WWII Intrigue in Alabama?
349717
It's 1942. A young Alabama widow, angry with the world because her husband was killed in the war, stumbles upon a German naval officer who's washed up on the beach near her home. She first wants to finish him off, but something keeps her from it. Instead, she ends up saving him and finding relief from the anger that's consumed her. It's a great read made more interesting by the fact that it's based on a true story.

This my first novel by Andy Andrews, and I was impressed with his story-telling skills. It's obviously a story close to his heart. Truth is stranger than fiction sometimes, and this is a perfect example. The theme of the book is forgiveness, and I felt that it was a bit preachy at times. Still, it did not spoil the effect of the story for me.

I always enjoy historical fiction because, while I'm entertained, I also learn something. I had no idea that German submarines prowled the Gulf of Mexico during WWII. And, I was perturbed to learn that the government tried to keep that fact from the public. Andrews does a great job of working the factual information in with the flow of the story.

I heartily recommend The Heart Mender as an entertaining and informative read. It would be a great gift for WWII buffs or for any member of The Greatest Generation.

Visit Heart Mender's Web site.
1078406
If you enjoy true WWII  stories full of suspense then you'll like this book.  If you visit the Normandy Beaches, you probably can make a side trip to the bridge.  I wish I had read this book before I went.  I would have done it.
2809433
I really enjoyed the program. Living in N Al. I wasn't aware of the history of the area I'd passed through dozens of times. I'm definitely going to stop in Iuka and Corinth Ms. and learn a bit more about the history there.
705451
I enjoyed reading the stories. I have only visited Alabama to watch school play football. I attend The University of Alabama online but have since found the state such a beautiful place. Thank You!
2701820
Bearing False Witness (An Alec Stover Mystery), Amazon Kindle e-book edition, authored by Merrill Heath.
This is an interesting mystery and offers the additional advantage of being able to be read in one sitting. The story's setting is Birmingham, Alabama, where Alec Stover, a former police officer now functioning as a Private Investigator, holds forth from an office somewhat reminiscent of Sam Spade's. His acquaintance with persons who inhabit the seamier side of the city allows him to acquire material that is helpful to the Birmingham Metropolitan Homicide Division, with which his relationship is amiable. Two other prominent characters are Detective Emma Radcliffe, a quite comely, but no-nonsense chief homicide investigator, whom Chief Collier refers to as a bulldog when on a case, and Diana Davis, a U. S. Marshal from the Texas Division of the Government's Federal Witness Security Program. Diana is strikingly beautiful and appears not to be adverse to extracurricular activity in `down time'.
The story centers on a missing witness, a daughter about whom the witness learned only after being in the program, some prominent local citizens, members of the Miami Mafia, and some murders. The story line proceeds at a good pace and the final activity is violent although Stover is, and yet is not, as actively involved in the manner more usually conceived as that of the main protagonist - a most interesting difference. The story, following the climatic activity, understandably perhaps, provides a little `let-down', BUT, the author beautifully compensates with an Epilogue that introduces a most interesting plot for the next in the series.
This is Heath's second novel and first in the Stover series. I have not read his first, but here the author certainly shows promise of providing a most interesting series. John H. Manhold,Award winning author of both fact and fiction.
519285
The Eastern Coast of the American colonies is engaged in the fight against the British for freedom. Yet in the British held port of Mobile, Alabama, the fight is much quieter though no less deadly. Lyse Lanier has French roots, but spends most of her time with the daughter of the British commander. Rafael Gonzalez is a young, Spanish merchant newly arrived in town. Lyse is attracted to his easy wit and while he thinks she is beautiful and charming, he needs to focus his attentions more on her friend. But is he really what he says he is or is he more? After all, it is war, and spies abound on both sides of the conflict and Spain hasn't yet chosen a side. But as Lyse and Rafael are drawn more and more together, can she trust him with her heart or will he prove to be a liar?

The cover of this book captured my attention much like the first one in the series did last year. Unlike the first one though, this one took me a little longer to get into.

I can say that this is rich in historical detail and it gives some insight into a bit of the Revolution that most people don't know about. Because when I hear about the American Revolution, I immediately think of Boston, and the other eastern states where most of history is focused on. So it was fun to learn a little more about the Louisiana territory during the war.

I liked Lyse a lot. I liked how she grew in the book and developed. And for Rafael, I adored him from the moment he set foot on the page. I loved how he was a man of integrity and fought for what he believed was the right side. The bit of mystery and intrigue in the story only served to move the plot along even more.

I received this book for free from Revell books for the purpose of reviewing. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, Laura Frantz, Julie Klassen, Jody Hedlund

Rating - 4 stars
4221639
This story is a chronicle of the two year war cruise against the Union merchant marine by the Confederate cruiser Alabama. How they lived and traveled was very interesting. Of course the ending with the Kearsage is well known. Maybe not so well known is that the Alabama did not need to fight....the war was basically over and Semmes as with many Confederate officers could not face the reality that was obvious to almost everyone after the summer of 1863!! But the battle was had and many men died unnecessarily! The author, a previous officer on the Alabama, trys to support Semmes decision but fails.
3661595
Definitely a page turner. Every history teacher should utilize this book when reviewing the Reconstruction period. The characters are very real and personify some of the events that the South suffered after the Civil War. The depth of greed and depravity, lust for power are well portrayed by the characters but they find it still cannot fill the hole in their souls. Waiting for a sequel! Would love to visit the area as it sounds beautiful, the web sites for St. Landry Parish and OPELOUSAS are enticing. Keep writing Don Stanford!
3822876
We are going down to Cajun Country.
We will be staying in Pelican, Louisiana at
the Crozat Plantation B&B. We will be touring
the historical places, eating Cajun food, the
Southern charm of its residents and getting
to share some of the Louisiana style cooking
with recipes following the finale.
We will meet Magnolia Crozat better known as
Maggie. Maggie has returned home after living
in New York. Maggie will be helping at the B&B
plus giving historical tours at a nearby
plantation.
A double murder of an elderly couple, one dying
in many notes after the other urges Maggie to
start her own investigation to clear her family
members and the B&Bs reputation.
Where the guests present at the B&B there for
local food festival or were their other devious
reasons involved??
Murders, deceit, secrets, vivid descriptions,
social issues (autism and slavery), historical
fiction, humor plus a hint of romance make the
story one you will one you will want to read.
An array of well fleshed, colorful, quirky and
interesting cast of characters mix together all
the ingredients for a well plotted mystery with
many twists and turns.
An enjoyable trip and stay in the Cajun Bayou
Countrys Crozat B&B.
2033362
Loved this book.  Kept me interested and wanting to keep reading.  Very good info and details of how things were in England in WWII. History, Mystery, family dynamics, and a little romance.  Can't ask for more.
2295125
I liked this story of this Southern community in the 1960's. It started a little slow for me, but I was invested into the characters before long. I'll admit that I was expecting a deeper look at racial tensions in rural Alabama through this story. While race and class certainly played their part in this story, I was a little disappointed that much of what took place felt more cute and tidy than convicting and messy. Instead of deeply developing several characters, it felt like we met a lot of people without getting to know anyone terribly well. I enjoyed this read, but wasn't drawn in as much as I would have hoped. B- for me.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255
4926010
Good reading for anyone interested in Northern Alabama history. Well written in an easy-to-read and story-telling style, but with solid and well researched facts. I got the book to assist with my wife's family history and I paid no attention to the author's name. When the book came, I got curious about him and researched the author's family tree. Turned out the author's great grandfather is my wife's great, great grandfather!
4329378
This historical novel is full of suspense. It takes place in the deep south right after WWII, deals with race relations (on a personal, not political level) and from page one I was waiting for the worst to happen. It's very eloquently written, and I felt like I was trapped with the characters on this rather awful muddy farm smack dab in the middle of KKK territory.

Author of&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/THE-ONLY-WITNESS/dp/0979876869/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">THE ONLY WITNESS</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a data-hook="product-link-linked" class="a-link-normal" href="/Endangered-A-Summer-Westin-Mystery/dp/0425244989/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_rvw_txt?ie=UTF8">Endangered (A Summer Westin Mystery)</a>
2998777
A good adventure, and some very short historic background of nazi regime in 1939. A nice description of some peaks of Bavarian Mountains. Treasure hunt at its best.
I highly recommend this novel.
225476
I really enjoyed the intermix of the story with antibellum periodican adventure in historical setting. I invited setting being in missippi
192584
Liberated, A Novel of Germany, 1945, by Steve Anderson
Liberated is fiction, a novel, but it is very well-informed by history. The action is immediate, closely observed, and fast-moving. But if it is fiction it is based on extensive research and experience. The beginning of the narrative launches several plots all at once: a young American Captain has been appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of a German town in 1945. Within minutes Id be running a whole Bavarian town on my own. It is a tall order. He is a recent arrival, before that moment he hadnt taken part in the wars action. But he speaks fluent German; his German parents came to the US when he was a child.
He quickly finds himself immersed in a least half-a-dozen conflicts. If the war is formally finished, it continues in many disguised ways among the German inhabitants who have very different allegiances, priorities, and cliques. Most inhabitants of the town have adopted new disguises to cope with the times under a veneer of friendliness to the Americans.
Two unexplained mysteries confront the young American Captain. During his first day in the town he discovers three bodies on a road. One is still alive, he has a concentration camp number tattooed on his arm. When the Captain returns later to give help and identify them, they have completely disappeared. A second mystery opens in the early pages of the novel when the narrator hears the whistle of freight cars passing nearby. However, he is unable to discover where the train was going or even what tracks it was using.
Only later in the novel it turns out that the freight cars were laden with valuable art works. Taken by the Germans? By the SS still secretly active? By renegade Americans? In 1945 there were countless valuable collections of art in Germany owned by Nazis who aggressively stole and confiscated, mostly from Jewish owners. A reader familiar with The Rape of Europa, a book and popular DVD based on it, will be acquainted with some of this material. The Americans have taken over the ancient castle overlooking the town, they have established a workshop for restoring ancient art objects, employing skilled DPs and foreign artisans eager to make a little money.
With narrative flair the novel proceeds to reveal how much chaos and conflict are hidden in this town with the fictitious name Heimgau, by extension Germany as a whole. The greatest conflicts, it turns out, are among the American military administrators who claim authority. Fine portraits of people-- and greed-- are of these American officers, at least one a deserter and an imposter. The young Captain-narrator is quickly demoted by new arrivals, a major and colonel who outrank him. He becomes a subordinate and helpless Public Safety Administrator. A no-holds-barred struggle breaks out between the American army officers and a German baron as they compete for booty and spoils: for gold, paintings and art works, porcelain, sculptures, priceless antiques and valuables hidden in the conquered country.
The distant freight train, with its mysterious whistle described at the beginning of the book, is located later. A great heist takes place. The plots, vividly followed and developed in Liberated, give great suspense and excitement.
3263012
The charm of the Alabama South and the stoic attitude of the Midwestern Wisconsin Polish made for an interesting difference/comparison throughout the book.  Going back and forth between the present and the past kept me wanting more.  This was a book club selection and one of our most entertaining reads.