Review: Forgotten Memories - Wyoming Sunrise #1

Forgotten Memories book cover on blue background

This is a book that has been on my TBR list for some time, so it was the perfect title to dive into between ARCs. Forgotten Memories by Penny Zeller kicks off the Wyoming Sunrise series and is such an enjoyable book that I dove into the prequel, Love's New Beginnings, right after to find out how the Eliasons met and became a family. Both complement each other and will have you immersed in the schoolroom in Wyoming in no time!

Book Synopsis

Some memories are best forgotten…

The Wyoming Territory is rife with lawlessness and disorder, something Annie Ledbetter and her parents discover when their wagon train is robbed. Seven years later, Annie settles into her lifelong dream as a teacher in the small town of Willow Falls. When she meets handsome rancher Caleb Eliason through a humorous misunderstanding, she is quickly drawn to his kind heart and charming smile.

Former outlaw Caleb Eliason embraces his chance at a fresh start. Gone are the days of robbing stagecoaches and wagon trains. When he falls in love with the new Willow Falls teacher, he doesn’t realize they’ve met before—under much different circumstances. When his past comes to light, will it put the growing love between them at risk?

Can forgiveness and redemption heal two broken hearts or will the past keep them from sharing a future?

Source: Amazon

Book Thoughts

I first heard about this book in an interview that Penny Zeller gave about what it might be like for someone to fall in love with someone they had previously met under the worst circumstances. As a result, Caleb and Annie's story was born. I enjoyed this story of redemption, forgiveness, and second chances. It was touching to see how Caleb truly repented of his past life and how he had made amends, reminding us of the power of God's transformation coupled with faith from the community. Caleb's adoptive parents are real gems, and I loved seeing their family dynamics. At the same time, I enjoyed Annie's desire to do what was right and her ability to trust in God during difficult times.

This was a tender romance carved out of painful circumstances while maintaining hope in God. Though self-forgiveness is not a topic I'm normally drawn toward, the rest of the book was superb in capturing what it means to fully forgive through the power of Christ. This first book in the Wyoming Sunrise series introduces strong and likeable characters with clear Christian content. If you like stories of hidden identities and true love that focuses on character over appearances, Forgotten Memories is a book that won't quickly be forgotten.

Book Summary

Format of book: 🎧
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Recommendation: 👍

Comments

All the Cheese

I've been coming across content within the past several weeks that has stereotyped Christian books (and other mediums) as being cheesy on Christian accounts. While this isn't a new label or even a new topic, what has surprised me somewhat has been seeing more Christian authors jump into this conversation who wholeheartedly agree with this sentiment. Although some authors will name others whom they believe are writing non-cheesy fiction, I feel as though the damage has been done by repeating this blanket statement. While readers have freely been engaging in this type of commentary for some time, it's been interesting to see authors chime in, where in some cases, there seems to be an emphasis on self-promotion over reflection. I'm not stereotyping and saying that all authors or even the authors I'm connected to respond with this tactic (because I really don't think they do!), but there are a few out there from my limited experience who seem to respond to this disc...

Mortality and Reading

This is a topic that has been resonating for me over the past few days, ever since I saw James Trevino's Instagram reel about why you shouldn't finish every book you start. In it, he breaks down the math of how many books we'd be able to read in a lifetime, based on reading a set number of hours per day and the average lifespan. He then compares this number to the number of books that are available worldwide. At first glance, it made me realize that I would have a lot of unread books, no matter whether my life is short or long. There's just too many books to read. Thinking about when my life might end led me to think about the types of books I read and how I'm currently filling my time. I don't think it's a coincidence that right after this crossed my mind, I was listening to The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis where he espouses a simple but profound line that stopped me in my tracks: "If you don't read good books, you will read bad ones." Thi...

Review: Fear Full

Fear is a topic that is usually brought up among Christians in that we're reminded not to fear. However, the fear of the Lord is also a teaching that is found throughout the Bible. Reconciling these two types of fears, Fear Full by Ryan McIntosh seeks to help Christians appreciate and understand the beauty and power of fear in a new light. Many thanks to the author for providing a complimentary copy of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own. Book Synopsis What do you know about the fear of God? This book is a journey of discovering biblical and beautiful fear of the Lord. We must crave a proper fear of God if we are to live the Christian life that God desires for us. Using truths straight from the Bible, Ryan McIntosh defines the fear of the Lord, gives life applications, discusses God-centered fear as it relates to the Trinity, and offers valuable commentary on what Scripture tells us about fearing God. You are invited to feast on what it means to fear...