Temptation

Temptation #1

by Karen Ann Hopkins

Two vastly different worlds. One forbidden love . . .

An Amish boy. An English Girl. An impossible, forbidden love . . .

Everyone told me I was making a mistake, but the heart wants what the heart wants, and my heart wanted Noah.

We met and fell in love in the hidden fields and forests of Meadowview. If he was English or I was Amish, none of this would have happened. One of us had to make the sacrifice of leaving our culture to be together. As if the clash of our vastly different worlds wasn’t enough, our small farming community had deeper troubles, and they might just be enough to tear us apart forever.

Temptation is the compelling first book in a tension-filled series about star-crossed lovers struggling to be together against all odds.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Amish, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Ebooks

348 pages, Paperback

First published June 26, 2012

About the author

You can visit Karen Ann Hopkins at her website: www.karenannhopkinsfiction.com.

"I loved joining Rose and Noah during their journey in the Temptation series by Karen Hopkins."-Katie McGarry, acclaimed YA author

Karen Ann Hopkins resides in northern Kentucky with her family on a farm that boasts a menagerie of horses, goats, sheep, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, pigs, dogs, and cats. Karen rescues and fosters a variety of pets and farm animals, but she also finds time to give riding lessons, coach a youth equestrian drill team, and of course, write. She was inspired to create her first book, Temptation, by the Amish community she lives in. The experiential knowledge she gained through her interactions with her neighbors drove her to create the story of the star-crossed lovers, Rose and Noah.

Karen grew up about a mile from Lake Ontario in Upstate New York. She was bitten by the horse bug at the age of five, and after diligently taking riding lessons for several years, she was rewarded with her first horse at the age of eleven. The feisty horse's name was Lady, a Quarter Horse-Thoroughbred cross, who became Karen's steadfast companion. Through the years, the constant force in her life was horses. Eventually, Karen found her place as a riding instructor herself. Before accepting her fate in the barnyard, she worked a short stint as a paralegal, traveled abroad, and guided tourists on horseback riding tours in the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee.

Karen is currently working on her two interconnecting mystery/crime fiction series, Serenity's Plain Secrets and Possum Gap, along with several new projects.

To learn more about Karen and her books, please visit her website.

Reviews

[Sally · Rating 1 out of 5]

it is so bad, i want to give you a zero, but that's not possible, so i give you a one.

[Giselle · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Amish fascinate me. Really, they do. Their rules, their beliefs, their antifeminist ways; a lot of if it actually seems kind of ridiculous, but regardless if you consider them as a cult, or counterculture religion, I can't see anyone not being intrigued by their ways. This is a novel about love: Forbidden love. A love so authentic that I found myself at the mercy of a burning restlessness at thoughts of their relationship's imminent unraveling and collapse.

The relationship that Rose and Noah have is just as wonderful as it is frustrating. It's also genuine; how they deal with each other's different belief system is convincing. Told in a dual perspective, we not only get to see firsthand how they both feel about each other, we also get to understand how they reason their actions, both of them having two contrasting ways of life. This is especially important for Noah's character; I often felt frustrated towards him to tell you the truth, and I'm sure a lot will share this feeling. His antifeminist ways, his controlling nature, his selfish behaviour - in any other circumstances I would have loathed him. Loathed!. However, one can't blame someone for their beliefs due to a culture that is so different from our own. A lot of things that seem absurd to us are simply their way of life to them. The whole Amish culture, very foreign and old fashioned, can seem exaggerated towards certain aspects; even though I may not agree with how Amish woman are treated, I understand that that is how they are raised. Thus, I do not begrudge Noah for his upbringing. Besides, you can see that Noah is a truly nice, kind person who cares immensely for Rose. He's likeable; he's frustrating, but he's likeable. Funny, huh?

Rose is just a naive teenager who fell for the Amish boy. She's the girl next door - in the proverbial and literal sense. She's caring, sweet, naive at times, but what really wins me over is how she thinks for herself. No matter how emotional she becomes, she' s not blinded by love - at least not foolishly. She thinks of her own well being, giving a lot of thought to her final decision. Even though I don't completely agree that it was a smart decision, it's easy to understand with a connection that is so thoroughly felt between her and Noah. Their chemistry is palpable, their love is unmistakable; a story of forbidden romance needs these elements to work, and I can assure you I was completely mesmerized by their requited love.

The romance is at the heart, but there are other aspects that make this novel compelling. The family dynamics between Rose and her brothers, Rose and her father, and the Amish community, are all beautifully captured. There is also a scene with a pained horse that I know will stick with me.

I came into this with no expectations and finished feeling completely satisfied. We do have the formulaic forbidden romance story, but the journey is wonderfully compelling, becoming highly emotional with an interesting ending. There will be a sequel, and I'm extremely curious to see how this will… work out.

--
For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

[Jen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always been curious when it comes to Amish romances. I think a part of it is that their lives seems so much followed by strict rules; and in my mind what an exciting story to have a couple fall in love when it is totally forbidden. Yes, I am a bit of a rebel. Anything that is forbidden tends to excite me! Temptation is a Young Adult book, and I could very much tell. It wasn't as in depth as I prefer my romances to be; but it was able to keep my attention through the story. I would have liked to learn a bit more information on the Amish community and how it works, than I did. There were some things mentioned; like the shunnings, but they were just briefly mentioned not thoroughly explained.

As far as the story about Noah and Rose, I found it somewhat a little unbelievable. They fell in love with each other way too fast. I would have believed it more if they had some serious events they lived through together. As it was, they besically just fell in love at first sight and went from there. It was a bit more believable on Noah's part, as that is how he was raised- to meet a girl and court her, then marry and have a ton of children. Rose on the other hand, is a sixteen year old girl who just doesn't understand that way of life at all. She has been raised outside of the Amish community, so for her to even contemplate marriage etc. at her age just seems unreal.

I did get some entertainment though, and I loved how Rose's younger brother showed how much he truly did care for his sister when the chips fell! This is a trilogy, and I find that I am invested enough into Rose and Noah that I want to see what happens with them. The odds are against them, so me being the rebel that I am...I am totally rooting for them to have a HEA! LOL

[Stacia (the 2010 club) · Rating 3 out of 5]

That was the problem with English girls - they did what they wanted.
But then again, maybe that was one of the things that made Rose so intriguing...and dangerous to me.

3.5 stars. I was interested in this story because I'd read a few of my mom's Amish romances in the past, and I've also watched several television documentaries and shows on the Amish. There's something about the way these hardworking, family communities live that fascinates me. I couldn't imagine living in their world, where just about anything and everything could be considered taboo. In all honesty, I relished the thought of watching a relationship develop between the most unlikely of pairs.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, although I felt like some of the pining got repetitive to a fault. It wasn't that it was unrealistic or anything...in the context of this story, the wanting and needing didn't feel choking the way it might have in a regular contemporary. I just would have liked to have seen more plot-wise than these two pining over each other. There wasn't much else in the way of the plot department. Having only limited knowledge of the Amish ways, I believed in the feelings on Noah's end as being accurate. He was raised in a world where responsibility and taking on a family would happen at a young age, so he was ready for it in every way. I'm not so sure that I believed Rose was ready, though. Maybe we weren't supposed to believe in Rose's readiness, since it's apparent that this book is setting us up to witness future hardships. In this case, her innocence would probably work to further the conflict.

If you haven't ever taken the time to learn much about the Amish culture and religion, this would probably be a good starter book. Many Amish communities still don't use electricity, telephones, or vehicles, as was the case in this particular community. Temptation doesn't fully explore the depth of topics such as Rumspringa and shunnings but a small amount of information is given about these occurances. At the very least, you'll get a slight understanding of how hard it is for anyone who is raised in this lifestyle to leave. With the lack of an education past an 8th grade level and no major experience dealing with the outside world, it's extremely hard to make it outside in the "English" (their words) world. So the children grow up and they stay. The cycle continues.

Had this been a standalone book, I would have thought the book was just okay. Now that I know this story will be extended into a series, I'm considerably more excited to find out what happens next, especially because decisions were made at the end of book 1 that will surely turn into some serious complications for this duo in book 2.

Rose's observations were amusing. You could tell she was completely clueless to the ways of the Amish.

"I guess cutting the grass is a lot of work for you?" I said, imagining Noah surrounded by tall green foliage and hacking away at it with an old-fashioned hand sickle.

"Oh you have no idea. The one kid looks like a member of the Children of the Corn."

Noah wanted to take care of his Rose but he also didn't know how to without wanting to clip her wings.

Struggling to stay patient with her, I said firmly, "You're not a little kid. In a lot of cultures, you'd already be married with a baby in your arms by now."

How could people from two different worlds find a way to make their differences work? Is it even possible?

Since this is a series, I'm guessing they're going to give it their best shot. I'll be shadowing along behind these two in order to see exactly how they manage to screw things up. I predict lots of drama and misunderstandings. Stay tuned to see if I'm right...

[Jacinda · Rating 3 out of 5]

My review of Temptation on my blog

I had Temptation only for 2 hours before I started reading it. The description, cover, and the premise were just screaming at me, “READ ME! This is the type of book you want to read right now!” My brain was telling me to just read this one and not wait, so I did.

I fell in love with the first 2/3rds of Temptation. I was so wrapped up in Rose and Noah’s story. I just wanted to read, read, read even though I was going on vacation the next day and had more important items to tackle right then. The romance was just wonderful and forbidden and the tension was there. Rose and Noah are super sweet.

Rose had just moved next door to Noah when the story opens. Her mother has passed away within the last year and her father is a doctor and is away at his job a lot. Noah is Rose’s Amish next door neighbor who, from the first time laying eyes on Rose, is enamored with her. I loved watching the two of them slowly fall for each other. I was on Twitter calling Noah a “frisky Amish boy!” I was just loving how these two characters felt for each other.

I enjoyed the writing style of Karen Ann Hopkins. I was feeling so many emotions in the beginning portion of Temptation partly due to her writing. She had me glued to wanting to continue reading the story.

Now let us discuss this last third. I was expecting Temptation to go in a certain way and maybe the story wouldn’t end with puppies and rainbows…I was cool with that. I was expecting angst and even my Twitter friends expected angst and were asking me about it. The angst I was expecting never really showed up. Instead, Noah and Rose decided to act like 16 & 18 year-olds and do, say, and think very stupid things…over-the-top stupid things. I understand they’re teenagers and they are allowed to make stupid mistakes, but what they said and were willing to do to be together was just horrible. Willing to change for someone you love to the point of being unhappy and putting aside your hopes and dreams at such a young age…horrible.

Spoilers. If you want to read what drove me nuts at the end of the book and you’ve already read Temptation or you just like spoilers, highlight the white space after this text. If you don’t want to read the spoilers, just continue on to the next visible paragraph.

I kind of want to be able to discuss with someone if I’m totally wrong for thinking the last third of this story fell apart. These are the kinds of things that the characters said that had me upset.

Noah saying if they were to get pregnant then their parents would have to let them get married. Rose initially thinks this is a HORRIBLE idea because she wasn’t planning on having kids for a very long time. THEN at a later time she decides that getting pregnant isn’t that bad of an idea…WHAT?!

Both of these characters end up trying to change each other and control one another and manipulate one anther. Noah wants Rose to become Amish and Rose wants Noah to become English(not Amish). Rose ends up agreeing to become Amish just to be with Noah even though she doesn’t want to. She does this in hopes of Noah changing his mind and becoming English. UGH.

It ends up being just all sorts of screwed up.

I know Temptation isn’t my book, but I really wish Karen Ann Hopkins would have taken the story in a different direction, since that direction ruined what could have been a perfect book to me. I’m hoping since Temptation is a series and Rose and Noah’s story isn’t over that maybe, *crosses fingers* just maybe, Karen Ann Hopkins can turn their story around.

[Abby · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 unattainable stars

Rose is american, and lives with her dad, and two brothers; Jacob and Sam. Rose and her family move houses after their mother dies. They moved in right next door to an Amish community, where Noah lives. They have an instant connection, but an English cannot be with an Amish unless they convert...

Noah lives a happy life with his mother, father, and 8 brothers. That is, until Rose moves into the derelict house just across the field. He falls in instant lust, and knows that he must have her. But Father would never approve unless she converts, but even then, she is a wild child...

I had never read a book about the Amish before, and thought it would be a good time to start. But for goodness sake, as soon I started, I was bombarded by similes on the third sentence I mean, come on!
“Sam and Justin, on the other hand, were enjoying the bizarre scene, wading knee-deep into the current with their street clothes on, splashing each other like maniac dolphins.”
Like "maniac dolphins" yes. That's right! Why? Why must this be happening to me?!?

However, there was a drop in similes... After 70 pages, and by then I didn't think it was going to amount to much. But, it got better! With a reduction in similes, it meant I could focus on the plot (not that there was much of it) instead of getting frustrated by the constant use of them.

When I started this book about the Amish, I was expecting lots of facts to do with the Amish. But all I learnt was that the Amish don't use birth control, men grow beards when they are married, women never cut their hair and only their husbands can see it, and... Uh... That's it I'am afraid, I guess I didn't learn much about the Amish after all.

Oh em gee, and the pining. Just. UGH.
How could I be ruining my life, when Noah was my whole life?


Although, I have to admit, I did like a few things, otherwise I wouldn't have given it a 2.25- But I can't recall them... But they were there. Trust me on that, it wasn't a complete disaster.

Psst... Hey... Want to hear something funny? The similes came back in the last quarter of the book... Tehehehe!
“King Kong came stumbling into the room when the door swung open.”

Oh yeah, and almost forgot the dramatics
“We were caught, Sam!” I said, flinging myself onto the mattress, almost taking Justin out when I landed with a thud next to him.

And of course the constant crying!

“I began to cry.”
“she was crying again.”
“crying as quietly as I could.”
“I was crying again.”
“I’m crying again”
“she began crying again.”
That's not all of them, but you get the gist, right?

-Almost forgot, she is the most immature and childish person I have ever read about (that I can think of).

Do I recommend? Afraid not, no.

I received a copy of Temptation in exchange for an honest review

[Jennifer · Rating 1 out of 5]

If you think Edward is controlling and Bella is weak they look like completely self-actualized, feminist, independent, individuals compared to Noah and Rose.

Noah and Rose instantly fall in love, for no apparent reason other than that they are both hot. Their “relationship” consists of a few stolen kisses, and a couple of horse rides but he demands she becomes Amish so he can officially court and marry her ASAP or they are over. Based on the apparent 3 or 4 hours they have spent alone over a few months AND the fact Noah nearly dies in a buggy/truck collision, she decides to go for it and walks away from college, her passion for dance, and her family. She embraces everything Amish including a future of getting married at 17 and having *only 4 children* which luckily Noah concedes he “can live with”.

Pretty quickly Rose starts to read like a victim of an abusive relationship (sorry I wore lip gloss, don’t be mad I won’t go to the party with my brother, is what I am wearing modest enough, they seem to like blue I will wear blue etc.). Even if you could or wanted to get past Rose’s complete lack of back bone most of the rest of the characters are stereotypical and unlikeable as well.

[TinaB · Rating 4 out of 5]

Imagine if Mr. Right couldn't be anymore right, but wrong in every sense of the word because of the world he lived in.

When Rose and her family move to the quiet town of Meadowview, they are all still grieving from the death of her mother. The move was suppose to bring closure and give the kids a fresh start, nobody could have guessed the changes that would tear them apart.

Since the death, no one has made Rose feel more alive than Noah, the Amish boy who lives down the road. For Rose, Noah is perfect and beautiful, he's a complete and total gentleman. He values his family and loves his parents, he's all of this and more due to his Amish upbringing. On the flip side though he is also ignorant and closed minded about things like music, dancing, movies, culture and anything outside of the Amish. But Rose can't help falling in love with him and will risk anything to be with him, even perhaps giving up her dreams.

Noah loves Rose, he'll do anything to see her, and like Rose will even perhaps give up his only security.

The Amish fascinate me, not so much by the religion (which is based in Christianity) but the way they live. Hopkins doesn't go into the religious aspect of Noah's life more so she focuses on the simple way he lives. The day to day, the rules and how hard it would be for a young teenage boy who is Amish to leave his community. Without an education past the eighth grade or any money Noah wouldn't make it very well in the real world, with his family he has everything he needs to have a successful life.

I wanted Rose and Noah to be together, but it was almost impossible, each one would have to sacrifice on a tremendous scale. Looking forward to book two.

[Krystle · Rating 1 out of 5]

I can't take any more of this barf-worthy mess.

First of all, the main girl is an annoying wench who is dumber than anything and so ignorant. Seriously? You are interacting with an AMISH family. Of course their actions and beliefs are going to be a lot different than yours. Try to be a little more open-minded will you? Maybe she tries to understand them better and grows as a character but I'm not willing to tough it out.

This romance? Ridiculous! They haven't actually gotten together yet but at first glance they're all bubbling at how good looking they are and how much they want to be with each other. GROSS. I can forego the sappy and excessive amount of sentiments.

The descriptions for this book? Terrible! I seriously wanted to vomit and then throw my Nook across the room. I'm on page 73 and I get shit like "Standing back, I admired myself in the mirror. I looked pretty good. Hmm, except the top. Maybe it was just a bit too formfitting. Turning sideways, I was impressed to see how I was filling out the shirt this year. I certainly didn't remember looking so... developed in it last year. [...] I finally decided on a cute light blue top that had a little lace along the collar. His family seemed to like blue, and it hugged my chest just enough, without being trampy. And the lace made it feminine - just right."

OMG. EXCUSE MY EXPLOSION OF DISGUST AND RAGE!

I can't believe Lurlene McDaniel's Amish-centered books are better than this crap! They even feel Amish in those books! GEH!

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay I finally get me, I am a huge sucker for the intense male who is so into the girl he would do about anything for her, or to keep her. Didn't say it was healthy just I really like stories that are like that. Temptation is that kind of story and more. Rose and her family move next door to the Miller family who happen to be Amish. They have a beautiful son named Noah. Rose and Noah are instantly attracted to each other upon their first meeting. Both try to avoid there attraction to one another but it doesn't work. They manage to find time to spend with one another and fall into love. They are both apprehensive of each other's culture he being Amish and fallowing the strict old order is a little hard for Rose to understand. Noah on the other hand calls her English which applies to anyone who is not Amish, no matter your race,religion,creed etc. He doesn't understand the outside world. This all hits a boiling point when their relationship is no longer a secret and is now public information. What will their parents do? She is only sixteen, he is eighteen? Noah asked Rose to make a huge choice, what will she choose?
There is great romantic tension in just about every page of this story, it was great. Noah is such a chivalrous guy, he is really good to Rose, a little manipulative due to his up bringing, and a little to I am the man hear me roar. This all fits with his character and the story though. Rose is cute, witty, strong willed, courageous, and lonely. I also like both family dynamics Roses family is the typical family in a lot of ways. They all love each other, but have there squabbles and arguments. Here is one scene I enjoyed, Rose to her brothers " When I finally reached the rickety old front porch, I smiled smugly at the dorks who were both standing there without a way to open the door. Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out the key, dangling it in front of them. In an instant I was tackled to the ground by Sam......" Rose has two brothers Sam who is older and Justin who is younger. They acted like typical siblings, and it was refreshing and funny.
I loved Mrs. Hopkins writing it was so straight forward, smooth and funny at times. She had some great quotes I have to share with you: Rose speaking "I really hated her the way I hated poison ivy or waking up to discover I'd gotten my period." The other aspect of Mrs. Hopkins writing that I liked was that each chapter is told in a different point of view, alternating between Rose and Noah. I love this, I want to hear the guys point of view, how he feels, and what he is thinking....love, love, love. Here is a quote form Noah " My soul was tugged toward the English girl as if it knew that she needed me. The realization was sitting over me like a warm blanket...." Mmmmm I love romance. One more quote from Rose, " Realizing it was a giant spider web I wondered where Charlotte was, probably crawling in my hair." Great witty writing, I really enjoyed.
Overall a really enjoyable read with lots of romantic tension, choices that need made, consequences, heartbreaking moments, and the end leaves you wanting more. really excited to see how this story evolves in the books to come. Will their love be enough to sustain them through their cultural and religious differences?

Thank you netgalley and HarlequinTEEN

[Katie (hiding in the pages) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I just re-read this and this time around, there were a few things that bothered me just a little. Yes, it is full of chemistry and attraction, but it seems like all the kissing is a little of the French variety. Noah also came across as quite possessive and not willing to give an inch.

However, I still really enjoyed it. Is it just me or is there an obsession with all things Amish lately? I can't decide if it's the thoughts of a simpler life or like looking into a secret-ish society, but I find it quite fascinating. It's marked YA, but I wouldn't recommend it to younger teens.

(7/12) Rose's mother dies and her Dr. dad moves her and her two brothers to rural Ohio--right into the heart of Amish country. Their nearest neighbors, an Amish family, comes to welcome them and as soon as Rose's eyes meet Noah's, one of the sons, there is an instant--and strong--electrical connection. Their worlds aren't supposed to mix, but they form a forbidden romance anyway. I can't wait to see where this story goes from here.

Noah is such a gentleman and so intense--he has smoldering looks. :) He would do just about anything for Rose. Rose is a typical 16 year old girl who becomes almost desperate in her love for Noah. One of my favorite things was the normal relationship between Rose and her brothers. I thought the insight into the Amish world was interesting and really enjoyed how each chapter went back and forth between Rose's and Noah's points of view.

Content: a handful of language; mention of teen drinking and promiscuous behavior, but if any happens, it's behind closed doors; pretty intense kissing scenes.

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Here's the thing: I am not a fan of romance novels. Romance as a secondary focus to the main plot is fine by me, but romance as the main story of a novel bores me to tears. The only reason I picked up Temptation was because Harlequin Teen sent me an ARC of its sequel and I felt as if I had to know the story before I delved into Belonging.

I regret that decision. The ONLY reason this book got two stars was because of the author's obvious talent for writing. Her talent for storytelling on the other hand...well, it's pretty lacking. The ENTIRE story focused on the instalove between Noah and Rose and all the obstacles keeping them apart. 377 pages focused on solely their attraction for one another. It was nauseating! I understand the differences in Amish and English culture, but the rampant sexism throughout Noah's passages had me wanting to throw the freaking novel across the room. Rose's brief feminist views had me cheering, but they disappeared the instant she saw Noah smile or Noah frown or Noah do anything that could be considered slightly attractive. NAUSEATING.

Not my kind of book, obviously. I will be reading the sequel, purely because Harlequin Teen asked me to review it. I don't expect it to be much better as Rose completely let go of any self respect she had left and decided to become Amish just to be with a boy she's known for three weeks. I mean, COME ON. I totally believe in the power of love, but this is just ridiculous. And NAUSEATING. Have I used that word enough?

So, you get my message. If you're a fan of star-crossed romance novels, you'll love this one. The author is a good writer. It's the lack of plot and the ridiculous sexism that don't exactly make me want to jump up and down cheering on this novel. If you're brave, go for it. Just be prepared for an extreme lack of depth and many moments worthy of an eye roll. And maybe a couple frustrated yells. And a high sense of indignation. And...I could go on, but why bother? You get the picture.

[Eustacia Tan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note: I didn't know whether to give this book one star or five stars so I decided to go with the average and settled on three.

I don't know how to feel about this book. I don't know whether to say it's really great because it elicited really strong reactions from me and made me want to continue reading, or say it's terrible because most of my reactions were negative.

Temptation deals with Rose, an 'English' girl and Noah, an Amish boy. They fall in love, and well, the road to true love is never smooth (at least not in books). They fall in love at such an amazing speed, that most of the book deals with them sneaking around and making their plans for the future.

What this book could have been was amazing. It could have explored the cultural differences while telling a deeply moving story. But, I felt that compared to other books (like Reckless Heart, which I read recently), the Amish culture isn't portrayed positively in this book. In fact, it's portrayed as an over-controlling, anti-feminist culture for most of the book.

Of course, the characters are also infuriating. Even looking past the unnatural speed at which they fall in love, it seems to me that Rose and Noah's relationship is deeply deeply unbalanced. They're either in some kind of power-play relationship or they're doing the "I-can't-live-without-you" routine. Plus, Noah comes off as very controlling, and I thought he started thinking of Rose as his possession rather than a person towards the end of the book. I think it was meant to show deep devotion but it's also slightly creepy. Oh, I checked and I actually bookmarked this quote (and similar ones exist all over the book):



"How was I going to convince her [Rose] to do what I wanted when she was behaving like a child?"


Rose, on the other hand, was a brat. While there's nothing wrong with it (I'm a brat too!), it's unsettling how quickly she falls into what I can only call "Bella-mode". And it's even sadder because she started off as such a feisty girl. Here's a quote that sums up what she becomes at the end:



"How could I be ruining my life, when Noah was my whole life?"


Really? Your entire self-worth is based on a guy whom you just met?

Another thing that bugged me was the absence of God in the novel. In an Amish novel. There are references to the Church and stuff, but really, I didn't feel that any of the characters had a personal relationship with God.

Despite all this "ranting" (and the fact that I realised that this is probably the Amish version of Twilight), I'm actually looking forward to the next book, I want to see where this relationship is heading. That's why I'm confused about the book.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

First posted at Inside the mind of a Bibliophile

[Tanja (Tanychy) · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can find this (any many other) review on my blog Ja čitam, a ti?

I guess that I can’t stand those crying teen girls anymore. Don’t get me wrong, I do understand that some people are more emotional than others but for Christ’s sake everything has its limits. But well let’s talk about the story.

So as you probably know from the blurb here we have typical teen love story in not so typical environment. This whole story is such a cliche except that part about Amish society. I find them interesing as majority of people does, but as always something different and non-conventional is always interesting. That part of this book I really like, I mean that which tells us about their beliefs, rules and lives. While other things I just couldn’t get over with. First is this annoying girl Rose. Oh dear lord, but her crying drow me crazy. Not to mention that she is 16. Beg my pardon but decisions and actions of today’s teens isn’t something that I fully approve and support. That’s why I couldn’t understand this girl. Even though some of Noah’s actions could be discussed but he is raised like that. Now you’ll say that Rose is growing up and she is raised in modern society. She is, but so am I and my friends but we, for sure, aren’t behaving like that. Anayway I won’t brag let’s just say that younger girls will maybe find this story heartbreaking and amazing but I can’t.

One last thing, I was able to like the whole story even though I could see how it'd end, but I was shocked when I saw that this is series uhh. I dunno about that but I can already see it



Yes I’m usually for drama, but not here, not in this story.


***NOTE: I received this book from NetGalley. Thank you.
I’m not paid to write a review – I do it as a love of written word. All opinions in this reivew are personal.

[Tez]

Normally I won't touch a YA romance, unless it has a speculative element, but Temptation hooked me at "Amish". This is a romance with big obstacles and true conflicts to overcome. It's not melodramatic, and not contrived. And what's more, I really hoped Rose and Noah would work it out - and I almost never feel that way about romance in fiction.

The first in a series, Temptation ends with a happy-for-now, rather than a happily-ever-after, and this realism is much welcome. I'm very much looking forward to Book 2.

(Note: The heroine's father is named David Cameron. Someone forgot to remind the author about the British PM.)

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read more reviews at What Danielle Did Next

Wow! This is the reason I love Young Adult so much! The Butterflies! How much do I love the Butterflies? That feeling of unbridled joy, untainted by adult sensibilities that captures the brilliance and purity of youth and young love. This book enveloped me in that feeling and I was more than happy to curl up in it. I couldn't put it down all evening and it was only when fatigue finally overcame me that I gave in and put the Kindle down.

I find the whole subject of the Amish way of life compelling. Last year, a TV show followed six British teens as they spent the Summer living with various Amish families in Pennsylvania. I was hooked as I learned about this community who follows the codes and rules of their lives without straying and little to no complaint. At times I found myself yearning for their simpler way of life where Divorce and Adultery seemed to be non-existent. I don't think I could give up my way of life completely, particularly the rights to my own body (Hello contraception!) but there were definitely aspects that were to be admired and I wouldn't have any issues adopting. Learning more about the Amish way of life through Temptation was fabulous and Karen Ann Hopkins really gives a unique and interesting insight into how their world and our world both combine and collide.

Temptation is the story of Rose, a young ballet dancer from Cincinnati who moves to a sleepy farming community with her father and brothers after her mother dies. Meeting Noah, the young Amish man next door, pulls her from her grief and awakens feelings in her she thought didn't exist. As Noah and Rose fall for each other, desperately trying to hide their love from their families, we see just how much the young couple have to lose to ensure their love survives.

It's a story as old as time - Forbidden love and boy is it a good one! I really liked the characters of Noah and Rose.

Noah in particular was fascinating. His views at times were frustrating and anti-feminist and he came off as rude at times but there was always an understanding and lead back to his upbringing. His way of life and the rules he's followed since birth shape his outlook in a way that for an outsider looking in seems archaic and otherworldly. Despite his ways- it was very clear to see what a good, kind and strong young man he was. His morals and ethics ensured his concern for Rose always came from a good place and his love for her warred constantly with his baser instincts and it was interesting to witness his dilemma to not succumb to them like a boy his age would in our society without any hesitation. There was a clear comparison and contrast between Noah and Roses's brother Sam which showed how much their societies shaped their outlook on life, women and their respective futures. His worries about Rose being able to become a member of the Amish community if she chose it were comical at times, wondering whether she would always want to sleep late rather than work on the farm for example. You could tell that Noah was struggling under the weight of his families expectations. At eighteen, it was time for him to settle down and his disinclination to do especially when Rose wanders into his life put a strain on his thoughts.

Rose was very much the teenager. Vividly written, I had the sense of her youth and naivety at all times. Caught up in her first romance, unable at times to deal with the rush of love and emotion that comes with your first love, it was easy to sympathise with her plight. Noah quickly becomes everything to her but she can't help but feel the pull of her own life, the opportunities she would give up, education, travel, technology, her own family if she decided to make the sacrifice and become Amish. Noah's impatience with her as their romance grows into something far deeper was infuriating at times, Rose simply wants a boyfriend who loves her and neither party can understand that the simplicity of such a want brings a whole mess of complications for each other. I do think the loss of Rose's mother, her sudden thrust into the role of home-maker for the men in her life and her father's yearning for his own personal life away from his kids plays a huge part in the speed with which she falls for Noah. While it's no big deal for a young girl of sixteen to want to marry and have children straight off in his community, for Rose it's a huge deal and her indecision and fears are tangible. It's easy to see how quickly one could be swept away by a young gentleman, with old world manners, who wishes to "court" rather than "hook up".

The chemistry and sexual tension between the two was palpable and so breathtakingly romantic at times. The first time Noah reached for Rose's hand my heart skipped a beat. Their love grew to be genuine and authentic and I was yearning for their first kiss almost as much as they were and it was worth it!

While the romance plays a huge part in the book, the themes of family, friendship, and sacrifice are equally as compelling. When Rose and Noah's passion overspills and exposure is threatened we see just how far reaching its effects are. Rose's relationship with her family was interesting to explore and the dynamic between the Cameron's and the Amish community was my favourite part of the book. The seemingly strict community has its own rule-breakers and it was fascinating to see the younger members succumb to certain temptations from the "English".

The book is told from both Rose and Noah's POVs which worked excellently and really gave you a feel and understanding of both characters and their feelings.

Temptation is very much a love story but it's more than that, passionate, evocative and compelling, it's a story about honour, tradition, family and acceptance. The tension builds nicely throughout the novel and when we reach the summit, and we see the trials Rose and Noah face in the sequel we're left very much in the knowledge that while they may say Love conquers all, it doesn't come easy and without a stiff price.

Highly recommend!

[Kulsuma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins is a thrilling forbidden romance. Sixteen-year old Rose and her family move to Meadowview where the local community is Amish. When she locks gazes with Noah, a young man who happens to be Amish, they both feel a magnetic attraction to each other. However, it’s not that simple.

They have to keep their blossoming relationship a secret as the situation would become dire if they were ever found out. Being together should be simple, but when you’re English and your love interest is Amish, you can bet everyone has something to say about it. How many obstacles will Rose and Noah have to overcome to be together?

I loved Temptation. I read this over two nights and couldn’t stop thinking about it in the interval. What attracted me to Temptation was how different it is to other stories out there; it’s the first story I’ve ever read about the Amish. Not only that, but who doesn’t love a forbidden romance?

I was interested in learning more about the Amish after watching a BBC documentary a year ago called Leaving Amish Paradise (http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00zmdg8) where an Amish family left their community for the modern world. It was very enlightening. It was great to learn a bit more about the Amish community. Hopkins was fantastic at interweaving information about the Amish without boring the reader.

I really liked Rose and Noah. I was mentally cheering them on, hoping they wouldn’t get caught and felt emotionally connected to them. It was great that they loved and cared for each other so much. I do wish their relationship had developed a tad slower at the beginning because I really wanted them to get to know each other. Also, truthfully, they are from different worlds. However, their relationship still felt realistic to me.

Their relationship was sweet but I did worry about their lack of communication with each other; not understanding what the other wanted or even telling them. Noah is Rose’s first boyfriend, first kiss and first love. At points, she seemed so young and naive that I wanted to shake her. But at other points, she was very intuitive and mature. Sometimes, Rose didn’t even know what she wanted. Though this was realistic for someone in her situation, I began to doubt how seriously she considered her options.

Noah was very cute and protective of her. There were some instances where he was controlling and domineering and I wanted Rose to stand up to him instead of kissing him and acquiescing, for example, when he doesn’t want her to go to a party. I get that he wants to protect her, but she should do what she wants to do. There was a moment where I really hated Noah. It was when he insults Rose because of the fact that she likes to dance. I felt like smacking him myself.

Hopkins is a wonderful writer. I loved the dual narration. It was always intense, informative and emotional. There wasn’t a dull moment. The descriptions were vivid and I easily imagined everything that happened. The end was action-packed, gripping and full of suspense.

I was very surprised when I got to the end and realised that Temptation is the first in a series. However, it did make sense. Throughout the story, I was wondering when we would get to meet the some of the characters that I thought were essential in greater detail. I see now that that could happen in future books.

I assumed Temptation would be a standalone because it is a contemporary young adult novel and those are mostly standalones. However, I look forward to learning more about the Amish because I feel like Hopkins gave us a glance of it in Temptation.

I can’t wait to see what will happen next with Rose and Noah and what choices they make. The first chapter of the second book was so terrific; I can’t wait to read the next book. If you’re interested in learning about the Amish or simply want to read about a sweet and forbidden romance, Temptation is the book for you.

My thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin!

[Sharon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Temptation was kindly provided to me by Harlequin Australia and is the first book in the Temptation series by Karen Ann Hopkins.

Temptation is a contemporary romance which follows the story of sixteen year-old Rose who is grieving the loss of her mother and has moved with her father and brothers to the farming community of Meadowview and eighteen year-old Noah who is an Amish boy working and living on his family farm.

I was quite fascinated by a plot surrounding the Amish community because I admit to being completely clueless and their way of living was certainly interesting as was their belief system. I was learning along the way with Rose and although it isn’t a community for me – I’d be lost without my modern technology, I feel she accepted everything well - although I'm not sure whether for the right reason.

I liked how this story was told from both Rose and Noah’s POV’s, it gave us more of an understanding about not only how they were feeling about one another but also them realizing how different each others lives were and the sacrifices they would have to make to be together, they were raised with differing beliefs, morals and values and at times this caused a lot of strain between them but they worked through it and remained true to each other.

I enjoyed our main characters but I was not overly sold on the romance between them, I appreciated the attraction towards one another but I felt it was too ‘insta-love’ and more about Rose being someone totally out of the norm to what Noah was used to, she was fun and carefree but he also wanted to control and change her and in some ways not for the better (her lifestyle, clothing etc.) He also expected her to be Amish and live as he did but was hesitant about changing his ways for her – they seemed off balance and he could be quite condescending towards her. I also wasn’t a big fan of the decision they made towards the end, I felt it was too rushed and immature.

I did like this novel, it was different to any contemporary I have read more recently and I’m curious to see where Ms. Hopkins will take it; I enjoyed each of the characters and found even the secondary characters fascinating. The pacing and plot flowed well and we are given a few light twists to keep us guessing. Ms. Hopkins writing was entertaining and the premise unique.

Overall, Temptation was a quick and easy read that gave a new spin on the forbidden love trope and the differing cultures and belief systems of the Amish and the English (anyone not Amish); I am keen to see what will happen with the budding romance between Rose and Noah – I feel it is going to be a tough road ahead.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Temptation... oh yes! That's exactly what it is! I was continually "tempted" to read it... everywhere I went I tried to sneak Temptation out just to read the next page because that is how engrossed I was in this book. It's such a sweet romance and the characters (each and every one) are amazing.

Rose is a fiesty English girl who doesn't take orders from anyone... well MAYBE her Dad and that's only sometimes. She loves to dance, listen to music, and play sports... everything that the "Amish" aren't allowed to do. After Rose's mother dies, her family moves next door to an Amish community because her Father is going to be working at the local hospital. Rose's family are invited over to their Amish neighbors' house and that is when Rose lays eyes on Noah "her HOT Amish neighbor" for the second time. At least this time she is clean. Rose instantly forms a crush on him, and he on her too.

Noah is an Amish gentlemen who is at the ripe age of 18 which in the Amish society means it's time for him to settle down and pick a wife and have kids... and that was all fine and dandy with him until Rose arrived with her charasmatic and wild personality... he never stood a chance against her.

Noah and Rose inevitably fall in love, but will it work? After all he is Amish and she is English. You'll have to read to find out (SO GOOD)! I screamed at the end because I WANTED the next book so freaking bad, I am still having Temptation with drawls! Karen Ann Hopkins definitely knows what she is doing! Temptation is filled with secrets, romance, feisty characters, and unbreakable love with is all combined to make this an unforgettable read. This definitely doesn't seen like a debut novel to me! Thank you Karen for writing such an amazing book, I am impatiently awaiting book 2!

Have you read it? You Should! If you have read it, what did you think about it?? I NEED someone to talk about this amazing book with :D

[Krissy P (Kris) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forbidden Amish Lovin,

I've always been pretty intrigued by the Amish. I visit Lancaster, Pennsylvania a few times a year and their way of life has always been fascinating to me. I also love a forbidden love story, so this book was a no brainer for me. I had to read it and it did not disappoint.

Rose is a 16-year old girl who recently lost her mother, moves to the little farming town Meadowview, Ohio with her father and unruly brothers. She meets and falls in love with her Amish neighbor, 18-year old Noah. It's love at first sight for Noah and Rose and they soon begin sneaking around and arranging private meetings together. Their relationship is forbidden because Noah is Amish and Rose is not. Their love for each other becomes so deep that neither of them can imagine their life without the other. In public around Noah's family or other members of the Amish Community, they are forced to act indifferently toward one another to the point of ignoring each other; but when they are alone, they are overcome by their desire for each other. Until one day they get caught and are faced with the possibility of being separated and are forced to face the consequences of their actions and the tough decisions about what to do about their relationship.

I liked that Noah was jealous and possessive of Rose. The boy had it bad. Rose was a little too emotional and her constant crying, although understandable, became tedious. There is no doubt that these two love each other. However, they have so many obstacles to overcome as they are from two very different worlds. Overall, I really enjoyed the story even though I was not crazy about their decision in the end. There is a sequel, so I still have hope that Noah and Rose will do what's best for both of them so they are both happy with the path they have chosen. Will their love for each other be enough?

[Lauren Suero · Rating 4 out of 5]

As soon as I saw the description of this book up on NetGalley, I had to have it. Forbidden love? SIGN ME UP.

After a string of intense novels to review, I wanted something light-hearted and fun to read. 'Temptation' by Karen Ann Hopkins was just that novel. Written in dual POV's (Noah and Rose's), Hopkins entices her readers into the contemporary world of Rose and conservative up-bringing of Noah. Can fate keep these two together or will their clashing lives pull them apart?

The characters graced throughout the novel were realistic and enjoyable to get to know. I couldn't help but want to strangle Noah a bit, since he tended to have a one track mind and all he could think was of converting Rose over, instead of possibly fitting into Rose's world. Rose had her whiny moments, but nothing you couldn't find in a sixteen year old today.

Pacing of the plot was pretty steady, so much so that when I reached the end and discovered there was another book coming, I kept yelling out "NO NO NO NO!!!!". There's no epic cliffhanger here but were left with just enough intrigue to take us over into the sequel.

Thanks to Harlequin Teen and Netgalley for the ARC!

[Ria · Rating 4 out of 5]

very much UNLIKE anything you have ever read. It was for me at least! I enjoyed all of the dialogue and description that took place in this heart wrenching novel! It shows us how powerful and how vulnerable women can be at the same time.

My Fav Quote

“Success is sweeter and sweeter if long delayed and gotten through many struggles and defeats.”
~Amos Bronson Alcott (Kindle Loc 4351)


My Rating

4.0 Colt, Hope, Corn Field, Buggy, Rumor, Secret note, Late night phone call, First Love, Conversion filled Stars! For those looking for a sweet love story with a twist I recommend this book!

Full Review to Follow

Laters baby

[Hayley G · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing! Simply amazing! I fell in love with Noah :) Full review to come summer 2012!

[Best · Rating 1 out of 5]

THIS REVIEW ON B'S BOOK BLOG!

I received a digital copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher for review. 

First of all, gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous book cover! I fell in love immediately with this book just by looking at it. But of course, looks can be deceiving, and that what looks pretty on the outside just might be rotten on the inside. Like this book, for instance.

Temptation is a story about Rose and Noah, two love birds who can't be together. After  her mother died, Rose and her family move from the city to a farming community called Meadowview. There she meets her new neighbors, Noah Miller and his family. At first sight they fall madly in love. It should be simple, right? Boy loves Girl and Girl loves Boy, they should be together! But they can't, because Noah is Amish, and he's supposed to find an Amish girl and marry her. He's not supposed to fall in love with an "English" girl. Their families and lifestyles keep them apart, but all these differences can't stop them from trying to find ways to be with each other.

I'll admit that I'm a sucker for hopeless love that just can't be but happens anyway. This book should be my thing, shouldn't it? Yeah, I thought so too, but sadly, I ended up hating this book, which is something I totally did not expect.

I have spent many days trying to think about what I liked about this book, but nothing came up. I really did try. All that I could think about was how I had to push myself to go on with this book, how I always wanted to put it down as soon as I picked it up, and this story annoyed me.

So what are my problems? Well, the characters! Of course! They ruined everything for me. Since this story is narrated in both Rose's and Noah's points of view, we readers get to know their every thought. Rose sees Noah as a totally drop-dead gorgeous hottie whom she can't take her eyes off. But Noah really comes across to me as a selfish being. He's manipulating in that he comes up with ways and ideas to make Rose do what he wants. Like suggesting pregnancy so that their parents might make the marriage happen. And threatening her that their relationship will be over if she doesn't become Amish. Please. The ideas totally disgusted me. Rose is 16, she can't be thinking of getting married, let alone getting knocked up just so she can be with him! And Rose, poor girl. She's so senseless. There are times when she sticks up for herself and gets angry at Noah's hurtful words, which is good, but she eventually lets him have his way. Just a kiss and then she forgets everything, including the fact that she has a whole life ahead of her, too. Oh, did I tell you how manipulative Noah is? Yeah. That boy gets what he wants, and she gives it to him. I couldn't stand either of them. I hated both characters as much as it is possible to hate a fictional character. 


The plot of this story sounds really good. It's a kind of plot I usually fall for and love. But this one? Not at all. The idea of "love" in this book seems kind of ridiculous. To me, it's not so much "love" as "lust". They see each other for the first time, they check each other out, and then THEY FALL IN LOVE. Right. It wouldn't sound that incredulous in other context, but in this one, with both shallow, conceited characters, it feels wrong. When she says she loves him, or he her, I just wanted to barf. The fact that this relationship moves too fast annoyed me too. What's the hurry? And no, it's not romantic. I can tell I found absolutely nothing romantic about this book. Everything they do either seems selfish or is a means to another end.

The ending is totally disappointing for me. I kind of expected Rose to wake up and know what a mess she's in, and do the right thing, but of course she has to go and piss me off again. The incident near the end of the story, the one that changes things, would have seemed romantic for some readers. You know, how do I live without you kind of romantic. But for me, it shows nothing more than that Rose is too lost in the haze of fear and the freshness of the incident to make a decision that will be best for her.

Am I planning to read the second book? Maybe. The excerpt of the first chapter of book two, which is included in this book, already tells me that there'll be lots of problems coming. All I want to know is how far Rose will go to do the right thing. But really, I don't care anymore. It'd be great if someone just tells me how it ends, because I really don't want to waste my time getting pissed off at them anymore. Totally not worth it.

[Andrea at Reading Lark · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review Posted on Reading Lark 5/26/12: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2012/...

I have always been a big fan of forbidden romance since that first moment I read Romeo and Juliet as a kid. There is just something compelling about watching a couple struggle to be together in spite of impossible odds. Not all of these starcrossed lovers end up with happy endings, but I do enjoy rooting for that. Never have I read a forbidden romance like this one though - typical American teenage girl meets typical Amish teenage guy. It's love at first sight, but how will they ever stay together when their cultures clash? The romance and tension in this one make it a delicious read.

Rose is still reeling from the death of her mother when her father moves her and her brothers to an old house in the Ohio countryside. The move isn't a welcome one for Rose, Sam, and Justin - they would have preferred to be left in Cincinnati with their friends and city living - but they agree that a change of scenery might help ease the ache of missing their mother. From the first page, you can see what a tight knit family this is. Sure, they have some issues with one another from time to time. What family doesn't? Deep down though, it is obvious to see how much they each care for one another. Rose is trying her best to feel the void left behind when her mother passed and her brothers are doing their best to look out for her in return. Everything in Rose's world is knocked off kilter when she meets Noah.

Noah is an interesting spin for a YA leading man. He's handsome, kind, romantic, and protective - all those things we've come to crave in the main male character - but he adds the additional element of being Amish. He's everything Rose could have ever dreamed of for herself, but his way of life does cause her to have some apprehension. She knows it would never work out; they come from drastically different worlds. But with a few glances from Noah, she starts to believe that maybe, somehow they could find a way to get to know one another better. Noah also feels the attraction to Rose and he tries to bury his thoughts, knowing that his community would never understand or accept a relationship with an outsider, but her just can't seem to stop thinking of her.

As each teen realizes that the other is suffering from the same affliction of the heart, their worlds collide and a forbidden romance begins. I have to admit that I fell in love with Noah as I was reading this one. I honestly don't know how I would have handled everything. Rose's future is certainly a difficult one. I do not envy the choices she is forced to make and I did have some issues with them. I felt like all the pressure and blame landed squarely on Rose's shoulders which was totally unfair. Nobody ever stopped to truly consider what Rose wanted and what was best for her. They just kept pulling her in whatever direction they wanted her to head. There is one particular part in the end where I lost a lot of respect for Noah; I felt like he was taking the coward's way out. There are more books to come in this series and I sincerely hope that some of these issues will be resolved.

I was so enthralled in this story. I loved both Rose and Noah and that the story is told from both of their perspectives. Their relationship is different from a lot of the other YA romances out there. It showcases a different side to the forbidden love angle and explains some interesting tidbits about the Amish culture. The clash between the modern world and the Amish community was one of my favorite aspects of this book. I have always found it fascinating that such a group of people have managed to hold onto their old ways and values in this day and age. I often wonder how fulfilling life could be if I eliminated all the unnecessary distractions from my life. A simple existence could be such a nice way to spend a lifetime. I soon remembered that I would have to live without the blog and my Kindle so the daydreams abruptly cut off at that point.

This is a perfect summer read! If you're in the mood for some sweet, clean romance and some major culture clash - pick this one up in June. I really enjoyed Karen Ann Hopkins' writing and I'm looking forward to the next book.

One Last Gripe: I was so angry with Noah during his fight with Rose in the hayloft.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: Learning more about the Amish culture

First Sentence: Pressing my head to his heart, I listened hard, straining to hear any gurgle or murmur of life.

Favorite Character: Rose

Least Favorite Character: Ella

[Farrah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely not something I've seen before. Temptation was a different YA romance and I really liked that about it. I really enjoyed reading this book.

What first drew me into this book was that it was based in an Amish society with and Amish hero. I've always been curious about how their lifestyle works, particularly because the media paints a rather nasty picture that I've never been inclined to believe. So, that was a huge draw for this book. And I really liked how the author portrayed it. She explained it without making it seem like one or the other lifestyle was right or wrong. It added an element to this book that made it very unique and different from your average YA romance.

Rose was a lovely heroine. After moving to a new town, she's lost her friends, her mother, and her relationship with her father and brothers his beginning to fracture. So, when Noah comes along, she's hasn't got much to keep her from tumbling right into love. I appreciated that she respected Noah's lifestyle while not allowing him to push it onto her. Some people might read this book and be outraged at the thought of a girl giving up her lifestyle for a boy, but I didn't see it like that. Her decision wasn't taken lightly and, since we see her entire thought process from indecision to certainty, it was understandable. Even though I might not have done the same. In the end, I really liked her character. I thought she was great.

Noah was so sweet. Though his occasional sexist comments made me want to whack him upside the head, it didn't bother me too much because: 1) the lifestyle he was raised in held that view of women and he couldn't be expected to think otherwise when that's what he was taught, and 2) he appreciated Rose's strength as one of his favorite aspects of her and didn't try to change it. He still respected her way of living. I really liked him. He was super sweet. The one thing that annoyed me a little about him was that he expected Rose to give up her life for him, but he didn't consider giving up his life for her. It seemed unfair. I just wish he had considered it at least for Rose's sake instead of rejecting it immediately, though I understood his reasoning. Compromise, my dear, is essential in a relationship. Regardless, I still thought he was downright adorable. I really liked his character.

The romance was brilliantly done. Rose and Noah's feelings for each other were palpable. I could feel them as I was reading. They were definitely sweet together. Though with so many odds stacked against them, we'll see how they manage to stay together.

The plot was steadily paced. It wasn't particularly fast paced, instead matching the tone of the story. Restful and steady. The constant threat of discovery as Rose and Noah embarked on their forbidden relationship had me hooked. And the ending definitely has me curious about how things ate going to work out.

Temptation was a lovely YA romance, one that is definitely unique in the genre. I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more in the series. Thank goodness I already have book 2, so I can start reading immediately. YA romance lovers, if you're looking for a wonderful, unique read, then you definitely need to read this book.

*I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

[Isa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at Paperback Wonderland.
 
After her mother's death, Rose's family relocates to a new state so her father can take up a position in the local hospital. Their new next door neighbours are friendly and eager to help with the move, and Rose and the boy next door, Noah, find themselves falling for each other. There is only one problem: Noah is Amish and so they cannot be together.
 
The only reason this one isn't getting a five is due to the insta-love, but even that can be easily overlooked, given the setting.This book was so amazing! YA books are never the best when it comes to female protagonists having a spine - oh, they'll be feisty and independent but then they'll meet the boy of their dreams and nothing else matters, there are no doubts in their minds, they'll do anything, leave everything behind, just so they can be with their ~true love~.
 
So when I started this book I was bracing myself, and I kept waiting for the ball to drop until the very last page. But Hopkins may have just written some of the most realistic and sane teenagers in a romance book.
 
Rose does want to be with Noah, but she's not blindly in love. We get to see her do a lot of thinking, trying to come to a decision, admitting not to even know what she wants, and yes, making some stupid choices like thinking about getting pregnant so they'd be allowed to be together, but considering her age and immaturity (which she is always quick to point out herself), all of it felt real. Even her final choice was open ended, she didn't close all doors in her life. Noah's behaviour, which I usually loathe in male protagonists, was understandable due to his cultural background, and his thought processes were so well-written that I couldn't even be annoyed with him for any of it.
 
And best of all, there were no judgemental lessons in this book. We get to see things from all perspectives. It was really refreshing to have Rose's family be so open about teen sexuality and not have the subject just swept under a rug, but discussed rationally. There wasn't the usual slut-shaming or double standards you frequently see in other books (her brother sometimes made questionable remarks, but you could tell he was just being an obnoxious big brother and didn't really mean them). Honestly, I can't wait for the next book!

[Tee loves Kyle Jacobson · Rating 5 out of 5]

First off I have to say that I loved loved this story.I love the way of the Amish. The Amish live such a simple life. They do everything for themselves and they take care of each other. So when I saw this book had the two worlds collide I was intrigued. I have seen on TV how the Amish have their Rom spring for the teens to decide if they are going to stay Amish or if they are going to go the ways of the English.

Rose is grieving because her mother has past away. In order for her family to move on they move to Meadowview which is a small town where they can rebuild their lives.Once in Meadowview Rose meets Noah who is Amish and helping her family rebuild the house they are living in. The families become close friends and Noah's family invites Rose's family over to dine with them. As time goes on Noah and Rose start to develop a friendship and the friendship blossoms into love. They begin sneaking off to be with one another and soon they find themselves crossing lines that should not be crossed.

Noah is Amish and knows he can't leave his family because he has no education or money in order to survive in the English world and Rose does not want to give up her dreams to become Amish. As the two try and navigate through this hard relationship they get caught and they are soon forced apart. But Noah and Rose are determined to be together. But can Rose give up everything to become Amish and marry Noah at a young age or will Noah give it all up to become English?

This is such a gut wrenching riveting story that I laughed and then I cried and then I screamed at the book because I could not take where it was going. Noah and Rose both make choices and decisions that will tear them apart and make them come together again but some mistakes can'y be forgiven. What will happen to Noah and Rose in the end? Can you really give up your entire life for love?

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 5 out of 5]

MY REVIEW
I got this e-book from Netgalley. I think the cover represents the book well depicting the sun shining down on Noah and Rose as they kiss in the corn field where they secretly meet.
Their attraction for each other is there as soon as they meet. However their story is one of forbidden love, because Noah is Amish, and the Amish do not court/date the non-Amish.
Noah and Rose have to fight both families. Noah's family are immediately against their son having any sort of relationship with an English. The Amish call anyone who is not Amish English. There are many rules and regulations about Amish life that prevent Noah and Rose from being together officially.
Then from the English side Rose's family do not want her in a relationship with the strange Amish boy from the neighbouring farm. Obviously there is a conflict of life styles.....but Noah and Rose know they are in love and they want to be together no matter what.
So are they found out? Do they find a compromise where they can be together? Can both families come to a compromise and accept the relationship between Noah and Rose?
You will have to read the book to find out. So what did I think of the book? I loved it! it is written really well, in a way that one minute you are on the different families side, then you feel swung to be on side of Rose and Noah. then you don't want them to be together and then you want their relationship to work. You really do feel the turmoil that is happening.
So did you enjoy the book? Loved it Would I recommend it? Yes! Do you want to read more by Karen Ann Hopkins? Definitely Would I read more in this series? Oh yes! can't wait to know more!

Due to be published 19th June according to Netgalley but Amazon says 26th June for Paperback and 6th July for Kindle

[Dani C. (Polly's Place) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Amish culture is one that has always fascinated me. I admire how they live and I respect their beliefs. So I was a bit worried when I started reading Temptation. I have never read a YA book that had characters that were Amish and I didn’t know how they would be portrayed.

Ms. Hopkins not only wrote book that was respectful to the Amish, it was so wonderful that it made it hard to put down! Temptation is more than a forbidden love story between an Amish boy and an English (modern) girl. It also gives us a good picture of what everyday life is for Amish teens.

Through both Noah and Rose’s eyes we see why they made the choices that they made and how they deal with the resulting consequences. They both have an interesting perspective on how each other’s families do things.

If you do not know much about the Amish culture, please don’t let that put you off from reading Temptation. It is so enjoyable that you do not want to miss reading it. I will fully admit that I loved this book and I cannot wait for the next in the series to be released!