UNFORGOTTEN

Author: Kristen Heitzmann ISBN: 0764228285 8/2005 INSPIRATIONAL Publisher: BETHANY HOUSE

Antonia quivered as the door closed behind them. Why wouldn't Lance leave it alone? She had done all she could. She couldn't change the past. Couldn't... Lance Michelli had traveled to his grandmother Antonia's old villa in Sonoma to find the truth behind the secrets of her past. There he met Rese Barrett, the woman who now owns the villa and hides secrets of her own. Now Lance has returned to his grandmother with both Rese and the answers he has found. But Antonia refuses to hear what he has to say. Has she really misunderstood the events of that dark night so long ago? Antonia sends Lance on another quest. But this time he discovers that the past has influenced the present far more than anyone realizes. Lance is caught between the two women he loves as he uncovers unforgotten truths that could change them all forever.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

UNFORGOTTEN is the sequel to SECRETS, Kristen Heitzmann's 2004 novel. This book finds the main characters of the first, Lance Michelli and Rese Barrett, out of their Sonoma Valley bed and breakfast and into Lance's family home in the Bronx. As Rese copes with meeting the many ebullient Michelli relatives, Lance tries to get his grandmother, Antonia, to discuss her secrets. Antonia is cagey, but unlike in SECRETS, we see a great deal of the past through her memories, which explains the mysteries in the first book.

The story is told in the same lyrical, poetic style as the first. Though slow-moving, it is a pleasure to read. The characters are introspective and interesting and damaged.

We see Rese's struggles with her uncertain feelings about God and her relationship with Lance. Lance is also trying to find his place in the world, stuck between his old life and his new, his love for God and his love for Rese. We also get a glimpse into Antonia's life as a confused daughter and young wife, which I was particularly looking forward to after reading SECRETS. There are a number of unusual secondary characters with troubles to explore. The book reveals the losses and rewards of human and spiritual relationships.

UNFORGOTTEN is a must read for anyone who enjoyed the previous book, and if you enjoy complex inspirational fiction, why not pick up both to enjoy?

Heather Hiestand