The Memory of You by Catherine West is an engrossing novel of faith, forgiveness, healing and love.

Natalie Mitchell has spent very little time at Maoilios, her family's Sonoma vineyard, since the tragic death of her sister, Nicole, thirteen years earlier. At her father's urging, she agrees to return to Maoilios in order to check on her Grandpa Hal, who recently suffered a heart attack. She is also expected to begin the process of closing the vineyard since profits have fallen in the years since her grandmother's death. Natalie is in no hurry to do her father's bidding, but her former crush and current vintner Tanner Collins is skeptical of her reassurances she is looking for ways to make the vineyard profitable again. However, the animosity between them begins to fade once Tanner realizes how emotionally fragile Natalie is as she tries to reconcile her grief and guilt over the accident that claimed Nicole's life. Will Natalie find the peace she desperately needs? Will she find the strength to go against her father's wishes and save the vineyard? Can Natalie help Tanner heal the rift within his own family?

Natalie is suffering from depression, nightmares and PTSD but she is reluctant to let her parents knows how fragile she is. She is very reluctant to return to Maoilios, but her love for Grandpa Hal quickly overrides her reservations. Natalie also thinks it might be time to face her past in order to lay her ghosts to rest. She is uncertain whether or not she will be able to resist her father's entreaties to close the business but she is hopeful her examination of the financial records will bolster her plans to keep the vineyard open.

Tanner is immediately suspicious of Natalie's intentions for vineyard and he is rather prickly initially. Unbeknownst to Natalie, his family is going through a very difficult time and he is struggling to make peace with a decision that will forever alter his family. Tanner is extremely stressed about dealing with his long estranged family members and a recent crisis in faith leaves him feeling unmoored. It is easy for him to lash out at Natalie amid his growing concerns about the future of the vineyard. However his compassion and tangled feelings for her overcome his hostility and Tanner is finally begins to work with Natalie as she tries to come up with a viable plan to save Maoilios.

The relationship between Tanner and Natalie grows naturally from their renewed friendship. Tanner is an unexpected source of comfort for Natalie as she finally faces the ghosts of her past. Once Tanner is willing to open up about his family's troubles, Natalie offers useful advice that helps him sort through his confusing emotions. Although neither of them are expecting to fall in love, they are both receptive to the growing feelings between them. However, both Tanner and Natalie must fully deal with their issues before they can plan a future together.

With a gentle undercurrent of faith, The Memory of You is a wonderful journey of healing, redemption and love. The cast of characters is multi-dimensional and although each of them is dealing with serious issues, Catherine West deftly handles the difficult subject matter with a great deal of sensitivity. An absolutely delightful novel that fans of contemporary Christian romances are sure to enjoy. ( )

You know when you open a novel by Catherine West you will immediately be swept into a story that will engage your senses and your heart. Her novel, The Memory of You, is no exception. This relationship drama had me from the opening lines and kept me engaged until the final page was turned. Be prepared to laugh and cry and to love this book.

Nicole Mitchell survived a tragic accident at the age of thirteen. Years later the trauma remains. The daughter of a high-powered businessman and a distracted mother, Nicole seeks first to appease and please when she is ordered to return to her grandfather’s winery to shut it down. But as she encounters one hurtful memory after another, Nicole also comes face to face with truth and healing. Tanner Collins has regrets and guilt of his own. As he and Nicole navigate their renewed relationship, the two start to hope for a future with dreams fulfilled instead of nightmares endured.

The Memory of You is a complex novel. There are a number of plot threads that taken singly would make a good novel, but when combined provide the reader with a beautifully composed tapestry filled with real-life struggles and emotions. The novel is Nicole and Tanner’s story first and foremost, but the supporting characters add a depth that creates a true picture of human interaction. Great writing keeps the narrative flowing — this one is a true pleasure to read. The setting is a vineyard, and West proves her meticulous research through the detailed descriptions of the daily operations. I found those points fascinating and an added bonus to the story.

There are a number of themes explored in The Memory of You. Secrets are shown to kill — dreams, hopes, relationships and peace. But God is the healer that can restore all that secrets seek to kill. Nicole and Tanner struggle with a God that they feel is silent or not present in the midst of their deepest hurts, a sentiment that resonated with me. Nicole asks “Does God really care about us, Tanner? Does He love us more than we can ever comprehend?” To which Tanner answers “Yes. I believe that. I don’t always act like it or understand it , but I can’t dispute it.” I appreciated the doubts expressed and the truth revealed.

The Memory of You is a book you won’t want to put down, and will be sad to finish. Take your time with this one; you are going to love it.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Just Commonly and the author for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.) ( )

The authors writing reminds me of a classical music piece. The words flow at a nice pace and makes you feel good as you get attached to the characters. It feels like a well done crescendo , gradually building itself into a masterpiece filled with intrigue, memories tears and love.

Natalie is a very interesting character and I instantly liked her. She has come to the family's winery to hopefully save it. Her grandfather has fallen ill and Natalie wants to make sure he is ok. As she sees the winery , memories rush back to her. There was a great loss in the family years ago and Natalie is still haunted by it. Can she face her nightmares and find peace and pick up the pieces of her shattered life? She has her hands full trying to keep on top of all the daily chores of running the winery. Her grandfather is thankful to see Natalie and hopefully with her help, the family business can be profitable again.

Tanner has been running the winery and when he discovers that Natalie is there, he is not sure if he should be happy to see her or start looking for another job. I loved how the author described how wine is made and how detailed she was . I could smell the wine as it was being processed and envisioned the delicate taste as the wine poured slowly into a glass. It is not easy running the place, but Tanner is hopeful that Natalie has an open mind. Tanner has some personal issues he needs to face and it is getting harder for him to ignore it.

When Natalie has a problem while driving one evening, she turns to Tanner to help her. It is hard for Natalie to explain why she had to pull over on the road. When she tells Tanner that she has PTSD, I felt his heart soften a bit. She is not the same person he use to know and wants to help her get past her bad memories. Is Natalie ready to face the past ?

I loved the relationship between Natalie and her grandfather. She came to take care of him, but he wants to help her with her past. His sincere compassion for her is heartwarming and I have to say I had tears in my eyes. The love he has for his granddaughter is beautiful and makes me miss my own grandfather. Natalie and Tanner are both struggling with their faith. They each must find a way back to God, learn to forgive and let go of the past. Will they be able to do it? Will Natalie close the family business? As I turned each page, I could feel the turmoil and pain the characters were going through. This book is one I will never forget. It showed me how to let go of my past, trust again, forgive myself and soak in His presence .

'And forgiveness fell like sweet rain upon the thirsty ground of her soul."

I received a copy of this book from the author and The Fiction Guild. The review is my own opinion. ( )