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alleen zo verliezen ze hun macht
Als haar vriendin Elle gaat trouwen, is Lyndie St. James blij voor haar. Maar de bruiloft... daar ziet ze al een berg tegen op. Ze wil helemaal niet terugkeren naar Sweethaven: de plek waar Lyndie de mooiste tijd van haar leven had, die plotseling ophield na de tragische dood van haar vriendin Cassie. Sindsdien loopt ze rond met een donker geheim, dat ze zo diep mogelijk probeert weg te stoppen.
Maar Lyndie is niet de enige die iets verborgen houdt. Cassies ouders en broer worstelen nog elke dag met het verlies van hun dochter en zus. En Elle, de laatste persoon die Cassie in leven zag, torst een ondraaglijke last met zich mee.
Nu ze allemaal weer bij elkaar zijn, staat ieder van hen voor de keuze: de waarheid vertellen en steun bij elkaar vinden, of voor altijd verder leven in de schaduw van Cassies dood.
Courtney Walsh is acteur, theaterregisseur en schrijver. Ze woon in Illinois in de Verenigde Staten, waar ze samen met haar echtgenoot een jeugdtheater runt.
alleen zo verliezen ze hun macht
Als haar vriendin Elle gaat trouwen, is Lyndie St. James blij voor haar. Maar de bruiloft... daar ziet ze al een berg tegen op. Ze wil helemaal niet terugkeren naar Sweethaven: de plek waar Lyndie de mooiste tijd van haar leven had, die plotseling ophield na de tragische dood van haar vriendin Cassie. Sindsdien loopt ze rond met een donker geheim, dat ze zo diep mogelijk probeert weg te stoppen.
Maar Lyndie is niet de enige die iets verborgen houdt. Cassies ouders en broer worstelen nog elke dag met het verlies van hun dochter en zus. En Elle, de laatste persoon die Cassie in leven zag, torst een ondraaglijke last met zich mee.
Nu ze allemaal weer bij elkaar zijn, staat ieder van hen voor de keuze: de waarheid vertellen en steun bij elkaar vinden, of voor altijd verder leven in de schaduw van Cassies dood.
Courtney Walsh is acteur, theaterregisseur en schrijver. Ze woon in Illinois in de Verenigde Staten, waar ze samen met haar echtgenoot een jeugdtheater runt.
375 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2018
866 people are currently reading
4878 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Walsh
37 books5,595 followersCourtney Walsh is a novelist, theatre director, and playwright. She writes low spice romance and women's fiction while juggling the performing arts studio and youth theatre she owns and runs with her husband. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, hit the New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller lists. She is also a Carol award winner and Christy award finalist.
A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.
Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.
A creative at heart, Courtney has also written two craft books and several full-length musicals. She lives in Illinois with her husband and three children and a sometimes naughty Bernedoodle named Luna.
Visit her online at www.courtneywalshwrites.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 302 reviews
February 25, 2021
This one was quite simply a miss for me. There was a lot of drinking and a lot of flashbacks to even more drinking. There weren’t a lot of people in the story who actually had anything stable in their lives, and for most of the book the pastor’s wife (pastor and his wife being one of the only stable relationships in the character pool) comes across as super judgy and opinionated. I normally love stories of people overcoming their pasts, but in this one the balance felt off because the past was still stuck to the characters like a ball and chain around their ankles, and while the ending was good an enjoyable, I’d have liked more of that hope and positivity to enjoy; it just felt brief after the whole wading-through-old-junk phase of the first 90%.
Also I had a bit of suspension of belief that a psychologist would prop up a marriage for ten years and that it would crumble so suddenly after not being nurtured for that long; the time frame needed to be there for the story to work, but the execution was a stretch for me.
I’ll be looking forward to the next Courtney Walsh book! The miss of this one is just because my drama-tolerance is low. If you read a lot of YA, this one may be enjoyable to you.
Content:
drinking
getting drunk
references to having sex and a flashback fade to black scene
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required. I actually “read” the final-version audiobook instead.
Also I had a bit of suspension of belief that a psychologist would prop up a marriage for ten years and that it would crumble so suddenly after not being nurtured for that long; the time frame needed to be there for the story to work, but the execution was a stretch for me.
I’ll be looking forward to the next Courtney Walsh book! The miss of this one is just because my drama-tolerance is low. If you read a lot of YA, this one may be enjoyable to you.
Content:
drinking
getting drunk
references to having sex and a flashback fade to black scene
Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free reading copy. A favorable review was not required. I actually “read” the final-version audiobook instead.
November 19, 2018
Wow. Just wow. This is such a powerfully written story that I don't even know where to begin describing it to you, friends! A story of working through hard things and coming out on the other side having more than survived. From first page until the last, I was hooked into the lives of each of the characters. Not one of them has made easy or always right choices. And they struggle. But oh, watching as they push through anyway... As per my usual, it's the characters who make the story for me! :)
Harsh emotions are never fun to deal with and all the characters in this one have lots of those to work through. Guilt and forgiveness are hard. And forgiving oneself? Even more so! Why are we always the hardest on ourselves? That's what truly struck me about these characters. They are real and genuine. The reader has the privilege of walking through some dark places with them and as I did that, so many times I just wanted to reach into the pages and hand out bear hugs! My emotions were caught from the first chapter and I couldn't stop until I knew how things would get fixed. Yet even "fixed" doesn't mean everything is all hunky dory. Unfortunately, that's not real life. But that's the beauty that's here! It's the real that I connected to and it's why I stayed glued to every chapter.
Still, it's not just hard things happening, the story is also filled with lots of hope. It infuses every paragraph. I think that's one of my favorite things about Ms. Walsh's skill with the pen. She just has a way of sinking deep within her characters and her storyline and instilling lots of hope and grace within the words. It permeates everything and it's exactly why the story truly works. Because without those bits of hope and grace, how does any one of us keep going? That's a marvelous aspect to this crazy life we all get to be a part of! :)
Ms. Walsh is an author you need to read, my friends. And this story? Is the perfect place to begin! Read it now! And then go back and read all her backlist if you haven't yet. Then come back here and thank me. Don't worry. I'll wait. It'll be worth it. ;D
**I received a copy from the author via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
Harsh emotions are never fun to deal with and all the characters in this one have lots of those to work through. Guilt and forgiveness are hard. And forgiving oneself? Even more so! Why are we always the hardest on ourselves? That's what truly struck me about these characters. They are real and genuine. The reader has the privilege of walking through some dark places with them and as I did that, so many times I just wanted to reach into the pages and hand out bear hugs! My emotions were caught from the first chapter and I couldn't stop until I knew how things would get fixed. Yet even "fixed" doesn't mean everything is all hunky dory. Unfortunately, that's not real life. But that's the beauty that's here! It's the real that I connected to and it's why I stayed glued to every chapter.
Still, it's not just hard things happening, the story is also filled with lots of hope. It infuses every paragraph. I think that's one of my favorite things about Ms. Walsh's skill with the pen. She just has a way of sinking deep within her characters and her storyline and instilling lots of hope and grace within the words. It permeates everything and it's exactly why the story truly works. Because without those bits of hope and grace, how does any one of us keep going? That's a marvelous aspect to this crazy life we all get to be a part of! :)
Ms. Walsh is an author you need to read, my friends. And this story? Is the perfect place to begin! Read it now! And then go back and read all her backlist if you haven't yet. Then come back here and thank me. Don't worry. I'll wait. It'll be worth it. ;D
**I received a copy from the author via Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own.
October 9, 2018
'She was sitting in the deepest sorrow of her life and she was sinking.'
Things Left Unsaid is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. This one will definitely be in my top ten books of 2018. Courtney Walsh has crafted a novel that pulls at your heart in a way that you won't even begin to imagine.
Lyndie St. James is invited to be her once best friend Elle's maid of honor but she must travel back to Sweethaven to do so, a place she never wants to see again, a place that is the site of incredible hurt for her. She and Elle and Cassie were best friends there each summer, but Cassie died 10 years ago and her parents are planning a celebration of life evening during the wedding week. Lyndie so doesn't want to be there and dredge up all the pain of her last few days there ten years earlier. She is absolutely unprepared for this visit.
Cassie's parents and brother, Tucker, have all been keeping secrets, the parents drifting apart for years, not sure if they can even survive as a couple. Tucker turned to alcohol and moved as far away as he could get. He doesn't want to come back, either, but he is following the advice of his pastor to get the hurt out in the open and try to heal.
The bride, Elle, also struggles with so many secrets, afraid that if she speaks them out, she will forever be unloved and unwanted.
Each of these characters are hiding their secrets, hoping they can some day be free, but so afraid to speak them out and seek forgiveness. But secrets destroy, secrets cripple and secrets tend to be buried by those who bear them.
Courtney Walsh has written a very powerful novel. My own heart hurt for these people. I wept through passages as I saw how God moved in the lives of His children. It is not His desire to see His children carry such heavy loads. He wants to relieve us of the pain we carry, but, and it's a big but, will we allow Him to take that load off our backs? These characters will have to reach that point and decide if they truly can have the courage to shed the secrets and allow God to minister to their hearts.
I was so blown away by the incredible amount of emotion in this book! Walsh is at her finest here. Highly recommended.
*I was given a preview copy of this novel by Net Galley. My opinions here are entirely my own.
Things Left Unsaid is one of the most powerful books I have ever read. This one will definitely be in my top ten books of 2018. Courtney Walsh has crafted a novel that pulls at your heart in a way that you won't even begin to imagine.
Lyndie St. James is invited to be her once best friend Elle's maid of honor but she must travel back to Sweethaven to do so, a place she never wants to see again, a place that is the site of incredible hurt for her. She and Elle and Cassie were best friends there each summer, but Cassie died 10 years ago and her parents are planning a celebration of life evening during the wedding week. Lyndie so doesn't want to be there and dredge up all the pain of her last few days there ten years earlier. She is absolutely unprepared for this visit.
Cassie's parents and brother, Tucker, have all been keeping secrets, the parents drifting apart for years, not sure if they can even survive as a couple. Tucker turned to alcohol and moved as far away as he could get. He doesn't want to come back, either, but he is following the advice of his pastor to get the hurt out in the open and try to heal.
The bride, Elle, also struggles with so many secrets, afraid that if she speaks them out, she will forever be unloved and unwanted.
Each of these characters are hiding their secrets, hoping they can some day be free, but so afraid to speak them out and seek forgiveness. But secrets destroy, secrets cripple and secrets tend to be buried by those who bear them.
Courtney Walsh has written a very powerful novel. My own heart hurt for these people. I wept through passages as I saw how God moved in the lives of His children. It is not His desire to see His children carry such heavy loads. He wants to relieve us of the pain we carry, but, and it's a big but, will we allow Him to take that load off our backs? These characters will have to reach that point and decide if they truly can have the courage to shed the secrets and allow God to minister to their hearts.
I was so blown away by the incredible amount of emotion in this book! Walsh is at her finest here. Highly recommended.
*I was given a preview copy of this novel by Net Galley. My opinions here are entirely my own.
November 30, 2018
Things Left Unsaid is littered with broken characters resulting from the tragic death of a teenage girl on the brink of adulthood.
I found the characterization of Elle, Tucker, Lyndie, Karen and Davis to be realistic. They all handled grief a little differently and each found they were still drowning in it. As Elle, Tucker and Lyndie return to Sweethaven, they are pressed to confront the pain they are trying to ignore.
While this novel is filled with heartbreak, there is an underlying message of hope.
My gratitude to publisher Waterfall for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
I found the characterization of Elle, Tucker, Lyndie, Karen and Davis to be realistic. They all handled grief a little differently and each found they were still drowning in it. As Elle, Tucker and Lyndie return to Sweethaven, they are pressed to confront the pain they are trying to ignore.
While this novel is filled with heartbreak, there is an underlying message of hope.
My gratitude to publisher Waterfall for a complimentary NetGalley copy of the novel. I was not required to post a review and the opinions expressed are my own.
October 31, 2018
What a beautiful, beautiful piece of writing! Tender, heart wrenching. I suspect this concept of keeping the difficult things to ourselves is something everyone could relate to. Such an array of complex characters. I've never read any of the Sweethaven books, so perhaps there is more to all of these people, that I just don’t know about? I’m intrigued. There are so many characters in this story and each one of them play a pivotal role. Well done to Courtney for writing them each so intricately. This book is described as an emotional novel, of which it most certainly is. Tragedy ten years earlier has impacted every single one of them. The best friends. The immediate family. Family friends. There's so much pain, stemming from the grief they still feel. No one wants to come back 'home' to their summer cottages by the lake. The place where it happened. They are back in Sweethaven and it's time to face up to everything they've been running from. Such an eye opener into the process of healing. Spiritual renewal. Finding lasting love, based on selflessness and kindness. Such a great read that will inspire & uplift.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest review.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. This is my honest review.
October 28, 2018
I couldn't put this hauntingly beautiful book down, nor could I stop thinking about it when I absolutely did have to set it aside for a moment. This story is all wrapped up in one tragic secret involving a death. Cassie, Lyndie, and Elle were inseparable during the summers while growing up and with Cassie's unexpected death years earlier, the other two have drifted apart.
It's been ten years since Cassie's death and it seems that she was the glue of this broken, tangled cast of characters, yet they're coming together once again for Elle's wedding and to remember Cassie. This book does not spell out the struggles that Elle and Lyndie have endured over the years, nor does it reveal the secrets that each hold relating to that night long ago. As the story progresses, these guilty secrets are gradually uncovered and the emotion relating to these revelations will rip and shred the heart. And what do you do when a character makes choices differently than you would? Why, you forgive them, of course!
The feelings these characters brave are raw, powerful, and vivid, but an underlying current of hope shadows the words. I was completely invested and grasped in the clutches of this book and in the lives of these characters. This is an intoxicating read and the messages of hope, love, forgiveness, and second chances are ones that will stay with you long after the last page is read.
Content: moderate romantic elements (kissing, premarital relations, a tough choice); moderate religion (grace, forgiveness, hope, repenting, etc); mild+ violence (death); underage drinking
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
It's been ten years since Cassie's death and it seems that she was the glue of this broken, tangled cast of characters, yet they're coming together once again for Elle's wedding and to remember Cassie. This book does not spell out the struggles that Elle and Lyndie have endured over the years, nor does it reveal the secrets that each hold relating to that night long ago. As the story progresses, these guilty secrets are gradually uncovered and the emotion relating to these revelations will rip and shred the heart. And what do you do when a character makes choices differently than you would? Why, you forgive them, of course!
The feelings these characters brave are raw, powerful, and vivid, but an underlying current of hope shadows the words. I was completely invested and grasped in the clutches of this book and in the lives of these characters. This is an intoxicating read and the messages of hope, love, forgiveness, and second chances are ones that will stay with you long after the last page is read.
Content: moderate romantic elements (kissing, premarital relations, a tough choice); moderate religion (grace, forgiveness, hope, repenting, etc); mild+ violence (death); underage drinking
*I received a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.*
November 7, 2018
As with other books I have read by Walsh, this one packs an emotional punch. The story has so many things to say about friendship, forgiveness, and the extremely divisive and detrimental effect that keeping secrets has on a person's life. As I read through this story, I couldn't help but feel for Lyndie, Elle, and Tucker as they each struggle with things they have kept secret and are finally bringing to light. Guilt and grief are at war with each other and none of the people affected by Cassie's death can really heal and move forward until they deal with the guilt and expectations they have places on themselves and others around them. This is a very meaningful story with some insightful spiritual messages as well.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
April 17, 2022
Things Left Unsaid is a beautifully written illustration of God's redemptive love in the midst of our brokenness. I could not help but be engrossed in each of the main character's story in this book. I definitley give this 5 stars!
March 20, 2019
4.5 stars
"Some things have to be said out loud, . . . . That's how they lose their power."
There had been so many things left unsaid on that fateful night ten years prior; a painful argument between the best of friends, a foolish decision to throw caution to the wind, an unplanned rendezvous with disastrous results, a mature love ripped in half from top to bottom, a life disappearing into the depths of eternity. Will a hometown wedding bring back too many memories or can a reunion of regrets become a healing balm? It will take some pretty amazing grace, but oh, how sweet the sound.
As the author weaves three story lines into one, her readers might very well be left with the feeling that somewhere in this story, their own might be told; an emotional, relational, inspirational, exceptional read.
"Some things have to be said out loud, . . . . That's how they lose their power."
There had been so many things left unsaid on that fateful night ten years prior; a painful argument between the best of friends, a foolish decision to throw caution to the wind, an unplanned rendezvous with disastrous results, a mature love ripped in half from top to bottom, a life disappearing into the depths of eternity. Will a hometown wedding bring back too many memories or can a reunion of regrets become a healing balm? It will take some pretty amazing grace, but oh, how sweet the sound.
As the author weaves three story lines into one, her readers might very well be left with the feeling that somewhere in this story, their own might be told; an emotional, relational, inspirational, exceptional read.
March 22, 2019
"The building (chapel) was never locked, and the people of Sweethaven never messed with it. It was sacred somehow, and that was exactly what she needed to finish this song.
A sense of reverence."
Oh, for the simpler days when we didn't have to protect ourselves from church shootings. Our church feels like a prison with all the doors locked and cameras everywhere. It's a shame.
This story was melancholic but was well written and powerful. The story had many facets all surrounding a tragic accident ten years previously and involving characters who all had secrets that were tormenting their lives. Revealing secrets and offering and receiving forgiveness helps heal their relationships, freeing the burdens they've been carrying for so long.
I will read more from this new-to-me author. It was well done.
A sense of reverence."
Oh, for the simpler days when we didn't have to protect ourselves from church shootings. Our church feels like a prison with all the doors locked and cameras everywhere. It's a shame.
This story was melancholic but was well written and powerful. The story had many facets all surrounding a tragic accident ten years previously and involving characters who all had secrets that were tormenting their lives. Revealing secrets and offering and receiving forgiveness helps heal their relationships, freeing the burdens they've been carrying for so long.
I will read more from this new-to-me author. It was well done.
October 30, 2018
This is the most powerful book I've read all year! Walsh writes such authentic characters dealing with such realistic issues that you can see yourself or someone close to you in at least one of the characters and/or situations. I don't think I've ever read a book where I felt so much empathy for so many characters while at the same time seeing glimpses into my own life and the lives of some of my close friends.
This book will make you examine your own life and how you've chosen to accept, deny, or questions God's grace in your life. It will also remind you that forgiveness can be given immediately but isn't always felt as quickly deep down inside.
There are so many relatable characters in this story - which is really a combination of many people's stories that intertwine - that I truly believe this book will be a great connection for anyone. I really loved the vast cast that included married and single, older and younger, and strong Christians and those growing in their faith. The diversity in so many areas led me to lots of soul searching about both my past and present.
Usually, when I'm reading a book I can figure out what will happen because books tend to be predictable. This book was truly anything but predictable. I loved how more than once Walsh surprised me with a different scene than I was expecting. Multiple times she completely shocked me with what happened next in the story. But these moments were the most powerful in the whole book. And she included so many without ever making me feel like the book was overwhelmingly full of big moments. Everything just worked so well among all the characters and all their stories.
I cried twice in this book. It was simply so beautiful, powerful, and honestly gut-wrenching at times. It truly spoke to me about the importance of time with God in prayer, treasuring family and friendships, and being honest with yourself and those you love.
This book will definitely be on my top reads of 2018 list!
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
This book will make you examine your own life and how you've chosen to accept, deny, or questions God's grace in your life. It will also remind you that forgiveness can be given immediately but isn't always felt as quickly deep down inside.
There are so many relatable characters in this story - which is really a combination of many people's stories that intertwine - that I truly believe this book will be a great connection for anyone. I really loved the vast cast that included married and single, older and younger, and strong Christians and those growing in their faith. The diversity in so many areas led me to lots of soul searching about both my past and present.
Usually, when I'm reading a book I can figure out what will happen because books tend to be predictable. This book was truly anything but predictable. I loved how more than once Walsh surprised me with a different scene than I was expecting. Multiple times she completely shocked me with what happened next in the story. But these moments were the most powerful in the whole book. And she included so many without ever making me feel like the book was overwhelmingly full of big moments. Everything just worked so well among all the characters and all their stories.
I cried twice in this book. It was simply so beautiful, powerful, and honestly gut-wrenching at times. It truly spoke to me about the importance of time with God in prayer, treasuring family and friendships, and being honest with yourself and those you love.
This book will definitely be on my top reads of 2018 list!
I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. This is my honest review.
September 14, 2018
I loved this novel. I couldn't put it down since I got the mobi. I have never read anything from Walsh, so I didn't know what to expect. The cover and the title is what I was drawn to, and I wasn't disappointed. In fact, it'll be difficult to pick up another book quickly due to the book hangover I'll have with these character I just spent the day with.
There are so many secrets, but Walsh does a wonderful job keeping the secrets straight with the characters and then revealing them at the perfect times. I think if it were to happen differently, or when I wanted to while I was reading I would've been disappointed in the ending.
It was a light, good feeling novel even though the story line revolves around the disappearance and death of a friend, daughter, sister. Religion does play a pretty big role, but not in the overwhelming way. More like the just the right way.
It was a wonderfully written novel about friendships, family, forgiveness and love that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It will definitely be a topic of conversation for a while. I cannot wait to spread the message along to add to the Must Pick Up list when it comes out in stores. Definitely recommended and worth the read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the early read.
There are so many secrets, but Walsh does a wonderful job keeping the secrets straight with the characters and then revealing them at the perfect times. I think if it were to happen differently, or when I wanted to while I was reading I would've been disappointed in the ending.
It was a light, good feeling novel even though the story line revolves around the disappearance and death of a friend, daughter, sister. Religion does play a pretty big role, but not in the overwhelming way. More like the just the right way.
It was a wonderfully written novel about friendships, family, forgiveness and love that I thoroughly enjoyed reading. It will definitely be a topic of conversation for a while. I cannot wait to spread the message along to add to the Must Pick Up list when it comes out in stores. Definitely recommended and worth the read.
Thanks to Netgalley for the early read.
May 16, 2024
4.5 ⭐️
Having read Courtney’s rom-coms, I already knew she was a compelling storyteller, but this…! This book blew me away and moved me to tears (within the first couple chapters even)!
Through the pages, real characters, a quaint Michigan setting, and a trove of poignant truths brings this story of shame, grace, and overcoming grief to life.
In Lyndie, Elle, Tucker, and Karen, I found friends. Understanding. And a mirror of sorts. Love had once united them all, now they’re all hiding grief & ugly secrets. But in the shame, there is grace.
In the grief, there is healing.
In the guilt, there is forgiveness.
In the fear of abandonment, there is acceptance.
Ten years of grief may have wreaked them all, but the love that untied them was still there. As was the grace & forgiveness of God. There was no need for putting on a “good Christian” face—His grace is greater than all our sin. We can bring our burdens to Him; we don’t have to hide any more.
It’s a story of hope & healing amid heartbreak & shame. 😭💛
Having read Courtney’s rom-coms, I already knew she was a compelling storyteller, but this…! This book blew me away and moved me to tears (within the first couple chapters even)!
Through the pages, real characters, a quaint Michigan setting, and a trove of poignant truths brings this story of shame, grace, and overcoming grief to life.
In Lyndie, Elle, Tucker, and Karen, I found friends. Understanding. And a mirror of sorts. Love had once united them all, now they’re all hiding grief & ugly secrets. But in the shame, there is grace.
In the grief, there is healing.
In the guilt, there is forgiveness.
In the fear of abandonment, there is acceptance.
Ten years of grief may have wreaked them all, but the love that untied them was still there. As was the grace & forgiveness of God. There was no need for putting on a “good Christian” face—His grace is greater than all our sin. We can bring our burdens to Him; we don’t have to hide any more.
It’s a story of hope & healing amid heartbreak & shame. 😭💛
July 8, 2019
WOW! This book is amazing! It may be my absolute favorite read of 2019. I have been meaning to get to this book for months and I am sorry it took me this long to get to it. Having lost two of my best friends, this book resonated with me in many ways. I didn't lose my friends the way Cassie was lost but still I know that trauma all too well and I could definitely empathize with Lyndie and Elle. This book brought me to tears on more than one occasion and is beautifully written. As soon as I finished it, I immediately handed it to my Mom to read and she has already started it as well. I literally could not put this story down, once I started it-I read it in barely 24 hours-and I would have finished it sooner if life didn't keep creeping in demanding my attention. I can not say enough good things about this book. I read the audio/kindle versions but I have already purchased a paperback copy for my keeper shelf. Rest assured I will be reading this one again-multiple times!
February 2, 2025
Female friendships
Found family
Second chances
Long buried secrets
Grieving loss
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Found family
Second chances
Long buried secrets
Grieving loss
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
January 21, 2019
"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."
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."
April 9, 2019
Over one summer week at a lake cottage, six individuals each come to grips with how a shared tragedy years before have haunted them. This novel has everything I love to see in a book. Healed hurts, forgiven mistakes, and redeemed relationships. There are three love stories, each unique, each facing challenges, and each thoughtfully depicted. The author poured her heart into the words of this novel. Readers will no doubt find at least one character with whom they can relate. After reading this one, I'm a forever fan of Courtney Walsh!
November 10, 2018
This was an emotional read, and a difficult one at times for me. I am NOT the kind of person who can hold big hurts close to my chest like these characters. Perhaps I was just blessed in having a mother whom I could confide in, no matter what; perhaps I’ve been fortunate in not having experienced situations like the ones these characters have experienced. Whatever the case, I’ve never managed to carry the burden of guilt for very long, and so to spend a whole novel with characters struggling under ten years of its accumulated weight? Yeah, it was a bit tough for this cookie. I was very keen to get to the resolution so I could breathe freely again!
But one of the things I love about fiction is the way it allows me to experience life from a different perspective—one completely outside my own realm of experience—and unlike other novels where lack of communication can be downright irritating, I felt the honest struggle of these characters, even if there was a part of me that kept saying, “If you would just talk to someone about it . . .” It may not have been the way I would have responded, but it was very believable (and understandable) that these characters had held their secrets close the way they did.
There were a few times in the first half of the novel where the story felt a little slow and the characters’ inner narratives a little repetitive, but I couldn’t help but be drawn into their story. Through the four point-of-view characters, we get to experience a range of struggles, from perceived guilt and intense regret through to grace and forgiveness, and from the shame that holds us back from being fully known to the freedom and joy that comes from allowing those we love to see all of who we are—the best parts and the worst parts—and love us in spite of ourselves.
Definitely an emotional read, but also a rewarding one.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
But one of the things I love about fiction is the way it allows me to experience life from a different perspective—one completely outside my own realm of experience—and unlike other novels where lack of communication can be downright irritating, I felt the honest struggle of these characters, even if there was a part of me that kept saying, “If you would just talk to someone about it . . .” It may not have been the way I would have responded, but it was very believable (and understandable) that these characters had held their secrets close the way they did.
There were a few times in the first half of the novel where the story felt a little slow and the characters’ inner narratives a little repetitive, but I couldn’t help but be drawn into their story. Through the four point-of-view characters, we get to experience a range of struggles, from perceived guilt and intense regret through to grace and forgiveness, and from the shame that holds us back from being fully known to the freedom and joy that comes from allowing those we love to see all of who we are—the best parts and the worst parts—and love us in spite of ourselves.
Definitely an emotional read, but also a rewarding one.
I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not influenced the content of my review, which is my honest and unbiased opinion.
November 14, 2018
Things Left Unsaid is a wonderfully emotional story of friendship and grace.
This story surprised me more than once. What I expected to be a story of friendship, summertime memories, and the way the past shapes identities became so much more with every new secret revealed and emotional layer pulled back. Courtney Walsh has penned (another) beautiful story of GRACE. Of how important it is to belong and be known, and to forgive… even if it’s about forgiving yourself.
I enjoyed how the pace of the story allowed for time to get to know the characters, especially Lyndie, in their current frames of mind before events pulled them all together in the same town. This timeline starts to paint a picture of the past and hints at the baggage each of them carries.
Courtney Walsh always manages to write relatable and even flawed characters, and Lyndie, Tucker, Elle, and Karen are all representative of the struggles we face. When you read this story, you WILL relate to at least one of them, whether their pain, grief, complacency, self-confidence struggles, or possibly the honesty, faith, and positive steps to growth call out to your heart.
I won’t give away any plot points or heart-wrenching secrets (you will have to discover them when you read this story) but I will say that this story deals with some sensitive issues. All of them have to do with the fallout of choices and mistakes, some of them long-buried or years in the making. Courtney Walsh’s straightforward style handles this sensitively and realistically which further proves her place on my must-read authors list!
I went from laughing to crying and experiencing every emotion in between while reading! I highly recommend this book to women’s fiction fans or of authors like Katie Ganshert, Jennifer Rodewald, Amy Matayo, and Katherine Reay.
Thank you to the author for the advance copy of this book. This is my honest review.
This story surprised me more than once. What I expected to be a story of friendship, summertime memories, and the way the past shapes identities became so much more with every new secret revealed and emotional layer pulled back. Courtney Walsh has penned (another) beautiful story of GRACE. Of how important it is to belong and be known, and to forgive… even if it’s about forgiving yourself.
I enjoyed how the pace of the story allowed for time to get to know the characters, especially Lyndie, in their current frames of mind before events pulled them all together in the same town. This timeline starts to paint a picture of the past and hints at the baggage each of them carries.
Courtney Walsh always manages to write relatable and even flawed characters, and Lyndie, Tucker, Elle, and Karen are all representative of the struggles we face. When you read this story, you WILL relate to at least one of them, whether their pain, grief, complacency, self-confidence struggles, or possibly the honesty, faith, and positive steps to growth call out to your heart.
I won’t give away any plot points or heart-wrenching secrets (you will have to discover them when you read this story) but I will say that this story deals with some sensitive issues. All of them have to do with the fallout of choices and mistakes, some of them long-buried or years in the making. Courtney Walsh’s straightforward style handles this sensitively and realistically which further proves her place on my must-read authors list!
I went from laughing to crying and experiencing every emotion in between while reading! I highly recommend this book to women’s fiction fans or of authors like Katie Ganshert, Jennifer Rodewald, Amy Matayo, and Katherine Reay.
Thank you to the author for the advance copy of this book. This is my honest review.
October 14, 2018
Read this if you like: faith, women, thrill seekers, songwriters, friendships, second chances, grief, weddings, familial dysfunctions, finding the place where you belong, making amends, standing up for yourself, coming home
This book has got so much heart and I like how the emotions the characters are feelings just seem to spill over. Everything is just so real for me.
It was a bit slow in the beginning but I was glad that it picked up its pace once everyone arrived in Sweethaven. Everyone in this book seem to have chips on their shoulders but I liked how the characters developed over the course of the book.
I'm already looking forward to reading the next installment and will sure check out the author's other works.
A copy was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. (Thank you!)
"[We can't know how things might've been. We can only know how things are. And we were all forced to move on in a world that was much bleaker[...]"
This book has got so much heart and I like how the emotions the characters are feelings just seem to spill over. Everything is just so real for me.
It was a bit slow in the beginning but I was glad that it picked up its pace once everyone arrived in Sweethaven. Everyone in this book seem to have chips on their shoulders but I liked how the characters developed over the course of the book.
"You have to find a way to give in spite of that brokenness,"
I'm already looking forward to reading the next installment and will sure check out the author's other works.
A copy was provided through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. (Thank you!)
February 18, 2019
A powerful, page turner! A story steeped in grace, truth and love. From the beginning you are pulled into the story and it will not let you go. It is real, open and honest… The story is told through the eyes of different characters which only adds to the story and invites you to dive deeper into their lives, their hurts, and God‘s redemptive love, grace & mercy. Truly a story well done!
January 27, 2019
Things Left Unsaid is an emotionally charged story of loss that changed the lives of several people in a summer town of Sweethaven, Michigan. Three families spent every summer in this lake town where they became close friends. Cassie and Lyndie were friends from a young age and then they met Elle, a local girl, in the grocery store. Cassie and Lyndie had the life of a normal well to do family. Elle's mother worked in a bar and neglected her. They all became friends during the summer. Cassie's older brother Tucker lived a wild, carefree life and was friends with Travis. Cassie had a crush on Travis and unknown to her, so did Elle. Lyndie had a crush on Tucker. Oh, the trials of young love. All was well until one terrible night when Cassie was tragically killed.
Ten years later, Elle and Travis met up again in Chicago, date, get engaged and plan to marry in Sweethaven, where they met. Elle wants Lyndie to be her maid of honor and Travis wants Tucker to be his best man. Lyndie is a songwriter living in Nashville. Tucker has an adventure business in San Diego. The wedding is to take place the week of the ten year anniversary of Cassie's death. Cassie's parents have a celebration of life planned for Thursday night. Travis's mom has a whole week of wedding events to celebrate the marriage. Each of the girls and Tucker are carrying a load of guilt and regret surrounding Cassie's death. They all feel responsible in some way for not being there for her when she died. Each will have to deal with their feelings before they can move forward. There are secrets held close, feelings of unworthiness and shame. This story started out heavy for me. I was not sure how it would be resolved but it turned out to be a wonderful story of faith and grace....one of self forgiveness and asking for forgiveness, facing the feelings of unworthiness head-on. It is a lovely story of moving on, acceptance and cleansing.
I received a complimentary ARC from Waterfall Press through NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are mine only.
Ten years later, Elle and Travis met up again in Chicago, date, get engaged and plan to marry in Sweethaven, where they met. Elle wants Lyndie to be her maid of honor and Travis wants Tucker to be his best man. Lyndie is a songwriter living in Nashville. Tucker has an adventure business in San Diego. The wedding is to take place the week of the ten year anniversary of Cassie's death. Cassie's parents have a celebration of life planned for Thursday night. Travis's mom has a whole week of wedding events to celebrate the marriage. Each of the girls and Tucker are carrying a load of guilt and regret surrounding Cassie's death. They all feel responsible in some way for not being there for her when she died. Each will have to deal with their feelings before they can move forward. There are secrets held close, feelings of unworthiness and shame. This story started out heavy for me. I was not sure how it would be resolved but it turned out to be a wonderful story of faith and grace....one of self forgiveness and asking for forgiveness, facing the feelings of unworthiness head-on. It is a lovely story of moving on, acceptance and cleansing.
I received a complimentary ARC from Waterfall Press through NetGalley. All thoughts expressed are mine only.
December 10, 2018
I am not sure what I expected when I picked up this read, but it was not this. I had sort of come to expect maybe more light hearted stories, with a couple lessons here and there. I am not even sure why.
Instead, I got a story that addressed real life, hard topics in such a good way. The characters are totally flawed. They have hard times, both in the past and who they are now. They work hard to be right, but they are struggling. They are not letting that stop them though, from being better.
I loved that about this book. It is more realism, more real people that I could relate to completely. It makes me want to read more of this author's books and buy them!
Instead, I got a story that addressed real life, hard topics in such a good way. The characters are totally flawed. They have hard times, both in the past and who they are now. They work hard to be right, but they are struggling. They are not letting that stop them though, from being better.
I loved that about this book. It is more realism, more real people that I could relate to completely. It makes me want to read more of this author's books and buy them!
October 24, 2018
4.5 stars
Things Left Unsaid is a poignant story of terrible tragedies and regret, of love and forgiveness and grace. At first a little slow and confusing, Things Left Unsaid quickly wormed its way into my heart and captured my attention. It’s the perfect book for readers who enjoy touching stories of loss, grief, second chances, romance, family, forgiveness and love.
Lyndie left Sweethaven after the death of her best friend Cassie and vowed to never return. But with her friend Elle’s wedding taking place in the town they once called their summer home and the ten-year anniversary of Cassie’s death coinciding on the same weekend, Lyndie has no choice but return to the place that took so much from her. Returning to Sweethaven also means coming face-to-face with Cassie’s brother Tucker, the man Lyndie has tried so hard to forget.
There are so many stories woven into this one book. There is Lyndie and her story of emotional withdrawal after the events ten years ago. There is Tucker, his grief for the death of his sister, the guilt he feels for everything that happened that night and his desperate attempts to continue living a new life, especially when faced with the ghosts of his past. Elle’s story is multilayered with her secrets and regrets of that night and of her childhood, with her relationship with her fiancé Travis, of the history they both shared with Cassie, of the secrets she still hides and the battles with her overbearing soon-to-be-mother-in-law, all as she faces a week-long string of festivities for a wedding she’s not sure she deserves. Then there is the story of Cassie’s mother, cast adrift after the death of her daughter and the continued absence of her son, as well as the growing distance between herself and her husband. Together, these characters and the character around them slowly share their stories, their grief, hurts and regrets. And together, they slowly find the grace to forgive - each other, but especially themselves.
I’ve never met a group of people so reluctant to talk to each other. Or even just to talk at all. Especially when they are all thinking the same thing. Things Left Unsaid is a complex and deeply layered story. It took me a little while to get truly hooked by the story and the characters. At first, only vague hints about the past and ‘that night’ are shared. It’s not until a little over halfway through the story that the characters, finally, finally start stalking. And that’s when things start to get interesting. As they each begin to unburden themselves and share their pain.
Things Left Unsaid is a story about love - romantic love (there is a wedding in this book after all, as well as a story of second-chance love), and love between friends and family. It’s a touching and encouraging story about forgiveness and learning to live.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
Things Left Unsaid is a poignant story of terrible tragedies and regret, of love and forgiveness and grace. At first a little slow and confusing, Things Left Unsaid quickly wormed its way into my heart and captured my attention. It’s the perfect book for readers who enjoy touching stories of loss, grief, second chances, romance, family, forgiveness and love.
Lyndie left Sweethaven after the death of her best friend Cassie and vowed to never return. But with her friend Elle’s wedding taking place in the town they once called their summer home and the ten-year anniversary of Cassie’s death coinciding on the same weekend, Lyndie has no choice but return to the place that took so much from her. Returning to Sweethaven also means coming face-to-face with Cassie’s brother Tucker, the man Lyndie has tried so hard to forget.
There are so many stories woven into this one book. There is Lyndie and her story of emotional withdrawal after the events ten years ago. There is Tucker, his grief for the death of his sister, the guilt he feels for everything that happened that night and his desperate attempts to continue living a new life, especially when faced with the ghosts of his past. Elle’s story is multilayered with her secrets and regrets of that night and of her childhood, with her relationship with her fiancé Travis, of the history they both shared with Cassie, of the secrets she still hides and the battles with her overbearing soon-to-be-mother-in-law, all as she faces a week-long string of festivities for a wedding she’s not sure she deserves. Then there is the story of Cassie’s mother, cast adrift after the death of her daughter and the continued absence of her son, as well as the growing distance between herself and her husband. Together, these characters and the character around them slowly share their stories, their grief, hurts and regrets. And together, they slowly find the grace to forgive - each other, but especially themselves.
I’ve never met a group of people so reluctant to talk to each other. Or even just to talk at all. Especially when they are all thinking the same thing. Things Left Unsaid is a complex and deeply layered story. It took me a little while to get truly hooked by the story and the characters. At first, only vague hints about the past and ‘that night’ are shared. It’s not until a little over halfway through the story that the characters, finally, finally start stalking. And that’s when things start to get interesting. As they each begin to unburden themselves and share their pain.
Things Left Unsaid is a story about love - romantic love (there is a wedding in this book after all, as well as a story of second-chance love), and love between friends and family. It’s a touching and encouraging story about forgiveness and learning to live.
The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.
Find more reviews, reading age guides, content advisory, and recommendations on my blog Madison's Library
January 17, 2019
They were once teenage friends together. Now back in each other's presence for the first time in ten years, the carefully guarded secrets of the past threaten to rise to the surface and destroy their fragile attempts at reconnecting.
Elle never wanted to go back to her hometown and face her demons, but her fiance's family insisted that a destination wedding at the place where they first met would be romantic. In fact, her fiance's family is insisting on a lot of things that Elle wishes they would leave alone. She desperately wants to marry Travis, but she fears if the truth about her ever becomes known he and his affluent family will drop her like a hot potato.
Tucker spent years chasing everything he thought might make him happy - specifically women, thrilling adventures, and alcohol. Awash with guilt and emptiness, he eventually found Jesus, and even though he feels unworthy he seeks to serve Him faithfully. Still, returning to the place of his sister's tragic death and facing his old friends feels like it might be more than he can handle.
Lyndie is a successful but emotionally unavailable songwriter. She really wishes she had said no when Elle asked her to be her maid of honor, especially since the wedding falls on the same week as the ten-year anniversary of Tucker's sister's death. Her carefully guarded heart is in danger of being exposed unless she doubles down on her facade.
Each harboring guilt and shame, these three return to the site of their best memories and deepest regrets. I thought Courtney Walsh did a great job bringing each character to life, drawing a complex and hopeful story out of this web of secrets. Some of the things the characters are harboring are fairly easy to guess, but others caught me by surprise when they were revealed. Truth and hope and forgiveness are waiting to shine through - but only after the bravery of speaking the things that have been left unsaid in their lives.
This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org
Elle never wanted to go back to her hometown and face her demons, but her fiance's family insisted that a destination wedding at the place where they first met would be romantic. In fact, her fiance's family is insisting on a lot of things that Elle wishes they would leave alone. She desperately wants to marry Travis, but she fears if the truth about her ever becomes known he and his affluent family will drop her like a hot potato.
Tucker spent years chasing everything he thought might make him happy - specifically women, thrilling adventures, and alcohol. Awash with guilt and emptiness, he eventually found Jesus, and even though he feels unworthy he seeks to serve Him faithfully. Still, returning to the place of his sister's tragic death and facing his old friends feels like it might be more than he can handle.
Lyndie is a successful but emotionally unavailable songwriter. She really wishes she had said no when Elle asked her to be her maid of honor, especially since the wedding falls on the same week as the ten-year anniversary of Tucker's sister's death. Her carefully guarded heart is in danger of being exposed unless she doubles down on her facade.
Each harboring guilt and shame, these three return to the site of their best memories and deepest regrets. I thought Courtney Walsh did a great job bringing each character to life, drawing a complex and hopeful story out of this web of secrets. Some of the things the characters are harboring are fairly easy to guess, but others caught me by surprise when they were revealed. Truth and hope and forgiveness are waiting to shine through - but only after the bravery of speaking the things that have been left unsaid in their lives.
This review originated at http://reviewsbyerin.dreamwidth.org
January 26, 2021
The night Cassie died. And the days after...until now, when there is the time to face it all. 10 years after.
This novel is a thing of beauty in how deep it goes, in the warmth and truth it embraces all the broken places, the raw questions it states and the freedom out of shame it shows. Ms Walsh did it again and I am not even surprised, because she has yet to let me down. She is that intelligent, authentic writer and her works shows vulnerability in amounts rarely seen.
This is not a mystery novel, even if there are lots of secrets present in the souls of all Cassie’s family members and friends. But the fateful night is somehow the point zero, where many things happened and started - and while the characters have somehow coped, some better than others, there never have been tell-it-all conversations, they bear their pain and/or shame themselves. But Elle is getting married and Cassie’s death’s anniversary is also these days. Time to face the pain and maybe time to be freed from it. Time for hard conversations and vulnerability.
Read this. You are not alone with your hidden pain and brokenness. Sure, in novels it is always easier. But novels mirror the life.
This novel is a thing of beauty in how deep it goes, in the warmth and truth it embraces all the broken places, the raw questions it states and the freedom out of shame it shows. Ms Walsh did it again and I am not even surprised, because she has yet to let me down. She is that intelligent, authentic writer and her works shows vulnerability in amounts rarely seen.
This is not a mystery novel, even if there are lots of secrets present in the souls of all Cassie’s family members and friends. But the fateful night is somehow the point zero, where many things happened and started - and while the characters have somehow coped, some better than others, there never have been tell-it-all conversations, they bear their pain and/or shame themselves. But Elle is getting married and Cassie’s death’s anniversary is also these days. Time to face the pain and maybe time to be freed from it. Time for hard conversations and vulnerability.
Read this. You are not alone with your hidden pain and brokenness. Sure, in novels it is always easier. But novels mirror the life.
August 7, 2023
I discovered this author at a thrift store last summer and loved her writing, so I wanted to try another one of her stories. This was not a light summer read but rather a heavy read that portrays how people handle grief differently. The first 40-50% of the book moved slowly. The characters all kept secrets from one another small or large that prevented them from moving past the grief and sometimes guilt they’ve held close for 10 years. At certain points while reading, I impatiently wanted them to confide in one another and rebuild their relationships because it seemed easy and freeing, but I realized no part of grief is easy in real life, so why would it be in the book either. Anyways, the freeing feeling they each experienced in the end made it rewarding and insightful to read through their pain.
November 6, 2018
Full review on FaithfullyBookish.com
Painful memories and grief remain to plague Lyndie and Elle a decade after the tragic and preventable death of their friend, Cassie, while her family struggles to overcome the fractures that continue to grow between them. Things Left Unsaid depicts the prison of bitterness, blame, and addiction, the power of communication and forgiveness, and the sufficiency of saving grace.
Walsh expresses the emotions of her characters with respectful yet bold authenticity. Borrowing from C.S. Lewis, her stories aren’t safe but they are good. Reader hearts will ache and cry and mourn yet the healing, restoration, and redemption are worth the cost and more. I highly recommend this story and plan to purchase my own copy to place on my all-time favorites shelf.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
Painful memories and grief remain to plague Lyndie and Elle a decade after the tragic and preventable death of their friend, Cassie, while her family struggles to overcome the fractures that continue to grow between them. Things Left Unsaid depicts the prison of bitterness, blame, and addiction, the power of communication and forgiveness, and the sufficiency of saving grace.
Walsh expresses the emotions of her characters with respectful yet bold authenticity. Borrowing from C.S. Lewis, her stories aren’t safe but they are good. Reader hearts will ache and cry and mourn yet the healing, restoration, and redemption are worth the cost and more. I highly recommend this story and plan to purchase my own copy to place on my all-time favorites shelf.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was under no obligation to post a review. The opinions expressed are my own.
October 9, 2018
I love Courtney Walsh’s books! They always seem to relay some truth that I need to read at just the right time. As always, this book is fantastic and does not disappoint! This book is about forgiveness, of yourself and others, and second chances. Many times we are our biggest critics and are hardest on ourselves. Ms. Walsh provides the reader with a story of how wrong we are to do this and how to let God’s forgiveness, mercy, and love save us. In this book, Lyndie returns to Sweethaven for her friend’s wedding. While she is there, she discovers that not only does she still struggle after her friend’s death, but so do others. Together, will they all discover forgiveness for the things they feel they did wrong and can they mend their relationships with each other? I highly recommend this book along with all of her other books!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher for an honest review. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, I have purchased her books before.
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