Outlander

First in a series of books that combines time travel, history, romance, and a bit of genealogy, "Outlander," by Diana Gabaldon, takes heroine Claire Randall, a former WWII combat nurse, back in time 200 years to 18th century Scotland - the time period of her husband's scandalous ancestor, Captain John Randall. Thus begins a story full of adventure, history and romance as Claire tries to reconcile her mysterious appearance in 18th century Scotland with her life and husband in the 20th century.

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The book begins in 1945 where former WWII combat nurse Claire Randall is reunited with her husband, Frank, on a second honeymoon in Scotland. While on a walk alone one night, Claire innocently touches a boulder in an ancient stone circle (ala Stonehenge) and finds herself mysteriously whisked two centuries in time to Scotland, in the year of our Lord 1743. Suddenly she is a Sassenach - an outlander - in a country torn by war and raiding border clans. Claire finds herself torn between the Scottish MacKenzie clan, a young Scots warrior named James Fraser, and the ancestor of her present-day husband, the villanous English captain John Randall.

The drama, passion and violence of the 18th century is very well portrayed in this historical novel, and the descriptions almost make you feel as if you've been transported back in time yourself. It made me wish there was some magic that could transport me back to the time of my ancestors - assuming they aren't quite as evil as Captain John Randall, that is. The compelling love story between Claire and James, and her struggles to reconcile her life in the past with her present-day husband will also keep you reading well into the night.