About the Book

Book: A Promise Engraved

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Fiction/Historical Fiction/Romance

Release date: May, 2022

Can Promises Made in Times of Struggle Endure 200 Years?

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

Young, spirited Josie Wilkins life is about to take a turn when faced with political turmoil and forbidden love in San Antonio of 1836. John Gilbert has won her heart, despite being a Protestant preacher who is forbidden to practice his faith in Texas. Will either of them survive an epic battle for liberty to create a legacy of love?

Nearly 200 years later, Kayleigh Hernandez takes breaks from her demanding job as a refugee coordinator working with Mexican migrants to attend flea markets where she has found a uniquely engraved ring. Enlisting the help of appraiser Brandon Shuman, they piece together a love story long forgotten. But will dangers linked to Kayleigh’s work end her own hopes for leaving a legacy built on hope, faith, and love?

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About the Author

Liz 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 US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. 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.

More from Liz

The Story of Susannah Dickinson, Alamo Survivor

When asked how many died at the Alamo, many would answer that everyone did. While it’s true that all fighting on the side of Texas independence perished, there were survivors, all women and children and one slave. The only white woman (the rest were of Mexican descent) was Susannah Dickinson, along with her daughter Angelina. Susannah had followed her husband, Almaron, to Mexican Texas in 1831. They had married two years before when Susannah was just fifteen. She never learned to read or write.

She and the other women hid in the sacristy of the church, one of the surviving buildings in the mission and what we now think of as the Alamo. Her husband died, but Mexican General Santa Anna found them and spared their lives, sending them to Sam Houston with $2 each and a blanket.

She married again the following year but divorced him almost immediately on the grounds of cruelty. She married a third time the following year and was married for five years until her husband died of alcoholism. A fourth marriage occurred in 1847, but she divorced again in 1857, this time allegedly because she was having an affair. That same year, she married for a fifth time. This marriage lasted until her death in 1883.

The ring in A Promise Engraved is based on a cat’s eye ring supposedly given to Angelina by William Travis before the battle. Angelina was Susannah’s only child. She married and had three children, but that marriage ended in divorce. She gave the ring to a man she’d become involved with in New Orleans. She married again and had one more child but died in 1869 from a uterine hemorrhage.

Today there are many descendants of Susannah Dickinson. If you visit the Susannah Dickinson house in Austin, you’ll see a quilt that is signed by many of her living descendants.

My Thoughts

A Promise Engraved is part of the Doors to the Past series and is written by Liz Tolsma. The series is written by multiple authors and all revolve between the time split theme. I believe this is the first time split novel for the author. I have read several of her books and they are always amazing reads.

In this story, travel back to 1835 Texas. There is a lot going on during this time period in history. The author did an amazing job bringing in the rich history of the area. Josie Wilkins has had a shattered life. Her mother and sister were murdered. She was kidnapped by an evil man. Because of this there are so many scars that remain hidden. She is a determined woman. She has set her sites on John Gilbert. He is the Protestant Preacher. However, her deep secrets make her feel that she is not worthy of being a Pastor's wife. John is not able to fully reach out due to the time period. He is s forbidden to practice his faith in Texas. There is a fight for Texas and its independence.

Our Present day character is, Kayleigh Hernandez. She assists Mexican migrant children which takes a toll mentally and emotionally. While traveling the flea markets she finds a very interesting ring. She is determined to find out the story behind it. She asks for help from an appraiser, Brandon Shuman. What kind of story will they be able to piece together?

The characters are well written. You can feel their emotions coming off the page. I have enjoyed this series so much - and don't want to EVER see it end. I adore this author and have always loved everything she has written.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Celebrate Lit for allowing me to read a copy of this story - all thoughts are my own.