The Gift [Mass Market Paperback]

Julie Garwood (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1991

A child bride, Sara Winchester had grown into a winsome beauty, joyfully anticipating the day when her husband Nathan, Marquess of St. James, would return to claim her heart at last. Charmingly innocent, she dismissed the ancient feud that divided Nathan's family from her own...and she was totally unaware of his past exploits as the notorious pirate, Pagan. The man who now stood before her was perplexing, arrogant and powerfully handsome...a warrior-gentleman whose gentle touch aroused her to the wildest, deepest pleasures of love.

Nathan had never bared his soul to any woman, but he was soon utterly beguiled and exasperated by Sara's sweet, defiant ways. Aboard his ship, The Seahawk, she was brave, imperious and determined to win his heart completely -- yet upon their return to England, her love would be sorely tested as a vile conspiracy tried to tear them apart. With their future at stake, they would discover the true destiny of their passion...for all time!

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This bland romance, which borders on formulaic, recycles a few elements from Garwood's earlier novel Guardian Angel . In 1802, in an attempt to bring peace between two warring families, the king arranges a marriage between the 14-year-old Nathanialsp ok Baker, marquess of St. James, and Lady Sara Winchester, who is four. Fourteen years later and now a pirate, Nathan wishes to claim his bride--and the property that comes with her--but the Winchesters aren't cooperating. Nathan decides to indulge in a "clean, uncomplicated kidnapping" and spirits his wife out of England on one of his ships. In fact Sara, long infatuated with her absent, mysterious husband, settles into life at sea quite cheerfully, enlivening the voyage by accidentally destroying a couple of sails, giving the crew food poisoning and setting the vessel on fire. Despite it all, her determined affection for and faith in Nathan and his crew gradually wins her a place in their crusty, seafaring souls and a loyalty that is tested when, on their return to London, Sara's father threatens to expose an old scandal that could ruin the St. James name.
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

Romantic Times Glorious...The Gift is a stunning achievement, full of warmth, humor, lovable characters...rich in emotion...You'll cherish this book.

Rendevous I am once again enthralled with the tale that flows from Ms. Garwood's pen...The Gift belongs on my hand off or die! shelf

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket Books (January 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671702505
• ISBN-13: 978-0671702502
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (108 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,624 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Julie Garwood is the author of numerous New York Times bestsellers, including Fire and Ice, Shadow Music, Shadow Dance, Murder List, Killjoy, Mercy, Heartbreaker, Ransom, and Come the Spring. There are more than thirty-six million copies of her books in print.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I totally disagree!, April 20, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: The Gift (Mass Market Paperback)

I think that some of the people who wrote reviews are whining. Not the heroine of Julie Garwood's book. You have to take into consideration that Sara, the heroine, was probably a good representation of some women at that time. And a large facet of her charm and appeal is the way she grows from timid, and self conscious to mature and self-assured. In this book, the characters have been married since they were 4 and 14. They are from rival families and were ordered to marry to settle a dispute. 14 years later, Nathan comes to get Sara and start their married life. The story that follows amusingly, and touchingly, chronicles Nathan and Sara falling in love on the high seas, and fighting to keep that love on land. I thought The Gift was a great book, certainly one of the best in the series. (Speaking of the series, there are four books, not three. The Lion's Lady is the first. Then Guardian Angel, The Gift, and Castles.) The two main characters are loveable, and have good chemistry, not mention some GREAT and really witty conversations. And of course, the hot love scenes

Julie Garwood has created a thoroughly interesting plot and setting, a great cast of minor characters, and a great book! I reccomend it highly, but I also reccomend you read the books in order.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Damn it, Sara!, June 14, 2005

By 

Nicole Wagner (California) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Gift (Mass Market Paperback)

I usually don't require that laughter be a part of any romance novel I read...but I was almost embarrassed by the perpetual smile I had on my face while reading this book. It has to be one of the best books I have ever read. Sara, the bumbling, innocent heroine I didn't get at first, but after I realized that her demeanor was all a coping mechanism that she developed while dealing with her horrid family. Well I couldn't help but love her cluelessness. Nathan was a marvelous hero...sigh. You know when an author gets a hero right...there is no explaination needed. I loved this book.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another Garwood masterpiece!, January 27, 2001

By 

mirope "mirope" - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Gift (Mass Market Paperback)

I love Julie Garwood, and this is one of my favorites. Lady Sara Winchester is a different kind of heroine - ditzy, naive and thoroughly optomistic. She was forced to marry Nathan St. James by royal decree when she was a very young child, and has fantasized about him as her prince charming ever since. When Nathan claims his bride years later, she is in for a surprise - he is surly and mistrustful, not to mention a semi-reformed pirate and general social outcast. The story of how these two come together and learn to live with one another is hilarious. And plenty sexy! As usual, Garwood delivers!