ARC Review: Belonging by Karen Ann Hopkins

Title: Belonging

Author: Karen Ann Hopkins

Series: Temptation #2

Number of Pages: 408

Expected publication: April 30th 2013 by Harlequin TEEN
Source: Author - ARC paperback

Genre: Romance > Contemporary

Reading Level: YA

I left everything I knew behind.

But it was worth it. He was worth it.

No one thought an ordinary girl like me would last two minutes living with the Amish, not even me. There are a lot more rules and a lot less freedom, and I miss my family and the life I once had. Worst of all, Noah and I aren't even allowed to see each other. Not until I've proven myself.

If I can find a way to make it work, we'll be NOAH & ROSE together forever.

But not everybody believes this is where I belong.

Purchase @ Amazon | B&N | Indiebound | The Book Depository

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. 

 Totally Awesome! I loved it, would read again.

About The Author: Karen Ann Hopkins

Find Karen @

Blog | Facebook | Goodreads

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.

I hope everyone one enjoyed my review. :) Please leave a comment with your thoughts on Belonging?