In Outlander, a 600-page time-travel romance, strong-willed and sensual Claire Randall leads a double life with a husband in one century, and ends with a husband in another. Torn between fidelity and desire, she struggles to understand the pure intent of her heart. But don’t let the number of pages and the Scottish dialect scare you. It’s one of the fastest reads you’ll have in your library.

Absorbing and heartwarming, this first novel lavishly evokes the land and lore of Scotland, entertaining through realistic characters and a feisty, likable heroine. English nurse Claire Beauchamp Randall and husband Frank take a second honeymoon in the Scottish Highlands in 1945. When Claire walks through a cleft stone in an ancient henge, she’s somehow transported to 1743. She encounters Frank’s evil ancestor, British captain Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall, and is adopted by the McKenzie clan. Claire, due to skills she learned as a nurse in WW2, nurses young soldier James Fraser back to health. Jaimie is a gallant, merry redhead, and the two begin a romance, seeing each other through many perilous, swashbuckling adventures involving Black Jack. Scenes of the Highlanders’ daily life blend poignant emotions with Scottish wit and humor. Eventually Sassenach (outlander) Claire finds a chance to return to 1945, and must choose between distant memories of Frank and her happy, uncomplicated existence with Jamie. Claire’s resourcefulness and intelligent sensitivity make the love-conquers-all, happily-ever-after ending seem a just reward.
There are many illusions to spanking and punishment in this book and one very intense punishment scene after Claire is rescued from the hands of the evil Captain Randall. Jamie tells her if she takes her medicine it will be less harsh, but must be done so she understands the danger that she has put everyone in due to her escapades running around in the countryside alone. She has put herself and all the men in danger and therefore must be punished to bring everything back to rights with the men. He told her if she fights him on this he will punish her until his arm tires. He uses his sword belt and of course she resists being from the future where it is no longer a common occurrence. He is larger and stronger than she is and thus ends with a very sore bottom, evident over the next few days of riding. All the men are very solicitous after the incident and harmony is restored in the group.
Jamie also talks about the many deserved beatings he received growing up. At one point he talks about the difference between beatings for power and beatings for a good reason. He respected his father and never feared him because of the punishments he received. There is a child at his estate that has been beaten by his father so much that he cowers all the time. Jaimie explains to Claire that this is not acceptable and gets the boy away from his father to work in the stables at the boy’s grandmother’s request. Jaimie says punishment is one thing but beating someone without reason is another.

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