Courage in the Storm by Laurel Blount
Publication Date: April 25th 2023 by Berkley
Pages: 336
Source: Publisher
Rating: ★★★★★
Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads
My
Thoughts:
I’ve been looking forward to Miriam’s story since she
witnessed the tragic murder of her parents when were gunned down by an
obsessive “Englischer” in her family’s general store. Since then, Miriam has
suffered from major PTSD, and has not been able to leave the family home in
more than a year. Only now has she been able to venture outside to feed the
chickens and visit Breeze, a traumatized horse. A horse she’s become attached
to, and unfortunately may not last if they can’t get him past his fears enough to
be useful. Breeze is her brother-in-law’s horse injured in a buggy accident
that scarred them both and Sam doesn’t want to sell the horse for slaughter, so
he decides to call in a favor from an old friend with a special talent for
working with horses.
Reuben Brenneman left the Plain/Amish life when the abuse of
his father, a mean drunk, was reported and overlooked. Reuben felt betrayed by
the people he felt should’ve protected him, and so going to the Hochstedler’s farm, an Amish one, isn’t something he wants to
do, but he owes Sam. What he doesn’t count on is Miriam. The Amish woman
terrified of him at first, in his Englischer clothes, but she’s willing to try
to work with him to help Breeze, since Breeze has formed an attachment to
Miriam. They work together and form a friendship, Miriam making progress
overcoming her fears while helping with Breeze and with Reuben seeing a
different side of the Amish people. Both falling a little more for each other
with every day that passes.
5 Stars
In this powerful Amish romance, an isolated woman and a compassionate man learn that love can build a bridge between their two worlds.
Since witnessing the murder of her beloved parents, Miriam Hochstedler suffers from paralyzing anxiety and a deep-seated fear of the Englisch . Unwilling to venture beyond her family’s Tennessee farm, she forms a close bond with a badly injured gelding. Like Miriam herself, the traumatized animal seems unlikely to recover—until skilled horse whisperer Reuben Brenneman arrives.
A survivor of an abusive childhood, Reuben understands fear better than most. He’ll do whatever it takes to help a terrified animal, but his compassion doesn’t extend to the church that turned a blind eye to his family’s suffering. Once he finishes this job, he’ll return to the Englisch world, putting his Amish heritage behind him forever.
As Miriam works alongside Reuben, battling the horse’s fear—and her own—an unexpected friendship blooms and deepens into romance. But the Amish faith that sustains her inspires only distrust in Reuben, and the Englisch world he’s chosen has already broken her heart once.
Falling in love was easy. But staying together will take all the courage they have.
Nice review! I like horses and this sounds interested.
ReplyDeleteAnne - Books of My Heart
The scenes working with Breeze were so heart warming! I was rooting for that horse!
DeleteEverything about this story makes me want to read it. Especially the horse! :D
ReplyDeleteI really think you'd enjoy this one, Lark!
DeleteYour description of the story has me eager to give it a go.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a lovely story! I hope you enjoy it if you decide to pick it up, Sophia!
DeleteWow, this sounds wonderful Rachel.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like such an emotional story. The backgrounds of Miriam and Reuben are heartbreaking. :( I'm a sucker for a story about healing and overcoming.
ReplyDeleteAt first glance I thought this one would be too heavy. Glad you found it inspirational.
ReplyDelete