The Pink Bonnet by LIz Tolsma: Review Tour & Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Pink Bonnet  
Author: Liz Tolsma  
Genre: Christian Historical, Suspense  
Release date: June, 2019  

A Desperate Mother Searches for Her Child  

Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime Widowed in Memphis during 1932, Cecile Dowd is struggling to provide for her three-year-old daughter. Unwittingly trusting a neighbor puts little Millie Mae into the clutches of Georgia Tann, corrupt Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society director suspected of the disappearance of hundreds of children. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer, the search for Millie uncovers a deep level of corruption that threatens their very lives. How far will a mother go to find out what happened to her child?
 

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MY THOUGHTS.....

Before reading this book I was vaguely familiar with the story of Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home Society but I had no concept of the evil that occurred in this agency over the course of 26 years. There were over five thousand children kidnapped during that time for the sole purpose of being sold to the highest bidder. Parents in Memphis had to make sure that their children weren't left alone because of this dangerous woman who wasn't above kidnapping a child as they walked down the street or played in the park. Georgia Tann somehow convinced the public that she was acting in the best interest of the children because of neglect from their natural parents and she and her crooked allies terrorized Memphis and the surrounding area from 1924-1950.

Author Liz Tolsma uses these true facts as the basis for her new novel, The Pink Bonnet. It is the summer of 1933 when widow Cecile Dodd leaves her three year old daughter with a neighbor for a few hours and returns to find her daughter gone. Over the course of the next few months Cecile desperately searches for Millie Mae and it appears that she may never find her little girl again. With the help of lawyer Percy Vance, Cecile follows clue after clue and each time that she thinks she may have found her daughter, another roadblock appears.

The Pink Bonnet is fiction but it is based on the historical facts of this horrendous crime spree and the author really kept me in suspense . There are three different families with little girls who had recently been adopted and I was kept guessing until the very end to see if one of them was actually Millie Mae Dodd.

This story is filled with terror, human suffering, and intense mental anguish but it also shows the fierce determination of a mother desperate to find her little girl. It also reminds us that the deepest childhood hurts can be reconciled by the mercy and peace that comes from knowing a loving Heavenly Father. Percy Vance realizes that 'For the first time in his life, that heavy weight of not belonging, of not having a family, lifted from his chest because he belonged to the family of God.' (p. 239)

I recommend The Pink Bonnet to all who enjoy historical Christian fiction, mysteries and true crime stories but I must advise you that this isn't always an easy book to read!

I received a copy of this book through CelebrateLit & Barbour Publishing and chose to write this review. These are my honest thoughts.

My Rating: 4 of 5 stars

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is a popular speaker and an editor and the owner of the Write Direction Editing. An almost-native Wisconsinite, she resides in a quiet corner of the state with her husband and is the mother of three. Her son proudly serves as a U.S. Marine. They adopted all of their children internationally, and one has special needs. When she gets a few spare minutes, she enjoys reading, relaxing on the front porch, walking, working in her large perennial garden, and camping with her family.

More from Liz

A Desperate Mother Searches for Her Child

True, riveting stories of American criminal activity are explored through 6 unique stories of historical romantic suspense in the exciting new True Colors series. In book two, The Pink Bonnet, Widowed in Memphis during 1932, Cecile Dowd is struggling to provide for her three-year-old daughter. Unwittingly trusting a neighbor puts little Millie Mae into the clutches of Georgia Tann, corrupt Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society director suspected of the disappearance of hundreds of children. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer, the search for Millie uncovers a deep level of corruption that threatens their very lives. How far will a mother go to find out what happened to her child? Find out in The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma.


The True Crime Behind the Story

Georgia Tann was a woman who ran an adoption agency in Memphis, Tennessee, from 1924 until 1950. It is estimated that, in that time, she kidnapped over five thousand children and sold them to the highest bidder. She even advertised the children in the newspaper, especially around the holidays. Some of the nation’s biggest celebrities adopted through Miss Tann, including Joan Crawford, Dick Powell, and June Allyson. Learn more about Georgia Tann HERE and visit www.TrueColorsCrime.com for more exclusive content.

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, June 20

The Becca Files, June 20

Livin’ Lit, June 20

The Power of Words, June 21

Christian Bookaholic, June 21

Godly Book Reviews, June 21

Spoken from the Heart, June 22

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, June 22

For HIm and my Family, June 22

Blossoms and Blessings, June 23

Inspired by fiction, June 23

Mary Hake, June 23

Connie’s History Classroom, June 24

Moments, June 24

Simple Harvest Reads, June 24

Daysong Reflections, June 25

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 25

For the Love of Literature, June 25

Remembrancy, June 26

As He Leads is Joy, June 26

Emily Yager, June 26

Genesis 5020, June 27

Reader’s Cozy Corner, June 27

Carla Loves to Read, June 27

Inklings and notions, June 28

Changed by Him, June 28

Bigreadersite, June 28

Through the Fire Blogs, June 28

Inspiration Clothesline, June 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 29

Pause for Tales, June 29

Hallie Reads, June 30

Ashley’s Bookshelf, June 30

For the Love of Books, June 30

Southern Gal Loves to Read, July 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 1

Texas Book-aholic, July 1

janicesbookreviews, July 2

Older & Smarter?, July 2

By The Book, July 2

A Reader’s Brain, July 3

amandainpa, July 3

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, July 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away a grand prize that includes a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of The Pink Bonnet!! 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/e331/the-pink-bonnet-celebration-tour-giveaway