Monday, May 07, 2012

TEARS, FEARS, AND TRUTH

Today we have Patricia Yager Delagrange with her latest contemporary release MOON OVER ALCATRAZ. This outstanding novel is an emotional read that triggers it all. It is a powerful story that refuses to let go.

Not familiar with Patricia’s work? Let me tell you, she is fascinated by broken-hearted couples and atypical families. She weaves engaging tales of men and women who create cohesive families where love reigns supreme. Her books are sprinkled with intriguing characters who struggle to find balance in life after tragedy. Whether an unwed teenager, desperate widow, abandoned father, or a couple who stray from their marital vows, her characters form relationships impacted by their desire to create a family. And Patricia does is with heart.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Patricia attended St. Mary’s College, studied her junior year at the University of Madrid, received a B.A. in Spanish at UC Santa Barbara then went on to get her Master’s degree in Education at Oregon State University.

She lives with her husband and two teenage children in Alameda, across the bay from San Francisco, along with two very large chocolate labs, Annabella and her son Jack. Her horse lives in the Oakland hills in a stall with a million dollar view.

MOON OVER ALCATRAZ
Patricia Yager Delagrange
ISBN 978-1-61937-104-0
Musa Publishing
Terpsichore - Contemporary


BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

BLURB:
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 a tiny casket.

Weston had chosen a simple mahogany box with gold handles, 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 top. Weston joined me, placing 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.

BUY LINKS
Musa Publishing
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Learn more about Patricia Yagar Delagrange on her website and blog. Keep in step with her on facebook and Twitter.

I’ll be back Wednesday with a new menu. Until then…

Happy Reading!

Sloane Taylor
www.sloanetaylor.com

7 comments:

  1. Tweeted, shared, and would you believe I finally 'liked' your facebook page! Better late than never! Cheers and best wishes to Patricia!

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    1. Thanks, Sharon, I appreciate it. Also, a big thanks for stopping in today.

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    2. That is SO kind of you, Sharon, to tweet and share...oh, and to "like" my FB page. All this promotional stuff is still overwhelming to me. Thank you for stopping by.
      Patti

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  2. Good all-round info about Patti, thanks Sloane. Although I'd read the blurb about MOA, I hadn't known about Patti's style of character (which I, too, love to read and write). Thank you ladies!

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    1. Our pleasure, Vonnie. Now when am I going to get you and your books on my blog?

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    2. Oh, Vonnie, I loved it when I read "MOA" for Moon Over Alcatraz. I dream of the day when the title for my book would metamorphose into an acronym that everyone would know!
      Wouldn't THAT be cool, eh?
      Patti

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  3. Nice to see you "around" Patti. That would be way cool - "MOA". Good luck!

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