Publication Date: January 12, 2024
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.
Nineteenth-century Tasmania served as a penal colony for convicts of multiple nationalities. Just released after serving a decade for a misdemeanor crime, Finn O’Connor seeks a new path.
His new chapter begins courtesy of Esther Blythe, who tells him of a laborer position where she works as a companion to a young girl. Author Tricia McGill delivers a story about two people whose lives have been shaped by the fear of the unknown in A Troubled Heart.
A tragedy sends them to another town, setting in motion a series of events that allow the couple to grow closer. However, their fragile happiness is marred by two crooks who dupe Esther out of her money.
It’s Finn’s back story that yields several surprises in light of his unknown origin. Together, he and Esther create a future with a family of their own.
A Troubled Heart features two people seeking a new beginning after a series of misfortunes.
Award winning author Tricia McGill spent her early days in London, England, and moved to Australia many years ago, settling near Melbourne. The youngest in a large, loving family she was surrounded by avid readers, who encouraged her to read from an early age. Is it any wonder she became a writer. Although her published works cross sub-genres, romance is always at their heart.
Tricia’s love of animals has always shown up in her books. Tricia devotes as much time and money as she can spare to supporting worldwide conservation groups and is passionate about supporting those who do all they can to preserve our wildlife for future generations. She also volunteers for a local community group that helps disabled adults and children to connect to the internet with provided computer equipment.
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March 5:Â Beyond Romance
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Thank you for reviewing.
Thanks so much for your lovely review and for hosting A Troubled Heart. Tricia