Wow, what a rollercoaster of emotions in this book. This is a story about two cousins Bethanne (Amish) and Candace (Englisher).

Bethanne is trying to get over the trauma of almost getting raped and Candace has just been crowned Miss Crittenden County and ends up having a stalker who becomes dangerous.

While they both work though their situations they seem find time to spend with unexpected people. Bethanne spends time with Jay who grew up with her and felt bad about what happened. And Candace was spending time with Ryan an officer who just moved to town and is assigned to drive Candace around to her appearances as Miss Crittenden County.

Bethanne and Candace work together as they face both of their situations.

The only thing I didn’t like was the way it ended, it was kind of left up in the air.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author through Netgalley. The review expressed here is my honest opinion.

Bethanne and Candace are cousins but come from two separate worlds (one is Amish and one isn't) but their stories intersect in a terrible way. Bethanne has had a violent encounter in the past and Candace has a stalker. I enjoy how the cousins support each other throughout the story. There is quite a bit of suspense in the story as the reader seeks to uncover who is the stalker.

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc. The opinions are my own.

Shelley Shepard Gray has really upped her game with Unforgotten! Unforgotten is half mystery, half love story that centers around cousins Bethanne and Candace. Bethanne and Candace could not be more different, but their differences have only helped them to forge an unbreakable bond that has weathered many storms that life has thrown their way. Bethanne has been living in her Amish community learning how to deal and live life after a traumatic event. Candace, being raised Englisch, has lovingly been there for Bethanne, while trying to walk her own path God has given her and pursue a college degree. While making her way through College, Candace enters the Miss Crittenden County Pageant to get the scholarship money and wins. After Candace wins, the Stalker that has been following her escalates his tactics forcing Candace to report it to the police. The Police assign Candace an officer named Ryan to accompany her to Miss Crittenden County events. Officer Ryan and Candace soon develop a special friendship. While Candace is dealing with her Stalker, Bethanne intends to live life more fully and strikes up a friendship with Jay, a man with close ties to Bethanne’s traumatic event. Things seem to be looking up for Bethanne and Candace in their respective lives and with love, but will a run-in with Candace’s Stalker put it to an abrupt end?

I cannot say enough about how much I love Shelley Shephard Gray’s Unforgotten! I was surprised at the places Ms. Gray took Unforgotten, because they are untypical of the books I have read by her. I’m ecstatic that Unforgotten went to the places it did! Unforgotten’s grittier themes reminded me of something that I would find in a book by Nancy Mehl, Cynthia Hickey, or Mary Alford. It’s awesome to see how God is stretching Ms. Gray as a writer! I felt that the characters and situations portrayed were authentic and showed realism that will resonate with readers. I love getting to know Bethanne better after being introduced to her in Ms. Gray’s Unforgiven. I understood what Bethanne went through and appreciated what she went through in her healing journey. I believe those parts of Bethanne’s story were written realistically and showed Hope through the Brokenness. I also really love that Bethanne reviews books for a living! I love that Candace continued to do what was right and took necessary steps to keep herself safe while still doing life. I love the characters of Jay and Ryan. I liked that Ryan came to Crittenden County as part of a special police program. I thought it was an interesting twist to have Jay closely associated with the person who caused Bethanne’s traumatic event. To me, it was monumental that Bethanne was able to strike up a friendship with Jay because of that. I thought Ryan was a perfect fit for Candace and that Jay (ironically) was perfect for Bethanne. Unforgotten may not be your typical Shelley Shepard Gray book, but it’s one of the best books Ms. Gray has ever written and one of the best I have ever read. I highly recommend Unforgotten by Shelley Shepard Gray! I cannot wait to see what Ms. Gray creates next!

Have you read Unforgotten? What did you think of the book?

Thank you to Jean for giving me a copy of Unforgotten via NetGalley and the Publisher to review, letting me be on Shelley’s Street Team, and for giving me the information I needed for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My review is also on Amazon and Goodreads, and my blog Leslie's Library Escape.

Shelley Shepard Gray's Unforgotten weaves a tale of Amish and Englisch relatives, centering on Candace, a beauty queen, and Bethy, her Amish cousin, whose romance stories are intertwined with suspense and thrills from a stalker. I enjoyed the story because the characters were so sweet and endearing, and the action was nail-biting. Thus, making it a must-read for romantic suspense enthusiasts.

What started as a tame cozy Amish love story get's quite suspenseful. It was also interesting to see, how the Amish start using technology (Electric bike, telephone).

I have been looking forward to this book since I read the first one in the series, and it was worth the wait. Since this book is in a series,and you have some characters from the previous book, I would recommend reading them in order. This book is about two cousins, one who is trying to put their past behind her and move on, while the other is trying to find her way in the world. Bethanne is finally able to be out and around friends when she is put right in the middle of her cousin's problem with a stalker. How far will the stalker go to get Candace's attention and will her cousin be able to handle this situation? How will the new officer in town be able to find the stalker and keep Candace safe? If you have read any of this authors books, then you already know that you need to read this one. For those who are new to this authors books, I can't stress enough how much you will fall in love with these books! I am already counting down the days until the next wonderful book in the series. I would like to say thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for allowing me to read an early copy of the book. All opinions expressed are my thoughts on the book, and was not required to leave a positive review.

Story of two cousins, one raised Amish and one English. One is recovering from trauma she survived years ago. The other is dealing with a stalker. What happens when they both start to develop feelings for gentleman in their lives? Will they find their own HEA? Who is the stalker and will he be caught before anyone is hurt?
I received a copy of this book from the author. Review voluntarily given.

Riveting

Cousins Bethanne and Candace come from different backgrounds but are extremely close. After surviving an attack, Bethanne works daily for a sense of normalcy. Candace, who has just won the title of Miss Crittenden County, struggles for normalcy as she tends to the commitments that go with her new title and a potential stalker. While working through their situations, they each find themselves in unexpected company. Bethanne finds herself spending time with Jay, and Candace finds herself doing the same with Ryan. But all the while, danger is lurking in the wings, taking this romance story in a completely different direction.

The result is a mix of romance and suspense that's beautifully put together The fantastic characters and riveting story kept me glued to the pages all the way to the end. This heartwarming and heart-stirring story is wonderful, captivating, and one that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book. All comments and opinions are voluntary and completely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The story line of the book keeps you interested. I personally did not want the book to end. Shelley Shepard Gray done a fantastic job in writing this book as always.

Unforgotten is a well written Amish suspense. I always enjoy this author’s books and her latest was no exception. I recommend this book. I received an advance ebook from the publisher and Netgalley. This is my unbiased review.

Readers who like Amish fiction will find this book a little different than most. The second in the series finds ,Bethanne after being assaulted years ago, venturing out to see her cousin Candace in a local beauty pageant. The backstory slowly reveals for readers who have not read the first book, Unforgiven. When Candace begins to notice a stalker, the search begins with Ryan, a new police officer guarding her. The story is predictable at times but enjoyable. I felt the conclusion was a little rushed.

Unforgotten is about two cousins, Bethanne, is Amish and Candance, is English. The girls' moms are sisters born in a Mennonite family with one marrying an English man and one marrying an Amish man. The families remain close as do the cousins. We heard about Bethanne in Unforgiven. She was the victim of an abusive boyfriend and has been homebound because of her fear. Now she is coming out of shell with a chance of getting reacquainted with Jay, a young Amish man, whom she knew before. Candance is a local beauty contest winner with a stalker and needs police protection. As the stalker closes in, things get scary and Candance depends more on Ryan, the police officer, on her protection detail. Romance, faith, suspense, and action with great characters make this book a good read.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review.

This book tells the story of two cousins who are dealing with relationship issues. Bethanne has a fear of being around people, and she is just coming out of her shell after an assault by her former boyfriend. She is still not totally comfortable in public, but she is getting better. Her cousin Candace competed for and won the Miss Crittenden County Contest. But Candace’s issue is that she has a stalker, so a new deputy named Ryan Milanese appoints himself to be her chaperone and body guard to all of her events. The two cousins are making progress with trusting others when the unthinkable happens. This is an Amish romance with a lot of suspense included in the story. The suspense is compelling and the characters are realistically portrayed and very easy to empathize with. I enjoyed the pace of the story, which I considered moderate until the big conflict. Then, the pace raced at a breakneck speed to the conclusion. The author does a good job of pointing out the differences between Bethanne’s lifestyle and Candace’s since Candace was not raised Amish but Bethanne was. I really enjoyed the way the girls leaned on each other and learned how to accept help from others. The story is engaging, the characters are dynamic and I highly recommend this book for those looking for Amish romantic suspense that is definitely Christian fiction without graphic details.
I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Shelley Shepard Gray has it all in this page turner with suspense, true love , a beauty queen and a stalker. Amish and English cousins struggle to survive the past and now meet just as many challenges head on in this story. You’ll be glad you grabbed up your copy!!!!

I'm a fan of Shelley Shepard Gray's books, but this book fell a little short for me. The story premise was intriguing, but I felt less of a connection with the characters. A couple of the main characters were Amish, but they seemed to be only Amish in their clothing. I think that the story was also a little rushed and could have been more tightly written. I received a free copy of this ebook from the publisher through Netgalley. This is my honest and voluntarily given review.

This is another good book by Shelley Shepard Gray and the 2nd book in this series. Bethanne suffered an attack and attempted rape 7 years ago that has left her traumatized and housebound. Her friend Jay defended her which resulted in the accidental death of her attacker. Jay served time in prison but is out now. His love for Bethanne never diminished. He has hopes that they will one day become husband and wife. Bethanne's Englisher cousin, Candace, has entered a beauty pageant for Crittendon County. She wins the title and travels for different appearances in the surrounding areas. As a precaution, Officer Ryan accompanies her to these events. They become closer as time goes on. Strange things begin to happen to Candace. Candace is afraid that she is being stalked. As the stalking increases, Candace and Bethanne are in fear of their lives. Will Officer Ryan and their friends be able to determine who the stalker is before it's too late and someone else loses their life? This book is about second chances, love, faith and overcoming fear. I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review. #netgalley #revell

I don’t generally think of Amish and suspense at the same time but Shelley Shepard Gray spins a tale showcasing the Amish community while adding in absolutely bone chilling suspense. I couldn’t put it down. It was that good!

I love how in this series there are two stories in one. I got to see Bethanne come out of her shell, face her fears, and open her heart to a chance at love with the one man she never expected.

Her cousin Candace becomes Miss Crittenden County and is thrilled to serve her community, but with a stalker, and a handsome cop escorting her every where she goes she isn’t quite sure what these new emotions are all about; fear, safety, or something more.

This book was good on so many levels. The characters were well fleshed out with personalities that made me want to be their friend. I rooted for each couple as the faced their own personal challenges.

The suspense built up over time, leaving me anticipating more to come, losing sleep over just one more paragraph, and culminating in a most satisfying ending. I love this book and highly recommend it.

I was given a copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley. This is my honest review.

I have thoroughly enjoyed this series! I think this one will be my favorite though.
At times though I felt like I was reading two different plots but in my opinion it made it that much better and interesting.
Ryan was a great character! I can visualize him being a good looking cop and protective too. Wow!
This story is about patience, faith, love and family.
All of whom support each other like for Bethanne. I really liked her. And I like Jay too.
When you read this novel you'll see why I liked him.
I didn't want this series to end it was sooooo good. I finished this one early this around 4am. I wanted to see how it worked out. I wasn't disappointed at all.
This beautiful book has left my heart feeling full and satisfied. I sure hope there's more to come!
5 stars from me for sure! I loved being lost in a story like this one.
Gray has done an excellent job with rounding out each character especially with the secondary ones.
My thanks for a copy of this beautiful story. All opinions expressed are mine. I was NOT required to write a positive review.

This story has two main characters, Bethany Hostetler and her cousin and best friend Candace who was just crowned Miss Crittenden County. I loved reading the conclusion of Bethany and Jay Raber’s story after her almost being raped by his best friend. Candace has been assigned a new officer Ryan Mulany to be her bodyguard because she has a stalker. Can he protect her from this stalker? Can Bethany and Candace alow themselves to open themselves up to love after their traumatizing events?
I say put it on your to be read stack of books! I received this book as an ARC read. This is my own opinion.

Rating: 2 stars ~ Genre: Amish Mystery ~ Pages: 294 ~ Publish Date: 5 Nov 2024

So disappointed. I had looked forward to this book. So before I write more, please know this review contains spoilers. No spoilers as far as giving the plot away. Just spoilers — aptly named -- that ruined the book for me.

Immediately on page one, I was scratching my head. Bethanne Hostetler is in the stands hoping her cousin Candace will win the beauty pageant. Hun? Even those this is supposed to be an Amish story — this had Bethanne on one end and 180 degrees in the opposite direction, Candace. It didn’t make sense. Page 2, Bethanne’s brother joins her and gives Candace a wolf whistle. Hun? What!

Then the introduction of Bethanne’s panic attacks due to an event where Peter Miller was killed. If I was a Beta reader, I would have strongly urged that this as well as a fleshing out of Bethanne’s character needed to come first. AND make it easy for the reader to believe she would actually attend a public beauty pageant. Jay’s character is also introduced almost at the same time and is lost because the reader is grabbling with an Amish woman with panic attacks at a beauty pageant.

There is a mystery and not a bad one. But I felt like this was a second or third draft that still needed editing out repetitious parts and a rewrite of some sections. I flat did not like this book. The bad taste I got in my mouth on page one never left. And I was thankful when I got to the end of the DRC (digital review copy).

What surprises me is Shelley Shepard Gray is the author. I’ve reviewed some of her other books with the lowest rating being four stars. I have some in my personal Kindle library. I just feel like this book was rushed. The writing was interrupted. Some parts were good. Interesting and then some “thing” whether a person or action would just jar me. I found errors; i.e., the number of cards missing from the secretary’s desk.

I do not recommend this book. Rating: 2 stars.

I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of “Unforgotten” via NetGalley from the publisher, Revell. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Rating: 2 stars
Cover: Good — conveys the book title.
Pages: 297
Publish Date: 5 November 2024
#Unforgotten #NetGalley