As the Light Fades moves Catherine West away from her roots in Christian women’s fiction to tell a more general story with less of an overt Christian element. It’s still clearly written from a Christian viewpoint, as the main characters do have a subtle faith journey and sin is clearly portrayed as wrong.
This is clearly a general market novel.
West has described As the Light Fades as a loose sequel to The Things We Knew, one of her earlier novels. I have read The Things We Knew, but don’t remember the details (even after rereading the Amazon description. Well, I read a lot of books). Having said that, I don’t think my forgetfulness affected my enjoyment of As the Light Fades, and it can certainly be read as a standalone novel.
As the Light Fades takes several difficult contemporary issues and weaves them into a compelling story.
Liz Carlisle has returned to Nantucket, her childhood home, after leaving her abusive fiancé. Her father is suffering Alzheimer’s, and her landlord is the guardian to his niece, who has issues (to put it mildly). Yes, Mia is a typical teenage girl, with all the attitude that comes with being sixteen. But she’s also the daughter of an ex-drug addict, and Nick suspects she’s been sexually abused by her stepfather.
As the Light Fades by Catherine West does a masterful job of exposing the issues of Alzheimer's, domestic violence, and sexual abuse, without dwelling on the detail. #WomensFiction #BookReview @cathwest Click To TweetThat’s a lot of plot. And there’s more. Liz has her own secrets that play into her present actions … and inaction. Liz and Mia both have a journey to getting past their personal histories and not allowing that to affect their futures. Ironically, part of the cure for Mia comes from the character who can’t be cured—Liz’s father.
As the Light Fades a meaty story with a bit of everything—relationships, family drama, romance, and suspense. The writing is excellent, the story compelling, and West does a masterful job of exposing the issues without dwelling on the detail. Recommended.
About Catherine West
Catherine West is an award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction. When she’s not at the computer working on her next story, you can find her taking her Border Collie for long walks or reading books by her favorite authors. She and her husband reside in Bermuda, and have two adult children and two beautiful granddaughters.
Catherine is the winner of the 2015 Grace Award (Bridge of Faith) and a two-time winner of Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope & Love Reader’s Choice Award (The Things We Knew, 2017 and Where Hope Begins, 2019) and recipient of ACFW’s Carol Award for Where Hope Begins.
You can find Catherine West online at:
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About As the Light Fades
Sometimes we’re placed in the strangest of circumstances for the most important reasons.
Matthew Stone intends to steer clear of his new tenant. She’s carrying a load of baggage, but as long as she pays the rent, he’ll let her be. He’s got enough to deal with caring for his wayward niece, Mia.
Liz doesn’t have time for teenagers and her track record with men is abysmal, but an unlikely friendship forms between the three.
When her former boyfriend is charged with assault, Liz is called to testify against him. But he knows the darkest secrets of her life—secrets she’d hoped to keep buried forever, and he’s ready to reveal them. Telling the truth is the right thing to do, but it may cost her everything she’s worked so hard for, and all she’s come to love.
