Title: Shadowed by Grace
Author: Cara C. Putman
Publisher: B&H Books
Pages: 342
ISBN: 978-1-4336-8178-3
Publication Date: January 1st, 2014

Synopsis:

She found peace in a time of war. 

Desperate to save her dying mother, an American woman accepts her newspaper’s assignment to travel to Italy where she takes photographs dangerously close to the front lines during World War II. But Rachel’s real motive in this journey is to find the father she never knew, an artist she hopes can offer the comfort and support both she and her mother need to survive at such a desperate time.

In her quest, Rachel becomes involved with what will become the Monuments Men effort to save great monuments and works of art from the Third Reich. Soon enough she will find more than she ever imagined—in war, in love, and in God.

Review:
I have been drawn to more and more War World Two stories as of late. When I heard of this story, it piqued my interest. It brought to my attention of an effort in the war I had never thought about. The protection of the valuable works of art. I honestly never thought about how art pieces survived such a catastrophic period. I know that the Nazi's stole quite a bit of the art and to this day they are being rediscovered (thank goodness!). The rest of the art however, I never thought about it.

Shadowed by Grace offered a glimpse into this special department of the war. Men who had knowledge and a passion for art and the preservation, volunteered for this unit, to go with the US Army in WW2 and work with the towns and cities as the army pushed through to protect these priceless pieces of history. It was an effort that seemed to me to help bond Italy and America together as they fought together to preserve, unlike the Nazi's who destroyed.

I really enjoyed this new insight into a time of history. I just wish that the story contained a little bit more of the history. As the two characters met, the story turned more into a romance, and focused less on the history. Rachel, a young woman who has been given the rank of Captain, is working with the US Army to document the war movement. She is a photographer, wanting to capture what is going on, on the front lines, so people back home in America will see and understand. That isn't her sole reason for going, it gives her the perfect opportunity to finally do what she has wanted to do. She is on the search for her father, who she doesn't even know. Her only idea comes from a sketchbook and the fact her mother told her he lived in Italy. Scott is a Lieutenant who is working with the Monuments Men. He is focused on his quest, however, his focus shifts quite a bit once he meets Rachel and the thought of art is put more on the back burner as he focuses on her safety.

The story is a wonderful idea, but I just couldn't quite connect with the characters. With Scott and Rachel thrown together in a war front with being shot at, bombings, air raids, there is so much adrenaline, it didn't seem like the best time for a romance to happen.

I really wanted to like this book, but it was just ok.

 3.5 out of 5

About the Author:
Cara C. Putman graduated high school at 16, college at 20, and completed her law degree at 27. The best-selling author of more than a dozen books, Cara is active in women's ministry at her church, teaches graduate courses at Purdue University, practices law, and is a homeschooling mom. She lives with her husband and 4 children in Indiana.






Giveaway:
Cara Putman is celebrating her latest historical suspense novel, Shadowed by Grace with a fun "Past & Present" giveaway! 


One winner will receive:

• A Polaroid Instant Camera
• A beautiful antique AFGRA camera (learn more here)
• Movie passes to see The Monuments Men movie (with George Clooney and Matt Damon)
• Shadowed By Grace by Cara Putman

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on February 8th. Winner will be announced February 10th on Cara's blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to stop by Cara's blog on the 10th to see if you won.

Thank you to Litfuse and B&H Books, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

The first month of the year has come to a close! We are now truly into 2014. I will say that this year has started off wonderfully for books! I have already read some pretty amazing stories this past month. I can't wait to see what the rest of this year brings!

Review:


 I think that this has been a fantastic start to my goal this year. 13 books read and 87 to go!

How was your month?

Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews. Each week allows you to spotlight the books that you have gotten this past week. They can be the books you received for review, bought, borrowed, or won.

Review:


How was your book week?

Title: The Sentinels of Andersonville
Author: Tracy Groot
Publisher: Tyndale Fiction
Pages: 348
ISBN: 978-1-4143-5948-9
Publication Date: January 17th, 2014

Synopsis:

Near the end of the Civil War, inhumane conditions at Andersonville Prison caused the deaths of 13,000 Union soldiers in only one year. In this gripping and affecting novel, three young Confederates and an entire town come face-to-face with the prison’s atrocities and will learn the cost of compassion, when withheld and when given.

Sentry Dance Pickett has watched, helpless, for months as conditions in the camp worsen by the day. He knows any mercy will be seen as treason. Southern belle Violet Stiles cannot believe the good folk of Americus would knowingly condone such barbarism, despite the losses they’ve suffered. When her goodwill campaign stirs up accusations of Union sympathies and endangers her family, however, she realizes she must tread carefully. Confederate corporal Emery Jones didn’t expect to find camaraderie with the Union prisoner he escorted to Andersonville. But the soldier’s wit and integrity strike a chord in Emery. How could this man be an enemy? Emery vows that their unlikely friendship will survive the war—little knowing what that promise will cost him.

As these three young Rebels cross paths, Emery leads Dance and Violet to a daring act that could hang them for treason. Wrestling with God’s harsh truth, they must decide, once and for all, Who is my neighbor?

Review:
I have heard some amazing things about Tracy Groot's books. After reading The Sentinels of Andersonville, I found out that everything I have heard is true!

Tracy Groot can capture your full attention with her story telling. Instead of describing what is happening, she is able to bring you into the scene with your senses. She is able to show you, let you smell, and taste what is going on with her words. The Sentinels of Andersonville was a part of history and Tracy brought this time back to life.

I love learning about all things from the Civil War. This was brutal time in our history and there is much to learn from it. There are still much I have yet to learn about. I had heard about Andersonville and the prison that was there, however, I never really looked into the history. This story shows how when you have one or two corrupt men in power, the devastation they can bring to the people they are in charge of and to the surrounding areas. When one or two people stand up against this brutality, it may not seem like a lot is happening, but hope starts and spreads to others who have the same desire to help, however, there will be people who turn a blind-eye because it is easier to stomach, or they have the idea that the brutality is deserved. It was a wonderful illustration of the Good Samaritan

This story is based on actual people and events. I will say that this story may not be for everyone, especially a young reader. There is the description of death and what happens to a body after a person has died, and treatment of the bodies in a prison camp. There is discussion of starvation and what it does to the body. There is also a couple of words (damn, arse, and hell) used in the story, not in a perverse way, but it it was there. It made what these people dealt with real. I had no problems with any of that in the story, however, I will mention that the topic discussed is one that I have studied, so the morbidness of it all doesn't affect me so much.

This was a very truthful story. It was a story that captured me into it. I will say, I had hoped for the ending to happen another way, but sadly real life doesn't happen the way it does in books, but the ending wrapped everything up well. It gave me a lot to think on and made me want to go find out more about the prison camps of the Civil War, not just in the south, but the north as well.

Too Read!
5 out of 5

About the Author:
Tracy Groot is the critically acclaimed and Christy Award–winning author of several novels. Her most recent books exemplify her unique style of storytelling—reimagining biblical stories within other historical contexts. Tracy's novels have received starred Booklist and Publishers Weekly reviews and have been called "beautifully written" and "page-turning" by Publishers Weekly and "gripping" with "exquisitely drawn" characters by Library Journal. Tracy and her husband have three boys and together run a coffee shop in Holland, Michigan. - See more at: http://www.tyndale.com/Tracy-Groot/bio


Thank you to Tyndale House, I received a copy of this book for free in exchange for an honest review.