While Andy Andrews was digging up a tree beside his home on the Gulf Coast, he found a rusty can containing Nazi artifacts. This whetted his appetite to find the story behind these rare findings. He interviewed neighbors and other residents of his home town until he was able to piece together the story behind his amazing discovery.
During WW II Germany dispatched submarines and U Boats to the Gulf to sink US vessels filled with supplies for the war. These attacks and the people involved form the basis for The Heart Mender. Lives of both German soldiers and the residents of the Gulf Coast intertwine to bring the story to life.
Helen Mason has recently lost her husband to the war. She has not recovered from her loss and was walking late one night along the beach. She soon discovers a wounded man lying on the beach. Angered when she sees his German uniform she decides to leave him there to die. But when she hears an unusual pharase he utters she changes her mind and helps him to her home to nurse him back to health.
The Heart Mender is set agains a backdrop of angry suspicions. Struggles faced by the people touched by the war are chronicled. It is a story of how people were forced to face fears of the future and ghosts of the past in order to survive the frightening present.
Although I am not an avid reader of war stories this book captured my interest and refused to release it. It is more than a story of war; it is a story of forgiveness and redemption. I do recommend this book. I have read several of Andrews' books and was not disappointed by this one.
After reading this book I did some research of my own and discovered the U-Boat mentioned in The Heart Mender was found sunk in the Gulf. In fact it is very close to the current oil spill. If you would like to read more of this interesting period in our country's history go to www.andyandrews.com. I don't think you will be disappointed.
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