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Nebraska Historicals #11

Isaac's Decision

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"Stay away from the Craftsman girl." For the past three years, Isaac Larson obeyed his father, making sure to keep his distance from Emily Craftsman. But day after day, he's reminded of how beautiful she is and knows she is the only woman who has the power to make his blood boil with desire.

Emily has always pursued what she wants, and she wants Isaac. Determined to find out why he avoids her, she disguises herself as a man and befriends him. Will she find out the secret behind his silence? And, more importantly, can she stop him before he thinks of marrying another woman?

280 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 25, 2011

49 people are currently reading
286 people want to read

About the author

Ruth Ann Nordin

172 books715 followers
What's to say? I write a lot. I read often. I sleep little. Once in awhile, I've been known to clean the house. A number of kids live in my house and there's this guy they call dad and I call husband. All in all, it's a pretty good life. :-)

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5 stars
168 (44%)
4 stars
120 (31%)
3 stars
77 (20%)
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12 (3%)
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
Profile Image for Seon Ji (Dawn).
1,051 reviews275 followers
August 23, 2016
++Spoilers++

3.5 stars

This is one of the better books in this series IMHO. Please understand that I did not read the other 3 books that preceeded this one due to my sensitivity with certain themes, and I suspect this book would have been more fulfilling had I done so.

Regardless, the story grabbed me right off the bat and I couldn't put it down... untill..

It got a bit slow right after the H & h were married. It was like, once that happened, there was little to no conflict. The rest of the book seemed to be just a series of uncomfortable conversations between the characters that ended up easily resolved. I kept expecting something big to happen in between. There were so many conflict possibilites that the author could have thrown in, but didn't. Oh well. I guess it was ok if you are into a comfort read, and I do like comfort .. but I think a little more umpf! would have given the story to a more satisfying completion (no pun intended).

Don't get me wrong! I loved the story, especially the heroine who was AWESOME when she told off Eva! I wanted to jump for joy! I also loved the idea of her dressing up as a man "Elmer" in order to get close to the hero. I thought it added a lot of fun.

Even though I loved the hero, he came off a tad wishy washy about not standing up to his dad. I'm glad he was able to take charge of his own life eventually and go with his heart but I just wish he had more passion and fought harder for Emily.

Stil loving this author and plan to continue reading her books.

Safety:

Hero/Heroine- Both virgins - they are each others first only and last
Cheating-No
OM/OW-No
Violence-No
Cursing-No
Rape/Abuse/Adultery-No
Marriage/baby-yes
HEA/ILY-Yes
Sex- Yes - a little spicy, done tastefully





Profile Image for Judy.
3,295 reviews
May 14, 2013
Isaac's Decision by Ruth Ann Nordin
Nebraska Series Book 9
Two previous books in this series; Eye of the Beholder & His Redeeming Bride lead up to this book. I read them a second time before reading Isaac's Decision and I'm glad I did as the stories flow together so well. This story is about nine years after His Redeeming Bride.

Isaac Larson is the son of Dave and Mary. At age fourteen Dave told Isaac not to talk to “that Craftsman girl” and being the obedient son he is, he obeyed. His eyes did not, everyday in school he still would look at her and admire her. At seventeen, Dave starts encouraging Isaac to marry and Dave already has the bride in mind. Eva Connealy, the school teacher. Isaac wants the only girl he has been forbidden to have, Emily Craftsman.

Emily lives in the shadow of her birth mother, Cassie. She has her beauty but that is all. As a young girl she made the choice not to be like her mother. And yet people seem to judge her by her parents past. She has dreamed of having Isaac as her own for years but when she finds out that he banned from her she almost gives up. Good thing the word quit is not in her vocabulary!

I love this series. It is full of characters with flaws. Neil Craftsman's story is one of redemption but being the town knew of his sins, some people won't let it die even now that he is a new man. Especially Dave Larson. I enjoyed watching the story and characters unfold in this book. Seeing the way they think helps you understand motives, even if they are not right. When you get to know the younger siblings, it is exciting to know that maybe their stories will come about one day as well. In fact, one of the younger sons is in the South Dakota Series, Bride of Second Chances. It's just a small part but Dave and a younger son are in the General Store. I love how Ruth lets her characters pop in other stories now and then.
**Sexual situations within marriage.
http://justjudysjumbles.blogspot.com/...
Profile Image for Shelley Chastagner.
2,730 reviews38 followers
March 13, 2021
Excellent addition to this series. The characters are no longer the children they were in previous books. They are learning to make adult decisions and dealing with the consequences. Isaac has to learn to stand up for himself and his choices even if it means going against his father. I liked that he did it with love and respect. Emily has a bit of a battle to fit into the Larson family when her father-in-law can only see her birthmother when he looks at her.
Profile Image for Amanda Lane.
211 reviews
August 26, 2014
Isaac's Decision was a beautiful story that gives the point of view of a child growing into an adult and the decision they must make. As children we often tend to follow what our parents tell us for the most part but there comes a time when we find something that calls to us even more so to the point that we find ourselves standing up against our parents decision to make our own and be the adult that we are becoming. In this story you get to witness two young adults making their decisions only their decision also involves so many past experiences between their parents that have left their families not talking to one another. Isaac or one has been forbidden to talk to Emily because of something her father has done that she has no knowledge of and Emily doesn't understand it. But Emily goes out of her way to capture Isaac's attention the way she once had it. Through this story we learn another way in which the past of others may affect our lives and how we must choose to make our own decisions in regards to this. It also goes further to show us just how much people can change over time with the right events occurring just as the individuals in this story have done. But even with change it's hard to believe and can often still haunt people sometimes but all in the end can be forgiven.

I truly loved this book and would most definitely recommend this book and the rest of the series to anyone who loves to read. Ruth is a wonderful Author and I look forward to reading many more of her works.
Profile Image for Gretchen Fatouros.
Author 3 books3 followers
July 20, 2016
Love Ruth Ann Nordin's books and this series - mostly of the Larson family...

This is the best order to read these in (per Ruth Ann Nordin's website 05/14):

1 - Her Heart’s Desire (Nebraska Book 1) – Sally Larson’s romance
2 - A Bride for Tom (Nebraska Book 2) – Tom Larson’s romance
3 - A Husband for Margaret (Nebraska Book 3) – Joseph Conneally’s romance
4- Eye of the Beholder (Nebraska Book 4) – Dave Larson and Mary’s first book
5 - The Wrong Husband (Nebraska Book 5) – Jenny Larson’s romance
6 - Shotgun Groom (Nebraska Book 6) – Joel Larson’s romance
7 - To Have and To Hold (Nebraska Book 7) – Dave and Mary’s Second Book
8 - His Redeeming Bride (Nebraska Book 8) – Neil Craftsman’s romance
9 - Isaac’s Decision (Nebraska Book 9) – Isaac Larson and Emily Craftsman’s romance
Profile Image for Judy Lavik.
286 reviews14 followers
August 23, 2014
Wow. Wow. Wow.

Wow. Wow. Wow.

Whenever I feel the need for an emotional catharsis, I pick up a Ruth Ann Nordin story. It always does the trick. Her characters are always believable and likeable, their issues realistic. There are some scenes that ask you to suspend disbelief, such as in this book, when 17-year-old Emily, known for her beauty, is able to don a disguise and convince everyone she is a man. Not very likely, but still a lot of fun.

I have been hooked on the Nebraska series since the first book, and it saddens me to know that each one brings me closer to the end of the series.
Profile Image for Pam.
4,625 reviews68 followers
January 28, 2014
Ruth Ann Nordin continues her tale which began with a mail order bride. Now Mary's son Isaac is grown and attracted to none other than Emily Craftsman. Will their parents' linked past mean the end of the future for Isaac and Emily or will they find the courage to strike out on their own without their parents' approval?
12 reviews1 follower
March 8, 2016
Good series

Not as interesting as the previous books. But still good I hope there are more in the making. Good read.
Profile Image for Sharon.
2,770 reviews7 followers
March 31, 2020
Isaac and Emily-
Loved this story that is well written with charismatic characters and witty dialogue. Their story has a lovely HEA.
120 reviews
May 1, 2017
I was looking forward to this one, but the conflict felt flat. It could have been so much better, it had the ingredients to be.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews

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