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Celtic Remnants

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"Celtic Remnants" tells the story of Ava Egan, a young woman who was born and raised in Northern Ireland. She comes to grips with the political situation in her native country after her family is killed in an explosion set by British soldiers, led by an Earl named Sir Edward Lancaster. Ava's father was targeted because he was a former police officer who joined the terrorist organization, but only after his partner was killed by another group of soldiers led by Edward Lancaster during Bloody Sunday in 1972.

Following the tragedy Ava meets Sir David Lancaster, the son of the Earl, and she falls in love with him, not realizing his father killed her family. When she becomes pregnant David shuns her by decree of his father, so she bears their child in secrecy at an Irish convent with the help of her sister Sophia, who is a nun.

Afterward, Ava sets her life on a course of terrorism in the name of revenge and political justice with her childhood friend, Timothy O'Casey. They are instructed in the art of weaponry and physical endurance at a secluded Irish camp and then undertake several assignments of their own, including a sniper shooting in Belfast and blowing up a busy train station in England.

Several years later David hires a private investigator to look for Ava and their child, and when he finds her she is a hardened terrorist who wants nothing to do with him. However, after being hurt during an ambush in the English countryside, Ava and Tim go to David for help and he spirits them off to a remote Scottish hunting lodge to heal. It is there that Ava agrees to let David see their daughter Shenachie (nicknamed "Chee"), and where Ava begins to wonder if she can give up her political terrorism and make a life with David.

The Scottish lodge is also being watched by members of Ava's terrorist organization. The private investigator David hired to find Ava is snooping around because he knows there is a large bounty on her head. Ava's watchful cohorts stumble on the investigator and kill him, dumping his body in nearby Loch Ness.

Fear of discovery forces Ava to flee with Tim to a safe house in Dublin, and she allows David to take their daughter to London for safekeeping. Knowing that his son has rekindled his relationship with Ava, Sir Edward Lancaster sends one of his informants from Scotland Yard to kill Ava's sister Sophia at the convent.

After torturing the informant in an abandoned warehouse in London, Ava and Tim discover Edward is behind the murder. In revenge, they ambush Edward in Hyde Park and kill him. With his death, David is the new Earl Lancaster.

When Ava is able to come and retrieve Chee, she can see how happy and safe her daughter is with David and decides to fake her own death so that Chee can remain with her father and live a normal life without feeling guilty. Ava knows and accepts she can never give up her political convictions or the life she is leading, even for love. The end of the book depicts a hidden Ava watching Chee and David on a street in London seven years after her supposed "death." Satisfied her daughter is happy and well, Ava disappears into the crowd.


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"Celtic Remnants" by Deborah O'Toole is a novel of enduring love and betrayal set in the political turbulence of Ireland, glamour of London and the wilds of Scotland.

A young girl is shaped by horrific events which change her life forever. After Ava's brother and parents are killed by British soldiers, she vows to avenge their deaths as she picks up the pieces of her shattered world.

Before she can move on, Ava falls in love with handsome nobleman David Lancaster, eldest son of a belted Earl. Their relationship ends dramatically when his family refuses to accept her. Afterward, Ava sets her life on a course of violent revenge in the name of political justice with her childhood friend, Tim O'Casey.

Unable to forget Ava, David hires a private investigator to look for her years later. When he finds her, Ava is hardened by more than a decade on the run and wants nothing to do with him. However, after being injured during an ambush in the English countryside, Ava and Tim go to David for help. He spirits them off to a remote Scottish hunting lodge to heal.

Momentarily safe amidst the rugged beauty, Ava begins to wonder if she can give up her deeply-felt political beliefs to build a normal life with David. Or will happiness forever elude them?

Can Ava relinquish her political convictions, even for love?

397 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 26, 2011

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About the author

Deborah O'Toole

29 books2 followers
Deborah O'Toole is the author of CELTIC REMNANTS, THE CRYPT ARTIST, GLINHAVEN, IN THE SHADOW OF THE KING and MIND SWEEPER.

In addition, Deborah writes short-story Juvenile Fiction (Short Tales Collection) and darkly abstract poetry (Torn Bits & Pieces), and is the author of a series of historical essays, articles and book reviews for Ambermont Magazine Canada and Class Notes.

Writing as Deidre Dalton, Deborah is author of the "Collective Obsessions Saga," a series of ten books which chronicle the extraordinary loves and obsessions between two families sweeping a span of more than 165 years, most of which are set against the backdrop of a Gothic seaside mansion in Maine. Titles in the family saga include HEARTS IN SORROW, THE ADVENT, QUIXOTIC CROSSINGS, THE TWAIN SHALL MEET, ENTHRALLMENT, THE KEEPER'S JOURNAL, HEARTS DESIRES, THE TWILIGHT, MEGAN'S LEGACY and LIMB OF INIQUITY.

Also writing as Deidre Dalton, she is author of the "Bloodline Trilogy," which follows the mysterious and magical journey of three women through time. Books in the trilogy include BLOODFROST, BLOODLUST and BLOOD & SOUL.

Using the pseudonym Shenanchie O'Toole, she also writes for the cooking/recipe website Food Fare. She is writer and editor of a dozen cookbooks, along with more than 40 titles in the Food Fare Culinary Collection.

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Author 24 books4 followers
June 12, 2011
"Celtic Remnants" by Deborah O'Toole is a powerful novel of enduring love and betrayal set in the political turbulence of Ireland, the glamour of London and the wilds of Scotland.

Can Ava relinquish her political convictions, even for love?

A young girl is shaped by horrific events that change her life forever. After Ava's brother and parents are killed by British soldiers, she vows to avenge their deaths as she picks up the pieces of her shattered world.

Before she can move on, Ava falls in love with handsome nobleman David Lancaster, eldest son of a belted Earl. Their relationship ends dramatically when his family refuses to accept her. Afterward, Ava sets her life on a course of violent revenge in the name of political justice with her childhood friend, Tim O'Casey.

Unable to forget Ava, David hires a private investigator to look for her years later. When he finds her, Ava is hardened by more than a decade on the run and wants nothing to do with him. However, after being injured during an ambush in the English countryside, Ava and Tim go to David for help. He spirits them off to a remote Scottish hunting lodge to heal.

Momentarily safe amidst the rugged beauty, Ava begins to wonder if she can give up her deeply-felt political beliefs to build a normal life with David.
Displaying 1 of 1 review

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