What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma

April 1941, Salonika, Greece and May 2019 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Tessa Payton never dreamed a simple DNA test result would forever change her life and impact her tenuous faith. Determined to learn all she can of her ancestors, Tessa embarks on a journey to discover who she really is. She learns some shocking and disturbing news as she digs deeper into her ancestry. But not all is sad news; she may even find love in an unlikely place. We are taken on a dual-timeline journey as we search along with her and meet her great-grandparents. We also experience the horrific events Mathilda Nissim and the Sephardic Jews experience through Mathilda’s journal entries. Much of this is hard to read.

Many of the chapters share a journal entry from Mathilda or Tessa, giving us a glimpse of the deep feelings they are experiencing. The dedication page and author’s historical notes enlighten the reader and shares actual history and how the fictional characters are woven within those real life events. The author also shares of her visit there and shares some of the descriptions of the area, bringing Greece to life. I appreciate the Biblical basis for faith in Christ is shared with the characters, forgiveness and love.. There is a glossary that includes Ladino words, Greek words and German words, helping the reader.

~I received an e-book copy from the author/publisher via NetGalley (no monetary gain were exchanged), this is my honest review~

This is an emotionally gripping WWII read set in what was known as Thessalonica in Bible times. An old city with deep history throughout the centuries.
This read is set in a duel timeframe.
As much WWII history as I’ve read, it wasn’t until Covid 19 that I experienced the reality of how so many people blindly followed Hitler’s agenda until it was too late to fight back. While I don’t want this review to be political in nature, how Covid was handled did have myself and others struggling with how to respond on many levels. What was I supposed to do as a freedom loving American verses a Christian following Christ. I very much related to Mathilda’s struggles and the reality she saw of what was happening.
The Jews have suffered much throughout their history. The author does an amazing job explaining theology. It saddens me so many Jews don’t believe Jesus is the Messiah and it is through His work on the cross that brings salvation, not in keeping the Jewish law. It is shocking less than 4 percent of Jews survived the Holocaust in Thessaloniki. The amount of work put into tracking down all those who perished for remembrance is astounding.

What I Would Tell You is an incredibly heart-gripping novel set in Occupied Greece during WWII. Set in two time periods, then and now, it tells the story of Mathilda Nissim, a Jewish-Greek women living in Greece during WWII and Tessa Payton, a young adult woman living in the United States in present time. Tessa's world is flipped upside down when she receives shocking DNA results that make her question her entire life. She sets out on a journey of self discovery and finds herself in Greece. While in Greece, Tessa learns the story of Mathilda. Mathilda is a fiery, passionate, strong woman that is doing what she can to survive each day of the Nazi Occupation.

Throughout the book, the author, Liz Tolsma, really showcases the depth of a mothers love in various aspects. You get to see motherhood from a variety of stances in this book and each stance is unique and powerful in it's own way. Every decision that is made, every conversation that is had and every emotional moment experienced in this novel is written with such a profound skill. The author makes the reader really feel the emotion that each character is experiencing. A mother will move mountains and do whatever it takes to protect her babies and there are so many examples of this in this book.

I couldn't connect with the characters, especially with the Greek ones. I am Greek. I felt that it was a story about a Jew who just kept surviving the war. Even if all of this story were based, let's say, in Italy the outcome would be the same. I would like to see more from this era. Greece, in WWII era, survived a lot more than the book is portraying. And although the characters were ok, in general I expected more of this book. Overall I didn't like this book, or the writing.

What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma features a dual time storyline. I love a good World War II novel that features a different element of the war. This time around the story in the past takes place in Greece, which I did not know Hitler's terror reached that far. It was nice to see the strong heroine, Mathilda as she worked really hard to resist and fight back against the German soldiers with her words. While she fought, it really does bring more harm than good. She does make the ultimate sacrifice in order to ensure the safety of her legacy. While the past heroine is brave, the present day heroine, Riley Payson, just wants to discover her heritage. Once she discovers this, it brings more questions to her mother. While the setting was told that it was in Greece, since I have read a number of World War II stories that take place all over Europe, this story could have taken place in any other place. Nothing unique about the setting jumped out to me. As for the plot, it was nicely handled as a dual time storyline, so as Riley is discovered the past as we read about the past. It was not really that original. I have seen this setting and story before. That was the only downfall I found to the novel. Overall, What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma is an interesting and well-written story that fans of World War II should read.

I received a complimentary copy of What I Would Tell You by Liz Tolsma through Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

What I Would Tell You Jan 1

This book goes between 1941 and 2019 to cover two of the characters' lives.
1941, Mathilda, a writer and her husband, Asher watch the Nazis invade Salonika Greece. Mathilda watches as her friend, Samuel the butcher, as kind to her as a father, is beaten and killed by Nazi thugs in the street, Mathilda tries to help him but he is already dead.
May 2019, Tessa got her DNA results back showing she is Spanish and Sephardic Jew, her cousins' results say Russian and Greek, not Sephardi Jew, her mother says that may have been from her great - grandmother Yiayia. So Tessa decides to go to Greece to find out who her ancestors are.
1941, Mathilda remembered how her friend Samuel loved her, taught her how to defend herself and to believe in herself. Her husband Asher loved her, protected her and encouraged her to write.
2019 Tessa is finally in Greece, she found her apartment and discovered a small Jewish museum and told them she wanted to know more about her family. She enjoys writing about her life in a journal, just like Mathilda.
1941 Mathilda writes in her journal and newspaper that just as her people defeated the Canaanites so should they speak against the Nazis, they should not let them steal everything and conquer them like the Jews in Poland and Germany. Mathilda found out that she was pregnant and then her husband Asher was deported to a labor camp.
Mathilda discussed the German love of money with her friend and said that if everyone helped out they could buy their husbands' freedom.
You will have to read the book for yourself to see what happens to Mathilda and Tessa.

I knew the minute i seen this beautiful book that i wanted it. Barbour made that happen. Thank you!
Wow! Ms. Tolsma has really nailed this one!
I love her books always and this one did NOT disappoint. They never do really.
The many secrets in this novel is what kept me glued to this amazing book. I love secrets! And I can keep them too!
This is definitely a story you won't want to put down til you finish! Oh my! Just so much going on in this novel that will keep you turning pages! I didn't want it to end.
Now I have to wait until another one of her books comes out!
I highly recommend! For sure and certain!
5 stars for fantabulous writing.
And for making the characters come to life so that I may "see " them in my mind.
My thanks again for this beautiful poignant story and for still offering hope for the future
I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

A gripping story that was very real to life and enabled me to visualise what it was like for many people during and after the world war.

Review What I would Tell you by Liz Tolsma
I have read and enjoyed so many books about WW2, this advance copy, What I would Tell You, dealt with an aspect I knew nothing about. It brought to life how the Jews in Greece suffered under German occupation.
I appreciated the author’s detailed notes regarding the actual people included in the story. It is sad to know that even the Ashkenazi Jews persecuted the Sephardic Jews.
The dual timeline was quite easy to follow. The search for family roots and relatives is a fascinating basis for telling dual stories. The author created realistic characters. The love story was how I like it, there, but not the main focus.
I also appreciated the author’s ability to include a Biblical basis for faith in Christ, including the story of Paul, who as a non-Jew persecuted Jews, and then became a believer himself. The story included some excellent teaching of cross-cultural understanding.
I will read Liz Tolsma again. I think this was the first of her novels I have read.
Thanks to: #BarbourPublishing, #NetGalley, #LizTolsma for this opportunity to read an advance copy. This novel will be available January 1, 2023.

This is a standalone read about a woman's struggle to find herself and come to terms with her past. Told in a modern day story as well as following a historical one, our main character experiences true growth with a side of romance.

I really enjoyed this book. You could tell the author's love for the area she was writing about and the story itself through the strong storyline she weaved. Definitely worth reading, this will become a new member of our library collection.

I receive complimentary books for various sources including, Netgalley, Authors, and other such sources. I am not required to write a positive review and have not received compensation.

Liz Tolsma’s latest release, "What I Would Tell You," is a dual-timeline novel, which seems to be fairly popular these days—set in the present, but also around the time of the Holocaust.

In the present, Tessa Payton, a college student, is shocked to learn the results of her genetic test are vastly different from her cousin’s results. From this test, Tessa discovers she is part Sephardic Jew. After learning this, Tessa decides to drop out of college and go to Greece to discover her heritage, much to the disappointment of her stepfather and mother. When Tessa confronts her mother about her lineage, the woman seems to be holding something back.

While Tessa is in Greece, a young man named Giannis gives her a copy of a diary of a woman named Mathilda. In the earlier timeline, readers get to meet Mathilda Nissim, a young woman married without children. In her village, she produces a newspaper that speaks out against the Germans who are now occupying her area. As she continues to produce the newspaper, she risks putting herself, her husband, and her community in danger. The two stories develop until they inevitably overlap.

What I liked about this story was how Tolsma drew upon her personal experience from her visit to Greece. Readers will notice this because of the level of detail the author has included. Also, I like how Tolsma wove various unresolved threads throughout the story, which added to the mystery, and kept me turning the pages. While I wouldn’t say romance is the main thread of the story, it is present in the love stories between Mathilda and her husband, but also between Tessa and Giannis. Finally, I appreciated the strong faith-based elements within the story. They felt organic and not forced.

This story should appeal to those who enjoy historical fiction, romance, or mysteries/suspense.

*Please note that I received a free copy of this book in exchange for my review. However, I was not required to write a positive review. The opinion expressed here is my own.

Please note:
I plan on posting this review on my blog (https://sleuthsandsuspects.blogspot.com/) closer to the release date and will then share my review on FB and Twitter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Publishing for the chance to read and review this book. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is the first book I have read by author Liz Tolsma, and it was just incredible! It is a heartbreaking, but hopeful story, that brought me to tears It is a dual timeline story. The first story is about Mathilda and Asher Nissim who lived in Salonika, Greece when the Germans invaded. This was a terrible time for them because they were Sephardic Jews. They are forced to make some heartbreaking, gut wrenching decisions. The second story takes place three generations later and involves a young woman named Tessa Payton. When she takes a DNA test, she finds she is not related to her cousin at all. This leads her to explore her heritage and find out where she came from. This is a story that I will not soon forget. I loved the way that all the characters came to trust in the Lord, even though their lives were so difficult. I cannot say enough about this book-it is truly a treasure, and the author did such a fantastic job sharing both stories. Very highly recommended!

This one was a little difficult for me to get into, but once I did it was an amazing journey. Greece isn't a topic often discussed when looking at WW2 history (at least, not in most fiction), but this is an element of the Jewish story that deserves to be told. It's written in parallel-timeline format, with each of the protagonists trying to find the truth, follow God's word, and find themselves. A bit of a twist at the end leaves you both satisfied yet craving more...

I haven't read a book by Liz Tolsma that hasn't affected me greatly. She reaches down into the souls of her readers through her characters who are very real and very relatable. These characters aren't the fluffy kind of people who sail through life without a care in the world. These characters struggle with big, important, real-world problems and do so with a call to right the injustices of the world. Thus is the story of Mathilda and Asher Nissim--Sephardic Jews who live in Greece after the Sephardic Jews had been expelled from Spain.

In a parallel story, Tessa Payton has taken a DNA test and found out that she and her cousin, Riley, are not blood related at all. She goes home for the summer with a desire to know the ancestors who carried her DNA. Because Tessa's internship for the summer is a remote assignment, she decides to go to Greece and find out "who she is" in this world.

While doing some research in a museum, Tessa meets Giannis who takes on her research because of his own interest in the era. Tessa knows her mother knows more than she is telling but can't get around the barriers she has put up. Giannis has found Mathilda's diary and copies it for Tessa to read. In learning about Mathilda's life, Tessa learns more of who she is. She learns the strength that has run through her family for many years. When she finally gets her mother to tell her about her family history, she gains a richer understanding of who she is.

As the narrative goes back and forth between Mathilda's and Tessa's lives, one thing comes across in such a clear way it is hard to ignore: it doesn't matter what era of time, those who follow God will be opposed by the world.

What I Would Tell You is a five star book, with two thumbs up, and an ancestral diary to give you a perspective into your own history.

Barbour Publishing provided the copy I read for this review. All opinions expressed are solely my own.

WHAT I WOULD TELL YOU by LIZ TOLSMA is a beautifully written dual timeline historical romance novel which takes place in Salonika from 1941 to 1943 during the German occupation of Greece, and in 2019 in Pittsburg and Thessaloniki (formerly Salonika). The author has obviously done a great deal of research into the horrors perpetrated towards the Greek Jews at that time, some of whom had already fled from persecution in Spain. This book is a must read for those of us who honour God’s chosen people.
It is a story of courage and sacrificial love, as we follow Mathilda Nissim and her beloved husband Asher’s experiiences during WW11. Mathilda continues to write her newspaper in secret, encouraging the Jews to stand up and fight. their oppressors. Whilst it is horrific to think of man’s inhumanity towards his fellow man during the Holocaust, the author reminds us that anti-Semitism is still very active in the world.
I like to see how their friends Ioanna and Petrus do all they can to help Mathilda and Asher, at great risk to themselves, and how they share their food and faith with them.
When Tessa Payson finds out through a genetic test that she has Sephardic Jewish blood and that she and her cousin Riley are not related, she gets on a plane against her mother and stepfather’s wishes and flies to Thessaloniki to find out the truth about her ancestry and her faith.
I like the strong Christian message on which the book is based, and the way the author, through her characters, shows how Christianis and Jews serve the same God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Tessa’s friend Giannis says to her when she has questions about which religion she needs to follow now, that she can be both a Christian and a Jew, like he is, and that Jesus the Messiah was also a Jew.
The two time lines run together well with Mathilda’s diary holding them together.
Family relationhips, particularly the special bond between a mother and her child, play a big part in the characters’ lives Things are not as they seem and secrets are kept in order to not cause pain. Tessa’s search for the truth about her heritage leads her on an exciting journey, but it is one her mother would rather she did not take.
It is a story of hope and new beginnings, and one I cannot recommend highly enough.
I was given a free copy of the book by NetGalley from Barbour Publishing. The opinions in this review are completely my own.