Monday, August 27, 2018

Things I Never Told You

GIVEAWAY
VOGT, BETH K.
THINGS I NEVER TOLD YOU

It's been ten years since Payton Thatcher's twin sister died in an accident, forcing the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. Now a lone twin, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine -- as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm's length.

But with the announcement of her middle sister Jillian's engagement, Payton's party planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside Johanna, her opinionated oldest sister, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them...until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian's plans for the future.

As old wounds reopen and the family faces the possibility of yet another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven apart for good.

My Review:

Lif'e's challenges are not supposed to paralyze you; they're supposed to help you discover who you are. (p 182)

But what happens if you're stuck in paralyzed mode and you don't know it? That's Payton, outwardly coping after the accidental death of her twin sister but she really isn't living. It's like she got stuck in time. And the things she's never told anyone are what's holding her back What an intensely moving story of loss and brokenness as a trio of sisters struggle to navigate their way towards a better future.

I hesitated a bit before picking this book out of my TBR pile. Mainly, I think, because it isn't my usual genre -- I mean, it's a well known fact that my romance loving heart loves, well, romance and this is a Women's Fiction selection. But I have loved Beth Vogt's contemporary romance novels so I threw caution to the wind and jumped genres and I am over-the-moon ecstatic over venturing out of my comfort zone! Because once I started reading Things I Never Told You I was hooked. This became the kind of 'savor and ponder' experience that touched me deeply...and more importantly, impacted my life in a profound way.

Three points of view -- Payton in first person, her sister Jillian and 'friend' Zach in third. (I put quotation marks around friend because he isn't in the beginning. Payton is quite hostile towards him.) Anyway, that unusual mash up of first person/ third person point of view actually works really well. Definitely made me feel like this is Payton's book even though Jillian has a compelling story to tell and gets her fair share of page time.

Zach is probably the most powerful secondary character I'v ever met in the pages of a book -- and the only Christian in Payton's sphere. The author uses him to bear a compelling witness to Payton when she questions him about his faith.

"Why do you believe in God, Zach?"

"... I realized that I needed God -- "

"Like a crutch --"

"No. Like the One who knows me best because He created me. The One who offers me more grace than I offer others...more grace than I offer myself. The One who forgave me of the things I still struggle to forgive myself for. That's why I believe in God, Payton." (p 385-6)

And, really, what more can I say, except that these characters and their stories will stay with you long after you close the book and file it away on your keeper shelf.

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Things I Never Told You, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add your email to a comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it's easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Sunday September 2 2018. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!

52 comments:

  1. I've been wanting to read this one! KAV, Thank you for the great review and opportunity to win a copy.
    psalm103and138atgmaildotcom

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  2. I love Beth's books. Thank you for the review, Kav!
    campbellamyd at gmail dot com

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    1. I'm glad I ventured out of my comfort zone to read this one. Good luck, Amy!

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    1. Wouldn't it make a great book club selection? So much to talk about but you can't cover it in a review because it would mean posting spoilers.

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  4. Totally would love to read this!
    mindyhoungATmsnDOTcom

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  5. Would love to read this one, for sure!!! mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  6. Interesting - with story building around someone who sounds to me like they were just kinda "holding it together". I, too, typically go for the romance story line. Thanks!

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    1. This one is worth jumping off the romance reading bandwagon for. Plus there is some romance too. Good luck, CC.

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  7. love her books. cheetahthecat1986ATgmailDOTcom

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  8. Ive had this on my want to read this. Thank you for the chance.
    leliamae54(at)aol(dot)com

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  9. I like that this story has multiple POVs. turtle6422(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. It's fun to get inside the heads of multiple people, isn't it? Hmmm...that doesn't sound right, but you know what I mean. Good luck, Jana Leah!

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  10. I don't generally read books classified as Women's fiction either. But the few times I DID venture out, I was so glad I took that chance!

    Things I Never Told you was one of them...it surprised me on so many levels. I believe Vogt has more on the horizon, so keep your eyes & ears out, Kav!

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    1. Yes, surprising because I didn't know where the story would take me...or if I even wanted to go there at first! lol The thing with romance is you know you're headed for a HEA not matter how twisty and angsty the road there is but with this one...I had absolutely no clue what was going to happen.

      I'm wondering is she's going to continue with the Thatcher sisters? I'd love to see more of Payton but I fear the second MC would be Johanna and I'm so not ready for that though I've been psychoanalyzing her and I'm anxious to see if I'm right. But, still, I am not a fan. lol

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    2. As far as I know, she has more Thatcher sisters coming. That's what I meant when I said there's more on the horizon :-) Sorry if I didn't make that clear enough.

      Not sure when or who, but if I find out more, I'll let you know. I influenced for this book so I'll be your "eye on the books" reporter...lol!

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    3. Okay, very funny or scary thing (not sure which), I just saw on the group page the working title for book two "Memories We Forget". No idea release day or which Thatcher sister...but at least you have this information :-)

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    4. I love having my very own book reporter! Remind me to give you a raise. lol

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  11. This is on my goodreads to read shelf, I would love to read it this fall.
    sonflower277 at gmail dot com

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  12. I love Beth's books. Thanks for the review. I'm going to add it to my tbr list.

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  13. This book sounds so good! I love Women Fiction, so I believe I would love this book!

    samanthabis23 at gmail dot com

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    1. I believe you would too, Samantha! Good luck.

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  14. Eekk!! I love this author! I haven’t read this book yet.

    rosebudsinjune at gmail dot com

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    1. Hope you get to read it soon, Deborah. Good luck!

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  15. Like you, I love a moving romance, but I am finding more and more that I like women's fiction and gravitate towards the genre. Granted, when even just a subtle hint of romance is combined with the within a women's fiction novel, I am over the moon! tlhcoupon(at)Hotmail(dot)com

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    1. There is a hint of romance in one storyline and love in action in another so you'll be oever the moon with this one, Terrill. Good luck.

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  16. This has been on TBR list since it came out! Even knowing that it will be an emotional roller coaster, I can't wait to read it! Lol

    mylittlebirdiebooks (at) gmail (dot) com

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    1. Hope you can take it off your list and move it onto your TBR pile soon, Karen. Good luck!

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  17. I have been curious about this book. Another lovely review!

    sweetdarknectar at gmail dot com

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  18. Love to win this. Thanks. teshawATsbcglobalDOTnet

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  19. Sounds like a powerful story!

    pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. You're right about that! Good luck, Patty.

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  20. Love these keeper books! I share most of my books but I do like these keepers!
    pbclark(at)netins(dot)net

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    1. Keepers to hug and to hold and sniff and to read all over again. lol Good luck, rubynreba.

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  21. Ooh, I’ve been wanting to read this one!

    maddycroneATgmailDOTcom

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  22. Women's fiction is my favorite genre. So count me in!

    melodybissonnette AT gmail DOT com

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  23. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ladysnowangelphotos(at)gmail(dot)com

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  24. Great review! I normally don't venture in the Women's Fiction genre either, but this sounds like a compelling read. Thanks for the giveaway!

    chanelmonroe5(at)gmail(dot)com

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