Helena Halme Author

Nordic Fiction with a hint of Noir and Romance

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The English Heart (Book 1 The Nordic Heart Series)

By Helena Halme

The English Heart (Book 1 The Nordic Heart Series)
true story
  • Publisher: Newhurst Press
  • Edition: 2
  • Available in: E-book, Paperback
  • ISBN: 978-1-9998929-0-6
  • Published: November 11, 2017
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She has her life planned out. He lets the wind guide his sails. As the Cold War heats up, can they keep love alive on either side of the iron curtain?

Finland, 1980. Kaisa has never been a risk taker. After graduation, she plans to marry the dependable older man who paid for her classes and kept a roof over her head. But when she accepts an invitation to a party at the British Embassy, a handsome naval officer makes her want to throw caution to the wind. She surprises herself when they share a passionate kiss under the stars and promise to see each other again. But how could she possibly give up her sure-thing relationship for a man she barely knows?

When Peter Williams pictured his future, he saw a rising in the ranks and an endless trip around the world. Though when he meets the strong-willed Kaisa in Helsinki, his passion for the sea takes a serious turn. Not even the excitement of hunting down Russian submarines can compare to the thrill of his lips on hers. But despite his growing feelings, his commanding officers won’t tolerate him pursuing a woman from a Soviet-friendly nation.

Both torn between impossible choices, Kaisa and Peter must search their souls for the right answer. With the Cold War heating up between them, can two star-crossed lovers find their courage or will their relationship sink on the high seas?

The English Heart is a breathtaking contemporary women’s fiction novel with an undercurrent of romance. If you like vivid historical details, star-crossed chemistry, and complex characters, then you’ll love Helena Halme’s tale of Cold War romance.

The English Heart is based on true events but all characters appearing in this work are fictitious.

Review:

“The English Heart is a love story: the account of the long-distance romance between English Naval officer Peter and Finnish student Kaisa, as this star-crossed couple discovers that Shakespeare’s words are still true, even in the 1980s, and the course of true love never runs smooth. Together, they contend with a broken engagement, long separations, the Falklands War, inevitable cultural differences, and the small matter of a member of the British armed forces wanting to marry a citizen of a country bordering the Soviet Union.” – Kate Allison, founder of The Displaced Nation website. Read the whole review here

Review:

“I was so excited when The English Heart arrived that I started reading it the same night and couldn’t put it down so eventually put out the light at midnight, by which time I was halfway through. Last night I worked until 1:30am but had to find out what happened next so read until 2:30. I’m loving it! :-)” – Reader, by email.

Review:

“I automatically give five stars to any book that has me staying up way past my bedtime to read it and abandoning anything else that I’m meant to be doing in order to get to the end, and this was one of those books.” – Debbie Young, author and Commissioning Editor Author Advice Centre, Alliance of Independent Authors.

“The English Heart is subtitled “Can love go the distance” and it is quite the page-turner, I had difficulty stopping myself from devouring it in one go.” – Tania Hershman, award-winning author and poet, and editor of The Short Review.

Review:

“This was a recommendation from my Finnish girlfriend. As a love story between a Finnish girl and an Englishman, it seemed quite apt really! Whilst perhaps not the genre I would usually read, I was compelled throughout, completing the book in a couple of days. I really loved the little touches of cross-cultural romance; I could definitely identify with several of the Englishman’s actions, for example making a sandwich out of the traditional Finnish snack of cheese, ham and rye bread! Not to mention hours spent wondering what your partner is doing or thinking in another country. Although I think my reading was enriched by my past visits to Tampere and Helsinki, I would certainly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good love story, particularly those who have experienced a long-distance relationship.”  – A Goodreads reader.

Review:

“Helena Halme, a Finn who grew up in Sweden, now writes in English. Her fictionalised memoirs give an insight into displacement, long-distance love, dysfunctional families, cultural differences between neighbouring countries, and the emotional journey of readjustment.
Check out Coffee and Vodka and The Red King of Helsinki by the same author.
As a perennial nomad, I identify. The light tones of romance and adventure are deceptive. Halme tackles awkward issues such as family problems, practical bureaucracy and the reality of prejudice.
Identity, conscience, duty, relatives, friends, and the inescapable ties of love, whether benign or otherwise, her books have serious ballast.
Yet the stories draw you in and only when you’ve finished a satisfying journey do you realise you’ve learned something.
And this is an author writing in her THIRD language.
 ” – JJ Marsh, journalists, teacher, actor, and author of the Beatrice Stubbs detective series. 

Read a Free Sample of The English Heart now!

Other books by Helena Halme

The Nordic Heart Series:

The Young Heart (Prequel)

The English Heart (Book 1)

The Faithful Heart (Book 2)

The Good Heart (Book 3)

The True Heart (Book 4)

The Christmas Heart (Book 5)

Love on the Island series:

The Island Affair: Can one summer mend a broken heart? (Book 1)

An Island Christmas: A Wintry Tale of Love, Family, and Impossible Choices (Book 2)

The Island Daughter: When past secrets shatter your present, how do you face your future? (NEW Book 3)

Love on the Island Books 1-3 Boxset

Other titles:

Coffee and Vodka: A Nordic Family Drama

The Red King of Helsinki: Lies, Spies, and Gymnastics

 

 


Series: The Nordic Heart Romance Series Tagged with: The English Heart, The Faithful Heart, The Good Heart, The Nordic Heart Romance Series, The Young Heart

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Whoo hoo! My new book, an enemies-to-lovers winter Whoo hoo! My new book, an enemies-to-lovers winter romance, To Melt A Frozen Heart, is now on pre-order!
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To Melt A Frozen Heart is Book 1 in a new series, titled, The Anderssons.  In the first novel in the series, we meet  Kat Andersson, a passionate environmentalist TV producer. Heartbroken after a devastating betrayal by those whom she most trusted in her life, she travels to Lapland, where she meets – and immediately hates – Mikael Hult, a ski instructor from a wealthy Finnish mining family.
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Here’s the full blurb:
When trust is betrayed by those closest to you, can love still find its way?

Kat, a TV producer nursing a shattered heart from a celebrity chef's betrayal, seeks refuge in Lapland. There, she crosses paths with Mikael, a Finnish ski instructor from a wealthy mining dynasty.

Their worlds collide like ice and fire, yet an irresistible attraction blooms. Kat, an ardent vegan and environmental advocate, has sworn off holiday romances. Mikael embodies everything she detests about privilege: fast cars, inherited wealth, and disregard for the environment.

But destiny has other plans. When disaster strikes in Lapland's pristine wilderness, Kat and Mikael find themselves drawn together. In their struggle for survival, they uncover shared values and a connection they never expected.

Will Kat's heart thaw, granting her a second chance at love, or will it remain frozen forever? 

To Melt A Frozen Heart whisks you from London's bustling streets to Lapland's enchanting landscapes, where the Northern Lights and twinkling stars illuminate Kat and Mikael’s path.
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You can now pre-order the eBook version of To Melt A Frozen Heart from your favourite store for just $0.99. This is a time-sensitive offer, so if you want to read my next novel, Book 1 in a brand new series, as soon as it hits the virtual shelves go to my profile or here: helenahalmebooks.com to secure your copy.
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To Melt A Frozen Heart will be out on 30 November 2023, at which point the price will go up to $4.99. 
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Happy Monday! I started my week with Pilates @moss Happy Monday! I started my week with Pilates @mossymummy . Now wonderfully energized, I’m at my desk with coffee (naturally), running through the first edits of my Lapland book (cover and title reveal coming soon - watch this space 👀). 
I hope your week has kicked off well too!
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I’ve had a glut of tomatoes from the cherry toma I’ve had a glut of tomatoes from the cherry tomato plant, but not so many from the ‘big’ one. It’s very satisfying to eat fruit from your own #London balcony though! 🍅🪴
There’s nothing like meeting up with a good frie There’s nothing like meeting up with a good friend who also happens to be an amazing author! 
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Freddie @freddieppeters and I write in  different genres but we have so much in common. Our 3+ hour lunches are legendary.
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Always prolific, Freddie has once again beat me to publishing her latest financial thriller, Book 2 in the Nancy Wu series, SON AND CRUSADER. I cannot wait to read it!
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