In Broken Places
By Michele Phoenix
By Michele Phoenix
I was so please to have had the opportunity to read In Broken Places by Michele Phoenix. I had not read her previous title, but look forward to picking it up shortly. In Broken Places was such a gratifying read. Phoenix’s writing style and her ability to craft a truly compelling story kept me reading and has me now recommending it to everyone looking for a new literary voice.
I really liked how each character brought a new depth to the story Phoenix tells. Like a main character should, Shelby guides you deeper and deeper as you meet her broken spirit. She truly has a shaded perspective of who she is and what she has to offer. This damaged vantage point is because of her abusive father and her dysfunctional childhood which she shared with her older brother. As a reader you sincerely feel Shelby’s hardships as she struggled to find herself worthy of giving and receiving love. Her need for sarcasm when feelings got to close is a true defense mechanism and her own personal character flaw; thus, making Shelby’s character even more believable. Through the story you witness Shelby’s self-destruction as she internally battles to change for her daughter. As Shelby realized her burdens aren’t as heavy as she believes them to be, she hooks you and from then on you cannot help but rooting for her. If you try and put the book down, you're at a loss, you have no choice but to finish. In Broken Places is a unique story of an all too well feeling many individuals feel all too often. With insight and clarity, Michele Phoenix tells an absorbing tale of genuine, unconditional love, the strength to overcome one's past and the tenderness of wounds that we all carry with us. It’s a hard read not to enjoy.
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