A wonderful read! Great characters and story plot! ( )

There were four sisters, with two being identical twins. As the youngest, and in their own little world, relationships with their older sisters were strained and often difficult. Unfortunately an accident claimed the life of Pepper, leaving Payton to navigate on without her other half. Ten years later the grief hasn’t lessened and Payton is still floundering emotionally. Will sharing the details of that fateful day finally allow Payton to forgive herself?
An incredible narrative of how family dynamics work, especially dealing with the death of one of those members. Can forgiveness and understanding be found for all of them or are they destined to flounder in the grief forever?
I received this ARC through NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions are my own. ( )

Things I Never Told You is the first in Beth Vogt’s new Thatcher Sisters series. This story gives a unique look into the strained relationships between sisters and how their dynamics change throughout life, loss and words left unsaid.

Ms. Vogt’s writing style delivers a soul-touching story with such tenderness and care. Told through various viewpoints, the sisters have diverse styles of expression, but deal with their struggles in the only ways they know how. Johanna comes off a bit bossy and blunt, Jillian keeps the peace by going with the flow, and Payton copes the only way she knows how—by keeping things buried in the past.

Being a middle sister myself, and usually the peacemaker/mediator in my youth, I mainly identified with Jillian. I was able to sympathize with each of the Thatcher sisters—although it was taxing, at times, to sympathize with Johanna. I love the spiritual thread woven throughout Payton’s journey, and the hopeful message that lingers after reading the last page.

I can’t wait to read more about the Thatcher sisters. They have worked their way into my heart, and I’m eager to learn about their tomorrows.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from TyndaleBlogNetwork. ( )

Some families are close, they share everything with each other. Siblings are best friends and talk every day. And then there are families like the Thatchers.

Things I Never Told you is a deep exploration of the lengthy shadow cast over this family’s relationships by tragedy. Payton once confided in her twin sister but shame at her part in the death of Pepper has caused her to avoid her family more often than not. Instead, she buries herself in work while keeping her other two sisters at a distance, point at faults as reasons to stay away.

As the middle sister, Jillian has become the peacemaker between her bossy and controlling older sister and Payton. When she’s confronted with a challenge that saps her of all her strength and energy, she no longer desires to step into that role. Why can’t, for once, her sisters care about what’s going on with her?

Beth K. Vogt’s foray into women’s fiction is poignant and powerful. This story is from first person POV for one character and third person from two of the others, but, in this case, it works well. There is growth in all three of these characters but also acceptance of some of the things they cannot change. And emotions run high throughout the pages. Yet, fans of Vogt’s romances won’t be disappointed, though, as there is both a thread of romance and a hint of a beginning of another in this one.

Johanna, Jillian, and Payton are complicated and real. I want to find out what’s up with Johanna. What’s made her the way she is—controlling, organized, type-A. I want to hang out with Payton some more and see how the decisions she made at the end of Things I Never Told You are working out of her. And I want to hang out with Jillian and her BFF some more. So I’m more than pleased to know this is just the first book in the Thatcher Sisters series!

Disclosure statement:
I receive complimentary books from publishers, publicists, and/or authors, including NetGalley. I am not required to write positive reviews. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255. ( )