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.

Thank you to Net Galley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

I really liked this book. I connected to the main character right out of the chute and each new character that came along. That automatically means I am going to like the book because I can now feel for them and get into the storyline. When a book comes along that allows the characters to grow and learn from their mistakes, that book hits home with me. ALL of these people have made mistakes in life and all of them are trying to recover from them...and at the same time, forgive themselves and each other. Some might say this is a romance but I disagree. I think this is a book about character development, forgiveness, and learning to be okay with who you really are. When all of that comes together, romance happens :)

I don't believe I have read any of this author's books but you can bet I will read them from now on.

I’m a huge fan of Catherine West’s writing but this one fell short for me. The novel is beautifully written, and the plot and characters are intriguing but for me it lacked the resolution and depth I sought. The author presented many heavy topics, but she just skimmed the surface and left me unsatisfied. I had a tough time connecting to any one of the characters and I missed the author's inspirational tone that is found in her other work.

I received a copy from the Publisher through Net Galley. The opinions shared are my own.

I love how Catherine West writes. I have read nearly all her books and loved them. I loved that this book was set in Nantucket. This was a good book but not as good as most of her others, at least for me. The story was a little slow starting. The characters were interesting but the subjects of abuse and cutting were just not my enough to hold the story together. The story was just not as rich for me as her others.
I received a complement copy of this book via NetGalley, opinions expressed are are entirely my own,.

Couldn’t get into this book. Unfortunately not able to finish it as it just didn’t interest me therefore I am not able to leave a review or say anything constructive about this book.

'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.

I really enjoyed this book. By an author of whom I have not read a novel before but will certainly do so again in the future on the basis of this novel! Great characters, structure and overall essence. I now want to visit Nantucket from the imagery alone! Thank you!

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 read this book in one sitting. I just couldn’t put it down. I’m so happy everything worked out for Liz, Mia, Matthew and the whole family. My favorite parts were of Drake and his remembering and painting. This book had everything I could have hoped for in a book!
Posted on Goodreads.

I really enjoyed this second book in the Nantucket series. I enjoyed the family dynamics with all the characters. I felt myself relating to Liz. Hope the series continues.

This was a great book! I wanted to crawl inside it!
I loved it and will definitely be looking for more of her books!! Thanks to Netgalley for the early copy

Liz is an ex-lawyer and ex-New Yorker currently living on her childhood home of Nantucket. When she needs to find a place to live, she enters the world of Matthew Stone and his rebellious teenage niece Mia. We soon learn that everyone has their fair share of demons that they are trying to outrun, from abusive ex’s to addict parents.

I was expecting a very middle-of-the-road read with this novel, but was pleasantly surprised to find that it contained much more depth and plot than I was anticipating based on the first fifty pages. Catherine West did a great job developing the main characters past their surface literary troupes. I was particularly drawn to Mia and enjoyed her character development most of all.

Some critiques that kept it from a 5-star rating;
- There were a lot of characters and a lot going on with those characters. I could have done without Liz’s father’s perspective... I appreciated its contribution to the storyline but it felt out of place.
- The ending seemed a bit rushed. I would have liked more of a build up to the major events in the final pages, especially Liz’s and Mia’s storylines.

Overall, this was a fine novel that I would recommend to anyone looking for a summer read with substance.

As The Light Fades focuses on three central characters. Set in beautiful Nantucket. Matt Stone has arrived back on the island now the sole carer of his very troubled 15 year old niece Mia. Mia has had to deal with a lot of things a 15 year old should never have had to deal with and she isn't coping but she can't let any one know that. Elizabeth Carlisle has also moved back to the island to escape her abusive ex partner, She just so happens to move into Matt Stone's guest house and from there the three characters stories intertwine.

This book had the typical make up of a love story whereby after just a few chapters I already knew exactly how the story was going to end but it 100% didn't ruin the book for me. Its like your favourite roller coaster it doesn't matter how many times you ride it, it still gives you a thrill. I enjoyed following each characters journey to the end. Catherine West wrote sensitively about hard topics like domestic violence and self harm and that allowed you to connect with the characters and really feel for them, but also root for them to find happiness and healing.

There were a couple of story lines that I felt in the end were a bit rushed over and needed deeper exploration, I happily would have read another 100 pages just to have a bit more closure. Although perhaps this was intentional by the author in order to continue the story in the future.

3.5 /5

As the Light Fades was a slow burn for me. I had a hard time connecting to the characters, especially the Carlise family, at first. I understand that in West’s previous book, The Things We Knew, we meet this family. I don’t feel it’s necessary to read that book first, however, I can’t help but wonder if I would have felt a deeper connection if I had. Once I was chapters deep, I could see this story had both timely and relevant themes.

Liz Carlise is returning to her family home on Nantucket Island, but things are not quite the same as they once were. Their estate is being turned into a B & B, her father is in a home suffering from Alzheimer's, and Liz is trying to start over. She was a big shot corporate lawyer in New York but had to give it all up when her boyfriend’s abuse went too far.

For her, running back home was not an ideal situation. Her family is not without issues. Finding that she cannot stay at the family estate due to the renovations, Liz rents a guest house from a neighbor, Matthew Stone. Thinking this may be a blessing to be away from the family chaos, Liz soon finds herself involved in the life of Matthew and his troubled niece, Mia.

As Liz settles into her new life on the island, she is contacted by a woman who wants her to testify against her ex. Seems he had assaulted more women than just Liz... She knows she should testify against him, but he has something on Liz too.

This book discusses some very important topics: Alzheimer's, abuse, sexual harassment, and self-harm. The story is good, with strong family drama, but I felt it was a little predictable. If you enjoy books about second chances and forgiveness, with romance thrown in, then don’t be discouraged by my 3.5 stars.

Thank you @Netgalley and #IBPA for this ARC for review
Publish Date: 9/10/2019

Nantucket Island, Secrets to keep, A great guy and a teenager. What more can you want in a book. You must read this one.

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.

As the Light Fades is set in Nantucket, and we revisit the loveable characters from West's The Things We Knew. I enjoyed connecting to the Carlisle family again. Catherine West does a phenomenal job of capturing Mr. Carlisle Senior's point of view. This is, however, Liz's story. This Contemporary story tackles real issues faced today with grace and delicacy. And then there's the romance thrown into the mix. A character who stole my heart in this story is Mia and when you read it, you'll see why. I just wanted to hug her and tell her she was going to be okay. This was a satisfying read and one I'll not soon forget.

Another great story from Catherine West. And can we all just agree that the cover of this book is stunning?

I was given a copy of this book through Netgalley, my opinions are my own.

I highly recommend this book by Catherine West which tackles subjects such as domestic abuse and other difficult life issues. Forgiveness and grace are central positive themes.

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!

As the Light Fades, by Catherine West (2019) https://catherinejwest.com/books/as-the-light-fades/

There are so many positives about this novel.

Catherine West writes with skill and compassion, tackling hard issues with honesty and sensitivity and enough humour that this is not a hard read. She gives us real characters to care about, flawed people who are doing their best and fear it may not be enough.

Her voice is true, whether writing from the late-twenties/early-thirties central characters of Liz and Matthew, 15-year-old Mia, or the elderly Drake.

And Drake… how many novels include a character with Alzheimer’s in a positive light? Drake’s voice opens the novel, and it hooked me from the beginning. This isn’t a victim, but a man navigating a hopeless situation with grim humour. He may be losing his memory, but his will is strong. And despite his limitations, he can still make a difference.

Readers who enjoy stories about family relationships, gentle love stories, and finding healing for past hurts will love this book.

Favourite line:

I see a restlessness in her eyes today, churning like a stormy sea. Like she’s carrying something too heavy but doesn’t have a place to put it down. [Kindle location 3791]

As the Light Fades is a clean contemporary read with a subtle faith thread and a theme of forgiveness and grace. Set on the US tourist haven of Nantucket, it features the Carlisle family readers first met in The Things We Knew.

You don’t have to have read the previous novel, although I highly recommend them both.

Catherine West writes contemporary women’s fiction about hard times and hope. For more about the author and her work, visit catherinejwest.com.

[Review copy provided through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.]