Kelly Rimmer is an author that always writes with warmth and so much love, they are always written with great care and they have you hooked within the first few pages. So Kelly's latest book - The Things We Cannot Say was just...................Beautiful and an amazing story of two main characters Alina and Alice who are both living in two different times. This book jumps between 1940s Poland and today.

Alina lived in Poland in the 1940's during the WWII. Since Alina was nine and she knew she would marry her best friend Tomasz. When she was fifteen she was engaged to him and happy. Germany invaded Poland, Alina's life changes as her best friend and the man Tomasz she is going to marry disappears.
Alice lives in the current times with her husband called Wade who is a busy Scientist and her two children. Alice is dealing with a stressful family life with their autistic son Eddie who is seven, and their gifted daughter Callie who is ten. Her husband is more devoted to his work life than his family life.
Now, Alice's beloved grandmother Alina has been hospitalised after suffering a bad stroke and still in love with Tomasz. She wants to find out what happened to him all those years ago. Alina asks Alice to go home and find her Memory box. This quest starts an adventure and reveals family secrets of her grandmothers past

Does Alice find him in time?

Is he still alive?

All her books I have read have just blown me away and are just Brilliant, especially this one.

One thing I should say about Kelly's Books they should come with a Warning ** Have a box of Tissues by your Side as you will need them** I needed them. This book will stay with me some time now and I highly Recommend The Things We Cannot Say and all her other books,

Many thanks to #NetGalley and Harlequin-Graydon House for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

The book alternates between the stories of two women– Alina and Alice – and two timelines – the present day and Second World War Poland.

For me, the storyline told from the point of view of Alina was the more compelling and powerful. Her experiences and those of her family and community as Poland comes under the thrall of the Nazis are dramatically described. The day-to-day realities of food shortages, persecution (and worse) of Jews, the constant fear of reprisals and the agonies of not knowing what has happened to loved ones were brilliantly conveyed. I can’t be the only reader who experienced a chill down their spine when the relevance of the location of Alina’s family’s farm became clear. Alina’s story is also a deeply moving love story.

In the modern day story, I admired Alice’s devotion to her son, Eddie and her desire to fulfil the wishes of her seriously ill maternal grandmother, but found Alice’s certainty that her way of caring for her son was the only way less easy to empathise with. At times, the two stories felt separate apart from the connection of Alice’s search for the answers to her grandmother’s questions about her family’s past. This quest takes Alice to Poland in an attempt to uncover the truth but also becomes a voyage of self-discovery for Alice that started to endear me to her as she becomes more willing to trust others.

However, the more I thought about the book, the more I was drawn to the idea of communication – or the inability, unwillingness or failure to communicate – as a shared theme of the two stories. There’s the obvious connection that Alice’s grandmother has been robbed of the power of speech by a stroke and that Alice’s son, Eddie, has communication difficulties as a result of his autism spectrum disorder. As it turns out they are both able to utilise the same specialist application to overcome this.

I was also struck by other ways in which the title of the book is reflected in the story. There are things that cannot be spoken of because they are too terrible to describe. For example, Emilia, Tomasz’s sister, who has witnessed horrifying things but finds no outlet to express her thoughts about them because her family forbid it, finds release in her long talks with Alina. There are things for which no words are needed because gestures or actions suffice. And there are unspoken thoughts which should really not be expressed aloud. For example, when during an angry exchange in a fractious call between Alice and husband, Wade, she admits ‘It’s the vodka talking. It’s the disappointment speaking’. Then there’s Eddie, who occasionally demonstrates unexpected perception about other’s feelings and reflects back to others phrases he associates with them.

However, looking at it from the opposite point of view, the book suggests there are things that must be said – if you like the things we cannot not say. At one point in the torturous process of trying to make sense of her family’s wartime history Alice, trying to persuade herself to carry on, wonders, ‘What happens when stories like theirs are lost? What happens when there’s no-one left to pass your experience on to, or you just can’t bring yourself to share it?’.

The Things We Cannot Say is a powerful, moving story about love, family, sacrifice and the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.

Wow!!

I’m a big Kelly Rimmer fan, I have loved every book of hers that I have read and have been really impressed with her storytelling and ability to suck the reader into the emotional part of the story.

The Things We Cannot Say is partly set in the now in America, and partly set in Poland during the Second World War. I wasn’t really sure how that would work but thankfully I loved it, I’m not a big reader of historical fiction but it worked so well and I loved both parts of the book and how they came together.

Alice is the main character in the present. Life isn’t easy for Alice and she carries a lot of responsibility, believing that she alone can care for her son who has autism spectrum disorder which means that he is basically non-verbal and prone to meltdowns when his favourite food isn’t available. Alice is frustrated with her husband Wade, who goes off to work and has little to do with his son. Alice has a close relationship with her Grandmother so when she is taken sick Alice finds her carefully balanced life falling apart.

At the same time, we hear about Alina and her life in Poland that changes drastically when the war starts. I loved Alina and her love for her fiance Tomasz. She lives in a small town near Auschwitz on her family farm, a lot of people know about how the Jewish people were treated during the war, but I think that less known is the story of other Polish citizens and what they went through. It was at times upsetting, but it was a story that I am pleased that I got to learn more about it.

One thing that really struck me when reading about Alina and her family was how pure and total a parents love is for their children. There were a few examples of this in the book and they had a big impact on me.

Gradually the reader found out how Alina and Alice were linked, and that an important part of the puzzle that we thought that we knew was actually a different shaped piece to the one that we thought. It was brilliantly done and brought it all together perfectly.

This book often felt so real and so I wasn’t surprised to see that the author had a Polish Grandmother and that she had been on a similar trip to the one that Alice made in the book. There are also some photos at the back of the authors trip which I loved seeing.

Kelly Rimmer really is an amazing author with true talent. If you haven’t read her books then you are missing out. And I am going to keep telling people about Rimmer and her books and hope that soon she will be a very well known author, getting the recognition that she deserves.

I had thought that Kelly Rimmer was a new author for me before beginning The Things We Cannot Say but I have since discovered that several years ago I read The Secret Daughter. This book is vastly different, this time the genre being my favourite - historical fiction with a dual timeline at its centre. Time and time again I see books mentioned as being heartbreaking and a devastating read and I think to myself these terms are used far too frequently and too easily in order to describe a book. But with this story I definitely agree with these sentiments -The Things We Cannot Say is a powerful, haunting and heartbreaking read with love and sacrifice as its main themes.

Kelly Rimmer has written an astonishing book that certainly packs a punch and leaves you an emotional wreck upon completion. It's difficult to read through the final few pages as you will have a lump in your throat. Yes this book is set during World War Two and fans of the genre will have read countless books based in or around that turbulent and horrific time but it's the way the author gets right inside the hearts and minds of her characters and portrays the depths of their feelings which impact on the many important decisions they have to make that set this book apart from all the rest. It is a stunning read which without doubt will leave a lasting impression on you.

Moving between occupied Poland during the early years of the war and modern day Florida, the author weaves an incredible story of desperation, trauma, atonement, penance, love, loss and dedication. The title of the book couldn't be more apt considering several of the main characters in the present day cannot communicate and it's the things that have been left unsaid, the things hidden that cause a ripple affect to be set in motion. Alice is set upon a reluctant journey to seek answers, to find closure but in doing so she opens a whole new door to a life she never knew existed but also the cracks in her own family are exposed. The question is can the past be reconciled with the present? Has the damage already done to her own family unit through lack of communication, understanding and acceptance gone so far that it cannot be spoken about in an attempt to fix it?

Alice's beloved grandmother Babcia is 95 and having suffered a stroke she is left unable to communicate. This life altering event is the catalyst that sets in motion a train of events, recollections and life experiences that will alter many people's perceptions of the world in which they live in and the people they surround themselves with. Their attitudes will perhaps change and they may all realise the true depth and power of four little words - love. Or maybe things will get too challenging and difficult for acceptance to come forth?

The story moves between Alina in Poland during World War Two and Alice in the present as she struggles to cope with the effects of her grandmothers stroke. Life is not easy for Alice anyway and as Babcia was the one person who she feels so close to and the person who more or less raised her as her own mother was very much pre occupied with her job as a judge she feels lost and afraid as to what the future holds.

Alice is a woman under constant pressure and the further I read through the book I felt quite a lot of it was of her own making. She didn't reach out and ask for the help and support she needed in caring for her son Eddie who was on the autism spectrum. I felt the lack of communication and the ability to work as a pair and ask questions between herself and husband Wade was the reason she had become so confined in her life. Her daughter Callie was a child genius, way ahead of her age in terms of academic work, but I felt as Alice concentrated so much on Eddie and all his strict routines that Callie got neglected. Don't get me wrong I very much admired Alice for the way she always tried her best for Eddie. The communication app on his Ipad was an incredible tool which proved pivotal to the plot as it benefited Babcia too and without this the things already left unsaid would have forever remained so. As Alice battles with her conscience and family obligations she accepts a challenge from Babcia. Babcia pleads with her to do the right thing, to return to Poland to seek the answers to so many burning questions. I desperately hoped that Alice would do what Babcia was asking of her as I felt it would be the making of Alice and also it would quash the restless spirit and heart of an old woman who had witnessed so much but someone who had made the ultimate sacrifice in the name of love.

Alina was only seven years old when she decided that one day she would marry Tomasz. Even from such a young age she loved him deeply and knew that he was the man she was destined to spend the rest of her life with. He had a way of speaking that made anything seem possible and she believed he could help her dreams come true. As they enjoy their childhood and time spent together, the years pass by but as we reach 1938/39 hatred and propaganda are growing within Germany. Evil is spreading its roots and expanding its grip ever further. The people of Poland realise invasion is inevitable and the fear and apprehension seeps from the pages. Alina is only 17 and lives with her parents and brothers working on a farm outside the small town of Trzebina. They eke out an existence as best they can but life is tough but the love Alina has for Tomasz only grows and strengthens and gives her comfort and peace. As the Nazi's invade and life is forever changed Alina's world is torn apart. Her family and friends witness unspeakable horrors ad their existence is threatened.

Life under the Nazi regime was tough and full of horrors and endless hardship but they struggle on in an attempt to weather the storm which they find themselves at the centre of. Death and separation play strong roles and leave the reader in fear for what the eventual outcome may be. But what shines through is the love and devotion that Alina and Tomasz have for each other. Any innocence that lingered in the personality of Alina is quickly shattered as she has to face some harsh realities and brutal truths. In some ways she very much didn't know what was going on in terms of the bigger picture and I felt she wanted to remain within that stance.

But circumstances force change upon her life and it is how she handles these changes is what make her a remarkable character. A character whom you witness undergo so much change and for the better as I felt she gained strength, courage and power when the wool was finally pulled from her eyes. She had no choice but to grow up but it is the devotion, respect and love that she has for Tomasz that will go a long way in being the driving force in her life and the same can also be said for him. Their relationship felt real and genuine and that they were made for each other. But when they are faced with a painful decision it's the results of this that form the backbone of what was a breathtaking story. To say any more would detract and spoil the read for people but suffice to say it's what ensues that makes for a riveting read that has you on the edge of your seat the further the story develops and the pace and tension are ramped up.

Usually I find one strand of a dual time line story stronger, more well developed and far more interesting than another. But here both strands were brilliantly written and leave you rapidly turning the pages keen to discover more. The author slowly peels back the layers piece by piece to unveil an incredible overall picture. She shows how communication is so vital and important and that the decisions and promises we make will impact us forever.

Grief, love, loyalty and the incredible power of sacrifice also play such pivotal roles within both the modern day storyline and the past.This was a fascinating, emotional and brilliant story inspired by the author's family history with a deeply satisfying ending tying both threads of the story together very well. Kelly Rimmer should be proud of herself for the superb writing, well developed plot, the twists and turns and the feelings and emotions it inspires within the reader. The Things We Cannot Say is a book that should not be left lingering on a bookshelf waiting to be read one day. It's a story that needs to be read as soon as possible in order to appreciate the talents and story telling ability of Kelly Rimmer.

The Things We Cannot Say is a gripping love story going through decades and continents, and it’s also about the unimaginable and -often at first glance - impossible things we do for the people we love. Yes it’s a love story, but it’s also so much more. It pulls you in and doesn’t let you go until you heart is broken and then mended again. I have cried so much at the end of the story...!
The book is set out in two different timelines. First we meet Alina, a young Polish girl living in the countryside, close to the German border at the beginning of WWII - and hopelessly in love with Tomasz, who will be one of the main characters, even though he’s absent in most of the story, but he is always very much present in other ways.
Then we meet Alice in the present, a struggling stay-at-home mum with an autistic son, a daughter with an extremely high IQ, and a husband who works too much and doesn’t want to accept their son’s difficulties. Alice lives in Florida, and adores her 95 year old Polish grandmother, who she calls Babcia. Babcia is in hospital after a stroke and doesn’t have much time left. However, she’s desperate to find some much needed closure before she dies, so she asks Alice to go to Poland to her hometown to help her. But is Alice up for it? Can she leave her children - especially Eddie, her son - in the care of her husband while she goes 5000 miles away on a wild goose chase?
I loved Kelly Rimmer’s style. It’s my second book from her, and I just love her writing, it’s simple yet beautiful. She handles very complicated issues ever so delicately. I enjoyed reading about Alice and Wade’s relationship and the dynamics in the light of raising two very challenging ( and one atypical) children. She has obviously researched autism and the struggles of a family with a child on the spectrum.
She also writes about the Nazi occupation in Poland so beautifully - even when she explores the hardship that the people lived through. I have read many books on WWII era, but this is definitely one of my favourites.
There was a twist in the story that I kind of guessed closer to the end of the book, but since it wasn’t a crime/ mystery, it didn’t spoil it at all.
I definitely will read more from Kelly Rimmer in the future!

Thank you NetGalley, the author and the publisher for my free advanced reading copy!

Be still my beating heart....

Wow - even though I finished reading 'The Things We Cannot Say' a few days ago, a lump still forms in my throat whenever I think about it.

I admitted on social media that I had no idea how I was going to write my review, and I still stand by that (no, not in a bad way. Kelly Rimmer's latest literary gem has a title which takes the words right out of my mouth; 'The Things We Cannot Say'. There is so much I want to express about the beauty of the storyline and the characters, but for some reason I am struggling to put those thoughts into coherent sentences. I'm trying my best!

Okay so, this storyline is told from the viewpoint of Alina, a young Polish woman who has seen her fair share of heartbreak and devastation courtesy of the Second World War and the Nazi's, and Alice, a mum who is about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. She just doesn't know it yet. Both stories are, obviously, incredibly different, yet they are both connected in a way which only makes sense towards the latter half of the book.

Whilst I loved following Alina's journey and learning more about the devastating effects the war had on Poland in 1942, the reality of the situation absolutely broke my heart. Kelly Rimmer described scenes which no-one should ever have to endure, many of which left me crying my eyes out due to the unfairness of it all. Innocent people. Lives lost. Separated from loved ones. And for what? A power trip? A moment of insanity for the Nazi's?

The chapters which involved Alina's journey were hard hitting, emotional, and devastating, yet they were combined beautifully due to the way the author believed in her characters and their love for each other. I genuinely think if Alina didn't have the love of Tomasz, her life would have had a very different outcome.

Now, where Alice is concerned in the chapters containing 'the present', her relationship with her son, Eddie, once again brought tears to my eyes as he seemed like such a lovely little boy who just deserved to be understood. His relationship with Alice's 'babcia' made my heart melt and once again showed the power of love in a different form.

I'm trying my best not to give anything away here, and it's very hard!!

I adored 'The Things We Cannot Say' and the way that the entire storyline showcased the deep routed beauty of love, life and loss. Kelly Rimmer, once again has outdone herself in creating a story which was both beautifully written, and beautifully thought out. The strength of the characters journeys was so powerful, it made the entire storyline have such a wonderful, highly charged vibe to it.

This beautiful, beautiful book blew me away, broke my heart and then pieced it back together again. Babcia showed me that scars are an individual persons battle marks and that they're something to be proud of. Hell, if Babcia was mine, I would be proud of her as well. Easily my top read of 2019 so far.

Spanning generations and continents this book is an emotional rollercoaster that won't fail to bring a tear to the eye of even the coldest of hearts!

Told from both Alina and Alice's viewpoints it follows the journey of these two women in two very different points in time as Alice travels to Poland to try to unravel the mystery surrounding her great grandmothers past and the journey that led up to her grandmothers life in America.

For me it was Alina's voice that stole the show, and as much as Alice's voyage of discovery resonated with me it was the love between Alina and Tomasz that ultimately pulled on my heart-strings and shone brightest throughout the entire story.

Even though we all know the devastation that ripped through the lives of everyone during World War II this story shines a light on a part of the world I wasn't so familiar with and the atrocities that part of Poland suffered. Parts of the book set during the Nazi occupation of Alina's home town were impossible to read without getting goosebumps or reaching for the tissues but throughout it all the courage and bravery was heartwarming.

You can tell a lot of research has gone into this book, not only with the historical parts but also Alice's life as mother to a son who is on the autism spectrum as those pieces of the story are written with a level of understanding and warmth that bring an extra layer of emotion on top of what is undoubtedly an already emotional charged read.

It is one of those books that as soon as you start reading you are powerless to stop and one that leaves pause to thought even after the last page has been turned.

The Things We Cannot Say will be published on 07 March 2019 and can be pre ordered now.

A massive thank you to the author Kelly Rimmer, publishers Headline and NetGalley for my copy of this book in exchange for an honest and independent review.

My review will be published on 13 March 2019 and I will add links to all the relevant sites once they go live.

This beautifully crafted story weaves together the present and the past seamlessly with threads of heartbreak, sacrifice, and love!

Two strong women, two unique voices, two different times, one stunning tale! Kelly Rimmer has spun a story Full of survival and love that you won’t soon forget! Miss Rimmer has poured her heart, her hope, and her own personal family history into these pages. No matter how many books I read about WWII I am always deeply impacted by the horror of war and the power of hate. I am also humbled by the sacrifice, generosity, and love of so many.

This book jumps between 1940s Poland and today. Both stories completely captivated me seemingly disconnected, but as more pieces were added to the puzzle things started to become more clearer. Alice’s story took place in present day, she is the mother of seven-year-old Eddie and 10-year-old Callie. Eddie is on the autism spectrum and nonverbal. Alice’s main focus in life now is to create an environment best suited for Eddie’s needs, something her husband Wade does not always understand or appreciate. When Alice’s beloved grandmother has a stroke and asks Alice to travel to Poland, will Alice refuse her grandmother’s dying wish? How can Alice’s family survive without her? Wade does not seem to understand all of Eddie’s quirks and needs. Poland late 1930s-early 1940s. Alina is a naïve teenager who thinks the hardest thing in her life will be staying away from her beloved fiancé Tomasz while he is away at college. It isn’t too long however before Alina Has to look reality right in the face. Germany has invaded Poland, her twin brothers are sent off to work camps, food is scarce, and freedom is gone. Alina soon learns that she is much stronger and vraver than she ever would have thought. Two courageous women faced with some pretty big challenges, how will their stories intertwine?

Alice and Alina were amazing women with big hearts and to whom family means everything. As a mother I really felt for Alice, i’d imagine it would be very difficult, challenging, and yet rewarding to have a child with special needs. I appreciated how this book addressed the impact this has on the family dynamics and the marriage. I loved Eddie’s bond with his great grandmother. I found the technology fascinating that he used( and Great grandma did as well) to communicate. Alina was a remarkable young lady, her story was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. her strength and courage were admirable. It never fails to amaze me how far you can push the human spirit without it breaking, the resilience of so many inspires me.

A beautifully told stunning story packed with heart, hope, and emotion, have your tissue handy! Absolutely 100% recommend!

Song Running Through My Head


I will remember you, will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by,
Weep not for the memories
Remember the good times that we had?
I let them slip away from us when things got bad.
How clearly I first saw you smilin' in the sun
Want to feel your warmth upon me
I want to be the one
I will remember you, will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
I'm so tired but I can't sleep
Standin' on the edge of something much to deep
It's funny how we feel so much but we cannot say a word
We are screaming inside, but we can't be heard
I will remember you, will you remember me?
Don't let your life pass you by
Weep not for the memories
I'm so afraid to love you
But more afraid to lose
Clinging to…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=oxoEpVDGvPE

*** many thanks to Headline for my copy of this book ***

I love historical fiction especially WW1 and WW2. This was just a beautiful, heart wrenching story. The story follows Alina during WW2 in Poland and her granddaughter Alice today in the USA. The horror of the lives of the Polish living under occupation of the Nazi's was horrific. This was so well researched and really showed another part of this devastating part of history. The stories blended wonderfully together with some real surprises. A tale of love, tragedy, separation and family. I loved that there was another whole side story with Alice's family with challenges. Bring your tissues as you enter this story.

Wow! Just wow!
What a book, I cried, I couldn’t stop reading and I didn’t want it to end!
A powerful story about love, bravery and resilience and the lengths and strength people will go to for their loved ones
This story is told from 2 perspectives and time lines.
Alina who grew up in Poland during the war and her granddaughter Alice an American who makes the journey to Poland for her beloved Grandmother on her deathbed.
I loved the way Kelly wrote this and would highly recommend

OMG! Words don't seem possible to express how I felt about this phenomenal book but I'll try!

A stunning, beautifully written book. I absolutely loved it and was gripped from the very first page,

Both storylines were fascinating, brilliantly written and interwoven perfectly. It was compelling beyond words and there were times when I was holding my breath while experiencing Alina and Tomasz's journey through the Nazi occupation of Poland. Books like this are so educational and make for such interesting reads and make you so grateful that you have never lived through the atrocities that some people did. Always a good reminder to be grateful for what you do have.

Alice's family situation was also really interesting in its own way and her quest to solve her Grandma's mystery but also to find herself and move on a little in her own life was SO lovely and inspiring to read.

The ending was inevitable but beautiful and so empathically written.

How could anyone fail to fall in love with these brave, inspirational, wonderful characters on their journeys through their very different but linked lives.

An absolute masterpiece.

Bravo Kelly Rimmer!

It's a big fat five millions stars for me!

The Things We Cannot Say is a heartbreaking story of war time love, bravery and courage.

Alice has a lot on her plate; her 7 year son has been diagnosed with autism and she is trying to keep her family on an even keel. When her grandmother suffers a stroke, Alice is tasked with flying to Poland to find Tomasz. Alice is unsure what her grandmother wants as Tomasz, her grandfather, has already passed away. With her family’s help, Alice begins her journey to Poland to find out what it is her grandmother is looking for. What she discovers about her family history comes as a shock.

An excellent book with a compelling story line which takes us through the Nazi invasion of Poland and the struggles of their people to survive. The story is told from the perspective of Alice in present day Florida and Alina in war torn Poland. A great read which I would recommend.

I love Kelly Rimmer's books normally and can recommend them all but sadly not this one and I gave up on it a quarter of the way through, it just wasn't for me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Headline books for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

I don't usually read war stories but I love kell y summer so I thought I would give this a go, and I'm so glad I did. The love story that spans decades is typical of a kelly rimmer novel, I this at the heart and left me in floods of tears. What was unusual for me is that it opened my eyes to the horrors of war and the experiences of the Jews and polish and actually left me wanting to find out more! Well done miss rimmer, you have not only given me a fantastic book to read but you've broadened my horizons!