Magnus Ericsson is a simple farmer. He loves the land, how to make things flourish and multiply...oh, boy does he.... he's a father with 11 kids from 4 wives and six lovers and various one night after too much mead stands! Worse, he has no mother for his herd of kiddies after all the parade of females through his life, because they had died or possibly run for their sanity when faced with his rambunctious kiddos.
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Cut to present day, you meet Angela and her grandmother Rose, trying to save their family Vineyard and Winery. She make a wish for a big strong man and lots of grandchild...asap please.
Off on the other side of the country, having found Vineland and left in shame because of the kids antics, Magnus and his brood hit a strange fog that seems to have no end. Suddenly they enter a bright area, so blinding, and find they have landed in Holly and Wood a most strange and adventuresome country.
Naturally, Rose's wish has summoned him to where he and the children are very needed, but will Angela wake up and smell the wine??
The review of this Book prepared by DeborahAnne MacGillivray
Leisure, Mar 2003, 6.99, 372 pp.
ISBN: 0843950641
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 Holly and Wood 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
The review of this Book prepared by Harriet Klausner
