Review : Belonging by Karen Ann Hopkins (Temptation Series #2)

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication date: 4.30.2013

Pages: 416

Source: Own 

The Story:

I left everything I knew behind. But it was worth it. He was worth it. No one thought an ordinary girl like me would last two minutes living with the Amish, not even me. There are a lot more rules and a lot less freedom, and I miss my family and the life I once had. Worst of all, Noah and I aren't even allowed to see each other. Not until I've proven myself.
If I can find a way to make it work, we'll be Noah & Rose together forever.
But not everybody believes this is where I belong.

- Barnes and Noble

Rating: FOUR GOLD STARS!!

My Review:

So, in Belonging, Rose Cameron gives up everything she has ever known to be with the guy she loves. That guy being Noah Miller. Noah Miller who is Amish. Yes, I said it Amish. Rose, on the other hand, is not. Still, they manage to fall head-over-heels in love with each other. But, of course, their love is not that simple. The young couple have two choices. One, Rose converts to the Amish life or two, Noah cuts all ties from his Amish community and family and never look back. The lesser of the two evils seems to be choice number one. So, Rose dives right in ... and does considerably well, adjusting to Amish life. But it goes without saying, there are curve balls and doubts thrown a them without relent. Several people - including jealous Amish girls and sick, twisted Amish guys - that do not want to see Rose prevail in Amish life. Not to mention, the family Rose leaves behind, who fight tooth and nail to get her back.

Having said that, I was a bit peeved that Noah would not even consider the option of him leaving the Amish life to be with Rose. He simply expected her to join the community. Noah's reasoning: the Amish don't receive formal education beyond the eighth grade and he already had a good job that would provide for Rose and their family, whereas, if he joined the "English" world, there would be a real struggle for him to provide for their future family. Don't get me wrong, Noah had valid points but still ... he could have at least humored the idea. Or been torn, even a little.

And yet, how could a Rose - or any English girl for that matter - not fall hard for Noah Miller? While he is Amish and raised to live the life of the Plain, adhere to a strict set of rules, and expectant of female submission Noah is passionate, willing to fight for the girl he loves, and kind.

On that note, the road is still a long one going for Rose and Noah as they fight not one but two clashing cultures to be together. And while this part of their story focus more on Rose's transition into Amish life and less on the forbidden love between her and Noah, I will not say much except that the plot twists are worth the read!

Happy Reading!

Review : Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins

*Warning: This review may contain spoilers. Read at your own risk.

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication date: 6.26.2012

Pages: 400

Source: Own 

The Story:

Your heart misleads you. That's what my friends and family say.

But I love Noah. And he loves me. We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms. It should be ROSE & NOAH forever, easy.

But it won't be.

Because he's Amish. And I'm not. 

-Barnes and Noble 

Rating: FOUR GOLD STARS!!!!

My Review: One Word: ENSNARING

Each and every time I have visited Barnes and Nobles recently, I have picked up Forever and stared at it curious about Noah and Rose's story. But it was the last books in Karen Ann Hopkins trilogy. So, when I finally decided to head to B&N to pick up Temptation low and behold there were no copies. of any of the three books in the trilogy. Anxious to read the trilogy, I got my butt on Amazon and purchased them.

I could not stop reading!

I am not even joking, for two days straight, I binge read the Temptation trilogy. From beginning to end, I was ensnared with Noah Miller and Rose Cameron's love story. The way Hopkins incorporated the Amish culture and using it as the basis for the forbidden love aspect was brilliant. And so darn believable.

When I say believable, I absolutely mean it. All of the characters, especially Noah and Rose were written so genuinely. They felt and were portrayed exactly as teens in their age would. Neither character was put on a pedestal. or flawless. There were times where I go frustrated with them, for being the teenagers they were.  For instance, Noah was honorable, kind but selfish. Rose was the typical teenage girl but bitchy.

And I found the experience was refreshing.

Noah and Rose's story is about two teenagers falling in love for the first time and all the pains, headaches and adult interference that comes with it topped with an Amish twist. Temptation is definitely a worthwhile read.

Happy Reading!