Blue Bells of Scotland

Blue Bells Chronicles #1

by Laura Vosika

Shawn Kleiner has it 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 leaves him stranded in a Scottish castle tower.He wakes up 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. They are 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, and gambling debts--- seeking a way to leap back across time to save his people, especially his beloved Allene. His growing fondness for Shawn’s life brings him face to face with his own weakness and teaches him the true meaning of faith.Blue Bells of Scotland is both a historical adventure and a tale of redemption that will be remembered long after the last page has been turned.

Genres: Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Romance, Scotland, Fantasy, Historical Romance, Historical

523 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 18, 2009

About the author

Laura Vosika is the author of the Blue Bells Trilogy. In addition to the Trilogy, she is working on several other novels and a non-fiction book on raising a large family.

Laura grew up in the military, visiting castles in England, pig fests in Germany, and the historic sites of America's east coast, and living in climates ranging from Mississippi's heat to Duluth, Minnesota.

She earned a bachelor's degree in music, and worked for many years as a freelance musician, playing trombone for pit orchestras, ballets, and symphonies, and flute and harp for other venues. She spent three years as a member of the Buz Whiteley Big Band and Farragut Brass Band in Bremerton, WA.

After earning a masters degree in education, she took a job as a music teacher and band director. She has also taught private lessons on wind instruments, piano, and harp, for twenty years.

In her spare time, Laura likes to play piano, harp, and flute, do sudokus, and learn Gaelic.

She currently lives in Minnesota with her husband, nine children, and assorted menagerie.

Reviews

[Terry (Ter05 TwiMoms/ MundieMoms) · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Update 4/22/18 This ended up a five book series and one of my favorites EVER. Right up there with Outlander and The All Souls Trilogy! It did not start off as great as those did but it ended up on the same level for me! The hero was not one to fall in love with and his growth as a man developed through his long and amazing story as well as the stories of some other characters I will never forget. Three reads for this book for me and in a few months I will re-read the entire series again...]

[ Update. I first read this book in 2010. I recently realized there were two more books out and bought them both. I read the second one without doing a re-read of this one - mistake but I just could not put it down to go back. But when I did finish, I decided to re-read Blue Bells of Scotland before I continued to the third book. I think I loved it even more than I did the first time! Highly recommend this series if you love Scotland, history, romance, and time travel. And no, it is nothing like Outlander - which I also love) My original review below:

I have revised my rating on this book from four stars to five. Why? Because a month after I read it I am still thinking about it. That does not happen often and is worth an extra star! The first was kind of slow for me. After reading it, I realize why I wasn't crazy about the beginning, and why it was necessary. There are two main characters, Shawn and Niall. Shawn is a self centered jerk and getting to know him early in the book was very irritating. He is a famous musician in the present time and cares only for himself. Niall is a natural leader and honorable man - in the 13th century. Shawn and Niall look exactly alike, and one night in the tower of a castle in Scotland, somehow they are switched in time. Once they realize what has happened they do not dare to let those around them know they are not who everyone thinks they are. A head injury gives them each an excuse to not quite "be himself". Shawn soon realizes that if he reveals himself he probably would burn as a witch. Niall decides telling the truth would probably end up with him in a straight jacket.

How they cope and what this experience does to them turns into a fascinating and thought provoking story. Shawn has a long time relationship with Amy in the present time where he has treated her badly. Niall is engaged to Allene in his own time, and they are part of a dangerous plan to bring more clans to fight with Robert the Bruce against King Edward of England. The story of how these two men deal with their feelings for the woman they love in "their time" and how they deal with the woman with them in the time they find themselves in is great reading. Shawn's coming to terms with who is is and who he has been is beautifully done. There are twists and turns in the end as Niall tries desperately to get back to his time and to change history, preventing his countrymen from being slaughtered is so well written I couldn't put it down until I finished. I had forgotten this is book #1 of a trilogy, and at the end I was very glad of that!

[Dorsi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it! Original & intelligently written. Towards the end, I could not turn the pages fast enough to find out what happened. The end was definitely not what I expected. I can't wait until the next in the series comes out! I will be the first in line to get it. Thanks Laura Vosika for sharing your engaging story. Keep tapping those keys on the keyboard...carry on!

[Estarianne · Rating 2 out of 5]

An obvious "tribute" to the other popular time travel authors, with a few minor twists.

I give it 3 for being fun to read. I subtracted 1 for major historical inaccuracy (clan tartans in 1300s? Really, you have to research EVERYTHING) and failure to discuss her historical research or variance from known fact. So as a pure fiction it gets a 3 (I thought the ending was confused and nonsensical) but as a historical fiction it gets a 2 for flubbing that major point, and underemphasizing the differences between the English language then and now (speaking English in the 14th century would not make one even remotely understandable today, even grammar was different in middle English).

I am not sure why so many people misuse tartans in these books. Maybe they just assume it is an ancient practice, or maybe they think the book won't be "Scottish" without it and since there is no proof it WASN'T used then, they will let it slide. But then, it isn't history, is it? It's just guessing. Anyway, anyone seeking to write a Scottish historical novel had best do some research on tartans first!

[Pamelabyoung · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel, music and Inverness....my faves!

Gotta say, though, I really hate to get to the end of a book and find out it is the first of a series or a trilogy. Don't get me wrong, I love trilogies and series. I just prefer to know from the outset that I am at the beginning of a longer journey. Frankly, I hate being left hanging and would rather wait to buy a book until the entire trilogy is available so I can read them in quick succession. On the other hand, I can't really understand the whole current obsession of writing a book with a goal of a sequel. Doesn't anyone have the goal of writing a book that will stand alone anymore?

That said, I am waiting patiently for the second in the series which, I am told, is to be out in September. Then I suppose we will have to wait for the third book. Still, time travel, music and Inverness? I'll be there waiting.

[J.R. Tomlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel starts a trilogy story surrounding two identical men in Scotland who are separated by 700 years.

I was a bit nervous in starting this novel because most novels, including some very popular ones, thoroughly muck up Scottish history. I hate that, particularly when it involves events as important as the Battle of Bannockburn. However, although I would nitpick the history somewhat, Vosika stuck close enough to the history that even I wasn't too bothered. Mind you, don't read it for history because there are some questionable events, but it's close enough for time-travel.

The main characters are Shawn, living in current times and a celebrated, self-centered trombonist touring Scotland with a concert orchastra and Niall, from the 1314, recovering from a wound and preparing to set off for battle at Bannockburn against an overwhelming English army. Although the two men are identical in appearance, except for Niall's scars and wound, they are totally unalike in character.

I thought it was interesting that the time travel was a switch. It wasn't explained how this happened, but I was involved enough in the characters to suspend disbelief.

Niall quickly figures out what happened but Shawn takes quite a while to figure out that he is no longer in the time in which he fell asleep.

I very much appreciated that the author gave a good background for how each man would manage to function in such a different environment, something many time-travel authors don't bother with. For example, the fact that Shawn is fluent in Gaelic from his childhood made his functioning in medieval Scotland where Scots Gaelic was spoken much more believable.

The characterisation in this was very strong and the descriptive narrative well done. I can recommend it to people who enjoy time-travel novels and to people who enjoy Scottish novels with no worry that it insults Scottish history, as so many novels and movies do.

[Sandy · Rating 1 out of 5]

A time-travel romance set in in Inverness...hmmm...what could that have possibly be inspired by? If you're looking for something like "Outlander" this is not it. I'm sorry I blew $2.00 on the Kindle version. I put it down after the opening two pages describing Shawn's seducing the engaged-to-someone-else receptionist by picking a rose from the vase on her desk and dragging it across her cheek. And then becoming the rock-star trombone player savior of the classical orchestra. Yes, this was the first two pages. I picked it up again a couple days later out of curiosity and read about another 100 pages and then gave up completely. His girlfriend was such a dope. Niall's story wasn't as irritating, because he wasn't the loathsome caricature that Shawn was.

From other reviews, it looks like the story picks up, but slogging through a few hundred more pages isn't worth it when there are so many less horrible books out there to read.

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a cracking book. There are some anachronisms, but the writing just picks you up and carries you away. I got lost in the story. Definitely worth a read. I'll be buying the rest in the series and saving them to read on my holiday. Except for book 2 which I'm allowing myself to read now.

[Micki]

the slowest book on the planet!!!

[Joan Szechtman · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Blue Bells of Scotland, Laura Vosika spins a captivating tale that combines historical fiction with time travel and a bit of reverse alternate history cleverly woven in. Instead of changing the final outcome of an important historical event, Vosika changes the history at the start of the novel so that her time traveler changes it to what actually is. Although the grandfather paradox is mentioned, no consequences are shown for the changed history that the time travel generated such as people disappearing as if they never existed. The pacing flows from a measured cadence at the start of the tale and builds to a climatic crescendo reminiscent of Ravel’s Bolero.

Just before the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn, the two main characters, Shawn Kleiner, a twenty-first century classical trombonist who has rock-star fame, switches places with Niall Campbell, a fourteenth century lord, soldier, and harpist. Niall and Shawn are effectively clones, and so are seen by their peers to be the persons they were expected to be. One thing that often bothers me in time travel tales is how the time traveler is able to understand radically different versions of the same language. For example, in addition to Gaelic, Niall knew Middle English, which is not readily intelligible to Modern English speakers. Here is a sample from Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales:

Heere bigynneth The Knyghtes Tale

WHILOM, as olde stories tellen us,
Ther was a duc that highte Theseus;

Visually, this may be more understandable for us than if we heard it, because of the way pronunciations changed. In Monty Python and The Holy Grail, knight was pronounced ki-nig-it. This is probably the way knight was said then as one of the members of Monty Python, Terry Jones, is a medievalist. Vosika shows how Niall works through the language change in a believable way.

Vosika created a plausible background for both characters that allowed them to function—albeit awkwardly—in the other's time. I was able to suspend my disbelief that these two men had these skills and were physically identical to each other. I particularly liked Shawn’s transformation from an arrogant womanizer who only thinks about himself and what people can do for him, to an unpretentious loyal friend—a man ready to lay down his life for a cause he believes in.

Perhaps the most important aspect of a story to me is that I become invested in the characters. Blue Bells does not disappoint. Both Shawn and Niall are fully fleshed and I could imagine having a conversation with each. In addition to the two main characters, I feel I got to know and cared for Amy, Shawn’s lover. One negative in my mind is the author sprang a significant revelation about Amy where I did not see the behavior as consistent with her character. My apologies for being vague, but I do not want to introduce spoilers. One character that I would have like to have known better was Allene, a feisty, self-sufficient medieval noblewoman and Niall’s betrothed. I look forward to learning more about her in the second book.

Of some minor concern was that I thought the prose could have been tighter and I found a few typos. I soon forgot these as I became absorbed by the story. This is one book that I found hard to put down.

Even though this is only the first book, I found the ending sufficiently satisfying, giving me the patience to wait for the second of the trilogy. That said; write faster, Laura. I want to read more.

[Dianne Wilensky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is book 1 of a trilogy (Scottish history, romance, time travel). Book 2 is "The Minstral Boy" and there is a 3rd book on the way that I want to read as soon as it is published.

I'm not good at explaining why I liked a book so I'll borrow a review from Amazon.com.

"What if you could swap your life with someone in years long past? It's one of those questions I ask myself a lot. This book explores the possibilities of time travel and changing personalities.

Shawn Kleiner has it all, including a shallow, self serving personality to boot. Niall Campbell is Shawn's twin from the past - everything that makes a man a man - the complete opposite of Shawn. When circumstances cause them to trade places in time and history - we see one man remain loyal to himself and one man change dramatically.

This book puts you right there, next to both men. Whether at the symphony or in battle, Ms. Vosika spins the web so well you are a part of all the action. If you love history, if you love romance, if you love music and if you like the believable unbelievable...this book is for you. I started it and couldn't put it down until I closed the cover on an ending I never expected."

[Kat Yares · Rating 5 out of 5]

What if you could swap your life with someone in years long past? It's one of those questions I ask myself a lot. This book explores the possibilities of time travel and changing personalities.

Shawn Kleiner has it all, including a shallow, self serving personality to boot. Niall Campbell is Shawn's twin from the past - everything that makes a man a man - the complete opposite of Shawn. When circumstances cause them to trade places in time and history - we see one man remain loyal to himself and one man change dramatically.

This book puts you right there, next to both men. Whether at the symphony or in battle, Ms. Vosika spins the web so well you are a part of all the action. If you love history, if you love romance, if you love music and if you like the believable unbelievable...this book is for you. I started it and couldn't put it down until I closed the cover on an ending I never expected.

Three cheers for Blue Bells of Scotland. Cannot wait to read the next volume of this trilogy.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was somewhat apprehensive when starting this book, thinking that it might be like any other book I've read involving time travel and historical events (specifically those that took place in Scotland). I was fortunate enough to have won an advance copy of the book, so I gave the book a full chance, and I was very pleasantly surprised.

Pretty soon after starting the book, I found myself not wanting to put the book down, curious about what would be happening next, where the story was going to go, and how things would turn out in the end.

Writing a review isn't something I often do with a book, since I much prefer reading to writing, but I felt this book deserved one. It was well worth the read, the scenery and descriptions of events were very well done, and I found myself still thinking about the characters and events after having finished the book. I honestly can't wait for the next book in the trilogy.

I know a number of my friends would love this book, so I'm hoping they'll give it a chance, too.

[Ben Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy. The writing is solid, characters come to life and you find yourself right there with them-- as Niall struggles to understand what's going on, as Shawn waits in the cellar, fighting off rats, as Allene and Shawn crawl through the woods with the English soldiers beating the brush behind them. I especially liked the fair day scene, moreso after I went to the Blue Bells Trilogy site (www.bluebellstrilogy.com) and listened to the music Shawn was playing.

Being a history buff, I appreciated the research and historical detail that went into this work.

[Julia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought I would enjoy this book as it has two of my favorite things - time travel and Scotland. It just didn't work for me. The character of Shawn was so annoying. He had no redeeming qualities and it was not at all convincing that Amy would stay with him with the way he treated her. Niall's character was the exact opposite, all honor and selflessness. He was a Mr Perfect and the fact that they were so completely opposite just made the whole scenario even more unbelievable. I wasn't convinced that they would fit into the other one's time without people being more suspicious it wasn't them. The ending didn't work for me either. Very disappointing.

[Melanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

The writing was not the best, and one of the main characters was completely unlikeable - even after he started to "change." In the beginning, I had to force myself to continue reading, and it never really picked up. Towards the end I became a bit interested in how the story would play out, but not enough to make me care about the sequels.

Definitely would recommend skipping this one.

[Suzanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

I just won this book! I am so exited, I cannot wait for it to come in so i can start reading! thank you Laura Vosika!

[Cowcatt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fantastic book. I really well done time travel. Loved it!!

[Patricia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I am too hasty in giving this five stars--I finished it like 3:00 a.m, this morning, so maybe I am still not thinking straight. Haha. However, the reason I say maybe I am too hasty is that the beginning of the book was a bit tough going for me and I actually switched to a different book because I was just not feeling it. I think the problem lay in not connecting with the beginning of the medieval story when introduced and then disliking (of course) Shawn so much. However, I returned to this and I am glad I did. This story was great. I guess if this is not a solid five stars, it is a 4.5 rounded up and still deserves the five stars. I haven't rated anything five in a long time--well, months.

This book just kept me reading, one interesting thing after another. Plus, it is a clean read--perhaps even to the point that some would consider it an inspirational read since Niall's Catholic faith was such a big part of him. I enjoyed the characters, the settings, and the conundrums. I love time travel fiction when it is this well done.

I was surprised at the ending and am starting immediately on book 2 in the series.

[Susan Stangebye · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this for a book club selection, and I did have a difficult time initially actually getting caught up in the story. It took a little while for me. Once I got that point where the story started to take me in - I was able to find myself being very curious how things were going to work through and the outcome of the main characters. This helped drive the story plot line. In the end -I forgot this was a trilogy, so I will admit the ending made sense, but a bit disappointing for me.

Overall - ok book - but had some similar threads to Outlander series. Some of the scottish sections were hard to read with the accents (and word differences) - found myself skimming those a bit.

Source: Last Word Book Discussion group, Hennepin county Library - Edina, MN

[Bonnie Staughton · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I bought this book I didn't know that it was about time travel. I love stories about Scotland and have ancestors from there.

When I realized that this was a time travel story, I was ecstatic. I love the notion of time travel.

Shawn, an American trombone player is on an orchestra tour of Scotland and Niall is a medieval Highland warrior of the 1300's. Both of them look very similar to each other and they wake up one day in switched places. How they respond to their "changed places" and relationships with the people they encounter shows just how different the two men are.

I also didn't realize this book was a "trilogy" and I'm anxious to read book #2.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story That Teaches & Inspire the Heart

This is a great story not only of gratitude, love lost, love found, and growing up; but it's a story of history, self sacrifice, and acceptance. The author weaves a simple fiction story for entertainment into a powerful lesson of being grateful for what you have, supporting something bigger than yourself, and learning to grow as a person in uncertain times.

[Cindy Kirkland · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this and have already started with the second book in the series. The things that garnered the 3 stars are the historical inaccuracies and repetitive passages. I dislike it when an author, for the sake of filling pages, repeats things that do not need repeating. They did not refer to distance as "miles" in 1300 Scotland and there would have been immediate consequences if Shawn appeared to be something they were not familiar with.

[Tej · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the first self-published novel I've read that I can gladly recommend to others. It has history, time travel, love, redemption, and the grammar doesn't suck! Big shout out to the Fox Cities Book Festival for introducing me to this author. I'll definitely be reading the next one in the trilogy.

[Joane · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book but the author dwelled WAY too much on the musical parts of it. The beginning was way too long and drawn out as she developed the characters also. All in all I wouldn't say it was the best I've ever read in time travel but it kept my attention enough that I will read the next one in the series and hope it's better.

[Cathy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Derivative. Characters one-dimensional. A Goodreads What to read next recommendation. My eyes rolled throughout the book; and when the clans were called to war, I almost gagged over two words: "Fraser. Mackenzie." Really?

[Seralynn Lewis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A friend recommended the book. While I love Scottish Highland books, this one traversed present-day to medieval times. I won't finish the book because I'm not a big fan of that type of book. What I did read, was well written, just not my cup of tea.

[Marci Clawson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book and really made you think of all the things in our life to be grateful for compared to how hard things were 700 years ago.

The character build was a little long, probably necessary but made the first half of the book a little slow. I zoomed through the second half. The story line is fun and I enjoy all of the history in the book.

[Nancy Stauffer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Time travel in Scotland... music, history & an interesting tale of people switching places. Since it ended with a cliffhanger, guess I’m gonna have to read the next 2 books!!

[Bob Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent! A great combination of a bit of time travel mixed with real historical Scotland. Believable characters. Well researched. An engaging story. Plan to read all 5 books in the series.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not bad...not great