Review: Home From the Storm by Laurel Blount

 

Home From the Storm by Laurel Blount

Publication Date: December 26th 2023 by Berkley 

Pages: 352

Source: Publisher 

Rating: ★★★★

Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Caleb Hochstedler’s parents were violently murdered and he left his Amish life and wife behind to pursue their killer, Trevor Abott. Two years later Caleb narrowly misses Trevor, and what he’s left behind chills him to the bone: pictures of Caleb’s wife, Rhonda.

 

Caleb high tails it back home to Johns Mill and has the shock of his life when he discovers he’s a father of two-year old twins. There’s so much he missed. There’s hurt, betrayal and old wounds that need to be addressed. Not the least is Caleb’s issues with the church. Will he be able to reconcile his differences of opinion with the Amish faith, his love for his family, and his pursuit of justice to lead to a HEA? That’s what I wanted to know.

 

Caleb and Rhonda’s story has been brewing in the background throughout the series. I felt bad for Rhonda, but also for Caleb since his grief caused him to act hastily. Details of Rhonda and Caleb’s history were revealed and even though it seemed like Caleb was the one mainly in the wrong, there were other factors at play. Both needed to step back and examine their actions, past and present. There was still so much love between Caleb and Rhonda, and I was rooting for them to heal and make their way back to each other, especially since they now had the two little ones to think about.

 

I loved the Hochstedler’s close knit family. The bumped heads a bit here and there, but there was an abundance of love between them. Caleb and Rhonda’s twins were so adorable, too!

 

Like the other stories in the series, there was a bit of danger and suspense with Trevor lurking about and unhinged. I was afraid for all the Hochstedler’s, not knowing when or where he’d surface and what kind of damage he’d inflict.

 

Home From the Storm was a well-done second chance/marriage-in-crisis romance. Not only that, it was also an uplifting story of healing, forgiveness, looking for the best in each other, and love. I’ve loved this series from the start! A definite recommend!

4 Stars

Book Description:

In this stirring Amish romance about love and second chances, a shunned man returns to protect the wife he left behind—and falls in love with the family he never knew he had.

After a senseless loss, hotheaded Caleb Hochstedler left his Amish faith and his young wife to seek justice. Two years later, he tracks his parents’ killer back home to Johns Mill, where he’s astonished to learn he’s the father of twins. Now he's determined to protect his children and the woman he still loves—if she’ll let him.

Her new husband’s abandonment broke Rhoda Lambright’s heart and proved her father, the bishop, right. Such a stubborn man could never be happy among the peaceful Amish. When Caleb unexpectedly returns, Rhoda is caught between her rock of a husband and a very hard place.

Her church forbids divorce and requires forgiveness, so Rhoda lets Caleb back into their home. But can she ever let him back into her heart? One thing’s for certain sure. This second chance will take all the faith they can find.