Widowed by war and carrying in her heart the powerful memory of her beloved husband, Rebecca Spaneas and her young son, Davy, leave the Philippines determined to make a new life in the United States.
Courtney Fielding also bears the scars of the war. Suffering from shellshock and wheelchair bound, he sees himself unlovable, useless in body and soul. As a result, when the dark-eyed Rebecca arrives, anticipating a job arranged by his impetuous sister, despite his attraction to her, he is cold and distant.
But Rebecca’s compassionate spirit prevails. And though he is too melancholy, too tortured by his past…and so unlike the perfect memory of her beloved husband, she finds herself strongly attracted to him.
Is it possible for these two wounded hearts to transcend their pain and break down the emotional walls that keep them apart?
The background
In WWII it was called “shellshock.” Today it is diagnosed as post traumatic stress disorder, PTSD, resulting from a life-threatening event or psychological trauma. It is manifested through nightmares, intense remembrances, inability to sleep or fall asleep, flashbacks, unreasonable anger and imagined ills. Those suffering from shellshock, or PTSD, often suffer in silence and may isolate themselves in order not to face the realities of life.
The inspiration
This novel is a fusion of many WWII personal stories. But it is my friend, Barbara, and my mother who inspired the writing of this book with their example of how faith and an indomitable spirit can transcend the body’s limitations.