Wednesday, June 19, 2024

Fun and Creativity -- Happily Ever After on Huckleberry Hill

Happily Ever After on Huckleberry Hill is book #12 and the last -- so far -- in Jennifer Beckstrand's fun Huckleberry Hill series. And the story may include the most creative collection yet of Anna's antics as she works to make just the right love connections for her grandchildren and their young friends.

You never know when you turn the page what new activity you will find Anna and Felty involved in as they go about their mission. There is sitting yoga, painting, astronomy (or is it astrology), and archery, to name a few. And what could be more fun than a "popsicle sticking" party? Will Anna's special potholders play a significant role in this instance of matchmaking? (If none of this makes much sense to you, you probably have not read other books in this entertaining series.)

I highly recommend Happily Ever After on Huckleberry Hill to any fan of delightful Amish stories. In fact, if you haven't read the previous books, I would suggest you give them all a try. I'm not sure what Huckleberry Hill stories we have yet to look forward to, but the author has hinted on social media that we may not have seen the last of Anna and Felty. I, for one, certainly hope that is true!

About the Book

Already boasting a bushelful of happily matched grandchildren, irrepressible octogenarian matchmakers Anna and Felty Helmuth never give up on sparking true love on Wisconsin's Huckleberry Hill.

Sensible and cautious, Naomi Coblenz lives to help everyone else be happy—particularly when it comes to her twin sister, Ruth. So Omi certainly can’t admit she’s always loved handsome Bo Helmuth, since he and Ruth have begun courting. To look out for her sometimes-thoughtless sister, Omi even poses as Ruth on a ride home alone with Bo. But it doesn’t take Bo long to see the truth—and really notice Omi for the first surprising, hopelessly-wonderful time . . . 
 
Bo thought he was in love with the vivacious Ruth. But he can’t stop thinking about Omi’s kindness and understanding, especially since she refuses to hurt her sister. And he can’t figure out a way to tell Ruth they aren’t really suited for each other. His only hope is that his
ever-resourceful Dawdi and Mammi can help faith guide the way—and at last claim a happy ending for all.

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the RITA-nominated and award-winning author of The Amish Quiltmakers Series, the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill, The Honeybee Sisters series, The Petersheim Brothers series, as well as a number of other novels and novellas. Novels in her Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series have been RITA® Award and RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award finalists. Huckleberry Hill won the 2014 LIME Award for inspirational fiction and Huckleberry Hearts was named a Booklist Top 10 Inspirational Fiction Book of the Year. Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people.
 
Jennifer has four daughters, two sons, four sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, and eleven adorable grandchildren. She lives in the foothills of the Wasatch Front with her husband and plays pickleball and cuddles her grandchildren when she’s not writing. 

Please visit her online at JenniferBeckstrand.com. 

Where It All Started -- First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill

If you have read any of the books in Jennifer Beckstrand's Huckleberry Hill series, then you are well acquainted with Anna and Felty Helmuth, the Amish grandparents who have dedicated much of their time and effort to matchmaking for their grandchildren. First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill is the tenth Jennifer has written in the series, and in it she takes readers back to a time long before the Helmuths became grandparents to share the early days of their relationship.

Just like all the other stories, this one is a delight to read. And it gives some fun history of things like Felty's unexplained enjoyment of Anna's unusual recipes and the infamous license plate game. Of course, the story wouldn't be complete without a little taste of grandparent matchmaking, so Felty's and Anna's fun love story is "bookended" with just a little hint of of what will be coming in the next book -- Second Chances on Huckleberry Hill.

I highly recommend First Christmas on Huckleberry Hill to any fan of delightful Amish stories. In fact, if you haven't read the previous books in the series, I would suggest you give them all a try. (The order of the books is not terribly important in reading, but FYI, this is #10 in publication order.)

About the Book

Before irrepressible eighty-somethings Anna and Felty Helmuth became Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s most-beloved matchmakers, they were mismatched young lovers facing seemingly impossible obstacles…

She can’t cook, sew, sing, or clean. And no matter how hard young Anna Yoder tries, she’d much rather help people in trouble than be a well-behaved pretty face and properly perfect Amish 
maidel. So she instantly reaches out to her old schoolmate, Felty Helmuth, when their Amish town ostracizes him for his Korean War army service. He's still the only one who's ever understood Anna—and liked everything from her green Jello carrot salads to her love of books. And this holiday season, she can't help hoping that somehow she and Felty can find a way to be the perfect match…

Felty sensed he was called by 
Gotte to serve his country, though it went against his community’s peaceful ways. Troubled by his wartime experiences, he is resigned to being an outsider avoided by most eligible Amish girls. But lively, intelligent Anna has grown into a warm-hearted generous woman who accepts Felty for who he is. And in the face of family and community opposition, he and Anna will take a leap of faith to prove they are made for each other—and a lifetime of happiness.

About the Author

Jennifer Beckstrand is the RITA-nominated and award-winning author of The Amish Quiltmakers Series, the Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill, The Honeybee Sisters series, The Petersheim Brothers series, as well as a number of other novels and novellas. Novels in her Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series have been RITA® Award and RT Book Reviews Reviewer's Choice Award finalists. Huckleberry Hill won the 2014 LIME Award for inspirational fiction and Huckleberry Hearts was named a Booklist Top 10 Inspirational Fiction Book of the Year. Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people.
 
Jennifer has four daughters, two sons, four sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, and eleven adorable grandchildren. She lives in the foothills of the Wasatch Front with her husband and plays pickleball and cuddles her grandchildren when she’s not writing. 

Please visit her online at JenniferBeckstrand.com.