Monday, September 15, 2014

Lies Told in Silence by M.K. Tod, Excerpt and Give Away

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Lies Told in Silence banner
M.K. Tod,
Author Of
Presented On France Book Tours,
Is Coming Back With Her Latest Novel !



Author M. K. Tod
will be on Tour
September 15-24, 2014
with

Lies Told In Silence

[historical fiction]
 Release date: end of July 2014
at Tod Publishing
367 pages
ISBN: 978-0 991967025
***

SYNOPSIS

In May 1914, Helene Noisette’s father believes war is imminent. Convinced Germany will head straight for Paris, he sends his wife, daughter, mother and younger son to Beaufort, a small village in northern France. But when war erupts a few months later, the German army invades neutral Belgium with the intent of sweeping south towards Paris. And by the end of September, Beaufort is less than twenty miles from the front.
During the years that follow, with the rumbling of guns ever present in the distance, three generations of women come together to cope with deprivation, constant fear and the dreadful impacts of war. In 1917, Helene falls in love with a young Canadian soldier who was wounded in the battle of Vimy Ridge.
But war has a way of separating lovers and families, of twisting promises and dashing hopes, and of turning the naïve and innocent into the jaded and war-weary. As the months pass, Helene is forced to reconcile dreams for the future with harsh reality.
Lies Told in Silence examines love and loss, duty and sacrifice, and the unexpected consequences of lies. [provided by the author]
My Review
Four Stars
Copy received from France Book Tours for an honest review
I couldn't wait to read "Lies old in Silence" by M.K. Tod.  I've read so many great reviews, I wanted to see for myself if I would enjoy the story.  I can honestly say I loved it! This was a beautiful adventure, romance, and in some ways coming of age story.  Set during WWI, we see the other side of the war from the French perspective.  Helene was a beautiful female character and watching her life unfold despite the war and at times limited because of it was a very emotional journey.  Although a lengthy book, it was a worth the read and it was very satisfying.    

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

M.K. Tod writes historical fiction featuring WWI and WWII.
Her debut novel, UNRAVELLED, was selected as Indie Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society.
In addition to her writing, Mary maintains the blog www.awriterofhistory.com  where she talks about reading and writing historical fiction.
She has also conducted two well-regarded historical fiction reader surveys and in her spare time reviews books for the Historical Novel Society.
M.K. Tod is delighted to hear from readers at mktod at bell dot net.
Visit her blog
Follow her on Facebook |   Twitter | Goodreads
 Buying links will come later
***
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M. K. Tod

M.K. Tod writes historical fiction featuring WWI and WWII.
Her debut novel, 
UNRAVELLED, was selected as Indie Editor’s Choice by the Historical Novel Society.
In addition to her writing, Mary maintains the blog 
www.awriterofhistory.com  where she talks about reading and writing historical fiction.
She has also conducted two well-regarded historical fiction reader surveys and in her spare time reviews books for the Historical Novel Society.
M.K. Tod is delighted to hear from readers at mktod at bell dot net.
Visit her blog
Follow her on Facebook |   Twitter | Goodreads

***
VIRTUAL BOOK TOUR SCHEDULE
Monday, September 15
Review Interview + Giveaway at Caffeinatedlife.net
Tuesday, September 16
Review + Excerpt + Giveaway at Book Nerd
Wednesday, September 17
Review + Giveaway at Making My Mark
Thursday, September 18
Review + Giveaway at Words And Peace
Friday, September 19
Review + Giveaway at Readerly Musings
Review + Giveaway at The Bookish Owl
Saturday, September 20
Review + Giveaway at The Fictional 100
Monday, September 22
Review + Giveaway at Queen of All She Reads
Tuesday, September 23
Review + Giveaway at Impressions in Ink
Wednesday, September 24
Review at The French Village Diaries

Excerpt


The Scene: Lise Noisette and her family are living in the small village of Beaufort. Fearing that the Germans will soon invade Paris, Lise’s husband Henri sent his wife, daughter, younger son and mother to northern France where he thinks they will be safe. Her eldest son Guy remains in Paris training for the military. After several weeks in Beaufort, Henri and Guy have come to visit and as soon as they arrived she Lise knew something was wrong. Suspecting the worst, she has called Guy into her bedroom for a discussion.

Despite keeping the shutters closed all day, her bedroom was stifling, and Lise opened the windows wide to catch an evening breeze. In the distance, a horse-drawn plow plodded back and forth across Monsieur Doucet’s fields, generating a small cloud of dust that lingered like early morning mist, blurring the tranquil scene. Beyond the plow, a flock of birds rose and fell as air currents shifted from day to night.
When a church bell sounded, she stepped back from the window and fanned her face once more. Henri’s letters avoided worrying topics, and in her depressed state, she had allowed herself not to dwell on the looming threats facing France. The seclusion of Beaufort meant infrequent access to Paris papers; nonetheless, the papers from Amiens offered many articles covering foreign affairs, and recent headlines had been ominous.
Tell me why,” Lise said as soon as Guy entered her room.
Why? Why what?”
Lise snapped her fan against her palm and took a certain grim satisfaction when her son visibly startled at the sharp, explosive sound.
Do you think you can fool me? It’s written all over your face. And your father’s. You’ve enlisted. And I want to know why.” Lise kept her voice under tight control.
I know what you’re thinking, Maman.”
You do?”
You think I’m too young to defend my country.” Lise tilted her head but remained silent. “And you want me to go to university in the fall.”
Why would I think these things?”
Her question seemed to catch Guy off guard, for he was slow to answer. “Because . . . because you’re afraid. You’re afraid I might be hurt.”
Do you think you might be hurt?” Lise forced herself to breathe evenly, in and out, in and out. “Or killed?”
Guy sat a little straighter. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
I see.” She smoothed her skirt. “Have you investigated the statistics? The casualty rates expected from war? I’m sure your Papa can provide them. The War Ministry must be considering that sort of thing.”
The startled look on her son’s face suggested that she had surprised him and that he had not thought to ask his father such questions.
But if I enlist now, I’ll have better opportunities.”
Better opportunities!” She threw the words back at him. “What possible opportunity could come from your enlistment? An earlier opportunity to die or to kill men from another country? A better opportunity to watch the horror unfold? A chance to see your friends disfigured, their lives forever altered? Tell me. What opportunity, Guy?”
Lise sank onto her chair as her fury collapsed and tears began.
Don’t cry, Maman. I can’t bear to see you cry. I promise I’ll be careful.” Guy knelt beside his mother and laid his cheek against hers.
Her heart crumbled at his glib little-boy promise. Careful. There was nothing careful about war.



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