"Magnus Ericsson's story and a highly entertaining one at that!"
Magnus Ericsson is a simple farmer who thinks he has way
too many children. Some he's not even sure are his but he
takes them anyway. He also misses his brothers, Jorund and
Geirolf who disappeared years before. The final straw is
when his friends line up women who are too old to bear
children for him to bed. Then and there he decides to take
a vow of celibacy and he also decides to put his children
and himself in his longboat and go on a nice long ocean
voyage to visit relatives in Vinland. They also have to put
up with this strange whale following the boat.
After Magnus and his children irritate all of the
relatives
and are sent to sleep in the boat, they wake up in a
strange town called Holly Wood with the boat in a lagoon
and the strange whale gone. Magnus just remembers some
strange dreams about an old white haired woman praying for
her granddaughter's destiny.
When Magnus meets Angela Abruzzi, he feels an instant link
to her. Then when Darrell Nolan, the director of the
Viking movie being filmed sees Magnus and persuades Angela
to take him home with her until he can sign him as lead,
Angela agrees albeit reluctantly. When Magnus sees a
picture of Angela's grandmother, he's sure she's his
destiny. Not only that but Angela warms up to his children
almost instantly.
When Angela takes Magnus and his children to Blue Dragon
Vineyards, they think they've come home. They can't
believe that Angela has ever left the place they think is
God's country. It doesn't take Magnus long to endear
himself to everybody at Blue Dragon but what happens when
he and his children leave? Angela doesn't even want to
think about that.
This book had me laughing one minute and crying the next.
Magnus endears himself to the reader in the way that he
treats his children, Angela and even Angela's grandmother
Rose. Magnus is such a Viking and Angela is a modern woman.
They clash more than once but Magnus only wants what's best
for his family including his extended family. Angela has
been on her own for so long she's not sure she wants to
depend on a man but when that man is Magnus, that may be a
different story.
Sandra Hill writes a guaranteed excellent read over and
over. I always know before I even start a Sandra Hill book
that I better have plenty of time to read it because
there's no question in my mind that it will always be a one
sitting read. I highly recommend this fabulously
entertaining book.
Kathy Boswell © Jan. 2003
for TBR and PNR Reviews
Reviewed by PNR Group Member
Posted November 1, 2006
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