Review: Forever by Karen Ann Hopkins

Forever (Temptation #3) by Karen Ann Hopkins

All I want is my happily-ever-after.
That's all I've wanted since meeting Noah Miller.
From the day we met, the world has tried to keep Noah and me from being together, but now that I'm carrying his child, no one will be able to tear us apart. Or so I hope. But Noah and I have made some mistakes along the way, and the consequences are impacting the people we love. Worse, there's a storm on the horizon, and it's sure to cause serious devastation.
If we can get through this, we'll finally be Rose and Noah; a family, forever.
But first we have to survive the road ahead. And happily-ever-after is a long way off.

Publishes in US: January 28th 2014 by Harlequin Teen
Genre: YA contemp
Source: Harlequin Teen via Netgalley
Series? Temptation #3

Buy it: amazon  Barnes & Noble  IndieBound Book Depository

Author stalk away: 

 

    I have loved Noah and Rose's romance from the beginning, it is intense, first love personified, and the fact that their love has grown stronger through trials, temptations, and being torn apart says even more about it. So, when this book was available for review, I jumped on it, because I just had to know how things end for them, not to mention Sam and Summer, since Sam was introduced as a POV and I've become attached to him. 

    The multiple POV is easy, and moves the plot along, although I will say it can be a bit frustrating when you are coming to answers, or a kiss, or whatever and you are all of the sudden in someone else's perspective, but then I got caught up in what was going on with them. 

    The difference in religion and upbringing has always been on the forefront of Rose and Noah's relationship and that hasn't changed, in fact it's been complicated by Rose hiding her pregnancy from Noah (more on that later) as well as Noah's engagement and breaking up with Constance. It has created ripples in what should be a quiet and close knit community and it has everyone questioning loyalty, allegiances, and not only the actions of Noah and Rose, but his parents, how Constance's dad is reacting to the situation, as well as Sarah and her unexpected romance. 

    I had so thought that Rose and Noah had learned from the last book not to keep secrets and hide things, but then Rose hids this. I know she had all intentions of telling him, and then certain things that he said made her wait. And I probably would have waited after that first conversation because Noah is in deep and it is not only him that is effected, but I think that he knew, but he didn't want to admit it, so he was being a coward and leaving Rose to deal with it if he thought it was a possibility he should have stepped up. But I have to say, I really respected him in how he did step up once he knew for certain. 

    That said, I still loved every minute and flew through this book. I wanted more stolen moments with Rose and Noah. I love their passion and intensity and devotion to one another. I enjoy Sam's POV and his fierce protectiveness for Rose, and the sibling relationship played out. Him and Summer are also a great couple in other ways, its not forbidden romance, just pure boy and girl falling in love. Being in Sarah's head is great as well. She is so different from Rose, but I still respect her. She is devoted to her family, but she is also learning about how it feels to fall for someone, and feelings that she's never really encountered before. 

    This book was filled with some very hard, extremely emotional issues, and events. My heart hurt so bad, and I still have to wonder why. I know in some ways in brought about some needed changes, but it just seems too big, too painful, too hard. But I guess that is just life, and this is a contemporary. 

     Some of the twists took me completely by surprise, but it definitely had purposes in growing the characters and moving the plot along. The pacing was well done, and the world building for setting up the Amish community was fantastic as usual. 

    The ending was good, but I really hope there will be more in the series, because with adding the extra POV, I feel like those story lines weren't really wrapped up. I feel like it was a good stopping point with Noah and Rose at the end, not that I would ever complain about more of their romance. 

Bottom Line: Romantic ending with lots of trials for our main characters to overcome.

My question to you, my lovely readers:
Could you be with someone if your whole community seemed against it?