Since coming home from the war, Tad Forte has led a solitary life in Charlestown, Rhode Island, doing his best to quiet the ghosts of Vietnam and the memory of Ellis Buck, the girl he loved. But Vietnam and a life without Ellis still haunt him. The thirty-year fragile truce with his past has begun to unravel. In search of answers, he decides to return to his hometown. His return leads him back to Ellis. They rekindle the fierce love they'd shared as teenagers, but Ellis is married and has a secret that threatens to rip Tad's world apart for a second time. Her only child, the consequence of one last night together, is Tad's daughter.

"Bravo to author Ron Farina for giving us At the Altar of the Past. Competing against hundreds of Vietnam war stories, one more grisly than the other, Farina succeeds in wading past the slosh and delivers a unique, compelling reflection of regrettable choices, stolen moments of affection, and the devastating realization of love lost. Utilizing the Vietnam War as a backdrop, Farina deftly navigates his hero through the conflict within himself, making this book a captivating saga of the human condition."
John Bonanni, author of, Just Off, Stage Right.
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"Ron Farina weaves a lifelong tale of hardship and enduring love. Tad Forte and Ellis Buck are as easy to know as your own high-school sweetheart. I loved this book and the time spent with these beautiful, relatable characters." -Kate Katcher, Playwright, Artistic Director Stray Kats Theatre Company
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"Reading Ron Farina's gritty, romantic novel, readers will find themselves riveted as they follow Tad Forte on his heart-wrenching heroic quest. An unforgettable and highly-satisfying read."
-Steven Ostrowski, author of the forthcoming novel, The Highway of Spirit and Bone.
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"Farina gives us a closely observed world, whether it be in the war zones of Vietnam or the small-time routines and rituals of New England life. The characters are unforgettable and their development shows a careful understanding of how the human mind and heart engage both pain and pleasure."
-Michael DiRaimo, Professor Emeritus, English, Manchester Community College.
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"One can tell in each line that Ron Farina knows well the horrors of war and the pain of lost love that lies at the heart of this gripping and achingly realistic novel."
-Erik Ofgang, co-author of The Good Vices.