Things Left Unspoken

The Things Left Unspoken are Jo-Lynn's family secrets, but they are also her own struggles to find herself. Author Eva Marie Everson has woven themes of past and present; married love and love of children; right and wrong, into a powerfully complex story. When Jo-Lynn returns to her family home to renovate it, she thinks she is responding to her husband's mid-life crisis. Surrounded by loving family, she gradually realizes that she is also experiencing a mid-life crisis. She can't help comparing her marriage to the loving couples of all ages that she sees around her. These godly men and women are also loving parents and children, and Jo-Lynn has to face her feelings about being childless. But the story is as much about Jo-Lynn's great-aunt who faced marriage and children problems decades earlier. Her wisdom helps Jo-Lynn eventually resolve her own crisis. The stories develop gradually, and the book is so well written that I hung on every word. As a writer, I marveled at how Everson effortlessly followed all the rules I have learned and struggled to apply. But as a reader, I couldn't put the book down. I cared about Jo-Lynn, although I thought she was extremely self-centered. I saw some of myself in her and maybe that is why I liked her. I loved Aunt Stella, her husband, her father and the rest of the family. I was surprised by the family secrets and worried that they would reveal flaws in the people I cared about. I watched them all anxiously, hoping they would do the right thing. My only disappointment in the book was that the ending felt rushed. It felt like, after revealing the big secret, Everson brought all the threads together and tied them in a quick knot, instead of the beautiful bow I was expecting. Perhaps she was reflecting life itself, but I felt cheated. But there is a very touching scene at the very end that partly alleviated my disappointment, and the rest of the book is worth the ending.

I (Karen T. Fahel, Leigh's wife) just finished this book. I LOVED it! It's really hard to describe. It's not a mystery, although there are mysteries and questions that needed solving. It's not a "chick book", but does have a couple of great love stories within it. It's not a crime drama, but it does have criminals and police. It is just a great book with colorful southern characters, emotion, humor, excitement, characters that you can actually care about...and a solid storyline to boot (not to mention a FASCINATING back-story that is unforgettable). I'll try to describe the storyline without giving too much away. Jo-Lynn Hunter, a married, childless woman in her 50s, is hired to renovate her great-aunt's home, in a large project to renovate her childhood hometown into a combination of tourist area and wholesome place to live. In the process, she faces the problems with her husband, her family, and secrets from the past. The characters really come alive in this book; after a while, you really feel like you know them personally. The descriptions are so vivid that you feel like you're sitting right with them; you can feel the dust in the attic, the cushions on the couch, the chill in the air. In a scene in a teahouse, I could almost hear the clinking of silverware on china and murmurs of conversation around "our" table. Not only would I recommend this book highly, I am looking forward to a re-read!

I don't often take the time to read novels these days, but when my friend Eva Marie Everson wrote Things Left Unspoken, I had to read it. Reading a novel is a guilty pleasure for me, and if I take the time to read, I want it to be good. Things Left Unspoken did not disappoint. Each chapter pulled me into the next. I found myself living the life of Jo-Lynn as she struggled with her own now-empty marriage, and found the perfect work project to buy her time while she sorted through her thoughts and feelings. Marriage is often hard, and many women will identify with this angst. I am so committed to the sanctity of marriage, but I didn't want to see any superficial treatment here. And I didn't. There was depth of character throughout, and twists and turns of plot to keep me guessing right to the end. I'm going to recommend this to my friends. And I am already looking forward to Eva Marie's next novel!

Mrs. Everson took me by surprise with this novel. The characters are definitely very southern, without being over the top or formulaic. The scene descriptions are southern as well, without feeling as though I'm being "schooled" about the deep south. All this to say that the book drew me in, gave me a sense of place, while allowing the characters to unfold and become a part of my life. I could relate to Jo-Lynn's dilemma, as well as her family drama. And I miss the south now, thanks to this book. Definitely a great summer read. Better than the fluff beach reads lying around, but won't tax your brain like something academic. And you won't want to put this one down till you finish it!

Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson is three hundred and eighty-one pages of pure Southern delight. The novel allows the reader to adventure through life, romance, true love, wisdom gained with age and life experiences, dealing with life's curve balls, conflicts of love and life, heartaches that make us stronger, and God's fingerprints on our lives to make us the people He wants us to become. If you enjoy Southern fiction, you'll love this novel. I devoured it in a couple of days. Jo Lynn Hunter and her Aunt Stella make it women's fiction. Jo Lyn deals with current marriage problems and feels she's not at home in the life her husband has chosen for them. Something is missing and leaves her feeling empty inside. At life's crossroads, she takes on a project to rebuild an old Southern family home and finds herself restored in the process. Family secrets reveal their ugly challenges and place Jo Lynn in extreme danger. She rises to the challenge and refuses to be chased from her project of love. Aunt Stella illustrates true love and the wisdom of ripe old age. Valentine, her teenage love, grows into a wise elderly man, who declares if the foundation is strong, anything can be rebuilt. Jo Lynn learns the secrets of the past and the treasures for a happy future, even as she learns some things are best left unspoken.