Shadowed by Grace {A LitFuse Review}

I started reading Shadowed by Grace by Cara C. Putman, thinking that I could begin the book, then move on to start my day.  Didn't quite work out that way.  I finished the book in one sitting, and then staggered to the kitchen at 10:30 in the morning for my first cup of coffee.

It is fair to say that the story quickly pulled me in.

From the publisher:

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.

I'll start with the negatives about this book:  there were a few places where the dialogue was hard to follow, and it was not clear just who was speaking.  I'd have to go back, re-read it, and I'd still be confused.  In all of the cases, I decided it really didn't matter that much and I moved on.

Bottom line:  great story, and it felt oh-so-very-realistic throughout.  I love historical fiction that actually does seem accurate in the details and in the big picture.  The Author's Note at the end of the book confirmed that Cara Putnam did do her homework.

The storyline kept me intrigued.  Some of the plot twists were entirely predictable, but to me it felt like one of those situations where you know more than the characters do, and so you already know what is going to happen -- you just aren't quite sure how they are going to figure it out.  That is to say, although I knew what was coming in a broad sense, it didn't bother me, and I had fun watching the characters get to that point.

Of course, reading about all of these beautiful pieces of art made me want to go take an art history class.  Hmmm.  Maybe I can find a free online one.


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.

Disclaimer:  I received this book through LitFuse Blog Tour.  No other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this review are my own.