Out of Breath

On a drizzly October night in the coastal town of Santa Cruz, California, seventeen-month-old Nevaeh Buchanan drowns. Her mother, Alyssa Buchanan, is wild with rage and regret for placing her trust in her husband, Seth Buchanan, a former pro-surfer who is in the grip of addiction. Seth is adamant that he was clean the night of Nevaeh's death, but a dirty drug test contradicts his story. His parental rights stripped and criminal charges looming, he battles to prove his innocence, love, and family devotion. Adding to the couple's grief is their five-year-old daughter, Daisy, who hasn't uttered a word since her sister's death. Alyssa turns to childhood friend and local police officer, Greg Wallace, for comfort and support. Although Greg portrays heroic devotion and justice, he inwardly swims with jealousy, narcissism, and rage. He has long despised Seth, and is more than willing to meet Alyssa's needs, needs that reach far beyond friendship.Into this complex scene steps therapist Katherine Middlebrook. Her practice consumes nearly all of her time-time that is even more precious now that her mother's cancer has returned. Although teetering on burnout, she accepts three new clients: Greg Wallace, Alyssa Buchanan, and Seth Buchanan, unaware of their intertwined history. Buried deep in Katherine's past is the loss of her own child. As therapy progresses, Katherine, Greg, Seth, and Alyssa's lives and tragedies collide, awakening old demons, leading each to question truth, loyalty, and who, if anyone, can be trusted.An award winner in the South West Writer's Contest for literary and mainstream novel, Out of Breath is an exploration of parental grief, addiction, compassion fatigue, and suicide; it's the prodigal story of grace undeserved. Salluce's expertise as a psychotherapist and grief specialist enables her to create dynamic characters that will leave you breathless as you jeer their shadow sides and cheer the heroic journeys.