The Butterfly and The Violin by Kristy Cambron

Cover 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 of 1942, 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: the grim camps of Auschwitz and the inner

recesses of her own troubled heart.

My Review

I've mentioned before, I'm a fan of World War 2 stories. I've never really understood why that is but I think I got a glimpse of it through this book. 

Hope. 

God is always there. He may be silent, you may not see that light at the end of the tunnel, yet, but if you keep the faith and praising God, you will one day see it. Never give up hope. 

I liked Sera, she was very relatable. Her experience with heartbreak and the results that came thereafter. A great many of us have endured and struggled the same way. Putting up walls, throwing ourselves into work or play and searching for answers that will bring us peace. But like Sera, the only answers that will truly give us peace are the ones given to us by Jesus. 

William was just, wow. I really liked him. I won't spoil anything for you, I'll only say this. I love the first meeting between William and Sera. I could see myself being in that exact situation and having met someone the exact same way and think as she did. At least, in my fantasy world I could imagine that happening to me. He isn't without his faults those. One chapter I could not believe what he had done. My heart stopped and shattered all at once. I thought I had been a fool to believe in him *clears throat* I mean his character, in the book. (Kristy really knows how to grip your heart)

I absolutely love Adele's story. From her romance with Vladimir, to her strong heart for the God, to her courage to help those being persecuted at the risk of her own life.  

Through out Adele's trials, she was encouraged to keep her hope alive because that, her faith in Jesus, the Nazi's could never take away. And she, like anyone else in her situation might come to feel, felt ready to give up. But God gave her a gift, one meant to keep her, and those like her, alive. 

Honestly, I can't begin to tell you how amazed I was by this debut novel by Kristy Cambron. Had it not been mentioned, I would have thought this to be her 10th novel rather than her 1st! 

I noticed the byline on the cover said "A Hidden Masterpiece Novel". Well, that only means one thing: more books! The stories continue! I immediately looked up the series on Amazon and sure enough her new book, a sequel, is set to release April 7th, 2015! Not even a year from the first book publication. Just in time for my birthday too! I'm definitely setting my calendar for that date!

Oh no! I forgot one other important beloved character! Penny, Sera's assistance. She made me smile and laugh. I hope she makes it into the rest of the series. She added a nice sisterly spice element to the story. It wouldn't have been the same without her. 

I also liked looking up the songs she played and listening to them as I read. Especially, Adele's final song "Mandellssohn: Violin Cocerto in E minor"*. It gave it so much depth. 

I loved the book cover for this as well. 

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars!

I received this book for free from the publisher’s in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part of their Blogging For Books program.

LINKS: 

• http://youtu.be/K67o86CS5uo

Fiddler On The Roof

CBD.com

I had never heard of "Fiddler on the Roof" till a friend of mine on the west coast highly suggested I watch it. So, for a while I put it off cause it was a 3 hour movie and I wanted to be able to watch it without a bunch of interruptions. One Wednesday afternoon when I had nothing else to do and it was quiet in the house, I turned it on and from the moment it began I fell in love the fiddler on the roof!

Movie Review

This is Norman Jewison's adaptation of the long-running Broadway musical set in the Ukranian ghetto village of Anatevka. The poor milkman, Tevye, is tested by poverty, the romantic entanglements of his five daughters, and prejudicial attitudes of non-Jews.
Throughout the movie Tevye talks too God during his many trials. 

One of my favorite songs in the beginning is "If I were a rich man". I've been dancing, humming, and singing "Yubby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dibby dum" for two weeks straight! Its catchy, how can it not get stuck in your head? Try singing it...it's stuck in your head now, isn't it? Hahaha! I told you. Chaim Topol, I can't see anyone else ever doing a better job than him (no offence to other actors, I'm sure you're great!), he's just classic! His voice has this rustic fatherly charm to it as well that I can't get enough of--no that is not weird! Right?

Music isn't the only good thing about this movie (there's a lot, but we'll get to all those in a moment) the first scene that made me really want to just get up and dance along was during "To Life". There was so much light and happiness, you couldn't help but want to join in. And when the Tevye and the non-Jews danced together, it just made you want to leap! It felt like having communion (they were drinking though, weren't they? haha!) with someone you thought hated each the other coming together under an umbrella of joy. Who wouldn't be glad that someone's daughter is getting married? Even the poor Tailor, once he stood up for Tzeitel's hand in marriage, couldn't contain his joy in "Miracle of Miracles". It made me feel like I was jumping on clouds in springtime!

Lastly, my favorite part was the wedding dances! Come on, how can you not? I won't spoil it for those of you who haven't had the pleasure of seeing it, but to those who have I about jumped out of the chair and started kicking my heels and clapping along!

There's biblical lessons and eye openers and things to make you think about as well. This movie made me think a lot about my own dad. Tevye reminds me so much, to include having to deal with a house full of women! Haha. But like Tevye, he always turns and talks to God. What did you take away from this movie?

I give this movie a 5 out of 5 Stars! If you'd like to see it you can find it on Amazon.com and if you already have Prime you can currently watch it free thanks to your membership! Or you can purchase it on Instant Stream or DVD. You can click on the movie picture for a direct link to the movie on Christianbooks.com I highly recommend making this movie a part of your household collection!

For Such A Time by Kate Breslin

Product Description

In 1944, blonde and blue-eyed Jewess Hadassah Benjamin feels abandoned by God when she is saved from a firing squad only to be handed over to a new enemy. Pressed into service by SS-Kommandant Colonel Aric von Schmidt at the transit camp of Theresienstadt in Czechoslovakia, she is able to hide behind the false identity of Stella Muller. However, in order to survive and maintain her cover as Aric's secretary, she is forced to stand by as her own people are sent to Auschwitz.

Suspecting her employer is a man of hidden depths and sympathies, Stella cautiously appeals to him on behalf of those in the camp. Aric's compassion gives her hope, and she finds herself battling a growing attraction for this man she knows she should despise as an enemy.

My Review

This vivid and emotionally packed retelling of Esther is filled with hope, love, and redemption. I cannot begin to tell you how much I loved and enjoyed this book. When I first read the description of  it I was, "Oh yeah, that sounds like my kind of book. WW2 and Esther, it should be good!" 

Good would not begin to describe it now. Magnificent, impressive, brilliant and beautifully written! With 51 verses used from the book of Esther, each chapter begins with a verse from various chapters. There's no chapter to chapter basis, whichever verse fits the chapter or was inspired for the chapter is used. Especially in the second half of the book, one chapter might be from Esther 8 and the next one from Esther 2. But each one fit it beautifully! 

The vast majority of the book takes place from February 14, 1944 to March 8, 1944. Less than two months, but when your reading it you lose all track of time. You get absorbed into each of the characters, even the evil Captain Hermann. I love when authors give depths to their villains. It's not just, "Oh your the bad guy." You get a little bit of background on him as well. How and why he became the villain in this story. Even Helen, the mute cook who came with  Aric von Schmidt when he moved to his new station in Theresienstadt, who you mostly only ever see in the kitchen or serving dinner you learn a bit of her background as well. Each one of the characters, put together like a tapestry, help make this one of the best stories I've ever read. 

Of course, my favorites were Stella (or Hadassah) and Aric. Aric's story of redemption was beautiful. After joining the Nazi's, he realized what they were doing was wrong but by that time his hands were covered in the blood of innocent lives and he felt he didn't deserve to be forgiven. So instead he did nothing to change, he ignored the cries in his heart and and tried to bear the sins he had committed on is own. Until he met Stella who helped open his heart and eyes to the truth of God's grace and mercy. Proving that no one is above receiving forgiveness and grace if they are willing to ask and turn away from what is wrong, which he did. 

Stella lost her faith in God, feeling He had abandoned her after a little girl close to her heart died in her arms at the hands of the Nazi's. But like Esther, she is to be the salvation for the jews. She doesn't know how; she constantly wondered what purpose God had for allowing her to live and be rescued by this Nazi Colonel instead of dying with that little girl. Her Uncle Morty had a God given dream that she would rescue them, like Esther did from Haman's evil plot. Stella can't understand what she could do to help them but she wants a sign from God, something to let her know He's still there. She has to learn to be silent and listen for his whispers and have faith. Because he never left her side. He was preparing her for Such A Time, like he did with Esther. 

This book was truly a mirror of the book of Esther if your willing to look deeper. Like in Esther, she was taken into a home unwillingly and forced to stay with a man she didn't even know and could kill her at any given time for whatever reason he might find. God prepared her to be in a position to help her people escape persecution. Even Aric, you can see how his position of power was like that of the king in Esther and how he fell in love with Stella that first moment he saw her. That God had used her to save both him and her people from Captain Hermann.

"For if you remain completely silent at this time, relief and deliverance will arise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. Yet who knows whether you have come to the kingdom for such a time as this?”" ~Esther 4:14 (NLT)

I am thoroughly impressed by Kate Breslin's debut novel. I hope she continues to write more like it and be just as good as this one. I highly recommend this book to anyone.

I give this book a 5 out of 5 stars! If you want to purchase this book, just click on the cover above and you'll be brought straight to the book on ChristianBook.com


I received this book for free from the publisher’s in exchange for this honest and unbiased review as part of their Blogging Review program.