Sarah's Sin

by Tami Hoag

From award-winning author Tami Hoag comes a warm, moving story of two cultures in conflict and two hearts in love.

Matt Thorne had come to his sister's rural inn to recover from an injury far from the city and his fast-paced life as an emergency room physician. Drifting between sleep and waking, Matt didn't trust his eyes when he saw the young woman who sat at his bedside in her plain cotton dress and apron, her chestnut hair tucked demurely beneath a white bonnet, like a beautiful vision from the past century.

Sarah Troyer had been warned about the womanizing Dr. Throne, but nothing prepared her for the shiver of desire that shook her to her core when she gazed at him. Though her life was bound by the simple Amish way, Sarah had always longed for the world outside. Her job at the inn already branded her as a rebel in her community, and falling in love with a stranger would mean the loss of her family and the only life she knew. Yet something sparked within her with every touch of his hand, each glance from his dark eyes.

Sarah was willing to allow herself a brief, secret adventure in the arms of a forbidden man. But she hadn't counted on Matt's passionate love—a love that would not let go, a love that could cost them both everything they knew....

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published July 1, 1991

About the author

Tami Hoag is the #1 internationally bestselling author of more than thirty books published in more than thirty languages worldwide, including her latest thrillers—BITTER SEASON, COLD COLD HEART and THE 9TH GIRL. Renowned for combining thrilling plots with character-driven suspense, Hoag first hit the New York Times Bestseller list with NIGHT SINS, and each of her books since has been a bestseller.

She leads a double life in Palm Beach County, Florida where she is also known as a top competitive equestrian in the Olympic discipline of dressage. Other interests include the study of psychology, and mixed martial arts fighting.


Visit her at www.tamihoag.com, Facebook.com/TamiHoag and on Twitter @TamiHoag

Reviews

[Anita · Rating 4 out of 5]

The clash of cultures is the foundation of this oldie from Tami Hoag. I have loved her old stuff and found others to be fun, light and wholly entertaining. This one, with it's serious subject matter, was not as much. It still had it's light, fun moments, but a cloud was hanging over it. Finding love between two cultures can be difficult business and that theme stands the test of time.

Matt Thorne is an inner city emergency room doctor who got in the middle of a gang war in his ER and was injured. He was at his sister's rural inn to recover from his injuries. Drifting in and out of concisions his first sight, is Sarah, an Amish woman whose job is to tend to him, had him believing he had been transported to a different time.

Sarah Troyer had been warned Dr. Matt Throne, but nothing could prepare her for the impact of the man. She was a widow but the sight of him sent a shiver to her core. The outside world has always fascinated Sarah and her job at the inn had caused trouble with her strict father and the Amish community. Now she is falling in love with a outsider and that would mean shame to her family and their loss. But even faced with the loss of life as she knows it, she loves Matt.

Sarah wants her brief, secret adventure in the arms of this forbidden man, to hold it in her heart for when he is gone. But she hadn't considered that maybe Matt's love would be a love that would not let go, or that Matt was a man worth having even if it cost her everything she knew. 3 1/2-Stars

[Chris · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was hoping for one of Hoag's delicious romantic suspense novels, but it wasn't. Straight forward formulaic romance novel. Drivel. If it wasn't part of a challenge for me, I wouldn't have even wasted the time to finish it. Not my thing.

[Tanya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Short read... not really my thing but not bad.

[Carrie · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5* Not terrible, but underdeveloped plot and characters.

[Jill · Rating 4 out of 5]

I know there are lots of similar stories in these quick-read type novels. Honestly, I didn't expect a lot from it. But I really came to like these characters. The story was as heart-warming as it was predictable. There was one side story that I'm disappointed was never resolved - about the guest's husband Tim who nobody ever saw all weekend. As they were leaving, Matt wanted to look to see Tim in the car but Sarah insisted he not look because the mystery was better. I disagree. For me this is just a loose end that never got tied up. But speaking of tying up loose ends, the ending seemed rushed. This was augmented by at least five typos that I found within the last 50 pages. Perhaps the editor was rushed too. It was definitely a distraction for me, but, as expected, it still managed to be a satisfying ending.

[Lori (on hiatus, life is crazy busy)) · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great short read! This book shows us that falling in love with someone completely different than you can work out. Sarah is Amish. But deep down inside, she feels like she wants so much more than her Amish life. She then meets Dr. Matt Thorne who is English. They both try to fight there feeling's for one another. Sarah is such a strong woman who I came to admire in so many ways. Matt is fun, exciting and so lovable. I enjoyed reading their story!

[Evelyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just thought that Matt should have known about Sarah's obligations as Amish because Ingrid, Matt's sister, lives in that area. It is a cute story but not a surprising story. There is love, anger, joy, lots of emotions.

[Chana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet romantic story, easy way to pass a few hours on a lazy summer afternoon. Would have been better without the sex in my opinion.
Plot line is basically that Amish young woman and English doctor fall in love, true love..... and are confronted with that means in the Amish world.

[Ash Otterson]

It's so good! It's a sad love story that ends with the two happily together. I wish I could read about their life after this book but I'm not sure if there is such a thing! I wasn't expecting Sarah to fall pregnant but it was so juicy!

[Ginger Mcclintick · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that she writes romance and murder books they are so good will be reading a lot more of her books.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

very good book. I will be reading more of her.

[linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

REFRESHING

[Gayle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Chick lit when an injured doctor meets an innocent Amish widow. Easy read

[Terri Palermo · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful story to soothe my soul....and the *perfect* thing for me to read following Nazi Wives! LOL

[Sandy Pfefferkorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is our book club's choice for January. It's an easy read about a young Amish girl who falls in love with a big city doctor who falls in love with her as well.

[Alexus Biggs · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good book. Just wish there was more of a storyline.

[Rachel Arthur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyed the book but the end was a let down...I needed more info, more details. I felt like there was things just left open.

[Betty · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was different from the other books I have enjoyed by this author. It's been a long time since I read a romance novel. Easy read, nice change up.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this cute story! Sarah was such a lovable character and she handles her problems very strongly which made me admire her as a character. Matt was a perfect match for Sarah's personality and the two worked so well together. Although this was romance book and not a thriller, I was still captivated and holding on until the very end because I couldn't tell whether the two would end up together and if so how that would happen: would he become Amish for her or would she leave her family and her life behind to join with him in love? I was very happy with the ending Hoag came up with because I love a very happy ending. I do wish that Sarah would have been able to find resolution with her father, and maybe a slight idea of whether Sarah would ever get to see her family again, but I also appreciate Hoag giving her readers the ability to decide that.

[Diane · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've read a few other titles from Tami Hoag, so I thought this book would be like the others, an enjoyable read.

I needed something to put on my Kobo and I borrowed this from the library. I'm glad I didn't purchase it. The storyline was OK for the most part. I did find that the "attraction" was dragged out way too long, however.

Six to seven chapters in and we're still reading about how much he wants her and vice versa. We haven't even delved into why she's being targeted by a killer. To top it off, when the story finally picks up and we're in the heat of the killer being caught, he's killed off too easily. Where was the fight? It was rather disappointing. The climax lacked suspense, mystery, and drama.


I expected more.

[Shirley Owl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Matt is a doctor in busy city ER - there is fight between two rival gangs - matt gets shot in the leg and cracked ribs etc. he goes to stay with his sister that runs a inn at Jessie. This has a large very strict Armish community. Sarah is assigned to look after matt as his sister is called away. Matt thinks he is dreaming when he first sees Sarah in her armish clothes . This book tells there story. I liked this because it was different - you did get a snap shot of things from an armish view point - the story was a gentle read as it moved at a slower pace of life. This is the first book that I have read by tami and I would like to read more of her books .

[Maura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light, somewhat interesting read that is completely unrealistic. The characters are underdeveloped, there is entirely too much monologuing about how much Matt wants Sarah and I really have no idea what the suspense plot was supposed to be about (probably could have just left it out). It irked me that Matt couldn't take no for an answer...that he keeps going after Sarah as though she is actually available to have an affair with him or something. He certainly isn't thinking about marriage when he starts his flirtations. It's decent and has a bit of "Witness" flair in it, but it wasn't brilliant or anything.

[Tiffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

The reason I continued reading Ms. Hoag's grim, death-infested WIJ novels--one after another--was to rediscover the sweetness and light of this one book--the first of hers I read. Clearly based on the romance in the film The Witness, "Sarah's Sin" was fully satisfying. Sarah was a tangible, loveable, completely flesh and blood woman, whose dilemma wrenched me and moved me, and made me want to live a better life.

[Margherita Dolcevita · Rating 2 out of 5]

In linea di massima è una boiata. Anche all'inverosimiglianza ci deve essere un limite. E se in un romanzo storico alcune assurdità possono essere tollerate, in un romanzo contemporaneo non si possono sentire. Ha il pregio di essere breve e sintetico, nel senso che da quando lui gliela chiede a quando lei -AMISH e VEDOVA!!!- si arrovella d'amore per lui passano giusto quelle tre pagine.

[Morgiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice read for a weekend, but nothing more - the characters were good written, the storyline is also good, but there were no 'OMG' moments in this.
I enjoyed to have a little glimpse into the Amish lifestyle, but there was nothing I would read this book again and again.
Recommended for just an easy, light summer day - you shouldn't use too much brain while you are reading it.:)

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Matt and Sarah come from different worlds but their love unites them in a way no upbringing can withstand. Far from the dark and disturbing fare that am used to reading from Tami Hoag this sweet romance may have been released in 1991 but even in 2013 it warms a romance lovers heart!

[Jeanne (love2cook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Matt Thorne is recovering at his sister's rural inn, from a gun shot and other injuries suffered in the ER of the hospital where he was the ER physician. Taking care of him and the inn is an Amish woman, Sarah Troyer. Both so different, but drawn together by a mutual actraction. Will she give up her Amish ways to be with him? Can he keep from loving her? A good little love story.

[Verity]

2 COPIES

[Shawnte · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm glad that I got this book from the library. It's a very slow read. Not really holding my interest at all.

[Lesli · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely NOT the suspense/thriller side of Hoag. Reminds me a lot of The Witness with Harrison Ford.