What I Left For You by Liz Tolsma is an emotionally rich, beautifully layered story that touched me deeply. Told in dual timelines, this book masterfully weaves together the past and present in a way that kept me fully engaged and invested in the characters’ lives.

I especially loved Helena’s story. No matter what she saw or endured, she was able to still look to God—and that steadfast faith was such an encouragement. Her resilience in the face of unimaginable trauma was inspiring, and it served as a powerful reminder of God's presence even in our darkest moments.

Tolsma handles difficult themes with grace and sensitivity, making this a deeply moving and redemptive read. The historical details are immersive, the characters are complex and real, and the hope that runs through the story is truly uplifting.

If you’re looking for a historical novel that doesn’t shy away from heartbreak but ultimately points to healing and grace, this one is not to be missed.

I absolutely loved this story. Part of this story follows Helena who is an ethnic female professor at a university in Poland at the start of WWII. After the Germans invade Poland and force all the Jews into ghettos, Helena honors her friend's dying wish to care for her daughter. In the current day, McKenna is a social worker who has had tragedy strike in her life. Her roommate and best friend encourage her to take time for herself and find out more about her family's story. McKenna and her friend travel to Poland with the hope of finding out more about her family. This story is absolutely heartbreaking and breathtakingly beautiful as it follows Helena during WWII and then McKenna as she unravels her family's story. I highly recommend this book for those who love WWII literature.

Another beautifully done book about finding your past. As a historian specializing in family history Liz's books speak to me. Great reads!

What I Left for You by Liz Tolsma is the third book in the Echoes of the Past series and a definite must read if you love inspirational historical books about WWII. It is dual time line about a family that suffered and survived separation that was caused the German invasion of Poland.
McKenna Muir takes a much needed sabbatical after a child in her care is murdered. Poland not only offers solace, but information about her family genealogy.
When WWII breaks out Helena Kostyszak is lecturing at the university in Krakow until the Germans close down the university and forces all Jews into the ghetto. Helena makes the decision to get her friend's infant daughter out and flee to the small village that she was born and raised.
I really enjoyed this story because it was rich in emotion, love, forgiveness, faith and history. Liz Tolsma never disappoints. I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future.

I was given an ARC from the author/publisher. All conclusions are mine and mine alone.

A Haunting Dual-Timeline Tale of Survival and Discovery

Spanning the horrors of World War II and the emotional turmoil of the present day, this gripping novel masterfully weaves together two women's journeys of resilience, loss, and unexpected connections.

In 1939, Helena Kostyszak is a woman ahead of her time—an educated university lecturer and ethnic minority in Krakow. But as Nazi forces close in, her world is shattered. Risking everything, she saves her friend’s infant daughter and flees to her home village, where survival becomes an everyday battle. As war rages on and ethnic cleansing looms, Helena’s courage and faith are tested in unimaginable ways.

In 2023, social worker McKenna Muir is struggling with heartbreak—both from a broken engagement and the devastating murder of a child she was trying to help. Seeking refuge from her grief, she embarks on a journey to Poland, eager to uncover the mysteries of her family’s past. But what she finds is far more than just names and dates in a family tree. As buried secrets come to light, McKenna’s past and present collide in a way that changes everything.

The novel beautifully balances historical fiction with contemporary drama, drawing emotional parallels between Helena’s wartime struggles and McKenna’s search for healing. The weight of history is palpable, immersing readers in the harrowing realities of war while also offering a deeply personal, redemptive journey in the present.

For fans of dual-timeline novels rich in historical depth, emotional complexity, and themes of faith, survival, and identity, this book is a must-read. Thought-provoking and deeply moving, it’s a story that lingers long after the final page.

What I Left for You
by Liz Tolsma
Pub DateDec 01 2024
Barbour Publishing |Barbour Fiction
Christian| Historical Fiction| Romance



Netgalley and Barbour Fiction sent me a copy of What I Left For You to review:


1939 Poland: A Family's Ties Were Broken.



Helena Kostyszak is an oddity in 1939, an educated female ethnic minority teaching at a university in Krakow at the outbreak of WWII. As the Germans close the university and force Jews into the ghetto, she smuggles out a friend's infant daughter and flees to her small village in the southern hills. Helena does everything she can to protect her family, but it may not be enough. For both of them to survive the war and the ethnic cleansing to come, it will take all her strength and God's intervention.
 


2023

McKenna Muir, a recently unengaged social worker, is dealt a devastating blow when a two-year-old she has been working with is murdered. She can't take it anymore, so her friend suggests she dive into her family's past like she's always wanted to do. It might help her heal if she put distance between herself and her problems, so she and her friend go to Poland on a Sabbatical. However, McKenna's discovery about her family shocks everyone, including one long-lost relative.



I give What I Left For You five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

What I Left for You is a wonderful mystery and suspense novel that is also a dual timeline novel about different generations of a family. I loved getting to know the modern and the old. I felt that I was living with them and a part of the family. To be 100% honest with you, this book made me cry. But it also made me laugh. I cried sad tears and happy tears and felt soo many emotions.

Modern day we have the recently unengaged McKenna. It’s not a sad thing though. Because he’s a jerk and she’s very much better off without him. But the sad thing is about her job. She’s on a leave of absence shortly after the book starts because of a death of a child. She’s a social worker and though it wasn’t her fault it’s procedure. And yes, that made me cry. A sweet innocent two year old dying. Even if it’s just in a book. My mama heart just could not.

There are gaps in McKenna’s family history and she wants to find out what they are. She starts researching and that leads to her taking a trip with her best friend to find answers.

WWII
Our second storyline is her ancester Helena. Helena is Lemko and lives in Poland during WWII. She’s a professor. She’s educated. And those are both things that are not normal for the time period but definitely not normal for her people, the Lemko’s.

I love reading about WWII. It’s a habit or a compulsion trying to learn as much as I can about the time period. This is an area that I haven’t read a lot about. Poland isn’t somewhere I’ve focused on or visited. I’m sure we all know about the persecution of the Jews but they weren’t the sole focus of persecution by the Germans. They were out to get all the minorities and that included the Lemko’s.

Helena’s story is heart breaking and will make you cry. It may not be exactly a true story but it’s based on. The people really did live like this. They really faced these challenges and lived this life.

This was an amazing story. I will definitely be reading it again.

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from Celebrate Lit. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐈 𝐋𝐞𝐟𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐘𝐨𝐮 is a gripping dual-timeline story set in WWII Poland and present-day Pittsburg, featuring characters Helena and McKenna. The book is a blend of hope, faith, and redemption, even with its heavy themes.

I love when a book stays with me, even when the weight of it feels a bit heavy. I also enjoy when a story teaches me something new. I enjoyed learning about the Lemko people and found the author’s connection to the story intriguing. I appreciate the research that went into this story and the interconnection between the past and present.

While the cover art isn’t appealing (to me, anyway) the author’s previous works encouraged me to read this book, and I was not disappointed. I love how she took two stories and wove them together into a cohesive, believable, and moving read.

“No matter what, God.”
A quote I won’t soon forget.

#CoverLoverBookReview received an advanced reader copy of this book.
Opinions are 100% my own.

No matter what, God.

This Christian WWII dual time-line novel is an incredible read, evoking a myriad of emotions when much of Europe and its inhabitants were destroyed by Adolph Hitler. Written with excellence, many times I felt as if I were there – the home of the Lemkos in the beautiful Carpathian Mountains, or Krakow, or the German work camp. For those triggered by child abuse, there are two instances noted but not detailed.

What I appreciated most were the faith journeys of Helena and her great granddaughter, McKenna. McKenna struggled with recent events in her life and learning what her great grandmother endured. Some had a strong faith that grew through trials. Others talked about their faith or doubts with close family or friends.

At times, there were difficult things to read even once, yet I definitely would read it again. There are many good times that readers will enjoy, and times that could have broken those who endured them. The primary characters are three dimensional, engaging people in whom I was quickly invested.

Helena was one of the few Lemkos who went to school past early elementary grades, then graduated from the university in Krakow. She became a lecturer there when women were not yet allowed to be professors, and sent money home to make her mother’s life easier.

Jerzy, a friend and professor, and Helena changed their life direction in 1942. Polish Jews were forced to live in the deprivation and disease of the Jewish ghetto. Jerzy and Helena went in to see Helena’s dear friend, Risa. Hours after Risa died in the ghetto hospital, they risked everything to smuggle her baby girl, Teena, out. Jerzy and Helena married and moved to Dubne, where Helena’s mother welcomed them with open arms.

Helena and Jerzy assisted several partisans and Lemkos escape prison, after which Helena would never see Mama or Teena again. The couple was captured. Jerzy was killed, and Helena was sent to a work camp. By the time Helena could safely go home after the war, Mama and Teena had been “resettled” to an unknown destination by Polish and Ukraine soldiers, then that Mama died. The rest of Helena’s life was spent seeking Teena.

In 2023, Helena’s great-granddaughter, McKenna, accompanied by her best friend, Taylor, went to Poland. McKenna took a sabbatical after her life overturned. She wanted to learn more about her family, as her great-grandparents moved to America after the war. McKenna’s Baba (grandmother) said Helena, her mother, would never talk about their life in Europe. On her deathbed, Helena told Baba that she had a sister in Europe. Baba asked McKenna to see what she could find about her sister. McKenna and Taylor worked with a professional genealogist. McKenna’s family history and surprises would change her life.

Results of the research, traveling, and writing of this remarkable novel were personally meaningful to its gifted author, as readers will discover. I am beyond impressed by this novel and the spiritual and life journeys of Helena, McKenna, and others. This novel is, to me, well worth re-reading. Each change of narrator, either Helena or McKenna, begins with verse(s) from the Song of Lemkovyna that were profoundly moving. I highly recommend this novel to those who appreciate Christian WWII historical fiction, Poland then and now, family, and spiritual growth.

From a thankful heart: I received a prepublication copy of this novel from Celebrate Lit through NetGalley and the publisher, and this is my honest review.

I loved this wonderful story set in 2023 and in Poland during WWll. I laughed and cried while reading this tragic but beautiful story of courage and grit. I loved both Helena and McKenna as these women found their courage in Poland during WWll and now. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I have never heard of the Lemko people . This story is a heart wrenching story based on one girl from the
Lemko people .

1938 Poland & 2023 present day both very different battles .

The book brings to life some very heavy topics ; losing friends and loved one , concentration camps , suicide , murder and rape . It follows Helene in the 1930s and McKenna in modern day putting together her family history only to find that she is related to Helene.

Although there are some very heavy parts the book also concentrates on finding and making your own family , family , love , courage , determination , standing for others and holding on .

This story especially the 1930 part shows a people and woman who will do anything for family and loved ones .

The story made me research the Lemko people . I learned a lot . I appreciated the opportunity to learn more about this time and people .
Thank you to netgalley for a free download in exchange for an unbiased review.

Wednesday, January 15, 2025
What I Left For You
I literally just finished the book at 1:29 am. I can't sleep. I lay here thinking of how heart wrenching that this really happened.

I know first hand the havoc that occurred during WWII. My mother was a young child in England but she remembers the sacrifices that were made during this time. She remembers family members who didn't come home the same. She remembers the joy she felt when she had a bit of a egg. She remembers the sirens signaling the need to go into the shelters.

I can not even fathom how many survived and died during this war. Terrible things happened and we ask why? We don't have the answers. I'm sure many questioned their faith. Many others depended on their beliefs and prayed for the end of this terrible catastrophe.

Helena suffered greatly. Emotionally and physically. She held on to her faith that GOD will bring an end to this.

A powerful book. A book I won't forget.

This was a really good story that will pull on your heartstrings. I thought this story was very well researched and I learned a lot about the Lemko and Polish people and what they suffered during WWII. I liked how this story showed a woman who lost so much and yet still found the strength to keep going forward and to lean on God. I liked how McKenna was able to discovery her great grandmother’s story and was able to learn from it. I liked how she learned that she can be strong even while going through the hard things she was experiencing in her life. I liked seeing McKenna’s journey to discover her family history. It makes me want to learn more about my own family. This book is well done but will make you cry as you see the terrible things that Helena and others went through during and after the war. But the ending is so worth what they went through.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

What I Left for You, by Liz Tolsma, is the third book in the Echoes of the Past series. This is a series of stand alone dual time line stores that focus on someone in history and their present day ancestor. In this story we meet Helena during WWII and follow along with her through the war. We also meet her great-granddaughter, McKenna, and follow along with her as she researches her family history and returns to her family’s homeland. Before leaving her grandmother asks her to try to find her sister, whom she has never met and never talked about.

This story is so nicely written and easy to read and imagine. I enjoy the richness of the family history and the steps McKenna takes to find out the truth of her families’ history. I especially appreciate the additional information the author gives after the story about the Polish people and what happened to them during the war. I enjoyed how determined McKenna was to follow through on her research while dealing with a personal tragedy. I also love how the story shows a different look into what happened during WWII. It is sometimes hard to read of the extreme difficulties and hardships the people endured. The overwhelming strength these people had to survive is unimaginable. This is a must read story for those interesting in WWII history and those who enjoy researching family history.

I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book, this is my honest review.

This compelling historical novel opened new information and insights into the situations during World War II in Poland, a place my maternal grandmother’s family came from. This story shares the lives and struggle of the Lemkos, a Slavic people who suffered much. I appreciate the author’s connection to the area and her personal experiences, which greatly enriched the book. She brought the realistic characters to life as well as their trials and tragedies. I recommend this tale as an authentic representation of what life was like during the war—under Germany and later the Soviets. Be ready to feel deeply and to mourn the losses Helena faced as well as admire her pluck and spirit and her trust in God. The dual-time presentation made for an intriguing way to unveil the details of this captivating drama. We witness not only Helena’s courageous deeds and personal struggles but also follow those of her great-granddaughter, who is researching her family history. I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are my own. #WhatILeftforYou #NetGalley

My Thoughts

What I Left for You is book three in the Echoes of the Past series that is written by
Liz Tolsma. This is a dual time line Christian Historical Fiction. This book took me in an emotional journey that I wasn’t prepared for. One of the most amazing things about this author is that she does careful research and while you’re reading you’re also getting a history lesson that you may have never learned in school.

Readers are transported back to 1939 Poland. We’re sent to a world where we see right before the invasion. Helena Kostyszak is an oddity—an educated female ethnic minority lecturing at a university in Krakow. When the Germans close the university, she sees the Jews be forced to ghettos. So she takes her friends infant daughter and hides in her small town. Her courage and strength to save friends and family is inspiring.

Blended and woven together with 2023 we meet a woman McKenna who has always wanted to learn her families history. She takes a break after a case that she was the assigned social worker on goes wrong. She finds more than she ever would have imagined.

While this is part of a series it can be read as a stand alone book. I learned so much that I didn’t know before because of it. I love that the author brought Poland to life through the pages. I may or may not have cried a few times while reading.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read such an amazing story. All thoughts are my own.

This book has been an emotional rollercoaster for me. I absolutely love a dual timeline story. I have read many books about the war that took so many lives where the focus was mainly on Jewish people. What a nice surprise to see this book’s journey with Polish heritage. As I read the dual timeline I witnessed the cruelty that these people suffered.

We travel back in time to 1939 where we meet Helena. What an exceptional character she is. Her bravery to save a friend’s baby is nothing short of heroic. I loved how she kept her promise to her friend whose wish was for Helena to raise the baby as her own. Being unmarried she wasn’t sure how she would explain the baby but God always has a way even when we aren’t quite sure what to do.

Being introduced to the term Lemko intrigued me. I have never heard this term but the author does an amazing job of giving us historical facts which definitely helped the story become realistic. During this time period they were very poor but their strength to survive was evident. After finishing this book I did do a little research of my own to understand these people more.

As we move forward to 2023 we get acquainted with McKenna. Her job as a social worker is demanding and emotionally stressful. When she needs a break she along with a friend journey to Poland to research McKenna’s family. Oh my was this fun to read. I felt like I was beside her each step as new information about ancestors came to light.

What McKenna uncovers bridges the gap between past and present. McKenna was at times not sure she could uncover everything about her past ancestors but it was fun to see how much research was needed . I think at times she may not have been fully invested because of the tragedy she left behind due to her job.

There are several other characters in the book that add to this wonderful story. I have decided not to mention them because I want readers to discover them. They are important to the storyline and even show how God protected them in danger. The tragic events were described in a way that illustrated how survival came at a cost.

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

What I Left for You is book three from the Echoes of the Past series. It is certainly well written and thoroughly researched. Even though I am not that keen on a dual timeline, this one was excellent.

My heart ached for McKenna and what she was facing from her job as a social worker. Since I love researching genealogy myself, I could easily relate to McKenna's search.

I found it fascinating, learning about the Lemko people. I learned yet a couple more angles of World War II.

If you are interested in history, the World War II era, and the art of researching genealogy, you definitely must add What I Left for You to your TBR list. It certainly is a must read!

In 1942 during WWII the Germans were forcing the Jews, Pols and the Lemko Rusyn’s into ghetto camps to work with very little water, food and health care. So many died. In 2023 McKenna begins to search for her ancestors after tragedy happens in her own life. DNA tests, research and calls overseas send her and her friend on a journey to Poland to try and find out what happened to her grandmother’s unknown sister. The war tore so many families apart, many not knowing if their loved ones survived or were killed. Liz Tolsma did a great job of showing the atrocities done to these human beings with little respect for life. Although this was a work of fiction, so many real truths were brought out. We should never forget the terrible things that happened so as not to have them repeated.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through Celebrate Lit but was not required to write a review.

This is a very touching novel about a marginalized people who experienced great tragedy during WW II. We often read accounts involving Jews but this novel opened my eyes to others who suffered too. The descriptions of those in ghettos and those in labor camps were hard to read.

This is a dual time novel, Tolsma going back and forth, revealing information in the current era as we have read the correlating historical event. The current section involves a young woman seeking her historical roots. As there was tragedy during WW II, there is also tragedy in the current time involving the death of a child. Why God would allow such things is a theme recurrent in both the historical and current narratives.

The Author's Notes are very informative and set the novel in historical and geographical fact. This is a very timely novel as many are having DNA tests to discover their heritage. Much of this novel is based on Tolsma's own investigation into her Lemko ancestry. Except for the distracting and unnecessary relationship breakup of McKenna with her boyfriend, this a good novel and I recommend it. Be sure to have tissues nearby.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.