I have been a fan of Laurel Blount’s books in the Love Inspired series for awhile now and am so excited that I finally had the opportunity to read a book that is outside that series. Home from the Storm is the final novel in the Johns Mill Amish Romance series and sadly the first book of the series that I’ve read, as I much prefer to read a series from beginning to end.

From the beginning, I was hooked into his world. Caleb Hochstedler comes home after a threat is made towards his estranged wife and finds a few surprises that he wasn’t expecting, including twins that he had no idea about. What follows is trying to adjust to a new life than the one he’s been living with a wife who have every right to not trust him and very young children that he is now the father of. This second chance is what Caleb and his wife Rhoda both need, and it is beautiful to witness the growth that these two undertake as they both fight to understand one another and adjust to again doing life together.

This is clearly an emotional conclusion to an incredible series, one that is wonderfully written with true heart, unforgettable characters, and stories that will leave an imprint. Despite this being the first book I’ve read in the series, I did not once feel lost as the author does a masterful job of setting the stage, and just a few chapters in I already felt like I knew this literary world.

Reading Home from the Storm has given me a voracious hunger to read the rest of the series and makes me wonder where I’ve been and why I haven’t read them yet! This is hands down the best novel that I’ve read by Laurel Blount, and I cannot wait to read more!

Home from the Storm is the 4th book in the Johns Mill Amish Romance series that is written by by Laurel Blount. I have read most of the books in the series ( I did not read book 3) - but it was nice to see the mystery and storyline wrap up. I really enjoyed seeing the story of Caleb Hochstedler. He left the Amish life to try and pursue his parent's killers. When he left, his wife Rhoda was left behind. Rhonda is torn between being happy to see her husband and her father, the bishop who did not think Caleb was ever content to be Amish.

When he returns back to Johns Mill, he is shock to see that he is the father of twins. He soon finds out that his parents killer has his sites set on Rhonda. Caleb has to try and keep his family safe along with bring the killer to justice. He returns to the Amish with such vengeance - and that is frowned upon within the Amish. He cannot enter back into good graces being so angry.

This has been an amazing series. The characters are well written - the storyline is intriguing. Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley - for allowing me to read a copy of this book - all thoughts are my own.

Home from the Storm is a stunning conclusion to an Amish series that has tackled sensitive and painful issues related to the original murders of the Hochstedler parents back in book one. The four children all had different issues to deal with related to their deaths. Caleb’s siblings worked through their traumas in the previous three books. This story follows the return of Caleb Hochstedler, who left the community and his young wife in the hopes of tracking down his parents’ killer. When he returns, not only does he discover that all of his siblings have married and are starting families of their own, but that he and his wife are parents to twins that he knew nothing about.

I really liked the Bishop, Abram, in this story. He handled the tense situation of trying to bring Caleb back into the fold with grace and even some humor. It was interesting to see the way Caleb responded to his leadership as opposed to the way he always pushed back against the previous bishop, who also happened to be his father in law.

Not only did Caleb have the worry of trying to keep his family safe from the man who he believed was headed back to their community to do more harm, but Caleb now had to decide if he was willing to let go of his anger and submit to not only God, but also his Amish community, in order to be fully welcomed back. I enjoyed seeing the softening of his heart, which was a very gradual thing indeed. It was nice to get to really see who this man was and see the love between Caleb and Rhoda begin to receive some healing. This was a captivating story!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

HOME FROM THE STORM by Laurel Blount is the fourth book in the John Mills Amish Romance series and to me, it seems like each book gets better and better. I have loved this series so much and was so excited to get to this one. It did not disappoint! Laurel gives her readers a wonderful story of letting go of the past and leaning into the people who are standing by, waiting to help even if when you don’t realize they’ve been there all the time.

Caleb Hochstedler left his Amish faith and has been actively tracking the man who killed his parents. In HOME FROM THE STORM we find Caleb at a house Trevor, the killer, has been to recently. He just missed him, but that isn’t what has him upset. He found a room that is plastered with pictures of an Amish woman. Not just any woman, but Caleb’s wife, Rhoda! What?? Caleb must go to Rhoda, even if he hasn’t seen her in a few years, and warn her and protect her. Hold on tight! It is about to be one crazy ride!

When Caleb gets to Rhoda he is shocked to learn he is the father of twins! No one ever told him, especially Rhoda. When he left the Amish faith he was shunned, but he knows he wants to be a dad to his children and be there and protect his family. My emotions were all over the place and I was even reaching for the tissues quite a few times. HOME FROM THE STORM is not like most Amish stories. It is more like watching the evening news, and then having your heart break for everything this family is going through. I am very sad that this wonderful series has come to an end, but I am excited to read whatever Laurel Blount writes next!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from JustRead and Netgalley. All opinions expressed are my own and were voluntarily given.

It is bittersweet to see this series end. I have enjoyed all of the books and Home from the Storm is a wonderful and emotional conclusion to what began two years ago when the Hochstedler children were reeling from the murder of their parents. The Amish faith believes in forgiveness. Caleb found it hard to move on and left his wife behind in his bitterness to find the young man who killed his parents. Now he is back in Johns Mill because he has word that the young man is there too. Fearing for his wife, he returns and is shocked to find that he is a father to twin toddlers. But he is shunned and cannot be accepted back in the church without confessing, something he doesn't want to do. This is such an emotional story as they all have been. I wasn't sure how Laurel Blount would be able to write this story with a positive resolution. She always writes heart touching stories with characters who come to life and are realistic, not perfect but ones you really want to find happiness. This is a story that pulls on heartstrings and is another winner by this author. Highly recommended.
I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. These are my thoughts and opinions.

This is book four in a series. You’re definitely going to want to read this series in order and not just start with this book. While you could read it and it would still be enjoyable, you would be missing out on a lot of backstory.

This is a wonderful story of love, plus second chances. And add in some suspense and good old-fashioned conflict. It’s truly a great book to read. It read quickly. I fell in love with the characters. Of course, I felt for Rhoda. With her husband leaving the Amish to chase down a killer and all, but he comes back in this novel. And she has twins, twins that her husband Caleb never even knew about. Now that he’s tracked the killer back to their town and it seems the killer might be focused on Rhoda he is determined to stick around.

Add in her father who never approved of Caleb and lots of other wonderful secondary characters and you’ve got an amazing read!

I’ve loved the whole series but this might be my favorite book of them all! And it’s a wonderful conclusion. Grab the series today!

I have voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from JustRead Publicity Tours. All views expressed are only my honest opinion. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC regulations.

4.5 Stars

Throughout the Johns Mills Amish Romance series, readers have gotten bits and pieces of Caleb Hochstedler’s character. Now, in the series conclusion, Laurel Blount gives us Caleb and Rhoda’s story, and it does not disappoint.

Caleb is not the kind of person you think of when paired with the word Amish. He’s stubborn and quick-tempered with a strong sense of justice. He fights with the rules the Amish live by and butts heads with his leaders. Rhoda has a quiet strength—one which has sustained her over the two years Caleb has abandoned her—but the last thing she wants is to experience the pain of Caleb’s leaving all over again.

Home from the Storm is a wonderful story of how God holds onto us even in our pain and suffering. How He patiently waits for us to turn to him. The pages of this book overflow with redemption of family and faith. Of forgiveness and discovery of who God created us to be.

Blount’s conclusion to this series not only gives readers a peek into the lives of each of the Hochstedler siblings we’ve met already, this story also gives us the hope that no matter our choices, no matter how far we’ve strayed, God does not abandon us.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.

This is the first book in this series that I have read and I found myself caring for the characters and wondering what had happened in the previous books. I liked how in this story we see Caleb having to come to terms with what is most important to him and I loved seeing his journey to forgiveness. I also loved how this story not only was a romance but also had some suspense and I liked how the suspense helped to get Caleb and Rhoda back into each other’s lives so they could try and heal from the past. I thought the story was well told and did a good job of making us care about the characters and the choices they make.

I received a complimentary book from publishers, publicists, and or authors.  A review was not required and all opinions and ideas expressed are my own.

Home from the Storm by Laurel Blount is a touching Amish tale. I was happy to head back to Johns Mill for Caleb and Rhoda Hochstedler’s story. I thought Home from the Storm was well-written with developed characters. Caleb is a stubborn man with a temper. He has never taken the time to grieve over the loss of his parents. Caleb is determined to catch his parents’ killer. Caleb learns that there is a price to pay for his relentless pursuit for justice. Rhoda is a good Amish woman who has found herself to be that knot in the middle of a tug of war rope. Rhoda was pulled back and forth by her husband and her father who was the bishop of their district. I liked that the story is told from Rhoda and Caleb’s perspective. It allows us to know their thoughts and feelings. The suspense is well done. There were tense moments that would find me quickly flipping the pages to discover what would happen. The romance was nicely done. I do feel the pacing could have been a touch peppier in places. I liked the new bishop of Johns Mill. Abram King certainly has a different approach from Rhoda’s father. Trust and forgiveness are the main themes in the story. Home from the Storm is the fourth book in A Johns Mill Amish Romance series. While Home from the Storm can be read as a standalone (the author includes the needed background information), I do recommend reading the series in order. It will allow you to get to know the characters, their stories, and the town. The ending from Home from the Storm left me smiling. Home from the Storm a gratifying tale with a killer on the run, bakery troubles, a benevolent bishop, an indomitable Daed, a hair trigger temper, a double disclosure, and finding forgiveness.

I really enjoyed reading this book! I don't think I have ever read a book centered on the Amish practice of shunning before, and it was fascinating to learn more about that. I thought the author, Laurel Blount, did a great job of showing the nuances of it, from the rules that must be followed, to the mixture of love and pain experienced by community members affected by shunning.

Home from the Storm is the fourth book in a series of four books. While Blount included enough details from previous books for this story to be understood without having read the other books, I do very strongly recommend reading the other books in the series first. There was a lot of backstory that I missed, and the side characters are not very well developed in this book because they've already been thoroughly fleshed out in other books. They appear very one dimensional in this book without having read the others, but I think they would feel more dynamic if I had understood the context of their experiences in the previous books.

The suspense element of this story was so well done. There were several moments when I was on the edge of my seat, and just couldn't wait to see what happened next! There are some pretty intense moments in this story; if you are sensitive to the topic of gun violence, read this book/series with caution. The romantic plot line was also beautifully written, although I do wish that the pacing for it had been just a hair quicker. Rhoda and Caleb make a great couple, and I admire Blount's dedication to having them thoroughly work through the complications in their relationship before moving on to the happily ever after moments.

I really enjoyed reading Home from the Storm, and I recommend it if you like romantic suspense novels, and especially if you want to read an Amish romance that's not quite as saccharine as many of the other Amish romances on the market. Home from the Storm is a book of substance and a great way to end the series to which it belongs. I look forward to going back and reading the rest of the books!

I enjoy reading Amish fiction for many reasons, and Home from the Storm brought them all together. There are lots of family issues, struggles with faith, and of course the big one: Forgiveness.

The characters are so interesting. It was nice to read about them struggling with the normal things that we all do, making us somewhat alike. Of course, their lifestyle is quite different.

I'm hoping to read more by Laurel Blount. She weaves amazing stories of the Amish everyday life, plus tension from family circumstances and suspense. I love the faith, hope, and joy that runs through her chapters making the story come alive.

I received an ARC from the publisher and willingly chose to review it. All opinions are my own and a positive review was not required.

Author Laurel Blount brings her Johns Mills Amish Romance series to a close with her soon to be released book, Home from the Storm. I thought it was the best book in the series and the best book that Laurel has written. All missing pieces of this mystery were put together to make a wonderful ending to a story that was carried over book to book through out the series. I enjoyed every moment I spent reading this book.

Prodigal Amish Son Caleb Hochstedler returns home to his wife and family to find a few surprises on the home front. Trevor Abbott has been on the move and rumors have it that he has returned to John Mills and has his eyes on Rhoda Hochstedler , Caleb’s wife. Caleb wants to protect her and his family from this killer and bring justice for the wrongful death of his parents. Problem is that he has been put under the ban by the Amish bishop for leaving the church to search for Trevor and make him pay for killing his parents. Trevor is always one step ahead of him. Can Caleb stop him before he kills again?

I recommend Home From the Storm to readers of Amish Fiction, Christian Fiction and to fans of the Author. This book is part of a series and would be best read in the order that it was written. This book is scheduled to be released on 12/26/ 23.

I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions shared here in this review are my own.

#HomeFromtheStorm #NetGalley

Laurel Blount has done it again with the 4th book in the John Mills Amish Romance series. Such a sweet story filled with trust and forgiveness and I really loved how the story ended. It helps if you read all the books in the series in order so you get to know them as they appear in the later books. I highly recommend this book for an enjoyable read and was given a complimentary copy from NetGalley and the publisher. All words are my own.

I was worried about reading this book, and I put it off for a long time even though I got the arc pretty early. I’ve read all of the previous books and I was very invested in this family's story, and I didn’t see how Caleb’s story could come to a satisfying, yet realistic, resolution. But Ms. Blount is a fabulous author and I should have trusted her. She did Caleb’s story justice. I was worried I wouldn’t like Caleb or that I wouldn’t like Rhoda. But I loved it and plan on purchasing the book as soon as it comes out. Oh, and Abram? I couldn’t adore him anymore. Everyone needs a spiritual leader like Abram King!

When Caleb's parents are murdered he not only leaves his Amish faith but also his wife to pursue their killer. When he hears that the suspect is heading back to Caleb's hometown he follows. A lot has changed since he was gone and he is in for a big surprise. Good story.

Home from the storm is a good Christian themed novel. It is part of a series. I recommend that the reader reads them in the order of publication.