HarlequinTEEN’s spring Reading into Romance

Spring is in the air and HarlequinTEEN wants you to fall in love! And they have just the books to make that happen!

In this epic tour, we’ll be featuring 9 authors and their amazing, toe-curlingly romantic books!

Today’s Blog Tour stop features Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins and a look at Amish love and marriage

Amish Love & Marriage

by Karen Ann Hopkins

Living within an Amish community in northern Kentucky for five years, I’ve witnessed many interesting things about their culture. Sometimes, I’m shocked at their strict beliefs and behavior, but usually I’m humbled and impressed with their culture.

The Amish are people who are always willing to come to the aid of their neighbors, whether Amish or not, and they hold their personal relationships in the highest esteem. These are admirable traits for anyone, but I’ve witnessed firsthand that the basis for their success in life is their religious faith and their solid and loving relationships with their spouses.

Granted, the Amish culture is a man’s society, and you’d think that would cause all kinds of problems with the women…but it doesn’t. Most of the Amish women I know are quite satisfied of the role they play within the marriage. They run the household and oftentimes are full and respected partners in the family business. They care for the children and participate in church activities. They get together regularly with other women within the community to quilt or clean house together. Amish women seem busy and content within their lives.

I think the contentment begins with the giving nature I’ve witnessed from most of the men toward their wives. Even though they may be the ‘boss,’ Amish men tend to continue to display acts of romance long after the wedding ceremony. Flowers, extravagant gifts and vacations are commonplace from the men of the community to their wives. They recognize and respect the hard work that their wives do and are ever thankful for their partner in life.

When troubles do arise within an Amish marriage, the community will jump in and help through counseling to repair the damage. Very rarely do the Amish divorce, which shows their ultimate dedication in the vows they spoke to each other.

Because the Amish live a life without the entertainment of television, radio, movies and internet, they seem to put more emphasis on romance and that’s one of the reasons they may have up to twelve children or more within a family. Their religion prevents them from using birth control, which obviously contributes to the large number of pregnancies, but since there are few other things to do in the evenings, the Amish are focused on the pleasures between a man and a wife. So much intimacy keeps Amish couples close. Having so many children would be a nightmare to most outsiders, but the Amish women appear to enjoy having large families and have grown accustomed to it.

The Amish don’t hold hands and would never be caught showing public displays of affection, but the simplicity of their lives lends to a quiet and hidden romance that lasts forever.

Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins

HarlequinTEEN | June 26, 2012 | 383 pages

Paperback | Kindle |B&N | Indiebound

Summary

Your heart misleads you.

That’s what my friends and family say.

But I love Noah. And he loves me. We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other’s arms. It should be ROSE & NOAH forever, easy. But it won’t be.

Because he’s Amish.

And I’m not.

Belonging the sequel to Temptation will be released April 30th by HarlequinTEEN – add it to your goodreads shelf!

Read my review of Temptation!

Connect with 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.

Blog Tour Schedule

HarlequinTEEN Reading Into Romance Tour Page

Monday, March 4th – Karen Ann Hopkins and Temptation:

Wednesday, March 6th – Liz Fichera and Hooked:

Friday, March 8th – Cayla Kluver and the Legacy series:

Monday, March 11th – Aimée Carter and The Goddess Test series:

Wednesday, March 13th – Julie Kagawa and The Iron King series:

Friday, March 15th – Katie McGarry and Pushing the Limits:

Monday, March 18th – Rachel Vincent and The Soul Screamers series:

Wednesday, March 20th – Hannah Harrington and Saving June:

Friday, March 22nd – Jordan Dane and In The Arms of Stone Angels:

Giveaway

There are two giveaways!

The first is a copy of Temptation!

The grand prize is also available with each entry you enter with! A beautiful necklace and Pashmina!

HarlequinTEEN dresses you for a romantic date with this beautiful, unique heart shaped locket! And in case it’s a chilly spring evening, don’t forget the matching beautiful Pashmina!