Tangled Ashes

Tangled Ashes by Michele Phoenix

In Lamorlaye, France there is a castle with a history that began in the 1940s and is about to be unearthed.

American Marshall Becker is at the top of his game professionally as his restoration business is going international. Personally Becker has never been lower. To fight his demons he's turned to alcohol and shut himself off from the world.

Becker finds himself completely out of his element as he works against the clock to restore the castle before the deadline Fallon, the owner gave him. The work isn't a problem. It is the presence of Fallon's twin six year olds and their nanny, Jade. Along for the ride is the interior designer, Therese, and a recluse who lives on the property, Jojo. Soon his drinking becomes in obstacle in getting his work done as well as a mysterious visitor who searches the castle at night.

Challenging him along the way is Jade. The energetic nanny with a unique outlook on life. She's pushing him to be kinder and face the alcohol problems. Her perspective on life increasingly aggravates him and then breaks him as he learns of the motivation behind her outlook.

As renovations continue, secrets are uncovered. There is a tie to the 1940s that is clear from the beginning. If you know history, then you understand the significance of the dates. WWII is underway and the castle in France has been occupied by Nazis. Soon history becomes present as an event 60+ years in the making happens.

I enjoyed Tangled Ashes, Phoenix wove an interesting tale. The main character in the story was the castle. She presented it beautifully, making me want to visit France and bypass the Eiffel Tower for Lamorlaye.

I must admit I was more intrigued with the WWII portion of the story. Despite seeing where it was headed early on, Phoenix kept me interested in the journey to get there. The modern day story was good. Becker is a hard man to like even as a fictional character. His growth came slowly and really it wasn't a marked growth by the end of the book.

As a personal taste - I could have done without the multiple paragraphs on the nightmares Becker was having. I'm not a fan most of the time of detailing dreams or nightmares. Many authors try to ambiguously haunt their characters in an effort to drive up the drama. As a reader this is infuriating. Phoenix may have hidden clues to Becker's demons in the nightmares, but I took to skimming them.