An emotional slow burn romance of forbidden love, intense chemistry and second chances… Katie’s father found the young lovers together, he banished Rowan, and Katie never saw him again…
Now, six years later, with her father dead and the family farm in jeopardy, Katie needs Rowan’s help. But the shy young Amish boy she once knew has grown into a handsome and forceful man.
The attraction between them is still as strong as ever, but Katie’s life is on her family farm, with the horses she loves, and Rowan’s place is within his sheltered Amish community. Can their love find a way, or will it remain forbidden, forever?
Readers love Willow Creek:
‘A sweet read with just enough lust to keep you reading’ Megan
‘Such a sweet read…I read this book in one sitting. Simply lovely!’ Lu Reviews
‘I thoroughly enjoyed it…The very first chapter drew me in’ Delores
‘Thoroughly enjoyable book, the characters were strong and lovable and the HEA was very welcome’ Peta
‘Holds your attention…the author’s words brings the book to life’ Ann
‘A beautiful love story… It captured my attention’ Zoe
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Not your typical romance!
Very happy to have found this Author! This is is the first book I’ve read by Karen Ann Hopkins, but it won’t be the last!
I love not binge my able to figure out how a book will end, and didn’t know if this one would have a happy ending or not, but I won’t put a spoiler in my review! You’ll have to read it to find out!
As I said it’s not your typical boy meets girl and lives happily ever after! It’s very well written with some unexpected twists!
I look forward to reading more by Ms. Hopkins!
One love. Two different worlds.
Willow Creek tells the love story between Katie, a farm girl, and Rowan, an Amish boy who worked for her father.
Our thanks to the author, One More Chapter, and NetGalley for the advanced reader’s copy.
Rowan and Katie first met when they were sixteen and were infatuated with one another. But her father found them out and expelled the boy from their property.
Years later, her father recently deceased, Rowan returns to Katie’s ranch to help train some horses and save her property.
Aww, the beauty of young love!
This book was such a sweet read. Rowan and Katie were so profoundly connected by disposition and love, but so far apart culturally. It was beautiful to see them dealing with the gaps and slowly building the bridges.
The story is also full of horses, and although I must confess I only rode a horse once or twice in my entire life, I just love them. They are so intelligent and sensitive.
This is my first time reading an Amish romance, and it was so fascinating to learn more about their way of life.
I can’t imagine how hard it must be for someone to leave everything and everyone they know. To have to choose between family and romantic love. What an impossible decision it must be.
I read this book in one sitting. Simply lovely!
Disclosure: I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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Karen Ann Hopkins encapsulate the true meaning of the word love in this incredible book Willow Creek.
Rowan is Amish, devoted to his family and community yet the beauty of an English woman he met as teenager has caught his eye.
Katie isn’t sure she can trust her feelings – she knows she could never became Amish.
These issues seem insurmountable.
Katie Porter’s first kiss, at the tender age of sixteen, was with Rowan Coblentz. Rowan was an Amish teen who was working on her father’s ranch, but her father ordered him to stay away. Rowan knew that there could be nothing between him and Katie, but he was entranced with her from the very first. Years later, Katie’s father is dead and they are in jeopardy of losing the ranch. Her only hope is to have Rowan train the horses for sale, but will he agree? Katie has never forgotten the feelings she had for Rowan and having him back on the ranch has made her realize how much she still cares for him. Rowan knows that any relationship with her could mean being shunned by his family. Can he give up his family and faith for Katie? A pleasant romance about young love and second chances. I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)
Willow Creek by Karen Ann Hopkins is a touching story of a forbidden love between an Amish man and an “English” woman. It is fraught with guilt, disappointment, and change as Rowan and Katie navigate their romance. Rowan’s sister, Rebecca is also a major part of the story as she struggles with depression in a society that does not recognize such and prescribes Bible study as a solution. She is spiraling into alcohol, drugs, and sex as Rowan and Katie struggle to help her. Roam struggle mightily with his conscience as he tries to forget Katie and court an Amish girl. It turns out there is ancient history within the families as well. It is a heart-wrenching story.
Katie is a modern woman who has just lost her father and is struggling with her mother who has MS and is adjusting to the death of her husband. She is working two jobs to keep them afloat and her desperation shows as she recruits Rowan to train her horses so they can be sold, and potentially pull them from looming financial catastrophe. It is a courageous move as they have a history, but she sees no alternative. She is a well-written character who makes not demands on Rowan but is always there for him. Rowan is a good-looking man who earns his muscle from hard work, not hours in the gym. He is intelligent and respectful of his parents and his community. He wants to do they right thing; he just doesn’t always know what that is. It is a good story. One for a lazy Sunday afternoon. I recommend it.
I was invited to read a free ARC of Willow Creek by Netgalley. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #willowcreek
The cover has a really warm inviting cover and makes you want to know more about the couple sat at the waters edge. I’d say it would make me pick it up from a bookstore shelf to take a look at the blurb. Being totally honest I have read other books by this author so I would always check out anything she released too!
The book begins with a prologue and a young girl called Katie Porter taking a tumble from her horse during a storm. As she is attempting to calm her horse a young man approaches to help called Rowan Coblentz, he works at her parent’s farm/horse business, Katie has a serious crush on Rowan the handsome looking Amish boy even though he has always been quite stand-off-ish towards her. So, Katie doesn’t really want to accept any help from him but ends up having to do so as Rowan has her ride his horse back to the farm and he takes her still slightly skittish horse. When they arrive back at the barn, they share a moment and end up kissing, then Charlie walks in on them and sacks Rowan on the spot, telling him to never come back.
Then the actual book begins and is set 6 years later, Charlie Porter is in a car crash with the woman he is cheating on his wife, Anne with. The woman lives and Charlie dies leaving wife Anne, and daughter Katie alone on the farm/horse business. Charlie has also left them with a lot of debt, behind in payments etc. Katie has hurt her arm and is unable to break the new horses in time for the auction. Katie knows that the horses need to bring a decent price if they want to hold onto their home. Katie calls the Coblentz farm and speaks to Rowan, offering him the job of getting the horses ready for sale. This fits in with Rowans need to earn some extra money to help his sister Rebecca. To say Rebecca isn’t fond of the Amish way of life is an understatement. Her dream is to be an artist and live the English way. Rowan is worried for his sister though agrees to help her leave with some money to get started in a new life with. Others have left the Amish and most fail, but Rebecca is determined to leave and show she can survive as an English person. Rebecca doesn’t eat much, and tries to keep her head down, she is a loner but others in the Amish community do not include her so she really is a lonely figure in this book. Rebecca however is very astute and more or less tells Rowan to choose wisely when his time comes.
Of course, old feelings soon re-emerge between Katie and Rowan, just when things look to be going well between them Katies mum Anne tells her about the Amish man she herself dated and how it broke her heart before she married Charlie. It was a mixture of sadness and irony that at first made it look like history could possibly repeat itself. Consequently, this sets Katie in the mindset that Rowan just wants some sort of fling before he settles for a quiet Amish wife and family. There are misunderstandings on both side, and that’s all I am going to say really, you honestly need to read this book!! Things soon become even more complicated for Rowan when the Bishops own daughter, Miriam sets her sights on him becoming her husband.
My favourite characters were of course Katie, Rowan, Rebecca and Nathaniel. I adored how Katie could be so naïve and mushy over Rowan one minute, yet at the same time be a confident, powerful business woman the next. Rowan really reminded me of Noah a character from Karen Ann Hopkins Temptation series. I had mixed feelings throughout the book on Rebecca, I wanted her to be happy which for her meant leaving the Amish, however I worried something really bad would happen if she did leave. I immediately fell in love with Nathaniel, Rowan’s younger brother, there’s a specific scene nearer the end of the book where he runs up and hugs his older brother despite the probability of being punished for doing so. Another great moment happens at the horse sale between Anne and Katie concerning the sale of Remington.
My first thoughts upon finishing reading this book were that this was another amazing book about Amish & English love. Wonder if we will hear more from this world? Perhaps about Rebecca? Rowan reminded me of Noah, the innocence, determination & passion of the Amish men that fall in love with English women ….
To sum up I absolutely adored cosying up and reading this book. I thought the book felt like a quick read with chapters from the point of views of Katie and Rowan. I am really looking forward to more from this series, I hadn’t realised how much I had missed reading about Amish/English love. I still find the Amish culture and way of living fascinating.
WARNING this book is not a Christian book. This book does talk about God and yes has amish but would definitely not fall under a clean read. There is sexual content in this book. The story was ok, not for me. The story is a strong read it deals with death, affairs, drugs and mental health, for some people everyday life, so I will so that it was very life like. I did like Rowan he had such a big heart and he wanted what was best for those he loved. He also wanted to do what his heart wanted. I liked Katie but she was also a hot mess and in some moments she came off very mature then came off as a spoiled child. Over all the story was an ok read this book was a quick read. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.