What's Not Said: A Novel

Description

Kassie O'Callaghan's meticulous plans to divorce her emotionally abusive husband, Mike, and move in with Chris, a younger man she met five years ago on a solo vacation in Venice, are disrupted when she finds out Mike has chronic kidney disease-something he's concealed from her for years. Once again, she postpones her path to freedom-at least, until she pokes around his pajama drawer and discovers his illness is the least of his deceits. But Kassie is no angel, either. As she struggles to justify her own indiscretions, the secret lives she and Mike have led collide head-on, revealing a tangled web of sex, lies, and DNA. Still, mindful of her vows, Kassie commits to helping her husband find an organ donor. In the process, she uncovers a life-changing secret. Problem is, if she reveals it, her own immorality will be exposed, which means she has an impossible decision to make: Whose life will she save-her husband's or her own?

Valerie Taylor was born and raised in Stamford, Connecticut. She had a thirty-year career in the financial services industry as a marketer and writer. After her divorce, she spread her wings and relocated her career, first to Boston and then to Seattle. When she retired, she resettled in Shelton, Connecticut, to be near her two grown children and granddaughter. She's a published book reviewer with BookTrib.com; and a member of the Westport Writers' Workshop, the Independent Book Publishers Association, and the Women's Fiction Writers Association. She enjoys practicing tai chi and being an expert sports spectator. What's Not Said was her debut novel, followed by the sequel, What's Not True in 2021. The final book in the trilogy, What's Not Lost, launches in February 2023.

2021 CIBA Chatelaine Book Awards First Place Winner 2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Romantic Comedy 2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Chick Lit 2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Contemporary Novel 2021 Firebird Book Awards Winner in Marriage 2021 Literary Titan Book Awards Silver Winner 2021 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Literary 2021 Best Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women's Fiction 2021 American Fiction Awards Finalist in Women's Fiction 2021 International Book Awards Finalist in Fiction: Women's Fiction 2020 Canadian Book Club Awards Finalist in Fiction Chosen as an August 2021 Pulpwood Queens Book Club selection Featured by the international NoMo Book Club in May 2021 "Taylor's dialogue is snappy and contemporary . . . A witty and often amusing marriage drama." -Kirkus Reviews "In this dramatic tale of love, lust, and lies, author Valerie Taylor crafts an entertaining and gripping story. . . . a shocking novel full of secrets, twists, and turns, but it also has elements of pure humor and deep love. If I had to pick one word to describe What's Not Said, it would be the word 'captivating.'" -Readers' Favorite "What's Not Said is highly recommended for women who look for not just stories of marital relationships, but the unexpected revelations that revolve around life purpose and the immortality of love." -Midwest Book Reviews "What's Not Said is oh-so-clever at illustrating the unintended consequences of secrets. Valerie Taylor's characters face a tangle of events and emotions that keep the reader turning pages!" -Joan Cohen, author of Land of Last Chances "Wonderfully entertaining! You'll find yourself rooting for the main character from the beginning as she finds herself divided by mixed loyalties and her own desires. Taylor has written a sharp-witted and fun story, so grab a seat, buckle in and enjoy!" -Marianne Lile, author of Stepmother: A Memoir "Overall, this was a wickedly fun read, and entirely engaging in its soap-opera-esque style of storytelling." -Reedsy "Taylor's debut is a mystery, a romance, and a tale about chance and coincidence. It's a book about secrets and lies and the elusive dream of a fairytale ending." -BookTrib "Witty and fun but also poignant and heartfelt, this novel takes the reader on a roller coaster ride of love, lust, deception, and ultimately redemption . . . A fast-paced novel you won't want to put down." -Cathy Zane, award-winning author of Better Than This