When I first heard of "Outlander," I had no idea what it was about. I remember seeing commercials for the TV show and thinking, "Oh, this show looks really good! I should watch it sometime." I only found out that it was adapted from a series of books written by Diana Gabaldon when a friend told me I should read them. So I may be a late-blooming Sassenach, but here are some things I love about "Outlander."

1. The books and their story lines

Diana Gabaldon has written a true gem of a series, complete with a handsome highlander, time traveling army nurse, and a colorful cast of side characters. These book are the perfect escape for any book lover! So far, the series has a total of eight books, with Gabaldon currently working on the ninth book, recently titled "Go Tell the Bees That I am Gone."

2. The TV show

The show is a gorgeous interpretation of the books, with each season representing one book. The show is on the network Starz, and is looked over by Gabaldon's close attention to detail. It is also mostly shot in Scotland, one of my dream vacation spots!

3. The casting choices

The cast for the show is absolutely perfect! They really embody their characters and bring the story to life. Catriona Balfe (middle) plays Claire Randall, an army nurse who goes back in time to Scotland in the year 1743. Sam Heughan (left) plays the honorable Scottish warrior, Jamie Fraser and Tobias Menzies (right) gets double duty, playing both Frank Randall and Black Jack Randall, Jamie's enemy. All in all, these three really do a wonderful job portraying characters that I have come to love (and hate!).

4. The historical accuracy

The historical accuracy is one of the major things I love about the show. From sets and costumes to Scottish Gaelic lessons and the lifestyle, Outlander is keeping it true to history, for the cast and the fans.

5. The romance

Romance in the show is a key factor. The pairing of Jamie and Claire is one that literally transcends time and space. It is a constant, living, breathing aspect of the show and is one thing that many people love about the show.

Through reading the books and watching the show, I've come to know and love these characters like friends. I'm happy when they're happy and I cry when they cry. I feel connected to them in ways I can't explain. To me, they aren't just characters; they are real people, living in a real world. From the moment I started the series, I have felt like I went through the stones with Claire, and that is something I will never forget!