Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Great Beach Reads--Sleeping with Her Enemy by Pat Dale









Today marks the beginning for introducing you all to some great beach reads, in other words, some fun, escape reading for those lazy days of summer.  I am pleased to welcome author Pat Dale, my first guest on this beach reading bonanza. Let's see how Pat spends his summertime.

What do you like to do in the summer?

After we returned to live out our lives in my wife’s childhood home, I spent several years working what had been a pretty barren yard into a miniature park; lots of trees and several little garden spots where we grow a variety of flowers and bushes. Our summer time is taken up largely with maintaining the yard (a full quarter-block) and battling the weeds and volunteer trees that spring up after every rain.

That sounds like a lot of work, but I am sure it is worth it. What a beautiful view from your window. 


What is your favorite summer vacation memory?

This one is easy. I remember batting it down I-70 from Colorado to St. Louis to visit my family over an Independence Day holiday weekend. My folks lived on a small lake outside the city, where my dad loved to fish from his rowboat. I’d row him to the spots on the lake where he ‘knew’ the big bass hid out. I’d row, he’d fish, and we’d talk about everything from soup to nuts, softly so as not to alarm the fish.
Then we’d set up a huge outdoor buffet table and my three kids, along with my brother’s three and my sister’s two, would stuff themselves with hotdogs, baked beans, and anything else edible they could get their hands on. After a nap, we’d take the kids to the swimming beach and sit back while they splashed and generally had a ball. Those were the days, my friend, and (as the song goes) we thought they’d never end. But they did, and now we’re spread across this vast land in a way that’s difficult to comprehend. But memories, yes, I have those, and I’ll treasure them until I die!

I chuckled when you said your dad "knew" where all the bass hid. Been there, done that too. What great memories...


Why is your book a great beach read?

SLEEPING WITH HER ENEMY is a mid-life romance, set in Colorado. Ana Henry has suffered more than her share of tragedy, and has buried herself in her work as a children’s nurse in the Ft. Collins hospital. When she meets Dan Morrison by way of his sick daughter, Sherry, she sees a glimmer of hope that there may still be romance for her. They bond, but, after becoming intimate, Ana learns that Dan may have been the hit and run driver who killed her son Joey. She turns him in, but throws herself into a quest to prove him innocent. Has life given her the ultimate sucker punch, or will love win out?

Excerpt:

Ana was standing over Sherry, checking her temperature, when a harried-looking man came in and said, “Hello.” Pointing to the girl, he asked, “How is she?”
“Asleep.” She shushed him with a finger to her lips and motioned him into the hall. “You must be Sherry’s father. I’m Ana Henry and I’ll be her nurse tonight.”
“My name is Dan. Dan Morrison.”
“Pleased to meet you, Mr. Morrison. Her temperature has dropped a bit but it’s still high. She’s a sick little girl.”
“I know.” He clearly didn’t want to emote but couldn’t hide the gleam of tears she saw in his eyes. “I shouldn’t be so emotional about this. Sorry.”
“Nothing to be sorry for. You love your daughter and that’s what counts.”
That was the moment she let her guard down, locking focus with him. She rarely looked into anyone’s eyes any more but this time she did. Sea mist green they were, and so full of pain.
“You’re very kind, Miss... I’m sorry. I’ve forgotten your name already.”
“Actually it’s Mrs. Mrs. Henry. I’m a widow.” Why did I tell him that?
He stared into her tortured eyes. “I’m sorry. You’re so young and-”
“My husband,” she cut in, “was a pilot in the Air Force. He died while fighting in Afghanistan.”
“Oh. I’m so sorry.”
She winced at the man’s reaction. Every time people learned what had happened, they began walking on egg shells. She’d been down this road so many times she wanted to scream.  “It’s okay. It’s been a few years and I’m over it now.” That’s a lie. I’m not close to over it.

Thanks, Pat, for guesting on my blog. Where can we learn more about you and your book?

Sleeping with Her Enemy can be purchased at Muse It Up Publishing, amazon.com, bn.com and major booksellers.
Keep up with me on my blog at  Pat Dale blog.

  


9 comments:

J.Q. Rose said...

Thanks, Pat, for kicking off the beach reading bonanza!

Pat Dale said...

Hey, JQ, it's great to be on with you. Hope everybody finds those good beach reads to occupy their time this summer. Have a wonderful summer, everyone!
Pat Dale

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

A delightful interview, ladies. Pat, your parent's lake could pass as the spot where we live on Cluculz Lake. What a beautiful photo. Your book sounds in intriguing. Best of luck with your book.

Pat McDermott said...

Pat, I'll bet "Sleeping" would be a great beach read! Let's hope tons of sunbathers agree! I understand about those memories. My siblings are spread out all over the place, and my daughter moved to NM when she got married. But we have those memories to keep us together.

Rosalie Skinner said...

Pat, sounds like a great summer ahead if "Sleeping" is anything to go by! Great post. Just wish it was closer to summer here!
Great start to your beach reading bonanza JQ

Pat Dale said...

Thanks for the comments, ladies. Yes, it is a busy summer, what with a continuing series of releases in the months ahead. But for now, I'll treasure the memory of those golden days with my small (at the time) kids, my parents and family close by (in spirit if not in person), and a world I chose to ignore. Hmm, I guess life is not all that different. My family is scattered, my parents have passed on, but I'm still linked to them in spirit. Life is good!
And Rosalie, I bet it's always summer in your heart. Cheers,
Pat Dale

J.Q. Rose said...

Thanks, Pat. Now is the time to make more fantastic memories. Enjoy your summer.

Thank you everyone for stopping by for Pat Dale's beach read. Come back on Friday when Mike Arsuaga is my guest.

Cellophane Queen said...

Sorry I'm so late to the party. I have my excuses. Really!

That's an interesting premise. Find a guy you like, then he turns out to have killed your son. Or did he?

J.Q. Rose said...

Hi Marva, never too late. Good question...did he? Thanks for stopping in.

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