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| The Things We Knew By Catherine West |
The Things We Knew By Catherine West
Thomas Nelson, July 2016
Reviewed By Bonnie Roof
~5 stars! ~
"A BEAUTIFUL, HEART-WARMING FAMILY STORY OF HOPE, FORGIVENESS, LOVE, AND REDEMPTION!!"
GIVEAWAY! Cathy is generously offering a paperback copy to one blessed commenter! (US and Canada residents only.) For contact purposes be sure to leave your email address written (at) and (dot) to protect yourself from spammers.
After her mother passed away and her four older siblings left home and never returned, Lynette Carlisle was left with the responsibilities of caring for a father with failing health and financial burdens, including the family home, Wyldewood, on Nantucket Island - now in disrepair. Her recurring nightmares hint at memory lapses and possible clues in the death of her mother.
When Nicholas Cooper, Lynette's neighbor and adolescent crush returns home after a 5 year absence, to work for his brusque banker father, Anthony Cooper - he brings with him secrets from the past that could destroy his relationship with Lynette and further the dysfunction in both families. When Anthony offers to buy Wyldewood, a beloved connection for Lynette to her mother - it causes friction amongst Lynette and her siblings as they return to Wyldewood bringing their own secrets, drama, and problems.
Catherine West's 'The Things We Knew' includes some difficult subjects: drug addiction, infidelity, physical abuse, dementia - which are encased in a beautiful story filled with mystery, romance, humor, suspense, drama, warmness, and faith. The story of two dysfunctional families struggling to put their lives back together through healing their relationships and faith - it's also a compelling story of hope, forgiveness, and triumph with realistic, heart-warming, relatable characters and situations that kept me intrigued and "glued to it's pages" from beginning to end. I cared for, and sympathized with, the characters - who remained in my heart after I finished reading their story.
GIVEAWAY! Cathy is generously offering a paperback copy to one blessed commenter! (US and Canada residents only.) For contact purposes be sure to leave your email address written (at) and (dot) to protect yourself from spammers.
I'd love a copy of this book! Meeting Cathy this past week was really nice! And I'd love to read her book. Nancycooks4u(at)gmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteIt was a special treat and honor to meet and spend time with her, wasn't it - Nancy!! A gifted author and beautiful lady as is 'The Things We Knew'!! Thanks for your sweet comments!!
DeleteBeautiful review, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Caryl - I appreciate your support of OWG and Christian Fiction!! 'The Things We Knew' is a must-read!!
DeleteThank you for a chance to win!
ReplyDeleteWrldtraveler101@gmail.com
Hi, Claudia - thank you for stopping by OWG, good luck in the drawing for this wonderful book!! Please stop by again soon - we give away beautiful books by gifted authors frequently and they stop by to give their testimonies also.
DeleteThank you for the wonderful review, my dear cohort! This sounds like a very moving, emotional read, BONNIE!
ReplyDeleteThank you for your sweet comments, Diana!! SO moving and emotional 'The Things We Knew' is - involving redemption, forgiveness, faith, hope, and a valuable lesson, my fave kind of story!!
DeleteI have wanted this book ever since I first saw the reviews of it. It sure sounds like a great book. I sure hope to win! 🙏🙏
ReplyDeletegrandmama_brenda(at)yahoo(dot)com
You won't be disappointed with 'The Things We Knew', Brenda - it's a beautiful story that has something for every reader!! Thanks for your wonderful comments!! Good luck!!
DeleteWonderful review Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteBlessings,Tina
Thank you, Tina!! Hope you have the opportunity to enjoy 'The Things We Knew' very soon - such a beautiful story!!
DeleteThis book is at the top of my wish list.....have heard so much about it! Thanks for your review and giveaway, Bonnie. Blessings~~~
ReplyDeletejacsmi75 at gmail dot com
So glad 'The Things We Knew' is at the top of your list, Jackie - all the wonderful comments you've read about it are so true!! Good luck in the drawing and thanks for your beautiful comments. Blessings back to you!!
DeleteI enjoy books that deal with family dynamics. The Things We Knew sounds like a great book. I've been reading lots of positive reviews on blogs. Thanks for your review and the chance to win this book.
ReplyDeletepmkellogg56[at]gmail[dot]com
Hi, Pam!! I so agree with you - a story with family dynamics and dysfunction that is healed through redemption, faith, and forgiveness is my favorite. There is lots of all this in 'The Things We Knew' - I feel you will love it!! So grateful for your wonderful comments!!
DeleteWonderful review, Bonnie. This book sounds like a keeper and one that you would want to pass on. Thanks so much for the giveaway - I would love to win :)
ReplyDeletebettimace(at)gmail(dot)com
'The Things We Knew' is definitely a "keeper", Betti!! It's the first of Catherine's books I've read and has enticed me to read the others she's written. Please enjoy it soon - thanks for your comments and good luck in the drawing.
DeleteGreat review. Book sounds like a great read. Can't wait to read.
ReplyDeletediannekc8(at)gmail(dot)com
Thank you, Dianne!! Catherine West is a gifted author who writes beautifully touching stories on life issues faced by so many - the characters are realistic and will steal your heart. Enjoy 'The Things We Knew' and please stop by to chat with us again soon!!
DeleteThis book looks so good. Thanks for a chance to win. Thereadmaster(at)me(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments, Virginia!! 'The Things We Knew' is a beautiful story - enjoy!! Please stop by the blog again very soon!!
DeleteWhen this book was only available as a pre-order, I knew I wanted to read it and requested that our local library purchase it. Even with that confidence, I am still blown away by all of the fantastic reviews. Thanks for another amazing review, Bonnie and congrats to Catherine West. tlhcoupon(at)hotmail(dot)com
ReplyDeleteThanks for your wonderful comments and for requesting your library purchase 'The Things We Knew', Terrill!! It's a beautiful story with a lesson that could help many people, I feel. It's certainly enticed me to read Catherine's other novels - I so love "seeing" the healing of characters in the novels I read. Such a help in understanding the problems of others and reaching out to them!!
DeleteOoh, what an enticing review, Bonnie!! I want to know about those secrets!! ;) And it sounds like it has some wonderful bibliotherapy topics too. Thanks so much for telling us about The Things We Knew, Bonnie!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Noela!! Lots of secrets in this one - and some bibliotherapy topics too!! I think you will enjoy "watching" the dysfunction and healing of the Carlisle family and hope you have the opportunity to do so very soon - it's a powerful, engaging story!!
DeleteAlways up for a contest! katherineDOTlDOTgoodATgmailDOTcom
ReplyDeleteHi, Katherine!! I think you will enjoy 'The Things We Knew' - should you be our winner. Thanks for commenting, please stop by the blog again soon - we give away wonderful books by gifted authors very frequently!!
ReplyDeleteGreat review, Bonnie. I'm so glad I found your site! :-)
ReplyDeleteThank you, JB!! So glad you stopped by and hope you will visit again soon, we have many gifted authors who give their testimonies on the Overcoming With God blog and share their beautiful books with us.
DeleteWe'd love for you to have the paperback copy of Catherine West's beautiful 'The Things We Knew' if your name is drawn as the winner. Please leave an email address where you can be contacted - should that be the case.
I would like to win. Congrats on the review.
ReplyDeleteHi, Janet - thanks for your comments!! I hope you have the opportunity to enjoy 'The Things We Knew' very soon - it's an amazing, beautiful story!!
DeletePlease leave your email address so we can contact you, should you be the drawing winner of the paperback copy - thank you!!
Thanks for this great review. I am hoping to read 'The Things We Knew' very soon.
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
Thanks for this great review. I am hoping to read 'The Things We Knew' very soon.
ReplyDeleteConnie
cps1950(at)gmail(dot)com
So glad you've been enticed to read 'The Things We Knew', Connie!! Enjoy - I hope you love it!! Thanks for your comments and good luck in our drawing!!
DeleteLovely review, Bonnie. You certainly rang my bell. "The Things We Knew" must go on my TBR list! :) Thank you :) Be blessed!
ReplyDeleteI always enjoy seeing your smiling face, Caryl - it was such a pleasure to meet you last week!! SO glad I "rang your bell" and you've placed 'The Things We Knew' on your TBR list, LOL!! I know you will enjoy it. Thanks for your sweet comments, blessings to you too, dear lady!!
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