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Jennie Trilogy #1
Jennie About to Be
Book by Ogilvie, Elisabeth
345 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
7 people are currently reading
86 people want to read
About the author
Elisabeth Ogilvie
75 books53 followersElisabeth Ogilvie’s striking evocation of the atmosphere of the Maine seacoast that is the background of The Seasons Hereafter is no accident, for she lived in just such an area for many years, and her love for its people and their way of life has influenced all her novels.
Her activities on Gay’s Island, where she spent most of the year, included writing, gardening, and “trying not to suspect that a bear is at the door, a moose lurking in among the alders, or a horned owl hovering overhead about to bear away the cat.”
She contributed a considerable amount of writing of magazine fiction and children’s books, and is the author of several novels, including There May Be Heaven, The Witch Door, Rowan Head, The Dawning of the Day, Storm Tide, and one book of nonfiction, My World Is an Island.
Her activities on Gay’s Island, where she spent most of the year, included writing, gardening, and “trying not to suspect that a bear is at the door, a moose lurking in among the alders, or a horned owl hovering overhead about to bear away the cat.”
She contributed a considerable amount of writing of magazine fiction and children’s books, and is the author of several novels, including There May Be Heaven, The Witch Door, Rowan Head, The Dawning of the Day, Storm Tide, and one book of nonfiction, My World Is an Island.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 18, 2017
This one just didn't do much for me.
August 21, 2014
Elisabeth Ogilvie had the rare talent of writing strong heroines who were believable and yet not stereotypic in the way that today's writer likes to show us "strong women." She can write a good romantic tale and yet root it in realism. I am struck by that as I read about the heroine on the run in the Scottish mountains, worrying about what to do if "her flow" comes and taking regular bathroom breaks (thank goodness for the plentiful bracken is all I can say).
For me this is the least enjoyable book of the trilogy although it is vital to understanding the character who begins as a young woman who is on the marriage market in London in the early 1800s. Coming from an unconventional background (of course) she nevertheless catches the eye of a wealthy young lord who whisks her to his Scottish estate. Where the Clearances haven't happened ... yet.
Ogilvie is also wonderful at giving enough details that you feel you are there in the scenery, meeting the people, feeling their joys and pains.
I love the trilogy overall, yet always just pick this book up for the last third of it, perhaps because Ogilvie is so very good at making me feel the pain of betrayal that leads up to the trek through those Scottish mountains I already mentioned. Definitely recommended as an entry to Ogilvie's writing. She deserves to be better known.
For me this is the least enjoyable book of the trilogy although it is vital to understanding the character who begins as a young woman who is on the marriage market in London in the early 1800s. Coming from an unconventional background (of course) she nevertheless catches the eye of a wealthy young lord who whisks her to his Scottish estate. Where the Clearances haven't happened ... yet.
Ogilvie is also wonderful at giving enough details that you feel you are there in the scenery, meeting the people, feeling their joys and pains.
I love the trilogy overall, yet always just pick this book up for the last third of it, perhaps because Ogilvie is so very good at making me feel the pain of betrayal that leads up to the trek through those Scottish mountains I already mentioned. Definitely recommended as an entry to Ogilvie's writing. She deserves to be better known.
August 10, 2022
Jennie Trilogy, BK 1
Jennie Hawthorne and her three sisters were brought up on the Northumberland moors and the North Sea. Her oldest sister is married with children. The next a lady’s companion in Switzerland. When their father dies the youngest is sent to live with a cousin and Jennie is sent to her London aunt and uncle to be married off. Homesick and about to run away she meets handsome Captain Nigel Gilchrist of the Royal Horse Guards and in a whirlwind the are married. He resigns his commission and they head to Scotland where he will be the Factor on his older brothers vast Linn Mor estates.
Jennie is captivated by the land and the people except for Archie’s wealthy, snobby, pseudo English wife Christabel. But things are not as glorious as she thought as Nigel has been brought in to do his brother’s dirty work evicting his tenants in the Highland Clearances to make way for sheep. During the Burnings, all goes wrong, Nigel is killed. Jennie flees through the highlands with his cousin Alick, running for their lives and end up on a ship headed for America.
Jennie Hawthorne and her three sisters were brought up on the Northumberland moors and the North Sea. Her oldest sister is married with children. The next a lady’s companion in Switzerland. When their father dies the youngest is sent to live with a cousin and Jennie is sent to her London aunt and uncle to be married off. Homesick and about to run away she meets handsome Captain Nigel Gilchrist of the Royal Horse Guards and in a whirlwind the are married. He resigns his commission and they head to Scotland where he will be the Factor on his older brothers vast Linn Mor estates.
Jennie is captivated by the land and the people except for Archie’s wealthy, snobby, pseudo English wife Christabel. But things are not as glorious as she thought as Nigel has been brought in to do his brother’s dirty work evicting his tenants in the Highland Clearances to make way for sheep. During the Burnings, all goes wrong, Nigel is killed. Jennie flees through the highlands with his cousin Alick, running for their lives and end up on a ship headed for America.
May 15, 2024
I'd give this a 3.5/5. I really enjoy the character of Jennie, she is a believable heroine. I do think the authoress, Elisabeth, missed out on some key moments with Nigel and Jennie. I wish we had some more depth of character from Nigel before she turns him into the villain. It just seemed out of character when it happened. I would have like to see him tell Jennie half the story and wrestle with his conscience, love for her and his prejudice. He can still be the "bad guy", but there were no breadcrumbs to his character that would align with the crime he committed. I also wish she had allowed Jennie to mourn Nigel's death a bit. They had a passionate marriage for maybe 3 months, then Nigel's crime come along, then he dies and she simply moves on. I think we could have seen some depth of character from Jennie had she at least mourned a little over who Nigel was when they were first married. It would have been fitting for her to grieve. Overall the characters are well developed, but I do think there were some missing pieces that would have made the plotline even richer.
October 11, 2021
I fell upon this author at a bookstore while traveling in Castine, Maine. Compass Rose Books. So glad I did. After realizing this was a trilogy I wanted to make sure I read the first book in the series, and if I liked that, I’d read the others.
Before finishing the second chapter I ordered the remaining two and have my eyes on more of Elisabeth Ogilvie’s work
We follow the unfortunate and somewhat irritating young Jennie through a year of great torment and strife that leads us from London into the Scottish Highlands to a ship bound for the colonies. In this time the main character finds her strength, conviction and voice. The history of the Highlands during the time of the clearances is well described here.
Published in 1984, I find it interesting that many characters have similar names to those mentioned in later books by another author 🤔
Before finishing the second chapter I ordered the remaining two and have my eyes on more of Elisabeth Ogilvie’s work
We follow the unfortunate and somewhat irritating young Jennie through a year of great torment and strife that leads us from London into the Scottish Highlands to a ship bound for the colonies. In this time the main character finds her strength, conviction and voice. The history of the Highlands during the time of the clearances is well described here.
Published in 1984, I find it interesting that many characters have similar names to those mentioned in later books by another author 🤔
Read
March 9, 2026Wasn’t sure I was going to like this at first; turned out to be good story. Jennie Hawthorne marries soldier Nigel Gilchrist; they move to family estate in Scotland. Family forcibly evicts tenants from their cottages to make way for sheep grazing. Jennie argues with Nigel and he is killed in a tragic accident; she is forced to flee with his brother Alick
May 16, 2021
A historical novel about the Highland Clearances in the 17th Century. IT may be a novel, but still a good historical depiction of the politics and civilization of that era.
June 28, 2025
Came up when browsing Libby on random mode. Had to stay up late to finish it. Actually one of the better books I've read in awhile.
March 1, 2016
RDC-M V 4 1984, 6/86. First book of a trilogy, about the life of a scottish girl who falls in love with a highlander who plans to evict people from their homes so that he can let his sheep graze. Okay.
November 27, 2013
Very different from how I thought it would end. Jennie finds her prince, and they live happily ever after. I'm glad that she stuck up for what she believed in, but not without much hardship.
October 17, 2014
not great
October 10, 2015
Condensed, 1984. Fabulous story. Could tell a lot got cut, though. And it would have been nice if what seemed too good to be true was actually true.
November 9, 2016
A beautiful historical romance set in Scotland, about a young woman Jennie and her husband. Jennie has to learn to live with her new husband and his family.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews