him. Kol plans to use Isabel and the child to trap Ranulf. Only it's Kol who is trapped by Isobel's charm.

Kol knows he didn't attack Isobel, even though she now believes this. But the child IS there, evidence someone fathered her baby. Ignore the questions this premise presents and let the delightful story unfold under the charming voice of the writer. Jolie Mathis pulls out all stops and gives you a wonderfully entertaining book, with a strong hero and heroine who will steal your heart. I adore Viking tales, so it's great to see this long-neglected era of Historical Romance being done again.

A marvelous debut book. I am sure we will be hearing more from this writer.

I eagerly await from more from this new voice in romance.

Princess Isabel of Norsex in 10th Century England thinks an angel has come to her aid after being dumped into an icy river by her horse. When she awakens, safe in her own bed, however, she learns her rescuer has been mistaken for her attacker. Not all that surprising since he is a Viking warrior whose people were not exactly known for their altruistic behavior. Even though she knows she does could cost her her own life, Isabel frees her angel from her brother's prison, unwittingly setting into motion a chain of events that will alter not only her life, but the Viking's as well.

Two years later finds Isabel's rescuer, Kol Thorleksson, at the head of an army bent on exacting revenge for his torture and imprisonment at the hands of Isabel's brother, the king of Norsex. It is not until the conquering Vikings take the king's holding that Kol realizes Isabel was not the brave peasant girl he had thought her to be, but was a princess and relation to the man he seeks to kill. His memory of the courageous girl of two years ago is replaced by the regal and possibly treacherous woman Isabel has become.

And Isabel has changed from that girl into a woman with secrets to protect and a kingdom to reclaim from the Viking who has returned to throw her mistake in her face. She is determined to right the wrong she made before in rescuing this man who now stands before her as a conqueror, even if she has to kill him herself. Which she makes every attempt to do, even though she is inexplicably drawn to him.

In this rich-in-detail story of two people drawn together despite hatred and prejudices by events of the past, Kimberly Ungar (writing as Jolie Mathis) gives readers a tantalizing glimpse into the world of pre-Normal England. Her attention to detail leaves the reader (at least this particular reader with very little knowledge of the time period) with a definite sense of `having been there'. And yet, the history lesson is one that goes down very easily as it is interwoven with a story that is both timeless and intriguing, no matter the setting. As a reader who is just fine with a bit of artistic license in her historicals, I found this book to be educational and entertaining. And I suspect that those readers who are purists and insist on pinpoint historical accuracy (and there is certainly nothing wrong with that in my opinion) in their novels will not have any complaints with the amount and depth of research that obviously went into The Sea King.

The Sea King is Jolie Mathis' debut novel, and this inveterate contemporary reader will be eagerly waiting for her next title, no matter where, or when, it takes place.

This is the first great book I've read in a long long time. How can you not love "KOL" I so do????? He is a heroe among heroe's. I read it in a day and hated to see it end. It's about time we were treated to such a true rich romance. Jolie Mathis made you feel like you were there. I just can't say enough EXCEPT I can't wait to read your next story. PLEASE HURRY!!!!

Jolie Mathis has put herself at the top of my auto-buy list. (along with only four others) I've been hungry for a good Viking tale, and The Sea King more than satisfied. With an exquisite hand, Ms. Mathis pens a passionate tale of revenge, love and redemption. Kol is the perfect hero, an alpha male who isn't afraid to be gentle. Isabel leaps off the page, leaving the reader immersed in every emotion. Secondary characters also add depth to an already wonderful story. My only regret after reading The Sea King is that Ms. Mathis has no other books out yet. I will be anxiously awaiting her next tale.

Princess Isabel is the half-sister of King Ranulf. When she is thrown from her horse and into the river she expects to die. Instead she is rescued by a handsome man. As she awakens from her injuries, she learns that her savior is being whipped for harming her. Unable to make anyone listen to her and stop the abuse, she can only wait until everyone sleeps before helping the man escape.

Two years have passed. Kol Thorleksson wants revenge against King Ranulf for the injustices done to him on his previous stay. However, Ranulf escapes the siege, leaving his two sisters behind. When the two princesses are brought into his presence, Kol is stunned to learn that one of them is the lady he rescued two years previously. No matter that Isabel helped him escape, Kol plans to use her as bait to lure Ranulf out of hiding. Kol is also stunned to learn that Isabel has a two-year-old son, Godric, and that HE has been named as the father! Kol is positive Isabel told the lies to protect another man. After all, he never seduced her. But Isabel seems to honestly believe her lies.

Isabel had no idea who Kol was when she helped him two years ago. If she had known he was a mercenary out to kill her brother OR that he had gotten her pregnant while she had been unconscious, she would have killed him herself. Now her people believe her to be a traitor. No one would wed her since she has been ruined, and Ranulf has made her a virtual prisoner in her own home. But prisoner to an over protective brother is one thing. Prisoner to a merciless barbarian is quite another! The Dane even has the nerve to use their son as leverage to keep her in line. No matter how handsome and attractive this devil may be, Isabel refuses to betray her brother and king, Ranulf. With luck, Isabel will be able to kill Kol and save her brother the trouble.

***** In a word, "W-O-W!" You have GOT to read this book! All through the story I kept wondering who Godric's father really was. I had several theories, all of them wrong. Author Jolie Mathis shows readers her sly and wily side. At the same time, she keeps you totally enthralled with the lives of her characters. It is utterly impossible to resist Kol and Isabel. They are so real, so believable. It is as if the author breathed life into them. They seemed to jump off the page and into my heart. Honestly, if you read only a single book this entire year, let it be this one! *****

Reviewed by Detra Fitch of Huntress Reviews.

Destiny weaves a wicked web, a dangerous mixture of deceitful lies and hidden truths in this thrilling tale by new author Jolie Mathis. Trapped in shades of thick grey, the characters in "The Sea King" have a lifetime of betrayal to overcome. One tale of love shall endure, the obstacles in its path mere hindrances compared to the depth of feeling that abounds from our hero and heroine.

Kol Thorleksson, Viking conqueror, came once to the lands of Norsex and was condemned a villain. The beguiling girl he saved was indeed his downfall, yet he could not doubt her courage when she in turn freed him from his prison. Two years later, he clings still to the image of the girl that freed him as he ravages the land of the king that tried to end his life. That girl, now a woman, was the Princess Isabel. She is torn by this man, this angel savior whose memory she grasped like a lifeline. Something evil happened to her the day that angel rescued her, but is he the man responsible for her ruin? How can he be when her heart beats for his touch? As danger and false allies appear from every aspect of her life, will Isabel and Kol live long enough to come to terms with their scars? Only a reckoning can untwist this sordid skein of treachery, and that reckoning will shake everything Isabel has ever known.

The level of sheer good in this book is astounding. Ms. Mathis is a talented new author that sets a remarkably high standard with this break out romance. Her writing is superb, smooth flowing and uncluttered. Kol and Isabel are a gripping couple, their individual story fascinating to behold. So much lies between them, so much conflict and so much love. Kol is an imposing man, flawed in his own mind and tormented, but strong and sensually dominant as well. Isabel was a wonderful heroine; bold, calm in the midst of tragedy and fair of heart. She is a true leader. Many secondary characters add to the ever-heightening sense that all is not right in the kingdom of Norsex, especially with its nobles. Many plot twists kept me on my toes, breathless to discover the real traitor. More please Ms. Mathis! I'm ready to go a-Viking again!

K. Montgomery
Official Reviewer for The Mystic Castle

I didn't have particularly high hopes for The Sea King, because somehow Viking stories usually end up hokey, cheesy and not too well written. I am SO glad I ended up buying this book because it's original, well plotted, with fabulous characterization and is just a beautiful story. Ms Mathis successfully pulled off something that many 'best-selling' authors today can't seem to do, which is write a story with two original characters that smash stereotypes, yet keep the language and behavior true to the period. Bravo!

I LOVED that the author gave Kol vulnerability instead of just making him your typical, run of the mill Alpha male. We were able to understand that Kol had essentially fallen in love with Isabel at first sight and spent the entire book trying to solve the mystery and find out who had raped her and fathered her child. I also sympathized with Isabel, who was torn betweenn believing the most obvious suspect to be guilty (Kol) and going with her gut feeling.. and then she had to try to balance her loyalty to her adopted brother with her trust and belief in Kol.

This is a truly exceptional book, and I'm hoping to reread my copy a few months down the line. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Jolie Mathis has another book in the works, too!

I loved this book! The hero is sexy but tortured. The heroine is tortured but feisty. Nobody is innocent -- everybody is guilty of betraying somebody, and everybody gets betrayed at some point. There are so many plot twists, it is hard to see how the good guys will prevail. But they do! A perfect romance book -- put it in your "must read" pile. I would like to see more books from this author.