Forgotten Self

by RC

Seventeen-year-old Abigail just finished her junior year of high school. Her relationship with her parents is distant, but she has a tight group of friends. Everything is pretty normal...except a little secret she's kept from everyone about her cousin, Kelly. But even this secret--which Abby more or less brushes off--will pale in comparison to what she's about to discover. A half-remembered car crash, a new boy at school, and an old friend with secrets of his own: Abigail's entire life is about to be turned upside down when she finds out that not only are angels and demons real, but she's a part of that world as well.

Now available @ B&N and Amazon. (June 2012)

Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal

185 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 13, 2011

Reviews

[Quinn Loftis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this short story! So unique and it has so much potential for where it can go if Rachel chooses. If you are interested in stepping away from the were's and blood suckers, check out this unique short story!

[Bonni · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked it but it cut off at a critical point and mentioned a second book for release in 2012! Can’t find that book anywhere so FOR ME this is just an unfinished story or I would have given it 5 stars.

[Melanie Cusick-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forgotten Self is a really good read. Although I’ve not read a huge amount of books in the YA Angel/Demon field – Hush Hush series, Katherine Pine’s After Eden (good) and a couple more I won’t mention as they were shockingly poor – I quite like them when they’re done well. Forgotten Self is done very well and of those I’ve read I would rate it as the best.

The story is a good length and I read it in a couple of days in two long-ish sittings. Even though it’s not a long book it is well-detailed; the ‘angelic’ world has a good depth to it, the explanations for which are delivered nicely throughout the book alongside Abby’s ‘real’ life. The characters are very well drawn, especially Abby, whose POV we read from. And although I tend to plump for one guy or another in a book, I found both Jonathan and Lucas appealing – there are some nice, subtle dynamics for romantics to enjoy without it being a straight ‘love triangle’.

In the first couple of chapters I was enjoying the scene setting with Abby’s life, school friends and her relationship with cousin Kelly. I thought the descriptions of spiritual experiences and Abby’s grief were captivating – then BAM! Chapter 3 hits and there’s a very curious car accident and you were sucked into a bigger mystery with Abby. From that point on I struggled to put the book down as the pace was kept up in a perfect rhythm of events and mystery solving.

I think to compare with something like Hush Hush, Forgotten Self is more sophisticated – although I like Hush Hush there are some things – like not being able to stay away from the good-looking but dangerous seeming boy that felt a little cliché. The delivery of the narrative in this is simply better. Abby’s character feels more genuine and likeable than Nora’s: she nicely sarcastic, reasonably pragmatic, but also real has teenager ‘moments’.

This book is really well-written, from description to dialogue and emotions there is little repetition of images (something I found has irritated me in some other YA books) and they are quite original whilst being easy to read.

For anyone thinking of trying a YA Angel book – forget about the New York Times Bestselling series, this is the first I’d be recommending to them ☺

(I don't give out many 5* btw)

[Loretta · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was really intrigued by this short story. When Rachel Carr contacted me I was more than happy to give her book a review. She was not sure if she was going to extend book one or not. I am sure glad that she did. Because the characters in the book were awesome. At 1st everything just seems so normal. Here you have Abigail who practically is raising herself. Because her parents are gone for long periods of time, so she is alone a lot. Some things start to take a turn for the weird. A car crash, that she could have sworn she was in... was she? Strange things start happening to Abigail left and right until she is faced with answers she is not sure she is ready hear. Decisions she has to make! What will Abigail do?
This book was a great start to something that can be much greater. I will love to read the extended version once it is complete!
Forgotten Self, is really about a girl, just trying to do the right thing.. even if it will be the hardest of her life.

Review: http://www.betweenthepagesreviews.com...

[Melissa Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book except for the ending but that is because I hate cliff hangers. The characters were intriguing and the story was well written but I felt she has not or did not provide enough history. I love history and have studied the history of Christianity and know the history of the Archangels as former pagan like gods that were trans formed into angels when Judaism became monotheistic EL in ancient Hebrew means God that is why all the Archangels names end in EL like Michael which means the God Micha and so on. That is just me and my knowledge of Christianity but other than that the book is good and I would recommend it to anyone who likes to read about angels.

[Jenna · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really liked this book. It had just the right amount of excitement in it to where I didn't get bored but I also didn't get a heart attack. Just right. :) it was very well written with a great storyline and I can't wait for the next one!!!! Ahh I'm so excited!!!

[aside*from*writing · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review completed by Mel C-J for the blog

http://asidefromwriting.wordpress.com

[Brandy nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

it was a good book kept me thanking !but it was a short read and the love story part sucked

[Courtney Cadenhead · Rating 3 out of 5]

The ending ruined it for me