Book Description:
A mysterious painting breathes hope and beauty into the darkest corners of Auschwitz—and the loneliest hearts of Manhattan.
Manhattan art dealer Sera James watched her world crumble at the altar two years ago, and her heart is still fragile. Her desire for distraction reignites a passion for a mysterious portrait she first saw as a young girl—a painting of a young violinist with piercing blue eyes.
In her search for the painting, Sera crosses paths with William Hanover, the grandson of a wealthy California real estate mogul, who may be the key to uncovering the hidden masterpiece. Together, Sera and William slowly unravel the story behind the painting’s subject: Austrian violinist Adele Von Bron.
A darling of the Austrian aristocracy, talented violinist, and daughter to a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Adele risks everything when she begins smuggling Jews out of Vienna. In a heartbeat, her life of prosperity and privilege dissolves into a world of starvation and barbed wire.
As Sera untangles the secrets behind the painting, she finds beauty in the most unlikely of places: in the grim camps of Auschwitz and in the inner recesses of her own troubled heart.
My Thoughts:
The Butterfly and The Violin is Kristy Cambron's debut book and it is fantastic. This is the first book in her series The Hidden Masterpiece Series. As a fan of Christian Historical Fiction and debut authors this book was a no brainer for me to read. When I saw the cover I knew I had to read it, the cover is beautiful and haunting. Just brought me in! Sera James is looking for a painting of a young violinist with the blue eyes that she saw when she was 8 years old on a trip to Paris with her Dad. Her search brings her and William Hanover together. William Hanover is a wealthy real estate mogul whose looking for this painting for a very different reason and enlists Sera's help in finding it. As they researched they find out that the painting is of Austrian Violinist Adele Von Bron. Adele Von Bron was an extremely talented violinist and daughter to a high ranking member of the Third Reich. Adele has a secret, she is risking her freedom and her life to help Jews out of Vienna until she and the man she loves get caught and are sent to the Auschwitz camps.
The Butterfly and The Violin is FANTASTIC! From start to finish this book is just spectacular. This book grabbed a hold of me from the start and I could NOT put it down. I finished it within one day and that is not typical for me, usually takes me a few days to read a book but this one just kept me wanting to know more. This story takes place in two different time frames, the present and the past. Kristy Cambron makes the transitions between these two times flawless, as a reader I was never confused as to what time period I was in. This is a big one for me because I have read a few books where the transitions were rough. Kristy Cambron writes with authority on our world in the late 30's-Early 40's, the Art world now and then, concentration camps, orchestras, and other arts. I love reading Christian Historical Fiction because intertwined in the fiction are facts that I usually didn't know at all or know much about and that is the case in this book. I had never knew about the Orchestras that were formed and forced to play both in the camps and at events/parties for the Third Reich or the works of art made by prisoners that were found at the Auschwitz camps. As I read this book I did searches about the orchestras and the works of art and it opened up a whole other world to me about this time in history. One of the characters in the book, Alma Rose, the conductor of the women's orchestra, is the name of the real conductor. The descriptions and events about her seemed to have much truth to what the history books say. There are probably more of these details, hopefully I will get a chance to read it again. The characters in this book are fascinating and so real. Kristy Cambron seems to have such a heart for this time in history, especially the people and what they went through. I loved Adele and her personality. Her spirit and her perseverance is something to admire. This book truly taps into your emotions. So many times I found myself gasping, crying, and then smiling. This book truly breaks your heart as you get a glimpse of what these people went through. This book is one that will stay with me, the impression made on my heart. I feel like I don't have the right words convey what this book did to me. Kristy Cambron is a new author on my must read list and I can't wait to read more of her writing. I HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who enjoys Christian Historical Fiction especially during this time in history, you will be surprised at what you didn't know! I give this book and this author 5 STARS.
Welcome to the launch campaign for debut novelist Kristy Cambron's The Butterfly and the Violin. Romantic Times had this to say: "Alternating points of view skillfully blend contemporary and historical fiction in this debut novel that is almost impossible to put down. Well-researched yet heartbreaking. . . ."
Kristy is celebrating the release of the first book in her series, A Hidden Masterpiece, with a fun Kindle Fire giveaway and meeting her readers during an August 7th Facebook author chat party.
One winner will receive:
- A Kindle Fire
- The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron
So grab your copy of The Butterfly and the Violin and join Kristy on the evening of August 7th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the book, don't let that stop you from coming!)
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