The Things We Knew

Catherine West writes stories of hope and healing from her island home in Bermuda. When she's not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border collie for long walks on the beach or tending to her roses and orchids. She and her husband have two grown children. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram About the book:  The Things We Knew (Thomas Nelson, July 2016) A tragedy from the past resurfaces in this tale of family secrets and reignited love. 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 harbor animosity toward their father, silently blaming him for their mother's death. Nobody will talk about that dreadful day, and Lynette can't remember a bit of it. But when next-door neighbor Nicholas Cooper returns to Nantucket, he brings the past with him. Once her brother's best friend and Lynette's first crush, Nick seems to hiding things from her. Lynette wonders what he knows about the day her mother died and hopes he might help her remember the things she can't. But Nick has no intention of telling Lynette the truth. Besides the damage it might cause his own family, he doesn't want to risk harming the fragile friendship between him and the woman he once thought of as a kid sister. As their father's failing health and financial concerns bring the Carlisle siblings home, secrets begin to surface---secrets 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 all they ever believed in. Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/29vkFGh To see what others are saying about the book, you can visit HERE. My Thoughts: Catherine West is a new author to me but has earned a spot on my "keeper shelf" with her latest novel The Things We Knew.  West has written a well-drawn and engaging tale of family pain.  Her characters could just as well be a reader's brother or sister.  West touches on the family dynamics that tear us apart and bind us together.  Ripe with the themes of dealing with an aging parent, sibling relationships and regrets, West draws in readers with the first sentence and holds their attention until the last.  West writes in such a way that I felt the emotion of each character distinctly.  You will not regret time spent reading this novel.  I'll be looking for future projects by this author! *I received a complimentary copy of the book for the purpose of giving an honest review. Happy Reading Ya'll, Jennifer