SHADOWED BY GRACE BY CARA PUTMAN

SHADOWED BY GRACE BY CARA PUTMAN

Oh Italy! What a historic wonderland of art and culture! I love Cara’s descriptions of the masterpieces that were sought after for protection by Lieutenant Scott Lindstrom—the Monument Man in this story. Cara Putman shared the landscape of war and desperation with language in hues that were well placed, as though a skillful paintbrush of description brought her story to life.  Italy, during World War II, was not just a fascinating place to visit (in a novel) but also the perfect time and place for Captain Rachel Justice’s journey and exploration. Well done Cara Putman!

The Third Reich moved around Italy devastating ancient art and architecture and killing those who remained in their way. There is tension throughout this novel and I kept turning those pages because of my concern for my new imaginary friends—the heroine and hero! I appreciated the support characters also. This story flowed and was easy to read and enjoy!

I’ve read other World War II novels, though this isn’t the usual time period for me. But never have I explored a novel set in Italy—especially with Nazis attacking and creating havoc on land and in the sky. It only took me a matter of days to enjoy Cara’s novel to the end and I highly recommend this read. I liked her heroine and the hero, and some of the support characters and their reactions to life on the pages. I also appropriately didn’t like the trouble-making bad guy! 

This story made me smile and remember that I’d tried to take Latin in high school, so that I could travel with my class to Italy many moons ago—but my mom was wise to my motivation! Who could blame me for trying!

If you want to enjoy, be entertained, and experience the past with excellent characters and a clean story – I advise you pick this book up and enjoy!

QUESTIONS FOR CARA:

1)     This is a fascinating take on the World War II. How did you choose the Monument’s Men theme?

I have always loved history. That’s one, key reason I love writing historical fiction set during World War II. I also have a great respect for the men and women of the Greatest Generation. I want to tell their stories well and honor what they did.

For Shadowed by Grace, I relied on numerous nonfiction resources. From The Day of Battle by Rick Atkinson I learned details about what Naples was like after it had been liberated by the Allies even to Italian women being paid with monopoly money. In Where the Action Was by Penny Colman I learned many details of what it was like to be a woman correspondent on the European front. I discovered War in Val d’Orica, a diary kept by a British woman who married an Italian and lived in Tuscany during WWII. It brought to life what it was like to live in occupied Italy. You can imagine my delight when the author referenced the Monuments Men in her journal.

2)     Do you have a favorite artist or painting that would be represented in this story?

There were so many…I fell in love with art during an Art Appreciation course in college. My favorites didn't necessarily make it into this book, but Primavera is an amazing painting. It’s housed at the Uffizi in Florence, and I’ve stood in front of it twice. It is amazing!

3)     Do you have a fact or scene that you would like to share that had to be left out of this story?

I actually have a couple that I’ve posted on my website. Kind of the hidden scenes. Your readers can access the lost chapters, here: http://www.caraputman.com/shadowed-grace-lost-pages/

4)     What is your next story that is coming out?

My next book is Delayed Justice, which releases in October. This is a contemporary romantic legal suspense set in Washington, D.C. I have really enjoyed writing these books because I’m an attorney and lived in the DC area for eight years. It’s been like coming home to write this series involving a group of women who are five years out from law school, and now embroiled in diverse careers and cases. At the same time, they’re finding love, which is so fun!

Here’s more on it:

She had long given up the desire to be loved. Now she only needed to be heard.

Jaime Nichols went to law school to find the voice she never had as a child, and her determination to protect girls and women who are in harm’s way drives her in ways both spoken and unspoken. As Jamie, now a criminal defense attorney, prepares to press charges against someone who wronged her long ago, she must face not only her demons but also the unimaginable forces that protect the powerful man who tore her young life apart.

Chandler Bolton, a retired veteran, is tasked with helping a young victim who must testify in court—and along with his therapy dog, Aslan, he’s up for the task. When he first meets Jaime, all brains, beauty, and brashness, he can’t help but be intrigued. But as Chandler works to break through the wall Jaime has built around herself, the two of them discover that they may have more to offer one another than they ever could have guessed—and that together, they may be able to help this endangered child.

This thrilling installment of the Hidden Justice series explores the healing power of words given voice and the resolution of wrongs. And as Jaime pursues delayed justice of her own, she unearths eternal truths that will change the course of her life.

5) How do you wish for your readers to connect with you?

I love to interact with my readers in many ways. They can find me in the following places:

Website: www.caraputman.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/caraputman

Twitter: www.twitter.com/cara_putman

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/caraputman

Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/CaraPutman

Thank you Cara for an excellent interview! I appreciate your time and talent and your ability to tell a tale! I look forward to reading more of your novels and I believe that the readers here will be excited to read your novels too!