Tangled Ashes by Michele Phoenix is a very enjoyable novel that joins
two timelines in Lamorlaye, France: the
1940’s Nazi project at the castle to breed the Aryan race and the modern owner
of the castle’s desire to renovate it as a gift for his wife.
The owner of the castle calls on
an American architectural company to renovate the castle to its original
state. The alcoholic, though more
equipped, co-senior partner of the company reluctantly goes to oversee and take
part in the project. While he is there,
he learns lessons about love from the staff and comes to confront his
alcoholism.
In flashbacks, we hear about the
breeding program that actually took place in the castle historically and one
young one who loved the Nazi who fathered her child, so much so, that he allows
her to escape delivering the child to the Nazis.
Along the way, the lines come
together, because history moves forward:
secrets are revealed, and the end of the Nazi project is acknowledged in
one family’s life as they are reconciled with each other.
The novel kept my attention, and
I was interested to learn that such breeding programs actually did occur. The characters are basically believable and
three-dimensional, though the conclusion of the novel is somewhat expected,
though not in all of its details.
I would recommend this book for
and interesting, enjoyable, light read – one that makes one consider what love truly
is and how to express it.
[This review appears on my blog
and at Amazon.com. I received a copy of
this book free from Handlebar Publishing for review.]
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