Flame and Ice

About the Book

Bob Lee is very extroverted, aggressive, completely sure of himself. Todd Mason is just the opposite--withdrawn, unassuming, lacks self-confidence. Both come from good familties, both their fathers successful business men. But where Bob has a mother and three sisters, Todd’s mother died when he was seven, and he is brought up mainly by a step-mother, his father, dedicated to his business, spends very little time with him. Yet somehow, the two, living close together, become fast friends. Julie, Bob’s youngest sister, develops a persisting affection for Todd, hopes to become his wife some day.

After marrying college sweethearts, World War II intervenes. Both enter the Navy, each survive ship sinkings, both receive injuries, Todd’s the most serious. Todd’s wife becomes envolved with a fake, itinerent preacher while he is away, with dire consequences. The war also takes the life of a girl he met before the war, her loss effects him deeply.

Both enter the family busnesses. While Bob returns much the same man, Todd is hardened, embittered, yet toughened mentally. Their strong friendship remains constant, they establish a land corporation as equal partners. Trouble soon follows, tragedy strikes both their lives. Bob maintains a fast paced life, drinks heavily, his business suffers. His continual need for funds causes increasing troubles between the two men. Todd remarries, but more tragedy and trouble stalk him. Bob, now a widower, meets Janice Woods, a lusty, unscrupulous woman. Desperate for money now, he continually comes to Todd for help. Julie Lee enters Todd’s life more strongly, Bob marries Janice. Continued problems between Bob and Todd causes their friendship to waver, but somehow its flame still burns.

Will it continue to burn through the travails that lie ahead? Financial ruin for both; Janice Wood’s threats against Bob’s dwindling resources; Todd’s struggles to save his shattered arm and his fits of mental depresssion? How it all turns out, climaxed by the final desperate peril on the ice, threatens not only their strong bond but also their very lives.

Don Anderson has written a fast paced story about two men, vastly different in personalities, yet strangely bonded, who face continual strife and conflict throughout their lives. How they meet these challenges plus the final gripping climax, will hold your interest to the very end.

About the Author

Don Anderson is an experienced writer of technical articles, newspaper copy and short stories of fiction. He also served as General Manager of the Milford (Michigan) Times and in more recent years as owner and operator of a group of retail greeting card shops. He also served as a wartime naval officer. He now devotes full time to writing and currently has four novels in the works, of which Fire and Ice is the latest. He resides in Saginaw, Michigan, with his wife, Marjory.