Tuesday, July 15, 2014

Book Review: The Butterfly and The Violin

The Butterfly and the Violin (Hidden Masterpiece, #1)Author: Kristy Cambron
Publication Date: July 8, 2014
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Series: Hidden Masterpiece # 1


And then came war . . .

"Today." Sera James spends most of her time arranging auctions for the art world's elite clientele. When her search to uncover an original portrait of an unknown Holocaust victim leads her to William Hanover III, they learn that this painting is much more than it seems.

"Vienna, 1942." Adele Von Bron has always known what was expected of her. As a prodigy of Vienna's vast musical heritage, this concert violinist intends to carry on her family's tradition and play with the Vienna Philharmonic. But when the Nazis learn that she helped smuggle Jews out of the city, Adele is taken from her promising future and thrust into the horrifying world of Auschwitz.

The veil of innocence is lifted to expose a shuddering presence of evil, and Adele realizes that her God-given gift is her only advantage; she must play. Becoming a member of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz, she fights for survival. Adele's barbed-wire walls begin to kill her hope as the months drag into nearly two years in the camp. With surprising courage against the backdrop of murder and despair, Adele finally confronts a question that has been tugging at her heart: Even in the midst of evil, can she find hope in worshiping God with her gift?

As Sera and William learn more about the subject of the mysterious portrait--Adele--they are reminded that whatever horrors one might face, God's faithfulness never falters.


Sleep became a welcome escape.

Sera thought she’d been searching for a lost painting that couldn’t have been worth anything to anybody. Now it was worth the equivalent of one hundred million dollars?

Could snow hold memories? Adele wondered. It fell down around her now just as it had on so many other nights she’d waited for him.


Surely the snow held memories. Adele didn’t question it anymore. Not after she’d been loaded on the train to the work camp – she knew it to be truth now.


Kristy Cambron takes readers through a time in history that always stands out and is still talked about today. She covers World War II, one of my favorite parts of history to read about, and remembers a time when Jews were discriminated against and unthinkable evil was brought about their nationality. This story switches back and forth between two separate time periods: present day and World War II. The story is told from alternate viewpoints and ultimately the stories are connected in a way that you could never imagine. It is a truly beautiful story that ended up wowing me so much more than I first expected. Adele’s story takes place right in the middle of Hitler’s reign and Sera’s story takes place in modern times, but both of these women are strong and have passions that keep them moving forward!

The best part of this story is how much the two main characters, Adele and Sera, have in common. They both place a strong emphasis on their faith and look to God for guidance in all things. They also both face the aftermath of betrayal, as they were both betrayed by someone that they loved desperately. I enjoyed Adele’s story so much more, but I found myself having to pause and really allow all that was happening to soak in. Of course, we all know that World War was not pleasant for many people living in Europe, even if you were supposedly part of the Nazi party. Adele was caught trying to aid a Jewish family and much of the story deals with her punishment for that. It is a truly deep and heartbreaking story.

Regardless of your faith, if you are a World War II era fan then you need to pick up a copy of this book. The words, imagery, and story in general are so rich in all aspects. This is a series, I have recently found out, and if all the rest of the books have a story like this one to tell then I think we are in for a real treat. Kristy Cambron is a fresh, new voice in the world of true literature. The pacing of this book was almost perfect, and that is something that we all know is hard to find. I was glued to every word on every page.


***A free copy of this book was provided to me by the publishers at Thomas Nelson in exchange for my honest opinion***




1 comment:

  1. Chelsey ~ Thanks for your beautifully written words! I am delighted to have found your charming blog. Looking forward to following your reviews. : )

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