The Miracle of Grace : an poignant, uplifting novel about adoption and a mother's love

Grace's life changed with a list. Left in the kitchen by her mother, Eileen, this innocuous 'To Do' list states, below bread, telephone bill and bins: 'Tell G I have ovarian cancer, probably terminal'. Brought up in rural Ireland in the 1950s, Eileen's life has been ruled, in order, by the church, her husband and her child. She's had little time to think about herself. But now time is running out. And Grace is determined to know everything about her mother before it's too late. THE MIRACLE OF GRACE is a poignant, but ultimately uplifting, novel that reveals a unique relationship between a mother and her daughter. Grace's mother Eileen is a great list maker, so when Grace walks into Eileen's kitchen to drop off a postal package and sees her garish 'To Do' pad on the counter, she thinks nothing of it, until she sneaks a look. There, at No 8, ranked in importance well below bread, telephone bill and bins is 'Tell G I have ovarian cancer, probably terminal'. Grace goes into shock, primarily at the thought that her mother is dying, but also at the fact that her mother simply couldn't tell her to her face. Is their relationship really so bad? Eileen has been brought up in rural Ireland in the 1950s, in thrall to the rules of her community - church first, then husband, then children. So she's had little time for herself and even now finds it impossible to put her own problems and desires to the fore. It is only when Grace confronts her, that she is able to go back over her past, to her own childhood, her early marriage, and the birth of her cherished only daughter to find memories of happiness and unbearable tragedy that have coloured her life forever How do you break your daughter's heart? Little Miracle is a poignant, but ultimately uplifting, novel that reveals a unique relationship between a mother and her daughter, and tells of a woman whose life has been restricted by the mores of duty, honour, and religion. Growing up in 1950s rural Ireland, young Eileen is bound by the unspoken rules of her tight-knit community: church, virtue and family above all else. So when Eileen, in thrall to the church, falls pregnant, she gives her beloved baby up for adoption. Forty years pass and Eileen still harbours her secret. That is, until she is diagnosed with terminal cancer and her daughter, Grace , discovers the brother she never knew she had by chance. Grace tries to persuade her mother to reconcile, but crippled with years of loss, Eileen cannot break the spell of shame and regret. *Originally published as The Miracle of Grace * How Do You Break Your Daughter's Heart? The Miracle Of Grace Is A Poignant, But Ultimately Uplifting, Novel That Reveals A Unique Relationship Between A Mother And Her Daughter, And Tells Of A Woman Whose Life Has Been Restricted By The Mores Of Duty, Honour, And Religion. Growing Up In 1950s Rural Ireland, Young Eileen Is Bound By The Unspoken Rules Of Her Tight-knit Community: Church, Virtue And Family Above All Else. So When Eileen, In Thrall To The Church, Falls Pregnant, She Gives Her Beloved Baby Up For Adoption. Forty Years Pass And Eileen Still Harbours Her Secret. That Is, Until She Is Diagnosed With Terminal Cancer And Her Daughter, Grace, Discovers The Brother She Never Knew She Had By Chance. Grace Tries To Persuade Her Mother To Reconcile, But Crippled With Years Of Loss, Eileen Cannot Break The Spell Of Shame And Regret.