A Sparrow in Terezin

Written by Kristy Cambron

Narrated by Barrie Kreinik

The Nazi regime claimed Terezin was a model camp, but when one London reporter lands behind its walls, she uncovers the horrors of this concentration camp that often served as a stop on the road to Auschwitz. 

In 1939 Kája Makovsky narrowly escaped Nazi-occupied Prague and was forced to leave behind her half-Jewish family. Three years later and 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, she has no choice but to return to her mother city, risking her life to smuggle her family to freedom and peace.

In the present day, with the grand opening of her new art gallery and a fairy–tale wedding just around the corner, Sera James feels like she’s stumbled into a charmed life—until a brutal legal battle against fiancé William Hanover threatens to destroy their future before it even begins.

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

Praise for A Sparrow in Terezin

“Gorgeous and heartrending, a WWII story packed with romance, bravery and sacrifice, interwoven with a modern-day thread.” —Melissa Tagg

“Cambron’s detail to history shines as readers are transported seamlessly from the warm, sandy beaches of San Francisco’s coast to the frightening ambience of WWII Europe.” —Kate Breslin

“A testament to the past . . . to a time of both unfathomable loss and courageous sacrifice that we should honor in our hearts and minds.” —Beth K. Vogt

• A follow-up to The Butterfly and the Violin
• Full-length novel (97,000 words) with two storylines: one set in World War II and the other in the present-day
• Sweet romance

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Apr 19, 2022
• ISBN: 9780840705143

Kristy Cambron

Kristy Cambron is a vintage-inspired storyteller writing from the space where beauty, art, and history intersect. She’s a Christy Award–winning author of historical fiction, including her bestselling novels, The Butterfly and the Violin and The Paris Dressmaker. Her work has been named to Cosmopolitan Best Historical Fiction Novels, Publishers Weekly Religion & Spirituality TOP 10, Library Journal’s Best Books, and she received a Christy Award for her novel The Painted Castle. Her work has been featured at Once Upon a Book Club Box, Frolic, Book Club Girl, BookBub, Country Woman magazine, and (in)Courage. She holds a degree in art history / research writing and spent fifteen years in education and leadership development for a Fortune 100 corporation before stepping away to pursue her passion for storytelling. Kristy lives in Indiana with her husband and three basketball-loving sons, where she can probably be bribed with a peppermint mocha latte and a good read.

Reviews for A Sparrow in Terezin

[marypo-3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have loved every Kristy Cambron book I have gotten my hands on and this is no exception. I love how the author can bring out the beauty from one of the most heartbreaking scenes of WWII. I love the character of Omara, who said, "I believe that this too shall be used by God. Somehow this story He is writing will live on... He tells it through the art of creation. His creation." Omara wanted a family and a daughter, and although she was imprisoned with neither of those, she was the rock of the musicians forced to play. She risked everything and took care of the rest. She spoke of Adele as the daughter she never had.
Much emphasis, as you can see, is placed on the impact of art. Beauty is more pronounced when surrounded by death, disease, torture, and all the horrors of a Nazi concentration camp.

[sarahgracegrzy · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hmmm . . . this book. I feel like it was supposed to be a deeply profound and beautiful book, but it wasn't that for me. I don't know if it all just went over my head, or it just wasn't very well written, but it didn't cut it for me. I LOVE WW2 stories, but honestly, I was more interested in Sera and William's story than I was in Adele's. I really like both Sera and William's characters; they had a lot of depth, and I wanted to know more. I wasn't a huge fan of how much emphasis was placed on physical attraction, (Seriously, you met the guy 48 hours ago, and we are already kissing?!?!??) but that's just me.

Overall, just kind of a "meh" read for me. I will definitely be checking out the next book in the series, as I am curious how Sera and William's story will play out, and if I will like it any better than this one.

Recommended for ages 15 for romance, (kissing, hugging, etc), and semi-mild violencecrudity relating to WW2 and the Auschwitz concentration camp.

[heatherlinc · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

What a beautiful story this was! From the front cover to the last page, I was captivated. I loved the two plot lines (past and present) and how they intersected. I was fascinated with Adele's story from the very start and I soon became engrossed in modern day Sera's story as well as she searched for the allusive painting that she saw as a child but couldn't forget. The author did a fabulous job switching between the two time periods and weaving them together to create a fabulous debut novel.However, of the two, Adele's story was far more compelling and inspiring. In a blink of an eye her world crumbled as she went from Austria's sweetheart to a Nazi prisoner, from a talented violinist playing for the Philharmonic Orchestra to a reluctant member of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz, from a life of wealth and privilege to one of starvation, barbed wire and the continual threat of death.The author certainly didn't pull any punches. The things Adele witnessed were horrific and her life in the concentration camp was one of continual fear and uncertainty. My heart bled for her as she was forced to play her violin as new prisoners arrived and others were marched to their death. Although her lips remained sealed, she wept through her music, and I found myself sharing her tears.Yet, ultimately, "The Butterfly and the Violin" was a story of survival, faith, love and courage. A deeply moving read.

[sandralb-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Butterfly and the Violin was a historical fictional masterpiece, blending the past with the present. The story line was about a portrait that was painted in the 1940's during the holocaust in Auschwitz, seen once, but then it came up missing. It contains a lot of intrigue and mystery. I believe it was about so much more, it's about survival and hope. It will make you smile, make you cry, and make you want to treat your fellow man a little nicer. My review can not do this story justice. I don't think I will ever forget the characters, especially Adele and Vladimir or this story. When I read the last page and closed the book, I remembered a recent quote I had seen. "You know you have read a good book when you turn the last page and feel a little as if you have lost a friend." Paul Sweeney

[readerscandyb · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Oh the feels...
My heart is overwhelmed with joy as I'm writing this review. Let me start by saying that my all time favorite read is The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons. I am constantly trying to find something comparable and am usually left feeling underwhelmed... Well this one may just be the first read that left me with the same mind blowing feeling.

There are two stories within this book. A modern love story and an epic historic romance. One painting connects them all and it is up to Sera and William to find it. Sera has been in search of the mysterious painting for years and William's career and family depends on it. When the two decide to work together, a journey of Christianity, hope, love, and learning to trust again begins. As the pages turn we get to see Sera and William's romance grow and also get the story behind the girl in the painting.

Adele, the well known musician fell in love with the wrong guy, put her life on the line for her friends, and was sent to Auschwitz. Her story was emotional and all-consuming. On one hand we have her falling head over heels in love and on another we have her fighting for her life. I ate up each word and found myself highlighting quotes like crazy. It was an epic love story with the kind of subtle romance that leaves you breathless. It's forbidden and tragic, but so worth the read.

The one constant in this story is the presence of God. Each and every character had to believe and have hope in order to move forward with their lives. I thought it was an inspirational book with two unforgettable stories. I recommend it to every reader and am now dying to read the next in the series. My new goal is to find a signed copy of this baby!

[sarah_gruwell · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I can appreciate the effort the author put into her research for daily life in the Nazi camps and in Nazi-occupied Austria. Except for one very glaring exception (timeline for Hungarian Jewry deportations), everything rant with truth and created a very brutal and stark world for our characters to inhabit and to overcome their obstacles in.I’m a bit ambivalent with the main character. Until Adele arrives in Auschwitz, I actually didn’t really like her as a character. She seemed to be a follower far too often, giving in whenever Vladimir makes a decision about her involvement with saving Jews in Vienna. She has the desire to help but no the willpower to push through obstacles to be involved. If Vladimir put his foot down, she gave in. I wanted to reach through the pages and tell her to grow a pair, honestly.Yet, once she arrived in Auschwitz, I really got pulled into her story. I found her quiet ways of resistance and her occasional giving into fear realistic for such an environment and uplifting. She faced some very trying circumstances, and I found her efforts to survive and still create some beauty in the hell that was Auschwitz absorbing.The dual storyline in this novel was a bit lop-sided in my opinion. I found Sera’s and Williams story and relationship lackluster to be frank and honest. They had no chemistry at all, and their love connection seemed to happen way too fast to really draw me in. The whole mystery with finding the painting and William’s inheritance woes also failed to make me interested. In that side of the story.The Christian elements in this work were definitely a bit more heavy-handed than others in the genre I’ve read. Yet, I’ve also seen far worse. The reader isn’t preached at, which I can appreciate. The reader knows, however, that they’re reading a Christian work with God and Christian elements being mentioned at least every few pages. I found that I was able to skip over those lines and not be totally thrown from the storyline.Overall, not a bad work. Adele’s struggle in Auschwitz was spellbinding. The Christian elements were handled well, if a bit heavy-handed at times. Yet, there are some hiccups that keep this from being a stellar work. Adele as a character before Auschwitz was frustrating. The whole Sera and William storyline made me yawn. And there were the occasional glaring historical inaccuracy that will make serious Holocaust historians cringe. So an enjoyable book, but I don’t think I’ll be going out of my way to find the sequel.

[theindigoquill · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

See full review @ The Indigo Quill

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.

Can I just say WOW? This book turned out to be infinitely more than I expected it to be. Kristy Cambron has emerged into the scene with a masterful work of art that will pull the reader into the worlds of Adele and Sera. This is one of those books that hooks you, and it keeps you there even after you turn the last page.

Cambron gracefully alternated the reader between two worlds: present day and the dark days of the Holocaust. She incorporates the facets of art in both forms of music and paintings. In addition, the author is not she to show us a glimpse of the monstrosities of the Holocaust and the affects of it. Although I have not experienced anything remotely close to what the characters did, I still felt connected to the story as though I was living and experiencing everything vicariously through them.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in a historical thriller that will engross you in its every corner and leave a lasting impression on your soul. This will definitely be added to my personal collection.

[katsmiao · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

I wanted to read this book because its categorization of Fiction/literature, and the theme of surviving Auschwitz.
The book should have been listed as Christian fiction, which took away from my enjoyment of the book.

[nadinec.keels · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

"War is going to change things, isn't it?""Yes. It will.""Then I hope it changes me."Before reading The Butterfly and the Violin, I knew it had the potential to be a true masterpiece, and I believe it does become one. By the end of the Vienna Philharmonic concert in which Adele Von Bron was meant to honor the leader of the Third Reich with her musical gift, the imagery hooked me. There were minutes when Adele seemed a bit weak to me, in a timid or wispy kind of way, but then, she wouldn't have ended up in Auschwitz if she was a weakling. I was moved to tears during the climactic moment in which Adele's strength is fully realized, a scene overflowing with love and purpose, exquisite pain, exquisite beauty. Moments like that don't come in all literature, those flashes of something infinite, unfathomable, and eternal, and as Adele soars, one can't help but to soar with her."The artist can't be killed, Adele. The men and women whose hearts have cried in this place--they couldn't stay away."There were some minor hitches in the novel's style, such as the places in the present day account of Sera James that didn't quite have the snap they might have, and Adele's back-to-back breakdowns against her friend Omara that could have had more power if only one breakdown had been used instead of two. Yet, the ultimate profundity and triumph of the story more than make up for the minor details, and I would highly recommend this book to anyone with an appreciation for the human heart, the human story, and enduring hope."The God-worship of every life--this was the art of Auschwitz."____________________BookLook Bloggers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review.

[arthistorychick · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy CambronBook #1: A Hidden Masterpiece SeriesSource: NetgalleyMy Rating: 5/5 starsMy Review:For more than two years, Sera James has lived a half-life. Sure, her Manhattan gallery is doing well and her assistant is top-notch but there is something missing from Sera’s life. After being abandoned at the altar, Sera has closed off her heart to anything and anyone that doesn’t involve her work. Her passion is her work and one particular painting has held her interest since she was a child. As an art dealer/gallery owner, Sera is in a unique position to track down the one painting that has eluded her for years. Sera’s search takes her to William Hanover’s doorstep and the journey the two embark on to unravel the mystery of the painting is steeped in history, sorrow and, unbelievably, hope.In 1942, Adele was many things: the daughter of a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, Austria’s premiere violinist, a young woman in love and, a dissident determined to help Jews safely escape Austria. In so many ways, Adele is protected by her father’s position and her position as a professional musician and this not only emboldens her but creates a false sense of security. As such, Adele follows her love into the night and on a perilous mission to evacuate a Jewish family; the mission ends in tragedy and exposes Adele and her actions to both the authorities and her father. Sure her father will protect her, Adele is shocked when her family turns their backs on her and allows her to be taken into custody. Even more shocking is the realization that Adele will not just be slapped on the wrist and allowed to go back to her family but sent to Auschwitz. Though she is justifiably terrified, Adele is naively certain her punishment will be short-lived since she is not a Jew. Adele’s train ride to Auschwitz is just the beginning of the horrors she will experience until both she and Auschwitz are liberated by the Allies in 1945. Immediately upon her arrival at Auschwitz, a completely terrified Adele is forced to play in order to prove her ability and determine her placement within the camp. Adele’s innate skill comes to her aide and she is, in turn taken to a small building where she will become one of many members of the Auschwitz orchestra. For much of her life, Adele has found comfort in her abilities and her music but at Auschwitz, all she has always held dear is warped and ugly and used to terrible ends. Adele and her musical companions are forced, on a daily basis to play as new prisoners are marched into the camp from the trains, herded to their daily labors or, led to their death in the gas chambers. Though the orchestra is afford more comfort than most in the camp, their lives are still abysmal, their fear is palpable and, each abhors what something so beautiful has been turned into by the evil that rules their world. Throughout her years at Auschwitz, Adele is horrified by the tortures she both witnesses and endures. She plays on as innocents are starved to death, tortured and, executed. She fears for her life every second of every day and knows that it is her ability to play that keeps her alive and so, she plays on. Despite all of the horror, there are moments of hope amid the despair like the time Adele is shown the hiding place of the beautiful works created in secret by camp members. Among the secreted works are of passages of literature and art including a portrait of Adele painted by one of the orchestra members. Those these treasures are certainly bright spots and reminders of what once was for so many, they are also secrets that must be closely guarded and protected at all costs. After the fall of the Nazi regime, the fate of these treasures was tracked almost as closely as the fate of the survivors. Since her childhood, Sera has been obsessed with finding out the fate of the portrait and with the help of William, they not only track down the original work but discover the fate of Adele, her love and, the family the two attempted to help escape that fateful night so many decades ago. During the process of tracing Adele’s life and the fate of painting, William and Sera discover a true and abiding love for one another that is strengthened by their faith in God and Adele’s story. Each understands that the unfolding of Adele’s story, her fate and the fate of her portrait is of the utmost significance and to be a part of the discovery is a gift. The Bottom Line: The Butterfly and the Violin is a tragically beautiful piece of historical fiction. The novel shifts from chapter to chapter between the past and the present with Adele recounting her own story as William and Sera piece together the mystery of her life and her portrait. In truth, this haunting tale would have been just as good if it were simply Adele’s story and there was shifting between the past and the present. Sure, William and Sera’s story is interesting but it is Adele and her story that are the most gripping. There is nothing light or easy about this read; this is, well and truly a horror story played out in real life. Cambron does a fantastic job of dealing with truly tragic events in both an objective and sensitive manner. Cambron doesn’t sugar coat anything but she also doesn’t glamorize the events, she weaves a tale that is as terrifying as it is interesting. Cambron’s writing style enhances the read and moves the story along smoothly and easily. In all, The Butterfly and the Violin is a thoroughly consuming read that will most certainly appeal to a wide variety of readers and in particular, those interested in historical fiction. P.S. Shortly after I finished this read, I went to Amazon and pre-ordered book two in the A Hidden Masterpiece series, A Sparrow in Terezin which is due in April 2015.

[alicebea · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wonderful story blending the past with the present. Sera's and Adele's stories share lives filled with hope, love, trust, and faith. Sera's tale is pale compaired to Adele's but still blend together to bring the book to an unexpected ending.

[susieh5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sera, owner of an art gallery, is haunted by a painting she saw once as a young girl. She has now found a copy of that original painting. Although disappointed that this is only a copy she is intrigued to find out the history of the young woman in the painting. With her shaved head, and tattooed numbers on her arm, the sad young woman held a violin.Sera works with the owner of the copy to find out the history of the woman in the painting.The history they discover is horrific and absolutely haunting.Beautifully written, an emotional tear-jerker – this is definitely one to read – and re-read.

[vintagebeckie · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sometimes the books that make the biggest impression on me are the ones I have the hardest time reviewing. They blow me away, and I just can’t find the words to express myself. Bear with me as I try to explain why The Butterfly And The Violin, Kristy Cambron’s debut novel, is a MUST READ! This beautifully written novel grabbed my heart at the start and still has not let go even after the cover has been closed.There are two stories in The Butterfly And The Violin. Sera James is an art gallery owner searching for a painting that she glimpsed for just moments as a child. It made such an impression, that years later she is obsessed in finding it again. Adele Von Bron, the subject of the painting, was a young, talented violinist in Vienna at the start of WWII. It is Adele’s story that Sera and the reader are really searching for. Filled with unforgettable characters, moving images and faith challenging moments, The Butterfly And The Violin is more than a romance or an historical novel. If you like those two genres, you will like this book, but its story of survival and hope in the midst of the darkest darkness is why you really need to read it.Cambron uses a unique structure for telling the women’s tales. Sera’s story is told in chronological order. Although important to the progression of the novel, it almost provides a respite from the wrenching images and emotions that make up Adele’s story. Adele’s story does not follow a strict chronological order, but it really works in depicting the motivations of the characters and the time in which they lived. Much of Adele’s story takes place in Birkenau, part of the infamous Aushwitz concentration camp. Cambron manages to capture the beauty of that experience that most would overlook. One quote sums up Adele’s feelings of her time there — “The God-worship of every life — this was the art of Auschitz”. The treatment of the prisoners by the Nazi regime is horrifying and almost unbelievable, even though very, very real. And while the book cannot be described as a quick read, I just could not put it down.And there you have it — my poor attempt to tell you why you really need to read The Butterfly And The Violin. Gripping, emotionally wrenching, and challenging, Cambron has written a masterpiece.Very Highly Recommended.Great for book clubs.Audience: adults(Thanks to LitFuse for a review copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

[joyanne-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A wonderfully written debut novel telling the story of Adele in 1942 and Sera in current day. Adele was a young violinist that was imprisoned in a concentration camp for smuggling Jews out of Vienna. Her story will warm your heart, in the midst of the horrors she used her violin to bring joy to others and glory to God. Cambron's glides back and forth between past and present so well. She has given depth and realism to her characters and told a story with passion and grace. I highly recommend this book! I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[samantha100_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

In The Butterfly and the Violin, by Kristy Cambron, two people are looking for the painting of Adele, a beautiful young woman who was once a celebrated Austrian violinist. Sera, a New York City art gallery owner, last saw the painting in Paris when she was a child and it has a special meaning for her. William is a California real estate executive whose family's inheritance hinges upon discovering the owner of the painting. Somehow, William's family has a copy of the painting in their possession. Once their paths cross, they agree to work together in their search for the painting. Thus far, Sera had learned that seventy years ago Adele had been sent to a concentration camp. Her crime was to help a Jewish family in hiding. By reviewing old photographs, William observes a young man who turns out to be Adele's great love, Vladimir. If they can find out the fates of Adele and Vladimir then maybe they can find the painting. Who is the artist and why is the painting tied to a great fortune?The story is told alternately by Sera, in the present, and Adele, seventy years ago. While Sera struggles with trust, William has his own issues. It is Adele that vividly describes the terror and horror of her existence in the concentration camp. She lives a nightmare beyond imagination. Through her words we learn the history of the painting as well as a great deal more. This is an intense and haunting story- one that the reader won't soon forget. The author has crafted a well written and emotionally stirring story. I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Everyone should read this book, a fictional, but true story. The horrors of Hitler’s world, and the acceptance by many that willingly followed him, like lemmings going off a cliff. We put faces to these people, although they really could have a thousand different ones.A memory of a painting observed by an eight-year-old girl, becomes a life passion, and we become witnesses to how it came to be. Add in a family in possession of a copy of this same painting, thought to be the original, and we have a basis of the story.Sera James owns a Manhattan Art Gallery, and has a passion to find this picture she only glimpsed once. When her assistant finds it, or think she does, Sera heads to California and meets William Hanover III. So begins a chance romance, but it is not the main romance, there is another in this story. One that has to do with the Vienna’s Philharmonic, and the lives of compassionate and gifted performers who with God’s help eyes are opened to what is going on in their country. Vladimir and Adele are the Austrian side of this story, and what they do that lands them in Auschwitz.We change to different time periods in this book, and you keep hoping while knowing all the while what is about to happen. Hoping you are wrong, but the time was too horrible, that even the German’s tried to destroy all of the evidence. I so enjoyed this book, and even wanted more, not to be in the prison camp, but to see the three blinks of eyelids.You won’t go wrong with this one, and it will keep you up trying to get to the end to find a conclusion, will anyone survive? Everyone’s life is about to be changed! I gave this book the top five stars, but it is worth much more!I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.

[pattymclpn · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I have read many books about WWII and the concentration camps. I found this book to be refreshingly different in its approach. The novel weaves together two stories, one is in the past and one is in the present. This book is classified as Christian Fiction, but it is not heavily religious. The message in this book is one of faith, hope, love and second chances. It is an emotional tale with a happy ending. I thought that this book was very well written and that the writer put a lot of thought into her writing. This book kept me involved in the story and interested in what would happen next. I think that this is a writer to watch for in the future. I will keep an eye out for the next novel in the series. It is pictured below, but will not be released until April of 2015!! It also sounds promising!!! She has captured my attention!! I give this book a strong 4.5 out of 5. High marks for a debut novel!!

[wrbinpa · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wanda Beaver's review Jun 18, 14 · edit5 of 5 starsbookshelves: 2014-book, christian-historical-fiction, netgalley Read from April 19 to 23, 2014An unforgettable period of history – the harsh realities of the Holocaust – this story will evoke many emotions. It is estimated that one and a half million people died within Auschwitz – Birkenau.Present Time – Sera James, an art historian, owned a gallery in Manhattan. Sera engaged herself in her work, and had been dreaming of finding a painting, from the Holocaust era, since she was a little girl. The painting was of a sad young woman with piercing blue eyes, whose head was shaved, and tattooed numbers on her left forearm that cradled a violin. Sera was intrigued by the mystery of this painting.William Hanover III, a financier in real estate, was liquidating his late grandfather’s estate. He had in his possession a painting that was a virtual copy of what Sera was looking for. But, his grandfather’s will was being contested, and the original painting was standing between his family and their inheritance. He was in search of the original painting and he and Sera are brought together because of her interest in the painting.December 1942 – Vienna, Austria – Adele Von Bron, daughter of Fredrich Von Bron, a high-ranking member of the Third Reich, seemed to have a perfectly arranged life. Adele was known as “Austria’s sweetheart.” She was a gifted musician, a violinist with a bright future, who played with Vienna’s Philharmonic. Adele was involved in the secret transport of Jews out of the city. She wanted to help them escape and she knew the risks involved. Her fate was sealed and would certainly be a death sentence if the Germans found out. Vladimir Nicolai played in the Philharmonic orchestra as a cellist. He was involved with the secret activities of the Jews, and the blackness of Nazi Germany. He and Adele had more than a passing attachment. They had been in love for the last three years and wanted to be together, but Vladimir knew the danger and tried hard to protect Adele. Vladimir was the son of a merchant and Adele’s family found him to be unsuitable for their daughter. Their relationship would have to remain a secret.The Gestapo had landed their sights on Vladimir and Adele as traitors to the Reich, and the story unfolds as Adele is sent to the nightmares and unbearable living conditions in Auschwitz. Adele and others are herded in like animals to the cattle cars that were stagnated with stench, with no food or water, and no heat to protect them from the elements. Adele, among others, was chosen to play in the Women’s Orchestra of Auschwitz, and the orchestra became Adele’s ticket to life. Hundreds of Jews went straight to the gas chambers upon their arrival in Auschwitz, and the orchestra played through it all. Their joy of music was turned into something evil. It is said that the musicians had the highest suicide rates of any prisoners.The skillful storytelling draws you in from the beginning, and the author did an admirable job weaving together two different storylines. The topic of the Holocaust, and the horrors that Hitler put on the Jewish people, brings with it a deep sadness. This is a story that will capture your heart, and one that never loses momentum. The Butterfly and the Violin, by an incredible author, delivers in every way, and is most definitely worthy of a 5 star rating. This book will be on my list of favorites for 2014.I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review of this book.1 like · flag

[jo2son · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sera James comes across the painting of an unknown Holocaust victim and is determined to discover everything she can about the person in the portrait. Moving between the present and the past, the author slowly reveals the story of Adele, a famous Austrian violinist who was sent to Auschwitz for helping Jews.Readers are introduced to the role prisoners gifted in various arts played in concentration camps during World War 2. With others, Adele is forced to perform for the Nazis on a daily basis, thus ensuring her survival. "The music had sustained the gift of breath in their lungs for another day." (p. 176)This poignant story resonated with me long after I had read the last page. Written so that we will remember, the author has accomplished her goal with this reader.(Review based on an ARC received from NetGalley.)

[mcdenis-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The book’s cover belies the cruel trauma within. The author seamlessly moves back and forth from Adele, a young gifted Austrian violinist who is arrested by her Nazi father for helping Jews and loving one (Vladimir) and Sera a Manhattan art dealer who is in present time and enamored of Adele’s portrait which was painted and salvaged from Auschwitz. Sera’s search for the original painting uncovers Adele’s painful story as a camp musician and final survival. Sera in the process meet and collaborates with William whose estate presumably owns the painting. The story carries its own weight and is quite compelling. Once you start you are hooked and can’t wait to finish.

[ohsillytwigg · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I must admit that when I requested this book on Netgalley, I did not know that this was Christian fiction. While this isn't a book I would usually read, I am so glad I did.It's the story of survival. Adele, the Christian daughter of an Austrian military leader, was sent to Auschwitz for "reeducation" after she was caught attempting to smuggle out a Jewish family. Sera is a lost woman searching for a lost painting while trying to move on after heartbreak. Both women were deeply betrayed by someone they love. Both women wrestle with and find comfort in their faith while trying to overcome their struggles. Their lives become entangled and Adele's survival helps Sera succeed. This is one of the few books I've read this year with near perfect pacing. I was never bored or felt rushed, except towards the end. I feel that the ending, while satisfying, was wrapped up too quickly. I sincerely recommend this book to anyone interested in WW2-era fiction, regardless of their faith.