☁️ 🌩️ “Shelter in the Storm” (Johns Mill Amish Romance #1) (2021) 🌩️ ☁️ – Book Review

 

 

MY REVIEW

 

Series: Johns Mill Amish Romance (Book #1)

Paperback: 336 Pages

Publisher: Berkley (May 25, 2021)

Language: English

ISBN-10: 0593200209

ISBN-13: 978-0593200209

⬅️ Click Photo for Purchase Information

 

“In this moving Amish romance, two broken hearts find hope in each other after a terrible loss.

 

Unspeakable tragedy strikes the Amish hamlet of Johns Mill when an unstable Englischer opens fire in the Hochstedler’s General Store. In the aftermath, and under the media’s spotlight, Joseph Hochstedler struggles to hold his shattered family together, drawing unexpected comfort from a faithful childhood friend.

 

Born with a serious heart defect, optimist Naomi Schrock has always longed to live a life of service. She rolls up her sleeves, determined to help Joseph cope with this terrible crisis. But dare she hope that his friendship will finally deepen into love?

 

As the media’s obsession with the Hochstedler shooting escalates, Joseph and Naomi find themselves caught between tradition and compromise, lingering sorrows and uncertain hopes. And in the end, two people who’ve already lost far too much must find the courage to trust their hearts one last time.”

 

As a fan of the author’s Love Inspired books (Harlequin), I bought this book about six (6) months ago to support her since it was her “main-stream” publishing debut. In addition, the cover and story grabbed me.

I didn’t have a chance to read it, but as SOON as I was accepted to the launch team for the second book in the series, Strength in the Storm, I toyed around with reading this one, but as I had other books and a slim timeline, I thought perhaps I’d read it at another time.

 

However, when I read some early-reader reviews for the second (2^nd) book, along with parts of the second; it became obvious, I was going to have to read this one first. So, fair warning – this book has to be read first to understand the events of the second book.

 

And, readers of this book will need to read the second book to get the continuing saga from here …

 

The Johns Mill Amish Romance series follows the Hochstedler siblings after their parents’ murder by an Englischer at their store. There are four siblings, and I have a pretty good idea there will be four books. I know there HAS to be another book after Strength in the Storm.

 

The siblings:

 

🌩️ Joseph (Shelter in the Storm)

🌩️ Emma (Strength in the Storm)

🌩️ Miriam (Courage in the Storm, April 2023)

🌩️ Caleb (Home from the Storm, December 2023)

 

This book, the first in the series, focuses on Joseph and Naomi and is told from their POVs in third person. This also sets up for the second book with Emma and Sam. Sam is integral at one point with the running of the store after the shooting.

 

There are also secondary characters: Rhoda (Caleb’s wife and Joseph’s one-time “crush”), Melvin (their ornery uncle, who was definitely not a good part of the story), and their pastor Isaac. The shooter’s parents also make an appearance.

 

As this does set up and focus on the shooting death of the siblings’ parents, while in their store, this theme might be traumatic for some readers. The author doesn’t delve into the graphic or gory details though. She relies on the emotions and impact of the loss.

 

The shooting happens towards the very beginning of the book, by the end of chapter two (2).

 

As the story begins, Joseph is lamenting the loss of the Hochstedler dairy farm. For generations, that was the family’s sole industry, which is why his parents have a general store in town. Joseph has a woodworking hobby, which could be lucrative.

 

Tension is already brewing in the family – Caleb has just recently wed Rhoda; someone Joseph had his eye on. This sets up the early tension between Joseph and Naomi. Even Joseph’s father saw it.

 

The tragedy is a result of an Englisch boy coming around to talk to Emma, and her father has a talk with him (most of this will be revealed in the second book). As a result of the shooting, Miriam is mentally scarred and Emma heads to Ohio to stay with Melvin. 

 

Since Naomi is there to help her cousin Katie with her new baby, and dreading a return to Kentucky where her family treats her as helpless, she offers to stay in Johns Mill and help with Miriam. Despite her previous health issues, Naomi wants to help. She lives to serve.

 

Naomi and Joseph were childhood friends, yet there is something distant between them.

 

The shooting causes a media circus. This is sadly a far more realistic take on these events. When it happens in the Englisch community, it is tragic and news fodder. The Amish community? It definitely becomes a fascinating story, if not a “sensation”. This will inspire a “movie” mention later in this book, which carries over to book #2.

 

A run-in with a reporter sends Caleb well on his way to “jumping the fence”. And, with the shooter at large – Caleb defies his faith. He doesn’t trust the Abbotts. Honestly … I’ll leave it there.

 

The media’s interest attracts the brother of a friend of Naomi. His sister was sick at the same time as Naomi. While being a reporter himself, he really ends up being an ally for her, even standing up to Joseph at one point.

 

There is also Rhoda, who has a unique situation due to Caleb’s own troubles. She is forced to move away (a set up for another book??).

 

Joseph works to just keep going, Naomi tries to make progress with Miriam who is traumatized, Naomi’s health is waning, Joseph is realizing how much he loves Naomi, and there is also the tension about the shooting and a movie.

 

Eric then warns Naomi about some negative stories floating around regarding the Hochstedlers, especially due to their reluctance to speak to the media. This creates a bit of drama for the movie deal.  

 

This really doesn’t stop and yet by the end of the book, there are several unresolved plot lines.

 

Blount manages to step away from the Love Inspired books quite effortlessly and crafts a deeply emotional, traumatic, gripping, realistic drama that includes suspense and ends on a cliffhanger. The writing was fast-paced and this is one of those books that when I started reading it – I couldn’t put it down, which I also attributed to the fairly short chapters. I was turning page after page, riveted by the story. At times, it was utterly heart-breaking. The engaging dialogue with some humor elements really draws the reader in. The use of authentic Amish terms and language is endearing, and sometimes “cute”, like boppli for baby. 

 

I ended up reading about two-thirds (2/3) of the book in one day (roughly 215 pages). Unlike some books that you have to leave for a bit and there’s a period of trying to get back into it, this definitely wasn’t the case. It was easy to get right back into it.

 

The only part I was slightly disappointed with was the visit with the Abbotts on the day of the funeral. I wanted a bit more interaction (dialogue, narrative) between the two families as this becomes a fascinating plot point later on with regard to a movie and their attitude towards the Hochstedlers and how they turn the “story”. The father in particular is one I find quite villainous and I’m really wondering where this man is going …

 

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed the novel and really didn’t find too many faults with it (okay, maybe the cliffhanger ending).

 

If there is a dislikeable part (or two) – it was Melvin, especially when he accuses Joseph of courting Naomi on the day of the funeral. In addition, he blames Emma for the shooting, which will be a recurring theme. There is also, later on, a letter from Melvin regarding Joseph’s consideration of marriage to Naomi. Talk about unkind. Utterly heartbreaking!

 

As this is an Amish story, there are definitely going to be mentions of God (Gott), as well as references to their ordnung (rules). So, it will have certain strict Christian beliefs. It is also a clean read – there are no intimate scenes (rarely are there any when it comes to Amish stories) and definitely no foul language.

 

Fans of the author, and those who enjoy Love Inspired and Love Inspired Suspense Amish stories will not want to miss this.

 

Since this is a series, and as it was left with an open-end (no word on the shooter), Shelter in the Storm, is definitely a must-read; and I did read it after this one.

 

That one releases 2/22/22.

 

 

 

RATING:

 

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Goodreads

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Bookbub

 

5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ /5 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Personal Rating (see rating explanation in this blog: https://readingexcursions.blogspot.com/2020/01/rating-system-2020-changes.html)

 

 

 

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Award-winning author LAUREL BLOUNT writes captivating romances full of grit and grace – with characters who will walk right off the page and into your heart. She lives on a farm in Georgia with her husband, their four fabulous kids, and an assortment of ridiculously spoiled animals.

 

 

She can be found on the following social media networks:

 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laurelblountbooks/

 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laurelblountauthor/

 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/laurelblount

 

 

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