“Temptation,” by Karen Ann Hopkins, Harlequin Teen, June 26, 2012, $9.99 (young adult)
Noah has always planned on living in his community, marrying a pretty member of his congregation and building his own farm.
Rose is a dancer, a horsewoman and a wild spirit who’s not afraid to tell the men in her life exactly what she thinks.
There’s no reason for their paths to cross until Rose’s father moves them to an old dilapidated farmhouse out in the countryside. That’s when their paths collide. There’s instant curiosity and instant attraction. Both are forbidden.
Noah is Amish and Rose is not.
The Amish and English don’t usually mix, not beyond pleasantries and work. Noah’s parents warn him to stay away from Rose, but he finds himself drawn to her. Rose feels the same way.
Being together could have serious consequences with one or the other of them being cut off from their families forever.
“Temptation” is a quiet read, more about Rose and Noah’s relationship than anything else. Because of this, readers get an almost voyeuristic view of their connection. Everything feels very intimate.
The setting is lush and the plot romantic, but I couldn’t help but be frustrated with both the main characters. Their immaturity was beyond frustrating. A lot of that comes with their ages; both are still in their teens. I found Rose to be naïve and Noah to be irritatingly overbearing. Again, that’s part of who they are — a somewhat spoiled and a little lost teenage girl and a boy who grew up in a culture with defined gender roles — but that kept me from fully investing in them.
I liked “Temptation,” but I didn’t love it. It’s part of a series, so it will be interesting to see where author Karen Ann Hopkins goes with things.
