Forever (A Temptation Novel Series)

Temptation #3

by Karen Ann Hopkins

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.

Genres: Young Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Amish, Contemporary Romance, Young Adult Contemporary, New Adult

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 28, 2014

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

[Stacia (the 2010 club) · Rating 4 out of 5]

To hell with the rules. I was finished with them all.

3.5 stars. And so it ends.

***DEAD AIR***

You see that line above? That's the section where my thoughts should go, but I'd have to include major spoilers if I wanted to tell you what I really thought about the biggest points of the story. Instead, I'll be sterile and vague. That always makes for an entertaining review, right? O.o

Many of you know that I prefer my contemporary romance reads to have some sort of "bigger picture" story outside of a couple's struggles with their relationship. But sometimes, a romance is just a romance, and a book is better for not trying to be more than what it is. This is one of those times.

Sure, there were tornadoes, fires, and runaway horses. Yes, there was a huge, world-rocking moment for Rose and Noah which had nothing to do with their relationship. However, my reason for reading is Rose and Noah. We readers wanted to know - were they finally going to choose whether to be Amish or English?

Who wins the war? Stubborn Girl or Mr. Suspenders? I'll never tell.

I appreciated how this story chose to show the struggles of a couple who were determined to be together "forever" at such a young age. It was inevitable that Rose and Noah were going to have to deal with the consequences that stemmed from the choice they made. Even with the sweet, "all encompassing" love story, these two didn't get off the hook quite so easy. Romance is lovely, but relationships take work after the dust setttles. Generally, it makes me uncomfortable to see two characters so young trying to pledge forever to each other, but in this case, it works...because of the hardships which are thrown at this couple.

Their story is sweet, stressful, and even thought-provoking at times. How can two different cultures mesh together, when neither one is designed to fit with the other?

Maybe I'm a little sentimental because Rose's predicament of (yes, this is an actual spoiler) being pregnant at such a young age is one I can relate to. I've been there. I know what it's like to want to make the situation work, even when everyone is saying that it's not a good idea.

The love story is very potent, and it will make some people roll their eyes. But for me, I loved the way that it was written, and I think the author did a great job of showing both the positives and negatives of choosing to give up everything for love when you're still young and learning.

Sam's chapters weren't necessary, but since I wasn't bored, it wasn't a big deal. I think I liked book 2 just a little bit better, but overall, I'm pleased with how things ended. I'm very glad I read this trilogy.

Plus, Amish stories are so fascinating. I don't think I'll ever get tired of peering in the windows of various religious and cultural groups, just to see how the other side lives.

This book provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All quotes taken from the pre-published copy and may be altered or omitted from the final copy.

[Ena · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was my daughter that introduced me to this series by reading out the blurb of book one to me from her Netgalley account. I admit to being skeptical to begin with, I mean I'm in my 70's why would I enjoy a "teen" book or Young Adult as my grandaughter Rachel of Rai29BookReadNReview tells me is the correct terminology these days. Anyhow to get to the point, I didn't expect to really enjoy reading book one, but I was pleasantly surprised. Then every time the next book was available my daughter requested it from Netgalley for me and I was lucky enough to be accepted for them all.
So now to about book three, I readily admit to wanting to get a hold of Noah's character and give him a good shake. I mean he expects Rose to change for him. If she does that how can she be the girl he fell in love with? Even as Rose tries to adapt to the Amish life it seems there is always someone there to put obstacles in her way. I am quite fascinated by the Amish culture, their sense of family sticking together and helping each other is to me the ideal all families should strive for. I enjoyed reading about the characters in book three even though there seemed to be more "English" ways filtering into the Amish, with their lack of understanding for Rose.
The love story between Rose and Noah was so well written, it was both poetic and poignant. The fact the couple strive to stay together despite everyone they know saying that their relationship is doomed.
I love the style and pace of Karen Ann Hopkins writing, she keeps you interested all the way through. I understand she lives near an Amish area . . .I'd love to know what they would think of the books. Her books are so realistic and believable.
So did I enjoy the book? I totally loved I seriously wouldn't put it down! Would I recommend the book? I highly recommend this whole series.Would I read another book in this series?I'd really love for there to be more in this series. Would I read other books by this Author? I would absolutely have to look closely at any titles by this Author.

[The Twins Read · Rating 3 out of 5]

Actual Rating: 2.5/5

*Edited on February 3, 2014 due to grammatical errors.

This review can also be found at The Twins Read.

(This is the final installment in the Temptation series so there are bound to be some little spoilers ahead if you haven't read the first books. My reviews for the first and second books, Temptation and Belonging can be found here and here.)

Noah knows that the only way he and his family can get back into the good graces of the Amish community is by giving them time to recover from jilting his Amish fiancee, especially when the father of said ex-fiancee blocks their every move and is making their life difficult. But Noah doesn't know that what he needs most is the one thing Rose can't give. Rose is pregnant with his child, and it's high-time that both of them took a final stand in order for them to finally be together.

I don't know how and I don't know why but every Noah and Rose I know seem to be walking disasters. In the second book, Noah got into an accident, and a psycho was after Rose. In this one, Rose has an accident, Noah and Rose get caught between a tornado (because hey, dramatic stand-offs) and hey look, psycho neighbors. Considering that Rose was pregnant most of the time in this one, to say that the couple has been through A LOT, cultural differences and forbidden romance aside, is an understatement. In truth, I didn't expect anything less because the second book, Belonging, was already rife with drama, and the only way to really end the series is to pile that drama on.

Rose and Noah seem to finally get the idea that this couple thing is beyond the both of them. Everyone around them is affected, especially Sarah, Noah's younger sister, who seems to be falling for Constance's brother Micah, yet another tricky relationship. In Forever, Noah finally let go of his stubbornness and this is what really makes me sag in relief. Noah was actually pretty tough on compromising, but I guess he finally grew up and realized that they both needed to be in this together if they were really starting a family. While I am happy for Rose and Noah finally ending up together (come on, that wasn't even a spoiler), I did hope that they had more time before finally committing to each other. While their chemistry was there, I hoped that the readers were clued in as to actually why and how they deemed that they were perfect for each other. I mean, Rose and Noah are hot and they love each other, but that's all I really observed from them.

Forever does include a little side-story and I thought that that was a pretty nice touch, but then Hopkins does the unthinkable and pulls the rug out from under us. Seriously, I thought that that would have made a pretty cute spin-off.

Even though Forever was quite cheesy and, given the disaster-thing I've mentioned, quite ludicrous, it was a pretty fitting ending to the series. As soon as I found out that I was given access to the title, I immediately downloaded the title and finished it in one sitting. Despite being over-the-top with its drama, Forever is engrossing and it was very hard to look away. I would recommend this series to people who are hardcore romance enthusiasts, and I do quite wish that there would be a spin-off to this series.

[Angie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

I loved the previous two books, but Forever just did not work for me. On its own, the story wasn’t that interesting to me, since I’m not into pregnancy stories. As a series finale, it was also disappointing. I was nervous going into it because of Rose’s pregnancy, but I was interested in how it would effect her relationship with Noah, as well as what it would mean for his relationship with his community. I figured one of the main tensions would be whether they decided to go Amish or English, and there’s good arguments for both sides.

Just like in Belonging, we get the added POV of Rose’s brother, Sam. However, it doesn’t add anything at all in Forever. In fact, he was extremely frustrating and once again gets involved in something that’s not his business. All of his chapters could have been eliminated the story would have been exactly the same. Similarly, we also get chapter’s from Sarah–Noah’s sister–which don’t add anything either. Something major does happen with her toward the middle, but I don’t think it warranted adding her as narrator. These added perspectives just made the story feel dragged out.

As for the plot, Forever starts with Rose stressed about what she’s going to do: go Amish and marry Noah, stay English as a single mother, or try to convince Noah to go English. This delays her in even telling him that she’s pregnant, although he does suspect. Of course, she tells him and he wants them to be married and be Amish. But things aren’t going to well for Noah’s family after his broken engagement, and he starts to have doubts about raising a family in that community. Neither of them want to be out in the city, far from their families, but being Amish isn’t the right decision either. There was a super obvious solution to this predicament, but strangely, no one even considers it. They make a terrible decision, and terrible things happen to them (which was a bit over-the-top), and the finally that obvious solution appears. Really? The in between drama was really not needed.

I didn’t care for Forever much at all. I was completely invested in Rose and Noah’s romance, but this conclusion was a bit on the silly side. The last third could have been avoided altogether with just a little compromise. Actually, it wouldn’t even be a compromise since it was exactly what both of them wanted and needed. I’m just bummed.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last year, I read--err, inhaled the first two books in this series, and I've been DYING to read the final installment. When I saw this baby pop up in my email, it's possible I did a giddy reader dance.

Okay, it's more than possible. It totally happened.

So, after a crazy weekend, and a really long day, I opened this book up, hoping to get a few chapters in. I should have known better. I devoured the entire thing in one easy gulp, and I reached the end with a huge smile.

Without diving into spoiler territory, let me just say that all the characters get a much needed maturity boost, and the romance is as strong as ever. Family bonds are tested and strengthened, and Ms. Hopkins pulls out all the stops. I swooned, I cried, I laughed, and I got angry. It was a hell of a ride.

Totally recommend this one!

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 5 out of 5]

WOW! What can I say? Just fantastic fiction!
INITIAL THOUGHTS
Well I'd been impatiently waiting for this one since finishing Belonging Bk#2 in the Tempatation Series, so you could say I had high expectations, and I had my own ideas how things may work out for Noah & Rose.

MY REVIEW
I downloaded an e-copy of this one from Netgalley, as soon as I was accepted to receive the title. (Thank you sooo much Netgalley). o say I'd been looking forward to it really is an understatement! Then I was invited by Kismet to be on the Blog Tour too . . .talk about perfect.
So the cover is set in the fields surrounding Noah & Rose's homes. Noah has literally swept Rose off her feet and is kissing her, the sky is blue . . . suggesting a perfect reunion for the pair but is it?
So would I pick this book up from a book store shelf just on the strength of the cover? Yes I would definitely pick it up and want to learn more about it.
Now to the novel itself, there's a little bit of recap, as we remember Noah learning that the "Goodbye" letter was not from Rose at all. So he has gone to her Aunt Debbie's and ended up rescuing her from the warped Amish Weaver boy.
They kissed and cuddled and a whole lot more and yes Rose is pregnant! Her brother Sam and his girlfriend Summer are there when she takes numerous pregnancy tests. They are being supportive, surprisingly so in Sam's case. Sam thinks that Rose should tell Noah and their father as soon as possible but summer agrees with Rose that she should wait until she is sure of where she want to live and if she still wants to be with Noah. Of course it's not just as simple as Rose being pregnant, as her father David does not want er with Noah or to become Amish and then the Amish obviously complicate things as Noah was previously engaged to Constance. Constance's father is not taking the engagement/wedding cancellation very well at all. In fact he is openly vindictive towards Noah and his family where ever possible.
When David, Rose's father finally finds out he immediately makes Rose consider all options available too her including Abortion, Adoption, and Single Parenthood. Rose is determined to have her child and have a life with Noah, be it in the Amish community or the English community. Can Noah & Rose and their families ever come to a suitable arrangement that will suit all parties?
There's lots of to-ing and fro-ing of ideas of what should and shouldn't be done, then there's a freak horrendous storm that literally brings Noah's home down to the ground. Sadly there are deaths in the Amish community, which spurs Noah into a somewhat unexpected action. Then the couple have problems with a fire and it takes Noah's Amish family and Rose's English family to come up with a perfect solution.
This book is rife with emotion and really takes you on a journey with the young couple. As with the other two books in this series there were still times I wanted to get hold of Noah and shake some sense into him! There were also time's in this book when I wanted to hug the young couple too. Karen Ann Hopkin's really brings the character's to life, and makes you feel as if they are friends, not two dimensional characters in a book. Again in this book I found myself intrigued by the Amish culture and their ways. Karen Ann Hopkins must have done some serious research on the culture prior to writing this book. I truly love this series and highly recommend it. I'd also say that this series will appeal to a wide age range and not exclusively to the YA group it is primarily aimed at. My 70+ year old mum loves this series too!
So did I enjoy the book? I truly loved it, and read it in one evening! I couldn't put it down.Would I recommend the book? I highly recommend this series.Would I read another book in this series? If there is going to be another yes. I'd love there to be another in this series. Would I read other books by this Author? I would absolutely have to checkout any titles by this Author.

[Tracey · Rating 5 out of 5]

We were still being kept apart. Would it ever end? Was a time of peace and acceptance in or lives possible?

When I first came across the Temptation series, I was immediately intrigued. I love romances that involve forbidden love. And Rose and Noah had everything against them right from the start. Coming from two completely different worlds, they prove that their love is very much worth fighting for. There were so many times when it seemed like the latest challenge they were facing could have proved to be the one that broke them. But their love is so strong and pure.

Forever is the final book in the series and I was so desperate to see the two of them find the happiness that they deserved. Forever picks up right where Belonging left off. During the first portion of the book, I have to admit to being frustrated. The Rose and Noah that I had previously fallen in love with seemed to be missing. Rose's ability to speak her mind and her honesty were gone. Noah was being so stubborn. Their communication really needed a good boost. I wasn't questioning the reasoning behind the choices they were making, they were trying to do what they thought was right by everyone. But they were both suffering because of it.

But then, all of a sudden Rose and Noah were back. Yes, I was a happy girl. But the hurdles for them were far from over. They will be tested at each turn. New and bigger struggles than what they had previously faced will test their strength like never before.When tragedy strikes, what choices will they make and how will those choices impact on their futures? Will the love that they have been fighting for help them through all the tough times they are yet to face?

I loved that both Rose and Noah loved so completely. I loved that they were both prepared to make sacrifices to make things work. By the time we get to the end of the book, we have a much more grown up and mature Rose and Noah. Their love and commitment to each other was such a beautiful thing to read. Their love of family and community was what made them so special to me throughout the whole series.

I adore the way Karen Ann Hopkins writes. She was able to weave these complex character struggles in with a beautiful, sweet romance. She had captured my heart from the very start and held it until the very end. Her characters were real and relatable, even if you have never faced similar challenges. The Temptation series is one that I would have no hesitation recommending to anyone. A wonderful ending to the series, but I am intrigued as to whether there will be a spin off series. The possibilities are almost endless!!

4.5/5 Sweet, Sad, Loving Stars

Copy provide by the publisher via Netgalley.

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

I really enjoyed the conclusion to this series. It seems that a lot of trilogies fizzle, but this one had a good amount of drama, action, and romance. Things happened in this story--it didn't just wrap things up nicely.

I felt a connection to the characters, especially Noah and Rose, and felt the turmoil they were going through and they tried to compromise and reach a decision, regarding their future. However, I don't feel that it was a completely satisfying compromise. One of them lost everything, while the other one hardly sacrificed a thing. I can see that in this situation, more of a compromise probably isn't possible, but I was hoping for something more.

On a side note, I did not appreciate the use of the two "f" words in there. I understand that character was shady and was prone to that type of language, but I didn't want to read it, especially in a YA book.

Content: language, especially when it's from Sam's point of view, including 2 "f" words; some mild violence (fighting); kissing, teen pregnancy, no details given.

[Jillian (Peapod Historical Bookery)]

I can't help but notice that Rose is not wearing Amish clothes on this cover... hmm...

[Beckie · Rating 5 out of 5]

BEST BOOK SO FAR OF 2014!! I loved every minute of it. If I could rate it 10 stars instead of 5 I would!!

Review originally posted @ Bittersweet Enchantment


Wow, where do I begin... This is once again the end of an unforgettable and beautiful series that I will cherish reading forever. The story of Noah and Rose is one that I will always remember and keep close to my heart. I am saddened to have to say goodbye to them but happy knowing they finally found the happiness they so rightfully deserved.


If you've read Temptation and Belonging, book one and two in the series then I'm sure you know how much both Noah and Rose were forced to endure. Their love was constantly being tested and shunned by both Rose's and Noah's family. Like the books before, Forever picks up directly after Belonging ended. Rose is now faced with a brand new challenge, one that will change everything and everyone's life forever. This little miracle comes to be the answer to Noah and Rose's future together.


I must say the phrase "Saved the Best for Last" comes to mind after reading Forever. I adored both Temptation and Belonging to pieces but Forever *happy sigh* was nothing short of a literary masterpiece. The perfect ending to Noah and Rose's story. I went through so many different emotions while reading - excitement, sadness, joy, hopeful, "heartbreaking and full out balling my eyes out". Truly words cannot describe how beautiful and moving this book is. Often I found myself wishing I could jump into the story and scream "JUST LET NOAH AND ROSE BE TOGETHER, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!!!" Everyone and everything continuously tried to stop them from being with each other. What I loved about Rose and Noah is that no matter what challenges they had to go through throughout the series they both never gave up. Their love was so rare, and true that in the ending nothing could stop it, not even death itself.

Side note:
Beware: There is a part in the book where you WILL need a box of tissues. I literally had to stop reading because my eyes were blurred with tears.


Another rare gem I found was the secondary characters. They all fit so well into the story and each of them were so richly developed throughout the series. I must say if I had to chose my favorites they would be Sarah (Noah's sister) and Sam (Rose's brother). I could totally see any of these characters getting their own novella.


I cannot say enough good things about Forever and the entire series. Karen Ann Hopkins without a doubt is one of my very favorite authors. Her books and writing style are exquisite. She really knows how to capture the reader's heart and tell a heartwarming/breaking romance like none other.

Goodbye Rose and Noah! ❤

[Sarah Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Harlequin TEEN and Netgalley.)
This is book 3 in the ‘Temptation’ trilogy, and picks up where book 2 ‘Belonging’ left off.
**Warning – some unavoidable spoilers for books 1 & 2 ‘Temptation’ and ‘Belonging’.**
Rose is pregnant, Noah is in trouble for calling of his engagement to Constance, and Sarah is unable to court Micah because of Noah’s actions.
What will Rose’s father think to the pregnancy? What will be the reaction of the Amish community? And what does the future hold in store for Rose and Noah?


This was a good end to the series, but it wasn’t quite what I expected.

Rose was quite quiet in this book as she was trying to hide her pregnancy. I totally got where she was coming from, and her problems in confiding in people, but I also saw how it almost caused more problems. Rose’s pregnancy hormones also seemed to muddle her mind a little bit, and suddenly everything was about the baby.
Noah once again started this book by irritating me. I hated the way he constantly refused to change for Rose, and still expected her to be Amish, even after everything that happened. It just wasn’t fair of him to expect her to give up everything, when he wasn’t willing to do the same for her.

The storyline in this was okay, although things didn’t go quite the way I was expecting. Don’t get me wrong, things turned out okay, but it just wasn’t what I expected. Some things that I was expecting were a bit of a let-down, and I just felt like the book almost lost its way a bit in the middle.
The ending was happy, we got a proper ‘happily ever after’, and things fell into place that made this happen, almost to the point of this being a bit too fairy-tale-esque. It was a nice ending though, and I was glad that Noah and Rose were finally happy.
Overall; not what I expected, but a good end to the series.
7 out of 10.

[Once · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited patiently for the story of Rose and Noah to come full circle. I waited to read what life would throw at them. The wait is over and my feelings are torn in two directions. When a series ends it's hard on the reader. When an awesome series ends, it's devastating to the reader. This is one of those series where I've followed the author from the beginning to the end. First direction, I had to come to the realization that the love story is over for Rose and Noah. It will forever be in my heart that their love story has ended. Karen Ann Hopkins, author of the Temptation series has created a novel with twists and story lines that I never saw coming. All wrapped up in a page turning novel, where I silently hoped that the last page would never come. Second direction, is the notion or glimpse of hope that something else may come out of this love story of determination and coming of age into to the world of adulthood. Some doors have been left open. Doors that I believe Ms. Hopkins can walk right through with more stories to tell and with new character focuses. I hope she will. I hope she'll be an author that won't stop, but will keep giving her readers novels that leave a lasting expression on the soul.

Rose and Noah have come to a part of their life where change is coming. Change has arrived. It's here and there is no turning back. There is very little I can say without ruining all of the great moments in Forever. If you know their story well, you know that they are meant for one another. The only thing that holds them back is that they live in two different worlds, but not for long. Will Rose become the humble Amish girl that she longs to be? Will their love be such a strong link that it will carry them through what the world throws at them? Karen Ann Hopkins captures her readers with endless descriptions of life, tragedy, healing and love. All components that makes for a series that is unforgettable.

[Stacey (sassysreadingnook) · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know those reading slumps where no matter what book you pick up, nothing grabs your attention? Yeah, I was in one of those, it had been months since I'd read a whole book. When I saw FOREVER on NetGalley, I almost cried, I'd been dying to read this book since I closed the last pages of Belonging. FINALLY I'd found something to give me my reading groove back! ;-)

I started FOREVER and finished in the same day (like I have with the first two books), which for me with three children is a rare thing lol. I simply starved for more!

Noah and Rose, well, they've been through hell and back and are still fighting to be together. Noah being Amish has been the biggest hardship, two completely different cultures trying to merge, not easy. The Amish have a strict lifestyle full of rules to keep them safe and close to God, so dating an English girl is definitely not aloud. That doesn't stop Rose and Noah, their feelings for each other out grew the rules, their sneaking around and secrets worked in the beginning but as it went on made things alot harder. We watch Noah and Rose make so many mistakes, some repeatedly, but we also see them learn from them, especially in this book. I'm truly in love with their story and it was sad to see it end, but it ended on a happy note which made it a little easier for me to say goodbye. ^_^

Hopkins knows how to captivate her readers, this story is an emotional roller coaster ride, with characters that you'll fall in love with over and over again. Looking for something new to read? Go pick up a copy of Temptation and get lost in Rose and Noah's story. :-)

[Jacy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm rating "Forever" a two because it wasn't what I thought it would be. I thought that the pregnancy was cliche and the ending, in my opinion was lacking. It felt rushed and reminded me of the ending of the "Twilight" saga.

I did not like the POVs changing every chapter and the book could have been written in third person.

I felt that Rose was very Mary-Sue because she was willing to get married and have a baby at seventeen. No seventeen-year-old I know would be that foolish. The relationship between Rose and Noah was annoying and I was kind of hoping that they wouldn't last. Rose's father could have been more strict and Rose could have went through her opinions.

Also, I didn't think Sarah had to die. I would've liked to see her have a happy ending.

I know writing a series is hard but when a book lacks luster, it doesn't capture the audience.

[Kerstin Elgering · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever - Ewigkeit ~ Ein wirklich passender Titel für das Finale einer besonderen Liebesgeschichte. Ein normales Mädchen, ein Amish, dass alleine ist schon etwas ganz besonderes. Aber Karen Ann Hopkins schafft es, den Leser völlig in die Welt der beiden Hauptpersonen zu ziehen, wie in den beiden ersten Bänden. Aber ich hatte das Gefühl, dass ich in diesem Band noch mehr mit Noah, Rose, Sam und Sarah mit litt, lachte, freute und trauerte.

Manche Wendungen haben mich verwundert, aber sie passten vollkommen zu den Hauptfiguren. Und auch wenn mich die traurige Wendung um Sarah zum weinen gebracht hat, ist es eines der Bücher, die mich so gefesselt hat, dass ich es nicht zur Seite legen konnte.

[Deitre · Rating 5 out of 5]

I waited patiently for the story of Rose and Noah to come full circle. I waited to read what life would throw at them. The wait is over and my feelings are torn in two directions. When a series ends it’s hard on the reader. When an awesome series ends, it’s devastating to the reader.

To read the rest of the review, simply follow the link: http://www.aleisuremoment.com/2014/02...

[Lindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lindy's Thoughts:

Different cultures have always fascinated me. After all, variety is the "spice of life." When I had the opportunity to read the first book in the Temptation Series, I was excited to read something completely different from anything that I've ever read before, and get the opportunity to learn more about the Amish. At the same time, I was a bit worried that I might not like this story. When I thought of all the stereotypes of the Amish culture, I wondered whether this story would be a really conservative romance, and therefore lack that "spark," and excitement, that for me is essential in any great romance. Well, let me tell you, as I have read each of the books in the series, I have found myself hopelessly pining till I get the next book. Now that I have finished this series, I am really sad to say goodbye.

I love forbidden romances, and in a way this story is very much like a modern day Romeo and Juliet, but instead of having The Capulets and Montagues, we have the "English," (non-Amish) and the Amish. The Temptation Series is a beautiful, dramatic, and suspenseful love story about a forbidden romance. In Temptation, Rose and Noah met and fell in love, in Belonging, Rose tried to fit in to the Amish Culture in order to be with Noah, and they were separated. In Forever, the final installment, Rose has just discovered that she is pregnant, and has convinced her father to let her move back to Meadow View. She has led her father to believe that she is no longer interested in being with Noah, all the while the two of them continue to sneak around, and meet in private. Noah wants to marry Rose, but the Amish society is not willing to accept Rose back into their community after Noah's engagement to Constance was severed. In the dramatic conclusion, Rose and Noah must overcome many obstacles, sacrifices, and compromise, in order to be together. However, along with Roses' father, and the Amish community causing obstacles in their relationship, they are also dealt some tragic and traumatic life events.

I enjoyed Forever. Myself, along with my co-bloggers Ria, and Ro, have been engaged in an ongoing debate about Noah. I have always loved him, even if I haven't always agreed with his decision making or attitude and have been rooting for Noah and Rose's relationship to survive. Therefore, I was ecstatic at the amount of character growth, and maturity that Noah went through in this segment. I was cheering him on, and he was making me very proud when he decided to take control, and take charge of his life. His priorities changed and he realized what was most important to him. Rose had already proven in, Belonging, that she was willing to do whatever it took to make their relationship work and now it was Noah's turn. I knew Noah would not let me down! Hunter, Sam's best friend, is still madly in love with Rose, and willing to do anything for her to be back with him.

We end up getting Rose and Noah's separate point of views, along with Sam (Rose's Older brother), and Sarah (Noah's Sisters') point of views. Normally, I'm not a fan of more than two point of views in a story, because the story can get confusing. However, with Forever, this worked out perfectly. I have become very attached, and gotten to know the secondary characters after reading the first two books in the series. I loved getting to learn more about Sam and his girlfriend, Summers' relationship, along with the sweet, gentle, and warm hearted Sarah, as she fell in love with the flirty and outgoing Micah (Noah's, ex-fiancés brother.) I felt so bad for Sarah and Micah, and all the obstacles that kept them apart. If you haven't read this series, please, read it! It is so addicting! You will not want to put it down!!! If you have been waiting for, Forever, be prepared to go through a large range of emotions. You will fill anger, outrage, heartbreak, excitement, hope, and happiness! One thing is for certain, I will always remember the Temptation Series fondly!


My Rating:


I give Forever, by Karen Ann Hopkins, 4 Loving, Courageous, Heartbreaking, and Healing Stars filled with hope and New Beginnings! Read the Temptation Series for an unforgettable adventure and a completely unique, addictive, and refreshing, read!


*To Read More Book Reviews, Visit A Bookish Escape at http://www.abookishescape.com

[Holly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ever since I finished Belonging, you wouldn't believe how disappointed I was when I found out that the release of the last book was in January. Luckily, I was accepted into the blog tour and received an ARC of Forever. Even though I had to wait six months it read it, the wait for Forever was worth it.

The character development in this novel was completely outstanding. Especially with Noah. To be quite honest, I wasn't much a fan of Noah in the first two books, but Hopkins managed to convince me that he was actually a good guy after all. From being selfish and controlling, Noah finally turns into a man that acknowledges Rose wants and needs.

"I've been selfish and controlling, Rose, and I'm going to change. Life is too short to keep making dumb mistakes. I'm ready to marry you and start our family. It doesn't matter which world we live in as long as we're together. I know that now."

When I first read this, I was literally beaming . Character development is so important to me. I don't care if the characters may not be so likable in the beginning as long as your character redeems himself/herself in the end. They can be rude. evil or mean. None of it will matter to me if they go past their mistake and learn from it. Noah finally realizes his mistakes and actually owns up to it by converting into English. He goes through some bumps down the road, but eventually comes through with the help of his family and Rose's. I'm glad to say that Noah has now made it into my favourite book boyfriends list.

Narrated in Rose's, Noah's and Sam's POV, I was not expecting Noah's younger sister, Sarah to be added in as well. Normally, multiple point-of-views would bother me, but this I didn't mind at all. In fact, I loved that Hopkins included her. Her romance with Micah was just as refreshing as Noah's and Rose's were. Just like Noah's and Rose's relationship, they couldn't be together. Noah dumped Micah's sister, Constance, causing her father to hate Noah and his family. In fact, Constance's father goes far beyond by making sure that Noah and Rose don't get their happily ever after.

Another character I enjoyed was Rose's younger brother, Justin. He was so clever and smart that I really wished that he had his own POV in Forever. If the author made a spin-off series with Justin, I would definitely pre-order it.

"Glancing sideways at Justin, I said, "I'm going to be keeping an eye on you."
He laughed and turned away, taking two steps at a time.
Pausing in stride, he looked back and smirked. "I don't think you'll be able to keep with me...but we'll see."

I could seriously go on and on about all the characters of the book, but I think I'll just let you go ahead and read it for yourself. Hopkins provide a great of cast of characters that it's difficult to pick a favourite.

After reading my fair share of series, endings can be a hit or miss. Last year, I've encountered so many series where I enjoyed the beginning, but hated the ending. I understand the difficulty it can be for the author to finish off a trilogy with an ending that is satisfying to the readers. With Forever, I didn't feel any disappointment whatsoever. She wraps up the story fairly well. In fact, the last line in the book was my favourite part. Not only that, but Hopkins will definitely surprise you. She throws an unexpected twist that will leave you shocked and totally overwhelmed. I don't want to get into too much detail, but Noah and Rose will finally get their happy ending that we all waited for.

With a a tremendous amount of character growth and a clever plot twist, the characters of the Temptation series will stay with you forever .

[Gina - What She Read · Rating 4 out of 5]

See the original review, my interview with Karen and print the bookmarks as part of the Forever Blog Tour, on my blog!



Thanks to Kismet Book Tours and HarlequinTEEN for sending me a copy of this novel for review!

The conclusion to the Temptation trilogy, is just as heart warming and completely full of drama as the previous books! With a happily-ever-after and moment where you cry and gasp in shock and awe, this is the perfect finale to this intriguing romance trilogy.

A perfect ending, to a fantastic heart-melting series. From book 1 all the way through to book 3, we are cheering for Rose and Noah! We laugh, we cry and we scream at everything that happens to try and pull these two away from each other.

Forever starts off where Belonging finishes. We know what Noah is going through, with the conflict between another family, and then Rose with her scary news (not spoiling anything!!). But these things plague both Rose and Noah in the beginning, and how they go about it annoys me. With Noah's situation, he makes the decision, and he doesn't leave any room for Rose to say anything, but to agree. If she doesn't agree then it will stuff up his plans . Then with Rose, because of the plans that Noah makes, she doesn't want to tell him what is happening to her, and is scared of what would happen if she does. Where is the strong Rose that I know and love? She debates half the time on telling him, that it gets me really annoyed, because there are so many people who do know. I also got annoyed, because it was like Rose had to give up everything, and Noah doesn't. She has given up so much already, and he won't even think of sacrificing something for her (it's ok though, because it does turn around in the end)

What I also didn't like was the way that Constance's family (including Constance, excluding Micah) was acting. I was frustrating that they were acting like a jealous English family, and that the community didn't see how they were acting, because they were too caught up in the words that they twisted and the money they threw in their face.

After the beginning, this book had me all love love love! I love having Sarah's POV, and her blooming relationship with Micah. I was cheering for them all the way, and then the unthinkable happened. I cried!! I couldn't believe what happened to Sarah, and it left me so emotionless for a few chapters in the book, because I love her character, and her personality.

As the story continues, it gets better and better. We see the Rose and Noah that we know and love from the previous books, and they have just as many struggles as before to conquer. I don't want to give away anything, because it is the last book, but you can see them changing and the fight to be with each other becomes really intense and you know that they are going to pull through.

After everything that happens, we get the perfect ending! Yes, there could be a spin off series to come, from the way the ending played out. I really wish that there was, and I am curious to have one about Miranda (Noah's sister). Even though she isn't one of my favorite characters (I don't even like her that much anyway, and after the ending I kind of hated her), what she does in the ending would make for a really intriguing spin off story. I might even come to like her.....maybe... but that is if there was a spin off story.

There really isn't much else to say about this book without spoiling it for you all, and because it is the last book, it is really something that should be experienced for yourself!

[Leigh Collazo · Rating 4 out of 5]

More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.

WHAT I LIKED: I've said before that this series is not for everyone. The romance is riddled with plenty of drama and adolescent relationship games, and some readers will tire of that quickly. But I absolutely adored Temptation and Belonging , and Forever is a must-read for fans of previous books. Overall, Forever is pretty good, but it isn't quite as strong as the first two.

Once again, I love Hopkins' sensitivity to the Amish culture and her handling of the difficulties Noah and Rose face. I love how Hopkins does not prefer English over Amish or vice versa. Neither culture is perfect; both cultures limit freedom in different ways and have mean--even dangerous--people living among them. But regardless of which lifestyle they call home, Rose and Noah both have friends who love them and people to help them on the other side.

I like how Rose and Noah's story ends. Nothing is ever easy for them, but they do clearly love each other. I like how Forever took a more serious turn and had less drama than the previous two books. Rose is pregnant; the relationship drama is over. Time to grow up now, people. *looks over at Noah*

I also like how Forever adds more voices into the story. We again hear from Rose's brother Sam, but we also get Noah's sister Sarah's point of view this time.

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: This story just seemed so somber. Rose is depressed and hormonal through much of her pregnancy, and there are so many forces working against Rose and Noah, it's a wonder they don't just run off and live in another country to avoid it all.

The romance kind of died here. Where was the sizzle we saw in the first two? I didn't feel anywhere near as connected to the characters, nor did I feel much connection between Rose and Noah. I missed that from the first two books.

THE BOTTOM LINE: Readers who enjoyed the first two will definitely want to find out how it all ends up. I liked it well enough, but for me, it lacks the magic of Temptation and Belonging. The big question is, is Forever going to be the last book in this series, or do we get to read about Rose's brother Justin's story next? That one has some serious potential...

STATUS IN MY LIBRARY: We have Temptation on our "high school" shelf, but I did not buy Belonging due to mature sexual content. I don't have a problem getting Forever or Belonging, but the subject matter is a little mature for middle school. If someone requests the sequels, I'll get them.

READALIKES: Temptation and Belonging (Hopkins); Perfect Chemistry series (Elkeles); Pushing the Limits series (McGarry)

RATING BREAKDOWN:

Overall: 4/5
Creativity: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Engrossing: 4/5
Writing: 4/5
Appeal to teens: 5/5
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5


CONTENT:

Language: mild-medium; 2 fu**, a few sh** and damns
Sexuality: mild-medium; teen pregnancy is central to the story; one intercourse scene (very nondescript); some kissing
Violence: mild; arson, fist-fighting
Drugs/Alcohol: mild; a reference to a druggie neighbor, minor character smokes cigarettes

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read a few series dealing with the Amish combining with a sweet romance that is forbidden, but this certainly was the best one I've ever read. Karen Ann Hopkins has created a gorgeous trilogy with mystery, squeals, feels, wants, and needs. If you enjoy contemporary reads, this is the perfect read for you that deals with a twist.

Temptation is all that Rose has dealt with since meeting Noah Miller. Their love has been forbidden since they met, but they both have loved each other too much to forget about the connection that they share. Now that Rose is pregnant, they both have to think about their future and what it will hold for their lives. Will Noah turn Amish and raise a family the English way, or will Rose join the Amish way of life?

Two choices. Two choices that can change everyone's life immediately. I had a lot of theories on how this trilogy can end from the start. And in the end, I was right, sort of. The ending either way was written spectacularly, and was a perfect goodbye to Rose and Noah, two characters that we've grown close with throughout the few years.



This plot started off very quickly from where the second book left off. We were left with quite a shocker, right? Now the mystery of what's going to happen is rolling around in our heads, and it stayed that way until about the end. We had no idea what the author was going to do with us towards the end... and then it happened so fast.

This plot was very fast-paced, as I mentioned above. It was all good throughout. Suspense and mystery was added into this delicate little-beautiful contemporary read, and that made it about 10 times better.

One of the flaws were that there were too many POVs. I don't remember if this was the case in the previous novels, but I really think that it should've stayed with just Noah and Rose. Adding Sam and Sarah into it was just too much and too complicated.



As I always did, I loved the characters, except Sarah. Noah and Rose are the perfect and favourite power couple of 2014 (well, one of them). Of course, they share such a beautiful connection and their love for each other beats the standards of anyone else's. I ship them to the highest standards. Rose became very strong and kick-ass in this book. She was getting ready to become a mother, and that honour overtook her insecurity of her past. She has grown up a lot throughout the trilogy, and she, in the end, was a powerful woman.

I loved Sam, but I had problems with Sarah. She, the opposite of Rose, was too insecure and didn't take risks. She didn't confess her feelings to Micah, and then she died and everything that could've been good for her just ended. She wasn't my favourite character or the worst one, so it didn't really matter if the author killed her off, although it was sad. (I sound so bitchy, meh.)

The ending was just stunning and cute and gave me chills all inside. I almost cried, tee hee. I'm going to officially announce that Karen Ann Hopkins has created a beautiful trilogy that's going to stay in my heart forever. It had its flaws, but it overall was beautifully written. Looking for a book with a new impression? Pick this series up.

[Sandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you remember from my reviews of Temptation and Belonging, I’ve had some frustrations with this series. My initial frustrations in Temptation centered around Rose’s ignorance concerning the Amish culture and how both Rose and Noah had the desire to change the other into what they wanted. In Belonging these issues were compounded. Because Rose was working to become Amish, her feminist views collided with the Amish way of life. She waits entirely too long and truthfully never fully discusses her feelings with Noah about becoming Amish or about the possibility of him becoming English. At the same time in Belonging, both Rose and Noah continually make self-centered and immature decisions that show how utterly not ready they are to be making such huge, life altering, and permanent decisions. Belonging was definitely the most frustrating of the three books for me, and we end Belonging finding out that Rose is pregnant. This led me to believe that Forever was going to be nothing short of me pulling my hair out in order to trudge through the frustrations that must inevitably come as a result of Rose being pregnant. However, I was overreacting.

While Rose and Noah both had moments of immaturity in Forever, truthfully both of them seemed to be miles ahead of where they were in Belonging. As Anna Reads would say, I’m pretty sure I’m having a case of old lady syndrome though because all my life I have been a proponent of letting people get married when they want to get married. My brother was barely 18 when he got married, and I saw myself getting married about the same age even though I actually ended up being 22 when I got married. However, I’ve increasingly become aware of how young and immature most people are at this age, and as I’ve already discussed the immaturity that bothered me with Rose and Noah, their discussion of marriage definitely left me concerned.

For the most part, Forever didn’t hold the same intensity of frustration as Belonging which was really a good thing. I’m not sure I could have trudged through it had that been the case. The addition of Sam and Sarah as narrators helped to break up some of the struggles that would have come from having the book solely focused on Rose and Noah. Sam’s relationship with Summer and Sarah’s newly developing relationship with Micah gave the book more depth and provided some relief for the frustrations I’ve already discussed.

Ironically enough, Rose and Noah do seem to find the compromise I thought was impossible in my review of Temptation. Some of the compromise and aspects involved in it I wonder how realistic they can be but without having more information about the Amish culture I’ll never be able to answer that. Forever does have a couple of twists and events that sparked deeper emotions within me. But I’m concerned about the hinting around to Justin’s potential involvement with an Amish girl as to whether that means more books for the series or whether this is the end. I’m not sure I know which I’m hoping for either.

Forever ended up being a sweet and less frustrating ending to the Temptation series than I was expecting. I’m satisfied with the way that it ended, but feel some unease yet curiosity about whether Justin will get his own books or not. Forever gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read Forever? What did you think? Let me know!

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

Review Posted on Reading Lark 2/20/14: http://readinglark.blogspot.com/2014/...

Reading the final novel in a series is always bittersweet. On the one hand, I wanted to find out how Rose and Noah's story ended, but on the other hand I didn't want to walk away from these characters. From the first chapter of Temptation, I have been enthralled with the torrid love affair between Rose and Noah. The tension between the two families and the clash of cultures made this romance intensely intriguing. I wanted these two to end up together, but with so many obstacles in their path, I wasn't sure that things would work out that way. I won't tell you how things end up, but I can't say enough positive things about this series. I loved every moment.

I was pleasantly surprised to see Noah and Rose mature in this installment. I was frustrated by some of the choices these two made in Belonging so it was nice to see them thinking logically and trusting one another again. I also began to see them as young adults rather than teenagers in love. They both have evolved so much since the first novel; I enjoyed watching this process unfold. Also, their romance always has a tendency to evoke slight swooning. If this series had been around when I was a teen, I know I would have wanted a Noah of my very own.

In addition to Rose and Noah, I also love the romance between Sam and Summer. Sam has always been one of my favorite characters; he is snarky, protective, and athletic. He cares deeply for his family and friends. Sometimes his overwhelming desire to keep Rose under wraps can make him a bit overbearing, but his heart is always in the right place. I love that he has truly met his match in Summer. She keeps that boy on his toes and provided some much needed comic relief to break some of the more serious moments.

In addition to the romance, I have always loved the emphasis that Hopkins places on family and friendship in this series. I love that the portraits she paints of both Rose's and Noah's family seem realistic. I can't imagine how two such differing cultures would react to their children falling in love. The friendships are also realistic and heartfelt. I have grown attached to all of these characters. I would love to see Sam or Justin get their own novel.

In spite of my deep affection for this series and the characters, I did find that Forever took on a somber note from time to time. There were even moments that caused me to shed a few tears. One moment in particular was extremely difficult and had me reaching for tissues. It is a true testament to Hopkins' writing that she made me care so deeply about these characters that I experienced such strong emotions. Not every author can elicit such a response in readers. Hopkins' also created an agonizingly delicious sense of tension throughout a majority of Forever. I polished this one off in less than 24 hours because I had to know what was going to happen.

Again, I love this series. I loved the characters. I loved the romance and relationships. I loved the conflict and tension. I loved the setting. I loved learning about the Amish culture. I loved every moment I spent with Rose and Noah.

One Last Gripe: I was so frustrated by all the trouble caused by Constance and her family.

My Favorite Thing About This Book: Rose and Noah - I loved losing myself in their story.

First Sentence: It was dark except for the light slicing through the gaps in the barn boards.

Favorite Character: Noah, but Sam is a close second

Least Favorite Character: Constance

[Just a person · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have loved Noah and Rose's romance from the beginning, it is intense, first love personified, and the fact that their love has grown stronger through trials, temptations, and being torn apart says even more about it. So, when this book was available for review, I jumped on it, because I just had to know how things end for them, not to mention Sam and Summer, since Sam was introduced as a POV and I've become attached to him.
The multiple POV is easy, and moves the plot along, although I will say it can be a bit frustrating when you are coming to answers, or a kiss, or whatever and you are all of the sudden in someone else's perspective, but then I got caught up in what was going on with them.
The difference in religion and upbringing has always been on the forefront of Rose and Noah's relationship and that hasn't changed, in fact it's been complicated by Rose hiding her pregnancy from Noah (more on that later) as well as Noah's engagement and breaking up with Constance. It has created ripples in what should be a quiet and close knit community and it has everyone questioning loyalty, allegiances, and not only the actions of Noah and Rose, but his parents, how Constance's dad is reacting to the situation, as well as Sarah and her unexpected romance.
I had so thought that Rose and Noah had learned from the last book not to keep secrets and hide things, but then Rose hids this. I know she had all intentions of telling him, and then certain things that he said made her wait. And I probably would have waited after that first conversation because Noah is in deep and it is not only him that is effected, but I think that he knew, but he didn't want to admit it, so he was being a coward and leaving Rose to deal with it if he thought it was a possibility he should have stepped up. But I have to say, I really respected him in how he did step up once he knew for certain.
That said, I still loved every minute and flew through this book. I wanted more stolen moments with Rose and Noah. I love their passion and intensity and devotion to one another. I enjoy Sam's POV and his fierce protectiveness for Rose, and the sibling relationship played out. Him and Summer are also a great couple in other ways, its not forbidden romance, just pure boy and girl falling in love. Being in Sarah's head is great as well. She is so different from Rose, but I still respect her. She is devoted to her family, but she is also learning about how it feels to fall for someone, and feelings that she's never really encountered before.
This book was filled with some very hard, extremely emotional issues, and events. My heart hurt so bad, and I still have to wonder why. I know in some ways in brought about some needed changes, but it just seems too big, too painful, too hard. But I guess that is just life, and this is a contemporary.
Some of the twists took me completely by surprise, but it definitely had purposes in growing the characters and moving the plot along. The pacing was well done, and the world building for setting up the Amish community was fantastic as usual.
The ending was good, but I really hope there will be more in the series, because with adding the extra POV, I feel like those story lines weren't really wrapped up. I feel like it was a good stopping point with Noah and Rose at the end, not that I would ever complain about more of their romance.

Bottom Line: Romantic ending with lots of trials for our main characters to overcome.

[Joli · Rating 4 out of 5]

originally posted at:
http://actinupwithbooks.blogspot.com/...

When writing my reviews of Temptation and Belonging, I found it difficult to share my thoughts about the books without revealing too much. It is the same with Forever. So this is my warning: This review gets a little spoilery - so read at your own risk.

As soon as I finished the last page of Belonging (book 2) I wanted to know how Rose and Noah's story was going to play out. Throughout the series, I had conflicting feelings about whether they should be together or not. I love a happily-ever-after, but I am fine if it doesn't happen for the main characters too if it suits the story being told. Honestly, when I started Forever, I could see the story going either way, but then the title wouldn't be accurate. So I knew how it was going to end, and realized that the getting there part was what really mattered.

Like the other books in the series, Forever is told in multiple points of view of Noah, Rose, Sam, and now Sarah, Noah's younger sister and Rose's friend. Adding this new perspective lets readers know how Rose and Noah's Amish/English relationship affects everyone else in the community. In Belonging, Sarah and Rose built a strong relationship as Rose tried to become Amish. She became a prominent character, so it seemed right to know more of story from Sarah's perspective.

Just as in the other books, Noah and Rose are initially kept apart until Noah makes a drastic decision for the sake of his relationship with Rose and also his family. There wasn't as much of the dramatic push and pull of Noah and Rose's relationship as in the first books and I liked that. Instead, there were new experiences for them to deal with as Noah steps out of the Amish community and begins living among the English. It was really interesting to read how he dealt with being away from the lifestyle he was accustomed to just as Rose had in Belonging. This was something that I had an issue with in the previous books and I was glad to know of the sacrifices Noah would make for Rose.

There were some pretty intense moments in Forever that had me completely on edge. In the book description, there is the statement "there's a storm on the horizon" and there is, literally. Without revealing what happens (other than there is a storm), I do want to say that Hopkins's description of how the storm builds and progresses is terrifying and made me anxious while reading it. And then the aftermath of the storm, just devastating.

When a series comes to an end, there can be a lot of expectations if the book will end the way that you want it to. I try to not take that approach and ask "is this how it is supposed to end?" With Forever, I would say that the answer is yes. With all of the anticipation and the will they, won't they, should they, shouldn't they, Forever ended perfectly.

I really enjoyed reading this entire series for the writing, the characters, and all of the questions that I had while reading it. I was originally hesitant to start this series because of the Amish storyline (which I realize now is completely stupid of me), but I'm glad that I didn't overlook it because I would have missed out on a wonderful story, an incredible reading experience, and an author whose work I love more and more with each book.

[Nicole (Reading Books With Coffee) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forever wasn't what I was expecting, but I was pleasantly surprised with how the series ended! There were definitely moments where I was irritated with quite a few characters, and there were also times when I thought everyone acted monumentally stupid, but given the choices everyone made, I suppose it's to be expected.

So, Rose's pregnancy. We see Noah hoping Rose is pregnant at the end of the 2nd book, and at the beginning of this one, he's hoping she isn't, because of how difficult it will be for them if she is. So there's quite the change in attitude from Noah. And not just in regards to Rose's pregnancy! Her dad doesn't take it well, of course, and Rose puts off that particular conversation. However, she does seem relieved that her older brother is the one who told their dad.

Rose's dad is the character who frustrated me the most in this series. I get his resistance to Rose becoming Amish, but he also didn't seem to care about what Rose wanted. For most of the series, he's been so dead-set against Rose becoming Amish...I felt like his resistance may have made being with Noah even more appealing. At the same time, Rose also didn't seem to want to take her dad's opinion into consideration.

Until Noah does something that I didn't see coming...he actually decides to leave the Amish country behind. Part of it is things that happened after he broke off his engagement to Constance, and part of it is him actually coming to the realization that it wasn't fair for Rose to sacrifice so much and for him to not sacrifice anything. I have two very different thoughts on this. The first one being it's about time, and the other one being that it still seems weird that he would finally change his mind. I so very much wanted Rose to become Amish, and I'm finding that I'm slightly disappointed that it didn't happen. Noah leaving the Amish community, but still living nearby...it does seem to work for them, but...it just wasn't what I was expecting.

Another slightly frustrating thing was how Rose's dad became a bit more accepting of her pregnancy once Noah said he was leaving the Amish community behind. I doubt her dad was completely okay with it, but it was irksome that it was more okay once it meant that Rose wasn't going to be Amish. It's one of those times when I wish we had a chapter or two narrated by her dad, because as frustrating as he was throughout the entire series, I still would have liked to see what he was really thinking.

Speaking of narration...we have Noah, Rose and Sam narrating, with the addition of Sarah as a narrator. I'm not sure how I feel about Sarah as a narrator, but it was nice to see how Noah and Rose's actions were affecting her, just as it affected Sam. Because there are definitely consequences, and it's not just Noah and Rose who have to deal with them...it's also affecting those close to them.

Let's Rate It: Even though Forever is my least favorite in the series, I still really liked it! There's a lot of drama, and there is a lot going on, but I liked that Rose and Noah finally got their happily-ever-after. Forever gets 4 stars.

*Forever is an e-ARC from netgalley.com, which hasn't influenced my review in any way

[Missy · Rating 4 out of 5]

View the full review here:
http://www.iswimforoceans.org/2014/01...

This is the third novel in Karen Ann Hopkin's Temptation series, and I must admit that from the start, this has been a guilty-pleasure series for me. I'm generally the type of reader that wants rough, tough and gruff contemporary fiction, and I have a penchant for quickly discarding what might otherwise be considered sappy romance. However, Forever earned a spot on my review pile, simply because there is something inherently alluring about a forbidden romance - especially one that crosses cultures and beliefs. Forever, once again, brings us back to Meadow View with Rose and Noah as they attempt to navigate new obstacles blocking their paths to happiness, yet again.

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, Forever and its predecessors are the tales of an Amish boy, Noah, who falls in love with an English (non-Amish) girl, Rose. While much of the setup for the previous novels felt a bit trite and cliche, this third and final installment in the series offered a surprising amount of new depth to a pretty dramatic tale. Noah and Rose were rather reckless with their love for one another in the previous novels and, while they knew that their love would have consequences, they gave it little to no thought at all before. This time, however, we see Noah step up and mature, which I found really helpful for a series such as this. It would have been so easy for the author to simply settle for the drama of an unplanned pregnancy, but we actually get to see Noah take ownership of his actions and their subsequent repercussions. I was, however, still frustrated with Rose. There are serious strings attached to their relationship at this point, yet she still felt the need to hide it from her disapproving father. Colour me mad, but I would have loved to see the same level of maturity and growth from her as I did from Noah.

In terms of writing, Ms. Hopkins doesn't disappoint. Her prose is simple but sweet, and it has a delicate nature that doesn't feel overtly flowery or pretentious, but it weighs lightly on our hearts while it pulls us into this web of a story. Like I said before, this is not the type of series that I'd normally love, but it's engaging, and you can't help but root for two such characters. The ending was a bit neater than I might have liked. I like a bit of an open end, if only to keep me thinking about the story long after I close the book on the final page, but Forever gives readers what it's promises from the start - a happily ever after. I do wish we could see Rose and Noah grow a bit more together as friends, rather than just lovers, but I suppose that's asking a bit much of such a series.

Overall though, Forever is a fitting conclusion to a romantic forbidden love story. It was an interesting take on cross-culture relationships and, while often a bit cheesy, it was sweet, and it's a fast-paced read you can easily finish in a night. I give it a high 3.5 out of 5, and I recommend it to all fans of YA and contemporary romance novels.

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

[Asheley T. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my full review HERE at Into the Hall of Books. This is an excerpt.


In quick review, Rose is a "regular" English girl that happens to fall for Noah, an Amish boy. They live near one another and begin a relationship that is real and true, but forbidden by the Amish culture because Rose is not Amish. In previous installments, the two have gone back and forth trying to decide how they can be together in the future (as they are both young still) but the overall question has always been Will Rose turn Amish to be with Noah? OR Will Noah turn his back on his Amish community and turn English to be with Rose? It is obvious throughout the first two books that it is possible that either choice could prove disastrous for the two because somebody is giving up everything for the person that they love. But that is one of the points of this series, isn't it? And that is why I found it so deliciously wonderful and easy to read.

This series is really quite unlike any other that I've read before in that the forbidden romance between Rose and Noah is because of cultural and religious reasons of the Amish vs. English persuasion. I have mentioned in previous reviews in this series how much I enjoyed reading this because I was able to learn quite a bit in the process without the book being preachy about Amish vs. non-Amish or anything of that sort. I love the way the author was able to weave in the bits and pieces of the Amish culture into the story so they were enmeshed and organic to the story without feeling forced. While the cultural issue was always a pretty large part of the story, I feel like it always took a back seat to the romance between Rose and Noah - I love that.

Forever, to me, is much more action-packed - it was filled with more things for this couple to face. I mean, the two have already faced enough that would have had many less-committed couples calling it quits already, but Rose and Noah soldiered on, convinced that their love could endure anything. AND! This time, the things and events that crept up and tried to get in the way of Rose and Noah being together also had various ways of affecting many of the people they loved. Not only was the unplanned pregnancy (mentioned in the summary above) a large part of the story, but there was some other HUGE things that popped up as well that affected both Rose and Noah as well as pretty much everyone else in the book. There were several occasions that I found myself holding my breath through intense scenes and then rather emotional during some of the more trying times in the lives of these characters.

It was a very compelling read and a very interesting story. I thought it was a really great ending to the series. I would easily recommend Forever by Karen Ann Hopkins, and the series as a whole, to fans of YA Contemporary Romance and fans of solid, strong romances. I'm interested in seeing what is next for this author, particularly since I've enjoyed this entire series so very much.

[Kate · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rose and Noah have overcome so much – their cultural differences, their families and now they may have a chance at happily ever after. Except that for these young lovers, the course of true love never did run smoothly. It might seem a little odd that after the low rating I gave the previous book (Belonging) that I have continued on with this series but there is something oddly compelling about Rose and Noah’s story. They may have a selfish and tumultuous relationship with a lot of emotion however I couldn’t wait to find out what happens next for the star-crossed pair.

With Rose finding out she’s pregnant, everything is different. She is confused. After experiencing Amish culture for six months she’s not sure that it would be the best place for her baby. Trying the keep the secret from her father and Noah isn’t easy but at least she has her big brother Sam and her best friend Summer to help her though. With the point of view shifting between Rose and Noah and the occasional chapter being told by Sam and new narrator, Noah’s sister Sarah, Forever is an interesting read.

I wasn’t entirely happy with Rose finding out she was pregnant. And for the most part I found Rose’s story in Forever to be fairly boring because of this. She spends a lot of time trying to hide her pregnancy and apparently considering her options. But I never really felt like she was weighing up any decision. She was understandably scared but I doubt anyone was the slightest surprised by what Rose finally decides. Noah’s story was more interesting with a lot of drama unfolding from his decision to break his engagement with Constance – an Amish girl he courted and proposed to just to hurt Rose. I’m still not a fan of his actions in the previous book but I liked that there were repercussions. And not just for Noah – but for his entire family and friends.

This novel has heartbreak and I was shocked by one of the storylines. I was surprised by how much I had grown to anticipate a certain relationship and was a little devastated when events came to pass. However for the most part I thought this book was fairly predictable but I was never quite sure when the things I was expecting to happen would occur.

Overall – this hasn’t been one of my favourite reads. The characters are overwrought by emotion and the idea that no sacrifice is too large when it comes to love. The two main characters spend most of the series trying to convince the other to give up their family and beliefs for their relationship and neither seem to be all that understanding about anyone else’s’ feelings. The ending of the series is a little… too happy with everything somehow working out so very neatly and somewhat unbelievably. I don’t believe that this book shows off Amish culture in the best light and I’m still curious about this group of people. If you are looking for an emotional read about all-consuming young love and who will do anything to be together then I recommend this series. On the other hand if you like a bit more realism to your relationships and don’t enjoy selfish characters maybe this series is not for you.

Thanks to Harlequin Teen and NetGalley for the review copy.

[Megan Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

This review first appeared on Books i View

Forever by Karen Ann Hopkins is the breathtaking finale in Rose and Noah’s story. This is the third and final book in the Temptation series. If you haven’t read the other books first please check out my review of Temptation and/or Belonging.

This book is told in multiple points of view of Rose, Noah, Sam, and Sarah. I loved being able to get inside of all of their heads and see everything from each side of the story. I am happy that Hopkins added Sarah’s voice to the mix, we finally get to really know her. However at times switching back and forth felt like it slowed the book down.

What really made me love this series was that it’s the classic tale of forbidden love or love from different sides of the track. Rose and Noah are from two completely different worlds but find themselves falling in love anyway. The biggest obstacle they had to face was their families and lifestyles. I’m a sucker for those kinds of stories and can’t get enough of them so it’s no secret as to why I’m a fan of this series.

Forever adds to the difficulties of an already drama filled teenage relationship by way of a pregnancy. The whole time while reading this I was filled with nerves hoping that Rose would make the right decision for her and her baby. Then when an unexpected event happens I was utterly shocked. There are some twists & turns and lots of drama to keep me satisfied.

Karen Ann Hopkins tackled some serious issues in this book; From teenage pregnancy to marriage to religion. I think just the subject of the Amish way of life is a difficult subject to write about, especially in YA, but Hopkins does it with ease and grace. Because of this series I am more open to reading books about the Amish lifestyle more now than I was before.

Overall I thought this was a good ending to the series. While at times I was frustrated with the pace, the unexpected twist and turns made up for it. I would recommend to this series if you love YA contemporary and want something a little different!