I adore Cathy West and was so excited for her when she announced her contract with Harper Collins Christian Publishers!!! Of course, I volunteered to be on her street team/reviewers list! As such, I did receive a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest review. So I asked if I could feature her new contemp romance here on InspyRomance. We went back and forth on what it should be about, but finally, I just decided to tell you a bit about the book! When my family and I embarked on a 9.5 hour /cough/11 hour/cough/ road trip, I knew I had to read Cathy’s book! Unsurprisingly, I loved it! I hope you do too!
I was not shocked to learn Cathy is a fantastic storyteller. From the beginning, she sucked me in, transporting me to Nantucket, a place I’ve only dreamed of visiting.
I adored Lynnie – a young woman trying to find her place in this world, when her world is crumbling down around her. Her house is, quite literally, and her life as well – her father’s ailing health, her siblings’ lack of involvement, and the “boy next door” who was practically (but not quite) her older brother, and his seeming willingness to toy with her affections. Her siblings, with one exception (a missionary to Africa), all have problems of their own that have prevented them from seeing what’s going on at home – or given them the excuse to ignore them anyway.
Nicholas is wonderful, though he does give off some seemingly contradictory signals. He and Lynnie’s older brother, his BFF, had a falling out five years earlier. He’s going to do what he can to help, but… will it be enough? Or will Lynnie’s memories overwhelm all of them?
Cathy does a masterful job weaving a bit of suspense in, leaving you guessing until the very end. While I would adore a sequel, her next book doesn’t revisit the Carlisles. However, there is enough resolution to everyone’s story arcs that it doesn’t necessarily NEED one.
Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10 stars (and for me, who rarely gives 9s and hardly EVER 10s, that’s pretty fantastic :))
I loved reading about Nantucket!! What’s your favorite place to be transported to while reading?
When their tragic past begins to resurface, can he help her remember the things she can’t?
After her mother’s death twelve years ago, Lynette Carlisle watched her close-knit family unravel. One by one, her four older siblings left their Nantucket home and never returned. All seem to blame their father for their mother’s death, but nobody will talk about that tragic day. And Lynette’s memory only speaks through nightmares.
Then Nicholas Cooper returns to Nantucket, bringing the past with him. Once Lynette’s adolescent crush, Nick knows more about her mother’s death than he lets on. The truth could tear apart his own family—and destroy his fragile friendship with Lynette, the woman he no longer thinks of as a kid sister.
As their father’s failing health and financial concerns bring the Carlisle siblings home, secrets surface that will either restore their shattered relationships or separate the siblings forever. But pulling up anchor on the past propels them into the perfect storm, powerful enough to make them question their faith, their willingness to forgive, and the very truth of all the things they thought they knew.
When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband and four kids in the big yard of their southwest Missouri home, teaching American Government at a community college, reading, or watching NCIS. She's a member of ACFW and RWA, President and founding member for the MozArks ACFW group, and a category coordinator for ACFW's First Impressions.
Thanks for the recommendation Carol, I have not read any of Catherine West’s books, so will check them out.
I fell in love with Cathy’s writing style after reading Bridge of Faith, Carol. It just so happens, I’m reading The Things We Knew now…I’m loving it! Cathy is a gifted writer.
Awesome! I love it when I am introduced to a new author. And Catherine west sounds like an amazing one! Can’t wait to check her out! Thanks for the intro!
I’m on her street team also and I loved this book.
Thanks for your review. I hadn’t heard of her before and will check it out. I think my favorite genre is old west historical inspirational romance. But….I love and read a lot of other stories,too
Aw, Carol, you’re so sweet!! So glad you loved the story! I don’t think there NEEDS to be a sequel or spin off boos, but it sure would be fun! LOL! :) Who was your favorite character? Nantucket is so much fun! California is my close runner-up, and that happens to be where my next book is set!
books I mean – LOL!
What a coincidence! I just happened to finish this book last night. I loved it! The setting is wonderful, the characters are fascinating, and the story kept me glued to my Kindle the whole time. Thanks, Cathy, for a great read! And if you need more read/reviewers/influencers I’d love to help out. I’ll be leaving reviews for The Things We Knew soon. I just need to find the words to do it justice! Thanks for sharing your time and talents with us. :)
You had me with the setting of Nantucket. I’ve never been there but have wanted to visit the island. I’ll definitely buy Catherine’s book.
Julie Klassen is the one who first introduced me to the Regency period through her books, thus making me fall in love with all things about historical fiction! So I’d say anything in that time period is my favorite setting; Regency, Edwardian, Victorian, etc. My favorite time to read in is the 1800-1900’s.
I’ve read such good things about Catherine’s book :-)
Thanks for this post. You have introduced me to a new author.
Carol, thanks for your review. I became a fan of Cathy’s books after reading Yesterday’s Tomorrow, and I’ll be adding her new release to my tbr list :)
Oh thank you Winnie!! I will be putting together another team for next year’s release so would love to have you on board! If you’ll leave me a message on my FB Author page that would be great, or just add me on FB too, that way I can connect with you when the time comes! :)
Thanks, Barbara! Funny, I had not been to Nantucket so I had to do all my research over the internet – then my husband surprised me with a trip there to celebrate the book release! It’s a beautiful place and it was so neat to see everything in person!
Loved the review on the book and I haven’t read Catherine West yet. I need to put her on my TBR list.
This was the first Cathy West book I’ve read! I loved it too!