The Barefoot Queen

by Jean Harrington

What would you do if a pirate's blood was running in your veins and a tyrant was running your life and land? Grace O'Malley, with little more than her bare hands, fights injustice the only way she can . . . maddening one man, thrilling another.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1603818456
• ISBN13: 9781603818452
• Release Date: April 2021
• Publisher: Camel Press
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

An Engaging Story-One to Remember

Grace O'Malley is proud to be great-granddaughter of the famous pirate, Grace O'Malley. Her quick mind, beauty and bearing lead the locals to call her The Barefoot Queen. The story opens with the hanging of her father for the crime of deer poaching. Never mind that the people of the village are starving, and the deer could have eased their hunger, Lord Rushmount is master, and the law will be obeyed. Grace cannot stand that her father is left hanging from the tree, and needs to find someone brave enough to help her cut him down and bury him. She decides to ask Owen O'Donnell, a man she's loved since girlhood. She also hopes to make him see that his withered leg, result of a childhood accident, means nothing to her, that it's his mind and soul she loves. Owen does love Grace but refuses to allow his feeling to show. He knows she could marry a whole man, not a cripple like him. Nor does he have land to support a wife and family, being the village blacksmith. Yet they do come together for a brief time, until Owen is questioned about the recent deer poaching. After being laughed at because of his leg, and the fact it would be impossible for him to kill a deer much less slaughter it and carry away the meat, he hardens his heart against Grace. He loves her too much to marry her. Grace sees the hunger in the village, the children suffering, and decides to carry on her father's deeds. He taught her how to shoot bow and arrow, and she has her own set, hidden in a tree. The deer she brings down is shared among the many, but brings the wrath of Lord Rushmount. Lord Rushmount is intrigued by Grace O'Malley. He knows he'll have her, one way or another, willing or fighting. The questions begin: Will Grace be discovered? Will Owen and Grace ever get together? Will Rushmount take Grace before she can wed? Will the evil Rushmount be defeated? I liked how the author developed the characters, especially Grace. She's young, uneducated, but intelligent. She wants to learn how to read English so she can read the laws of the people who oppress her people. Her reactions and thought to the luxury seen in Lord Rushmount's home rang true. I also liked the priest, not too sweet, not too sour, but a man who happens to be a priest. Lord Rushmount's character was interesting, and I enjoyed his POV. The time, 1665, had much to do with his beliefs. The author does bring all the ends together, and I shed tears near the end. This is an engaging story, one that will have you smiling, crying and smiling again.

A villainous English Lord leads to Irish defiance!

When her father suffers at the hands of an English Lord, Grace O'Mallery knows she can't sit and watch idly while the people of Ballybanree starve. The legend of her great-grandmother, a pirate who openly defied the English, ignites Grace's passion for justice. Lord Rushmount will not accept any challenge to his authority ---- not from his animals, his family or the tenants of Ballybanree. He knows only one way to answer defiance --- with brutality and blood-payments. Owen O'Donnell, the sexy and muscular blacksmith, knows that he must protect Grace and his people from the wrath of Lord Rushmont. Will the threat of losing everything cause Owen to put his heart above his past wounds and seek a new life? Will Lord Rushmont discover the identity of the deer stalker and take his vengeance? Jean Harrington's 17th century historical romance THE BAREFOOT QUEEN details the hard realities of life in Ballybanree when the authority of an English lord knows no restraint and justice is unattainable. Jean Harrington places the hero and heroine within the context of the whole town, allowing the reader to know the residents and their connections to one another. Grace is a strong woman, defiant and willing to take a stand against injustice. Owen, defiant yet gentle of heart, circumspect yet ingenious and innovative, will the sufferings of his people and a threat to Grace force him to take action? Just how far is he willing to go to protect Grace and their love? THE BAREFOOT QUEEN creates a historical background that makes Ireland and history come alive for readers. The introduction of Shakespeare and RICHARD III was very well done --- not just placing the romance within literary history but providing a window into Lord Rushmont's character and a reflection on the written word. The Bible also comes into play, not just the creation of the King James bible but also the importance of the Bible and reading in a time when reading instruction was rare outside of the upper classes. In the background of the current historical time, the reader sees the past actions of Oliver Cromwell and the Church of England and its effect on the attitudes and fears of the characters. Jean Harrington gives the reader more than just historical references. She gives us the emotional, spiritual and economic conflicts as experienced in the lives of her characters. Despite Charles II's reign and the relaxation against Catholicism, we see the difficulties for Father Joyce as gestures do little to feed empty bellies. Father Joyce was a most interesting character. Conscious of church laws, he still finds a way of obeying his religious orders and also of being a man of God and a spiritual voice to his flock, when the two conflicted. Owen was great hero --- disabled by an accident yet strong and sexy, a wounded soul yet defiant and smart. In Grace's character, like others, Jean Harrington fills in the shades of grey, not presenting the reader with a black and white character but a fallible he

The Barefoot Queen - Enthralling, Entertaining and Exceptional

Jean Harrington's Barefoot Queen takes the reader to the tumultuous world of 17th century Ireland. Grace O'Malley is the spirited heroine of this saga. As she is drawn into the class struggle and long time enmities shaping life in her village, she is challenged by her status as a woman, as an Irish peasant and as a bold adventuress with dreams to match. Grace is the fiery offspring of a poacher who has been hanged for his encroachment on the lands of Lord Rushmount and his family. As Grace takes up her father's "profession", she sets the stage for tragedy and confrontation. Her unlikely romance with the strong willed Owen O'Malley adds to the tension in this tightly woven plot. Rushmount's fascination with Grace and his drive for revenge lead to a dénouement that is both shocking and tragic, forever changing Grace's life. The Barefoot Queen is an enthralling adventure story, a sensuous romance, and a gripping thriller made exceptional by its historical detail and crisp writing. The political forces and imperious demands of the ruling class personified in Lord Rushmount are contrasted with the daily lives of the villagers who are under his rule. Interwoven are scenes of treachery on both sides, cunning schemes and betrayal all too common in the Irish struggle for equality in the 17th century. Author Harrington's attention to historical accuracy, insightful character development and vivid description make this beautifully written book a "must read".