"An incredibly fun Time Travel that will melt your heart"
While the cover discussions rage on, Sandra Hill has proven
once again that it's what's inside those covers that really
counts. With hot, hot, humor at the forefront, Ms. Hill has
crafted another winning contemporary time travel romance.
Personally if I were designing a cover for this book, the
hunky hero would have his head in his hands and there would
be a shopping mall in the background! Well who would have thought Magnus Eriksson could ever be a
romantic hero? Though son and heir to a Jarl, Magnus was a
simple man. He preferred farming to politics. His two
brothers, who have already passed to the future, remember
him fondly, but the very virile Viking they'd left behind
was saddled with eleven children, a tribute to his younger
wilder days when he had foolishly practiced the more
danico. However, all of his wives, mistresses, and
passing
interests had either had the temerity to die on him, or had
simply deserted him because of his fearsome brood. The last
had actually divorced him because of his children, and he
was still living that down. Nay, he would not wed again,
but still he was a very virile Viking. But when yet another
child is deposited on his doorstep he began to wonder if
there were a woman to be had with whom he could risk a
tumble without his seed taking root. The last straw came
when his so called friends paraded a stream of aged,
infirm, undesirable, though positively infertile women
before him to rid him of his frustrations. As a last
resort the virile Viking does the unthinkable, and takes a
vow of celibacy. This along with a strange portent
regarding his lost brothers, prompts Magnus to take along
journey to lands settled by Eric the Red and his son Leif,
or possibly to a new land of his own, preferably where
there were few women. Poor Magnus, the voyage does not proceed smoothly. First a
barmy killer whale takes a fancy to their longship (those
who've read Truly, Madly, Viking know what that means!).
Then, between his precocious brood and his own unique sense
of humor they had worn out their welcome in both Iceland
and Vinland, which was how they found themselves spending
the night anchored off shore. Not for long! During the
night a mysterious mist rolls in and the Viking ship drifts
off to sea. They awaken in the land of "Holly and Wood"
(present day L.A.) Magnus is not the only one who is far away from home.
Angela Abruzzi had once called the Blue Dragon Vineyard in
the Sonoma Valley her home. But a series of mysterious
mishaps had caused the closing of the winery. Angela had
had to move to the city to find employment to help her
grandmother get back on her feet. But her job, selling real
estate to the rich and famous, was no longer supplied
sufficient income to keep them afloat. Angela had come up
with the idea to offer the vineyard to a movie producer as
a set for his upcoming film. Negotiations are disrupted by
trespassers on the
set of the man's current Viking film. The moment Magnus' and Angela's eyes meet, both are
stunned. After all of the women Magnus has had, and all of
the children he's sired, he is certain that at last he has
met his destiny in this very strange land. Angela cannot
believe she is actually attracted to the man. He is
definitely not her type. He's brash, and muscle bound and
judging by the size of his family, a male chauvinist to
boot. She has no choice but to take them all on, when their
care becomes part of her agreement with the movie maker.
Who was this man? Apparently he'd been living in the Dark
Ages, judging by his family's response to the marvels of
WalMart. No he wasn't her type, but if her ex-husband "The
Creep" was any indication, maybe it was past time she found
a new type anyway! The situation is ripe for humor. Angela naturally intends
to resist Magnus's charm, but he is a most loving father in
spite of his grumbles, and his love of the land is
appealing as well. He's incredibly handsome and after all,
one really shouldn't fight destiny, should they? Of course
there is the problem of that celibacy vow. Ah well, never
underestimate the ingenuity of a Viking. Ms. Hill adds
suspense, as Magnus determines to get to the bottom of the
mishaps that have caused so may setbacks at the Blue
Dragon, (think Magnus P.I.), which only adds to the humor
and makes you love him even more. This was an incredibly
fun read that will melt your heart in the process.
Hopefully Magnus will not be the last of Hill's Vikings.
Very Highly recommended. Copyright © 2003
Reviewed by Leslie Tramposch
Posted March 31, 2003
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Magnus is a 10th century Viking farmer.
Angela is a modern-day vineyard owner. He has eleven bothersome children.
She yearns for just one child. He takes a vow of celibacy...
Even though he is a very virile man Uh-oh!
Let the Viking laughter begin!
Magnus Ericsson is a simple man. He loves the smell of
fresh-turned dirt after springtime plowing. He loves the
feel of a soft woman under him in the bed furs..when
engaged in a different type of plowing. He loves the heft
of a good sword in his fighting arm.
But, Holy Thor, what he does not relish is the bothersome
brood of children he's been saddled with. Or the
mysterious happenstance that strands him and his longship
full of maddening offspring in a strange new land -- the
kingdom of Holly Wood. Here is a place where the
blazing sun seems to bake his already befuddled brain,
where the folks think he is an act-whore (whatever
that is), and the woman of his dreams -- a winemaker of
all
things -- fails to accept that he is her soul mate...a man
of exceptional talents, not to mention...A VERY VIRILE
VIKING.
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