The Very Virile Viking by Sandra Hill is the third book in the Viking series which began in The Last Viking and continued in Truly, Madly Viking.

Those who have read the previous book will recall Thora the killer whale setting off at the end of the book to sort out Magnus and all his women.  Now we find out just what the interfering mammal had in mind.

Magnus is a farmer and the father of eleven living children, ranging in age from seventeen year old Madrene to the young baby Lida.  Woman after woman leaves him one way or another and with each departure he finds the brood of children ever larger.

So he has finally decided that enough is enough and takes a vow of celibacy so that there will be no further additions to his family.

Believing his brothers to be lost at sea Magnus is surprised to receive word of him (via Thora although he does not know that).

So setting out with nine of his children, leaving the newly wed Madrene and his eldest son to run things, Magnus and his brood set sail with enough funds to make a new life for themselves in the new land he believes his brothers have found.

Finding himself alone on his longship with only the children, having been separated from the crew partly due to his children, he finds himself following in the steps of his brothers to the year 2003 and the land of Holly Wood. 

Angela Abruzzi and her grandmother Rose are struggling to keep their vineyard running and a series of "accidents" and misfortunes mean that Angela has to look elsewhere to get the money to keep the business afloat.  Elsewhere is in the form of Darrell Nolan and the idea that he can use the vineyard as a movie location, and the fee help to keep things going.

Darrell is not very enthusiastic, having problems with his current picture and the temperamental star of the Viking film.  The solution to his problem arrives in the form of Magnus who he believes has broken onto the set as part of a publicity stunt to get a role in the film.  Cautious not to hire him before getting rid of the current star he decides that Magnus should be hidden away for the moment.  And where better to hide him than at the Blue Dragon Vineyard.

Knowing that her answer could help convince Darrell to use the vineyard for a location Angela agrees to let Magnus (and the children) stay with her, firstly at her apartment and then at the vineyard.

Magnus does not take long to decided that Angela is his destiny and sets about convincing her of the same.  If only he had not taken the vow of celibacy...

Much of the humour in The Very Virile Viking comes in the form of the children who have come through time too.  Just imagine the children today and all the things they want, all the new gadgets and toys, as soon as they come into the stores.

Now imagine nine children aged between 14 months and 16 years who have until now lived in the 10th century suddenly finding themselves in a modern day shopping mall.  Cue the "I want..." and "It's not fair..." barrage at the already harassed Magnus.  His thoughts compared to his spoken words are particularly amusing.  And as for the children, each new wonder seen brings a new stream of begging, everything from the girls wanting to go to school, get various piercings, makeup and be like "Britain Spear".  And for the boys...bikes, concerts, bows and arrows and tattoos are the order of the day. 

Sandra Hill has taken the idea of time travel to a whole new level by bringing the children along for the ride.  All the modern wonders in today's world seen through the eyes of children from the past. A riot of laughter.

Even so this book is not entirely without its sentimental side and a truly touching scene takes place when Jogier, one of the younger sons who suffers from a clubfoot asks very simply if the modern world could help him.

There is also the requisite danger when things take a turn for the worse at the vineyard and it is clear that someone is trying to scare Angela and her grandmother off of the property.  Thankfully Magnus is now resident there and no one should ever get a Viking angry.

It does take some time for the family to realise that they have travelled through time as they believe that they have merely come upon a new advanced land.  When they realise that they have they have to discover whether or not they can stay or whether fate will pull them back through time to 1000AD. 

And of course, amidst all of the fun there is, of course, the romance between Magnus and Angela and the problems that they have to overcome.  Mainly Magnus being adamant that he does not want another child and Angela realising that she would like a child of her own.  Not an easy problem for any couple to overcome and portrayed very well.

This is time travel romance at its very best.  If Sandra Hill ever wanted to branch into young adult books she could make a start with the children of this unusual family and how they adapt to the modern world.

RATING : 
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Also by Sandra Hill:  Frankly, My Dear..., The Reluctant Viking,  Sweeter Savage Love,  Desperado,  The Last Viking, Truly, Madly 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.

Links to online stores

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

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