Her Borrowed Angel

Her Borrowed Angel traces the life of book-smart Madeline Wharton Saldivar from her childhood in rural, deeply segregated Georgia to adulthood in northern Mexico and southern Texas.

Maddie’s life, like all lives, plays out against the current events and changing social moods of the times. Deeply committed to family—and horses, or at least the idea of horses—Maddie struggles with the painful truths and impossible situations of abuse and dysfunction within her own small world.

Buoyed by her sister Hattie’s infallible courage, as well as her own ability to catalog life into manageable increments she understands through her book learning and an ability to manufacture faith to lean on, Maddie survives her childhood—only to be disowned when she falls in love with Tavo, an undocumented worker at the dude ranch she flees to when she leaves home to help Hattie escape.

Over her lifetime, Maddie collects more angels than horses and confronts the harsh reality that her half-brother, Wally, might have been right when he warned her that book-smart wasn’t as useful as life-smart.

Wife, mother, and teacher, Maddie’s life changes with the birth of her granddaughter—her borrowed angel.

Her Borrowed Angel is an emotional story of one woman's life as she faces the highest of highs and the depths of despair. Maddie's faith and horses carried her through the tough times, and provided an escape. Author Leslie P. Garcia tells this poignant story of overcoming obstacles and finding the strength from within when life is tough. Her Borrowed Angel is a book which will resonate with you and is one that is needed as we face so many challenges these days.

Note: This book contains content that might make some readers uncomfortable.