Unforgotten (The Michelli Family Series #2)

I enjoyed the first half of Unforgotten. The last half was good

but not as interesting as the first part. The ending was a real

disappointment. I sure hope there is a sequel.

I thoroughly enjoyed Secrets, the first in this series, so I was looking forward to reading Unforgotten. I was disappointed as the plot dragged and the characters got stuck on the side of the road, failing to develop after the first several chapters, particularly in their relationship.

There was too much detail that did not contribute to the story, causing it to drag - unusual for Heitzman, one of my favorite authors. It was sort of a blood and turnip thing, in that there is only so much one would expect to draw from Nonna's past into the present. Several events in the story were not believable, failing to pass the "would he really do that?" test.

The ending was the biggest disappointment as the two main characters seemed to be where they were at the start of the book. I am curious to see what Heitzman will do in the next book.

Love the first in this family saga. She winds suspense humanity and faith all in one book

full of heart

Love this series!

A continuation of the Michelli family story from the first book in the series, "Secrets", Unforgotten is a story of grace & forgiveness you won't soon forget.

I really liked this book, all of the series were good, but think this was my favorite, passed all of the series on to friends.

This was an amazing book, with all kinds of twists and turns in the story line. I've read two of the three books and plan on getting the third book soon.

First of all, I am a Kristen Heitzmann fan, and I have never met a book of hers that I didn't like. That includes Unforgotten. I'm not saying that I don't like this book, because I do. I've already invested in these characters, and I want to see what happens. That said, however, that might be the only thing that has kept me from putting this one back on the shelf unfinished.

I have to say that Secrets, the first book in this series, kept me turning pages, and I had the book finished in less than one week's time. The combination of mystery and romance was beautiful and intriguing. However, I am not getting that AT ALL with the second book. I have been at it for four months now and am still only about halfway through. Let me explain:

First of all, the second book has Lance and Reese leaving the villa and going back to his hometown to meet with the grandmother and make decisions about the property. I won't reveal too much here, for those who haven't read the first one. Anyway, this little visit back home is moving very s-l-o-w-l-y, both in the mystery AND the romance department. Lance has hurt Reese, I get it, but as I've said, I'm halfway through now,and she's yet to even give him an inch. Her painful history and fears of a traumatic future have her in so much bondage that she will not let anyone in, including Lance who she obviously loves- or at least what she thinks love might be outside of her own distorted view of it. Lance has been so patient with her...PAINFULLY patient, and frankly, it's driving me crazy. She needs to snap out of it already before Lance moves on and she dies an old maid.

Secondly, Lance's big Italian family can be distracting. There are so many names dropped throughout that it's kind of hard to keep up. Granted, the family is all secondary to the main characters' story, so you don't miss too much of the storyline if you get confused, but again, it can be distracting.

Thirdly, the mystery is leaving a lot to be desired. Lance has been back home now for half the book, and so far the only other piece of the puzzle he's gotten to this mystery are letters from his grandmother's safe deposit box. Hello! I AM HALFWAY THROUGH THE BOOK AND THAT'S ALL THE FURTHER THE STORY HAS GOTTEN! Very frustrating. If I'm investing my time into reading this book, it needs to deliver something a little more often than every eight chapters or so.

Okay, enough negativity. The reason I gave this book four stars instead of three is because I know Kristen Heitzmann's writing, and I know it will end better than it has begun. I am holding out hope for the Kristen I know to shine through, and I don't think she'll let me down. And as a side bar- I will say that I am enjoying Grandma Antonia's flash backs. These are beautiful scenes that really take you back and help you to envision what was happening with her at the time. These flashbacks, and Antonia's spitfire attitude despite her illness, are worth the four stars alone. (Lance and Reese who?? Oh yeah... those other two characters.)

The first book in the series and I had to read the rest. Really could not put this book down. Kept my interest until the very end and then could not wait to start the next book in the series.