Review : Forever by Karen Ann Hopkins (Temptation Series #3)

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

Publisher: Harlequin

Publication date: 1.28.2014

Pages: 336

Source: Own 

The Story:

All I want is my happily-ever-after.

That's all I've wanted since meeting Noah Miller.

From the day we met, the world has tried to keep Noah and me from being together, but now that I'm carrying his child, no one will be able to tear us apart. Or so I hope. But Noah and I have made some mistakes along the way, and the consequences are impacting the people we love. Worse, there's a storm on the horizon, and it's sure to cause serious devastation.

If we can get through this, we'll finally be Rose and Noah—a family, forever.

But first we have to survive the road ahead. And happily-ever-after is a long way off.

- Barnes and Noble

Rating: FOUR GOLD STARS!!

My Review:

So, just to recap, this is the last book in the Temptation trilogy by Karen Ann Hopkins. This first two books are Temptation and Belonging. The storyline revolves around to teenagers and a good ole forbidden love. Noah Miller is Amish and Rose Cameron is not. How cool is that? There is no surprise that I could not wait to read the triology. Alas, I am writing that review for the last book. :(

For starters, although I though Belonging was a little slow for my taste, Temptation and Forever hit the spot. In Forever, readers get to see the rest of Noah and Rose's struggle to keep their love as well as all of the little bumps on the road. Noah and Rose still face the same problems. The Amish community not entirely ready to accept Rose and Rose's family not wanting to let her simply go, Amish psycho stalkers, not to mention Rose's bun in the oven and a fatal storm thrown in the mix. But by the last page I felt satiated instead like a worm on a hook, left out to dry for no darn good reason.

What I also love about this book is that we get Sarah's (Noah's sister) and Sam's (Rose's brother) point of view as well. Instead of taking away from Noah and Rose's story they added to it. Readers got a little extra side story with Sarah and Micah as well as with Sam and Summer. Stories that I would have loved to read more of.

"...I'm going to begin courting Edwin.'
His hand shot out and grabbed my arm. The heavy feel of it made the blood drain from my face. 'What...?'
'Are you crazy, Sarah? You don't even like him.'
'Course I do. And who are you to say so?'
Micah leaned in and said with a sureness that made me believe him, ''Cause you  like me, that's why. Things will settle down soon between our families, Don't do something that we'll both regret.'" [page 15].

Well, if this review isn't convincing enough, you should find out enough. Noah and Rose's story (with a little bit of Sarah and Micah's) is definitely worth the time to read.

Happy Reading!

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!