"A wonderful time travel romp"

In 999 AD Norselands, widower farmer Magnus Ericsson raises eleven children, ranging in age from infant to teen, by himself. Saying no more kids, Magnus vows to remain celibate. He also needs to spice up his life so he takes ten of his brood with him (one is married) on a sea trip, but a mysterious fog traps the vessel within its darkness.

In present day Hollywood, Angela Abruzzi along with her family struggle to save the family vineyard, Blue Dragon, currently not producing any wine. Angela thinks a Viking movie filmed at Blue Dragon will save the Vineyards. Meanwhile her grandmother worries about Angela and prays a man will come for her single granddaughter. Magnus and his family land at Hollywoodland in Angela's time. Because of his garb and accent, everyone thinks Magnus is an actor. Angela is persuaded to keep an eye on him to keep him out of trouble. As he battles modern times, Magnus finds Angela is the real challenge as she makes him desire an end to his vow of celibacy.

Up front this is not a Carpenter type novel. Instead readers obtain an amusing time travel romance that is outrageously funny when Magnus voices or acts on his observations. The plot avoids the one book joke by placing Magnus and his football team into varying scenarios. Angela is a charming counterpoint trying to provide normalcy, but failing because she loves her displaced actor. Fans of contemporary Viking tales will obviously enjoy this novel, but so will anyone who appreciates a very humorous almost slapstick story.

Harriet Klausner

Reviewed by Harriet Klausner
Posted February 28, 2003

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Winner of 2003 PEARL Award
- Best TIME TRAVEL Romance

Summary

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.