Jeanette Baker is proving herself to
be one of the most talented writers of today. In her
latest book, "Nell", Baker's unique style
combines a contemporary story with time travel
and historical romance elements which take us on a parallel
journey between two periods of history where there are two heroines.
Bound to each other by blood and drawn to each other in their
need Nell and Jillian cross the lines of time to help each other
through the difficult times of their lives and to steer history
in the right direction.
Nell is handfasted to one of Ireland's fiercest
warriors, Donal O'Flaherty, yet she cannot give herself to
him fully because she has vowed to protect her brother. The
Fitzgerald's have the power to bring the Tudor monarchy down,
and to protect the crown, Henry will kill them off one by
one be they man or boy. With visits from Jillian, Nell is
able to make the right decisions to save her brother and herself
from a certain death. And it's Jillian that guides Donal back
to Nell and to a love that was put on hold for far too long.
Jillian is a modern day Fitzgerald. A Protestant,
her blood lines date back to Nell's time and beyond. She was
raised with money and influence though it was a lonely life
for an only daughter. Her only friend an imaginary one named
Nell. Nell comes to Jillian in her darkest hours to give aid
and comfort. But when Jillian met Catholic Frankie Maguire
Nell's visits soon faded to naught. Because Jillian was allowed
to spend so much time alone growing up she and Frankie were
able to grow very close. But it's not until Frankie was hauled
in to face the murder charges of Jillian's brother did she
realize how much she loved Frankie. It's this love that keeps
his secret of her brothers demise all these years. And it's
Nell's help that brings them back together again.
Frankie Maguire got involved with the IRA
while serving time for a murder he did not commit. One night
he manages to escape along with several other inmates from
Northern Ireland's infamous Long Kesh Prison and disappears
without a trace. Years later, under the alias of Danny Browne,
Frankie finds himself as one of the chief IRA negotiators
at the peace talks in Northern Ireland, and comes face to
face with a woman he once loved, Jillian Fitzgerald. It was
her late husband who he negotiated with originally, but with
his death Jillian was asked to take his place. She accepts
not knowing that it's Frankie Maguire that she'd be facing.
And all those buried feelings for her come rushing back.
Jeanette Baker has cleverly used the recent
peace negotiations of Northern Ireland, and the subsequent
Stormont Agreement, to create an intense and highly significant
story. She's taken three key figures from these negotiations
and interchanged them with her own characters. Jillian Fitzgerald
is really Mo Mowlam, the Northern Secretary. Frankie/Danny
is Gerry Adams, who is the President of today's Sinn Fein.
Thomas Putnam is the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair. And
with a little creative manipulation the end result is yet
another stunning historical lesson within a superbly written
story. Anyone remotely interested in Ireland, her people and
her history, will love "Nell". It's simply a brilliant
telling of history in the making.
