Amanda Brooke's Yesterday's Sun Available in U.S. February 12th!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:STOKESAY_CASTLE_GATEHOUSE.jpg
"She carefully typed the name of the moon goddess into the
search engine and was immediately presented with pages of
hyperlinks, some of which provided immediate dead ends,
others only tiny snippets of information. It was only when she
added Charles Hardmonton's name to the search that she hit
pay dirt. She found a research site that not only gave more
detail about Lord Hardmonton's last expedition, but it also
disclosed information about his fall from grace, information
that would have been seen as libelous in its day and wouldn't
be found in any physical book...
"Lord Hardmonton's last recorded expedition had indeed been
in search of the temple of Coyolxauhqui in Central Mexico...
"The missing item was never recovered. He became a recluse
and lived out the rest of his life in Hardmonton Hall...
~~~

Yesterday's Sun

By Amanda Brooke


This novel will keep readers on the edge of their seats until the last few pages, even though it is a sad ending, it was also an amazing one...The plot is simple, but the story is so compelling that I got as edgy as the main character, wondering what was going to happen...

If you are a mother, make sure you have plenty of kleenex available! If you're not a mother, you may find it even harder to "play the game..."

Because it definitely was a game--a game that you could not win...

The original estate of Charles Hardmonton had included a large country home and a gate house. The gardens were extensive and beautifully maintained--and the moondial sat regally in the middle. But the main hall had burnt down many years ago, and the only family member left had moved as far away as possible... It had been Hardmonton who had stolen the Coyolxauhqui Stone and made it into a moondial which was then hidden openly there where he lived. And where his family later died...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coyolxauhqui
"It was only in his last entry, the day before
the fire, that Edward finally accepted his fate:
"I had often wondered why my great-great-
grandfather had allowed the device for which
he had sacrificed his career and his reputation
to fall into wrack and ruin. Now I know what
Charles Hardmonton must have known on his
deathbed. We are not meant to meddle with
destiny. It is too heavy a burden for any man to
have the ability to see into the future...
~~~

Holly and Tom were still newlyweds when they moved into the beautiful gatehouse. Holly sculpted and they were having a shop built for her by a local carpenter, who soon became like a father to both of them. Tom was a journalist, but was concerned about his future--he had recently been sent out on assignment, reporting from various places around the world.

That meant Holly was alone much of the time...

Holly had a background of abuse in her childhood and had been alone most of her life, even when she was with people... She kept busy with making small sculptures which were selling good and she had been commissioned to create a large hallway sculpture of mother and child for an egotistical woman who had married into money. Holly not only did not like her client, she had been reluctant to take the commission, thinking she would not be able to envision the piece, given her own background and not now being a mother.

Tom was anxious to have a child or children and they often talked about it, but Holly was afraid that she was not "mother" material. It was very clear to everybody but her, however, that she was a loving individual, very much in love with Tom, and they knew she would make a wonderful mother. Convincing her was the problem...

And then they found the moondial, which had been given to the previous owner after the main hall had burned. Holly was intrigued and worked hard to put it together but was disappointed when the main orb seemed not to fit, or work any longer... But at least it looked good in the garden, as they were doing the cleanup there...

Jocelyn, a lovely older woman who came to welcome Holly, was quick to notice that they had found and started to use the dial...

As they became close, Jocelyn having another chance to mother this young woman and Holly finding the first real mother she'd ever really had, Jocelyn shared her own story about the moondial...one in which she felt she was guilty of her husband killing himself...and her separation from her own son...

But nothing prepared Holly for the first time she had learned, and then used, the moondial. For she learned that she would have a child some time in the future...and that she, Holly, would die in childbirth...

What would you do in that situation? Would you share everything with your husband? Holly did not. She did more and more research, to discover if, and how, the future that would leave her husband devastated really would come true...And she learned just how much Tom loved her, as she stood watching him taking care of their baby, after the baby was born, a beautiful little girl named Libby...

Be prepared for agonizing suspense as you read how Holly could not stay away from the moondial, which only worked with the full moon, and those few times she was able to see her daughter...

Not an easy book to read. But it is memorable, and one of the most provocative stories you may ever read. Does fate win? Can your life plan be changed? In some ways, this literary tale is almost a fable... And, oh yes, the moondial is still there in that little village, waiting for the next one, the one who will be foolish or brave enough to look into the future...

Highly recommended if you think you can stand to tempt fate and see your future as well???


GABixlerReviews

About the Author

Amanda Brooke lives in Liverpool with her teenage daughter, Jessica. When her three-year-old son died from cancer, Amanda was determined that his legacy would be one of inspiration. Yesterday's Sun is inspired by her experiences of motherhood. Check out this interview with author!