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Angel Light
"I do not want ten million dollars. I do not want to visit Ireland. I do not want to end a Tobin family feud. And, above all, I do not want to court my eighth cousin, once removed." Even as he says the words, "Toby" Tobin, Irish-American computer hacker, knows it's useless to resist. His late great-uncle's will must be obeyed, and his family is determined to make him respectable by his twenty-fifth birthday. Encouraged by a photo of his cousin, Sara Anne Elizabeth Tobin, with her gorgeous black hair, blue eyes, and pale skin, Toby checks his computer for travel arrangements to Ireland. He finds himself chatting with an unusual travel agent, Raphaella, a very modern angel, who's been surfing the net for someone to look after. Raphaella gives him a new passport and first-class plane tickets out of O'Hare, and the encouragement and good humor he'll need on his quest for a living grail--the beautiful, mysterious, troubled, young Sara Tobin. He must marry Sara within the month (and solve an ancient mystery and elude a threatening thug) in order to claim his inheritance. Angel Light is based on the Book of Tobis in the Old Testament, one of the sweetest love stories ever told.
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 1, 1995
44 people are currently reading
150 people want to read
About the author
Andrew M. Greeley
373 books317 followersAndrew Greeley was a Roman Catholic priest, sociologist, journalist, and author of 50 best-selling novels and more than 100 works of nonfiction. For decades, Greeley entertained readers with such popular characters as the mystery-solving priest Blackie Ryan and the fey, amateur sleuth Nuala Anne McGrail. His books typically center on Irish-American Roman Catholics living or working in Chicago.
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
http://us.macmillan.com/author/andrew...
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 9, 2008
This Book is the Second in a Series that Began with Angel Fire (which I also enjoyed, but not as much as this one) and is based on the Biblical Fable of the Book of Tobin (not in the Protestant Bible by the way). The Story was sweet and beautiful and I flat out loved it in my sentimental fool way. This book was also, quite obviously the germinal book that started Andrew Greeley's emmensely successful Nuala Anne McGrail Series--but I liked this one far better than those. Of course, I'm a sucker for all things Irish. If you like romance and just plain sweet characters--this one is worth a read.
September 5, 2014
This has taken forever to get through. I can't believe the high reviews. Maybe I really don't like this genre. But I know many years ago I used to read Andrew Greeley and liked him.
June 21, 2018
This was a book I absolutely loved when I first read it in my early 20’s. For some reason it didn’t have the same spark 20 years later. It is a charming story based off the Book of Tobit. Actually because of this book I learned that the Catholic Bible contains more books than the Protestant Bible. Toby, a twenty-something computer genius has been tasked with getting his Irish cousin Sarah to agree to marry him. Flying to Ireland he learns he has an angel helping him along the way as demons try to stop this relationship before it gets started. It’s an enjoyable story with a sweet romance and if you like angels it’s a definite recommend.
January 21, 2019
This book starts out with a definite statement from the main character. It opens with "I do not want ten million dollars. I do not want to visit Ireland. I do not want to end a Tobin family feud. And, above all, I do not want to court my eighth cousin, once removed."
With that, the book is off and running, with no slow moments in the 352 pages! "Toby" Tobin, our Irish-American hero, is a computer programmer (to which I can relate!) who has created what he calls a super search engine, and he has no need of the money. He is pretty much a loner, and with a family like his, who can blame him, he doesn't travel, and has no desire for romance or marriage (again, see the family comment).
His "loving" family tries to persuade him to go after the girl and the money, but he has decided to turn the offer down, when his life is interrupted by an unknown who gets him moving, and on his way to Ireland. He did some basic searches and a "travel agent" pops up, offering their "agency's" services, pro bono.
The scenery descriptions weren't overdone, the people were believable, the romance real and intense without the blue prose many writers insert (sometimes I think due to a lack of imagination).
Toby is escorted around Galway, Ireland, by his cousin, keeping in mind the terms of his late great-uncle's will, while trying to keep his family from destroying him.
One of the neat twists here, which could happen to anyone involved Toby's travel.
Toby's travel agent, Rae (Raphaella) steps in when needed to keep his quest on track, keep him safe, and push him, or perhaps I should say strongly encourage him, to give the whole romance idea a try. He gets a passport and first-class plane tickets out of Chicago's O'Hare airport, and throughout his 2 weeks in Ireland he visits sites which are described in loving detail, meeting many people who subtly, and not so subtly, encourage the budding romance between Paddy (formerly known as Toby) and his eighth cousin once removed, Sara Anne Tobin.
Along the way he deals with rogue cops, evil villains, and stupidity, all the while trying to determine the reason Sara Anne is so mercurial in her moods.
This story, based on the Old Testament, shows once again the talent and imagination of Andrew Greeley, who, from the writings of his that I have read, seems to favor the side of the ladies (in most cases!)
(less)
With that, the book is off and running, with no slow moments in the 352 pages! "Toby" Tobin, our Irish-American hero, is a computer programmer (to which I can relate!) who has created what he calls a super search engine, and he has no need of the money. He is pretty much a loner, and with a family like his, who can blame him, he doesn't travel, and has no desire for romance or marriage (again, see the family comment).
His "loving" family tries to persuade him to go after the girl and the money, but he has decided to turn the offer down, when his life is interrupted by an unknown who gets him moving, and on his way to Ireland. He did some basic searches and a "travel agent" pops up, offering their "agency's" services, pro bono.
The scenery descriptions weren't overdone, the people were believable, the romance real and intense without the blue prose many writers insert (sometimes I think due to a lack of imagination).
Toby is escorted around Galway, Ireland, by his cousin, keeping in mind the terms of his late great-uncle's will, while trying to keep his family from destroying him.
One of the neat twists here, which could happen to anyone involved Toby's travel.
Toby's travel agent, Rae (Raphaella) steps in when needed to keep his quest on track, keep him safe, and push him, or perhaps I should say strongly encourage him, to give the whole romance idea a try. He gets a passport and first-class plane tickets out of Chicago's O'Hare airport, and throughout his 2 weeks in Ireland he visits sites which are described in loving detail, meeting many people who subtly, and not so subtly, encourage the budding romance between Paddy (formerly known as Toby) and his eighth cousin once removed, Sara Anne Tobin.
Along the way he deals with rogue cops, evil villains, and stupidity, all the while trying to determine the reason Sara Anne is so mercurial in her moods.
This story, based on the Old Testament, shows once again the talent and imagination of Andrew Greeley, who, from the writings of his that I have read, seems to favor the side of the ladies (in most cases!)
(less)
January 21, 2015
SO many awkward/unbelievable situations, but still somehow very sweet. Raphael was my favorite character - interesting interpretation. Unintentionally hilarious bits about internet and computers, and we can all wish that Paddy's internet browser actually existed. I don't know what draws me to Greeley's books. So much of it is fluff or hard to swallow, but there's still really beautiful bits and ideas when the theology comes out.
June 30, 2010
Romance encouraged by an Angel!
March 17, 2019
Two stars, if I hover over them, denote "it was ok." That is exactly how I felt about this book.
I am not trying to slam it. I didn't dislike it. It was ok.
What was nice about it? Sweet time capsule back to the social mores of the 1990s when it was (apparently) still considered affectionate and funny to smack a woman on the fanny. Interesting trip down memory lane as our main character uses DOS to access the internet. People at the airport are fascinated and confused by Paddy's ability to go on-line without a modem. I'm old enough to remember the world before Google search, but I hadn't thought about it in a while. Greeley is obviously fond of his characters. He makes them nice people. I do understand that he was constrained (somewhat) by the original Book of Tobin.
But the meh parts of the book include the amazing lack of obstacles to true love. Left without internal conflict much of the book is pleasant descriptions of beautiful places, tasty lunches and dinners. False conflict punctuates the travel log via phone calls back home to the family Paddy can't please. Their complaints sound petty and bickering though, and not like true conflict. More than half way into the book Paddy attempts to pry a secret loose from Sarah Anne, but even that comes off as feeble and not terribly difficult because she's already in love and so is he. So essentially there just isn't a lot going on here.
It read like a Harlequin romance plot line with far superior prose.
I am not trying to slam it. I didn't dislike it. It was ok.
What was nice about it? Sweet time capsule back to the social mores of the 1990s when it was (apparently) still considered affectionate and funny to smack a woman on the fanny. Interesting trip down memory lane as our main character uses DOS to access the internet. People at the airport are fascinated and confused by Paddy's ability to go on-line without a modem. I'm old enough to remember the world before Google search, but I hadn't thought about it in a while. Greeley is obviously fond of his characters. He makes them nice people. I do understand that he was constrained (somewhat) by the original Book of Tobin.
But the meh parts of the book include the amazing lack of obstacles to true love. Left without internal conflict much of the book is pleasant descriptions of beautiful places, tasty lunches and dinners. False conflict punctuates the travel log via phone calls back home to the family Paddy can't please. Their complaints sound petty and bickering though, and not like true conflict. More than half way into the book Paddy attempts to pry a secret loose from Sarah Anne, but even that comes off as feeble and not terribly difficult because she's already in love and so is he. So essentially there just isn't a lot going on here.
It read like a Harlequin romance plot line with far superior prose.
December 21, 2019
The premise of this tale is that an Irish American named Toby is tasked with visiting Ireland and winning the hand of his 8th cousin Sara Anne. If he can do so he can collect $10 million. Far too much is contrived as he becomes a terrorist fighter, among other things in his effort to woo the lady. Many things were annoying in the book, the protagonists cloying breast fixation and his swift development of an Irish accent. I read many Greeley novels and liked most of them., but in this one Toby's guardian angel would have been more useful serving the good father.
August 4, 2018
I read this in paperback but I want to buy a copy for my Kindle
July 21, 2021
Strange! Swearing and sex.
July 22, 2022
Upliftting
Is a great story and allow you hope for the future. Reread it about once a year to lift my spirit
Is a great story and allow you hope for the future. Reread it about once a year to lift my spirit
August 26, 2014
I usually like this author but I did not enjoy this book as much as his others. It is supposed to follow a book in the Bible, Tobit. Perhaps knowing that story would have made this more enjoyable.
Read
May 15, 2011Refreshing change, easy reading, almost started talking in the Irish manner. Makes you want to have a relationship with your guardian angel like Toby's. How nice would that be.
June 21, 2013
Love Andrew Greeley! He never disappoints me. I scour Goodwill and free book places for his books!
July 4, 2013
Silly book - only got through 3/4 and then I decided not to waste more of my time.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews