Once a fearless fighter pilot, Commander Travis Wilson is now confined to a desk. It’s been eight years since the near-fatal crash that grounded him, and it still rules his life thanks to relentless back pain. Lieutenant Commander Clint Fraser almost drowned in a bottle after a highly classified catastrophe while piloting a drone. His downward spiral cost him his marriage and kids, but he’s sober … kids, but he’s sober now and getting his life back on track. He’s traded drones for a desk, and he’s determined to reconcile with his kids and navigate the choppy waters of PTSD.
Clint has been on Travis’s radar ever since he transferred to Anchor Point. When Clint comes out to his colleagues, it’s a disaster, but there’s a silver lining: now that Travis knows Clint is into men, the chemistry between them explodes.
It’s all fun and games until emotions get involved. Clint’s never been in love with a man before. Travis has, and a decade later, that tragic ending still haunts him. Clint needs to coax him past his fear of crashing and burning again, or their love will be grounded before takeoff.
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L. A. Witt continues to treat readers to stories about the folks at Anchor Point, namely Adams Naval Station on the west coast of the United States. The small coastal town forms the backdrop for our book characters as they negotiate relationships while facing the challenges as men serving their country. Some of those obstacles include the physical and emotional damage that occurs as a direct result of military service. Our writer shows us a realistic look at Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the current novel. Aspects of this book can be particularly difficult for readers suffering the effects of trauma but the subject has been treated with dignity, compassion, and decency within the narrative.
In ‘Afraid to Fly, Anchor Point Book 2’, Paul’s buddy Commander Travis Wilson has a chance at his very own happily ever after. We learn in book 1 that he suffered a near-fatal plane crash while trying to land on an aircraft carrier during a storm. In addition to the physical damage that plagues his life with ever-present pain, a constant limp, and a desk job, he is understandably coping with PTSD. With his injuries and persistent pain, his love/sex life has suffered. But physical pain isn’t the only pain he has suffered. Having lost a lover to a staged suicide, he is justly reluctant to put his heart out there until he scopes Lt. Commander Clint Fraser in his mess dress at the Navy Ball.
Clint has his share of combat wounds, though his scars are psychological. As a drone pilot, he bombed a target only to find that no combatants were present. Civilians-mostly women and children- were killed when the intelligence collected didn’t prove true. Devastated by the incident and forbidden to share it with anyone, Clint crashes and burns emotionally. Among the wreckage are his alcohol addiction, a destroyed marriage, and terrified children. Adams Naval Station gives him a way to continue to rebuild his life from the ashes of the disastrous mission three years prior. Clint and Travis are the best things for each other, but each has fears to overcome.
There may be times when the reader despairs the men’s (especially Travis’s) willingness to grab what measure of happiness they can have together. I admit to chanting out loud (as the audiobook played on) my belief in author L. A. Witt’s ability to give her book characters a wonderful ending. My goodness, these men needed every joy and happiness after all they had suffered. I was relieved by the pleasing end to this exacting yet inspirational novel.
“… You do keep a bed somewhere here, don’t you?”
“Last I checked, yeah. (…) Unless someone stole it while I was out.”
“We should go check then. You know… peace of mind and all.”
“Screw peace of mind. I want a piece of you.”
Clint has a strange coming out at a Navy Ball, & finds out that Travis – a man he’s fantasized about – is also into men. They end up being pretty good together, & are able to help each other deal with chronic pain problems as well as PTSD issues.
Another great story from L.A. Witt!