Battle Scars by Helen Blacksmith
After Army medic Andrea King loses her girlfriend and son in a car accident she is deployed for a 15 month tour in Afghanistan. Already not in a good frame of mind, she sees things there that will haunt her. When she returns home she becomes both depressed and suicidal as she seeks helps from her local VA. When she is unable to connect with anyone, she begins drinking and engaging in reckless behavior. One night at a bar she meets Michelle Adams, an escort, and decides to accept her offer for 3500 for the night. After spending a passionate but silent night together, Andy makes an appointment for the next week and then the next and the next and soon they are meeting every Wednesday never speaking. But when Michelle witnesses one of Andy’s violent nightmares she realizes the trauma she has endured and how much they really have in common.
Description
Find more from this author on:
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Helen Blacksmith is the pen name of this Western Mass native. Her free time is spent with her two pit bulls, Olive Oyl and Osczskar, and she enjoys drawing, traveling, food, music, and tattoos. Her favorite authors include Maya Angelou, William Shakespeare, and Janet Evanovich. She is also a lover of soccer, the Red Sox and the New England Patriots.
What inspired you to write your book?
My brother is a veteran of both the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and he has lost close to ten brothers and sisters to suicide or other forms of reckless behavior stemming from PTSD. I wanted to write a story that showed the pain of all that and the every day stresses these vets face and have some light come out of that darkness.
Here is a short sample from the book:
I laugh as Samantha runs off, and I finish the rest of my drink. As I do this I continue to watch the curly haired brunette across the bar. I just can't seem to take my eyes off her. I see her out of the corner of my eye walking towards me and I look ahead pretending I don't see her. Putting my hand up I wave the bartender over and order another beer. As she sets it down I see and feel her come up next to me.
"I could feel you eye fucking me all night," she whispers closely into my ear causing me to shiver.
"Just put it on my tab, Laura," she says before turning to me and putting her hand out. "Michelle. Michelle Adams. And you are?"
"Surprised by your boldness," I laugh shaking her hand.
"Was that too forward? My apologies if it was." She puts her hand on my shoulder and runs her fingertips down my arm as she says it.
"Actually, not at all. That was smooth. I'm Andrea. Andrea King. But everyone calls me Andy."
"Nice to meet you, Andy. What brings you here?"
"I'm here with my friend Samantha who ran off because she's hiding from her ex. So now I'm just sitting here drinking, you know, trying to dull the pain," I say half joking but mostly serious.
"And what kind of pain are you talking about Miss King?"
"It's a long story. So, what brings you here?"
"Well, I was supposed to meet someone here at ten, but my date canceled on me."
"Your date?"
"Yes, my date."
"So, you're looking for a new date?"
"I'm always looking."
"How much?" I asked glancing over at Samantha who has found herself a beautiful blonde that she is grinding with on the dance floor.
"How much for what?" she asks feigning innocence.
"I know what you do Miss Adams so let's not beat around the figurative and literal bush… how much?" I bring my glass to my lips and drink a good portion.
"Well, that depends on what you want to do."
I lean close to her and whisper in her ear, "Everything. I want to do everything."
"Two thousand," she answers pulling back and looking me in the eye.
"And how much for the night?"
"Thirty-five hundred."
"Deal. You want to get out of here?"
"Lead the way."
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