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Michelli Family #2
Unforgotten
Secrets Unforgotten...Truth Revealed. Antonia quivered as the door closed behind them. Why wouldn't Lance leave it alone? She had done all she could. She couldn't change the past. Couldn't... As past and present interweave in her mind, Antonia relives the terror that cast her from her Sonoma home and carried her to New York with Marco Michelli, the man who vowed to protect her...who became the husband she now realizes she hardly knew. Two generations after Antonia's exile, Rese Barrett is swept into Lance Michelli's volatile family in the Little Italy of the Bronx, where she finds a culture and way of life as baffling as it is welcoming. These are the people Lance loves with the fierce, unflagging devotion that pulled him back from Sonoma - where her own uncertain future waits. Some things might be better left in the shadows of the past, but Lance doesn't have that option. With his grandmother clinging to life, as fragile as a spider's thread, he struggles to unravel a complex web of lies and secrets. Is his family's history as shameful as Nonna Antonia believes, or is it more treacherous than anyone imagines?
414 pages, Hardcover
First published August 1, 2005
124 people are currently reading
734 people want to read
About the author
Kristen Heitzmann
46 books916 followersKristen Heitzmann is the award winning author of contemporary romantic suspense, psychological suspense, and historical series. An artist and musician, she'll also be found hiking the Rocky Mountain trails.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
March 7, 2016
It is always challenging to read a Kristen Heitzmann book. Her use of vocabulary and writing style is so far above my head (Afrikaans being my first language) that I find that I have to concentrate when reading one of her books, otherwise I would feel lost, missing detail. Her dialect between characters is also not as flowing - for me it feels more broken - compared to some of my favourite authors.
Apart from my personal challenges, I enjoyed this part of the Michelli series and find it difficult to review since it was a full bodied plot, dealing with secrets, hurts, emotions, spiritual warfare and curses through bloodlines. I enjoyed this book more than book 1 and loved Lance even more than in book 1. He had to deal with some series issues and choices, some of his choices made me frown and think, "no don't do that!" But as the story continued, you realised why he made that choices and why it made such an emotional impact. Spiritually this was a heavy book - dealing with serious issues in Lance's family and also with regards to Star, though it was mild compared to Frank Peretti's books.
I loved the flashbacks to Antonia's past and looking forward to read her grandparents story, which is a separate series altogether. I enjoyed Antonia and Marco's story and it completed some questions left open in book 1.
I enjoyed seeing Rese coming out of her shell. I loved the interaction between her and Pop (Lance's father) when she repaired something and enjoyed the Italian family interactions. I enjoyed the teaser to Sofie and looking forward to dig deep into her story as well.
This book left me without words. All i can say is if you read the first book, continue the series. Recommended for more "mature" readers.
Apart from my personal challenges, I enjoyed this part of the Michelli series and find it difficult to review since it was a full bodied plot, dealing with secrets, hurts, emotions, spiritual warfare and curses through bloodlines. I enjoyed this book more than book 1 and loved Lance even more than in book 1. He had to deal with some series issues and choices, some of his choices made me frown and think, "no don't do that!" But as the story continued, you realised why he made that choices and why it made such an emotional impact. Spiritually this was a heavy book - dealing with serious issues in Lance's family and also with regards to Star, though it was mild compared to Frank Peretti's books.
I loved the flashbacks to Antonia's past and looking forward to read her grandparents story, which is a separate series altogether. I enjoyed Antonia and Marco's story and it completed some questions left open in book 1.
I enjoyed seeing Rese coming out of her shell. I loved the interaction between her and Pop (Lance's father) when she repaired something and enjoyed the Italian family interactions. I enjoyed the teaser to Sofie and looking forward to dig deep into her story as well.
This book left me without words. All i can say is if you read the first book, continue the series. Recommended for more "mature" readers.
May 28, 2015
This book was good but not as good as the first one. It moved a lot more slowly. it took 400 some pages to get that far in the story and at the end its still not all finished. I felt like I could identify with Rese more than Lance in this one (totally opposite of the 1st one!). Their relationship was complicated. At the end of the first book it seemed like they got it worked out but they continued to have problems in this one. it got really annoying when they weren't getting along and then as soon as he kissed her everything was OK again. Still I did want them to end up together.
My other issue was how Lance dealt with the vendetta he discovered. First of all I couldn't see why he let that come between him and Rese. And secondly it was so far in the past that I didn't understand why he couldn't just forgive and move on. Although he did do that eventually it took long enough I was getting rather impatient.
However even though this book wasn't perfect for me I still enjoyed it. I think this authors writing style is amazing!
My other issue was how Lance dealt with the vendetta he discovered. First of all I couldn't see why he let that come between him and Rese. And secondly it was so far in the past that I didn't understand why he couldn't just forgive and move on. Although he did do that eventually it took long enough I was getting rather impatient.
However even though this book wasn't perfect for me I still enjoyed it. I think this authors writing style is amazing!
September 28, 2013
I read this book with some impatience, not with the writing but with the two main characters. How could they take something so simple and make it so difficult? I enjoyed the way Kristen made the characters in the book so real, even though they were unusual. Lance Michelli is someone I would like to know as a friend. Rese Barret is a woman I would never have survived with, and the same was almost true with Lance. An added bonus was the tale of an old vendetta against the Michelli family. This is a rich, multifaceted story, and is well worth reading. I read the whole series, and when I found out there was no more, I was disappointed. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Michelli family and the others.
September 23, 2012
Not as good as the first one... really slow moving and did not keep my interest as well. However, I still would like to know the outcome of the story. I read some reviews for the following book and they said much of the focus shifted away from the two main characters from the first two books... I hope that some closure will still be brought to their story.
August 25, 2016
Wanting to discover more about the secrets his Nonna Antonia has kept hidden for so long, Lance Michelli goes back to his home in New York. Coming back with him is Rese Barrett, the woman he had met in Sonoma, where he began his pursuit for the truth of his family's past. Rese has agreed to go with him, to give Lance a second chance to prove he is worthy of her trust.
In New York, Rese meets Lance's family, whose way of life- so different from her own- is slightly overwhelming, although friendly and welcoming. With Nonna Antonia's health so fragile, the unraveling of the past is slow. In her mind, Antonia relives her life in Sonoma and the reason she left her beloved home with her husband, Marco Michelli.
Unforgotten by Kristen Heitzmann is an excellent sequel to `Secrets' and a well-written story full of emotion and unforgettable characters. Her character-driven plot kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next to Lance and Rese. I think these books "Secrets" and "Unforgotten" are the best-developed books I have Read to this point. I had to stop a couple of time and look around to make sure that the characters hadn't come to life.
Wow... I also love the way she did Antonia's story back when she was fleeing her home in Sonoma, California with a man whom she knew little about other than he had sworn to protect her from her father's killers. Lance has discovered the secrets that were hidden in Antonia's old home which is now owned by Rese Barrett.
At the conclusion of "Secrets" Rese and Lance decided to head to the Bronx in New York City to speak to Antonia about the villa and what she wants to do with the property even though legally she still owns it even though Rese had paid for the property. Lance finds himself caught between the two women he loves and must sacrifice more than he has to give. An awesome, riveting story filled with romance, angst and the ever-lasting love and forgiveness of God.
I would Recommend this book, and the others in the series to anyone.
In New York, Rese meets Lance's family, whose way of life- so different from her own- is slightly overwhelming, although friendly and welcoming. With Nonna Antonia's health so fragile, the unraveling of the past is slow. In her mind, Antonia relives her life in Sonoma and the reason she left her beloved home with her husband, Marco Michelli.
Unforgotten by Kristen Heitzmann is an excellent sequel to `Secrets' and a well-written story full of emotion and unforgettable characters. Her character-driven plot kept me turning the pages to find out what happens next to Lance and Rese. I think these books "Secrets" and "Unforgotten" are the best-developed books I have Read to this point. I had to stop a couple of time and look around to make sure that the characters hadn't come to life.
Wow... I also love the way she did Antonia's story back when she was fleeing her home in Sonoma, California with a man whom she knew little about other than he had sworn to protect her from her father's killers. Lance has discovered the secrets that were hidden in Antonia's old home which is now owned by Rese Barrett.
At the conclusion of "Secrets" Rese and Lance decided to head to the Bronx in New York City to speak to Antonia about the villa and what she wants to do with the property even though legally she still owns it even though Rese had paid for the property. Lance finds himself caught between the two women he loves and must sacrifice more than he has to give. An awesome, riveting story filled with romance, angst and the ever-lasting love and forgiveness of God.
I would Recommend this book, and the others in the series to anyone.
April 8, 2013
Lance and Rese make their way back to the Bronx where Lance's Italian family nearly overwhelms Rese.
It is Lance's goal to share with Nonna Antonia what he has discovered about their family history and to acquaint Rese with his family and life in Little Italy. It turns out to be more of a process than he thought in both cases and for a time he is divided in his loyalties between the women he loves most as he strives to seek the will of the God he serves. Vivid descriptions of the neighborhood and family dynamics continue to draw you in to this second book in the series.
It is Lance's goal to share with Nonna Antonia what he has discovered about their family history and to acquaint Rese with his family and life in Little Italy. It turns out to be more of a process than he thought in both cases and for a time he is divided in his loyalties between the women he loves most as he strives to seek the will of the God he serves. Vivid descriptions of the neighborhood and family dynamics continue to draw you in to this second book in the series.
February 22, 2014
I am so glad that there are some good Christian fiction writer's out there. Kristen is descriptive and gives you time to let you get to know the characters and fall in love with them. I got confused a few times in the plot as details were revealed. Maybe I wasn't paying attention, or there could have been a little more clarity. I had it all sorted out by the end though. Very good!
November 8, 2018
I have continued to love this complex and gripping tale of the Michelli family. The cover photo (in my estimation) is the worst representation of the Lance I've pictured in reading these books...but I will let it slide...because my imagination is just that good. But for years I steered clear of reading this book because of the...ahem...cover.
March 4, 2018
Second book in the series. Very good.
January 1, 2011
Removing familiar characters from familiar settings is a risky move, especially if an author is trying to retain readers through a three-part series. Who wants to read about life in the Michelli’s Bronx apartment building when a historically renovated Italian villa in wine country spoiled readers rotten in Book One? But if the author was trying to make readers feel as out-of-sorts as the characters, then she was successful.
Thankfully I continued reading after Lance and Rese stepped out of the taxi cab on page one and eventually enjoyed getting to know Nonna as a young woman. Truth be told, Heitzmann would not have been able to reveal the dramatic Michelli family history if the action hadn’t moved to the City.
(I could have done with a little less Book One plot summary though. If I ever write a series of books, I’m going to assume my readers have a good memory and will simply start where book one/two left off.)
P.S. I did roll my eyes once when Lance took on yet another family conflict only a few pages from the end. After reading this conflict's resolution, I regretted my hasty judgment because the message of his actions was powerful.
Thankfully I continued reading after Lance and Rese stepped out of the taxi cab on page one and eventually enjoyed getting to know Nonna as a young woman. Truth be told, Heitzmann would not have been able to reveal the dramatic Michelli family history if the action hadn’t moved to the City.
(I could have done with a little less Book One plot summary though. If I ever write a series of books, I’m going to assume my readers have a good memory and will simply start where book one/two left off.)
P.S. I did roll my eyes once when Lance took on yet another family conflict only a few pages from the end. After reading this conflict's resolution, I regretted my hasty judgment because the message of his actions was powerful.
June 26, 2014
Every once in a while, you find a book that when you finish reading it, you're simply quiet. This book dealt with so many things, I'm at a loss where to begin. It dealt with the obvious mystery that Lance needed to solve for his beloved Grandmother, Antonia. It also dealt with the death of his Grandfather, Nonno, from many years prior. But the two real triumphs in this book were the unpeeling of the layers of hurt that Rese had buried deep inside her. Secondly, the awakening of her faith. The interpersonal relationships and the faith shared between Rese and Lance, plus the friendships of the many characters of the book, just really made me sad to finish this book. I only have one book left in this trilogy!! The characters are so beautifully written and God and family so wonderfully expressed. It touched me in many, many ways. I cannot wait to read more by Kristen Heitzmann. God bless her! If you love the Lord, you will adore this series!
October 20, 2012
I love this series! Although there were a few lagging parts...I loved hearing about Nonna Anonia as a young girl and how she fell in love with Marco....I was disappointed to see that Lance and Rese didn't really resolve anything at the end so I hope in book 3 they do because I heard book 3 was more about Sophie.....I guess we will see!
October 23, 2012
I really liked it! It was slow at times, like the first book, but I just love all the characters and the plot and the twists. I hope Kristin Heitzmann keeps writing about the Michelli family, Star, Nonna, Rico, etc!
September 22, 2012
loved this but it made me wish I was Italian and had an Italians Nonna that cooked that good ;) made me hungry!!!
October 19, 2012
Audiobook--book 2.
January 4, 2013
I enjoyed this sequel, especially the revelation of Antonia's story and the continuation of Lance and Rese's romance. Also loved the Italian family in their apartment house in the Bronx.
January 17, 2013
same as #1 great book.
July 15, 2013
Great sequel to Secrets. Looking forward to reading the third in the Michelli series.
May 4, 2022
After reading the first book in the series (Secrets) several years ago, I was really looking forward to reading this next book in the series. I guess I didn't remember as much from the first book as I expected, but it took me a while (and several cues from this book) to remember what had happened.
For me, this book didn't seem to move along as nicely as as the previous book in the series. Maybe part of it was because I "read" this as an audiobook, so my attention was split. While I appreciated the effort to have older Italian characters sound Italian, it also made it much more difficult to understand them and follow the story (given the increased reading speed I use). I found that by the end of the book I was kind of glad it was wrapping up.
The tension as Lance has to work through his grief, hatred, and resolutions was palpable, but (for me) it was too drawn out and his lack of communication with his loved ones was puzzling/frustrating.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and hoping it picks up and holds my attention better.
For me, this book didn't seem to move along as nicely as as the previous book in the series. Maybe part of it was because I "read" this as an audiobook, so my attention was split. While I appreciated the effort to have older Italian characters sound Italian, it also made it much more difficult to understand them and follow the story (given the increased reading speed I use). I found that by the end of the book I was kind of glad it was wrapping up.
The tension as Lance has to work through his grief, hatred, and resolutions was palpable, but (for me) it was too drawn out and his lack of communication with his loved ones was puzzling/frustrating.
Looking forward to reading the next book in the series, and hoping it picks up and holds my attention better.
January 22, 2020
After reading the first book in the series, I put the rest of the books on my TBR list and kept coming back year after year hoping to catch them on sale. Finally, I used a Christmas gift card to complete the set and began rereading Secrets to get myself all pumped for book two. Book one was as fresh as ever and I roared through it once again. Book two picks up right where we left off and digs a little deeper into the Michelli mystery. That part I enjoyed, but the romance between Lance and Reese is overshadowed by all the psychological and spiritual darkness. Side stories seemed to overtake the main one. Even so, I finished quickly looking for a return to what I enjoyed so much in Secrets.
October 15, 2019
Amazing story!
This book series is breathtaking. The scope of the characters lives cover almost every area of struggle in life, but the underlying premise of loving, growing, and showing mercy, makes this a simply beautiful read. Looking forward to the next book. The audio version is wonderful too. The narrator i super talented. Love, love, love.
This book series is breathtaking. The scope of the characters lives cover almost every area of struggle in life, but the underlying premise of loving, growing, and showing mercy, makes this a simply beautiful read. Looking forward to the next book. The audio version is wonderful too. The narrator i super talented. Love, love, love.
June 20, 2020
I went to book #2 just to solve the Italian mystery. But as I said in the first book review, the romance/lust was incredibly annoying and the instantaneous rage, fury, seething, anger, (Heitzmann runs out of adjectives for Rese pretty fast) I'm about to turn it off now that the Italian mystery's been solved and a Rese is currently seething at Lance...(rolling my eyes) Adios, Rese and Lance.
August 1, 2020
Not as good a read as the first book in the series. The setting in this book is The Bronx, and I found myself becoming increasingly irritated by Lance and his self-consuming passion for his grandmother. Everyone else was ignored and forgotten. It sounds very noble to help your grandmother, but not to the extent of hurting so many other people.
August 24, 2020
A great sequel
A return to New York for Lance with Rese along. She at first is overwhelmed by his large Italian family and then enthralled. As Lance tries to learn more about his Nonna's past with old papers in hand, he ends up in a quest knowing the outcome might be dangerous. A satisfying end with a multitude of characters and a surprise in the last pages.
A return to New York for Lance with Rese along. She at first is overwhelmed by his large Italian family and then enthralled. As Lance tries to learn more about his Nonna's past with old papers in hand, he ends up in a quest knowing the outcome might be dangerous. A satisfying end with a multitude of characters and a surprise in the last pages.
March 15, 2023
God's grace in a tion
When we listen for direction from God is all over this book. I am not fond of sequels but I can't wait to read the third book in this series I cannot get enough of this series. It got me in the first chapter of the first book. Very well written. I wouldn't recommend this book for teens but it is perfect for adult readers.
When we listen for direction from God is all over this book. I am not fond of sequels but I can't wait to read the third book in this series I cannot get enough of this series. It got me in the first chapter of the first book. Very well written. I wouldn't recommend this book for teens but it is perfect for adult readers.
March 2, 2018
A masterpiece family saga
If you read to get lost in a story, to fall a little in love with the characters and tuck the lessons learned in your heart, you'll want to read this series.
If you read to get lost in a story, to fall a little in love with the characters and tuck the lessons learned in your heart, you'll want to read this series.
June 29, 2021
So so. I’m not Italian; however, I was raised Catholic so I understood much but the rest was just so off base that it was difficult to read. Crazy characters, crazy book. Everyone a bit crazy. Hard to read.
March 28, 2018
Great read
Heitzmann brings us through book two of the Michelli family series with great skill and wonderment over what God can do through us if only we give ourselves to Him.
Heitzmann brings us through book two of the Michelli family series with great skill and wonderment over what God can do through us if only we give ourselves to Him.
August 10, 2017
What next?
Very good book. Confusing at times but well worth the read. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Wonderful.
Very good book. Confusing at times but well worth the read. Keeps you on the edge of your seat. Wonderful.
April 5, 2018
The sequel was as good as Secrets.
Thank you Kristen Heitzmann. I love your stories, your characters, your settings. Christian romance is definitely my genre of choice.
Thank you Kristen Heitzmann. I love your stories, your characters, your settings. Christian romance is definitely my genre of choice.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews