2024 Carol Award Finalists – Historical + Giveaway

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First off — what exactly are the Carol Awards?

They are awards given out by American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) in recognition of outstanding Christian fiction in the previous calendar year. So these 2024 finalists are books published in 2023. You might have read them already, you might not. I’ll include links to books I’ve read and reviewed.

Carol Award Winners will be announced on September 7 2024 at the ACFW Gala in New Orleans, Louisiana (wouldn’t you love to be there?!)

How does this giveaway work?

You select which of the Carol Award finalists 2024 —Historical Category you would like to receive. Mention the title in your comment (or an email if you’re entering that way) and if you win, that’s the book that will be sent to you. Easy Peasy. 

Historical Finalists

The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt — Revell — Editors: Rachel McRae and Robin Turici — winner’s choice of paperback or ebook (or audible for Canada)

On a golden August morning in 1939, sisters Antonina and Helena Dąbrowska send their father off to defend Poland against the looming threat of German invasion. The next day, the first bombs fall on Warsaw, decimating their beloved city and shattering the world of their youth.

When Antonina’s beloved Marek is forced behind ghetto walls along with the rest of Warsaw’s Jewish population, Antonina turns her worry into action and becomes a key figure in a daring network of women risking their lives to shelter Jewish children. Helena finds herself drawn into the ranks of Poland’s secret army, joining the fight to free her homeland from occupation. But the secrets both are forced to keep threaten to tear the sisters apart–and the cost of resistance proves greater than either ever imagined.

Shining a light on the oft-forgotten history of Poland during WWII and inspired by true stories of ordinary individuals who fought to preserve freedom and humanity in the darkest of times, The Warsaw Sisters is a richly rendered portrait of courage, sacrifice, and the resilience of our deepest ties.

My Review: https://kavsbestreads.ca/2023/12/12/the-warsaw-sisters-giveaway/

Code Name Edelweiss by Stephanie Landsem – Tyndale – Editor: Kathy Olson — Winner’s Choice of paperback or ebook (or audible for Canada)

“What I am looking for–what I desperately need, Mrs. Weiss–is a spy.”

Adolf Hitler is still a distant rumble on the horizon, but a Jewish spymaster and his courageous spies uncover a storm of Nazi terror in their own backyard.

In the summer of 1933, a man named Adolf Hitler is the new and powerful anti-Semitic chancellor of Germany. But in Los Angeles, no-nonsense secretary Liesl Weiss has concerns much closer to home. The Great Depression is tightening its grip and Liesl is the sole supporter of two children, an opinionated mother, and a troubled brother.

Leon Lewis is a Jewish lawyer who has watched Adolf Hitler’s rise to power–and the increase in anti-Semitism in America–with growing alarm. He believes Nazi agents are working to seize control of Hollywood, the greatest propaganda machine the world has ever known. The trouble is, authorities scoff at his dire warnings.

When Liesl loses her job at MGM, her only choice is to work with Leon Lewis and the mysterious Agent Thirteen to spy on her friends and neighbors in her German American community. What Leon Lewis and his spies find is more chilling–and more dangerous–than any of them suspected.

Code Name Edelweiss is based on a true story, unknown until recent years: How a lone Jewish lawyer and a handful of amateur spies discovered and foiled Adolf Hitler’s plan to take over Hollywood.

April’s Promise by Terrie Todd –– Little Sparrow Press — Editor: Shari MacDonald-Strong –– ebook giveaway

Emmaleen Kimball is fourteen when she becomes convinced she was born to traveling acrobats and left on her parents’ doorstep. Why else would there be a thirteen-year age gap between her and her closest sibling? When her family won’t tell her the truth about her origins, she’s determined to solve the mystery herself.

Bernadette Kimball is twenty-seven and living back at home to help with a family crisis, but she can’t wait to get back to her career in the city. She doesn’t fit in with her family. Not that she cares. Who needs a family? Families are just one big mess of secrets and lies.

April Kimball-Madden carries the burden of a secret she promised never to reveal. She wishes she could tell Emmaleen the truth. But she’s convinced that if her husband Joey ever finds out who Emmaleen’s biological parents are, her marriage won’t survive.

As a world war wages across the globe, the Kimball family faces a different kind of conflict at home. Will their personal battles drag them down and tear their family apart? Or can the faith they’ve been taught, and the mercy they’re shown, lead them to victory?

40 thoughts on “2024 Carol Award Finalists – Historical + Giveaway”

  1. Code Name Edelweiss ~ new author for me. It would be different to pick a winner for this category! They all sound absorbing; a history not widely known. Kathleen ~ Lane Hill House kathleen[dot]e[dot]belongia[at]gmail[dot]com

    Liked by 1 person

  2. The Warsaw Sisters is my pick, it’s been on my TBR list since your review. I have Code Name Edelweiss but haven’t read it yet. It really sounds interesting too.

    Sandyavery at comcast dot net

    Liked by 1 person

  3. This is a hard choice this time. I’d love to read all three of them. I’ll go with The Warsaw Sisters by Amanda Barratt simply because its winnable in book form. What a history WWII stories bring out. So much happened then and I’m so glad fiction story writers bring it out like this.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. If I were fortunate enough to be selected, I would love the opportunity to read and review a paperback copy of THE WARSAW SISTERS by Amanda Barrett. Sounds like a fabulous read!

    Thank you for the fabulous chance to win a copy!

    2clowns at arkansas dot net

    Liked by 1 person

  5. My favorite category! I’ve read and really enjoyed Code Name Edelwiss. I’m sure I would enjoy either of the Others. But I will pick April’s Promise.

    Liked by 1 person

  6. I gather all of these are somehow connected to world war stories. That in itself is rather interesting for the very broad time period based category. I think Code Name Edelweiss. Thanks!

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Kav, I’ve read The Warsaw Sisters and it is amazing. I’ve been wanting to read Code Name Edelweiss so please enter me for that one 🙂

    ckbarker at gmail dot com

    Liked by 1 person

  8. The Warsaw Sisters looks SO GOOD!!!!!!! I did several variations on a project on the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising after reading Jennifer A. Nielsen’s Resistance, which was AMAZING!!!!!!! Jen recently published a book about the Warsaw Uprising (called Uprising), which was pretty good, but would’ve been better if the MC from Resistance had made an appearance. Sorry, I’m rambling by now…..

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oooh, will have to look that up. I’ve read Jennifer A. Neilsen’s Words on Fire and A Night Divided which were really good. Now I’ll have to check my library for Resistance. Good luck, Courtney!

      Liked by 1 person

  9. The Warsaw Sisters is my choice. It has a storyline that interests me and I have read about it on facebook.

    Thanks for the chance to read this amazing book.

    cenyatwoathotmaildotcom

    Liked by 1 person

  10. I would choose April’s Promise by Terrie Todd, which would be a new author for me. Amazingly, I own the others and they’re in my TBR stack. I don’t mind the e-book. Thank you!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I had forgotten all about her — shame on me since she’s Canadian — but I really enjoyed some of her earlier books. She approaches the War years from a Homefront perspective which I find really interesting. Good luck, Perrianne!

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