Review: Temptation

Title: Temptation
Author: Karen Ann Hopkins
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Release Date: June 26, 2012

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.—via Goodreads

Alright, y’all. I will not lie to you, I love me some Amish romance novels. LOVE THEM. I started reading them when I was in high school and have never looked back.

Also, you should know that I’ve always been a little fascinated by the Amish people. Not because they’re weird or strange or backward, but because they are amazing, steadfast, hardworking people that I think many of us could learn a lot from. And, yes, they are very strict and sort of severe in their beliefs, but, you know, that’s their prerogative.

Anyway. When I heard about Temptation and that it was a YA Amish-English romance I basically RAN to mycomputer to request it on NetGalley. And did a crazy happy dance around my room when the request was accepted. For real.

And you know what? I really enjoyed this book. I will forgive the insta-love here because it’s necessary to make the story work. Noah and Rose’s attraction to each other has to be something that is organic, innate, something that can’t be denied or removed if they are going to be together. And while there were a few moments when I was thinking, “Holy crap, they are still *kids* who don’t know themselves or what they want out of life AND OMG I WANT TO JUMP INTO THIS BOOK AND TALK-SMACK SOME SENSE INTO THEM,” I had to step back and remember that 1) this is not real life (although I’m sure there is a couple somewhere who has gone through this), and 2) these characters are teenagers feeling love for the first time. And they’re in an extraordinarily difficult situation, as their lifestyles are completely different.

And though there’s a good deal of angst and some EXTREMELY outlandish measures discussed that will make you yell at your book, Hopkins does a good job of hitting how teenagers think about overcoming adversity and forcing people into accepting the situation at hand. Yes, it’s rash and extreme, but it gets them what they want. However, in this particular book, the measures taken are far less stupid than the things discussed. (Praise God.)

Maybe my favorite aspect of this book is that it’s told in alternating points of view. And though Noah’s chapters can be *highly* annoying to a female reader due to his thoughts on dealing with Rose, and, in a way, breaking her spirit and changing the core of who she is so that she will be more like how he wants her to be, at the same time, Noah is AMISH. He’s been surrounded by modest, quiet, obedient women his entire life and that is his world view. Yes, it’s crazy-making, but it’s also how he would react, because he doesn’t know any differently.

Though I enjoyed this book, and can make allowances for some of the things that others would probably find as dealbreakers, the one thing that really got under my skin while reading this was how women were CONSTANTLY being talked about, and portrayed as, sirens. Yes, sexuality is an important part of life. Yes, it’s true that sexual attraction is also an important part of life. But nearly every conversation in this book about sexuality revolves around women being vile temptresses, and men not being able to control themselves around women.  I feel like most people are a little more evolved than that, but whatever. It informs the reactions of both families to Noah and Rose’s relationship, and the decisions they make, and, though bothersome, outlines the mindset of the Amish and their views of relationships.

Overall, Temptation is a passionate story of two teenagers in a very trying situation. If you’re fan of Amish romance books, I unreservedly recommend this book and will let you know that it’s a little more risque than many of the traditional bonnet books. Which is, you know, fun. If you’re not so much into Amish romance, or if you’ve never given it a try, but you want to read this, definitely be open-minded while reading, and then check out the Abram’s Daughters series by Beverly Lewis. I adore that series and it’s a nice entry-point into what Amish romance novels are generally like.

So, if you’re looking for a sort of steamy, non-traditional romance that maybe involves horses and buggies and some religious foundamentalism, check out Temptation.