The French Kitchen by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

  

This dual timeline story is set largely in France in the 1940s WWII era and the early 1950s, It focuses on Kathryn (Kat) Harris, AKA Cèléne, during the time she was working for the United States Office of Strategic Services. Kat and her brother remained close even after each chose a different parent to live with following their parents' divorce. Kat was much more suited to helping in her father's garage than attending her mother's society parties. Her proficiency with languages acquired at Wellesley College, the mechanical skills she had picked up at the garage, her innate talents, and her strong will made her a perfect candidate for the OSS. Unfortunately, one skill that she lacked that became crucial to the success of her mission was cooking, in particular cooking French Cuisine. On-the-job training had to suffice, and the skills she acquired remained useful to Kat after the war as she sought to locate her brother, or at least to learn what happened to him after she'd last seen him in France.

The French Kitchen is very well-written. Readers are transported in space and time. Their emotions become highly engaged, emotions of fear, longing for things to be different, courage, regret, and even of love and joy in the midst of chaos and pain. This is a gripping story that does not easily let go of a reader even as it draws to a close. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The British Booksellers by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

    

While this book took a bit to pull me in, once it did, I was completely immersed. The book is a dual timeline story, with most of the same major characters in each timeline. The earlier timeline occurs leading up to and during the First World War, the second during the Second World War. Young Charlotte longs for freedom from society's expectations, including the right to marry outside of one's class. The more mature Charlotte has raised a strong, independent daughter who has many more freedoms and choices available to her. Young Amos Darby, a tenant farmer may not agree with class restrictions, but has more readily accepted them. He is a man who loves books and a man of integrity. The more mature Amos is a man both physically and mentally damaged by the experience of war, a man who seeks to anonymously look out for those he loves while dismissing his own needs and desires.

Please take time to read the Author's Note at the end of the book. As always Cambron has thoroughly researched her setting and its history. It is interesting to see how well she has woven facts into her fictional story. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The British Booksellers from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Italian Ballerina by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

  

This well-researched split time novel is filled with information on events surrounding the clearing of the ghetto in Rome, Italy of which I was previously unaware. The fictional story that showcases the real-life heroism of Dr. Giovanni Borromeo and members of his staff at the Fatebenefratelli Hospital at Tiber Island is amazing. The heroics of the fictional characters are both heart-warming and heart-wrenching. Kristy Cambron has once again woven a tale that brings the generations together and demonstrates the impact the past has on the future, and that one life can have on the lives of so many others. The theme of both extending and receiving mercy is also well developed in this beautiful story.

I highly recommend The Italian Ballerina along with Cambron's other works. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Paris Dressmaker by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

   

The story of Lila de Laurent, the Paris dressmaker, along with the story of Sandrine Paquet, is both heart-wrenching and beautiful. The story is set in Paris, France between the years of 1939 and 1944, and focuses on the roles of women in the French Résistance, especially those who worked to catalog the art that was stolen and transported out of France, determined to help restore it to its original owners once the war had ended. These women risked love, life, and reputation in their efforts alongside the men who welcomed them as confederates, even though before the war they could not vote, work or open a checking account without their husband's permission.

The Paris Dressmaker is extremely well researched, and evokes a broad range of emotions in its readers. As with Cambron's other books, it won't be soon forgotten, and will leave an imprint on readers' views of the past as well as the future. I used the text-to-speech feature on my Kindle for much of this book, and that did make the story's structure a bit of a challenge as it goes back and forth,not only between Lila and Sandrine's stories, but hops around within the time frame in which it takes place. It is totally worth navigating, and once both the primary and secondary characters are firmly established, it will require less attention.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Paris Dressmaker from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

   

Cambron's seamless transition and intertwining of three connected yet distinct stories from the 1840s, 1940s, and present day is truly amazing. Elizabeth, Amelia, and Keira all share stories of heartbreak and restoration that unfold on the Parham Hill Estate in Suffolk County, England. Each lady's story is captivating and will stir the reader's heart. Elizabeth and Keira's stories include a mystery to be solved. Each of these stories goes beyond romance to deep and abiding love.

Kristy Cambron is a master of character development. In her stories each word counts, frivolous passages are non-existent. Once finished, they leave you with the desire to let them rest in your thoughts, with no desire to immediately enter a new book and another world.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in the review are completely my own.

Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

Once again Kristy Cambron has proven herself to be a stellar writer. She has never failed to pull me out of my present day circumstances and fully immerse me in another time and place. Castle on the Rise is set largely on the Ashford Manor Estate in Ireland in 1798, 1916, and present day. Cambron masterfully weaves together the stories of Maeve Ashford, Lady Isolde Byrne and Laine Forrester. Each lady's story is linked to Ashford Manor, each holds both heartache and victory. Their stories help readers to see that God is not absent in our pain, nor is He indifferent to our questions. Our trust in Him in spite of our pain and questions both pleases Him and brings us peace. While our own stories may not include castles, like these three ladies we do not have to wait for a fairy tale ending before we experience joy. Joy can be found as we walk in faith with God and with those whom He places in our paths through whatever life puts before us.

Cambron's diligent research and personal experience with the setting of this story take us to periods in Ireland's tumultuous history that demonstrate the chasm that existed between Protestants and Catholics and between the English and the Irish. We meet both men and women that are willing to make great sacrifices for what they believe in, willing to dig in and do the hard work of standing up for what they believe is right. Cambron develops characters that readers will hold dear, will root for, and may even cry for. Her dialogue was not only well written, but I found it impossible to read without an Irish brogue playing mentally in my head.

I highly recommend Castle on the Rise and, for those who have not read it, The Lost Castle, the first book in the series. I received a complimentary copy of Castle on the Rise from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

The Illusionist’s Apprentice by Kristy Cambron – A Book Review

    

     Kristy Cambron excels as a writer of historical fiction. In The Illusionist’s Apprentice, she shows that she is equally adept at writing suspense. Having combined these two genre, Cambron takes us into the mysterious world of Wren Lockhart, a fictional vaudevillian illusionist who once assisted the great Harry Houdini, and FBI agent, Elliot Matthews. The story is set in the mid-1920s while the reader is also given peeks into Lockhart’s childhood of the early 1900s. While Wren created illusions on stage, the illusions that were created in her childhood had the greatest impact on her life. Cambron shows us how faith in the work of Christ over the grave and the power of forgiveness defeated those childhood illusions, allowing Wren to walk, or fly, in freedom.

     Fictional Wren, like her true-life mentor, Harry Houdini, did not fall prey to the resurgence in spiritualism of the post-war 1920s. Rather they made it their mission to debunk spiritualists who set about taking advantage of the grief imposed on so many by The Great War. Wren stressed that she performed illusions, not magic, and expected that same honesty in her fellow showmen and women. While she demanded that transparency, Wren kept her personal life and struggles hidden from view.

     Elliot Matthews came to Wren for assistance with a murder case involving a suspect from the world of the vaudeville illusionists. His original intent was not to uncover her personal secrets, but being drawn to her fed his desire to know the person behind the stage persona, a desire to gain her trust, to be allowed in the back stage of her life; desires that would eventually save her life and life of someone very dear to her.

     The hardest part of reading Cambron’s novels is extricating oneself from them afterward. One doesn’t simply visit her characters and settings, one lives with and in them. Come, be transported.

The Ringmaster's Wife by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

   

     Kristy Cambron provides us a wonderful glimpse into the backstory of circus life. In contrast to today’s view filtered through the words of animal rights activists and reports of charlatans among the circus community, Cambron shows us a group of people who cared deeply for one another and for the animals in their care. While not all relationships are perfect (why would a circus be any different than any other social group), we see a family-like unit form among the nomadic circus management and employees.

     The Ringmaster’s Wife is a story of transitions: transitions from what might be considered the ordinary to the extraordinary, from hiding behind masks and costumes to stepping out in the light, from self-doubt to self-assurance, and from self-centeredness to putting others first. Historical and fictional characters mingle together in this book, each taking root in the reader’s heart. Characters that live on long after the book is finished is Cambron’s trademark. As a matter of fact, I had difficulty getting into this book at first because my mind was still deep within her book A Sparrow in Terezin.

     While this book looks through a different lens than the popular film, The Greatest Showman, the close-knit relationships among those living the circus life and the theme of finding oneself is held in common. I would imagine fans of each will enjoy the other.  

A Sparrow in Terezin by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

    

     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.  

The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron - A Book Review

    

     If you are looking for a lighthearted, mindless sort of read, this is not it. If you are looking for a read that will work that gray matter and stimulate your brain cells, then this book is for you. First of all, it is set in three different historical time periods, and it fluctuates between past and present within those time periods. Second, each time period has its own set of characters, and the reader is trying to determine the less obvious connections between the characters across the time periods. Third, while following the story, the reader is also searching mental files created in those long-ago world history classes trying to recall facts related to the French Revolution and the French Resistance during World War II. While that may all seem daunting, The Lost Castle is worth the effort. It is a tale of the power of the human spirit, and the beauty of upholding one’s convictions. It is a story of healing and rising from the ashes. It is a story not to be missed.

     Born into nobility, Aveline Sainte-Moreau cannot understand or countenance the treatment handed out to the Third Estate by the members of the First and Second Estates. Her heart went out to the poor, down trodden and unrepresented people of France, a decidedly unpopular point of view among her family and peers. Viola Hart, survivor of a London bombing, felt compelled to use her language skills in service of her country, despite the misgivings of her brother and the danger involved. Ellie Carver realizes that Alzheimer’s is stealing her grandmother from her, just as the plane crash stole her parents when she was just a child. Now she must travel to France to discover her grandmother’s story, a story that may change everything. A special castle, a Sleeping Beauty, binds these brave ladies’ stories together.

     Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for providing me with a copy of The Lost Castle in exchange for my honest review. I received no monetary compensation for providing the review. As always, thank you, Kristy Cambron, for sharing your great talent. 

The Butterfly and the Violin by Kristy Cambron – A Book Review

   

     If you loved Tatiana de Rosnay’s Sarah’s Key or Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief you will likely love Kristy Cambron’s The Butterfly and the Violin. Cambron tells the story of Sera James, who runs a Manhattan art gallery, and her quest for an elusive painting that she had viewed as a child. The quest turns into an obsessive search not only for the painting, but for the story of its subject, Adele Von Bron, Austria’s sweetheart, an accomplished violinist. While Sera’s story is lived out in modern day New York City, Adele’s takes place during the Second World War with circumstances that find her transported to Auschwitz. In an effort to heal her own heart, Sera feels compelled to learn whether Adele’s love story ends with life lived with her love Vladimir or with tragedy behind the gates of the concentration camp. This story of picking up the pieces, trusting God, and moving forward following betrayal and loss will wrap it’s arms around the reader’s heart long after the last page is turned.