Nate and Kelly [Paperback]

Michael R. Barnard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 4, 2012

A love story for today, from a century ago.
1915.
A businessman and a prostitute find love.
And hate.
Nathaniel "Nate" Paré and Kelly Hill didn't know each other. They were on opposite sides of the country, he in Baltimore and she in San Francisco, and opposite sides of life itself, he a successful young businessman and she a prostitute.
 
After the turn of the century, the tragic and drastic events of those early days built the path that led to the meeting of the two. Nate became an executive at an amazing world-class operation in the Bay area, but evil was there and drove him to a small town in the Central Valley of California. That same evil had driven Kelly to that small town, too.
 
A murderous hatred is penetrating society and threatens Nate and Kelly. As they fight for their own survival, fleeing together, just the two of them, their biggest discovery and triumph is their love for each other.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Read the reviews:
"hypnotizing story"
"worthwhile as an instructive tool and as a story to read"
"a well-written book"
"captured my interest from the very beginning"
"a story of hope, betrayal, survival, and love"
"makes you ponder the problems of society we live in today."

From the Author

The trauma our nation has felt since shortly after the turn of the century -- the destructive attack on New York City on September 11, 2001 and the horrible economy -- has made many citizens feel hopeless and fearful. Our nation felt a very similar trauma shortly after the turn of the previous century -- the destructive earthquake in San Francisco on April 18, 1906 -- had made many citizens feel hopeless and fearful, too.

NATE AND KELLY is an examination of love and hope, recognizing that tragedies happen but love and hope continue on

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 184 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 4, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1466402229
• ISBN-13: 978-1466402225
• Product Dimensions: 0.4 x 5.4 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,341,687 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Author Michael R. Barnard grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, then moved to Hollywood to write scripts for film and TV. He now lives in New York City. "NATE and KELLY" is his first novel. It is a love story intricately woven into historical facts.

Reviews of NATE AND KELLY:
By Sarah Edwards: "first-rate job of weaving history into the story that was thoroughly enjoyable"
By Marsha Clark: "Best Historical Book I've Read"
By Pamela Ann Drake Wilson: "..showing how life experience can change people and how hatred can make one take a stand against the haters"
By Grady Harp: "...this hypnotizing story NATE AND KELLY"
By wogan: "... worthwhile as an instructive tool and as a story to read"
By Naomi Gerber Anderson: "...a well-written book"
By Curtis Bruno: "...captured my interest from the very beginning!"
By Denise Archuleta: "A story of hope, betrayal, survival, and love...shocking truth about evil and prejudice."
By Phyllis Hinkle: "So well penned...makes you ponder the problems of society we live in today."

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars History Written As Though It Were Happening Now June 6, 2012

By Grady Harp HALL OF FAMETOP 50 REVIEWERVINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback

Michael R. Barnard's credentials as a writer of screenplays, a director and a producer serve him very well indeed in this hypnotizing story NATE AND KELLY. Reading this astutely investigated and documented novel that combines historical data with a created love story seems to have several foci in mind: Barnard wants us to be in the moment of critical times in US and world history to make us feel the impact on the populace the way very few other history books have and that is the reason for keeping the narrative in the present voice in stead of a reflective past voice much the way a script for a film being made functions; he wants us to be able to relate to the effects of these traumas of our history by placing characters with whom we can relate as our narrators (again, like a director's guidance in making a film); and he appears to want the reader to keenly understand that the parallels of the actions of those people that made the events of history happen are almost synchronous with the demagogues and wild men and events of today.

Without a lengthy introduction Barnard establishes that characters who will unravel this epic for us and then plunges us into the turn of the century events that changed the world forever - from the great fires in cities to the earthquake that devastated San Francisco to the opening of the Panama Canal to World War I and all that accompanied these twists and turns in our history. The characters that surround our main character Nate are so closely related tot he politicians and world leaders of today that treading Nate's fate and progress feels strangely relevant and thus terrifying.... And in the midst of al f this historical reenactment he settles us in for a bizarre love story whose permutations growing out of the events as they transpire between Nate and Kelly offer up what is destined to make a very fine film!

Michael R. Barnard may be presenting us with a first novel in NATE AND KELLY but he writes with such polished quality that his career as a novelist seems rather assured. One minor criticism: the inclusion of photographs taken during the historic events cited, wile interesting in and of themselves, seem like extraneous and (for this reader) interfering need for validation of the written word when the writing of the events is so pictorial that the photos seem redundant. I suppose that too is a compliment! Grady Harp, June 12 Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Masterful weaving of history into a story September 17, 2012

By Sarah Edwards

Format:Paperback

Michael has done a a first-rate job of weaving history into the story that was thoroughly enjoyable and included historical photos that piqued our interest.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Historical Book I've Read August 28, 2012

By Marsha

Format:Paperback

Let me start off by saying I usually don't like reading history books. I will say that this was 1 of the best history books that I've read. Even though it was non fictional. This book kept me interested all the way through and that's saying a lot for me since I'm not much of a reader. This book tells detail of the events that happened. It was a well written book and I would recommend it to anyone. Michael you have a lot of talent as a writer. Keep up the good work.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Back to the past June 6, 2012

By wogan TOP 50 REVIEWER

Format:Paperback

`Ned and Kelly' is a small historical novel - at times it is filled with more history than novel; but historical novels, if handled in an accurate way can be a great source of education, especially for those who have an aversion to history. The style is simplistic and written for the most part in present tense.

Nate travels to San Francisco to become the manager of the International Exposition in San Francisco shortly after the great earthquake. This was a turning point for the American west with the opening of the Panama Canal and the beginnings of WWI in Europe - huge changes were in the works for everyone.
The minutia of historical details are inserted everywhere - from the new motoring cars, to the transporting of the Liberty Bell and the price of admission, although it would have been an added value if the general salary level would have been included in places - a nickel doesn't seem like much now, but it was then.

Even though, at times the history overpowers the plot, sometimes 9 pages pass without a mention of Nate; but there are historical illustrations, a real plus.
Nate is accused of embezzlement, an irony since he has rejected his father who was accused and convicted of a similar crime and his father claims he was innocent too - yet Nate cannot see this. He does meet his match in Kelly, a prostitute, who also gives the reader an idea of the limited ways for a woman to make a living.

In total this is a small simplistic novel, but one that is worthwhile as an instructive tool and as a story to read.
I was asked to review this book and given a copy for examination. The opinion and details written here, are mine alone and were not dictated or ordered. If I didn't like the book I would say so.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars NaomiA May 7, 2012

By NaomiA

Format:Paperback

Nate and Kelly is a well written book starting out with explaining the history of the era and ending up as a love story. I would love to see this book made into a movie. Well written Michael.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Historical Drama March 22, 2012

By CurtisB

Format:Paperback

Nate and Kelly captured my interest from the very beginning! It is not too often that I come across a historical novel that I feel the need to share with a friend, but I have already passed on my copy of Nate and Kelly. As an educator, I am always searching for period pieces that I can use to elaborate on life in America, and I have found that Nate and Kelly will be useful in my lesson planning. Buy yourself a copy of Nate and Kelly, and you will be glad you did.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Nate and Kelly truly unforgettable, intelligent and human January 29, 2012

By Mouse

Format:Kindle Edition

I'm not surprised that Michael R. Barnard was able to capture the essence of the era, and incorporate actual history into such a dramatic story. A story of hope, betrayal, survival, and love. A message with shocking truth about evil and prejudice. It deeply touched my heart, in so many ways. I truly enjoyed the book and feel like it has a timeless message.

Thank you Michael for creating such a complex and intriguing book. Mouse