The Gift of Life by Josephine Moon, bestselling author of The Chocolate Promise and Three Gold Coins, reveals the complexities of life after a heart transplant, not only for the recipient, but also for the wife who signed away her husband’s heart.
Gabby McPhee, heart transplant recipient, mother of three children and owner of the Tin Man cafe and coffee roasting house in Melbourne’s South Yarra should be enjoying her gift of life. The new in house roaster, Luciano, is a coffee expert of the highest calibre and business is booming. But Gabby is troubled by strange visions and the smell of burning.
Krystal Arthur, the bereaved widow of Evan, the heart donor, and mother of two young boys, is seeking answers to why her husband was in Sydney instead of Melbourne on the night he died.
After finding out that the date of his demise matches up with Gabby’s transplant, she decides to confront Gabby and ask for her help to solve the mystery.
Can the two women discover the truth behind Evan’s secrecy and allow his spirit to rest, thus obtaining closure for themselves?
This is a poignant novel which raises the question of Cellular memory. This is the idea that memories and personality traits can be stored in any individual cells or in other organs, not just in the brain. One study that followed ten organ transplant recipients found that there were two to five parallels with the donor’s history per transplant recipient.
It also delves into the highs and lows of marriage and separation, coupled with raising children and coping with the ensuing difficulties that both bring. Both women find themselves in a similar situation and endeavour to each help the other find peace and happiness.
The Gift of Life is a moving page-turner that is a must read for 2019.
ISBN: 9780143791997
The Gift of Life is available in paperback, e-book and audio
About Josephine Moon
Josephine Moon is an Australian author, based in Cooroy, Queensland. She has worked as an English teacher and editor. She has a Bachelor of Communications. She changed to a writing career after having Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
Her first novel, The Tea Chest, was set in Brisbane and focused on tea-rooms and was inspired by the interior of the Chermside T2 specialty tea shop. In conjunction with the release of her tea-themed book, Josephine supported the Cancer Council of Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea with a virtual Twitter fundraiser in May 2014.
Josephine lives on acreage near Cooroy with her husband, son, and animals, which include horses, goats and chickens. Along with other female authors – Frances Whiting, Susan Johnson and Kim Wilkins – she was interviewed for a 2016 ABC Regional News article about how creativity can co-exist with parenting and work responsibilities.
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