A beautiful display of the power of song and the indomitable will of the human spirit.
Liz Tolsma has this ability to take real and raw subjects and turn them into books I love to read. The atrocities the Polish faced are not a light topic, and she did not try to water down the history in any way.
Natia and Teodor have already faced much heartache, and the bond they share is something extraordinary. Reading through their journey was painful as you see their experiences but the poignant beauty allows the story to shine.
It is truly amazing what the human body can endure and still survive. The person's will and their inner strength drive both these characters to never give up, even when faced with these horrific circumstances.
I was not prepared to love this book as much as I did. I've read Liz Tolsma's books before, so I knew there would be a strong theme and overwhelming characters. When the Heart Sings is probably my favorite story so far.
Nadia's unflagging love for Teodor brought light in the midst of darkness and allowed me to see into the very heart of this courageous woman. Through this love, she was able to show others the beauty of sacrifice and the power of a heart that refuses to give up its song.
There are some characters you're going to despise. That's a given considering the plot. When writing a story about labor camps, there will be unlikeable characters. The good news is that their stories do not take precedence.
I requested a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a positive review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

*thank you to Netgalley and Gilead Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

4 stars. 

Ohh Lord. This book. It was so so good! It's such a heartfelt story. I am SO glad that I read it. Historical fiction needs to be a genre that you have to be in the mood for as if you aren't, it just doesn't work. Atleast for me anyways. Well, I admit I went into this half hearted. But pretty much, by the first chapter I was hooked. That's now good of a story this is. 

WWII stories are always hard to read because of the horrors that happened during that time. I have read quiet a few of them and I'm still not at that point where the subject bores me as so many genres and topics can be like. This book won't bore or disappoint. It's well written and is interesting. I also have to mention that I really quite like the cover. Highly recommend.

Liz Tolsma is one of my favorite WW II fiction writers. And so, when I see another book that she has written offered, I snatch it up. I have enjoyed two of her Music of Hope series, “Melody of the Soul” and the one I’m reviewing here, “When the Heart Sings”. I intend to read all the books in the Music of Hope series.

This second novel in the series tells the story of Natia and Teodor, a farming couple living in Poland. They are forced out of the home by the invasion of the Nazis. Teodor and Natia are being forced to work for the Nazi government in factories. However, at the train station where they are waiting to be crowded into cattle cars, Natia raises such a commotion at having to leave Teodor that the factory commandant’s wife snatches her up to be her maid. Teodor is bound for factory work and Natia is surprisingly billeted in the home of the Nazi commandant.

During one of her excursions to the market, she happens upon a poor Jewish woman and her infant. She sneaks them food when she can and eventually finds this dying woman on the commandant’s doorstep. She decides that she will care for the infant and under the Nazi’s and his wife Elfriede’s noses, tends to the little Jewish lad in their home. Neither realizes that this child is not Arayn. When the secret comes out, Natia and Elfriede, who has come to love the child as her own, along with Teodor, who has escaped the factory, run for their lives.

This is another remarkably poignant novel by Ms. Tolsma. You won’t be disappointed.

The opening of this book had me hooked. There was a draw of sadness so real written within the pages. I could feel the pain the characters felt. World War II was a terrible time and being unable to have children and the loss of that has to be terrible. The way the author portrays this within the pages is done so well. A definite read. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. All views stated here are my own.

Liz Tolsma is a favorite of mine. Her historical fiction of World War II never seems to disappoint. Her attention to every detail and her historical accuracy, never goes unnoticed. She is an exceptional storyteller. Her characters are so wonderfully developed that you can feel their pain, their heart, soul and their joys through the words on the page.

When the Heart Sings, is the gripping story of Teodor and Natia, Polish Christians. When the Germans marched into Poland it’s people suffered unimaginable horrors and tragedy. Three million Polish Jews were killed during the German occupation. Three million Christians were also killed. This is their story. The story of beauty that God can bring from the ashes.

There’s a glimmer of something... When the world that surrounds proves the worst kind of humanity, where evil and depravity exist, their is this small act of kindness, of forgiveness and of friendship, and when all seems lost their is this beautiful glimpse of hope.
All this is found within the pages of When the Heart Sings.
Teodor and Natia have suffered immense lose. After having to bury three of their babies and forced to leave their home, they are separated. One to a labor camp and the other into the home of a cruel Nazi officer. Each living in their own prison, they find that the only thing that can get them through these dark and uncertain times is their faith in God and their love for one another.

There is this beautiful relationship that develops between Natia and her German captors wife, Elfriede. A friendship that is birthed from a mutual experience of heartbreaking loss and the love of an orphaned child. In When the Heart Sings joy and hope is found amongst darkness, and beauty is brought forth from the ashes.
Liz Tolsma has written a beautiful and powerful story you won’t soon forget.

Review has been posted on both Goodread as well as Amazon.

This will probably be one of the hardest reviews I will ever write and not because of the writing, yet because of the writing if that makes any sense.

Liz Tolsma is one of my absolutely favorite historical authors, and just like her other historicals this book is impeccably written.

From the moment I opened the first page and began reading I was pulled into the world of Natia and Teodor. A Polish couple torn from their farm because of the Nazi occupation.

Ms. Tolsma brings to life the devastation the Polish people endured through vivid scenes and heartache.
The friendship she creates between Natia and a German woman, Elfriede Fromm becomes a bright spot for both women during the worst of times in their lives.

Her depiction of life inside a labor camp angered me to no end.Which brings me to one of the best villains I think I've read or maybe the first one that stands out as vividly as Erich Fromm. Erich Fromm was pure evil like the devil himself. I don't believe I can point out one thing that I liked about the guy a character you will love to hate.

My Bottom Line:

This book is an emotional story that will grab you from page one. The book is historically accurate and you can see that Ms. Tolsma did her research. While it is a book you feel as though you are watching a movie.

Even with all of the misery placed perfectly within the book there is hope, forgiveness, and love. Love that pulls you through anything, and hope that encourages you to continue through the worst of times when your heart just wants to quit.

I highly recommend it!

~When the Heart Sings by Liz Tolsma.~

A touching look into one of the lesser known events of the Holocaust—the deportation of thousands of Polish people from their homes into “work camps.”

A story of so much heartache and trial, and yet the great, immense hope that comes from being able to trust God, even in the midst of that trial.

A story of the power of friendship, and simple human kindness.

A story of Love, and finding peace and light, even when all you can see is darkness.

A story of music, and the stories it tells.

This book was powerful and hopeful. It was an incredible (and well-written) look into the Holocaust, and the impact it had in the lives of so many innocent people. I thought the author did an amazing job telling this story, not only of the trials of the Holocaust, but also, the struggles these women had with infertility during this time.

She addresses these topics honestly, shows the heartache and sorrow and darkness during this time, but she also shows that there is hope, even when everything is falling apart, and the world seems to be a wholly hopeless place. She shows that there is hope in the God who never leaves us or forsakes us.

I highly recommend this beautiful story. ****FOUR STARS****

1943 Poland, the Nazis, the war camps and how mistreated the people were made this a heart tugging, sad yet inspirational story of survival and love. Following this family through the prison camp they were taken to instead of where they were told they were going made this war story so real. This author takes you right into their midst, the horror and then the triumph of this family. I requested this book through NetGalley, no review was required, my review is voluntary.

When the Heart Sings was the first book that I had read by Liz Tolsma but it will not be the last. I just ordered the first book in this series. However, I did not feel that it was necessary to have read the first book in this Music of Hope series before reading When the Heart Sings. I found it to be a stand alone novel but because I enjoyed reading it so much I was curious about the first book and therefore ordered it. Historical novels, especially about World War II and the Holocaust, are the genre I often gravitate towards. Where the Heart Sings opened my eyes to a whole different aspect of the camps during the Holocaust. It was beautifully written and had a way of transporting me back in time to actually feel as if I was there in the small Polish village. The raw emotions,of fear, love, friendship and hope were present throughout the book.

Natia and Teodor were living modestly on a farm in rural Poland with their immediate family living close by when the Nazis invaded Poland. They were young Christian Poles who had already experienced their share of heartbreak. Natia and Teodor had lost three babies in childbirth. Their babies' graves sat on a surrounding hillside on their farm. Natia's and Teodore's grief for the three babies they lost was raw and emotional. The Nazis were demanding that Natia, Teodor and the rest of their family vacate their farms so that good German families could be relocated there. Natia, Teodor, Natia;s brother Zygmunt, her sister Helena and her father were loaded onto cattle cars at the nearby train station and taken to a labor camp. Upon their arrival, Natia and Teodor were separated almost immediately. Natia. just recently having lost their third baby, was still recovering and was experiencing difficulty keeping up with the rigid orders that were being shouted at them. Teodor did everything he could to help her. They were determined to stay together but that was not to be. It just so happened that on that day the wife of the Nazi in charge of the local factory, Elfriede, decided to satisfy her curiosity and see for herself what happened when new prisoners arrived. She immediately noticed that Natia was in a bad way and her husband was treating her in an awful way. Elfriede came to Natia's rescue and somehow talked her husband into allowing Natia to become their servant in their home. She nursed Natia back to health. There were many obstacles to overcome for Natia and Elfriede. One of the obvious ones was language being that Elfriede spoke German and Natia spoke Polish. In time, they came to understand each other and discovered that they had both had miscarriages. This was a common bond that would later lead to friendship between the two women. Teodor was assigned to work as a laborer in the factory run by Elfriede's husband. Natia soon discovered that the factory was close to the house she was working in. On her way to the town to do errands for Elfriede she sang songs as a way to communicate to Teodor that she was fine and he would sing back to her so she knew he was alive and well. Several months after Natia began working for Elfriede and her husband, a Jewish baby was brought to the house where Natia worked. The Jewish mother was dying and her dying wish was that Natia would raise Solomon as her own. Elfriede and Natia were smitten by the baby immediately. Natia was the only one who knew of his real identity. They both knew that raising this child in the home of a Nazi officer would be challenging. Dr. Pawel Bosco was sent for to create a new identity for the child. Solomon became Dominik and he was truly loved by both women. Natia had to make sure though that she was the only one that dressed and changed Dominik so that his Jewish identity was not discovered. Dominik became the child both women had longed for and were both denied.

Although the characters in When The Heart Sings are fictitious Liz Tolsma skillfully used the characters to shed light on the many atrocities and threats the Polish citizens had to endure during the Nazi invasion of their country. The uprising of the Warsaw Ghetto and the Polish resistance were carefully intertwined marginally into the story as well. Natia's heartfelt, angelic singing brought hope and even some comfort to those who heard her. All my emotions were tapped and I could not put this book down. Liz Tolsma's own history of miscarriage was shared in the Notes of her book as well as how she became interested in this period of World War II. I am anxiously awaiting the third installment in this series.I highly recommend When the Heart Sings..

Thank you to Gilead Publishing, LLC and Netgalley for affording me the opportunity to receive a complimentary copy of When the Hear Sings by Liz Tolsma. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

When the Heart Sings
by Liz Tolsma

Gilead Publishing

Christian , Historical Fiction

Pub Date 09 Oct 2018


I am reviewing a copy of When the Heart Sings through Gilead Publishing and Netgalley:




Natia has a secret one she is keeping right under the nose of her captors.


It’s 1943 Poland and the Nazi’s have forced Natia and Teodor are forced into the labor camp. After Natia is separated from her husband Teodor, Natia is chosen to be the housekeeper of the Camps overseer while Teodor is sent to work in the factory. Despite the camps strict rules and the consequences they will face if caught disobeying them Natia finds a way to communicate with Teodor by singing songs as are passed Teodor’s dormitory.


The situation gets more intense after a Jewish baby is left on the overseers doorstep and Natia decides to take it in telling the overseer it was her sisters child. Natia is determined to take in this little boy and raise him as her own. But will she be able to keep the child’s identity safe or will her and Teodor end up paying the ultimate price?


I give When the Heart Sings five out of five stars!


Happy Reading!

I'm going to be completely honest about something. I'm not sure I can find the words to show you how much this book affected me. Tolsma just pulls you into the story and doesn't let go. She masterfully ends each break with a cliffhanger, making it pretty much impossible to put the book down, ever. Yes, make sure you leave a big slot of time to read this. Have tissues nearby as well. I won't sugar coat it, this was a hard book for me to read. Not because of the author's ability, not because of the story line, but because of the content. Tolsma tenderly shows you the horror that the Polish faced during this wicked time in history. It is not gruesome, or in great detail for that matter, but it is just enough to make you understand the cruelty and harshness the characters faced. I cannot even fathom the time and effort it took to write this story. As a reader, I was invested in the characters and it absolutely broke my heart to see all the horrid things that happened to them. They were like family to me. Imagine being Liz Tolsma and having to write it! Oh my word, I cannot even imagine it.

On top of this is probably the best villain I have read this year, Erich Fromm. I don't often talk about villains, but Erich really got under my skin. He was so evil, such a bad character, in a good way. Tolsma did a fantastic job of creating his character. The marriage between him and Elfreide really makes you scratch your head, and for most of the book Elfreide's attitude towards him is really a picture of how many people in an abusive relationship feel today. Erich Fromm is a character you will love to hate. I know, hate is a strong word, but trust me when I say you will have strong feelings towards this man. I enjoy reading about a good villain, someone who makes my blood boil, and has me reading more to see if they reach their ultimate demise. It's just fiction, so we're allowed to feel this way, right?

The attention to detail in this book is another thing that stood out to me. Even something simple like the children being excited in the beginning about riding on the train. Their innocence just pulls at your heart strings, but I imagine that several of the children felt that way in real life. Tolsma was able to capture the essence of each individual character throughout the chapters of this book in a way that made you feel like you have known them forever. There are several mini-themes in this book that give you hope. Hope of escaping a horrible situation. Hope that one day God will truly answer your prayers, in a way you never expect. Hope that love really does get you through. And hope that the God who created this world, loves you more than anything and will never leave your side. Even through all the tragedy, Tolsma was able to lift my spirits and remind me of the hope I should have everyday. Yes, this book will make you cry. Yes, this book will pull at your heart strings and leave you breathless. But it will also amaze you and remind you of the light that appears in a world of darkness.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I have adored Liz’s books but haven’t read any in a couple of years. I missed the first book in this series, unfortunately.

I love the look she takes at WWII and the many layers that were happening during that time. I have learned so much by reading her books. I honestly didn’t realize the scope of Germany’s reach and all the lives they ruined, or tried to.

This is book beautiful. Natia is a heartbreaking character and mother’s or those who wish to be will identify with her. Teodor is a strong man and only wants his family reunited.

I, of course, enjoy the inclusion of music in this book. If you like stories based in WWII times you will appreciate this book.

Visit Liz here.

Grab your copy at your local bookstore, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Christianbook.com or your favorite retailer.

Leave a comment by December 11th for your chance to win a copy of this book. I am giving away one copy to one reader. A winner will be chosen by random.org. (U.S. addresses only. I will not replace books lost or damaged in the mail.)

A copy of this book was given to me. All opinions are my own.

I can tell you that this is a book unlike any other that you will read in 2018. It is one that moves your heart to a new level of awe, it amazes your mind with the visions and descriptions. It is a book that will sit on your lap and beg you to turn the pages as fast as you can read, then beg you to start again. I really loved this book and pray that you will too.

When the Heart Sings is full of universal lessons for all of us: forgiveness, patience, and finding friendship in the unlikeliest of places. When Polish Christians Natia and Teodor are forced from their home and deported to a German labor camp, they endure very different but equally heartwrenching circumstances. Teodor, always under scrutiny by Erich, the camp overseer, faces extra cruelty and work demands. Natia, living as the housekeeper in the overseer's home, faces a very different set of challenges. Home alone all day with Elfriede, Erich's wife, she is forced to take over all housework. As they slowly learn to communicate, Elfriede and Natia discover that they have more in common than they realize. When Natia brings a Jewish baby into the home, she and Elfriede are determined to love the baby and to keep it safe from Erich at all costs. The way that this plays out and the sacrifices that are made are truly inspiring.

The supporting characters in this story also portray so well those who worked secretly in the background to aid the helpless victims of the war. One of those characters in the story said my favorite line in the whole book:

"We look at our circumstances and see things as not good. But we don't see the picture clearly, as the Lord does. He knows what's going on. Things happen just the way he has planned they will. We aren't to find our joy and contentment in people or in our circumstances, but in him."

When I read that, I had to put down the book and think for a minute about how truly blessed I am. It's so easy to get caught up in my everyday problems, and some of them are genuinely stressful, but truly, there is nothing that I can't get through with the Lord's help. I've never been good at praising the Lord in times of trial, but if victims of the Holocaust can do it then so should I. I'm so grateful to Liz Tolsma for this touching reminder!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Gilead Publishing through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Heartbreaking historical fiction from Liz Tolsma. Grab a tissue box when you go to read this touching new book.

Granted, I was not a huge fan of my history classes in school, but it sometimes amazes me how there are still aspects of World War II I am unfamiliar with. I mean, I may not have paid a lot of attention in said history classes, but I’ve read a lot of World War II fiction and some non-fiction about this era.

Yet Liz Tolsma takes a piece of our past—the persecution and imprisonment of the Polish citizens (including the Christians) by Germany—and immerses her readers in that world to the point you feel like you are living in the house with Natia or in the work camp with Teodore.

In When the Heart Sings, Tolsma shines a spotlight on the evil hearts of man—seriously, the Nazi Erich Fromme is a villain to the core of his being, one that I won’t soon forget—while also exemplifying the strength, bravery, and even kindness of the human spirit. It can be beaten down, bent, buried, but there is a piece of men (and women) that fights, refuses to be broken.

This book is filled with the atrocities of the Nazi regime so it’s not a light read, but every painful minute in the story is well worth it.

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.

When The Heart Stops is a beautiful, emotional story of WWII Poland. The story is powerful and I had to force myself to put it down to commence with my real life. I love the way the author tells her story and will be reading more books by Ms Tolsma. I am grateful to netgalley for gifting me with an arc of this story, the opinions are my own.

This is the first book by Liz Tolsma that I have read and I’m incredibly glad that I did. I love historical fiction/historical romance and I have found another favorite author in Liz Tolsma. Her writing style is lyrical and musical, so befitting the title of the book and the series. There is so much pain, aching sorrow, and nostalgic sadness as Teodor and Natia navigate their lives away from their hometown in Poland during WWII at/near a work camp. The heartbreak of miscarriage and infertility is gently addressed in the plot. Even in the midst of evil and atrocities against fellow man, Teodor and Natia cling to their sweet and tender love, their unbreakable bond through music, and hope that God holds out for everyone who believes. Secondary characters of Elfriede and Pawel are unforgettable.

Though it is not an easy read due to the nature of what Teodor and Natia have to live through, the book is a worthy read. I was given a copy of the book by Gilead Publishing via NetGalley and was not required to post a review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.

This is a long book that is hard to put down. Such a hard subject to read about and I cannot imagine how hard to would be to write about. Besides the torture from the Germans there was personal issues for Natia and Teodor to overcome.

Natia and Teodor plus their family is taken from their home in Poland and brought to Germany to work for the Germans and or be prisoners of them. The time period is set during the war during the 1940’s. Natia and Teodor is separated but find a way to connect through song.

This is a very inspiring book, if you want a book that is hard to put down this is the book for you. Even though this is fiction we know that how bad people were treated at that time. The war is unfortunately a part of history.

I received an advanced copy of the book from NetGalley through the publisher. I was not required to write an review review. This is my own opinion.

This is a very enlightening book on a subject that is not written about often - the Polish people's suffering during WWII. A lot is written about the Jewish camps but many Polish people who were not Jewish were forced into labor camps. This book is a very moving story about such.