Customer Reviews

Truly, Madly Viking (Time of Your Life)

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(3)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

Jorund Ericsson comes back from war in the year 998, only to find his wife and twin daughters dead from a famine that has hit the Norse lands. Compounding the grief that the loss of his children brings to him is the fact that his younger brother Geirolf (The Last Viking) is missing at sea, possibly dead. Promising his father that he will find him, hopefully still alive, he and his other younger brother Magnus set sail for the area off Iceland in which Geirolf was last spotted. When the anchor on his longship becomes entangled in weeds, Jorund divests himself of his clothing and jumps overboard to remedy the situation. A few minutes later, he finds himself on the back of a killer whale, future-bound...

Dr. Maggie McBride is a psychologist that works at the Rainbow Psychiatric Hospital in Gavelston, Texas. Taking her twin daughters for a trip to Orcaland, she's surprised to discover that more than just the whales splash around naked at the marine park. When a huge, naked man wearing nothing but his swordbelt comes cruising into the park on the back of a killer whale, Maggie takes it upon herself to have him sent to the Rainbow Hospital for evaluation, rather than to jail for endangering the mammals.

Maggie and Jorund feel connected in some strange, unexplicable way from the moment their eyes first meet. Both of them have their reasons for denying the feelings they have for each other, which grow stronger every day. Maggie tells herself she can't care for Jorund because he's a patient in her mental health facility who fancies himself a tenth century Viking, whereas Jorund tries to pretend he feels nothing for Maggie because it complicates his feelings in regard to returning to the past. Both of them, however, eventually come to terms with the truth: they are afraid to make themselves vulnerable by experiencing love for another person...

Truly, Madly Viking is Sandra Hill at her wittiest, funniest, hilarious best. From her descriptions of the modern world through Jorund's eyes, to the patients of the Rainbow Hospital we come to love, to Jorund's various escapades, you'll have a hard time trying to keep a straight face while reading this book. Entangled into the hilarious scenes Hill laces throughout the whole read, is a warm your heart, make you smile love story between a man and a woman who desperately need their other half, and a man and two little girls who need the kind of magic only a parent-child relationship can bring.

As is the norm for most Sandra Hill novels, the secondary characters, specifically the patients of the Rainbow Hospital, are irresistably endearing. From Nurse Hatcher, who Jorund thinks would make a fine warrior, to Rosalyn, the nymphomaniac librarian, to Steve, the impotent Vietnam veteran (whose own story brings tears to your eyes), the well-scripted cast of Truly, Madly Viking will knock your socks off.

Even the method by which Jorund comes to the present, though penned in Hill's signature wacky comedic light, is unexpectedly refreshing. Riding naked on the back of a killer whale into the future, as ludicrous as it sounds upon first hearing it, actually calls for less of a jump in logic than most time travels, which typically use fairie rings and enchanted necklaces. (At least the whale scenario conforms to scientific theories which purport that if time travel were ever to take place, it would have to happen in water.)

I just loved the book. It's no doubt one of the funniest novels you'll read all year.

-full review originally published in The Romance Reader

Truly, Madly Viking By Sandra Hill Published by Dorchester Published July, 2000

What do you get when you combine a mind-reading whale, a perfectly sane Viking warrior, a trip through time, and a modern day lady psychiatrist? Another keeper from Sandra Hill, of course!

Jorund Ericsson was on a quest to locate his missing brother when Thora, the mind-reading whale, found a way not only to communicate with Jorund but also a way to deliver him naked as the day he was born to the year 2000.

Claiming to be a Viking warrior, Jorund finds himself in a psychiatric hospital among the oddest assortment of lackwits he'd ever seen - and under the care of Dr. Maggie McBride. Now, in addition to his quest to locate his missing brother, Jorund must prove his sanity, contend with his growing attraction to Maggie, and get back to his own time where he belongs. But is his destiny in the year 998 AD or in Maggie McBride's 21st century arms?

A hilarious adventure with fabulously crafted characters and a story that is as fast paced and unforgettable as it is engaging. Sandra Hill has a gift for writing keepers!

When you discover Sandra Hill's writing, the little chills start very quickly and you know you're not just in romanceland anymore.

Snug in the hands of a truly gifted author, you're swept up and spun into a world that will leave you gasping from wickedly imaginative, roaring good fun-- and ultimately wiser for the adventure.

There are the seriously funny crossed sigals between ultimate fish-out-of-water Jorund, a naked God of a Viking the likes of whom women haven't seen for the past few hundred years and Maggie, the practical psychotherapist/mother-of-two who adopts him as a patient.

But Jorund is no rape-and-pillage stereotype--Ms Hill knows alot about Viking history and even more about the many shadings of the human spirit and the oddly beautiful ways that men and women connect. Viking values aren't so bad at all, it turns out, and the conflict between Jorund's original quest and his unfolding relationship with Maggie and the girls is both clever and poignant.

In fact, this typically-flawed American male reader was reluctant to show this book to his wife out of Viking envy. Let's just say that, once you discover Jorund's brand of guyhood, you will ask as I did, "what woman in her right mind would not want her own Viking?"

This book totally satisfies at so many levels, I believe you will hope as I do that Ms. Hill's Viking Chronicles continue at least until the end of this century.

Fans of Ms. Hill may recognize Jorund, as Geirolf Ericsson's brother who we last saw in The Last Viking. Jorund is catapulted into the 20th century buck naked, save for his sword, on the back of a telepathic killer Whale. He is saved from being put into jail by Maggie McBride, a psychologist and the single mother of twin girls. Of course he is then admitted into the loce mental hospital and doctor and patient end up becoming very close.

Generally I am not a fan of time travel books, but Ms. Hill creates such a fun world that I cn not help but enjoy her work. This is a fast fun and sweet read and if you are already a fan of Ms. Hill's it definitely worth picking up. If you have yet to read one of her books this is a good one to start with.

Suspend disbelief of time-travel long enough to read Sandra Hill's sequel to The Last Viking and you'll have yourself a truly delightful reading experience. Chock full of humor and pathos, this latest addition to Hill's Viking series is bound to touch your heart at some level. At times I found myself laughing out loud, while other times I found a lump forming in my throat as I read of Jorund's (Joe's) loss of family, his bewilderment in a new land and his attempts to help those in the mental-health facility support group into which he has been thrust. His blossoming relationship with Maggie is definitely steamy and that with her twin daughters(who so remind him of his loss) tugged my heartstrings more than once. His fascination with TV soap operas, Big Macs, the Internet and other aspects of our lives that we take for granted are shown humorously through the eyes of one for whom this is a whole new world.

Ms. Hill has just the right touch when it comes to creating intelligent, good-hearted characters with whom you can sympathize and filling their mouths with words that will make you chuckle or get misty-eyed. Her secondary character, former Navy SEAL, Steve Askey (did anyone else read ASCII in this?), and his story (and how Jorund helped Steve with PTSD) is poignant and served to increase my liking of Jorund as a character and Ms. Hill as an author.

I, like the characters in the story, am skeptical of time-travel, but I do believe in miracles. If this describes you, also, then you won't be disappointed with Truly, Madly Viking.

This is enormously entertaining romance humor! It is all done in the name of a tenth century Viking warrior transplanted to the year 2000. This is a sequel to The Last Viking but it can be read and enjoyed without reading The Last Viking first.

Jorund Ericsson, our hero, arrives in the year 2000 riding a whale. Not only does he arrive in the twenty first century on the back of whale totally nude - but also he does so in front of a huge audience at an ocean amusement park! Needless to say, he is considered much the oddity and probably mentally unstable.

Maggie McBride, the heroine, and her twin daughters are at the ocean park and witness Jorund's shocking appearance. Maggie is a practicing psychologist and steps in to protect Jorund and has him sent to the private mental hospital she works at. She fears the treatment he may receive under the wrong psychiatric care.

I must admit I had my doubts about this book since the hero spends almost the entire first half of the book in a psychiatric hospital. What a way to make the hero seem less than a hero! But it doesn't work out that way. Despite his crazy crash landing, riding a whale into the year 2000 and his subsequent commitment to a psychiatric hospital, this hero oozes he-man stuff and is really sexy to boot! He is, as a proper Viking warrior should be, dominant big time!

It is so much fun to laugh at (or with) Jorund's tremendously amusing character and in doing so, laughing at ourselves as we read some of these romance novels. Jorund does have an incredible sense of humor. Some of the most entertaining moments in the book are the times Jorund is attempting to translate new English words to his tenth century English knowledge. In his mind we hear him translate doctor into dock whore. Nurse Gladys Hatcher becomes Norse Glad-ass Hatch-her. Maggie is Mag-he. Natalie is Not-a-lie. Fred is Furr-red and Harvey is Hair-vee. This is only a small representation of the interpretations Jorund attempts as he endeavors to assess this new world and figure what is going on.

Maggie is a great heroine. She is just so sensible and non-judgmental. She appoints herself as Jorund's psychologist and oversees his treatment. Hew twin daughters are great secondary characters and are vital to the story. I was rarely bored with even a full page of this book. The secondary characters from the hospital were sometimes tiresome but fortunately little time is spent on them.

Since this story is about time travel, we have to live through the ever present attempt of the time traveler to return to his time. Although this book would be considered a comedy, this return scene is one that breaks your heart.

The sensual scenes are few and occur during the last third of the book but are very sensual indeed. Since Jorund is a Viking, the author portrays him as a very aggressive barbarian with savage sexual appetites (but certainly NOT selfish) in the sensual scenes. The scenes themselves rate a 4.5 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines) but due to their infrequency, I rate these scenes an overall 4.0.

Truly, Madly Viking is a snappy story that allows you to zoom along enjoying the story with every page. It is a definite keeper for me. I know that I will enjoy reading it again someday. And I am sure that I will laugh just as hard each time I read it.

I don't know how she does it but, Sandra's books get better and better. In this one we meet Jorund (Rolf's brother from THE LAST VIKING) who travels on a quest for his father from the 10th to the 21st century on the back of a killer whale called Thora. He lands at the feet of Doch-whore Mag-he Muck-Bride(Dr. Maggie Mc.Bride)a psycologist, totally naked except for a sword. He ends up in a mental health institution for observation.

Maggie doesn't believe him when he tells her he has travelled 1000 years to the future. She thinks he is mentally disturbed. She does finally believe him in the end though.

Joe(Jorund)finally suceeds in his quest for his father. He then decides to go back home to his time if he can find his way back.

Like all of Sandra's books this one is totally hillarious and the sex and passion is red hot. There is a letter from Sandra at the end of the book which tells us of further books in the Viking series and a possible sequel to FRANKLY MY DEAR and SWEETER, SAVAGE LOVE. Please Sandra write quickly, I can't wait...

Truly, Madly Viking was my first Sandra Hill book that I have read. It is about a Viking named Jorund from the past who is brought to the modern era America. He meets Maggie, a psychologist, who is fasicinated by this gorgeous Viking, who claims he is from the past.
Jorund is one big, sexy Viking who develops an attraction to the single mother Maggie. They just ooze sexual tension together throughout the book. The first time they make love is hot and funny. You will need a fan for it, believe me!
Jorund throughout most of the book was looking for his brother. I won't give the results away, but suffice to say, everyone lives happily ever after. I am looking forward to reading more books by Sandra Hill. I really enjoyed Truly, Madly Viking and have recommended it to others.

Pretty cute book, hero is definitely a hunk, heroine is very likeable, intelligent, person (her twins are just toooo cute). Umm... don't think this one will be on my keepers shelf; it's really hard to say why - it just didn't grab hold of me. I usually finish a keeper in 1 to 2 days, this one was easy to lay down over & over again - it took me 4 days to read it. I probably would have given it a 3 1/2 stars if that was an option. I did enjoy many parts of it though so I'm not saying it was a bad read; It just didn't have that special something. I guess it didn't sit well with me that Jorund wasn't more amazed by the everyday conveniences (sp?) in the twenty-first century; Also, there were a number of other characters in the book who we had came to know a little & then they were just kind of dropped.... thought their story should have been completed just a little bit at least. However, as you can see, it has really good reviews here on Amazon, so if you like Vikings & time-travel then do give it a try.

In this sequel to 'The Last Viking", Ms. Hill has another hit on her hands. But, as she herself says," you gotta love a Viking." Anyone who is a fan of Ms. Hill's, and loves her Vikings as much as I do, will surely agree. How can you lose when the hero bears a marked resemblance to Kevin Sorbo? In this tale, Jorund Ericcson , borther of Rrolf Ericcson of The Last Viking, gets thrust into the present time by, of all things, a killer whale.I don't want to reveal too much of the plot, but he comes to find the love and sense of fullfillment that evaded him in his own time in the bewitchingly humourous way that only Sandra Hill can create. The heroine, Maggie,is also a very likable,down to Earth, charachter who you can relate to. Fans of Ms. Hill's will surely read this anxiously awaited sequel in record time, as I myself did and not be disappointed. Great work, Sandra, give us more Vikings !