1. What I Would Tell You
    Liz Tolsma
    Barbour Fiction / 2023 / Trade Paperback
    Our Price$2.99 Retail Price$15.99 Save 81% ($13.00)
    4.6 out of 5 stars for What I Would Tell You. View reviews of this product. 44 Reviews
    Availability: In Stock
    Stock No: WW094595
4.6 Stars Out Of 5
4.6 out of 5
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Value:
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  1. Valerie
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Dual Timeline Novel Featuring Little Known WWII History and DNA Testing
    March 15, 2023
    Valerie
    Age: 55-65
    Gender: Female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma is a compelling dual timeline novel set primarily in Greece, a neglected country in my reading repertoire. Both plots are united through a journal and the common theme of maternal love's immense power to make sacrifices to benefit children.

    Set in 1941, the historical story follows Mathilda and her husband, both Sephardic Jews, as the Nazi presence in Greece incrementally destroyed the lives of Jewish citizens. As Mathilda's husband was sent to a labor camp and she found herself unexpectedly pregnant, she recorded her fears and hopes in her journal - her most cherished possession. When Mathilda was forced to board an overcrowded train bound for a concentration camp, she made an impossible decision that impacted future generations of her family.

    The contemporary storyline set in 2019 features 19-year-old Tess whose shocking DNA test results revealed that she's likely Jewish although raised Christian. Despite her mother's concerns, Tess traveled to Greece to learn about the local Jewish history and her family's genealogy. A handsome museum curator aided in her research and connected her to Mathilda's journal. When Tess confronted her mother with her findings, the truth provided Tess with illuminating clarity of recent and past events.

    I've read several novels by Liz Tolsma and this is by far the best to date. Both plots were very engaging, and the dialog, especially in the contemporary story, flowed so naturally. (This may be due in part that this is the author's first novel I've read via audiobook.) Both heroines were well developed characters and were decisive in their actions. I appreciated the information I learned about Sephardic Jews through reading this book. I highly recommend What I Would Tell You as a novel that expertly pairs a current topic (genealogical DNA testing) with lesser known WWII history.

    I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.
  2. MaureenT
    Syracuse NY
    Gender: female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Family
    December 13, 2022
    MaureenT
    Syracuse NY
    Gender: female
    This review was written for What I Would Tell You - eBook.
    Another gift from Author Liz Tolsma, a story that tugs at your heartstrings. Mothers from each generation that try to protect their innocent children.

    The story starts with the present day with a DNA results, definitely not what Tessa Payton was expecting, but because of it her life is changed, and a whole new world opens up.

    This story is a dual time read, and does deal with a period of time when evil spread across Europe! This story deals with the people living in Greece at this time, and although we now know what happened to most of these people, we put faces on these poor folks, who want to trust the enemy, but what choice did they have?

    In the end we are offered some sweet romance, along with a family mystery solved, and found family, along with a lot of forgiveness!

    Keep reading, I loved the author's note, learned some history I was unfamiliar with!

    I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Barbour, and was not required to give a positive review.

  3. Karen R
    WA
    Gender: Female
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Family, Friendship and Faith
    November 29, 2022
    Karen R
    WA
    Gender: Female
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    A poignant dual timeline story full of human drama, World War Two history, and family connections, especially mother-daughter relationships. A search for identity leads a young woman to dig up hidden family history.

    "I need surety and certainty in an unsure and uncertain world."

    The author shines a light on a lesser known group who suffered during the Holocaust--the Sephardic Jews in Greece--and brings their tragic history to life through well-developed characters. I learned a lot through the reading and appreciate her careful research; the notes at the end add interesting facts to the fiction of the tale.

    The present day story connects perfectly with the past, making for a satisfying read overall. I liked the use of diaries to add an extra personal layer to what the characters were experiencing. Their spiritual journey was brought to light this way, as well as in conversations and prayers.

    Recommend to readers who like WW2 era stories based on real history. 4.5 stars

    (An ebook was provided by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.)
  4. Carol
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Excellent!
    April 6, 2025
    Carol
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    This book captivated my attention from the first chapter. The suspense grew as I turned the pages, and this writer did an excellent job bouncing back and forth from 1940s and current time, giving just enough information to keep me wondering about the next secret that would be unfolding.
  5. chemil33
    5 Stars Out Of 5
    Plight of the Jews
    March 13, 2023
    chemil33
    Quality: 5
    Value: 5
    Meets Expectations: 5
    In this novel, Liz Tolsma introduces the reader to another area of history in which the Jews were persecuted during WWII. The book is historically accurate. It is beautifully written and keeps the readers focused. The characters are believable. The cruelty of the Germans was well presented.

    I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour and was under no obligation to post a review.
Displaying items 1-5 of 44
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