08 July 2020

The Green Dress | Book Review, Guest Post + Giveaway


ABOUT THE BOOK


Death seems to follow Harriet’s new friend.

Book 6 in the True Colors series—fiction based on strange-but-true history.

When Harriet Peters came to Boston in 1882, the Robinson family took her in like one of their own, and Harriet became closer to Lizzie Robinson than her own siblings. Now, four years later, Lizzie is deathly sick, failing quickly just like several others in her family have done over the past few years. How can so many in one family die from the same mysterious illness? Harriet doesn’t have answers, but she is determined to help the family, bringing in a new-to-the-neighborhood doctor, Michael Wheaton.

As Harriet and Michael close in on the answer, putting their own lives at risk, can the cause be found before anyone else dies?

Publisher: Barbour Books
Release Date: June 1, 2020


OTHER BOOKS IN THE SERIES


MY REVIEW

Once again, the most recent True Colors book brings to life a piece of American history I had not previously known—and it is fascinating.

Since coming to Boston, Harriet Peters has been a part of life with the Robinson family and has seen the mysterious illness that continues to steal life after life. Now that her best friend, Lizzie Robinson, is nearing death’s door, Harriet is determined to find answers—but just may be putting her own life on the line to do so.

The Green Dress is a mysterious, suspenseful story as Harriet, with the help of the new doctor, Michael Wheaton, uncover the truth behind the Robinsons’ illness. I enjoyed my time reading it (even if the history is all quite tragic) and definitely look forward to more of this strange-but-true series.


I received a complimentary copy of this book and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

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.


GUEST POST FROM THE AUTHOR

We’ve all been there—started a letter or an email or even a list, didn’t like what we had, crossed it out or hit the delete button, and tried again. Now imagine that happening when you’re writing a novel.

That’s what occurred with The Green Dress. Finding the perfect place to start a novel can be tricky, but when you’re trying to balance fact with fiction, it’s even harder. I needed the fictional heroine, Harriet Peters, to have a good reason to come into contact with and become close to the factual Robinson family. And I needed for the hero, Michael Wheaton, to meet Harriet early on. So I dove into the story. Five chapters later, the hero and heroine hadn’t yet met. The book wasn’t working.

I scrapped those chapters and started at a different point. At first, it seemed to be going better. I was happy. Until I got to the fifth chapter, when I realized again that the book wasn’t working. Frankly, it was boring. So those ended up in the virtual trash bin. Meanwhile, the clock was ticking on my deadline. I was desperate to find the right starting point, at a place with high tension. Finally, I had an “aha” moment, and the story flowed from there. That’s how the first five chapters (and the rest of The Green Dress) came to be.

—Liz Tolsma

GIVEAWAY


To celebrate her tour, Liz is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card. Enter below, and be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway.

TOUR SCHEDULE

5 comments:

  1. Just in love with all the covers in the series black and white with a touch of color.

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  2. I'm enjoying the True Colors series. Each story is so unique and fascinating.

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  3. Sounds like a good read.

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  4. The excerpt had me hooked.

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  5. This sounds like a really good read.

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