Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray is a story that draws you in. It starts off slow, but it arouses your curiosity about Seth Zimmerman and Tabitha Yoder. The story is well-written. The characters are developed and realistic. The secondary characters add additional depth to the story. Seth’s sister, Melonie added humor. She is a nosy parker. Unforgiven is an emotional tale (have a box of tissues nearby). Seth and Tabitha have both faced challenges. Tabitha is on edge wondering if the danger from her past has found her. The main themes in Unforgiven are trust, guilt, and forgiveness. It is hard to trust after you have been severely hurt. Time and patience are required by both parties. It is hard to forgive someone that has wronged you (I struggle with this one myself) and it is even more challenging to forgive yourself. Of course, God is always ready to forgive us (we just have to ask). The story reminds us that that God is always with us (we are not alone). Unforgiven is one of those stories that will linger with you long after you finish it. ( )

I loved that this story was not just a normal Amish romance. I loved that there was romance and some harder problems that the characters face. I loved Seth and Tabitha. I enjoyed getting to know these wonderful characters as they struggle with forgiveness. I could not put this book down. I received a copy of the book from the publisher for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will. ( )

Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray is the most soul-stirring, emotionally-charged, suspenseful Amish Christian Romance I have ever read. Gray with her gripping prose keeps her readers spellbound as they journey with her characters through this hair-raising story.

Tabitha Yoder, a divorce, and Seth Zimmerman, an ex-con, outcasts of the Amish of Crittenden County Kentucky, but not banned, were the main characters. They were surrounded by a cast of equally strong secondary family member characters and one very evil villain. Tabitha was a victim of abuse by the one person who vowed to love and cherish her. She became a recluse partially because of fear, and partially because of family desertion due to their Amish faith. The only one to come to her aid was Seth who chopped firewood and put it on her porch along with food. After many months Tabitha finally opened the door to thank this man for helping her. Slowly a trusting bond formed between them. Will the bond last and become love, or will the villainous ex-husband seek his long promised revenge?

Unforgiven, which I highly recommend, is the first book I have read by Shelley Shepard Gray. Why, I ask myself, when I so enjoy reading Amish Christian literature, and she has been publishing books since 2008? Unfortunately I do not have an answer, except from here on out I will definitely be reading more books by this marvelous author who writes unforgettable stories.

A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell via NetGalley through Interviews & Reviews. I was not obligated to write a favorable review, and all opinions are my own. ( )

Over the years I have read a ton of Shelley Shepard Gray books, Unforgiven is the best yet.

The characters are well-developed, the pace of the story is just right, and we get a blend of Amish and “English” beliefs about divorce, abuse, dating, ex-cons, and of course, God’s love for us.
Set in one of Gray’s favorite locales, Crittenden County, Kentucky, the unforgiven characters are former Amish man Seth Zimmerman, set to prison for the accidental death of an Amish man who was close to raping an Amish woman, and former Amish and former schoolteacher Tabitha Yoder, who divorced her husband after enduring years of abuse.

Other characters include Seth’s younger sister Melonie, Bethanne, the young woman Seth saved from rape, and her younger brother Lott, boyfriend to Melonie.
In addition to the theme of forgiveness, Gray also covers opening oneself to others, tearing down the walls we often build around ourselves, and being open to God’s plan for our lives.
Gray covering the physical abuse of Tabitha by her ex-husband makes one realize that the Amish life is not always plain. Even though she is now English, the shunning Tabitha experiences after her divorce from her family and community points out how the abused need the support of family/friends, not fingers pointing at her as if the abuse was her fault. That in turn made Tabitha have low self-esteem.

We also see similar treatment in how Bethanne is viewed by others and how she sees herself.

The developing love story between Tabitha and Seth is sweet and shows their growth throughout the book. The courtship between Lottt and headstrong Melonie gives us something to look forward to in future books. Which leaves Bethanne who will soon have her own story to tell!

If you have not read Shelley Shepard Gray’s other books-you should!

Unforgiven by Shelley Shepard Gray takes place in an Amish Community but the characters are not Amish any longer. Seth Zimmerman is an ex-con. Tabitha Yoder divorced her abusive husband and is isolated within her community. Seth’s sister is also a character in the story. Seth and Tabitha have a tenuous friendship that grows throughout the course of the book. The characters in the book have redeeming qualities and traits as they interact and grow throughout the book. I enjoyed reading Seth Zimmerman’s story of his past, his conviction, and his insights after his imprisonment back in his community. I enjoyed seeing how the characters find out more about each other and how their relationships would evolve.
One of my favorite quotes in the book, “Rushing through things is rarely the best option. To do them right takes time.” I feel that way about Shelley Shepard Gray books. I like to savor, read, and then read again. Each character takes time to reflect and express their feelings to others important in their life. I would have been happy to read a few more chapters about Seth and Tabitha and their relationship.
I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did, and that you read other Shelley Shepard Gray books; she is one of my very favorite authors. The characters have a kindness about each of them. And I am always sad when I finish the book. I would like to keep reading and seeing how their friendships and relationships continue to grow.
I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.
Thank you to the publisher for an advance copy of this book. The opinions expressed are my own. ( )