Summer Under the Blue Moon

This story of love, tragedy, and enduring friendship serves as a lesson in hope. The narrative challenges the conventional portrayal of maternity homes often seen in books and movies.

When Dale, a college sorority girl, falls in love with a handsome fraternity boy, her life is upended by an unplanned pregnancy. Shattered by additional tragedy, she's supported by her friends. Her parents play a crucial role, helping her maneuver the strange world of Catholic maternity homes and adoption agencies in mid-century America.

Sharing close quarters with young girls and elderly nuns in a home for unwed mothers brings unexpected joy as well as comical frustration. She sympathizes with the teenagers, not yet mature enough to navigate the adult world of motherhood. At the same time, she's charmed by the elderly nuns, whose gentle care for the newborns adds warmth to the environment. She meets a young nun, assigned to take care of an older baby. That relationship will guide her, not just that summer, but for the rest of her life.

When she meets her future husband, himself a birth father, they bond immediately. His lighthearted humor and sentimental spin on life become the foundation of their relationship. They honor the birthdays of the babies they never knew and celebrate the arrival of their own daughter. Together, they face life's gifts and challenges, laughing along the way.

Decades later, Dale uncovers a remarkable secret. Unraveling this mystery takes her on a serendipitous journey back to the maternity home. While there, she discovers the identity of the young nun. She comes to a realization about why society continues to misinterpret the truth. This story suggests that miracles happen every day, if only we take the time to see them.

Dale Cassady was born in Richmond, Virginia. She is a retired flight attendant, living in a small town and enjoying a peaceful life on the Rappahannock River. "Summer Under the Blue Moon" is her debut book.