| Can Promises Made in Times of Struggle Endure 200 Years? Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance. Young, spirited Josie Wilkins life is about to take a turn when faced with political turmoil and forbidden love in San Antonio of 1836. John Gilbert has won her heart, despite being a Protestant preacher who is forbidden to practice his faith in Texas. Will either of them survive an epic battle for liberty to create a legacy of love? Nearly 200 years later, Kayleigh Hernandez takes breaks from her demanding job as a refugee coordinator working with Mexican migrants to attend flea markets where she has found a uniquely engraved ring. Enlisting the help of appraiser Brandon Shuman, they piece together a love story long forgotten. But will dangers linked to Kayleigh’s work end her own hopes for leaving a legacy built on hope, faith, and love? |  |
Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction/Romance
Release date: May, 2022
Release date: May, 2022
Click here to get your copy!
My Review
Can the pain of the past be redeemed?
This is the Doors To The Past novel that I have been eagerly anticipating for months. Like millions of others I have long been fascinated by the story of the ill-fated Alamo. I've watched the John Wayne movie, listened to the Marty Robbins song, and read the Dear America book... That story of a small group of people making a stand for freedom, a cause that they felt was worth fighting and even dying for...
I knew with Liz Tolsma for an author A Promise Engraved would be a good story and well worth the reading time spent on it. It did live up to those expectations and I even finished it faster than I had anticipated. For me it was the historical thread that really captured my attention, though I liked the modern mystery thread as well. The modern and historical aspects were both well done and the author did and excellent job of interconnecting them, each layer building on the previous one, and releasing the right amount of clues and information at just the right time.
The thing that I probably appreciated the most about A Promise Engraved was Liz Tolsma's portrayal of the historical part of the story. In recent years there has been tendency to villainize and even deliberately misconstrue the events surrounding the Alamo and the war for Texas independence. And,while people are not infallible and shouldn't be placed on pedestals, it is never a good idea to rewrite history to fit current (and always changing) conceptions. Liz Tolsma avoids both pitfalls with skill in this eighth Doors To The Past novel making it equally as enjoyable, entertaining, and surprisingly educational.
If you are interested in the Alamo or just love a good dual timeline story, A Promise Engraved from the Doors To The Past series is too good to miss out on!
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma a 4 Bark rating.
This is the Doors To The Past novel that I have been eagerly anticipating for months. Like millions of others I have long been fascinated by the story of the ill-fated Alamo. I've watched the John Wayne movie, listened to the Marty Robbins song, and read the Dear America book... That story of a small group of people making a stand for freedom, a cause that they felt was worth fighting and even dying for...
I knew with Liz Tolsma for an author A Promise Engraved would be a good story and well worth the reading time spent on it. It did live up to those expectations and I even finished it faster than I had anticipated. For me it was the historical thread that really captured my attention, though I liked the modern mystery thread as well. The modern and historical aspects were both well done and the author did and excellent job of interconnecting them, each layer building on the previous one, and releasing the right amount of clues and information at just the right time.
The thing that I probably appreciated the most about A Promise Engraved was Liz Tolsma's portrayal of the historical part of the story. In recent years there has been tendency to villainize and even deliberately misconstrue the events surrounding the Alamo and the war for Texas independence. And,while people are not infallible and shouldn't be placed on pedestals, it is never a good idea to rewrite history to fit current (and always changing) conceptions. Liz Tolsma avoids both pitfalls with skill in this eighth Doors To The Past novel making it equally as enjoyable, entertaining, and surprisingly educational.
If you are interested in the Alamo or just love a good dual timeline story, A Promise Engraved from the Doors To The Past series is too good to miss out on!
Tell Tale Book Reviews gives A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma a 4 Bark rating.
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
More from Liz
The Story of Susannah Dickinson, Alamo Survivor
When asked how many died at the Alamo, many would answer that everyone did. While it’s true that all fighting on the side of Texas independence perished, there were survivors, all women and children and one slave. The only white woman (the rest were of Mexican descent) was Susannah Dickinson, along with her daughter Angelina. Susannah had followed her husband, Almaron, to Mexican Texas in 1831. They had married two years before when Susannah was just fifteen. She never learned to read or write.
| She and the other women hid in the sacristy of the church, one of the surviving buildings in the mission and what we now think of as the Alamo. Her husband died, but Mexican General Santa Anna found them and spared their lives, sending them to Sam Houston with $2 each and a blanket. She married again the following year but divorced him almost immediately on the grounds of cruelty. She married a third time the following year and was married for five years until her husband died of alcoholism. A fourth marriage occurred in 1847, but she divorced again in 1857, this time allegedly because she was having an affair. That same year, she married for a fifth time. This marriage lasted until her death in 1883. |  Susanna Dickinson* |
The ring in A Promise Engraved is based on a cat’s eye ring supposedly given to Angelina by William Travis before the battle. Angelina was Susannah’s only child. She married and had three children, but that marriage ended in divorce. She gave the ring to a man she’d become involved with in New Orleans. She married again and had one more child but died in 1869 from a uterine hemorrhage.
Today there are many descendants of Susannah Dickinson. If you visit the Susannah Dickinson house in Austin, you’ll see a quilt that is signed by many of her living descendants.
Today there are many descendants of Susannah Dickinson. If you visit the Susannah Dickinson house in Austin, you’ll see a quilt that is signed by many of her living descendants.
 Liz Tolsma | 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. Please visit her website at www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast. |
It's Time For A Giveaway!
To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize package of
a $25 Amazon gift card and copy of the book!!
a $25 Amazon gift card and copy of the book!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 28
Bigreadersite, May 28
The Write Escape, May 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29
Christina’s Corner, May 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 29
lakesidelivingsite, May 30
Texas Book-aholic, May 30
Rebecca Tews, May 30
Inklings and notions, May 31
Blogging With Carol, May 31
Splashes of Joy, May 31
Betti Mace, June 1
Southern Gal Loves to Read, June 1
Genesis 5020, June 2
Daysong Reflections, June 2
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 2
Remembrancy, June 3
Books, Books, and More Books, June 3
For Him and My Family, June 3
Older & Smarter?, June 4
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 4
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 5
deb’s Book Review, June 5
Mary Hake, June 5
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 6
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 6
Blossoms and Blessings, June 6
Connie’s History Classroom, June 7
Life of Literature, June 7
Back Porch Reads , June 7
Bizwings Blog, June 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 8
For the Love of Literature, June 8
Through the Fire blogs, June 9
Pause for Tales, June 9
Labor Not in Vain, June 9
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, June 10
Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 10
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 10
Bigreadersite, May 28
The Write Escape, May 28
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 29
Christina’s Corner, May 29
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 29
lakesidelivingsite, May 30
Texas Book-aholic, May 30
Rebecca Tews, May 30
Inklings and notions, May 31
Blogging With Carol, May 31
Splashes of Joy, May 31
Betti Mace, June 1
Southern Gal Loves to Read, June 1
Genesis 5020, June 2
Daysong Reflections, June 2
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, June 2
Remembrancy, June 3
Books, Books, and More Books, June 3
For Him and My Family, June 3
Older & Smarter?, June 4
Locks, Hooks and Books, June 4
Tell Tale Book Reviews, June 5
deb’s Book Review, June 5
Mary Hake, June 5
Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 6
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, June 6
Blossoms and Blessings, June 6
Connie’s History Classroom, June 7
Life of Literature, June 7
Back Porch Reads , June 7
Bizwings Blog, June 8
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 8
For the Love of Literature, June 8
Through the Fire blogs, June 9
Pause for Tales, June 9
Labor Not in Vain, June 9
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, June 10
Melissa’s Bookshelf, June 10
Little Homeschool on the Prairie, June 10
*Susanna Dickinson (Texas State Library & Archives Commission.)
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