Forgotten Notes

by Sian Ann Bessey

After four years of nursing school, Sarah Lewis has returned home to her tiny Welsh village of Pen-Y-Bryn to live, to work, and to thrill audiences with her gifted harp playing. She loves the peace and beauty of her village, but finds her serenity shattered by the arrival of two Americans - Iris Pearson and her handsome son, Brian - looking for answers about their famous ancestors. The disappearance of Glyn Jones and Mary Williams from the village in 1881 has been the subject of speculation, rumors, and out-right lies for over 100 years. When the Pearsons arrive, claiming to be Glyn's and Mary's descendants, some old questions are answered, but new mysteries emerge. Sarah is intrigued by, then attracted to Brian - until she discovers that he is a Mormon. Torn between the horrible things she's heard about the religion and her growing affection for Brian, Sarah decided to take a chance... if only to help him with his search.

Genres: Lds Fiction, Romance, Fiction, Lds, Mystery

289 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 2001

About the author

Sian Ann Bessey was born in Cambridge, England, but grew up on the island of Anglesey off the coast of North Wales. She left her homeland to attend university in the U.S., where she earned a bachelor's degree in communications with a minor in English.
She began her writing career as a student, publishing several magazine articles while still in college. Since then she has published historical romance and romantic suspense novels, along with a variety of children's books. She is a USA Today best selling author and a Whitney Award finalist.
Although Sian doesn't have the opportunity to speak Welsh very often anymore, she can still wrap her tongue around, "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch." She loves to travel and experience other cultures, but when she's home, her favorite activities are spending time with her family, cooking, and reading.

Reviews

[Marsha · Rating 4 out of 5]

If this book would have had an epilogue then I would have given it 5 stars. The start of the book is a little slow but had many tender moments. The second half of the book was heartbreaking but also heartwarming. There were some tears shed. The end was a little abrupt, hence the frustration at no epilogue. My people come from Wales and migrated to join the Saints in Utah so I loved hearing of the country and the people.

[The Flipped Page (Susan K) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very much enjoyed this story, and the secondary story within it as told by letters. The story was beautiful and poignantly told. The characters were beautifully described, I felt like I was in their homes, and knew their family as they were described in the story.
The story of the harpist/nurse meeting the young American at her Mother's bed and breakfast was sweetly told. A tender romance with some family history mixed in to provide the reason for the trip from America. The village setting was well-described. The harp competition, and all of the events leading up to it, were interesting and beautifully described. Her tender feelings of faith were a nice part of the story as well, and very believably written.
The secondary story, and the discovery of the family letters were nicely interwoven as well.
For an LDS audience, but I think anyone would enjoy the tender love story. I have keep it on my re-read shelf for when I am without a new book.

[Christy VanDerwerken · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a nice, feel good, happy ending book. It's a quick read and fun to read. The main problem was the dialogue was so unrealistic. No one would actually say the things they said the each other. I would have given it four stars but I was laughing at the unrealistic events and dialogue. But overall a good book!

[Gail · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sian Ann Bessey has been added to my favorite author list. I have fallen in love with her stories and her writing style. This story has Iris Pearson and her son, Brian, going to a little village in Wales to search for more information regarding her Grandfather and Grandmother that came from this town to America. The stay at a bed and breakfast - the owner's daughter, Sarah, is fascinated by Brian and they have a wonderful time checking out the local scenery, research on his lost ancestors, her soothing harp playing - and they have a wonderful friendship that could turn into something romantic but she finds out he is Mormon. Devastated because of rumors she has heard she distances herself from Brian. But through some wonderful miracles Sarah makes a few discoveries on her own about the Mormon religion as well as the surfacing of some lost letters regarding Brian's Great Grandparents after he and his mother have returned to America. This was a great story and so enjoyed the journey that Sarah was on to find out about the Church and the discovery of the "Forgotten Notes".

[Lauren Perotto · Rating 3 out of 5]

I usually really enjoy this author, and while I enjoyed the overall story, this wasn’t my favorite of her books. It was too long and the church-y part of the book slowed it way down. The storyline would have been sufficient without it. Having said that, I could tell the author wrote from personal experience and I connected with that. It almost felt like I was reading two separate books at the end and as long as I thought about it that way it was easier to digest. I also realized it’s her first novel, so I can appreciate her growth in her other stories - hence the adding of another star.

[Barbara Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

Since this is very definitely an LDS story I don't think it would have broad appeal outside of that market but it tucked all the boxes for me. I loved the historical nature of the story and the character s who were both sympathetic and flawed enough to be real. It's a great read if you are LDS. I highly recommend it.

[JLynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an interesting story! This author writes with such clarity, interest, fresh new ideas, and vivid natural beauty that she has become one of my favorite writers. Books that convey ladies as strong, sensitive, sensible, and intelligent are a delight for me to read. This book brought all these characteristics up against the heartbreaks of everyday life, and how to overcome and grow.

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sian Ann Bessey is a great author and I've enjoyed several of her books. The historical fiction genre Bessey writes are fascinating. I've learned a lot about actual events and the culture of Wales. "Forgotten Notes" was her first published book and will be enjoyed especially by members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

[Jenny Koim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad that I finally read this beautiful story of Brian and Sarah, Glyn, and Mary. I am slowly starting to read books I have collected in my library. This was a eye-opening story of how Sarah came to find for herself the truth of becoming a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I also loved the letters of Mary and Glyn that were placed in the story.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the Welsh setting and the tidbits that gave me a glimpse of rural Wales. I especially loved the Pearsons search for their ancestors--right up my alley! It was a sweet story, definitely LDS but not overly preachy.

[Autumn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was hooked from the beginning when the book started with a son and his mother going to Wales to find more of their family history. The book did take a turn I wasn't expecting but I enjoyed it all the same.

[Bonnie Mcintyre · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet book and it was written about Wales, which I really liked

[Melinda Ross · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sian Ann Bessey is becoming one of my favorite authors. I now need to take a trip to Wales!

[Liz Bectell · Rating 3 out of 5]

An older fiction, I enjoyed learning more about Wales and the culture there. It was a little bit formula in some ways.

[Miriam · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the setting, the focus on family history, and the characters. It wouldn't be a good book for all readers, but it fit my interests.

[Emeline Bliss · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the two main characters, and it was fun (and sometimes annoying) to see their growth throughout the novel. The story was interesting, and I liked how they connected everything.

[Angieluila Bradley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book. I would read it again.

[Ali~may · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars. It was a little slow for me, and I felt like there was something lacking... but overall a good story. It makes me wonder if I was on my own in the gospel, would I be able to do it... Sarah was definitely strong to be baptized and stick with the church even though her family and friends disapproved.

[Becky Keeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

You could tell the author really knows Wales! It is a predictable LDS romance novel. However, I liked the fact that the heroine didn't truly convert to the Church until she thought he was gone forever from her life.
She didn't convert for him or for "true love" which I thought would happen.

One point that really bothered me was the author implied that people of other faith don't pray for real because they have set, formal, written prayers. I think people of other faiths can and do pray and have Heavenly Father answer them. Yes, other church have set, formal written prayers, but that doesn't mean they "don't know how to pray" or that they don't have a relationship with God. The heroine kept saying she didn't know how to pray, but she went to her Methodist Chapel weekly. I would think she was a religious, spiritual person.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.8 stars. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. The author is in my ward, and I know her fairly well. She was born and raised in Wales. I loved the authentic feel to the book (set in Wales). She is a masterful writer when it comes to descriptions...I felt like I could really see the places she described. The story was cute and engaging, I liked the characters. It is blatantly LDS fiction, including a conversion story, but it wasn't done in an overly cheesy fashion (there were a few cheesy moments, but not too many). Knowing that the author converted to "Mormonism" in Wales made it feel more real and less forced than other LDS stories I've read like this.

[Holly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful to reread!

The first time I read this was long before Goodreads or Amazon or even digital books. I had forgotten most of the story, but not the feelings of the main character, Sarah. As I read it again, more than a decade later and through much different eyes (not only from the glasses I now wear) other parts of Sarah came through more, especially her struggles with rejection. I hadn't even remembered that from the first time.
Whether a young adult reading this for the sweet romance that it is, or an old-er adult reading it and seeing the more poignant undercurrents, you'll be entranced and entertained by this author's great storytelling!

[Tausha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! It touched me in a way I needed right now. I hadn't ever heard of this author but was very impressed by her writing. There were a few parts that were over descriptive and seemed yo drag (scenery, history stuff), but the strong conversion story far out weighed any of that. It is truly a LDS read, but not pushy. I am excited to read more from this author.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This author doesn't write a hectic paced book but I enjoy the slower speed sometimes. Set in Wales where two Americans (mother and son)come to look for their ancestors. They meet Sarah, a nurse and gifted harp player, who is attracted to the son until she finds that his ancestors are the couple who have been the subject of rumor and speculation for years. And to top it off, they are Mormons!

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my very all-time favorites. My book is falling apart due to re-reading. :) (my note from approx. 8/22/2011).

I just re-read this book and really enjoyed it, as always. A few years ago a dear friend replaced my battered old copy of this book, so I now have a nice, newer copy. (8/19/2023)

[Patricia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoy the general story line but feel that there is so much extraneous verbiage that I scan along just picking up the story line and overlooking everything else. Normally, when I scan-read a book--especially as heavily as I did this one--it means an automatic two-star rating but this story kind of compensates for that a bit so I give this 3.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a little slow getting started. In fact, I was ready to chuck it because I still wasn't excited about it at page 99, but I did like the last half of it.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this story.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved it! I only wish I could have heard the Welsh accent.

[Marla Milligan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book and both story's! The author described the country side in Ireland exactly how I imagined it to be.

[Ellise Weaver · Rating 4 out of 5]

I hope I get to meet this fantastic author, especially since she's local! :)