Out Of The Ashes

Out of the ashes of war, love blooms in three separate stories: A SIMPLE CHOICE: The dead lay on a battlefield near Ellen Bidwell's Southern home. She makes a simple choice to notify the families on both sides their men are gone. Union Captain McNamara happens upon her. His choice is simple too--help her, never realizing the building attraction he feels is for naught when she finds her fiance a prisoner in his hospital. Now there is another choice--help them escape or turn them both in? MY ONLY WISH: Set during World War II, their only wish is to be together at Christmas. With a baby on the way, there is little else they can afford. However, Tom is shot down behind enemy lines. When Gwen goes to the church to pray for his safe return, she is trapped in the basement after the place is bombed. Another unique couple help them return to each other's arms, a couple whose own Christmas wish was never granted. THE FAVOR: Combat reporter Toni is pulled from assignment in Vietnam to go to her wounded husband's bedside. His legs were amputated after a mine explosion. He has a favor to ask of her--go back to Vietnam and retrieve his mistress and their two children. Toni is furious with this betrayal. She must weigh her hurt over her conscience. Helping her on her mission is her friend, Sam, a Marine, who will do anything Toni asks even at the risk of life and limb.