The Pink Bonnet

Series: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crimes

Publisher: Barbour Publishing

Release Date: June 1, 2019

Genre: Historical Fiction

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 Review ♥️

Memphis 1933. America is still in the throws of the Depression and Cecile Dowd is trying to make ends meet after her husbands death, fighting to support herself and her rambunctious three year old, Millie. During this time in Memphis there existed the Tennessee Children's Home Society, a real organization that served as a type of social service, that was ran by a woman named Miss Tann. On the outside she donned the disguise of an angel that rescued children out of dire and desperate situations and put them in safe, nurturing homes where they would be better cared for. The reality was far more sinister and Cecile is about to find out Miss Tann's true mission.

From the beginning this book is an emotional rollercoaster. When I read what happened to Millie I was shocked that this actually happened to families in Memphis and was allowed to continue for 25 years. Anger and frustration coursed through my veins at every dead end and every time Miss Tann got her way, craving for justice to be served and all the wrongs being made right. The ending was pretty much what I expected and was a mixture of happiness and sadness.

Loving historical fiction like I do I am enamored by the True Colors series though it is heart wrenching that these events, to some degree, really happened. The writing is gripping, like any great suspense, the depth of the characters perfection, and the imagery incredibly vivid. I devoured this book within hours fighting, like poor Cecile, to see how it would all end. A wonderfully, gut-wrenching story that will keep you on the edge 'til the bitter end.

My Rating: ★★★★★

Other Books in the True Colors Series

Get to Know & Connect With Author

Liz Tolsma

Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her novella, Under His Wings, appeared in the New York Times bestselling collection, A Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow on the Tulips, released in August of 2013. Daisies Are Forever released in May 2014. When not busy putting words to paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. Please visit her blog at www.liztolsma.blogspot.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@LizTolsma). She is also a regular contributor to the Barn Door blog.

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*I have reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions are completely honest, and my own.