📕 Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder

Georgina has always loved Simon. Twelve years ago he disappeared and broke off their engagement. Now he has returned with two children and hidden secrets. Even still, she loves him.

Simon returns with the sole purpose of bringing justice to the people responsible for his wife’s murder. However, Simon arrives to find his father dead, having left a will stating that Simon must marry Georgina.

Georgina finds she can’t marry Simon if she can’t also have his heart. But something nefarious is lurking in the shadows: a danger bringing their lives together in unexpected ways.

🖤 About This Book:
- Gothic Regency Romance
- Stand Alone Novel
- POV: Georgina and Simon
- Mystery and Suspense
- Published in 2024
- Parents Guide: mild violence, stabbing, shooting, insinuated sexual assault and suicide, murder, kissing, descriptions of burns and medical treatment

🫧 My Thoughts:
Another Hannah Linder book, another five star read! Wow… just wow! I’m adding Hannah to my favorite authors list. She makes me feel everything the characters feel, plus the mystery and suspense woven throughout. I loved Georgina’s gentleness and her love and care for the people in her life. Simon was a complicated character for me sort out, but I grew to like him and root for him. Both characters were flawed and had a lot to learn about themselves. Their journey of self-discovery and growth was beautiful. All of this, coupled with a few twists and turns made this book perfection! And I absolutely adored the epilogue! 🐶

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Wow!! From the first page, I was hooked! The characters are well written, the storyline is interesting and intriguing and I absolutely love Georgina . Be warned, this book is nearly impossible to put down!

I was given this book to read and review - all opinions are my own

17-year-old Simon Fancourt can no longer bear the choking, trapped feel of the planned courtship and engagement to 14-year-old Georginia Whitmore. His entire life, planned by his parents is just too much to take. He packs up and runs away to seek the life he wants.
Twelve years later recently widowed Simon travels back to England with his two children and learns that his father still tries to control him, from the grave. There is no way he is going to marry Miss Whitmore, not even to gain an inheritance. He has a mission he is driven to undertake.

Georginia is always left behind, abandoned, broken hearted. She absolutely wants nothing to do with Simon. She has never forgotten the boy, but she wants to be loved, not enter a marriage of convenience. She intends to stay away from the man. The two are thrust into danger, each keeping secrets from one another.
I received this e-book from Barbour Publishing through NetGalley. This is my opinion about it. I couldn't read it fast enough! What a masterful plot. Murder, deception, heart break and betrayal affect both main characters. The suspense is peppered with shocking twists and endearing moments. I really thought I knew who the instigator of these terrible things was, but I didn't have it figured out until very near the end. I enjoyed this very much.
Possible trigger, violent attacks, traumatized children

This is a story of mystery, lost love, heartache and resolution. While this story deals with topics like murder and abuse, it is approached in a way that is not offensive. It also is not overly “religious”. While I don’t call this a strictly Christian novel, it is definitely clean.
The dialog between the characters is great, easy to follow and very engaging. The story switches back and forth from England to America. The story line moves along and keeps your interest.
The story revolves around Simon, the second son of a wealthy Englishman and Georgina, the beautiful young English girl he is expected to marry.
Simon’s father expects Simon, as the second son, to enter the church clergy and to marry Georgina. Simon isn’t interested in the ministry and would rather pursue his art and painting, he leaves and ends up in America where he marries and has children. His wife, Ruth, is brutally murdered by someone from England. Simon makes it his mission to discover who is behind it.
Georgina has always loved Simon and was saddened when he left. When Simon returns to England to track down his wife’s killers, he discovers his father has died and his mother has become blind. His father’s will stipulates that he must marry Georgina in order to inherit and his mother threatens to sell the estate if he doesn’t.
Georgina is being stalked by someone who is leaving her dead roses in places that no one should have access to.
Will Simon marry Georgina? Who is the mystery person leaving dead roses for Georgina? Who can they trust? Will Simon discover who murdered his wife?
This is from the publishers website:
“All He Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart.

Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice.

Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife’s horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father’s unexpected will by marrying Georgina—the last thing in the world he wants to do.

Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first time, open his heart to her?”
I give this a 5 star rating, not something I give out very often!
I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.

I will first say that this story had me sitting on the edge of my seat. It is intriguing and suspenseful. There is so much going on. It starts off in London. Simon has been informed that he will apply to the church and marry, Georgiana, the young woman his father has chosen. He refuses and storms out. The next thing we know he is in North Carolina. At times I struggled to follow the story. I also was frustrated with some character development. I did read an arc copy, so hopefully those issues are cleared up before it was released. Overall, I really enjoyed the drama. It is gripping and held my attention throughout. It is a close door historical romance with some trigger points of rape, descriptive murder, violence and children witnessing those scenes. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Never Forgotten, by Hannah Linder, opens with Simon Fancourt’s father insisting he marry Georgina Whitmore.
However, this is not direction Simon wants to go. He feels that Georgina is merely a shallow and absurd young lady!

Twelve years later, Simon is now across the ocean in North Carolina. His beloved wife has been killed and he is left with two young children to raise. His primary course is to return to his homeland in hopes of finding some answers concerning who is responsible for his wife’s death!

Once Simon arrives at his family home, he finds that his mother is blind and his father is dead. His father’s will states that he must marry Georgina to receive his inheritance!

This is an interesting tale to follow. Simon and Georgina not only have to learn to interact together; but, more importantly, they both have a mystery to solve!

“Tonight, he would escape. He was running indeed, but not away as Father had accused. He was running to the unknown, to the things he could not paint, to the words he could not say—the chance to accomplish something of worth.”

Twelve years ago, young Simon Fancourt disappeared from British society, leaving his fiancée Georgina Whitmore behind. Now, he’s back and seeking justice for his murdered wife . . . but he needs Georgina’s help to get it.

With a plot packed with secrets, corruption and betrayal, even murder, Never Forgotten is a page-turner of a story that readers will not soon forget! It’s Linder’s best story yet!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Barbour Books for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

As the second son, Simon will not inherit the estate and is expected to become a clergyman. Simon, on the other hand, is not interested in anything his father suggests including his betrothed, Georgina Whitmore. So he runs — as far away as he can get, to America. When tragedy strikes, he returns to West London with two children and vengeance on his mind. Georgina is still unmarried. Could she possibly have been hoping that Simon would one day return to England?

The author has given us plenty of intrigue and mystery, with lots of blood and black eyes. A very strange will left by his father leaves Simon in a quandary. Will he honor the will, or once again go his own way? Accused, released and beaten will Simon stay alive to see his children grow up? Carriage accidents, kidnapping and more will keep you reading right up till the very satisfying end.

Another wonderful book by this author was received through Barbour Publishing and NetGalley. These thoughts are my own and were in no way solicited.

"Never Forgotten" by Hannah Linder Books is a historical romance with suspense, intrigue, secrets, betrayals, unrequited love and more. The story follows Georgina Whitmore, who finds herself entangled with Simon Fancourt, a man from her past who returns to England bearing painful memories, two young children, and a fierce resolve for justice.
Simon's traumatic past leaves him consumed by vengeance and a will to protect his children and solve a few mysteries, without marrying Georgina to inherit his families estate.
Georgina’s unrequited love, (from their previous arranged marriage) for Simon adds emotional depth and tension as she risks everything to protect him and his children, while dealing with her own mysteries.

Despite the somewhat darker themes, this story has some incredible moments and well developed characters. I truly adored the story and characters as a whole. I both loved and hated Simon and Georgina at different times, purely as emotional reactions. Simon at times was so stubborn and prideful, it frustrated me, but the depth of his character and his discovery was beautiful and needed to happen. Georgina was somewhat aloof and naive, but aspects that needed to be there for character growth. She was also determined, loving and dedicated.

The story and characters, along with the suspense grows throughout the book and it was a race to finish it and find out the ending. I did not love how the little girl seemed much younger and how she spoke, but I recognize the time, the trauma and how she grew up etc. This is a beautiful story full of so many surprises and equally tender moments between varying characters.

Never Forgotten is my first Hannah Linder book and it certainly won’t be my last. I was expecting a sweet quiet regency novel, but instead was thrust into mystery and intrigue and I loved it. From the opening lines I was pulled into the story feeling the deep heartache of the main characters. I was on the edge of my seat watching everything play out and wondering who the reader could trust.

Simon and Georgina are bound in marriage in infancy by their parents. By the time the time they come of age, Simon desires something different than the high society he was born into and certainly not a woman he didn’t choose. He heads off to America where he builds a life from his own hands. He marries and starts raising a family. His wife is murdered leaving him with two young children. He returns to England bent on revenge. Georgina has spent years nursing a secret love for Simon and trying to protect her heart from the abandonment of those who claim to love her. Upon Simon’s return they are continually thrown together and Simon starts to see there is character and strength in Georgina he had never noticed before.

I only wish there had been more faith within the story. For it being a Christian fiction novel there didn’t seem to be a whole lot of faith content. But it was clean, full of suspense, and I did thoroughly enjoy the plot. I voluntarily reviewed a copy from NetGalley and Barbour publishing. No positive review was required. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Returning to the England and the family he chose to leave 12 years before, Simon Fancourt is now a widower with two young children. While he has always rejected the social restraints that others have lived by, his desire for justice is now an overwhelming force after the murder of his wife .
Once back home, Simon finds that the decisions he made in the past are not one and done, and the choices he makes going forward will affect his family as well as Georgina Whitmore, his former to-be fiancée and the one whom he abandoned the night he left.
While others wait on Simon to see how their futures will be unfolded, Simon pursues answers for his wife’s murder into more and more dangerous territory.
If he doesn’t realize what is at stake soon enough, the choices will be made for him.

“Never Forgotten” has mystery, suspense, and romance in just the right amounts to keep you on the edge of your seat and hoping everything will work out, before you run out of pages to read.
This story does hit a little harder at the beginning with the death of Simon’s wife, but I feel it was necessary in order to grasp everything that is driving Simon’s decisions in the rest of the story.
I love that while this is a romance, Hannah’s stories delve into more complicated situations and topics. Needless to say, this was a book that I’d read again and definitely suggest to others.

I didn't think it was possible to pick a favorite among Hannah Linder's books... But this may be my favorite so far.

Everything about this story was simply incredible. I loved the dynamic Simon brought to the story and how uniquely crafted he was. I loved his perfect blend of strength and stubbornness along with his art and gentleness. He was exactly what Georgina needed. 💙 And Georgina was a beautifully crafted character as well! Her internal conflict hit in all the right ways and her personality made her a delightful character that I could go on reading about forever. These two might just be my favorite couple Hannah Linder has written yet.

And the mystery... ACK! I'd like to say I had it all figured out but the truth is there were so many aspects that it had my head spinning. 😂 I loved it!! I was still guessing up to the end! It was a very satisfying mix of being able to guess some things while being surprised over a lot too. The best combination for a mystery in my opinion.

And Oswald. Oh my gosh. I need more of him!! Can we please have a book just for him?? I need waaaaay more of Alexander Oswald. ACK!!! I loved him the entire time and how unique his character was. He seriously reminded me of Sherlock Holmes and I absolutely adored it. I would preorder a book with him as the main character in a heart beat!!! (I mean, he does need a happily ever after too, right??)

Ten out of ten recommend this book. A million times over. It was superb! Go get yourself a copy right now!!

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

With a heart-wrenching unrequited love, a lovely second chance romance, a quest for justice, compelling mystery, & faith, Never Forgotten took hold & didn’t let go! Hannah Linder’s one of my all time favorite gothic Regency romance writers. She delivers a new page-turning, suspenseful whodunit that spans Regency England & America’s North Carolina.

Simon Fancourt left England after rejecting his father’s stifling demands for him to marry a woman he didn’t love. Now twelve years later, he returns to England from the woods of North Carolina with his two young children to seek justice for his wife who was brutally murdered by an Englishman. His arrival marks bitter revelations of his father’s death & will which requires him to marry Georgina Whitmore, the beautiful woman he rejected once before, in order to receive his inheritance.

Georgina never got over the abrupt departure of Simon. Though she’s had plenty of suitors, she’s still in love with him all these years later. When Simon arrives in England, newly widowed with two adorable children, her hopes begin anew. But, with Simon’s thirst for justice, & his love of his deceased wife, she refuses to accept his proposal without his love. As they both investigate not one but several murders, Georgina puts her life on the line for Simon & his children. Will Simon finally recognize her true character & the love that’s been there all along?

I loved this story so much! Both Georgiana & Simon have suffered terrible tragedies & have some misconceptions about each other. I loved seeing them explore their relationship now with more maturity & a wealth of experience behind them. Their romance was so bitter sweet & I enjoyed every moment they’re together. Simon’s two children John & Mercy were adorable & I loved Georgina’s relationship with them.

The mystery was filled with twists & turns & had me completely on tenterhooks! Just when I thought I had things figured out, I’d be surprised by a new clue. It’s an exciting, thrilling mystery that definitely kept me guessing.

Highly recommend to gothic mystery & romance fans! I received an advanced complimentary copy from the author & publisher. All opinions are my own and voluntarily provided.

If you are expecting a quiet subtle regency romance, this is NOT the book for you. However, if you love regency romance with unrequieted love, Persuasion vibes mixed with murder, mystery, intrique, and all sorts of a-typical events that doesn't normally occur in a regency book then pick this up!

Loved the characters and the heartbreak overall! A solid read. I think I found myself with more questions than answers throughout the book which made the story a bit hard to follow at times (a lot of moving pieces).

Definitely pick this one up but expect an adventure!

Thank you to Netgalley and Barbour Fiction for an advanced copy of this!

This book was full of unlikeable characters, including the two main characters. I was not sure I wanted to finish the book, but the mystery drew me in and I wanted to know the outcome. The fact that there was a happily ever after helped as well.

This book is a roller coaster ride from page one. The story begins on the shores of America with the murder of Simon Fancourt’s wife. Luckily, his children were saved from the savage attack. The search for justice leads Simon back to the past and the life he left behind in England. Once he returns to England, he must face the death of his father, his mother, and the woman he left at the alter twelve years ago. The story is high in suspense, and I will say that I did not know who was behind the murders and other crimes until it was revealed. In the background of the book is a bit of romance and wondering what might have been with Georgina Whitmore. If you enjoy Gothic Style Regency stories, this book is for you. It is truly an adventure.

My thanks to the author and publisher for an early copy of this book. The opinions here are entirely my own. I just reviewed Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder #HannahLinderBooks #NetGalley

This was a beautifully written story about a man trying to escape from society's expectations and a woman who has been abandoned by everyone she has loved. When time and circumstances bring them back to the same circle of influence, they have to make difficult choices, including a hard look at themselves.

This was unexpectedly violent in places - some suggested and some spelled out - but life can be violent in a world with evil men. These are characters you will connect with and care about, solidly grounded in the time period.

I really enjoyed this book.

This is Christian fiction so expect prayer and discussions of faith.

Family friendly.

Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder is another wonderful Christian historical romance set during the Regency era. This book was full of suspense and danger and mystery, with plenty of suspects and suspicious characters to keep the reader guessing exactly what was going on and who was guilty of what.

We first meet Simon Fancourt as a young man who is desperate to get away from his strict, seemingly meaningless life in London, England. He makes his way to America, breaking his engagement to Georgina Whitmore against his father’s demands. The next we see him he comes upon his wife being brutally murdered, finding himself suddenly a widower with two children and desperate for vengeance and truth to be revealed, so he heads back to England where he soon discovers that even though he thought he evaded his father’s demands he was sadly mistaken.

Georgina, who has felt abandoned, now finds herself face to face with the man who left her. But after all this time, she has to figure out if she wants him or not.

Decisions need to be made, but can their relationship ever move beyond that of acquaintances? And at the same time, Simon is desperate to solve the mystery of his wife’s murder, bringing danger upon himself and those he cares about. The author has woven a tangled web that the reader is going to need to have unraveled. And there are twists and turns that I did not see coming that left me in suspense.

There were times I cringed due to the violence, some from the bad guys, but also from Simon who is so bent on revenge that he jumps to conclusions and lashes out. I kept thinking, “um, perhaps he needs to remember that the Lord said vengeance belongs to Him.” I admit I was a bit disappointed at the extent of violence he would bestow as someone who was supposed to be a Christian, and the “good guy.”

Quite the emotional book, and one that will keep the reader flipping or swiping pages to see what is going to happen. Definitely a book I highly recommend. And my favorite by this author so far.

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

AHHHH! This book! I couldn't get enough of it! I didn't expect this story line to be what it was, and it surprised me in all the best ways. I was eager to get to my evening reading and hated putting the book down to sleep. This is my second book by Linder and loved every bit of it.

What a great story!

This book kept me turning pages wanting to know what was going to happen, and then melted my heart in the end!

Great characters, touching story!