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3.92 AVERAGE
3.92 AVERAGE
Kristy Cambron literally writes the most AMAZING books ever!! I’ve read all but one (which I’m saving) and they were all incredible! This series is so deep and heart rending. I really enjoy books that accurately give you a glimpse of life in the past.
I cannot give enough praise for this book! I loved both of the stories inside the story, especially the World War II story. It was captivating and had me wanting to turn the page after page! It felt like Addle was actually a real character! She did a great job with this whole story line, dragging you in. This book is a MUST read!
I thought it was okay. I mean it was good until midway where it was rushed to a conclusion. I think that it suffers mostly from the two story lines, that made it lack development and conclude too quickly to bring "connection". It would have been better if they were separate books.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
My Review also on my Blog: Adventure Under the Stairs.
Characters
Adele was an absolute joy. With some books you'll get the main female characters who seem a bit passive. They depend on others to get them out of situations. They don't have that spark, that spunk, that get up and do your own thing.
Adele is not one of those characters.
While she was ignorant of what was going around her (at first), she looked for answers. She wanted to do something. She wanted to make a difference. And when she was placed in Auschwitz, she didn't keep her head down. She still wanted to do something. Yes, she wanted to survive, but she wanted to help those around her as well: her fellow musicians, the people she watched walk into the camps and the gas chambers. Adele was a fighter, and I loved her for that.
Sera...Sera was okay. As a character she was nicely rounded, but her storyline fell flat for me. Reading her story next to Adele's, her story seemed washed out, but I'll get to that in a moment. I wasn't a fan of William either, but again, that may have to do with the fact that I loved the historical story more than the modern one.
Of course, there were a number of other characters, but I generally talk about the main ones unless there is a secondary character that truly wowed me.
Plot
Adele's story: Hands down fantastic. I did not know about the orchestras in the concentration camps. I am extremely grateful to the author, Kristy Cambron for sharing that information with me through her novel. It makes me want to know more, to get out and research everything I can about them because you never hear about it (at least I didn't).
I also loved the love story between Adele and Vladimir was perfection. I was hoping for their relationship to last. I was hoping they would both be safe. I was hoping they would have a happy ending. I do not wish to spoil, so I won't tell you if they did or not, but their story was just wonderful from beginning to end.
Sera and William's romance, on the other hand, was a struggle. It was more of a instant-love, which doesn't sit well for me. They had maybe a few hours of conversation and Sera is already wanting to open her heart which had been closed off for two years, to him. She had hearts floating around her head way too quickly for me, and William wasn't any better.
Overall, because of the huge differences between the Adele story and the Sera story, it made rating this book very difficult for me. On another note, this was a Christian fiction, which I don't normally read. Actually, this was my first one, but it's not a story that's shoving Christianity down your throat, so it can be read by anyone of any religious or non-religious belief.
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Characters
Adele was an absolute joy. With some books you'll get the main female characters who seem a bit passive. They depend on others to get them out of situations. They don't have that spark, that spunk, that get up and do your own thing.
Adele is not one of those characters.
While she was ignorant of what was going around her (at first), she looked for answers. She wanted to do something. She wanted to make a difference. And when she was placed in Auschwitz, she didn't keep her head down. She still wanted to do something. Yes, she wanted to survive, but she wanted to help those around her as well: her fellow musicians, the people she watched walk into the camps and the gas chambers. Adele was a fighter, and I loved her for that.
Sera...Sera was okay. As a character she was nicely rounded, but her storyline fell flat for me. Reading her story next to Adele's, her story seemed washed out, but I'll get to that in a moment. I wasn't a fan of William either, but again, that may have to do with the fact that I loved the historical story more than the modern one.
Of course, there were a number of other characters, but I generally talk about the main ones unless there is a secondary character that truly wowed me.
Plot
Adele's story: Hands down fantastic. I did not know about the orchestras in the concentration camps. I am extremely grateful to the author, Kristy Cambron for sharing that information with me through her novel. It makes me want to know more, to get out and research everything I can about them because you never hear about it (at least I didn't).
I also loved the love story between Adele and Vladimir was perfection. I was hoping for their relationship to last. I was hoping they would both be safe. I was hoping they would have a happy ending. I do not wish to spoil, so I won't tell you if they did or not, but their story was just wonderful from beginning to end.
Sera and William's romance, on the other hand, was a struggle. It was more of a instant-love, which doesn't sit well for me. They had maybe a few hours of conversation and Sera is already wanting to open her heart which had been closed off for two years, to him. She had hearts floating around her head way too quickly for me, and William wasn't any better.
Overall, because of the huge differences between the Adele story and the Sera story, it made rating this book very difficult for me. On another note, this was a Christian fiction, which I don't normally read. Actually, this was my first one, but it's not a story that's shoving Christianity down your throat, so it can be read by anyone of any religious or non-religious belief.
Rating: 3.5/5 STARS
Too much religious preaching for my taste but the story was promising.
This is a hauntingly beautiful novel about the holocaust. I highly recommend Reading this to anyone who loves a good historical fiction based upon a well researched part of history. I would give more stars if possible
Let me catch my breath real quick so I can try to get through this review. This book is the first I can say made me really cry. I was gasping, full of goosebumps, and flying through pages as quickly as my eyes could handle. I had no idea this book would impact me in the way it did, but wow, I will remember it forever.
This story follows two timelines that provide very different tones:
There's modern day Sera, an art gallery owner who is on a lifelong mission to find a painting of a violinist she once saw as a child. And then there's Adele, famous Austrian violinist and daughter of the member of the Third Reich who is made to suffer through the horrors of the Holocaust after trying to smuggle Jews out of Austria.
At first, I was frustrated with the back and forth of these plot lines. Adele's chapters were harsh, intense, fast-paced, and emotional. Sera's chapters were lighthearted, funny, romantic, and a mystery. I wasn't as attached to Sera's story and desperately wanted to learn more about Adele. But as soon as the lines began to blur, I was fully invested in both plots and how, if at all possible, Kristy Cambron could tie all this together. I learned to appreciate the alternating chapters for how it provided me time to breathe after reading more about Adele in the concentration camps. Each chapter also provided a new facet to the mystery and ended on a cliffhanger. Halfway through the book, I seriously could not stop reading.
For my bookish friends, this is a Christian historical fiction and I didn't know that going into it, so God is a very prominent, very important part of this novel. This didn't take away anything from the novel for me, but it was unexpected, so just wanted to throw it out there! In fact, Adele's connection with God and her musical talents led to some seriously beautiful, heart-warming scenes and quotes.
The well-developed characters, detailed descriptions, emotional moments, historical context, and lessons in perseverance and strength are all impeccably done. I was an emotional wreck at the end and I was blown away with reveal after reveal after reveal and all loose ends being tied together. I know I'll be reading the second book in this series. Loved it so much; HIGHLY recommend!
This story follows two timelines that provide very different tones:
There's modern day Sera, an art gallery owner who is on a lifelong mission to find a painting of a violinist she once saw as a child. And then there's Adele, famous Austrian violinist and daughter of the member of the Third Reich who is made to suffer through the horrors of the Holocaust after trying to smuggle Jews out of Austria.
At first, I was frustrated with the back and forth of these plot lines. Adele's chapters were harsh, intense, fast-paced, and emotional. Sera's chapters were lighthearted, funny, romantic, and a mystery. I wasn't as attached to Sera's story and desperately wanted to learn more about Adele. But as soon as the lines began to blur, I was fully invested in both plots and how, if at all possible, Kristy Cambron could tie all this together. I learned to appreciate the alternating chapters for how it provided me time to breathe after reading more about Adele in the concentration camps. Each chapter also provided a new facet to the mystery and ended on a cliffhanger. Halfway through the book, I seriously could not stop reading.
For my bookish friends, this is a Christian historical fiction and I didn't know that going into it, so God is a very prominent, very important part of this novel. This didn't take away anything from the novel for me, but it was unexpected, so just wanted to throw it out there! In fact, Adele's connection with God and her musical talents led to some seriously beautiful, heart-warming scenes and quotes.
The well-developed characters, detailed descriptions, emotional moments, historical context, and lessons in perseverance and strength are all impeccably done. I was an emotional wreck at the end and I was blown away with reveal after reveal after reveal and all loose ends being tied together. I know I'll be reading the second book in this series. Loved it so much; HIGHLY recommend!
2.5
The past scenes were far more compelling than the present day scenes. And why must there be a romance every time a man and woman have to work together?!
Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the read, the book is formulaic.
Some big secret (which isn't really), girl holds part of the key but is a loner and aloof due to a previously shattered heart. Wealthy bachelor playboy with a smooshy hard underneath his stereotypical exterior hires girl, dangling his part of the key. They kiss, er collaborate, unwrabe the myaster-that-isnt-a-mystery, and suddenly they are getting married
The past scenes were far more compelling than the present day scenes. And why must there be a romance every time a man and woman have to work together?!
Unfortunately, while I enjoyed the read, the book is formulaic.
Some big secret (which isn't really), girl holds part of the key but is a loner and aloof due to a previously shattered heart. Wealthy bachelor playboy with a smooshy hard underneath his stereotypical exterior hires girl, dangling his part of the key. They kiss, er collaborate, unwrabe the myaster-that-isnt-a-mystery, and suddenly they are getting married