This week’s snippet comes from this week’s re-release: Fall Hard, my Iceland-set, Viking-saga-influenced romantic suspense. Our amnesiac hero, Paul, is visiting an exhibition on Egil’s Saga and is about to realise there may be a reason why he’s blocked out those memories…
Then I came to the Nidstöng, the scorn-stick. It was another grotesque exhibit, a representation of a half-rotted horse’s head, set upon a stick carved with runes. Again, there was the smell of must, of closed rooms and things long dead. I stood paralysed, lines from the saga running through my mind:
Egil took a horse’s head and fixed it on a pole. After that, in solemn form of curse, he thus spake: “Here set I up a curse-pole, and this curse I turn on King Eric and Queen Gunnhilda.”
I’d seen something like this before. But not here. And it had been different; the head had been a skull, its bones shining whitely in the grey light that came through our window…
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When you’ve already paid the price for falling, is it safe to trust again?
An accident at Iceland’s Gullfoss Falls robbed British academic Paul Ansell of his American lover—and his memories of all their time together. Eight months later, back in the volcanic land to resume his research on bloodthirsty Viking Egil Skallagrimsson, Paul is still struggling to get his life back together. But trying to deal with his growing feelings for enigmatic Icelander and jet-boat driver Viggo is even harder.
Is Paul’s explosive attraction to this tall, tattooed, modern-day Viking all physical—or sparked by hidden memories? Paul’s drawn to the idea of a fresh start, but troubled by Viggo’s odd reluctance to talk about their friendship before the accident.
Meanwhile, Alex Winter, a Boston history professor on a working holiday, won’t stop asking disconcerting questions. Unsure whom to trust, and unable to trust himself, Paul begins to suspect the fall at Gullfoss was no accident—but he’s about to learn that some things are better off forgotten.
![locknut_200x300[4]](https://farm1.staticflickr.com/904/40247243490_3a97895e2a.jpg)
JL Merrow 
Intriguing premise. I wonder what he’s remembering here from his own life.
Heh, Paul’s wondering that himself right now! 😉
Very intriguing. More please.
❤
I like this!
😀
*shivers*
*passes thick woolly Icelandic sweater*
Intriguing snippet and blurb. The Rainbow Snippet group is going to make my Kindle explode.
Lol, yes – I love the variety of snippets we get. 🙂
A really strong snippet. Sounds like the story is about some really strong men, and a mystery. Sounds good to me
Thanks! 😀
I bought this in September 2013, so now is just about the right time for me to be re-reading it. At the time I awarded it five stars. Like pretty well all of Ms Merrow’s superlative output….
Bruin, you’re a sweetie! ❤
You had me at Iceland-set Viking saga. This looks so interesting.
Thanks! 😀 I do love a good saga.
Oh my word. That’s grim. The Vikings really knew how to turn a tale (and a stomach). I really like it, though (not sure what that says about me).
Egil’s saga is really fascinating – he’s such a complex character. I love the tales of his childhood, which by modern standards was seriously messed up! (See Ch 40 here: http://sagadb.org/egils_saga.en)
I love this book. It may be time for a reread…
OMG.. gimme! I love Iceland and the blurb says this is right up my street. /runs off to amazon/