I love finding exceptional novels that are written with World War 2 as their backdrop. So often when we think about World War 2, it's something that can be easily glossed over from what we read in a couple of pages in a history book, but for those that lived among what was happening in countries like Germany and France, it's a whole different picture.
When I was invited to review Daisies Are Forever from author Liz Tolsma, I knew this would be something more than your typical love story of people who discover each other in the war. This was and is so much more than that. First of all, it is told from some aspects of historical fact as you will discover when you get to the end of the book and share the author's insight's into her creation of this compelling novel. The first half is told from the story of Ruth Sabine Hildegard Lippert who at seventeen had to flee from the many bombings that were taking place from the Russian planes to get back home any way she could. The second half of the novel was told from the memories of Liz Tolsma's Aunt Lillian Tolsma who moved from the United States to Germany in the late 1930's just before the outbreak of the war. These two wonderful facets created such a powerful story, the reader can't help but be captivated to know who will make it home and who will pay the ultimate price.
Twenty-year-old Gisela Cramer has received warning that she must flee from her home leaving behind her ailing Grandfather who is simply too weak to travel along with her older sister Ella. She vows to take care of Ella's two younger daughters Annelies and Renate and get them to safety in Berlin. As much as she doesn't want to leave them behind, she knows if she stays they won't survive. They will all be sent away to camps or possibly killed before they make it that far. Even as her grandfather ensures her they will join her, she has to face the compelling journey with her neighbors and stay one step ahead of the Russian army.
She doesn't expect help to come from Mitch Edwards, a British POW who is impersonating a German SS officer who has been wounded. But when his attempt at the German language is questioned, Gisela convinces those around them, he is her husband who was brought up in a German -American home and often gets confused with his attempts at communication. Without Gisela's help, he would be sent back to the POW camp or worse, hung as a traitor. Now they will have to face the odds of both his shortcomings being in disguise as they attempt to make their way amid being shot at by soldiers and bombed by Russian planes as they join hundreds of others trying to flee for safety. Will they make it to safety or will one of them pay the ultimate sacrifice of laying down their life for someone they love? You'll definitely want to pick this one up to find out.
I received Daisies Are Forever by Liz Tolsma compliments of Thomas Nelson Publishers and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions contained in this review are strictly my own. If you are a lover of historical romance or WWII fiction, than you will absolutely love the heart racing action and danger you will find behind the cover of this novel. A Reading Group Guide is included at the conclusion of this novel as well as author notes sharing the story of the two women whose stories breathed life into the pages of this novel. I easily give this one a 4.5 out of 5 stars and look forward to many more from this author in the future. If you love this novel, be sure to check out her previous novel Snow on the Tulips.
For more information about Daisies Are Forever, Liz Tolsma or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:
To read more reviews on Daisie Are Forever, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.
Liz Tolsma's latest WWII historical fiction novel, Daisies are Forever, is getting rave reviews.
". . . compelling and fast-paced tale about the atrocities and tremendous losses. . . ." —Library Journal
"Excellent storytelling, accurate historical reporting and gritty, persevering characters make this WWII-era novel a must-read." —CBA Retailers + Resources
Liz celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire HDX
- Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma
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