'Til Morning Light (Fiction for the Way We Live) (Paperback)

by Ann Moore (Author) "Hundreds of square-rigged vessels listed aimlessly in San Francisco Bay, eerie for the mist that swirled up and over their neglected decks, through the gaping..." (more)
Key Phrases: Mary Kate, Mei Ling, Missus Donnelly (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Readers who have been following the story of Gracelin O'Malley (Gracelin O'Malley, 2001; Leaving Ireland, 2002) will be thrilled with the concluding volume in Moore's trilogy. Displaying her fine descriptive abilities and sense of historical ambience, Moore picks up Gracelin's story after she has left Oregon for San Francisco due to her daughter's grave illness. Ever-resourceful and resilient, Gracelin not only finds a doctor for her daughter but she also finds work as a cook in his home. Set against the backdrop of what is soon to be a golden age in San Francisco, the novel uses Gracelin's position, and her own strong and emotive voice, to explore the lives of people at all levels of society with a decidedly realistic and feminine point of view. With an almost-Dickensian faith that all will turn out right in the end, and with the same convoluted and miraculous plotting, the story is warm, gentle, and comforting and will appeal to fans of romantic historical fiction. Neal Wyatt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description
She crossed an ocean to escape the suffering of famine-torn Ireland. Haunted by loss, but determined to build a life in the New World, Gracelin O'Malley then crosses the country with her young children to accept a San Francisco sea captain's practical proposal of marriage. But when she arrives, he is not there, and the City of Gold is no place for widows and children.

When a prominent doctor offers her work in his household, Grace accepts, only to become embroiled in blackmail and betrayal at the hands of his troubled sister. As past catches up to present, Grace discovers that the city harbors one man she'd thought lost to her, and their reunion sets in motion a series of events that affects the future of everyone around them. But as Grace prepares to wed, there is one last ghost to face.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: NAL Trade (February 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0451214048
• ISBN-13: 978-0451214041
• Product Dimensions: 7.9 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #228,575 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Finale To The Gracelin O'Malley Trilogy, October 17, 2005

By	Antoinette Klein (Hoover, Alabama USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Having thoroughly enjoyed the first two entries (Gracelin O'Malley and Leaving Ireland) I was eagerly anticipating the finale, yet fearful that the magic Anne Moore had created in the first two could not be sustained. Thankfully, I was wrong and, in fact, I felt this was the best of the series.

The story picks up four years after the second book and our strong-willed, dedicated heroine has left New York and journeyed to San Francisco to wed Captain Peter Reinders and secure a future for her children. John Paul Morgan McDonagh (now known as Jack), the son she thought had died, has been returned to her, and with him and daughter Mary Kate she arrives in San Francisco. Mary Kate's illness leads them to a hospital where they meet Doctor Wakefield, a man who will change the lives of all of them as will Gracelin change his.

Their story is riveting and filled with love, loss, redemption and best of all, a happy ending. The three major characters from the previous novels---Gracelin, Sean, and Morgan---each have a story to tell, an adventure to follow, and the reader is breathless as the characters lead lives of quiet desperation, struggling to find each other in the New World.

Set in the 1800's, just before the outbreak of the American Civil War, slavery is an issue as Gracelin uncovers a long-hidden past and in her own spirited way, sets things right again. Not only slavery, but Chinese culture, a blossoming San Francisco built on the hopes of gold diggers, and the plight of the American Indians are all covered and woven into the tapestry of Gracelin's life.

Anne Moore has given us unforgettable characters, historical events with a personal face, and a story that will not be soon forgotten. For fans of the indomitable Gracelin O'Malley, this is the fitting end to the story of a remarkable woman.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Breath-taking tale, March 7, 2005

By	Busy Mom (Ohio) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

If you have read Gracelin O'Malley and Leaving Ireland ~~ you will definitely enjoy this one. In some ways, it's the best written novel of the three ~~ the characters have matured and Ann Moore focused more on describing the times and travels of the time period. It is also perhaps more lyrically written than the other two ~~ it is a wonderful ending to a series ~~ makes you long for more!

This time, Gracelin O'Malley and her children, Mary Kate and Jack (her son who she thought had died only to discover that Julia Martin has taken care of till he was returned to her arms) ~~ have ended up in California to meet Captain Reinders, to accept his marriage proposal. Only thing was, he wasn't there and fortunately for Gracelin, she was able to find work as a cook at a doctor's house. She had traveled over the country, looking for her brother, Sean in Utah, and when they finally landed in California ~~ Mary Kate was seriously ill (which is how they met the doctor who offered Gracelin a job).

This time, the story also tells of Morgan, who did manage to escape from prison only to have four years wrested from him due to mishaps and errors. This novel tells of his story and his experiences in the new America. And this novel also tells the story of Sean O'Malley ~~ the fiery wordsmith who feverently believed in freedom and equality for all men ~~ and was banned from Ireland. This is his story too.

This is a wonderful book that captures the most favorite of all three of the strong characters that have lived through all three books. It combines their tales and dreams and despair ~~ as a reflection of the times they were living in. It also told tales of Mary Kate and Jack ~~ the future generation that Morgan, Grace and Sean have fought for. And while the stories are entwined, once again, the main character is the strong and formidable woman of courage, Gracelin. She is awe-inspiring and breath-taking ~~ defining the meaning of "woman" in all its glory. She is also a reflection of all those pioneer women who have struggled to come to this land to build a home for their families and loved ones. She reflects all of those dreams that women have dreamt of over the centuries. She is Americana herself.

If you've read the other two ~~ even if you haven't ~~ this book is definitely not one that you shouldn't pass up on. It may be stories about a few people ~~ but it's about every people. It's about America at its best and at its worst. It's about your ancestors and mine. Ann Moore has captured the feelings and dreams so wonderfully that it is as if you're right there with them. It's just hard to pass up a wonderful talent like this ~~ so grab this book, a box of kleenexs and settle back for a breath-taking journey.

3-7-05

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 'Tis Fine, February 20, 2005

By	Brandon "unraveling the mystery" (Tennessee) - See all my reviews

This final book is gripping. I shed not a few tears towards the end. I can't remember the last time I looked forward to reading a book as much as I did this one. Gracelin O'Malley is a stunning character who faces life's tragedies with magnificent courage and she leaves those who have met her astounded time and time again.

Once again Ann Moore shows her brilliance. I was worried that this final book in the Gracelin O'Malley trilogy would not give justice to the story that unfolded in the first two books.

The only problem I had with this book was that the story did not pick up where 'Leaving Ireland' ended. Grace has traveled across America and has been living with her son, Jack, for two years now. I would have liked to read about their journey and about Grace's reunion with her son. However this was only a minor dissapointment.

Once again I found myself completely immersed in the story of Grace, of her brother Sean, and all the other beautifully developed characters, new and old. Mrs. Moore does an incredible job of creating emotion and really bringing a story to life. I could easily picture all the events that took place.

I will not give away any of the plot except to say that there is a happy ending. Thank god. If ever a woman deserved happiness, it is Gracelin O'Malley.

I highly recommend 'Gracelin O'Malley', 'Leaving Ireland', and 'Till Morning Light'.