Taylor's dialogue is snappy and contemporary . . . A witty and often amusing family drama. -Kirkus Reviews
Kassie O'Callaghan's meticulous plans to divorce her emotionally abusive husband, Mike, and move in with Chris, a younger man she met five years ago on a solo vacation in Venice, are disrupted when she finds out Mike has chronic kidney disease-something he's concealed from her for years. Once again, she postpones her path to freedom-at least, until she pokes around his pajama drawer and discovers his illness is the least of his deceits.
But Kassie is no angel, either. As she struggles to justify her own indiscretions, the secret lives she and Mike have led collide head-on, revealing a tangled web of sex, lies, and DNA. Still, mindful of her vows, Kassie commits to helping her husband find an organ donor. In the process, she uncovers a life-changing secret. Problem is, if she reveals it, her own immorality will be exposed, which means she has an impossible decision to make: Whose life will she save-her husband's or her own?
Valerie Taylor was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. She had a thirty-year career in the financial services industry as a marketer and writer. After her divorce, she spread her wings and relocated her career, first to Boston and then to Seattle. When she retired, she resettled in Shelton, Connecticut, to be near her two grown children and granddaughter. She's a published book reviewer with BookTrib.com; and a member of the Westport Writers' Workshop, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and the Women's Fiction Writers Association. She enjoys practicing tai chi and being an expert sports spectator. What's Not Said is her debut novel. The sequel, What's Not True, will publish in August 2021. The next book in this trilogy is in the works. She currently resides in Shelton, CT.
Title: What's Not Said: A Novel
Author: Taylor, Valerie
ISBN: 9781631527456
Binding:
Publisher: She Writes Press
Publication Date: 2020-10-29
Number of Pages: 316
Weight: 0.4161 kg
2021 CIBA Chatelaine Book Awards Finalist
2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Romantic Comedy
2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Chick Lit
2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Contemporary Novel
2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Marriage
2021 Literary Titan Book Awards Silver Winner
2021 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Literary
2021 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women's Fiction
2021 American Fiction Awards Finalist in Women's Fiction
2021 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women's Fiction
2020 Canadian Book Club Awards Finalist in Fiction
Chosen as an August 2021 Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection
Featured by the international NoMo Book Club in May 2021
Taylor's dialogue is snappy and contemporary . . . A witty and often amusing marriage drama.
-Kirkus Reviews
In this dramatic tale of love, lust, and lies, author Valerie Taylor crafts an entertaining and gripping story. . . . a shocking novel full of secrets, twists, and turns, but it also has elements of pure humor and deep love. If I had to pick one word to describe What's Not Said, it would be the word 'captivating.'
-Readers' Favorite
What's Not Said is highly recommended for women who look for not just stories of marital relationships, but the unexpected revelations that revolve around life purpose and the immortality of love.
-Midwest Book Reviews
What's Not Said is oh-so-clever at illustrating the unintended consequences of secrets. Valerie Taylor's characters face a tangle of events and emotions that keep the reader turning pages!
-Joan Cohen, author of Land of Last Chances
Wonderfully entertaining! You'll find yourself rooting for the main character from the beginning as she finds herself divided by mixed loyalties and her own desires. Taylor has written a sharp-witted and fun story, so grab a seat, buckle in and enjoy!
-Marianne Lile, author of Stepmother: A Memoir
Overall, this was a wickedly fun read, and entirely engaging in its soap-opera-esque style of storytelling.
-Reedsy
Taylor's debut is a mystery, a romance, and a tale about chance and coincidence. It's a book about secrets and lies and the elusive dream of a fairytale ending.
-BookTrib
Witty and fun but also poignant and heartfelt, this novel takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of love, lust, deception, and ultimately redemption . . . A fast-paced novel you won't want to put down.
-Cathy Zane, award-winning author of Better Than This