Gracelin O'Malley

Summary

Set during Ireland's devastating potato famine, a spellbinding novel of a young woman torn between love for her family and duty to her English husband.

Patrick O'Malley names his newborn daughter Gracelin for the light of the sea that shines in her eyes. But when young Gracelin is only six years old, her mother's untimely death drains joy and laughter from the O'Malley clan.

At fifteen, Gracelin saves her family from financial ruin by marrying Bram Donnelly, the son of a wealthy English landowner. But, even though Gracelin is Protestant, she is snubbed by English high society for marrying above her station. To temporarily appease her husband's cruel nature, she intends to provide him with an heir—but that, too, will end in sorrow.

As famine sweeps Ireland, Gracelin openly defies her husband by feeding the desperate souls who come to their door. In secret, she also sides with the rebels who call themselves the Young Irelanders. Led by Morgan McDonagh and joined by Gracelin's beloved brother, Sean, the Irelanders are determined to fight and free their homeland from the yoke of English rule.