Fragments of Light

Michele Phoenix

Jul 2020 · Sold by Thomas Nelson

About this ebook

An impossible decision in the chaos of D-Day.

Ripples that cascade seventy-five years into the present.

And two lives transformed by the tenuous resolve to reach out of the darkness toward fragments of light.

Cancer stole everything from Ceelie—her peace of mind, her selfimage, perhaps even her twenty-three-year marriage to her college sweetheart, Nate. Without the support of Darlene, her quirky elderly friend, she may not have been able to endure so much loss.

So when Darlene’s own prognosis turns dire, Ceelie can’t refuse her seemingly impossible request—to find a WWII paratrooper named Cal, the father who disappeared when Darlene was an infant, leaving a lifetime of desolation in his wake.

The search that begins in the farmlands of Missouri eventually leads Ceelie to a small town in Normandy, where she uncovers the harrowing tale of the hero who dropped off-target into occupied France.

Alternating between Cal’s D-Day rescue by two French sisters and Ceelie’s present-day journey through trial and heartbreak, Fragments of Light explores a timeless question: When life becomes unbearable, will you surrender to the darkness or dare to press toward a lingering light?

Praise for Fragments of Light

“Michèle Phoenix skillfully explores the strength and resiliency of the human spirit but also its heartbreaking limits. Brimming with expertly researched wartime details, Fragments of Light abounds with poignancy and insight.” —Susan Meissner, bestselling author of The Last Year of the War

“As a D-Day Airborne participant, I recommend this novel with enthusiasm. Everyone should read it.” —Staff Sergeant Thomas Rice, WWII Veteran, 101st Airborne

“Michele Phoenix’s Fragments of Light is a luminous portrait of men and women grappling with the past in a brave attempt to forge a different kind of future . . . A story as beautiful as it is heartbreaking. In short, I loved this book!” —Lauren Denton, USA TODAY bestselling author of The Hideaway

“Deeply personal and beautifully humane, Phoenix once again asserts her power as one of the most moving and lyrical voices in inspirational fiction.” —Rachel McMillan, author of The London Restoration

“Written with depth and understanding, this story offers readers a wonderful journey spanning from war-torn World War II France to a battle for love in our time.” —Katherine Reay, bestselling author of Dear Mr. Knightley

“As the title suggests, there are no easy illuminations on the path of healing. Cancer attacks more than the body. War destroys more than flesh and bone. Not all heroes welcome the attention, and not all husbands are up to the challenge. Women find the most unlikely sources of strength, and the best families defy definition.” —Allison Pittman, bestselling author of The Seamstress

“It’s not often a story moves me as Fragments of Light has. With a rare and honest voice, Michèle Phoenix weaves a story of heroes from yesteryear and also those from your neighborhood—each with hearts of valor—as they endure the fight of their lives.” —Elizabeth Byler Younts, Carol Award–winning author The Solace of Water

Ratings and reviews

This is an unpublished draft. "I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own." I received a free electronic ARC of this novel from Netgalley, Michele Phoenix, and Thoms Nelson-Women's Fiction. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. I am pleased to recommend this author to friends and family. Michele Phoenix writes a tight, intriguing story with personable protagonists and she paints a background you can close your eyes and envision. I have added her to my must-read-authors list. This story takes place in Winfield, Illinois, USA, and Aubry-en-Douve, France, and follows two timelines - in June of 1944, and in the present day. This author chose different fonts for each timeline, which added a great deal of clarity to the tale. Our primary protagonists in the present day are Cecelia Donovan, undergoing breast cancer surgeries and chemo, with her husband of 24 years, Nate. And you are gonna love Darlene Egerton, two-time cancer survivor, the older lady who helps Cece work through her travails and keeps her focused on survival. Even after Darlene is diagnosed with her third bout with cancer, now inoperable, metastasized in her lungs, bones, and possibly also in her brain she is there for Cece. And it is through Darlene that we are tied into the past, onto Utah Beach in northern France just in time for D-Day. Our French connection is with two orphaned sisters, Sabine who is about 14, and Lise, about 8 years old. The girls are able to help an American paratrooper who is injured and lost when his jump time is unavoidably delayed. They bring him to their home, a small, very old, a bit derelict castle just off of Utah Beach, where many people from the surrounding areas are staying, also seeking sanctuary in a world at war. The soldier, Callum Ian McElway, is a married American GI who would like to get this war over with so he can go home and meet his new daughter. And then we have D-Day. None of the Allied objectives were met in the beginning. Allied casualties on day 1 were about 10,000. German casualties were estimated from between 4,000 and 9.000. Between the weather and bad luck, it was several days before allied troops held the five Normandy beaches and could begin their move inland to free France from German control. A lot can happen in just a few days. Lives - worlds can rise or fail. Can, and do. pub date July 14, 2020

This was an intensely emotive and heartrending tale that intertwined two narrations until they slowly and thoughtfully merged near the conclusion. The writing was staggeringly insightful and bruised my heart but I fell right into the shifting sands and curiously evocative and compelling nuances of both timelines, one a harrowing period in history and life-altering experiences for a young GI during WWII, and the other a distressing and devastating turn of events for a cancer survivor in modern times. Connected by a gossamer-thin thread being the vibrantly colorful and spirited character of Darlene, who was the relative of one and friend to the other, and who happened to be my favorite above all others. She was a colorful and spry little septuagenarian dynamo and what I aspire to be at any age. Terrible things happened to good people in both soul-stirring narratives and I was engaged in their tale and as eager as the characters to unravel several maddening dead-end mysteries as well as the complicated connubial questions and issues in the current timeline. Their issues were often painfully raw, keenly plotted, and shrewdly paced while keeping the curiosity primed. Michele Phoenix is an agile and deft storyteller.

About the author

Born in France to a Canadian father and an American mother, Michèle Phoenix is a consultant, writer and speaker with a heart for Third Culture Kids. She taught for 20 years at Black Forest Academy (Germany) before launching her own advocacy venture under Global Outreach Mission. Michèle travels globally to consult and teach on topics related to this unique people group. She loves good conversations, mischievous students, Marvel movies and paths to healing. Learn more at michelephoenix.com Twitter: @frenchphoenix