Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I haven’t been reviewing much fiction on here lately for a few reasons, but recently I received a copy of The Butterfly & the Violin. This novel by Kristy Cambron weaves together a contemporary romance & historical fiction in her story of Sera, an art gallery owner on the search for a painting she saw as a child. William is also looking for the painting for completely different reasons and when their paths cross, Sera isn’t sure if her broken heart will be able to try again. Together, Sera & William begin to unravel the story of the woman in the painting, Adele Von Bron. Adele was a talented violin player from Vienna during WWII. Living a life of wealth & opulence, Adele risks everything to help the poor and hurting victims of war. The Butterfly & the Violin is their story.
The story of The Butterfly & the Violin was a very good read. The story changes between Sera & Adele as you read the book. The transitions work well and make sense. You are never left wondering what time period you are in or why you are flitting back & forth. I liked the characters of Sera & her assistant and William & his family. I loved the story of Adele, too. Her strength & struggle were amazing!
Of the two stories, Adele’s was much more interesting. She painted a fascinating picture of life during WWII and the concentration camps, as well as the stark contrast between the haves and the have nots. She started out strong with Sera and William, but seemed as if the more conflict and tension Adele had, the less interesting Sera’s story became. It was almost as if it was an after thought, like she forgot she had loose ends to tie up there. It was still good, but it started out super interesting & kind of petered out, in my opinion.
Like all fiction I read & review these days, it is Christian fiction. The Christian aspects of The Butterfly & the Violin are naturally woven into the story. In addition, the author paints a picture of the atrocities of war without breaking my heart or causing nightmares…a fine line to walk without being boring. She also covered an aspect of the war that I had never heard of or considered–that of the artists–painters, musicians and the like. It was fascinating!
Overall, The Butterfly & the Violin was a good read. If you are an art lover or are interested in historical fiction about WWII, you will really enjoy this book.
* * *
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
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on August 7th. Winner will be announced at The Butterfly and the Violin Author Chat Party. Kristy will be connecting with readers and answering questions, sharing some of the fascinating research behind the book, hosting a fun book chat, and giving away some GREAT prizes. She will also be giving an exclusive look at the next book in the series, A Sparrow in Terezin!
Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 7th!
Good Luck!!
