The title, Unforgiven, makes you think. Who is unforgiven? For what? Could it be so bad that it could never be forgiven? This is an Amish novel. Don’t the Amish believe in forgiving no matter what?
Unforgiven is the first book in a new series, Rumors in Ross County. And what a beginning. Seth Zimmerman is an ex-con who has worked for three years in his Amish community to make amends. He assists people who need it — the vulnerable. One person he often helps is Tabitha Yoder who did the unthinkable for an Amish woman. She divorced her husband — her abusive husband. She is now shunned. Seth began two years ago. He just appears and does what needs doing.
Tabitha stays in the house. They do not talk but she watches him sometimes from the window. She is a few years older than Seth and was his teacher in the Amish school. Seth has been dropping by and doing various chores for two years and Tabita feels the need to say thank you. And from that thank-you, a friendship begins, an uneasy friendship, but it is what both need whether they know it or not.
And THEN … little gifts begin to be left at Tabitha’s door. After verifying the gifts are not from Seth, the only person it could be is her ex. Tabitha is scared and justifiably so and Seth isn’t about to stand back and let anyone hurt Tabitha. Even if it means he is arrested again.
The beginning is so well-written that I was pulled into Tabitha’s and Seth’s story from the beginning. We meet her sister & husband and their precious boys. And the three people who were intricately involved in Seth’s arrest. The story builds adding pieces of information that confirmed my suspicions.
As happens often when I read Amish-based novels, something reminds me of yesteryears. This time it was putting milk into mason jars, refrigerating them, and waiting for the cream to rise. Growing up we did the same except a mason jar wouldn’t hold enough milk, so a gallon can (well-cleaned) with the top removed was used instead.
When Chance appeared … I’m a sucker for puppy dogs. Chance adopts Tabitha. Dogs have an instinct that tells them when people need them — even when they don’t know they do.
Unforgiven is a wonderful story. I highly recommend it. And I’ll be looking forward to the next book in this series.
I received a complimentary DRC (digital review copy) of Unforgiven via NetGalley from the publisher, Barbour. A positive review was not required; the opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Rating: 5 stars
Series: Rumors in Ross County, #1
Cover: Grabbing. Catches the eye.
Pages: 292
Publish Date: 21 May 2024
#Unforgiven #NetGalley #ShelleyShepardGray
