Synopsis
In one day your life can go from awesome to total shit and for me it’s going to change forever. Who am I?
My name is PFC Jameson Carter, and I am a United States Marine, or I was
until a bomb detonated and took half of me with it. The only thing that kept me alive was the woman I had waiting back for me at home.
My name is PFC Jameson Carter, and I am a United States Marine, or I was
until a bomb detonated and took half of me with it. The only thing that kept me alive was the woman I had waiting back for me at home.
How do you go from being a complete person to being half of something? For me, I have help, but how can I be anything more than half of what I used to be?
Then when the one person you count on, the person you lived for leaves
you how do you react?
For Samantha Blalock life is easy, she helps repair people like me, the people who lose limbs. Something isn’t the same though, she’s changed. See I’ve known Samantha for years. She's hiding something. Can we help each other through these trying times in our lives? Or does the face remain that we are both irreparable?
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MY REVIEW
This book was the first I've read by the author and it most certainly wont be the last. She has an incredible talent and if future books are anything like this one I"ll be buying them.
The subject matter is not one I've read before, but on my adventure of broadening my reading material I'm really glad that I did chose to review it.
In this day and age its a subject that we're all familiar with - soldiers losing their lives and limbs to keep their countrymen safe. Fighting an endless war on terror.
But this book is about more then that.
It focuses on the life of PFC Jamison Carter, a US marine that lost 4 mates when a bomb was detonated while on patrol. If that wasn't enough he lost both his legs. What kept him alive was his girl back home - Marybeth.
But once he's released from hospital his life goes south and his real journey of survival begins and at times it isn't easy for him, well that's an understatement really. He's suffering from survivors guilt and feeling incomplete without his legs. If that isn't enough, his reason for carrying on, leaves him courtesy of a letter, because she cant handle the stress!!!
His childhood friend, Samantha Blalock is the one that helps him walk again with the help of prosthetic legs. Except the sweet Samantha that he once knew is gone, replaced by this stranger who's the exact opposite. Samantha pushes him with everything that she has and as much as he hates it, he knows she's trying to help him.
Samantha has her own demons to fight each and every day and she doesn't want to get close to Jamison even though she's loved him her whole life. She's afraid to let anyone in and who can blame her after what happened to her.
But when they do get together they realize that they're each others strength. Together they can face their past demons and move forward. All they need is each other and the power of love.
Its a beautiful story and one I would highly recommend
**** 1/2 Stars
Teasers
20 Fun Facts
1. My nieces and nephews call me Aunt Birdie, after my nickname Bird. Because I tried to fly off the trampoline when I was 3.
2. I love animals! I want to save them all!
3. I was adopted.
4. My family is the modern day Brady Bunch (kinda) I have 2 half brothers 1 brother and 1 sister and 2 step brothers!
5. I love broccoli, it's my favorite.
6. I am a stay at home momma.
7. I have a license for cosmetology
8. My favorite color is purple.
9. There is nothing better than a Saturday night in Death Valley (LSU's Stadium.)
10. My favorite candy is sour gummy worms :)
11. Writing 20 facts is kinda not that easy :P
12. My mother passed away 7 years ago.
13. I released this book on my 26th birthday.
14. I love books! I want a whole room full of books
15. My favorite Disney princess is Belle, because of her love of books
16. I hate to sweat (funny since I live in Louisiana)
17. I am also a blogger. Crazy Cajun Book Addicts.
18. I have a huge signed book collection.
19. I love to sing (even though I can't carry a tune in a bucket).
20. I prefer music and books to movies and television.
Excerpt
Jerking out of the bed I gasp, my body drenched in sweat, it’s something that I’ve become accustomed to. Four months I’ve been in this hospital reliving the pain of that night, and I still relive it every day I wake up and look down at my lower half.
Today is the day I getto leave this hell hole I have been placed into by the VA. I look around the room at all the high tech equipment they have all around me. There
is a heart monitor and it is beeping like crazy as my eyes land on Mary-Beth
sleeping peacefully on the pull out couch.
It took two months to get me back to the States after the bombing; I had
to have extensive therapy for the burns I sustained. Luckily for me I didn’t have any scarring, but my legs couldn’t be saved.
is a heart monitor and it is beeping like crazy as my eyes land on Mary-Beth
sleeping peacefully on the pull out couch.
It took two months to get me back to the States after the bombing; I had
to have extensive therapy for the burns I sustained. Luckily for me I didn’t have any scarring, but my legs couldn’t be saved.
I can smell the hospital smell, you know what I mean? The clean smell, the smell of alcohol wipes, and the smell of iodine asit goes on to clean your skin. That is a smell I don’t believe I will ever be able to forget. It is etched into my brain forever.
An honorable discharge is what I got after having my legs blown apart and four of my best friends stripped from me by Al-Qaida. I have been through three extensive surgeries,
and unfortunately by the end of them, I have lost both of my legs.
I look over and smile as I notice Mary-Beth laying on the couch of my hospital room, her brown hair covering her beautiful face. I laugh softly as I see thedrool running down her chin onto her pillow from her plump lips. Three years she waited for me after high school and I thank God every day because, let me be honest, I would have given up a long fucking time ago if it weren’t for her. She stirs and sits up and wipes the drool from her face and catches my eye. Standing from her make shift bed she gets up and comes to stand before me.
“Did you sleep well?” she asks. Looking into those beautiful emerald green eyes I know she knows I had the dream again, so I will not lie to her; she sees through them anyway.
“Eh, I had a rough night but it will be fine. I’m just ready to get the hell out of this place.” I smile
and lean into her hand when she places it on my cheek, but a feeling
ofdread washes over me as I look at the wheelchair I have been given.
“Are you ready to get out of here? I know a little girl who is going to be so excited to see you again.”
Mary-Beth smiles and when I shrug she lets out a sigh. “Jameson, I know
you’re dealing with a lot of loss baby, but you have to remember,
you’re here and you survived. You cannot leave; I need you here with
me.” She lets out a little sigh and looks me in the eye before she speaks again.
“I think God kept you alive for me. He knew ig he took you away I would never be able to breathe again. After losing Mom and Leila, I could never imagine losing you. You’re the greatest part of me. Even if you feel you are not whole, you are. You’re alive and you’re breathing. That’s got to be worth something.” A tear runs down her cheek as she looks at me and my breathing hitches. I am being selfish. I am alive while four of my brothers were laid to rest. Their families have that burden to bear, while I just have to carry the thought of being half of what I once was.
“You’re right Mary-Beth. I am glad to still be breathing but it doesn’t mean it’s going to get easier. How am I supposed to go on knowing it should have been me? It could have been me.” I look down at the sheets and twist my hands into them so I don’t have to look into her face. I know what’s in her eyes; pity mixed with agony and I want neither of those emotions when I look at her.
She huffs and walks over to her bag and then into the bathroom, slamming the door shut. I wait until I hear the water running and lift my blanket slowly to look at the bandages on my now non-existent legs. I let the air leave my lungs in a loud groan, thinking of what the future holds.
About the Author
Amanda Lanclos is from a small town right outside of Baton Rouge,
Louisiana. Most of the time you will find her with her nose in a book, or blogging on her blog. She is an avid reader, and never expected to write a book. One day she was
inspired and her first novel was written. She has been married to her amazing husband for three years. Together they have a beautiful daughter, and two very bad fur-babies. During
College Football season you can find her screaming for her Tigers.
Louisiana. Most of the time you will find her with her nose in a book, or blogging on her blog. She is an avid reader, and never expected to write a book. One day she was
inspired and her first novel was written. She has been married to her amazing husband for three years. Together they have a beautiful daughter, and two very bad fur-babies. During
College Football season you can find her screaming for her Tigers.
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