Kindle Edition Amazon Tricia McGill Australian Author Tricia McGill at Books We Love Category:  Mainstream Publisher: Books We Love Ltd. Type: Fiction Pages: 304 Copyright: Feb 3, 2014 ISBN-13: 9781771451833 Price: $3.99 (eBook) Remnants of Dreams moves from the horrors of the 1914-1918 war to the 1990s, and paints an unforgettable picture of a changing world and of working class people in North London whose only riches are love and the knowledge that they did their best. Alicia’s indomitable spirit sustains her and her large family through two wars, illness, death and loss. From her mother’s example Sara finds the courage to escape an intolerable situation and forge a new life in a new country. Remnants of Dreams is in two parts. Part one tells Alicia's story and begins in 1914 in North London just at the beginning of WW1. Alicia's first love goes away to war and is killed, leaving her pregnant. She eventually marries Matt and they have another nine children. Remnants of Dreams is the story of a changing world, moving through two world wars and follows the story of a large family battling extreme poverty. But despite this they are rich in the things that matter--love and pride. Part two is Sara, Alicia's headstrong daughter's story. Sara’s first love is tragically killed, leaving her carrying his child, repeating history. But she is not as fortunate as her mother and marries the wrong man because the one she loves is married to her sister. Sara follows her mother's example and finds the strength and indomitable courage to face many trials and setbacks before building a new life for her and her daughters, and eventually finding true love. This book was previously published as Traces of Dreams and won the Romance Writer's of Australia Romantic Book of The Year (mainstream) in 2003   Excerpt Sara followed him to the small kitchenette at the back of the house. Brian had built cupboards along one side and Sara ran her fingers along the pale yellow bench top as she leaned against the wall that was covered with pretty floral wallpaper. "This is so nice." She looked about admiringly as he filled the kettle and lit the burner on their new stove. "You've made a good job of it." "Thanks." He turned to close the door. Sara shivered and he asked, "Are you cold?" The room wasn't very large and he seemed twice as big in the cramped space. Sara shook her head, looking down as one of his large hands reached for one of hers. "Your skin is so white," he muttered, and she began to tremble all over. His palms rubbed up and down her arms then and she could feel the small calluses on them. Goose bumps rose all over her skin. "Why, you must be freezing," he said softly, his voice growing husky, as if he had a catch in his throat. "No." As she denied this a tendril of her hair brushed his face and he gave her a startled look. His fingers seemed to have a life of their own, for they wandered slowly on her skin, exploring. Sara sighed with pleasure. Brian stared at her mouth. "Don't look at me like that," he scolded, meeting her eyes. He'd moved so close his warm breath stirred the hair at her temples, wafted over her face. "Like what?" Her voice sounded low and husky, and somewhere deep inside a pulse throbbed. His palms cupped her jaw and his thumbs began to stroke her cheeks. "I hope I'm mistaken, but all my senses tell me I'm not." "You're not, and you know it," she whispered. "From the first moment I set eyes on you I wanted you for my own. I could have killed Jane for getting you." "But you're married to Dennis and I'm married to your sister--it's much too late for these declarations," he rasped, his hands moving to her shoulders and cupping them to shake her. "And I hate him!" "Ah, love." He swallowed hard. "But you're stuck with him, Sara, and I'm..." He lifted his shoulders in a helpless shrug. "We could run away together. You, Rosy, and me," she broke in desperately, her eyes widening hopefully. "Don't be daft, love." He turned to move away. Sara grabbed his arm and protested, "Don't tell me you don't feel something for me. I can see it in your eyes. You feel the same as me." His fingers curled about her upper arms as he brought his face so close she could see her reflection in his eyes. "You're a witch, Sara. And you're so beautiful you would bewitch any man with half a mind and a pair of eyes. But don't run away with the idea you can charm me into jumping through hoops for you. Because I won't be in it, do you hear me?" She couldn't hold back the tears. She began to sob. His fingers tightened on her arms as he said savagely, "I couldn't ruin the lives of loved ones by being so selfish." He swallowed again, this time convulsively, then dragged her into his arms, whispering hoarsely, "God Sara, don't cry. It's the way it is, and we can't do anything about it." His voice broke, and Sara began to cry all the more. With an anguished groan of surrender he bent to take her mouth with a kiss that was almost savage. Sara clung to him as her legs grew weak, a small moan rising in her throat as his hot mouth devoured her. The world fell away. His arms closed so tightly around her she couldn't breathe. But she didn't care; didn't care if she died now. Her head spun as he pushed her against the wall, his hands frantic as they ran up and down her body. "Brian," she cried, something akin to triumph coursing through her as a wild madness swept through her veins. His heart thumped erratically beneath her palms as she pressed them flat against his chest, and his body was as hot as a furnace. With trembling hands she started to unbutton his shirt. Suddenly his body went rigid and he dragged his mouth from hers, his hands stilling as he stared down at her from desire drugged eyes. "Oh my God!" He swore viciously beneath his breath. "This is wrong." He staggered back a pace, his breathing uneven. The kettle was sending out clouds of steam and absently he turned off the gas. She could see he was trembling as violently as her as he pushed his hair back. Sara knew this was the last chance she would ever get to fight for him, and she wasn't about to give in so easily. "I love you, Brian. Desperately. I'd do anything for you!" She reached for him, wrapping her arms about his middle. "Oh Sara, love," he rasped, rubbing a thumb across her parted lips. "This is foolish, just foolish." But as if driven by needs beyond his control he began to kiss her again, as if starved for her, for the taste of her.

Excellent
This book touched me deeply. Perhaps that's because I was born in North London and the places and people were familiar. I could not put it down. I can honestly say it is one of the best in the genre I have read.

Timeless Tales
Miss McGill continues the tradition of Angela's Ashes with this intimate look of two generations facing the grim threat of war. It deals with the heartbreak of death and the recovery only love can bring. At moments it's tear jerking, but you won't want to stop until the last page, to learn how they juggle both the heartache and the romance. Ultimately, it offers the reader a strong lesson on never giving up. No matter how many troubles impact the reader's life, there's always a silver lining. If you like books like Angela's Ashes or sagas like Cold Mountain or Memories of a Geisha, this is the book for you. It'll hold your interest in a tight grasp, and
not let go until the last page.


Mary Allyce.
If you think this is a predictable novel, however, you will miss not only a sweeping story of joy and sorrow, triumph and tragedy, but also an amazing overview of the century seen through a family saga. Tricia McGill takes a bold step into mainstream fiction with this book that flows like a gentle stream on the surface, but conceals a strong undercurrent and unexpected depths.