"Hearts Aflame" is a magnificent romance! A story about a Saxon lord and his Viking prisoner, "Hearts" sizzles with passion, wit, and MANY unforgettable scenes (a whipping, naked run-ins with the King, hundreds of armed Vikings to the rescue...). Kristen is the boldest, most open character JL has ever written; the Viking maid knows what she wants, and sets out to get it. And what she wants is Royce, an utterly delicious man who hates Vikings with a vengeance. He may hate her people, but there's no way he can resist such a saucy, sassy, spirited "slave" who gives as good as she gets, even in chains. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel - it has a sexy couple, passionate encounters, believable storyline, and lots of sub-characters who charm you immensely (especially Selig, who was such a precious baby in "Fires of Winter," but now such a hunk of a Viking in "Hearts Aflame"). Yes, "Hearts Aflame" is the second book in a trilogy, though it easily stands alone (and does so, with barely any back story). It is also THE BEST in the trilogy, which includes "Fires of Winter" and "Surrender My Love." I highly recommend "Hearts Aflame," but I suggest you read its prequel first, just to enjoy its sub-characters all the more.
