Temptation, #4
by Karen Ann Hopkins
Publication:
May 2014
Add to Goodreads
Genres:
YA
Romance
Synopsis:
Growing up Amish is difficult…but leaving it behind is even harder.
Noah was Amish...Rose wasn't. Being together should have been impossible. But somehow they found a way to make it work. They are finally a family, but their happily-ever-after is still a long off. Will Rose and her friends be able to force real change?
Karen Ann Hopkins returns with a gripping new book in the YA Temptation series. The powerful family saga continues with Rachel's Deception, as events spiral out of control in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview. And Rachel Miller has her own secrets to hide. Noah’s younger sister has been living a double life. That is, until Justin Cameron, Rose's little brother, catches her in the act. Rachel is not the obedient Amish girl that her sister was, and her rebelliousness takes her to a very dangerous world. A world that only her true friends can help her escape from.
As Rachel questions all she has been taught about love, family, and commitment, Rose discovers what it really means to be shunned. And an evil shadow looms on the horizon, threatening not only Rose, but everyone she holds dear.
The Temptation Series:
Published By HarlequinTEEN
Review | Goodreads | Amazon | B & N | IndieBound
Review | Goodreads | Amazon | B & N | IndieBound
Review | Goodreads | Amazon | B & N | IndieBound
The Temptation Series on Audible:
Here are some exciting news for all those audiobook lovers out there: The Temptation Series will be available April 21st and you can Pre-Oder your copyright now!
Listen to a sample on audible.
Karen's other Books:
Adult Mystery, Serenity’s Plain Secrets
- LAMB TO THE SLAUGHTER (book 1): Available e-book now and in print March 2015
- WHISPERS FROM THE DEAD (book 2): Available e-book now and in print March 2015
- SECRETS IN THE GRAVE (book 3) Available in paperback and e-book in December 2015
YA Paranormal, Wings of War
- EMBERS (book 1): Available in e-book now and in print March 2015
- GAIA (book 2): Available in paperback and e-book in November 2015
Lindy's Thoughts:
I have been following the Temptation Series from the very beginning! This series is so unique, and different from anything else that I have read, and I love it! Learning about different cultures has always been a passion of mine, and the Amish culture is extremely fascinating. Ms. Hopkins creates an authentic experience for the reader, as we are immersed in a world were different societal views, norms, rules, and ways of doing things is vastly different from our own.
In Rachel's Deception, this addictive saga continues. These stories should be read in order, as the timeline is linear, and won't make sense if you read them out of order. Rachel's Deception, focuses on 16 year old Rachel Miller (Noah's sister). Rachel is a loner, has been stuck in a deep depression, and riddled with feelings of guilt ever since her sweet and "perfect" older sister Sarah died. She is strong willed, and has a rebellious nature. Rachel begins sneaking out of the house and hanging with a troublesome "English Crowd" who frequents bars, gets drunk, and are sexually promiscuous."
As the story goes along, we get three different perspectives; Rachel, Rose, and Justin. Rose continues to tell us her and Noah's story (which were the main characters from all of the previous books in the series.) However, now we have Rachel and Justin (Rose's younger brother,) coming to the forefront as main characters in this segment. Rachel and Justin develop feeling towards one another, which are strictly forbidden in the Amish world (due to the fact that Justin is "English" not Amish.) Simultaneously, Rachel develops feelings for Micah, her dead sister Sarah's ex-fiancee. As you can see, we have the beginning of a love triangle here.
Rachel's Deception flowed at a slow but steady pace. The story was more character driven, then plot driven, which caused it to slow down until the very end. Ms. Hopkins set a solid foundation for more books in the series, and I am looking forward to the plot thickening. Her main characters are so well fleshed out, that it's as if they are walking off of the page and speaking to the reader directly. Relationships are being developed and strengthened in this segment between lovers, friends, and family members. We learn a lot about the Amish community, as well as individual characters struggles; with a focus on Rachel. I can't wait to read the next book in this ever evolving series!
My Rating:
Rachel's Deception was another great addition to the Temptation Series. Although the pacing was slow, it was steady, and picked up at the end with plot twists, suspense, and even danger! If you enjoy learning about different cultures and customs, along with sweet romance, and suspense; you must check out the Temptation series. I give, Rachel's Deception, by Karen Ann Hopkins, 4 Emotional Darkness, Love Triangle, Suspense Filled Stars!
Ro's Take on this Journey:
Rachel's Deception, by Karen Ann Hopkins, is the continuing Amish Saga, in the Temptation Series, #4. In Rachel's Deception, we get the story of a tormented young girl, Rachel, the younger sister of Noah. Rachel has demons that haunt her every thought, to the point that she must anesthetize herself to drown out her night terrors. She tries to live in a deluge of liquor, rebelliousness, and danger. She doesn't ever worry enough to stop the quandaries she puts herself into, until she is up against the wall.
Rachel has survived the tornado that took the life of her older sister, Sarah. Though they were each other's playmates, since a young age, there was an abundance of hostility, envy, and jealousy on Rachel's behalf. Rachel is the complete opposite of her sweet, unassuming deceased sister, Sarah. Rachel is a loner, misunderstood, and filled with guilt and regret. In this segment, Rachel finds that she has feelings for Micah, Sarah's Amish ex-boyfriend who likes her but is naive to her behavior, and Justin, Rose's younger English brother, who knows her secrets first hand. Both these young men can cause an uproar in the Meadowview Community if Rachel's scandalous behavior is revealed and she makes the wrong choices.
This segment also brings to light danger from the past that catches up with Rose and her family, shunning, principals broken, and changing times. The elders must rethink their ways and come to terms with the new age children that are growing up, in order to try to keep them from leaving the Amish community for a different way of life. There are so many insightful lessons to be learned from Ms. Hopkins Saga. She is a brilliant writer and her characters are well rounded. Each and every one of them come to life on the printed page. Both primary and secondary characters have a story to tell, and the reader will ultimately connect with each and every one of them on some level or another.
The Temptation series has been a favorite of mine, and I know the readers would be remised if they didn't get to be a part of this great journey. The reader will experience the rigid ways of the elders, the staunch attitudes of the unyielding, the tenderness of the compassionate, the heartbreaking sorrow of the broken, and the full circle life lessons of the Amish's world; which can bring their community together or rip them apart in this wonderful Saga.
My Rating:
I give, Rachel's Deception, by Karen Ann Hopkins, 4 Heart Wrenching, Terrifying, Life Changing, Tender, Loving Stars!
About Karen Ann Hopkins:
A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.
Website | Goodreads | Facebook | FB Fan Page | Twitter
Giveaway:
Karen is offering up a fantastic prize pack, with one lucky winner receiving the following:
(Giveaway is International)
*$50 Gift Card (Amazon, B&N, or iTunes)
*A complete set of her books (Temptation, Belonging, Forever, Rachel's Deception, Lamb to the Slaughter, Whispers from the Dead and Embers!)
Follow the Tour:
*Tuesday, May 19th – A Bookish Escape – Review
*Wednesday, May 20th – Books and Things – Guest Post
*Thursday, May 21st – Sassy Book Lovers – Review together with Guest Post
*Friday, May 22nd – Lose Time Reading – Review
*Monday, May 25th – Literary Menaderings – Author Interview
*Tuesday, May 26th – Reading Lark – Review
*Wednesday, May 27th – Sassy & Dangerous – Interview
*Thursday, May 28th – Actin’ Up with Books – Review
*Friday, May 29th – Her Book Thoughts – Review together with Guest Post
*Monday, June 1st – Bittersweet Enchantment – Guest Post
*Tuesday, June 2nd – Supernatural Snark – Interview
*Wednesday, June 3rd – Curling Up With A Good Book – Interview
*Thursday, June 4th – Manga Maniac Cafe – Guest Post
*Friday, June 5th – Bewitched Bookworms – Guest Post
