'Til Morning Light

Gracelin O'Malley #3

by Ann Moore

Gracelin O’Malley arrives in 1850s San Francisco, the City of Gold, in the thrilling final novel of Ann Moore’s acclaimed historical trilogy 

With her two children, Gracelin O’Malley travels to post–Gold Rush San Francisco to meet the sea captain who has proposed marriage to her. But when she arrives, he is nowhere to be found. Destitute in a city filled with gangs, disillusioned soldiers, and professional gamblers, Grace takes a position as a cook for one of the city’s most prominent doctors—only to become caught up in a tangled web of blackmail and betrayal. Determined to make a secure life for her children and find her brother, Sean, Gracelin sets in motion a series of events that change the future of everyone around her, never dreaming that the man she thought she’d lost forever is still alive and determined to find his way back to her.

Dickensian in scope, with a full cast of riveting characters, Ann Moore’s ’Til Morning Light is the stunning conclusion to the enthralling story of Gracelin O’Malley, a heroine for the ages.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Ireland, Romance, Irish Literature, Historical, Adult Fiction

498 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 1, 2005

About the author

Ann Moore grew up in the misty Pacific Northwest region of Washington State, spending childhood summers on Vashon Island. She is the internationally published author of three historical novels that encompass the 1845 Irish Famine, Young Irelander uprising, and the Irish emigration to America; her fourth novel, a contemporary mystery, is set on a remote island in the San Juan archipelago. Ann lives in Bellingham, Washington, with her family, among good friends and excellent dogs. Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for all things bookish.

Reviews

[Trisha · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I'd enjoyed the first of this trilogy, skimmed the second and didn't want to entirely give up on what was a promising story. I'm not sorry I read it (especially since I bought it used) but it wasn't all that great. Her main character is too perfect, too beloved by all she meets. Much eye-rolling ensued. Also, while I don't mind a little anachronistic thinking in historical fiction, this author took it way too far, made it unbelievable. Her main character became as holy as the virgin Mary with 21st century sensibilities.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Educational, entertaining, although I hated to see it come to an end, held its drama right to the conclusion and beyond. (I was happy for the epilogue, as the characters become so real, one wants to know how their lives move forward.)

Well done, Ann Moore.

[Debbi · Rating 4 out of 5]

The last book of a trilogy. Hands down the best series I've read since "Poldark". Very close to 5 stars. Everything a good family saga and historical fiction should be.

[Marilyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have just finished this the third book of a wonderful saga about the life of Gracelin and her family. I can sum it all up in the words of Mister Livingston, “ Actually I never know how to describe her, kind, fierce, compassionate, tenacious, stubborn. He gave up and just shrugged.”
The story takes place in the mid 1800’s in Ireland and United States of America, it will stay with me a long time.

[Shara Ogilvie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first book in this series is so good, but this is the third book and I only forced myself to read it so that I could put the whole thing to rest, but it was really hardly worth reading. Although the main character participates in the Western migration in the United States, and lives in the early days of San Francisco (which is all very interesting), the plot has absolutely NO integrity, and is even more far fetched than the previous book. And again, there is way too much sex!!

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 out of 5 stars. I appreciated the happy ending and having all of the loose ends tied up, but some of the plot seemed a bit too "convenient" for me. It just didn't keep my interest like some books do, and it was almost a chore for me to pick it up and make a point to finish it.

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice end to a good series....

[Lee Roversi · Rating 4 out of 5]

a satisfying a sweet end to a lovely trilogy.

[Emmakok · Rating 3 out of 5]

Het einde viel me erg tegen. Alle hoofd- en bijrollen worden aan elkaar gekoppeld. Ongeloofwaardig happy end.

[Camie · Rating 5 out of 5]

The last and best book of Ann Moore’s trilogy about Gracelin O’ Malley’s immigration from Ireland to America.
5 stars read for Retired Bookworms group.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Third book in the Grace O'Malley series. It ties up the loose ends in a satisfying way. Not my favorite, Morgan's story was slow and boring to me.

[Jessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my least favorite book of the three, BUT still a great read. I love that you get such a diverse view of so many different pieces of American life at that point, but it does mean you don't get to spend nearly as long with anyone.

Some of my criticisms are also because I read the trilogy over such a long period of time that I forgot many characters, and their relationships dwindled in emotional impact to me...

However, one thing I will say is that you really, really do feel that you've grown up with Gracelin. She is certainly one of the most beloved characters, and even if she does borderline on TOO perfect sometimes (that's right, I said it), she's definitely the sort of person you'd like to be.

Well, I'll just go spoilery. I had REALLY liked Peter, and so I wasn't super thrilled that he kind of took a turn for the worse personality-wise in this book. I get that the author wanted to soften the blow that Grace would eventually end up back with Morgan but showing that Grace never really belonged to Peter, but I dislike that. I would have liked for it to be a bumpier and more realistic reuniting with Morgan and for the closure of the relationship with Peter to be a little less easy, even if he did gentlemanly concede. I don't know.

On the flipside, I would have liked Grace's reuniting with Morgan to be MORE dramatic than it was.

But, at the end of the day, I love these books. I love the whole trilogy and will most likely end up reading them all again in a few years, which says a lot because I rarely reread books.

[Frances A Salgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enveloping!

This trilogy grasped my heart as I read of the trails and trials of Grace O'Malley. Beautifully written and has ended.

[Merryellen Towey Schulz]

Enjoyed It, but...

I liked the happy ending, though the ten year jump to the epilogue was startling. It seems like there was at least another book possible with the sensation that much was left out early in the book and then the quick wrap up at the end. There were some incongruences that interrupted the flow of the story. For example in one part of the book, Grace"s feet are described as having walked the 2000 miles from Kansas to Oregon. However, in another place, it tells of her driving the wagon over those same miles. Hmm. It also seems like there was a lot of story left out regarding the family's stay in Kansas. Grace seemed to have extraordinarily good luck in the people she met and the opportunities they provided for her. But that is fiction. I was left wondering how it was that Grace and Morgan had no more children after they were reunited. What did Morgan do for a living in San Francisco? Where did they live? With its gaps and all, I still enjoyed the third book in the trilogy as I was vested in the characters from the previous two novels.

[Kathy Maggiacomo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book without having read the first two and I really enjoyed it. I liked the characters and I liked how the people all connected. Mostly everything that the reader will wish to happen does. I also enjoyed this book as a historical fiction. In school, I learned about the Irish Potato Famine and also our own country's Civil War but I like how novels personalize these events. It makes me very grateful to live in a time and place that I do but I also enjoying wondering if I could have lived a life like the characters in different times. Grace is a very strong independant female character and later her daughter is as well. I liked how the story unfolded and how you can almost understand why certain characters carry the opinions that they do. I guess I'll have to read the first two books now. :)

[Sherry H · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, hmm.

I couldn't put down this trilogy - read them one after the other. They were un-put-down-able.

However.

There are several problems with this, from my perspective, none of which I can cover in a review without spoilers, so I won't.

While I always wish, when a book or series I've really enjoyed comes to an end, is that I could know the ultimate outcome... know what happens ten years or more down the road... know that hardships are overcome, marriages are happy, families are reunited, children are brought forth, etc. Imagining those outcomes is fun, but sometimes I just really want to KNOW.

Lesson learned here: No, I don't. Because this one provided all of those long-range answers. And it lost stars in the process.

I'm glad I found author Ann Moore, though, and I hope to read more of her work.

[Krystal 🦢 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd been waiting a long time to finally finish the story of Gracelin O'Malley. I liked this book, though not as much as the first book. There were a lot of realistic elements in it which I thought portrayed the lives of the imigrants and what they had to go through, even after they reached America, really well. That being said, there were a lot of real life elements in there, violence, prostitution, language, etc. That some might be opposed to reading about. There were a few sexual things in there too, that I didn't think fit under the "just the way life was" catergory. I didn't think those needed to be in there. Which makes the book probably a PG 16-18. But over all a good story. I'll read the third one.

[Meagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the final book in the Gracelin O'Malley Trilogy and it was just as amazing as the first two. (Gracelin O'Malley and Leaving Ireland.) The last book left off with Gracelin and Mary Kate in New York and "Til Morning Light" picked up with them arriving in San Francisco for Gracelin to pursue marriage with Captain Reinders. I learned so much about the early settlers in California and the ever constant struggle for the new immigrants to make new lives for themselves despite the predjudices against them. If you want a synopsis I would say to look it up on Amazon but I highly recommend this trilogy!

[Tracey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this whole series. Gracelin's journey is captivating. I even have a quote I love, though it is in the first one: "God does not cause the misery in our lives, He is our path through it" The ending was definetly happy/feel good, but what is wrong with that. It was very fluffy, an easy read. It is nice to read something that is uplifting. I liked Gracelin's character very much. She is plucky and determined. Her character acts as a background for the other characters to play off of. She is steadfast and this allows some of the other characters to have more grit. All around a very fine read.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Though I picked up Grace O'Malley thinking it was a book about Ireland, it was so much more. Moore was able to weave in so many facets of life from the 1840s- 1860s; the Famine and the relationship between the Irish and the British, the immigrant experience aboard ship and on both coasts, slavery, religions, photography, shipping, opium use, etc etc. It seems as if no rock was left unturned by this talented author, yet nothing seemed forced or out of place. Strongly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical fiction and strong female characters!

[Sharon Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed these three volumes. The characters and story hold your attention and keep you wanting more. By the time I started volume three, it was pretty clear how it would all wrap up, but it was fun to read just the same. Don't read them if you're looking for dense historical detail, and great literature, but if you want a quick enjoyable read about Ireland and the US in the 1840's, check them out.

[Roxanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm quite disappointed in this book in comparison to the other two in the series. I wanted to read far more about Grace's reunions with her loved ones, and didn't like the stories of the Wakefields all that much. To hold off on the reunions until the last 40 or so pages of the book felt like the author was leading us along, especially since the reunions themselves were all highly unlikely and coincidental. I'm glad I read the series overall.

[Alma · Rating 5 out of 5]

After spending time in Kansas and Oregon, always seeking Sean among Mormon travelers, Grace decides to go to San Francisco and marry Captain Reinders. She still loves Morgan, despite knowing he is dead and can never return to her, but knows her children need a father and a home. Read the rest of the review on my blog: https://shouldireaditornot.wordpress....

[Bogormen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mixed feelings. In the second book I had hopes/a feeling Morgan wasn't really dead, but eventually gave up on that and really liked Peter. I never really felt the love between Morgan and Grace. Well we knew from very early on, that Morgan was in love with her, but her love for him other than as a friend came rather suddenly and they only got one night together, so I kind of wanted her with Peter and didn't like the way he was portrayed in this book

[Tamra · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Til Morning Light was better than the second book in the series, Leaving Ireland, it still didn't live up to the amazing first book, Gracelin O'Malley. I really enjoyed the series and enjoyed seeing the beloved characters complete their journey. I think there were one too many folks presumed dead that reappeared in the life of Gracelin, even Gracelin was presumed dead..... Other than that it was almost as good as the first book and definitely a great way to wrap up the series.

[Faye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the final (3rd) in the Gracelin O'Malley series. My favorite all time books, historical fiction. it is Gracelin's adventures in New York and San Francisco. I have read all three of these books in a 3 week period. I will definitely read this series again. We were to read Gracelin O'Malley for our book club in November and I read all three of them. What a great author and an intriguing story.

[Phyllis Karr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trilogy conclusion

The worst thing about the trilogy was having it come to an end. Being third generation American from predominately Irish ancestry, the trials of the famine caused me to more fully realize what my great grandparents endured when they traveled to Boston during that time. Ms. Moore has done a wonderful job of capturing this horrific time in history while creating such delightful characters and a captivating story.

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty good. It is a little cheesy at the end, but I think that is because I didn't read the first book out of the three. I read the second one and this one. The first one is about the Irish potato famine and the horrible suffering they endured and I think if I had read it, I would not think the ending of this was so "they lived happily ever after yada yada yada Pollyana style:)"

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm struggling with giving this book 4 stars instead of 5 because I really enjoyed this book & found it a great ending to the series, but there were a couple of parts that I really didn't like. I didn't like the author's explanation of Mormons that took up a chapter & I also didn't like some details given in Sean's self-destructing decline. Take those parts out and I loved the book!

[Teri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved this series by Ann Moore. I thought this last book was rushed. It skipped parts I would have liked to explore and added too many vague happy endings. Did not like the negative views of Mormons could not decide what the point was. Over all it was a good read and a nice ending to the series.