Till Morning Is Nigh - Leisha Kelly

If you've never read any of Leisha Kelly's novels, there are a series of books revolving around Julia Wortham and her husband Samuel. Falling upon hard times, Julia and Samuel are befriended by a charming older woman and wind up owning her home. So while food may be scarce in the 1930s, the couple are lucky enough to be given a roof over their heads. Over the years, the couple have not only raised their own children, but they are also raising their abandoned niece and helping to raise a neighbor's children--the Hammonds. After George Hammond's wife died, he would rather spend his time alone, drunk than acknowledge he has ten children who need him.

TILL MORNING IS NIGH is a Christmas novella. The plot moves swiftly and there are two main conflicts. One occurs when a number of the Hammond children become sick. Obviously, this evokes fear because their mother's illness led to her death. The other issue occurs when Samuel goes to round up George Hammond to go with him to fetch the doctor. Samuel returns with the doctor following, but no George. George disappears in this novel, taking the family's money with him.

One thing I like about Leisha Kelly's novels is that nothing is cut and dried. Sure this novel is set in Christmas, but this series is also set in the Depression. As much as we'd like to make everything sunny, life throws curve balls that make existence seem futile at times. TILL MORNING IS NIGH is no different. I won't tell readers how it ends, read it and find out, but there is definitely a trace of realism that today's men and women will be understand. While salaries for many today have not changed in years, heating bills, electricity bills, gas (auto) bills, car payments, and mortgages have skyrocketed. By no means are things as bad as they were in the depression, but they definitely are not great either. In a way, TILL MORNING IS NIGH helps put today's woes into perspective--things are bad, but they could be worse.

If you want a thought-provoking Christmas novel, Leisha Kelly's novel is a great choice.