Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Unavailable
    A Sparrow in Terezin
    Unavailable
    A Sparrow in Terezin
    Unavailable
    A Sparrow in Terezin
    Audiobook9 hours

    A Sparrow in Terezin

    Written by Kristy Cambron

    Narrated by Carrington MacDuffie

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this audiobook

    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.



    In 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.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Audio
    Release dateJul 14, 2015
    ISBN9781494583774
    Unavailable
    A Sparrow in Terezin
    Author

    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.

    More audiobooks from Kristy Cambron

    Related to A Sparrow in Terezin

    Related audiobooks

    General Fiction For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      Family & friendship

      Oct 9, 2019

      Kelly’s debut novel, Lilac Girls, was a tender tale of sisterhood during WWII. The international bestseller took a fresh look at war from the perspective of women connected to Ravensbrück concentration camp. Lost Roses, set a generation earlier, is t

      1 min read

    • Article

      Blue Bloods

      Apr 13, 2023

      Blue Bloods
      7 min read

    • Article

      Great Reads

      Feb 28, 2024

      by Emily Howes (£20, HB, Orion) The year is 1759 and the artist Thomas Gainsborough is living in Suffolk with his wife and daughters Peggy and Molly. The best of friends, the sisters do everything together; content to spy on their father and run arou

      2 min read

    • Article

      FAMILY & FRIENDSHIP

      Oct 6, 2019

      Kelly’s debut novel, Lilac Girls, was a tender tale of sisterhood during WWII. The book took a fresh look at war from the perspective of women all connected to notorious Ravensbrück concentration camp. Jewish Kasia was sent to Ravensbrück, where Nazi

      1 min read

    • Article

      Mother’s Day Books Guide

      Apr 22, 2020

      Escape to the idyllic Greek island of Hydra in this mesmerising novel by UK novelist and lyricist Polly Samson. Following the death of their mother, siblings Erica and Bobby head to this remote corner of paradise where they dive into the arty set – w

      8 min read

    • Article

      Storytime

      Mar 22, 2023

      It is the Fat Tuesday Night Feast and the refectory at the convent is ablaze with candles. The upstanding guests arrive in carriages plump with cushions from their fine palazzos to make merry before the Forty Day Fast. Sister Librarian Beatrice is la

      2 min read

    • Article

      Great Reads

      Oct 6, 2022

      Growing up in 1973, Eleanor's home was strained by sorrow and the echoes of war that silenced her parents. And always her mother, Kitty's, bitterness, twisting and poisoning everything she touched. She thought she knew what made her parents this way…

      2 min read

    • Article

      A One-woman Show

      Dec 1, 2021

      A One-woman Show
      4 min read

    • Article

      THE room Reading

      Feb 24, 2021

      THE room Reading
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Family That Shaped Camilla

      Mar 22, 2023

      The Family That Shaped Camilla
      8 min read

    • Article

      Home From Home

      Jun 23, 2021

      Home From Home
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Family That Shaped Camilla

      Mar 22, 2023

      The Family That Shaped Camilla
      8 min read

    • Article

      Home Fires Burning

      Sep 4, 2022

      Home Fires Burning
      4 min read

    • Article

      Flying The Royal Nest

      Apr 15, 2021

      Flying The Royal Nest
      5 min read

    • Article

      What Was Lost

      Mar 16, 2023

      In October 1938, some 6,500 Jews living in Germany were arrested without warning and dumped by police outside the Polish frontier village of Zbąszyń. At first, the surprised Polish border guards denied them entry but, after a standoff, these wretched

      2 min read

    • Article

      New On The Shelf

      Jul 17, 2020

      Maximilian Fritz, editor and owner of small-town newspaper The Lowveld Mirror, receives a letter from Denmark. It’s from Freja Casperson, cousin of his boyhood friend Karl Udengaard. She tells him that Karl has committed suicide and that she lives in

      3 min read

    • Article

      The Dancer Who Toppled A King

      Jun 18, 2020

      The Dancer Who Toppled A King
      8 min read

    • Article

      ...thomas And Jean Weir

      Aug 12, 2023

      ...thomas And Jean Weir
      2 min read

    • Article

      Great Reads

      Mar 6, 2024

      by Pam Williams (£10.99, PB, Legend Press) When Cilla follows her husband to England in search of a better life, she makes the heartbreaking decision to leave her son Raef behind. Seven years pass before they are reunited. Seeing each other again, th

      2 min read

    • Article

      Treachery & betrayal THE WIND SORS’ TOP-SECRET LIFE EXPOSED

      Jul 17, 2022

      It was painted as one of the great romances of the 20th century. Edward VIII’s love for American divorcée Wallis Simpson was so intense that he gave up the British throne for her. But now an author who has carried out extensive research into the coup

      5 min read

    • Article

      Book Club

      May 18, 2022

      In the exciting second novel in The Wolf Den trilogy, we see Amara adjusting to life as a concubine with her new patron, while living with remorse at having left others behind in the brothel. Fighting for survival means making sacrifices and difficul

      2 min read

    • Article

      Adam LeBor on Television

      Dec 23, 2020

      Adam LeBor on Television
      3 min read

    • Article

      Summer Reading

      Jan 1, 2020

      A wealthy bibliophile brings a treasured manuscript to her Paris binder. The pages are creased, yellowed and pungent with the nutty aroma “that old paper exhales as it decays”, and underneath the title is a jumble of figures. The book is broken up in

      7 min read

    • Article

      Books ...

      Jul 8, 2021

      A fascinating true story about Elizabeth von Armin. Born in Sydney in 1866, the literary genius discovered society in Victorian London, where she mixed with celebrities and royals before marrying a European aristocrat. (Out now) Larisa’s life is

      1 min read

    • Article

      In The Memoirs Of Wallis Simpson We Find A Terrible Echo Of The Treatment Of Meghan

      Mar 8, 2021

      To borrow a phrase, it seems that Megxit means Megxit. The notion that Harry and Meghan could function as semi-detached royals in semi-exile was always far fetched, as is becoming increasingly apparent. It is also inevitable that their alienation fro

      4 min read

    Reviews for A Sparrow in Terezin

    4/5

    11 ratings16 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 3/5
      Even though I quite enjoyed this book, it certainly wasn't as good as "The Butterfly and the Violin" . The two parallel stories didn't connect as well as they did in the first book and I had very little interest in what was happening to modern Sera and Wiliam.Like "The Butterfly and the Violin", I found the storyline set during WWII far more interesting, but I was still disappointed. I never fully believed Kaja's story. She was like a cat, always landing safely on her feet and while I liked Liam, Dane was just too good to be true. I also thought that the author didn't provide enough detail of the gut-wrenching horrors and overwhelming depravities that Adele would have witnessed whilst in Auschwitz. Overall, I was disappointed with "A Sparrow in Terezin". It certainly didn't live up to expectations after the fabulous debut of "The Butterfly and the Violin".
    • 3/5
      A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron is an interesting and confusing book. I kept reading the book hoping things would be explained and start to make sense, but halfway through the book, I was still confused (and still no explanations). I looked up A Sparrow in Terezin and discovered it is the second book in the series. Before reading A Sparrow in Terezin, you must read The Butterfly and the Violin. Sera and William have moved up their wedding. No one knows why and they are assuming it is because they just do not want to wait any longer be together. However, the ceremony is barely over the police show up and arrest William. The police state that William committed fraud. Evidently he sold artwork that belonged to Hanover Corporation and not to William. William states he is innocent. Sera sets out to prove her new groom innocent and find out what he is not telling her. The book alternates between present time and World War II. It is 1939 and Kaja Makovsky is fleeing Poland with her sister, Hannah, and brother-in-law, Jakob. The Germans have invaded Poland and their parents want the girls to get to safety. Kaja spends time in Palestine, but then ends up in London. Kaja ends up working for The Daily Telegraph as a secretary and copy editor (she wants to write). Kaja meets Liam Marshall who is a reporter. Kaja slowly discovers that there is more to Liam than meets the eye. When Kaja finds out what is happening to Jews in Poland, she insists on going back to help her parents. Kaja finds her parents and is unable to get them out. The three of them end up in a Theresienstadt Concentration Camp (also known as a ghetto or Camp Terezin). Kaja is put in charge of children that are too young to work. She is too teach them art. Kaja meets Sophie and becomes her guardian. Housing is deplorable and the food is sparse. Will Kaja get out (escape) or get sent to the ovens?To find out the connection between Sophie and Sera, if Kaja survives, and what happens with William, please read A Sparrow in Terezin. It is nicely written, but a little complicated. I give A Sparrow in Terezin 3.5 out of 5 stars. I think if I had read The Butterfly and the Violin first, I would have understood and enjoyed A Sparrow in Terezin.I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      A Sparrow In Terezin by Kristy Cambron is a heartbreaking, yet hope filled book of love and courage written for the reader who is not only interested in being entertained, but simultaneously informed to historical events that took place during World War II. Masterful writing!A Sparrow In Terezin by Kristy Cambron captures the happenings that took place within the boundaries of the Nazi established Jewish internment camp of Terezin during World War II. Terezin was a town in Northwestern Czechoslovakia and history records that Jews were brought by the thousands to this city for the purpose of falsely promoting a model "Jewish settlement" of sorts and thereby utilizing it to show the world how well the Jewish nation was being treated by the Nazis. This in fact was a lie. The town in actuality served as a transit camp run by the SS for the Jews who were en route for extermination to other death camps. The city was an overcrowded ghetto filled with underfed, mostly elderly and young Jewish people who were suffering from rampant illness and poor living conditions.Kristy Cambron logically interlaces the lives of the two main characters, Kaja and Sera between current time and 1942. As each woman faces the most intense trial of her life, they each uncover an inner strength and peace. The story utilizes meticulous narration as the two intertwined lives eventually comprehend that the source of their strength is Christ living within them. The gospel presentation is subtle, but unmistakably clear. The continual foundation of family commitment and unwavering selflessness that are consistently communicated in this book, are inspiring and commendable. The inhumanity revealed within A Sparrow In Terezin as depicted through the horrendous events occurring in the city during the war are clearly appalling and paralyzing, however, the countering bravery, trust, resilience, hope and faith that each character represents, manage to restore a sense of confidence in humankind that is undeniable. I was enlightened to some of the atrocities that occurred during this time period and I am grateful for a deeper understanding of the intense suffering that took place. I was truly touched by the reading of this book. I found the descriptions of the children within the city walls to be hauntingly realistic. A Sparrow In Terezin was painful to read in some parts, but the exchange for knowledge was worth the injurious emotions. I'm thankful for the education and I walk away from this masterpiece with a desire to be "a teacher of hope". Thank you to Thomas Nelson, a registered trademark of HarperCollins Christian Publishing, Inc for this review copy of A Sparrow In Terezin by Kristy Cambron. A copy of this book was provided to me through the BookLook Bloggers program in exchange for a complete read and an honest opinion of this work.
    • 3/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 5/5
      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.
    • 2/5
      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.

    • 5/5
      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.)
    • 5/5
      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!!
    • 5/5
      A Sparrow in Terezin is the second book in Kristy Cambron’s Hidden Masterpiece series. It is just as wonderful as The Butterfly and the Violin, the first book in the series. Both novels are time split between current times and the Holocaust, and both are well developed with an intricate plot. I was much less familiar with the ghetto of Terezin than the death camp of Auschwitz, and was unaware that of the 15,000 children believed to have gone through Terezin, less than 100 ultimately survived the Holocaust. The passing of time, never makes the numbers associated with this time and these events in history less staggering. Sera James and William Hanover’s lives once again revolve around the history and mystery of art, and leads them back to a very special friend in Paris. This time their future as a married couple hangs in the balance. Their story intersects with that of Kaja Makovsky whose life in Prague, Paris and Terezin is told with a poignancy that will touch and hold the hearts of readers. Kaja’s courage, loyalty and dedication are memorable and inspiring. It is through her story that readers are guided to ponder God’s timing, and the peace and strength He provides as we weather life’s storms. I most highly recommend this book, this series, and this author to those who want to read fiction with depth. A lighthearted read, this is not. Rather it is a story that will stay with you long after the last page is turned.
    • 5/5
      Sunday, April 26, 2015A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron, © 2015A Hidden Masterpiece Novel, Book TwoContemporary/Historical FictionThomas NelsonThe story centers around the children’s art of the Theresienstadt transport camp (also known as Terezín), the Nazis’ propaganda camp north of Prague.My review:A strong story of hope and encouragement in the face of despair. I really enjoy reading two time period novels. The stories are richly woven together. The happenings before us do affect today. Courageous actions on the part of those willing to take a risk to love will be an encouragement to those who follow. Kristy Cambron has written of an inner strength."Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." ––Joshua 1:9 NIVKája swallowed hard. "The last secretary quit after one day?""Secretaries. And it was within a week." He grimaced. "But what does it matter? We have a copy-editor from Oxford here now. And given the fact that she's already had the grand tour and her desk is cleared off and everything..." He pulled out the wooden swivel chair and patted the back with his palms. "Why not give it a try? What's the worst that could happen?"--A Sparrow in Terezin, 47Powerful. You walk every step with them.I began reading mid-afternoon, with 87 pages remaining, so absorbing, I was unaware I had read that far. Kristy Cambron is a wordsmith bringing you visibly into their world and time. The story of the beloved clock from Kája's childhood brings hope alive amid the children's art at Terezin."You are Kateřina Makovský from Prague?"She stood before the woman, nervous but head held high. If Liam was right and she was inordinately stubborn, Kája had an inkling it would be a necessary component to her survival in this place. She notched her chin and answered, "Yes. I am."The woman handed over a sheet of paper, a small rectangle, then answered, "You are to report to the ration line, then to the Jewish Council for medical inspection and work assignment. Memorize this number," she cautioned, though her voice was staunch and formulaic. "You must know this number. It is how you will be referred to from this point on. Do you understand?"Kája nodded. "Yes.""If you are asked, you must give this number immediately. At all times. There will be no opportunity for remembering."--Ibid., 221The description of the Terezin concentration camp is so vivid. One detail, among many, that stood out to me was how being moved from a large central room to an attic room was worse because of the vermin and cracked window with winter approaching. Nearer to the school for children, the attic room was a place of refuge against the turmoil without, if even for a little while.Continuing from the story in the first book, this second book reflects Sophie's early childhood. Giving from an open heart, the present and past intersect in her later years. Present day, Sera James, receives what she needs to continue by the influences and sacrifices of those who risked their own lives for the children of Terezin. For such a time as this; how important we each are in forthcoming generations.***Thank you to Litfuse Publicity Group and Thomas Nelson for this copy of Kristy Cambron's book two in the Hidden Masterpiece series, A Sparrow in Terezin, for review. This review was written in my own words. No other compensation was received.***
    • 5/5
      Kristy Cambron has created another great read in her sophmore offering, A Sparrow in Terezin. This historical/contemporary novel spans time and connects people with the story and art of the Holocaust. Kristy is meticulous in her research and creates lasting images with her words. If you read book 1 in her Hidden Masterpiece series, The Butterfly And The Violin, then you will not want to miss this book. Haven’t read book 1? Then make sure to get both and look forward to some wonderful reading.In the early days of WWII, Kaja makes her escape from Prague as the Nazi’s march into her beloved city. But she is forced to leave her parents behind. Making her way to London, via Palestine, she meets the dashing and daring Liam at the newspaper where she works. Liam is a reporter on the war beat, but his shadowy movements hint at something much more. As Kaja discovers the horrors of the Nazi’s plan for the Jews, she enlists Liam’s help in getting back to Prague to rescue her family, but soon finds herself living the nightmare of Terezin. In the present day, Sera and William’s love story is upset by legal battles and problems with trust. Kaja’s story intersects their own in interesting ways.As in The Butterfly And The Violin, I enjoyed the WWII story line much more than the contemporary romance. Sera and William’s story is interesting, but it is Kaja’s story that kept me turning the pages. Kristy brings to life the march of the Nazis into Prague, the Blitz of London, and the brutality and inhumanity of Hitler’s Final Solution. At first I was incredulous that Kaja would risk traveling back to Prague, but her sacrifice becomes more believable as she cares for and protects her mother and then the child entrusted to her. Her character is interesting — idealistic, a bit naive, but ever hopeful. She survives by placing her trust in God’s promises. Trust is a theme that runs through A Sparrow in Terezin — trust in God, in love and in commitment to people. Kristy’s writing is very strong. She paints pictures with her words that remain with the reader for a long time. Her description of Kaja’s journey to Terezin is powerful with phrases such as “as evil unfolded around them” and “forgotten souls” capturing the despair of the people transported from everything they knew and loved to a world one never could have imagined.One of the strongest elements of A Sparrow in Terezin is found in the remarkable character of Dane. An SS officer charged with the engineering aspects of the concentration camp, he is also a man of compassion and conscience trapped by his own country’s ideology. He serves to remind the reader that the smallest light can dispel the darkest darkness.Powerful images, complex characters and a message of hope in the midst of evil, A Sparrow in Terezin is a highly recommended read.Highly Recommended.Great for Book Clubs.Audience: older teens and adults.(Thanks to LitFuse and Thomas Nelson for a review copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)
    • 4/5
      The marriage of William and Sera is hindered by William's past. He is being charged of felony grand theft and forgery, and is facing prison time for crimes he didn’t commit. But Sera is determined to face the humiliation because she trusts her husband, and believes in his innocence.Kaja fled Nazi-occupied Prague in March of 1939, leaving her half Jewish parents behind, with a promise from them that they would be on the next train. Kaja’s parents had sent her away because things had begun to turn bad in Prague, but they had no way of knowing that heir daughter was now in the most dangerous place in the world. War had chased her to an ARP Shelter in the heart of London – she was living in the Blitz, caught up in another nightmare.Kaja read that the Nazis were killing Jews, rounding them up and sending them away where many of them were never heard from again. The camps in the East were killing centers where the Jews, along with women and children, were murdered with bullets and by gas. Kaja makes the decision to return to Prague to rescue her parents.Liam Marshall, a reporter assigned to the war beat, meets Kaja in London, and is immediately attracted to her. A romance soon blossoms between them. Liam knew there was no way of stopping Kaja from returning to Prague. He understood Kaja’s heart and used his connections to help her in her quest. Kaja was a woman of incredible will, and astounding courage, who was about to embark on a harrowing journey of great sadness.And the story unfolds as Kaja returns to Prague and ends up in Terezin, a halfway point – a holding pen for Jews that was a combined ghetto and concentration camp. Between 1942 – 1944 more than 15,000 children passed through Terezin, living in horrific conditions, while they awaited to be transported from the ghettos to one of the Nazi killing centers.The author cleverly weaves together two storylines that are compelling and beautifully written. The characters are strong and unique, and the engrossing story that takes place during WWII is vividly described – quite captivating.A slight negative comment – I couldn’t become fully engaged with the story of William and Sera, and I did read the first book in the series, The Butterfly and the Violin. My rating is 4.5 stars.Prepare to lose yourself in this thrilling novel, beautifully crafted, by an extraordinary author.I received a complimentary copy of this book from BookLook Bloggers in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      Kristy Cambron has woven another historic reminder of the evil that took over the world when Hitler came to power. We travel between current times and beginning in 1939 through WWII, when horror took over the world.The story opens with the continuation of the first book, The Butterfly and The Violin, which was such a fantastic read, but this book does read alone. We are at the wedding of Sera and William, and when the ceremony is finish, an arrest happens for a crime that he never committed.The story connects through the decades in unexpected ways, and again we experience the horrors of the concentration camps, and the connection between the families. It’s a world gone mad, and the innocent souls who succumb to the evil, and for what, and how can it end, a timely reminder to this day.This is a page-turner, and one that will linger with you for a long time after the last page is turned. It is a timely reminder of what happens when Satan takes over, and the havoc he pushes forth on a world that has turned it back on God.Come and find the connection between Kája and Sera, and of course Sophie, you will be surprised and heart warmed.I received this book through Litfuse Publicity Book Tours, and was not required to give a positive review.