For the Love of Faith

 

For the Love of Faith
by Tricia McGill

 

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GENRE: Australian Historical Romance

 

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BLURB:

 

At almost seventeen Faith Boswell knows little about the world beyond the lodging house in Ballarat owned by her widowed mother. The mining town of Ballarat in 1860 is populated by those seeking to get rich by finding gold, so their residents are mostly miners on their way to the diggings with high hopes of finding this highly treasured substance. Sadly, Faith’s Ma is not the easiest person to get along with and Faith often wonders just why her mother is so bitter.

Things start to change unexpectedly one day when a stranger appears at the door of their home—a gentleman who mysteriously seems to know a lot about Faith’s Ma, her past life, plus Faith herself. Faith fears that her mother has been lying to her all her life. From that day Faith’s life takes a turn, perhaps for the better. One long-term lodger is a widow who unexpectedly presents Faith with an unusual birthday gift. This gift causes uproar which plays a large part in Faith’s life from them onwards.

Because Faith knows little about life outside of her sheltered existence, she is unable to fathom if handsome Walter Finch, son of the nearby store owners, has real feelings for her or is simply being kind. Faith is soon to find out just how willing he is to help her as she sets out on a new and scary phase in her life.

 

 

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EXCERPT

 

Faith quickened her pace as she neared the store, her Ma’s list clutched in her hand. This visit had become the highlight of her week, for the anticipation reached a level she could not understand. She sincerely hoped that the owner’s son, one Walter Finch would be working behind the counter. The store contained everything from cooking ingredients for the women, to shovels and hats for the men working out at the diggings, and had taken on a new pleasure in the past few months. She was at a loss to understand quite why this should be. 

 

Previously Walt had barely passed the time of day with her until one morning as she handed her list over to George Finch, his son had come out of the back room, wiping his hands on a scrap of rag. “Finished out there, boy?” his father asked and with a nod Walt came towards Faith and smiled—and her heart was lost as he asked after her welfare and made some comment on her appearance that completely took her aback. Until that morning, no lad of similar age had shown the slightest interest in her and certainly not in her state of health.

 

Suddenly the one who now seemed to fill her thoughts far too often was striding towards her. Too late to step from the firmer path that had been laid down in front of the shops to protect the boots of the ladies, and to head across the street.

My Review

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.

3.Faith's mother isn't a sympathetic character, but she has dimension. She does just enough nice things for Faith that the reader wonders what has happened to her.

4.The plot is good. Who hasn't wanted to spread their wings and have adventures?

5.The language  is good too.It definitely sounds like a different time in history, but it doesn't distract from the story.

6.There's a nice element of suspense that pulls the reader in. There are some secrets too.

There was one thing I didn't think rang true, but maybe it would have in the 1860s. If my children disappeared in the night, and I had no idea where they were for weeks on end I wouldn't be sitting at home doing nothing about finding them. It wouldn't matter to me what I had going on. I'd go find those kids. 

All in all, I liked the book, and I'm glad I had the chance to read it. I recommend it without reservation.

 

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

 

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 never lonely or alone. 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. 

 

For reviews and excerpts from my books plus a little more about me go to my web page: www.triciamcgill.com 

Or my Books We Love Author page:  https://bookswelove.net/mcgill-tricia/

Where you will find links to all the places where my books can be purchased.

Find me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorTriciaMcGill

My Pinterest Page: https://www.pinterest.com/authortriciamcg/

Which is mostly taken over by animals big and small.

Amazon Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/triciamcgill

 

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GIVEAWAY INFORMATION and RAFFLECOPTER CODE

 

Tricia McGill will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway