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Scars

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Previously Scars of the PastEven emotional wounds leave scarsIt’s been more than a year since an explosion cost soldier Reid McCabe a leg and two of his men. His physical wounds have healed. He’s not sure the emotional wounds ever will. Hopefully, the cross-country walk he’s preparing for to raise awareness of veteran suicide and PTSD will help ease his troubled mind and spirit. The last thing he ever expected to be thinking about at this point in his recovery was love. But that was before he met the feisty Keira Flanigan …Keira has emotional wounds of her own. Opening her heart to a wounded warrior—or anyone, for that matter—is not on her agenda. She might need Reid’s help to foster and find a home for the little stray dog he’d rescued, but romance just isn’t in the cards for them. That’s what she tells herself, at least …Can Reid and Keira overcome the years of pain and self-doubt that stand between them? Or will the scars of the past destroy their shot at happily ever after?Buy now to find out if they succeed!‘Scars of The Past’ might be sensitive to some readers as it contains the subject of veteran suicide .

292 pages, Paperback

First published June 11, 2020

29 people are currently reading
54 people want to read

About the author

B.K. Stubblefield

13 books203 followers
B.K. Stubblefield is a writer with a passion for dogs and dog rescue. Her dog, Harper, inspired her Oak Creek series, so it is to no surprise that each book features a loveable canine. B.K. Stubblefield was born and raised in Germany, where she met her husband. Supporting his military career, she moved between Europe and the United States for many years. Now she makes her home in Elizabethtown, Kentucky, where she draws inspiration from the slower pace of small-town living.
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https://BKStubblefield.com

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5 stars
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12 (18%)
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7 (10%)
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Displaying 1 - 28 of 28 reviews
Profile Image for Michelle .
346 reviews26 followers
June 12, 2020
"The email he'd read earlier, had been from Houston Miller, his former Platoon Leader. It swirled around his mind and filled his chest with excitement. A one year walk across the U.S. to raise awareness for the staggering veteran suicide rate. To fund a non profit organization that would focus on preventing the outrageous number of veterans committing suicide every single day. And Houston has convinced him, a leg amputee, to become part of the journey. It would start a new chapter of Reid's life and be his rite of passage."......

Reid was a soldier. Now he’s heading to Oak Creek to join his former soldier and friend, Houston, on an awareness walk for veterans.

It’s called “Heroes Rise,”a veterans suicide awareness project. Along the way Reid is going to have to deal with his scars, as well as the scars of others. It’s a lost dog that puts him on a different path.

Keira has trust issues. She’s work as a teacher, and also volunteers at the local dog rescue. So when she meets Reid, the sparks fly. Are they both too damaged to have anything meaningful?

A wonderful, well told contemporary story. As a mother of a veteran, awareness to veteran suicide and PTSD issues is so important.

Will Keira and Reid bond over the rescued dog? Any story that has a dog in it is always a great read for me. There’s a little danger lurking, along with friendship and love.

This is the 3rd in the “Oak Creek” series, but a stand-alone. I really enjoy this authors work. Check out her first two in this series as well as her other work. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you BK Stubblefield
Profile Image for E-Reader Addict.
1,337 reviews46 followers
October 23, 2020
I'm tapping out of this one at 56% after trying and trying to get into the story for two weeks.

Try as one might, I do my best to not let a cover completely influence my opinion of what I think a story is going to be about. Except...don't authors have their covers designed with the intent of giving readers a good first impression? So what I was expecting this book to be about was a wounded soldier - an amputee - whose buddy ropes him into walking across the country in an effort to raise awareness and money to help other struggling soldiers, and along the way he meets a woman and falls in love.

Maybe we would have gotten there eventually, but after over half the book, the soldiers are still months away from leaving on their journey, and the hero and heroine - after getting off on the wrong foot with each other - aren't even talking after a miscommunication during their first date. There's been a lot of talk about pet adoption (a great interest of the author, apparently) which is all well and good, except I'm here for a story about an amputee walking across the country with his own rescue dog and best friend.

There wasn't anything about the writing I found objectionable, but it failed to pull me in, failed to keep my interest, and the pacing moved so incredibly slow I was distracted by anything and everything around me. I really, really dislike DNFing a book - especially one I've requested in exchange for a review, but if I find myself completely unmotivated to read at all, it's time to move on.

* thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review
Profile Image for Maria.
2,522 reviews48 followers
October 4, 2020
Received an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for a fair review
A well-documented story about a wounded veteran dealing with physical and emotional scars and the process of healing.
Reid’s (and other veterans) journey through severe PTSD and learning to live with his new normal is realistic and poignant at times, with its emphasis on his noble and altruistic organization.
The romance with Keira takes a backseat in a story full of relatable human and animal characters. The miscommunication factor drags the romantic plot a bit too much.
The writing style seemed a bit dry sometimes, with its documentary approach; the suspense dimension related to Bill felt a bit contrived.
Profile Image for Judy Esposito.
975 reviews14 followers
July 2, 2020
Scars of The Past: A Wounded Warrior Novel.

I've been holding off writing a review for this book for a few weeks, trying to get my thoughts together to write down just how much this book has affected me. From the very beginning, reading the prologue, my heart overflowed with sadness and love for this man/character. I felt the pain and despair he was feeling. Walking away a bit, I got myself together and opened chapter one. I was a bit disappointed because another character, Reid, took over the book, but as I read further, he stole my heart as well and I understood why the author wrote it this way. This book is filled with well developed characters I grew to love, cry over and laughed with in unexpected places. Keira, Houston and Mike were a few along with the adorable dogs, Bones and Yard. Besides the budding romance between the two main characters, there were also a few fun flirtations by others which may work out later in other books and added to the story.
All in all, I loved this book, but even with the romance and the light touch Bones and Yard gave to the story, the main focus was on our wounded Veterans as it soon be.
I must say this Author has a way with putting down the right words for a wonderful storyline which pulls me in and never disappoints.
I enjoyed B.K. Stubblefield's first two books and they are connected with this one slightly, but each can be read as a stand alone. I hope she picks up from this one in her next book. Highly recommended. JudyE.
Profile Image for Penny Leidecker.
2,688 reviews27 followers
May 20, 2020
This is the first book I’ve read by B.K. Stubblefield, but it definitely won’t be my last. This book had me flipping the pages as fast as I could. If you enjoy small town romances that will have you crying in parts and laughing in others, this is the book for you. Before Reid leaves to join Houston in his hometown, a three-legged dog, Yard, is dropped at his mom’s house. There’s a note attached that they’d be perfect for each other, since they’re each missing a leg. Reid comes to Oak Creek, Kentucky to join Houston in his venture to form Heroes Rise. They’re going to walk across the United States to raise awareness for the staggering number of veteran suicides. On his way into Oak Creek, Reid almost hits a dog, which he names Bones. As Reid is walking into Pet Stop, Keira runs into him with her gig bag of dog food. She acts like it’s his fault though. When Reid finally gets someone to call him from the animal shelter, guess who shows up, Keira or as Reid likes to call her Mossy. I won’t tell what happens during this book, but I will say this book kept me reading past my bedtime, but the loss of sleep was totally worth it. I loved that the book didn’t just focus on Keira and Reid, but several other people also. Grab your copy and see what happens, but may want to have some tissues close.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Evelyn.
1,301 reviews28 followers
June 27, 2020
Scars of the Past is written by Birgit K. Stubblefield, an author with a passion for dog’s rescue. Her experience and knowledge allow her to explain and talk about the topic with exceptional realism and make the story really sweet, interesting and addictive. It is a book addressed to a general audience but soldier’s stories lovers shouldn’t miss it.
Strong, engaging, powerful and insightful are words that cannot describe enough this incredible work that will captivate everyone. It tells the story of the soldier, Reid McCabe, who miss a leg and two of his men during an explosion; his emotional wounds have not healed yet and he is not prepared to meet a woman.
I simply LOVED this book. It is complex, but just all in all a love story. It broke me and made me tear up; it hurt my heart, but it also made me smile. Best of all, I just enjoyed it, and I fell in love with Reid. He was a real hero!
I cannot wait for more books from this writer.


Profile Image for Gail Kamer.
Author 35 books2 followers
Read
May 20, 2020
I have read all of Ms. Stubblefield's books and I think this is the best one. The real life connection to small town events, to current military events, and to overcoming scars from people's past make it a book you can't put down. Everyone carries baggage. It's how each person handles their baggage—whether they let it define them, hold them down, or they overcome it.

I loved the addition of the furry characters who were fun additions to the story--Yard, a three-legged dog and Bones, a starving dog added to the overall theme of overcoming what scars us....be we human or animal.

A good read.
9,377 reviews140 followers
June 15, 2020
This is a deeply emotional small town romance. The author does a fantastic job developing the story and pulls you in with all the feels throughout. Their characters are strong and brought to life with detailed and descriptive writing. She deals with powerful issues and adds in a steamy chemistry. I was glued to the pages from start to finish and would highly recommend this book. Warning: keep the tissues handy.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book. All opinions in this review are my own and freely given.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.3k reviews8 followers
June 11, 2020
The third book in the A Wounded Warrior Novel/Oak Creek series a well written story that kept me turning pages. This book is the first book I have read by this Author and I will be looking for more. A great storyline about two damaged people ex soldier Reid McCabe and Keira Flannigan, I enjoyed seeing their story come together because of Bones. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Barbara.
19.3k reviews8 followers
June 13, 2020
The third book in the A Wounded Warrior Novel/Oak Creek series a well written story that kept me turning pages. This book is the first book I have read by this Author and I will be looking for more. A great storyline about two damaged people ex soldier Reid McCabe and Keira Flannigan, I enjoyed seeing their story come together because of Bones. I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
7 reviews
June 24, 2020
Awesome book.

I have it a 5 star rating because I loved it.The part about the conflicts the soldier went thru were heart stopping , almost like you were there.The love story was so refreshing, not over played. Romantic. Touching. The two dogs just got the story also, also wounded soles. I loved it, great book.
Profile Image for evieo17 .
5,090 reviews51 followers
June 14, 2020
This is my first read from this author and I did enjoy it. It is very deep and it does evoke all the emotions.
Profile Image for TLynn.
1,467 reviews17 followers
October 12, 2020
Scars of the Past: A Wounded Warrior is the third book in the Oak Creek series. This is a new author for me and I’m so glad I got to read this book. It was a very emotional book and being a veteran myself, I could empathize with the characters. The author describes the effects of war and symptoms of PTSD on soldiers beautifully. The characters are easy to connect with and their emotions can be felt throughout the book.
Reid McCabe had lost men, his military career, and half a leg in an explosion in Afghanistan. He missed the tight bond he had with his fellow soldiers. When Houston Miller, his former Platoon leader, emailed him about raising awareness of veteran suicide rates, Reid felt like he had a purpose in life again. Adopting Yard, a three-legged dog, complicated his trip but Yard provided him with some much-needed comfort. Working with Houston and helping other veterans helps Reid find peace. He never expected to find love again after his previous girlfriend left him after discovering his amputation. Falling for Keira complicated his life even more. Keira isn’t looking for a relationship, but Reid manages to get through all the barriers she has erected. He’s straight forward and has a soft spot for stray dogs. She can’t seem to resist the attraction between the two of them. But can they overcome all their fears, or will the past keep them from having their happy ever after?
Although I was slightly confused after reading the prologue and then reading further and discovering the man in the prologue was not the main character. Later when Matt, the man in the prologue, was introduced into the story it all made sense. I really enjoyed reading this book and even though I cried through it, I was so glad to see Reid happy in the end.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.


Profile Image for Valery.
1,515 reviews58 followers
June 12, 2020
Scars of the Past: A Wounded Warrior Novel (Oak Creek by B.K. Stubblefield is a great book, number three in the series, but can easily be read as a standalone. Reid and Keira are the main characters and are fully fleshed out, each with their own heartbreaking pasts. Reid lost a leg due to an explosion in war, along with two of his friends. His physical scars may have healed, but he still has emotional scars. When he meets Keira, he's unsure if he can dive into a relationship. The story progresses nicely from the beginning pages, is sensitive to the subject matter, and addresses PTSD in a realistic manner. Some may find this challenging to read about, but overall this is a well-written book with relatable characters, a strong storyline, a small-town vibe, and a plot that pulls you in and gets you involved as the reader. Highly recommend.
Profile Image for Linda.
1,380 reviews15 followers
October 14, 2020
I loved this heart wrenching story of Reid and Keira. They are both wounded warriors in their own way. I couldn't put it down until the end. I was on an emotional roller coaster along with the characters with their highs and lows. This story touches on suicide, personal drama, and healing. I would highly recommend this book. I received this book as an ARC and I am voluntarily leaving this review.
351 reviews1 follower
January 5, 2022
I didn’t like the Hero, he acted like a jerk for most of the book. There was barely any romance, just constant misunderstandings between the Hero and heroine, he kept pushing her away. They only got together at the very end which was disappointing, and the other aspects of the book didn’t interest me.
6,163 reviews18 followers
May 17, 2022
This is the third story in the "Oak Creek" series. I can be read as a stand alone. This is a journey about a wounded warrior dealing with PTSD and other battle scars. It is an emotional journey that pulled at my heart strings. I loved every bit of this story from beginning to end.
Profile Image for Whitney Gilbert.
92 reviews1 follower
October 8, 2020
Heartfelt feel good romance . This book also has a great story line about PTSD and you don't see that often .
Profile Image for Nate.
24.4k reviews19 followers
November 2, 2022
This was Reid & Kiera’s story. This was an emotional read for me. As well, as a new author. Am voluntarily leaving my review.
Profile Image for Deborah.
1,322 reviews38 followers
November 3, 2020
3.25 Stars

This book is a very important topics of suicide, survivors guilt, PTSD, and loss of a family member. This book is however probably a romance but I do you want to put that these are very important topics that are raised in this book and added that depth and reality to a love story.

I really enjoyed the romance between Reid and Keira from the typical meet cute to the stand-off attitude, Misunderstandings and winning each other around before getting past their histories to actually trusting each other and confronting their feelings. I also loved the dog and pet rescue element of the spec and watching their attachment between bones and Reid grow!

I was a bit confused to start with with the different points of view changing without warning but quickly got into a rhythm of working out which character we were following.

Heroes Rise, it’s such a big ambition and a key part of the story it was good to see it grow within this book and would love to continue following its progress. I get the feeling that some of the secondary characters in this book had history in the previous books which I haven’t read yet, but this story as it says is a complete standalone fully enjoy the story without having read the previous books.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book.
481 reviews12 followers
June 11, 2020
What a great read. I was not surprised because I have read the other books in the Oak Creek Series and I have really enjoyed each one.
Although Scars of the Past is part of the Oak Creek series it is written as a stand alone.
B.K. Stubblefield expertly weaves a story with likeable characters that keep you turning the pages.
You'll meet fun loving Reid and Keira they will warm your heart.
They are just nice folks that deserve romance even though they both are struggling with their pasts they become good friends that have a little bit of an attraction to each other.
This is not just a romance. It is a story that takes you into real life that might be just a little too close to home in it's dealing with wounded warriors and how the after effects of war can ruin peoples lives.
In Scars of the Past we meet some wounded warriors that step up and help out veterans like themselves that are dealing with the scars.
There is some drama as the parents who have lost a son are hurting and blame others.
In the end we have a Happy Romance and a feel good story.

I received a complimentary copy.
3,221 reviews4 followers
June 14, 2020
Reid is home from the Army, minus a leg. Someone drops a dog off in his yard, and it's missing a leg as well. He heads to his buddy's home town for a special mission - they're going to walk 20 miles a day for a year, to raise awareness about veteran suicide, and raise money to fund their new non-profit. In Oak Creek, he runs into Keira, school teacher and pet rescue volunteer. This is the third in the series. I had a little trouble getting into the story, but it took off about three chapters in, and I couldn't put it down after that. The story is emotional and heartwarming, even as it deals with such a difficult topic. There is some drama involving the family of a young man in Reid's unit who was killed, and another local vet who has contemplated suicide. Though not the sole focus of the book, Reid and Keira are headed toward romance, but they have some timing issues. They have such amusing banter between them, and he enjoys getting under her skin. This is my first read from this author, and I'm looking forward to more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Michelle's Book Esacpe  .
238 reviews18 followers
October 14, 2020
I am a newbie when it comes to B.K. Stubblefield and I am so glad that I took a chance on this book.

Reid and Keira both are wounded by their past and do not know how to open up their hearts to the world. Both had no intentions in falling for one another but they cant deny the attraction.

This book will give your emotions a check. It is so full of love, pain, tears, and so much more.

You will not regret your decision in reading the amazing story of Reid and Keira.
I cannot wait to explore more of this authors book.
Profile Image for Fleur.
3,754 reviews31 followers
June 13, 2020
This is more than a love story this is about learning who are and what you want as well as the fact its OK to ask for help and nobody needs to go it alone. There were times I was brought to tears by Reid's internal and external struggles as well as how Bill dealt with everything and well it just shows the ripple effect one moment in time creates. The fact that the book is so well balanced by laughs,sadness, great characters, highs and lows, very very cute dogs and a story that reflects what happens in real life makes this a fantastic read you won't want to put down!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Profile Image for Doseofromance.
202 reviews7 followers
October 6, 2020
Thank you NetGalley for this free ebook in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited for this story but unfortunately it was somewhat disappointing. The hero was very condescending and arrogant and I honestly was so annoyed by it that I couldn't finish the book. I really wanted to but after a while just didn't see the sense in getting mad the whole time. I may pick it up again in a while and try to read it with a fresh mind. Because I didn't get all that far I can't say a lot more. The story line itself was intriguing and I believe there is a lot of potential if you can overlook the hero's superiority complex.
3,735 reviews42 followers
June 6, 2020
This is the first book that i have read by BK Stubblefield but definitely not the last as it is so well written about a difficult subject. I could not turn the page's fast enough to see what would happen next with Reid and Keira. This book has parts that had me in tears so make sure that you have tissues handy but also some fun parts that make you laugh. i definitely recommend that you read this book as it is well worth it and i look forward to reading more books from this author.
I Voluntarily Received an ARC Copy of this book.
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