Musa Blog Hop - Moon Over Alcatrez

Since this blog is all about confessions, I'm going to make a biggie. Although I write for the vibrant new publishing house, Musa, I have yet to read any of the books written by my fellow authors. There, I've said it! Now I feel cleansed. In my own defence, I do write three full length books a year so I don't have much time for anything else. One day I will get a life.

I might not have read other authors' books but that doesn't stop me having a wish list. Near the top is Moon Over Alcatrez by talented author Patricia Yager Delagrange. Here's how Musa describe this novel:

Weston and Brandy’s marriage splinters beneath the burden of sorrow following the death of their child, and after an accidental meeting with her high school friend, Brandy ends up carrying more than just the weight of grief inside her heart.

Following the death of their baby during a difficult birth, Brandy and Weston Chambers are grief-stricken and withdraw from each other, both seeking solace outside of their marriage; however, they vow to work through their painful disloyalty.  But when the man Brandy slept with moves back to their hometown, three lives are forever changed by his return.

Excerpt

Three days later we were standing at the edge of a hole in the ground at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Hayward, the silence so thick, the insides of my ears buzzed like a distant swarm of angry bees.  Mr. Peralta and another gentleman stood off to the side while Weston and I held hands next to the tiny casket.

Weston had chosen a simple mahogany box with gold handles, and a bouquet of white lilies graced the top of the small box.  I knelt down and laid a kiss on the smooth wood then wiped off the tears that had fallen on the dark, shiny surface.  Weston joined me and placed a single red rose in the middle of the lilies.

He helped me up and we stood side-by-side in silence, my guilt over her death like a stone in my empty belly.  I missed everything I’d dreamed would be happening right now, yearned for all that could have been.
Weston nodded at the man standing next to Mr. Peralta and our baby was slowly lowered into the gaping maw.  She reached the bottom, and a bird landed on the rich brown dirt piled next to the grave.  It pecked around, chirping a little song then flew off - as if saying goodbye.  My heart squeezed inside my chest.
I picked up a small handful of soft dirt.

“Goodbye, Christine,” I whispered, throwing it on top of her casket.

Weston wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me in close to his side.  Why her?  Why my baby?  Was this supposed to make sense?  And, if so, to whom?

We drove home in silence.  No words existed to express my grief.

Power and emotive stuff! I shall definitely read this one.

 Since we're talking romance, I'm giving away a copy of my novel, Downsizing, for Valentine's day. This book features - brace yourselves - an overweight heroine. She's invisible in a crowded room because no one can see through her bulk to the sensitive, intelligent chick lurking beneath. No one except local heartthrob Noah Fenwick, that is, but even he lets her down when he marries her pretty, slim best friend.

Still, revenge is a dish best served cold. Who says fat girls can't have fun?

If you want to know how Maxine fights back on behalf of the silent majority who don't have perfect bodies, simply follow this blog and leave a comment to say you've done so. Then your name will go in the hat.

Good luck and happy valentine's day.

Wendy

http://musapublishingbloghops.blogspot.com/2012/01/i-love-musa-books-hop.html