Spellbound

Rating:
Summary: Where is the Baker Voice We Love?
Review: Having read all of her books, especially her early work, I was disappointed with this offering. There was nothing wrong with the writing, which is always crisp and to the point. But for me the story line was ho hum. I didn't care for the heroine at all, she seemed too bland. And the story seemed too morose to me, not too uplifting as it moved to the final pages. Certainly her past books are not happy go lucky stories, but they are at least rich in Irish detail, and this one seems to have far too many lifeless characters, except the children. Will I stop buying her books? NEVER. Although I appplaud authors who step outside of their traditional story lines, I would love to see a return to her paranormals, they are a classics and the very best in Irish Romances. I don't say don't buy it,but be aware this is a different voice for Jeanette Baker, not one I liked very much.

Rating:
Summary: Irish Family Saga with Too Many Characters For Me
Review: I might give this only a 3.5 if such a rating were allowed here at Amazon. I can't give it a 3 as Baker is too good a writer for such a grade. This is an author who previously excelled at love stories with paranormal elements. She has moved over from that subgenre to the heartwarming Irish family saga type novel. She reminds me of Maeve Binchy a bit but I like the way Binchy does that kind of novel better. Baker was as good as Binchy when off in her own subgenre. True, there is a love story here between Sean, an Irish playwright, and Mollie, an American teacher on sabbatical on an island off Ireland's shores. Sean was potentially a fascinating character but he was only given to us in sketch format since the author also featured everyone's parents and other extended family members as characters. There simply was not room with this many characters to flesh out any one character well. In fact, Baker well exceeded Binchy in her total number of characters in a much smaller book, which is perhaps why she didn't do as well on Binchy's home turf. I'm also reminded of Susan Howatch's novels, where she uses this many related characters, but she also uses so many more pages to achieve that goal, which I believe is necessary. If you want to read this writer when she was in better form, try her "Irish Lady," which featured a British female barrister and IRA accused male defendant with whom she grew up. She also has a wonderful ghost in this story and shows us a love story from far back in Irish history involving the ghost as well as a present day love story involving these two central protagonists. My guess is this is yet another author attempt to move out of the "unrespectable" romance genre and into the "respectable" woman's fiction/family saga genre. Unfortunately, there are very, very few authors who are capable of writing both equally well. I can't say this isn't well written but it just ended up too watered down for me. When the hero and heroine's biggest obstacle is whether he will come to live in California or she will come to live in Ireland, I think the words "gripping conflict" cannot be applied to a novel.

Rating:
Summary: Maeve Binchy Move Over!
Review: Jeanette Baker has done it again. Some authors remain stuck in a genre they are comfortable with. Jeanette Baker is NOT one of them. She continues to grow. Each book outshines the one before. Her lyrical prose, her attention to detail, her knowledge and mannerisms depicting the setting and character of the Irish people are uncanny for an American woman living in Orange County. Still waters run deep. The touching portrayal of life on the Arans and the young American woman and Irish playwright who care for each but have obvious obstacles in their paths, is a keeper of a book. Mollie goes to the ARans to meet her family, a father she never knew and a distant and older brother. BEfore she can accept her teaching position, her brother and his wife die, leaving three needy children. Baker does a marvelous job of portraying the children, the adults who agonize over their custody, the stark beauty of the ARans and the family torn apart so long ago that finally comes together again. Jeanette Baker's exceptional weaving together of the stories of Mollie's parents and their children make this a mainstream novel worthy of a first printing in hard cover. I am continually amazed at Baker's sense of story and her intuitive understanding of several points of view. Bravo, Ms. Baker. Once again, you've mesmerized me. I can only wait on pins and needles for your next masterpiece.

Rating:
Summary: Maeve Binchy Move Over!
Review: SPELLBOUND by Jeanette Baker is a spectacular story. It's set on Inishmore in the Aran Islands and is basically about Mollie Tierney, an American (born on Inishmore with an Irish father and American mother, but raised in America after her parents divorce her mother leaving with Mollie, leaving her 10-year-old son Danny with his father). Mollie has been writing to her sister-in-law, Kerry, for several years, although they have never met, and she helps Mollie obtain a fellowship to teach school on Inishmore for a year. But before Mollie arrives, Kerry dies in childbirth, and several weeks later Danny dies in an accident. They leave three young children and a will giving custody of them to Danny and Mollie's mother, Emma. But Kerry's twin brother, playwright, Sean O'Malley, has been caring for the children in the interim and is reluctant to give them up.

Sean and Mollie are attracted to one another from the beginning. But Sean knows how tough life is in the Aran Islands and believes Mollie to be like her mother, unable to handle the culture change and the isolation. He is afraid of committing to her - feeling that she'd leave eventually - just like her mother. He's also concerned about the children, feeling that being raised by Emma in California would be detrimental to them, despite the wishes of their parents. It isn't too much longer before Emma, now happily married to an American doctor, returns to Inishmore as well, and to an encounter with the ex-husband she hasn't seen in 28 years.

A disastrous oil spill brings the island to an economical standstill and also an American, Russ a veterinarian from California, to the area to help save some of the marine animals. It's clear that Russ finds Mollie attractive and Emma, feeling that Mollie would be much better off with Russ than Sean, Emma tries her best to orchestrate a love match between the two. It's clear though that Mollie's heart is with Sean. She just has to get him to realize she is not her mother.

Jeanette Baker has written a gem of a story that portrays the struggles of the fishermen on a small island and a culture, which is unique to them. She does a wonderful job with the children eight-year-old Marni, and five-year-old Caili, making them so lovable and likeable, I wanted to take custody of them! There is also a subplot involving Mollie's father, Patrick, and the woman who loved him even before he met Emma. Is it too late for them to try again?

But this is Sean and Mollie's story. And they are both sympathetic characters. And Russ, although vying for Mollie's affections, isn't a villain either. Mollie is portrayed as a mature young woman, free of the game playing found in so many contemporary heroines. She is intelligent, independent, but unable to resist Sean O'Malley.

Will Sean and Mollie realize the love they share is real before a tragedy threatens to rip them apart?

Baker excels in so many areas with this book it's difficult to know where to begin. The feelings Sean has regarding his nieces and nephew are so endearing. Taking care of a newborn is never easy, but Sean gives it his all. The resentment he feels towards Mollie with the knowledge that Kerry and Danny wanted their children cared for by Emma, is very believable. His fear of commitment to Mollie, despite his feelings, is also realistic, given her similarities to her mother.

Every character in this book is so well drawn -- not just the two main characters. From Patrick and Emma to Caili and Marni, they all seem like people we know - or would like to know. And with Baker's vivid descriptions, I could swear I could smell the peat fires and the brewing tea.

But the real star of this book is the island of Inishmore (Inis Mór). The largest of the three Aran islands, they lie just off the west coast of Ireland. They are so near the hustle and bustle of Galway with all its modern conveniences, yet they are so far away -- almost as if it were a different country or another place and time. Most of the inhabitants of the Aran islands rely more on old ways than new conveniences. Their isolation dictates that they be self-sufficient because there are times when, as near as they are to the mainland, transportation there is impossible. Buggies and wagons are the preferred mode of transportation (although there are cars - but only one gas station and no repair shops). The main forms of income for the inhabitants are fishing and tourism. Many of the inhabitants speak Irish (Gaelic) which has enjoyed a renewal throughout Ireland, but particularly in the West. Those who have been to the Aran islands or are familiar with their stark beauty, void of trees; of the miles of rock fences separating property, of the thatched roof cottages with smoke from the peat fire billowing from their chimneys, can certainly visualize the setting very well. But with Baker's vivid description, even those unfamiliar with the area will get a good idea of what it looks like.

I also enjoyed the descriptions of shops in Galway (including Kenny's Bookstore)and in Dublin (I am ready to stay at Number 31 - a real guesthouse).

Read and enjoy. I am glad I have Jeanette Baker's other books in my TBR pile, because I certainly would be searching for them after reading this one. I'm also ready to call Aer Lingus and book a flight to Ireland!

Rating:
Summary: A wonderful Portrayal of Irish Life and Love!
Review: SPELLBOUND by Jeanette Baker is a spectacular story. It's set on Inishmore in the Aran Islands and is basically about Mollie Tierney, an American (born on Inishmore with an Irish father and American mother, but raised in America after her parents divorce her mother leaving with Mollie, leaving her 10-year-old son Danny with his father). Mollie has been writing to her sister-in-law, Kerry, for several years, although they have never met, and she helps Mollie obtain a fellowship to teach school on Inishmore for a year. But before Mollie arrives, Kerry dies in childbirth, and several weeks later Danny dies in an accident. They leave three young children and a will giving custody of them to Danny and Mollie's mother, Emma. But Kerry's twin brother, playwright, Sean O'Malley, has been caring for the children in the interim and is reluctant to give them up.

Sean and Mollie are attracted to one another from the beginning. But Sean knows how tough life is in the Aran Islands and believes Mollie to be like her mother, unable to handle the culture change and the isolation. He is afraid of committing to her - feeling that she'd leave eventually - just like her mother. He's also concerned about the children, feeling that being raised by Emma in California would be detrimental to them, despite the wishes of their parents. It isn't too much longer before Emma, now happily married to an American doctor, returns to Inishmore as well, and to an encounter with the ex-husband she hasn't seen in 28 years.

A disastrous oil spill brings the island to an economical standstill and also an American, Russ a veterinarian from California, to the area to help save some of the marine animals. It's clear that Russ finds Mollie attractive and Emma, feeling that Mollie would be much better off with Russ than Sean, Emma tries her best to orchestrate a love match between the two. It's clear though that Mollie's heart is with Sean. She just has to get him to realize she is not her mother.

Jeanette Baker has written a gem of a story that portrays the struggles of the fishermen on a small island and a culture, which is unique to them. She does a wonderful job with the children eight-year-old Marni, and five-year-old Caili, making them so lovable and likeable, I wanted to take custody of them! There is also a subplot involving Mollie's father, Patrick, and the woman who loved him even before he met Emma. Is it too late for them to try again?

But this is Sean and Mollie's story. And they are both sympathetic characters. And Russ, although vying for Mollie's affections, isn't a villain either. Mollie is portrayed as a mature young woman, free of the game playing found in so many contemporary heroines. She is intelligent, independent, but unable to resist Sean O'Malley.

Will Sean and Mollie realize the love they share is real before a tragedy threatens to rip them apart?

Baker excels in so many areas with this book it's difficult to know where to begin. The feelings Sean has regarding his nieces and nephew are so endearing. Taking care of a newborn is never easy, but Sean gives it his all. The resentment he feels towards Mollie with the knowledge that Kerry and Danny wanted their children cared for by Emma, is very believable. His fear of commitment to Mollie, despite his feelings, is also realistic, given her similarities to her mother.

Every character in this book is so well drawn -- not just the two main characters. From Patrick and Emma to Caili and Marni, they all seem like people we know - or would like to know. And with Baker's vivid descriptions, I could swear I could smell the peat fires and the brewing tea.

But the real star of this book is the island of Inishmore (Inis Mór). The largest of the three Aran islands, they lie just off the west coast of Ireland. They are so near the hustle and bustle of Galway with all its modern conveniences, yet they are so far away -- almost as if it were a different country or another place and time. Most of the inhabitants of the Aran islands rely more on old ways than new conveniences. Their isolation dictates that they be self-sufficient because there are times when, as near as they are to the mainland, transportation there is impossible. Buggies and wagons are the preferred mode of transportation (although there are cars - but only one gas station and no repair shops). The main forms of income for the inhabitants are fishing and tourism. Many of the inhabitants speak Irish (Gaelic) which has enjoyed a renewal throughout Ireland, but particularly in the West. Those who have been to the Aran islands or are familiar with their stark beauty, void of trees; of the miles of rock fences separating property, of the thatched roof cottages with smoke from the peat fire billowing from their chimneys, can certainly visualize the setting very well. But with Baker's vivid description, even those unfamiliar with the area will get a good idea of what it looks like.

I also enjoyed the descriptions of shops in Galway (including Kenny's Bookstore)and in Dublin (I am ready to stay at Number 31 - a real guesthouse).

Read and enjoy. I am glad I have Jeanette Baker's other books in my TBR pile, because I certainly would be searching for them after reading this one. I'm also ready to call Aer Lingus and book a flight to Ireland!

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: True to its title, Spellbound is a captivating and riveting novel that takes on a new slant for author Jeanette Baker. In Spellbound, Ms. Baker daringly and successfully moves from one genre, paranormal, to another, contemporary fiction, while keeping intact her extraordinary talent of creating a rich and detailed story that her readers have become accustomed to. Ms. Baker paints an accurate and vivid portrait of Irish life that is centuries old while transcending the paranormal themes in her previous works. The reader is not required to travel back into history to understand implications because the characters and setting contain the history within themselves, allowing the reader to remain in one time frame. As with all of Ms. Baker's works, the characters come to life from the start in the reader's mind due to their realistic and enticing nature. Spellbound is truly a work of art for Jeanette Baker!

Rating:
Summary: Captivating
Review: True to its title, Spellbound is a captivating and riveting novel that takes on a new slant for author Jeanette Baker. In Spellbound, Ms. Baker daringly and successfully moves from one genre, paranormal, to another, contemporary fiction, while keeping intact her extraordinary talent of creating a rich and detailed story that her readers have become accustomed to. Ms. Baker paints an accurate and vivid portrait of Irish life that is centuries old while transcending the paranormal themes in her previous works. The reader is not required to travel back into history to understand implications because the characters and setting contain the history within themselves, allowing the reader to remain in one time frame. As with all of Ms. Baker's works, the characters come to life from the start in the reader's mind due to their realistic and enticing nature. Spellbound is truly a work of art for Jeanette Baker!

Rating:
Summary: ANother winner by this talented author
Review: When their parents split, Mollie returned to America with their mother while Danny remained in Inishmore, Ireland with their father. Years pass, Danny marries but his wife Kerry dies during childbirth. Two weeks after Kerry's burial, Danny is found dead at sea. His brother-in-law, Sean O'Malley moves into the home care for his two young nieces and his newborn nephew even though legal guardianship has been awarded to Molly in California.

Molly and Kerry had become pen pals and the latter encouraged the former to accept a teaching job in Ireland so she can meet her family. Molly arrives for her brother's funeral and to help her nieces (Caili and Marni) adjust to life without their parents. As Sean and Mollie fall in love with their three charges, they begin to also fall in love with one another. However, she is big city American and he is Ireland making a permanent relationship seem impossible, but then again there is those sad but cute little girls serving as matchmakers.

SPELLBOUND is a well written relationship drama that focuses on the need of love to help individuals and families overcome tragedies. The story line will spellbind the reader because Jeanette Baker does not trivialize the trauma that Caili and Marni face. The key to the success of this deep drama is the cast all o whom seem genuine whether they display sadness, grief, or love. This excellent tale showcases the abilities of Ms. Baker to take her audience on an emotional ride.

Harriet Klausner