Once again Sandra Hill has brought us a Viking hero swept into the modern world.  A sequel to The Last Viking, Truly, Madly Viking is another humour filled novel that brings the legendary Vikings into the modern world.

Jorund “Joe” Ericsson has lost his wife and twin daughters to the famine.  Approached by his father he cannot refuse to search for his missing brother.  Now he has travelled far into the ocean in the search for Rolf.  He is about to travel even further though when a taunting killer whale sweeps him into modern day Texas.

Maggie is a single mother with twin daughters of her own.  She has given up on dreams but her daughters haven’t.  Wishing on stars for a father her daughters are convinced that the naked man who has appeared at Orcaland is the ideal candidate for the post.  Noticing their mother’s reaction to the man they plead with her to save him from the police who are eager to talk to the man.  The down to earth psychologist makes the decision that will change her life and takes him into her care at the mental hospital where she works.

Jorund does not know if he has died or not but he is sure that something has gone dreadfully wrong.  Taken a prisoner he is kept in a straight jacket and restraints and he vows that he will make the woman who holds him captive pay.

Maggie knows that her daughters hope that the man from Orcaland will be their father but she knows that there is something seriously wrong with him.  For many days he speaks not a word and when he does he claims to be a time travelling Viking.

Jorund cannot seem to convince the woman who holds him captive that he is from another time.  Instead she responds to all his questions with pointless questions of her own and insists that he is somehow insane.  Slowly he must find a way to convince her that he is telling the truth and to be released from the prison he is in so that he can continue his search for his brother.

Jorund finds himself being “cured” much faster than he anticipated when Maggie discovers that the hospital could be forced to close or change beyond all recognition when it is sold to new owners.

Bringing “Joe” out from his isolated room Maggie introduces him to the rest of the group and slowly he finds himself fitting into the small community.  But it appears that nothing can convince Maggie that he is telling the truth and until he can do that how can he convince Maggie to see him as anything more than her patient.

Maggie finds herself attracted to the handsome Viking who was delivered to her by a killer whale and soon finds that there is no other place for him but to be living in her home.  But she cannot believe his crazy story until he falls ill and the medical tests bring some surprising results.

Joe moves into Maggie’s home and soon finds that he must face the pain of losing his daughters all over again as he stares at the twin reminders who look at him like the hero they believe him to be and the father that they pray he will be.

Maggie and Joe both have many issues in their pasts that need to be overcome before they can find a life together and Joe knows that no matter what he comes to feel for this family that he would like to claim as his own, he must find a way to continue his mission to find his brother before time runs out and his father dies in the past having lost another son to the unforgiving sea.  Somehow he must find a way to complete his mission and the only way to do that would mean leaving the family he has grown to love.

Sandra Hill is still right on form with her latest novel.  There is lots of humour as usual but also some very touching scenes, particularly between Joe and Maggie’s twins.  A delightful addition to the growing collection of Viking novels from the pen of Ms Hill.

There are also hints at a sequel as Thora the Killer Whale heads off to sort out yet another Viking.
 

RATING : 
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Also by Sandra Hill:  Frankly, My Dear..., The Reluctant Viking,  Sweeter Savage Love,  Desperado,  The Last Viking, The Very Virile Viking, The Bewitched Viking, The Outlaw Viking, The Tarnished Lady (the story of Eirik), The Blue Viking, Tall, Dark & Cajun and The Love Potion

Read an interview with Sandra Hill.

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Read more about Sandra Hill's books at her  web page.

For information on the Jorvik Viking Centre you can visit their website.