Sometimes we’re placed in the strangest of circumstances for the most important reasons.After her carefully constructed life crumbles, Liz Carlisle finds herself back on Nantucket, picking up the pieces. With the family estate under renovations, the solitude she craves seems out of reach. Matthew Stone intends to steer clear of his new tenant. She’s carrying a load of baggage, but as long as she … but as long as she pays the rent, he’ll let her be. He’s got enough to deal with caring for his wayward niece, Mia.
Liz doesn’t have time for teenagers and her track record with men is abysmal, but an unlikely friendship forms between the three.
When her former boyfriend is charged with assault, Liz is called to testify against him. But he knows the darkest secrets of her life—secrets she’d hoped to keep buried forever, and he’s ready to reveal them. Telling the truth is the right thing to do, but it may cost her everything she’s worked so hard for, and all she’s come to love.
Catherine West is an award-winning author of contemporary (upmarket) fiction. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband reside in Bermuda, and have two adult children and one beautiful granddaughter. Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew). Where Hope Begins released May 2018, and her latest novel, As the Light Fades, releases September 2019.
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Running from your past is not escaping it. As the Light Fades by
Catherine West is a story of more than one person who’s past shouldn’t define them, but it does. Until it doesn’t. If you enjoy reading women’s fiction of relationships and drama, then this is a must read. This review is of my own opinion and I thank Netgalley and IBPA for an Advanced Reader Copy.
Women’s Fiction at its best. Catherine West is tackling hard situations and doing so tactfully. Matthew, Elizabeth and Mia have real problems to face and this author faces it head on. I love the character Drake because I worked with Alzheimer patients for 27 yrs and I understood him so well. The way their mind clears every once in while is amazing. And the way he could still paint is exactly how they can be. I had Alzheimer patients that could sing and remember hymns but didn’t know their children.
They say there are characters from her book “The Things We Knew” which I haven’t read yet but I was not lost at all by reading this one first. (It’s on my TBR list though)
This book has a thread of faith, love, forgiveness and hope for the hurting. This is one you will want to read.
I received this ebook by the author and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.
This is a beautifully written book. The author tackled some tough issues in a very caring way. I feel in love with Mia! This is a book that you will remember long after you read the last page. Thank you Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own and I highly recommend this book.
In As the Light Fades, Catherine West once again grabs readers’ heartstrings and tugs on them throughout the book.
West delicately yet authentically tackles some difficult subjects such as abuse an Alzheimer’s right alongside family dynamics and fresh starts. Liz and Matthew face challenges and stand on the precipice of new beginnings as they struggle to overcome obstacles while their lives intertwine.
Friendships formed, healing relationships, shedding shame, and forgiveness granted are a few of the themes in this emotional and engaging new release. And yes, I’m already wondering how many tissue boxes we’ll have go through in the next read from this author.
Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
One of the things I enjoy about Catherine West’s writing is that she can deal with tough topics in her books with being graphic. Readers will connect with her characters in a way that leaves then touched and healed without being or feeling broken and unworthy.
This was one of my favorite quotes from the book.
“Sometimes we’re placed in the strangest of circumstances for the most important reasons”
This was a reminded that we like these characters are not their by accident but by design and purpose. Liz, Matt, Mia and Matt’s parent are all on a journey. They all needed some kind of healing and some of it was tied to each other.
I received this book from the publisher and the opinions expressed are entirely my own.
My Review:
A note before I begin this review: I normally review Christian fiction, but this book was written for the “women’s fiction” genre. However, it’s appropriate for Christian readers, too.
This story has some serious themes in it—domestic abuse, child abuse, cutting, and Alzheimer’s disease—but when I finished the book I came away with a feeling of hope and faith. The author does a great job of helping these families find their way down a dark path to turning the corner to hope and a bright future.
We view this story through four different viewpoints from Drake, Mia, Matthew, and Liz. Liz’s character is the main one we follow through the book, as she has escaped from an abusive situation and is seeking to find peace and a new beginning in her hometown. Matthew is raising his teenage niece, Liz, because her mother is in prison. Mia is a frightened, confused teenager; and Drake is lost in thoughts because of Alzheimer’s. It’s the viewpoints of both Drake and Mia that intrigued me the most.
Drake’s character was the one that completely touched my heart. With touches of tenderness and compassion, the author allows us to read his confused thought processes as he tries to remember who he is and connect, if only for a moment, with those he loves. Catherine West wrote this in such a genuine way that I could almost for a moment forget that Drake was a fictional character. I don’t think I’ll ever forget his part in this story, and I know it will continue to have an impact on me as I come into contact with those sweet folks in my life who struggle daily with Alzheimer’s.
The author also did a great job of helping the reader build compassion for Mia’s character. Even through her bratty behavior, we were able to read her thoughts and understand how her abuse made it hard for her to trust others. She became one of my favorites in this story.
This was not always an easy story to read, but I’m glad I did. It shows, once again, that Catherine West is an outstanding author.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
Five siblings, renovation of the family home, the father with memory illness, and drama and trouble at their doorsteps… From the first pages, the story resonated with me for various reasons, and it was a marvelous story, a delight to read. I got completely lost in the tale, the scenes so engaging, the relationship drama and trouble giving it spice, and the human tragedies bringing tears to my eyes.
There is so many contrasts in the tale, all the light, the positive, that feeling of conquering your past and making a new start. And there is so much sorrow, abuse, and letting the anger go, losing loved ones and the memories vanishing from your mind.
Liz Carlisle was one tough lady. She had survived the unimaginable, and even though fragile at times, she was realistic, her outbursts were rational, and her fears were tangible. I was somewhat surprised by the romance slowly developing between Matthew Stone and Liz. Yet it was a positive surprise, something filled with hope, loyalty, and trust.
I adored Mia, and the relationship she had to her uncle, Matthew. The author has the talent to get to the deepest, darkest corners of the characters’ souls, and bring their thoughts and notions into the tale in an age-appropriate manner.
There are so much going on in the two (or three) families, and in their relationships, yet there is no hurry to tell the tale. The time moves on, there are events that brake the brittle balance, yet there is time to heal, to find mercy, to have grace, redemption from the past, the beggings of something new, something wholesome and flourishing.
I treasured the world the author has created, and the characters who live in it. The tragedies they faced broke my heart, yet the way they fought to find better tomorrow was inspiring and uplifting. Even though this is a standalone novel, like the author warned us, there are mentions to the characters of her previous book. For a person who has not read the previous story might be left wanting a bit more details and insights to those characters.
An affecting and moving saga of two families, of their heartfelt destinies. It gives insights to the drama happening behind the closed doors, and to the salvation from the past, to the right timing in life to finding your path.
~ Four Spoons with a teaspoon on the side