"The Butterfly and the Violin"

by Kristy Cambron

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.

Biography

Kristy Cambron has a background in art and design, but she fancies life as a vintage-inspired storyteller. She is the author of THE RINGMASTER'S WIFE, named to Publishers Weekly Spring 2016 Religion & Spirituality TOP 10. Her novels have been named to Library Journal Reviews' Best Books and RT Reviewers' Choice Awards Best lists, and received a 2015 INSPY Awards nomination for best debut novel. THE ILLUSIONIST'S APPRENTICE (HarperCollins, 2017) is her fourth novel.

Kristy is a Speaker and Design Manager at TheGROVEstory.com, and holds a degree in Art History from Indiana University. She lives in Indiana with her husband and three sons, where she can probably be bribed with a coconut mocha latte and a good read.

To stay connected, follow Kristy's Writing Desk Newsletter at: KristyCambron.com



My thoughts ~

The Butterfly and the Violin has received numerous rave reviews and countless recommendations.  I wasn't sure a book could measure up to the praise I'd seen. I have to say that this book went beyond my expectations. I was enraptured and captivated by this haunting masterpiece! My emotions were all over the place.

The story line transports the reader from present day New York to WWII Auschwitz and back throughout the novel. This parallel story is woven together by a highly desired portrait of a young woman, with only a copy of a painting, and no clues to where the original is located, or the name of the artist.

Characters are so realistically portrayed that I could feel their emotions through the written page. I lived the music as it was performed, with the rising pitches and tones of the orchestra and violinist. I can only imagine minute fragments of the agony of the Holocaust and the depression the detailing evoked. 

This is one of the most compelling and haunting novels I've read, and I must say that I will be following this author's future works. I am about to begin A Sparrow in Terezin with the hope that it also evokes the emotions and passion that is revealed in The Butterfly and the Violin. I highly recommend this masterpiece!