About the Book

Book: What I Promise You

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Fiction / Romance / Historical Fiction

Release Date: February 1, 2024

A Family’s History Is Lost to the Ravages of WWII in Southwest France

1942
Noémie Treves, a young, pregnant Jewish woman, had her entire world shattered when she is arrested and taken to the Camp de Rivesaltes transit camp in Southwest France. No sooner does she arrive, though, than she assists in helping two young girls scheduled for transport escape to a nearby maternity hospital. The matron there befriends her and changes her name to help hide her. But nothing goes according to plan, and Hannah finds herself doing the unimaginable to save one precious life.

2022
Caitlyn Laurant is haunted by recent events in her life and hopes becoming a nurse on the mission field will help her forget. While in training, she and her friends travel to France where her grandfather was born. What should have been an easy search for his birthplace turns into anything but and reveals secrets that no one alive has ever heard.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping.

More from Liz

The Story behind the Cover of What I Promise You

In the late summer, I got the preliminary cover for What I Promise You. While Barbour Publishing always does a great job with their covers, and the one they sent was very nice, I wasn’t crazy about it because it didn’t tell the story at all. The mansion that plays such a big part in the novel was nowhere to be seen. Barbour is fantastic when it comes to working with me to get great covers, so I asked if we could include the real mansion that the story is based on. Turns out that they were having trouble getting copyright permission to use any image they could find of the maternity home.

That was disappointing. But I got brave and let them know that I took a picture of it when I was in France last year, and they could use it, but I’m not a very good photographer and I only used my iPhone. I attached the photo to the email and didn’t hear anything for a while.

Then in October, I wanted to include a preorder link to the book on social media or something and went to Amazon to grab it. And there was the cover. I went back and forth between the cover and my picture, and sure enough, it was the picture of the maternity home I had sent them! So I not only wrote What I Promise You, but some of my photography is on the front. I never thought that would happen. Am I in the wrong profession?? Just kidding!

Interview with Liz

Share something your readers wouldn’t know about you.

I like to pretend that I can sing, but I can’t, but when I’m alone in the house, I sing at the top of my lungs.

If you had to describe yourself in three words, what would they be?

shy, sensitive, driven

What book is currently on your bedside table?

Since I read almost exclusively on my Kindle on my phone, the only book on my beside table is my Bible.

What has been your favorite part of the publishing journey?

Getting that phone call the very first time that something I had written was going to be published. And then getting my author copies of the books. It never gets old seeing and holding your baby for the first time!

Can you share with us something about the book that isn’t in the blurb?

That’s hard to do without giving anything away! One thing I can tell you is that there is one character and only one character who appears in all three timelines: 1942/43, 1955, and 2022.

Does one of the main characters hold a special place in your heart? If so, why?

Caitlyn Laurent, the contemporary heroine. She is a composite of my niece and my “bonus” daughter, both of whom survived the same trauma that Caitlyn does. They are both beautiful and strong young women who have been through more than anyone at the age should have to endure.

What were the highlight or key challenges you faced when writing this book?

I wrote all the historical chapters, and then all the contemporary chapters, and then had to figure out how to weave them together. I bought brightly-colors sticky notes and had them all over my office trying to piece the book together!

What is the key theme and/or message in the book?

That survivor’s guilt is a horrible burden to bear, one that can be lifted by allowing the peace of God to bathe your heart.

Where can readers find out more about you and your books?

https://liztolsma.com/ There you can sign up for my non-spammy newsletter (and read the first two chapters for free), and you’ll find all my social media links, as well as information on my podcast, Christian Historical Fiction Talk.

Any current or upcoming projects you’d like to tell us about?

I am busily writing the next stand-alone book in the Echoes of the Past series. This one is set in Poland in 1939-1945 and in 2023. It follows the harrowing journey of an educated woman from an ethnic minority during WWII as she is subjected to the horrors of the war just because of her ethnicity. In 2023, a young woman is reeling from a broken engagement and the loss of a child close to her, and she goes in search of her grandmother’s long-lost sister. The surprising answers she finds might just tear her family apart. I’m excited for What I Left for You because I’m part of the ethnic minority I mentioned, and I had a great-uncle who was in Poland at that time.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 27

Life on Chickadee Lane, February 27

Lots of Helpers, February 28

Lighthouse Academy Blog, February 28 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 29

For Him and My Family, February 29

Betti Mace, March 1

Devoted To Hope, March 1

She Lives To Read, March 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 2

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 3

Texas Book-aholic, March 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 4

Blogging With Carol, March 4

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 5

Lily’s Corner, March 5

Bizwings Book Blog, March 5

lakesidelivingsite, March 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 6

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 7 (Author Interview)

Southern Gal Loves to Read, March 7

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 8

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, March 8

Cover Lover Book Review, March 8

Connie’s History Classroom, March 9

Holly’s Book Corner, March 9

Pause for Tales, March 10

Labor Not in Vain, March 10

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, March 11

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, March 11

Lights in a Dark World, March 11

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-Gift card and print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/2a3ce/what-i-promise-you-celebration-tour-giveaway