Belonging (Temptation, #2)

Apr 29, 2013 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary-romance, cute

It took me a moment to pick my jaw up off of the floor after finishing this book. I honestly had no clue what was coming in the last 20% and it surprised me in a very good way. Even though everyone seemed to have taken the bus to batshit-crazy town, the final chain of events provided a good dose of suspense which delivered me to a place of wondering what could possibly happen next.

Backtracking for a second, I feel compelled to mention a show that I watched not long ago in which a young girl deci...more

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May 18, 2013 The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger rated it 2 of 5 stars

Read FULL Review At: The Y.A. Bookworm Blogger

Rating: 2.5/5

I read the first book, Temptation, not too long ago and had some good things to say about it--The scandalous romance and the unique setting of the story made for an entertaining and in some ways educating read. However, for some reason when I read Belonging, I didn't get the same goody-bookworm feeling I had after reading the first novel, and because of that it took me a bit longer than usual to get through it.

Belonging focuses for a...more

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May 15, 2013 Aretha melina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult-and-normal-adult-books

Belonging showed more of a balance to this intense and all-consuming love story. It explores first love , relationship, amish – and the power of love and sacrifice to work upon them.

reading Rose’s transition over to living in the Amish community. I can;t help but Imagining how to lead a medieval life in the middle of this modern world. We won’t be able to use cell phones, internet, laptop or even use appliances to enjoy life such as watching television. Rose life is getting upside down. She make...more

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May 08, 2013 The Twins Read rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: earc, michelle-s-shelf, requested-from-publisher

Original Rating: 3.5/5

This review can originally be read The Twins Read.

From where we last left off in Temptation, Rose is convinced that the only way she and Noah can be together no holds barred, would be if she became Amish. With her family convinced that she'll come home running in no time and most of the Amish community of Meadowview believing that it's just a fleeting teenage romance, everyone is sure that Rose is doomed to fail. In Belonging, the sequel to Temptation, bonds will be teste...more Original Rating: 3.5/5

This review can originally be read The Twins Read.

From where we last left off in Temptation, Rose is convinced that the only way she and Noah can be together no holds barred, would be if she became Amish. With her family convinced that she'll come home running in no time and most of the Amish community of Meadowview believing that it's just a fleeting teenage romance, everyone is sure that Rose is doomed to fail. In Belonging, the sequel to Temptation, bonds will be tested, and difficult questions will be answered. With only love keeping Rose and Noah afloat, will it ever really be enough to keep them together?

Belonging is what I was really expecting the first book to be like. Hopkins takes the next step further by adding plot elements that may sound familiar to television drama aficionados, but let me assure you that it works as the relationship is very fragile and delicate.

Rose is a very strong character, what with having to endure chores and other things that she didn't even really bother with back when she was home. The upside is seeing Noah, but finding a moment for the two of them seems to be just as difficult, especially since everyone's eyes are on her. Noah is coming off a bit better in this one as well, but I couldn't help but think it's because he got Rose to come over to his side. To some, Rose's family may be a bit harsh for what they've done, but I think it's only natural for any family to be very concerned for her, especially since she's a minor. But what I've observed from Rose is that she sticks to her guns, and even if there are times she doesn't seem to understand what she wants, she somehow has an inkling of it. Hopkins' characters have a bit more depth to them this time around, because while not everyone may be on board with their romance, at least Rose and Noah are forced to face questions that they usually evade.

There is a scene in Belonging that I find kind of bizarre and over-the-top, so I couldn't bring myself to give this one four stars. But other from that blip, Belonging really explores the circumstances of their situation and Noah finally, FINALLY, gets it that it takes two to tango, and that he shouldn't be leaving everything up to Rose. The novel ends with a surprising twist that has me once again confused whether I am supposed to be happy with the new development or not. Rest assured, however, I am still enthralled by the story, and will be eagerly anticipating the next installment. (less)

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May 02, 2013 Naima rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: comfort-reads, reread

When you read a book on a Tuesday and by Thursday have re-read it four times, it becomes necessary to get on goodreads and leave a 5 star review. I give in. I adore this series. In this sequel, seventeen year old Rose decides to join the Amish church in order to be with ie. one-day-marry her Amish boyfriend Noah. What this author does an amazing job at is creating lots of emotional tension between Rose and Noah. It's a hands off courting community and they must still sneak around to talk to each...more

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Apr 23, 2013 Haylie Shore rated it 3 of 5 stars

Rose has fallen for Noah, an Amish boy, and decided to give up her "English" life and become Amish so that they can be together. But she has to prove that she can be Amish before they'll let her and Noah start to court. This book shows the trials that Rose goes through in order to be with Noah.
I would suggest that you read the first book before you read this one- I know that is kind of a duh, but I didn't. You can make it through this book just fine without reading the first one, but I think it...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Danielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Belonging

Book 2 in the Temptation series takes you on an emotional roller coaster , will Rose be able to stick to her choice to become Amish and leave her father , brothers and luxuries behind , is Her love for Noah strong enough to survive the tsunami of emotions and circumstances that she will face , when her world comes crashing down around her , will love really conquer all? WOW Belonging had my eyes glued to every page I couldn't put it down the angst, love and turmoil on its pages made my...more

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Apr 13, 2013 Michelle Arrow rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

I received this book as an ebook, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Belonging was one of those books that you read right after you finished the first book, and couldn't put it down. In this situation, I was hocked to it right away, wanting to find out what would happen to Rose's and Noah's relationship.

The cover/title told me that this book will be about Rose's belonging to the Amish, if she'd fit in with the religion. Honestly, I thought she would, because most books end up the way yo...more

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Apr 11, 2013 Once Upon rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tempted by a love from a girl he couldn't have. Tempted by a love from a boy that was so different. Belonging to one another with a love so strong that neither one could deny, priceless.
Noah and Rose are inseparable. Faced with many challenges and extreme roadblocks ahead, they are each headed down a path with a common destination, however the path must be traveled alone. Belonging is the next chapter in this story of love and determination. Rose has found herself in a situation where she is ex...more Tempted by a love from a girl he couldn't have. Tempted by a love from a boy that was so different. Belonging to one another with a love so strong that neither one could deny, priceless.
Noah and Rose are inseparable. Faced with many challenges and extreme roadblocks ahead, they are each headed down a path with a common destination, however the path must be traveled alone. Belonging is the next chapter in this story of love and determination. Rose has found herself in a situation where she is excepted by many, however not all. The Amish community have given her the chance to prove herself. She has to prove that living the simple life is enough for her. She is willing to do this, because deep down inside she knows that the end of the path, means reaching Noah, her one and only love. Rose is up for the challenge. She strives to go above and beyond to prove herself worthy of the Amish way. The novel begins with a sense of comfort that the challenge may be an easy one however she learns quickly with the introduction of new characters and old, that the path to travel may be rocky.

An observation that I made very early regarding Belonging, was the cover. I understand that many authors do not have 100% final say on book cover picks. However, in the first book of the series, Temptation, it was left up to my imagination what Rose and Noah looked liked. The cover projected a shadow of true hidden passion. With Belonging, my visualization of what they look like has changed. This cover portrays a very older Noah and Rose. Her attire also threw me off a bit as well. Was the cover a deal breaker for me, NEVER!

Belonging was filled with many unexpected story lines, twist and turns that I didn't see coming. Karen Ann Hopkins has truly captured her audience by providing a novel that is filled with well thought out character development and a descriptive plots that is sprinkled throughout the novel with just enough hope to push the reader on. I'm invested in Rose and Noah's story. Belonging is a novel that you won't put down until the last page. Thank you Karen Ann Hopkins for putting their world down on paper for all readers to enjoy. I shall wait patiently for the 3rd book in this wonderful series. (less)

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Apr 10, 2013 Big Book Little Book rated it 5 of 5 stars

Lesley for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Temptation’, Karen Ann Hopkin’s first book that introduces us to Rose and Noah and their blossoming young love with all it’s trials. In fact for Rose and Noah they have suffered and are suffering more trials than your average young couple as Rose is ‘English’ and Noah is Amish. Rose and Noah meet when Rose is new to the area, they fall quickly and hard for each other but face much op...more Lesley for www.bigbooklittlebook.com
Copy provided by author in exchange for an honest review

I thoroughly enjoyed ‘Temptation’, Karen Ann Hopkin’s first book that introduces us to Rose and Noah and their blossoming young love with all it’s trials. In fact for Rose and Noah they have suffered and are suffering more trials than your average young couple as Rose is ‘English’ and Noah is Amish. Rose and Noah meet when Rose is new to the area, they fall quickly and hard for each other but face much opposition both from Rose’s protective family and Noah’s very traditional Amish community. At the end of Temptation we leave Rose and Noah in love and prepared to make whatever sacrifices are necessary in order to be together. And to make this a possibility, Rose decides to join the Amish community.

I was very pleased to receive an advanced reader copy of ‘Belonging’ and pretty much devoured the book over a couple of days. Without wanting to give too much from the first book away, Noah is recovering from an accident and Rose has made a commitment to be part of the Amish community, leaving her father and brothers and moving in with an Amish family in order to learn their ways and to show them how much she is prepared to work to prove her love and commitment to Noah.

Rose’s dad and brother, whilst not happy with her decision gave their blessing, secretly safe they believe, in the knowledge that Rose will get a shock and come to her senses and not last more than a couple of weeks. Rose meanwhile is on a steep learning curve having been told that she will not be allowed to court Noah until she has become a member of the Amish church and that this will not happen until she’s had ample opportunity and time to learn their ways and become more like them.

I really enjoyed learning more about the Amish in this book. With Rose living with them, this community is where the story is mostly set and we get to read about all their activities; their services, feasts and different occasions. All the while Rose is fighting against her natural and very ‘English’ ways and desires and trying to fit in with the Amish as best as she can.

Rose makes begins to make friends among the girls and she begins to realise that not all Amish girls are sweet and innocent… Also she still has to deal with Ella Weaver who wants shot of Rose as she is interested in Noah for herself.

Noah meanwhile, is watching Rose and worrying about how she is settling, behaving and stressing over who she is becoming friends with and what sort of influence they will be. He soon finds out when the boys meet up with the girls in the middle of the night in the woods after a sleepover sneak out. As secrets are shared Rose discovers that while the Amish may project a particular image of purity and high moral standards, in fact there is a lot more going on that she realised and that one of her friends in particular has suffered horribly within the community.

Rose is coping with an awful lot considering her still very young years and is finding the change in lifestyle tough, especially as she misses her father and brothers. However she perseveres and eventually is able to join the church and is allowed to officially court Noah. But that doesn’t mean their happy ending is in sight. There is a lot more to happen to Rose and Noah yet.

I just loved this second book. From a kidnap, and misunderstanding between Rose and Noah, new relationships and creepy dealings with creepy Levi Zook which actually put Rose’s life in danger, I don’t want to give too many spoilers away but there is a lot going on and I couldn’t put the book down.

verdict: I can’t wait to find out what happens in the next chapter in Rose and Noah’s story.(less)

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Feb 10, 2013 Mrs. ReaderPants rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: pub-date-2013, read-in-2013

More reviews at Mrs. ReaderPants.

REVIEW: This is one of those books readers will either love or hate. I loved it, just as I loved its predecessor, Temptation . For me, it's easy to get swept up in Rose and Noah's story. Author Karen Ann Hopkins writes a fast-paced story that I could not put down. While Rose still seems spoiled and Noah is a bit rigid in his ways, I cared about both of them and still can't see how they could possibly be together considering their completely opposite worlds. The e...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: r2r-read, read-2013

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to
This is book 2 in the ‘Temptation’ series, and kicks off where book 1 ‘Temptation’ ended.
**Warning – some unavoidable spoilers for book 1 ‘Temptation’ (ie: like the fact that Rose and Noah are still together)**
Having made the decision to join the Amish community in order to be with her Amish boyfriend, Rose now has to get used to her new plain life, and all the new rules and laws that come with it. The...more (Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to
This is book 2 in the ‘Temptation’ series, and kicks off where book 1 ‘Temptation’ ended.
**Warning – some unavoidable spoilers for book 1 ‘Temptation’ (ie: like the fact that Rose and Noah are still together)**
Having made the decision to join the Amish community in order to be with her Amish boyfriend, Rose now has to get used to her new plain life, and all the new rules and laws that come with it. The Amish aren’t exactly making this easy for her, but thankfully a few key people are supporting her which she desperately needs.

Just because Rose and Noah are trying to build a relationship, doesn’t mean that everyone else is helping too. Rose’s father and brothers are still expecting her to come home, and are unhappy when it seems that she’s not budging, and there are several members of the Amish community who are trying to put a spanner in the works too.
Can Rose and Noah really be together? Will Rose take the next step and become fully Amish for him? And how long can a relationship work, when people are trying to tear it apart?

Beautiful and un-put-down-able, this story is one hell of a rollercoaster ride through Amish customs, and one girl’s undying love for her Amish boyfriend.

I was really excited when I saw this book on Netgalley because I was so interested to find out what would become of Noah and Rose, and how Rose would manage living an Amish life. Book 1 raised some serious questions for me about Rose and Noah’s relationship, and by half-way through this instalment, these same questions were raised again. How could Noah seriously expect Rose to give up everything to become Amish to be with him, when he was willing to give up… nothing? Even after Rose has made such huge sacrifices; given up her family, her friends, her home, her way of life, and even her clothes, watch, and shoes, Noah seems unwilling to give up anything, which gives me serious worries over the longevity of their relationship – how long will it be before Rose resents the fact that she is the only one to have made sacrifices for this relationship?

Anyway, there isn’t really a lot of romance in this instalment, as most of the time Rose and Noah are kept separated for some reason or another. When they are together things are emotionally heated though, and it is obvious that they feel real passion for each other. It’s this passion and longing that keep the tension in the story, and keep you desperately reading to find out what will happen next!
Rose and Noah both seem to love each other, and it seems to be constantly other people’s interfering that messes with their relationship, it’s good to see how difficult it is for people to keep them apart though, and good to see what happens after the ‘love at first sight’. Even against the odds I kept routing for Rose and Noah to somehow find a way to make their relationship work, as it seemed unfair how difficult it was for them to be together.

We got a bit more of an insight into the Amish way of life in this instalment which was interesting, and it was easy to see where Rose might have difficulties with the lifestyle, and difficulties realising that her own wedding would be a sullen and dull affair – something difficult for any girl to accept. Again though, it seemed that Noah thought that Rose would become Amish and love it, and it was a little difficult to accept that he thought that this was easy for Rose.

I really liked the storyline in this book, and I thought that the whole Amish thing was dealt with really well. The problems between Noah and Rose were not going to be easily solved, but I really hope that the possible light at the end of the tunnel comes through for them.
The ending of this book was pretty messed up, with Rose regretting some decisions that she made, and a massive cliff-hanger for us to think over until the next book comes out! (I want it now!)
Overall; a beautiful and compelling tale of a young couple in love, and the people that are trying to tear them apart. Highly recommended.
8.5 out of 10.
(less)

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Apr 17, 2013 Nicole R rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: children-young-adult, realistic-contemporary, 2013

For pretty much the entire book, I found myself rooting for Noah and Rose...while being so freaking irritated with her family, particularly her dad and her older brother!

Rose lasted several months longer in the Amish community than anyone ever expected, and while it was a hard adjustment for her, she did make the effort to try to fit in. She finds some new friends- Miranda, Suzanne and Summer, and I like her friendship with the three girls, as well as the relationships she forms with her foster...more For pretty much the entire book, I found myself rooting for Noah and Rose...while being so freaking irritated with her family, particularly her dad and her older brother!

Rose lasted several months longer in the Amish community than anyone ever expected, and while it was a hard adjustment for her, she did make the effort to try to fit in. She finds some new friends- Miranda, Suzanne and Summer, and I like her friendship with the three girls, as well as the relationships she forms with her foster family.

I loved seeing Noah and Rose narrate the novel, which still works so well, because you see their interactions with those around them and their thoughts on what's going on. You really see how different their beliefs are, much more than in Temptation. We also have a new narrator in the form of Sam, Rose's older brother. For a good chunk of the book, I wasn't sure about Sam as a narrator, but by the end I warmed up to it. He does add the perspective of what it was like for him to have his younger sister gone and what he thought about it.

So. The irritation with her family. It was really well-done, and while I totally wanted to punch them in the face or something, I get why they acted the way they did. I HATED how they went about it. They assume that Rose won't go with them if they show up at the house where she's living, so they come up with this plan that involves getting Rose to Wal-Mart, where they plan to...surprise her with their presence, and having a police officer on hand, and drag her home. Then they have her younger brother write a letter to Noah (because Justin's hand-writing is similar to Rose's) and when Noah arrives at Rose's house, he gets a letter from Rose saying she doesn't want to see him again.

I get that they thought she'd be home sooner, and I get they want her to make sure that she wants to be Amish, and to live in the English world a little longer. But the entire time, they're totally dismissive of what Rose wants. They don't like this particular Amish community because her dad and Sam think they're backwards and they think the entire thing is stupid and ridiculous. They tell her she can do whatever she wants when she's 18, but in the meantime, she's cut-off from the Amish world. I feel like they do everything in their power to make sure she NEVER joins the Amish community. I don't want to speculate on whether that's intentional on Hopkins' part, but that's the vibe I got from her family. You see her and Noah move on- Noah even becomes engaged to a girl who is the polar opposite of Rose, and Sam's reaction is so frustrating! He's all annoyed that Noah moved on, but what does Sam expect when he broke up Noah and Rose? You don't get to break them up and be all happy when Rose moves on but all mad when Noah also moves on. He did think that Rose broke up with him, after all. In the end, he feels bad, and tells Noah he had Justin write the break-up letter- and all because of Summer being upset with what they did.

In my review for Temptation, I mentioned that her family's reaction to her decision was one reason why the novel worked so well, and I wasn't quite sure why. But in Belonging, I realized that it's BECAUSE her family thinks it's stupid and are totally dismissive of the whole thing. The whole time, I definitely understood their concern with Rose making such a huge decision at the age of 17, because she hasn't experienced a lot of life. It's just...as much as their reaction irritated me, I could see it.

Something that I didn't mention in my review of Temptation was when Noah suggested that Rose pretend to be pregnant so that they'll have to get married. Initially, she balks, because her dad's a doctor, and she feels like she wouldn't be able to fool him. It becomes irrelevent in Temptation because of the accident Noah has...so imagine my surprise when Noah and Rose sleep together and she gets pregnant! We have yet to see her dad's reaction, or what Rose thinks, but we see that Noah hopes she's pregnant, because it will ensure that he will marry her...I mean, there are rules to follow in the Amish community.

Final Thoughts: I know this review is mostly me talking about things that happen as opposed to my really scattered thoughts, but those events are huge in terms of why I like the book. I really enjoyed Belonging, and I LOVE the contrast between Rose and Noah. Rose's family was definitely irritating, and while I disagree with how they went about things, I can also understand. Their reaction to the Amish way of life makes the novel work, because you see how much they don't want that life for Rose. Belonging gets 4 stars. (less)

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Mar 30, 2013 Liza rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, netgalley, young-adult, young-adult-contemporary, kindle

Note: Harlequin Teen was gracious enough to give me a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have to say I feel guilty about not loving this book, because I requested it after all. When I initially requested it I had no idea that this was a sequel, but more importantly I was intrigued at the idea of a modern girl giving it all up for an Amish boy and how she would survive in the Amish culture. That plot line to me was fascinating and what drove me to request it and buy...more Note: Harlequin Teen was gracious enough to give me a free copy of the book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I have to say I feel guilty about not loving this book, because I requested it after all. When I initially requested it I had no idea that this was a sequel, but more importantly I was intrigued at the idea of a modern girl giving it all up for an Amish boy and how she would survive in the Amish culture. That plot line to me was fascinating and what drove me to request it and buy the predecessor to this novel.

All in all, what changed between the first novel and the second novel, wasn't my feelings towards the couple. I never truly rooted for them, though I gave the previous book a higher rating. What changed is that I no longer felt the love that Noah and Rose claimed to have to be authentic. In order to keep their love alive both characters had to become very selfish and hurt a lot of people in the process.

As a reader you will be told that any action Rose's father and her brother Sam takes is inherently selfish and wrong. However, we're suppose to be okay with this couple lying to themselves, leading other people on, and hurting those closest to them. Even the portrayal of Amish culture, which I didn't necessarily jive with in the first book changed, because it seemed to have more of a condemning tone instead of presenting their lives as is.

What initially lost me was Rose's handling of a sexual predator. She tried to find a way to deal with him in an "Amish Way," and though she claimed to do it for the benefit of her friend, the actions and tone convinced me she only did so to ensure her eventual courtship with Noah would survive. There isn't an Amish or English way of handling a sexual predator. You just call the cops. She put the entire community's safety at risk until she took action and all for what? Discretion? Her friend's feelings? There were several times she even admitted to using people up to a certain point and I think that's the real Rose. Rose only cares about Rose and that's it. She didn't care about her family or those closest to her who tried to help her. She used so many people that it made me sick of her. Even when things started to change she messed it all up again by being selfish all for "Noah and his love." That was when Rose became distasteful to me.

As for Noah I was disgusted by his actions in the end. I absolutely hated the surprise twist and I hated what he did no matter how it harmed others- all to be with Rose. It was harder now not to judge his actions as inherently sexist, because unlike the previous novel that seemed to be more of an exploration of Amish culture Hopkins had Rose judging their lifestyle and struggling with her decision. His eventual return to her seemed possessive and crazy, rather than romantic and endearing.

I think the best part of the book happened to be Sam, Summer, Justin, and Hunter. They are all terribly flawed and at times I felt some of the characters made terrible choices in order for the romantic plot to continue, even if it seemed out of character. One of Sam's decisions will have you questioning why exactly Sam made that choice. I don't think he would have, but I suppose the story had to continue somehow. Yet, those characters were always honest about their intentions and explained what they felt even if at times they lacked finesse. You can't help, but be on the side of those characters.

I believed the story had the strength to become a three or four star read (after all I liked the previous novel, but didn't love the couple) when I was given the impression that Hopkins was heading towards a romantic tragedy. In those chapters I saw the characters of Rose and Noah become so much more honest with themselves and what they wanted, that by the time the events led for them to be together, the whole surprise ending was just cheap to me. I found it hard to believe they truly loved each other after reading what they truly desired. I for one second don't believe they made such decisions in order to move on.

You still learn more of Amish culture and get to meet more interesting character's such as Rose's Amish friends. Summer is a new character who hangs out with the Amish girls Susanna and Miranda that Rose befriended. Learning about their lives and the medical trials and day to day life is still an eye opening experience.

If Rose and Noah had not made so many poor decisions and hurt so many people, I may not have been enamored with them as a couple, but I would have found it a better read. However, since this novel revolves around them being selfish creatures who only want to be together despite what their heart truly longs, the appeal that the first book had was lost.

As a reader if you disliked the first book, you will probably dislike this book even more. However, if you loved the previous book then your feelings of it will be altered by your perception of the main characters Rose and Noah. If you feel they are being dealt an ugly hand, this book will continue on the forbidden love theme that you will immensely enjoy. Yet, if your perception is that the couple degraded those around them for their relationship to survive, the luster of the previous book may fade away.(less)

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May 15, 2013 Kelly rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-galley

http://divainpyjamas.blogspot.com.au/

Where the Amish were simple, yet endearing in Temptation, the first novel in the series, in Belonging, they come across as prejudiced, sexist, narrow minded folk that teach their love of god, but see no issue in treating Rose with vitriol and contempt... And Noah is no better. If Belonging is any indication, modern society is far more accepting of the Amish lifestyle, than vice versa.

Clearly, loving someone means compromise, surely.

Karen Ann Hopkins' style of...more

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May 23, 2013 RO Mejia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: blog-review-shelf, blog-tour-shelf, contemporary, romance, ya, kismet-tours, netgalley

In this second novel of the Temptation series, we have Rose giving up her family and her life for Noah. She is thrown into a new family life, with an adoptive family. The Bishop has thrown a wrench in Rose's idyllic girlish notion of courting and romance. Her and Noah are separated in a community that is judging her at every turn. She not only has to learn a new way of life, but she doesn't really have the support of the man she loves. She has to prove to everyone first that she belongs, and pro...more In this second novel of the Temptation series, we have Rose giving up her family and her life for Noah. She is thrown into a new family life, with an adoptive family. The Bishop has thrown a wrench in Rose's idyllic girlish notion of courting and romance. Her and Noah are separated in a community that is judging her at every turn. She not only has to learn a new way of life, but she doesn't really have the support of the man she loves. She has to prove to everyone first that she belongs, and prove to the church that she is willing to abide by the strict societal norms in order to start courting, and prove her worthiness to belong, before she and Noah can be together like they originally planned.

There are so many twists and turns in this novel. It takes all of the original qualities that Noah said he loved about Rose, in the beginning, and replaced those qualities with the robotic assembly line of the Amish. I felt that Noah became more like his father. I was a bit disappointed in him. He almost seemed to think he was entitled to have everything he wanted, and Rose had to give up every part of herself to prove her love for him. Luckily, Rose develops friendships to give her the strength and support she needs to get her through grueling months of this torturous ordeal to get to her end result, being with Noah.

I hate cliffhangers!!! All our followers know this. Well, get ready readers, because Ms. Hopkins lays a huge one in our paths. I look forward to the conclusion of this saga. I learned more about the Amish, and their hardships in this second book, and it is definitely a self sacrificing way of life for their women. I don't like the fact that Rose had to give up everything she loved and had passion for to prove her love to Noah, yet, he gave up nothing in comparison. They both loved each other, there is no doubt about that, but I felt that Rose proved it with all she had, and all she was. Ms. Hopkins is a master at weaving a suspenseful, passionate, engaging saga, and Harlequin knows how to pick it's authors!

I give belonging 5 heart wrenching, soul searching, selfless, passion filled stars.

For more book reviews, visit A Bookish Escape at Http://www.abookishescape.com (less)

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May 06, 2013 Lindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-ebook-challenge, 2013-tbr-reading-challenge, blog-review, blog-tour, kismet-book-touring, ya-contemporary, favorite, netgalley

Belonging is the exquisite sequel to Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins! Belonging began right were Temptation left off. Rose is dropped off with a kindly elder Amish couple to learn the ins and outs of becoming Amish herself. As soon as she arrives at her foster parents home, she is met with the Bishop, and the ministers of the Amish church. She doesn't exactly get a warm welcome, and the Bishop lays down the strict rules of the Amish society of Meadow View, and lectures Rose that she has to prove...more

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Apr 01, 2013 Brittany Rehage rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I had some problems with Temptation. I felt like the relationship was very one-sided and that Rose was giving more to the relationship than Noah was. After all, Rose was the one giving up everything in order to be with the person she loves. I still wanted to give Belonging a fair shot, though, because there was potential there. Hopkins could make something fantastic out of this series.

Temptation was all about the sweetness of falling in love for the first time. It was about the putter-pats your...more I had some problems with Temptation. I felt like the relationship was very one-sided and that Rose was giving more to the relationship than Noah was. After all, Rose was the one giving up everything in order to be with the person she loves. I still wanted to give Belonging a fair shot, though, because there was potential there. Hopkins could make something fantastic out of this series.

Temptation was all about the sweetness of falling in love for the first time. It was about the putter-pats your heart makes the first time you love someone and that all-consuming feeling that comes with being with them. Belonging was about was comes after that, about finding yourself, and discovering what you are willing to sacrifice.

Rose thought becoming Amish would be easy. She needed to do it in order to be with Noah and that was all that mattered. Her father might not be in agreement, but she was going to prove him wrong. She adapted to her new life, even though Noah has started acting like the Amish boy he is instead of like the boy she first met. After a while, doubts start to creep in and make her think about the choices she is making. They aren't just temporary; she is giving up nearly everything from her former life in order to be with Noah. She has to find a balance between sacrifices she can make, and ones that would crush her.

Belonging dealt with my issues with Temptation. Rose starts to feel crushed under the weight of the new rules in her life. People point out how one-sided her sacrifices are. Sure, she gets to be with Noah if she becomes Amish, but in order to do that, is she just giving up modern advances, or is she giving up herself? All of that is addressed and Rose starts to think beyond the feeling of first love.

There is a cliffhanger of an ending, so if you don't really like those, I'd wait to read until the next book is out. I could see the twist coming and yet it still made me catch my breath. Belonging moves beyond the fluttering feeling of first love and starts taking a look at how life can be altered by that love. It was a good read and has me invested in Rose and Noah's story.(less)

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May 15, 2013 K rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: coming-of-age, love-outside-the-box, soulmates

Very mild spoiler ahead. I totally loved Temptation. Belonging was good, but not as good. I loved to learn more about the Amish, but what I didn't like was that mostly everything that Noah and Rose have been warned about happens. There is just too much drama going on. I often wondered why they didn't talk more in order to settle their insecurities and build on a steady relationship. Maybe this will happen in book 3. Their connection is still great, also their passion. I just really hope there is...more

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May 30, 2013 Sandy Farmer rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arcs

I went into Belonging with quite a bit of trepidation. I enjoyed Temptation, but I also found myself also frustrated with it and the characters. So I just wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Belonging. Not to mention that the only review I've seen of Belonging was a 2 star rating. And after reading Belonging I still feel myself torn. On the one hand, I eagerly read Belonging and struggled with putting it down--I wanted to keep reading; while at the same time, feeling extremely frustrated w...more I went into Belonging with quite a bit of trepidation. I enjoyed Temptation, but I also found myself also frustrated with it and the characters. So I just wasn't sure how I was going to feel about Belonging. Not to mention that the only review I've seen of Belonging was a 2 star rating. And after reading Belonging I still feel myself torn. On the one hand, I eagerly read Belonging and struggled with putting it down--I wanted to keep reading; while at the same time, feeling extremely frustrated with these characters, their decisions, and specifically the last 20% of the book. I can't decide if the writing style that kept me devouring the pages wins out over the fact that I wanted to smack these characters.

My issues with Belonging are pretty much the same as they were with Temptation. You can read my review of Temptation on Goodreads, but this will pretty much be a repeat of those same issues.

I still found myself annoyed at Rose's ignorance of the Amish culture while at the same time deciding to join it. Their culture is not some obstacle in the way of your forbidden romance (yes, I'm talking to Rose). It's a way of life. And the only way you survive it is if you believe in it (now speaking in general). Rose continually gets frustrated with the rules placed upon her and the differences in the gender roles, but she actually does a pretty good job of biting her tongue which I give her kudos for. As I said in my review of Temptation, I actually find women who are extreme feminists really annoying, and Rose bordered on that for me.

Continuing from Temptation is the fact that both characters still wish to change the other so much. Noah actually says in his first narration that it's Rose's wild side and spunk that he loves more than anything else. How is that going to work when she turns into a meek, chaste, Amish girl? Summer, a new character to the series who becomes Rose's best friend, actually brings this up to Rose. If she changes who she is to become Amish, will she still be the girl who Noah fell in love with? And if Noah wants someone who's wild, unpredictable, and full of heat, passion, and fire, then is Amish was he really wants? *Minor spoiler alert (just skip to the next paragraph): And why does Rose wait until AFTER she's taken the vows to join the Amish church and community to bring up her thoughts to Noah? Why would she think that he would suddenly become English AFTER she's already gone and joined the Amish community? There's no reason for him to. Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free? Am I right? (That's rhetorical, you don't have to answer.)

All of that said, I still find myself questioning whether Rose and Noah's relationship can possibly survive the test of time when all they want to do is change each other. And that's not to mention the other issues facing them. This is one of the rare cases when I don't think love conquers all. I could never marry someone who's world view is so vastly different from mine. Plus there's the reaction that both Rose and Noah have to some misinformation which causes them both hurt and pain. They both lean toward the immature side, definitely typical of teenage behavior, but it doesn't indicate a response of someone capable of making such big decisions that will affect the rest of their lives.

While I can't say that Belonging was an exactly predictable book all around, it was easy to spot signs throughout the book that led my thinking in one direction or the other. For example, when I was about 45-50% through and a certain event takes place that I could have imagined happening closer to the end of the book, I begin to think, "well obviously something's going to happen to disrupt these events that are taking place now." And then when I had 20% left there were similar feelings. I could guess a general feeling of "bad things are coming" or "now it's time for us to be happy again" based on where I was in the book and the other events taking place, but as Temptation had a twist and cliffhanger, so does Belonging.

I enjoyed the addition of the new characters in Belonging. Rose makes friends within the Amish community that you can't help but love. And these new friends show a darker side of the Amish culture proving that no matter the culture, the human element can be unpredictable, dark, and rebellious. Sam, Rose's brother, is an additional narrator in this installment. There were times when I struggled with Sam's character, for instance that he seemed to find Summer appealing only because she wasn't fawning all over him like every other girl, and other times when I was rooting for him and I could understand his concern for his sister's life choices.

Even after writing my review, I'm not 100% sure how I felt about Belonging. I couldn't put this book down, but I felt that the characters decisions, thought process, and reactions were usually frustrating, immature, and unhealthy. Frustration drove my frantic pacing through this book. Because of the ending to Belonging, I've GOT to find out how this story ends, but I can already tell that I'll be continuing with the same frustrations in the next book as well.

All in all, Belonging gets 3.5 Stars from me. Have you read Belonging? What did you think? Let me know!

Check out Somewhere Only We Know for more reviews. (less)

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Apr 02, 2013 Kim rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: HS/MS English teachers, girls 12-18 and their moms

Seamlessly picked up where the first book left off. Again, realistic conflict from the teenager point of view. I enjoyed the addition of Sam, Rose's brother, to the perspective. His evolution adds great depth to the book. Rose and Noah's lives are changing, we can expect that. Karen has woven in a likable, rough around the edges character whose simplistic views are challenged as much as Rose and Noah. Pick up the book, read it twice. Once for the 'how will this work' and the second time to enjoy...more

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May 04, 2013 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-library

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, lets get down to my incoherent thoughts. ::exhales:: How can I like and strongly dislike a series at the same time? In all seriousness these books put me in such a foul mood but I can’t stop reading them. The story is enticing, but the characters drive me freaking nuts.

Belonging starts off where Temptation left off. Rose is now living in the Amish community and she is thrown into the daily life of an Amish woman. She gets up at the crack of dawn every...more description

Okay, now that I got that out of my system, lets get down to my incoherent thoughts. ::exhales:: How can I like and strongly dislike a series at the same time? In all seriousness these books put me in such a foul mood but I can’t stop reading them. The story is enticing, but the characters drive me freaking nuts.

Belonging starts off where Temptation left off. Rose is now living in the Amish community and she is thrown into the daily life of an Amish woman. She gets up at the crack of dawn everyday, does laundry by hand, scrubs the white fence, and even helps deliver a baby or two. I admire Rose for sticking it out and working so hard but she hates being there and can’t see herself being an Amish woman for the rest of her life yet she continues to torture herself and her family so she can make a life with Noah. Yes, love requires sacrifice at times but Rose is sacrificing everything and Noah is sacrificing nothing. And don’t even get me started on Rose being told to distance herself from her brothers and father. It fills me with rage.

I know this review is all over the place and it isn’t much of a review but more of a rant on how Rose and Noah’s relationship angers me. I want them to be together, but I don’t. I don’t think they are mature enough to handle the road that is head of them. I really don’t. I’m still not sure if Karen Ann Hopkins wrote this as a YA romance novel, or a YA not to do novel. It’s like Rose and Noah have no freaking sense!

Ughhh. I’m sorry, I’m just so frustrated with those two! The book as a whole was alright. A lot of drama happens throughout this book and it keeps you interested in the story but the real drama doesn’t start until the last half of the book. Reading from Sam’s pov, and having a new character, Summer, was sort of Belonging’s saving grace. That’s right, this book has three POV’s. But they pretty much have their own voice so it reads smoothly. Even though this book drives me to insanity I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. That ending though, why, just why. I’m happy but so unhappy. Damn freaking cliffhangers and crappy situations. UGH!(less)

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May 20, 2013 Hannah rated it 4 of 5 stars

This book was so crazy. I had no idea that someone could pack that much into one novel, but Hopkins makes it work. I've been unsure of how I feel about all of the characters, but I think that's one thing that makes this book good. The characters all have faults, and I ended up really liking some characters that I wasn't sure about earlier. There were a few things that bothered me about the book (like why didnt Rose ever learn any Pennsylvania Dutch??) but really I just can't wait for the next bo...more

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May 08, 2013 Anna rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, young-adult-fiction

From where we last left off in Temptation, Rose is convinced that the only way she and Noah can be together no holds barred, would be if she became Amish. With her family convinced that she'll come home running in no time and most of the Amish community of Meadowview believing that it's just a fleeting teenage romance, everyone is sure that Rose is doomed to fail. In Belonging, the sequel to Temptation, bonds will be tested, and difficult questions will be answered. With only love keeping Rose a...more

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Apr 27, 2013 Kat rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc-review, ya, contemporary-fict, social-issues

I seem to be developing something of an obsession with the Amish - whether it's the fascination with living without technology, their close knit communities or their intricate rituals I'm not completely sure, but I did enjoy the first book in this series, Temptation in particular as it dealt with what an 'outsider' has to go through to join their community.

Essentially the story of what one teenage girl, Rose, goes through as she tries to become Amish to be with her boyfriend, Noah, Belonging tak...more I seem to be developing something of an obsession with the Amish - whether it's the fascination with living without technology, their close knit communities or their intricate rituals I'm not completely sure, but I did enjoy the first book in this series, Temptation in particular as it dealt with what an 'outsider' has to go through to join their community.

Essentially the story of what one teenage girl, Rose, goes through as she tries to become Amish to be with her boyfriend, Noah, Belonging takes the story begun in Temptation and turns up the seriousness and intensity as Rose battles to find her place in a community where she will seemingly always be considered an outsider.

I liked Rose in Temptation, but in retrospect it was mostly because she was a bit of a lost soul in search of her place in life after the death of her mother. In Belonging, however, I started to develop a strong need to shake some sense into her as I was never completely convinced that a) being Amish nor b) being with Noah was what she really wanted. In fact, in places she almost admits that what she has with Noah is nothing more than an intense crush, stating that she only felt the attraction to him when she was with him. As for Noah, I understand that the restrictions of the community meant that he couldn't be with Rose as much as he wanted to be, but even when he was with her, it never felt like genuine love and at one point he practically calls her a slut. Not cool dude, whatever your background.

There are new characters introduced in Belonging, which was good for the story-line particularly as there are some darker themes explored through those characters but none of them are extremely memorable.

Told in three perspectives, that of Rose, Noah and Rose's brother Sam, again I liked the family involvement and particularly the banter between Rose and Sam on the rare moments that Rose was actually with her own family. The one family character that I didn't understand was Tina - sure, she was trying to be supportive of Rose, but a three week 'trial' of living with the Amish rather rapidly turned into four months without any kind of intervention.

And just when I thought the book was heading towards a more palatable conclusion, there is of course the twist and the cliffhanger that I had a suspicion was lurking in the background, just waiting for its opportunity to jump out.

Overall, Belonging was a unique story with a bunch of characters that didn't always go in the direction I expected, but there were also a lot of frustrations, particularly as at several points I really didn't find the characters very logical in their decision making.

Read more of my reviews at The Aussie Zombie (less)

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Jun 07, 2013 Ange rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013, 2013-ya-contemp-challenge, contemporary, favourites, romance, young-adult

**** CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK TEMPTATION****

I loved the first book Temptation, so I was ecstatic that I got a review
copy of Belonging. I couldn’t wait to see what happened to Rose and Noah. I was definitely not disappointed by this instalment, it was romantic, captivating and filled with drama.

In the first book, Temptation, we meet an average girl named Rose and an Amish boy named Noah, who fall in love with each other and begin a forbidden romance. Their differences in culture al...more **** CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR THE FIRST BOOK TEMPTATION****

I loved the first book Temptation, so I was ecstatic that I got a review
copy of Belonging. I couldn’t wait to see what happened to Rose and Noah. I was definitely not disappointed by this instalment, it was romantic, captivating and filled with drama.

In the first book, Temptation, we meet an average girl named Rose and an Amish boy named Noah, who fall in love with each other and begin a forbidden romance. Their differences in culture almost tore them apart, so Rose decided to join the Amish to be with Noah forever. In the beginning of Belonging Rose has just joined them and is now living with the Hershberger’s and is now living the Amish lifestyle. She slugs through hard days washing laundry, helping with meals, cleaning the house and on top of everything doing her homework to please her dad. After all her hard work though she still cannot make contact with Noah until she is accepted into the Church and is officially courting him. Is all her hard work worth it? Or will it all be in vain?

I had no idea what direction this book would take but I was surprised when I read it and loved the continuation of Rose and Noah’s romance and story. Rose is determined to stay with Noah and she is a strong willed girl who gave up everything she knew for someone she loved, I admired her for this and wouldn’t know whether I myself could do it (I do love my technology). She continues to be the sweet girl from Temptation however her personality seemed a little subdued especially when around the Amish, but this was to be expected, especially if she wanted to be accepted into their lives.

Noah was once again a strong character, however I would have liked to see him fight more for Rose in a particular part in the story and if you read the book you will know what I’m talking about. Their romance was as intense as it was in the first book and still had the air of forbidden romance.

You once again learn more about the simple Amish lifestyle and in this one you get a particular up close look in their lives. You get to learn more about their laws, courting, everyday lifestyle and even weddings.

I enjoyed this second instalment and can’t wait to get my hands on the next book. The story had many twists and turns that I was not expecting and it kept me captivated throughout. If you enjoy forbidden romance and YA contemporary then this book is for you.

Thanks to Harlequin Teen for this review copy!(less)

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Apr 11, 2013 Cindy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: chemistry-a-plenty, clean-read, cover-love, coming-of-age, cute-story, favorites, has-his-swagger-on, most-anxiouse-to-read, please-please-do-not-end, swoon-worthy-heroes, unforgettable-hero, unforgettable-heroines, ya-adult

Belonging, will Rose belong amongst the Amish? Does she have what it takes to live amongst the Amish? Well I have to say Rose does a good job, and I do mean it was a job. Washing, baking all by hand and from scratch, but she does it, yay for her. I don't think I would have faired to well, to spoiled now with all the modern conveniences that are in my life. She has Noah though the love of her life and she is willing to sacrifice and go the distance for him. Rose has to do it alone too, she is not...more

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Apr 09, 2013 Brandi Kosiner rated it 4 of 5 stars

Belonging picks up the theme of the intense and all encompassing love between Noah and Rose. I loved being in their heads, and how much they care for one another. Besides their dual perspectives, we also get to hear from Sam in this one. I didn't think I would like his point of view as much as the others, but I ended up really appreciating what he had to bring to the story. Even when he did stupid stuff. But seeing him fall for Summer, and the things that he realizes about himself, and how much...more Belonging picks up the theme of the intense and all encompassing love between Noah and Rose. I loved being in their heads, and how much they care for one another. Besides their dual perspectives, we also get to hear from Sam in this one. I didn't think I would like his point of view as much as the others, but I ended up really appreciating what he had to bring to the story. Even when he did stupid stuff. But seeing him fall for Summer, and the things that he realizes about himself, and how much he grows, the the very adult choice he makes in the end really impressed me.
This is not to say that I didn't have any issues with the books. Noah and Rose both are so mature and immature all at the same time. They make sacrifices for one another and in order to be together, and that proves that their feelings are real, but then the selfish side of each of them rears its head. Especially when there are misunderstandings and things trying to tear them apart. At times, their love seems more like an obsession, but then there are healthy things that seem to negate it. I was just so back and forth, but the one thing that kept drawing me in was their character growth. What they learn about each other, the respect they gain for their elders and others in the community, and how much they start to grow up really impressed me. Besides being caught up in their epic romance and the forbidden love element that I really loved.
I wanted them to be happy, and for them to work out if their love is true and they were making decisions for the right reasons. But when things threaten to tear them apart, and both Noah and Rose are under assumption of things that are not true, they make some really bad choices. It added a lot to their character development, but I was almost disgusted at the lengths they would go through to make themselves forget and try to move on from what happens. I just wanted their love to have a full chance or to fall apart without outside and dishonest things working against them.
The story ended at a good point for wrapping up the second book, but at such an important moment, that as a reader I was left wanting to do almost anything to stay in this world and find out what happens next.
Belonging is incredibly fast paced, I never wanted to put it down, and I didn't want to blink in fear of missing a steamy moment between the two. I was swept up in their love and in their story. There is a lot of drama, secrets, misconceptions, and games that go on, so if you didn't like Temptation or thought the lengths they would go to for love is extreme, then you probably won't like Belonging, but if you can roll that way with your love story, like I can, then you will probably love it too.
The Amish culture and what Rose had to endure converting to the religion and way of life all seems very well researched. I can't imagine living that way, even for a boy, but I loved experiencing it through Rose.
There were some pretty intense scenes and themes dealt with in here. While I agreed with Rose's heart in how she responded to of the issues (trying to free a friend from abuse and her terror over this person) I didn't agree with how she went about it. Other than the abuse aforementioned, there was also talk of and committing intercourse, violence, and near rapes. None of them were gone into detail, and they were handled well by the author.
I will definitely be picking up the next book. I can't wait to find out what happens with Noah and Rose next, as well as getting into Sarah's (Noah's sister--we get a preview of the 3rd book featuring her pov at the end) head. I am eager for more character development and to see if love can conquer all for Noah and Rose.

Bottom Line: Encompassing love story with character development. (less)

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Apr 06, 2013 Deitre rated it 5 of 5 stars

Tempted by a love from a girl he couldn't have. Tempted by a love from a boy that was so different. Belonging to one another with a love so strong that neither one could deny, priceless. Noah and Rose are inseparable. Faced with many challenges and extreme roadblocks ahead, they are each headed down a path with a common destination, however the path must be traveled alone. Belonging is the next chapter in this story of love and determination. Rose has found herself in a situation where she is ex...more Tempted by a love from a girl he couldn't have. Tempted by a love from a boy that was so different. Belonging to one another with a love so strong that neither one could deny, priceless. Noah and Rose are inseparable. Faced with many challenges and extreme roadblocks ahead, they are each headed down a path with a common destination, however the path must be traveled alone. Belonging is the next chapter in this story of love and determination. Rose has found herself in a situation where she is excepted by many, however not all. The Amish community have given her the chance to prove herself. She has to prove that living the simple life is enough for her. She is willing to do this, because deep down inside she knows that the end of the path, means reaching Noah, her one and only love. Rose is up for the challenge. She strives to go above and beyond to prove herself worthy of the Amish way. The novel begins with a sense of comfort that the challenge may be an easy one however she learns quickly with the introduction of new characters and old, that the path to travel may be rocky. An observation that I made very early regarding Belonging, was the cover. I understand that many authors do not have 100% final say on book cover picks. However, in the first book of the series, Temptation, it was left up to my imagination what Rose and Noah looked liked. The cover projected a shadow of true hidden passion. With Belonging, my visualization of what they look like has changed. This cover portrays a very older Noah and Rose. Her attire also threw me off a bit as well. Was the cover a deal breaker for me, NEVER! Belonging was filled with many unexpected story lines, twist and turns that I didn't see coming. Karen Ann Hopkins has truly captured her audience by providing a novel that is filled with well thought out character development and a descriptive plots that is sprinkled throughout the novel with just enough hope to push the reader on. I'm invested in Rose and Noah's story. Belonging is a novel that you won't put down until the last page. Thank you Karen Ann Hopkins for putting their world down on paper for all readers to enjoy. I shall wait patiently for the 3rd book in this wonderful series.(less)

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May 01, 2013 Beckie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: given-to-read-by-author-publisher, arc, i-can-t-wait-to-read, own, paperback, read-for-review-on-blog, blog-tour-review, ya-contemporary, ya-romance, favorites, favorite-series

My Review is originally posted @ Bittersweet Enchantment

The story of Belonging picks up almost directly after the first book, Temptation ended. If you have not read Temptation yet this review may have a few subtle spoilers so please be aware of that before you continue on.

Rose and Noah are hopeless in love. From the moment they meet they somehow knew they were made for each other. Two half's of a perfect whole. There is just one problem that seems to always test their love..... He's Amish and s...more My Review is originally posted @ Bittersweet Enchantment

The story of Belonging picks up almost directly after the first book, Temptation ended. If you have not read Temptation yet this review may have a few subtle spoilers so please be aware of that before you continue on.

Rose and Noah are hopeless in love. From the moment they meet they somehow knew they were made for each other. Two half's of a perfect whole. There is just one problem that seems to always test their love..... He's Amish and she's not. Rose makes the difficult decision to leave her family and start a new life with Noah living...happily ever after. Eeh, not so much. Although Rose is desperate to see her way in living this new Amish lifestyle, there are so many different thing standing in her way. Her Father does not approve of his only daughter leaving the family to run off and live in this world he just does not understand or that fact that she is only 16 years old minor. The main challenge Rose faces is being accepted my Noah's family and the Amish community alike. She must gain the approval of the elders but most importantly the Bishop himself.

Throughout all of these hardships, Rose still tries her very best to fit in as a Amish and live in this primitive life. But will her love for Noah and his love for her be enough to change the minds of everyone who counts? Will their LOVE stand the true test of time....? I guess you'll have to read Belonging to find out.

After reading Temptation last year and really falling in love with the book, I could not wait to find out what happens next. Throughout Belonging I keep trying to put myself in Rose's place, seeing through eyes why she choose to change her entire life for the boy she so desperately loves. I so admired Rose for all the hard work she did, and how accepting she was to Noah, his family and the Amish community. There were times I would ask myself.... "If I was Rose would I give up everything for someone I so deeply loved?" I think the readers of this book will end up questioning that very idea as well. The author, Karen Ann Hopkins knows first hand about Amish community living so close to one herself. I really feel this gives her book such a realism that other Contemporary novels sometimes lack. Also, her writing style is very breezy and easy to read. Now although in the first book I had some minor problems with Noah (found here), and Temptation was a little to insta-love for me. Belonging seems dives deeper into Noah and Rose's relationship and how much they truly do love each other and the lengths they go to be together.

Belonging was as good as I expected it to be, maybe even better and even though I did have a couple things "problems" with the book (slow area's, and how Rose pretty much abandon her family), I feel the readers will fall in love with Noah and Rose all over again.
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Belonging (Temptation #2)

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