It is not by the same author that wrote the Clan of the Cave Bear, but it is along the same lines. It started off with one couple and went through several generations. The first couple only mated at "mating" night. Then in it tells of how they went from that to being "married".At one point there is a famine and the last couple survives by eating snails.At the end of the book the clan did something against their beliefs and so all the people went to live underground. I know a bit odd but it was a good book.
Maybe you might know the author? If not, no big deal.If I remember,she wrote several of these kinds of books.
thanks,
becky

ok lets try again

It has been ages and ages since I read this book, but maybe (I doubt it, but maybe) it is People of the Wolf by W. Michael Gear and Kathleen O'Neal Gear (I'm going to go check the author names real fast) and edit if I'm wrong (I was wrong and I corrected it. LOL).  It was the first in a series about American Indians and how they got to North America from Russia.  Subsequent books follow various tribes from that time on (I think).  I remember I read it cause it seemed similar to the Clan of the Cave Bear series.  It has been so long though that I don't really remember any details like you mentioned.  I'm quite sure I'm wrong, so I don't even know why I'm bothering to post here. :-P

Also: I think Ms. Gear wrote other books so maybe it's one of those.

The authors Crystal mentioned were the ones I was thinking about too..I haven't read any of these but someone told me if by (now exbf) liked Auel's books he'd probably like those.

what genere would these book be in? I was really into them for a while. this one stood out because it was set in the brittish isles.  that right!!!! It was like before the celts but leading up to them. at the end of the book in the authors notes she told the tale of small people who lived underground and that it was somehow connected to lepercauns.... odd.... i just know i really did like it.

Ok, the series I'm talking about takes place in the Americas and no leprechauns so my guess is not correct.  Sorry.  :-(

The genre should be historical fiction or it could also be found under prehistoric fiction.  If you search either you usually get lots of hits for Jean Auel's books first.  There are some online indexes here: www.trussel.com/prehist/series.htm  (for series books, which it sounds like what you're searching for is) and here: www.trussel.com/prehist/titles.htm  is an alphabetically sorted index - by title (in case you can remember it if you see it), and the main index, sorted alphabetically by author, with cover images is here: www.trussel.com/prehist/prehist1.htm.  A lot there to go through so good luck:P

Oh, forgot to say... try Joan Wolf.  I've never read any of them, but she has some prehistoric romance stuff set in prehistoric France & GB.

joan wolf sounds familiar. I am going to try those links Kim.  Just to make this more confusing the whole story of these people is all in one book.

thanks everyone.

Joan Wolf is *fairly* well known & writes a bit of everything; regencies, historicals, medievals & contemporaries, etc.  I only mentioned her because she calls her prehistoric period books "Prehistoric Romances", & I though it might be worth checking.  The only title I recall offhand is Daughter of the Red Deer, and I think that's part of a trilogy, so it may not fit.  I'd have to look them up to see what the other titles are, but I'm pretty sure there are 3 books.

yeah it is kim.  the reason i knew her name is from her other romance novels.

I think that maybe it was a very old book but i am still looking.I am trying looking on the websites kim suggested. the problem is almost everything i have found has been set here not in the brittish isles.

I don't know if this author is a possibility but he? she? writes fiction that is based in Ireland--some of it prehistoric.

Morgan Llywelyn

I wonder if someone in the fantasy forum might be able to help--it may be one of those kinds of books that could be considered to fall in multiple genres especially if it has the element of leprechauns.

nope not her either. I give up. maybe i will find it some day at a yardsale or somthing.Then it would be a present from the book fairy.