This read quickly became a page turner, and often with your heart in your throat, Christian Suspense at its best.
This book is really not a sequel but does continue on from Unforgiven, which gives answers for the trauma Bethanne Hostetler underwent.
This is also Bethanne's cousin Candace's story, both have fellows that really seem to like them, but will they be able to move on from the evil things that happen?
I loved how the families got along in this read, Bethanne is Amish and Candance is English, their Mom's are sisters.
We are offered some really scary events here, and deal with some tough subjects, such as rape and stalking, and the author does a great job handling these.
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.

This is not the usual type of book that I read, and I nearly put it down in the beginning. I'm so glad I didn't. It really reminded me that God is good and he draws people around us to help us cope with life and its complications.

Unforgotten by Shelly Shepherd Gray is a wonderful story of friendship, courage and love. Ms. Gray has a special way of telling a story, even about tough subjects that pull you into the story.

This is a realistic honestly told story concerning several difficult storylines; attempted rape, stalking, and kidnapping. All topics usually not explored in Amish story.

The storyline was extremely good. Gray handles each topic with professionalism and understanding of each character’s involvement.

Although the story focuses mainly on Bethanne Hostetler, her cousin, Candace is an important main character in this story. Though their eyes, we can truly see situations from the victim’s perspective. Trauma can definitely affect anyone at any time.

If you love, a suspenseful tale, you will love this book I give it a five star rating all the way. I was given an advance copy of the book by the publisher through NetGalley, but was not required to give a positive review. Release Day is November 5, 2024.

Unforgotten by Shelley Shepard Gray is an inspiring tale of courage and faith that will keep the reader engaged until the wee hours of the morning.

Although not a sequel to Unforgiven, the characters from that book are in this one. While this book can be read as a standalone, the first book provides a lot of backstory that you don’t want to miss. One of the main characters of this story, Bethanne Hostetler, was saved from being raped by Seth Zimmerman, who was in Unforgiven.

In Unforgotten we follow Bethanne as she deals with the trauma of that incident and the death of Peter Miller, the man who tried to rape her.

While Bethanne tries to find life again after an attempted rape, her cousin Candace has been crowned Miss Crittenden County. Unfortunately, she has a stalker, and he is becoming bolder and dangerous.

The author has done an incredible job of getting into the minds of her characters and the trauma they were going through. I loved how Bethanne gradually opened up to considering love again. While I found Officer Ryan to be a little unprofessional, his romance with Candace was necessary to the storyline. I enjoyed their relationship so much that I found the ending to be too abrupt and wished there had been an epilogue to discover what happened after everything was said and done.

A word of warning for those who have had any sort of trauma related to rape or stalking, this book may be a trigger for you. However, the author has also made God a central figure in this drama, in that He is always with us, even during the most harrowing times.

If you love Amish fiction, mystery and suspense, you will love Unforgotten! I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy courtesy of Revell through NetGalley for my honest review.

Unforgotten
Shelly Shepard Gray

Eight years ago, Bethanne Hostetler faced a woman’s worst nightmare. Peter Miller, a man she thought was a friend attempted to rape her. The memory has taken over her life. She barely leaves the house; she has panic attacks. Her parents and younger brother watch her closely. Jay was attracted to Bethy, but Peter was his best friend, so he hesitated to approach her. Neither did he try to stop Peter, he struggles with his feelings of guilt. The man that came to Bethy’s rescue was arrested and sent to prison. Bethanne knows she should have testified in his defense but at the time she was broken.
Bethanne watched as her cousin was crowned Miss Crittenden County. When Jay sat down next to her, she tried to brush him off, but he refused to leave. She came to realize it was time to start living again; she wanted Jay to be part of her life.
A man is stalking Candace; he’s getting more brazen. The local police new temporary officer in the police department, Ryan, the duty of escorting Candace from event to event. He is trying to keep a professional stance, but he is attracted to Candace. Both Candace and Bethanne are in danger.
When a woman is assaulted it affects not only her physical body but also her emotional psyche. It affects how her family and friends see her. In Unforgotten, Bethanne’s family want to protect her, and yet they know she must get on with her life.
This book stands well alone however it would have been better to read the first book. The characters are well fleshed out. Bethanne and Candace are both naive, charming and modest. Jay and Ryan are strong male leads. The secondary characters add depth to this tale. The setting is Crittendon County in Kentucky. I watch for books set in Kentucky, too often people tend to stereotype Kentuckians deeming seeing citizens as red necks and hillbillies. I guess I’m proud to be both.
Thank you NetGalley for providing a copy of this book for review purposes. My reviews are my own opinions.

This is a continuation of the last book I read.
Trigger warning for those dealing with sexual trauma.
The story is really engaging with a bit of mystery.
There are four main characters who all have life altering trauma to deal with.
The Amish in this book must be a more liberal group based on how they live.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. My opinions are my own.

Although easily read as a standalone, 'Unforgotten' follows on the heels of 'Unforgiven'—continuing the painful issues of past protagonists and also acquainting us with an entire cast of new characters to root for.

Bethanne's fears from a past assault come rushing back when her beautiful non-Amish cousin, Candace, attracts a menacing stalker after winning the title of Miss Crittenden County. Both are sweet, innocent, and humble . . . undeserving of the blows life has brought them. Ms. Gray pens amazingly courageous, strong, realistic characters the reader can totally identify with—who fight to overcome fear, anxiety, and learning to trust again in the face of pain. Highly recommend!

*I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Revell publishers via NetGalley and was not required to write a positive review.*

I read Shelley Shepard Gray's books a lot. This is a really good book.
I liked the relationship between Candace and BethAnn. They are cousins and it
didn't matter that one was Amish and one was English. They were there for each other.
I enjoyed the suspense and would highly recommend this book. Looking forward
to the next one.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.

Prepare yourself for an emotional roller coaster as Bethanne and Candace face their worst fears. Even though they will never forget, they must learn to forgive, or they will miss out on all the good things life still has to offer. It is a challenge to not let fear win no matter how bad things become. But with trust in God, it is possible to get through it.
This was a very hard book to put down. It is heart-pounding, fast-paced, and I finished in 24 hours. The story flowed well, although, as I am a very visual reader, some minor things tripped me up. For example, I would picture the characters already sitting, but then it said they sat down. I thought it was just me missing something, but it happened multiple times. It did not deter me, however. The characters are realistic, and the text carried me along to the very end. I appreciate an author that can tackle difficult subjects in a thoughtful way. I also liked that the ending was satisfying enough without tying everything up in a neat bow. Recovery takes time, but there is hope.
I was initially confused about whether or not this is a sequel to Unforgiven. These books are not promoted as a series, but I would definitely say they are. Unforgotten can easily be read as a stand-alone novel, although I highly recommend reading both. I appreciated the reappearance of familiar characters and learning a bit more about what happens to them. I would definitely welcome a third installment.
If you enjoy clean Amish fiction, a good mystery, or anything else by Shelley Shepard Gray, then you will not want to miss this one. It is now one of my favorites by this author.
*I received a complimentary copy of this e-book courtesy of Revell Publishing through Interviews & Reviews and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.