"a sparrow in terezin" by kristy cambron

Kristy Cambron's engaging Hidden Masterpiece series continues with A Sparrow in Terezin, another story of hope amid the devastation of World War II.

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Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection through one survivor's story of hope in the darkest days of a war-torn world.

Present Day: With the grand opening of her new art gallery and a fairytale wedding just around the corner, Sera James feels she's stumbled into a charmed life—until a brutal legal battle against fiancé William Hanover threatens to destroy the perfectly planned future she's planned before it even begins. Now, after an eleventh-hour wedding ceremony and a callous arrest, William faces a decade in prison for a crime he never committed, and Sera must battle the scathing accusations that threaten her family and any hope for a future.

1942: Kája Makovsky narrowly escaped occupied Prague in 1939, and was forced to leave her half-Jewish family behind. Now a reporter for the Daily Telegraph in England, Kája discovers the terror has followed her across the Channel in the shadowy form of the London Blitz. When she learns Jews are being exterminated by the thousands on the continent, Kája has no choice but to return to her mother city, risking her life to smuggle her family to freedom and peace.

Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, these two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear—even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

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Picking up a few months after The Butterfly and the Violin, the present day portion of A Sparrow in Terezin follows Sera and William as they attempt to begin a life together—a life that's shaping up to be much different than they imagined.

While I was glad to catch up with William and Sera, much of their story was—I think purposefully—confusing. Just as Sera didn't understand what was happening with William, neither did the reader. But rather than enjoying the slow unpacking of his story, I ended up frustrated, as sometimes even what Sera knew was kept from the reader. Because of that, some of Sera's actions didn't make sense to me. In the end, I'm glad things turned out the way they did, but William and Sera's story isn't what will stick with me when I think about this novel in the future.

Kája's story will.

Kája's story—the portion set during World War II—makes up the bulk of the novel. I found this story to be utterly fascinating. Set in Prague, London, and the Terezin Concentration Camp, Kája's story is different from ones you normally hear of Holocaust survivors. Kája escaped Prague, built a life for herself in England, and then returned to rescue her family ... and ended up bringing hope to countless children while in Terezin.

While Kája is not directly connected to Adele and Vladimir from The Butterfly and the Violin, Sophie, the girl they rescued, is an integral part of Kája's story, and, as she did in the first novel, Sophie serves as the bridge between the past and the present.

A Sparrow in Terezin is a truly beautiful novel. I thought The Butterfly and the Violin was good, but A Sparrow in Terezin is even better. If you enjoy historical fiction or learning about World War II, then this is a series you won't want to miss! 4-1/2 stars.

Note: You really should read these books in order. First read The Butterfly and the Violin, then pick up A Sparrow in Terezin.

See what others are saying.
Buy the book.
Read my review of Cambron's The Butterfly and the Violin (4 stars).

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Kristy Cambron has been fascinated with the WWII era since hearing her grandfather's stories of the war. She holds an art history degree from Indiana University and received the Outstanding Art History Student Award. Kristy writes WWII and Regency era fiction and has placed first in the 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations and 2012 FCRW Beacon contests, and is a 2013 Laurie finalist. Kristy makes her home in Indiana with her husband and three football-loving sons.

Find Kristy online: website, Facebook, Twitter

Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection in Kristy Cambron's new book, A Sparrow in Terezin. Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains and fight to protect all they hold dear—even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

Kristy is celebrating by giving away a basket filled with goodies inspired by her new book!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A set of poppy notecards
• A poppy pin
• A copy of I Never Saw Another Butterfly
• A copy of the Mrs. Miniver DVD
• Literary tea bags
• Tumbler
• A copy of A Sparrow in Terezin

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on April 28th. Winner will be announced April 29th on Kristy's blog.



{NOT ON FACEBOOK? ENTER HERE.} Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Litfuse Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

"the butterfly and the violin" by kristy cambron

A year ago, I had the opportunity to review Kristy Cambron's The Butterfly and the Violin, and I passed. When I started seeing reviews on several of the blogs I followed, I regretted that decision. Then around Christmas, the Kindle version was super cheap, so I grabbed it. Other books got in the way, but when I did get on a tour for the sequel, A Sparrow in Terezin, it was the push I needed to dive into this book. I'm glad I did!

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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—he 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.

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The Butterfly and the Violin features past and present story lines, and the connection between the two isn't fully revealed until the final pages. As I began reading, I was completely captivated by Sera's modern-day story, and I didn't care much for Adele's story. That all changed once Adele arrived in Auschwitz. Suddenly, her story was the one I couldn't fly through quickly enough.

I've read countless novels set during World War II, I've read The Hiding Place multiple times, and I've visited the Holocaust Museum in Washington, D.C.—but somehow, I never before realized the part that music played in concentration camps. It's heartbreaking, disgusting, and hopeful all at the same time.

The Butterfly and the Violin features two wonderful stories, and I'm glad I finally had the opportunity to read it. While I wasn't completely engaged with each story at all times, I did very much enjoy reading this novel, and I'm eager to continue the story with A Sparrow in Terezin. 4 stars.

Buy the book.

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Kristy Cambron has been fascinated with the WWII era since hearing her grandfather's stories of the war. She holds an art history degree from Indiana University and received the Outstanding Art History Student Award. Kristy writes WWII and Regency era fiction and has placed first in the 2013 NTRWA Great Expectations and 2012 FCRW Beacon contests, and is a 2013 Laurie finalist. Kristy makes her home in Indiana with her husband and three football-loving sons.

Find Kristy online: website, Facebook, Twitter


Disclosure of Material Connection: I purchased this book myself and reviewed it of my own accord. I was not compensated in any way. Also, some of the links in the post above are “affiliate links.” This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”