Forgotten

by Joe Prentis

Amber knew from the very beginning that there was some unfathomable mystery surrounding her father. Her parents divorced when she was in the first grade. After the divorce, she saw her father no more than three or four times each year. Amber and her mother were forced to live just above the poverty level because of the conditions of the divorce settlement. As she grew older, this arrangement made no sense to her because her father was worth almost a billion dollars. On her father’s infrequent visits, he was always kind and considerate, but she couldn’t understand why he didn’t spend more time with her. She had always wanted a career as a singer and as soon as she graduated from USC she was on her way to Washington where jobs were plentiful and she would have a chance to pursue her career. Who was her father? She often wondered. Was he in the Mafia, a drug lord, or working for the dictator of some third-world country? She wanted to know more about her identity, but most of all, she wanted to escape the loneliness she had always known.

223 pages, ebook

Published August 2, 2017

About the author

I cannot remember a time when I was not reading. Books have always been an important part of my life, and I continue to be fascinated by the many wonderful things I discover each time I sit down in my favorite chair and open a book. When I was growing up, we moved frequently, living in cities, as well as in small towns, and on a working farm in a rural area. The sharp contrast of each of these places caused me to love and appreciate the busy and varied experience cities had to offer, but also the quiet life of being close to nature in the countryside. I was impressed early on by the vast differences between the geographic areas of the country, and the part ethnic background, social differences, and education played in the lives of people. Books about history, science, romance, mystery and suspense, have always presented an irresistible attraction to me. Writing is my way of introducing others to the things I have observed and experienced. I mostly read and write suspense novels, but cannot resist the temptation of Historical Fiction, or anything that deals with nature. I have just finished a suspense novel called ‘Innocent’ which will be out before the end of September, 2009. I am currently working on ‘The Relic,’ the second book in a series about the religious and political problems in the Middle East. I am doing research on a novel about the Colonial era.

Reviews

[E.A. Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty talented novel - what matters to Amber, really? Friendship, or fame? Being who she thought she was, or discovering who she really is?
The almost forgotten daughter of a mysterious wealthy father, who has lived in poverty all her life, is suddenly plucked from obscurity and thrown into the limelight - a lot like Cinderella!
The novel felt to me as though it started off a little awkardly, but somehow I couldn't put it down. By the time I got halfway through, I was completely engaged by the story, and by Amber. At the same time, I was feeling a little irritated by all the suddenly-rich-and-famous trappings. Wow, did things happen fast!
In the end, I liked it a lot. Amber's struggles with her father's absentee relationship contrast with her BFF Emily, while her comfortably familiar former poverty changes for a high-stress, luxury lifestyle. Amber does grow and develop in a believable way, but there is fair amount of the story that seems artificially developed, like hot-house flowers. The Mark/Amber thing - bleh. I didn't feel anything particular for him, and I don't believe Amber did either. Etienne, on the other hand, was a great character, as were Lady Helen and whats-her-face, Amber's manager.
Good story, which talks to some important questions. Fame is not all it's cracked up to be... but if you want to find out what Amber chose, you'll just have to read this yourself!