I’ve been a fan of MacGregor’s stories for many years now. I first fell in love with her writing over at the Royal Academy of Bards, a Xena fan fiction site, where she posted several online stories in the early 2000’s. That’s where I first discovered Anna and Lily and the Shaken Series. I loved it then and loved it even more when Bella Books picked it up and published it. Since then, I’ve probably read nearly everything she’s published. The Shaken Series, however, will always remain one of my favorites.

It’s been over ten years since we’ve heard anything from the characters of this series. I was quite surprised, to say the least, when book 5 rolled off the press. With an average of 4.7 stars, it seems it is well worth the wait, though. And why wouldn’t it be? The characters are fabulous. It’s wonderful to see Anna and Lily again. I absolutely loved revisiting them. They are just as charming and captivating as I remembered. Their family has grown and changed quite a bit over the last 10 years. That’s not surprising, but it’s lovely to see just the same.

MacGregor stated that she had originally envisioned different characters for this dramatic story, but Anna and Lily just seemed to quietly nudge their way to the surface and make their presence known. I am so glad they did. This is a serious story with an ambitious political theme. It was genius of MacGregor to use them to tell this story. It makes it more emotionally charged, for sure. There are some hard truths and scary realities inside these pages, and the Kaklis family really drives it home.

Final remarks…

This is a fantastic read. The storyline is gripping, well-told and perfectly paced. The main characters, unsurprisingly, are lovely as ever. Anna and Lily have always had this charming appeal, and Words Unsaid really spotlights it. They drive this story and its difficult subject matter home in ways that lesser characters would fail. This is a top-notch story and I highly recommend it. If you haven’t read the other four books in the series, I’d suggest that you do. They are all too good to miss.

Strengths…

Well-written
Great characters
Compelling
Stirring
Well-paced
Relevant

This one was hard to read especially when it comes to kids and the issues with ICE.
Of course I loved the story. The deive both moms had to get their kid back. The issues, poor Andy, had to go though. The aggravation for everyone.
Wow, excellent book.

As the title says, this is the fifth installment of the Shaken series. It is necessary to have read the previous four books, since there are flashbacks and retelling throughout the book that you will understand. It is advisable to have read them if you really want to know the history of Anna and Lily, some of the main characters. Eleanor, Georgie and Andy are the other main characters and they are Anna and Lily's children.
Anna and Lily are planning a family vacation. Andy wants to join them in a few days because he has been invited to a popular kid's party. Anna and Lily relent and tell him he needs to let them know when he is.
He does until he doesn't get on or off the plane. The twists and turns of this book will have you questioning the actions of the government. I know I did.
This is a very engaging and thought provoking book.
I would recommend.
I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was excited to see a new book in the Anna/Lily series, not sure what I was expecting after all this time, but it wasn’t this.

So, this takes place 10 years after [book:Mother Load|8041233] and features Anna and Lily of course, as well as 16 year old Andy and 10 year old Georgie and Eleanor. Georgie and Eleanor don’t have much to do here, they’re mostly just background characters, and seemingly without any real flaws. Anna is still head of her car yards, but owns more of them now and Lily has moved up to be a judge, but I didn’t find either of them particularly interesting this time around.

As far as flaws for the kids, all of these have been left for Andy, who was a sweet little boy when last we saw him and has turned into a privileged little brat. Anna calls him on this, but Lily likes to be the “nice” mom and wave away most of what he’s doing. Andy is incredibly unlikeable, which I found unfortunate, because he was such a lovely character in the last book.

So, Anna is also trying to decide if she should sell her empire of car lots, which would also make Andy very unhappy, because even though he doesn’t like any aspect of running the business other than selling cars, he’s the heir apparent anyway. There’s lots of tension in the house between him and Anna, so the standard family vacation is something Lily is looking forward to. The whole family is jetting off, but Andy asks to stay behind for a day to attend a party. Given his behaviour up til this point, that should have been a big fat no anyway, but he gets his way.

This is where the story really lost me, up til this point I was just disappointed in how boring Anna and Lily now were and what a brat Andy was, but he then goes missing, because he’s been swept up by ICE. Anna and Lily don’t know this for awhile and we cut between them and Andy. I felt this whole storyline to be over the top. Not being from the US I don’t know how close this is to being true, but I hope it was a bit of poetic licence. Anyway, regardless, I didn’t really want to read something so political (and depressing) in a catch up with two of my favourite characters. The situation drags on for too long and bogs the book down.

I didn’t really like the epilogue either, which tried to tie things up in a big bow, especially with the gift Andy gets from Anna, which was way over the top and in no way earned. I wish I’d skipped this to be honest, it just left me feeling flat. I preferred how we left these characters in Mother Load. 3 stars.

This book is part of a series that is quite old, the first in the series is from 2007, this is the fifth, so there have been five books in 14 years, quite far apart. This makes remembering what has been happening from chapter to chapter is a bit difficult in some respects. So if you are not a big fan of the series, it may lose reason to interest the reader.

Focusing on what refers to the current book, as the relationship between Lily and Anna is already consolidated and is strong and long-lasting enough, the romantic part is in the background and the story focuses on day-to-day life and other problems of coexistence of a family with teenage children.

I recommend this book for fans of the series, but if you are not, I do not think you should read it if what you are looking for is a traditional or standard romance.

For those of us who have already read the other books in the ‘Shaken Series’ this was hopefully going to bring back to us the story of Anna Kaklis and Lily Stewart. If you remember these two women met when a shopping mall came down after an earthquake leaving both trapped in the rubble. Now with book # 5 we can see what has been happening since that time.
When Anna’s and Lily's adopted son turned 15 he, like most other teens at that age, felt like they were old enough to make their own decisions. Andy was no different. With two other children, twins, Georgie and Eleanor the ladies had a hand full. What with Georgie’s tennis and Eleanor’s STEM projects they didn’t get a lot of down time.
One reason was the fact that Anna found it hard to leave business at the office. When she’d first taken the reins from her father they had the one dealership selling BMW’s but now under Anna’s guidance Kaklis cars have grown, now having 20 plus dealerships in southern California. Andy has been told he would be taking over from Anna when she retired but now Anna has decided to sell the business and try her hand at something else. Lily would just be happy with them slowing down. Lily has gone from working for legal aid to becoming a judge so they decided they’d both try to slow down.
While on vacation Andy goes missing along with their long term housekeeper. Now Anna and Lily have to track down just what has happened to their son while nagativing the illegal immigrant system put in place by the former President. One thing comes clear, their love for each other and the family they’ve built has grown.
I would recommend if you can read the first 4 books in this series you will have a much more enjoyable experience. For myself it was time to do some digging around my DropBox so I could reread the series from the start. You will not be disappointed because Ms MacGregor has done a wonderful job telling Anna’s and Lily’s story from the beginning. Simply a great read, very enjoyable read.
ARC via NetGalley and Bella Books.

This book is awesome! Words Unsaid by K.G. MacGregor is probably one of the best novels I’ve read this year.
I asked for this book knowing that it is the fifth novel in a series I hadn’t read yet, but it sounded so good, and Ms. MacGregor is such a talented author, I just had to get it. I realized very quickly that it is definitely not a standalone story so I bought and read the first book in the series, Without Warning. That way I would at least know the characters and some of their back story. In fact, I now have all the books in the series and plan to read every one as soon as I can.

Words Unsaid is another chapter in the lives of Anna and Lily Kaklis, their children Andy, Eleanor, and Georgie, as well as Anna’s extended family. However, this is no mundane day (or month) in their lives. Misunderstandings and teenage angst create a rift between Andy and his moms, especially between Andy and Anna. Then Andy goes missing, and their whole world seems to implode.

Because this is the fifth book in a series, the setting and characters are already well established and developed. I fell in love with Anna and Lily in the first novel, and it didn’t take long to feel the same for their children. The story itself will have you on the edge of your seat, turning the pages as fast as you can. It may also have you in tears at certain points.

This book will definitely pull at your heartstrings. It is a tale of love, but not just romantic love. At its core, it is a story about love of family, and especially the love between parents and their children. There is also a thread of politics in the book that specifically affects this family.

Words Unsaid has my highest recommendation. I also highly recommend Without Warning. In fact, you should do what I’m going to do and read the entire series.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and Bella Books for an honest review.

A different but at the same time familiar new entry to the Shaken series from MacGregor. It’s hard to say you enjoy a book when it contains such difficult subject matter, but it had lots of great features that I really liked.

I read all five books in this series one after the other, so it’s possible I’ll have a slightly different opinion than someone else who read this with some time between book four and five.

This review isn’t going to be as detailed as I normally would - as the storyline is too important, and the surprise too much a part of how you feel about the storyline.

The biggest difference between this and the other books in the series is that we get an additional point of view in the narrative, that of Lily and Anna’s oldest son - Andy. It’s an important difference. The reason Andy goes missing is unfortunately all too familiar in the news nowadays, but it’s an important story to tell. I enjoy books where I learn new things, even though it’s fiction, so this was right in my wheelhouse.

Despite the subject matter and the changes in viewpoint, I found lots of similarities in the book that definitely make it a great addition to a series I’ve come to really enjoy. The openness and communication between Anna and Lily is still paramount. I love their relationship, their relationship with their kids and their families.

The book is packed with lots of things going on, and is set approx. 10 years after book number four. It would make for a good final part of the series if this is to be it, but I wouldn’t mind one more either.

If you haven’t read this series I’d definitely recommend it, but start at the beginning. I think this could be read as a standalone, but you’d miss so much about how Lily and Anna got here, and a big part of the enjoyment for me in this book, was the continuation of their journey together.

I received an e-ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Parenting is not for the fate of heart and neither is immigration. The Shaken series is one of my favorite. I was so pleased to see that MacGregor added to the series. Although a continuation of the series which features the lovely couple, Anna and Lily, the focus is on family especially the children, Andy, Eleanore, and Georgie. This read is not about romance. This read is not about falling in love. This read is about day-to-day family life. This read is about being in love and staying in love. This read is about informing and challenging the reader to think about the immigration system and the give and take as a parent interacts with their children.

I was captivated by the depth of information related to immigration. Keep in mind that some people believe that the images we see on social media and television are manufactured. In my opinion, that is pretty short sighted. That is a whole lot of energy and time put into making something look like it is not so or fabricated. Wow, why would anyone spend time making up the unfortunate horrors of the current immigration system.

KG MacGregor is one of my favorite authors, and her Shaken series is right at the top of my favorite work of hers. I love the characters of Anna and Lily and was so happy to read more about their journey together.

MacGregor has a knack for adding socially conscious information into her books and this one was very timely (immigration and how children are detained by ICE).

Wrapped around this whole story though was the continuing love story between the two women. They may bicker and snip at each other now and again, but it felt good to read how solid their relationship has become and how firm their love is.

Loved it - is it too much to hope that there may be yet another installment?

I enjoyed this book and the characters. The setting of Los Angles and rich mothers did not excite me much. There were several plots which blended well and made for a good story. The parenting plot was good as was the immigration story. I recommend this book to those who like lesbian parenting.

Fantastic 5th instalment to the Shaken series.

I was surprised and could not believe that the author gave us another book for the series. Before I delved into this book, I went back to the previous 4 and basked in the love of Anna and Lily once again. For those who have not read the series, the ladies met while trapped under the debris and fallen structure of a mall due to an earthquake. What started as an oven toaster romance grew into a family with kids added into the mix.

This time around the spotlight is on Anna and Lily’s kids and some changes to Anna’s car dealership empire. What stands out for me in this book is the bond between Anna and Lily. The pair has gone through so much in the previous books yet the love and support that radiates through the pages cannot be contained. Andy, their eldest son who was adopted when his birth mother (Lily’s sister) died, is 16 now. He has eyes on being the successor to Anna’s business but has not quite developed the fortitude and maturity to do so. In this book, Anna has her hands full trying to manage her expectations of Andy and the sale of her empire. Lily, the ever nurturing parent, who has left her career in the sidelines to care for her children and family is finally a judge. You see her at her best, presiding over family matters and no doubt terrorising parents due to her personal experience and knowledge of the system.

5 stars. You cannot miss this series of love, family and life. Although this latest addition does not focus as extensively on the couple, it is a natural progression of their great relationship and a very welcomed update of their family life.

I just reviewed Words Unsaid by KG McGregor. Thank you NetGalley and Bella books for the ARC.

This is not so much of a romance between two women as it is a romance between an entire family. The author really uses this book to delve into the intricacies of the unconventional family dynamic.

The story is pretty gut wrenching as it goes through the saga of having a child essentially kidnapped by ICE. The emotional depth, anger and fear the MCs had to deal with was clearly laid out and left you feeling exposed. At the same time the level of profound love, support and understanding between the MCs together and the MCs and their children was moving, to say the least.

My one minor exception would be that this story broaches some highly politicized topics and extreme situations. Not that I don’t completely agree with the authors angle on a personal level, the truth of the situation is far too real over the past few years. Basically, after I finished the book I felt very raw and was ready to burn down every unjust institution I could think of.

This is a great family drama that touches on issues that are currently going on today.
Anna Kaklis the owner and CEO of a few BMW car dealerships in California and her wife Lilian Kaklis a court judge. Together have three beautiful and amazing children 'Andy who is 16, Eleanor and George who are 10 years old.
Anna and Andy seems to be butting heads lately. In his eyes he can never do anything right to please his mom. What can I say, some of us know how teenagers can be when they are trying to fit in and discover themselves. Without giving too much away. For their annual family trip to Los Cabos for spring break. Andy asked to remain home then join them a few days later. Lilian talks Anna into agreeing.
On the day he is due to arrive they're wondering why they haven't heard from him. When Anna got to the airport to pick him up she learned he didn't check in for his flight. This leads his parents panicking and also thinking he was kidnap because of some decisions that were made professionally.
As the story progress it really sheds a light on immigration, Ice, politics and what some families might be facing today in this country. The page turner is beautifully crafted and well written. I recommend 5 stars.


I received an ARC copy from the publisher Bella Books via NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I was so excited to see this book come up-It has been about 10 years from the last one in this series was published so I decided to go back and re-read books 3 and 4 before I started this new book. After I started Words Unsaid I realized I didn't need to go back to past books, this one stands on its own and the author does a good job summarizing the past. If you do want the whole story of Anna and Lily and a great series, I highly recommend picking up the Unshaken series in total.

Words Unsaid picks up about 7 years later from Motherload, the kids are growing up fast and Anna and Lily are very settled into their lives. The main story-line arc follows how Andy has grown up and how he is really becoming his own man and wanting to get more independence from his moms. I will say it took me a bit to get used to him being 16 when I was so used to him being a little boy in the past books. At first I was struggling how Andy's relationship with his mom Anna has changed (again that teenage independence thing), but then I got my head around the fact he isn't that little boy anymore, he is a full-on teenager with all that brings.

Not to go to deep into spoilers, this book does get into immigration, ICE and politics and I thought Ms. MacGregor really brought out some of the headline issues and problems around immigration-being that Andy and the twins heritage is Hispanic, this hits home to the family, to close given what happens to Andy. Ms. MacGregor brought out the struggle and heartache they all had to go through, but in the end there is a happy ending for the family. This is a beautiful story of teenage/adult relationships, race/immigration failings and overall family support and love.

I just enjoyed getting back into the Kaklis lives, this book was such a great surprise and KG MacGregor hit it out of the park-she really brought the whole family back to us to fall in love with all over again. Not sure if this will be the final in the series, all I can say is I would love to see how the twins grow up and navigate life, and how Lily and Anna grow into grandparents? <smile>

I received an ARC through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review, but would have written the same opinion if I had come across this author on my own.

To see my Amazon review, it is under CC-Must read book and series

Really great family drama. The author, K. G. MacGregor returns to a series she finished in 2010 and picks up where the characters would be in 2019. I wasn't familiar with the series and took the time to read synopses for the previous four books. This novel does give enough background so that step wasn't necessary but it helped me have a better feel for the characters.

Anna Kaklis is CFO and owner of 22 car dealerships in Southern California. She has grown the company from the original BMW dealership owned by her father. Her wife Lily has recently has gotten her dream job of being a judge, currently in family court. They have three children Andy 16, and twins George and Ellie who are 10. They are a happy and privileged family. Anna and Andy are butting heads about typical teen stuff. The moms don't feel Andy is trying his best and being responsible in school and helping at the car dealership.

When the family heads to Mexico for a family beach vacation Andy pleads to stay and fly down on his own after attending a friends party. Reluctantly the moms agree. But Andy misses his flight and it is apparent he is missing. I will say the tension level went down for a bit when I realized where Andy was and that this book was going to take on ICE. Sadly the policies and procedures that the author chooses to highlight are so common they almost are not newsworthy, and they should be.

I really enjoyed reading this book and meeting the characters. Anna and Lily are loving and wonderful as they support each other and take care of their family. I felt their frustration as they dealt with a system that doesn't have a level playing field even with the resources they have available. I appreciate the clever way the author brought back favorite characters to highlight real problems in the immigration system. Thank you NetGalley and Bella Books for an ARC ebook in exchange for an honest review.

'ARC provided by both NetGalley and The Publisher in exchange for a honest review'

**'A really true and good writer opens people's ears and eyes, not merely playing to different readers but also trying to change minds and lives..'

Compelling 5th series!
'WORDS UNSAID' like those four series that have preceded it has the familiar MacGregor cadence, complexity and provocative storytelling that keeps the ensuing action moving is well-paced and the readers on the edge of their seats. I don't think readers will be disappointed with this suddenly additional book #5 of this well written series because the storyline is both absorbing and fascinating from the prologue to the very last sentence.
The overall sustenance of family, Lily and Anna's intimacy and their grown kids plus the interweaving of other enticing topics mainly how Ms.MacGregor undertakes a sweeping critique of ICE -- their controversial inner workings and policies concerning immigration in the USA which did evoke the absurdity and alienation of their disruptive activities because during the storytelling readers saw how this did hit closer to home with The Kaklis clan than they wanted to believe.
With her signature blend of narration, science, menage and current social issues, MacGregor's passion for most of her subjects just jumps off these pages and while reading a few of these chapters of this ongoing saga, it will inspire readers to really take notice that this book can be relatable or a figment of someone close to them.
Still a highly recommended series!

Going into this book, in my head there was absolutely nothing that the author could do to top the previous books, I told myself that this was just another unnecessary add on to an already perfectly wrapped up series- boy was I wrong.

This book is a continuation of the Shaken series by KG MacGregor which started as two women trapped in a mall after an earthquake and slowly falling in love. In this book we get a further look into their family.

Everything about this book was perfect to me- from more of my favorite characters to even more character development and to top it all off a gut punch of reality.

We see Anna struggle with what many parents fail to even notice they’re doing and that is forcing their wants onto their child. She wants Andy to do everything her way and the satisfaction of her facing that adds on to my enjoyment of this book.

It’s been awhile since I’ve been unable to put a book down and admittedly for the first few pages of this book I had already made up my mind to give it four stars out of my lack of excitement but as I approached the climax of the book I found my self all over the place in emotion.

As someone who’s previously read up on the topic of ICE methods there was not a doubt about the realism of the story which helped add to the emotions that I felt.

Five stars! My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer because I would’ve loved more parenting scenes with them and their other two kids.