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.
more
What a powerful book! These pages were full of broken people, heartbreaking situations, and even fear for the future. But despite the heavy topics covered in this novel, I never felt weighed down with sadness. Instead, I kept eagerly turning the pages of this captivating story to see how things would work out for these characters.
I thought the romance between Liz and Matthew was just right. Matthew was so caring toward Liz and careful to ty to make her feel safe and worthy.
Matthew’s niece, Mia, was hard to like at first. She was full of anger and resentment. However, as her story slowly unfurled, I couldn’t help but want the best for her.
I was fascinated with the chapters that included Drake Carlisle’s point of view. It was altogether heartbreaking and humorous to read his thoughts as he navigated the world of Alzheimer’s.
There was so much more to this story, family dynamics and problems that seemed insurmountable. I thought the author did a great job of weaving everything together. I wasn’t ready for this book to end when I turned the final page!
(4.5 stars)
I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
“We’re given clarity of thought and the ability to speak truth in love for a purpose. It took a while for that to sink in, but it finally did.”
Another emotional, heart-rendering, ugly-cry kind of women’s fiction from Catherine West. This fantastic author will never fail to touch your heart and soul, no matter what her subject matter. As the Light Fades deals with a whole slew of life stages and challenges, from a broken, angst-filled, angry teenager world to a battered and frustrated thirty-something world to a confused and often lost world of dementia, all dealing with pain but holding on, even to the tiniest ray of hope. The author touches upon other delicate topics like substance abuse, domestic abuse, and dysfunctional families but she does it with care, sensitivity, and hope. These themes are intricately swirled and woven into the world of visual arts – specifically photography, painting, and sketching. The book is beautifully and poignantly written from first person present perspective of Liz’s talented but confused father and third person perspectives of Liz, Matt, and Matt’s niece Mia. The book has a crossover of characters from the author’s previous book Things We Knew but it isn’t a “sequel” per se and can be read as a stand-alone. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and didn’t feel like I missed out on anything though I didn’t read Things We Knew (but now I absolutely must read it!). Liz, a former corporate attorney in NYC, is quite prickly but very interesting and lovable once we see who she is. Matt, a high school art teacher newly hired on Nantucket, is our unconventional hero who wants to protect and cherish. The host of secondary characters is as diverse and phenomenal as you can get and you’ll end up falling in love with the whole Carlisle and Stone families.
This book embodies “grace, power of forgiveness and the gift of healing.” Anyone who enjoys a cry-out-loud, thought-provoking contemporary novel would love this book. I received a copy of the book from the author and was under no obligation to post a positive review. All comments and opinions are solely my own.
With a book by Catherine West I can guarantee to be fully engrossed and emotionally invested. And As the Light Fades was no different.
The character’s in this book are dealing with real life issues that we all deal with. The devastation from past mistakes, fear of the future, and a deep desire to not repeat mistakes and be a better version of themselves go through the book from beginning to end.
Having raised three girls the teenage angst that Mia had was on point and broke my heart all over again.
Family dynamic stories are some of my favorite. Within these pages we get to see Drake, the family patriarch, who is suffering from Alzheimer’s to teenager, Mia whose young life has been nothing but one upheaval to another. Matt, Mia’s uncle is doing the best he can to be a soft place for Mia to fall. Liz is afraid to be hurt again which makes the romance between her and Matt an interesting one.
There were humorous parts along the way which rounded out the painful and emotional issues the character’s deal with.
This book evoked all the feels and I highly recommend it!
Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book via the publisher in association with Just Read Publicity. I was not required to write a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
As the Light Fades is Catherine West’s first self-published novel. It moves away from her roots in Christian women’s fiction, to tell a more general story with less of an overt Christian element. It’s still clearly written from a Christian viewpoint, as the main characters do have a subtle faith journey and sin is clearly portrayed as wrong. Having said that, this is clearly a general market novel.
West has described As the Light Fades as a loose sequel to The Things We Knew, one of her earlier novels. I have read The Things We Knew, but don’t remember the details (even after rereading the Amazon description. Well, I read a lot of books). Having said that, I don’t think my forgetfulness affected my enjoyment of As the Light Fades, and it can certainly be read as a standalone novel.
As the Light Fades takes several difficult contemporary issues and weaves them into a compelling story. Liz Carlisle has returned to Nantucket, her childhood home, after leaving her abusive fiancé. Her father is suffering Alzheimer’s, and her landlord is the guardian to his niece, who has issues (to put it mildly). Yes, Mia is a typical teenage girl, with all the attitude that comes with being sixteen. But she’s also the daughter of an ex-drug addict, and Nick suspects she’s been sexually abused by her stepfather.
That’s a lot of plot. And there’s more. Liz has her own secrets that play into her present actions … and inaction. Liz and Mia both have a journey to getting past their personal histories and not allowing that to affect their futures. Ironically, part of the cure for Mia comes from the character who can’t be cured—Liz’s father.
As the Light Fades a meaty story with a bit of everything—relationships, family drama, romance, and suspense. The writing is excellent, the story compelling, and West does a masterful job of exposing the issues without dwelling on the detail. Recommended.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I love Catherine West books, and this is another great read from this author. Liz Carlisle moves back to her family home in Nantucket after finding out what her boyfriend was really like. Matthew Stone has moved to Nantucket in his grandparents home that they willed to him. With Matthew is his teenage niece he has custody of because his sister is in jail. Liz soon moves out of the family home because of renovations to make it a Bed and Breakfast, and the only place she could afford was Matthew’s coach house. Liz’s first encounter with Matthew’s niece tells Liz she’s trouble and Liz wants nothing to do with her. But then Liz and Matthew start spending time together. They both need someone to talk to about their dysfunctional life.
I love the way author Catherine West tackles very difficult issues in her books. In “As the Light Fades,” throughout the book characters are dealing with abuse and addiction, in the worse kind of ways. The characters are so well created, I truly felt I was living the story with them. I had trouble with Liz’s character, sometimes her attitude was a little it much, but then I couldn’t relate to the issues she had dealt with either, and I can now see why she acted the way she did. There is a lot going on in this book, several families with lots of characters and many issues throughout all of them. But I love the way Ms. West weaves it all together smoothly, bringing it all to an interesting ending that works for everyone. I highly recommend this clean Contemporary fiction and I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.
A copy of this book was given to me by the author or publisher. I am not required to write a positive review. The opinions here in this review are totally mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
This gorgeous cover invited me in before even opening to the story. When I pick up a Catherine West book, I know I am in for a solid, quality story. I really liked how this book was told from 4 of the characters and getting their personal view. It did focus mainly on 2, but the 2 others were absolute gems and I looked forward to Drake’s thoughts and Mia’s journal entries. The characters had diverse personalities and they were all going through some pretty heavy issues. It was done well where I didn’t feel depressed by them though. The light of hope and forgiveness shone through in a very satisfying way. I also really enjoyed the dry humor that was sprinkled through perfectly.
I received an ecopy of this book, all thoughts are my own.
When I pick up a Catherine West book, I know I’m going to find an engrossing and touching story inside, and As the Light Fades is no exception. Although poignant and heart-wrenching, it’s also a moving story of healing, forgiveness, and grace. It seems as if every character had hurts and problems they were battling, but isn’t that the way life really is? We all have things in our past or present that affect us and our relationships.
West has tackled some hard, gritty subjects in this book, and she’s done it with great sensitivity. She is a master at creating broken, hurting, and realistic characters that are also endearing. Elizabeth Carlisle has made some unfortunate choices in her life, and she’s definitely hurting. Matt has just been made guardian of his niece, Mia, who has plenty of baggage of her own. I love the way the author threw these three together, along with Liz’s artistic, ailing father whose “light is fading” and started them on a healing path.
Although I’m sure it was hard to have a teenager show up in his life, I loved Matt’s determination to do his best for Mia and show her the love he hadn’t felt from his parents. The threads of forgiveness, grace, and mercy that run through the story give added depth and dimension to it and make for a very satisfying read. Although this is a standalone book, it was a fun touch to see some of the characters from the author’s book The Things We Remember show up.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed this multilayered story told from the perspectives of four different characters. Drake is a former artist who is suffering from alzheimers. It is interesting to see how the author interprets the mind of someone with alzheimers. Liz is his daughter who has come back to Nantucket after breaking free of her abusive boyfriend. Matt is raising his delinquent niece, Mia, while also dealing with his parents, who he has not had a good relationship with, showing up for an extended visit. Mia is a teenager who is acting out as a result of being raised by a mother who is a substance abuser and who is also in prison. Mia is also dealing with the effects of being abused by her stepfather. This novel deals with several tough issues without the story getting bogged down or the tone being depressing. Catherine West does an excellent job of getting into the minds of all these characters and weaving their stories together. The only aspect of the novel I wasn’t fond of was the lack of spiritual aspect. It is mentioned that Matt is a believer, but he doesn’t go to church. However, it is never explained why. Liz and Mia have doubts because of what they have been through. I was disappointed that by the end of the story, none of the characters really have had any spiritual growth. That being said, I would still recommend Catherine West’s new noel.
When Liz Carlisle’s life takes a tough turn, she finds herself living back at her family home on Nantucket. Trying to recover emotionally from a complex situation, she winds up in the middle of a chaotic renovation, a dad with Alzheimer’s, a troubled teen, no job, and nowhere to live. What’s a woman to do?
Liz is not a quitter. She begins trying to figure out her life and all of its complexity, tackling her issues one at a time. In the process of resolving her living issue, she meets Matt Stone, her new landlord and neighbor. With his own set of difficulties to resolve, Matt struggles with his attraction to his new neighbor.
This novel depicts the themes of family dynamics, forgiveness, healing, and grace. The story tackles some difficult issues as well; abuse and cutting. The characters feel real, but their relationships and the conflicts they deal with weren’t developed as thoroughly as they could have been. The alternating narration in chapters slowed the pace of the story in places, but I thoroughly enjoyed the book and definitely recommend it for a good summer read that is not too light and fluffy. Definitely worth your time!
This ARC copy was received from IBPA and Netgalley.com. The above thoughts and opinions are wholly my own
#AsTheLightFades #NetGalley #IBPA
Catherine West is one of my favorite authors. In As the Light Fades, West ups her already impressive game, writing realistic fiction with believable characters that draw you into the story and keep you turning the pages until the very end. West dares to write plots that delve into tough issues, but weaves in grace and redemption and hope.
My first ever book by Catherine West and she has done an excellent job!!I She has pulled off a very deep subject that usually isn’t found in Christian fiction.
My favorite character is Mia. (I guess because I have a teenager still at home). She will make you love her, cry with her and be fearful for her all at the same time!! For all that she has gone through, I think it will give her a better understanding so that maybe someday she can help others.
Matt is my second favorite as you’ve probably guessed. I love his strength and support and the ability to stand for what he believes in.
He’s truly an amazing man! I’d want him for myself if he were real!!
She has put some wonderful supporting characters in here as well!!
Linnie is my favorite support character. I love her fun loving, caring and compassionate ways.
I had to laugh at the light banter between Liz and Lynette.
Forgiveness, Grace and Mercy are portrayed well and is the very core of this book.
Anger is just as bad as not forgiving a person that did you wrong. It will eat you up and leave you a bitter person until you’re all shriveled up inside with no room for no one.
I strongly recommend this book.
I think I will buy a copy of this book and reread it again. Hopefully in large print!!
My thanks to Netgalley for a complimentary copy of this book. No compensations were received and all opinions are my own!
‘We like to pretend we can handle things we’ve got no business trying to.’
Liz Carlisle returns to her Nantucket family home after her life disintegrates. She moves into the carriage house of Matthew Stone, who is now caring for his 15 year old niece, a surly teen who is hiding great pain. Add a set of parents who were mostly absent from Matthew’s life, a father with dementia, an ex boyfriend bent on revenge and you have all the necessary ingredients for a powerful story.
Catherine West handles this so very well indeed. Emotions are explored, pain is brought out into the open and maybe healing can begin for all involved. West has created a cast of characters that weave their way into your heart and you find yourself cheering for these folks whose lives had been turned upside down and sideways. You wish them well in these dismal seasons of their lives. I was captivated by West’s deftly women story here and her handling of sensitive and compelling issues is top notch. A heart-grabbing story is exactly what it is. I highly recommend it.
*My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. I received no compensation and the opinions stated here are entirly my own.
THE GIFT OF GRACE!
Catherine West has blessed readers with a beautiful story of normal people dealing with extraordinary circumstances. She captures your attention early on and you will want to stay with this book and read it all in one setting. The plot deals with a couple of “Old Money” families in Nantucket. To the outside, these families appeared to have everything – strong family, faith, great careers and seemingly thriving relationships. Readers quickly learn that things are not always as they seem! in fact, these two families may be the two Case Studies for Dysfunctional Families! You name it, they probably have someone who has done it, is doing it or has thought about doing it! Because of that, where there was once at least a semblance of some type of love, you now have doubt and mistrust running rampant! West deftly plots her story to bring in the correct supporting characters at the right time to give you a better understanding of her main characters. She allows us to see her characters hurt, struggle, face their fears, learn to trust and learn to forgive. West tackles difficult issues including the mention of past mental and physical abuse, rape, past and present stalking. She allows her characters to grow through cause and effect, showing difficulties can make you BITTER or BETTER. Through that, they all learn they all need Grace and they all need to extend Grace to each other. It is a monumental lesson and one we would all do well to remember. I was provided an ARC of this book by the Author. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.
Great character development and family dynamics. You’ll feel like you really get to know these characters, you become invested in them and their lives. West writes about sensitive and current social issues with compassion and just the right touch of a sense of humor. Honesty, strength, and forgiveness, mesh nicely with a little bit of romance and a touch of faith. For those who are fans of Elin Hilderbrand and Nancy Thayer, I think you’ll enjoy this book! I had a hard time putting it down and will definitely be looking to read more of Catherine West’s novels!
I expect to be fully engrossed in any novel penned by Ms. West so I will just let you know, this one exceeded my expectations. Yes, it really is that good and the author is a masterful storyteller! Set in Nantucket, we reconnect with the Carlisle family, but let me perfectly clear, this is a standalone novel so if you haven’t had the opportunity to read the novel, The Things We Knew, I honestly don’t think it will take away from your enjoyment of this book.
Ms. West tackles some pretty heavy topics in this heartrending story, important topics that may have touched our families or friends but they are so realistically written I felt like I was involved in their lives and I wanted the best for them. From Drake, the artistic patriarch who suffers from Alzheimer’s to the young troubled teen, Mia who has a lot to overcome in her life, there are just so many well defined and wonderful characters to love. Give me a story with strong family dynamics such as this one and I will be a very happy reader.
There some humorous parts that put a smile on my face making me love this book so very much.
Overall, As the Light Fades is a must read in my opinion which is why I highly recommend it. The characters are ones that you won’t soon forget and if you are like me, you’ll hope there will another book with some of the same characters.
I received a copy through Netgalley. All opinions are my own.
This was a great book! Loved the characters and the story! I wanted to crawl inside the book and stay! I will definitely be looking for more books by this author! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy
Catherine West. Can I just say that I love her? Her books are truly the complete package: characters that embed themselves in your heart, a plot that keeps you turning pages, and a message that strikes at your core. Her latest book, As the Light Fades, is a resounding hallmark to this style.
In true West form, she chooses tough issues to tackle. Complicated family dynamics. Self harm. Abusive relationships. Sensitive social issues. But she does it with style, healing, and truth. And she breaks up the tension with humor and a budding romance. It’s the perfect molding of heavy and light.
I do want to say that some characters appear in West’s previous book The Things We Knew. However, this book certainly holds its own. If you haven’t read that book, you will definitely be hungry for it by the time you finish As the Light Fades.
Please take a chance on this book. West’s storytelling ability is not to be missed!
I received this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
OH MY. Just … OH MY.
I loved As the Light Fades. Loved, loved, loved. I’ve read most of West’s books, and this one definitely lands near the top — right next to The Things We Knew.
(Speaking of, readers of The Things We Knew will see some familiar faces, though West notes this is not an official sequel.)
As always, West doesn’t shy away from addressing tough topics. As the Light Fades alludes to those covered in The Things We Knew. Others addressed here include self-harm and abuse. And, as always, West deals with them healthily, straightforwardly, without glossing over or sweeping them under the rug. She provides hope above all, though the gospel isn’t out-and-out stated. (The book is published for the general market rather than Christian fiction.)
Characters develop well over the course of the book, and certainly evoke strong reactions — both good and bad! I loved Drake Carlisle (and Laurence makes me want to run for the hills).
I truly felt sad when the book ended — not because the story was incomplete, by any means; I’m just not ready to say goodbye to the characters! I wished for just a few more chapters!
I received a copy of the book from the author. All opinions are my own.
This story is about forgiveness and moving forward. Learning to forgive ourselves for passed mistakes and learning to love again. Matt Stone and his niece Mia have moved to Nantucket to give her a fresh start. Matt’s is struggling to help his niece heal after a traumatic childhood. Liz is running away from an abusive relationship with her ex. Coming home to help her siblings turn their childhood home into a bed and breakfast. Plus take care of her father Drake Carlisle’s Alzheimer. Drake feels confused and lost. Mia alone and scared. Until Mia’s art class visits the nursing home. Then slowly art starts to work it wonders. “Losing the emotion to the art. That what I call it. Finding that places within, digging as deep as necessary until all the pain surfaces. “
I have really appreciated the opportunity to be part of the advance reader team for Catherine West over her last few books. It is a pleasure that I do not take lightly. And even though the author and NetGalley have provided me an ARC of As the Light Fades, all thoughts expressed in my review are not influenced…they are honest and truly my opinion.
The author does a wonderful job of tackling many issues with such an amazing level of sensitivity. And she manages to include a sense of humor even with such difficult situations.
My thought as I began this book was that the light fades referred to the light of Drake fading with his advancement of Alzheimer’s. I’m not sure that’s the end result, but I’m going to hold onto that thought and believe it was what Catherine intended.
One of the other things the author manages to do in this book…as well as many of her other books…is relate a story of family relationships, newfound love, and healing. And even thought you met the Carlisle family in The Things We Knew, you will not miss anything by reading this book first. Thought that book is wonderful and is worth reading!
Catherine West writes stories from the heart and her books will take you on a trip through life lessons and experiences that will have you laughing, crying, cheering, and feeling protective. Please get lost in the pages of As the Light Fades for a delightful experience!