About the Book
Picture an older set of misfit characters in Rumble Fish, the humor and raw romance of Alice Clayton's Wallbanger, and Jackie Collins' raunchy language. Then, they go out on the town with Keith Richards.
At 82,000 words, Limestone Waters is a salacious, sordid coming-of-age romp set in the mid 1980s of northwest New Jersey. Michael Walsh is a Vietnam veteran with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. He wanders aimlessly through life in a haze of booze, drugs, and wanton sex. Best buddy, Tuchi, another Vietnam vet, is Mike's edgy sidekick. Mike begins to realize that there must be more to life than living in your mother's basement. He longs for happiness, true love, and to belong. Nagging questions about the identity of his long-lost father also haunt him.
The novel's big question is: Does Michael's salvation lie in Limestone Waters' mystical depths, in Terry's arms, or both?
The story is thick with dysfunction and deception from lovers and family. Mike's self-medicating, womanizing lifestyle only reinforces his skewed, lost existence. Beth, his former girlfriend, is packing a wicked secret. Chester, a local cop, childhood friend and fellow Nam vet, harasses Mike every chance he gets. There is much unfinished business with both Beth and Chester, and Mike is finally forced to confront them.
With the help of Terry, a fiery Irish woman who moves in next door, Mike's life begins to change for the better. Mike falls hard for Terry; she is strong and takes no bullshit. She gives him the courage to face his demons, face Chester, and ultimately, save Beth and himself. At the climax, which takes place at the mystical Limestone Waters, Mike, Tuchi, Beth, and Chester are judged by the waters, but only the righteous survive.
About the Author :
I'm a former commercial photographer and videographer who traveled the world in my work for many Fortune 500 companies. As I stood in Scotland on September 11, it changed my life. My business crumbled in 9/11's wake, and because I was inspired by the courage of first responders I decided that like my wife, I would become a nurse. During fifteen rewarding years as an OR nurse, I was haunted by a story I carried with me for thirty plus years. When I retired, I captured that story in my first novel, a tale of tragedy, eroticism, hope, and the ultimate value of humanity. I am actively writing my second novel.
Review :
Book Review 1:
"An edgy, intricately plotted coming of age tale... A page-turner.
Set in the mid-1980s in northwest New Jersey, McMahon's gripping coming-of-age tale explores love, familial relationships, friendship, trauma, mistakes, lost opportunities, and second chances. Struggling with PTSD, Michael Walsh, a Vietnam veteran, is barely going through the motions of his aimless life. Alcohol, drugs, and wanton sex fill his days and nights. But when the resolute, lovely Terry moves next door, Michael falls hard for the latter, realizing there is more to life than living in your mother's basement and getting lost in drugs and booze. But the path to love and fulfillment is not exactly easy. McMahon immerses readers in a complex and intricate world of alcohol and substance abuse, PTSD-related trauma, shifting relationships, tangled morals, and twisting motivations as Michael embarks on a path of self-destruction. He draws Michael and Terry perfectly, capturing the former's fears, inner turmoil, and struggles with PTSD and drug and alcohol abuse, and the latter's determination to get Michael out of the oblivion. Michael's flashbacks that take him back into the war-ravaged terrain of Vietnam are haunting. In taking an intimate look at Michael's PTSD-related issues, McMahon successfully attains the commendable feat of making readers understand and sympathize with Michael's self-destructive behavior. Original premise, richly-drawn characters, and a tautly constructed plot keep the readers invested. The pacing is expert, and the tension stays high as McMahon introduces new twists and turns throughout the narrative. This is a rich novel with an absorbing plot, complex characters, and a pleasing, feel-good touch of romance. Readers won't be able to put it down." -- BY THEPRAIRIESBOOKREVIEW on JUNE 28, 2021 - ( 2 )
