Tangled Ashes By Michele Phoenix

I received this book from Handlebar Central for no charge for my honest review of this book. The opinions expressed here are my own.


Book Description:

When Marshall Becker arrives in Lamorlaye, France, to begin the massive renovation of a Renaissance-era castle, he unearths a dark World War II history few in the village remember. The project that was meant to provide an escape for Becker instead becomes a gripping glimpse into the human drama that unfolded during the Nazi occupation and seems to live on in midnight disturbances and bizarre acts of vandalism.


My Thoughts:

Tangled Ashes is the first book by Michele Phoenix I have had the pleasure of reading. Tangled Ashes takes place in two different times in Lamorlayeneglegted. The new owners, The Fallons, want the castle ready for Mrs. Fallon's 40th birthday. Marshall comes with more baggage than his luggage. Marshall is an alcoholic who is trying to quit. He is hard and quick tempered. In the 1940's the story takes place in this same castle but at this point its being used for a German/Nazi house that is set up as a hospital for pregnant women who are pregnant with a child of the Aryon race. These women carry these children and once they are born, the babies are adopted by "good" Nazi families. The women working at the castle are French who were forced to work there to save their families from starving.

Michele Phoenix does a wonderful job writing this book. The transitions between now and 1940's is a smooth one and is marked by different font in the book. Current times writen in print, the 1940's written in italicized print. Michele Phoenix demonstrates her love of France and Lamorlaye with her expertise in all things there. The historical facts are well researched and well presented. This story has a little bit of everything: suspense, romance and finding God in all times. The characters are well written and are protrayed in the real world with not so perfect lives. The descriptions of the castle and Lamorlaye are so detailed I felt like I was there seeing it all. I found this story hard to put down. I truly enjoyed it. If you are a fan of Christian Historical Fiction I highly recommend this book. It will not disappoint. I am excited to read more from Michele Phoenix, I have found another author to add to my must read list.