The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma

Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

Very well told story of the kidnapping of a young child and an illegal adoption ring 1933 Memphis. Most incredible is that it's an illustration based on true happenings. This is the story of one young mother and her search for her daughter throughout the intense corruption of the city. Widowed in Depression era Memphis during 1932 and no family to help her, Cecile Dowd is having a difficult providing for her three-year-old daughter and herself. Since she is a single mother, what she has is precious, what she doesn't have is too far away from her reach. Trusting a neighbor while she is looking for work and food turns out to be a mistake. She returns to find her daughter has been taken. An organization called Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society is at the root of over 5,000 kidnappings from 1924-1950, with deep roots in the city government. Some who adopted were celebrities. Cecile is able to get help from a young lawyer, but nothing is easy. Riveting. Heart wrenching. Grief and love on both sides of these adoptions.  Liz Tolsma never fails!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher and NetGalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
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Remember the Lies by Liz Toslma

Very well written. Maybe too well written.  Although very well told, it's a story that I cannot like.

It takes place on Manila, Philippines starting in 1941 with Pearl Harbor, just before and then during the Japanese invasion. In the Internment Camp people were treated so horribly, and the author captures that. The characters are very real and you can feel their struggle.  There are people of strong faith that influence and ultimately extend their faith to our main characters.

For Rand, it's a riches to rags tale.  He's the charismatic owner of two popular casinos, raised in wealth.  Not without some values, he yet walks the line. He has ideas for expansion into Singapore, Hong Kong and Saigon with visions of fame, proud that he would earn it on his own after his father's initial investment. You can feel his deflation as he loses it all. His father's older servant Armando is left behind but is ailing, his son reaching out to Rand for help in letters. Rand's only option is to escape, but it was tried before and failed with fatal results.

Irene works in the censor's office and is the one to remove some key words from the letter sent to Rand about escape. She did her job and retyped the letter with the words left out, but later she feels compelled to tell him the rest of the words, as he may be trying to escape. Thus begins their relationship as she finds him, but it's too late.

This is an excellent book for faith and testimony!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the Thomas Nelson - Netgalley book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”.


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