Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Remember the Lilies

GIVEAWAY

TOLSMA, LIZ
REMEMBER THE LILIES

Interred by the Japanese, missionary Irene Reynolds comes across a mysterious note while working at the censor's office. She memorizes the parts she must black out and delivers it to wealthy nightclub owner Rand Sterling. Before she knows what's happening, she's drawn into a web of secrets and danger.

Rand Sterling wants nothing more than to reopen his nightclubs once the war ends. But slimy Frank Covey wants his hand in the till---and has news that could threaten Rand's reputation if it became public. More importantly, beautiful and intriguing Irene Reynolds cannot discover this information if he expects to persuade her to become his wife.

When Irene is attacked by a sinister Japanese guard and their secrets are exposed, they must learn the true meaning of forgiveness---if they can stave off starvation until the American troops bring freedom.

My Review:

I have been enjoying the host of Christian fiction World War II novels released recently and Remember the Lilies is another one going straight onto my keeper shelf. It's an absorbing look into a very different aspect of the war and I really appreciated the fresh perspective.

Tolsma has done her research and brings the past to life in all it's brutal desperation. This is a gripping read I found hard to put down...in places. Mind you, at other times I couldn't close the book quickly enough to shut out the atrocities that burned heartbreaking images into my mind. This novel showcases both the very best and the very worst of humanity. A stunning tribute to the courage and tenacity of internment camp survivors.

Rand and Irene's love story takes on a surreal quality set as it is against the stark background of a World War II internment camp. They come from extremely different pre-war worlds -- his steeped in wealth and privilege -- hers in a life of faith and service. They approach survival in the Santos Tomas camp in very different ways but as time passes, emotions and values shift and they find themselves gravitating towards one another. The incongruity of romance in the midst of such depravity sharpens the emotional impact of their story.

A beautiful celebration of courage and honour and commitment to a God who has plans beyond our own understanding.

My thanks to Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson for my review copy of this book.
http://litfusegroup.com/author/ltolsma

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Remember the Lilies please leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you post a comment and add your email address, please use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in the address to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email please remember to put the title in the subject line so that it's easy for me to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday February 15 2015. Offer open to international readers. Good luck!

Help Liz celebrate the release of Remember the Lilies with a Kindle Fire giveaway!
rememberthelilies-400 
  Winner will be announced at Liz's Remember the Lilies Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Liz and WWII fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!   
{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.}
RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19th!

34 comments:

  1. I love books that go on the keeper shelf! World War II books are always interesting to read.
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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  2. Remember the Lilies sounds like a wonderful book. I, too, enjoy the WWII stories and I would really enjoy reading this one.

    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  3. Great review, Kav... This sounds like a good one. Thanks for the giveaway! :)

    writer_weaverATyahooDOTcom

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  4. I would love to read this book! rmaney(at)firstarpchurch(dot)org .

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  5. I love reading Liz Tolsma's books. I have her first book Snow on the Tulips, the second book Daisies are Forever I had to borrow from the library. Would love to win Remember the Lilies. They are fantastic. Thank you for the chance to win a copy.
    kmgervais(at)nycap(dot)rr(dot)com

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    1. I missed her first two, but thanks for the reminder. She knows how to get a reader's attention and keep it! Good luck, Karen.

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  6. I love World War II era stories! I haven't read Liz Tolsma and am adding her books to the TBR list.

    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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    1. I need to read more of her. Good luck, Britney.

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  7. Remember the Lilies sounds like an interesting story of romance and courage in the midst of war. Thanks for a great review, you caught my attention!
    worthy2bpraised at gmail dot com

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    1. Glad to catch your attention, Merry. Good luck.

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  8. I love WW2 stories. This one is on my TBR list. Thanks for the review and giveaway! momrain(AT)aol(DOT)com

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  9. Please don't enter me in the giveaway, Kav. I just wanted to say that you're a very good reviewer and I appreciated your thoughts.

    I have a hard time with a lot of WWII stories, especially ones that are pretty graphic when it comes to the atrocities that were committed - which is why it's pretty ironic that two WWII stories were on my 2014 favorites list! I read the first book in this series and Liz is a good writer, but it just wasn't a comfortable read for me.

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    1. Thanks, Carole. I totally get what you mean, Carole. It's a difficult balance for an author to find, Now you have me curious about what your two WWII pics were.

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    2. Here's the link to my 2014 favorites list, Kav:
      http://booksmusicandlife.blogspot.com/2015/01/my-2014-best-of-best-in-christian.html
      Links to my reviews are in the post.

      One was The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron. I'm a pianist, so the musical theme really resonated with me. And the parallel contemporary storyline gave much-needed relief from the prison camp setting.

      The other was Saving Amelie by Cathy Gohlke, which should win an award. One of the settings was a little village in Germany that puts on a passion play every ten years, still going on today. Excellent writing, characterization, emotion, and relevant message for today. But this book really hit home because my daughter leads a campus ministry in Germany, so I knew a lot about the background.

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    3. I've read both -- and can definitely see why they made it to your best of 2014. And your point about the mixed historical/contemporary in The Butterfly and the Violin is an excellent one. I hadn't thought it that way, but you're right.

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  10. Oh this one sound like a good one. Liz is a new author for me. I've read many WW2 stories, heartbreaking and yet uplifting stories. rrwalter34ATgmailDOTcom

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    1. A killer combination, right? Good luck, Becky.

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  11. I've not read any of Liz's books yet, and have seen lots of WWII books coming out lately, but haven't read any of them either!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. It's suddenly become a popular time period in the historical genre. Good luck, Patty.

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  12. This is definitely on my TBR list. I do like the WWII books :)
    dkstevensneAToutlookDo TCoM

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    1. And there have been so many great WWII books released in recent years. Good luck, Deanna.

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  13. Ah, why I am thinking Casablanca? And I have never seen the movie! Must be the club...Anyway, WWII feels quite real fore me, being European. But I have rrarely met with this period written around its Asian part (Japanese). And I would love to read that! We tend to forget how enormous this was...

    Count me in, please.

    janka(dot)halcinova(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Oh my goodness, so funny you said that because that is exactly what I thought when I started reading this book. LOL And I haven't seen the movie straight through either. Just snippets and the 'play it again, Sam' scene. Too funny. And yes, the Japanese angle of this novel does show the breadth and depth of that war. Good luck, Janka.

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  14. Sounds intriguing. Count me in, Kav!

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

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  15. All of Liz's books are on my "want to read" list. There are quite a few books about World War II set in Europe, not so many in the Pacific theater. I'd be very pleased to win Remember the Lilies. Thanks for the chance.
    pmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com

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    1. That's what I found so interesting about this one, Pam -- the Pacific element. Good luck.

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  16. Hi Kav. I always am interested in the books of WW ll era. I lived it as a child and waited for my older brother to come home. We knew so many in that war. We lost two close friends from our small town. I have Liz's book Snow on the Tulips. Would love to win this one. Maxie > mac262(at)me(dot)com.

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