In the final days of Nazi Germany, the strength of one woman’s heart will determine the fate of a family.
Prussia, 1945
The fall of the Third Reich is imminent. As the merciless Red Army advances from the East, the German people of Prussia await the worst.
Among them is twenty-year-old Gisela Cramer, an American living in Heiligenbeil with her cousin Ella and their ailing grandfather. When word arrives that the Russians will invade overnight, Ella urges Gisela to escape to Berlin—and take Ella’s two small daughters with her.
The journey is miserable and relentless. But when Gisela hears the British accent of a phony SS officer, she poses as his wife to keep him safe among the indignant German refugees. In the blink of an eye, Mitch Edwards and Gisela are Herr and Frau Joseph Cramer.
Through their tragic and difficult journey, the fabricated couple strives to protect Ella’s daughters, hoping against hope for a reunion. But even as Gisela and Mitch develop feelings beyond the make–believe, the reality of war terrorizes their makeshift family.
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.
My Impressions:
I loved Liz Tolsma’s novel, Snow on The Tulips. It was a beautifully written novel depicting the heroics of real and relatable characters during the final days of WWII in the Netherlands. Daisies Are Forever is a look at WWII with a twist — from the point of view of the Germans as they are facing a certain defeat. Based upon true events, this novel is an interesting look at the trials of a defeated people.
Gisela Cramer is an American living in Germany during WWII. Her parents returned their family to Germany hoping that the economic upswing would benefit their family. Unfortunately, they have been swept up in the war. Mitch Edwards is an escaped POW who has spent five years of the war regretting his actions that placed him and his mates in a German stalag. The two meet up during the desperate escape from the Soviet invasion. Along with Gisela’s two nieces, two elderly women and others they meet along the way, the two travel to Berlin desperate to overcome their past mistakes and rescue those they love.
The look at the German side that Daisies Are Forever presents is definitely a plus in this novel. The author takes experiences from two women, one being her aunt, and crafts a unique perspective on WWII. This look into an unknown piece of history was very interesting. The reader gains new insight into what the people of Germany faced as they endured the daily bombings by English and American Air Forces, the atrocities of the Soviets and the betrayal of their own government. I felt, however, that this strong story line was often sidelined for the romance thread, which I found weak. There is a tug of war for Gisela’s heart that went on too long for this reader. And after all was said and done, one of the major characters just disappears from the action with no explanation. Both Gisela and Mitch struggle with guilt in their roles in the loss of friends and loved ones to the crush of war. By the end of the book, they both acknowledge that they have little power to save others and need to place that firmly in God’s hands.
I think Daisies Are Forever will appeal to most fans of historical romance novels. And while I didn’t like it as much as Tulips in The Snow, I look forward to more books by Liz Tolsma.
(Thanks to Thomas Nelson and LitFuse for a review copy. The opinions expressed are mine alone.)
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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 is celebrating the release with a Kindle HDX giveaway!
One winner will receive:
A Kindle Fire HDX
Daisies are Forever by Liz Tolsma
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, too, liked Snow on the Tulips better than Daisies are Forever, but I did enjoy the developing relationship between the main characters and the historical details. I felt the story dragged a little but was, none the less, worth reading.
You summed up my thoughts! I really enjoyed the scenes involving the realities of the German experiences in the last days of the war. Thanks for stopping by.
I haven’t read this one, but I have been looking forward to it. I appreciate your review. It sounds all in all worth the read. Thanks so much for always giving a thoughtful review.
Thanks for stopping by. Let me know what you think when you read it.
I think I like DAISIES ARE FOREVER better than SNOW ON TULIPS mainly because of the action – the train scenes, the long walk, and the bombings of Berlin. I thought Gisela’s search for her mother among the bricks was heartwrenching. I would agree the love triangle seemed a little forced, but then I find the “instant” romances in most romantic novels less than realistic. i like that Liz T. is able to take “bits and pieces” of family stories and weave them into historical fiction.
The action was my favorite part too. I just wish there had been more of it. The fact that the novel was inspired from true events, especially her aunt’s stories was a definite plus. Thanks for sharing your comments.