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A review by perusing_pages
A Forbidden Rumspringa by Keira Andrews
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I was apprehensive picking this one up because strong religious themes aren't usually my cup of tea and although the setting of Isaac & David's story is the very strict Amish community Zebulon in which they both live the love story was front and centre with the religious aspect being the cornerstone conflict. I don't know much at all about the Amish community but I feel like I learned things through this story, everything felt tangible and real, the curiosity and questions both David, Isaac and other young people in the community had were completely understandable, the internal struggles of who they are, finding each other attractive and wanting another man in the way these two do both emotionally and physically goes against everything they have been taught their entire lives and coming to terms with the fact they either have to be miserable apart in order to join the church and stay with their families or for them to get their HEA they must leave their community, their families and all they have ever known behind and enter a world they are woefully unprepared for was heart-wrenching to read.
I adored this read, third person can be hit or miss for me, and this hit. The pacing of the story was great and I'm glad the author didn't try to cram what I'm expecting to be a complex and emotional story overall into one book and that I get to read two more. The chemistry between David and Isaac was electric, and the spice was great. The emotional connection wasn't overshadowed by it, which is a bonus. I liked that this wasn't written in a black or white way and didn't try to villainise the Amish community in order for these two to figure out what they wanted, it presented the very real struggles I'm sure a lot of people from that community can face, not necessarily the sexuality component but I'm sure that plays it's part, but definitely the questioning of their ways of life etc. The constant fear they had of being discovered created some delicious tension & angst throughout the story. The romance was earnest, sweet, and soulful, and the religious aspect handled with respect. A fantastic read with characters that you can't help but want to protect, I can't wait to see where the next two books take Isaac & David. 🌶🌶🌶
I adored this read, third person can be hit or miss for me, and this hit. The pacing of the story was great and I'm glad the author didn't try to cram what I'm expecting to be a complex and emotional story overall into one book and that I get to read two more. The chemistry between David and Isaac was electric, and the spice was great. The emotional connection wasn't overshadowed by it, which is a bonus. I liked that this wasn't written in a black or white way and didn't try to villainise the Amish community in order for these two to figure out what they wanted, it presented the very real struggles I'm sure a lot of people from that community can face, not necessarily the sexuality component but I'm sure that plays it's part, but definitely the questioning of their ways of life etc. The constant fear they had of being discovered created some delicious tension & angst throughout the story. The romance was earnest, sweet, and soulful, and the religious aspect handled with respect. A fantastic read with characters that you can't help but want to protect, I can't wait to see where the next two books take Isaac & David. 🌶🌶🌶