Tangled Ashes

September 15, 2012

Architect Marshall Becker travels to Lamorlaye, France, to restore a Renaissance-era castle. He learns that Nazis took over the castle during WWII and subjected pregnant women to atrocities, and he hears the story of two young women who worked at the chateau and witnessed the events. Soon, Marshall becomes aware that the house is not the only thing harboring secrets. Everyone in the family, even Jade, the fiery nanny, may have something to hide. VERDICT Phoenix expertly weaves the present and the past in this heart-wrenching story, which was originally self published. Recommend it to readers who enjoy Bodie Thoene.

Copyright 2012 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2012
Phoenix's Tangled Ashes is a truly exciting blend of WWII intrigue and modern-day drama. Tasked with the restoration of a French chateau, American architect Marshall Becker discovers that the job is not a simple one. Not only is restoring the exquisite antique home painstaking work but he is also fighting to control his alcoholism. Also present in and around the chateau are a beautiful, emotionally guarded woman; a mysterious old man; and an increasingly nervous interior decorator. Will their secrets affect Becker's efforts? In alternating sections, readers also learn the story of the chateau's role during the Nazi occupation as a birthing center for women whose children were intended to serve the fuhrer. Phoenix weaves these two darkly enticing stories together in a fast-paced novel, leaving the reader guessing until the very end. Historical fact makes the chateau's tale that much more interesting, while Phoenix's characters make the present-day tale richly emotional.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2012, American Library Association.)