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A Desperate Mother Searches for Her Child
Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
Widowed in Memphis during 1932, Cecile Dowd is struggling to provide for her three-year-old daughter. Unwittingly trusting a neighbor puts little Millie Mae into the clutches of Georgia Tann, corrupt Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society director suspected of the disappearance of hundreds of children. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer, the search for Millie uncovers a deep level of corruption that threatens their very lives.
How far will a mother go to find out what happened to her child?
A Desperate Mother Searches for Her Child
Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime
Widowed in Memphis during 1932, Cecile Dowd is struggling to provide for her three-year-old daughter. Unwittingly trusting a neighbor puts little Millie Mae into the clutches of Georgia Tann, corrupt Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society director suspected of the disappearance of hundreds of children. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer, the search for Millie uncovers a deep level of corruption that threatens their very lives.
How far will a mother go to find out what happened to her child?
40 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 1, 2019
148 people are currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Liz Tolsma
42 books1,786 followersLiz 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 U.S. Marine, and her oldest daughter is a recent college graduate. 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.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
June 20, 2019
Step into True Colors—a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime Widowed in Memphis during 1932, Cecile Dowd is struggling to provide for her three-year-old daughter. Unwittingly trusting a neighbor puts little Millie Mae into the clutches of Georgia Tann, corrupt Memphis Tennessee Children’s Home Society director suspected of the disappearance of hundreds of children. With the help of a sympathetic lawyer, the search for Millie uncovers a deep level of corruption that threatens their very lives. How far will a mother go to find out what happened to her child?
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.
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.
May 8, 2019
•°o•:*:•. ***TRAUMATIC STORY*** .•:*:• o°•
Summer 1933, Tennessee
I'm not sure why anyone would want to write a gut-wrenching story about kidnapped children and the horror of a mother's quest to find her stolen daughter. This was a very difficult read. I gave it 2 stars (vs. 1) because it was well written despite my lack of enjoyment of it. This is certainly not what one could call entertainment.
There are strong thematic elements including physical abuse, so caution is advised.
This story is based on real-life events involving the kidnapping and selling of thousands of children by one woman (Georgia Tann) and a slew of corrupt politicians, which is awful, but having it rewoven into a semi-fictional tale for entertainment purposes is not my cup of tea.
Incidentally, after reading book one, I requested a copy of book two and three without knowing the background of the book. I kept my commitment for this book, but sadly after reading what book 3 is about, I will contact NetGalley to see if I can skip it. Can you say aaaawwwkkward? :(
I downloaded a copy of this book through Net Galley via the publisher with no fee and no compensation in the hopes of an honest review. My opinion is entirely my own.
This book is part of 6 in a new series by 3 authors. Go to True Colors Crime dot com to read more.
True Colors Books/Barbour Publishing:
March 1, 2019 The White City by Grace Hitchcock (5 stars)
June 2019 The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma (2 stars)
August 2019 The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken
January 2020 The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock
And two more tba
Summer 1933, Tennessee
I'm not sure why anyone would want to write a gut-wrenching story about kidnapped children and the horror of a mother's quest to find her stolen daughter. This was a very difficult read. I gave it 2 stars (vs. 1) because it was well written despite my lack of enjoyment of it. This is certainly not what one could call entertainment.
There are strong thematic elements including physical abuse, so caution is advised.
This story is based on real-life events involving the kidnapping and selling of thousands of children by one woman (Georgia Tann) and a slew of corrupt politicians, which is awful, but having it rewoven into a semi-fictional tale for entertainment purposes is not my cup of tea.
Incidentally, after reading book one, I requested a copy of book two and three without knowing the background of the book. I kept my commitment for this book, but sadly after reading what book 3 is about, I will contact NetGalley to see if I can skip it. Can you say aaaawwwkkward? :(
I downloaded a copy of this book through Net Galley via the publisher with no fee and no compensation in the hopes of an honest review. My opinion is entirely my own.
This book is part of 6 in a new series by 3 authors. Go to True Colors Crime dot com to read more.
True Colors Books/Barbour Publishing:
March 1, 2019 The White City by Grace Hitchcock (5 stars)
June 2019 The Pink Bonnet by Liz Tolsma (2 stars)
August 2019 The Yellow Lantern by Angie Dicken
January 2020 The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock
And two more tba
May 3, 2019
I’ve read several books about Georgia Tann in both fiction and non-fiction categories. Those books were written either from the viewpoint of the adopted child or as a news account of how Mrs. Tann got away with her adoption scandal. This novel, although fiction, gives voice to the heartbreak of the mothers who lost their children through the evil manipulations of Mrs. Tann. Liz Tolsma has written a thriller of a story as Cecile Dowd fights to recover her three year old daughter, Millie, who was kidnapped and taken to Mrs. Tann’s orphanage.
There are so many emotions encountered when reading this book: despair, sorrow, and outrage over the injustice shown to the parents trying to recover their children. The legal system was a complete disaster when it came to these children. But there’s also courage, faith and hope and this is what lifts this story to another level. This book has plenty of action. The tension builds as the story progresses and it’s not until the final pages that we find out what happened to little Millie.
This is a great entry into the “Historical Stories of American Crime” series. I liked the author’s notes at the end of the book and felt that those notes added to the authenticity of the story. It’s very realistic-feeling fiction and will keep you on the edge of your seat as you join in the search for this child.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
There are so many emotions encountered when reading this book: despair, sorrow, and outrage over the injustice shown to the parents trying to recover their children. The legal system was a complete disaster when it came to these children. But there’s also courage, faith and hope and this is what lifts this story to another level. This book has plenty of action. The tension builds as the story progresses and it’s not until the final pages that we find out what happened to little Millie.
This is a great entry into the “Historical Stories of American Crime” series. I liked the author’s notes at the end of the book and felt that those notes added to the authenticity of the story. It’s very realistic-feeling fiction and will keep you on the edge of your seat as you join in the search for this child.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
May 7, 2019
Omigosh, this was an emotional (but super enjoyable) read! Similar to the best-selling "Before We Were Yours", the story is quite different but involves the same evil woman, Georgia Tann who kidnapped thousands and babies and sold them! Cecil Dowd, a fictional character, featured in this book was one of those totally freaked-out mommies who, in her case, had her 3-yr-old Millie Mae stolen from her. Then there are the adoptive mothers who have come to love their new children so very much, only to have them "repossessed" by Ms. Tann and sold to a higher bidder.
October 3, 2019
Pink Bonnet
I chose this book because of its interesting synopsis. In this story, we have a young mother (Cecile Dowd), recently widowed and trying her best to raise her young daughter in her own; the year is 1932. A neighbour friend calls Ms Geirgia Tann, a corrupt director at the children's home in Memphis Tennessee. Tann *supposedly* takes in children who cannot be care for or have no place to go and adopt them out to families who can. However, when Mrs Dowd leaves her daughter (three--old Millie) with a neighbour to seek a job/s so she can better care for Millie, the phones The children's society home. Somehow, Mrs Dowd's signature ends up being forged relinquishing ALL rights to her child. She is at a complete loss until a compassionate lawyer offers his services.
I chose this book because of its interesting synopsis. In this story, we have a young mother (Cecile Dowd), recently widowed and trying her best to raise her young daughter in her own; the year is 1932. A neighbour friend calls Ms Geirgia Tann, a corrupt director at the children's home in Memphis Tennessee. Tann *supposedly* takes in children who cannot be care for or have no place to go and adopt them out to families who can. However, when Mrs Dowd leaves her daughter (three--old Millie) with a neighbour to seek a job/s so she can better care for Millie, the phones The children's society home. Somehow, Mrs Dowd's signature ends up being forged relinquishing ALL rights to her child. She is at a complete loss until a compassionate lawyer offers his services.
May 6, 2021
Definitely worth reading
This book will give insight into the world of years ago, back to a time when children were literally kidnapped from their loving parents and basically sold to childless couples under the pretext of "it was best for the child". Quite a few "child minders", as they were called made a very good living this way.
This book will give insight into the world of years ago, back to a time when children were literally kidnapped from their loving parents and basically sold to childless couples under the pretext of "it was best for the child". Quite a few "child minders", as they were called made a very good living this way.
July 7, 2019
Well. Written, Gets your attention and holds it The carectors is very well describe nd makes you either like them or not at all..
The title got me. First, Then I read some and I wanted to see if she got her daughter back
The title got me. First, Then I read some and I wanted to see if she got her daughter back
June 23, 2019
It is a hard story to read, but things like this really do happen. Reading what Cecile goes through to find her child is uncanny. I only read the preview, but I'm ready to find out how it ends.
September 27, 2019
Very good to read
I really enjoyed this book it is very good read I could not put it down true colours it is really good as a kindle reader .
I really enjoyed this book it is very good read I could not put it down true colours it is really good as a kindle reader .
May 22, 2019
Wow
I can’t wait to read the entire thing. I’m completely hooked! I cannot imagine having my child stolen from me by such corrupt people.
I can’t wait to read the entire thing. I’m completely hooked! I cannot imagine having my child stolen from me by such corrupt people.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews