Unforgiving Ghosts

by Candy Ann Little

As Megan Black tries to outrun the memories of her past, she soon learns that you can't run away from trouble. Can she find peace in God and faith to choose the right path? Or will chasing ghosts cause an unforgiving heart that only leads to destruction?

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2012

About the author

Candy Ann Little grew up in a small town in Ohio. She spent twenty years in Michigan where she raised her two kids, was president of the PTA and ran two writing groups. She has recently relocated to Kentucky, where she can spend her “golden years” in warmer weather. Although her career began in tragedy- when her third child was stillborn- she has found a freedon and healing in writing words. She finds it therapeutic putting her thoughts into the words and action of her characters.

When Candy Ann Little isn’t busy writing, she enjoys helping with church activities, working with exchange students, reading, cooking and baking. She is the self published author of Christian romances: The Unwilling Bride and Unforgiving Ghosts. She has also written some mainstream mysteries: Murder of an Oil Heiress, published by Inknbean Press. And a cozy novella, Death By Broken Heart.

Reviews

[Mark Morris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unforgiving Ghosts by Candy Ann Little

Please note that, although I received a free copy as a routine Amazon promotion, this is a spontaneous and unbiased review of this book.

This book opens with Megan - the lead character - travelling most of the way across America, seemingly on a whim.

To a casual viewer, Megan is a charming and personable woman who readily attracts attention, being both open and giving. She quickly becomes popular with most people she meets and this creates many opportunities for her, her home-maker skills and empathy helping to secure her a valuable position as a cook with a wealthy family in Santa Barbara.

And then things get complicated.

This is an endearing romantic tale with lots of surprises and engaging, realistic characters that you can't help but like, the story starting confidently with a warm but vulnerable woman seeking a new life in a new state. There are rivalries, flirtatious men and discord between siblings to further complicate matters, but surprisingly it's Megan's honesty and vulnerability that create the most problems for her. And just when you think things are going to turn out for the best, Megan's past catches up with her and then everything changes.

Unforgiving Ghosts is an excellent début novel from a now established author which both entertains and also serves to make you question your own motives. It raises some important issues and is a book that many men could do to read, helping them more fully understand certain feminine viewpoints. Overall, it's a most enjoyable, heartwarming book and I'm very happy giving it a four stars out of five rating.

[Kitty Sutton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review for Unforgiving Ghosts
Novel written by Candy Ann Little

Review by Kitty Sutton, author of Wheezer and the Painted Frog

June 22, 2013

This novel is listed as Christian Contemporary Romance. While I found that it did, indeed, fit that classification, I also found that it would just as easily fit in Christian, Mystery and Young Adult Fiction. I do not usually read this genre, however, it was constructed as you would a mystery and it held my attention from chapter to chapter. I liked the romance in the book, nothing heavy handed, nor extremely sexual in nature.

The book begins with a young woman, Megan, who we find out had lived on a farm with her husband. However at the beginning, she is running from something that plagues her emotionally. She goes to California, not even knowing what she will do there, but quickly gets a job with a well-to-do family who is also extremely nice and kindhearted.

The problems that Megan faces are not unlike some that many of us face through our own lives and we live it with Megan as she tries to figure out a way to put the pain behind her. Megan can't open her heart, for if she does she knows that other emotions will come spilling out and it would be a flood she would not be able to stop. So she holds all the emotion in, but at the same time, she is not forthcoming about her past to her employer family or the young swain that has fallen desperately in love with her, and she causes even more problems for herself. The young man also has some emotional issues that he will have to get cleared away before he can have a meaningful relationship. You think you know how the story will end, when Candy throws us a curve ball. It will be a total surprise how the story ends and I won't spoil it for you.

There is much more going on in the book, as I have only touched on some of the high points. In all, Candy Ann Little, has written an engaging Contemporary Romance which happens to have Christian values and is also a mystery, just not a murder mystery.

Unforgiving Ghosts is a worthwhile read. I give it five stars.

[Kim Mullican · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you’re seeking a book about overcoming loss and the triumph of love of God and others, this may be the book for you. While I generally prefer books with a strong female main character, Candy Ann Little does a wonderful job pulling you into Megan’s weakness, heartache and suffering.

Pacing may have been helped with more distinctive character voices that would have provided points of view to guide the plot forward. Don’t let that dissuade you from enjoying this heart wrenching story, a tale of love and hope.

The love triangle and details about Megan’s mysterious illness were slowly developed, often to the detriment of a pacing. Not to worry, the dragging out of the details does serve to allow a reader to pull for one character or another, with the happily ever after most seek in a romance novel.

I was provided a copy of the book by BTS eMag for purpose of honest review. I was not compensated for this review – all conclusions are my own responsibility.

[Deanna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Unforgiving ghosts from the past can go on haunting us until we can no longer deal with them. Once we learn how to deal with mistakes, forgive the past, and go forward, we can live a life free of guilt and forgiveness. Unforgiving Ghosts shows us how Megan and Steven learn to finally face the ghosts of the past and feel the release of hurt and pain. Finding peace, joy, love, hope, and forgiveness in Jesus is the best solution for everyone with unforgiving ghosts that won't go away. Once we surrender our ghosts of the past to Him, we will have peace of mind and contentment in knowing that those ghosts have been laid to rest.

Disclaimer: I received this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

After suffering a personal tragedy Megan flees Illinois and heads to California to escape her memories. She finds employment as a cook for a wealthy family who take a personal interest in her well being. But as always her past catches up with her and throws her life into turmoil. She is faced with a difficult decision, one that will effect more lives than just her own.
I enjoyed this book very much. It had enough mystery to keep turning the pages and enough love to keep a person smiling. The language is clean and there are no explicit sexual encounters described. It is a book good for all ages and, while it has a Christian message worked into the story line, it's not preachy. This is a book that should be in every church library.
I received this book for free in exchange for this honest review.

[Wendy H. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the story of Megan Black who flees hometown without looking back. She finds herself a job, as a cook, with the Peterson family and soon finds herself part of the family. There son Steven has a soft spot for Megan. However, this is more than your average romance. There are plenty of twists and turns and surprises. Megan has to deal with the memories and ghosts of her past and this is a large part of the book. The ending was a complete surprise to me and a definite twist on the usual romantic fare. This is the type of book which you should add to your summer reading list. Sit in the garden with a glass of something cold, relax and enjoy this book. Definitely recommended.

[Jodi Woody · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. Good Christian romance. A woman going through the hardest time in her life bolts and runs, only to find out that she needed to face her issues head on. It was a little slow for me and I had some trouble connecting to the characters. Over all a good read. I give this book 3 stars. I wouldn't recommend for under 16 due to some sexual references.

[Wanda Hartzenberg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Even though I am a big fan of this genre this book moved too slow to hold my attention.
I also had trouble connecting to any of the characters at first but I must confess that the main protagonist grew on me as I kept reading.
The fact that the plot did not really hook me was a big obstacle for me and it took me forever to finish the book
WaAr

[Shelley]

Author's guest post at my blog:
http://bookfare.blogspot.com/2013/12/...

[Alison]

kindle 308 (chic Lit)