A Forbidden Rumspringa (Gay Amish Romance)

This one absolutely wrecked me in the best way. I cried more than once, and I don’t regret a single tear. The story feels so raw and real, like you’re living every moment right alongside the characters. It’s about love, faith, identity, and the impossible choices that come when the world you were born into doesn’t fit the person you’re becoming. The writing is beautiful; simple, emotional, and deeply human. What makes it stand out is how honest it feels. The characters’ struggles are painful but also full of hope, and you can’t help but root for them with everything in you. This book doesn’t sugarcoat anything, but it still manages to feel tender and full of light. It’s one of those stories that stays with you long after you finish, because it’s not just about love, it’s about freedom, and finding the courage to be yourself no matter the cost.

This book was great. The star-crossed romance the two men shared was well explained and yet romantic. Romantic yes, but the book also had several short comings. While the relationship was told to be mutual and deep, it seemed to lack set up and establishing details. It seemed like they went from strangers, awkward around each other, to a full couple and going all the way. While it wasn't an instantaneous occurrence, it was probably even a third of the way into the book, but it even still it did not give us much on the men's personalities. Even with the book being Isaac centric, we only see the surface of them both. They like carpentry. They have families. They are gay in a super strict heteronormative society, they both question their place in their society and their church's beliefs. Individually, however, the reader is left to imagine for him or herself. Isaac repeatedly recalls that he and David had shared conversations, but it seems the reader is never privy to them. Isaac goes to work and then they hit the showers or have lunch. As individuals they seem to only be differentiated by one having mostly brothers and the other sisters. As for all other characters, they are basically nonexistent. They are certainly around, never giving the couple time alone, yet they seem like only cardboard cutouts. The reader is introduced to many characters, the main characters have siblings. David has only a mother, but Isaac has both of his parents. Isaac even has a best friend. We find…

This is a beautiful journey of two souls that find each other, and whether or not it's acceptable, they know in their hearts this is real love. This M/M story is heartwarming, realistic, engrossing, and well written. The characters are deep with an interesting tale to tell. Along with hot sexiness this is a worthwhile read. We learn a lot about Amish life and differences between areas of the Amish and what is allowed. The author tells us how their world works, and we understand it, even if we don't agree with it. The naiveté of David and Isaac, plus the other kids, is sweet, and their desires to know more of the world is so natural. Isaac is allowed to expand his woodworking by apprenticing with David. David has his family to care for, his mom and sisters since his dad passed away, and feels trapped. Isaac doesn't feel the calling to get married to Mary and avoids her at all costs. He just isn't interested in girls, but he is interested in David. They have a connection he can't explain, until he and David finally let go and kiss. Deep feelings grow and a forbidden love develops. Secret meetings and a serious relationship forms. When David's Mom is hurt, David retreats and Isaac is devastated. Isaac's older brother left and went into the world, why can't he and David do the same. Neither wants to be tied to a miserable life without each other. What will they do? This can be a stand alone, but there are two more books to this trilogy, and I'll be exploring all of their whole…

The forbiddance, the tension, the heartache, the compassion, the cuteness, the thrill. This book has it all! I love Isaac and David so much!

Well...that was different! I first became intrigued by this book when one of my favorite male/male authors (Heidi Cullinan) started tweeting like mad about it while she read. I'm always interested in unique romances and the male/male community often provides that for me. So I knew I had to give this gay Amish romance a try. A Forbidden Rumspringa is told from the point of view of eighteen year old Isaac who lives with this family in an Amish community in Minnesota. He is at the age where he is expected to court a young woman, marry, and officially join the church. But, Isaac knows that there is something more that he wants which he discovers after becoming an apprentice to the handsome David, a carpenter trying to support his family after his father's death. These two men quickly bond and eventually realize that it goes farther than just friendship. This book is the epitome of forbidden romance. Isaac and David live in a community that avoids anything worldly or English and a gay relationship is at the top of their list of undesirable acts. But, as we all know, the forbidden fruit is often the sweetest. Once Isaac and David engage in physical acts, they cannot stop. This is the first time either of them has ever been comfortable with who they are and, understandably, they don't want to go back to their previous livelihood. It also doesn't help that their community is extremely conservative even for an Amish settlement due to a tragic accident involving some teenagers who…