Things Left Unspoken

by Eva Marie Everson

Jo-Lynn Hunter is at a crossroads in life when her great-aunt Stella insists that she return home to restore the old family house in sleepy Cottonwood, Georgia. Seeing the project as the perfect excuse for some therapeutic time away from her self-absorbed husband and his snobby Atlanta friends, Jo-Lynn longs to get her teeth into a noteworthy and satisfying project. But things are not what they seem, both in the house and within the complex history of her family. Was her great-grandfather the pillar of the community she thought he was? What is Aunt Stella hiding? And will Jo-Lynn's marriage survive the renovation? Jo-Lynn isn't sure she wants to know the truth--but sometimes the truth has a way of making itself known.

The past comes alive in this well-written and thoughtful novel full of secrets, drama, and family with a hint of Southern drawl.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Contemporary, Historical Fiction, Womens Fiction, Book Club

384 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Eva Marie Everson is a best-selling, multiple award-winning author of both fiction and nonfiction. She is the CEO of Word Weavers International and the director of Florida Christian Writers Conference. She enjoys teaching and speaking at writers events across the US. Eva Marie was the 2022 recipient of the Yvonne Lehman Legacy Award and the 2022 recipient of the AWSA Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023 her book, The Third Path, won the Golden Scroll Book of the Year.

Reviews

[Colleen Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very heartfelt book. This book was about a woman who can back to her family home to bury her uncle. She was asked to help restore the family home. But what she found was family secrets and people didn't want those secrets getting out. Not only that how do you restore a marriage that you feel is falling apart?

[Christy Trever · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson is an enthralling book about family secrets. When Jo-Lynn's marriage starts to fall apart and her great-uncle Jim dies, she returns to her family home in Cottonwood, Georgia. Her great-aunt Stella informs her that she's selling the family home to be turned into a museum but on the condition that Jo-Lynn does the restoration. She soon finds that the renovations aren't just being done on the house, and that as the house is emptied of personal belongings, long held family secrets may come to light. Jo-Lynn is a terrific protagonist making the story immediate and real. Everson builds the suspense slowly by revealing the secrets a little at a time making it impossible to put this book down! She describes Jo-Lynn's love of family and home in a way that makes the reader fall in love with it all as well. It's a real Southern Gothic thriller with romance and faith.

[Audra · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although I liked the story in this book, particularly Stella and Valentine's story, I generally felt like the book was too simplistic, as if the writing wasn't deep enough to convey the gravity of the emotions the characters felt. I didn't end up emotionally invested, or reading late into the night, or sitting on the edge of my chair as I read... and there were scenes that I thought should have evoked that.

What I *did* appreciate was the subtlety of Jo-Lynn's burgeoning faith; too often in Christian novels (and this is one, though it SO doesn't seem like it for most of the book), the character finds Jesus and then the whole book is God-this and God-that. While that is true of some people in real life, I don't think it's true of most people. I think most people, like Jo-Lynn, rely on their wisdom and intuition to slowly figure out what it is God wants for them, and try to figure out how to serve Him quietly. And most people recognize that God is in control without having to say it about every little thing that happens... so this book is also refreshing in that it allows "coincidence" to remain coincidence, it realistically seeks restoration and reconciliation, and also realistically does not always find it. Ms. Emerson doesn't go for the easy out - her characters learn and grow and suffer and heal and they talk about it with the same gentle, wise voice as my 94-year-old Aunt Edna, who lived every day of her life faithfully but didn't preach about it. It was a refreshing, though somewhat lightweight book, and a beautiful introduction to the aging and dying South - what it was, what we wish it wasn't, and what it still could be.

[Anna Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book turned out to be fairly good. When I bought the book I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. I soon was drawn into the mysteries the main character, Jo Lynn, uncovered as she worked on a house that had been in her family for generations. The character development wasn't spectacular, but the mysteries made up for it. Frankly, that's saying a lot since I don't usually care for mystery of any type in my books. I also really liked the way the book was written with a few chapters being written in the modern time of the book and then one chapter flashing back to the past. All in all, I would recommend this book to just about anyone.

[Martha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book and would gladly read another one by this author. Characters were likeable and the plot had a few good twists and turns. Good Southern Women's Fiction which is my favorite.

[Deena Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my first book by this author, and I enjoyed the southern setting and dialogue. The story was interesting and the audio narrator did a great job.

[Michele Minor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jo-Lynn Hunter is asked to restore her family's old home in Cottonwood, GA by her great aunt Stella. She takes the position leaving her husband, Evan behind in Druid Hills. While restoring the old home she discovers a secret about her great aunt and Valentine Bach, the contractor that she has hired to assist in the restoration. She also makes a shocking discovery about her great grandfather that makes him not to appear as the upright man that he was. She is also glad to get a reprieve from her social climbing husband and his friends in Atlanta. She has time to reflect on their marriage and on her decision to marry her husband even though he didn't want to have children. She is now regretting that decision since she had always wanted children.

[Kristy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oh, so enjoyable of a book. Jo-Lynn is at a crossroads in life, marriage, and career. At this time, her great-aunt asks her to renovate her large home in order to turn it into a museum for the town. In the process, secrets and mystery come up that must be discovered and dealt with. I always enjoy how books will weave past and present together so well to help push the mystery and suspense along. It was a bit tad confusing at first, as you have 4 generations to deal with in this book - including great aunts, multiple cousins, etc. A lot of people to keep track of - but also remembering what generation each person belongs to. But worth it.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel fell into a lot of categories: women's fiction, mystery, historical. Overall, I really enjoyed it. It did have a few unlikely plot points. For example, I had a hard time believing that a developer would want to buy and restore an old house, with no stated budget, in this remote community for a museum. Where's the revenue stream? Getting beyond that, there were a few other items that might count as spoilers, so I won't list them. However, the characters were interesting and believable, and the historical pieces really drew me in to the mystery.

[Sherry Carter · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a great story! Jo-Lynn Hunter grabs the chance to take a break from her self-righteous husband by going to Cottonwood Georgia, to restore the old family home.

She soon learns that the old house holds many secrets. Maybe her family history isn't all that it seems to be. Lots of questions to be answered, about her family's past and about her future.

I'll certainly be reading more by Eva Marie Everson!

[Margaret Chair · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have discovered a new author that I am thoroughly enjoying. Her writing is faith based and very compelling and the stories are all based in the south. This book delves into things that happened back in the 50,a and 60's ... Returning to your roots and discovery of who you really are. Looking forward to reading more. Y this great writer.

[Loraine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jo-Lynn has gone back to the dying town of Cottonwood, Georgia for her Uncle Jim's funeral. She is staying at the home that once belonged to her great-grandparents. Generations since had lived there, but just like the town this large home was on it's last leg. Even though, Jo-Lynn had left her husband at home, she once again felt the pull of small town Cottonwood and the desire as a decorating designer to restore the old house grabbed at her. Will this be the end of her and her husband's relationship or will Cottonwood be the piece that puts their marriage back together; and will what J0-Lynn finds as she boxes up the house for repair destroy her family?

As a genealogist, I really enjoyed this book. Anyone who delves into genealogy will find the good, the bad, and the ugly and will have to prove whether it is correct or incorrect.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

At Stella's insistence, Jo-Lynn Hunter returns home to restore the old family house in Cottonwood, Georgia. Secrets from the past surface. Was her great-grandfather the pillar of the community she thought he was? What is Aunt Stella hiding? And will Jo-Lynn's marriage survive the renovation? Jo-Lynn isn't sure she wants to know the truth--but sometimes the truth has a way of making itself known.

I enjoyed this story. Unexpected twists made the plot exciting. A clean read that captures raw feelings. Historic facts brought the book alive, capturing the Southern culture. Adding biblical verses made it great.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of new beginnings and coming home.

Wow! What a strong message of reconciliation and love that stands all tests I have found in this book. It is true that what is done in the dark is revealed in the light. I love the mystery and suspense and how Christ-centered it is. Very well done!

[Cindy Huff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things left Unspoken is another excellent read from the pen of Eva Marie Everson. Stella and her great niece Jo-Lynn Hunter are women from different generations that must deal with the truth of their choices. The story pivots between the depression era and present day in Cottonwood Georgia. Secrets from the past come to roost in the present when the town of Cottonwood begins some major renovations to bring the dying community back to life. As always, Eva Marie added unexpected twists in the plot that made me smile. She captured the mind-set and morality of Stella’s youth and led the reader to unconsciously compare it to the modern world. While being tastefully written, it nonetheless captures the raw feelings that drive the story. Well-researched settings and historical tidbits make this story more than just words on a page. The importance of family, choices and yielding to God’s will are explored in the lives of Jo-Lynn’s family. This adventure stays in your mind after you set the book aside and calls you to hurry back to Cottonwood to find out what happens next.

[Ane Mulligan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I emailed Eva when I first started reading Things Left Unspoken, and she asked me what I thought of the book. Reading it was like sitting down with a good friend, listening to her reveal a family secret. When I read what Ann Tatlock said that she didn't read it but lived it, I thought that says it best.

Eva has a lyrical voice in writing, one that sings a haunting melody. You know the kind. They're the ones that linger, playing through your mind. Things Left Unspoken and the characters within will remain with you long after you turn the last page.

As the blurb on the back of the book says: Every family--and every house--has its secrets, these secrets may just surprise you with unexpected twists. Eva Marie has indeed grown into adulthood, writing-wise. I'm looking forward to the next book in her Southern series.

[Donna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I actually bought this book because I was intrigued by the synopsis on the back cover of the book. I was not disappointed. I LOVED the main character, Jo-Lynn. She was trying to be assertive with her husband and feeling defeated. Then Jo-Lynn went back to her roots, her home town, and the soul of the story is born. I loved the warm older relatives that she reconnected with in Cottonwood. I wish I had had an aunt and uncle like them. The story deepens with a family mystery that she encounters, and the adventures that she has as she tries to get to the bottom of mystery. This is a VERY GOOD read!

[Stacy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read. It started a bit slow for me, but then slowly picked up steam. Very Southern book, so I really enjoyed that aspect. Jo-Lynn Hunter is having marital difficulty, after being married to her husband of 25 years. She is childless, and feels disconnected. When her great-uncle dies in the old home place of tiny Cottonwood Georgia, she goes home for the funeral and to see her Great Aunt Stella. Stella asks her to renovate the old home place, as part of a renovation of the dying town. The story goes from there, and jumps back and forth from the past to the present.

[Christine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book, I love stories about the south, I loved the characters, the history, all about love,heartache,forgiveness, perfect book. I love books about families, their history, the stories from the past and a look into the future.

[Gloria Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wonderful writing and balance between plot, character development and historical setting. Because the main character is renovating an old southern mansion, there was a lot of detail about the house, which made the book move a little too slow for me at times.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read. I loved the history, the family, and the loyalty. A great book

[jimtown · Rating 4 out of 5]

I especially enjoyed the first 2/3's of Things Left Unspoken. Anyone who appreciates small towns, old houses and a little mystery should find this book speaks to them in the lovely descriptions of the town of Cottonwood, Georgia. It's a little way away from my usual of books set in the midwest, or more precisely, the Great Lakes region, but occasionally it's refreshing to have a different viewpoint and scenery. I found that here in the characters of Jo-Linn, Aunt Stella, Uncle Jim, Mr. Valentine and the rest of the charming southern family. As you can tell by the names, there is an almost revered respect down south that even a 50 year old main character can have for her elders.

Jo-Linn could be almost any age. She still has hopes and dreams and insecurities but she's figuring them out along with learning some long held family secrets. She comes back to Cottonwood to restore the Big House, the family home where her Aunt Stella is finally ready to leave after the death of Uncle Jim. The history of the house and the people that lived here is long. The men all seem so charismatic and good, strong men. When Jo-Linn discovers a secret room will it change what she thinks about her great-grandfather?

I think the story faltered just a little in the last third. It had to go down a road with more characters to get where it was going. Still well worth reading for the nostalgic feel of Cottonwood and the Big House.

[Bren Finn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Strong sense of rural South

As another True GRITS, this novel rang true for me. The sense of family and of connection to a place where family ties hold you, regardless of where you live, were as much a part of my growing up in Louisiana as Jo-Lynn's in Georgia. She captured the sense of the many small towns that have passed their prime and the confusion felt by those of us old enough to remember the old days, but young enough to have embraced the changes of our modern times. How do we hold on to pride in our ancestors yet still accept their faults like the racism that was an integral part of their society? How do we balance a woman's need for fulfillment beyond the bounds of marriage, without falling into the easy alternatives of divorce? Nice story of restoration, reconciliation, and redemption.

[Karla Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Things Left Unspoken by Eva Marie Everson is a fascinating story of a woman who returns to her Southern roots and discovers that they may not be all she thought they were.

Jo-Lynn's Great-aunt Stella asks her to come back to her hometown to restore the family's "big house" to what it had been 100+ years ago, so the house can then be used as a museum. Having southern roots myself, and being interested in family history, as well as decorating with vintage "heirlooms", I couldn't put the book down! The intricate relationships within southern families (and southern small towns)... the importance of trust and the faithfulness of God... the dynamics of a 20+ year marriage... were all woven into this well-written story. I highly recommend it!

[Judi · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book introduced me to a woman who needed a lot of personal growth and as she learned of the struggle of others, she was wise enough to apply the lessons to her life. It shows how self sacrificial love is not easy but how it turns out "right". Evan did not deserve her blaming him for the troubles in their marriage but they both learned to give up a little and get back a lot. However, I sometimes found her annoying that she failed to see the elephant in the room but kept tripping over the peanut shells. (Not a spoiler, no elephant, no peanuts) Shocking surprises had been revealed much earlier in the story. Nor excellent but I would read more by this author.

[Judy I Baer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful Characters, Great Story

I chose to rate this book a five because as I was reading a visual movie was running through my mind. You can visualize the era, the people in this story, and the landscape as they are so well described by the author. This is one of the best reads in quite a while. I could not put in down. I appreciate writers that bring a book to life and have historical value making you remember things we need to pass on and those things that we never want to see happen again.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A New Resident in Cottonwood

Like the author of Things Left Unspoken, I fell in love with this tiny community and its residents. It's much like another tiny community in OK a few miles from the farm my grandparents lived on and I visited often as a child ...but without the intrigue and history that brought out the best and the worst of these residents.

The characters are colorful and real. And their secrets will draw you into this very special place called Cottonwood. Engrossing and highly-recommended reading.

[Gayle England-Triplett · Rating 5 out of 5]

Family....always!

As a true southern girl, I fell in love with this family. I truly felt that I was there with them on many occasions. My heart felt loved and a sense of belonging that I've deeply missed for many years.

There are secrets in every family, even mine. When the "big house" was to be renovated, secrets were discovered....but what did they really mean?

Surprises all around! What a wonderful read this book is. I hope you bless your by reading it. I so glad I did!

[Susann Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked the way that this book was written. Even with the author going back in time and switching from first person (in the present) to third person (in the past) was well done. Usually I'm annoyed by that. However this author kept me wanting to read more--right up until the very end. What was a very, very climactic part of the book could have come sooner and the ending would not have seemed rushed (my pet peeve). It was still a good storyline though, so I'm giving it 4 stars.

[Sue Peacock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Secrets Uncovered

This story set in small-town Georgia involved Jo-Lynn’s life changes as she restores her ancestral home in a soon-to-be restored town and the secrets she uncovers about her family and herself in the process. Everson writes this beautiful story and gives depth to her characters in the past as well as the present. Her treatment of the sacrifices made and the atrocities suffered showed her talent as a gifted writer.