The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron Review

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.

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1O5daqo

 

MY THOUGHTS:

5/5 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!

 

If I Should Die Before I Wake by Han Nolan Review

Hilary hates Jews. As part of a neo-Nazi gang in her town, she's finally found a sense of belonging. But when she's critically injured in an accident, everything changes.
Somehow, in her mind, she has become Chana, a Jewish girl fighting for her own life in the ghettos and concentration camps of World War II.
Han Nolan offers powerful insight into one young woman's survival through the Holocaust and another's journey out of hatred and self-loathing.
Reader's guide and an interview with the author included.

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1KbeS3d

 

MY THOUGHTS:4/5 Stars

 

If you love reading about World War 2 then you most definitely need to read this one! It was a story about two girls that were connected in a significant way, but neither knew it until the very end. One was in a coma and the other was at a working camp. They face their own battles, but lean on one another to escape the darkness. There was guilt... There was hope... There was weakness and there was courage like no other... 

 

If I Should Die Before I Wake was an intense story with graphic, painful moments that brought an abundance of feels. I literally got sick to my stomach while I was reading. The vivid scenes and the heart wrenching deaths pulled me right into the pages. I felt for Chana and wanted to be the one to guide her through the dark times. No matter how weak her body and mind were she always pushed through. She helped others and in the end found that faith was her guidance. Hilary was a tough character for me. She was unlikeable from the beginning, but grew on me as the bitterness faded. The more her life blended with Chana the more she changed for the better. By the end I felt just as connected to her.

 

Overall, I was blown away by the history within the words. The Author made it easy for us to imagine what each character was going through and it really messed with my thoughts. I could feel my moods change with the pages. It was really an all consuming read that opened my eyes to just what took place at Auschwitz.

 

I definitely recommend it to all the history buffs or just someone looking for a unique story with a vivid realness to it.

The Girl Who Came Home by Hazel Gaynor

A voyage across the ocean becomes the odyssey of a lifetime for a young Irish woman. . . .

Ireland, 1912 . . .

Fourteen members of a small village set sail on RMS Titanic, hoping to find a better life in America. For seventeen-year-old Maggie Murphy, the journey is bittersweet. Though her future lies in an unknown new place, her heart remains in Ireland with Séamus, the sweetheart she left behind. When disaster strikes, Maggie is one of the few passengers in steerage to survive. Waking up alone in a New York hospital, she vows never to speak of the terror and panic of that fateful night again.

Chicago, 1982 . . .

Adrift after the death of her father, Grace Butler struggles to decide what comes next. When her great-grandmother Maggie shares the painful secret about Titanic that she's harbored for almost a lifetime, the revelation gives Grace new direction—and leads both her and Maggie to unexpected reunions with those they thought lost long ago.

Inspired by true events, The Girl Who Came Home poignantly blends fact and fiction to explore the Titanic tragedy's impact and its lasting repercussions on survivors and their descendants.

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/1Mui8fj

MY THOUGHTS:
4/5 Stars

 

I always love a good story with a bits of history and deep rooted romance. This one did not disappoint in that aspect. Maggie is a character that all readers will love and her romance with Séamus is understated, but beautiful. While it's not overly intimate, it's a classic love story about overcoming tragedy. I loved their journey, but I did have mixed feelings about Grace's story.

 

While I loved the historical aspect and Maggie, I wasn't a huge fan of Grace. There were multiple times I wanted to close the book during her parts, but the journal entries always pulled me back in. I know Grace was an important role in the story, but I just lacked any connection to her. Where with Maggie I felt the romance and emotion pouring off the pages... Grace's character wasn't as well developed. It wasn't until the end that I truly felt the importance of her. Speaking of an ending.... It was AMAZING! I wanted it to be true, but until it was written in ink I wasn't sure what would happen. It really answered all the questions I had.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. The history sucked me in with it's rawness and the romance consumed my heart. I was pulling for a happily ever after and I feel satisfied with the way everything came together. I definitely recommend this book to all readers that have a love for history. The story of the Titanic is very important and I loved how a fiction tale captured the essence of reality.

One Tiny Lie by K.A. Tucker Review

Livie Cleary has always been Miss Perfect—but she soon learns that perfection isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, and finding out who she really is might mean making some mistakes along the way.
“Make me proud.” These were the last words Livie’s father ever spoke to her. In the seven years since her parents’ tragic death, Livie has done her best to live up to this standard through her every choice, word, and action, while looking after her sister with strength and maturity. But with college right around the corner, unexpected challenges will test her resilience—and her heart.

Livie walks into Princeton with a solid plan, and she’s dead set on delivering on it: Rock her classes; set herself up for medical school; and meet a good, respectable guy to someday marry. Her plan definitely does not include Jell-O shots; a lovable, party animal roommate she can’t say “no” to; or Ashton, the arrogant—and extremely attractive—captain of the men’s rowing team who makes Livie’s usually nonexistent temper flare. Worse, he’s best friends and roommates with Connor, who happens to fit Livie’s criteria perfectly. So why does she keep thinking about Ashton?

As Livie finds herself facing mediocre grades, career aspirations she no longer thinks she can handle, and feelings for Ashton that she shouldn’t have, she’s forced to let go of her last promise to her father, and, with it, the only identity she’s ever known.

 

AMAZON LINK- http://amzn.to/U1JLUh

 

My Thoughts:

4/5 Stars

 

K.A. has done it again....
Fantastic read packed with romance, mystery, and emotions.

 

Livie thinks she has her life all figured out. She gets good grades, keeps her thoughts in check, and is headed to pursue her dream career. However, when she gets to college and starts experiencing college life, her priorities and life goals change.

She meets Ashton, sexy athlete, with a playboy attitude and can't forget the night they share. Even though she is dating someone, she meet ups with Ashton and their connection grows deeper on an emotional/sexual level.

Together they let their guards down and learn to expose their inner most secrets.

 

This book was fantastic. I loved Livie in Ten Tiny Breaths and to see the vulnerable side in this book, made me love her even more. She learns to let go and express her true feelings. Her tough persona is put to the side as her softer, more emotional side is exposed.

 

Ashton was amazing. He is a book boyfriend in every way possible. He has a controlling, cocky attitude, but also a kind, compassionate personality. My heart hurt for him and what he went through. When Livie saw his scars, my mind raced with possibilities, but the truth was even more shocking.

 

The storyline is the college girl with a bad boy theme, but the Author took it to a whole new level. Emotions run high and a twisted kind of therapy is thrown in.

 

I highly recommend this book to all readers!

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker Review

Just breathe, Kacey. Ten tiny breaths. Seize them. Feel them. Love them. Four years ago, Kacey Cleary’s life imploded when her car was hit by a drunk driver, killing her parents, boyfriend, and best friend. Still haunted by memories of being trapped inside, listening to her mother take her last breath, Kacey wants to leave her past behind. Armed with two bus tickets, Kacey and her fifteen-year-old sister, Livie, escape Grand Rapids, Michigan, to start over in Miami. They’re struggling to make ends meet at first, but Kacey’s not worried. She can handle anything—anything but her mysterious neighbor in apartment 1D.

Trent Emerson has smoldering blue eyes and deep dimples, and perfectly skates that irresistible line between nice guy and bad boy. Hardened by her tragic past, Kacey is determined to keep everyone at a distance, but their mutual attraction is undeniable, and Trent is desperate to find a way into Kacey’s guarded heart—even if it means revealing an explosive secret that could shatter both their worlds

AMAZON LINK: http://amzn.to/UGBtBU

 

My Thoughts:

5/5 Stars

 

What a beautiful heartbreaking story....

 

From the first page I was instantly sucked into an emotional rollercoaster ride.

 

The book is about a young woman who went through a tragic life event and is still holding it all in. She moves with her sister, escaping their previous life, but the nightmares continue to occur daily. When she meets her new neighbor, Trent, a relationship brews and Kacey puts her walls up, keeping him at arms length. She eventually lets him in and together they embark on a beautiful journey. What happens when Trent reveals his secrets and the truth is exposed?

 

I will forever favor this book. The writing was fantastic and the storyline was intense and real. While there was a love story, I was consumed in the family and friendships within this book. The Author did a great job making you feel like you were living in the characters shoes. It was a fast paced book packed with romance, mystery, emotions, and suspense.

 

I highly recommend this book.