This romantic adventure unfolds over 250 years, where the transcendent force of music and the belief in a higher purpose shape a narrative of mystery, magic, and miraculous encounters.
The Moon Singer Book 4
by B. Roman
Genre: Historical Romantic Fantasy Adventure
From 18th Century France to 20th Century San Francisco, the Promise of the Rose Crystal both empowered and mystified Grace Moreau and her daughter Rose Wyndham.
They fought for women’s rights, suffered prejudice and conspiracy theorists, and blazed their way through a male-dominated world to define their own roles in society. Through it all they poignantly resisted romantic desire, for if they fell in love the power of the Rose Crystal would be impotent and they - and their lovers - would die.
A romantic adventure spanning 250 years, B. Roman's 'The Immortal Rose Wyndham' is a story where the power of music, and the belief in a purpose greater than oneself, provide the mystery and magic that creates miracles.
**The Immortal Rose Wyndham: The Beginning can be read as a standalone and/or prequel to the rest of the books in the series.
Excerpt
Legend has it that the Hawthorn tree, also known as the May Tree, is tied closely with female sexuality and therefore is useful in marriage or love magic. Hawthorn blossoms are believed to be highly erotic and are used to attract men by women looking for a new love. If the maiden places the petal under her pillow at night she will dream of her future husband.
For Grace Moreau, this dream is forbidden.
For her daughter, Rose, this dream is shattered.
***
Prologue
A delicate petal from the mystical Hawthorn tree flutters down with the gentleness of a butterfly and brushes her face, then falls to the ground, damp with her tears.
“What’s wrong, Mama?”
“Nothing is wrong, Dearest,” Grace assures her daughter. “These are tears of joy. Soon, everything will be right. But there will be some changes that may startle you or confuse you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’ll soon be a young woman and that is why I must tell you now, before the changes occur.”
Always tall and willowy, Grace will soon lose height and gain width. Her skin will line and crease, and spots from years in the sunlight will form patterns on her delicate hands. The female body betrays you, she grieves silently. It deteriorates into unwelcome mosaics of decay, becomes something to be hidden.
Because a spell is about to be broken, she must soon resort to Smoke and Mirrors: careful makeup, corsets, long sleeves, and face veils to conceal the drastic changes. And yet, the voice will remain as young as springtime, alluring as a siren’s song, her last vestige of perpetual youth.
“I watched my friends and loved ones grow old and wrinkled, some with poise, but most of the others with anguish at the gods,” she begins. “I held on to my youth fervently, selfishly, out of vanity, and also out of fear. I believed if I let myself age as they did I would then die an old crone, angry and alone.”
“You’ll never be an old crone, Mama, and you’ll never be alone while I’m here.”
“My lovely daughter, you are my everything, but I have kept a secret from you that I can keep no longer.”
Rose tilts her head inquisitively. “What kind of secret? If you tell me, will I have to keep it, too?”
Grace brushes a stray auburn curl from her daughter’s forehead, lamenting the huge burden she is about to bequeath to her. “A long, long time ago, I was given a gift and told it has magic in it, an essence to keep me young and beautiful for as long as I wore it. I had to make choices along the way - how I lived my life, how I treated others, what I valued. I didn’t always make wise or benevolent choices, though I tried as often as my pride and inner strength would allow. And now my time for holding on to this gift is coming to an end. It no longer works for me.”
“Surely it does, Mama. You’re still young and beautiful, as always.”
“Be prepared, Dearest. I won’t be for long.”
Grace Wyndham nee Moreau, born 1750, and now 107 years old in this year 1857, opens the clasp of the chain from which the pendant hangs. She removes it from her smooth neck which will soon develop deep lines and folds of sagging skin.
“I give this pendant - the sacred Rose Crystal - to you. It belongs to you. It is why I named you Rose. Since you were born, I could see you have special talents and insights that I never had. I know you will be a true guardian of the pendant and will make careful and generous choices. Listen to what the crystal tells you and your life will be rich and full and long.”
Grace secures the clasp at the nape of her daughter’s flawless neck. The crystal glints its miraculous promise, the optical effect of a star appears on its surface, made visible in the moonlight.
An expression of childlike wonder animates Rose’s face. “It’s exquisite. I have no other words. What happens now?”
“My life will end soon. But you, dearest Rose, will be immortal.”
Legend has it that the Hawthorn tree, also known as the May Tree, is tied closely with female sexuality and therefore is useful in marriage or love magic. Hawthorn blossoms are believed to be highly erotic and are used to attract men by women looking for a new love. If the maiden places the petal under her pillow at night she will dream of her future husband.
For Grace Moreau, this dream is forbidden.
For her daughter, Rose, this dream is shattered.
***
Prologue
A delicate petal from the mystical Hawthorn tree flutters down with the gentleness of a butterfly and brushes her face, then falls to the ground, damp with her tears.
“What’s wrong, Mama?”
“Nothing is wrong, Dearest,” Grace assures her daughter. “These are tears of joy. Soon, everything will be right. But there will be some changes that may startle you or confuse you.”
“I don’t understand.”
“You’ll soon be a young woman and that is why I must tell you now, before the changes occur.”
Always tall and willowy, Grace will soon lose height and gain width. Her skin will line and crease, and spots from years in the sunlight will form patterns on her delicate hands. The female body betrays you, she grieves silently. It deteriorates into unwelcome mosaics of decay, becomes something to be hidden.
Because a spell is about to be broken, she must soon resort to Smoke and Mirrors: careful makeup, corsets, long sleeves, and face veils to conceal the drastic changes. And yet, the voice will remain as young as springtime, alluring as a siren’s song, her last vestige of perpetual youth.
“I watched my friends and loved ones grow old and wrinkled, some with poise, but most of the others with anguish at the gods,” she begins. “I held on to my youth fervently, selfishly, out of vanity, and also out of fear. I believed if I let myself age as they did I would then die an old crone, angry and alone.”
“You’ll never be an old crone, Mama, and you’ll never be alone while I’m here.”
“My lovely daughter, you are my everything, but I have kept a secret from you that I can keep no longer.”
Rose tilts her head inquisitively. “What kind of secret? If you tell me, will I have to keep it, too?”
Grace brushes a stray auburn curl from her daughter’s forehead, lamenting the huge burden she is about to bequeath to her. “A long, long time ago, I was given a gift and told it has magic in it, an essence to keep me young and beautiful for as long as I wore it. I had to make choices along the way - how I lived my life, how I treated others, what I valued. I didn’t always make wise or benevolent choices, though I tried as often as my pride and inner strength would allow. And now my time for holding on to this gift is coming to an end. It no longer works for me.”
“Surely it does, Mama. You’re still young and beautiful, as always.”
“Be prepared, Dearest. I won’t be for long.”
Grace Wyndham nee Moreau, born 1750, and now 107 years old in this year 1857, opens the clasp of the chain from which the pendant hangs. She removes it from her smooth neck which will soon develop deep lines and folds of sagging skin.
“I give this pendant - the sacred Rose Crystal - to you. It belongs to you. It is why I named you Rose. Since you were born, I could see you have special talents and insights that I never had. I know you will be a true guardian of the pendant and will make careful and generous choices. Listen to what the crystal tells you and your life will be rich and full and long.”
Grace secures the clasp at the nape of her daughter’s flawless neck. The crystal glints its miraculous promise, the optical effect of a star appears on its surface, made visible in the moonlight.
An expression of childlike wonder animates Rose’s face. “It’s exquisite. I have no other words. What happens now?”
“My life will end soon. But you, dearest Rose, will be immortal.”
**Don’t miss the rest of the collection!**
All four books in B. Roman’s The Moon Singer, a series of fantasy novels, now available in one volume. This collection also includes the prequel novella, Before the Boy, as a bonus.
About the Author:
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Bookbub-Amazon
Goodreads
B. Roman - in her own words:
Since childhood, I've been torn between two worlds: writing and singing. It's difficult to serve "two masters," as they say, but I was compelled to do so. When I was not singing, I was writing; when I was not writing, I was singing. I've learned, for me, that one creative expression nurtures the other. Much of my writing has a musical theme somewhere in the plot, or is the plot. Whether it's in my non-fiction writing about the power of music itself, in children’s picture books and in writing music and lyrics for songs.
It is natural, therefore, that my adventure series (The Moon Singer) has its roots in musical theories and metaphors, entwined with the magic and mystery of metaphysical concepts and matters of ethics, faith, compassion, love, and heroism. Music provokes universal emotions and memories, and giving my characters a musical talent and/or identity enriches them and the reader experience.
*B. Roman’s books include the 5-book Moon Singer Series, two suspense thrillers (Whatever Became of Sin?; A Man’s Face), and (as Barbara Roman) three children’s books: Hubert in Heaven, Alicia & The Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13, and The Prince Who Was A Piccolo.
Bookbub-Amazon
Goodreads
B. Roman - in her own words:
Since childhood, I've been torn between two worlds: writing and singing. It's difficult to serve "two masters," as they say, but I was compelled to do so. When I was not singing, I was writing; when I was not writing, I was singing. I've learned, for me, that one creative expression nurtures the other. Much of my writing has a musical theme somewhere in the plot, or is the plot. Whether it's in my non-fiction writing about the power of music itself, in children’s picture books and in writing music and lyrics for songs.
It is natural, therefore, that my adventure series (The Moon Singer) has its roots in musical theories and metaphors, entwined with the magic and mystery of metaphysical concepts and matters of ethics, faith, compassion, love, and heroism. Music provokes universal emotions and memories, and giving my characters a musical talent and/or identity enriches them and the reader experience.
*B. Roman’s books include the 5-book Moon Singer Series, two suspense thrillers (Whatever Became of Sin?; A Man’s Face), and (as Barbara Roman) three children’s books: Hubert in Heaven, Alicia & The Light Bulb People in Star Factory 13, and The Prince Who Was A Piccolo.
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ReplyDeleteThe Immortal Rose Wyndham sounds fascinating. Great cover too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThe cover looks good. Sounds like an interesting story.
ReplyDelete