The Things We Leave Unsaid

by Megan Mayfair 

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Is it the things we don’t say that haunt us the most?

Clare is anxious to start a family with adoring husband, Pete. When she takes on the seemingly simple task of obtaining her late mother’s birth certificate, she finds herself in a family history search that will challenge everything she thought she knew about her life.

Scarred by her parents’ ill-fated marriage, Tessa lives by three rules – dating unavailable men, building her café into a food empire, and avoiding her father. However, when her carefully planned life is thrown into chaos, Tessa is forced to decide which of these rules she’s willing to break.

As Clare and Tessa’s paths cross and their friendship grows, can they both finally unlock their family secrets in order to realize their futures?

 

My Rating:

Favorite Quotes:

 

“Well, I’m very proud.” Pete’s dad lifted up a bottle of beer as if to toast his son. “Who would’ve thought that a kid that ate glue until Grade 2 would now be a doctor?”

 

She was straight off to Mass to pray for him. I’m sure Father Foley loved hearing all about the latest De Luca family drama. I’m not sure who she prayed to. I mean, who was the Patron Saint of Assholes?

 

She hadn’t been in love –he was right about that –but nor had she been electrocuted or struck by lightning or bitten by a snake, and she knew she had no interest in trying out any of those things. In the interest of risk management, some things in life were better not experienced.

 

Harry approached the counter carrying a large chocolate cake. Tessa longed to tackle him to the ground for it and then escape with it to the privacy of her office where she would just eat it with her hands and wash it down with a cappuccino.

 

Was this crazy? Was this bunny-boiler territory? She hadn’t seen him since the night she broke up with him… Where was he getting his coffee from now? She knew it wouldn’t be as good. Was he drinking crappy coffee to avoid her? That was a depressing thought. Life was too short to drink bad coffee.

 

I do know that it’s the things we leave unsaid that cause us the most pain.

 

My Review:

 

I had finished reading and was looking over my notes while letting my opinion settle and gel when I noticed this captivating tale was the author’s first novel. This was an eye-popping realization for me as the writing was exceptionally insightful, well-paced, and engaging whether factoring in the issue of first works or not, but adding in that information was a revelation and caused me to upgrade my opinion and rating as I found it an impressive accomplishment. The book contained several well-crafted and unique storylines featuring interesting and enticingly nuanced characters that captured and held my attention as well as piqued my curiosity. I was as desirous of unraveling their family histories and unanswered questions as the anxious characters themselves.

This wasn’t a fast-paced thriller or heavily laden with an aura of mystery or suspense, it was a realistic and relevant story that could easily happen anywhere, yet it was the shaping and telling of the tale that drew me in and belies the skill and dexterity of the author. I relished the concept of “mental revenge points” which one character secretly tallied, a behavior I may have been guilty of a time or ten but had never thought to define with such a creative label. Additionally, I find I now have a need for an Aussie Word List due to the lively notation of “stickybeak” which Mr. Google informed me was a nosy person. Those Aussies can be so colorful and fun 😉

Author Bio –

Megan Mayfair is a Melbourne-based writer who draws inspiration from her beautiful hometown and regional Victoria to create contemporary women’s fiction, containing a big dash of romance and a spoonful of family intrigue.

With a background in public relations, copywriting and higher education, Megan is passionate about words and loves to bring them to life on the page. Megan holds a Master of Arts in professional communication and is a member of Romance Writers of Australia and Writers Victoria.

Megan is married with three children, loves a good cup of coffee and believes you can never have too many scarves.

Social Media Links –

www.meganmayfair.com

https://www.facebook.com/meganmayfairauthor/

https://twitter.com/MayfairMegan

https://www.instagram.com/meganmayfairwrites/