Historical Fiction Virtual Tours: The Medallion

The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke

Publication Date: June 4, 2019

Tyndale House Publishers

Hardcover, Paperback, eBook; 432 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Christian

Read an Excerpt Download the Discussion Guide Download the Recipes for The Medallion For fans of bestselling World War II fiction like Sarah's Key and The Nightingale comes an illuminating tale of courage, sacrifice, and survival, about two couples whose lives are ravaged by Hitler's mad war yet eventually redeemed through the fate of one little girl. Seemingly overnight, the German blitzkrieg of Warsaw in 1939 turns its streets to a war zone and shatters the life of each citizen--Polish, Jewish, or otherwise. Sophie Kumiega, a British bride working in the city's library, awaits news of her husband, Janek, recently deployed with the Polish Air Force. Though Sophie is determined that she and the baby in her womb will stay safe, the days ahead will draw her into the plight of those around her, compelling her to help, whatever the danger. Rosa and Itzhak Dunovich never imagined they would welcome their longed-for first child in the Jewish ghetto, or that they would let anything tear their family apart. But as daily atrocities intensify, Rosa soon faces a terrifying reality: to save their daughter's life, she must send her into hiding. Her only hope of finding her after the war--if any of them survive--is a medallion she cuts in half and places around her neck. Inspired by true events of Poland's darkest days and brightest heroes, The Medallion paints a stunning portrait of war and its aftermath, daring us to believe that when all seems lost, God can make a way forward.

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About the Author

Cathy Gohlke is the three-time Christy Award-winning author of the critically acclaimed novels The Medallion, Until We Find Home, Secrets She Kept (winner of the 2016 Carol and INSPY Awards), Saving Amelie (winner of the 2015 INSPY Award), Band of Sisters, Promise Me This (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2012), William Henry Is a Fine Name, and I Have Seen Him in the Watchfires (listed by Library Journal as one of the best books of 2008), which also won the American Christian Fiction Writers' Book of the Year Award. Cathy writes novels steeped with inspirational lessons from history. Her stories reveal how people break the chains that bind them and triumph over adversity through faith. When not traveling to historic sites for research, she, her husband, and their dog, Reilly, divide their time between Northern Virginia and the Jersey Shore, enjoying time with their grown children and grandchildren. Visit her website at www.cathygohlke.com and on Facebook at CathyGohlkeBooks.

Review: There are so many reasons I can think of for any person with a love for historical fiction to read this book. There are even more reasons for ANYONE to read it.

It isn't a pretty story. No story about WWII that involves the Jewish community should be.   

It is a story that will break your heart into pieces many times over.

Its the story of a young English woman who married a polish man who is fighting for Poland. It is also the story of Rosa and Itzhak, a young Jewish couple who are fighting to stay alive.

Through the horrors of Hitler's occupation of Poland, these two sets of people find their lives entwined without even knowing it.

The story is told from many points of view, Sophie, Rosa and Itzhak. The writing is so wonderfully done that the shifts in narration are effortless and not at all confusing. It gives you the whole heartbreaking story from start to finish.

I wasn't sure how this book would end. I wasn't sure if I could expect a happy ending, not that I require one, but I was pleased at how everything worked out for everyone.

What I loved the most about this book was the strength of the characters. What each one of them goes through to survive and to help is amazing and some of the sacrifices you see in this story.

I loved that the medallion was a Tree of Life and that brings me to why this book is a must read for anyone that loves a good story. I'm from Pittsburgh, where there was a mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue. This book should serve as a reminder that we should be moving forward from the hatred that was Hitler's Germany and not back.

This is a book that should be on everyone's reading list this year.

Rating: 5 flowers

Blog Tour Schedule

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we will be giving away 5 paperback copies of The Medallion! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on June 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen. The Medallion

Book Review: Secrets Over Sweet Tea

Author: Denise Hildreth Jones
Title: Secrets Over Sweet Tea
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Publish Date: Feb 26, 2013
Buy: Amazon

Book Blurb: Secrets can be funny things. We think they keep us safe, but more often than not, they spill out when we least expect and make a mess out of everything. It's a truth Scarlett Jo Newberry knows all too well—a truth Grace Shepherd and Zach Craig are about to learn the hard way. As the lives of this boisterous pastor's wife, polished news anchor, and beleaguered divorce attorney intersect in the tree-lined streets of Franklin, Tennessee, scandal threatens to topple their carefully constructed worlds. Grasping at survival, they embark on a journey of friendship and courage, desperate to find a way back to laughter, love, and life.

Review: As most of you know, I read a good bit of Christian fiction. Secrets Over Sweet Tea is probably the best book from this genre I've read all year. It falls in that grey area known as women's fiction. (Yeah, its a girlie book, as if you couldn't tell that from the title)

The book chronicles the lives of three couples the first are Jackson and Scarlett Jo Newberry (His is the pastor of a rather unusual church) and Grace Shepherd and her husband Tyler and Zach and Caroline Craig.

Even if you don't usually read Christian fiction, there's much to love about this book. It isn't preachy but it does have universal message that is Christian and that's about healing the heart. Grace and Zach both have hearts in need of healing for different reasons. Both are in marriages that are failing.

Truth be told I wanted both of them to toss their spouses very early on. Both spouses were terrible, though I felt bad for Tyler, because he had a real problem. Caroline on the other hand needed help and it was sadly almost understandable why Zach chose to stray.

There's a lot of strife ahead for these two, but they are pulled together by the driving force that is Scarlett Jo Newberry. If you don't like Scarlett, well I feel sorry for you. I fell in love with her instantly. She's big, boisterous and funny. She's the kind of character you wish were real, because you want her for your best friend. She's just fantastic, and she's not without her secrets too. And she's not the typical holier than thou pastor's wife, but that's easy to tell. (The holier than thou types usually aren't very Christian in their actions)

Some of the best parts of this book involve Scarlett and Grace's friend Rachel. These two are polar opposites and yet they become friends by the end of the book.

I loved how everyone learned lessons about themselves as the book went on. Everyone including Scarlett grew a little.

It is also surprising which marriage really failed and which one managed to be mended.

I absolutely adored this book and I really wish it would become a series, because I'd love to revisit all of these characters again to see how things were going in their lives.

Rating: 5 flowers

Book Review: Growing Up Amish

Author: Ira Wagler
Title: Growing Up Amish
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Publish Date: June 28, 2011
Buy: Amazon
Review Copy Provided By: Net Galley
Book Blurb: One fateful starless night, 17-year-old Ira Wagler got up at 2 AM, left a scribbled note under his pillow, packed all of his earthly belongings into in a little black duffel bag, and walked away from his home in the Amish settlement of Bloomfield, Iowa. Now, in this heartwarming memoir, Ira paints a vivid portrait of Amish life—from his childhood days on the family farm, his Rumspringa rite of passage at age 16, to his ultimate decision to leave the Amish Church for good at age 26. Growing Up Amish is the true story of one man’s quest to discover who he is and where he belongs. Readers will laugh, cry, and be inspired by this charming yet poignant coming of age story set amidst the backdrop of one of the most enigmatic cultures in America today—the Old Order Amish.

Review: Any person that is curious about the Amish culture will want to pick up this story. Ira has a wonderfully candid way of telling the story of his growing up years in the Amish settlements in Canada, Iowa and later Indiana. He shares openly the ways of a culture that most "English" folk don't understand.  However, it is obvious that though he's made his peace with his past, he doesn't seem to care for the culture/religion that he was raised in.

Ira leaves the community several times but the reader is never sure why, except that he wants his freedom. It is during his rumspringa (running around years) that I found it a bit difficult to like him. The first few times he leaves, he seems like spoiled child running off to party in the big new world outside his Amish community. Where that is understandable he also shows little common sense.

I found myself wanting to know more about his reasons for leaving. What was it about the church that kept pushing him away? What about his relationship with his family? I felt a great deal of sympathy for his parents. Several of the children left the church and in the community, it reflected badly on them as parents.

Ira writes of his struggles to stay Amish, how he finds peace and eventually why he finally leaves for good. What he doesn't give his readers is a clear reason why he kept coming back. Was it totally homesickness? A real fear of eternal damnation. Gotta love the Amish, they believe if you leave the church that you have no chance of redemption...straight to hell you go.

He certainly paints a different picture of the Amish that what most of us "English" get when read the novels of Beverly Lewis and Wanda E. Brunstetter. Ira's writing is very engaging, and though there were many times when I wanted to take him aside and give him a little what for, for his behavior, I really enjoyed reading his story. I do still wish he had opened up more about his relationships with his family. Still this is a great read and it does offer some insight on this rather unusual religious community.

Rating:  3 flowers