After a strong start moving the story forward was a slow process. I found it hard to like Emma, she was married to one guy, and in love with another who had numerous lovers. She painted. End of excitement for Emma. The repeated reference to homosexuality and bisexuality seemed unnecessary. They love who they love, but they all needed to treat each better. I don’t find it enjoyable or acceptable for a person to repeatedly accept love from someone only when convenient for the other party. Having said this. The story wrapped up nicely and the ending was more enjoyable.

Emma Temple is one of the Bloomsbury artists who lived a very bohemian life in the early 1900s. She was in love with Patrick, even though he was gay, and they led a very involved life where she put up with his infidelities because he always came back to her. Patrick was far more successful than Emma and so the portrait that he painted of her that she kept hung over her bed was worth a fortune, enough to provide collateral for a loan to get her beloved granddaughter Laura through her music masters as a violinist. So when an expert calls the painting a fake both of their worlds come tumbling down........ but with Patrick dead how can they prove it is not!

Another lovely book be this author, the dual timelines worked well and the characters and storyline were compelling and interesting with great insight into the Bloomsbury circle

Another excellent dual time line historical novel from Carey, who has a knack for capturing a period. In this case, it's the Bloomsbury group, a community of artists, some more famous than others. Laura, in modern times, needs to sell her grandfather's painting in order to pay her bills and continue her education but it's deemed a fraud. This is a blow but she perseveres to learn the true story of her grandparents. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is nicely written and plotted and, best of all, there are some cameos!

I'm a fan of Ella Carey and was interested to read her next book. Her books are always an easy read with often a little twist to keep you engaged. This particular story is loosely based on the Bloomsbury group - artists in the early twentieth century and the complicated affairs they weave within their bohemian lifestyle. Set against that is the modern tale of the granddaughter's search for what is either a lost or stolen painting from that period.

‘... everyone put untold effort into trying to fix unresolved tensions in this life, but perhaps it was the very state of unresolvedness that gave us hope.’

This book is about love and the many forms it takes. Spanning over sixty odd years, the chapters will jump between Emma’s story in the past and her granddaughter, Laura, in 1980. Emma was an interesting character, basically rebelling against Victorian ways and embracing her independence and one true love of a lifetime. You can only admire her for her strength of character in staying true to her ideals in that particular age and time. Perhaps a lesson we could all learn from, to do what makes us happy and content despite the protestations of others. Laura is a little more conservative and struggles to protect her grandmother and follow her passion of music.

‘What was more, as Laura now struggled with her own reactions to things that she could not control, the more she came to admire Emma’s calm acceptance and tolerance of life.’

Although a slow burn tale, it is somewhat slow in places, the touch of mystery is intriguing and the ending with the outcome of the painting I found contained an unforeseen twist that elevated this read from a 3.5 to 4 star read. However, at times it was so very repetitive, with awkward dialogue and not a lot happening, just repeating the same lines. Overall however, The Things We Don’t Say is an interesting story filled with love and passion, sex and drama, some good scandals enveloped by the painting mystery.

‘Through a century of turbulence, through two world wars and a gentle social revolution carried out by the extraordinary Emma Temple, this group of people had delved into past passion—of both the destructive and beautiful sort—into secrets that had been held close to private hearts, and into worlds that had circled around, linked because they were polar opposites and yet also because nothing existed as an entirely separate entity from anything else.’



This review is based on a complimentary copy from the publisher and provided through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The quoted material may have changed in the final release.

Great historical fiction loosely based on the Bloomsbury Group, specifically about artists Vanessa Bell, portrayed by Emma and Duncan Grant, portrayed by Patrick. The descriptions of London life in the 1900s is so interesting, especially to Virginia Woolf fans, and the plot is compelling. Really good story, which I read in one sitting.

Ella Carey‘s newest Historical Fiction involves a family and a group of artistic bohemians from the early 20th Century through the early 1980‘s. Enjoyed the author‘s excellent style of writing, the story flows well though the characters and years. Historical details as well as the art and musical aspects were interesting. Excellent mystery and suspense woven throughout kept me wondering exactly what had been done as well as who did it. ˋThe Things We Don’t Say´ has very unusual relationships described within this bohemian group and family including the expected outcomes. Thankfully the relationships and behaviors were described as happening but not in great detail. The usual nod to homosexual lifestyle acceptance is present as is in most books lately. The historical mystery details make this book an exceptional read. My thanks to the author, publisher and netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I Read this book which is really out of my norm as I am a true romance reader, however I honestly enjoyed it. This book has a little of everything in it some mystery beautiful parts about art and of course some history but it does have about love. Her philosophy about different aspects and how she handled it. You will enjoy this book even if your a romance reader like me. Sometimes its nice to go outside your norm and enjoy the writings of a lovely author. Enjoyed it you will too.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing.

I'm a big fan of Ella Carey. Her books are easy accessable and always have an exciting story to tell.
In The Things We Don't Say she takes us to early 1900's London, accompanying a collective of young writers and artists, based loosely on the Bloomsbury Group.
This is the story of Patrick Adams and Emma Temple, both artists and great friends, on a journey to recognition.
Moving on to the 1980's where we meet Emma's granddaughter Laura. When Patricks portrait of Emma, which pays Laura's college fees, is deemed a fraud, Laura's world is in jeopardy. She must convince the bank that the painting is authentic.
The chapters go back and forth and bit by beautiful bit the mystery of the painting unravels. It ends with a good twist.
A very enjoyable read.

This book covered the lives of two women and a mystery affecting both of them. The author seamlessly bounced between the early 1900s and the 1980s. I did not feel lost or confused by the change in time periods, as the book did not lose its flow.

If you're like me and you are always waiting for the next Ella Carey book, you will not be disappointed.

The things we don't say gives us engaging characters, and the story is one that will keep you on your toes and guessing until the very end. And it is an ending worth the wait.

I would give this 10 stars if I could.

An emotional journey of everlasting love! When faced with the possibility that something she believed to be true might have been far fetched, a woman travels through her memories to recall the love story that defined her life. Going back and forth between present time and the past, we learn about the life that Emma lived and watch her granddaughter try to secure the truth for her. The characters are well developed and the storyline is intriguing. We are left wondering until the very end what truly happened, and it doesn't disappoint in the emotion and depth of mystery. There was a little lag in parts that could have been improved upon, but overall, a really stunning read!

Emma Temple has lived a full life filled with love, loss and accomplishment. She's happy to fill her artistic heart with the painting that has brought her joy throughout so many of her ninety years along with loving memories of the past. When a scandal makes it's way into her life, she's left bewildered and doubting things she thought were true from the past. Could it be possible that the portrait the love of her life, Patrick Adams painted and gifted to her wasn't actually his work?

Laura Taylor trusted in her grandmother's painting enough to secure a student loan to attend a prestigious school of music using it's value to secure the funds. Now that it's validity is in question thanks to an art dealer, she's struggling to figure out how to prove it is authentic. She's on the verge of losing everything, and if she finds out that Patrick didn't actually paint the gift of love he bestowed upon her grandmother, it will break Em's heart!

This is a compelling story of love and secrets a story lasting over sixty years through two world wars it brings to life the bohemian lifestyles of two very talented artists Emma Temple and Patrick Adams and the circle of artists that surrounded them and the way they lived, and the special painting that ended up being part of a mystery that brings another two people together, make yourself comfortable for this one you will not want to put it down.

Emma Temple a talented artist lived a life as a pacifist easy going caring but strong in her own way, she married and had a son but her husband was never the love of her life that would be renowned artist Patrick Adams, but even though he too loved her he could never love Emma the way she loved him. They lived a bohemian lifestyle sharing house as a group in London and in Sussex travelling and painting theirs was an open love, when Patrick decided to paint a portrait of Emma this became so famous that years later after Patrick’s death it caused a mystery that needed to be solved.

Laura is Emma’s granddaughter a talented musician, who loves her ninety year old grandmother very much, Emma is the last of the famous artists circle still alive and has allowed Laura to use the portrait as collateral for a loan to study music, when it is discovered that the painting may not be the original, this of course starts a lot of rethinking by Emma about the man she loved and brings us closer to a lot more people and brings Laura in contact with art assessor Ewan.

This is a really moving story deep in history and a wealth of fabulous characters and what and how they lived through sixty years the loves the gorgeous artwork and their layback lifestyles, it had me turning the pages as I got to know Emma and Patrick and Laura and the families I loved them all, I loved their personalities and cheered them on with what they went though, there is lots of emotional affairs with different people, but above all there is love a true love that lasts many years. MS Carey has again taken me on a journey that is captivating and I highly recommend it, thank you MS Carey for another keeper.

THE THINGS WE DON’T SAY by author Ella Carey is a July 2018 release by Lake Union Publishing.

Laura had her grandmother’s painting as collateral for her loan. Then she finds that the painting could be a fake. What would happen now? Would Laura be able to prove that the painting is real and painted by the famous painter? She’s determined to uncover all the secrets surrounding this.

On a parallel storyline we read about Laura’s grandmother Emma Temple and her life events leading to the painting of her portrait.

THE THINGS WE DON’T SAY is an interesting story. It has drama, love, sex and scandal. Author Ella Carey once again brought this well-written story to the readers. This story is thrilling to read as you encounter mysteries and suspense.

Highly recommended for all readers.