Amazon.com: Nell (Sonnet Books) (9780671017354): Jeanette Baker: Books

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
Nell (Sonnet Books)
 
See larger image
 
Tell the Publisher!
I'd like to read this book on Kindle

Don't have a Kindle? Get your Kindle here, or download a FREE Kindle Reading App.

Nell (Sonnet Books) [Mass Market Paperback]

Jeanette Baker (Author)
4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)


Available from these sellers.



Book Description

March 1999 Sonnet Books
With "characters so realistic that their emotions seem to leap off the pages" "(The Literary Times)," Jeanette Baker's evocative romances weave past and present into one luminescent tapestry of love that surpasses the bounds of time. Now she holds us spellbound with the story of a woman whose future depends on a betrayal that happened five hundred years before....

Jillian Fitzgerald, whose grand house had sixty rooms, grew up together with Frankie Maguire, the kennel keeper's son, in Northern Ireland. That she was rich and he was poor did not daunt their dreams of someday marrying. But Jillian was headed for a privileged life and the university. Frankie, drawn into the nationalist cause, faced a charge of murder and the dark walls of a jail cell.

With their lives torn apart, there seemed no chance for Jillian and Frankie. But the heart owns knowledge to which the mind is not privy. Generations before, an Irish princess, Eleanor "Nell" Fitzgerald, her family killed, her life in jeopardy, her beloved torn from her arms, was preparing to reach out to another woman who shared her heritage...a woman in another century. Now, from the court of Henry VIII to the violent streets of modern Belfast, Nell and Jillian will become two souls joined in one courageous battle to prove that neither prison bars nor the hands of time can stop the power of love.


Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought


Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Two distinct story lines, separated by centuries of Irish history, tenuously link the lives of two young women. In 1527, Eleanor (Nell) Fitzgerald suffers the loss of her family, slaughtered in Henry Tudor's purge of perceived threats to his reign. Twentieth-century aristocrat Jillian Fitzgerald is a childhood companion to Frankie McGuire, son of her father's collier in County Down, Northern Ireland, a friendship that culminates some 20 years later as each helps Ireland seek inner accord. Despite the strong individual story lines, the novel is weakened by its disjointed structure; it is only in the concluding notes that the author explains the connection between the stories?that the first historical event directly caused the background turmoil of the modern setting. Baker is a forceful writer of character and conflict, and readers interested in Irish history and politics will appreciate her attempt.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

As a child, Jillian Fitzgerald knew that Francis Maguire was destined to be hers, regardless of those small differences of rich vs. poor, Protestant vs. Catholic. And in Northern Ireland, at a time when religious freedom was in turmoil, the chances of a future together were dim. But that didn't phase young Jillian. She brought Frankie into her life, giving him glimpses of grandeur that he had never seen. A family tragedy tears them apart, sending Frankie away with only a promise that he will come back. As Jillian heads off to school, she is united with Nell, a ghostly ancestor who is seeking love herself. Jillian and Nell are both searching for love, with Nell being caught up in 16th century Ireland. Nell's fight to regain her true love creates a parallel storyline to that of Jillian and Frankie. More than 20 years later, Jillian and Frankie meet each other once again, this time on separate sides of the bargaining table. They each represent difference factions in negotiating peace for Ireland, although Frankie is now known as Danny Browne. Jillian and Frankie must overcome their adult differences set against the backdrop of a tumultuous time for Ireland. They must deal with the aftermath of the tragedy that tore them apart before they can rebuild their relationship. And with just a little bit of help from Nell, Jillian and Frankie try to recapture their love. Ms. Baker has put together a breathtaking novel that has the reader eagerly turning the pages. All the classic themes, including an innovative time travel twist, combine for an explosive read. Certainly one of the best historicals I have read in a while. The ease with which Ms. Baker tells the story overlays a complex storyline that she has managed well. Trying to juggle two separate relationships and develop them fully is a challenge for any writer. Kudos to Ms. Baker for adeptly bringing us stories of Nell and Jillian. Although fictional, Ms. Baker's novel gives insight into Ireland's struggle for peace with just enough of the facts to give readers a good taste. Although a little on the sweet side in the beginning, Ms. Baker waited for the right moment to pack on the sensuality. And it was certainly worth the wait. Amy Wilson -- Copyright © 030199 Literary Times, Inc. All rights reserved -- From Literary Times

Product Details

  • Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
  • Publisher: Pocket (March 1999)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0671017357
  • ISBN-13: 978-0671017354
  • Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.3 x 1.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,885,312 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jeanette Baker is the award-winning author of fifteen novels, most of them set in the lush countryside of historical and contemporary Ireland where she lives and writes during the summer months. Her ancestors, the Flahertys, hail from Inishmore the largest of the Aran Islands located off the coast of Galway. She takes great pride in the prayer posted by the English over the ancient city gates, 'From the wrath of the O'Flahertys, may the good Lord deliver us.'

Jeanette graduated from the University of California at Irvine and holds a Masters Degree in Education. For the remainder of the year, Jeanette teaches in Southern California and enjoys the company of her grown children. She is the Rita award-winning author of NELL.


 

Customer Reviews

9 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (1)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
4.9 out of 5 stars (9 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Like a Fine Wine, October 9, 2000
By 
Elizabeth B. Christenson (San Jose, CA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Nell (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)
that needed a little more time before it was opened. It was full-bodied, great legs, beautiful nose but sounded some sour notes on the finish. This writer is truly without equal with regard to her exhaustive research into contemporary and medieval Ireland, and she loads her prose with such exquisite details. Her characters, from the contemporary lovestory of Jillian and Frankie to the medieval romance of Nell and Donal, are each sound and three-dimensional. But the story takes a wrong turn with the light treatment of the demise of a minor character, in the wake of which I felt the main characters should certainly have behaved with more decorum. Three-quarters of the way through, the author falls back on tired devices, like the confession that keeps getting interrupted until it's too late, etc., and at any rate, I lost much of my empathy for Jillian by the end of the book. Frankie, as the hero, stopped making interesting choices and was just not compelling romantically. The love scenes just left me cold.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


4 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful book., January 24, 2000
By 
This review is from: Nell (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)
This book was good on many different levels and should appeal to both historical romance fans and fans of more contemporary novels. The story of Nell & Donal offers a fascinating historical backdrop to the present day lives of Jilly & Frankie. The historical information about Ireland is presented in such a way that when you finish this book you walk away with an understanding of current & past conflicts that couldn't have been obtained a better way. Ms. Baker has a tremendous ability to develop characters who become so real you feel as though you could invite them to tea. The relationship between Nell & Jilly is magical and adds a touch of fantasy to the story. If you enjoy Irish history, romance and just a darn good story you'll like "Nell".
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No


5.0 out of 5 stars magical, February 18, 1999
By A Customer
This review is from: Nell (Sonnet Books) (Mass Market Paperback)
Ms. Baker's books are quite wonderful and well developed. In fact, I consider her books quite magical. I wish she would devote more time to writing. She hasn't written enough. I also enjoy learning about Irish history through her stories. She makes the characters and plot lines come alive.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews 
Was this review helpful to you? Yes No

Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews







Only search this product's reviews



What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?


Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store

If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store. Learn more

Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   
Related forums



So You'd Like to...


Create a guide


Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject