Staff Sgt. Shane Logan is lucky to have come from a privileged family, and after losing both of his legs in the war, he now has the best prosthetics that money can buy. While he is trying to move forward with life, he struggles with the past and the way people react to him and his disability.Dr. Lauren Falcone works tirelessly to help veterans deal with the trauma and pain of their deployments. … deployments. Her unique virtual approach to therapy keeps her busy, and the assistance she provides to service members as they recover mentally helps her resolve her own anxieties.
When Shane meets Lauren at a fundraiser for his father’s organization, he wonders if there just might be a chance for him to get his dream off the ground and maybe find a normal life with someone who can look past his flaws and see the man he is inside.
Shane and Lauren are drawn to each other by their hope to make life easier for veterans, both physically and emotionally. Their goal is to build Shane’s dream organization, Rise Again Warrior, that will assist veterans to integrate more easily into society and have the opportunity to receive state-of-the-art technology and therapy.
Now, if they can only have faith in themselves, learn to deal with their own demons, and believe in each other, they might find a way to bring this dream to fruition.
The second book in the series will be released in May to coincide with Memorial Day.
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In this fast-paced and fairly busy romance, Shane Logan has fought his losses and to a large extent has overcome the physical disabilities imposed on him by war, however, he still has a lot of catching up to do mentally and emotionally as his damaged facade brings him daily in contact with the reaction of strangers to his scars. His initial meetings with Dr Laura Falcone are disastrous, but after being introduced to her, he discovers that she has no adverse reaction to his appearance but rather sees him at soul-level. The plot is inspiring and praise-worthy as Shane and Laura work together to bring about a foundation for wounded warriors, but they both have unresolved pain in their lives that has an inconvenient way of manifesting itself. A phrase from the book: “Not all war zones are overseas”, brings one up with a jolt as there are so many other battles being fought in society and very few of them bring honour or glory. This novel is well written, emotional, and informative, and comes to a triumphant conclusion. I received a copy of this romance as a gift and this is my honest and voluntary review.
sometimes we just need to give ourselves a chance
Overall 4 out of 5 stars
Performance 3 out of 5 stars
Story 4 out of 5 stars
Clean contemporary romance with heart and real life. Lauren was a doctor with a tragic past of her own, but no matter she worked to help others that needed her and the support she could provide. Then there was the night she met Shane. The panic around her began to set in. They encountered each other multiple times in one night. The connection was evident. The journey for both Shane and Lauren was one that needed trust, respect, and honesty. Both had something terrible happened to them. Both not willing to open up and share. They had to learn that the other was there for them.
Lauren and Shane found different ways to deal with their scars. Both were open to helping others. Both had they own way of wanting to help. This for me was an emotional story that was a reflections of the world around us and the sacrifices made and not rewarded with respect and kindness.
Thank you Stacy. This was one that will have some people thinking a bit more on what they can do to be more of a help to their fellow man/woman.
Now onto the narrator, this was a bit hard for me. I for the most part enjoy Ryan Clark and his narration. This time around I was feeling cheated by the female influence. There was a feminine presence needed to make this feel that much more. I got lost in his voice and it was hard to keep up with which POV was being presented or should I say heard. I missed the feminine tones and pitches.
This is book one in The Rise Again Warrior Series and it is Shane and Lauren’s story. Shane was in the military but when a IED exploded he lost both legs and has scares all over the one side of his face and people look at him with distaste which makes him feel vulnerable he is now at his father’s fundraiser for disabled children and they is were he meets Lauren when she tips a glass of wine over.him and herself. Lauren has helped Mr Logan with the fundraiser not knowing that he is Shane’s father, Lauren is a doctor and also help military veteran’s get through some of the trauma that they have been through as part of her job which she does from home due to something that she went through a few years and she suffers from anxiety. When Shane’s father offered to help Shane get his project off the ground he also wanted Lauren to help as well due to her experiences but Shane’s father also had a few stipulations and a ultimatum that they had to follow for it to work. Shane and Lauren’s situation becomes difficult as there chemistry and feelings for each other start to get serious but Shane still keeps Lauren at arm’s length and what is Shane’s father up to as he seems to have his own agenda. Omg this book was amazing and all the twists and turns along the way pulled you in right from the first page and I couldn’t put this book down as it was so addictive. This is the first book that I have read by Stacy Eaton but definitely not the last as she has written about some difficult subject matter with great sensitivity and I look forward to reading more of her books in the future.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This review is for the audiobook version.
I’ve come to love military romances but this is so much more than that. Our author has written a fictional tribute to those people that have made sacrifices for our country. I hope you’ve had a chance to thank some of these heroes. Or maybe you’ve had a chance to volunteer or made a donation to some of the charities out there.
This story had me remembering how privileged I felt to shake hands with some of the heroes that returned to our local Air Force base during Desert Storm. Our group also took fruits and water to hand out to those that came through the hangar where we were.
This story, however, is more recent but what I felt at that time came out here. This shows the reader that there are ways we can help to honor those from the military that need help. It made me hope that there is an organization exactly like this one out there. If not, I hope someone would ask the author to steal her idea. Both Shane and Lauren have issues but working together it helps them overcome some of their issues and to create something much needed.
Not having heard this narrator before, I wasn’t sure about Mr. Clark getting me invested into what was going on. He does an ok job with the women’s voices and thank goodness he doesn’t go with the high pitch that some may attempt to do. But I had no trouble think of him as Shane. I would get so lost in the book that I almost forgot what I was doing at the time. During his reading, Mr. Clark gives the reader a treat and left me with a surprise which made me really glad that I had the chance to listen to him and to fall in love with the series. In the end, Ms. Eaton made the perfect choice for the person who was going to bring her words to life.
I was not compensated nor was I required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.
Wow. What can I say about this but that it was absolutely incredible. Heartbreakingly incredible. Laura is a psychologist treating returned vets virtually. She is not comfortable leaving her home after an extremely traumatic event four years ago. Very, very traumatic. She is asked to help with a fundraiser and it is an enormous success. A billionaire asks her to help him also after her success. At the fundraiser she meets wounded vet Shane. He has a terrible scar on his face and lost both of his legs in Afghanistan. They both get on very well but he gets very upset about something and leaves. What she doesn’t realise is that he is the son of the billionaire. Shane has a dream and has had it for quite some time. He wants to help wounded vets. Because his family has money, he has top-of-the-line prosthetics. But others cannot afford these and just have basic ones. I cannot speak highly enough of this book and if I could give it ten stars I would. Very, very highly recommended book.
I read this story and felt it all the way to my soul. What men and women go thru for our country, some people can’t understand. They see the scars or missing limbs and just stare or be rude. They fought for their country and deserve the respect. This story is about Shane and what he went thru. HEA
An Outstanding Story & Listen Captivating!
Mission: Believe
Rise Again Warrior Series, Book 1
By: Stacy Eaton
Narrated by: Ryan Clark
Every once in a while you come across a book that deserves so much more than a 5 star rating and Stacy Eaton’s “Mission Believe” is definitely one fo those books. The story grabbed both my attention and my heart right from the start and held it straight to the end. The characters are realistic and easy to connect with. I loved how the two leads, Staff Sergeant Shane Logan and Dr. Lauren Falcone first meet, well technically run into each other. Also loved that Shane’s father saw there was something between the two. Lauren is a therapist and works with veterans who are suffering from PTSD from what they’ve been thru while serving in the Armed Forces, some are having trouble acclimating back to civilian life, some are having trouble with nightmares and/or survivors guilt. Lauren has found a unique way to reach out to them and she built a good rapport with many. She loves her job and takes it to heart, though she has her own inner demons ones she never shares. Shane, is scarred both physically and psychologically, he has his own demons and hangups but he thinks he has found a way he could give back to his brothers and sisters in arms. With the help of his family’s influence he is going to create a non-profit organization that will help returned servicemen and women who need it. He wants the wounded to have access to the best medical equipment and the best support services too. I loved everything about this story, it is brilliantly plotted and contains a whole lot of heart. It moved me like no other, I can not give this book enough praise and I highly recommend to all. Stacy Eaton, thank you for this amazing story, I felt like I knew these characters personally and was rooting for them the entire time.
I listened to the Audible edition, Stacy Eaton perfectly casted Ryan Clark to bring her characters and their story to life. He does an awesome job portraying them, capturing their persona with perfection. You could hear how much heart he put into work as he projects the characters emotions into his performance. He is an entertaining storyteller and a pleasure to listen to. I loved touching performance at the end too. Thank you for the wonderful listen
Mission: Believe
Rise Again Warrior Series, Book 1
By: Stacy Eaton
Narrated by: Ryan Clark
There are times when a book just hits the heart, and Stacy Eaton’s Mission: Believe has done this for me. I am a lover of military romances, but this book is so much more. When Shaun and Lauren meet, it’s not Shaun’s typical introduction. As a disabled veteran, he has grown accustomed to the stares of his scars. But Lauren doesn’t see that. So when the opportunity comes up to work with her on a dream project he has, he is thrilled. But it comes with strings from his father. Will the strings tie these two together? Sounds like a romance, and it is. But what we get is so much more. Eaton has taken us into the life of a veteran and let us see life through his eyes. The adjustment to civilian life, and the ability to trust and believe in people is not easy. We also get to see that everyone is flawed, and there is always something to work through. We get a glimpse at PTSD not only from a veteran perspective, but from a civilian experience. It’s a heart wrenching, heart warming story that will tug at all of your emotions and leave you fulfilled. I love this book, and it will definitely be one of my top listens of the year!
Ryan Clark is a new to me narrator and I enjoyed his voices. He is able to capture the essence of what Stacy Eaton wanted to portray to the listener and gives the story so much depth.
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An emotional read about a difficult subject. Shane and Lauren have their own demons to face and are doing so in their own way, but is easy to forget we can be strong and rely on others.
This is a touching, at times heartbreaking story that gives us a glimpse of the obstacles that an injured veteran faces upon returning not only to his/her family, but also to society and living as a civilian. In this case, it’s the story of Staff Sargeant Shane Logan . Shane was injured in a mission gone wrong in Afghanistan. He’s a double amputee and no matter how wealthy his family is, happiness and self-esteem can’t be bought and his injuries are not only physical. He has a dream, one he’s not sure he’ll get a chance to realize.
Dr. Lauren Falcone is a therapist that works with veterans. Few know that she too is a victim and her trauma might not be one from war but is just as deep .
Shane and Lauren meet by chance (or maybe not) not knowing that their lives would change forever. When Shane’s father encourages them to work together to fulfill Shane’s dream, feelings betweene them grows. But the past in their lives seems to be an obstacle hard to overcome.
The plot is engaging from the beginning to the end and the characters are perfect in their imperfections.
All that said what I appreciated most was the fact that the author reminds us that the brave men and women who are willing to fight for our safety at home, frequently return not only with physical, but also emotional and psychological injuries. We as a nation, as individuals, and the private sector need to do more for these individuals. Kudos to the author for that reminder.
Looking forward to the next story in this series.
Ryan Clark , the narrator, did a good job with the various voices.
This has to be one of the most emotional, heart wrenching , eye opening stories that I have ever read! This drew me in from the very start and I have to say the author has done the most amazing job in capturing the service men and woman and the extreme difficulties some face when they go home! This had me in tears, it made me laugh and it had me so frustrated at times I could scream! There’s drama, there’s family, there’s battles to be won and there’s a spark of romance and hope! A truly fantastic read!
Sometimes it takes more courage to start over…
A beautiful book about second chances, learning to live again, finding love, and over-coming the traumas of war. I highly recommend this!