A hero abroad and at home

So many soldiers today are part of local National Guard units, called away from their homes and families to serve in the Middle East. Such is the case for Pittsburgh soldier Kurt Lowdon, who served a good part of a second tour before he found out he had cancer from exposure during his first visit there. Back home, he’s thrown himself into helping those in need, including former soldiers from his own unit, in SECOND CHANCES.

SECOND CHANCES, a women’s fiction story and the second book in the Pittsburgh Lady Lawyers series, begins the day attorney Inessa Regan receives a pink slip after ten years of faithful service. She’s been a mid-level associate her whole career, partners telling her what to do, providing her with an office and everything she needs. Thrown out into the legal world on her own, she doesn’t know how she’ll survive.

Her neighbor brings her first client, Kurt Lowdon, a young Iraq veteran with cancer, who’s looking just to have a will made. Inessa struggles to give Kurt what he needs, and he helps make it easy for her.

Once his immediate needs are met, he takes her under his wing and brings her more clients as well as a place to open an office to see them. Things begin to fall together for her, including a very special friendship with Kurt that becomes something more.

But his past military service, and the friends he’s made there, begin to cause problems for them both, as well as issues his drug-addicted sister delivers to his doorstep. He still hasn’t kicked his cancer, either, and Inessa wonders if falling in love with him is a blessing or a curse.

Here’s the book trailer for SECOND CHANCES: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEMtSxd6FQQ&feature=youtu.be

EXCERPT: (As Kurt brings Inessa a new client, a friend from the Iraq unit)

            “Rafe lost his arm in the line of duty and got sent back home about six months into his tour,” Kurt said. “He was a member of the Guard unit under my command on my second tour, before I got returned Stateside.”
            “Because of your illness?”
            Her question came before she could stop it; her curiosity on this point had been simmering since she’d talked to Ann. The idea shocked her. He’d developed cancer overseas and gone back for seconds? Was he a glutton for punishment? Or maybe a guy with a martyr complex?
            “Took them a few years to find out what was actually causing my symptoms.” A rueful expression crossed his face while he fussed with some papers stacked on his desk. “The delayed diagnosis is probably why the sucker’s been so hard to kick. Anyway, I knew Rafe before we shipped out. His big brother Richie was a year behind me in school. Promised Rich I’d look out for him.”
            “You d-done good, T-top. You d-did. Ain’t your fault w-w-what’s happened. It’s mine.”
            “Shit happens, buddy.” Kurt reached across the desk to fist-bump Rafe’s good hand.        “Especially to weekend warriors.”
            “D-damn longest w-weekends ever!” Rafe settled his lanky frame back into the chair with a sheepish look at Inessa. “Sorry, ma’am.”
            “No need to apologize,” she said, still not sure why Kurt had called her. “Look, if this is some kind of disability claim…”
            Rafe spoke up. “No, ma’am, I’ve got that handled. This is about m-m-me and Susie. W-we got m-m-married on some I-and-I w-w-weekend. Hell if I know w-w-w-why, really. Seemed like the thing to d-d-d-do.”
            More military jargon? Inessa’s mind swirled in confusion.
            “A what?”
            He looked sheepish again. “Intoxication and intercourse. Not that she’s a d-d-desert d-dime–she’s real p-p-pretty. But ain’t like there’s m-much to do in the sandbox when you’re not on p-p-patrol.”
            “I see.” Marry in haste”¦ At least she wasn’t the only one who ran afoul of poor decision-making. “Susie is the other army buddy you were talking about?” she asked Kurt.
            “Yeah. We were all friends. Till everything went bad.”
            Rafe’s face flushed. “Till I got my effing hand blown off, you mean. That’s when the shit hit the fan.” He struggled to control himself. “I got my ass sent home and did a hitch at Walter Reed to get this.” He waved his right arm. “But S-s-susie s-stayed. And sh-sh-she”¦and sh-sh-she”¦” He began to tremble. Inessa thought he’d break out in tears.
            “Chill, Rafe. It’s okay.” Kurt’s voice was extremely calm, the tone one used to keep a dog from attacking. “Take a deep breath. Think of the beach in Maryland.”
            Something almost tangible passed between the men, and Inessa saw something of the deep respect there. Kurt Lowdon, despite his own problems, was a rock to hold up others. Even Inessa herself.

The Pittsburgh Lady Lawyers series:

 Conviction of the Heart, romantic suspense available from The Wild Rose Press , 2012

Second Chances, Zumaya Publications, July 2012

Voodoo Dreams, romantic suspense from The Wild Rose Press, January 2014

 Interested? Here“s where you can get it.

Or, leave a comment below, and one lucky reader will be chosen to receive a PDF copy for their very own. (be sure to leave contact information so I can let you know and send your copy!)

Alana Lorens has been a published writer for over 35 years, including seven years as a reporter and editor at the South Dade News Leader in Homestead, Florida. Her list of publications includes romantic suspense novels SECRETS IN THE SAND, CONVICTION OF THE HEART, and SECOND CHANCES. Her other romance works include the contemporary novellas THAT GIRL’S THE ONE I LOVE and BY ANY OTHER NAME. In a little different vein, Alana contributed a story to the collection SIDEKICKS! . The story may be set at a wedding, but does love really have anything to do with it?

She’s a mother of seven with a full house in northwestern Pennsylvania. Find her on Facebook !  Here’s her Amazon author page. She’s on Goodreads, too!