Last Light over Galveston
-
-
5.0 • 2 Ratings
-
-
- $11.99
Publisher Description
Amid the 1900 Galveston hurricane, one woman's perseverance is tested in this captivating story from the author whose work has been called "intelligent and arresting" (Foreword Reviews) and "historical fiction as it is meant to be told" (Library Journal).
"Old Galveston shines in this beautifully written tale of a woman's quest to both lose herself and find herself."
Lisa Wingate, #1New York Timesbestselling author ofShelterwood
Galveston, Texas. September 1900. Only months ago, Kathleen McDaniel returned from finishing school in Switzerland to her family home in New York's Hudson Valley with a future of promise and privilege set before her. But one horrific event shattered her picturesque life. Now she has fled as far as the train line and a pocketful of money would take her, finding refuge at the St. Mary's Orphan Asylum on Galveston Island, where she helps the nuns care for their young charges and prays her past will not find her. Despite her tenuous standing at the orphanage—and the grief and betrayal that drove her from home—Kathleen slowly begins to make friends. There is Emily, the novice nun she rooms with; Maggie, the tempestuous young girl who only bonds with Kathleen; and Matthew, a kind, handsome man recently employed by Isaac Cline at Galveston's office of the US Weather Bureau.
Then in one fateful day, Kathleen's fragile new life begins to crack as it becomes clear that she can't run far enough to escape the reach of her former life. Meanwhile, as troubling news about a storm crossing the Gulf from Cuba swirls in the Weather Bureau offices, Matthew holds fast to Cline's belief that no hurricane can touch Galveston. But as darkness falls on the island, Kathleen must gather her courage and reach for a strength beyond her own if she—and those she loves—are to survive.
• A stand-alone historical novel about the 1900 Galveston hurricane
• A gripping read inspired by true events
• Features themes of resilience, found family, and redemption
• Includes discussion questions perfect for book clubs
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Wright (The Girl from the Papers) whisks readers to turn-of-the-20th-century Texas with this breathless tale of a socialite seeking refuge from her past. Kathleen McDaniel's father has arranged for her to marry a wealthy business associate to solidify a contract. But she wants more out of life, and when she discovers a secret about her father's business that leads to a shocking revelation about her upbringing, she boards a train and flees New York City. She ends up in Galveston, Tex., where she's taken in by nuns who operate an orphanage. Eager to stay under the radar, Kathleen adopts a false name and hides the details of her past from everyone, including handsome Matthew Richter, an aspiring meteorologist with whom she quickly bonds. But when a reminder of her former life shows up in town as a hurricane brews off the coast, she must weigh the costs of revealing her true identity. Wright ratchets up the suspense with vivid, atmospheric descriptions of the oncoming storm, and Kathleen's crisis of faith adds depth. Fans of clean historical romance will be more than happy to come along for the ride.
