Customer Reviews

Tears of the Moon

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
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This author is a born storyteller. She weaves a spellbinding story of a young woman, Lily Burton who, upon the death of her mother, embarks upon a search for her roots. The only link with her past is a beautiful mother-of-pearl pendant with distinctive markings. Her voyage of discovery takes her to western Australia and a town called Broome. It is there that she finds her great-grandmother Olivia's diary and discovers the rich, though startling, truth about her family and its heritage.

This is a vastly entertaining book that transports the reader to the hardscrabble world of late nineteenth century western Australia, which finds young, pregnant Olivia Hennessey and her husband, Conrad, newly arrived from England, embarking upon a journey and adventure of a lifetime. There, they would meet Captain John Tyndall, a handsome and dashing adventurer with whom they would forge a thriving business alliance that would later transform itself into something else for both Olivia and the Captain. These star-crossed lovers would find that the path to true love is not an easy one.

This is an exciting story told against the backdrop of Australia's pearling industry of the time. It is an adventure story laced with romance, as well as an epic family saga. It is a story that will keep the reader riveted to the pages of this book, as Lily's search for her family's heritage unfolds. This book is an enthralling work of romantic historical fiction.

I came across this book by accident and couldn't believe what a superb story it was. Like others who have read it, I didn't want it to end. It was enchanting and so unpredictable, which is great. Di Morrissey is an excellent writer. I have looked for her other books but were told they're not available in th U.S. I can't wait until they are.

This is my first experience of reading a Di Morrissey book, but I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially as I have visited Broome West Australia, therefore it brought the story to life. I couldn't put this book down and it was hard to predict what would happen next - a great read. The other books she has written are - Heart of the Dreaming - Follow the Morning Star - The Last Rose of Summer - The Last Mile Home - When the Singing Stops - The Songmaster and Scatter the Stars - these are all available in Australia -I am yet to read the other titles but have just bought The Songmaster and Scatter the Stars.

I loved this story from beginning to end. I did not want it to end, I could have gone on for another 650 pages! The characters were real life and went through devasting obstacles. I cried, I cheered and I laughed with each event that they experienced. I would like to find more of her books but can't at this time - does anyone know where to get them?

I found this to be another wonderful offering from the queen of Australian literature.

Wonderfully interesting characters and a great plot line. I found the switching between past and present great and not at all confusing. I loved this novel as I have loved every other book by Ms Morrissey and I own them all. I hope that everyone else finds this novel as interesting, absorbing, and impossible to put down as I did.

I find that it is a wonderful view of life in the early years of Australia. Everyone should read this novel.

A grieving Lily Barton sits in her recently deceased mother's apartment in Sydney, Australia. For years it was Lily and her mother with no one else interfering in their perfect relationship. Now her mother is dead and Lily, feeling all alone, is not sure what she wants to do next with her life. However, the feelings of drifting abruptly end when Lily finds a teardrop pearl pendant and an early twentieth century photograph of a man amidst her mother's possessions. Lily decides to investigate her personal heritage and quickly finds the diary of her great grandmother Olivia Hennessy.

In 1893, Olivia and her spouse Conrad move to Australia, seeking a new life. They meet Captain John Tyndall and together they form a pearl harvesting company. Lily learns about their love and realizes that she is descended from them, but is not sure whether it is John or Conrad who is her biological great grandfather. She heads to Western Australia to meet her relatives and uncover her the truth behind her family tree.

TEARS OF THE MOON is a fascinating relationship drama that is played out on two levels. The late nineteenth battle between two competing cultures (aborigine Vs western) and Lily's quest for her heritage. The characters from both eras are all charmers and bring an authentic Aussie flavor to the tale. Fans of complex family dramas will want to read Di Morrisey's appealing novel.

Harriet Klausner

This story is full of enchantment and will keep you in another time and era until the end! A must-read indeed!

I read "Tears of the Moon", and I couldn't put it down. I am looking foward to reading more of her books.

April 8, 1999 To my precious cousin Di, I am so pleased to see the reviews of your book "Tears of the Moon" from all over. The publisher ,obviously, now has to help get all your books in publication in the USA. The book is beautiful and Taylor and I love you very much and miss you terribly. Love forevermore, cousin Christine xoxoxo

I have read this book a number of times - most recently while holidaying in Broome, on the Kimberley Coast of Western Australia, where this story takes places. Linking the past with the present, and utilising a lot of Broome's local 'legends' throughout, this is Di Morrissey's best book ever, though each new one from her is a welcome event. Also highly recommended is her novel about the Kimberley region: "The Songmaster". I note it's not on the Amazon list, so hope it becomes available to folks in the US real soon.