Got our first few christmas cards today Lets fill my PO Box with Christmas cards again! Christmas cards need to be to me by Dec 28th, to be in the drawing! I couldnt wait to post a peek of my beautiful sister April and her family, but we always wait until after cards are sent!
WHat a fun little session at the tree farm on a beautiful day! April, I cherish the privilege of capturing these for you: Sections of this page. Email or Phone Password Forgotten account? See more of Memories of You Photography on Facebook. We are the home of a beautiful Artisan shop that features goods from various local artist Contact Memories of You Photography on Messenger. Heritage Farms Market Farmers market. Cinderella's Closet - Muskegon Mi Retail company. Kathryn Rene Photography Photographer. Brandon Nutt Outdoors TV programme. Simply Unique Photography Local business.
When Natalie and Tanner begin to compare their lives, they realize they have a lot more in common than they imagined, including their loss of faith. Then, we have the MIA uncle who decides to come home for a breather and make amends. I thought that the faith aspects seemed overdone in some respect, when it could have been kept to fewer characters and evolved more realistically.
There were quite a few complications to be resolved that seemed to be jammed up at the end of the story. That made me want to skip ahead to find out what was going on, so I had to force myself to slow down and enjoy the journey. Be prepared to shed a few tears, even in the beauty of the resolutions. This novel is so close to a top rating of 5 for me, that I consider it a recommended read at 4.
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Reviewed by Dorine, courtesy of The Zest Quest. Jul 26, Brittany rated it it was amazing. What a beautifully written and completely captivating story! I really loved the main characters, Natalie and Tanner. They had some history together as children and young teens. Both had also experienced traumatic events in their pasts which influenced the way they reacted to present situations.
The side stories and characters were extremely interesting, as was the heartbreaking look into the tragic accident that What a beautifully written and completely captivating story! The side stories and characters were extremely interesting, as was the heartbreaking look into the tragic accident that so impacted Natalie. I received a complimentary copy of this book.
You can read this review on my blog: What a ride this book was! You're pulled into this well written story right away with the heartbreaking drama that both Natalie, Tanner and their families are going through. You feel their pain as each member struggles with different issues. But you also feel the hope and healing that starts to take place as they each learn to let go, to love again, to forgive, and to accept the help of family, friends, and a God that offers new life and the ultimate grace! This book is heartbreaking and heartwar What a ride this book was!
This book is heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Dealing with deep issues such as death, guilt, depression, PTSD, bi-polar personality, drug abuse and abandonment, this is not a lighthearted read. But this talented author also takes you to a place of hope and light with grace, forgiveness, healing, second chances and reconciliation with earthly fathers as well as our heavenly Father.
We ALL have drama and issues in our lives and it is heartening to read that there is hope and healing. It is definitely worth reading and I will no doubt read more by this author! If I had a complaint it would just be that there were so many, many issues being dealt with and several different threads to the story, that it could get overwhelming at times.
I was not paid or required to write a positive review and all opinions stated are my own. Jan 22, Toni Shiloh rated it it was amazing. I must say this might be my favorite Catherine West novel yet. The Memory of You hooks you from the first page, grips your heart, and that glow of a fantastic love story lingers afterward. Natalie and Tanner's story is absolutely perfect. Natalie lost her twin at thirteen years old. Their pain -- though cre I must say this might be my favorite Catherine West novel yet.
Their pain -- though created in a fantastic fictional world -- is very real. It touches on real issues, which is what Ms. West is famous for. Add the special ingredient of God's love and you have a 5-star read. Watching Natalie and Tanner navigate their relationship in the midst of life's pain created some laugh-out-loud moments, cheek-splitting-grin moments, and swoon-worthy-sigh moments. This book has it all and it won't disappoint. Move it to the top of your TBR pile and enjoy the ride. This review is my honest opinion. Aug 24, Kav rated it it was amazing.
The kind of story that begs to be read aloud because it is so beautifully written. Exquisite both in prose and depth. West explores the realistic lives of characters caught up in the midst of dysfunctional families. And yet it isn't hopeless. It's angst-riddled and heart-wrenching in places for sure, but there's a strength and power in Natalie and Tanner's ability to overcome. Their struggles mirror our own. They discover truths that we must all come to understand -- like life is messy and that's The kind of story that begs to be read aloud because it is so beautifully written.
They discover truths that we must all come to understand -- like life is messy and that's okay. God isn't waiting for us to be perfect before we come to him. That secrets hold power only if we let them. And facing the past is hard but trying to ignore it is harder still. Natalie and Tanner are both dealing with some difficult issues and the last thing they need is romantic feelings to stir things up even more. Tanner in particular is pretty dead set against having anything to do with Natalie. But despite the constant surliness and his penchant to sulk, there is something very appealing about this self-made man who honors his family by trying to take on all their burdens.
He's quick to make assumptions where Natalie is concerned and she's not shy about lashing back. Their scenes are charged with undercurrents of passion that stirs them into reacting in unexpected ways. A real roller-coaster of a romance, but realistically so. And with a sweet ache of tenderness that turned me to mush.
Richly layered secondary stories make this a feast of a read. Decadent and delicious and impossible to resist. The Memory of You is the kind of novel that lives in your heart long after you've finished the last page. A celebration of life and love and finding yourself through the mercy of God's everlasting grace. Mar 23, Sam B rated it really liked it Shelves: This was my first book by this author. I had heard a lot fo great things about her other books and this one didn't deceive. Natalie lost her sister in a car accident 13 years ago.
Now she goes back to the family winery, where the accident took place, because her father want to shut it down. Tanner is dealing with his own problems and isn't really happy when Natalie arrives. Being the vintner, Tanner would lose his job if the winery was to close. At some moments I just want to yell at This was my first book by this author.
But as it seems, they preferred keeping to themselves and not tell the other one what was bothering them. Catherine West tackles some tough issues in this novel. Natalie is dealing with PTSD following her twin sister's death. I liked witnessing her journey and her transformation through the book. I also very much appreciated the dogs and the children. It was an nice addition to the story.
A big thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary copy! It did not affect my review in any way! Feb 27, Abby Breuklander rated it it was amazing. Love love and love. Sometimes the longest and hardest road we'll ever walk in this life is learning how to forgive ourselves. But God's grace is always there to meet us right where we are. Jan 12, Julia Wilson rated it it was amazing. I was absorbed into its pages from the start. The Memory Of You will make you cry. It will make you smile. And it will make you think - about your own loved ones and about a God who loves you more than you can imagine.
The Memory Of You is a study of grief. A grief so raw that every day hurts. There is no magic formula for dealing with grief but the pain and the hurt do need to be faced and shared with people you trust. The theme of guilt is linked to loss. It is both a survivors guilt and a 'what if? And didn't deserve to be. We receive grace and forgiveness that none of us deserve. It is not about anything we have done, it is all about what Jesus has done. At the cross He exchanged our sins for grace and forgiveness.
There are some difficult topics to read - PTSD, bipolar, early mortality, life support - and all these are presented with sensitivity. Catherine West writes with such depth of feeling that the reader 'feels' the pain of the sufferers in the novel and can empathise. There is also a glorious hope - we have a hope in Jesus.
Although life can be painful at times, our hope is of heaven. It is not a case of 'goodbye' but a 'see you later. The story is a family saga. Families can be messy. Families can also be the place where we feel most loved, " The unconditional love of our father God for each and every one of us is also shown. Another theme is that of faith and trust in God. Faith in God may be hard in the bad times as we work through our anger and hurt.
He longs to give us His love and peace that come from trusting Him in the good and the bad times. This may be seen as a metaphor for our lives. God is the gardener who will tend us and love us until the time is right for the harvest. Catherine West's stories always speak to my soul. Her characters take up residence in my heart. I 'feel' their pain and their joy. I 'see' them in my mind. As the novel ends, it feels like I am bidding good friends a fond farewell.
The Memory Of You is a fabulous read on so many levels. Pick up a copy today. I received this book for free.
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A favourable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Apr 08, Iola rated it it was amazing. And Natalie is disconnected. We see this early on—she's recently broken her engagement, she appears to have only one friend, and her relationship with her parents is distant, her relationship with her grandfather non-existent from having not seen him in fifteen years.
Natalie never knew what her mother was thinking, never knew how she felt. And couldn't imagine what it must be to live a life marked in half-finished sentences. And Her father would always find a flaw. Even her best was never good enough. There are quite a few about returning soldiers suffering from PTSD.
The Memory of You reunites two teenage almost-sweethearts fifteen years later. It's got the issues-driven emotional punch of other Catherine West titles I've read, but more of a focus on the developing relationship aka romance between Natalie and Tanner.
It's a story of unearthing secrets, acknowledging truth, and finding reconciliation for both Natalie and Tanner. It's a fascinating lesson in how wrong our assumptions can be—and how that can mess with our relationships, with God and with family and friends. Thanks to Thomas Nelson and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review. Jun 01, Yvette rated it it was amazing Shelves: Catherine West knows how to take a story that, if taken at a surface level is just another "poor little rich girl finds some gumption and romance," and goes so much deeper and makes it so much more.
She gets me invested in characters and their circumstances and makes my heart ache for their brokenness. Natalie Mitchell has decided to give herself a second chance. She no longer allows herself to take a passive or care-taking role based on past choices and the presumptions and expectations of over Catherine West knows how to take a story that, if taken at a surface level is just another "poor little rich girl finds some gumption and romance," and goes so much deeper and makes it so much more. She no longer allows herself to take a passive or care-taking role based on past choices and the presumptions and expectations of overbearing family members.
Tanner Collins is a bit like some Jane Austen heroes in that he comes off as being a bit of a jerk for quite a bit of the story. But he slowly becomes more sympathetic, and the scene where he sees his office after Natalie gets through with it? It had me both smiling and snickering. Now, I thought I had my bearings with this story - faith issues, trust issues, grief, depression, complicated families - then chapter 13 started and threw me for a loop.
A new character is introduced into a sub-plot that really left me wanting more.
I do love it when secondary characters pop up and say "you'd love me and my story, too! If you enjoy a well told tale that touches your heart, a bit of mystery and a sweet romance, or just really like stories of messy families set in California wine country, then this is an excellent choice. Highly recommended and I will anxiously wait for more from this author.
This review refers to a finished copy I voluntarily received from the publisher, in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own. Feb 27, Gail Hollingsworth rated it it was amazing. This is Catherine West's best one yet! I loved the family dynamics, the issues, the conflict, because these characters were real. They faced problems that anyone in real life might. Family secrets damaged relationships. Guilt and hurt plagued the main characters. The grandfather owned a vineyard and winery.
He had hoped his two sons would stay and help him run it but they went their own ways.
Natalie, his granddaughter lost her twin sister in an accident when they were only thirteen. It happened This is Catherine West's best one yet! It happened at the vineyard. She deals with that trauma daily and even at night with nightmares. Tanner works for the grandfather and has his own issues. His sister is on life support and he's taking care of her two children. Prognosis for her is grim and Tanner feels the guilt. This whole family was messed up but working together with God's amazing grace, they begin slowly to try and work out all their issues.
It was an enjoyable read in that I felt like I was right in the middle of their lives. One character had an issue with bipolar, which I've experienced in my own family. Natalie suffered with PTSD and had been seeking professional help for years off and on. The story was so engaging that it was hard for me to put it down and I read it very quickly. I received this book for free and was not required to write a review, positive of otherwise. Mar 29, Alyssa rated it really liked it. I have to say I was quite impressed with this novel.
I was on the fence at first, but I thought why not? The Memory of You is the story of Natalie who lost her twin sister thirteen years ago and has to return to her family owned winery in Sonoma, California after her grandfather suffers a heart attack.
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Except after she returns her father wants her to shut down the struggling winery. And then there's Tanner, who is trying to salvage the business and help Natalie come back to life. As I said earlie I have to say I was quite impressed with this novel. As I said earlier I was impressed. This story actually reminded me a lot of a Hallmark movie I saw a few years ago, but I felt this story was a little more complicated. There is also something here that was so well done and usually hard to find in today's literature They were just as real as the main characters.
All in all I recommend this novel to Contemporary readers. Feb 22, Hristina rated it really liked it Shelves: I am not a fan of Christian fiction, but the summary intrigued me. This book has a very touching story - I have to admit it was my favorite part. I was looking forward to seeing how the author would represent Natalie's emotion by the summary I expected lots of it, and complexity as well. I was happy to witness the beautiful manner it was written. I loved this read, I loved the poignant fashion in which Mrs. West touched on difficult subjects. Recommended for fans of Christian fiction, and every I am not a fan of Christian fiction, but the summary intrigued me.
Recommended for fans of Christian fiction, and everyone who's interested in this book. Feb 26, Victoria Bylin rated it really liked it Shelves: This stories addresses trauma, mental illness, and unforgiveness against a backdrop of faith and personal courage. It's a solid read that features a struggling heroine, a flawed hero, and the beautiful California wine country.
Recommended for readers who enjoy realistic contemporary romance and women's fiction. Feb 26, Rebecca rated it really liked it. But everything had changed. Having learned of Hal Mitchell's recent heart attack, Natalie's father pressures her as the majority share holder in the Maolios winery, to use her bargaining power as a means to close down the fle "Nothing was different.
Having learned of Hal Mitchell's recent heart attack, Natalie's father pressures her as the majority share holder in the Maolios winery, to use her bargaining power as a means to close down the fledgling family business, once and for all. Arriving back on the property where she was once the happiest, before she became the saddest; Natalie is not even sure that she is capable of pushing beyond the suffocating memories that surround her there; for part of her died on that fateful evening, when an horrific accident took the life of a most beloved sister.
Vintner Tanner Collins is not at all pleased to see the New York granddaughter anywhere near Maolios, in fact he is incensed that she would even consider shutting down the renowned winery before listening to some of his ideas for revitalization. There was a day when Tanner considered Natalie Mitchell to be his best friend, but the elegant, hollow-eyed woman standing before him now is barely a shadow of his childhood acquaintance. What in the world has happened to Natalie? As Natalie and Tanner slowly warm through their initial impressions, it becomes apparent that they have much more in common than either of them could ever have imagined.
Guilt is a painful adversary for which grace and forgiveness are the only possible antidotes. Catherine West has not only written a lovely romance, but she has managed to weave gutsy, realistic scenarios into every aspect of this story, allowing her readers to fight valiantly alongside her characters, who are desperate for freedom from the bondage of their pasts. I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of this book from the author; the opinions that I have stated are entirely my own.
Mar 09, Dana Michael rated it it was amazing. Catherine West did a phenomenal job in her latest novel, The Memory of You.
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This book is set in the wine country in California and involves complex characters who need healing, forgiveness, and redemption. They need a second chance. The characters are well developed and I was gripped into the story from the first page. I absolutely loved the heroine, Natalie. And felt her pain, as she was dealing with PTSD from an accident as a young girl. The hero, Tanner was a hard working uncle who had his ow Catherine West did a phenomenal job in her latest novel, The Memory of You. The hero, Tanner was a hard working uncle who had his own family issues. They were trying to save the winery, but end up saving themselves.
There is a bit of a secondary romance with an older couple that I absolutely loved. They too needed a second chance at love and life. This book is a romantic book, but it's not only about the romance. There are complex issues. It's about real life. It's about finding forgiveness through Christ that only He can give.
It's about loving others and loving themselves. It's about second chances. I highly recommend this book as I do all of Mrs. She is an incredibly talented author. Jul 26, Deborah Raney rated it it was amazing. Another great novel by Catherine West! I really enjoyed this one, especially the setting.
West has a way of making her settings come to life. I thought I had this one figured out, but she surprised me in a good way and didn't tie things up too neatly to be believable. Feb 22, Martha rated it it was amazing.