Enter
INTERVIEWS & REVIEWS
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • For Writers
    • Resources
  • Interviews
    • Interview Submissions
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
    • Become a Reviewer >
      • Book Reviewer Guidelines
  • Team Members Only
    • Amish Romance
    • Biblical Fiction
    • Bible Study/Devotional
    • Children's Books
    • Christian Living
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Historical Fiction
    • Mystery/Suspense
    • Young Adult
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
    • February Nominations
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2020 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Karen Baney >
      • Anna Bottoms
      • Ezara Boyce-Swann
      • Kassidi Brewer
      • Thomas Brown
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Joan Dowell
    • Marie Edwards
    • Susan Feaster
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Abigail Harder
      • Adriann Harris
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Christy Janes
    • Raechel Kelly >
      • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Cassandra Lee
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Kevin Maltsberger >
      • Rebecca Maney
      • Lisa McGuire
      • Jane Mouttet
    • Rick Norris
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
      • Susan Poll
      • Mary Polyakov
    • Kathryn Sadakierski >
      • Kimberlee Sams
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Rob Seabrook
      • Erin Stevenson
      • Emily Stephens
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Sarah Speck
      • Amy Smelser
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Nora St. Laurent
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Nikita Wells >
      • Sara Beth Williams
      • Tina Williams
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood
  • Home
    • About >
      • Mission Statement
      • FAQ'S
      • Review Us!
    • Contact
  • For Writers
    • Resources
  • Interviews
    • Interview Submissions
  • Reviews
    • Book Submissions
    • Become a Reviewer >
      • Book Reviewer Guidelines
  • Team Members Only
    • Amish Romance
    • Biblical Fiction
    • Bible Study/Devotional
    • Children's Books
    • Christian Living
    • Contemporary Fiction
    • Fantasy/Sci-Fi
    • Historical Fiction
    • Mystery/Suspense
    • Young Adult
  • Book of the Month
    • January Nominations
    • February Nominations
  • 2022 Book of the Year
    • 2022 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2021 Book of the Year
    • 2021 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2020 Book of the Year
    • 2020 Book of the Year Finalists
  • 2019 Book of the Year
  • 2018 Book of the Year
    • 2018 Finalists
  • Our Reviewers
    • Marta Aldrighetti
    • Karen Baney >
      • Anna Bottoms
      • Ezara Boyce-Swann
      • Kassidi Brewer
      • Thomas Brown
      • Carolyn Bryant
    • Laura J. Davis >
      • Joan Dowell
    • Marie Edwards
    • Susan Feaster
    • Kristina Hall >
      • Joy Hannabass
      • Abigail Harder
      • Adriann Harris
      • Charity Henico
      • Mindy Houng
      • Monica Huyser
    • Christy Janes
    • Raechel Kelly >
      • Linda Klager
    • Beverly Laude >
      • Cassandra Lee
      • Tammy Lunsford
    • Kevin Maltsberger >
      • Rebecca Maney
      • Lisa McGuire
      • Jane Mouttet
    • Rick Norris
    • Lori Parrish >
      • Deanne Patterson
      • Susan Poll
      • Mary Polyakov
    • Kathryn Sadakierski >
      • Kimberlee Sams
      • Connie Porter Saunders
      • Rob Seabrook
      • Erin Stevenson
      • Emily Stephens
      • Katelyn Sponaugle
      • Sarah Speck
      • Amy Smelser
      • Paula Shreckhise
      • Nora St. Laurent
    • Laura Thomas >
      • Winnie Thomas
    • Billi Varela >
      • Diana Varela
      • Elisha Varela
      • Juanita Varela
    • Nikita Wells >
      • Sara Beth Williams
      • Tina Williams
      • Conny Withay
      • Cheryl Wood

Book Reviews​

1/26/2023

0 Comments

Forgotten Memories

 
Picture
Author: Penny Zeller
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: Wyoming Sunrise #1
Release Date: August 13, 2022
Publisher: Maplebrook Publishing


Some memories are best forgotten…

The Wyoming Territory is rife with lawlessness and disorder, something Annie Ledbetter and her parents discover when their wagon train is robbed. Seven years later, Annie settles into her lifelong dream as a teacher in the small town of Willow Falls. When she meets handsome rancher Caleb Eliason through a humorous misunderstanding, she is quickly drawn to his kind heart and charming smile.

Former outlaw Caleb Eliason embraces his chance at a fresh start. Gone are the days of robbing stagecoaches and wagon trains. When he falls in love with the new Willow Falls teacher, he doesn’t realize they’ve met before—under much different circumstances. When his past comes to light, will it put the growing love between them at risk?

Can forgiveness and redemption heal two broken hearts or will the past keep them from sharing a future?

Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Reviewer: Adriann Harris

I am so glad that I read the prequel Love's New Beginnings of this endearing Wyoming Sunrise series. Knowing Lydie and Reverend Solomon Eliason's story adds much more meaning to Forgotten Memories by Penny Zeller, which starts with a bang and never lets you go.

One thing I love is when I read a story, and it transports me immediately to the place and time, which Penny Zeller does as she takes her readers to Willow Falls, a small town in Wyoming Territory. But, Oh-My-Gosh! Before we get there, we experience a real live five-family wagon train robbery on their way to Nelsonville. It had me on the edge of my seat, wringing my hands and praying all would turn out well. This is where we first meet our two main characters, Caleb Ryerson and Annie Ledbetter, as children. Seven years later, Annie becomes the new school teacher in Willow Falls. Here she re-meets Caleb Ryerson, now Caleb Eliason, an upstanding citizen. Their love story begins during the traditional prank pulled by the students on the new teacher's first day of school.  

Note to Readers:  You will want a box of tissues handy. The moral of this heart-gripping tear-jerking story is forgiveness which is one of the hardest things to do. I loved the Bible verses throughout the book.

I requested and received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via BookFunnel through Interviews & Reviews. All the opinions are my own, and I was not required to give a positive review.


Picture
Reviewer: Karen Baney

What would happen if a man robbed a wagon train and fell in love with a woman from that train seven years later? This hook intrigued me and was the primary reason I wanted to read this novel. Penny Zeller did a good job of answering this question and creating tension around this central theme.

The strongest elements in the book were the characters’ struggle to apply their faith and truly understand the many layers of forgiveness. Forgiveness themes included characters learning to forgive themselves, those who committed a crime or verbal abuse against them, and how to forgive family members for not living up to their expectations. The characters also reminded each other of God’s forgiveness, especially in “as far as from the east is to the west.” Very well done, Zeller.

The conflict and character development were good enough to warrant four stars. I felt the character development could have been stronger, digging much deeper into the character’s angst over the conflict. Many scenes ended with the character being extremely empathetic to the plight of the person they were conflicted with. Some of these scenes would have been stronger if the character did not experience that empathy but had to work through the problem later in the novel. So, I found the story interesting enough to move forward, but not a page-turner or something I couldn’t put down.

While Zeller probably intended this story for an adult audience, I felt the character development and squeaky-clean romance would also be suited to a young adult audience. It depends on a parent’s preference for a storyline with a robbery and a theme of punishment for crimes. I found these aspects sanitized enough for a younger audience (12+).

In the end, I enjoyed the story. The way Zeller ended the book delighted me. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll say it pleasantly surprised me. Now you’ll have to read it to find out what I mean.

I recommend this book to fans of historical romance, western romance, clean romance, and even YA. Enjoy!

I requested and received copy of this book courtesy of the author and Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.

0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    RSS Feed


    Categories

    All
    Action/Adventure
    Amish Fiction
    Anthology
    Bible Study
    Biblical Fiction
    Children
    Christian Living
    Christmas
    Church History
    Contemporary Fiction
    Contemporary Romance
    Cookbook
    Devotionals
    Dual Time
    Dual-Time
    Fantasy
    Fiction
    Historical Fiction
    Historical Romance
    Inspirational Fiction
    Marketing
    Marriage
    Memoir
    Missions
    Mystery/Suspense
    Poetry
    Prophecy
    Regency Romance
    Romantic Suspense
    Science Fiction
    Self Help
    Self-Help
    Social Issues
    Spiritual Growth
    Spiritual Warfare
    Theology
    Thriller/Suspense
    Time Travel Romance
    Women's Issues
    Young Adult

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016

    We are listed in The Book Reviewers Directory!

Services

Interviews
​Interview Submissions
Reviews
Our Reviewers
Advertise
For Writers
Book Submissions

Support

Contact


© COPYRIGHT 2016. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Disclaimer
FTC DISCLAIMER: All the books reviewed on this site are given to us for the express purpose of review. They are provided by publishers, publicists, authors and agents. None of our reviewers were required to write positive reviews and none of them were paid monetarily. All opinions are those of each individual reviewer. We are disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”