Reviewer: Tracy
Unforgiven (Walkers Ford, #1) by Anne Calhoun
Series: Walkers Ford #1
Publisher: Penguin, Berkley
Publication Date: June 4th 2013
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 304
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For as long as he could remember, he wanted her…

Raised by a single mother, Adam Collins resolved to take no chances with a girl’s future—or his own. That’s why, as hard as it was, he resisted everything he felt for Marissa Brooks. Then one night a reckless challenge left a fellow student dead and changed both their lives forever. As penance, Adam took the boy’s place in the Marines, where he could disappear into discipline and duty, and left Marissa behind to struggle with her dreams.

Twelve years later, Adam is back in Walkers Ford to serve as the best man in his friend’s wedding. The years haven’t diminished the electric connection he has with Marissa. But Adam’s mistake continues to haunt him, and Marissa is stumbling under the weight of her family’s legacy. Together they wrestle with demons and dreams, but if there’s any hope for a future together Adam has to not only find a way to forgive himself, but also ask others for forgiveness—especially from the woman whose heart he broke.(less)

At the age of 17 Adam Collins was a very passionate boy but unfortunately didn’t know how to channel that passion. One night when it got out of control he got into a motorcycle race and someone died.

Adam spends the next 12 years in the Marines and comes home to Walkers Ford for his best friends wedding. His best friend however is marrying Adam’s ex-fiance. Awkward. From the beginning we know that Adam has himself locked down emotionally with only his friend Marissa bringing out the passion. Adam has spent the past 12 years trying to atone for the wrong he did that one night and in doing so has given up living in many ways.

Marissa is a woman who has lived in Walkers Ford her whole life as her family history goes back 150 years. She has restored her family’s estate to its former glory – or at least very close by the time Adam shows up – but she’s hesitant to take that final step. Once it’s done, what will she do with herself as her dream is fulfilled? She hasn’t let herself think about the other dream, sailing, as she doesn’t believe that it’s one that can ever be seeing as how she lives in South Dakota.

When Adam comes home he and Marissa start up almost exactly where they left off but with both of them denying themselves where will they end up.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I opened the pages to this book. I’ve only read one other story by her and that was a novella but she had me loving her writing style. This book was no different in that she doesn’t spare the reader anything. I love how she took all the different nuances of the characters and brought them all to the forefront of the story. She’s not afraid to get down and dirty with the characters emotionally and I love that.

This story was really intense. You could tell from the start that Adam was in hell but no one could see it but Marissa. He was trying so hard to be the person he thought he should be to make up for his biggest mistake but while doing that he was killing himself inside. Marissa was quite as locked down but she was resisting the pull of things outside of her small South Dakotan town. The way the couple helped each other – sometimes without even knowing it. Seeing two broken souls together and making it all work in the end had me riveted and I could hardly put the book down.

Overall a great book and one I definitely recommend.

Rating: 4 out of 5

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This book is available from Berkley. You can buy it here or here in e-format. This book was provided by the publisher for an honest review.