The Memory of You

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 longwalks on the beach or tending to her roses and orchids.  She and her husband have two grown children.

Website:  catherinejwest.com
Facebook:  CatherineJWest
Twitter:  @cathwest

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 Michell learns her beloved grandfather has had a heart attack, she returns 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 falling, and Natalie's father wants her to shut it down.  As the majority share-holder, 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 shows up, Tanner sees his future about to be crushed.  He knows Natalie intends to close the gates, and he's determined to 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 ti takes to resurrect her.

But finding freedom from the past means facing it.  For both of them.

My Thoughts:
Catherine West knows how to write a story that pulls readers in at the beginning and holds them until the end.  With genuine characters, West weaves a deeply moving tale in The Memory of You of family conflict, regrets, loss, and love.  Both Natalie and Tanner have tragic family situations that would be the undoing of anyone.  West shares their journey in a well thought out plot with scenes that invite readers into the story.  There were points in the book that I almost could mentally and emotionally feel what the characters were going through.  Surrounding the main plot, West was adept at offering readers side stories that deepened the reading experience.  I don't plan to miss a book West writes.  You shouldn't either!

*I was given a complimentary copy of the book and all opinions given here are my own.

Happy Reading,
Jennifer