The Rebel [Paperback]

May McGoldrick (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 2, 2002

Jane Purefoy is a woman with a double life masquerading as the leader of a gang of Irish revolutionaries. But its the passionate and determined Sir Nicholas Spencer who tears her heart in two.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

McGoldrick (The Promise) explores Georgian Ireland in this latest offering, which features the extensive historical detail for which the husband-and-wife team is known. Sir Nicholas Spencer, an English philanthropist, decides that he needs to settle down if he's going to open a house for homeless children. Determined to select a wife quickly, he heads for Ireland to meet Clara Purefoy, the demure daughter of an English lord. Arriving in Cork, however, he stumbles upon a band of Shanavests, Irish peasants who oppose the oppressive English government. The leader of the band, Nicholas discovers to his surprise, is Jane Purefoy, the disgraced elder daughter of the Purefoy family. Captivated by the stunning rebel, Nicholas agrees to keep her secret. Now he must extricate himself from a relationship with Clara as well as unravel the mystery of why Jane's family holds her in such disdain. The historical detail here can be heavy-handed at times, as when McGoldrick introduces Dr. Samuel Johnson ("a man who is perhaps the leading light of English letters today") in a clumsy aside. The plot occasionally feels contrived, as well, but the story's strong pacing, likeable hero and heroine and surprising twists and turns compensate for these minor flaws.
Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The Irish rebel Egan and his band have been a thorn in the side of the British Crown for years, but something goes dreadfully wrong on their latest mission. Englishman Sir Nicholas Spencer, who is traveling from London to stay with the Purefoy family and their lovely young daughter, Clara, captures the rebel leader after encountering the group robbing a British bishop and his entourage; then, before Egan slips out of his grasp, Nicholas briefly unmasks the Irish rebel and discovers that Egan is a woman. An even greater surprise lies in store for Nicholas once he arrives at the Purefoy estate and meets Clara's older sister, Jane, a spirited beauty who looks remarkably like the masked woman he was struggling with earlier that day. Skillfully blending history and romance, McGoldrick borrows the hero's best friend from her previous book, The Promise [BKL Ag 01], and gives him a courageous, stubborn heroine of his own to love in this vivid, compelling historical. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Signet; Regular Print/Single Titl edition (July 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451206541
• ISBN-13: 978-0451206541
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,696,255 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

May McGoldrick
(a.k.a. Nikoo & Jim McGoldrick)
Nikoo and Jim McGoldrick are storytellers with a checkered past.
From the submarine shipyards of Electric Boat in Groton, Connecticut, and the clubs of Rodeo Drive, to the forges of Pennsylvania and the electronics manufacturers of Massachusetts, these two have spent their lives gathering material for their novels. Nikoo, a manufacturing engineer, and Jim, who has a Ph.D. in sixteenth-century British literature, wrote their first full-length novel in 1994. Since then, Jim and Nikoo have written twenty-seven novels and a work of nonfiction.
They write under the pseudonyms of May McGoldrick, Jan Coffey, and Nicole Cody.

These prolific and popular authors have been the recipients of numerous awards for their work. They now reside in Watertown, Connecticut.
Please visit their website at www.MayMcGoldrick.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Rebel by Nikoo and James McGoldrick writing as May McGoldrick, April 30, 2009

By 

Ketzel (Vera Cruz, Ohio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Rebel (Hardcover)

The Rebel is the second and final book of the Rebel Promise set. It tells the story of Englishman Sir Nicholas Spencer, who was introduced in the first book, The Promise (Rebecca and Stanmore's story). The Rebel begins in London in December 1770 as the Stanmores are about to celebrate their first Christmas together, then moves to Cork, Ireland the following year where Nicholas first encounters the Irish Rebel, Egan. It is late August, and Nicholas is traveling with his mother and sister to Woodfield House to visit the home of an Englishwoman, Clara, daughter of Sir Thomas Purefoy and quite suitable to be his wife. He is resigned to his need to marry, both because he needs an heir, and because a wife is required if he is to fulfill his desire to establish and manage a shelter for the orphaned street children of London. On the road he comes across the frantic secretary of the local bishop who announces the bishop has been abducted by the rebel Shanavests. Nicholas sneaks up on the scene, and wrestles with the rebel leader, punching him in the mouth and freeing the bishop. Nicholas unmasks the rebel to reveal ... a bewitching lass who, unknown at that moment to Nicholas, is Jane Purefoy, Clare's older sister. Jane is not a suitable woman to wed Nicholas, her reputation forever ruined by her love affair with an Irish rebel who died on the gallows for his crimes. Needless to say, Nicholas and Jane's first meeting is not their last ... you'll need to read the book to learn the rest of the story! I found both Nicholas' and Jane's compassion and efforts on behalf of the poor and maltreated to be heartwarming ... this is a story of a strong heroine and a truly noble man. I gave it four stars. Like most romances, the ending comes a bit too quickly and it wraps up just a tad too neatly, but I think you'll enjoy the exciting ride in this well-written, historically accurate tale. I also highly recommend the first book in the set, The Promise, and think while both stories definitely stand alone, your enjoyment will be enhanced by reading both, in order.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars MY KIND OF HERO!, June 9, 2003

By 

Leiya (Penang, Malaysia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rebel (Paperback)

Before you read this book, be sure to read "THE PROMISE" first otherwise the surprise in store in that book will be exposed in "THE REBEL".

I've always have a penchant for rebel stories and this noblelady disguised as a rebel is one of my favourites.

Sir Nicholas Spencer was on his way to Ireland for a holiday at the invitation of an acquaintance, Sir Thomas Purefoy, when he came to the aid of the victims of a highway robbery. His interference brought him face-to-face with the rebel leader, Egan - and instead of a ruffian, Nicholas found himself gazing upon the beautiful face of a woman and was instantly smitten.

Egan later turned out to be none other than Jane Purefoy, the elder daughter of Sir Thomas. Jane's haunting past shadowed her life and shaped her future after a tragic event in her youth catapulted her into outlawness.

It is refreshing to note that this story is written mostly from Nicholas's viewpoint. Compassionate and protective, Nicholas has to be the strongest hero character ever written by May McGoldrick todate. Characters from "THE PROMISE" are also prominently featured with further developments in this book.

What with one hair-raising incident after another, combined with a suitably nasty and persistent villain dogging Egan's footsteps, "THE REBEL" prove to be a very exciting read indeed.

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Entertaining, September 11, 2010

By 

Jo "Sunny San Diego" (San Diego, CA, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Rebel (Paperback)

I enjoyed the characters and storyline. I like stories with a strong heroine and Jane Purefoy was definitely a strong character. McGoldrick does a wonderful job in bringing Jane's personality and character to life. I also enjoyed Nicholas' character. It's nice to have a break were the male character isn't a rogue or rake, but actually starts out with a heart.

I came across this book and was so caught up in it, I finished it in 6 hours. Now I must find food since I haven't stopped for basic needs since I picked it up.