A Troubled Heart--pre-released

 

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Unsure of his real past or name, Finn O’Connor thinks he was born in Ireland and taken from his mother as a baby by a gypsy woman. As a toddler, an English woman then took him to London. About ten he fled to join a gang of boys who survived by their wits on the streets. Five years later, he was arrested for a minor crime and transported to The Colony of New South Wales for a 10-year term. In 1846 as transporting of criminals neared an end in NSW, he was moved to the infamous penitentiary at Port Arthur in Van Diemen’s Land.

On the day Finn received his papers of freedom an accidental meeting brought him into contact with 20-year-old Esther Blythe. Born in Surrey, England, genteel Esther is kind and caring. As a 4-year-old her parents brought her to Van Diemen’s Land where her Papa, a doctor, took on the task of providing medical aid to the prisoners at the Port Arthur Penitentiary and its surrounding area. Sadly, both parents were killed in an accident, leaving Esther with no option but to work as a governess/nursemaid.

For reasons that even she did not comprehend, Esther took the ex-convict under her wing when they met outside the penitentiary hospital. Could be she saw a fellow lonely soul who simply wanted someone to have faith in him. Life seems to take a turn for perhaps the better from then on, but will these two lonely people overcome many obstacles to find the happiness they seek together as they face an uncertain future.

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"To use an apt cliché Finn and Esther the main characters in talented novelist Ms McGill’s novel A Troubled Heart are ‘chalk and cheese’. Homeless orphan Finn had lived with a group of boys who survived living on their wits and theft in London. Arrested for a minor crime when Finn is about fifteen years old, he is convicted he is transported to Tasmania.,

Esther’s deceased father a doctor and mother emigrated from England to Tasmania. They were devoted to each other and were a good example to Esther of what it meant to share life with another.

In 1848, on the first day of Finn’s parole, when he leaves hospital after an injury Finn is penniless. Esther, alone in the world lives with a family where she is employed to teach a small girl. She tumbles down the steps. Finn helps her up. She thanks him and asks who he is. He tells her he is a homeless ex-convict. Esther believes she is a good judge of character. She takes her to her employer’s house, where he is employed as an odd-job-man, and from then on helps him in every way she can.

Finn and Esther’s friendship develops. It is frequently tested by many trials during which Finn is convinced she is too far above him for them to have a future together.

I enjoyed this – as far as Finn, a decent man, rags to riches story. I have awarded it a five out of five stars review."  Rosemary Morris

Tricia McGill's web page:

Cover reveal--A Troubled Heart

 

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Unsure of his real past or name, Finn O’Connor thinks he was born in Ireland and taken from his mother as a baby by a gypsy woman. As a toddler, an English woman then took him to London. About ten he fled to join a gang of boys who survived by their wits on the streets. Five years later, he was arrested for a minor crime and transported to The Colony of New South Wales for a 10-year term. In 1846 as transporting of criminals neared an end in NSW, he was moved to the infamous penitentiary at Port Arthur in Van Diemen’s Land.

On the day Finn received his papers of freedom an accidental meeting brought him into contact with 20-year-old Esther Blythe. Born in Surrey, England, genteel Esther is kind and caring. As a 4-year-old her parents brought her to Van Diemen’s Land where her Papa, a doctor, took on the task of providing medical aid to the prisoners at the Port Arthur Penitentiary and its surrounding area. Sadly, both parents were killed in an accident, leaving Esther with no option but to work as a governess/nursemaid.

For reasons that even she did not comprehend, Esther took the ex-convict under her wing when they met outside the penitentiary hospital. Could be she saw a fellow lonely soul who simply wanted someone to have faith in him. Life seems to take a turn for perhaps the better from then on, but will these two lonely people overcome many obstacles to find the happiness they seek together as they face an uncertain future.  

Short Excerpt:

The next day Finn walked out of the hospital with the proof that he was a free man tucked firmly into his trouser pocket. As luck would have it the injury had turned out to be not broken, but something to do with the shoulder joint having to be pushed back into its rightful position. The doctor who did this told him he had dislocated it when he fell. After the pain from that subsided, he was told to rest it as much as possible. So, no more fighting for some time, was the order given him. 

It appeared that when his name came before the Commissariat’s office, they realised that his ten-year sentence ended a month or so back and therefore he was deemed free to go wherever he wanted. Just one thing held him back, he had not one penny to his name and possessed just the rags that he stood up in. There was the bundle he carried that contained his mug and plate, a worn hairbrush he’d taken from a man who died, and a picture Finn collected somewhere along the way of a place in Ireland called Kilmallock.

As he pondered what to do next, a soft mutter of annoyance came from behind him and he turned in time to see a woman take a tumble. Landing in a heap at the foot of the steps, her skirts flew about, showing a glimpse of one perfectly shaped ankle. Seldom did females of good breeding travel about alone in these parts so he looked about to see if her carriage driver was here to assist her. A small cart stood not far away, but there was no one else in sight so he went to kneel at her side, asking, “Are you all right miss?”

With a small toss of the head, she looked up at him from the most beautiful pair of eyes he had ever seen. Hair as black as night was pulled back into some sort of roll behind her head beneath the bonnet that she hastily straightened. At a guess he thought perhaps she was about twenty years of age. Not used to being this close to a woman in some time he stood hurriedly and offered a hand, feeling like the idiot he knew she must think him, while he sent up a small prayer of thanks that at least the hand was cleaner than it had been yesterday.

As she took the outstretched hand she smiled, and Finn’s silly heart seemed to do a somersault. “Just feeling a bit stupid,” she said in what Finn called a posh English accent. “I wasn’t looking where I was going.”

When she stood—close enough for him to feel her sweet breath on his face, he realised he still held her hand and dropped it as if it was a piece of hot coal. “Easily done,” he muttered, looking about again as he asked, “Is your driver somewhere?” again feeling foolish for obviously nobody else was nearby.

“No, I came alone.” Holding a small package aloft she added, “Simply came along to pick up this medication for the small girl who is in my charge.” Brushing at her skirts, she looked around. “Are you waiting on someone?”

“No, I have just come from the infirmary too—only this was because in my foolishness I had a fall and injured my shoulder.” Lifting this arm as if to prove it was also all right, he dropped it swiftly, not knowing what to do or say next, and asked, “Might I ask why you are not afraid of me, Miss. Most females might be inclined to run swiftly from a man alone in these parts.” 

For the Love of Faith--Excerpt

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A short excerpt from this book:

Faith fidgeted with her bonnet, then her hand went to the pocket of her skirt where the brooch was safely tucked. Determined that her Ma would not see her getting onto Walt’s cart, she had walked a distance up the road, safe in the knowledge that Bertha would do her best to keep her Ma occupied for an hour or two with doing a thorough survey of their rations in the pantry.

When Bob came running to her as Walt’s cart appeared, the butterflies that had inhabited her stomach since early morning turned to full-blown nerves and her hand shook as she stroked the dog’s ear. As Walt pulled the horse to a stop, he saluted her before climbing down. “Well, here’s a nice surprise. I thought you would be waiting at home.”

“I was ready early and as it is such a nice sunny afternoon I thought I would stroll along to meet you,” she lied, sure that he would guess the real reason.

“It is a pleasant afternoon, isn’t it? Where would you like to go on this fine day?” He bent to lift Bob up to place him in the back of the cart and then offered a hand to assist Faith onto the bench seat. “Thought Bob would be safer up here with us as we might be going a bit faster than usual,” he explained as Faith straightened her bonnet and then her skirt.

“Good idea. I have no idea where to go, Walt, I will leave the choice to you as I seldom go further than the main street to be honest.” Faith thought a while as he clicked the horse into a slow trot, then added, “I would like to see the diggings, perhaps at Bowden that I have heard lodgers talking about. Oh, and could we go past the site of the stockade?”

“Your wish is my command, madam. Good choice.” He sent a grin her way.

Faith’s heart felt so light she thought it might fly from her chest. In all her years she had never shared a drive with a young man, and the thrill of sitting beside Walt made her want to shout for joy. It did not take long to reach the place where what was called the Eureka Stockade took place. Nobody would believe that a battle occurred there, as it now seemed a peaceful spot. “It is hard to believe that so many men died that awful night. I heard that one of your uncles was involved in the fight.”

“Yes, that’s a fact. He was severely injured.” Walt heaved a heavy sigh. “’Twas almost six years to the day and he has never recovered. Still mines in the hope of striking it rich. Was your Pa involved in the battle?”

“No. We came up here from Melbourne and I think he had ideas of finding gold, but then decided to open the lodging house.” Faith gazed at the trees waving in a slight breeze. “My Ma does not talk about him now, but I do have memories of their arguments because she considered him too lazy to try his hand at digging. Did you ever meet Peter Lalor, the man who organised it all?”

“No, but my uncle has spoken of his regard for the man. Shall we continue with our ride?”

“Of course.” Faith settled back after reaching behind her to pat Bob. “He has grown a little since you first got him. Do you think he will get much bigger?” she asked, simply for something to say to hide her foolish nervousness.

“Who knows? As I have no idea of his parentage, it is a waiting game.” Walt sent a grin her way. “I am so glad you agreed to this outing, Faith. What did your Ma say when you told her?”

Faith swallowed. Should she tell him the truth of the matter? “I told her I was visiting Florrie,” she blurted as her cheeks flamed. “My Ma has some funny ideas, and I was not sure how she would react if I told her I was spending time with you.”

Not sure if his chuckle meant that he thought her stupid or not she remained silent until he said, “That there is the quartz crushing battery.” He pointed to the collection of small structures that had been erected a few years earlier. “If we continue to the top of the hill, you can see the digs and the river below, and we will stop to stretch our legs.” Saying that, he continued upwards following the path. Once or twice, he sent a wave to a miner who was either working or sharing a drink with someone.

“It’s a hard life, is it not? Do many of them make a fortune?” she asked, holding onto her bonnet that threatened to blow away, for the wind grew stronger as they climbed higher.

“I don’t suppose they would let on if they did. We hear stories of the ones who make it and end up wealthy, but they keep it close to their chest. Whoa, Matilda,” he pulled the horse up for they had reached the peak of the hill. “Shall we rest here awhile? Bob would like a run.” Glancing about, he added, “and there’s a patch of grass for my girl to pick at.”

Faith was still smiling at the name he had given his mare, which she found endearing. “That would be nice.” She waited until he came around to hand her down. As he placed her on the ground, it seemed he held her around the waist for longer than he needed to. This brought their faces to within an inch or two of each other and Faith licked her lips as she stared up at him, wondering if she imagined the small groan that left his lips before he released her.

Going to the cart, he assisted Bob down and then brought a blanket, which he spread out on the ground near a spindly windswept tree. “Ma thoughtfully sent us some lemon cordial and biscuits. Would you like some?”

“Yes, thank you. That was very thoughtful of her indeed.” Faith swallowed at that for it sounded very formal. “Where did you pick the name for your horse?” she asked, as she stroked the mare’s smooth neck.

With a small chuckle he put a finger to his nose as he said in a hush, “’Twas the name of one of my Pa’s favourite customers. The old biddy would come into the shop and um and ah for half an hour over her choice of some silly thing. Pa jokingly said she had a thing for him. Sadly, she left this world when all alone one harsh winter’s night.”

“That is sad. It is not nice to be alone in the world, is it?”

My Web page where you will find more excerpts and reviews.

 

For The Love of Faith

 

Where to buy

"If you enjoy mining towns and the enjoyment of finding out what the guys found on their mining trips, you will love this book. And since there is a hefty dose of romance floating through the story, it makes it even more exciting. I encourage you to run out and grab a copy of this book. You will not be disappointed!” 

https://splashesofjoy.wordpress.com/2023/01/19/for-the-love-of-faithby-tricia-mcgill-2 

"This book, “For the Love of Faith,” is a compelling, charming, intriguing, historical romance read filled with engaging characters, beautiful horses, and a satisfying HEA!! This is the fourth book I’ve had the pleasure of reading and reviewing from the talented author, Tricia McGill. As stated, as part of the historical genre this book takes place in a small mining town in 1860. While the historical aspect of the story may seem unrelatable in today’s life, readers will still find the story line stimulating and the characters honest, likable, and genuine. All in all, I enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it!! I think all historical romance readers will like this book too!! So, add it to your TBR List and get to reading – you won’t be disappointed!!"

Fabulous and Brunette

"I found For the Love of Faith to be an enjoyable read, and if you like historical romance, I think you'll like it too. Here are some things I thought were well done. 1.Faith is an appealing heroine. She's helped her Ma in their boarding house ever since she was small, and even though her Ma gave little sign of loving her, Faith did what she was told. She wonders why her mother is so bitter and unloving, but she has no answers. Affection comes to her through the boarding house cook. 2.Walt our hero is gallant, handsome, and true. He has big dreams that he hints he would like to share with Faith. All in all, I liked the book, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I recommend it without reservation."

"For the Love of Faith kept me hooked from the first page to the last. For the Love of Faith is a brilliantly written story. I loved all the characters as they seemed so real. I would love to see For the Love of Faith made into a movie or TV show. When I was reading For the Love of Faith I felt as if I was right there standing beside Faith and experiencing everything she did. I could see it all in my head as if it was real. I would recommend For the Love of Faith to all romance and historical romance readers. Grab your copy of For the Love of Faith today."

For the Love of Faith is another beautifully written historical romance from Tricia McGill.

In this book the heroine is a naive seventeen-year-old girl who helps her mother run their boarding house to make ends meet. She is kept fairly isolated by her mother, Gert. She is homeschooled, works endless hours with no appreciation from a harsh, bitter Gert, so has no friends and few acquaintances her own age. When a stranger arrives in town who knows Gert from the past, life is turned on its head for Faith.

The tale moves methodically toward the HEA we know is coming, but the joy is following the descriptive flow of the telling of life in an 1860s mining town.

The pace is smooth and the characters are well-developed. The settings are so detailed you can easily picture every scene.

If you are a fan of historical fiction, particularly the gold-rush era, you should enjoy this well-written, entertaining story.

https://ginaraemitchell.com/for-the-love-of-faith/