Based on true events, Liz Tolsma's Snow on the Tulips is a fascinating novel that takes place in a Nazi occupied town in the Netherlands. Set in the months leading up to the liberation by Canadian soldiers, it is a suspense-laden story that will keep you on the edge of your seat as Cornelia de Vries risks her life as she hides her brother Johan and Dutch Resistance fighter Gerrit Laninga from the Gestapo.

Cornelia lost her husband on the first day the Nazis invaded the Netherlands and she is determined not to lose her brother Johan too. Hiding with relatives in the country for much of the war, once Johan's safety was compromised, he was forced to return to the family home in town. Cornelia has diligently worked to keep her brother's presence a secret and she is horrified when he brings Gerrit, the lone survivor of an execution that took the lives of several Dutch Resistance workers, into their home. She reluctantly agrees to allow him to stay them while he recovers. Gerrit needs more help than Cornelia can provide and she is enlists the aid of their sister, Anki, who is also a nurse. Cornelia is soon struggling to keep both Gerrit and Johan out of the hands of the Nazis and Anki finds herself at odds with her husband Piet as she continues to provide medical aid to those in need.

In the beginning, Gerrit and Cornelia's perspectives on the war could not be more different. Cornelia just wants to survive until the Allies free them from the German occupation and she goes quietly about her business. She is also still deeply mourning the loss of her husband and cannot imagine giving her heart to another man, let alone one whose decisions put him in harm's way.

Gerrit fervently fights for what he believes in with no regard for his personal safety. Although he narrowly escaped death, he is eager to resume his work for the Dutch underground. Betrayed be someone he once cared deeply for, Gerrit, too, protects his heart.

The secondary cast of characters is superbly developed and each of them brings a unique perspective to the novel. Johan is young and idealistic and his eagerness to be part of the action leads to careless and sometimes costly mistakes. Anki finds herself struggling to be a submissive wife while still staying true to her own beliefs and ideals. Piet's faith leads him to mindlessly follow orders regardless of the consequences. Cornelia's elderly boss, Frou de Bruin is quite feisty and her role takes an unexpected turn late in the story.

The romance between Cornelia and Gerrit is beautifully depicted and their love brings unanticipated changes for the couple. Cornelia is devastated when Gerrit resumes his resistance efforts and she continues to protect herself from further heartbreak. Both of their viewpoints are challenged by unfolding events and when Gerrit's participation in the Dutch underground becomes more dangerous, Cornelia is faced with a life-altering decision. Just as the Allies are about to defeat the Nazis, Gerrit's life hangs in the balance and assistance comes from an unlikely collaborator.

All of the characters are deeply spiritual and for me, one of the most interesting facets of Snow on the Tulips is how their different beliefs shaped their reactions to the war. Various Bible passages impacted the roles they decided to take and often dictated their actions. Scripture and prayer are essential to the storyline and their inclusion complements the overall plot.

With Snow on the Tulips, Liz Tolsma shines a much needed light on a part of history that is often overlooked. She brings the novel vibrantly to life with a sympathetic and likable cast of characters and a tension-filled storyline. A history lesson that I will not soon forget, I highly recommend this incredible story to fans of historical fiction set during WWII.
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Based on true events, "Snow on the Tulips" was a moving read about Cornelia and her siblings during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands. Filled with relatable characters, the author showed many aspects of war from the Resistance fighters to the women who stayed at home and tried to keep their families fed and safe. Yet each one did their part, often behind the scenes without anyone knowing the risks they were taking.

Having lost her husband on her wedding night, at the start of the war, four years on and Cornelia's life is one of fear and dread. However, despite this, she risks her life to hide her young brother and together they nurse Gerrit, a man with strong convictions fighting to stop the Germans, back to health. The romance that developed between Cornelia and Gerrit was touching, although I think too much emphasis was placed upon it.

Despite this, there was still plenty of tension, danger, drama and action as people put their lines on the line to save others. In fact, I think the most powerful line in the book was when Gerrit said to Cornelia, "Courage is not a feeling. Courage is an action."

From the start I was drawn to the lives of Gerrit, Cornelia and her family as they tried to survive these dark times, and I often found myself hoping they would all make it to the end of the war safely. I also enjoyed how both Gerit and Cornelia grew and brought out the best in each other.

"Snow on the Tulips" was an engaging read about courage, hope and love, and I will be looking for more novels by this author. ( )

Snow on the Tulips is a story of loss, survival, fear, and uncertainty. It also has a strong thread of faith throughout with strong religious overtones.

February 1945 – WWII in Occupied Netherlands – The storyline starts out strong as the Nazis are planning to execute several Dutch Resistance workers. Gerrit Lanings is one of those men, but the Gestapo blotched his execution and he survives.

Since her parents had died and her sister had married, the job of caring for her younger brother, Johan, fell on Cornelia. Cornelia was still trying to get over the loss of Hans, her husband. She became a bride and a widow on the same night when Hans chose his country over Cornelia. Hans was in the army and he had an obligation to fight the Germans. She begged him not to go – they would’ve exempted him as a newlywed – but he was determined.

20-year-old Johan went into hiding at the farm. He would work there to earn his keep, but he was always in danger of getting picked up by the Gestapo. He was tired of sitting prisoner in the house, waiting to be either arrested or liberated. He became bored and wanted to join the Resistance.

Cornelia risks her safety and well being when she reluctantly takes in Gerrit and nurses him back to health. Cornelia was no longer the innocent young woman she was when she married Hans. She had been caught in a war zone without a husband, but she survived. Life had become uncertain and fragile for Cornelia. A love eventually begins and blossoms between Cornelia and Gerrit --- and the story unfolds with much suspense and drama.

I truly enjoyed this book, a rich treat for historical fiction fans. It is a book to be savored, obviously well researched, as it brings to life such a sad time in our history. Parts of the book did drag somewhat and the romance faltered, being rather lukewarm – it just didn’t feel natural to me. But – that being said – the storyline had a well-constructed plot, compelling characters, and a satisfying conclusion. A richly written novel and a great read! 4/5 stars.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions shared are solely my responsibility. ( )

“Snow on the Tulips” by Liz Tolsma is historical fiction based on the true story of the author’s family who lived in Friesland, Netherlands during the Nazi occupation during 1940 to 1945. It is the story of the people who lived under the oppressive rule of the Germans during the war. Garrit Laninga was supposed to be shot by the Gestapo in February 1945 for being a part of the Dutch Resistance, but the soldier did not kill him. Garrit played dead until the execution team left the dead on the bank of the canal. Then he sought help in one of the houses across the canal. Johan and his sister Cornelia de Vries were hiding too. Cornelia lost her husband on the first day of the blitzkrieg into the Netherlands. She is determined that her brother will not be conscripted to work for the Germans or the Resistance for fear that he would never return home. What follows is a story of fear, faith and courage that the citizens of the Friesland villages and the members of the Dutch Resistance lived during the Nazi occupation.

I found this book to be a riveting fictional account of the lives of collaborators and regular citizen and desperation that they must have felt during the Nazi regime. I kept wondering if I could have been as selfless and courageous at these individuals who helped hide Jews, American airmen, and men from seventeen to forty-five who were being rounded up to work for the Germans. These men hid for years in attics, under houses, barns, anywhere to keep from being taken by the Nazis. This book may be a work of fiction, but I felt the reality of the situations as though I was there. I marvel at the courage and perseverance of the men and women who lived during this time and their struggles to stay alive yet help their country rid itself of the occupiers.

I received a free Kindle copy of this book in return for my honest review from Thomas Nelson Publishers and NetGalley.com.

You can read this review on my blog at http://wp.me/p2pjIt-8D. ( )

Snow on the Tulips by Liz Tolsma was an amazing book. This book takes place during WWII which just happens to be one of the time periods in history that I love learning and reading about. I also loved this book because my grandma's family is from the Netherlands and she is working on her family history right now so I feel like I know the people. I loved this book but it was a hard read for me because I knew that this book is fiction but things like this had to have actually happened to people there. This is a book that I know I will hold on to because the author does an amazing job of telling the story and of making you feel like you are there going through everything with the characters. I loved the love story as well in this book and I was sad when it finally did come to an end because I love the characters and in the end I felt like I knew them. If you love WWII and love stories than I know you will love this book! ( )