When Mark, an American soldier serving in Germany in the early 1950s, meets Lauren, a young German girl, their lives change forever. But love is never easy, and for these two it may well be impossible. In a world still reeling from the horrors of war and genocide, the budding love between a Jewish soldier and a German Catholic girl is controversial and dangerous.

It is a time in history that demands the same dedication and focus on duty as in the war years. Both of the lovers are pressured from all sides, and each feels the impossibility of their love-but neither can deny or forget it. Mark is faced with military duty, a possible court martial, and a threatening sociopath. Lauren is expected to play the role of the dutiful German daughter who follows the path dictated by her father. In addition to her obligations to her father, she is expected to focus only on school, work, her church, and her duty to country.

Their very different backgrounds stand as obstacles they can't disregard. Neither is so naive as to ignore the considerable cultural and societal pressure they face. But the heart does not always listen to logic, and soon they are irresistibly drawn together-come what may.

Despite all the many forces they face, can they find the strength to stay together in a world that propels them apart?

From striving for self-redemption to physical confrontations, "Blue Hole" exposes all. The characters with their struggles reveal insight and significance into the way they view their world and the way the world views them. Seeing their attempts to cope and find their own niche uncovers the unique way life has shaped them: In "Life Alone the Mississippi," the disappearing livelihood of Jake, a river man, pushes him to desperate and dangerous measures to hold his clan together. In "Following the Trade," one of the ironies of life can be seen when well-meaning John's attempts to better support his household turns out instead to bring the fragmentation of his family. With "The Swan Dive," a lonely and despondent young boy attempts to find value and meaning in life but sees a distorted vision of the beauty of form. "The Pier at Nature's Point" portrays two lonely individuals deeply in love but due to their exceptional circumstances must say goodbye. Then, held captive by her eccentric needs, the beautiful young girl in "Patty," longing for a special relationship, presents a challenge explaining her bizarre behavior. These stories depict ordinary individuals at odds with their world, people forced into life-changing circumstances while running the gauntlet of emotional experiences.

When Mark, an American soldier serving in Germany in the early 1950s, meets Lauren, a young German girl, their lives change forever. But love is never easy, and for these two it may well be impossible. In a world still reeling from the horrors of war and genocide, the budding love between a Jewish soldier and a German Catholic girl is controversial and dangerous.

It is a time in history that demands the same dedication and focus on duty as in the war years. Both of the lovers are pressured from all sides, and each feels the impossibility of their love-but neither can deny or forget it. Mark is faced with military duty, a possible court martial, and a threatening sociopath. Lauren is expected to play the role of the dutiful German daughter who follows the path dictated by her father. In addition to her obligations to her father, she is expected to focus only on school, work, her church, and her duty to country.

Their very different backgrounds stand as obstacles they can't disregard. Neither is so naive as to ignore the considerable cultural and societal pressure they face. But the heart does not always listen to logic, and soon they are irresistibly drawn together-come what may.

Despite all the many forces they face, can they find the strength to stay together in a world that propels them apart?