Lucie's Review:
Gisela Cramer was fifteen when her family moved from California back to the fatherland, Germany. When WWII breaks out, Gisela is forced to leave her family behind in Berlin, and tasked with taking her young cousins to safety, with the help of Opa's neighbor who is taking his sisters.
Gisela also comes to the aid of two escaping POWs, Mitch and Xavier, expanding their ragtag band to eight.
Along the way they lose old friends and make new ones, as they fight to survive the war in the part of Germany invaded by Russia.
This is a book that looks at WWII from the perspective of the women, children, and the elderly, and it is based on the true accounts of women who lived during that time.
This is a wonderfully done book, with lots of action, and relationship building interaction between the characters. It reminded me of the struggles that ordinary people faced, and the way they faced the hardships in extraordinary ways. I loved how this book really celebrated the power of faith throughout, and how it showed how much can really be accomplished if people are simply willing to reach out.
Gisela was an admirable heroine, with a compassionate heart, and her story is well worth reading.
Overall this was a stirring and complex novel, that is both heart warming and heartbreaking. Definitely a book well worth the read.
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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
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.
Check out all of the other great stops on this tour: http://litfusegroup.com/
". . . 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
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire HDX
- Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma
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