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Book Review By Harriet Klausner
The Very Virile Viking by Sandra Hill

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
Plot Time/era of story Hidden Identity/Secret Motive Yes Is really... - from another time - Time Travel Yes Type of time travel - past to present Main Male Character Profession/status: Age/status: - 20's-30's How sexual is this person? - very picky How romantic is this person? - somewhat romantic How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings Sense of humor - Mostly serious with occasional humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Physique - very athletic Main Female Character Age/status: - 20's-30's Profession/status: How sexual is this person? - very picky How romantic is this person? - somewhat romantic How sensitive is this character? - sensitive to others' feelings Sense of humor - Strong but gentle sense of humor Intelligence - Smarter than most other characters Physique - average physique Setting United States Yes The US: - California Style Person - mostly 3rd Accounts of torture and death? - no torture/death What % of story is romance related? - 80% Focus of story - equally on him and her