Things Left Unsaid

GIVEAWAY

WALSH, COURTNEY
THINGS LEFT UNSAID

An emotional novel of family, friendship and forgiveness from Courtney Walsh, the New York Times bestselling author of Hometown Girl.

Lyndie St. James is thrilled that her best friend, Elle, is getting married but is unprepared for the emotional storm of the wedding week and returning her childhood summer home of Sweethaven. The idyllic cottage community harbors some of her best -- and worst -- memories. It's not only the tragic death of her childhood friend Cassie that has haunted her for the last ten years, it's the other secrets she's buried that have kept her from moving on.

But Lyndie isn't the only one with secrets.

Cassie's mother, father, and brother, still struggling with loss, have been drifting further and further apart. And Elle herself, the last to see Cassie alive, carries an impossible burden of guilt. Now reunited, each of them has a choice: to reveal the truths of that night or continue to live in its shadow. That means embarking on a personal journey of the heart -- to escape the darkness and all its regrets  and to finally come to terms with the past, and, especially with each other.

My Review:

"Some things have to be said out loud. 

That's how they lose their power."

Whoa -- kinda speechless here. This story wasn't at all what I expected it to be...it was all that and so much more! Walsh digs deep into the fractured lives of her characters and delivers an emotionally breathtaking read. This is a story about the many facets of grief. About the kind of brokenness only grace can heal. About stilted friendships and past mistakes and how it all comes crashing down one week when everyone gathers for the wedding of the season.

Honestly, I was mesmerized from the very first page. The author tells the story from multiple perspectives which let me into each character's heart and mind. I love an emotional read -- the kind that ties you up in knots and makes chocolate and tissues a necessity and Walsh definitely delivers that! I was on edge the whole read, trying to figure out how a past tragedy altered the lives of each character. And the slow reveal of backstories was excruciating!

Consider this your rabid-compulsive-read warning. You won't be able to put this book down...unless it's to scribble out profound quotes that you end up sticking up all over your house so they can bring you the same kind of transformation they brought Walsh's characters. In fact, I did so in such a frenzy that I neglected to record page numbers for the quotes included here. My apologies!

"You can keep struggling and trying to do this your own way, or you can actually lay it down and let God do whatever He wants with it."

Profound and powerful. Steeped in faith. Brimming with grace. Boldly proclaiming the magnificence of a God who forgives and forgets. An unforgettable story that might just change your life in the same way it changed the lives of the characters in this book...if you dare let it.

"You give away the very thing you need. If you need hope, find a way to give others hope. If you need a friend, find a way to be a friend. If you need forgiveness, give forgiveness."

GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:

If you would like a chance to win a copy of Things Left Unsaid, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoreadATyahooDOTca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . 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 Saturday January 26 2019. Offer open to International Readers. Good luck!