I ave followed Kelly's books from her first published novel. I believe she is getting better and better with each book and Te Things We Cannot Say, is proof of my belief.

Every time it seems there can be no further books about the Holocaust and its effect on ordinary people, along comes another story to add to our knowledge. This s such a beautiful love story in the purest meaning of the term. As usual, Kelly's characters have an air of authenticity and her skill with the written word keeps me reading until I finish her books.

Wow. Just ... wow! I couldn’t put this book down and by the end I was a crying mess. This is a dual time narrative (a fave of mine) and BOTH stories are just so powerful with incredible interwoven connections. It’s been some time that such a book has touched me so deeply. The talent of this author is incredible as Kelly incorporates so many diverse themes - history, contemporary, women and domestic issues with a heartfelt love story that will linger long after the last page is turned.

‘There’s an odd sensation within my chest—the splintering and shattering of something precious that had been straining under pressure for years. Truths unspoken are falling out all over the place today, and it turns out there is a straw that’s just too heavy for this old camel to carry.’

The story alternates between Alice, in the present day and her grandmother, Alina in Nazi occupied Poland at the start of WWII. To have two such emotionally charged reads is quite a feat, all tied together with the threads of family. Both stories are that strong that they could have been independently told, but the true power comes in the familial links that will break your heart. To fuse contemporary and historical - modern day issues with the horrors of Nazi invasion - and do it that well, is incredible. I am in awe of Kelly’s writing finesse.

‘Life has a way of shattering our expectations, of leaving our hopes in pieces without explanation. But when there’s love in a family, the fragments left behind from our shattered dreams can always be pulled together again, even if the end result is a mosaic.’

The sad story of Poland’s history, surrounding the WWII era, is beyond comprehension - almost six million Polish citizen deaths during during those years. Against such a backdrop is the story of Alina and Tomasz, childhood sweethearts, and their fight for survival. Come to present day and Alice’s daily struggles are heightened when her grandmother asks her to return to Poland to uncover answers to questions of long ago. When she eventually makes that journey, not only past but present dilemma’s all come to a head. How will it all play out?

‘This moment is an investment in myself. I’m giving myself permission to make a memory that benefits no one but me. I love being a mother, and I love being a wife. I even love being a daughter and a granddaughter. But as I stand here on the mountaintop, I’m not any of those things. I am simply Alice, and for one breathtaking moment, I’m completely present.’

I do not doubt that ‘The Things We Cannot Say’ will be high on my list of 2019 unforgettable reads. The brilliant fusion of genres will pull readers in and sit with you for some time after you have finished. This is my first Kelly Rimmer, but based on her storytelling I am eager to read more. A war story, yes - but it is so much more. This tale encapsulates love and loss, strength and courage and the tale of two women, separated by time, but rising to meet the challenges before them.

“Our love is bigger than this war—I promise you that.”