"snow on the tulips" by liz tolsma

About the book (from Litfuse):

A stranger's life hangs in the balance. But to save him is to risk everything.

The war is drawing to a close, but the Nazis still occupy part of the Netherlands. After the losses she's endured, war widow Cornelia is only a shadow of the woman she once was. She fights now to protect her younger brother, Johan, who lives in hiding.

When Johan brings Gerrit Laninga, a wounded Dutch Resistance member, to Cornelia's doorstep, their lives are forever altered. Although scared of the consequences of harboring a wanted man, Cornelia's faith won't let her turn him out.

As she nurses Gerrit back to health, she is drawn to his fierce passion and ideals, and notices a shift within herself. Gerrit's intensity challenges her, making her want to live fully, despite the fear that constrains her. When the opportunity to join him in the Resistance presents itself, Cornelia must summon every ounce of courage imaginable.

She is as terrified of loving Gerrit as she is of losing him. But as the winter landscape thaws, so too does her heart. Will she get a second chance at true love? She fears their story will end before it even begins.

My take: Snow on the Tulips is an intriguing story of bravery and survival set at the end of World War II. Earlier this year, I reread The Hiding Place, and while Snow on the Tulips is a completely different story, it does present some of the same dilemmas Christians faced. Gerrit believed that he was serving God by helping the Resistance—he even went so far as stealing ration cards and lying to German officers. Piet, Cornelia's brother-in-law, also believed he was serving God when he left his pregnant wife to work for the Germans—because the government ordered him to go, he must obey. Were they both right? It's hard to say, but those types of dilemmas are ones we may be facing here in America all too soon. I appreciate it when books make me think about morality and question what I would do in a similar situation. I appreciate it, but it also makes me a tad uncomfortable!

I love reading books about World War II, so I had high expectations for Snow on the Tulips. Perhaps those expectations were just too high. I can't quite put my finger on what it was, but I never really lost myself in the book. I even began skimming parts of it. Don't get me wrong: it's a good book, and I enjoyed the plot, but I didn't connect with it in the way I'd hoped.

My rating: 4 stars

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About the author: Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. Add a dog and a cat to that mix and there's always something going on at their house. She's spent time teaching second grade, writing advertising for a real estate company, and working as a church secretary, but she always dreamed of becoming an author.

She'd love to have you visit her at www.liztolsma.com.

About the giveaway: Liz Tolsma is celebrating the release of her novel, Snow on the Tulips, by giving away an Amazon Reading Pack to one lucky winner. Find out what readers are saying about the book here.

  One winner will receive:

• A $50 Amazon gift card
• Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 16th. Winner will be announced November 18th at Liz's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Liz's blog on the 18th to see if you won. (Or, better yet, subscribe to her blog and have the winner announcement delivered to your inbox! Just enter your email address on the left sidebar of her blog.)

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. 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."