Rose Among Thornes by Terrie Todd

The Pain Of War

Rose Among Thornes by Terrie Todd is a really powerful historical Christian novel that revolves around the theme of forgiveness. It has its roots grounded in fact.

The story is set from 1941 in Canada and also in Japanese Prisoner Of War camps. Some Canadians had Japanese roots and were viewed with suspicion by many. ”Overnight, the Onishis had become the enemy.” The Canadian government rounded them all up to re-house them either on farms or in internment camps.

Terrie Todd has written a marvellous tale showing the imprisonment of many during the war years. Some prisons carried on beyond the end of the war as characters imprison themselves through bitterness and unforgiveness.

The racial prejudice towards fellow Canadians is awful to see. “They were patriotic Canadians.” Many of the Japanese Canadians had not stepped foot on Japanese soil, being born in Canada.

Life in a Japanese P.O.W was atrocious. There are some hard to read scenes but the reality would have been far worse. Belief in God was as vital as air and food to survive. Soldiers needed hope for their souls. “Either God did not see him… or He didn’t care, or He was not as powerful.” To question the presence of God was understandable as the cruelty raged. Doubt is not the opposite of faith. Soldiers needed to rely on the deep foundations of their faith in order to call upon it and to cling on to the hope that God did see and would deliver.

Experiences can make us bitter or better. We must forgive others or risk forever living in a prison of bitterness.

War inflicts horrendous pain on all sides. As a historian who has studied WWII in detail, I did find it hard to read about the nuclear bombs being dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, as I knew the devastation caused, and our son had recently been to the Peace Museum in Hiroshima and found it incredibly moving. There was much to forgive on both sides.

The whole novel is grounded in God. There are portions of scripture and lessons for us all to learn.

We are all sons and daughters of the King. Sometimes our battles are not against flesh and blood, they are spiritual ones.

Rose Among Thornes was a tremendously powerful novel that totally consumed me.

I received a free copy from Just Read. A favourable review was not required. All opinions are my own.

JULIA WILSON

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Rose Among Thornes by Terrie Todd, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Rose Among ThornesRose Among Thornes

Author: Terrie Todd

Publisher: Iron Stream Media (Heritage Beacon)

Release Date: August 31, 2021

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Forgiveness is the deadliest force on earth.

War might be raging overseas, but Rose Onishi is on track to fulfill her lifelong goal of becoming a concert pianist. When forced by her government to leave her beloved home in Vancouver and move to the Canadian prairie to work on the Thornes’ sugar beet farm, her dream fades to match the black dirt staining her callused hands. Though the Thorne family is kind, life is unbearably lonely. In hopes that it might win her the chance to play their piano, Rose agrees to write letters to their soldier son.

When Rusty Thorne joins the Canadian Army, he never imagines becoming a Japanese prisoner of war. Inside the camp, the faith his parents instilled is tested like never before. Though he begs God to help him not hate his brutal captors, Rusty can no longer even hear the Japanese language without revulsion. Only his rare letters from home sustain him—especially the brilliant notes from his mother’s charming helper, which the girl signs simply as “Rose.”

Will Rusty survive the war only to encounter the Japanese on his own doorstep? Can Rose overcome betrayal and open her heart? Or will the truth destroy the fragile bond their letters created?

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Terrie Todd

Terrie Todd is the award-winning author of The Silver Suitcase, Maggie’s War, Bleak Landing, and Out of My Mind: A Decade of Faith and Humor. Her next novel, Rose Among Thornes, releases in August 2021. The Last Piece releases in November 2021. Terrie is represented by Mary DeMuth of Books & Such Literary Agency. She lives with her husband, Jon, in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada where they raised their three children. They are grandparents to five boys. When she’s not writing, Terrie can usually be found reading, cleaning, cooking, painting, weeding, watering, or watching something. You can follow her at www.terrietodd.blogspot.com

CONNECT WITH TERRI: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive the winner’s choice of one print copy: The Silver Suitcase, Maggie’s War, or Bleak Landing!

Rose Among Thornes JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 30, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 6, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

6 thoughts on “Rose Among Thornes by Terrie Todd

  1. Pingback: Welcome to the Rose Among Thornes Blog Tour & Giveaway! – JustRead Publicity Tours

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