Laura Scott’s Lifeline Air Rescue series is one of my favorites. The characters and plots are fiction, but they are so life-like that it feels you are right there with them. First responders are true heroes and this series does them justice.

Author’s Inspiration:

I am a trauma ICU nurse by background and was offered the opportunity to do a ride along with our very own Flight For Life. It was amazing and I enjoyed learning about the trials and tribulations of providing care while up in the air. The idea for this series was born and I hope you enjoy reading about the crew at Lifeline as much as I enjoyed writing about them.  

About the book:

Dr. Jared O’Connor has given his parents a promise–to find his dead brother’s fiancee and child. But his mission is derailed when he meets beautiful flight nurse Shelly Bennett. The sadness in her eyes, mirrors his own, and he is drawn to her and to her young son in a way he’s never experienced before. 
Shelly can’t afford to be distracted by Jared’s attention. Her son’s upcoming testing may confirm he has kidney failure–there’s no room for anything else in her life. But when Jared uncovers the truth, she realizes her days of running from the past are over. But can she forgive Jared long enough to accept his love?

Excerpt:

Symptoms range from stunted growth to multisystem organ failure and ultimately death.

The words echoed over and over in her mind like a mantra. Flight nurse Shelly Bennett slipped unnoticed from the debriefing area, seeking the relative peace and quiet of Lifeline’s lounge. She sank onto the sofa and rubbed a hand over her gritty, bloodshot eyes. Nausea still churned in her stomach four days after learning about her five-year-old son’s abnormal lab values. As a result of hearing the news, she’d stayed up late every night, surfing online and devouring every bit of information she could find on pediatric renal failure.

            She closed her eyes against an overwhelming surge of helplessness. Please, God, he’s just a little boy. Please keep Tyler healthy.

            “Good morning.”

            Her eyes snapped open at the deep male greeting. A tall, blond-haired stranger with a square jaw and brilliant blue eyes, wearing a one-piece navy blue flight suit exactly like hers, stood a few feet away. Shelly frowned and quickly stood. Who was this guy? Had she missed something over the past few days in her concerned haze over Ty?

            The stranger didn’t seem to notice her confusion. “Ah, I was hoping to find fresh coffee here.”

            “Good morning, Jared.” Kate, one of her fellow flight nurses, entered the debriefing room. Fluffing her short blond curls, Kate stepped forward with a bright smile. “How was your move from Boston? Are you finally settled?”

            “I still have things in boxes, but for the most part, I’m moved in. The condo is very nice and affordable compared to Boston.” He helped himself to a cup of coffee from a pot on a nearby counter, then turned toward Shelly, extending his free hand. “I don’t believe we’ve met. Jared O’Connor, new Medical Director here at Lifeline Air Rescue.”

            Oh yes, she remembered now. Shelly nodded and forced a smile as she took his hand in greeting. Despite her worry over her son, a tingle of awareness skipped down her spine as she shook hands with her new boss. Dr. Jared O’Connor’s palm radiated a gentle strength as it held hers, and she found herself oddly reluctant to let go.

            His distinct East Coast accent reminded her of Ty’s father’s family, especially since Mark’s last name had been O’Connor, too. She’d encountered one other O’Connor in recent years, no relation to Mark. This was likely the same situation, but the coincidence jolted her just the same.

            Abruptly nervous, she cleared her throat. “Shelly Bennett, Flight Nurse. Pleased to meet you, Dr. O’Connor. Welcome to Lifeline.”

            “I’m happy to be here, but please, call me Jared.” He eyed her over the rim of his cup. “Shelly. You’re one of the pediatric nurses, aren’t you?”

            She flushed at his intent perusal, wondering if she’d somehow betrayed her unexpected flash of awareness. “Yes.”

            “Good to hear, my expertise is pediatrics, too. Explains why we’ve been paired to fly together.”

            “Great.” Shelly tried to hide her inner dismay. This was the worst time for her long-ignored hormones to wake up over some man. There was only room for one male in her life, her son Tyler. Unfortunately, Lifeline was small enough to make avoiding the handsome doctor difficult. Knowing they both worked pediatrics made it practically impossible. Being stuck in the sardine-like confines of the helicopter with Jared O’Connor was a complication she didn’t need.

About the author:

Laura Scott is a Registered Nurse by day and an author by night. She has written over 70 books and has more ideas than time to write! Laura lives in Wauwatosa Wisconsin with her husband of 35 years and babysits for her son’s puppy, a Red Fox Labrador Retriever named Otis.

Author media links:

Website: https://www.laurascottbooks.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/LauraScottBooks

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/laurascottbooks

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurascottbooks/

Buy link:

I apologize for messing up the photos on last Monday’s post. I tried to copy them from Facebook and I guess that isn’t how it works. I uploaded them all this time. If they did show up somehow last week, then these photos are a repeat. However, I wanted to share with you some of the beauty of the area we visited.

We stayed in a B&B on a lavender farm. It was a beautiful setting and very tranquil. I enjoyed early mornings looking out over the lake and watching the sunset at night.

We rented an SUV with a navigation system that my son became a pro at. We toured Sleeping Bear Dunes on a one-way paved drive up-up-up to a lookout, then down-down-down around curves and one very steep hill back to the main entrance. The view was worth the white knuckles.

We visited a place called Fishtown. The history of the town is on the photo below. The building is a lodge that is built on the water. It was a great place to pick up souveniers at the little shops. We ate at a restaurant outside on the patio. My son got a fish entree, but my daughter and I weren’t quite as brave. He said it was very good.

There’s a historic Coast Guard station and community in Glen Haven. That was probably the most fascinating part of the trip for me. The image of the brave men who rowed out into the waters and rescued people started the wheels turning in my head. What a great series that would make. It would take a lot of research though, and I have several other projects I’m working on.

When we drove out of the Leelanau Peninsula, we stopped by a historic landmark called Point Betsie Lighthouse. We toured the lowel level of the lighthouse. I didn’t try and go up the spiral stairs to the lookout. I did that at a lighthouse a few years ago and became claustrophobic. There was a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, though and I enjoyed the historical aspect.

On the way home, we stopped at a place where an artist, Gwen Frostic, created and printed wildlife on notecards and stationery. Years ago, I attended a writing workshop and she was one of the instructors. We toured her print shop at the time. When my husband and I honeymooned near that town, we also visited the shop. This time I took my kids there for the nostalgia. We found some beautiful mugs with her art on them.

It was a great time of bonding with my adult children and a refreshing change of pace and scenery. I’d like to go back someday.

Our dog and cats were glad to see us come home. They had good care while we were gone, but we could tell they missed us.

Take a break from the heat today and dive into a story set in Churchill, Manitoba. This featured book is about a hero who suffers from PTSD after a polar bear attack that nearly killed him.

Author’s Inspiration:

“The hero of NORTHERN PROTECTOR, Constable Ben Koper, is the best friend of the hero in book 1 of the series. He’s mauled by a polar bear in book 1 and I always knew that book 2 would be about him and his journey back to mental and physical health.

Not many police officers face this kind of challenge in their careers, but I did want to write a book that tackled the role of PTSD on police officers. PTSD can be the result of one traumatic incident, or it can be the slow, insidious build up over time of many experiences. We hear about PTSD often with our soldiers returning from combat, but not as much with police.”

About the book:

Constable Ben Koper is still healing from the polar bear attack that almost killed him. Nine months after it happened, he returns to Churchill, Manitoba, a changed man—scarred more than just physically. PTSD is his new shadow, haunting his every step, and he can’t seem to kick the pain meds he shouldn’t need anymore. He’s determined to prove, to himself and his colleagues, that he’s still up to his job. Failure isn’t an option.

ER nurse Joy Gallagher spent the entire last winter texting with a healing Constable Koper. What started as friendly concern from this single mother has grown into full-fledged romantic feelings, and she’s eager to level up their friendship and introduce him to the idyllic comfort of small-town life. Until a teenager is murdered at a summer party. The crime is strikingly similar to the cold case murder of Joy’s foster sister, stirring old trauma Joy has never fully dealt with.

When another victim is snatched in town, Ben and Joy must confront their own demons, and join forces to track down an elusive killer. The race to rescue the next victim before it’s too late will test Ben and Joy to their limits. Can they survive their encounter with this heinous killer, or will the past destroy them.?

Excerpt:

CONSTABLE BEN KOPER PULLED HIS POLICE truck over to the side of the road across from Ruby’s Café & Emporium. His first day back at work in nine months, and already he was running late. He slammed the truck into park and stared up and down Kelsey Boulevard, on high alert for any movement between the buildings.

Last November, a polar bear had attacked him in this exact spot. He hadn’t been back to Churchill since then. Goose bumps skittered along his arms. Rationally, he knew that bears had been spotted along the coast and probably hadn’t made it into town yet. But his anxiety and the acid in his stomach told his brain a polar bear could be anywhere, now that the sea ice had melted.

Ben grabbed his mobile phone with the coffee orders on it and stepped out of his truck, pulling his baseball cap down to his sunglasses. He slammed the truck door and strode to the pavement of Kelsey Boulevard. The rest of the street sat quiet, while Ruby’s 6:00 a.m. crowd was hopping with its early morning breakfast specials. He could see people eating at tables through the huge front plate-glass window.

When he hit the middle of the street, his heart sped up, jackhammering in his chest. His feet refused to move past the centre of the road, like he’d struck an invisible wall. Adrenaline shot through his limbs. His vision tunneled into black holes. Sweat poured down his back and gathered on his forehead. He put his right hand on the grip of his service weapon, trying to get some equilibrium. His throat closed, and he leaned over with his hands on his knees. Deep breaths.

Deep, deep breaths Trying, trying…

Dan Sherman, his therapist, sounded in his head. “Look for five things around you to centre yourself. Repeat them to yourself. Then count them down one by one.”

Panting, beads of sweat rolled down the right side of his face over his scarred eyebrow and ear. All he could see was the concrete road and small rocks littered about.

There’s nothing but the road. Concrete, rocks, concrete, rocks…

He needed five things. His boots wouldn’t move. He stood hunched over in the middle of the street, trying not to throw up his meagre breakfast. No other objects around; nothing else to see. His feet… he couldn’t move his feet.

Running shoes, white and pink running shoes… Where did they come from?

“Ben? Ben,” a lilting, female voice broke through his fog. “Are you okay?”

A hand touched his shoulder, his sore right shoulder, and he flinched. Finally. He could move. He reared his head up and collided with the face belonging to the voice.

“Ow.” The woman let go of his shoulder and grabbed her nose while he staggered sideways.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” he stammered. He reached forward to steady himself with his right hand but dropped his phone on the ground with his other hand. The woman dove for the phone and swiveled around to give it to him.

“Ben, look at me,” she ordered. That voice had a familiar ring to it. Bossy but comforting at the same time. He’d heard it before. “Let me see you without the sunglasses.”

He removed them without question, his heart slowing while sweat made his uniform shirt cling to his back. At nearly 6:30 a.m, no less. Or, what time was it now? He was inexcusably late. Not a great impression to make on the new Corporal.

The woman stood in front of him, her dark brown eyes concerned as she held him by his upper arms. He blinked twice and tried to get his tongue to work. Mortification brought a dull red flush to his cheeks. I should know her… Gah, why won’t my stupid brain work?

She wore purple nursing scrubs with sprigs of pink flowers on them. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a braided ponytail, but her eyes—they were the deepest brown he’d ever seen. Several gold earrings pierced her right ear, and one gold stud pierced her left. A delicate scrolled flower tattoo peeked out along her left collarbone. And she smelled of fresh citrus. Like a pitcher of lemonade.

All right, he hadn’t totally lost his powers of perception. A gorgeous woman had just pulled him out of a full-blown panic attack in the middle of main street. Wonderful. He might as well turn in his badge and gun, drive straight to the airport, and fly home.

About the author:

Laurie Wood lives in Central Canada and writes inspirational romantic suspense with an edge of danger. She’s also a military wife who’s raised two wonderful special needs children to adulthood. They’ve lived all over Canada and are still on that journey. When she’s not writing she can be found at her spinning wheel, knitting, or hanging out with her dogs in the garden. She loves to hear from readers and always replies so feel free to get in touch with her.

Author media links:

Please visit her at https://www.lauriewoodauthor.com

Facebook:             https://www.facebook.com/lauriewoodauthor

Twitter:                 https:twitter.com/LaurieJeanWood

Buy link:

In this month’s theme of Heroes, today I’m featuring a military romance by Connie Ann Michael. This series follows the lives of Sawyer and Raven, and each book is more intriguing than the previous one. If you haven’t read the first three books, you may want to do so before putting this one on your reading list. The author has woven faith and love into the lives of the characters throughout the series.

About the book:

Sawyer and Raven are finally happily married and living by the beach in California, but things are far from perfect. Unsettled with “normal” civilian life, Sawyer feels called back to the battlefield. With Raven’s reluctant agreement, Sawyer deploys with a helicopter medic group.

Raven struggles with letting her go again, the nightmares of her last deployment never far from his thoughts, but when their close friends, Thommy and Vanessa, announce they are expecting a baby, Raven begins to wonder if Sawyer is searching for more than just her next deployment.

As a former prisoner-of war, Sawyer suffered life changing injuries that leave her unable to have children. Now that their best friends are expecting, Sawyer’s questioning her ability to give Raven the family he desperately wants—and deserves. It seems everyone is moving forward in their lives while she continues to go backward, hoping the next life she saves will fill the hole in her heart. But the middle of a battlefield is the last place she expected to discover the doctors were wrong, and God has other plans.

About the author:

Connie was born and raised in Seattle Washington but recently moved to Southern Montana. She lives with her husband and her two dogs and enjoys any activity which will get her outdoors. Connie is a 5^th grade teacher and has two sons who have given her two wonderful daughter-in-law’s and one adorable grandson.

Author media links:

https://www.facebook.com/connieannmichael

Twitter: @connieamichael

Instagram: connie.e.michael

http://connie-avidreader.blogspot.com/2020/06/trust-plan.html#comment-form

Buy link:

The Kindle copy of my full-length Christian contemporary romance is on sale until July 17 for 99 cents.

Here is the link. Hope you enjoy it!