Forgotten Sins

For a romantic suspense junkie such as myself, I really enjoyed Forgotten Sins. Imagine a sexier version of Universal Soldier. The story drew me in right from the first page, and I didn't put it down until I was finished. The story was well paced, and there was a good balance between action and character development.

Shane and Josie made a great couple, and their chemistry was believable due to their history. Their backgrounds seemed to complement each other in some ways but threatened to pull them apart in others. It was that push and pull that made me feel invested in them very early on. I love a heroine who can defend herself if necessary, so to see Josie use some fighting skills to get herself out of a bind was a delight. The verbal show more and physical sparring also seemed to get both of them worked up which was hot. Despite their tough exterior, the sadness that Shane, Matt and Nate harbored inside each of them made me love them even more. They were highly intelligent when it came to combat, warfare and technology, but in matters of the heart or women in general, sometimes the words they spoke had a childlike quality to them.

There were two mysteries running parallel in this book, one was the threat to Josie and the other that was a threat to Shane. It wasn't confusing to follow, but I found the threat to her a little unnecessary.

**SPOILER**

Since Tom and Danny were already in place to keep her under surveillance, I saw no real point in having the drug-addicted colleague disappear so that she could take over the accounts and come face to face with Dr. Madison for the first time. Josie didn't even put two and two together when she was eavesdropping on Shane, Matt and Nate, and they mentioned genetic engineering and neuropsychology. By then the connection between her account and Shane should have dawned on her.

**END SPOILER**

Things that I didn't agree with:

1) Josie putting her job before her safety which led to Shane having to come to her rescue three(!) times.

2) Throughout the entire story (or what felt like it), her issues with abandonment kept coming up via her history in foster care. Emphasizing it once or twice was sufficient to get the picture.

3) Tom was her friend, but he obviously would have liked more. Once Josie was sure that she wanted to give her marriage a second chance, she still allowed Tom to talk to her like she didn't know her own mind instead of putting him firmly in his place.

Overall, I loved how action-packed this story was and how evil the villains were. I can't wait to read more of this series.

Disclaimer: My thanks to Grand Central Publishing for proving an ARC via NetGalley. show less

Genetically altered since birth and trained in black ops equals some very SINfully alpha’s.

Love finding a new series with military men and this one is even better with a twist. Born and raised in a military camp 4 young boys each with differently super human capabilities were forced to train to be killers. They plotted there escape as adults and have been in hiding ever since trying to bring down the whole organization. Two years ago one of those men met and married a woman but 2 months later disappeared without a trace.

Josie Dean grew up in foster homes never really having anyone to call family. When she met Shane Dean she thought she’d finally gotten her wish to be part of a family, to have someone to call her own. She knew her show more husband was in the military and kept many secrets from her but she loved him enough to let those secrets slide. That is until he just left her with no word. Now she is being called to the hospital to collect her injured husband she hasn’t heard from in two years. Josie was not at all happy to see Shane. She had finally filed for divorce and was moving on with her life. Shane who is suffering from amnesia and doesn’t remember Josie in his head but recognizes he had feelings for her in his heart doesn’t let Josie walk away from the hospital without him.

There is plenty of action throughout this book. I really liked the twist on how Shane and his brothers were created and raised. We were given the clues to Shane’s past as he slowly remembered which kept you turning the pages to find out what was going on. You could tell Shane and Josie were meant for each other right from the start but they had a lot of baggage to get through before Josie could fully trust Shane again with her heart. As if the whole background of Shane and his brothers and knowing someone was after them wasn’t enough there was also another side plot that involved Josie and her job that was interwoven into the already action packed story.

Looking forward to the rest of the brothers stories and getting answers to plenty of story plots that were left open. show less

“I love you, angel. It’s the one thing I remember without a doubt.” – Shane Dean

One of these days, I swear, all this uniformed male population that I “force” myself to read about will be the end of me… I suspect it will be an end much appreciated!

Josie Dean hasn’t forgotten her husband – nor has she forgiven him. The guy just left her alone, with no explanation whatsoever, two months after they got married, and now, two years later, he thinks they can pick up where they left off? No way! As soon as Shane gets his memories back, he’ll leave again, anyway, so why not leave him first this time around? But Shane doesn’t agree with the plan at all. He may not remember anything before the time he woke up with amnesia in show more a hospital bed, but all his instincts call for him to keep this angel he calls wife as safe and as close as possible. Will they manage to give their marriage a second chance? Or will the truth about Shane’s true identity tear them apart once more?

Usually, in series and family sagas, I don’t like the first male lead. Well, while in this case, Shane’s big brother, Matt, intrigues me more, I have to admit that I wasn’t disappointed when it came to him, either. Shane is like this big, protective puppy. I think, as Josie later in the book realized, this was because of his amnesia – it made him vulnerable at times, and had him trying to keep control of his dark and needy side, though his attempts were futile. I loved how he couldn’t even remember what kind of food he liked, but the minute his wife was in danger, he instantly switched to protector mode without questioning it. And God help all female readers when that man turns on the charm – Josie fought him off very well, but the man was really something when he let his dominant side come out to play, so I don’t blame her for losing every time, at least she put up a good fight. Also, what I came to enjoy in this male lead was the fact he blushed when he became aroused. Finally! I thought only women were capable of blood circulation to more parts than their genitals with the way all writers refuse to write a guy flushed during the act – heaven forbids a man actually has colored cheeks while he’s busy showing what a beast he is in bed! *gasps* Thankfully, Mrs. Zanetti ignored this cliche and made sure to show that Shane was human, too, despite his many differences to a normal human being.

Josie… Oh, Josie, darling, how did you know badass heroines are my favorites?! You naughty girl, you had me hooked the very minute I realized you pretty much didn’t need Shane to get out of sticky situations. No emotional meltdowns, no girly-kitty-bitchy antics, and no damsel-in-distress – Josie didn’t need any guy to save her, she was busy doing all the saving herself! I mean it, the woman got kidnapped so many times in the book, and all the time, she did 90% of the job alone, and let Shane take care of the little details that needed a man’s rough touch. She didn’t back down, and she didn’t deny still loving him, either – which makes her attitude towards Shane even more understandable, since it was based on survival instincts. And once Josie loves, she loves with all her heart, I can guarantee that. She instantly adopts Shane’s brothers as her family, and she has no trouble playing either the doting female, or the badass hellcat, depending on what the moment needs her to be. Oh, and did I mention she kicks some serious ass? Because she totally does!

But this is not just your typical military romance. Shane and his brothers are more than just super awesome, specially trained soldiers. And the suspense and action take equal parts of the book in this story. They blend together so well, it’s impossible to imagine one without the other. Also, it reminds me of a manga I love to death, called Dogs:Bullets & Carnage – where one of the protagonists is a genetically enhanced super soldier, created by a psycho lady scientist who has abused him to the point his whole view on the female gender has become way too twisted (though Heine Rammsteiner got gynophobia from all this, but you get the concept). I can’t wait to read the other two books – or, three, if my cousin’s theory regarding the fourth brother, Jory, is correct. Speaking of other books, Mattie’s story is next – and I have a feeling the first brother will be my kind of man, just you wait!

Mrs. Zanetti, thank you for introducing me to the Sin Brothers, and for gifting those delicious Alpha males to us female readers!

“I love you. I always have.” – Josie Dean

***I was given an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinion stated in this review is solely mine, and no compensation was given or taken to alter it.*** show less

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/Writer
Rating: 5 Controllers, Royalty Award
Review Source: Publisher
Reviewer: AimeeKay


Forgotten Sins pulled me in from the first page.


I really liked the characters. The main character, Josie, is ballsy and fun. She doesn’t back down, which I think makes her a great counterpoint to Shane. Shane is sweet and sexy, even though he is a bit of a chauvinist; convinced that Josie is weak and fragile simply because she is female. I liked the way they interacted and fought for each other.

I don’t usually go for army romances; I think I liked this one because it has the sci-fi element added to it. (Don’t want to reveal too many of Shane or his brothers secrets.) But I also think I liked it because of the show more writing. The way Zanetti combined the action and romance together really kept the book moving. (Plus the sex scenes were yummy too!) I also liked the way she revealed Shane’s memories. Yes, it was in bits and pieces, but it really flowed with the story and kept me interested in seeing what he would remember next. There were also some interesting plot twists that I didn’t see coming either, but they really made the story even juicier!


The ending was well written. Of course, there were things left unanswered and not all the problems were solved, but it isn’t a dramatic cliffie. Altogether, the ending is a nice set up for the next book in the series. (I assume there’s going to be a book for each brother.) I gladly would read the next books in the series not only to find out the answers to some of the more interesting questions, but also to find out more about Shane’s brothers. The author gives you a taste of them that definitely leaves you wanting more!


Overall, not only am I giving this one 5 out of 5 controllers, I’m also giving it a Royalty Award. It was a great romance that kept me hooked from beginning to end and I think it’s a great start to what looks to be an awesome series.

show less

Rebecca Zanetti is seriously just going onto my “auto buy” list. She’s been putting out some awesome stuff lately & I. AM. HOOKED!!!

Okay, if you want to read “Forgotten Sins”, you’ll have to do it via Kindle, because the paperback won’t be out until January 2014. (Hint: Don’t wait.) Josie & Shane meet, have an explosive courtship, marry… and one day he simply disappears. Years later, Josie gets a phone call to come pick up her husband from the hospital where he is after being found injured & suffering from amnesia. Is he faking? Why is he back in her life? Who are all the dead men that keep showing up? Well, read it & find out LOL!

This is the first of a series which I’m assuming will follow each of these “Sin show more Brothers” – all three (or is it four?!!!!??? hmmmmm…….) as they reclaim their lives and expose the bad guys… and find out what really happened to their dead (?) brother. The suspense & intrigue is truly a blood pressure raiser… as are the (sex) scenes between husband & wife. You’ll find yourself needing a Kleenix as Shane & Josie try to figure out if their marriage is worth the effort based on the risk to her life. Will they have a “happily ever after”? Rebecca Zanetti has an incredible way of grabbing the reader and pulling them along for the ride with her characters, while simultaneously creating story arcs that come to a conclusion while still moving into the next story. Speaking of the next story… here’s hoping it is released… and SOON!! (Her website implies it will be December.)

Check her out ( http://rebeccazanetti.com/ ) - she has a bit of everything… Romantic Suspense… Paranormal… and last but not least – COWBOYS. show less

Reviewed by: Rabid Reads

FORGOTTEN SINS is a unique blend of romantic suspense, military thriller, and paranormal—to be honest, I’ve never listened to anything quite like it. I was reluctant to add this title to my to-be-read pile at first because I tend to stay away from straight-up contemporary, and the amnesia story line was a bit of a turn-off. However, Rebecca Zanetti’s beautiful writing style, and Karen White’s enchanting performance quickly sold me on the merits of this genre blending audiobook, and the smexy SIN BROTHERS definitely helped to further seal the deal. This high octave listen will have you staying up well past your bedtime, and the sex scenes will also ensure that your partner won’t be getting much sleep show more either.

The plot line of this novel is masterfully crafted; I enjoyed watching the various threads unfold, and I loved how just when you think you’ve got it all figured out, the author surprises you. I went from thinking that Shane’s reappearance was to blame—to suspecting Josie’s clients, coworkers, and kinda boyfriend—to government conspiracies, and back again. Zanetti does a superb job of keeping readers guessing up until the very end, and the way that it all comes together is exquisite. I found myself enjoying the amnesia angle way more than expected because it helped to add an extra level of mystery to the story, and then there’s the characters… wow! I’ve only just met the SIN BROTHERS, and already I find myself hard-pressed to pick a favourite.

Shane Dean is the epitome of alpha male; he’s inhumanly strong and fiercely loyal, but there’s also an underlying sweetness to him that’ll make your panties melt. I loved how in spite of his memory loss, his body and soul still recognized Josie as his. Their love for one another is rooted at such a basic level that it seemed almost instinctual at times which made the love scenes doubly explosive. It takes a strong heroine to hold her own against one of the SIN BROTHERS, and Josie was certainly up to the task. Her character is obviously struggling with abandonment issues, and I liked how she consistently disproved the brothers’ opinions of her “soft” nature by kicking butt.

This was my first experience with Karen White as a narrator, and I have to say that I was impressed. It took a couple of chapters for her to get the pacing down pat, but once she found her rhythm there was no stopping her! White’s tone mirrored the author’s writing to perfection; she successfully conveyed all of the characters’ emotions in any given scene, and also managed to capture the sexiness of Dean’s Southern twang. Needless to say, I enjoyed the narrator’s delivery, and will definitely be listening to SWEET REVENGE instead of reading it. What an outstanding performance!

FORGOTTEN SINS is one smexy audiobook! Great story, suspenseful plot, and the man-candy—oh, la la! show less

Listened for Review (Hachette Audio)
Overall Rating: 4.50
Story Rating: 4.75
Character Rating: 4.25

Audio Rating: 4.50 (not part of the overall rating)

First Thought when Finished: OMG Forgotten Sins by Rebecca Zanetti pulled me immediately and never let me go! Action, Suspense, and a dash of romance--great combo!

Story Thoughts: Holy Romantic Suspense Batman--this was a great mix of Suspense/Thriller/Romance. In fact, I would even suggest it to some straight suspense readers that I know because the romance was really balanced with the action. I liked the idea of a secret program (evil of course) that trained men so well that they were equipped to fight back. This truly is one of those novels where you get some answers but are compelled to show more read on because the overall story arc hasn't played out to the end. No cliffhanger but you are left with a sense of intrigue that will have you counting down to the next book.

Character Thoughts: Alright, first let me address Josie. I think she had a few moments in the beginning of TSTL (too stupid to live). She was most definitely the kind of fish that would swim upstream instead of going with the flow. That being said, she was pretty self-sufficient and I liked her spunk! Shane is who I fell for hard. Even in his memory lapsed brain, I loved his alphaness coupled with his tenderness. He truly made me swoon and I think maybe Josie's headstrong behavior (aka the ability to get into life threatening situations) is something he needed in a woman. Someone a little fearless but still needed a hero!

Audio Thoughts:

Narrated by: Karen White /Length: 11 hrs and 48 mins

Karen White was really good at catching the "tone" of Forgotten Sins. She had the right pacing for the thrilling parts and knew when to slow it down a pinch for the heart to hearts! I will be continuing this on audio even if I have to wait :)

Final Thoughts: Next one PLEASE! show less