A BLAST TO THE PAST

Author: Virginia Farmer ISBN: 0505525720 4/2004 TIME TRAVEL Publisher: Dorchester
Time Period: Present Scotland to Scotland 1301

The bomb went off, and U.S. Navy explosives technician Brian Skelley figured he'd been blown to Kingdom Come. Instead, he'd been blown to fourteenth-century Scotland— and into the arms of the most beautiful woman ever. But was she worth getting involved, trying to stop the historic cruelty of the English? Could he give up his career and stay in another time? Was it wrong to introduce these people to explosives? Caira Mackenzie hadn't time for marriage; she'd been too busy protecting herself and her people at Castle Kilbeinn. But when the dangerous stranger dropped into her life, he ignited something inside her. Brian was a type of warrior she'd never seen, and his strength is unquestioned— but could she trust him with the secrets of her clan and heart?

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

Brian Skelley, a Navy explosives technician, is sent back in time after an accidental discharge of black powder during a training mission. Caira, the clan MacKenzie healer treats Brian's wounds and tries to hide her growing attraction to him while keeping the clan secret. Though I find the plot unique, the chemistry between Brian and Caira is lukewarm at best.

The bright spots are the supporting cast; Callum and Malcolm are two quarrelsome old Scots who bicker more than they help out. Gitta, a crotchety old woman with more spunk than she can handle herself acts as matchmaker for Brian and Caira though she goes about it quite strangely. Add some low down Englishman trying to break an old treaty the MacKenzie's have with them and it spices the book up a bit.

I love time travel books to the past, especially Scottish ones. I was very excited to pick this one up and get reading. Imagine my disappointment when I found no fireworks lighting up the novel but only a few dimly lit sparklers.

Shannon Johnson