Shelter in the Storm

Never having read any books by Laurel Blount, I didn't quite know what to expect. Wow, I was kind of blown away right from the start. Shelter in the Storm is a book that starts out with an unbelievably tragic event and continues with a plot that keeps the pages turning. I read the book pretty much in one day as it was hard to put down. Emotions run high as Naomi and Joseph deal with difficult circumstances that are life-changing and seemingly never-ending. Back to back hard blows that were hard to bear, yet, they knew their faith in Gott would bring them through, no matter how deep the grief. I really liked the author's writing style, good dialogue and situations keep the reader's interest high. The characters are strong, relatable, and realistic. Naomi has been through struggles for much of her life and is such an encourager to others in her life. Joseph has ideas for his life and yet when impossible situations come and change is inevitable, he stands firm in his faith and doesn't give in to self-pity. I enjoyed watching the changing aspects of their relationship as the story progressed. The community characteristic of the Amish and strong family ties are something I admire and Blount portrays them well. A Shelter in the Storm is a heartfelt story with unforgettable characters and a message of hope despite desperate times. Readers who enjoy Amish romance will not want to miss this one. I was pleased to see that this book is the first in the Johns Mill Amish Romance series and am looking forward to the next book in the series. I was given a complimentary copy of the book through JustReads Tours and was not required to write a positive review. The opinions are my own.