I have no idea why it has taken me as long as it has to even pick up a copy of Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander. I’ve seen copies in every booksale I’ve ever gone to and know the name as one of the most recommended romance novels. And therein probably lies the problem. I’ve always thought of Outlander as a fluffy romance novel that wasn’t worth my time or dollars. Am I a book snob? Hell yea! However, in this case I am a wrong-headed and narrow-minded book snob. Outlander is so much more than just a romance. It is an exquisitely detailed historical novel with a rich setting and strong characters.

Claire Randalls, former army nurse, and her husband are vacationing in Scotland after 8 years apart because of WWII. During a morning excursion Claire finds herself mysteriously whisked back in time for 1743 in the middle of a cattle raid. Claire needs to learn who to trust in this new world, and learn fast. Her husband’s 6 times great grandfather is convinced she is a spy and she’s suddenly faced with many decisions, including should she marry the gorgeous hulk of a man whose life she’s saved?

Diana Gabaldon has used her history background to recreate a realistic scene of life in the Scottish highlands in the 16th century. While some I know have said that the book is just too long, I believe that Gabaldon writes exactly enough for an avid fan of history. That said, if you aren’t looking for the description of the heather on the hill or the deep, still pool then this book might seem too daunting. While Claire is out of place and out of time, Gabaldon is careful to not let too much of the future slip into the past. Claire does use her knowledge of the future to help a few people she meets, but the burden of knowledge is a heavy one and Gabaldon doesn’t use Claire’s character as witch figure, instead tries to have her learning to fit in as much as possible.

Did I mention the sex? There are a lot of steamy sex scenes and romantic assignations seeded throughout this book. Some readers might think the sex is too graphic, but personally I never felt uncomfortable reading her descriptions of intimacy. Compared toFifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You, I felt the relationship between Claire and Jamie was more genuine and led to a sort of expectation of their relationship to become more serious and descriptive. Regardless, it is very steamy and if you prefer stories where it all stays in the bedroom this might not be the perfect choice for you.

I used to look down on romances and I don’t really know why. I discovered that I really enjoyed romance when set in a fantasy world. My favorite series, Kushiel’s Legacy by Jacqueline Carey, is almost exactly the same length and steaminess as Outlander just set in a completely made up world. For both authors I appreciated the dedication to creating a lush setting and believable characters, and to be honest, I enjoyed the sex scenes.

I would recommend this series for getaway reading. I think its great for vacations or beach reading (I bought the whole series in paperback to take to the beach with me this summer!!), however this book does require dedication. At 850 pages its not a quick to finish, but the story itself reads quickly.