Tracey Cramer-Kelly's Blog, page 5

Annual Veteran’s Day Charity Chosen: Might Oaks Warrior Project

If you’ve been with me for any length of time, you might already know that I spent five years as a combat medic in the Army National Guard when I was younger. I guess you’d say I’m unabashedly patriotic.

And Veteran’s Day is my favorite time to recognize our military folks.

Each year I choose a veteran-focused charity to which I donate a percentage of all my book sales (usually more) during the month of November. This includes all my books (although if you are a military romance fan, you may especially enjoy TRUE SURRENDER or the ARMY RANGER SERIES).

This year I’d like to introduce you to the Mighty Oaks Warrior Programs.

The Mighty Oaks Foundation is a faith-based Veteran service organization that teaches combat Veterans struggling with Post Traumatic Stress how to get beyond combat trauma and live their lives in the manner God intended.

For more information, please see their web site or YouTube channel.

When you purchase any of my books this month (for yourself or perhaps print copies as gifts), YOU are helping veterans, too.

So what are you waiting for? Go to Amazon, Apple, Kobo or Nook and Let’s do this!

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Simply Copy-and-Paste the below and share on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or anywhere else you post:

Military romance author donates a percentage of every sale in November to the Mighty Oaks Warrior Project! Check out the details here: http://www.traceycramerkelly.com/annu...

Teaching Trey: Chapter 1

What kind of (unorthodox) arrangement could possibly be made between a millionaire and a motorcycle-riding grade-school teacher? (find out here!)

Treyson Jordan shifted his BMW M4 convertible into third gear and pressed the accelerator. His father didn’t suffer fools lightly, and Trey wasn’t in the mood to hear a lecture on being late for their weekly tennis match.

The car in front of him slowed, and Trey swerved into the left lane.

HONK!

He lightened up on the accelerator as he glanced in his rearview mirror.

A motorcycle roared past him, the rider giving him what he imagined was a dirty look, though he could see no features through the dark-tinted face shield.

Crap. He hadn’t even seen the bike!

As the motorcycle pulled in front of his BMW, Trey couldn’t help but notice the auburn tresses flowing down the rider’s back, strands randomly lifted by the wind. The rider’s back was slim and tapered to hips that were decidedly feminine.

A biker chick.

His embarrassment was replaced by intrigue. What did she look like under that helmet? What would it be like to be with a woman like that?

Trey’s lips curved into the semblance of a smile. Yeah, maybe that’s what he needed. Forget the society mavens his parents were always setting him up with and take a walk on the wild side…

That would certainly get his dad’s dander up.

His eyes were drawn to a pickup truck in the opposite lane ahead.

Don’t do it, man.

His silent entreaty went unheard, and the driver started his turn—directly in front of the motorcycle.

Trey hit his brakes the same moment the rider did. He watched as the motorcycle’s back tire fishtailed first one direction and then the other as its rider fought for control. She almost managed it; instead Trey watched as bike and rider toppled in slow motion.

Thank God she wasn’t going too fast by that time.

Trey punched the button that activated his hazard lights and stopped in the middle of the lane behind the rider.

He jumped from his car and jogged to the motorcycle. “Are you all right?”

“Goddamn cage drivers,” the biker muttered as she untangled her legs from the machine and picked herself up.

Trey was relieved to see she appeared unharmed. He touched her shoulder and spoke more authoritatively. “Ma’am, are you okay?”

She looked at him, and her eyes went wide. Green eyes in a delicate heart-shaped face… a face that was turning a darker shade of red. “I’m, ah…”

She looked down as if studying her legs. She brushed a hand over her leather chaps. “I appear to be in one piece.”

He glanced in the direction the pickup had gone, then at the traffic making its way around his convertible. This wasn’t a high-speed freeway, but it was busy enough during this time of day.

When he turned back to the rider, she was kneeling to survey the damage to the bike’s crash bar. He bent too. “Are you okay to ride?”

“I’m fine.” She positioned herself next to the bike, and he realized she was attempting to pick it up.

“Let me help.”

“I got it,” she said.

Quickly he removed his suit jacket and laid it on the hood of his car.

“Really, I got this.” She sounded irritated.

He decided to take a lighter approach. “Well, then, consider my fragile male ego.”

It had the desired affect; she glanced at him in surprise. “What?”

“All these drivers watching us, wondering what kind of man I am to let you struggle with that machine alone.” He placed one hand on the bike’s handlebars. “Cut me a break?”

He caught a hint of a smile before she dipped her head in agreement. He positioned himself behind her and together they righted the bike.

“Thanks,” she said.

“Maybe we should park your bike at the side of the road for a bit.” Not only would he feel more confident that she was okay to ride; it would also give him an opportunity for proper introductions.

“I’m fine.” She straddled the bike and checked the gears and controls. She hit the starter button and the bike roared to life.

Seriously? She was just going to ride off? Well, what did he care anyway? Finally he said, “You sure?”

Almost as if she’d forgotten he was there, she turned to him. “Um… thanks… again.” Then she twisted the throttle and left him standing there.

Read more about TEACHING TREY (Lady Biker Series #1) here.

Click here to purchase.

Can a summer fling last a lifetime?

Jamie Lawson always assumed he’d make it as a pro baseball player, until a tragic accident left him maimed and his wife dead. Six years later, he’s opened his own chiropractic clinic, but guilt and grief still haunt him.

Grade school teacher Kira Walker is spending the summer in small-town Minnesota to reassess her life and come to terms with being single. When she lays eyes on Sexy Umpire Man, she thinks a summerfling sounds pretty good…

Inspired by a real-life event in a real-life small town in Minnesota

I’m blessed to have a place like the fictional small town in CURVEBALL (yes, the town in the story is based on a real-life Iron Range town). During summer and fall, I spend as many weekends as I can at my dad’s lake place.

The property next to his contains a baseball field, a small community center, a beach and a playground. Every Labor Day weekend the field is host to a local softball tournament.

The opening scene of CURVEBALL was inspired by a real-life event I witnessed at that tournament a couple years ago. (Of course, all names are changed to protect the innocent LOL!) Everything after that is purely my imagination!

Here’s a quick peek!

“Hey ump! What’s the score?”

Jamie Lawson turned to see a skinny, carrot-top boy, probably eleven or twelve. Since the players were changing sides, he pulled the scorecard from his pocket and gave the kid the score.

He couldn’t help looking at the woman who sat just behind the boy. He’d noticed her earlier—yellow sundress and shoulder-length brown hair that just wouldn’t stay in the clip on her head—but now he could swear she was checking him out.

It was hard to tell with the sunglasses she wore.

Nah.

He turned his attention back to the game. He’d done this umpire thing a long time and it was almost automatic to him; besides, this was just a small-town tournament (not that it didn’t get heated now and then).

He kept sneaking peeks at the woman in the yellow dress, and trying to figure out who she was with. Husband? Boyfriend? Maybe she was dating one of the players?

Concentrate, he told himself. You get paid to make the calls, not gawk at the fans.

He was doing a better job of that when a dog started barking. It was close—right next to the fence. Jamie heard its owner talking, trying to get the dog to quiet. But still the dog reacted to every crack of the bat or smack of the ball into the catcher’s hand.

Jamie was good at shutting out distractions, but the yellow-dress woman had thrown him off. He glanced at the dog, and found it was next to her. An older man on the other side of yellow-dress-woman was wrestling with the dog, and she was saying something that sounded like Quit heckling the umpire!

She looked up and met his eyes. Her sunglasses were perched on her head, and her eyes were wide and muddy-water green. “Sorry!” she called.

He pointed good-naturedly at the dog. “Tell him I make the calls around here.”

Some of the spectators chuckled.

“I’ll see if I can reason with him.” She had a smile that made him want to smile back. So he did.

FIND OUT MORE

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33 Top-100 Amazon Bestsellers Up for Grabs

PICK YOUR BESTSELLER

All Genres Giveaway

August 28 – September 18

 

Enter for Your Chance to Win!

https://bookwrapt.com/pick-your-bestseller-giveaway/

Choose the bestseller(s) you’d like to win (as many as you want!) when you enter the PICK YOUR BESTSELLER GIVEAWAY! My friends at Bookwrapt are giving away 33 awesome books and a Kindle Paperwhite grand prize. Open August 28 thru September 18.

Browse the book far and enter the bonus giveaway for a $30 Amazon gift card prize while we play “If you like THAT bestseller, you may LOVE this book” by one of our super-talented authors.

Which book am I giving away? Jessica Scott’s ALL FOR YOU has similar themes to both TRUE SURRENDER and the ARMY RANGER TRILOGY.

If you like Jessica Scott, you’ll love TRUE SURRENDER!

https://bookwrapt.com/bestseller-book-fair/

My Very First Lady Biker Character

Motorcycles are a big part of my life. I’ve been riding for over 30 years, and I’ve worked in the industry for over 15. I often use my motorcycle to escape the stresses of work, family and home. I enjoy riding with my hubby, and both kids have “grown up” riding with us. We’ve met wonderful people and have enjoyed many dinners, charity rides and social events with other riders.

But how did that translate into writing about motorcycle-riding ladies?

After my second novel came out (TRUE SURRENDER) friends asked: “why don’t you write bikers into your stories?”

Truthfully, I was a little intimidated by the idea.

There are a lot of alpha-male, gang-style biker books out there, and that isn’t really my style. I like to create characters I can imagine meeting and knowing (and I like to explore hidden vulnerabilities in my male characters).

When I started writing DIRECTING ZAC, I knew that Gina (the Hollywood director/single mother heroine) rode a Harley-Davidson, but I didn’t emphasize the fact.

Then a funny thing happened – one of those twists in life that you know (as you look back) was more than a coincidence.

I was finishing my second music video, “Cool Rider,” which tells a girl-meets-biker / girl-wants-biker / girl-gets-biker story (MTV-style, it was great fun, check it out). I had this idea of incorporating real-life biker photos into the video, so I posted on some women-rider forums.

I got stories and pictures from women all over (see just a sample below), and I realized: the heck with my personal hesitations. It was time to write women biker characters.

That’s how Gina became the first LADY BIKER. Her Harley now features prominently in her romance with actor Zachariah Davies, as well as Zac’s personal transformation that starts when he’s poisoned on the Hollywood film set!  More About the LADY BIKER Series.

Gina and Zac (DIRECTING ZAC)

 

September Saucy Sizzling Scavenger Hunt

Do you like free books? Like to try new authors or genres you don’t normally read?

If so, check out the Scavenger Hunt my friends at Coffee Time Romance have set up for you (running Sept 1-30)!

Here’s your chance to win RANGER’S DESTINY for FREE(as well as other awesome books)!

Two Army Rangers (Cory and Chase) who think they’ve seen it all. Then two women show them they still have a lot to learn: an ER doc who “doesn’t date military guys” like Cory, and the little sister Chase has never been able to get out of his head (and his heart)!

Here’s how the Scavenger Hunt works:

Search the Author websites for a Graphic titled Sizzling Saucy Scavenger Hunt (hint: it’s right here on this page!)
On that graphic you will find an equation.
Gather all fifteen, add them up and send your answer to septscavengerhunt@coffeetimeromance.com
Winners get FREE BOOKS!

START HERE!

Chapter 1: MERCURY FALLING (Motorcycle Romance)

© 2018. All rights reserved.

Kerry “Mercury” Dawson blinked.

Twilight. Dark Nevada sky. No stars.

Wait… Why am I looking at the sky?

From the corner of his eye, Kerry took in the chopped-off motorcycle he’d been riding. It lay at an unnatural angle, six feet away.

Oh yeah. Little old blue-hair making a left turn in front of me.

Even from here Kerry could see the caved-in front fender, forks grotesquely squeezing the wheel. The mini-windshield a spider-web of fiberglass. All that glorious chrome twisted and scraped raw.

And what was left of the rear fender another six feet away.

Laz is gonna be pissed I trashed his bike.

“Yo, man, you okay?” Buck’s pock-marked face appeared above him.

Kerry held his hands up in the air. Yep, all fingers were still there. And they moved. He wiggled his toes inside his boots. “Well,” he deadpanned. “I’m not dead.”

Buck smirked and offered Kerry a hand.

“Don’t!” The voice was high and shrill, and made Kerry wince. “He could have a head injury. Don’t move him!”

The body belonging to the voice moved into the circle of bikers that stood over him. The woman had delicate features, elegantly shaped eyes and mouth, and her hair was a mess of dark curls.

“We take care of our own,” one of the bikers—was it Chaff?—growled.

The woman looked at Chaff, then at the other bikers. She was just one woman, and only half their size at that. His fellow bikers had to look damned intimidating in their tattoos, leather and Strikers patches.

She jammed her hands on her hips. “You’re kidding me, right?” She pinned each biker with a stare, one at a time. “One of you is a trained doctor, then? Paramedic? Nurse?”

Kerry started to chuckle, but a brick wall slammed into his body. His hip, his ribs, his shoulder were suddenly—excruciatingly—on fire. And his head…

Fuck, my head hurts!

He heard a groan—was that him?—and the woman’s attention promptly focused on him. She knelt beside him. “I’m Lucy. I’m an ER nurse. I’ve already called for an ambulance.”

Her hands moved over his body.

“Lady, what the—!?”

“Don’t try to move,” she said. “I think you hit your head.”

No shit.

She got her hand into his back pocket and pulled out his wallet.

“Kerry.” She read off his license. “Do you hurt anywhere else?”

“I prefer Merc,” he grumbled.

“Did you say Merc?”

“As in Mercury,” he said. “You know… as in Mercury Rising?”

Her hand fluttered above his face, blurring. Was she really moving it that fast?

“Well, Merc,” she said. “We need to keep you awake until the ambulance gets here. Tell me something about your life.”

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Are we Hard-Wired to Crave Connection to Others? (Free excerpt from DIRECTING ZAC)

Do you believe human beings are wired to feel a connection to others?

I certainly feel that way when I attend a motorcycle charity event.

I’m a part of a group of people with the same interest and passion (bikers are some of the most passionate people I know). And for a little while, I get to be part of something bigger than myself.

You’d think a Hollywood star would have no trouble finding people to connect with, but that’s not how it’s been for Zac (DIRECTING ZAC). He lost his parents as a teenager, and he’s had to be wary of those who are jealous of his success and will do whatever it takes to make him fail.

So when Gina takes him to his first motorcycle charity event—one where the people don’t know he’s a Hollywood star (and probably wouldn’t care much if they did)—their acceptance of him for himself makes an impact.

And the unexpected kissing? Well, that makes an impact of another kind…

SNEAK PEEK OF DIRECTING ZAC

Gina parked in a gravel lot. As they neared the field, she suddenly got nervous. What if people thought Zac was an actual date?

What if she wished he was?

“Gina?” Zac turned to her. “You coming?”

She hadn’t realized she’d slowed down so much.

“Zac…about us…”

“We’ve already covered that,” he said. “Tonight is about you, and I’ll do anything you want. Live a little, Gina. Let yourself have a good time.”

She looked at him: the leather chaps over the tight jeans. The vest the girls had picked out for him open at the neck. A curl of hair escaping the bandana around his head. The belt buckle above his well-endowed…

Gina shook her head. Biker looked damn good on him.

But she couldn’t tell him that.

And she didn’t dare let her mind wander to the kisses they’d shared last night.

“I’ll be watching out for you.” His eyes were hard to read with the sun setting behind him, but the earnest tone in his voice was impossible to miss. “Trust me?”

She smiled; the tables were turned. She held out the car keys. “Just make sure we leave in time to pick up the girls.”

He grinned, pocketed the keys, and offered her his arm.

********************

Zac had never been to a biker event of any sort, and he watched with wonder as the bikers who’d gone on the charity ride rolled in, engines rumbling like constant thunder, American flags flying.

Gina had told him about The Patriot Riders, a biker organization that focused on all things American. There was a heavy contingent of military and ex-military amongst the riders, and he couldn’t help but think of Mack. This seemed like a fitting way to honor him and others like him.

He pulled out his phone and snapped a photo, taking a few moments to attach it to a text message to Mack. Gina peered over his shoulder, then broke into a wide grin when she saw what he was doing.

The line of bikes seemed to stretch forever, gleaming chrome reflecting the setting sun. Gina stood beside him hollering and waving at the riders. They trotted along with the last of the riders, waiting until they were mostly parked before wading into the melee to greet Gina’s friends.

Zac had never seen so much leather in one place. He loved the way bikers greeted each other; bear hugs and hip checks were the norm. There were introductions all around; thank God he was good with names.

Most of the riders were camping in the fields next to the stage area, so while they were stowing gear, Zac got Gina a drink and they wandered amongst the bikes. He got a kick out of her “oohing” and “ahhing” as she pointed out features on bikes that he was sure most women would never even be aware of.

When the band started tuning up they wandered toward the stage area. The microphone came to life with announcements and good-natured B.S.

Gina’s friends joined them near the stage.

“Hey everybody!” Willow said. “I want you to meet my friend Andie. She’s a biker, too.”

The petite red-haired woman with Willow did a little wave to the chorus of hellos.

“We grew up together,” Willow said. “In fact, we learned to ride together.”

“I’ve been gone for awhile,” Andie said.

“Yeah, she got the hell out of dodge,” Willow said. “But she’s back and she wants to ride.”

“You definitely should ride with us,” Gina said.

“Thanks,” Andie said. “But I don’t know how long I’ll be in town. I really only came to settle my dad’s affairs.”

“Sorry to hear that,” Gina said, but Andie just shrugged.

“It doesn’t matter how long you’re here,” Sabrina said, jostling the man next to her. “You’re welcome to join us girls for a ride anytime.”

Before Andie could answer, Willow threw herself at Andie and squealed, “It’s so cool that you’re here!”

Another round of drinks appeared just as the band started to play.

The band, too, had a decidedly patriotic bent, and Zac found himself grateful. Grateful for the freedom that he took for granted. Grateful for the reminder that there were bigger things in life than a film. He was quickly coming to appreciate why Gina chose to be associated with these people.

And the band could rock. “Come on!” he shouted to Gina. “Let’s dance!”

Even the dancing was different here. When dancers stepped out it wasn’t for attention; it was because they were just carried away. Everyone else cheered them on, stomping and clapping along. They were just there to have fun, not to “be seen.” They weren’t looking for a hook-up like in the clubs in L.A.

He didn’t have to be anything more than a guy out showing his girl a good time.

His girl.

Now he was starting to sound like a country boy!

It was true though. The best part of the night was seeing Gina loosen up and have a good time. He took pleasure in being the one who could give her that.

When he tried to take a break from dancing, he was lassoed by Willow and Andie. “Come on, Zac, you owe us one!”

Gina waved him off good-naturedly, so he did a round of dancing with Willow and Andie (and several other women who joined them), all while keeping an eye on Gina. Each time he looked it seemed another man had been pulled into her circle. An unaccustomed feeling caused him to  falter momentarily.

Was that jealousy?

He shook his head; he had no claim on Gina and this was not a date in the usual sense of the word. But the next time he looked, she had another drink in her hand—which man had purchased that one for her? —and she was laughing at something one of them had said. That’s when he decided it was time to reclaim Gina as his dance partner.

Willow was drifting toward a biker who had apparently caught her eye, and Zac pulled Andie over to the small group. Gina pulled him into the circle and introduced him to “the boys.” He made small talk for a while, but as soon as he could, he slipped one arm around Gina and suggested they return to the dance. She slipped her hand into his and let him lead her back into the gyrating bodies.

But they couldn’t dance forever; they had to take a break sometime. While Gina visited the ubiquitous portable toilets, Zac wandered off for another drink for Gina (and a pop for himself).

He hadn’t quite made it back to Gina’s friends when he found himself stopped by two women in skimpy tops and heavy makeup.

“We haven’t met,” the shorter blonde woman said. “I’m Debra. My friend is Sarah.”

“Nice to meet you,” he said as he glanced past them.

“I haven’t seen you before,” the dark-haired one said. “I would definitely have remembered you.”

“I’m from out of town,” he said. “I’m just visiting friends. Speaking of which…”

“You’re delicious,” the blonde said. “Why don’t you dance with me?”

He held up the extra drink to indicate he was already on a mission. To his surprise, it was lifted from his hand.

“Sorry, ladies.” Gina took a sip of the drink, her eyes appraising the two women. Her hand ran down Zac’s arm. “He’s all mine tonight.”

He shrugged at the two women as Gina took his hand and led him into the throng of dancers.

“Nice save,” he said as he wrapped his arm around Gina’s waist and pulled her into him. He sensed a slight stiffness in her that hadn’t been there before.

“Debra,” Gina said. “I should have known.”

“So she has a reputation?”

“She’s actually quite nice when she’s not drinking,” Gina said. “I think she’s just lonely. The other one I don’t recognize. Must be a new friend of Debra’s.”

She pulled back from his embrace and eyed him coolly as she took another sip from her drink. “You seem pleased with yourself,” she said.

“What do you mean?”

“Everyone wants to dance with you.”

He rolled his eyes, then pulled her toward him again. She made no resistance.  “Don’t think I haven’t noticed a number of the men eying you,” he said.

She shook her head slightly. “Eight or ten years ago, maybe…”

“You don’t see it, do you?” he said.

“See what?”

“You’re selling yourself short, Gina,” he said. “You are both sexy and smart.”

“Well…” She blushed. “I feel that way tonight.”

He smiled and wrapped his hand over hers, pressing it tight against his shoulder. “Good,” he murmured into her hair.

When she’d had enough of dancing they found their blanket at the far edges of the light, up on the hill. She parked herself between his legs and leaned against him as they watched the dancers below.

He leaned in to speak into her ear. “Are you having a good time?”

“Hmm.” Her right arm came up and her hand found its way into the hair at the nape of his neck, creating a pleasant tickling sensation. He tucked his chin into the soft hollow of her neck and inhaled her scent. A sudden image from the night before rose sharply in his mind: Gina on her back, her wrist trapped above her…

“Zachariah,” she said, her voice husky. And just like that, his groin tightened. Was she thinking about the same thing? “Would you take it the wrong way if I kiss you?”

He was sober, but she wasn’t. Was it wrong to feel this attracted to his director?

“This night is about you,” he said. “Whatever you want…”

“I just mean…without it having to mean something…and nothing more…”

She shifted to sit sideways across his lap, and he felt himself becoming aroused.

“Without it being weird in the morning…” she continued.

His hand came around her hips and all he could think was God yes, kiss me.

But she hesitated just short of her mouth on his. A sly smile graced her face as she shifted again, pressing herself into his groin. “I think you would like that, too.”

Before he could form a response, she brought her lips to his. Geez, she even tasted good; a hint of rum-and-coke and pure female…

He’d always prided himself on his control, but he quickly realized that Gina’s fire ran deep. Yes, he was sober, but the smell of her perfume and the feel of the leather smooth against his hands made him feel intoxicated.

Careful, Davies.

Gina shifted again, and before Zac knew it she was straddling him, and he was pulling her hard into him, bringing his own urgency into the kiss, his hands running up the smooth leather of Gina’s chaps and pressing into the small of her back.

They both came up for air at the same time, breaking the spell. They went still, foreheads resting against each other, trying to catch their breath. “Oh boy,” he whispered.

… And Gina giggled.

He couldn’t help it; he chuckled.

It must have been infectious, because Gina giggled again…and he laughed…and they toppled backward.

********************

Ready to Read More? PURCHASE NOW!

RAW:MC Contains Six Stories for 99 Cents Including My New Novella FIGHTING FIRE

What is RAW?

It’s a limited-edition collection of Motorcycle Club Romances.

It’s just 99 Cents.

And it’s where you can get my all-new novella FIGHTING FIRE!

I know what you’re thinking. (OK, maybe I don’t know exactly, but if you’re thinking smoking-hot alpha-male biker action, this collection won’t disappoint*!)

So, what is FIGHTING FIRE about?

Not gonna get burned again…

When Kaden Phillips’ marriage collapsed he was left with three things: a daughter he adores, his career as a Reno, Nevada firefighter, and a wariness of letting another woman into his life. The only woman he really allows to get close is the one he trained with at the Fire Academy and who is now his partner in battling blazes. But lately she’s lighting a fire of her own in his heart. If he allows the spark of heat between them to grow, will it destroy their friendship?

Can’t fight the fire…

Whether she’s knocking down fires or relaxing on the back of her green and black Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle, pint-sized firefighter Riley Carmichael is determined to prove that brains can make up for brawn. She’s equally determined not to let Kaden’s smoldering smoke-blue eyes ignite a fire in her that could burn out of control. If she confesses she’s been in love with him for years, it might ruin the solid friendship they share.

Too hot to handle…

But when a horrific accident on the job threatens both their lives they may be forced to confront the truth together before it’s too late. When passions get too hot to handle, can Kaden and Riley stop fighting the fire and just enjoy the heat?

 

Want to see what other stories you’ll get for just 99 cents? Click here!

Ready to download?  Amazon / Apple / Kobo / Nook

* Disclaimer: While FIGHTING FIRE does in fact contain one “smoking”-hot alpha male (pun intended), the biker is a female.

How Does Faith Affect Wounded Veterans?

I often read about real-life soldiers and wounded warriors (obviously a subject of interest to me, since I write about military soldiers, wounded veterans, amputees, and PTSD). I recently finished Battle Ready by Mark L. Donald, and I found myself thinking (again) about the role that faith can play in combat veterans (a theme in the Army Ranger Trilogy and True Surrender).

Mark was an ordinary kid growing up poor with an alcoholic father, looking for a way out of his rough neighborhood, when he enlisted first in the Marines, and then the Navy to train as a SEAL and a medic. He truly made something of himself.

Not to say that his journey was direct and easy. As with anything that shows the true courage and character of a person, he was tested mightily.

He spent several chapters describing in detail a pivotal event – the event that likely laid the foundation for his later struggles with PTSD. He talked about friends and colleagues who didn’t make it home, and two friends in particular that he felt he had “failed” to save in his role as a medic.

Yet there were two “forces” in his life that saved him: his mother and his faith.

And the two are closely intertwined.

His mother was a force of nature all in herself; her support for Mark was unlimited, the kind of ‘ferocious love’ I think we all wish we had (he says of her: “she had a direct line to God.”). There’s a scene in the book when Mark is at the lowest point in his struggle with PTSD, and out of the blue, she calls. Finally (finally!) he admits that he needs help. And she says, “I know, Mijo, that’s why I called you.” It’s a story that shows true humanity, the vulnerability that exists deep inside each of us, as well as the unexpected gifts that appear in our lives when we least expect them.

Which leads me to faith. Mark’s mom was dealt a tough hand, yet her faith seemed unshakeable, and in the end, Mark has his own realization about his faith: “A belief in mankind wasn’t strong enough to hold it together… Without a resilient foundation the bricks came tumbling down.” We can’t put all our belief into ourselves or other human beings; we are all fallible and at some point, we will disappoint even those we love the most.

If you’ve experienced a crisis in your own life, you may have questioned your faith (or lack of). Why should a character in a novel be any different? So I have my characters grapple with faith (for example, Army Ranger Trilogy, True Surrender). I show their struggle with how low a person can go, as well as how the presence of a special person in their life can help them find their own triumph of spirit. (Is it too much to hope that a real-life wounded veteran might be inspired to explore faith him- or herself?)