Desiree: The Music of My Soul 

"Peggy Race’s debut memoir takes the reader on a journey of personal struggle, trial and beauty. After a failed marriage and a subsequent unspeakable tragedy, she learns that the one constant in her life is the love of her dogs. When a Katrina rescue dog named Desiree comes into her life, Race works through her grief using Desiree’s difficult past as a lens into her own battles and help reconcile her pain. Desiree is a story about the human need for the unconditional love that is sometimes best manifest in the face and wagging tale of a dog." 

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--Jim Landwehr, author of Dirty Shirt, The Portland House, and Cretin Boy.

"Ms. Race is an amazing storyteller. Her words so beautifully chosen and the story so relatable to me. As animal advocates we are born with the innate desire to help animals, but as humans we must find a way to intertwine that passion with the ups and downs of our everyday lives. Desiree: The Music of my Soul is such a genuine, heartfelt memoir that shows us the depths of our love for animals in need can be what carries us through life’s most challenging moments."

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-- Becky Monroe, author of Bark Until Heard

"Got a tissue? Good. Got a box of tissues? Better. Got a case? There you go! Race’s memoir, Desiree: The Music Of My Soul, sings with raw emotion. Dog lovers will feel every word, but so will anyone who has loved any animal, or anyone, human or pet, at all. It’s not easy to make a reader feel wrung out and uplifted at the same time, but Race has accomplished it. Sit down and read, and keep the tissues handy!"

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--Kathie Giorgio, author of The Home For Wayward Clocks and If You Tame Me

"Desiree: the Music of My Soul shows the deep-rooted, sometimes unexplainable bond between humans and dogs. After facing some of the hardest moments in her life, Peggy not only relied on her companionship with Desiree to get through it all but she was able to learn important life lessons from a canine who escaped tragedy herself. This memoir is a heartfelt, raw and honest look at life and love, as well as the hurt that follows."

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--Mindi Callison, Executive Director of Bailing Out Benji. 

"Desiree: The Music of My Soul, is so much more than a story of a dog that was rescued. It’s a love story, an inspirational love-at-first-sight story told through poetic language and vivid imagery. Peggy Race’s life leaps off the page, much as Desiree could leap over a six-foot fence. This story illustrates the depth to which friendship and love, be it human or canine, can transform a life. Not just for animal lovers, this book is engaging and universal, a reminder of the joy that comes from opening your heart."

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--Carrie Newberry, author of Pick Your Teeth With My Bones

"Race’s writing is sumptuous, but most noteworthy is the resolve of this Author. A profound heartbreak ultimately leads to a partnership with a rescue dog that brings unexpected transformation and healing."

--Julie Beekman, author of Two Trees