Fragments of Light

Written by Michele Phoenix

Narrated by Emily Sutton-Smith

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

• Language: English
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson
• Release date: Jul 14, 2020
• ISBN: 9780785232070

Michele Phoenix

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  

Reviews for Fragments of Light

[carole888fort · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fragments of Light by Michele Phoenix is a story within a story and the two take place seventy-five years apart. Ceelie and Nate have been married over twenty years when she is diagnosed with breast cancer. Soon all aspects of her life as she knew it fall apart. If not for her friendship with fellow patient Darleen, she would not have survived her ordeal. But unfortunately Darleen’s condition becomes terminal and it’s now Ceelie’s turn to help her old friend. Darleen grew up fatherless because she and her mother had been abandoned when she was an infant. In the little time she has, Darleen wants to find out about her father. It will be up to Ceelie to discover what became of this elusive man. Now for the other story. Seventy-five years ago, a paratrooper crash-landed in Normandy on D-Day and was helped to safety by two young French sisters. Now you need to read this book to discover how these stories came to be linked. This slow-moving and passionate relationship fiction is one of the best books I have read this year. I look forward to reading more books by Michele Phoenix. Thank you to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a novel told in two time periods and it's a story of regret, redemption and ultimate acceptance during both time periods.Current timeline: Ceelie has been undergoing treatment for breast cancer. After she rings the bell that shows she's cancer free, her husband of over 24 years tells her that he wants out of their marriage. He had helped her throughout the cancer but could no longer cope with what their lives had become. Ceelie's friend Darlene - who she met at the hospital during treatment - helped her through the loss of her husband. When Darlene find out that her cancer has returned, she asks Ceelie to help her find out about her father, Cal, who had deserted her when she was very young. She had huge resentment about her father but decided that now was the time to find out about him and try to understand why he left the family. Trying to find out what happened to Cal, takes Ceelie to Missouri and ultimately Normandy, France. While Ceelie works to find out more about Cal, the memory of her husband leaving after such a long marriage, continues to affect her life.1944 timeline: Cal is in the Army and parachutes to France to help the advance forces before D-Day. Due to the weather, he ends up off target and stuck in a tree. When he drops out the tree, he injuries himself. Two sisters, 14 year old Sabine and her younger sister Lise, find him and take him back to their castle. They need to be very careful because the Germans who had used the castle as a headquarters are still in the area and along with the sisters, many of the town's families have come to the castle for safety. What happens during the few days at the castle, set Cal's life on a completely different past.This book has brave and wounded women that you won't soon forget. It's a story of love and friendship and asks the question ' When life becomes unbearable, will you press toward the light or let the darkness win?'

[bookscookslooks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Fragments of Light is a tale of a strong friendship and a weak marriage. Ceelie has just gone through the worst that breast cancer could throw at her and while her husband supported her it was her friend Darlene that really was her support system having been through it herself. But after Ceelie finally gets back on her feet after reconstruction she learns that Darlene’s cancer has returned and is terminal. Her friend asks her to help her find the father she never knew.The book is told in two timelines; during the D-Day invasion of Nazi occupied France and in the modern day. During the invasion we meet two soldiers; Buck and Cal. Cal is rescued by two young French girls after a bad parachute jump during the invasion. He is injured and they help hide him and do what they can to get him fixed up. Buck finds them all later and is a bit of wild card – he has no nuance at all and is a bit of ass if you want my opinion.Darlene’s father just up and left and she never want to know anything about him or to even talk about him but now that she is dying she feels like she should resolve her issues and try and find him. To this end she gives Ceelie all the information she has and they start off together to try and find him.This was a fascinating read about men of war who are sent to do battle but often forget their humanity. It’s a tale of love, loss and redemption but not for all. In that it’s the story of life because life is messy and far from linear. The tales told in both timelines are compelling as they rush towards each other and a conclusion that is satisfying if not perfect.

[alekee_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The author as gifted us with a story that will have you page turning for answers. I felt as if I was ducking from the flack being shot at the paratroopers, and gingerly walking on floors that are about to collapse, and all the while searching for answers.We are mainly with two woman both fighting the Big "C". and a beautiful friendship evolves between these two.Because of this friendship we journey from present day to "D" in France, and back again. Keep turning the pages as answers to come, maybe not how you want them, but this is a fact of war.A read that will linger, and full of emotions from one range to another, but mainly "Love".I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Thomas Nelson, and was not required to give a positive review.