1933 Memphis and children and babies are being snatched from their parents by a cruel, money grubbing woman. Pure evil exists and continues with the help of a politician, judge and lawyer, all crooked. This is true history involving Georgia Tann and Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society. She has fooled many people into thinking she’s doing a great job of saving children from abuse and poverty at the hands of their parents. When actually she’s kidnapping or stealing children right from under the parent’s noses.
Although a fictional character in the story, Cecile Dowd represents many real parents who did have their children stolen. Cecile finds her three year old daughter missing at the hands of Tann and begins a long search with many dead ends. Aiding her search is Percy, a lawyer that originally was working for Tann, but had a change of heart.
Cecile and her plight had me in heart pounding mode most of the time. Deathly danger followed anyone that was thought to be in the way of the adoption schemes. I found myself staying up late reading and nail biting to find out the outcome. Will Cecile succeed in finding her daughter or will death come her way?
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review positive or otherwise.

I wanted to like this book. I loved the premise. I realize I am in the minority with my rating. Here's the reason for it:
the tone of the writing.
I've read true crime. I've read suspense. I've read mysteries. This writing fell flat to me. Maybe it was also because I really did not care for Cecile at all either. I just felt like it was a labor to pick up and read this book instead of a joy.

All of that aside, the storyline was very interesting. I am going to take more time to learn about Georgia Tann and her horrific practices!

Wow what a great book. This author is new to me but I definitely will be reading more of her books. The plot pulled me in and I just had to keep reading. You must read this book. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for my digital arc. This is an unbiased review.

The thought this is is based on actual events is enough to break your heart. But then to read Cecile’s story and the heartache she goes through will pull at anyone’s heartstrings, but especially a momma’s.

With that being said…I have read several other books by Liz and liked them a lot so I was excited to read this book by her, but for some reason it felt surface level for me. The characters lacked something and things seemed kind of fake. I hate to say that, I really do, but I felt like this book lacked depth.

I am sure not everyone else will feel that way, so if this story sounds interesting I encourage you to give a read for yourself. Like I said, that fact that this was based on actual events will make you want to keep reading to see how things turn out.


A copy of this book was given to me through the Celebrate Lit Team. All opinions are my own.

As a fan of true crime, particularly the historical variety, I enjoyed The Pink Bonnet immensely. While I typically don't find myself attracted to books with a Christian theme or angle, I found the story to be compelling and I was engaged in the narrative from the first page. Cecile was a well-developed character, and Tolsma skillfully describes her emotions and thoughts as we follow her through the terrifying ordeal of searching for her child. Bonus points for the excellent historical detail -- I was not very familiar with 1930s Memphis, but this book made me feel like I was there!

This was a brutal read! Speaking as a Mama, reading this book and picturing my daughter in this situation was heartbreaking. Especially since my daughter has special needs, and I can only imagine how that evil woman would have reacted to that! Knowing that this was based on ACTUAL events: WOWZA! Liz did a good job at constructing a compelling story and it flows well with lots of twists and turns. It's the subject matter itself that lowers my rating. This isn't a book I will likely reread because it truly makes my heart hurt.

I received this book from NetGalley and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

My first introduction to Georgia Tann and her crimes in Lisa Wingate’s Before We Were Yours. That story was told from the point of view of the children, so I thought a book from a parent’s perspective would be interesting.

The Pink Bonnet wasn’t quite what I thought it would be. For me, the story felt too disjointed. When Cecile Dowd’s daughter is stolen from her, she’s on a mission to find her. Percy Vance, who is Tann’s legal representative, almost abruptly changes his opinion of his boss and promises to help Cecile. I would have enjoyed more development of the shift in Percy’s opinion of what was happening.

I’m also not sure R. D. Griggs’s perspective was necessary to this story (other than adding some conflict outside of the Tann debacle).

On the plus side, the suspenseful pace really picks up near the end of the book and managed to regain my attention after some slower sections.

If you’re unfamiliar with Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children’s Home, The Pink Bonnet will give you a good introduction to the crimes committed against the poor families in the Memphis area.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

The Pink Bonnet is a fictional telling of Georgia Tann and the Tennessee Children's Home. Set in 1932, young, widowed Cecile is doing her best to provide for her three-year-old daughter Millie. While trying to find a job, her neighbor calls the children's home, thinking that they can provide better for the little girl and give Cecile some time to get on her feet. Georgia Tann takes Millie, forges Cecile's signature to turn over custody, and she disappears.

The fact that this is a true-crime story is simply unbelievable. This was a dark time in our history and The Pink Bonnet tells the account well! The characters are quite enjoyable. I appreciated Cecile's I'll-never-give-up attitude. She worked tirelessly to find her daughter, continuing on even when it seemed a lost cause. Percy Vance, previously Tann's lawyer, helps Cecile using connections that he has formed. His character turns pretty quickly from believing the best about Tann to helping find Millie. All in all I enjoyed this story and learning a bit more about this horrible event in history.

I received a complimentary copy of the ebook through NetGalley. A positive review was not required. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Pink Bonnet
True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime

by Liz Tolsma

Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Barbour Books

Christian , True Crime

Pub Date 01 Jun 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Pink Bonnett through Barbour Publishing and Netgalley:

Cecile Dowd is widowed in Memphis in 1932. Cecile Dowd is struggling to provide for her three year old daughter. An unwitting trusting neighbor puts little Millie Mae in Georgia Tann’s care, the Corrupt Memphis Tennessee Children’s society director. The woman who was suspected in the disappearance of hundreds of children. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer, the search for Millie uncovers a level
Of corruption that goes deep and can put their lives in danger.

How far will a mother go to save her daughter?

I found that the Pink Bonnet was a well written and researched book, and it held my attention throughout so I give it five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

The Year is 1933, the place is Memphis Tennessee. In this True Colors book on Historical Crime, Tolsma tackles the corrupt world of Georgia Tann and The Tennessee Children’s Home. Having previously read the book, Before We Were Yours, this book just doesn’t compare. Heartbreaking and shocking circumstances make this a readable book, but the melodrama was a bit over the top for me.

My Thoughts: This novel is a quick moving story about a young widow during the depression that has her daughter kidnapped by the Memphis Tennessee Children's Home Society director. It takes us back to the year 1932 when people are still recovering from the stock market crash. This novel takes a true crime and shows the readers the length that one woman went to find her kidnapped daughter. The reader is full of empathy for this young widow as she desperately searches a corrupt city for her child.

The storyline is easy to follow, full of twists and turns in the plot which holds the readers' attention as the characters race to find missing Millie. Being a mother, I cannot fathom what it would be like to be one of the many parents that had their children stolen and sold to the highest bidder by such horrible people. I do believe that readers will truly enjoy this novel in the True Color series that mix truth with a little bit of fiction to make for interesting reading. The author has created fascinating characters that mingle well with the real-life villains. This is a wonderful book for those who enjoy a good mystery sweetened by a little bit of romance. I am enjoying this series and I am sure others will also.

The Pink Bonnet is a fictional narrative inspired by the infamous crimes of Georgia Tann, a Memphis baby broker who kidnapped and sold children during the depression. Cecile Dowd is doing her best to keep afloat after her husband dies leaving her with a three-year old daughter to raise alone. Her neighbor agrees to watch little Millie while Cecile goes out looking for work only to hand her over to Miss Tann and the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. Cecile in her devastation embarks on the battle of her life to regain custody of her daughter. With the help of a local lawyer they must uncover hidden details of one of the greatest crimes in history.

This is the second in the True Colors series published by Barbour. Liz Tolsma paints in this work a vivid picture of raw emotion and parental love. The characters are complex yet relatable and the fast pace makes for enjoyable reading. I would recommend this book as an easy read for those who enjoy historical or Christian fiction.

Full disclosure- An ARC of this book was provided via NetGalley in return for this review.

This second book in the series about true crimes in American history deals with an appalling situation I had never heard of before. The director of the Memphis, Tennessee, Children’s Home Society steals children or tricks their mothers and then sells the children to adoptive parents. The novel is set in 1932 and offers a fictional account of what one widowed mother endured when her three-year-old daughter disappeared. The situations are heart-wrenching, but the mother finds assistance in uncovering facts and searching for her little girl. The story brings it all to life in a very realistic way. The characters are three-dimensional and believable. The plot contains suspense, danger, and drama. The difficult story is interesting to read and makes one think. Will Cecile ever find little Millie, or is she lost forever. Has she been adopted by loving parents or by someone who wants to make her work like a slave? I received a copy from Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own.

After I started to read this book, I realized that I have read it before. I thoroughly enjoyed it the second time around. The story focuses on a woman whose husband just passed away, and she has a 3 year old daughter. Ms. Tann runs the Tennessee Children's Home Society. She takes children from bad and neglectful homes, and places them for adoption. While out looking for a job, Cecile comes home to find that her neighbor who was watching young girl forged Cecile's signature. Ms. Tann has taken the little girl, and placed her up for adoption. Cecile does everything she can to try to find her daughter. This is a historical fiction. Ms. Tann did run the home, and she placed around 5,000 children. She worked with a judge and the former mayor to complete the illegal adoptions. Most of the children were never found by their birth parents. It's a riveting tale that makes you sad, angry, and sick thinking about what took place. You'll want to keep your children close by.

Set during the Great Depression in 1932, and focuses on a struggling young single mother and her toddler. Her daughter is taken away from her, she has to fight to get her back.

I hate reading crime stories that involve children. The fact that someone can do things like that to children really gets under my skin.

This story is based off of a true crime and it’s heartbreaking.

The story itself is well written and engaging. I could feel the pain of the characters as they were going through this ordeal and was annoyed at the others for ignoring what was happening at the same time.

This book was really good, but not perfect. I really liked the premise of it - a young widowed mother is having a rough time with her three year old daughter. She leaves the daughter with a neighbor for a few hours to look for full-time employment - and her neighbor forges her signature and gives the daughter to the infamous Georgia Tann, the woman that ran the Tennessee Children's Home Society. As was made clear a few years ago in a Lisa Wingate novel, Tann kidnapped over 5,000 children and sold them to people that could afford to pay her fees (regardless of what kind of parents they would be). She stashed them in orphanages around Memphis, Tenn., where they were abused, tortured, or killed outright before being sold. She had several people in highly ranked positions that aided and abetted her doing this, including a judge, a former mayor, and several policemen. She died three days before charges were filed against the agency.

But I digress. The book told the story of a mother and daughter separated by Tann and the many, many people who helped solve the mystery of what happened. I have no problems with the mystery; the part I have an issue with is the "love story" aspect of the book. I think it moved far, far too fast and therefore came off as unrealistic and a tiny bit ridiculous. So that's why a star is getting knocked off my review. Otherwise this book is the perfect way to spend an afternoon. Read and enjoy!

I cannot imagine the grief these women suffered at the hands of Georgia Tann. To know that she took innocent children from loving homes and sold them to the highest bidder makes my blood boil. To know that this is an epidemic we have yet to stop, it disgusts me.

It's truly amazing the lengths some people are willing to go. Some to keep their blinders on so they can live in their comfortable bubble. Others on a mission to right the wrongs, no matter the cost.

This series has definitely been an eye-opener and we're only on the second book.

If you enjoy true crime mysteries, I encourage you to pick up this series. While you don't have to start at the beginning because each book stands on its own story, I don't think you will regret reading all of them. I know I plan on it.

Now for the actual book review for The Pink Bonnet.

If you're looking for light and fluffy romance, you're in the wrong spot. At least with this book. If you're looking for a book that will make you hug your kids tighter at night, read on

True crime is a heartbreaking yet fascinating subject. I love reading these types of stories, but some will find the material too heavy. The plot of the story revolves around Cecile and her daughter, Millie. Cecile will go to any length to find Millie. I can connect with that. I think most mothers can.

R.D, one of the secondary characters, says it best as he laments the pains of adoption. Adoption is a great thing, but there are times when it brings unbearable pain. Yes, it is a great joy. But under Georgia Tann, things were done horribly wrong.

The writing style in The Pink Bonnet had a compact quality. There were no wasted words, no convoluted sentences that pulled you from the story because you had to go back and read something twice. All efforts focused on the plot. The goal: Find Millie.

A few times, Cecile's hysteria wore on my nerves. Sorry. I understand she's distraught. It's just a personality thing. I don't do hysteria. I get angry. My only other nit-picky detail is the lack of a Christian element. It finally shows up at the very end, but feels like an afterthought and, for me, it came without any leading up to the big 'aha' moment. Again, it's a personality thing.

What I loved was Cecile's passion and her never-quit attitude. Percy quickly became my favorite character though. He let his past define him until he met Cecile and began to realize that quantity in life does not trump quality of character.

I requested a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

The Pink Bonnet is a riveting novel of faith that grabbed me from the first page and held my attention throughout. It is based on a real woman who plotted crimes similar to those in this tale. It is at once heartbreaking and intriguing, most characters are appealing, and the type of crimes committed part of a terrible crime spree spanning almost 30 years of the early 1900’s in and around Memphis, Tennessee. I appreciate the author sharing some of the historical background and who the real-life characters were.

Cecile has been widowed for about a year in the summer of 1933. Disowned by her family when she married her late husband, she has only her beloved three-year-old, Millie Mae. She has been looking for a full-time position in lieu of the part time one she has in a nursery school, but jobs are few and far between in the Great Depression. Mrs. Ward, the senior who lived in the apartment underneath hers, suggested that Cecile take her daughter to the Tennessee Children’s Home Society. She said Georgia Tann did remarkable things for children, and when Cecile is better on her feet and able to handle the precocious Millie, she could bring her home again. Horrified, Cecile refuses to give up her precious child.

One day when going out on job search, Cecile left Millie with Mrs. Ward. When she returned for Millie, she learned that. Mrs. Ward contacted Georgia Tann, who came and took Millie away. Later she learned that her signature was forged on the forms to relinquish her daughter. Cecile met Miss Tann and was told she was an unfit parent with an unfit home. Miss Tann would find a home for Millie where she could be given all that her mother couldn’t, and Cecile would never see her again.

Percy Vance is the legal assistant to Miss Tann. He came from poverty and now enjoys the things his wealth accumulates. He talked to Miss Tann about Cecile’s case and wonders about the situation. Percy contacted Cecile to meet with her about her daughter. He then begins to help her find Millie, who was last seen wearing the pink bonnet Cecile bought when pregnant with her.

This slice of history is well-written and an excellent novel in Barbour’s series, True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime. The suspense builds throughout, making it difficult to put down. Many of the children stolen would never be traced. Some went to homes where they were genuinely loved and cared for, while others were abused. The more Cecile and Percy close in on Georgia Tann, the more their lives, and the life of Millie, are at risk. Tann clearly did not take these children out of love and concern for them; instead, she took them to further her own lifestyle and agenda. The depth of corruption in Memphis at that time spreads further than the kidnappings into many layers of society. I very much appreciated the demonstration of faith in the Lord and demonstrating how He can change even those whose lives are built on the shifting sand of wealth. I highly recommend it!

From a thankful heart: I received an e-ARC of this novel from CelebrateLit and NetGalley, a positive review was not required.

I could not put this book down. This is the second book of the True Colors series. These are historical stories of American crimes. The main characters are fictional but the others are true people. This story has a mom who is having some troubles finding a job after losing her husband and the head of the Tennessee Children’s Home Society steals her child and sells her to someone else. It is so horrible to face that there are people out in the world that are so bad. This story showed what these women had to be going through when there child was stolen from them. I hope there will be many more in this series. I received a copy of this book from Barbour Publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

4.5 stars

When I first heard about this series, True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime, I was intrigued. When I started reading The Pink Bonnet, I was immediately captivated by this riveting story of the ugly crime that affected so many families for so many years. While Cecile Down and Percy Vance are fictional characters, their story reflects the heartache that was inflicted by Georgia Vance and the corrupt politicians that were complicit with the Tennessee Children's Home Society. Vance is thought to have been involved with the disappearance of thousands of children. The reader needs to realize this is a fictional story that revolves around this horrendous crime.

This is my favorite book by Liz Tolsma to date. She expertly draws her readers into the story from the very first page. Her attention to historic detail, expert pacing in an action-packed, emotionally charged story will keep her readers glued to the page.

One of my favorite quotes:
"...there was nothing like a mother's love, other than God's love for His own children. Fierce. Determined. Protective."

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.