Heidi Reads...: Review & Giveaway: The Memory of You by Catherine West

Sunday, July 30, 2017

Review & Giveaway: The Memory of You by Catherine West

Heidi Reads... The Memory of You by Catherine West

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Title: The Memory of You

Author: Catherine West

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Release Date: March 28, 2017

Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Fiction

Thirteen years ago, Natalie lost a part of herself when her twin sister died. Will traveling back to the family winery finally put the memory to rest, or will it completely destroy her?

When Natalie Mitchell learns her beloved grandfather has had a heart attack, she’s forced to return to their family-owned winery in Sonoma, something she never intended to do. She’s avoided her grandparents’ sprawling home and all its memories since the summer her sister died—the awful summer Natalie’s nightmares began. But the winery is failing, and Natalie’s father wants her to shut it down. As the majority shareholder, she has the power to do so.

And Natalie never says no to her father.

Tanner Collins, the vintner on Maoilios, is trying to salvage a bad season and put the Mitchell family’s winery back in business. When Natalie Mitchell shows up, Tanner sees his future about to be crushed. Natalie intends to close the gates, unless he can convince her otherwise. But the Natalie he remembers from childhood is long gone, and he’s not so sure he likes the woman she’s become. Still, the haunted look she wears hints at secrets he wants to unearth. He soon discovers that on the night her sister died, the real Natalie died too. And Tanner must do whatever it takes to resurrect her.

But finding freedom from the past means facing it.

My Review

This is the first book I've read by Catherine West and I was pleasantly surprised! I somehow assumed that the book would fit more in the women's fiction genre, but there was a great romantic relationship that grew throughout the story as well as complex family dynamics. Natalie and Tanner are both hurting from painful experiences in their pasts that make it take time for them to rekindle their childhood friendship. I loved the depth of emotion in the author's writing and her lovely way of describing the setting and its influence on the characters. While there is drama, pain and angst during this transition season in the characters' lives, there is also healing, hope, and blossoming love. I felt like the responses and reactions of Natalie and Tanner were realistic instead of idealized, and it made their personalities and relationship more genuine. I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading more by the author!

(I received a complimentary copy of the book; all opinions in this review are my own)

About the Author

Catherine West is an award-winning author who writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. Her first novel, Yesterday’s Tomorrow, released in 2011 and won the INSPY for Romance, a Silver Medal in the Reader’s Favorite Awards, and was a finalist in the Grace Awards. Catherine’s second novel, Hidden in the Heart, released in September 2012, was long listed in the 2012 INSPY’s and was a finalist in the 2013 Grace Awards.

When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two grown children. Catherine is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Romance Writers of America, and is represented by Rachelle Gardner of Books & Such Literary. Catherine loves to connect with her readers and can be reached at Catherine[at]catherinejwest.com

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