DAISIES ARE FOREVER | Enter to win a Kindle HDX from Liz Tolsma!

Liz Tolsma's latest book has finally released.  Daisies are Forever is another book that takes place during WWII.  You can read about the story, my review and find information about the author below.

About the book:

Gisela must hold on to hope and love despite all odds in the midst of a war-torn country.

Gisela Cramer is an American living in eastern Germany with her cousin Ella Reinhardt. When the Red Army invades, they must leave their home to escape to safety in Berlin.

However, Ella is a nurse and refuses to leave, sending her young daughters with Gisela. During their journey, Gisela meets Mitch Edwards, an escaped British POW. She pretends she is his wife in order to preserve his safety among other Germans, especially one wounded German soldier, Kurt, who has suspicions about Mitch's identity. Kurt also has feelings for Gisela and tries to uncover the truth about her "marriage."

Their journey to Gisela's mother in Berlin is riddled with tragedy and hardship, but they strive to keep Ella's daughters safe so they can reunite with their mother. During the journey Gisela and Mitch begin to develop feelings for one another beyond friendship. They reach Berlin, but their struggles are far from over. Gisela and Mitch must learn to live for the day and find hope in the darkest of circumstances.

In this moving, historically accurate portrayal of WWII Germany, the characters learn that, even with destruction all around them, some things last forever.

Purchase a copy: http://ow.ly/wAD3T 

My Review:
Daisies are Forever is during the same time period that the first book Snow on the Tulips takes place--the end of World War II. (You can read my review of her first book here.)  The difference is that while Snow on the Tulips takes place in the Netherlands, this story takes place right inside of Germany.  Each of these books are stand alone novels and do not need to be read in order.  When thinking about World War II, I've never really thought about the war from the perspective of Germany's citizens.  All I've ever thought about Germany was how horrible Hitler was and that it was a good thing we defeated him.  But there were so many innocent people inside of Germany that were treated violently even though they were not in support of what Hitler was doing.  This story will help you imagine what the people of Germany suffered under Hitler's wicked leadership.  Liz Tolsma has done a wonderful job in recreating a compelling story with vivid scenes that will paint quite a picture for your mind.  So make sure to pick up this great book of historical fiction and think about World War II from another perspective!

Make sure to check out what others are saying about this book in the blog Tour found here.

About the author: 

New York Times best-selling author Liz Tolsma is the author of Daisies are Forever, Snow on the Tulips, and the contributing author of A Log Cabin Christmas. When not busy putting words to paper, Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children, all adopted internationally.

Connect with Liz: website, Faceobok, Twitter

Giveaway Information: 

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

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on May 31st. Winner will be announced June 2nd on Liz's website.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz's website on June 2nd to see if you won.

 

***I received this free book from Litfuse Publicity Group in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma

Liz Tolsma's newest book is out!  Daisies are Forever is now available for your reading pleasure. If you enjoy WWII historical novels, then this book is for you!  Read below about the book and find out what I thought of the book.

About the Book:

This story takes place in Germany at the end of the war in 1945.  With the Russians getting closer, Gisela knows she, her grandfather, her cousin Ella and two small children must leave Heiligenbeil and try to make it to safety in the West.  Gisela knows that to stay would mean unmentionable horrors and most likely death.  When Ella refuses to leave and begs Gisela to take her two little girls with her to Berlin, Gisela knows she must go for the girls' sake.  During the trip to Berlin Gisela and the girls encountered hardships beyond imagination and she wonders whether they will make it their in one piece.  While on the way there, Gisela over hears a man dressed in a SS officer's uniform, but notices that he speaks German with a British accent.  For unknown reasons, she jumps to his aid when the German refugees begin asking too many questions stating that she is his wife.  Mitch Edwards now joins Gisela's little group and together they try to help each other on the dangerous journey west.  But will they be able to keep up this little ruse without anyone finding out the Brit's real nationality?

My Review: Daisies are Forever is during the same time period that the first book Snow on the Tulips takes place--the end of World War II. (You can read my review of her first book here.)  The difference is that while Snow on the Tulips takes place in the Netherlands, this story takes place right inside of Germany.  Each of these books are stand alone novels and do not need to be read in order.  When thinking about World War II, I've never really thought about the war from the perspective of Germany's citizens.  All I've ever thought about Germany was how horrible Hitler was and that it was a good thing we defeated him.  But there were so many innocent people inside of Germany that were treated violently even though they were not in support of what Hitler was doing.  This story will help you imagine what the people of Germany suffered under Hitler's wicked leadership.  Liz Tolsma has done a wonderful job in recreating a compelling story with vivid scenes that will paint quite a picture for your mind.  So make sure to pick up this great book of historical fiction and think about World War II from another perspective!

***I received this free book from Book Look Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Candle Bible Handbook by Terry Jean Day and Carol J. Smith; Editied and Revised by Dr. Tim Dowley

Kregel Publications has come out with a revised version of their Candle Bible Handbook this past March.  If you are looking for a Bible Study tool for your kids to go along with their Bible devotional books, this would be a great addition to your library.  This book is for children ages 8-12 years old.  This Bible handbook gives an overall view of how the Bible is organized into different categories (History, Poetry, Major and Minor Prophets, etc.).   Then, an overview of the Old Testament is given along with a timeline of major events.  Following this overview, the handbook gives information on each book of the Bible by including FAQ, an outline, maps and concludes with study questions.  The New Testament does the same thing, but also includes a section on the life of Christ.  After all the books of the Bible have been discussed, the book concludes with several different sections: Big Ideas in the Bible, Promises Made in the Bible, 50 Very Important Passages, and Who's Who in the Bible.

I was excited to received this book for my kids.  This book is called a paperback book, but is made out of heavy duty cardstock.  The pages are beautifully done with great graphics and pictures that are full of color and will capture a child's attention.  I love all the maps!  This can help children picture where the events have taken place in the world.  I think this resource will be a great addition to our family Bible reading time.

***I received this book free from Kregel Publications in exchange for an honest review.  All opinions are my own.

Reading Personality Quiz

 Ever wonder what your reading personality is?  Head over to Book Lover and take their Reading Personality quiz.  Click here to take the quiz.


My Reading Personality is:

The All-Rounder

Your responses showed you fitting equally into all four reading personalities:

Involved Reader: You don't just love to read books, you love to read about books. For you, half the fun of reading is the thrill of the chase - discovering new books and authors, and discussing your finds with others.
Exacting Reader: You love books but you rarely have as much time to read as you'd like - so you're very particular about the books you choose.
Serial Reader: Once you discover a favorite writer you tend to stick with him/her through thick and thin.
Eclectic Reader: You read for entertainment but also to expand your mind. You're open to new ideas and new writers, and are not wedded to a particular genre or limited range of authors.

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

Lori Benton's newest novel has just released, The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn.  This was such an interesting story that included the historical lost state of Franklin.  Did you know that a group of citizens tried to start the state of Franklin down in Tennessee?  I didn't.  Historical Fiction novels are great for that reason.  They bring to life history that maybe unfamiliar or familiar to you.  I enjoy learning about history while I read a great fictional story!


From the Back Cover:   

Frontier dangers cannot hold a candle to the risks one woman takes by falling in love

In an act of brave defiance, Tamsen Littlejohn escapes the life her harsh stepfather has forced upon her. Forsaking security and an arranged marriage, she enlists frontiersman Jesse Bird to guide her to the Watauga settlement in western North Carolina. But shedding her old life doesn’t come without cost. As the two cross a vast mountain wilderness, Tamsen faces hardships that test the limits of her faith and endurance.

Convinced that Tamsen has been kidnapped, wealthy suitor Ambrose Kincaid follows after her, in company with her equally determined stepfather. With trouble in pursuit, Tamsen and Jesse find themselves thrust into the conflict of a divided community of Overmountain settlers. The State of Franklin has been declared, but many remain loyal to North Carolina. With one life left behind and chaos on the horizon, Tamsen struggles to adapt to a life for which she was never prepared. But could this challenging frontier life be what her soul has longed for, what God has been leading her toward? As pursuit draws ever nearer, will her faith see her through the greatest danger of all—loving a man who has risked everything for her?


My Review:
The story of Tamsen Littlejohn is filled with history, brewing trouble, and mystery.  It is also a beautiful love story of two people who grow to love each other.  I enjoyed reading this novel.  I especially loved the mystery behind the family history of the two main characters in the story, Jesse and Tamsen.  Who doesn't love a good mystery?  I also loved reading about the history of the lost state of Franklin.  I had never read about this part of our country's history before.  Tamsen and Jesse have a lot of baggage to deal with from their past, but their tenacious spirit and love for God keep them going through difficult times.  It's a great story of how God takes care of His children as they face adversity.

Not long ago I reviewed Lori Benton's first novel, Burning Sky.  You can read that review here.
Lori Benton also has a website with some fun extras about The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn and Burning Sky. 

You can read an excerpt of the Novel below:

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn: A Novel by Random House Publishing Group

***I received this book for free from the publisher’s Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review.  All opinions are my own.