EXIT WOUNDS

EXIT WOUNDS                                                      JOHN CANTWELL
Posted:  Feb. 3, 2014

Exit Wounds - One Australian's War On Terror by Major General John Cantwell  As a country boy from Queensland, John Cantwell signed up to the army as a private and rose to the rank of major general. He was on the front line in 1991 as Coalition forces fitted bulldozer blades to tanks and buried alive Iraqi troops in their trenches. He fought in Baghdad in 2006 and saw what a car bomb does to a marketplace crowded with women and children. In 2010 he commanded the Australian forces in Afghanistan when ten of his soldiers were killed. He returned to Australia in 2011 to be considered for the job of chief of the Australian Army. Instead, he ended up in a psychiatric hospital.

Exit Wounds is the compassionate and deeply human account of one man’s tour of the War on Terror, the moving story of life on a modern battlefield: from the nightmare of cheating death in a minefield, to the poignancy of calling home while under rocket fire in Baghdad, to the utter despair of looking into the face of a dead soldier before sending him home to his mother. He has hidden his post traumatic stress disorder for decades, fearing it will affect his career.

Australia has been at war for the past twenty years and yet there has been no stand-out account from these conflicts—Exit Wounds is it. Raw, candid and eye-opening, no one who reads this book will be unmoved, nor forget its imagery or words.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This is a true story of an Australian solider account of the war on terror. Actually he is an officer and in the first Desert Strom he is assigned to the American 1st Armored Division and is to be in contact with the British Armored Division so there won’t be any friendly fire accidents. That did not work out as planned for a different allied country fired on several British tanks during one of the battles. He continues to go into some of the tragedies of war that he saw and how some of them affected him when he returned to Australia. After he was home for about six months and his wife noticed he could not sleep they went to a doctor and he was given sleeping pills and told that therapy would be good for him. By this time we had invaded Iraq for the second time and he was sent back over there but now he was a General. This time when he went he was in some of the deadliest places. The Shia were executing the Sunni by the 100s and everyone felt that there was no way to stop it. He was also in charge with an American General at looking at videos of captured civilians and the one that got him the most was of four soldiers. When they found the area they were in they also found a video showing everything that was done. He said after that he could not sleep through the night any more. There were other causes as well. While he was there in one month alone there was over 250 killed and another 100 or more maimed. These attacks were being cared out by Abu- alMasri. When they finally did kill him he along with six other high ranking men were there for the autopsy for conformation that they had killed the right person. When he finally went home he and his wife started looking for counselors. It was during this time that he heard about PTSD from one of them. He was still in the military and he did not want to stay with that doctor because he felt it would hurt his career or his son who was now in the service. His PTSD would get worse after a 12 month tour or so in Afghanistan. Here in the book he talks about the brave Australian soldiers who gave their lives fighting against terror. He goes into as much detail as he is allowed to. A part of the war that I forget that it is not only Americans fighting. He continues to talk about his PTSD and the help that he is getting. There is also two chapters written by his wife giving her story and how she is helping him. An outstanding book! A brave man to write about this. I got this book from net galley.

THE LAWMAN OF SILVER CREEK

THE LAWMAN OF SILVER CREEK                  LORI CONNELLY
Posted:  Feb. 3, 2014

The Lawman of Silver Creek by Lori  Connelly  “If you want an emotional romantic adventure to nineteenth century frontier America this is for you.” Jane Hunt Reviews

For fans of Diana Palmer and Linda Lael Miller comes a new novella in The Men of Fir Mountain series.

As sheriff of Silver Creek, Matthew Marson’s job is to look after his town. But when he fails to protect the most important person in his life, Claire, from an attack, Matt feels as though he will never be able to forgive himself.

Her husband-to-be’s newly found overprotectiveness drives the headstrong Claire from his arms. She can’t see a future with a man who won’t allow her to follow her dreams.

In a small town where everybody knows your name and your business, it’s impossible for the pair to stay apart, especially as Claire finds that she can’t completely turn her back on the lawman that she loves.

HUBBY'S REVIIEW:
This is a short story. About a Marshall who was going to get married but his bride to be called it off. She felt that he was being to over protective and controlling. Telling her that once they were married that he did not want her to write any more, and to only leave the ranch when he could take her into town. She was tired of feeling like she could not do anything and she needed to be her own person. So she called off the wedding, but at the same time did things to drive him crazy so he would come around to her way of thinking. For a short story there was a lot of story line and the two main characters had to work things out and they both had to compromise on things. A real good story about couples before they get married. I got this book from net galley.

MURDER AND MOONSHINE

MURDER AND MOONSHINE                           CAROL MILLER
Posted:  Feb. 3, 2014

Murder and Moonshine by Carol   Miller  A debut mystery set in the heart of moonshine country and brimming with Southern charm


All small towns have secrets—and plenty of them—as every small town waitress knows. Daisy is no different. A young, recently-separated waitress at H&P's Diner in sleepy southwestern Virginia, she hears more than her fair share of neighborhood gossip while serving plates of hash and peach cobbler. But when a reclusive old man, Dickerson, shows up at the diner one day, only to drop dead a few minutes later, Daisy quickly learns that some secrets are more dangerous to keep than others—especially when there’s money and moonshine involved.

Daisy finds herself caught between whiskey and guns; a handsome ATF agent and a moonshine-brewing sweet talker; and a painful past and a dangerous present. Not sure any longer who she can trust, Daisy must turn sleuth while also protecting her sick mother and keeping a handle on Aunt Emily, her goading, trigger-happy landlord. There's trouble brewing in her small town, and before it passes, many secrets will come to light.

Carol Miller makes a memorable and charming debut in Murder and Moonshine, the first of an intriguing new series.

HUBBY'S REVIEW:
This book has a little bit of everything in it. It has murder, people running moonshine, a little bit of a love story and somehow it all comes together. It starts off with a man walking into the dinner and then dying. You are then given a back story on the main characters and a piece of land that people wanted. From there it goes on a wild ride with an ATF agent, who comes into town and then another strange death, which puts everyone on edge. There are many things happening and it has to deal with this land. The end wraps everything up except the relationship between the ATF agent and the main female character. That would be my only problem with the story. Overall a good book. I got this book from net galley.

MOTORCYCLE MAN

MOTORCYCLE MAN                                          KRISTEN ASHLEY
Posted:  Feb. 3, 2014

Motorcycle Man by Kristen Ashley  Stuck in a colorless world, Tyra Masters decides to chuck her old life and starts searching for something. She doesn’t know what it is until she meets her dream man. The goateed, tattooed, muscled, gravelly voiced motorcycle man who plies her with tequila and gives her the best sex of her life. But she knows it isn’t the tequila and sex talking. He’s it. He’s who she’s been daydreaming about since she could remember.

Until he makes it clear she isn’t who he’s looking for.

Tyra slinks away from his bed, humiliated. The problem is, he’s her new boss. She just may or may not have forgotten to tell him that part.

Kane “Tack” Allen has a rule. He doesn’t employ someone he’s slept with. And he lets Tyra know that in his motorcycle man way. Tyra fights for her job and wins it using sass and a technicality. Tack challenges her that if she hits his bed one more time, she loses her job.

Tyra is determined to keep her job and keep away from Tack. But she makes a big mistake. During their head-to-heads, she lets it all hang out and shows Tack she is who he’s looking for. And Tack has had a good woman slip through his fingers, he’s not about to let that happen again.

Although Tack colors Tyra’s world with a vibrancy that’s blinding, being with him means she has to live in his Motorcycle Club world. Full on, no holds barred. And since Tack’s world, not to mention Tack, is a little scary, Tyra isn’t so sure.

It's Tack's job to convince her.

MY REVIEW:
     Normally at this point I start telling you all about this book in some detail.  Well this book I am not because there is just too much.  I am going to tell you about the two main characters and their personalities.  Just know there is Sex, Love, Family, Friendship, Loyalty, Blood, and Brotherhood.
     This story reminds me a lot of the Beauty and the Beast.  Not that Kane “Tack” Allen is ugly at all, the exact opposite. 
It’s just in the fact that from the minute he encounters.  Tyra Sidney Masters (Red) his and her lives change forever.
     They have a way of bringing a sense of calm to each other minds and worlds.  They for each other wants to be and make it a better place, time and safer.  It was really love at first sight once they got out of their own way.
     They really get off on the over the top sexually charged bantering until Lanie’s boyfriend puts them at risk and makes them both see how easy it or they can be taken away.  So, Tack stopped talking (ordering) and listened to Red really listened to Red.
     Then it is a funny matter of crazy antics of this couples life trying to figure out “Bad Biker Dude” meets “Beauty.”  Two different worlds coming together but love is there even though no one has said the words yet.  How they melt his friends and kids, head on as a couple.  Seeing Red hold it together when things go down at the compound that she is not use to and Tack explains it not as “Biker Dude” but as Kane, just a man who loves her. 
     He is so Alpha Male to the point of being scary.  I found myself tensing up during the time I was reading most of this book.  I had to make myself relax.  This has to be how it is in a biker club, if not, and this is sugar coated then Thank God.  Red learning, “Live Life.  Do not delay.  Ever.”
So, change your black and white to color.  Maybe not as much as Red. J
     I totally enjoy these characters and this series.  This is the 3rd or 4th book I have read and I love it.  The characters just pop off the pages. 
     Provided by netgalley.com

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME

TAKE A CHANCE ON ME                                  JENNIFER DAWSON
Posted:  Feb. 2, 2014

Take a Chance on Me by Jennifer  Dawson  Gorgeous runaway brides. . .

When Maddie Donovan runs out on her high school sweetheart moments before walking down the aisle, she ends up at a bar in the small town of Revival, Illinois, with only the wedding dress on her back, fifty dollars to her name, and her "good girl" reputation in tatters. Not ready to return to Chicago and face the music, she accepts hot bartender Mitch Riley's offer to stay at his place. But sharing such close quarters is driving Maddie insane with desire.

Always drink for free. . .

Mitch thinks he's seen it all—until Maddie strides into his bar in full wedding attire and downs three shots of whiskey. Though the gorgeous knockout seems tough as nails, he also senses her vulnerability. With a troubled past of his own, Mitch has no interest in ties of any kind—yet he can't help falling for Maddie. Now he's got to find a way to convince her to give love a second chance.

MY REVIEW:
     Madeline (Maddie) Donovan was a real runaway bride.  No one knew she was going to do it not even her.  When she look out the church’s bathroom window and saw her car and knew there was a hide-a-key well there was no thinking involved.  The next thing she knew she was breaking down in the middle of nowhere with a neon “Bar” sign as the goal as to where to walk to.
     Several hot dirty sticky blister filled miles, dressed in a wedding dress no less, later, she arrived at that bar.  It appeared to be open yet you could hardly tell with only one hand full of people inside.  Upon looking at the place she thought she stepped back in time, and not a very good time at that, at least the way I read it.  Her feet hurt, she was tired, and thirsty as all get out.  She had to drown this bad day out.  All she had to her name was a broken down car, a wedding dress she hates, and a fifty dollar bill in her tiny little purse.
     As she sits down at the bar she hears the air squish out of the stool’s seat.  She pulls out the fifty and lays it on the bar, when she hears the sexiest low rumbling voice she ever heard ask what she would like to drink.  At that moment she knew she was going to hell.  She was think HIM of course and only this morning she was supposed to get married, yup she was going straight to hell.  When she looks up she is struck speechless.  Mitch Riley, the owner has to be the sexiest man on the face of the earth.  His amber eyes, chiseled features, and full lips were bad enough.  God has to add broad shoulders, muscles, and on his bicep a tribal tattoo that she just wants to touch because it is the sexiest thing she ever saw.  As she says, “Oh, God I’m goin’ to hell!”
     Mitch it turns out in another life was a lawyer in Chicago where Maddie’s from.  Something happened in that past life that he not only doesn’t share his life with, anyone, but he usually doesn’t talk or laugh either.  Yet, Maddie, 28, and Mitch, 34, had this instant electrical connection.  She’s tired of being told what to do especially by men and Mitch seems to get that early on.  Maddie seems to get Mitch that deep down he really doesn’t like the “Bar” or even living in Revival.  He loves the memories it brings him of his grandma and the happy times his sister and he had there.  She can see his restlessness but most of all she can see the lust, the wanting, and the true caring he has for her.  Something in all the years from Steve her fiancĂ©, she never saw.  In fact she realizes Steve never really even liked her.  He just wanted her family and the closeness they all had.
     What she needs now was what someone very wise and who she loved a great deal once told her, “Because it takes courage to walk your own path.  Never lose that.”  With Mitch she started taking risk again.  Like her artwork.  And put away the good Catholic School guilt she learned her whole life.  She spoke up for herself, she thought for herself, she stopped taking orders (unless she wanted to J) and she explored beyond her sexual boundaries.  Boy was it sizzling just so you know, Hawt!!!
     This was such a funny yet sad book, so many hurdles for all in this book to overcome and for the most part they did.  Two people struggling with their own demons find each other at a time when their mind, body, and souls were thirsting for someone to trust.  Most of all too truly love and see them.  This book was a fun way to get some very interesting messages for the soul but enjoyable way to see a woman find herself and blossom with the freedom of friendships and a man she loves and he loves her right back.

Curvy Women (Mind, Reality, Life): Where Does Beauty Come From?



Where Does Beauty Come From?

The reason for these questions today is from a new book I read “Almost Matched (The Almost Bad Boys #1) by A.O Peart.  Where one of the four girlfriends feels that she needs implants because she is shaped like a boy.  Can’t get the first date to let along a long-term relationship.  Therefore, it got me to thinking…
What would you do to get a man?
Do you allow your body image to dictate your sexuality?
Can you only be sexually attractive if you are a size 2 and have a size double “D”?
Can you be healthy, beautiful, curvy and no rack and still be beautiful?
Or does your sexuality really come from within?
Is it your confidence in who you are as a woman that makes you beautiful? 
Or are you of that, hey I am eating right and this is the body God has given me and I Rock it?
Or is it the man in your life who tells you no matter what (even when your make-up and you need to brush your teeth you are beautiful?)
Or is it all of the above and then age that gives you that confidence to say, "Hey I don’t give a sh--!?"

I know for me it has been a little of all of them but especially the last one.  Age gives you the time to look at yourself in a whole new way.  It gives you the time to say, “Yeah I do wish I had this or that but you know what time is passing me by in lightning speed and if I don’t just do it, I will miss my own party.”  Now I get the fun of everything going due south, I mean everything, being a new 54 is a bitch, but it’s nice at the same time.  The one nice thing about it is my peers are getting just as blind as I am and they can’t see all the fine and some not so fine lines that are forming overnight.  My husband’s so sweet and says I’m crazy that I am seeing things when I am putting on my makeup.  I find a new something that wasn’t there before.  I just hate to tell him that he has just gotten to be too reliant on his glasses to see them when he is up close.  But, what can I expect from my high school sweetheart?  See I am that last one on the list.  So, what are you?
Until next time,

Bye J  

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