This story had so much more to it than a romance, which was what I was expecting. I really enjoyed this story that dealt with family dynamics, domestic abuse, addiction, alzheimer's, the effects of sexual abuse, all told in an environment of forgiveness and grace. The three main characters are Elizabeth Carlisle, who has come home after escaping an abusive relationship, Matthew, a man who rents Liz his guest house as well as becoming guardian to his 15 year old niece, and Mia, Matthew's niece, whom he has custody of while her mom is in jail. All of them are dealing with difficult situations including some serious depression and fear. As the three of them get closer together, the help each other to heal. Through art, listening and eventually counselling, they are able to move forward in their lives.

I loved the characters in this story, especially Drake. He is the patriarch of the Carlisle family and lives in a nursing home. He is dealing with the effects of Alzheimer's, yet he knows that he doesn't remember things. His voice is told through his thoughts, almost talking to himself and it added so much to the story. Without realizing it, he was instrumental in Mia's healing. Elizabeth (Liz or Lizzie) is dealing with her own fear that her ex will come after her. He tries to intimidate her and she allows it until she sees what Mia is going through. She eventually develops a backbone, standing up to him, doing what is right. Then there is Matt. He is adorable. What single male would take on his teenage niece who has such a big chip on her shoulder? He fell in love with Liz almost immediately upon meeting her, but gave her the time and space she needed to heal before pursuing a relationship. Mia, broke my heart. She had already been through so much in her short life. She was hurting so badly and didn't trust anyone to share her pain with. As the three of them grow, heal and learn to forgive themselves and others who hurt them along the way, it was very emotional. Adding in Matt's parents was wonderful. Seeing how these uppity Boston Brahmins finally admitted they were wrong and apologizing for their shortcomings showed that grace can come at any time if you are open to it. Each of these characters had their own realistic voice that made this story seem so real. The emotions I felt as I read this story ran the gamut from laughter to terrible sadness. I definitely recommend this story to those who enjoy Contemporary Women's Fiction and I know I will look for more books by Catherine West.

If you have read the blurb for Catherine West’s latest novel, As The Light Fades, you get only part of the picture of this multi-layered novel. Yes this is Liz’s story, but it is also Mia’s and Drake’s and . . . . You get the picture. And yet I never felt the complex plot was anything but natural. As The Light Fades is about life in all of its messiness, sorrow, and hope. A story to be savored, I highly recommend it!

As The Light Fades is told through third person points of view, the first person thoughts of Drake Carlisle, an Alzheimer victim, and teenaged Mia’s diary entries. This nuanced style gives the reader a unique perspective on all that is happening within the lives of the characters. And what characters they are — Mia, a traumatized teenager who reacts with anger and fear; Liz, hiding from a violent ex and the mistakes of her past; Drake, a once brilliant artist now locked within a mind that can’t quite grasp his current reality; and Matthew, a tremendously good guy who brings stability and security to more than one character. Along with the wonderful Nantucket setting, this book has all the elements for a good story. It is West’s deft handling that brings it up to great status. There is a lot going on in As The Light Fades, and I cannot begin to relate it without telling you the whole story. Story lines tangle themselves together, just like the stories of real life. And that is one of its many strengths. So what was my favorite part of this novel? Matthew. Realistically portrayed, Matthew has a deep faith that withstands doubts and trials. He is strong and dependable, loving and accepting, a person you would want as son, brother, uncle, and friend. He is not superman, but close enough! 😉 He also exemplifies what a home should look like. I found the concept of home to be a strong theme — what it really means to belong to a place and people. The only negative about As The Light Fades is that I want to know more! But isn’t that what a lot of great books do? It’s keeping this reader thinking and wondering.

For women’s fiction with heart and soul, you cannot go wrong with As The Light Fades.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

Liz Carlisle moves back to her family home on Nantucket after leaving an abusive relationship in New York. She's far from rebuilding as her family home is under renovations and her father is put in a home battling Alzheimer's.
Liz meets Matt and his wayward niece Mia by chance and is quickly placed in the middle of their lives. They grow close and romance blooms between Liz and Matt.
Liz is faced again with her former boyfriend and is asked to testify against him after he was charged with assault. But he has dirt on her, dirt she doesn't want aired out for the world and her newfound relationship.

This book was a slow burn for me, the romance was predictable and the characters seemed to lack depth and intrigue.
The story did touch on important issues such as domestic abuse and self harm, but I felt they were glossed over and rushed.
Unfortunately, I didn't feel engrossed in the story or connected to the characters. However, it was an enjoyable summer read full of family dynamics that illustrated the importance of forgiveness and second chances.

This book was recently released on September 10th and is currently available on Kindle Unlimited.

Thank you NetGalley and Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) for an advanced e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

As the Light Fades holds elements of a story that is indicative of Catherine West’s writing style. You’ll get more than just a story. You’ll also get heart, life, and ultimately, hope.

I was excited to read As the Light Fades because it continues the story of the Carlisle family. I love these people! Something about their hurts resonates within me and I eagerly await to see how their journey unfolds. Elizabeth Carlisle has a world of hurt and presents a tough exterior to hide the truth.

But Matthew Stone isn’t deterred nor afraid of doing the hard work of loving. I absolutely adored him and the love he was willing to share with others.

Through Ms. West’s signature style, your emotions will be tugged and hope will be found.

All in all, an expected and enjoyable read.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via NetGalley. My review was not required nor influenced.

This is another incredibly heartwarming and thought provoking story.
One of those at which Catherine West is so good at writing.
The Carlisle family is back, and we get to know more about them and their history.
I liked reading about Liz and her story.
The setting, Nantucket, was absolutely charming. I loved all the details. It made me want to go there.
Although not necessarily Christian fiction, this book does have a strong faith element.
This author has once again given us a look at some hard things in life, and shown us a picture of how someone can face those things and deal with them.
I highly recommend this one!

Great read. The author wrote a story that was interesting and moved at a pace that kept me engaged. The characters were easy to invest in.

Liz Carlisle is an interesting character and I found myself liking her, and her family. There were a few moments that felt conveniently placed to tie up ends, that might not have been necessary.... the sibling reconciliation that occurred w/out any real hashing out. I really enjoyed the interaction of Mia and Drake and thought her character was the strongest and most likeable for me. The romantic relationship felt a bit rushed for me and the spirituality sprinkled throughout was a bit distracting because it wasn't intrinsic but sprinkled around. There was a lot of backstory that I didn't feel was clarified... there were references that weren't explained till further in the story and I found myself wondering why isn't that being addressed, what is that about... I felt there were a lot of questions but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the book. I would read more from this author and about these characters.

AS THE LIGHT FADES by Catherine West is a stand alone novel but it does feature some of the people from The Things We Knew. I haven't read that one yet and wasn't lost at all while reading this wonderful story. Liz Carlisle finds herself back in Nantucket after her perfect life in New York City has exploded. She returns to her family estate which happens to be under major renovations and she knows she must find somewhere else to live for a while. Enter Matthew Stone! He has a cottage for rent and even though he knows Liz has some major baggage, he really needs the money. He is the caretaker for his niece, Mia and he finds himself failing miserably. Maybe Liz would be good to have around for Mia. Only Liz hasn't the time for teenagers.


Catherine West has a way of pulling you in and never letting you go! She will get you emotionally invested in all of her characters, where you feel as if they are "real" people that you know. The community of Nantucket is filled with likable characters that you could see yourself becoming friends with. The women are strong and faithful to their families and the men are always trying to help them out. AS THE LIGHT FADES is going to put you right in the middle of Liz's life as she tries to find her inner peace. She finds herself becoming friends with Matthew and even his unruly niece, Mia. Mia has been through so much in her young life, that I instantly felt a need to protect her and help her make sense of what was happening.


AS THE LIGHT FADES deals with some pretty big issues, Alzheimers, trust issues, abuse, self harm, abandonment, and dis functional families. The peek into these characters lives shows you how people deal differently with their problems. Sometimes it's funny and other times it left a lump in my throat. I mean seriously, how can you not fall in love with these people and get all up in their business?


AS THE LIGHT FADES is filled with family, new beginnings, trying to move on from the past, love and loss. This story is a very heart tugging tale in Nantucket and I loved every minute of it. The pages aren't filled with romance but there is some of it. You will be believing in happily ever after and finding yourself wanting to pack you bags and moving to this charming beach town. The positive female relationships that these women share will make you want to go out and make some new friends. As always, another wonderful story from Catherine West. She is now an auto read author for me and I can't wait to read her older books I haven't gotten to yet.

As the Light Fades by Catherine West is a story about broken people who are looking for ways of becoming whole again. I love Catherine West’s books because she is not afraid of taking on the most difficult topics and she really explores the emotional complexity of these situations. In this book, she includes topics like Alzheimer’s, self-cutting, and domestic abuse. I thought the book was well- written with fantastic characters. But I expected a little more at the end. I think the story wrapped up a bit too quickly and easily compared to the situations at hand. Still, this is an amazing book and I recommend it. I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

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 BPA for an Advanced Reader Copy.

Put together a troubled 15 year-old, a woman with an abusive ex-boyfriend, a man with dementia, a harried art teacher, and an imprisoned drug addict, and you’ve got the makings of a very interesting story! The author, Catherine West, cleverly weaves in the concept of the use of art therapy as the common thread between these characters. You’ll find yourself cheering them on through laughter and tears. I especially loved Drake, the older man with dementia, as we follow his journey from loneliness to finding a purpose. This is a book you’ll find yourself thinking about long after you’ve finished.

Although it continues the story from The Things We Knew, it can easily be read as a stand-alone novel.

I received a copy of this book from the NetGalley and was under no obligation to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

This gorgeous covers 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.

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 from the author/NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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.

Although this book follows some of the characters introduced in The Things We Knew, and it refers back to things that happened in that book, this novel pretty much stands on its own. It would definitely help to read that book for background, because it explains a great deal about the Carlisle family and why they act the way they do toward each other.
It follows three people: Elizabeth Carlisle, who has come home after escaping an abusive relationship, Matthew, a man who has a guest house for rent where Liz moves in, and Mia, Matthew's niece, whom he has custody of while her mom is in jail.
Although I liked this book, it is a bit of a slow burn with the romance, and rightfully so. The characters are dealing with some heavy issues, and rushing into a romance would have felt forced. The one thing that just didn't go far enough is that many of the issues were more brushed over rather than fully explored: the abuse, abandonment, self-harm and there were hints of sexual abuse (never really confirmed, just alluded to) as well.
I liked an appreciated the themes of forgiveness and learning how to overcome addictive behavior. This is a heartfelt book definitely worth taking the time to read. Although it is not written as Christian fiction, there is a subtle, faith-filled message.

The story is told via three POVs: Elizabeth Carlisle, who’s moved back to the island after leaving her abusive ex. Her father is battling Alzheimer’s. Matt Stone, who’s recently arrived in town and is caring for his niece. Mia Stone, who’s a troubled fifteen-year-old, forced to deal with things no one her age should have to handle. The three really lives intersect when Elizabeth becomes the new tenant at Matt’s guest house.

I’m not a huge fan of romances, and this does have a romance angle to it. It wasn’t overwhelming, but it did make some parts a bit predictable. Also, a few parts felt a bit rushed. This is the second book in the series, but it could easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone. However, reading them in order would help the reader feel more of a connection to the characters. Family dynamics are strong, as are themes of forgiveness and second chances. The author tackles some difficult topics (domestic abuse and cutting) in a sensitive manner.

Possible trigger warnings: domestic abuse, cutting/self-harm

This is a light but meaningful read about several people in transition on beautiful Nantucket Island. There is romance, yes, but there is something more here also. Well-written with believable dialogue.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Overall I liked but did not love this book. It is an easy beach read set on Nantucket with some family drama and a bit of romance thrown in, but it also tackles some harder topics. I did at times feel that everything was a bit too predictable or situations wrapped up too easily, but I did like the characters and it was an enjoyable read.
I hadn't realized there was an earlier book that dealt with the same family, and would be interested to read that one as well.

Thanks to NetGalley for an arc of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

Ugh, there is nothing I dislike more than being mislead -- had I know this was a Christian book, I probably would not have read this. I just want to be told in advance if the underlying message is religious, which I do not think is too much to ask. I generally love books set on Nantucket but this was too neat, too tidy and left a lot out that was not sufficiently explained. I would pas son this

As the Light Fades comes out next month on September 10, 2019, and you can purchase HERE.

Uncle Matt saw my sketchbook the other night. He got this weird look, like he couldn't believe what he was seeing. He said my drawings were amazing. They're okay, I guess. I wouldn't call them amazing. He's way better than me, but I think he like photography more than drawing and painting. We went for a walk on the beach this morning, and he took a ton of pictures of stupid stuff like shells and driftwood. We saw seals though. I think they're cute. I wonder if you were an artist too or if I get it from Uncle Matt. Definitely not from Mom. She can't even draw stick figures.

This is a huge storyline. There is a LOT going on. This story is gripping, and will keep you enthralled til the end.