The Book of Kells

Way back in the 1980's, I picked this up at a grocery store for a relaxing beach read. As a teen, I was a cynical bookworm, so I didn't expect much beyond the typical paperback fluff. Hence, I was more than surprised to find this a thoughtful and entertaining novel. What a fun and intelligent romp through Irish culture and history! It's so descriptive, that you can almost smell the pungent characters and surroundings... Read Full Review

John Thomburn was a quiet man, drawn to Ireland by its mystery and majesty, and by the solitude it gave him for his art. But then one day, as Celtic pipes played, John opened a portal through time to an Ireland a thousand years earlier, an age of magic, turmoil and bloodshed. There he lost his' heart to Ailesh, a lovely young woman who had seen her family and village ravaged in a Viking raid. Accompanied by Derval, a friend... Read Full Review

Similar in context to the Dragonfly in Amber series, this tale involves time travel from modern Ireland to 10th centery Ireland. The main characters are a dominant female Irish professor and a demure Canadian associate instructor in which she is involved. The story begins as John takes a rubbing from an ancient celtic cross. This "portal" throught time allows these two wonderfully mismatched people to go to the 10th centry... Read Full Review