Jordan's Battle

Oh what a treat! Just look at that face! Thank you, Elizabeth for bringing this sweet dog to visit!

You know, this is the first I've ever heard of service dogs being able to help people with PTSD. It's fabulous! I wonder how many other people have no idea that this could be a source of help, people that perhaps could use this information. I certainly hope through this book  someone might find an answer to prayer.

As I read your story I realized what a wonderful solution this really is since the animals are so attuned to the person they are trained to help, after all, a dog is "man's best friend". Perfect!

Blurb:

Computer programmer Alaina Howard has a new office mate, and she couldn’t be happier that he’s handsome and unattached. Although initially uncertain of his position in the company, she quickly realizes that he’s good at his job and a valuable asset. If only she knew why the seemingly non-disabled man needed a service dog, things would be perfect.

Army veteran Jordan Blake is thrilled to get a job that allows him to pursue his dream of learning web development. The position is even sweeter thanks to the beautiful woman he shares an office with. The only drawback is that she seems suspicious of his need for a ser-vice dog to assist with an invisible disability.

Will Alaina’s suspicion and Jordan’s reluctance to talk about his disability keep them from developing the relationship they both desire?

Excerpt:

Jordan leaned back in his desk chair and rolled his shoulders to relieve some of the tension. The longer he studied the Paradigm Computing website from both the public side and the back end, it 

sank in just how big a job he’d taken on. Although his dream of 

becoming a web developer was one step closer to coming true 

thanks to Russ Porter, Jordan couldn’t deny the weight of 

responsibility pressing down on him. Russ trusted him to learn 

huge amounts of information in a short period of time, and Jordan 

wanted to give a hundred and ten percent, the same way he always 

did. He just didn’t know if he could survive the pressure it would 

undoubtedly create.

Before his stress level could climb any higher, Jordan felt a 

nudge against his left leg. He released a breath and reached down 

to scratch his dog’s head. Abe always knew when to interrupt his 

thoughts. Given how long they’d been at this desk, they could both 

use a walk.

Jordan grabbed his dog’s leash as he stood, and the large, 

dark brown mutt followed his example. He caught Alaina watching 

him and smiled. He couldn’t ask for a prettier office mate than the 

blonde sitting at the desk across the room.

“I’m going outside for a few,” he said as Abe stretched.

Alaina lifted a shapely eyebrow, and distaste clouded her h

azel eyes. “You’re a smoker?”

He laughed and stepped out from behind his desk. “No, I’m just going for a short walk.”

Her eyes widened as Abe stepped into her line of sight. “You brought your dog to work? Does Uncle Russ know?”

His office mate was his boss’s niece? Added stress he didn’t need. He shook off the anxiety before it could threaten him too much.

“Of course. Abe goes everywhere with me.” Jordan glanced down at his canine companion and turned him so Alaina could clearly see Abe’s labeled vest. Maybe it would keep her from asking questions he didn’t want to answer.

She leaned forward, her eyes on Abe. An adorable pink blush crept into her cheeks as she met Jordan’s gaze. “Oh! I should have realized he’s a service dog.”

Well, this was new. He’d never seen anyone surprised to learn Abe was a service dog — a service dog nudging his leg in an attempt to get him moving. Jordan hid his amusement by reaching down to scratch the mutt’s head. “It’s all right. Now, I’d better take him out before he gets any more impatient.”

Review:

Jordan and Alaina are both wonderful characters in this enlightening story. For such a short story, Elizabeth does a great job of letting us get to know them, giving us a pretty good glimpse into Jordan's head as well as a view of the reactions to his PTSD.

This story is truly an eye opener to the reality some people live in, and a perfect example of why we shouldn't judge others because we don't know what they've been through.

I loved this story! I loved the dog. I loved Jordan's shyness. I loved Alaina's forwardness. I just loved it all!

Great job, Elizabeth!

Buy links: http://www.astraeapress.com/#ecwid:mode=product&product=13919619

http://www.amazon.com/Jordans-Battle-ebook/dp/B0098SJUNI/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1350180943&sr=1-1&keywords=jordan%27s+battle

For more information about service dogs and PTSD, check out some of these links:
http://www.army.mil/article/60771/Paws_of_healing__Service_dogs_help_soothe_wounds_of_war/
http://www.cs.amedd.army.mil/FileDownloadpublic.aspx?docid=73e8d2aa-1a2a-467d-b6e3-e73652da8622 (This one is a PDF full of articles on how canines help veterans, but the article starting on p. 63 details how training service dogs can help veterans)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6WfDX8KPFU (includes a psych dog doing tasks)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VE2DuyHrzMg (long, but excellent)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr-aKATM_pI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHfRwJjgbLI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT7CKq3M3tQ (features author of Until Tuesday and his service dog)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eW2i1mh6GnM

About the author:

E.A. West is a lifelong lover of books and storytelling. In high school, she discovered the wonders of sharing her stories with others through writing. She picked up her pen in a creative writing class and hasn’t laid it down yet. Her love of writing encompasses not only the romance genre but also a variety fiction and non-fiction styles.

Born and raised in Indiana, she still resides there today with her family and a small zoo of pets that includes cats, dogs, and African water frogs. When she’s not writing or reading, you’re likely to find her working on her current crochet project or discussing current events.

E.A. West
Providing journeys of hope, one story at a time.
http://eawest.mcphitty.com
http://thewestcorner.wordpress.com
Jordan's Battle--Now available from Astraea Press
Breath of Christmas--Coming Christmas 2012 from White Rose Publishing