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Shawn Kleiner has it all: money, fame, a skyrocketing career as an international musical phenomenon, his beautiful girlfriend Amy, and all the women he wants-- until the night Amy has enough and abandons him in a Scottish castle.He wakes to find himself mistaken for Niall Campbell, medieval Highland warrior.Soon after, he is sent shimmying down a wind-torn castle wall into a dangerous cross country trek with Niall's tempting, but knife-wielding fiancee, pursued by English soldiers and a Scottish traitor who want Niall dead.Thrown forward in time, Niall learns history's horrifying account of his own death, and of the Scots' slaughter at Bannockburn.Undaunted, he navigates the roiled waters of Shawn's life-- pregnant girlfriend, amorous fans, enemies, gambling debts--- seeking a way to leap back across time to save his people, especially his beloved Allene.But he finds himself liking Shawn's life... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (17)

Blue Bells of Scotland
In 'Blue Bells of Scotland', Laura Vosika writes a story that has historical fiction along with time travel .Although the grandfather is mentioned, no problems are shown for the changed history that the time travelsuch as people disappearing as if they never existed. The story flows at the start of the tale and builds.



Just before the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn, the two main characters, Shawn Kleiner, a twenty-first century classical trombonist who has rock-star fame, changes places with Niall Campbell, a fourteenth century lord, soldier, and harpist. Niall and Shawn are effectively clones, and so are seen by others to be the same person they were expected to be.


Vosika created abackground for both characters that allowed them to function although awkwardly. Icould not believe that these two men had these skills and were identical to each other.As they met people that they knew it was hard for them to be sure to answer the questions they were asked and since they were not whom they pretended to be, if their answer was wrong then they were in trouble.


Niall is engaged back in 1314, but now in the future he is asking Amy to marry him, as she is with child, he told her he would be good to her and give the child a name but in today's world children are born everyday with out a father's name.Will he go back to 1314 and marry there or will he stay in this time period and marry Amy without a way to make a living? Allene, A noblewoman and Niall's betrothedplayed a small part in this story.

Blue Bells does not disappoint. Both Shawn and Niall are fully humans and I could imagine having a talk with each.


Thanks to Dorothy at Pump up your Books for this book to review.

A rollicking good start to a promising new trilogy!
Did you know that everyone's name has a meaning?For example, Shawn Kleiner's name means self centered.And he certainly lived up to his name.As the critically-acclaimed virtuoso of the orchestra and an unabashed ladies man with an undeniable gift for blarney, Shawn didn't care who he took advantage of or who got hurt as long as everything always went his way.But eventually the day came when his disenchanted girlfriend Amy, weary of his selfish ways, had finally had enough and left him high and dry in the tower of a ruined Scottish castle.Surprised by Amy's behavior and totally defensive of his narcissistic motives, Shawn decided to remain where he was, enjoy the picnic he had brought with them, and worry about finding his way back to their hotel and the orchestra in the morning.Except when morning arrived, his entire world was changed...

Fourteenth-century bard Niall Campbell of the Clan MacDonald was as talented with the harp and song as he was with the sword.Well known as a mischief maker as well as warrior, Niall was the clan chief's future son-in-law and most trusted champion.When Niall suffered an injury on the day before he was to embark on an extremely dangerous mission for the clan, his fiancée Allene, fearing for his health and safety, tried to talk him in to letting her accompany him.They argued about it in the castle tower, and Niall, having imbibed too freely of the ale that evening in the hopes of easing some of his physical discomfort, ends up falling asleep on the top of the parapet.As the mist swirled around him and he drew his cloak close around his body, his last thoughts were for the mission he was to embark upon in the morning.But when he awoke the next day, he found himself in much more dangerous territory than he could have ever imagined...

This is how Blue Bells of Scotland by Laura Vosika begins.What follows is an amazing adventure in two different lifetimes, as Niall and Shawn find themselves somehow switched into each other's existences.Filled with humor, intrigue, and tumult, I found this to be an entertainingbeginning to what I hope will be a compelling trilogy.I give Blue Bells of Scotland 4 stars.

Wonderful Time Travel Story
This book is amazing. It grabs your attention from the beginning and you get so involved with its characters that when it ends you wish there was more... and fortunately there will be!
The plot goes around a famous musician (that has everything in life, but has a questionable morale) and a medieval warrior. When the musician got stranded in a Scottish castle tower, magic begins and he switches places with the warrior, that some hundred years before him was exactly at that same place. And the story goes on and Laura Vosika was amazing on the development of the plot and the switch to and from the medieval world to the modern world is done very properly and does not disturb at all the smooth of the reading.
The author did a magnificent job on the creation of the atmosphere of both worlds.
There is this feeling that your are in the Mists of Avalon, where magical things happen. If you like movies like Timeline, you will simply love this book. And the subtle message about redemption in my opinion is what makes this book one of the best three books I read the whole year. It is magic. It is powerful. It is a must have in any library of a serious reader.

This book was written by Laura Vosika and it was published in 2009 by Gabriel's Horn Publishing. Pump Up Your Book was kind enough to provide me a copy for reviewing through their Virtual Book Tour Program. The book was kindly sent directly to me by the author. Thanks, Mrs. Laura Vosika! I am anxiously waiting for your next book in this wonderful trilogy!

A good historical and time travel

Blue Bells of Scotland: Blue Bells Trilogy: Book One
I have thoroughly enjoyed this book.I have only read a few time travel novels and really so far only really liked one author and now I can say I have found a second.I had a hard time putting this book down.I really love a great historical and to have the time travel added to it was a treat.I was engrossed in the story from the beginning and really liked the way the switch between the two men and how they realized what had happened.I found that the characters had plenty of details and the story was nicely written with a large amount of research that has been put into this book to create such a wonderful story.I have read a couple of time travel books that really made me feel lost and at times I would have a hard time following it because they seem too choppy but not with this novel.Laura Vosika has a way with words and made this story come to life and I just love being swept away with a great read.I also like the fact that I thought I knew what was going to happenand then was surprised when something different than I expected happened.I thought that this was a great first book to start off the trilogy and I will be reading the next one.

Great Book!
I love time travel books and stories about Scotland.This book was a great read.I truly enjoyed it and was sad when I got to the end.The book started coming to life for me after the first couple of chapters and the time travel aspect kicks in.Two guys that look alike change places after falling asleep in a castle.They are opposites in every other way and it's entertaining to see how they each manage with the other ones life, which is of course very strange and unusual to them, being seven hundred years apart.Times today are very different than they were back in the fourteenth century.

Naill is very honorable in everyway and his life is very hard with no modern conveniences and death waiting around every corner.You had to be ready to fight at any given moment to save your life and the lives of the ones you love.Shawn is very self-centered, wealthy, and spoiled with everything he could ever want at his disposal.These characters are very well drawn and you can smell the heather and the blue bells of Scotland as Laura Vosika paints the landscape of this magical story.You get the feeling you are reading about real people as you watch life unfolding for these men in two different eras as they deal with all the issues that present themselves.

There's a lot going on in this book and the ending is not what I expected.I look forward to see what happens in book two.
... Read more

Product Description
Modern communications have driven motorways and pylons through the countryside, dwarfed us with TV and telephone masts and drastically altered the way in which we move around, see and understand Scotland. Recent politics and logistics have established borders and jurisdictions which now seem permanent and impervious. "The Faded Map" sees past these and remembers a land that was once quiet and green. It brings to vivid life the half-forgotten kings and kingdoms of two thousand years ago, of the time of the Romans, the Dark Ages and into the early medieval period. In this fascinating account, Alistair Moffat describes the landscape these men and women moved through and talks of a Celtic society which spoke to itself in Old Welsh, where the Sons of Prophesy ruled, and the time when the English kings of Bernicia held sway over vast swathes of what is now Scotland. Heroes rode out of the mists to challenge them and then join with them. The faint echo of the din of ancient battles can be heard as Alistair Moffat takes the reader on a remarkable journey around a lost Scotland. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

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The major events and figures in Scottish history are explored here, together with an account of the culture and traditions of the Scottish people. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of day-to-day life from agriculture to art. ... Read more

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The broad sweep of Scotland's story, both past and present, is chronicled by one of the country's best historians. Andrew Fisher begins with Scotland's first people and their culture and ends with Devolution and the setting up of the first Scottish parliament since 1707.

Before the arrival of the Vikings in 900, Scotland was a land of romantic kingdoms and saints, gradually overtaken by more pragmatic struggles for power. Centuries of bloody strife lead up to the turbulent years of Mary Queen of Scots, the Calvinistic legacy of John Knox, and the bitterness of final defeat.

The dreams of the Jacobites are contrasted with the cruel reality of the end of the Stewarts and the Act of Union with England. Scotland now saw an age of industry and despoliation. The result was much emigration and obsession with the nation's past, which glorified the legends of the Highlander and the Clans. In this century, the loss of identity and drift to the south have perhaps been checked at last by a new step forward for Scotland as a result of its Devolution, the setting up of a Scottish parliament, and the symbolic return of the Stone of Destiny.

This handy paperback is fully indexed with a chronology of major events and a gazetteer cross-referenced to the main text. It is illustrated with line drawings and historical maps. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent treatise on the history of Scotland
A previous reviewer complained the author presented this history of Scotland in a "bleak and depressing" manner.My dear boy, Scotland's ancient history WAS bleak and depressing!Were you expecting a joyous recitation on the wee people, Nessie, and how to make Scotch?How would it be possible to present a history of Scottish kings without mentioning they had died?

Part of what is so incredible about Scotland and its people is the horrible elements hurled at them, by both man and nature, with which they battled for survival, and over which they triumphed.For a serious intellectual interested in the unglossy, non-touristy version of Scotland's history, this is an excellent, if somewhat necessarily abbreviated, source of well-researched factual history, presented by a leading expert in the field.

On the other hand, if your cerebral matter requires a bit less challenging source of information, you might check out "The Ultimate Guide to Being Scottish," a wonderful, light read.Or, if you're visiting Scotland try hooking up with a tour, such as whiteheathertravelDOTcom, where you get happy, little, romantic, snippets which require no nasty depressing, brain-strain whatsoever.

grim, dry listing of names and dates
I purchased this book to get some background before a short trip to Scotland.I thought that a short (230 pages) book written for travelers would give me a good overview of Scottish history - focusing mainly on the important events.Instead, this book is a very dry listing of names and dates without any depth.It might as well just be published as a list of bullet points (which would probably be easier to follow too).The author also presents a very bleak and depressing view of Scotland's past.
As mentioned, the book is very hard to follow as Fisher throws many unimportant facts at you - often out of chronological order.He has the very irritating habit of introducing a new king or ruler by immediately describing their death and the choice of a successor before going back in time to actually tell you about their reign.This focus on death also contributes to the depressing tone of the book.
The intended audience of travelers will not find this book useful at all.There are several maps, but many of the places mentioned in the book are not on any of them - requiring a much greater familiarity with Scotland than most visitors will have. ... Read more

Product Description
This is an EXACT reproduction of a book published before 1923. This IS NOT an OCR'd book with strange characters, introduced typographical errors, and jumbled words.This book may have occasional imperfections such as missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. that were either part of the original artifact, or were introduced by the scanning process. We believe this work is culturally important, and despite the imperfections, have elected to bring it back into print as part of our continuing commitment to the preservation of printed works worldwide. We appreciate your understanding of the imperfections in the preservation process, and hope you enjoy this valuable book. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume deals with the entanglement of Scotland in the Thirty Years' War, discussing both the diplomatic and military aspects of the conflict that led to Scottish involvement in the heart of the Holy Roman Empire. To the Scots, the war was linked to the fate of the Scottish princess, Elizabeth of Bohemia, rather then the politics of central Europe per se. In three sections, the 12 authors have illuminated the political processes that led to the participation of as many as 50,000 Scottish troops in the war. The official alliances of the Stuart regime, the independent diplomacy of the Scottish Parliament and the actions of numerous well-placed individuals at various European courts are all shown to have a bearing on this important episode in European history. ... Read more

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Gordon Noble's analysis follows the Neolithic period in Scotland from around 4000 BC to the transformation of Neolithic society in the Early Bronze Age fifteen hundred years later. Synthesizing research from the past century, Noble suggests new directions for the interpretation of this elusive period.

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The relationship between science and civil society is essential to our understanding of cultural change during the Victorian era. Science was frequently packaged as an appropriate form of civic culture, inculcating virtues necessary for civic progress. In turn, civic culture was presented as an appropriate context for enabling and supporting scientific progress. Finnegan's study looks at the shifting nature of this process during the nineteenth century, using Scotland as the focus for his argument. Considerations of class, religion and gender are explored, illuminating changing social identities as public interest in science was allowed - even encouraged - beyond the environs of universities and elite metropolitan societies. ... Read more

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Scotland's past is too often seen through a film of myths and misconceptions. In this Very Short Introduction, Rab Houston explores the key themes from more than 1,000 years of Scotland's very real and very fascinating history. Covering everything from the Jacobites to devolution to the modern economy, this concise account presents a fully-integrated picture of Scottish society, culture, politics and religion. Houston examines a range of important subjects, including how an independent Scottish nation emerged in the Middle Ages, how it was irrevocably altered by Reformation, how links with England and economic change have affected Scotland, and how Scotland has in turn influenced the development of the modern world. The book shows as well why Scotland's history has made it distinct from England, both before and after Union, and why it has today arrived at a political, social and cultural watershed. Authoritative, lucid, and ranging widely over issues of environment, people, and identity, this is Scotland's story without myths: an ideal introduction for those interested in the Scots, but also a balanced yet refreshing challenge to those who already feel at home in Scotland past and present. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

"To be alive is to be touched by history," Rab Houston
Centuries of Scotland's history: everything from the Jacobites to
devolution to the modern economy. This treatise contains: politics and government, religion, education, society, economy and environment, Scotland and the wider world and culture.

To feel at home in Scotland is to appreciate where the modern day
Scot is coming from. The "DNA" of the Country is astonishing to be sure.

Privileged to have at hand this fine concise and authoritative book. It does help for a clearer understanding of the history and
where the Country is now and its possible potential.

Highly recommended!

Dag Stomberg ... Read more

Product Description
"Scotland: A Very Peculiar History - Volume 2" is the concluding part of a lively and informative account of the vibrant history of Scotland, from the beginnings of Stewart rule up to modern day Scotland. Celebrating the cultural and historic achievements of the Scottish, from the fierce Jacobite uprising to John Logie Baird's insulating socks, this title gives an up-to-date and objective account of the nation's chequered (or rather, 'tartaned') history. Fun and informative inserts and small illustrations accompany the main text. It includes fact boxes and index. The text is enlivened with black-and-white line drawings and humourous captions. ... Read more

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Describing the last period of Scotland's existence as an independent kingdom, focuses on the Reformation. Wormald shows how Scotland's rulers governed a society whose economic and social bonds were still in many ways 'medieval.'

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The first history of the Scottish harp to be published. It sets out to trace the development of the instrument from its earliest appearance on the Pictish stones of the 8th century, to the present day. ... Read more

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Chapters: Early Modern Scotland, Medieval Scotland, Prehistoric Scotland, Dál Riata, Edgar the Ætheling, List of Kings of the Picts, Scoti, Kingdom of Strathclyde, Book of Kells, Bernicia, Bard, Scotland in the High Middle Ages, Moot Hill, Battle of the Standard, Timeline of Prehistoric Scotland, Lebor Gabála Érenn, Scotland in the Late Middle Ages, Kingdom of Alba, Scotland in the Early Modern Era, Insular Art, Regiam Majestatem, Old Irish, Jarlshof, Bank of Scotland, Scone, Scotland, Origins of the Kingdom of Alba, Earl of Mar, Royal Bank of Scotland, Mormaer of Moray, Clàrsach, Galwegian Gaelic, Origin of the Harp in Europe, Scotland in the Early Middle Ages, Culture of Scotland in the High Middle Ages, Hiberno-Scottish Mission, Ancient Universities of Scotland, Society of Scotland in the High Middle Ages, Fenian Cycle, Duke of Atholl, Justiciar, Norse-Gaels, Roman de Fergus, Uí Ímair, Knights Templar in Scotland, Leges Inter Brettos et Scottos, Hinba, Obsolete Scottish Units of Measurement, Lochlann, Sueno's Stone, Hiberno-Latin, Economy of Scotland in the High Middle Ages, Legal Institutions of Scotland in the High Middle Ages, Annals of Ulster, Glenmasan Manuscript, Fernaig Manuscript, Earl of Angus, Macheths, Saga, Diocese of Moray, de Situ Albanie, Fortriu, Poppleton Manuscript, House of Moray, Queen Mary Harp, Monastic Grange, Lowland Clearances, Middle Irish, Duan Albanach, Monymusk Reliquary, Lamont Harp, Dicuil, Book of the Dean of Lismore, Justiciar of Lothian, Justiciar of Scotia, Lord of Annandale, Braflang Scóine, Annals of Tigernach, Cáin Adomnáin, Lang Stane of Auquhollie, Scottish Marches, Earl of Menteith, St Andrews Sarcophagus, Company of Scotland, Macalpin's Treason, Forteviot, Irish Annals, Chronicle of the Kings of Alba, Football Act 1424, King of Mann and the Isles, Synod of Birr, Education Act 1496, Scottish Agricultural Revolution, Annals of Inisfallen, Dupplin Cross, Royal Mines Act 1424, Mormae...More: http://booksllc.net/?id=4349389 ... Read more

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--Scottish Historical Review (of the First Edition)

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Originally published in 1975, Andrew Hook's Scotland and America is now considered a classic by experts on Scottish and American thought and culture. It is relevant to a number of important topics that have gained increasing attention in the twenty-first century, including the Scottish Enlightenment and its impact; transatlantic studies, and studies of cultural representation and transmission generally; the history of print communication; and the problem of national identity in modern Scottish history. Scotland and America convincingly documents the range and depth of the Scottish imprint on American culture in its formative years. 'Scotland and America is a foundational book in transatlantic literary history. It remains essential reading today for anyone seeking to understand the complexity,extent and nature of Scotland's impact on America in the crucial first century of the new nation's move towards literary independence. Hook's scholarly research, broad sweep of argument and elegant readability make it always a delight to return to. Humming Earth must be congratulated for their enterprise in making this important text available once more.' Susan Manning, Grierson Professor of English Literature,University of Edinburgh 'Andrew Hook's Scotland and America is a path-breaking book, which has opened up a whole new terrain of scholarly enquiry. Although the primary focus of the book is on literature, the range of erudition makes it essential reading for historians and others as well.' Colin Kidd, Professor of Modern History, University of Glasgow New edition, with a new preface by the author and an up-dated bibliography, and a foreword by Richard Sher. A Fellow of both the British Academy and the Royal Society of Edinburgh, Andrew Hook is Emeritus Bradley Professor of English Literature at the University of Glasgow. He has recently held visiting appointments at American universities including Princeton and Dartmouth. Among his many publications are a book of essays on the Scottish-American theme, From Goosecreek to Gandercleugh: Studies in Scottish-American Literary and Cultural History (1999), two books on F. Scott Fitzgerald and editions of works by Sir Walter Scott and Charlotte Bronte. ... Read more

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The history of Scotland is like its landscape--full of peaks and valleys, of ruggedness and grandeur, of gentleness and calm splendor. Its story is inextricably linked with ... ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Scotland by Nigel Blundell
Beautiful photography all through the book showing many ancient sites.History comes alive in this book.There is a chronological listing in the end of the bookshowing all the major historical events of Scotland. If you are planning a trip to Scotland or have just come back from there, as I have, this book is a valuable memento.Great coffee table book to browse through! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Reformer in His Own Words
This is a record from John Knox himself of the events leading up to the Reformation of Scotland in 1560, and a short period afterward. It is written from the perspective of the Reformer himself, so it shouldn't be taken as an objective historical record. The emphasis is particularly on the political situation of Mary, her French mercenaries, and the hangers-on of her court, interspersed with her fiery meetings with Knox. It ends, however, before her abdication and the crowning of her son as James VI (and later James I of England). This edition is a facsimile reproduction of an edition originally published in 1898. However, unlike many facsimiles, this one is clear, with no missing or smeared pages. While the language and spelling are much updated from the Scots of Knox, it still contains some archaic and dialect terms. Some, but not all, are explained in a glossary. I would suggest adding a separate biography of Knox, such as For Kirk and Covenant: The Stalwart Courage of John Knox (Leaders in Action Series).

Fair assesment of Knox
the history of the reformation in scotland by john knox is a book that is written from a personal prespective. Knox writes from his point of view about the major events of the reformation in his native country, Scotland.enjoy this work as a work of Art where the artist reflects on his life and ministry from a personal point of view, not as you would consider it as a text book where accuracy and objectivity is the way to judge it.this book was not intented to talk about reformation in europe in general but rather the events of the protestant movement as knox viewed it in scotland.enjoy this great reformer of the 16 cent. and walk in his footsteps as he in this book descirbes the victory of the reformation in scotland.

Poor and incomplete
While this book is good for a cursoury glance at thewriting of John Knox it is too long to fulfill this function.The text itself is only a fragment of the true history and eliminates many of the more interesting parts of Knox's history.
The original book is 5 (possibly 6) volumes, this edition only includes quick glances at each one and the last two volumes are introduced briefly.For anyone truly interested in seeing what the History of the Reformation is about this book is certainly not helpful. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

The Reformer in His Own Words
This is a record from John Knox himself of the events leading up to the Reformation of Scotland in 1560, and a short period afterward. It is written from the perspective of the Reformer himself, so it shouldn't be taken as an objective historical record. The emphasis is particularly on the political situation of Mary, her French mercenaries, and the hangers-on of her court, interspersed with her fiery meetings with Knox. It ends, however, before her abdication and the crowning of her son as James VI (and later James I of England). This edition is a facsimile reproduction of an edition originally published in 1898. However, unlike many facsimiles, this one is clear, with no missing or smeared pages. While the language and spelling are much updated from the Scots of Knox, it still contains some archaic and dialect terms. Some, but not all, are explained in a glossary. I would suggest adding a separate biography of Knox, such as For Kirk and Covenant: The Stalwart Courage of John Knox (Leaders in Action Series).

Fair assesment of Knox
the history of the reformation in scotland by john knox is a book that is written from a personal prespective. Knox writes from his point of view about the major events of the reformation in his native country, Scotland.enjoy this work as a work of Art where the artist reflects on his life and ministry from a personal point of view, not as you would consider it as a text book where accuracy and objectivity is the way to judge it.this book was not intented to talk about reformation in europe in general but rather the events of the protestant movement as knox viewed it in scotland.enjoy this great reformer of the 16 cent. and walk in his footsteps as he in this book descirbes the victory of the reformation in scotland.

Poor and incomplete
While this book is good for a cursoury glance at thewriting of John Knox it is too long to fulfill this function.The text itself is only a fragment of the true history and eliminates many of the more interesting parts of Knox's history.
The original book is 5 (possibly 6) volumes, this edition only includes quick glances at each one and the last two volumes are introduced briefly.For anyone truly interested in seeing what the History of the Reformation is about this book is certainly not helpful. ... Read more