Home on Huckleberry Hill: The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill

Greetings!  A Souffle of Suspicion by Daryl Wood Gerber publishes on July 10.  It is the second book in A French Bistro Mystery series.  Fire Storm by Laura Hinton also comes out on July 10 along with Shelved Under Murder by Victoria Gilbert.  I have a busy month of reading ahead of me!

Home on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand is the ninth tale in The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill.  Anna Helmuth is worried about her granddaughter, Mary Anne’s marriage and, as usual, her instincts are spot on.  Mary Anne Neuenschwander is fed up.  She knows that she should be grateful for her home and her husband, but Mary Anne is not happy.  Jethro cares more about his fishing pole than he does about Mary Anne.  When he fails to remember their six-year anniversary, she moves into a tent in the backyard.  Ever since her miscarriage four years prior along with the news regarding future children, Jethro has been a different man.  Now Mary Anne is going to focus on making herself happy instead of satisfying Jethro.  Jethro was devastated when Mary Anne had her miscarriage and he was afraid of letting her see his disappointment.  He threw himself into fishing with his friends and even bought a $400 fishing pole which is keeps on the bed in the spare room.  When he arrives home and finds that Mary Anne has moved out, he is dumbfounded.  He is worried about what people in the district will think (oh dear).  Anna and Felty soon arrive and set up their tent.  They want to support Mary Anne, but they are not quite prepared for roughing it.  Anna has a plan, but she did not count on Jethro being so obtuse.  Anna will need more than pot holders if this project is going to succeed.  Break out your best camping gear, cozy up to the campfire and submerge yourself in Home on Huckleberry Hill. 

Home on Huckleberry Hill is a delight to read.  The story is well-written and it has a nice, steady pace throughout.  This book is different from the others in the series. Anna and Felty are trying to assist a married couple instead of match up to singles.  Jennifer Beckstrand has created a wonderful pair of characters.  Anna and Felty are darling and their antics had me laughing frequently (their chickens, the RV, the hammock, Anna’s cooking).  At one point, Anna offers to knit a scarf or a Minion beanie if it would help (the pot holders were not cutting it) and I continue to chuckle every time I think about that line (and situation).  I also enjoyed Mary Anne’s creative outlets.  They were very clever and unique (I will never look at cheese doodles the same way again).  I was quite taken with the butterfly quilt she constructed.  I like how Mary Anne’s family supported her decision and aided her.  The campground got quite large and Jethro’s tent will never be the same again. There are good life lessons in Home on Huckleberry Hill.  The importance of communication in a marriage, putting your partner’s happiness ahead of your own, and remembering that there are two sides to every story.  This is a book about learning from your mistakes, remembering why you love your spouse (falling in love again) and moving forward in harmony.  While Home on Huckleberry Hill is part of a series, it can be read alone.  I thoroughly recommend every book in this engaging Amish series.  Each book is better than the previous and Jennifer Beckstrand did not disappoint in Home on Huckleberry Hill.  Home on Huckleberry Hill is a warm-hearted, humorous story that will leave you wanting more.  My rating for Home on Huckleberry Hill is 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it).

Thank you for reading my review.  Tomorrow I will be featuring Murder in the Cards by Paige Sleuth.  It is the first book in A Psychic Poker Pro Mystery series.  May you have a joyous day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Fourth of July is almost here!