Title: Temptation (Temptation #1)
Author: Karen Ann Hopkins
Genre: Contemporary, Realistic Fiction
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: June 2012 (I received this book as a digital ARC from NetGalley); released in Australia in August.
Pages: 380
Rating: 3.5 stars
Synopsis (from goodreads):
Your heart misleads you.
That’s what my friends and family say.
But I love Noah.
And he loves me.
We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other’s arms.
It should be
ROSE & NOAH
forever, easy.
But it won’t be.
Because he’s Amish.
And I’m not.
My Review:
I have to admit that I don’t know very much about the Amish lifestyle. In fact – pretty much everything I know could be summed up from watching the Tim Allen movie, For Richer or Poorer. But it’s a culture that’s fascinated me for a long time.
This novel is the story of Noah, the perfect Amish son, and Rose, a modern dancer and avid horse rider who has recently lost her mother to cancer. It’s love at first sight. But the culture divide between the two teens threatens to tear them apart forever.
I wasn’t prepared for just how caught up I would get in Noah and Rose’s story. Usually love at first sight isn’t my thing but I adored the two of them. Rose confident of her place in the world and has her father wrapped around her little finger. Noah has no idea what he’s getting himself into. All he’s ever wanted is to find himself a nice Amish wife, be involved in their community and continue living as his people have for hundreds of years. It’s a simple life but it’s all he knows and all he’s ever desired. Until he meets Rose. And then his world is turned up on its head.
The point-of-view is switched each chapter, first Rose then Noah telling their version of events. I liked how there’s not much repetition. Each chapter picks up where the other left off. I loved reading Rose’s version of events. I thought the author completely captured the emotions and feelings of a sixteen year old going though the ups and downs of being in love for the first time. I didn’t enjoy reading Noah’s POV quite as much. I didn’t feel like there was enough personality change between the two. I thought that Noah felt a little too modern in his thoughts. But then again – maybe I’m just showing my naivety towards the Amish community.
I was thrilled to see that this is the first in a series – there is so much more to Noah and Rose’s relationship that needs to develop and I’m glad that there is a chance for readers to once again be witnesses to what happens next.
This is a beautiful story about first love and different cultures. I recommend it for anyone who likes sweet romances about star-crossed lovers.
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