Diana Gabaldon

It is very difficult to give a synopsis of all seven books due to the fact that they ecompass many storylines which are interwoven together and many primary characters are not introduced until later books. I will therefore only give details of the first book, Outlander in this lens to avoid any spoilers.

At the beginning of the book we see a feisty combat nurse Claire Beauchamp Randall visiting Scotland with her husband Frank after the ending of the second world war. On a trip to a stone circle, Craigh na Dun, she is thrown back in time to 1743 in the middle of a skirmish between the Clan McKenzies and a group of English dragoons. The Scots, wary of her identity, take her with them to Castle Leoch on the suspicion that she is a spy. Claire is later sought by the corrupt captain of the British garrison and in order to protect her she has little choice to marry the young outlawed highlander Jamie Fraser. Torn between her loyalty to her husband Frank Randall and her own safety she objects to the marriage at first but having already gotten to know Jamie, she knows that he is a man filled with honour and courage who will protect her no matter what the cost. Eventually through the trust they share they fall deeply in love and create a bond so strong and passionate that nothing can tear them apart. Not even two centuries ...

The books following Outlander continue the amazing saga of these endearing and charismatic characters. Diana Gabaldon is truly an exceptional writer and her amazing ability to describe the drama, passion and violence of 18th century Scotland makes these books the most memorable I have ever read. Whilst many would describe the books as "historical romance" that is only partially true. The love story between James Alexander Malcolm McKenzie Fraser and Claire Beauchamp Randall is the backbone which runs throughout the books but to describe it as a historical romance is almost an insult to these amazing books. If you are expecting a fluffy story and a light read these books aren't for you. They are gritty, harsh, tragic and barbaric in places but this of offset with oodles of courage, determination, humour and passion.

I love these cool Jamie Fraser t-shirts, Jamie Fraser Mugs, Jamie Fraser Buttons, Jamie Fraser Mousepads ... you get the picture. The design reads "I just want to go to Scotland fall through the stones. Wake up in 1743 and find James Fraser. Is that too much to ask?"

The Outlander inspired T-Shirts and other items simply say "Sassenach" in the Fraser tarten. A lovely simple celtic design.

An Echo In The Bone by Diana Gabaldon
When I was first introduced to the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon I was expecting a nice simple historical romance not a tale of this magnatude. From the...