Book Extract: The Viking She Shouldn’t Crave By Sarah Rodi

Published January 17, 2026 | By Laura

Please join me in welcoming Sarah Rodi to Novel Kicks and the blog tour for her book, The Viking She Shouldn’t Crave.

A spicy, forbidden love Viking romance

Their forbidden tryst…

Is treason!

Helena’s spent her life preparing to be the Byzantine Prince’s bride. But when his cruel disinterest turns her position perilous, she finds salvation in fierce warrior Viggo. As the Prince’s personal guard, he knows her betrothed like no other. Could Viggo help her win his affections?

Only, Helena swiftly discovers the man she craves is not her husband-to-be…but thrillingly rugged Viggo! To act on their desires would be committing treason. Getting caught could be fatal. And yet, resisting their illicit connection feels like a fate worse than death…

Sarah has kindly shared an extract with us today. We hope you enjoy.

*****beginning of extract*****

The Viking She Shouldn’t Crave is set in 10^th century Constantinople, where skilled Viking warriors fought for emperors in return for great riches, and the royal princes picked their wives at bride shows.

The story begins when the bishop’s daughter, Helena, is chosen at the bride show. Prince Marianos must marry to sire an heir, and Helena must wed to save her family from financial ruin, but during their first moments alone, the prince’s charming façade drops, and Helena’s ideas of a romantic union are shattered.

She is surprised when his Varangian commander, Viggo, is kind to her, despite his belief that she is marrying the prince for wealth and status.

In this scene, Helena has snuck out of the palace and gone to Viggo’s home to ask for his help to win over the prince’s affections. But she soon discovers it is not the prince’s heart, but that of his right-hand man she cares about, but any attraction between them is forbidden, and Viggo must resist temptation – he needs the wedding to take place to receive his coin and help his pregnant sister…

*****

‘I wanted to talk to you about the Prince,’ she said, wringing her hands. ‘You’ve seen what it’s like. He has chosen to distance himself from me and there’s just days to go until the wedding.’ She paced away, towards a large ornate mirror. She was distracted by her reflection. Her cheeks were pink, her eyes bright and her hair had come loose from her braids after wearing that helmet, tendrils framing her face. ‘Zoe has told me I need to rectify the situation, yet Marianos won’t let me near him to see or speak to him.’

‘I’m sure he will come round,’ he said. But then he frowned. ‘Unless… Are you saying you want to break off the engagement?’

She whirled round, leaving her reflection behind, crossing the distance between them. ‘No. This union is vital.’ To her and her family. Her pride. ‘Even though I know this marriage will not be what I had envisioned—that Marianos is indifferent to me—I will not give up on it, or him.’

His jaw clenched. ‘Then what are you doing here?’ he said, his voice turning glacial.

‘You fight for him—risk your life for him. You must think he’s worth it.’

‘I do,’ he said, his voice clipped. ‘Over the past few winters, I have tried to guide him. I believe, I hope, that he will become a leader to be proud of. The ruler we all need him to be.’

She nodded. ‘I want to help,’ she said. ‘Only, to do so, I need you to help me first.’

His brows rose. ‘Help you? How?’

She stepped towards him. ‘I am at a loss as to what to do—how I can get close to him. Marianos looks up to you; he respects you. I was hoping you could speak to him, navigate my connection with him. Help me understand his needs?’

‘His needs?’ Viggo’s obsidian eyes widened—he looked incredulous.

‘Please,’ she said. She reached out and touched his arm, shocking the both of them.

He stared down at her fingers curved over his inked forearm and she instantly snatched her hand back—the heat of his skin strangely burning hers.

‘I wouldn’t have come here if I hadn’t been desperate. But if I can’t win the Prince round, if this marriage doesn’t go ahead…’ She wrung her hands once more. ‘I will be ruined.’ Her family, too. She looked up at him. ‘Zoe has made it clear how unstable my situation is.’

His scowl darkened. ‘What did she say?’

She gave a little shake of her head.

‘Helena,’ he said, stepping towards her. ‘Did she threaten you?’

‘I need to know I can trust you,’ she said.

‘Isn’t it a little late for that?’

A pained expression flittered across her face and he relented. ‘You have my word. Whatever you tell me stays within these walls.’

She swallowed and nodded. ‘She said that if I don’t win Marianos’s affections, if the wedding doesn’t go ahead, then she will see to it that I end up the same way as that man in the square.’

*****end of extract*****

About Sarah Rodi –

Sarah Rodi has always been a hopeless romantic. She grew up watching old, romantic movies recommended by her grandad, or devouring love stories from the local library. Sarah lives in the village of Cookham in Berkshire, where she enjoys walking along the River Thames with her husband, her two daughters and their dog.