Liz Tolsma

What I Promise You by Liz Tolsma is a Christian Romantic Historical Fiction work. This book begins in 1942, chronicling Noémie Treves’s and her husband’s lives. As Jews, they find themselves arrested and taken to Camp de Rivesaltes transit camp in Southwest France. Separated in the camp, Noémie soon finds herself assisting two young girls to escape the camp. From there, her life takes a different direction – one that keeps her protecting those around her.

Meanwhile, a second timeline begins in the future, with Caitlyn Laurant setting out to become a nurse serving in the mission field. Dealing with trauma from her past, she also sets out to find out the history of her grandfather’s family in France. With the help of her roommate in France and a young man who desires to fly missionaries around, Caitlyn discovers secrets, history, and how to overcome her painful past by relying on God.

Then, to add dimension to the story, a third timeline focuses on an unknown woman and her life in the 1950s. The author does an excellent job developing the characters. However, I found the three different timelines difficult to follow at times. The twists and turns the author takes you through definitely make this book memorable.

So, if you want a work that combines Christian fiction with Romance and historical fiction, check out What I Promise You by Liz Tolsma.

I received a complimentary copy of this book, but this in no way influenced my review. All opinions are my own.… (plus d'informations)

What I Promise You by Liz Tolsma is the second book in her Echoes of the Past series. This is a dual time-frame story. In 1942 Noemie Treves is arrested and sent to a transit camp. In 2022 Caitlyn Laurant is dealing with the aftermath of a tragic accident. In training to be a missionary nurse, Caitlyn travels to France to visit her grandfather’s birthplace. But, her search becomes complicated by the events that transpired in 1942. We see first hand the tragedy that war brings with the telling of Noemie’s story. But we also got to see the heroines that this time-frame created. You never quite know what you are capable of until you are faced with impossible odds. I enjoyed the way that the story was laid out and the hope and resilience that it shared.

I received this book from Celebrate-Lit for my honest review.… (plus d'informations)

“You can’t live your life looking over your shoulder. Keep your eyes focused on what’s in front of you.”

As I sat down to read yet another World War II novel, this one What I Promise You by Liz Tolsma, I had to wonder why. Why are so many novels being written about WWII? How is this one different than others I’ve read?

The first question might be self-explanatory as we as a nation are at a point where we have very few survivors of WWII still alive, and perhaps we are trying to grasp pieces of history before they’re gone forever. Certainly, that’s one promise we want to make our ancestors- that we will never forget the atrocities that went on in Europe, man’s inhumane treatment of his fellow man, especially during that time.

Tolsma’s novel stands out because it deals largely with the treatment and rescue and raids of women and children. To think that a few people, like Nurse Reiter, Eleanor, Aime, and Helene could affect so many! While the characters are fictional, several were loosely based on real, live, brave people.

Another way Tolsma’s novel stands out is the fact that it is not a dual timeline, but a triple timeline! We are with Noemie in 1942 Perpignan, France, in third person POV; with an unidentified narrator in Elne, France, in 1955, written in first person POV; and Barcelona, Spain and southern France with Caitlyn in 2022, written again in third person POV. Tolsma exhibits a great deal of skill to have separated all those story threads beforehand, then to slowly piece and wind them, bit by bit, back together again! I loved how not only is What I Promise You historical and romantic, but now another layer has been added- that of mystery.

The depth of this story! The emotions each time period evokes! My heart is raw! When will Helene stop trying to give more than she can, in order to atone for her perceived past sin? When will Caitlyn decide whether she is following God or her plans from her childhood? Who will God place in these young women’s paths who will be a light in their darkest times?

I personally loved all the French phrases and felt it added an authenticity to the book. A glossary is provided at the front.

I received a copy of the book from the author through Celebrate Lit via Netgalley. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“To give your offspring the best chance they have at life is the greatest gift you can give them.”

“What is right is not always easy.”

“There’s always the choice to do right or wrong.”

“I can’t live my life in fear of what might be. If I do, I’ll miss out on what is.”… (plus d'informations)

Dual time periods always intrigue me and this one has a bonus. It includes three time periods which adds to the excitement. We travel to a time in history where war was everywhere. People who were Jewish were taken to camps where families were split apart. Every time I read about this period in time I get emotional. How can someone have such hatred for others?

I was a bit confused about who was narrating the story set in 1955 and hoped it would be revealed sometime in the book. I kept thinking that whoever it was was going to be vital to the entire story as we get glimpses of someone wandering around an abandoned building. The author does a good job of keeping readers glued to the story as she brings the time periods together in an unforgettable story of family, faith and healing.

Caitlyn was the one who most captured my attention. Going away to become a missionary is admirable and at times you can sense her insecurity. Caitlyn has another agenda as she flies across the country. She promised her grandfather that she would visit the place he said he was born at. As her adventures begins to seek the truth, the author crafts a way to combine our three time periods together.

There is much grief suffered from a time when camps where there to keep people that had been judged unfairly because of their heritage. The story shows how a few people stepped up to save innocent children and women while placing their own freedom in jeopardy. Caitlyn comes to realize that she hadn’t really grieved the loss of her friend. She has been living her friend’s dream instead of her own.

The ending is so emotional I cried. A simple promise made to a friend finds Caitlyn on a journey to discover God’s purpose for her life. Her spiritual growth throughout the story is shown by her hunger to connect the past to the present. The author provides a realistic look at a time when families were torn apart and hope was all they had to cling to. I loved the story and how the author gave us a look at what sacrifice looks like by people who are willing to protect others.

“Sometimes what He has planned for us is radically different than what we have in mind for our own lives.”

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.… (plus d'informations)